CH 87

"I'm not going to let this end up in the shit , let's hurry and get away at once through the hidden passageway, and bring the stuff we've been packing up."

"Yes, sir."

When the royal army rushed into the mansion, Marein rushed back to his room and instructed his butler to take care of it.

He was expecting the worst and had packed the minimum amount of luggage so that he could escape at any time.

The rag-tag gangs were numerous.

It would take time for the soldiers to put the noose on them.

It would buy some time.

Marein was thinking desperately about how to escape.

He thought that he would be able to escape by going out through a hidden passageway in the mansion and escaping straight to Barsto.

There were only two nations that could go directly from Renalute: the Empire and Barsto.

However, if he escaped to Barsto, he could also use a ship.

In addition, it is possible to go to the Beast Kingdom and other religious countries that are connected to Balusto by land.

There are plenty of places to escape.

"Kuku, if it comes to it, I''m sure I can sell the inside story of Renalute or whatever else I want to sell. I won't stop at this ...... , I will surely take revenge against those little girls."

In his eyes was hatred for the group that had come to the mansion.

"..... that's something I won't allow."

"⁉ Who are you?"

Mullane turned back to where he had heard the voice.

There was the butler, who was carrying a package on his chest to escape.

"You ......, but the butler was standing but looking down, unable to see his expression."

At that moment, the butler looked up and, looking at Marein, vomited blood and then muttered.

, "Master ......, .........please...don't...run away.........."

"What⁉ What the hell ?"

Marein was astonished.

When the butler dropped the package he was carrying on his chest, the tip of his sword peeked out from where his heart was.

Then, a figure suddenly appeared behind the butler, who should have been standing there alone.

The figure was dressed all in black, and his face could not be seen.

However, the possibility of a dark elf seemed high, given the brown color of the bare skin that could be seen for a moment.

When the figure confirms that the butler is out of it, it draws a dagger from its back.

The butler, with his sword drawn, crumples to the ground, a puddle of blood forming.

Marein stared at the black-clad man with a desperate look on his face and said.

'...... you, which hand are you?　Yes, if you want money, there's plenty to go around, and I'll give you all the money in that bag of yours."

Marein shouted as he frantically pointed to the bag next to the butler.

The man in black picked up the bag and began to examine its contents.

Marein was a little relieved to see him and said .

"Haha,......, what's in there is more money than a man like you could ever hope to find. So let me go. It's a good deal, right?""

When the man in black finished inspecting the contents of the bag, he glared at Marein and said as if to spit.

, "...... don't make the mistake of thinking that I'm not. I'll take this bag, but I'm not going to let you go. My master wants to see you.'

"What the hell is this ?"

The black-robed man quickly reached into Marein's bosom and drove his fist into his gut.

The impact caused Marein to pass out as it was.

And after this day, Marein Kondroy was never seen again.

◇

"Wake up for God's sake."

At the same time as the voice, a large volume of water was poured over the man strapped to the chair as a distraction.

"⁉ Guh, what this place is⁉"

It was Marein Kondroy who woke up after being doused with water.

The man who doused him was the black-clad man who had brought him here.

Remembering what had happened to him, Marein yelled at the man in black between his eyes.

"Ki, , do you know who I am? You will not get away with this,!"

The man in black said as he looked at Marein with pity in his eyes as he let out an angry yell.

'...... it is you who do not know your place. My Lord is not as kind as I am. At best, you beg for an easy death."

'What is it?"

The man told Marein that he found himself strapped to a chair.

He was horrified by the oddness of the place he was in.

The room was windowless and dark.

As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness of the room, he noticed that there were various devices used for "certain purposes" in the room.

Marein understood the meaning of what the man in black said and began to grind his teeth.

Then, as if begging for forgiveness, he said.

'I'm sorry for my sins, and I'll tell you everything I know '

The man shook his head at Marein's words and said.

'...... it's too late. You've done too much."

The man spat out, and at the same time a sound like a heavy door opening came from behind Marein's back.

But he is tied to a chair, so he cannot see who has entered.

All he can do is shudder in fear.

'...... Capella, I'm sorry for the trouble you've been going through."

"No, it was easier than usual because of the unexpected uproar."

'Hmph, he really comes into his own in so many places".

(I have heard this voice before, who is it⁉)

Marein recognized the man's voice coming from his back.

He could not yet recognize the man's face.

But he did know one thing.

One of the two men seemed to be Capella.

"I'm sorry, Capella, but you're going to have to stay with me for a while. I'm going to interview him now. If I'm alone, I'll be in trouble if I miss anything."

"...... Gyoi."

The moment he heard the word " interview," his body tensed up.

The sound of footsteps came a little closer.

The man placed a nearby chair in front of Marein, sat down, and crossed his legs and hands and looked at him.

Seeing the man's face, Marein muttered in despair.

'...... Zack River...".

"Nice to  see you ...... "

Zack replied to Marein's reply in a bored tone.

Somehow, though, Marein had expected it.

But it could still be saved.

Wouldn't he just save his life until the end?　

But when "Zack" arrived, he realized that hope was lost.

Then, looking dejected, Marein said,

I'll tell you everything ....... So at least let me die with ease......."

'......Huff, good heart. But do you expect me to believe everything you tell me?"

Zack said to Marein, his words cruel and heartless.

You don't know yourself, Zack. There is no trust in your own word. The only words I find trustworthy are the ones that you spit out to beg for death. ......"

As he finished, Zack smiled at Mullane.

The smile froze Marein's expression.

'But, well, I'll go easy on you a little bit,. Capella, you see that toothpick right there?　Go get it."

Capella did as Zack asked and brought a container full of toothpicks.

Zack took the container and held a toothpick in his hand, then gave a big smile.

Then, with that smile on his face, he gently said to Marein.

"You and Norris have given me a hard time, you know. Well, let's just say that I have a little bit of sorrow. At best, cry and let me know how you really feel. ......"

'I said I would tell you everything . Please, forgive me."

'...... rest assured. There are 20 places between my nails and fingers, both hands and feet combined. By the time I finish using them all, I too will believe your words to be true. Now, let's start with a commemorative first one: ......."

"Please stop it !"

After Zack finished, what was done to Marein is beyond description.

His plaintive screams continued all the way inside the room where they did not leak outside.

When Malain's screams stopped, Capella said to Zack in dismay.

'...... Master Zack, you play your cards too much every time......'

'Hmmm, is that so?　I've tried to be very gentle with him. ......"

Zack muttered, tilting his head.