Frozen Island returned to its usual calmness.
A sound of birds chirping innocently in the forest.
The sound of snow falling from the sky.
It seemed calm but also creepy at the same time.
The forest was so dark that you can't even see your own body.
The Fortress has become calm after a very hectic day.
They managed to fight against the Mutated Beasts, and now the area around Fortress was filled with corpses of Mutated Beasts.
Peter was standing on top of the Fortress walls, looking towards the forest.
A few moments later, a soldier walked next to him.
The soldier saluted and said, ''Kurogami Ichiro hasn't returned.''
Peter sighed and waved his hand.
The soldier nodded and left.
The forest was quiet… Very quiet.
It was like there aren't thousands of Mutated Beasts finding the best time to eat them all.
He had his phone in his hand, debating whether he should call the Mayor of Coldland about Ichiro's situation— he could then talk about Abyss about it.
But, he put it back in his pocket.
Tomorrow he will go search for him… He hopes that he is alive.
The night time is even dangerous for him.
He can only hope…
That Ichiro can survive the night in the Frozen Island.
It is a feat not many can do.
…
In a small dark cave.
A campfire was lit up, and a handsome black-haired young man was sitting in front of it.
There were 6 unconscious figures around the campfire and a massive wild bear behind him.
On top of the campfire, a piece of meat was cooking.
Mutated Beasts are delicious— it gives excellent nourishment as well.
Soon.
The unconscious figures started waking up.
The first thing they saw was a campfire and then felt their hands tied up.
''ARGH!'' Rick squirmed around, trying to get rid of the robes.
Ichiro put his hand on Rick's mouth.
Rick glared at Ichiro, but then he saw his cold eyes.
''Do you want to die?'' Ichiro asked with a bone-chilling voice.
Rick gulped and shook his head.
''Then shut the fuck up…'' Ichiro looked out of the cave towards the dark forest, ''Mutated Beasts are near…''
Rick went pale.
Everyone else barely dared to breathe.
Ichiro was debating whether he should use the campfire.
But he had to— otherwise, they all will die because of cold.
The weather was getting colder each passing minute, and the campfire was the only thing keeping them safe from all that cold.
Rick and others looked at the dark forest.
Even though it seemed silent.
They felt like some extremely strong Beast was gazing at them with a drooling face.
Couldn't wait to get his fangs on their tasty flesh.
Ichiro took the meat and cut it into seven pieces— he threw six other pieces for Rich and others.
They clumsily grabbed them, and with difficulty, started eating it.
''T-Thanks…'' Maria said shyly.
She was extremely embarrassed that Ichiro was treating them so well, even though they tried to kill him a few hours ago.
''Don't thank me. I will hand you guys over to the soldiers— they will decide your punishment.'' Ichiro said and took a bite from the meat.
Rick and others sighed.
Soon, they finished their meal, and the cave returned to its ordinary calmness.
Maria and two other women in the group snuggled in close to each other and tried to get a wink of sleep.
Rick's two male friends also fell asleep.
Rick was lying on the ground eyes closed.
Ichiro resisted snorting.
He knows that Rick is acting sleeping.
The moment he falls asleep, Rick will kill him.
Ichiro shook his head and took the Book of Etiquette from the Book.
The second page was named [Mindless Killing is not what Gentlemen does]
Ichiro started reading the book and his eyes glowed in silver, and a portion of his hair turned white.
He felt very reluctant to keep Rick alive.
He wouldn't mind letting others live, but Rick will definitely endanger their lives.
The book says that the reader has to trust his own judgment to make the decisions.
Not decisions that will be easiest to execute, but decisions which, in his opinion, is a better choice.
Ichiro feels like killing Rick will give him a lot of trouble in the future.
Letting him live has its own dangers, but it feels like the better option.
The second page was still about the first volume, making sure of his feelings.
After 10 pages.
He will find out his true feelings.
Either his feelings will ultimately die.
Or his feelings will burn like wildfire.
He kept reading for another hour.
Until… He heard the sound of a twig getting broken outside the cave.
Ichiro perked up his ears.
He put the book back to the inventory and stood up.
Maria and others were deep in sleep.
Rick was still acting like he was asleep.
But, he flinched when the sound of twigs getting broken was heard.
Ichiro put the twigs on the ground to be a signal if some Beast is approaching.
Ichiro crouched next to Rick and whispered, ''Stay down— if you move, I might accidentally cut your head off.'' With those words, he started walking out of the cave.
Rick went pale.
But he kept acting like he was in sleep.
Ichiro was holding one of his swords, and he couldn't see a thing in the forest.
He moved sneakily, and after he walked 50 meters out of the cave, he stopped!
*SWOOSH*
A figure with incredible speed left the tree— he opened his massive jaw and took a large bite!
He thought that he was successful in his sneak attacks.
But out of nowhere, Ichiro appeared next to the dark figure.
The dark figure could only widen his eyes as Ichiro's sword beheaded him.
The dark figure fell down to the ground— his head flew somewhere in the dark forest.
Ichiro used the tree to wipe the blood out of the blade and returned to the cave.
While he was walking towards the cave, he felt at least 10 different gazes locked at him.
The cave is…
Surrounded!