28 - Wounded Pride, Wounded Heart
Ray's steps toward the prison were heavier than usual. The words Julius had specifically come to his room to deliver were casting a shadow over Ray's heart.
The order was to dispose of Rui quickly.
Fumiya's behavior seemed to have calmed down slightly, but that appeared to have made it easier to act. The Kingdom had judged that if they acted now, Fumiya would not be greatly confused.
That wasn't all. The biggest reason was the strength Ray had displayed to those around him at the training grounds. From the way Julius spoke, Ray judged that the Kingdom was more hurried about the activities in the Forest of Bewilderment they intended for Ray to undertake afterward than they were about the matter of Rui.
Acquiring a certain level of strength was as he had hoped, but Ray felt complex emotions knowing that it had pushed the decision to make Rui disappear.
Regardless, the deadline had arrived. The next visit would be the time to act.
Reviewing things he had already confirmed many times, Ray proceeded through the prison.
The prison was separated from the outside by a deep moat. To leave the prison and go outside, one had to cross the only connecting suspension bridge.
The suspension bridge was lowered only when people entered or exited. The lifting and lowering device was inside a small building located right next to the prison gate. At least two guards were stationed inside. Furthermore, there were guards on the high wall above the gate.
And beyond that was the entrance to the building. Passing through the entrance, there was an immediate reception desk, where one performed the necessary procedures before entering further.
Beside a corridor blocked by iron bars, the door would be opened upon showing proof of reception. And passing through that door, another set of iron bars stood immediately before him. Between them was the guards' station, where, from what he had seen so far, six to ten guards waited. The number fluctuated depending on who was out on patrol.
Passing that and proceeding straight, the corridor turned right. Heading that way led to the general cells where Ray had been confined, but Rui's cell was a special cell in the basement.
Opening the front door where a guard stood, he descended the stairs leading to the basement.
After reaching the bottom of the stairs and moving right, there was the guard station for the entrance to the special cells. The corridor beyond was blocked by iron bars. Beyond that was the cell where Rui was.
Because there were few cells, the prison was considerably smaller than those Ray knew from the knowledge of his original world. It was decided that serious criminals would either be executed or sent to forced labor, which could be called equivalent to execution. In cases of light crimes, fines were mostly imposed. If those could not be paid, they would be reduced to slaves. In this world, there was no custom of keeping prisoners in jail for long.
Ultimately, the only way to escape from there was through brute force. Get the door blocking the corridor opened, and kill that guard. Without being noticed by others.
He had thought about various things, but in the end, he couldn't think of any other means. Originally, in a period of less than half a year, it was impossible to make preparations for a jailbreak that wouldn't be noticed by others.
He had once wondered if he should have followed Fumiya's lead and moved Rui into the castle, but the castle was far wider than the prison. In a state where he still hadn't grasped the overall layout, he concluded that the narrow prison was much better.
Checking the procedures and the place where Rui was hidden one by one, Ray reached the final guard.
Ray tried to exchange greetings cheerfully as usual, but he noticed the guard's behavior was a bit strange.
"Did something happen?"
"Isn't today a different day of the week?"
As the guard said, Ray was visiting on a different day than usual. Since the next visit was the day of execution, he had asked Julius to let him indulge in a little luxury for the last time. In Ray's hands were food and drinks he didn't usually bring in.
"Ah, today is special. But originally, there shouldn't be any restrictions on the days for visits, right?"
"T-that's true, but..."
"Is there some inconvenience?"
"...A guest has arrived."
"A guest? That's strange. There shouldn't be anyone other than me who can visit. Is it an interrogation?"
"A-ah. Yes. I heard it was a sudden interrogation."
"...By the way, who?"
Ray felt suspicious of what the guard said. He knew that an interrogation of Rui had long since become unnecessary. That was why the order to dispose of Rui had been issued.
"W-who knows? I don't know about the big shots."
"That can't be right. You must have checked the permit."
"That's..."
The guard was at a loss for words. Then, Ray remembered the words spoken at the reception. The person at the reception had told Ray that he was earlier than they had heard. Ray had thought that referred to the interval between his visits being shorter than usual, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Then, who did the reception "hear" from?
"You let someone through without a permit, didn't you?"
"............"
"Who is it? Who has come here?"
"...The Hero."
"The Hero? That's impossible. The Hero is supposed to be forbidden from meeting the demon race. Don't tell me you don't know that?"
The person visiting the cell was an unexpected figure. As far as Ray knew, such a thing should not be permitted.
"I was told he had permission..."
"The permit?"
"There isn't one. There isn't, but the Hero spoke strongly... I couldn't defy him."
"You were threatened, weren't you? Told something reckless, like he'd report your defiance to your superiors."
"T-that's right."
"What a foolish thing to do. If this gets out, you won't get off easy. Open the door immediately."
"A-ah."
Not only the Hero who deceived him, but the guard would undoubtedly be punished. Moreover, while the Hero might not be punished, the guard would be.
"Also, please call Julius-sama quickly."
"Julius-sama from the Mage Corps?"
"Yes."
"If I do that, I'll..."
His blunder would be discovered. The guard worried about that, but that was an unauthorized entry.
"Even if you hide it here, it'll be found out eventually. You went through reception, didn't you? I mean, why did reception let him through?"
"That, I don't..."
"Well, that's for later. Anyway, hurry."
"A-ah."
Hurriedly taking out the key and opening the door, the guard immediately headed toward the stairs leading to the surface. He went to deliver the message to Julius.
(With this, if Fumiya weren't here, it would be a chance in a sense.)
(Should I deceive him and make him help me lead them outside?)
(It's a good idea... but anyway, let's go to Rui. I'm curious what Fumiya came to do.)
Passing through the door the guard had opened, he headed deeper. Descending the stairs and proceeding through the corridor, he didn't hear any voices at all.
Feeling a vague sense of dread at that, Ray decided to proceed while erasing his presence.
He reached the iron bars of the inner cell where Rui and Fumiya were supposed to be.
"!"
Seeing the scene inside the cell, Ray stood frozen, unable to comprehend the reality before his eyes.
Rui lay there, face distorted in pain, with Fumiya looming over her. Clothes were torn, and Rui's exposed white skin seemed to glow faintly in the dim cell.
Fumiya had his face close to that body, running his hands over her while vigorously moving his exposed lower body.
As Ray watched the scene in a daze, his gaze met the gaze of Rui, who had turned her head away to avoid looking at Fumiya.
"N-no... don't look! Aaaaaah!"
A scream echoed from Rui's mouth. That voice brought Ray back to his senses.
"Rui! Are you okay!?"
"Eh! Ah! Uwaah!"
Fumiya also regained his senses. Noticing Ray staring at them from outside the cell, Fumiya hurriedly pulled away from Rui.
"No! This is, it's different!"
"What do you mean different!? You bastard, what did you do to Rui!"
"N-nothing!"
"Don't lie!"
"C-could you listen to me? This is, y-yes, I was deceived by the demon."
"Deceived!? Don't mess with me! You... I can't forgive you, I'll kill you!"
"Y-you couldn't possibly kill me!? Who do you think I am!?"
Saying so, Fumiya picked up the sword that had been rolled on the floor. Ray, on the other hand, did not have a sword. Being allowed to hold a real sword was not permitted for Ray.
"...Tch, it can't be helped."
Ray didn't have the confidence to win in a fight against Fumiya, who was actually the Hero. Though it was against his will to leave her near Fumiya, Ray chose to close the cell door and lock it.
"A-open it!"
Seeing that, Fumiya panicked again.
"Julius-sama will be here soon. Until then, stay in there."
"Julius... wait a moment, can't we talk this over?"
"There's nothing to talk over. In the first place, how long do you intend to expose that filthy thing?"
"Ah..."
Fumiya's lower body was still exposed. Noticing this at Ray's words, Fumiya hurriedly pulled up the trousers he had taken off.
Averting his gaze from Fumiya, Ray spoke to Rui in a consciously gentle tone.
"Rui. I know you hate this, but please bear with it. It'll only be for a little while."
"D-don't look. Don't look at me..."
Even though Ray spoke to her, Rui remained with her back turned. Hugging her knees, she made no attempt to look toward Ray.
"I understand. I won't look..."
"You, what do you think will happen after doing something like this?"
Having regained some composure, Fumiya questioned Ray.
"That's my line. Do you think you're forgiven for anything just because you're the Hero? Ah, you're not qualified to be called a Hero."
"I wonder about that."
"What?"
"I'm allowed a considerable amount of leeway. I don't think I'll be punished for something of this level."
"...That will become clear eventually."
Fumiya spoke with absolute confidence. Ray felt uneasy at that attitude. The agitation had completely vanished from the emotions radiating from Fumiya.
"I've made quite a few selfish demands until now. I've even laid hands on maids. Even so, I've never been told anything. This country is soft on the Hero."
"...You... were you perhaps testing that?"
Ray also knew of Fumiya's bad reputation. He had thought that Fumiya, who had been popular in his original world, would be perceived differently by the people of this other world, but that wasn't it.
"Even though I'm called the Hero, I didn't know what that actually meant."
"So you deliberately did things to be hated."
"No, I didn't intend to be hated. I just wanted to confirm how much value I had."
"...For something like that, you did this to Rui."
"No, this is different. I just thought we'd get along... but this woman seduced me."
"Don't lie!"
It was impossible for Rui to seduce him. If it happened, it would be through charm.
"I've heard that women of the Vampio race are like that."
"That's not true."
"...This is troublesome. I wonder how I should explain it for you to understand?"
"There's no way you'd understand a lie... and let me tell you, there's a barrier cast inside. No matter how much of a Hero you are, you can't break these iron bars."
To Fumiya, who was casually trying to approach the iron bars, Ray mentioned the existence of the barrier as a deterrent. Ray didn't actually know if Fumiya, who possessed the power of the Hero, could break it or not.
"...I get it. Then I have no choice but to wait for Julius."
Without doubting Ray's words, Fumiya gave up and sat on the floor. Accordingly, Ray also sat on the floor. Not because he was tired, but to casually reach into his Shadow Space.
Among the things in the space that could be used as weapons were a dull kitchen knife that had been left in the kitchen as if to be thrown away, and a piece of equipment from the training grounds shaped like a hammer.
Both were things Ray had secretly stolen. Neither was something that could be used in a fight against Fumiya, the Hero.
Having no choice, Ray gave up on killing Fumiya on the spot and waited for Julius to visit.
After spending some awkward time, Julius finally appeared.
"What is this?"
"The Hero was attacking a demon. By 'attacking,' I mean in a sexual sense."
"What?"
"No! I didn't do such a thing!"
Fumiya pleaded his innocence to Julius in a panicked manner. Ray already knew that this was an act.
"Anyway, could you take the Hero away from here?"
"I suppose so."
"Ah, before that. Hand over the sword."
"I refuse."
Fumiya rejected Ray's request. That was expected. Just because he was refused didn't mean Ray intended to give up immediately.
"Then, just stay locked up here. You'll either be put in a cell or under house arrest somewhere in the castle anyway. It's the same thing."
"Julius...?"
Fumiya sought help from Julius, but...
"...Fumiya-sama. Please hand it over. This situation is extremely problematic."
The serious Julius would not allow it. Otherwise, there would have been no point in having the guard tell him to come here.
"...Fine."
Told by Julius, Fumiya pushed the sword he held through the iron bars. Ray snatched it from the side as it was offered to Julius.
"Kamui-kun?"
"I'm putting an end to things today. That's why."
"...Ah, I see. Understood. Then, could you open the lock?"
"Yes."
Opening the lock of the cell door, Ray immediately put distance between himself and the door and readied the sword. This was in case Fumiya tried something. However, he thought the possibility was low. Fumiya had confidence in becoming innocent. There was no need for him to do anything clumsy here.
"What happens after I leave the cell?"
Having left the cell, Fumiya questioned Julius with an anxious expression.
"Well, you won't be put in a cell. I think you'll wait for His Majesty's decision while remaining in your room."
"I see."
Showing a look of relief at those words, Fumiya began walking toward the exit.
"...Then, a report later."
"Yes."
Telling Ray only that, Julius also hurried after Fumiya toward the exit. Once the two were out of sight, Ray passed through the door and entered the cell.
Rui still had her back turned.
"Rui."
"Don't come close. Go away."
"I can't do that, can I?"
Ray took off his jacket and forcibly pushed Rui's body, which was still facing away, backward.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Keep this on."
Without glancing at Rui's body, which had been exposed by being pushed over, Ray handed her the jacket he had taken off.
"...Hm. No, I'm asking what you're doing?"
"I'm escaping, obviously. I've got a real sword. I can't let this opportunity slip."
"But the chains?"
"I'm going to remove them now. So, just lie still."
Pulling Rui's one arm toward him, Ray began preparing something. What he took out of his pocket was a small, wedge-like object made of iron.
"With something like that..."
"Ah, right. I can't take it out here."
Saying so, Ray stepped out of the cell for a moment, and when he returned, he had a large hammer. It was something he had kept in his Shadow Storage.
"What's that?"
"I stole it from the training grounds. The tip isn't pointed, but this wedge makes up for that. Let's see... like this?"
Forcing the tip of the wedge into the ring of the chain, he swung the hammer down with all his might. After repeating this about twice, the ring of the chain bent significantly at the joint.
"Oh, it's easier than I thought. I guess it was worth training."
He removed the chains connecting the other arm and both legs in the same way. Rui watched this with an expression of surprise.
"...Done. Hey, can you stand?"
"............"
"Hey?"
"The chains are off, but how are we going to escape from here?"
"Right, I'll explain first. There are roughly four places to break through. After leaving the cell and turning the corridor, there's an iron bar door. After making the guard open the lock, I'll kill him right there. Until then, Rui, hide in the corner."
Regarding this, Ray had confidence that he could succeed without problem. The guard shouldn't suspect Ray at this point.
"And after that?"
"When we go up the stairs, there's a door. That's luck. If a guard is standing there, I'll kill him without being noticed. If they're not there because of a patrol, I'll head straight for the next iron bars. Until then, Rui, hide in the shadow of the door."
"And then?"
"After that, just like the first time, I'll make them open the door and kill everyone there."
"How many are there?"
"A bit over ten, maybe? Well, it's fine. I think I've acquired that much strength."
He thought it was a clumsy plan. But if the opponent wasn't on guard, it would work out. Ray had that confidence.
"What's beyond that?"
But Rui asked about the plan even further ahead.
"You're asking that far? After that, we're already outside the building. I'll somehow lower the suspension bridge and leave the prison."
"There are guards there too, right?"
"Yeah. But I'll manage somehow."
As expected, Ray lacked confidence from this point on. He might be able to get out of the prison. But he thought it was impossible to avoid the escape being noticed.
"What if we fail?"
"I'll just die. It's no big deal."
He had long since made this resolve.
"Once we're out of the prison?"
"Hey, what's wrong? Once we get that far, we just run. It'll be a matter of taking things as they come."
"This is the royal capital, you know? Can we really escape with such haphazardness?"
"I told you. Even if I fail, I just die... Do you hate dying after all?"
He had made his resolve. But Ray realized he hadn't confirmed it with Rui.
"It's not that. I want to die right now."
"Then don't be afraid."
"That's why I'm saying it's not that. I'm fine, but you'll end up dying too, right?"
"What about it?"
"If you just kill me now, you won't have to die. You can keep living in the castle, right?"
"Rui, what are you talking about? I'm training in the castle to save you."
Ray hadn't thought about surviving alone. If it happened that only Rui died, he intended to take revenge on the people who created this situation.
Of course, he believed that he would never fully achieve that and would end up dying halfway through.
"I don't need to be saved. I'm already stained."
"...Rui."
"So kill me, and you live."
"Rui might get angry if I put it this way, but think of what happened earlier as being bitten by a beast."
"I can't."
"Even if it's painful now, you'll be able to forget it as time passes. No, I'll make you forget. We'll live leisurely together and do various fun things. Let's heal the wounds little by little."
Ray didn't know if the emotional wounds would truly heal with that. These were just words to make Rui want to escape.
"I have no right to live with you. I am stained."
"That's not true. Rui, you aren't stained. Don't say things like that."
"I am... stained."
No matter how much Ray spoke, Rui would not accept it.
"Rui. I'll say it once more. It must be painful, but to give up on living because of a single occurrence..."
"It wasn't once."
"Eh...?"
"Today wasn't the first time. Many times already, I've been..."
"...You're lying, right?"
"It's not a lie. I've been... violated countless times."
"W-why? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
Ray was greatly shaken by Rui's shocking confession.
"I didn't want to be despised by you."
"There's no way I'd despise you! That bastard... I'll kill him!"
"It wasn't that guy today."
"What...?"
"Different men. Not just one. I've been... by many men..."
"You're... lying... right?"
"You understand now, don't you? Just kill me already. My pride has been destroyed without a single fragment remaining. I want to die."
"How... I'm sorry. I, I didn't notice anything."
Ray hadn't noticed at all that Rui had been put through such things. He felt miserable and resentful of his own carelessness.
"I didn't want you to notice. Actually, I wanted to die without you ever knowing."
"Rui..."
"Don't tell me to live anymore, okay? As a member of the Vampio race, I cannot permit any more humiliation than this."
"...Even so, I want Rui to live."
He had killed Kamiira for the same reason. That was why he didn't want to do the same thing.
"It's impossible. I no longer have the will to live. If you won't do it, I'll do it myself."
"Rui..."
Rui had completely given up on living. Ray didn't know how to persuade such a Rui.
"Hey, will you grant me one last request?"
"A request?"
"Hold me. If you don't hate a stained me."
"...Is that, as a man and woman?"
"Yes."
"Why... no, I also..."
Rui's feelings toward him. Ray hadn't understood that either. He hadn't understood Rui. He realized that now.
"You're head over heels for Mother. I'd given up. Ah, that's a lie. Maybe, I thought that someday you might think of me..."
"...That's true. Once I become a bit more of an adult, I'll probably come to like Rui."
"Nothing but lies."
"It's true. Because Rui is very beautiful."
"I don't want sympathy. It's useless to try and deceive me."
"Rui..."
Rui, like Kamiira, was reading Ray's emotions. Even if he lied, it would be found out immediately.
"If you're going to sympathize, then for the last time, me..."
"...I understand."
Having made up his mind, Ray pressed his lips against Rui's. As he did, he gently pushed Rui's body down.
"D-do you know how?"
"...From the knowledge of my original world."
He couldn't tell Rui that he had already experienced it. While feeling pain in his heart, Ray lied.
"What kind of knowledge is that?"
"It's that kind of world. Well, it's just knowledge in my head, so I'm not confident. But, well, I'll do my best."
"Mm, yeah."
Rui's white, glowing skin began to turn a faint pink. At the same time, a powerful force of Charm was released from her. It was strong enough to shake even Ray, who had resistance.
"Rui..."
"Ah..."
"What?"
"I-it might feel a little good..."
"Y-you idiot. Don't say embarrassing things."
Ray's face turned red just like Rui's body. Even after starting the act, he couldn't immerse himself purely in sexual desire for a woman. The embarrassment was stronger.
"...As I thought, I really do like you."
Rui was different from Ray. The act with Ray gave Rui pleasure as a woman. It was Rui's first experience.
"...Rui."
Calling Rui's name, Ray slowly sank his member into Rui.
"Ngh... ah, Ray."
Rui clung to Ray's body. To such a Rui, Ray continued to caress her gently, as gently as could be. As if confirming each of Rui's reactions one by one.
Rui's voice responded honestly to it. The two had been in a relationship like siblings. Now, in this moment, they loved each other as a man and a woman.
—The one who stopped that time, which felt like it could continue forever, was Rui.
"E-enough."
"What?"
"J-just like this... ngh."
"Not yet. I want to love Rui more."
Delaying. Even if it was a useless struggle, Ray couldn't not do it.
"N-no. Ray, p-please... while I'm happy."
She wanted to meet death in this moment, the happiest moment. That was what Rui thought.
"But..."
"N-now is, i-is good. P-please."
"...I see... yeah, I understand. Then, just like this."
"Yeah."
Ray took the sword lying beside him and pointed the tip toward Rui's chest.
"Rui. I love you. Goodbye."
"I love you, too."
As Rui quietly closed her eyes, Ray thrust it into her chest all at once. Without letting out a sound of pain, Rui accepted it with a smile.
"Kuh..."
Ray suppressed the urge to scream.
Eventually, it was the same as with Kamiira. A quiet flame flared up from Rui's body. Gently separating his body from Rui, Ray watched it. In a short while, Rui's body turned to ash.
(...Are you okay?)
(Worst of all, since it's the second time, maybe I've gotten used to it. There's not as much confusion as before. Are you okay yourself? You seem terribly shaken.)
(...I am you. If you're shaken, I am too.)
(I see...)
That synchronization had been drifting quite a bit lately, but the primary personality, Ray, didn't question it.
(What now?)
He had fulfilled the terrible promise of killing Rui. Now, Ray could do as he pleased.
(You know, don't you?)
(Are you planning to die?)
(I can't forgive it.)
(Not the one who defiled Rui, but yourself?)
(That's right.)
Ray's anger was directed more toward himself than anyone else. Every time he visited Rui, he should have felt guilt that his own life was fulfilling.
And yet, he had forgotten it immediately, felt a sense of fulfillment in his daily training, and drowned in his relationship with Cecil at night. He simply could not forgive that version of himself.
With the sword in hand, Ray left the cell and headed toward the guard.
The look in the guard's eyes when he saw Ray made Ray realize that this guard was one of the people he had to kill.
"You took quite a long time, didn't you?"
"I was enjoying myself a bit."
"Hah, quite the nerve."
"You're one to talk, aren't you? You too, right? Since when?"
"As if I'd talk about that honestly."
This was the same as admitting it. Even if it weren't, it didn't matter to Ray. This guard knew. That was enough.
"Then, tell me something else."
"What?"
"Who else is there? Tell me all the names of the men who attacked Rui."
"D-don't be ridiculous."
"You don't want to say? Do you think I'll allow that!?"
A flash of the sword. Ray cut off the guard's right arm from the elbow down.
"Gyaaaaaah! M-my arm! My arm!"
"If you don't want your other arm cut off too, tell me the names."
"It hurts! H-help me!"
"Tell me the names quickly. Or will you just die like this?"
"I-I understand. I'll say it. I'll say it, so help me."
In reality, even if he were told the names, Ray wouldn't know who they were. But that was fine. He could just investigate who they were later. If he stayed alive.
"I see. Four people, then."
"H-help me."
"Yeah, I'll make it easy for you now."
"Ngh, gah!"
The guard's head flew up along with a spray of blood. Bathed in it, his figure stained bright red, Ray ran up the stairs.
"Hey! What was that scream!? Ngh, gwaah!"
Cutting down the guard at the door without a word, Ray proceeded further. But that was as far as he got. Appearing before Ray's eyes were knights who shouldn't have been there.
"This is... I'll hear the circumstances later. For now, you'll come with us."
"And if I say no?"
"I'll strike you down."
"Ah, I see. Then it can't be helped. I'll just defeat you and move forward."
"Are you sane, you? Have you forgotten my face?"
"Are you mocking me? You're Sieg, one of the Three Pillars of the Kingdom's Knights, right?"
"And knowing that..."
"Hah, it's not about whether I can win or not. If you're in the way, I'll just face you!"
Raising the sword high, Ray charged straight at Sieg. Sieg was slightly shaken by Ray's demeanor, but the current Ray was not an opponent he could possibly win against.
The sword he swung down was knocked into the air, and Sieg's sword swung into his wide-open torso. With that single blow, Ray collapsed onto the floor.
"Sieg-sama."
"...He's just unconscious. Carry him to the castle."
"Yes, sir."
Sieg followed slowly, without rushing, behind the knights carrying Ray, who was stained bright red with blood. While wiping a small smudge of blood from his cheek.
"That actually reached... though it was the first move, to fail to read it. Geel found quite the monster."