"Whew…"
Yahiko let out a breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His face was etched with exhaustion, but his eyes shone brightly.
Konan and Nagato were the same. Despite their weariness, faint smiles graced their faces.
Haruki leaned against the cart, which was now empty of all steamed buns, having distributed them all to the refugees.
"Even though it's tiring, the feeling of helping them is just too good."
Yahiko's eyes sparkled with a brilliant light as he looked at Haruki and said.
Konan nodded in agreement. Whenever she saw the gratitude in the refugees' eyes, a warm feeling would surge through her heart. Giving steamed buns to teenagers among the refugees who were the same age as them, felt like helping her past self.
"We're covered in sweat. Let's go back and take a bath." Haruki looked at Yahiko and the other two, suggesting.
What Yahiko and his friends needed most right now was rest. Once they were rested, there would be another fierce battle tonight.
"Mm." Yahiko nodded.
They walked together towards the inn where they were staying.
Along the way, Haruki ignored the gazes from the shadows.
As they entered the inn, the owner's gaze fell upon them, his eyes full of blatant schadenfreude.
Yahiko frowned.
The owner let out an ambiguous scoff.
"Let's go, Yahiko."
Haruki's gaze swept over Yahiko's face, which showed a hint of anger.
When Yahiko heard Haruki's voice, he looked at Haruki, only to find Haruki's pupils like calm lake water, unruffled.
Yahiko's agitated heart mysteriously calmed down.
The four of them went upstairs and entered their room. Konan went in to shower first.
Haruki glanced at Nagato and Yahiko, who were sitting beside him, and asked, "Are you ready?"
Yahiko was stunned. He hadn't yet recovered from the happiness of helping others. "Ready for what?"
Nagato also looked at Haruki.
Haruki explained, "Tonight, someone will come to kill us."
Yahiko's pupils constricted. He gradually clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth.
His voice was laced with anger. "Is it because we gave food to the refugees? Just for that, they want to kill us? It was just a few steamed buns."
Yahiko couldn't understand what these people were thinking.
Nagato stared intently at Haruki.
Haruki explained to them, "It's not that simple."
Yahiko looked at Haruki, puzzled.
Haruki sighed. Yahiko was actually very smart, but due to the limitations of his age and experience, he didn't look at problems too deeply.
"Our actions today are equivalent to damaging the interests of those merchants."
As soon as Haruki finished speaking, Yahiko said, "But even without us, those refugees wouldn't go to their stores to buy things. They sell things so expensively, how could the refugees afford them?"
Haruki pointed to Yahiko's chest and said, "The refugees don't have money, but they have their bodies."
Yahiko's lips parted slightly, his eyes revealing confusion.
Haruki continued to explain, "When they are starving to death, they will try every means to get food. Those with children and wives will choose to sell their children and wives as property. Those without will sell their own bodies, letting their bodies belong to others in exchange for food. Is there anything more valuable than a human body?"
Yahiko's pupils widened slightly. He stiffly looked at Haruki, his mind blank.
"Originally, these refugees were on the verge of collapse, but then we brought steamed buns, which saved them in their immediate crisis. The merchants' goal was not achieved, so of course they would send the ninja and samurai they worship to eliminate us."
Haruki looked outside the door, and a notification sound came to his mind.
[Ding!]
[System detected Rōnin A killing intent value +2000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Rōnin B killing intent value +2000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Rōnin C killing intent value +2000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Samurai A killing intent value +2000]
...
[Currently collected killing intent value totals 28000. Your Slaughter Curse growth value has increased to 5.1%]
Quite a few people have come.
"How can these merchants be so cruel? Do they have no conscience at all?" Yahiko's angry questioning echoed in the room.
What Haruki didn't tell him was that being too conscientious wouldn't earn much money. Those who profited from war were everywhere.
Konan, who had already changed her clothes, walked out of the bathroom. She stretched and smiled at Haruki and the others. "I'm done bathing. It's your turn now."
Haruki and the other two looked at Konan.
"Konan!"
Yahiko's pupils constricted, and he rushed towards Konan.
Nagato suddenly stood up from his spot, staring fixedly in Konan's direction.
Haruki's pupils reflected the scene before him.
A blade was held against Konan's delicate neck. With just a slight movement, it could cut open Konan's throat.
A figure almost merged with the shadows appeared behind Konan. He held the blade in one hand and gripped Konan's nape with the other. A mask covered the lower half of his face, revealing only a pair of gloomy eyes.
"Come any closer and I'll kill her."
The blade pressed closer to Konan's neck. A very thin line of blood appeared on Konan's skin.
Konan cried out in pain, her lips pale, her orange-yellow pupils now filled with terror.
Yahiko stopped dead in his tracks. "Don't touch her!"
"Hmph!" The ninja let out a cold snort.
"Then let's see if your feelings for each other are deep enough." The ninja stared at Yahiko.
"Don't mind me!" Konan suddenly shouted at Haruki and the others, trembling.
Tears overflowed from her eyes. She didn't want to be a burden to everyone.
"Don't mind me!"
The ninja sneered, letting Konan speak her mind.
He knew that the more this little girl said that, the more these three teenagers would be reluctant to let her die.
"If one of you three commits suicide, I'll let her go."
The ninja grabbed Konan's hair, forcing her head up.
"No…"
"Don't listen to him!"
"…"
Haruki looked at the furious Yahiko and the struggling Nagato, falling silent.
This scene before him felt familiar.
(End of Chapter)
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