NOVEL WEB Chapter 175
“When you’re stuck in a place where not even sunlight can reach, the first thing to go is your sense of time.”
Especially if the lights never go off or always stay on.
In my case, it was a room with lights that never turned off, so thankfully, my sense of vision was still intact.
There was quite a bit to see in the room. For instance, a “water tank that you can’t reach no matter what you do” right beneath my feet.
Why can’t I reach it? Simple. My arms and legs were chained up, and there were chains around my neck, so no matter how I bent or twisted my body, I couldn’t even touch it with my foot.
Since my knees were also expertly chained up so I couldn’t kneel, it was only natural.
The intention was pretty obvious. No food or water has been given to me so far, so they must be planning to torture me by placing something to eat or drink in sight but out of reach.
But guess what? I didn’t even need that. I could synthesize water just by breathing.
I could absorb it directly using my slime ability, but I didn’t want to go through that hassle.
Besides, I could get a jab in at them with that, and more importantly, I could harm that person or my friends.
Looking down on those guys’ intentions was the maximum resistance I could muster right now.
The painful ache in my arms was managed with painkillers, and I had to soothe my sore cheeks from getting slapped around.
It was uncomfortable being tied up, but if I just relaxed my body and let gravity take over, it was somewhat bearable.
Maybe the fact that it was bearable was because things hadn’t escalated yet… If that were the reason, then I could dare to predict that this treatment would last a long time.
Someone like me, an abilities user, probably wouldn’t be found even if you searched the world.
They would just torment me to the point where I wouldn’t break, psychologically rather than physically, while I’d be aware of it.
If they get desperate… well, they might just treat me like breeding stock and raise similar little creatures.
If it came to that, I’d have to kill them all and run, but what would that person have to do then…
No matter how much I thought of the future, there wasn’t a single bright possibility. Maybe I should just make a deal now, asking them to guarantee that person’s safety instead of joining them.
If it were now, when I was still somewhat of a thorn in their side, it just might work. Right now…
“Hah…”
If I joined them, it’d really be the end. Although my situation was already pretty dire, stepping into the Evil Society meant I would never be able to escape.
All thoughts of betrayal or espionage wouldn’t mean anything. Just the fact that I dipped my toes in would lead to immediate execution.
In that light, I was actually in a situation where if I got caught by the Heros Company right now, I wouldn’t have any arguments left.
That was the only way to get out from here. Or if that person died for some reason, I could go crazy without worrying about anything else.
Hoping for a collaborator was wishful thinking. If my friends barged in to rescue me, it would be nothing short of suicide.
No, before that, had the Liberators’ defeat against the Evil Society been made public? Did they even know I was caught? I couldn’t be sure, and it just left me feeling frustrated.
“If only I could find out something…”
No matter how hard I strained my ears, there wasn’t a single sound around here. The sound of dripping water, the occasional buzz of insects.
And the only sounds I could hear were the footsteps of the goons who occasionally came by to check on me and give me a beating.
So, when I heard footsteps again, I naturally thought it would be one of those goons coming to check on my life or death. But the footsteps felt oddly familiar.
Who was it? It had to be someone I knew. Who had such a unique walking style…
“…Boss?”
It could only be that person. Incredibly unbelievable situation, I thrashed around as if I was about to break free from my chains. But outside, I could hear that person’s voice calmly telling me there was no need to hurry.
“Boss?! Is that really you?!”
“Yeah. It’s me, Blanca. Just stay still. Squirming around when you’re tied up will only hurt you, you know?”
Thank goodness, you’re alive. If it were up to my feelings, I wanted to break free and rush out right now. But since you said there’s no need to, I just stayed quietly still.
…Oh, but I must look terrible right now. Wouldn’t that person feel sad or worried seeing me like this?
What do I do? Ugh, should I cover myself with slime or something to pretend I’m fine?
While I was pondering like that, the door to my cell opened. I instinctively squinted my eyes at the sudden light but couldn’t frown in front of that person, so I quickly straightened my face.
“As expected, it’s you, Boss! You came to save me!”
“No, I came to persuade you.”
“Huh…?”
That person plopped down on the floor and started trash-talking the Evil Society for treating their pretty face so horrifically.
But before long, that person brought up an unexpected topic.
“A long story or a short story. Which one do you want to hear?”
“…The short one.”
For a moment, I didn’t understand what that meant, but soon realized they were going to summarize what had happened, so I made that request.
“To put it simply. Listen well, Blanca. The Liberators have disbanded.”
“What?”
I naturally asked back at that explosive statement, but that person said it like it was no big deal.
“I joined Arman.”
“Why would you join that scumbag…!”
“It’s not like I wanted to! I had no choice. If I kept resisting, they said they’d throw you and Justitia to my inferiors, so how could I let that happen?”
“You think I’d break under just that…?”
I was about to shout back. But that person said this instead.
“No, Blanca. I don’t want to see you end up like that.”
Also, they revealed it wasn’t just because of the threat.
“Plus, no matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem like we could rise again. Justitia… You probably saw it too. Our foundation has crumbled, and most of the executives have crossed over…”
“What about Hanchō…?”
“I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. I want to know too.”
“Then… what about the Liberators’ ideals…?”
“They failed. With me. There were several strokes of luck along the way, but unfortunately, it’s clear we jumped into a fight we were destined to lose, Blanca.”
That person was backlit, so I couldn’t see their expression clearly. But I could fully feel their emotions.
Frustration and a deep sense of powerlessness. This bitter reality was forcibly stuffed down my throat, a feeling that was utterly horrible.
“It’s all over, Blanca. You don’t have to resist anymore. Just relax.”
That person was trying to persuade me to just join that scumbag. That image was… so different from the person I knew.
It wasn’t that someone was pretending to be them. That person was the one I knew. They weren’t being controlled or replaced by a clone someone made.
So… yeah.
They looked extinguished. That person no longer shone. It was as if they had lost all motivation to move forward.
“I don’t want that.”
In response to that unfamiliar sight of that person. And now, I even didn’t know why I was feeling this resentment.
To that person’s words, I responded for the first time with a firm “I don’t want that.”
“Really? I guess that makes sense. You wanted to elevate the Liberators to the top of the world… I’m sorry, Blanca. I said something foolish.”
That person said that while rummaging through their pockets.
What they brought out was a revolver.
…Is this how it ends? Everything I gave up, completely collapsed in the hands of the person I revered the most.
Against the oncoming fate, I tightly closed my eyes and bowed my head.
“Thank you for everything, Boss.”
Even if it ended like this, still.
I would never forget the kindness you’ve shown me.
“Huh? What are you saying? I should be the one thanking you. The fact that you brought my ludicrous dream this far is all thanks to you.”
But just like I expected, that person’s gun didn’t spit fire at me.
When I opened my eyes in confusion, they were aiming the gun not at me but…
At their own head.
“…Boss? Boss, what are you doing?! Boss!”
“Blanca, just answer one thing for me. You can use your ability now. Not using it… was it because you were worried I would get hurt?”
“P-please stop! There’s no need for that! Boss, please!”
“Hmm… I see. I wondered how I managed to keep you oppressed, but it seems I was the shackles.”
“Boss!!”
“Blanca.”
That person calmly called my name in a soothing voice.
“Boss…”
I wanted to stop it. I had to stop it. But… that person seemed determined. No matter what I did, there was no longer any vitality left in them.
“Maybe my greatest fortune in life was meeting you.”
“Me too…!”
“So, Blanca. Become the person you want to be. Break the shackles and be free.”
With those words, that person pulled the trigger.
They shattered the chains that had bound me.
No more chains tied me down.
I’m going to kill them all.