Holy Kingdom – Interrogation (1)

Lucas entered the room with Cassios.

-Creak.

Inside the room, Rena was trembling while curled up in a corner.

“Stop… please stop…”

Rena kept muttering pleas for them to stop.

She was clearly consumed by terror and fear.

Cassios gazed at the scene with satisfaction. This was exactly what he’d hoped to see when coming here.

“Miss Rena.”

Only when Cassios called her name did Rena finally lift her head.

Her eyes widened in recognition upon seeing Cassios.

“Y-you…”

“It’s been a while. I knew we’d meet again someday… but never imagined it would be in a place like this.”

-Thud. Thud.

Cassios began slowly approaching Rena.

Rena desperately scrambled backward to escape him.

“Stay away!”

“Hoho, are you afraid of me? I don’t recall ever harming you, Miss Rena.”

“Y-you’re going to do something now! You escorted us to the Grand Temple under the Pope’s orders! There’s no way you, the Pope’s closest Cardinal, don’t know the truth!”

“‘Truth’ you say. The ‘truth’ I know is that you conspired with demons. When I first saw you, I thought you were just a beautiful, strong woman – never dreamed you’d be scheming dark plots behind the scenes. What a disgrace to His Holiness the Pope. I deeply regret bringing you to the Grand Temple without realizing…”

Enraged by Cassios’s feigned ignorance, Rena glared and shouted:

“You son of a bitch…! You framed me and reduced me to this state, yet still pretend ignorance? There’s no way you don’t know what the Pope did!”

“Hmm. Quite insolent for a criminal.”

Cassios immediately delivered a powerful kick to Rena’s abdomen.

-Thud!

“Ghk!”

The impact sent Rena flying backward before crashing to the floor.

Rena clutched her stomach, gasping in pain.

“Kkh… kugh…”

“I can’t understand this attitude after confessing before the Hero. Have you gone mad?”

“Confession… bullshit… I never admitted anything… The Goddess… won’t forgive you…”

“Hmm… daring to speak the Goddess’s name while wearing such vulgar accessories. It’s obvious who’ll receive divine punishment.”

As Rena continued resisting, Cassios grabbed the piercings on her breasts with both hands.

When he yanked them upward, her perky breasts stretched taut.

Her nipples looked ready to tear off as Rena screamed in agony.

“Kyaa! Stop pulling! It hurts…!”

“You need to learn your place, Miss Rena.”

“Stop, kkh… hngg!”

Ignoring her moans, Cassios toyed with the piercings like playthings.

When Cassios finally released them, Rena curled up trembling.

“Haa… stooop…”

“I never knew Miss Rena enjoyed such pain.”

“N-no way…”

Cassios lightly brushed his fingers between her legs.

-Swish

“Hyaa?!”

“Already soaking wet down here.”

Thick, translucent fluid dripped from Cassios’s fingers.

Blushing furiously, Rena turned her face away.

“Ngh…”

“With such a lewd body, being a fuck toy might actually make you happy.”

“Shut… up. I’m not like that… not your toy…”

“I thought you’d be completely broken when I first saw you, but you’re surprisingly resilient. Most welfare means lose their minds within days…”

Those designated as welfare means in the Holy Kingdom were violated day and night by countless men.

Since these were usually criminals connected to demons, people treated the women brutally.

Eventually, even the strongest women would mentally collapse within days.

And even if they endured, they only faced more hellish days of lucid suffering.

Cassios knelt before Rena, meeting her eyes.

“Miss Rena. Do you still have some hope left?”

“…”

Rena remained silent, but her pupils trembled slightly.

Though brief, Cassios didn’t miss it.

“Interesting.”

To Cassios’s knowledge, Rena had been abandoned by the Hero’s party and reduced to a fuck toy.

Escape without mana was impossible here.

Yet she still had willpower left.

Clearly, she was hiding something.

Cassios called to Lucas behind him.

“Interrogator Lucas.”

“Yes, Your Eminence.”

“Has Miss Rena done anything suspicious? Even the smallest detail.”

Lucas pondered with hand on chin.

“…Nothing particular. I kept constant watch, and with paladins and priests visiting day and night, she had no opportunity.”

“Not a single suspicious incident…”

Cassios stroked his beard, then suddenly scrutinized Lucas.

“By the way, you look rather uncomfortable. Could it be… you pity Miss Rena’s suffering?”

“…Pardon? My expression?”

Lucas blinked in confusion.

“Your expression, and you’ve been avoiding looking at her. It seems you dislike seeing Miss Rena’s condition.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. Actually, I was suppressing rage hearing her slander His Holiness and Your Eminence. Though I must admit watching Your Eminence discipline her was satisfying.”

“Hmm… Perhaps I misjudged.”

“Not at all. My behavior could understandably cause confusion.”

An awkward silence fell between them.

Cassios walked toward Lucas through the tense atmosphere.

“Actually, I have another matter. Before coming here, I received reports about you, Interrogator.”

“Reports…?”

“That you monopolized the welfare means, preventing others from using her. Welfare means are provided by His Holiness for communal use. Monopolization is unacceptable. Is this true?”

“…Yes. My deepest apologies.”

Lucas immediately bowed and explained:

“My hatred for criminals may have gone too far. She kept spouting nonsense about being framed and insulted His Holiness right before me. I lost control, wanting to show her hell. I sincerely apologize.”

“Hoho, I understand. Holy Kingdom citizens tend toward extremism regarding demons. Still, you crossed a line this time.”

“I’ll ensure no further complaints arise.”

Cassios patted Lucas’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Everyone makes mistakes. Just don’t repeat it.”

“Thank you.”

“But another question arises. Hoho, I keep interrogating the interrogator. My curiosity gets the better of me.”

“Ask anything. It’s no trouble.”

“I’ve been examining Miss Rena’s condition… she’s surprisingly intact.”

Cassios pointed at Rena.

She should have been violated by countless men and tortured by Lucas. Yet her body bore no scars or wounds.

“Ah, that’s because I repeatedly healed her with divine power after torture. The fear of never escaping pain makes it more effective. My preferred method. It must look strange to Your Eminence.”

“Oh? You’ve continued torturing her here?”

“Yes.”

“Remarkable you healed her without scarring. That level of divine power expenditure must strain even you.”

“That’s-“

“Let me finish first.”

Cassios sharply cut off Lucas’s explanation, blinking rapidly while staring at him.

“While bodies can be healed with divine power, minds cannot. With your skills, Interrogator, Miss Rena should tremble at your mere presence… Yet she shows no fear of you.”

Cassios’s gaze shifted between the cowering Rena and Lucas.

“How do you explain this?”