Chapter 8: -bulsugung (1)

Chapter 8 – The Agitator (1)

[-Record Log for Abyssal-tier Prisoner, Elena Dren Barbatos. Author: Warden Lunara Elke]

Elena was imprisoned and re-sealed on the 100th floor, but Lunara’s work was far from over.

Dragging her weary body, Lunara returned to her office on the 10th floor and, with a blank expression, pulled out a thick book.

This book was her research log, which she needed to fill.

It also served as a record of Elena’s imprisonment, which had just begun.

[-Question regarding the completeness of her restraint, still unconfirmed. All attempts at punishment and suppression nullified immediately after imprisonment. Nullified punishments: Electroshock device, Mana extraction]

Lunara folded her arms and slowly began to record the day’s events, watching the magic pen move swiftly according to her thoughts.

She reviewed the footage through the crystal ball her subordinates always carried for recording, even finding details she had missed before.

[-During the restraint and imprisonment process, she never once complained of unpleasantness or discomfort. On the contrary, her reaction seemed to be one of enjoyment.]

Lunara glanced sideways.

A prototype restraint suit, experimentally created by Technician Bargon, hung on a mannequin in the corner of the room.

Lunara imagined herself wearing it.

How uncomfortable and suffocating would it be if her upper body were bound immovably and her torso constricted by belts?

What would it feel like to be stripped of all freedom, fixed alive in the lowest depths where even the flow of time was unknown?

Even if she tried, Lunara felt she couldn’t act as nonchalantly as Elena.

She was certain she would lose her mind after just a few days, let alone months or years, in such a state.

[-The only abnormal reaction observed was regarding meals. Violent rejection of porridge made from low-quality grains and vegetables. Preference for meat even in meals provided through negotiation. There are testimonies that the witch enjoyed alcohol and meat even in the imperial palace.]

‘Why, exactly?’

The negotiation over meals, which occurred during the mana extraction labor, remained a mystery.

Was it truly that Elena, who said nothing about the harsh restraints, couldn’t endure anything less than high-quality food, or was that negotiation ultimately just Elena’s deception to toy with them?

Thanks to this, the mana extraction labor concluded successfully, but Lunara still felt uneasy and fearful that Elena held the upper hand.

[-Second reaction: Showed interest in me during mealtime. Slight change in reaction observed after hearing about my origin and life.]

Lunara sighed and rubbed her brow.

This wasn’t all.

There was a separate detail that bothered her the most.

‘And she told me she was sorry.’

She grabbed the pen that moved according to her thoughts, unable to bring herself to record the last sentence.

At that moment, that was the greatest mystery to Lunara, more than anything else.

“She’s working so diligently.

What a sincere friend.”

Standing beside Lunara, who was working alone and lost in thought, Elena, in her hazy spiritual form, chuckled.

Naturally, Elena’s voice was inaudible to Lunara unless Elena exerted more power or Lunara gained spiritual abilities.

“Honestly, what more does she plan to do here?”

Elena, who had secretly read all the records Lunara had written, scoffed.

Lunara, unable to shake off her unease, had noted down that she would contact her superiors to request additional methods of restraining Elena.

Elena realized that Lunara and others reacted sensitively to her every small action and word, but she didn’t feel the need to correct such misunderstandings and delusions.

‘It’s amusing, isn’t it?’

The reason was obvious.

It was entertaining to watch them add speculation and predictions to her request for delicious food, writing several lines of analysis.

Now, there was no need to rack her brain thinking about the aftermath or meticulously calculating the sequence of events.

If she simply acted and spoke as she pleased, interesting reactions and incidents would pop up one after another.

This raw fascination and amusement were a thrilling stimulus for Elena, who had lived a life where every word and expression was meticulously arranged and orchestrated.

“Warden, the transport convoy carrying the extracted mana just departed for the capital.”

“Good.

What’s the prisoner’s current state?”

“The seal is fine.

Her state of consciousness is unknown.

It seems she’s sleeping.

We should prevent sleep outside of designated hours, so should we activate the cooling device?

Upon activation, cryo-magical potions will periodically pour out, freezing her entire body.”

“…No.

Leave her be.

From now on, we will not subject the Abyssal-tier prisoner to any meaningless stimuli.”

Just then, a Management Bureau employee opened the door after a polite knock and entered the warden’s office to report.

Elena watched the two people discuss her own body, from which her soul had departed, with an intrigued expression.

‘Good thing I killed him.

Could have gotten more annoying.’

Elena let out a hollow laugh at the fact that former Warden Krasen had equipped the facility with periodic cooling, electroshock, and even heat torture to thoroughly torment Elena.

And her favorability towards Lunara, who was adequately blocking such futile efforts by the former warden, increased once again.

In truth, most of Elena’s words and actions since entering the prison were driven by spontaneous whims rather than complex thoughts.

The same went for her final apology, “I’m sorry,” which Lunara pondered over and over again.

She simply apologized because she was truly sorry, even if it was for deeds committed before her possession.

Of course, she had no intention of revealing that trivial reason until the very end.

Because… Lunara’s distress was amusing.

****

“Today, you must perform the second labor assigned to you.”

Tartara’s system had somewhat settled into place.

With the first labor, mana extraction, the Special Management Bureau personnel, led by Lunara, began to fully implement the prison’s daily schedule.

Lunara and the staff, who returned just one day later, felt their tension rise as they watched the immobilization spells on Elena’s body release one by one.

Her hair, which had been stiff as if time had stopped, swayed again, and her legs, which had been spread while kneeling, straightened and stood upright.

Naturally, her vivid red eyes, revealed as her eyelids lifted after being closed all day, showed not a hint of pain or discomfort.

“Wait, you’re not doing something senseless, are you?

If you’re only going to extract mana once and be done with it, then it doesn’t matter, but…”

“…I know.

These are foods airlifted from a high-class restaurant again, so eat.”

“If this is the case, wouldn’t it be better to have a resident chef?

You all could also eat good quality food at the same time.”

Naturally, the once-a-day mealtime was also set for this moment.

Elena, having removed her mask and gag, curved her lips slightly as if pleased with the high-class food the staff brought.

“Th-that’s our business!

Everyone, out.”

Lunara flinched and once again sent the staff outside.

The clanking chains that had come loose and rolled on the floor, and the thick, gloomy, heavy mana of the labyrinth.

On the dark, damp, and humid 100th floor, Lunara once again fed Elena herself, like a maid.

“This isn’t a good place to eat.”

“A decent table or chair is too much for a heinous prisoner like you.”

“I’m not talking about myself, but for you, who looks uncomfortable feeding me bite by bite.

Besides… can you really be so confident?”

Elena deftly took the piece of chicken offered on the fork and ate it, then smiled sweetly at Lunara, who was crouching on the floor choosing food.

“It seems the Republican Government’s higher-ups aren’t satisfied with simply keeping me imprisoned.

Can you guarantee that accidents like those that occurred during mana extraction won’t happen again?”

“…!”

Lunara’s body flinched, despite her efforts to ignore it.

Even the machine designed by the highly skilled Dwarf Technician Bargon would have failed mana extraction without Elena’s cooperation.

Such incidents could continue to occur in the future.

This was because Elena was an existence beyond all norms and common sense, and Lunara and the Special Management Bureau staff had the difficult task of imprisoning and managing this unprecedented being.

Moreover, Elena’s words struck a nerve.

Lunara also knew that the Republican Government’s higher-ups were not satisfied with merely imprisoning Elena.

They fully intended to use Elena, viewing her as a trophy that had fallen into their hands.

Lunara resented that they didn’t understand how terrifying and unfathomable Elena truly was, but her reports alone were insufficient to persuade them.

“You might say, ‘What would a woman who ruled as Empress at the very top know?’ but honestly, I understand how much trouble a middle manager goes through.”

Elena subtly leaned down and whispered into Lunara’s ear.

“How much they’ll badger you from above.

What if the situation doesn’t even cooperate while that’s happening?”

“S-so, what exactly do you mean by…”

“Would you lose anything by being friendly with me?

You’re already doing it.”

The tickling voice in her ear was incredibly beautiful and alluring.

This was due to Elena’s mana subtly mixing in, and Lunara, whose mind briefly went blank, hurriedly shook her head.

“…The second labor imposed upon you, who must return what was exploited from the imperial citizens and serve them.

That is to be a test subject for new drugs and new technologies.”

Lunara, who had struggled to regain her composure, frowned as she placed the last piece of chicken into Elena’s mouth.

Elena, however, simply grinned, seemingly pleased with Lunara’s reaction, accepting and chewing it.

“Warden, you seem displeased.”

“Seril, please heed my words.”

Lunara, who had emerged a step ahead of Elena, who was being escorted by subordinates, immediately got to the point upon seeing the person waiting for her.

“There must never be any mistake or problem that could allow the witch to sway us.

Your preparations are perfect, aren’t they?”

“O-of course.

It seems that Bargon fellow caused quite a big incident.”

The blonde woman with a somewhat pale complexion, called Seril, who wore a white gown, adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and chuckled.

“There will be no problems.

With a test subject on whom we can experiment freely without worrying about side effects, our alchemy and spells will now rapidly advance.”

As Seril revealed her confidence, her hair swayed, slightly exposing her ear.

The ear, showing signs of having been cut more than halfway, was pointed and long, unlike a human’s.