"Something happened?"
Roy led Winter forward at a brisk pace, reaching a high point upwind to survey the area.
In the camp, Pimiel had somehow awakened. He hurled throwing knives, killing his companions.
They were the followers who had previously pretended to be the people being pursued. They were weak, and a few throwing knives were enough to finish them off.
The other three Intermediate Apprentices turned around in terror. Pimiel quickly chanted a spell, and an Apprentice-level Shadow Bind Technique transformed into dark shadows that wrapped around all three of them.
Then he activated his sleeve crossbow.
A deep-blue light flashed. The hidden weapon had been coated with deadly poison.
Unable to dodge, they were soon all poisoned. Trembling, they collapsed onto the ground.
"Pi... Pimiel!"
"Why... why?"
Several of them questioned him with expressions of disbelief.
Pimiel stared at them expressionlessly, drew his longsword, and slowly advanced.
"Why? Senior Oren made a pact with us to hunt corpses. You all knew that.
"Now, fewer and fewer Apprentices are coming to the Great Wind Land Hills. If I don't kill you, how am I supposed to gather enough people?
"Besides, I can claim the reward for this mission by myself. You useless fools would only hold me back. You're completely worthless!"
"But we've been friends for years!"
"I used to take such good care of you! You're not human!"
Their entire bodies were paralyzed, leaving them unable to move. All they could do was curse him furiously.
Pimiel's expression stiffened slightly, but he still swung his sword down at his former companions.
One, two, three...
He killed several people in succession. Blood stained his face, making him look like a fiend.
"What kind of potion did you give them? Why did they start killing each other?"
Winter pulled