While I ran towards their leader, he was still standing there like nothing was happening. He was calm.
Honestly, he seemed pretty strong.
But just as I got near him, he dodged easily and swung his knife.
This time, I got another cut on my right hand.
My hand was burning a little because of the pain.
"Oi! Oi! That's all you've got? I'm shocked you killed two of our members."
...
Then he swung his knife again.
I couldn't dodge it again. This time, I got another cut on my right hand.
It was still bearable, but this time the pain was doubled than before.
I hadn't swung my knife a single time, but I was injured by his attack already.
The pain was increasing every second.
I needed to bandage it quickly, but I couldn't do it before I killed him.
"Oi! Oi! Oi! What are you thinking? Have you given up already? Then just give us the cat, and we will forgive you."
All the students around him started laughing.
"You all guys shut up! I'm talking to him," he shouted.
The students became quiet all of a sudden.
"Okay," I said in a broken voice. "I will give you the cat, but you won't kill me."
"Why would I kill you? I just want the cat."
"Then come with me."
I started to walk towards Hayato to give him the cat.
After all of that shouting, Hayato was still sleeping.
The guy and his group members were still standing there.
He put his knife back.
But my knife was still in my hand.
And... this was the moment I was waiting for.
Instead of taking the cat, I instantly turned back and attacked him.
I couldn't win without using an infamous way because he was stronger than me.
My knife attack was successful; it tore straight into his stomach.
He screamed, "HOWWW!!"
Then I whispered in his ear, "Well, you let your guard down. And the rule number 1 when fighting me is... Don't let your guard down."
I pulled out the knife.
He was bleeding.
Then I looked at the others with the most evil look possible and smirked.
"So now, are you guys going to fight me?"
"No... no... no," they all said in a trembling voice.
"Then you guys should run before I change my mind."
They all disappeared in a few seconds.
Then I finally shook Hayato to wake him up.
His eyes opened.
"Is it morning?"
"No... not yet!"
Then he fully opened his eyes.
"Wait a second, Itsuki, how did you get a cut on your hand? How are you even calm right now? Isn't that hurting?"
"I woke you up for that reason. Give me the bandages we found earlier."
Hayato noticed the dead body but didn't ask a question.
"Wait, it's in my bag."
Then Hayato opened his bag and pulled out the bandage and some medicines.
"Whoa! You also have some medicine. I didn't know that."
"Yeah, I bought them."
Then Hayato started to wrap my arm with a bandage.
"Hayato, I can do that alone."
"Ehh? You told me friends are for helping, didn't you?"
"Umm, well, I guess."
"But Itsuki, you haven't answered a question of mine yet. How did you get these cuts?"
"Well, you see this dead guy? He attacked me to take the cat."
"And you murdered him??"
"Umm, yes. I mean, it was self-defense, wasn't it?"
"Well, that counts."
Wait... Hayato isn't traumatized like before. After seeing a dead body, he is still fine. He is not a normal person. I need to know more about him.
"Done!!" said Hayato.
I looked at my arm; he had wrapped up my whole arm.
"Hayato, I just got 2 cuts."
"They were severe. You will need to go to the hospital, probably."
"Well, I see."
But then a small light hit both of us.
"It's sunrise!" shouted Hayato.
Then Hayato's tablet buzzed for 2 seconds.
He checked it. The task was completed; we both received our echo points.
I have killed 3 more people, so my total balance for now including the task reward is 110 echo points.
As for it, 2 days have already passed since we arrived in this rainforest.
And today is day 3. I didn't sleep last night.
So, today I will need to get some rest. But I don't think I will be able to do that. Because of the tasks.
I will obviously receive a task after 7:00 am and the time now is 4:30.
I can sleep for a few hours at least.
Then Hayato shouted again...