Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Chapter 9 - Refusal
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I was the only one who understood what had just happened. Even Homunculus, her heart pierced, didn't seem to register her impending death.
“What?”
She fumbled at her side, her fingers probing the wound, but blood, thick and dark, was already gushing out.
I had no intention of leaving my dagger embedded in a dying corpse, so I had twisted and pulled it free, widening the wound, making the bleeding unstoppable.
Homunculus stumbled to her feet, her eyes darting around, her gaze pleading, searching for help. She wanted them to heal her.
But then, as she stumbled backward, trying to distance herself from me, she collapsed, her body convulsing.
No matter how strong or resilient she was, a wound to the heart was fatal.
The only question was,
How long would it take?
“Cough- gasp-”
Blood, gushing from the wound, spilled from her mouth. She finally understood.
And her face, usually so haughty and composed, crumpled in fear, tears welling up in her eyes.
The fear of death,
The realization that everything she had, everything she had built, was about to end,
The rage at being defeated by a weaker being,
Consumed her, and her hand, trembling, pointed at me, her voice a choked whisper.
“Cough- Kill… him- gasp- kill… him…”
The soldiers, hearing her final command, rushed towards me. But having ended my brief, violent encounter with Homunculus, I was ready to face them.
“I… told you… I would kill you…”
There were moments in life when you simply couldn't hold back any longer. While the logical response was to flee, to avoid confrontation,
Sometimes, there was no escape,
And you had to fight, consequences be damned.
You had to steel your resolve.
This wasn't my comfortable lab,
And I was surrounded by predators, their claws bared, their eyes hungry.
To survive,
I had to fight back.
***
“Gasp- pant- wheeze-”
Chaos erupted within the annex.
On one side, they frantically tried to save Homunculus,
And on the other, I was being beaten and restrained, the air filled with grunts and the sickening thud of fists against flesh.
His Majesty, caught between the two scenes, paced nervously, wringing his hands,
“Ugggh…! Aaaaagh!”
And whenever I screamed, he flinched, tears welling up in his eyes, his fingers nervously picking at his nails. He was helpless, unable to intervene.
“What’s happening…? What will become of Aaptukemen…?”
“If Homunculus perishes, I will naturally assume leadership.”
“What?! We should hold a vote! A new leader requires the support of the majority!”
While Homunculus and I screamed and writhed in pain,
The nobles, oblivious to our suffering, plotted and schemed, eager to capitalize on this unexpected turn of events.
That’s how the world worked.
While we bled and suffered,
They reaped the rewards.
“S-stop! Stop it…!”
His Majesty, raising his hands, demanded their attention. With Homunculus injured, perhaps his symbolic authority held some weight now.
“H-Homunculus is gravely injured, and yet you continue your petty squabbles… shouldn’t we be discussing… what to do with her… and that male…?”
Of course not.
The nobles ignored him. Only Homunculus’s guards, who had been beating me, paused, their fists and feet hovering in mid-air.
“Y-you there! Stop hitting him! That’s enough!”
His Majesty, seeing their reaction, realized his words had some effect. He raised his voice, approaching me, and the beating stopped, at least for now.
But the other nobles disagreed. While Homunculus’s death was unavoidable, they wouldn't tolerate the male who had defied them.
“His Majesty simply suggests a more… effective form of punishment. Bring the brazier. Let his screams entertain us while we decide the fate of Aaptukemen.”
“What…?”
While His Majesty stammered and hesitated, a red-hot brazier was brought in.
It was placed before me, my body already bruised and battered, and I felt the intense heat, as if it would sear my flesh.
“I-I didn’t mean… that…”
“Then what did you mean, Your Majesty? We must inflict the greatest possible suffering upon this outsider, this hateful creature, to avenge Homunculus.”
Until now, they had simply been beating me, trying to wear me down,
But now, they were about to introduce me to Aaptukemen’s time-honored traditions.
A torture device.
A simple, yet effective method. The sight of the glowing metal, the intense heat radiating outwards, amplified the fear and anticipation.
“Will you do the honors, Your Majesty?”
While I stared at the brazier, blood and saliva dripping from my lips,
His Majesty was handed a red-hot poker.
The atmosphere was strange. Even I, the intended victim, could sense the contempt and mockery in the nobles’ gazes as they looked at His Majesty.
Perhaps they were tired of the old, decrepit King. They now had a new male slave, a younger, stronger one…
“Uh, well…”
His Majesty’s eyes welled up as he took the poker, his hand trembling.
But,
Looking at him through my darkened eyes,
I sensed something different, something unexpected.
The tears in his eyes,
Weren't the tears of a cowardly old man, clinging desperately to life.
“Show us, Your Majesty. Show us your strength, your resolve. We believe in you.”
While the nobles seemed to be enjoying this, mocking and humiliating their King,
He simply stood there, his gaze fixed on me, his hand trembling, clutching the red-hot poker.
“Y-yes… I see…”
Sizzle-
The poker grazed my shoulder, the searing heat burning my flesh. I screamed, my body convulsing in pain.
“Groan-…!”
“Your Majesty, what are you doing?! Show us your strength! Are you not enraged by this creature, this vile male who dared to harm Homunculus?! Strike him! Burn him!”
But the nobles were dissatisfied with his hesitant touch. Their words, filled with contempt and mockery, were like daggers to his heart.
“…I will… in time. So please… be silent.”
“What?”
But what truly tormented His Majesty,
Wasn't their mockery, their disdain.
It was me. The sight of me, broken and bleeding, seemed to cause him great distress.
“…That’s enough. It’s done. I’ve done my best. Are you not satisfied? Just… say the words. Beg for mercy.”
His Majesty had made a decision.
His grip on the poker tightened, his hand, despite its age, surprisingly strong.
“Then it will be done. I will end your suffering.”
He would give me a quick death.
A mercy, of sorts.
If he killed me now, while I was still defiant, perhaps he too would face their wrath.
“So, if it’s too difficult… just say the words. I’ll do it for you…”
The other women, oblivious to his intentions, continued their taunts and jeers. If I simply nodded, His Majesty would plunge the poker into my skull, ending my suffering.
“…”
But I had chosen my path.
I wasn't going to die here.
I didn't need his mercy,
His pity.
I would endure.
Until the very end.
I didn't know who would come for me, or when,
But I would survive, I would endure, until then.
***
“…”
Amy, her head held high, scanned the desolate, moonlit desert.
“Doctor.”
“Yes?”
Even though there was nothing but barren wasteland and the succubi,
She quickened her pace, as if having heard Juho’s voice.
“Dr. Juho awaits.”
I didn't know if she had truly connected with him,
Or if her longing for him had caused a malfunction.
But one thing was certain.
“Is that so?”
The two females,
Were now looking towards the distant gates of Aaptukemen, shimmering in the moonlight.