Cruelty (2)

"Looks like they're fine," I just tuned in to the situation at Nine's side using [God's Eye]. The three of them made it safe and sound.

The daily quests aren't flashing red anymore, so I guess mission accomplished. Actually, now that I think about it, the quests do appear faintly red at times, I just never noticed.

I got up and dusted the snow off my hair and cloak. The sky is getting dark, like really dark. Snow is starting to fall and it's getting hard to see around here.

Just one last check, Prune's not replying for some reason. I thought she'd be interested in..

Hah? Where's her marker?

I tuned in using [God's Eyes] and..

THE FUCK IS THIS?!

I quickly set this shitty assholes AGI stats to 0.00000000000000000000000000001

"What the fuck, the fuck..."

Okay, so currently Prune's in the apartment and..

I tried to evoke the door but the notice which says it's being materialized elsewhere appears..

What the hell do I know? Does Liliath and Nine know about this? No, no, no. I need to get that guy away from Prune first.

I decided to just spend 100 points to use the Teleportation widget.

And I teleported to just the right spot.

"You asshole!"

I dragged him away from Prune who was laying openly on the couch.

"Y------------ O-------" his speech slurred to a fucking snail.

I smash his head to the ground and casted [Absolute End]

"Prune are you al.."

"Help. Help, Help," she kept repeating that phrase like a broken machine. Her body was completely naked and she was forced into position with one of her legs bent. I wanted to shake her awake from her stupor because of how she continued dallying like some princess in distress… Like I don't fucking care anymore about the fact that I saw everything.

I brought my outstretched hand closer but stopped..

That's..

A slave collar.

"H-help. Help.." she begged, moaned, tears continued to stream down those lifeless eyes.

Quivering, I glanced at the asshole of a sleeping beauty on the floor. The slave collar, my guess is the reason why she was forced into doing this. Is she being held down by some effect?

[Slave collar: Temporarily contracted to Francis Julo]

"Okay.. So that guy is Francis Julo.. Remove all previous orders.. and release the collar?"

How exactly does it work? There are so many ways the world could go about the slavery system. What would happen if I tried to remove the collar as is? That would endanger Prune wouldn't it? What did I do last time to remove Liliath's slave collar? No, it's different that time because she leapt across worlds. I have no idea if removing the collar requires a slave macer, a special contract skill or..

I just need to kill this guy.

Yes.

In most novels, one of the common ways to remove the slavery status is by killing the master of the slave.

Yeah, really novel-like.. no, It's not the time to be thinking about this. I set my STG to a higher value and dragged the asshole of a sleeping beauty out the door.

"Sorry Prune."

Pushing open the door I threw him to the ground on the other side. The room is incredibly dark, there was but a lone blue oil lamp on the crate.The windows were nailed shut with planks of wood and a peculiar stench of sweat tickled my nose. So this is where Prune was brought to?

I don't know if the effects of the slave collar gets cut off when the person is in different domains but it doesn't seem to be the case.

I really don't have any choice do I?

BAAM.

"Hey bos.." This random guy just threw open the shabby door.

[Absolute End]

I don't need to kill him, I only need to kill Francis Julo. He dropped to the floor.

I set [Reincarnated Otherworlder] as my title again and materialized [Magick Sword], a semi-visible longsword composed of magic.

"I have to kill huh?" I muttered.

It's ridiculous.

Why can't I think of any other way of removing her slave collar?

Is there really no other way? Priority should be releasing Prune from the order isn't it?

"What da Hell ya sleeping here.."

More trouble.

"HAh? WHen did you.."

[Absolute End]

Crap, I have to stop delaying. I need to do it now. More people will come if I continue to hesitate.

"What's wrong?!"

"BOSS!!"

More voices resounded from the other room.

I can't waste time..

I held the sword above his neck.

Can't I use a magic spell instead?

No. It's to train my ability to kill.

This is a world where cruelty runs rampant and a person could die at any time.

This is necessary.

Don't avoid this Noel.

I have to..

"Damn it.." I grit my teeth and tried to move my hands.. but the only response was an intense convulsion to reject my actions.

I can't.

I have to.

I can't.

I have to.

I can.

"DAMN YOU!!"

The world became red in my eyes, I felt a fire spread in my chest.

I lowered the sword in one ditch effort, a soft resistance was felt before a satisfying click-- the severation of the cerebral spine as blood spurted from his neck.

"What the.. you asshole!! YOu kill.."

I raised my head to glance at another ruffian at the door. He staggered backwards.

"D-D-DEMON LORD!!!!"

"What demon lord? What happened to boss?"

"T-The demon killed the boss, we have to run, RUn!"

"Take the slaves!!"

Ignoring the voices, I released the magic sword and turned my back from the bloodied corpse.

I twisted the door knob and entered the apartment.

Closing it shut, I dematerialized the door and leaned against it from the inside.

Finally, I removed the [Reincarnated Otherworlder] title.

My vision waned, a sudden chill and guilt struck me. I buried my head into my knees, feeling my horns pressed against the kneecap.

I killed--

I killed someone.

Just as thoughts of fear begin to erode my mind, the door behind me slammed into the back of my head.

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"Speaking of which, where's Prune?" Nine asked.

"Oh, she went to the market…"

Hm?

Her marker wasn't on the map?

More queer was how Noel's marker was somewhere in the middle of the city. How come?

"Nine, Noel's last position was supposed to be the forest, correct?"

"Uh-huh, why did you ask?"

"Huh, are you two.. you three don't use honorifics?" Kaito looked at us in suspicion.

"We're not from Japan so we don't really know how honorifics works, English culture? I guess some weird translation is helping us understand each other," Nine explained.

I pulled up the chibi UI to check on Noel's condition..

I froze for an indefinite amount of time.

His marker disappeared from the map again.. did he enter the apartment? If my knowledge proves correct, that should be the case..

"Nine, I'll be going somewhere for a moment."

"Okay, I'll deal with these guys right?"

I nodded and teleported to our usual proxy room at the florist. I called upon the door and opened it to feel this light aura of death wash upon me.

Thud. Something was obstructing the doorstep, preventing me from entering.

"Ow.."

"N-Noel?"

I hit his head?

"Huh, Liliath? Oh yeah.. yeah.. sorry," he said in a dazed voice.

"What happened?" Noel gave way and I was able to push the door open enough to slide in.

"Help me deal with Prune.. just help me do that first. I'll just turn away.."

"Noel.."

His horns.

I had just come to realize how it had grown larger since the last time I saw them--

I gave him a quick hug.

"Liliath.. Prune first okay.." vacant eyes.

"Sorry Noel."

"No it's alright.." he gently pushed me away.

I gritted my teeth and turned to the couch. There was Prune.. with her body exposed?

What was going on? I was so confused.

"Noel.. what.."

"I killed him already, so just remove the slave collar."

He went back to hugging his knees at the door. He probably needed space to think-- I couldn't help but feel a thorn in my heart.

"Noel.."

He killed a human.

Was that the normal reaction of someone who killed another intelligent creature?

He shook his head buried in his knee.

I walked over to the couch as Prune laid there. Her breathing was light, her eyes were closed as her consciousness was in dreamland. I couldn't help but grimace at her blushed body soiled with various fluids.

Even the couch was not spared.

Her clothes were all over the place.

Noel wanted me to take care of this.

Then I shall.