Chapter 56

Click-clack.

Zoro got up from the wall he had crashed into. It seemed like hardly any time had passed. Maybe 2 seconds, 3 seconds?

He touched the area that had been grazed by the poison thorn earlier.

'This poison, did it also have hallucinogenic effects?'

He wasn't sure if what he had just seen was a result of the sudden shock or a hallucination created by the poison.

...Perhaps, at the crossroads of life and death, the fingertips of the living and the dead briefly touched.

Well, either way is fine.

"Thanks to that, I've come to my senses."

Grrr?

For the first time, the cursed spirit seemed to let out a sound of confusion at the sight of Zoro standing up. Zoro laughed, even as blood streamed down his forehead.

"You, you won't be able to use your cursed techniques for a while, right?"

According to Toji, using power forcefully without a corresponding penalty always comes with a cost in cursed techniques.

Just now, that guy used three types of thorns at the same time to push Zoro. Originally, he would use only one type at a time, in the order of the largest thorn, the medium-sized mass of thorns, and then the smallest poison thorn. And then, immediately afterward, making thorns sprout from his body to attack Zoro was an extra.

'If using all of that at once resulted in a cooldown period for using cursed techniques, then it all makes sense.'

There are no longer any annoying obstacles to cutting that guy down. Of course, Zoro still needs to muster the strength to do it.

A young body is weak. Just losing this much blood made his head dizzy.

'I can't drag this out.'

Zoro looked at the kitchen knife still sheathed at his waist.

Should he draw it? ...No, not necessary.

It's not because the situation isn't life-threatening.

One blade is enough to cut him down.

'One strike.'

End everything with a single strike.

Feeling a strange power enveloping his body at the thought, Zoro flinched. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't the time to worry about that.

Zoro kept the kitchen knife sheathed at his waist. Now, the only sword in Zoro's hand was the Wado Ichimonji.

Clang.

Zoro slowly turned the sword in a full circle, holding the handle of the Wado Ichimonji, even as he sheathed it.

"One Sword Style, Draw."

The Lion's Song.

Swoosh.

A jet-black Armament Haki rippled over his entire body. Like water about to overflow, it surged without spilling out.

Cursed Spirit wriggled its arm and then charged towards Zoro. Zoro stood still with his sword, feeling the presence of an arm stretching out to crush his neck.

And then, finally.

Click.

The sword was drawn.

A moment of silence passed. The cursed spirit fumbled over its body, then, thinking it hadn't been cut, turned around cheerfully.

Of course, it was a mistake.

Swoosh.

Zoro slowly sheathed the sword that was halfway drawn.

Clang!

"Kueeeek!"

As the sword was fully sheathed, cursed spirit's body split in half. It collapsed, screaming and spurting black blood, and then crumbled into a handful of dust.

A single withered finger remained there.

Whoosh!

The darkness receded, and the original appearance of the department store was revealed. The domain was broken.

The people trapped in the darkness buzzed with whispers as the appearance of the department store came back into view.

"What's going on?"

"Was there a power outage?"

"Everyone, please follow my instructions and evacuate calmly!"

Tsumiki, who had been sitting with Megumi in her arms, ran towards Zoro.

"Zoro!"

"Don't look."

It's not a sight for kids.

Feeling as if all the strength was draining from his body, Zoro slumped down on the spot in exhaustion. Feeling something under him as he sat, Zoro picked it up. This was, well…

'A finger?'

It was red, withered, and the nails were black and pointed, but it was definitely a finger.

He didn't know why the finger was here. Feeling like he should keep it, even though he wasn't sure what it was, Zoro casually tucked it inside his belt.

Tsumiki, with tears welling up in her eyes, couldn't bring herself to touch Zoro's bloodied body.

Zoro let out a small laugh.

"I told you not to look. I'm fine."

"How can you say you're fine!!!"

Her voice was loud. It was a relief to see she still had energy. Amidst it all, it was brotherly of Megumi to tightly hug her, preventing her from seeing Zoro.

Zoro blinked his eyes. He still needed to stay conscious. He wasn't sure if Megumi and Tsumiki were safe or not.

His whole body hurt. Zoro forced his eyelids, which kept trying to close, open.

Something quickly approaching caught in Zoro's Observation Haki. Just as Zoro was struggling to get up, thinking it might be an enemy.

"Zoro—!"

Ah, it's Toji.

With that thought as his last, Zoro lost consciousness.

...

...Just before Grade 1 Sorcerer Mei Mei entered the scene, the innate domain was released. It was confirmed that the Curse had been exorcised.

Fourteen non-sorcerers who did not directly encounter the Curse suffered no significant injuries and were sent home after a simple investigation.

Non-sorcerer child Zenin Zoro (5 years old, male) sustained injuries that were life-threatening. His father, Zenin Toji, present at the scene, immediately transported Zenin Zoro to the main school, where reverse curse technician Ieiri Shoko administered treatment.

However, due to the severity of his injuries, Zenin Zoro has not regained consciousness even two days after the incident.

No remnants were found at the scene, but traces believed to have come from the sword Zenin Zoro had were discovered in various places. Based on this, Mei Mei, who investigated the scene, claimed that Zenin Zoro alone exorcised a special grade Curse.

However, considering that Zenin Zoro is a 5-year-old non-sorcerer, and the presence of his father, Zenin Toji, a thousand demon queller, and sorcerer Zenin Megumi at the scene, it is unclear who actually exorcised the special grade Curse.

Given the circumstances, the main school plans to interrogate Zenin Zoro for an accurate understanding of the situation as soon as he recovers.

If Zenin Zoro directly exorcised the special grade Curse or helped in exorcising the special grade Curse...

—A decision will be made regarding his admission to the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College.

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