Chapter 108 INTERLUDE 7: A MAID'S PAST

It hurt!

This was the only thought floating in her head.

Everything in her body hurt.

"Number 26 is showing adverse reactions."

"Incredible! For her to only show such a reaction now, how is it possible? No matter, adjust the operations."

Her hazy consciousness slowly woke up as pain flooded in.

*Beep !* *Beep! *

"She is waking up too soon! Who is the bastard that gave the anesthetic!?"

'What is happening?'

She tried to speak but she felt as if her mouth was too heavy to even open. She tried to move but all her limbs were bound.

"Send more dose! Now!! We can't afford to lose a specimen that reached the adaptation phase on the first operation."

'It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Please! I beg you! Stop this!'

Her plea, unable to be voiced, came out as a guttural scream as she began to thrash around uselessly while trying to free herself.

Pain.

Fear.

Confusion.

Discomfort.

All those feelings mixed in her mind and made her delirious.

Because of the blindfold covering her eyes, she was unable to understand what was happening.

She just wanted everything to stop.

'Please, someone, anyone, please make it st..'

On those last thoughts, her mind fell back in slumber.

----

'How did this happen?'

Sitting in a white cell with her knees gathered under her, the young cowgirl asked herself with a somewhat empty expression.

Everything around her was white. Be it the ceiling, the walls or the door. Even the clothes she was wearing were white. What's more, her hands were bound by her clothes. The same went for her mouth.

This illusion of an infinite void was doing nothing good to her mind. She could only leave this place for more painful experiments.

Raising her head, she began to stare at the ceiling absentmindedly, thinking back to her past.

All her life had been filled with hardships.

As a war orphan, feeding her stomach and surviving the next day had always been the most important thing for her. She had no time to consider anything else.

Begging, stealing, being stolen from, running away from the guard. This had always been her life.

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Back then, she wished to survive. Even though life was hard, she had a slight hope for a better future.

But now,

'I just want to die.'

She simply wished to put an end to her own misery.

"Number 66, Number 12! Set forth!"

"Yes."

"Yes."

Following the voice coming from the ceiling, one boy advanced and stood with a wooden sword in his hand, his actions, mirrored by a young glasses wearing boy.

"Begin."

At the emotionless signal, the two simultaneously began to practice their combat forms. The children of the facility were all unnamed; only their assigned numbers were used.

The outcome mirrored a dozen of prior matches, a light faint which would be followed up with 66 swinging with all of his might. He swung repeatedly, making contact each time, and grazed the young number 12's head.

In that time, number 12 kicked him with great force and knocked him down. His sword was then quickly thrust to his throat and was followed by the order to stop.

"Number 12, well done."

"Thank you."

"But as for number 66, you're hopeless yet again. Your memory fails you, and your movements are dull. I'm telling you this for your own sake. What a failure."

"Apologies."

"Do you forget that the only reason you're alive is because of your adaptation to the experiments? By all accounts, it wouldn't be strange to say that it's too late for you to clean up your act."

"I understand."

How she wished to simply swing her sword and kill those people speaking above.

"Now then, salute."

This time, the voice was addressed to all the children present, and like a machine, they began to repeat the words that were specially made to indoctrinate them.

"We offer our greatest honors, and most heartfelt gratitude to his majesty Neptune the great!"

"We swear unconditional loyalty to the kingdom!"

"Death to those who would oppose our Kingdom! For that purpose, we are willing to become the swords in the darkness!"

What were they even supposed to be thankful for? Why did they have to swear their loyalty? The girl couldn't remember a single thing that could obligate them to dedicate their lives to that kind of cause.

In reality, shouldn't they rather hate him? Swear to kill him?

That's why, one new goal took hold in her heart.

She swore that before dying, she would kill the bastard that caused all their miseries.

---

As time passed, she found herself surprisingly making new friends while sadly losing old ones.

The boy number 144 for example was a good friend who always liked to tell stories to make the other children happy. Sadly, he slowly withered away and died. Until his very end, all he could do was moan in pain.

Number 167, who moved into number 12's old room was the girl who became her best friend. With a quivering voice and a face that always appeared about to cry, it was during this time that she managed to brighten up.

Number 66, another cow man like her, was a rather handsome and kind fellow. He always managed to make her laugh even when her mood was at its lowest.

Number 54 was a dark elf girl, clearly the oldest of them all, she would always comfort the other children and act as the big sister of the group.

Number 12, the glass wearing young man was a strong but shy fellow. Every day, he would cry in his sleep and beg for help. He thought that they didn't hear him, but they simply kept quiet to protect his fragile pride.

This was how her everyday life continued.

Thinking of dying yet being denied death.

Hoping to see her friends survive but yet having to watch them die.

Being taught to be loyal to a man she wished to kill.

She thought that this would never change.

Until one day...