Tsunami of Dead Tears: Part 2

Chapter 19

"PROTECT LORD HIROHITO!"

The young emperor never thought he would be so thankful for the presence of his bodyguards until now.

Despite their breaths reeking of alcohol, the slayers' postures retained a commanding stature. Their shoulders did not waver, even as their blades were out. The almost robotic motion of simultaneously drawing their swords made Hiro jump in surprise. It was one thing to see a man draw a sword. It was another thing for five men to draw their swords with near perfect synchronization.

This truly was the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Where's Tomioka-sama?!" One of them whispered to the other.

"No idea." The other responded. "Kamado and Kocho aren't here either. Don't they know there's a demon in here?!"

Hiro's eyes dilated as he heard this. Trying his best to peek beyond the bodies of his bodyguards, he caught a glimpse of the commotion. Being seated farther away from the bonfire, it wasn't easy to notice the finer details, but he was sure that he could see a man, who was a slayer, bent over and vomiting blood.

"He's dying, for kami's sake!" Hiro said to his bodyguards. "Why are you pointing your swords at him?!"

"That's not the scent of death, my lord." One of his bodyguards answered.

"Neither is it the sound." Another muttered.

How would they know? Were demon slayers that perceptive?! But what if... what if they're wrong?!

Around the vomiting man, other slayers were standing, hands on their sword handles. Suspiciously, there were a few who stayed seated, with their hands squeezing the edges of the chairs they sat on, as if trying to keep in something inside them.

"Quick! Cut his head off!" A slayer from the crowd shouted.

The slayer closest to the vomiting man inched forward and drew his blade. It hovered over his fellow slayer's neck, poised to strike... but the slayer didn't swing.

"What are you waiting for?!" demanded another slayer from the crowd.

The slayer with his blade out paused, then shook his head. He looked at the others, almost as if to shield his currently vomiting comrade.

"You guys, we can't just do this!" he shouted. "We should at least wait until he stops! What if he just had one too many drinks?! It's not worth it to just slay one of our comr-"

The slayer didn't get to finish his sentence, as the man who had been vomiting a few seconds ago sprung up and dug his teeth into the slayer's neck, spraying blood on the side of his face.

The other slayers stepped back in shock, drawing their swords. They were too terrified to save their friend, so all they did was watch as he was being ripped apart by the slayer-turned-demon. His stomach was mauled open, his blood gushing out as the demon tore through his blood vessels. It was a gnarly sight, one that no one could stop.

Suddenly, cries erupted from the crowd as well. The slayers who had not stood up were now gagging, falling on their knees and choking out blood, not too different from what had been happening with the slayer-turned-demon.

Hiro quietly gasped as he realized something. These men who were now vomiting out blood, they were the most reckless drinkers in the group. In fact, since three servings of alcohol didn't satisfy them enough, they were the only ones that drank the last serving of wine. Putting two and two together, he pushed against his bodyguards and popped his head out.

"It's the wine!" Hiro yelled. "There's demon blood in the wine!!!"

He was too late. The gagging slayers have already started attacking the crowd.