I decided to return the Black Sword, but I haven’t probed everyone’s memories yet, nor have I turned them into spies. It’s a promise with the demon that if my wish doesn’t come true, they can do as they please.
What’s the point in returning it if I’m going to die anyway? When I think that, I start to feel reluctant to return it. If they don’t become spies, then everyone dies. If I really want to return it, do I have to take it to the tribe myself?
I’d rather not. For one thing, I don’t even know where it is. And what would I even say to the people of the tribe? “Excuse me. I’ve returned to bring back the Black Sword that I acquired by chance, after defeating all the Dark Elves who came to take it, and then torturing and killing the survivors. It seems the Black Sword belongs to you.” …That’s a death sentence, for sure.
I should try to make the surviving Dark Elves into slaves and return them peacefully. Orietta said she had some ideas, so I guess I’ll have to bet on that.
I placed the Black Sword at Marquis Rutland’s mansion, left Rufina and Orietta to their work, and headed with Christine to meet Manon Guiyu of the Hasuhanto Trading Company.
“…Those six people…”
“Yes?”
“…If only I had killed those six people back then…”
Let’s talk about something else! This is a fun carriage drive, after all. Don’t just stare straight ahead, look over here.
“…If they’re useless, I’ll kill them myself without waiting for Priscilla.”
You don’t have to say that while looking at me! This fun carriage ride is becoming so cold I’ll need a blanket.
Manon wasn’t at the Hasuhanto Trading Company. They said she was at the Hasuhanto mansion, so our chilled drive continued.
“Manon, it’s been a while. Do you have a blanket?”
“A blanket…?”
It was a joke, Manon! I was supposed to come to the Imperial Capital with Christine, being all lovey-dovey. The Dark Elves attacked too early. I can’t help but wish they had attacked after that forest.
I wanted to talk to Manon alone. I had warned Alana not to tell anyone the detailed story of how I acquired the Black Sword. But if Christine heard that I was implicated in embezzlement, she might just blow his heart out.
“It has been decided that the Imperial Knight Order will be dispatched to suppress the Lizardmen. The 6th Knight Order is currently in training.”
Manon’s face showed surprise, but she quickly swallowed her thoughts and now wore an expression of relief. After overcoming the sadness in their village and pleading for so long, their wishes were finally coming true. Perhaps she was so relieved that she felt a weight lifted from her chest.
“With this, I no longer need to take that money from back then, but I cannot return the Black Sword. That’s why I want to buy it from you.”
“You can consider it a gift, so please don’t worry about it.”
Even if you say that, if I don’t return the fee for the Black Sword, it will be embezzlement. Right now, it would just be considered disposing of inventory without permission. If they insisted on paying, they quoted a price that seemed like it was for an item in stock.
It seems Manon didn’t realize the Black Sword was a magic sword and intended to dispose of it as inventory. I was able to pay about half of it from my own funds. After that, I’ll sell off Orietta’s torture devices to get the rest of the money.
With this, my original objective in the Imperial Capital has been achieved. Now for the six Dark Elf sisters. It seems I can probe their memories, but what about the slave spies? Absolute obedience… I’m a little excited about that.
Leaving the Hasuhanto Trading Company, I was relieved to hear that Christine had only knocked out one of the company’s employees. So many men are drawn to Christine. I should praise her spirit of challenge.
I had imagined a gruesome scene in the underground of Marquis Rutland’s mansion, but they were simply stripped and tied up quietly.
“Rufina, have you finished with the memories?”
“This is the third person, but their memories are almost identical to the previous two.”
Hmm, I had imagined a more gruesome situation, but just stripping them down is fine. It’s fine, but is there any reason to make them naked and put them in a guillotine restraint?
They split a board in half, made holes for the hands and neck, and then put it back together after passing them through. They look like slaves on a slave ship, poor things. Even if they wanted to hide, their hands wouldn’t move.
“Please continue probing the memories of the remaining ones. Let me know if you discover anything new.”
“Does the captain know anything about slaves?”
About slaves, I only heard a little from Orietta on the way here. Between master and slave, there’s a blood contract, with prohibitions and punishments.
The prohibitions are things like “Do not attack me,” and the punishments are unilateral pain inflicted by the master, which can be applied within sight or automatically in conjunction with the prohibitions.
What I want is a slave with more freedom. A slave who can perform dangerous missions while being obedient. It’s quite convenient. Alana infiltrated the town of Cresta on a dangerous mission in her past life, but absolute obedience or loyalty is impossible for the Dark Elves who came to kill me.
Orietta seems to have something in mind, but if it doesn’t work out, they’ll become Christine’s prey. Six beautiful sisters… it feels like a waste to kill them, but it weighs on me.
“If they were slaves, I could do this~”
Orietta handed me a thin iron rod about two meters long. The tip was rounded, and small holes were drilled from the tip towards the sides.
At the other end was a small square box and a red button. I guess they’ll put a magic stone in the box. And then pressing the button will launch it?
“What is this?”
“This is a Chōya Kiki~ I bought it because I missed it after coming here~”
This is a Chōya Kiki!? …Even if you tell me, I don’t understand. I recall you saying it was a type of torture device, but do you just hit them with this iron rod?
Orietta grabbed one of the Dark Elves and forcibly pulled her down. Few can resist Orietta’s strength within the order.
The poor Dark Elf was on all fours, wearing a guillotine restraint and kneeling. Her behind was turned towards us, and her private parts were exposed. Perhaps she intends to use it as a “tail-whip”?
I was captivated by the Dark Elf’s long, slender legs, small behind, and tanned skin. Before I could say “Torture is forbidden,” Orietta snatched the Chōya Kiki from me and, to my dismay, thrust it into the Dark Elf’s private parts.
“GYA!”
She’d be surprised, naturally. She had an iron rod thrust into her. …No, that’s not it! What is Orietta doing?! Is she having fun abusing a poor captive?! Orietta can be either a dom or a sub; she seemed to be enjoying herself.
No, no, no, I have to stop this!
No, no, no, maybe I should watch a little longer…
“Further in…”
How far can it go?! The mystery of the female body?! Did it go in as far as my short sword?! What the…
“Ah! Guh… Kh, Ah!”
“Orietta!”
This is too much! What were you thinking, shoving an iron rod into a woman’s nether regions! The only thing that should be shoved in there is a male partner! And of course, with consent.
“And this is where you put the magic stone~”
Is she not listening to me at all? Orietta pushed a red magic stone into the box at the handle of the Chōya Kiki. I thought they’d use a yellow lightning-element or blue water-element magic stone, but it seems to be different.
Red magic stones represent fire. They’re common in every household, used for streetlights and cooking stoves, but this Chōya Kiki also…
Chōya Kiki.
Chōyakiki.
Intestine-Roaster!
I bolted like a rabbit and kicked the behind where the Chōya Kiki was embedded, sending the Dark Elf tumbling forward. Immediately, she aimed the Chōya Kiki, held by Orietta, upwards, and the ensuing flames scorched the ceiling.
Wow, pretty. The flames spouting from the holes at the tip of the Chōya Kiki spread like a lick across the entire ceiling, reminding me of a scene from a fire movie.
“What’s wrong~?”
Ah, to Orietta, looking up at me, I want to headbutt her with all my might. Fortunately, it was a basement, so there was nothing flammable on the ceiling. The Dark Elf with the Chōya Kiki stuck in her might not have seen it, but the other five saw the flames licking the ceiling.
What if, with the Chōya Kiki still inserted, flames had burst out… One fainted and fell, another wet herself. Will they be able to become slave spies like this?
“Orietta, I told you all the torture was to be done *after* everything was finished!”
“That’s right~”
She’s cute, so I’ll forgive her. No, I shouldn’t forgive her. Orietta, with her gothic lolita dress, looking up with wide eyes, hands clasped at her mouth, asserting her cuteness… I feel no shame in forgiving her.
“I used to make bets with this Chōya Kiki~ The bet was whether the first flame would come out of their mouth or their stomach~”
So, it’s like horse racing?! You expect me to believe that! What happens to the one it’s inserted into?! Gambling with torture devices is prohibited!
Without further ado, I grabbed Orietta by the scruff of her neck and we left the basement. I asked Rufina to continue probing memories, and threw Orietta into Marquis Rutland’s library.
She must have worked hard for one day. Tomorrow is a rest day from training, so I’ll stay at Marquis Rutland’s annex and get some good rest today.
Good night.
“Captain~”
I just said good night! She still wants something. It’s Orietta. It’s late, but thank you for your hard work on your research. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?
“Captain~ Is it okay~?”
“It’s fine. What is it?”
“I think I’m getting close to a lead on that slave spy.”
Good news is always welcome. This means we might not have to kill the six sisters. Those six sisters are quite something, it would be a waste to kill them. I want to dote on them as junior sisters of the White Lily Corps.
“It seems like it will take a little time~ I want Rufina-chan to help too~”
Orietta had been making useful things with alchemy, but this takes priority. We’ll have Sophia-san work in Rufina’s stead.
“How much time will it take?”
“For all six, about a month~”
What should I do about that? Having two of them absent during the Lizardman subjugation would be a significant drop in combat power. The training has one more week left, including a practical exercise with the undead at the end. The following week will be for leave and preparation, followed by mobilization.
“Will two be ready by the time we mobilize?”
“Since it starts with preparations, at best two~ One, maybe~ By the way, Captain, this kind of slave is called a ‘Shadow’.”
“Shadow,” huh? Losing two combatants and maybe getting one Shadow, which is uncertain. I can’t cause too much trouble for Marquis Rutland. I need to leave early.
“Please proceed according to Orietta’s plan. One Shadow. Please manage somehow.”
“Understood~ I’ll do my best~”
Orietta didn’t leave even after our conversation ended. That’s right, it’s Orietta’s guard duty today. Orietta may not stand out, but she is an indispensable and formidable force within the White Lily Corps.
Priscilla’s armor, Alana’s weapons, and my left prosthetic hand are all thanks to Orietta’s work. I’ll return the Black Sword, and eventually, I’ll have her make my weapons too.
Orietta’s large eyes well up with tears. I hug her and give her a light kiss.
“Captain~”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Next time, I want to try out that hobbyhorse I bought~”
“Who?”
“Oli-chan does~”
“With whom?”
“With the Captain~”
I immediately pushed her down and used Godspeed and my prosthetic arm’s rampage. I couldn’t think about the consequences. In just ten minutes, silence. I have to admit, I was desperate.
