CHAPTER 30- Laugh Now, Bleed Later

The morning sun bathed the open fields in golden light, and a gentle breeze danced through the grass. Scattered across the field, the group lay sprawled out, sleeping like they had just survived a war. Among them, Eiji snored like a rampaging beast, his chest rising and falling as he clung to his dreams.

Yoto, however, was very much awake, lying beside Eiji with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He remained still, watching Eiji sleep, his gaze unblinking. The moment Eiji's eyes fluttered open, he was met with an eerie, wide-eyed stare. Yoto's lips curled into a devilish grin.

"Gooooood mooooorrrrnnnniiinnnggg~."

Eiji's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He screamed no, shrieked like a horror movie protagonist, flailing as if death itself had grabbed him.

The entire camp jolted awake.

Hataki immediately tensed, muscles flexing. Kaito sprang to his feet, ready for battle. Ken positioned himself behind them, backing them up. The three moved in perfect sync, scanning their surroundings.

"Where is the enemy?!" they demanded in unison.

Eyes darted left and right, searching for an unseen threat. Then, their gaze landed on Eiji, trembling like a leaf, his face pale with sheer terror.

Hataki raised an eyebrow. "Eiji, what the hell happened?"

Eiji, still visibly shaken, pointed a quivering finger at Yoto. "Sensei... Yoto is scaring me!"

A heavy silence. The three exchanged looks, their expressions blank. In unison, the same thought crossed their minds:

"Idiot."

Meanwhile, Yoto was on the ground, clutching his stomach in laughter. "HAHAHAHA! You should have seen your face! You screamed like a cowardly little baby! Haaahahahahaha!"

Eiji, wiping his teary eyes, pouted. "Yoto, this isn't a game! Don't mess with my heart like that! It could stop at any moment because of you!"

Yoto waved a hand dismissively. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry."

Just as Eiji started to calm down, he glanced up only for his soul to nearly exit his body again. Yoto had rolled his eyes back into his skull, arms limply stretched forward like a zombie.

"Oooooookaaaaaay ooooooookaaaay, soooooryyyyyyyy."

Eiji didn't scream this time. He just collapsed, unconscious.

Hataki groaned. "Oi, Yoto, what the hell are you doing?"

Yoto turned towards him, grinning. "Yo, old geezer, good morning!"

Hataki twitched. "…Old. Geezer. Me?"

Before he could react, Yushin and Akemi approached the group.

Yushin stretched. "You guys are already awake, huh?"

Yoto turned toward them, a gleam in his eyes. "OOOOH, HOT CHICKS!"

Silence.

Yushin turned bright red. Her brain short-circuited. "…H-hot…? C-c-chick…? M-me…?"

She covered her face, steam practically rising from her head. "Y-Yoto, w-w-what are you saying?!"

Kaito clenched his fists. "Oi, Yoto, you—"

Hataki cut him off, raising a hand. "Wait, Kaito. I know what's going on here."

He marched over to Yoto, grabbed his face, and turned it toward himself, scrutinizing him closely. Then, with an eerily calm voice, he said:

"Oi, Nishi. What did you just say about my students?"

Nishi, shaking in fear, thought to himself, The old geezer is scary.

Yoto blinked. "Wait, Sensei, what's going on?"

Hataki turned to him. "Oh, Yoto. Nishi here thought it'd be fun to scare Eiji to death. Now he's unconscious."

Nishi smirked. "Hey, it's not my fault he's a coward."

Yoto cracked his knuckles, walked up to Nishi, and grabbed his ear, twisting it hard.

"Ow ow ow ow! It hurts!" Nishi whined.

"I told you to guard them while they slept, not pull pranks!" Yoto scolded.

"Okay, okay, I won't! Just let go before my ear comes off!"

At that moment, Ginrou approached, smiling. "Good morning, everyone!"

Hataki sighed. "Good morning, Ginrou." He paused. "…Wait. You're acting normal again? Weren't you talking like a kid last night?"

Ginrou's eyes lit up as he spotted something in Yoto's hands. "Sir Yoto! What do you have there?"

Yoto held up his prize. "Oh, these? I figured since we have a long journey ahead, I'd catch some rabbits for breakfast. We'll cook them and save the rest for later."

Ginrou's face lit up like a child seeing candy. "Oooooh! Such juicy, tender meat! Leave it to me I'll turn these into the most delicious meal ever! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Hataki rubbed his temples. I spoke too soon… Why does he always act like a child the moment he sees meat?

Meanwhile, in the underground chambers of the castle, agonized screams echoed through the dimly lit halls.

"AAAAAAAH! PLEASE STOP! NOOOO—!"

The source of the screams? A bloodied man strapped to a chair, his body littered with nails hammered into his flesh. Blood dripped onto the cold stone floor.

John, his face twisted in a delighted smirk, chuckled. "Ooooh, lucky you. Congratulations. You survived my torture until morning. The other guy? Pathetic. He lasted only three hours before dying. But you… I like you."

The prisoner, barely conscious, sobbed. "P-please… f-forgive me… let me go…."

John clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Tch. That's what I don't like about you. You tried to kill me, and yet here I am, showing you mercy by not ending your life instantly. You should be grateful to still be breathing."

The man coughed up blood. "P-please…"

John sighed dramatically. "Ugh, there you go again." He leaned in close, whispering into the man's ear. "Tell you what I do like you, so I'll give you a prize."

The man twitched weakly.

John grinned. "A fast death. Without agony."

Before the man could respond, John pulled out his gun.

BANG.

The man slumped forward, a hole in his skull.

A knock came from the door. "Sir John, the king requests your presence."

John scoffed. "Tch. What does he want now?"

He was escorted to the grand hall, where the king sat upon his lavish throne.

The king narrowed his eyes. "John, I've heard… troubling things about you."

John smiled. "Oh, my king, I was merely being friendly."

The king scowled. "I don't care what you do as long as you do your job. Now get out of my sight."

As John turned to leave, the king muttered under his breath. "Lowlife. Why did Genta send me a street rat like him?"

In a flash, John was behind him, a short blade pressed against his throat.

"What did you just say, my king?"