Chapter 80 - A Captive Bomb
Intense headache, nausea, and fatigue. Severe pain all over my body.
I can’t use magic in this state. I’m about to lose consciousness again. I could let it go. It hurts.
In a daze, I felt a sharp pain on my cheek, bringing me back to a slight state of awareness.
“Unbelievable, she’s a real wild one. Discipline is crucial from the start. Teach her a lesson.”
An unfamiliar voice with a sinister tone.
My body ached all over, especially my side and legs. My cheek stung—had I been slapped?
“Wake up already. I can’t wait any longer.”
I heard the sound of water, then suddenly couldn’t breathe.
“Huh!? Gag, gah, glub! Cough, cough!”
A forceful stream of water hit my face, and I woke up. I had inhaled some through my nose. My body wouldn’t move properly, and a cough sent pain radiating through me.
“Are you awake, wild one?”
I was indeed awake, but in pain and feeling very unwell. This isn’t a time for idle talk.
I immediately assessed the situation.
My vision was blurry and my field of view limited, but I could tell my hands were bound and hanging above me, and my boots had been removed, with weighted chains attached to my feet. No wonder I couldn’t move.
They had taken my coat and equipment, but at least I wasn’t stripped naked.
I tried to use Physical Enhancement Magic to break free.
“Ugh!?”
“Foolish. You can’t use magic. You’re about to learn the true terror of men and the limits of a woman.”
I finally grasped the situation. It was pitiful.
I had been captured completely, with physical restraints and a Magic-Sealing Bracelet. I had been severely beaten, and my body ached and felt unwell.
“Ugh, can I do whatever I want with her?”
A burly man with a slack face. Had he beaten me up? Maybe he’s a torturer.
“Sure, break her a little, but don’t kill her. She’s still useful.”
“I understand. I’ll make her do whatever you say. Hehe.”
A middle-aged man, likely a noble, whispered something to the torturer and handed him a mysterious small bag before leaving the room.
“From now on, I’m your master. Do you know what this is?”
Alone in the room, the torturer approached me and started saying disturbing things.
He opened the bag, and through my blurred vision, I saw a light pink powder, but I had no idea what it was.
“This is a precious magic potion. It will make you feel so good, a precious potion. Are you happy?”
I glared at him, and he immediately punched me in the face.
“Your master is asking if you’re happy!”
It hurt. He hit me hard. I’ll make him pay later!
He seemed satisfied by my pained, angry expression and started boasting about his prowess. I ignored his nonsense, trying to suppress my nausea and pain while thinking about what to do next and who the noble was.
He noticed I wasn’t listening and shouted at me.
“You can’t even listen, wild one! I’ll teach you some manners!”
The torturer set aside the bag and took out a whip, testing it on the floor.
This is bad. I’m used to pain from training, but I’ve never faced a whip. My body is already aching, and this will be too much. I might pass out before the whipping starts.
The situation is dire. I can’t see a way out. The pain is overwhelming, and the headache is getting worse. I might pass out before they start.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I heard a sharp whistling sound, followed by the impact of a whip and a scream.
“Ah!”
“Don’t you dare sleep, wild one! Take this! Take this! Hehe.”
The whip’s impact brought me back to consciousness, and then another strike.
His crude laughter echoed as the whip repeatedly lashed my body, causing severe damage.
Despite the pain, the specially made blouse and skirt from Torietta-san were so durable that they didn’t tear or come undone. They looked unharmed, but the fabric was gradually turning red from the blood underneath.
The pain was unbearable. Combined with my previous injuries, I was in a terrible state. I might die from these injuries alone.
But the intense pain and rage brought me fully awake. Thank you, scum.
Displeased with my defiant gaze, the torturer dropped the whip and slapped me hard again.
...I’ll get you later, scum.
“I’ll show you how great I am!”
What is he saying?
Before I could react with hatred and disgust, his hand reached for my chest.
“Ugh, it wouldn’t be fun to use the drug right away. Still, it’s a shame you’re not interested in a good woman like this. I can’t believe he’s into men.”
He slowly undid the buttons of my blouse, muttering to himself. A shiver of revulsion ran through me.
Intense rage surged, but I couldn’t resist. I need to act quickly.
I have to do something. What else can I do in this situation?
I suppressed all distractions and closed my eyes calmly.
“Have you given up? Good, stay still. Hehe, I can’t wait.”
I haven’t given up. I closed my eyes to focus.
First, I need to disable the Magic-Sealing Bracelet. I’ve never done this while in such poor condition and pain, but I have to.
...Oh, my head hurts, and I feel like vomiting. I can’t concentrate.
The man’s voice and touch made it harder to focus.
After several failed attempts, I managed to disable the bracelet using magic perception to grasp its structure and cancel the interference magic with precise manipulation.
I opened my eyes to see the torturer about to touch my exposed chest.
I immediately activated Physical Enhancement Magic.
Ignoring the pain, I ripped the chains binding my wrists and punched the burly torturer in the face.
“Gah!”
One punch wasn’t enough. I broke his nose, shattered his teeth, and crushed his cheekbone. I hadn’t channeled my rage into violence like this in a long time.
I didn’t kill him yet. I need to ask some questions. I’m proud of myself for maintaining my rationality despite the severe beating.
I delivered a final devastating blow to his liver, knocking him out on the dirty floor. Then, I started to tidy myself up.
I forced my aching body to stay upright. I looked like a mess. I chuckled despite the bloodied, battered state. My clothes and undergarments were intact, but my body was covered in cuts, bruises, and broken bones. I might die if left untreated.
...Well, I wasn’t being careful, but I was too complacent. I’ll take this as a lesson.
First, I used a super-complex recovery potion to heal my injuries and condition. While the pain was numbed by rage, I quickly generated and absorbed the potion. The pain vanished, and I was once again reminded of the power of magic.
Next, I removed all the restraints and used a purification spell to thoroughly clean my body and clothes. Finally, I could take a breath.
As I buttoned my blouse, I looked around for my coat and equipment, but they weren’t in the dark room.
They must have been taken elsewhere. I couldn’t bear the thought of my custom potions being used by some idiot.
Fortunately, my boots were nearby, so I wouldn’t have to walk barefoot.
I won’t leave anything behind. I’ll recover everything, every last bit.
For now, there’s something I need to know.
“Still, where am I?”
I don’t think I’ve been unconscious for days, and I don’t think I’m outside Exembra. I can only guess based on my hunger.
I don’t know who the middle-aged noble is or if he’s the mastermind. I need to get some information from the torturer to at least have a clue.
Then, how did I get captured? What caused me to lose consciousness suddenly?
It was probably a sleep-inducing gas. I don’t know if it was magic or a potion, but I fell for it.
They must have hidden it in the explosion to camouflage it. If their goal was to eliminate me, I would be dead now. If it had been a lethal poison instead of a sleep-inducing drug, I would be dead too.
I should have anticipated being targeted, not just using it myself. I need to reflect and come up with a countermeasure.
...Well, let’s explore this creepy room for now. It’s dark, but there are a lot of things scattered around. I might find something valuable.
I’ll try to light up the room.
I created several light orbs with light magic, illuminating every corner.
...This is...
What terrible taste. It makes me want to vomit.
This is clearly a torture room. There are all sorts of instruments, from unfamiliar to standard. Even an Iron Maiden is here.
Some of the instruments and platforms have fresh blood, indicating recent use. The blood pools suggest someone was here not long ago. The amount of blood suggests they didn’t survive.
I can see a large hole in the corner of the room. I have a bad feeling about it, but I don’t want to look.
Exploring this room seems futile.
The torturer, who I half-killed, is in no condition to talk. He’s barely conscious, but I’ll have to try.
I generated a mid-level recovery potion and poured it on him. He started to recover from the severe injuries I inflicted. This should be enough. I confirmed and then stepped on his right ankle, crushing it. I just need him to talk, not walk.
“Ah, ah! It hurts, it hurts! Do you know who I am!?”
“I don’t care. Who are you?”
“Didn’t you hear me before? I’m a member of the Gerdodus family! The duke will deal with you!”
“Quiet. Answer only what I ask. Why did the Gerdodus family target me?”
“Don’t know! I was just told to make you obedient!”
He doesn’t seem to be lying, and he’s not that smart. Knowing the name of the Gerdodus family is a start. I’ll have the Intelligence Unit investigate the family.
“Where are we? Is this the Gerdodus family’s mansion?”
“My leg hurts! You wild woman!”
I silently crushed his left ankle.
“Gaaaaah! You, you...”
“I said, if you answer, I won’t do this. What were you planning to do with me before? Next time, I’ll throw you into that hole.”
“Not that, please! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
It was a bluff, but I’m curious about that hole. It looks ominous.
“Now, answer. Where are we?”
The torturer, now more afraid of me, answered through the pain of his broken ankles. Even a scoundrel doesn’t want to die.
It turns out this is the Gerdodus family’s hideout.
The middle-aged noble is the second son of the former Gerdodus family of the old Brenark Kingdom. He’s not the head of the family, so his motives for kidnapping me are unclear. I’ll have the family investigated.
This hideout is in Exembra, and it’s in the McDallian Family’s territory. This can’t be a coincidence. But for now, knowing my location makes it easier to escape.
I asked him everything I could think of, but a mere torturer wouldn’t have much information. He didn’t know who else was in the mansion besides the middle-aged noble.
He also didn’t know where my coat and equipment were, as the middle-aged noble had taken them.
There’s no point staying in this creepy room. The Kikyo Society members must be worried. I’ll do what I need to and leave.
However, a direct breakthrough is risky. I don’t know how to counter the sleep-inducing gas or magic. I can’t afford to be captured again. I need a different plan.
I can detect where people are using magic perception. I’ll deal with everyone at once. That’s the plan.
Oh, right. I’ll recover the small bag of the strange pink powder. I need to analyze it and prepare a countermeasure. I’ll ask Rosabel and Colette to analyze it.
I put the bag in my skirt pocket and focused on magic perception.
Stealth isn’t my strong suit, but a direct approach would likely result in the gas or magic being used again. I need to locate and eliminate each one quietly, especially since it’s night. I don’t want to cause a disturbance.