episode_0081

“Kehahahaha!”

“Get off.”

Arina twisted her body, pushing away Dennis, who had been pounding on her shoulders while laughing.

But Dennis’s laughter didn’t stop. Where else could he taste such overwhelming triumph? Sitting in a luxurious carriage, laughing boisterously—not only had he seized the position of family head, but he had also acquired a member of the Hero’s Party, none other than the core member, Liel Frost.

Now that Arina was his slave, he had become the most important figure in the world. His life, forever overshadowed by his brother within the trading company—his subordinates, his parents, even his past lovers—none had ever placed their hopes in Dennis.

The only thing he could pride himself on was his delicate, handsome face, inherited from his mother. Yet even that failed to charm those who truly mattered, thanks to his fierce glare and twisted personality.

So, his inferiority complex festered, and his heart grew darker. What, exactly, was so great about that brute who, despite his hulking frame, preferred men—that disgusting bastard?

Playing with women had been his only way to preserve his pride.

That was, until he realized the woman his brother had bound under a slave contract was none other than Liel Frost. The moment Arina left, Dennis began plotting how to wrest her slave rights from Daniel.

He thought his father, an outstanding merchant, would immediately recognize the benefits—but no. All he got was a scolding to stop his foolish ideas and study harder.

He never imagined his own father could be so stupid. He hadn’t expected much from his emotionally weak brother, but for the patriarch who built Hight Trading Company into the kingdom’s foremost mercantile power to behave this way? The old man’s merchant instincts had clearly dulled with age. It was time for him to step down.

Immediately after rationalizing, Dennis wrote a letter to the royal family, detailing everything he knew. Liel Frost entered a slave contract with Daniel Hight. He made sure to write it at the very top—no chance of being ignored.

Of course, Dennis wasn’t exactly a famous name, so the reply took a while. In the meantime, with the help of the kingdom’s knights, he seized control of the company, imprisoned his father and brother, became its new head, and even extorted the slave rights from Daniel.

All that remained was locating Liel Frost. As if the heavens finally favored him, the timing was perfect.

When he received word that Arina was staying at the Demon Tower, he led a large force to capture her.

And now, Liel Frost was in his grasp.

He could do whatever he wanted. Hand her over to the kingdom for a hefty reward—or keep her as his personal slave for life. With a strategic weapon of her caliber, even the kingdom wouldn’t dare disrespect him.

“Heheheh.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just thinking you’d make a good bed servant. Sure, the fact you were once a man is a bit off-putting…”

But even so, she was still a female who stoked his lust. Unlike before, she had become far more compliant, exuding a distinctly feminine demeanor. Whatever had happened, it seemed she had finally come to terms with being a woman.

“Are you insane? Don’t say disgusting things.”

Unsurprisingly, Arina recoiled in shock, trying to put distance between them. Bound as she was, it didn’t do much, but the mere presence of a man who wanted to violate her was repulsive enough.

“No need to be so shocked. I have no intention of tarnishing your value by laying my hands on you.”

“My value? Wasn’t the plan to return me to the Hero’s Party?”

“That was the original idea, but don’t you know? Prince Kyle wants to have you for himself. Not that I blame him—whether you were a man or not, that body is undeniable.”

As Dennis’s eyes roamed her figure, Arina—her hands bound behind her—could only shrink in on herself, trying to hide her prominently protruding chest.

“Kkh, what’s this? You really do act like a girl now.”

“Anyone would react like this if you looked at them like that.”

“Still got that mouth on you, huh?”

Suddenly, Dennis reached out, gripping her chin to force her gaze back to him before sliding his hand to the nape of her neck. Arina clenched her eyes shut.

“You said you wouldn’t touch me.”

“Will a little fondling really spoil you?”

His hand trailed down from her neck—shoulders, back, armpits. As his fingers neared certain areas, Arina’s voice trembled.

“Stop… please…”

“Don’t want to lose your chastity? You’ve been to the trading company, right? Looked pretty intimate with that guy. Can’t bring yourself to betray him?”

“……”

“If you don’t answer, I have no reason to hold back.”

When his hand moved again, Arina hastily replied.

“Yes! It’s true, so stop!”

“Keh, amusing. Begging me not to touch your body for your lover’s sake. You’re better than most women.”

Though it was mockery, to Dennis, it was almost a compliment. Many of the women he’d known would’ve jumped ship for a better man. Those relationships never lasted.

“That’s enough, Lord Dennis.”

The carriage had stopped to set up camp, and the royal anti-espionage knight captain, Rudbelt, opened the door, ushering them out.

“Of course. I wasn’t seriously going to do anything anyway.”

His words held no sincerity as he lazily wandered off toward the soldiers preparing meals.

“Tch. A useless leech, drunk on his first taste of power.”

Rudbelt glared at Dennis’s retreating back, muttering curses. Dennis Hight, the second son of Hight Trading Company, had always been known as a worthless womanizer—and his arrogance and insolence only made it worse. To the knights who had clawed their way up through blood and sweat, he was nothing but despicable.

Rudbelt unlocked the cuffs binding Arina’s hands.

“Get your own food. Not like you can use magic anyway, so don’t bother running.”

“You’re more flexible than I thought.”

“I just don’t have men to spare for feeding you.”

As if their conversation was a waste of time, Rudbelt walked off.

Now free to move, Arina glanced around before slipping into the crowd of soldiers.

They stared at her with varying expressions—all curious, some openly laughing.

Her restraining garb left no room for modesty. The skintight outfit revealed every curve of her body. Men—soldiers and knights alike—watched her hips and chest sway as she walked, exchanging crude remarks while their lower bodies swelled.

Nothing would happen, right?

Arina avoided eye contact, keeping her gaze on the ground.

“Hah, I can’t hold back anymore!”

One man suddenly stood and blocked her path, pulling down his pants.

“W-What the hell are you doing?!”

Arina hastily shielded her eyes. This wasn’t about embarrassment. Since escaping the porter, she hadn’t seen a man’s genitalia—she had no intention of dredging up those horrific memories.

This was absurd. Even as a prisoner, outright assault in broad daylight couldn’t be allowed.

“Hguurk—Ghhk!”

But something even more outrageous happened.

The man suddenly grabbed himself and began stroking.

“Move your hand from your face.”

“Y-You bastard—!”

He was using her as material.

True, female knights existed, but the army was an overwhelmingly male space. Merely seeing a woman with long hair was enough to excite them. A beauty like Arina? Impossible to ignore.

Yet anyone who touched her would face punishment—so they resorted to this.

Is this guy a fucking genius?

Someone muttered it.

Then, one by one, pants began dropping.

Those still sane quickly left, leaving only fools surrounding her, pleasuring themselves while leering.

“Have you all lost your minds?! You call yourselves soldiers?!”

“The fuck?! Soldiers can’t jack off?! You ran around with four women on your adventures, so you wouldn’t get it! Now that you’re a girl, why don’t you do your part?!”

Another man grabbed her wrist.

“Let go! You sick fuck!”

Overcome with unprecedented terror, Arina ripped free and fled.

She knew they wouldn’t chase her far. They wouldn’t unshackle her either—so she leaned against a tree and retched.

“Hah… Hah… Ugh—!”

Disgusting.

Beyond being objectified, these were soldiers she might’ve fought alongside on the battlefield. Now they mocked and jeered at her.

“Why… why me…?”

How could they do this?

She had fought tirelessly, sacrificing sleep and even her life to save as many as possible. Even if she was now a criminal, she couldn’t believe this was how they repaid her.

“Liel-nim.”

“Who’s there? I don’t want anything to do with you bastards—get lost!”

“One of those who owe you their life. Brought you food.”

A few approached, handing her a simple meal—stale bread and warm, freshly made soup.

Well, at least some were decent.

She tore the bread, dipping it into the stew.

“Ah, forgot the sauce.”

“Sauce?”

“Here ya go~!”

A strange voice made her turn—

“YEEK?!”

She barely blocked it with the bread, but a pale fluid dripped onto her meal.

“What the hell—?!”

“Cum sauce. To your liking?”

One man cheerfully explained while another unzipped to piss into the soup.

“You psycho bastards!”

She flung the bread and kicked the pot over.

“Eheheh! Not hungry?!”

Their voices mocked her as she retreated, fists trembling.