Ch.52Chapter 52 – The Reunion with Her Was the Worst. (4)

“I must have dozed off.”

It seems I fell asleep in the middle of the night.

I probably exhausted myself trying to loosen these chains by moving around, and eventually passed out.

Needless to say, I failed to break free.

“I wonder if everyone’s worried about me.”

Sera, who’s staying at the same inn, and old man Ludger, who witnessed my kidnapping, must be concerned.

And through those two, Ive, Christina, and other acquaintances will likely learn that I’ve been abducted.

The thought that there are people who would worry if I disappeared made me feel a bit happy.

Of course, that happiness wasn’t enough to shatter these iron chains.

-Clank

As I was trying to move the chains again, the curtain suddenly pulled back.

“Is it you this time?”

I thought Beatrice had come to taunt me again, but it wasn’t her.

The person who entered was Asam.

“Here, food.”

She held out a biscuit, which I immediately refused.

What am I, a dog? Does she think I’ll just stick my head out and eat from her hand?

“Untie me first, then I’ll eat.”

“Are you joking? If I untie you, who knows what you’ll do to me.”

“What do you take me for, thinking I’ll just eat a biscuit you’re holding out?”

My words seemed to give her pause.

“I suppose that was rather rude of me. I apologize.”

She acknowledged her rudeness quite readily.

Soon after, she broke the biscuit into pieces and held them closer to my face.

“I still can’t untie you though. I’ll feed you.”

“No, I said untie me.”

“That’s not possible.”

She’s not taking the bait.

But I wasn’t about to lunge forward and eat right away.

I’m not even hungry yet.

“I’m sorry, but I’d like you to eat.”

Asam looked at me as she spoke.

“Whether for experiments or escape, you need to maintain your strength, right?”

“So I’m just an experimental subject after all.”

“You shouldn’t think of your body as that of a normal person.”

Asam said with a smile.

“When examined, many strange things come out. You’re far from ordinary?”

“What? You examined my body too? Pervert.”

“Who said I examined you?!”

Asam’s face turned red as she denied it.

“I dissected and examined the subject next door.”

“So that’s your preference.”

“No, it’s not. I want to find a handsome, normal man. What’s wrong with my looks?”

She seems to be putting on airs for some reason.

It feels like she’s forcing confidence she doesn’t actually have.

“…Just to be clear, I didn’t actually dissect anyone. I used x-ray vision.”

So she can see inside bodies with x-ray vision?

Wait, does that mean she can see everything if she wants to?

“You’re not using x-ray vision right now, are you?”

“Of course not. I need to feed someone a special solution and completely immobilize them to barely see inside. Would you stop treating me like a pervert?”

From her description, it sounds like an x-ray or endoscopy.

“How can I believe that? You might be looking at me lecherously right now.”

“Ugh, I should just stop talking.”

Her face reddened with embarrassment as she thrust the biscuit toward me.

“Here, I’ll give you water too, so just eat.”

She was practically ready to shove it into my mouth, so I finally opened up and ate.

She had a point anyway.

I need strength whether I’m going to escape or not.

Even this lousy biscuit will help me escape.

Of course, it’s embarrassing to eat like a dog with my head stretched out, but my options are limited. I’ll have to bear with it.

‘Bitter.’

But this biscuit was different from yesterday’s. It had a slightly bitter taste.

It was also somewhat damp, making it truly unappetizing.

Honestly, I barely managed to swallow it without much chewing.

“Now that you’ve eaten, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

I spat out the words, and Asam brought her face closer to mine.

“Would you consider helping me?”

“Are you insane?”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

“A sane person kidnaps someone, ties them up, and keeps drawing their blood?”

“As long as it doesn’t violate taboos, I consider it normal.”

Is she another fanatic? Talking about taboos.

It seems like this world only has two types of people.

Fanatics and non-fanatics.

“So you’d kill someone as long as it doesn’t violate your taboos?”

“Some people might think that way, but not me.”

Asam spoke confidently.

“That biscuit was soaked in a blood replenisher. It will help replace the blood you’ve lost.”

“What the hell, you bitch?”

You messed with my food?

“Did I do something to deserve being cursed at?”

“Since ancient times, those who tamper with food have been considered untrustworthy.”

“Tampering? I prepared it with your health in mind.”

Does she really not realize she did something wrong?

If I stay here, I’ll probably end up sampling all kinds of bizarrely medicated biscuits.

“Am I a dog, eating whatever I’m given?”

“Sometimes Beatrice and I both eat biscuits with medicine mixed in.”

“I see, so you’re both bitches.”

Come to think of it, mixing medicine in food is one way people give medicine to pets.

I’ve thought of them as dog-like a few times, but they really are bitches. These two.

“Um, did I do something wrong? Why am I being cursed at…?”

What kind of conscience does she have, distributing such biscuits?

And what victim would speak kindly to their kidnapper?

We ended up just glaring at each other.

“…Fine, there’s no need to get heated here.”

Asam was the first to back down.

“After cooling my head a bit, I’ve concluded that you have reason to curse at me.”

“You reached that conclusion rather quickly.”

When I sneered again, Asam’s expression suggested she was getting irritated.

“Calm down, Asam. Just calm down. You need to stay calm.”

“Bottling things up?”

“This is really!”

Fortunately, Asam seemed to have quite a bit of patience.

She was somehow managing to calm herself with deep breaths.

But have I really said anything wrong? I think I’ve been speaking within reason.

“I didn’t know you had this kind of personality.”

“Why would I be polite when you’re being rude?”

I’m usually someone who shows courtesy first.

I only act like this when people are rude or when there’s no reason to be courteous.

I’ve just been careful with my words because I usually meet people who deserve respect.

I could see Asam shaking her head vigorously and turning away.

I’ve won this round.

After a moment, Asam turned back.

“…Anyway, I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes. Beatrice would call it nonsense, but…”

Asam handed me a piece of paper.

It was filled with dense writing, so I examined it carefully.

‘The signatory acknowledges ‘Asam’ and ‘Beatrice’ as masters…’

Alright.

No need to read further.

“Is this some kind of slave contract?”

“That’s rude. A slave contract? It’s nothing so base.”

Asam said confidently.

“This is a contract that binds your soul when signed. It’s not without such power.”

Wow, she’s presenting something so terrifying?

I don’t know what it is, but it must be something significant.

“The first line says I have to acknowledge Beatrice and Asam as masters? How is that different from a slave contract?”

“Did you not read the rest?”

At her words, I read the next lines.

‘The signatory must unconditionally provide force against those whom the two recognize as enemies. The signatory is free to act as they wish in all other matters, and the masters must guarantee this…’

Alright.

This is a waste of time.

The rest only details the punishments for breaking the terms.

The soul-binding she mentioned earlier wasn’t a joke—the penalties are described in great detail.

There are also detailed punishments if the masters break the terms, so it’s not completely one-sided.

‘So it’s not just a simple slave contract.’

If I had to correct my statement, then fine.

It’s a premium slave contract.

“I only sense your determination to put a leash on me.”

If I could move my hands, I’d tear this in half immediately.

You want to bind me?

What do you take me for?

“You shouldn’t cross the line.”

Asam asked, looking slightly bewildered.

“…You won’t do it?”

“Are you joking?”

Suppressing the rising murderous intent, I opened my mouth.

“Those bastards tampered with my body, and now you want me to become their puppet like that experiment next door, to be used like a hunting dog after everything I’ve been through?”

At my words, Asam stared blankly for a moment, then began examining the contract.

Didn’t she write it herself?

Soon, Asam held out the contract again and spoke.

“Look, this contract guarantees your freedom…”

“Freedom?”

Freedom, huh? Yes, it’s written there. Something about guaranteeing freedom.

But you know what?

“There’s already a clause saying I have to fight whoever you two consider enemies, so what’s the point?”

I glared at Asam.

“That’s just saying you want to use me as a hunting dog, like those things.”

“No, absolutely not like that cult…”

“Don’t give me that bullshit.”

Asam took a step back.

Her expression was somewhat pale.

I thought I was trying to suppress my killing intent while talking, but I guess I failed.

“Your wordplay doesn’t change the insane notion that you want to treat me like a hunting dog.”

“That’s—”

“Should I point out another issue? If one of my acquaintances becomes your enemy, I’d have to fight them with my own hands?”

That’s the biggest problem I can think of right now.

“You can already severely restrict my actions with that.”

Because before targeting that acquaintance, you could just order me to obey.

Then all that talk about freedom becomes mere wordplay.

What does it matter if it says freedom is guaranteed and masters will be punished too?

There’s a fatal poison hidden within.

“Don’t you realize this is already a huge concession on my part?”

“Concession?”

“Beatrice wants to brainwash you and use you!”

Asam shouted.

“She’s almost crossing the line. She’ll surely obtain the drug used to brainwash you and that victim.”

There was a bitter undertone in Asam’s words.

“Your modification clearly involved that person’s techniques. Because of that, Beatrice is even more excited. She’s barely restraining herself right now.”

“She’s bottling things up too?”

“Yes, bottling up hatred.”

Asam looked at me.

This doesn’t seem like the time for wordplay.

“I don’t know what grudge she has. But since I’ve known her, she’s been going almost mad.”

“Sounds like you go way back.”

“She’s a friend who helped me when I was struggling in many ways.”

Asam sighed.

“I was a commoner who caught a Master’s eye by chance and got the opportunity to enter the magic tower. Because of that, I faced all kinds of obstruction and attacks. Beatrice protected me and stayed by my side during that time. It’s thanks to her that I even have a private laboratory in the magic tower.”

Amidst this unnecessary information, I couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘Magic tower?’

This woman was affiliated with a magic tower?

And a private laboratory?

‘Could it be…’

I immediately wanted to ask where exactly I was.

But Asam continued speaking.

“She might act a bit slick in front of me, but she hasn’t forgotten her grudge. If she could kill that person, Beatrice would definitely go for it.”

“And you found traces of that person in me and the experiment next door?”

“Yes.”

Asam met my eyes.

“She’ll likely try to use you and that person over there, even if she has to brainwash you. Maybe she’ll even use you both as bait and sacrifice herself along with that person.”

“I’d prefer she keep her crazy acts to herself.”

At my words, Asam gave a small laugh.

I wasn’t trying to comfort her though.

“You don’t want to become a mere tool either, right?”

“So I should become your hunting dog instead?”

“Without at least this much, Beatrice won’t be convinced.”

Asam looked at me.

“Please. Sign it. I’ll prevent what you’re worried about. What she needs isn’t Asam the researcher, but someone with the strength to stop her from jumping into danger.”

“Why don’t you do it?”

“I can’t. She respects me, but she won’t listen to my advice. She’ll try to keep me away.”

She respects her, huh?

Is that why both their names are on the contract?

“Help prevent my dear friend from crossing the line.”

What a selfish woman.

Though jumbled, I could feel her sincerity.

But my answer was already decided.

“I refuse.”

I don’t want to be bound.

And…

“Don’t push your problems onto me.”

The room fell silent for a moment after my refusal.

“…If you change your mind, let me know.”

“I probably won’t.”

As Asam was about to leave, she seemed to remember something and looked back at me.

“Those chains—the experiment next door couldn’t break them even while emitting smoke.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t waste your energy. I’ll come back. Think about it again then.”

As she was leaving again, Asam looked at me.

“I apologize in advance.”

“For what?”

“I thought losing a bit of freedom through a contract would be better than being completely brainwashed.”

Asam hesitated as she spoke.

“I guess my thinking was quite shortsighted.”

You just realized that?

While I was inwardly criticizing her, Asam disappeared behind the curtain.

“Damn it.”

Whatever the case, I needed to get out.

If I stay here, I’ll end up becoming Beatrice’s hunting dog.

“I need to escape quickly.”

Before Beatrice, that crazy woman, returns and does something.