Volume 7 Chapter 10 Georgia Rescue Part ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I stepped into the entrance hall on the first floor and ascended the stairs. The clash of weapons still echoed from outside, but no screams followed. Well, given the level of those private soldiers, they posed no threat to Lena and the others anymore—no matter how many there were.
The second floor opened into a hallway that circled above the entrance below, stretching deeper into the mansion from both sides. The left and right corridors curved inward, meeting at the central axis of the estate. Several rooms lined the ends of both wings.
Typically, at the farthest end—beyond the corners of the halls, on the window side of the central area—sat the master’s room.
Following that logic, I entered from the right corridor and rounded the corner.
”What’s this? You were here all along. I’ve been looking for you, Georgia,” I said.
A beastkin girl stood in the hallway, stationed like a sentinel before the master’s door.
Newly-fitted iron claws gleamed on both her hands, and a collar with a sinister, blood-hued jewel clung to her neck.
”…What happened to Mama?” Georgia asked the moment she saw my face.
”If it’s Ms. Mor, I healed her,” I said gently. “She won’t suffer from poison or illness anymore. In fact, she’s down there fighting—to protect you.”
”I see… That’s good,” Georgia whispered, exhaling with relief.
A faint smile flickered across her face. Even now, in pain and bound by magic, she still worried about her mother more than herself. That’s just how they were, those two. Even through suffering, Georgia managed to smile.
But behind that expression, she was battling the compulsion of the collar.
With apologetic eyes brimming with anguish, Georgia said, “I’m so sorry for being such a burden… Just one more thing, please… kill me!”
Her plea cracked into a desperate scream as she lunged.
Iron claws slashed through the air with stunning speed. I leaned away, dodging by the narrowest margin.
”Why aren’t you cutting me?!” she cried, charging again with tear-blurred eyes. “You could kill me—easily!”
Yes. This was the collar’s geass [T/N: geass refers to a magical binding or compulsion, often forcing obedience]. An absolute command from the master, likely something as cruel as “Obey every order.”
To enforce such obedience, the collar needed immense magical power. That jewel—it radiated it. Corrupt slavers didn’t cut corners. The massive, blood-colored gem embedded in Georgia’s collar pulsed with vile energy. That power could bend beastkin minds and bodies alike—more easily than it ever could a human’s.
”To turn a blade on the one who saved Mama… don’t make me do something so disloyal! Please! Kill me!”
Her tears streamed freely as she continued to strike, each swing a cry of agony.
A beastkin like her—with a fierce sense of justice—must have felt like she was drowning in shame.
But—
”If I did that, I’d never be able to face Ms. Mor again, you know?” I said, slipping between her wild attacks.
”So—just sleep for a bit, okay?” I whispered.
With a deft jab, I slipped an anesthetic needle into the exposed skin of her neck.
”Wh-!? Why… just kill me… please…” Georgia murmured, eyes wide with regret.
Her body slumped, unconscious.
I caught her before she hit the floor. Light. So light.
”Georgia!?”
A blur rushed down the hallway—it was, of course, Ms. Mor.
”It’s okay,” I said, turning to her. “She’s just asleep.”
Ms. Mor took Georgia into her arms. The moment her gaze fell on the collar around her daughter’s neck, she clenched her teeth and hugged her tighter.
”You were quicker than I thought. Is it all over outside?” I asked.
”Yes. Ms. Lena and Ms. Vera said they were moving on to the extermination phase,” she said. “Thanks to them, I was able to come here.”
Still holding Georgia close, Ms. Mor looked up at me, pleading silently.
I nodded firmly. “The collar’s geass will break once the one who placed it dies. Georgia will be free soon—just hang on a little longer.”
Without waiting for a reply, I turned and kicked the door before me with all my strength.
”Hiieee!?”
A woman’s scream rang out from within.
I stepped into the room, lit by magic light. A naked woman trembled on a lavish canopy bed.
She looked young—likely a mistress, or a servant who’d been “favored.” Her wide eyes locked onto my sword.
”Where’s the master of this mansion?” I asked coldly—so cold it didn’t even sound like me.
Shaking, the woman pointed toward the window. “Th-the master escaped through the window…”
Sure enough, the window above the back door stood open, a rope dangling down.
”Hm… I see. He escaped through the window…” I muttered.
Ignoring the woman, I scanned the room. Bed to my right. A lavish table directly ahead. To the left—a bookshelf and a wardrobe.
Toward the bookshelf—
”Here, fireball,” I said.
A low-powered burst of flame erupted from my hand.
”Kyaa!?” the woman shrieked as the blast echoed.
The bookshelf exploded, revealing a hidden door tucked behind it—as if it belonged there all along.
”Seriously. This is why third-rate villains are useless. Pretending to escape through the window while actually hiding in a secret room… Did he really think such a cheap trick would fool an adventurer?” I said, brushing aside the splinters as I stepped inside.
There, clumsily wedged into a wardrobe, was a grotesquely fat, half-naked old man.
”Hiiee… W-who the hell are you… to do this to me and think you’ll get away with it!?”
”I think so,” I said dryly.
”Higyaa!?”
He flinched as I yanked him out by his thinning hair and tossed him to the floor like a sack of meat.
Under the glow of magic, I got a clearer look.
Flesh sagged from his bloated body—no trace of strength or resistance. Even in nothing but underwear, his fingers glittered with rings—likely enchanted for defense or emergency spells.
Well, I’d keep my guard up, just in case. But I doubted a blob like this could cast faster than I could move.
I pressed my sword to his jiggling neck.
”So, why’d you try to kill me? Who sent you? Are you collecting slaves for those bastards?”
He sneered, though his face twitched with fear.
”…Do you really think I’d talk that easily?” I spat, trying to sound cool. Even half-naked and shaking.
Annoyed, I raised the stakes.
”Well, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine. But the drug you made Ms. Mor drink… wasn’t it called ‘Thorned Flower Garden’?”
”Wha—!? H-how do you know that name…?”
His panic was instant. Amusing. That poison wasn’t something ordinary folks even knew existed. It came from deep in the underworld—hidden and rare.
How did I know it?
”Because, no matter what, that was created by my mama,” I said.
”What!? You’re the one from ‘Poisonous Woman Vintenica’!?” he gasped.
Ah. It’s been a while since I heard that alias.
Yeah. The one who bought me, shared her life with me, and raised me with love—Mama Vintenica. She was a super-celebrity in that world, known by all. Her influence hasn’t dimmed, even decades after her death.
”That’s right,” I said. “I was raised by that witch. So, you see…”
I opened the front of my jacket, revealing several vials of drugs tucked inside.
”I’m going to use these to ask your body directly,” I said with a grin. “No worries—the night’s still young. The fun’s just beginning.”
Licking my lips, I flashed a twisted smile. It hit its mark; the old man recoiled, tears welling in his eyes, his flabby body trembling.
Just then—
”I’m sorry. I’m late,” Lena said, stepping forward.
”N-no…” the old man stammered.
Lena and Vera emerged from the shadows, looking like they’d just wrapped up a messy cleanup operation. Lena’s expression remained calm, despite the blood splattered across her clothes. Vera, as doll-like as ever, stood unscathed beside her.
”Well, perfect timing,” I said. “Lena, Vera—can you restrain this fatso?”
”Understood,” Lena replied, stepping into position.
”Yes. Gnome, please,” Vera added.
”Hi—hiiiii!” the old man squealed.
Lena swiftly circled behind him, locking both arms. Moments later, the earth spirit Vera summoned surged up from the floor and clamped onto his legs.
”All right, now you’re stuck,” I said, crouching in front of him. “So, what should I use first? Ah—since you seem well-versed in poisons, I’ll let you choose. Which of these would you prefer?”
I pulled three vials from my pocket and lined them up in front of the trembling man. One would rot the body from within. Another would ignite excruciating pain before death. The last would paralyze the lungs, leading to a slow suffocation. All of them—Mama Vintenica’s handiwork.
”Y-you bastard… you’re really… that poison woman’s…”
”Yeah, that’s what I’ve been saying,” I replied. “So? Which one should we start with?”
He really did know his poisons—to recognize Mama Vintenica’s work on sight. But that only made this approach more effective. Even if I had to kill him in the end, I needed information first.
”Can’t decide?” I said. “Then I’ll choose for you. Hm… let’s go with the rot.”
I grabbed the same vial he’d used to melt that boss lady the other day and readied a needle. A few stabs would probably be enough to get him talking.
Just as I cracked open the vial—
”All right! I’ll tell you what I know! Just—please, don’t use that!” the old man cried.
To my surprise, he broke before the first prick. Hah. So men really are weaker when it comes to this stuff. That woman, at least, lasted until the fourth needle.
”Tch… then tell me. Who’s backing you? What’s their goal?” I asked, voice low and sharp.
”Ah… I don’t know much about them,” he gasped. “They call themselves the ‘Apostles of Rebirth.’ Their goal is… the world…”
He was about to reveal something big when—
One of the rings on his finger shattered. From within, a surge of water burst forth.
”Is that a spirit!?” Vera gasped, eyes going wide.
Yes. That form was unmistakable. A water spirit—an undine [T/N: A Western water elemental spirit]—just like the ones Vera often summoned through her spirit magic.
The undine wrapped itself around the old man’s head. There was only one reason for that: to silence him.
”Vera! Can’t you stop that spirit?!” I shouted.
”I can’t,” Vera said, trembling. “That undine’s obeying someone with more power than me.”
She stared at the spirit drowning the old man, disbelief etched across her face. Lena, sharp as ever, released the man’s arms and stepped back, dagger drawn. Smart move. I’d make sure to praise her later.
Anyway—
The old man flailed, head trapped in a watery sphere, then collapsed. Now he twitched on the ground, spasming like death was some private pleasure.
”Seriously? I didn’t even get to the important part,” I muttered, kicking his bloated corpse. “That bald guy’s gonna chew me out again…”
Vera tugged lightly at my coat hem, hesitant.
”What is it, Vera? Something bothering you?” I asked, glancing down.
At my question, she drooped her ears and answered with a sorrowful expression.
”Spirit magic can only be used by elves and half-elves,” she said quietly.
”Yeah, that’s right,” I nodded.
”But half-elves are part human, so their spirit magic isn’t as strong as full elves’.”
A chill ran down my spine. Cold sweat trickled between my shoulder blades.
”…So you’re saying… maybe…”
Vera drooped even further, voice barely above a whisper.
”That undine thing they summoned… it was an elf.”
Notes:
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
• Vintenica – She is a tall, slender magic user, appeared as the new mistress buying six boys, wearing a deep purple robe with her right half face hidden by a white mask, half beautiful young woman and half eerie with blood-red lips, mysterious and slightly frightening.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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