"Come on out."
"Is... is it over?"
Mira Peng emerged from his hiding place, still looking tense and shaken. But as a man accustomed to authority, he quickly concealed his unease and other negative emotions.
"Who sent them?"
Taking a deep breath, Mira Peng forced himself to calm down. His immediate priority was to find out who was targeting him from behind the scenes. Was it another bastard like Gato who refused to play by the rules?!
Shinji slung the Kubikiribōchō across his back and shook his head. "I'm not sure, but it was probably an Assassination Mission Gato posted somewhere else while he was still alive. News of his death hasn't reached them yet, so the mission wasn't canceled. That's what brought these uninvited guests here."
"Still, this was probably just a fluke. If you're worried, you can send someone along with us when we leave. Once we get there, they can check whether any Assassination Missions targeting you are still active."
Mira Peng looked deeply grateful. "Thank you so much. You've saved my life again."
"If possible, please at least let me offer a small token of my gratitude. Before you refuse, I believe your companion needs treatment, and my Manor happens to have the finest doctor in the entire Land of Waves."
Looking at his sincere expression, then at Hidan, who had been hacked to pieces nearby, Shinji decided to accept the offer.
He nodded. "Let me guess. The best tailor in the country is at your Manor too?"
Mira Peng didn't understand, but answered anyway. "A tailor? Do you need some clothes made? I don't know who the best tailor is, but I can invite them all."
"That would be perfect. Hopefully, they can make a nice job of sewing that guy's arm back on."
"Heh, is everyone in the Jashin Cult as humorous as you?"
"Please don't misunderstand. I'm serious." Shinji's expression was completely solemn.
"Huh?" Mira Peng was utterly bewildered.
"Oh, and when your people collect the bodies, have those two properly buried. The dead shouldn't be desecrated any further."
Mira Peng nodded instinctively. There was no reason to refuse such a small request.
He wasn't petty enough to vent his anger on two corpses. Gato's, of course, was an exception.
Having settled that, Shinji first retrieved Hidan's severed arm, then walked over to him and curled his lip.
"I found you the best tailor around. We'll get your arm sewn back on in a bit."
"Don't disturb me. I'm praying to Lord Jashin."
"What's with this stupid habit? Are you coming or not?" Shinji looked impatient, but still held out a hand to Hidan, who was lying on the ground.
"You dare disrespect Lord Jashin? You're dead!"
"I'll ask the tailor to sew that foul mouth of yours shut while they're at it!"
"Tch."
Smack!
Hidan looked disgusted, but his hand moved swiftly. Just as Shinji was about to withdraw his hand, Hidan grabbed it and used the leverage to stand.
"Since you didn't interfere earlier, I'll give you a chance to suck up to me."
He really just couldn't admit anything!
Shinji felt helpless, but seeing him sway unsteadily, he sighed inwardly. Fine. I'll let it slide this time.
"Well, thank you, then."
As he spoke, Shinji draped Hidan's remaining arm over his shoulders and supported him as they walked, completely unconcerned by the blood covering Hidan.
Hidan, who had been waiting for Shinji to snap back, froze!
That bastard Shinji actually didn't argue?
And... and he was even getting this close to me?!!!
Ewww!
Hidan felt goosebumps rising all over him and immediately seemed to snap out of his daze,
then began struggling fiercely. "Hey, hey, hey! Let go of me right now! You think I won't stab you to death?!"
Hidan grew anxious and agitated, and there was even a trace of inexplicable panic in his eyes...
Shinji immediately frowned. "Hold still. Don't get blood all over me."
If the guy hadn't looked so miserable, he wouldn't have offered a hand in the first place!
I show some kindness for once, and he won't even appreciate it?
Spoiled brat!
"Let go. I can walk by myself."
Thud!
Shinji actually let go, and Hidan promptly fell flat on his face.
"Trying to act tough? Go on, let me see you walk. One more word, and I'll drag you along with a rope."
Shinji kept grumbling, but still hauled Hidan back up.
Perhaps Hidan remembered the miserable experience of being dragged along the ground, or perhaps Shinji's nasty attitude had reassured him. Either way, he finally accepted it. With a cold snort, he stopped struggling and let Shinji support him as they walked.
[Bond Points +10, +10, +10...]
Shinji immediately gave him an odd look.
Heh. What a tsundere!
After they had walked for a while, Hidan seemed uncomfortable with the silence and spoke up. "That guy's big sword seems like it has quite a history."
"You've heard of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, right? This is one of their swords, the Broken Blade · Kubikiribōchō."
"So that freak with the bandages around his face was one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Hidan suddenly grew excited.
After all, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were famous far and wide. Hidan had heard of them back in Yugakure, when he had been nothing more than an ordinary Chunin. There had been no comparison between them.
But things were different now. Not only had he gained [immortality] and learned [Death Controlling Possessed Blood], he had also killed a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist in single combat.
Yes, this was exactly the life I wanted!
"Yeah. He was a terrifying guy known as the Demon of the Mist. Who would've thought he'd die at the hands of some nobody? I doubt anyone would believe it if word got out."
After that jab, Shinji abruptly changed tack. "Of course, I believed you would win right from the start."
"You might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know you can kill anyone as long as you get the chance..."
Being called a nobody annoyed Hidan, but what Shinji said afterward stirred something different inside him.
His expression remained disdainful, as though this were only natural, but he was actually delighted!
Especially since those words had come from that bastard Shinji. That made them all the more precious!
Wasn't it always more satisfying to earn a rival's recognition? That was exactly how Hidan felt now.
But as it turned out, he had celebrated too soon.
"Heh. Except me."
Fuck!
Hidan was instantly so furious that he wanted to start cursing!
Sure enough, all that warm, fuzzy feeling had been a lie. This bastard was the Akagi Shinji he knew!
"One of these days, I'm going to cut you down!"
Before you continue