Chapter 15

That day, unfortunately for Zoro, whose birthday it was, started off with bad luck right from the morning.

"Aaaaaaah!!"

Megumi, who was usually calm, began screaming near the window after seeing something that startled him in the morning.

It didn't seem like he was just scared of a bug or a bird, so Zoro looked around with his observational skills, but whatever had scared Megumi had already disappeared. All that was left was a sobbing Megumi, and Zoro had no choice but to pick him up and comfort him.

After Megumi's crying finally stopped, it was time for the nanny to arrive. However, she did not come. Not after 30 minutes, not after an hour. It was only at 10:30 AM, an hour and a half past her usual arrival time, that the nanny showed up and said,

"The car in front had an accident, so the road was blocked."

Was it the truth, or just an excuse?

Zoro looked at the nanny quietly before responding, "I see," and turned away.

After all, there was no way to know which it was at the moment.

After making sure the nanny fed Megumi his lunch, Zoro left the house. He left later than usual, so he didn't have much time. That's why he hurried.

Could that have been the reason?

"...? Where is this place?"

When he came to his senses, he found himself in a place he had never seen before.

There were no familiar shops or houses in sight, only an old house on the verge of collapse.

"..."

Zoro, without taking his eyes off the house, clenched his necklace and then turned around. A young man in his mid-twenties with a kind face was walking towards him.

"Oh."

The young man tilted his head, looking at Zoro, then smiled gently.

"Are you alone?"

"Who are you?"

"Ah, so you can speak? I'm Kimura Taisei."

This is my house.

The young man introducing himself as Taisei opened the door and went inside. Contrary to its dilapidated exterior, the interior of the house, visible through the open door, was filled with blooming flowers and looked meticulously tidy, exuding peace and comfort.

Taisei extended his hand from inside the house to Zoro standing outside.

"It seems you've lost your way. Would you like to come in?"

Then I can call the police for you.

Taisei spoke kindly.

Zoro looked at the hand offered by the young man and then chuckled.

"No, I'll pass."

—I've already seen the inside of a fish's belly plenty of times.

The smile vanished from Taisei's face. The kind expression hardened into something ominous. With an impassive face, he spoke.

"...That's unfortunate."

You could have died peacefully.

Snap!

With a flick of Taisei's fingers, the house distorted. The lovely view of the house lost its color, turning monochrome before melting away like a watercolor painting exposed to water.

Writhe, writhe.

The roof turned into shimmering scales, and fins sprouted from its sides. The sweet-smelling door became the gaping maw of a giant fish. Its body elongated and thickened, filling the narrow alley.

Three red eyes stared down at Zoro. When Taisei pointed at Zoro, the creature surged towards him as if swimming through the ground.

With a swift leap, Zoro easily jumped back, evading the gaping maw of the fish. Taisei frowned.

"Quick for a little guy. I wondered how you got here without being affected by the curse, turns out you're a sorcerer."

"Sorcerer?"

Zoro tilted his head at the unfamiliar term. Noticing this, Taisei laughed.

"What, you don't know? Well, it makes sense at your age. Especially if your parents are non-sorcerers."

I was the same. He chuckled.

"Anyway, you're an incredibly unlucky child. I have no intention of letting you go. No hard feelings, but it would be troublesome if the higher-ups noticed."

The giant fish monster loomed behind the smug Taisei. A very clear hostility and intent to kill emanated from the two in front of Zoro.

"..."

Without a word, Zoro drew a dagger from his necklace. He felt strangely exhilarated. It was a mix of happiness, excitement, and relief.

The one thing that was clear was Zoro's focus.

'Because it's my first fight...?'

Since being reborn, Zoro hadn't encountered an opponent worth seriously fighting. Either they were too weak to constitute a real fight with Zoro, or they had no will to fight him at all. The former were the nameless weaklings he had cut down countless times, and the latter was Toji.

Unlike them, the guy named Taisei and this fish monster in front of him possessed both the power and the will to threaten Zoro.

"Let's see who's really unlucky in the end."

The dagger, fitting snugly in Zoro's small palm, turned pitch black with an aura of determination. For now, there was no need to overthink anything.

"Let's go wild."

A feral smile spread across his lips, like a predator about to pounce.