Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Beast Taming (3)
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"Huh...?"
Nadia stared blankly in my direction, utterly flustered, as if she'd just heard something utterly impossible. But it didn't seem to be an issue of understanding. It was more like she simply hadn't expected the blade of vengeance to reach her too.
"You heard me."
"I... I heard, but what the hell does that even..."
"You fucking bitch!"
While she hesitated, Rick exploded in rage, howling like a madman. The voice rasping from his shredded throat sounded pathetic and desperate, like an orphaned crow cawing endlessly.
"Fuck... You heard every goddamn word, so quit pretending you didn't! This... this means shoving it up your worthless cunt and breaking it will shorten my suffering by that much, right?!"
"N-No... that's not... It can't mean that. Right, Luca? Why should I have to go through that? It... It was Rick who messed up. Right?"
"Shut your fucking mouth, you bitch! Goddamn slut with nothing but sex on your brain... If you can't do shit else, at least use that fucked-up body of yours to be useful for once!"
"W-What... did you say?"
She'd been cowering like a bug, but Rick's words unleashed years of pent-up resentment. She bit her lips hard, her voice rising.
"'Be useful for once'? How much have I sacrificed for you all these years! How could you say something like that to me? Anyone else, maybe, but you, Rick..."
"What've you ever done for me besides spreading your legs? Go on, tell me, you fucking bitch. You think you'd have made it this far without me? Fuck, if I hadn't taken you in, you'd be whoring on the streets! So hurry up and ram that damn bottle in there, you cunt!"
"Rick!"
Nadia shrieked, then clutched her belly and crawled toward him. Her head trembled as she spoke in a tear-choked voice.
"D-Don't say that, Rick. Yeah... I know I'm worthless. B-But I'm not alone right now. You know that... I'm carrying your child. This baby could be the normal one you've always wanted. The heir to lead House Baron..."
"Bullshit... A retard-spawning cripple bitch like you..."
"No! This time it feels different. Really. This child will be healthy. Right? So..."
"It'll turn out retarded just like its worthless mom—what the fuck! You think I want some freak that crawled out of your diseased womb, you idiot bitch? Just shut the hell up!"
Pain always dredges up the truth. That's why torture is the most basic and effective form of interrogation. So it wasn't strange that unintended truths spilled out during my purposeless torment.
The moment Rick's agonized voice echoed through the banquet hall—stained with screams and suffering—a hush fell. Even the fallen knight, who had clung desperately to her advantage, finally showed a shocked expression.
"Rick..."
She murmured his name blankly. Contrary to his furious outburst, her calm words lingered longer in the air.
I know the true meaning of "even a worm writhes when stepped on." It's not about the inevitability of revenge—it's that the worm can do nothing but writhe when crushed. Nadia, too, could only twitch her fingers upon hearing her life denied.
But even a worm with venom in its mouth might manage to bite.
"Nadia."
"Y-Yes...?"
"If you won't take his place..."
I placed the potion bottle in her watching hand.
"...you shove it inside Rick and break it yourself."
"Huh...?"
"W-What...?"
Nadia looked at me with slightly widened eyes, while Rick whipped his head around in horror. But straining to scream had ruined his voice completely. Only now realizing his plight, he pleaded with Nadia.
"N-Nadia... N-No, right? Right?"
She didn't answer. The silence hit him harder than any denial. He couldn't accept that she was showing even a flicker of defiance.
"Say something, Nadia. I... I went too far. The pain was too much. Please... Nadia... Nadiiaaaagh!"
His desperate plea turned to a scream as his flesh tore open. Nadia had already shoved the potion bottle inside him.
"Rick... Rick...!"
"You fucking... fucking bitch...!"
Rick clung to his shattered authority, cursing wildly, but his words fell on deaf ears—Nadia was drunk on bloodlust. Her arm trembled as she pushed the bottle deeper.
"Ugh... Uuuugh!"
"Aaaah... Aaaaagh! Nadia! Please... Stop...!"
"F-Fuck... How long... how long did you think I'd endure it...?"
"Nadia... Nadiiaaa!"
Her strength was weaker than mine, so it took her even longer to force the bottle in. But that only prolonged the agony, making it more brutal. The glass shards and nails already embedded inside dug deeper against the smooth surface. The potion's effect had long faded, reopening scabs as blood and fluids seeped in. Perhaps the real torment now came from those invading remnants.
"Haa... Haaa..."
Nadia finally pushed the potion all the way in, then panted heavily for a long while. Even that small effort had exhausted her. But she had no intention of stopping. The revenge had only just begun.
Soon, her clenched fists rose above Rick like hammers. Too emotional for judgment, too hesitant for pure vengeance—but the intent was clear. The fists, barely rising through years of oppression, trembled in place.
"Hnn... Hnn..."
For the first time, Rick looked at her with eyes full of fear. The weakling he'd despised and dismissed as mere fodder now gripped his lifeline tightly. Their twisted lord-vassal bond—born from that single night's quarrel—was twisting again.
"Aaaaagh!"
Finally, Nadia unleashed years of resentment, slamming her fist down with all her might. Unlike my blow, the bottle didn't shatter at once—it cracked bit by bit, drawing out the pain excruciatingly slowly. Rick could no longer even scream, his mouth gaping as blood-flecked saliva drooled out.
"A... Aaaah...!"
"Hnnngh... Hraaaah!!!"
She had to strike multiple times before the bottle fully broke. Each thud, thud, thud recreated the first bottle's torment, layering inexplicable pleasure atop the pain. Rick endured both humiliation and agony as the bottle shattered—and with it, his last shred of pride crumbled utterly.
"Haa... Haaa..."
Once the bottle was completely smashed, Rick convulsed violently, trembling all over. Even the strength he'd barely clung to gave out—he soiled himself as he stared at Nadia. She met his gaze not with triumph, but fear.
"A... Ah... Hic... Oh... the world..."
I couldn't tell what she saw in his eyes. Despair? Or self-loathing for still fearing this broken man? Whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant.
I watched her, then slowly leaned down. Only then did Nadia notice me, lifting her head. A glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.
"L-Luca..."
"Nadia."
Her name lingered on my tongue. Those three syllables still carried a faint hesitation. I still didn't know how to treat her. The one who started my life—and ended it. Who promised everything, then took even the remnants. In a way, Nadia was like a god to me.
And like a god, she'd bestowed far too much light upon me.
"...When I was cursed, Rick took a ring from my finger. Pure gold."
"A ring...? I don't really remember..."
"You'll remember. You even appraised it back then."
"Oh... Yeah... I think I do."
Nadia avoided my gaze, flicking her eyes away. But I stared piercingly.
"What happened to that ring?"
"Beats me. Maybe Rick has it?"
"Rick doesn't."
I didn't even bother turning back to check. Nadia panicked at my words, gnawing her nails.
"Oh... Really? Then maybe... he already sold it? Like I said, it was pretty valuable..."
"You remember it well. But no. Rick doesn't discard his trophies that easily. Just like he never fully discarded you, no matter how tiresome."
"Yeah? Right, yeah... Yeah. That's it. Sure..."
I watched her hastily pull her nail-biting hand away, wondering how long I'd have to wait. Maybe a very long time. But I wanted the answer from her lips.
"W-Well, Luca... Actually..."
She finally exhaled her long-held breath and spoke.
"I know where it is. But I thought you'd get mad if I said..."
"Tell me."
"...It's..."
Instead of words, her other hand—the one she'd barely kept from her mouth—rose slowly. The hand that had captivated my gaze since entering the room faintly gleamed with the moonlight that had faded from mine that day.
I seized the ring and her finger together. She didn't resist, looking up at me anxiously.
"L-Luca. You won't get mad, right? Yeah? I was just scared. I didn't mean to hide it..."
"Nadia."
"Yes?"
"Finally. You're starting to be useful."
Her expression crumpled slightly at the familiar words. But they didn't add insult to her already shattered pride.
"Yeah... Thanks."
"Congrats on the pregnancy too. I never imagined our party—only knowing slaughter—would cradle new life."
"Huh? Oh... Yeah...? Right. Yeah."
"Rick's child, from the guy who lived for violence. He never said it, but he'd have blessed his own bloodline's birth."
"Ah..."
Nadia's eyes flicked to Rick's pathetic, sprawled form. The fear that had briefly vanished returned to her face.
"W-Well, Luca... You saw it all, so you know. It was forced. Right? I... I never liked a guy like that. You know."
"I know. You truly loved Rick. You gave everything for him."
"No, Luca. No. I... I... Yeah. I loved you more, actually. Remember, Luca? That first night you turned to stone—I kissed your forehead. It was so long ago, you might not. But I did. Because I loved..."
"Rick. Even treated worse than human, enduring violence and humiliation—you loved him."
"Ugh... Ah..."
The potion's effect must have worn off again. Rick's pained groan leaked out. Hearing it, Nadia shook her head desperately, clinging to me.
"No, Luca! It's not like that. Misunderstanding. Everything I did was out of fear. Fear of getting hit—that's all. You saw it all, so you know. Right?"
"Sure. So you broke Eli's hand and clubbed her from behind... for a man you didn't love?"
For the first time, suppressed emotion leaked out. Maybe I even frowned. Nadia stared at my face like she'd seen something awful, her mouth opening silently, speechless.
I didn't despair at her base humanity now. Nor rage. I just felt the vague shape of what I had to do solidify in my grasp.
"Yeah. Maybe not everyone in this room needs to pay for that day's sins."
"Huh...?"
Color returned to Nadia's face. Still gripping her ringed finger, I lowered my gaze slightly.
"No need for everyone to die for past sins."
"R-Really...?"
"Yes."
I met her eyes. And spoke the truth I'd long pondered.
"So I'll spare your baby, Nadia."
My words gripped her hair. She repeated them blankly, uncomprehending.
"Sp-Spare... the child...?"
"Even born of trash, I can't punish a life that hasn't seen light."
"What does that mean, Luca...?"
"I'll save the child."
I repeated it deliberately. In case her small mind couldn't grasp it.
"But you have to die, obviously."
"W-Wait, Luca!"
Nadia tried to scramble up but collapsed, still pinned by her finger, kneeling before me.
"What are you saying? S-Spare the child instead of me...? That doesn't make sense..."
"It's obvious, Nadia. Actually perfect. The child you cherished so much."
"W-What...? No, Luca! Luca! Wait!"
Her voice turned frantic. I felt her heart pounding madly through her gripped finger.
"L-Luca. This can't be right. Right? After everything I did for you. Why... why show mercy to that bastard's spawn... Huh?"
"..."
"I misspoke? Right? Yeah? You meant the opposite. Spare my life if I abort. Forgive me if I erase Rick's trace. That's it, right?"
I didn't answer. But she deluded herself into a manic smile.
"Yeah, that's it. Must be. Makes no sense otherwise. How could that worm's brat be worth more than me? Even if I slipped up a bit, you'd never choose the child over me..."
Her face brightened mid-mumble. Suddenly, with her free hand, she tore open her clothes. Her filthy body—covered in blood and bruises—lay bare.
"L-Look, Luca. What do you think? A... A few scars, but still decent. Right? You... you liked me too. You stared at my body during training. Please, save me. Yeah? Then... I'll bear your child this time. I'm still good for it. We'll erase this filthy thing and make our own. You've gotta be backed up from all that petrification. Right? Luca. Forget the bad past. Let me be your fresh start. New beginning. Yeah?"
Nadia gripped my hand in reverse, rubbing her nipple against it. A shiver ran through her at the rough touch, her eyes twitching faintly.
But it stirred nothing in me. Just like flesh against tree bark. Still, that sensation clarified exactly what I had to do.
I pressed a finger to her forehead and shoved. Her eyes forced a grin, but her lips betrayed raw fear, mixing laughter with sobs. The sound echoed like a dirge in my ears.
"You're the worst mentor, Nadia. Everything you did failed."
Like spring blossoms, her five splayed fingers looked like a flower bud piercing winter. I gently plucked the petal with the ring.
And slowly tore it off.
"Aa...? Aaaah? Aaaaaagh!"
Tender flesh ripped, red pollen dusting my nose. I pocketed the first harvested petal preciously, then reached for the next.
"You never became anything."
"Luca... Luca, please...!"
"You gave up becoming a knight."
It was like the petal-plucking games of childhood. Just voicing the words in my heart and tearing leaves. I ripped another petal; she screamed.
"Aa... Aaaaaagh...!"
"You failed to be a good woman, even if Rick agreed."
"Stop... Stop it!!!"
"Clear failure as a comrade. Useless to the party."
"Luca... Luca...!"
"And now..."
Only one petal remained. The failed mentor's share slept quietly in my pocket. I eyed her belly—once cradled so protectively—and spoke the final judgment.
"You've even forsaken being a good mother."
"Luca!!!"
Nadia pleaded my name to the end. But I couldn't stop. The game ends only when all petals are plucked.
I mercilessly tore the last one.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
With her final finger gone, she collapsed screaming—not in pain, but terror. Seeing the knight's dream I'd once chased strewn pathetically, memories surged like waves, leaving only bitter salt.
I glanced at the white light beam from the ceiling. Nadia had been my youthful dream, my future. It took too long—and too many sacrifices—to realize it was hollow delusion.
"Aa... Aa..."
The dream still writhed on the floor. Hearing her groans, I realized one final task remained. I approached slowly.
I could no longer let her haunt my life.
Time to shred the faded dream entirely with my own hands.
"Luca... Mmph!"
I clamped her mouth. Then gripped one ear. Still soft and fragile as a petal.
"Hnnngh-mmph!"
I tore it off slowly. Red pollen flowed again. I might need to waste some potion. I wanted her alive, feeling every bit until the dream's dismantling ended.