Chapter 21
He made the arrangements.
Sukuna will meet with these humans tomorrow night, but he had to clear something up first with the knockoff.
They waited for the children to go to bed before Sukuna told him what was found and who he encountered. "So your stalkers are humans, but they are alchemists. Which I think is far more dangerous than these divine users you spoke of before…"
The knockoff paused. "Really?"
Sukuna forced a smirk. "They have a book, the shopkeeper I happened to have made the arrangements with those who appear to be very knowledgeable. Judging by the book, the age, thickness and wear on the paper, it's one of many recipe books that have been handed down from generation to generation… meaning what is written… works." He explained. "As well, you need to take into consideration, these humans have no energy to read. You will have to rely on your sense of smell."
"They had fairy wings… as wind chimes!" Chusi protested. "Ugh, I never been more disgusted by a person before… wait, that's second after Kenjaku"
He forced a smile but peered back at the knockoff. "As such, I am going to see what this is all about. Perhaps Lady Tiamat has her hand in this, for how odd is it that of all the places for me and my family to wonder into… happens to be a shop belonging to an alchemist?"
"Not going to lie, you got me there." The knockoff stated. "At the same time, I know these assholes are the ones stalking my family and I…"
"I would be cautious, despite them being human, they know how to use parts of your body as a weapon for themselves. Mind yourself."
It took the hall by surprised. "Since when are you ever concerned for him!" the knockoff's wife demanded.
"I'm not!"
Chusi giggled. "You are acting more like a Tooru each day…" she said proudly.
"Either way… I'll be handling this, but I need better bait. Do you have anything?"
Looks were exchanged until the knockoff's wife nodded with a sigh. He summoned his own curse storage and took out a rather large bag of scales. "The Mrs. molted recently, and so did I. There's some scales in here and part of a hangnail I had, so I guess that's claw material."
"Good, I'll add it to the Orc tusks I have collected and Manticore fangs. By the way, I have the wife's permission to Shibuya them."
The knockoff was stunned, but sighed and nodded in agreement. "I would do this personally, at the same time… mom said not to and let you handle it… you get all the fun"
"Linger outside and take anyone out who tries to escape me."
"Mighty generous of you."
"I don't know how many are there, let alone what they can do against me. But either way, they are of no threat."
The knockoff nodded. "So, tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow night."
#
They gathered at an abandoned Zoo.
The walls lined with markings and a stench of strong paint. Sukuna sneered at it all but made his way in. Many had gathered here tonight upon hearing word of rare items up for sale. When he appeared, every conversation stopped.
"Him, that's him, the one with the materials!" the shopkeeper called.
Sukuna kept his guard up, since after all, there were many starting to look at him with greedy eyes. "I don't want my time wasted, as well, if you give me an insulting offer, I walk" he warned.
They merely nodded as he began to take out his wares. The first were the orc tusks, there were plenty of those. Next, he got a reaction with the manticore fangs and stinger. Some whispered about the quality being excellent, so he threw in the claws as well for dramatic effect.
Plenty of gasps in aw and shock were heard, but, then it grew silent as he took out the dragon scales.
Knowing the greed of these people, he merely took out one of each scale he had as proof of his wares. When he placed those down, one froze and nearly reached out to grab one.
"Hands off!" he snapped. "Besides, I am curious… what good are these materials to you? Slayers make weapons, but, you?"
The humans laughed.
"We have been looked down upon for such a long time. Sorcerers who make contracts with the divine are one thing, unaware that their bodies have greater power within them and extracted a certain way!" the shopkeeper explained. "We can make elixirs that will extend our lives by 100 years! We can create immortality within a pill… power in a drop… but without the proper materials, we are powerless. But this… THIS!" he said with great passion. "We can live forever… we can make billions off of these materials!"
"It matters not who obtains them, but who pays the highest price?" he asked of them. "Despite the fact you could make a mad man immortal?"
"Why would we care?"
"What if that mad man was someone… powerful… merely biding their time, hiding their existence to the point that they are forgotten or become unknown in a foreign land?"
The questions were becoming uncomfortable. They began to look uneasy, as if knowing what he was hinting towards.
"Do you know such a being?"
He chuckled. "I AM such a being." He decreed. "I am more than familiar with the alchemists, it's just that… those I encountered, never survived for very long…"
He found it rather odd, that despite his tone altering, no one was scared of him.
At least, not yet.
They exchanged looks among themselves before glaring at him. "So, you are a powerful being… why bother with us?"
He smirked a little, but that smile vanished. "You upset my child, my wife… for my son has a special relation with those you are using as… ingredients for your studies, trinkets and elixirs. I assure you, I am more than familiar of sacrificing beings to gain what you desire… it's how I got my power to begin with. But now, since I have a child, and he has friends that you like to use for parts… I'm ending it here and now."
"Just who the hell do you think you are!?" the shopkeeper demanded.
"Ryomen Sukuna!" he said proudly.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Who?"
He paused. None of them… NO ONE here has heard of him before?
Awkward…
"Tsk, let me guess. You know my wife. Chusi Tooru…"
That was the look of fear he wanted to see when he uttered HIS name, not hers…
"T…Tooru? Your… your wife… is a TOORU!?... That blood alone is worth gold!"
He paused. "Tooru blood?" he asked.
"You of all must know, they have dragon blood in their veins! Even if it is microscopic, it's more than any human or sorcerer will ever have or obtain! A drop alone will ensure all recipes turn out! How wonderful! We have a Tooru we have a permanent catalyst!"
"Standing… right here… do you really think I would allow any of you to harm…"
He then felt something pour over his shoulders. A strong waft came over his senses as he paused oddly to it. "Take a nap why don't you, a really, really long nap… there is enough toxins in that to kill a herd of elephants!" the shopkeeper laughed.
Everyone else did too, but stopped, realizing he has yet to drop dead.
"When does it start working?" he asked bluntly.
They couldn't understand it, the elixir has to be dumped on the target, when it is absorbed into the flesh, it poisons the blood! He should be dead!
Well, that's the look on their faces, and Sukuna can only assume that is going through their heads right now.
"This was rather boring… but now I have no excuse not to go all out… you just threatened to use my wife…" he said rather pleasantly. "Now, you'll understand why my name is just as feared MORE than my wife's where we are from…" he reached up and began to remove the divine mask…