Everyone gathered around. Jon and Donovan also walked up to them.

“Did he go up? Or down the stream?”

“I think up.”

“I think he went down.”

“We’re up against a mercenary. Let’s think carefully.”

Dword mumbled and the other young men spoke of their ideas.

“Isn’t that blood?”

One of the young half-blooded Ainos pointed at the blood on the rock. Everyone then turned up toward the stream.

“Let’s go.”

“Be careful. Think who we are up against.”

Dword spoke as he smiled. He seemed proud as he warned the younger students.

‘Haha. They’re tense. We’re still against a prey.’

He had done this many times in the past. The prey was already injured with an arrow. It was easy to do this.

“There!”

Someone shouted as they found the man called Roman. Everyone stopped. Roman had an arrow in his arm with blood pouring down his arm. Roman was panting with a bitter smile on his face.

“Haha. Is this it? This is too easy,” Dword said satisfyingly. The other students also seemed to share the eagerness and excitement of hunting a real human.

‘Crazy bastards…’

Jon frowned at the sight.

“Is this easy?”

Jon seemed to give up and sat down on the rock. Others smirked.

“Giving up already? I hoped a mercenary would be different. This is too easy.”

Dword drew his arrow, but Roman spoke out.

“Easy?”

Dword became surprised. He then smiled and asked, “Oh? Trying to talk? Roman, yes it was too easy. I had higher expectations! Maybe I expected too much of you.”

“Whew… I see. So you wanted that from me?”

Dword nodded.

“Yes, you disappointed me. And for that, I will deliver you the most painful death! We will not go closer from here. We will all use arrows. Try to get away. If you stay alive when we’re out of arrows, maybe I can let you live. What do you think?”

Of course, Dword had no intention of letting Roman go alive. He just wanted to see Roman trying hard to survive. Dword smirked as he raised his hand to signal.

‘So… this is it.’

Jon became bitter. This was a one way trip to the mess.

‘There is no way to get out of this mess unless I die.’

He remembered Belic. He understood why his good friend took his own life.

“Now! Shoot!”

Everyone began shooting their arrows. Some rejoiced while some moaned. It was like a feast, but they were all aiming arrows at a living person. Mercenary Roman moved from left to right as Dword wished, but the number of arrows stuck in his body increased.

Soon, his body was like a porcupine as he was filled with arrows.

‘Huh?’

That’s when Jon felt something was off. No, everyone sensed it.

“Haha…”

“Ha…?”

They became silent as they felt something was very strange.

“W-what?”

Everyone was looking at Roman. Roman was vomiting blood as he gasped in pain. But he didn’t seem to be dying. He should’ve died a long time ago, but he was still alive.

“W-what’s going on?”

“Why isn’t he dying?”

At that, Roman smiled.

“H-he’s laughing!”

It was a bright, wide smile. No, it was a smirk. Roman looked at every one of them.

“Hmm? What’s with your faces? Wasn’t it fun? You should enjoy it more.”

Everyone became shocked. As they heard the loud and clear voice, they all sensed the hair rising on their skin. Roman then reached out to arrows on his body and began plucking them out as if they were nothing. Blood poured out as the arrows were pulled out from the flesh. Some students flinched as they saw the horrible sight.

“Here. Let’s try that ag…”

At that moment, an arrow flew straight into Roman’s head, right in the middle of his eyes. It was Dword. He seemed pale as he held on the bow that he just used. Roman then reached up to the arrow on his head and took it out.

‘Is… is this dream?’

Everyone immediately was struck with fear.

“Oh well. I guess the fun is over?” Roman grinned. He then reached up with both his arms.

“I see! So it is over! Is it my turn then? I should have some fun of my own too, don’t you think? HEY! You there. Dword, was it? Remember you said I will have fun times when we signed the contract? Thanks to you, I think I will have some fun now! Let’s play! Go ahead. Run away.”

Everyone became dumbfounded. But soon, they realized what Roman meant.

“Aaaargh!”

“Die! Monster!”

One of the students shot an arrow toward Roman, and some charged in to slash their sword into Roman’s body. But Roman easily grabbed one man with a bow and ripped his arm apart.

“Aaaaargh! My arm!!!”

It was a terrible sight.

“Monster! RUN!”

Students began to run away in all directions. They didn’t look back. Roman then turned down to Jon who was tending to the student whose arm was ripped off.

“Why aren’t you running?”

Jon shook his head with a fearful look.

“I-it’s no use. I know that.”

Roman grinned, “You’re the one who didn’t shoot any arrows back then. Okay, I’ll just let you go with an ear.”

“Aaaaargh!”

Jon screamed with the sharp pain coming from his ear. Blood poured down. Roman then disappeared into the woods.

End of Chapter