Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Hardened. Cunt (3)
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"I've found something out."
"What? About Luca?"
"Yeah. This doesn't seem like petrification so much as some kind of sealing spell. The goal isn't to kill the target—it's just to tie their feet up for a while."
"So?"
"Which means Luca can stay alive without external nutrition. His body's been frozen in place, so once he's released, he should be able to move around without any issues right away."
"That's basically the same as finding out nothing. We still don't know how to release him..."
"We found something out, at least! It was hard getting even this far."
"Leo's right. Any progress is encouraging. Good work, Sera. Keep digging."
"Ah... yeah... got it, Eli."
"Oh, more importantly, let's eat. I'm fucking starving."
"You, who've never cooked a meal in your life, always whining about food. Don't you have a conscience, Rick?"
"Whoops, sorry, sorry. Did I say that? Fine, I'll take night watch tonight. How's that?"
"What? What wind's blowing this sudden change...?"
"For real? You'll swap with me? Awesome! Wait, no... I'm on with Nadia tonight. Nadia? Mind if I skip?"
"Come to think of it, Nadia's been awfully quiet today. Everything okay?"
"Huh? Oh... it's nothing. Just in a mood."
"Uh... then Nadia, want me to cover for you tonight? If you're tired, I'll do it."
"Oh yeah? What do you say, Nadia? Sera and I need to chat anyway. Sera and I have some... stuff to talk about too, right Nadia?"
"Huh? What would we have to—"
"No! I mean, no. I'll stand watch with you. That'd be better."
"Nadia? You sure you're okay? You look pale..."
"For real? Then it's settled! No take-backs!"
"Yeah, let's do that. Ah! I'm hungry! Time to eat. Cool?"
"...Um, Nadia. You really okay? You look off. Something happen last night?"
"Huh? Oh... no. Really, it's nothing. Just... just..."
Tired, probably.
Eli and Sera. Eli and Leo. Rick and Nadia. Eli and Nadia. Sera and Leo. Rick and Nadia.
Rick. Nadia. Rick. Nadia. Rick. Nadia.
Eli and Leo have pulled double night watches in a row sometimes. Sera chips in per rotation but only about once every three days. Bobby's still recovering, not fully fit.
And Rick? He always pairs with Nadia for night watch. Doesn't matter the cycle. Even if she's gone two nights sleepless, if he asks, she agrees.
She never tells the others what happens on those watches. Or more precisely, she can't. A knight's pride, convictions, integrity. She won't tarnish her own honor.
Maybe deep down, she clings to vague hope that it'll all end someday. That once I'm free from this stone, everything resolves. Could be.
That's why every time Rick takes her, she always looks my way. Eyes mixed with despair and instinctive pleasure, begging me to do something. As if staring will break my seal.
Sometimes, meeting her gaze stirs pointless hope in me too. Maybe my stone really will shatter, and I'll get to break that bastard's nose. It tempts me to imagine.
But it never happens. And the hope she sends always crushes me harder.
"Hey."
"Hah... hah..."
"Hey. Answer me."
"Yes?"
"You're such a fucking cumrag."
"...Yes."
In that moment, me, Rick, and Nadia all agreed.
Grinding away so devotedly on the hilt of the sword she cherished like her life? No excuse—it was pure cheap whore behavior.
A month had passed since that day. A whole month since Nadia got brutally beaten by Rick. In that time, they'd shared exactly eleven night watches, fucking without fail every single one.
Nadia visibly withered day by day, while Rick grew crueler. The guy was a total degenerate in this stuff. Every time, some new way to defile her. Grateful from an audience perspective, maybe—but that audience was me.
And Rick exploited that audience very actively.
"Ahk... hngh..."
"Hurry up and lube it. Should've fingered yourself ahead of time. Too lazy, aren't you, slut knight?"
"..."
Nadia couldn't reply. Maybe because the sword plunged into the dirt kept shaking too much.
Today, Rick had devised fresh torture. Soon as the others slept, he snatched her sword and jammed it deep into the ground. Pointing at the hilt-only blade, he gave her one simple order.
"Impale yourself."
"Until when...?"
"Until I say stop."
Brutally simple. Without resistance, she lowered herself slowly onto the hilt she treasured so.
"Ahaak...!"
Dry hole forcing onto the rough hilt, Nadia screamed in agony. Rick chuckled, pants down, enjoying the show.
"Think of it as sword maintenance. Like oiling it up, right?"
Nadia said nothing. Resistance would just prolong the pain anyway.
Instead, she looked up at me, staring silently.
I could see her face. Cheeks always flushed beet red, eyes rolling up with pain and pleasure every hip twitch.
The first time I saw her broken expression, the shock was indescribable. But now, with the torment routine, locking eyes stirred rage more than anything.
Why obey without fighting back? If she can't win, why not confide in the party? And why moan in pleasure from what she hates?
And why the fuck stare at helpless me, rubbing in my powerlessness?
Lots of people see rocks as symbols of iron will. But as the rock? Only helplessness dwells in stone hearts. Immobility seals away agency.
Who was the dumbass who taught me to be a steadfast rock of a warrior?
"Kyaa!"
A sharp scream pierced my hardened thoughts. Shifting gaze, I saw Rick looming behind her.
"What're you—"
"Don't mind me. Just watching got boring."
Eyeing her crudely bucking hips, he trailed a finger deeper. Along the ass crack, brushing her back hole—Nadia screamed again.
"Kyaa...! Stop!"
"Who're you ordering around, you bitch? Time for etiquette lessons?"
"That's..."
"Then stay still. Man... this slut's ass is fucking prime too."
Admiring aloud, he stroked her rear again. All three holes teased at once, Nadia clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle screams.
"Feels alive now that I'm touching. Like it?"
"No..."
"Then why're you drooling?"
As he said, fluids streamed from her below. The hard ground soaked like after rain, love juices shadowing into the dirt.
"Ha... ngh... huaaah..."
Hips shaking, stamina fading, Nadia braced hands on ground and let out pent-up moans. Rick's finger grazed rear again—her waist spasmed visibly, head snapping back.
"Haaa...! Ahk...!"
Her eyes on me twitched under, bags quivering. I knew her climax neared and braced mentally.
"Hold up."
"Huh?"
Rick grabbed her waist then. Index finger tracing her lines, he grinned sadistically.
"Hey. You gotta pee, don't you?"
This fucking asshole.
"What're you... talking about..."
"How many times have you pissed yourself in front of me? Think I wouldn't notice? Confess, or no relief."
He kept teasing her rear even talking. Urge intensifying, Nadia squeezed eyes shut.
"Y-yes... yes, I do."
"Then go piss."
Oddly gentle. But the follow-up wasn't.
"On Luca."
...
He was the only one who ever gave me water.
Rick knew Nadia always watched me during sex. And he exploited it cleverly.
At first, he'd smear her juices all over me. Not just rub—make her squirt directly. Holding her for doggy, or weird masturbation poses, whatever to drench me.
Sometimes disgustingly, he'd cum on me too. He didn't enjoy it much, but seeing Nadia's pained face was the point.
"...Hngh."
Snapping to, she was right in front of me. Rick cackled from afar, watching us.
"Don't try anything stupid. Got it?"
"...Yes."
She glanced at me, then turned. Her waist trembled—I looked skyward.
Hot liquid splashed my feet. Then knees, thighs. The warmth hit.
That instant, no shame. Instead, I prayed thanks to the god granting my plea for water. Grinding teeth in gratitude to that bastard.
"...Hic."
Sometimes after, she'd whisper apology. But not anymore. When did it stop? When she stopped backtalking Rick? Or when he said she 'started feeling a female's joy'?
Didn't want to think.
Amid dripping silence, Rick's fake cough echoed. Coughing like laughter, he drawled.
"Well then, shall we get to the main event?"