Two Days Later: The Lizardman Leto's Execution Festival
Two days later, the execution ground next to Estia's grand square was bustling with activity.
"Everyone ready? Double-check everything."
"Yes!"
"We need perfect preparations so nothing goes wrong with the event."
The executioner was barking orders at his subordinates, who in turn inspected the state of the execution platform and the readiness of the tools. It was all in preparation for the executions scheduled for the afternoon.
As the sun reached its zenith, crowds of Estia's residents poured into the execution ground.
"How many executions today?"
"The vice-high priestess is coming out!"
"I hear the mayor's attending in person too? Must be a big one."
"Heard there's a free circus performance from the troupe?"
"This is gonna be fun!"
"If you snag a convict's hand, that's jackpot!"
The mood among the gathering crowd was strangely festive. In the Tower World, executions were akin to a carnival. Much like medieval Europe on Earth, entertainment options here were scarce compared to modern Earth. Thus, executions turned into spectacles.
They were hosted by rarely seen vice-high priests and the city mayor, with shrine priests offering free healing to spectators. Merchants flocked in, staging circuses and all sorts of shows back-to-back. Moreover, for heinous criminals, the guillotine severed necks and hands alike—and anyone could claim the severed hands to sell for a tidy profit. For locals accustomed to blood from their adventurer days, there was no reason to skip the show.
Prostitutes were a staple of such festivals, of course. A massive number strutted around the square and execution ground, flaunting their unique fashions and beauties. Especially the demi-human ones, whose lewd outfits instantly caught men's eyes.
There's kids around... isn't this a bit much?
Bikinis were tame for them. Many wore tops exposing their breasts or fishnet outfits—most were heavily revealing. Some even had their crotches fully exposed. They aggressively seduced men.
"Fuck me for just 20 bronze."
"Mouth? Pussy? Ass? Your choice."
"Plenty of time. Full service guaranteed."
They used their whole bodies to tout their wares. Once a man chose, the pair slipped off to a quiet inn, or into temporary booths or tents set up in the square's corners, to enjoy some sex.
But it wasn't just prostitutes luring men.
"Wanna play?"
"Let's heat things up today!"
Even ordinary women grew bold in the festive atmosphere, and men who locked eyes with them had their fun. Women's moans echoed from every corner of the city.
Another unique sight unfolded in the square. In the center stood wooden restraint frames where naked women were bound face-down. These were the female death row inmates.
"Please... cum in my pussy!"
"I beg you, use me."
Semen already leaked from their pussies and asses—evidence of prior use—yet they begged passing men. Despite it all, they pleaded to be fucked. The reason? Pregnancy was the sole way for death row inmates like them to survive. Even convicts could avoid execution and become slaves if impregnated.
So they begged every man who passed.
"……."
But most men's reactions were cold. In this festival, you could fuck pretty women if vibes matched, or hire decked-out prostitutes on the cheap. No reason to use a filthy death row inmate's cum-soaked pussy.
This was the ordinary scene at a Tower World execution ground: a sexual free-for-all amid countless men and women reveling.
As the sun climbed higher, the VIP seats filled with the vice-high priestess and mayor side by side.
Clap clap clap clap
"Thank you, Vice-High Priestess!"
"Claude forever! Forever!"
"Estia eternal!"
Most residents were devotees of Claude, the god ruling this city, so they praised the deity alongside the vice-high priestess. She waved benevolently to the crowd.
Namgung Seojun sat in the spectator seats with Gisohee, Isu-yeon, Pinara, and Pharos, watching the spectacle.
"Seojun, you really plan to interrupt the trial? Might ruin the vibe," Gisohee said.
Seojun nodded at her question, while Pharos watched the scene with an intrigued expression.
Once the VIPs were seated, the city's administrative officer stepped forward, grabbed a mana-amplified microphone, and shouted.
"We shall now proceed with the execution of the convicts."
"Woo! Woo!"
"Kill 'em! Kill!"
"Punish the criminals!"
The crowd roared. At the officer's signal, death row inmates were brought up one by one.
"I'm innocent! I didn't commit any crime! Spare me!!"
The first man on stage kept protesting his innocence. But residents hurled tomatoes, filth, or stones at him. Once he was covered in grime, the officer called a halt, and the final trial began.
"The criminal Chaolin entered the Tower as an adventurer and pirated for ten years, killing and plundering countless adventurers. Thus, he is sentenced to death. Any last words?"
Given his final chance, the man shouted.
"No! I'm not a pirate! I'm innocent! It's a frame-up! I..."
As he rambled, the executioner gagged him. No one believed a word anyway. The officer scanned the crowd.
"Does anyone here object?"
No one did. With formalities complete, the officer bellowed.
"Execute!"
"Yes!"
The executioners bound the convict to the guillotine.
"Mmph... mmph!"
Gagged and unable to speak clearly, he tried to say something to the end, but the executioner yelled.
"Execution!"
The rope snapped, and the massive blade dropped, severing the convict's neck and both arms in one stroke.
Thud!
"Woo!!"
Blood fountained from the severed neck and hands. The executioner tossed the hands to the crowd, who cheered wildly.
Starting with the pirate, convicts mounted the stage one after another.
"Spare me! This isn't a capital crime!"
"Execution!"
Thud!
"Woo!!"
All begged to live till the end, but the officer's order separated heads from bodies.
Female convicts were no exception.
"Next!"
A woman was brought up at the officer's command. Still naked from her plaza display, she prayed desperately.
"Please..."
Her neck was fixed to the guillotine despite her prayers. An assistant stepped up, placed a small stick between her legs, and said.
"Urinate."
Forgetting the shame before the massive crowd, she peed—her last shot at survival. She prayed as she did.
Shhh...
The stick soaked, and once she finished, the man shook it to check the color.
"Not pregnant."
"No way! Check again! Please, just once more!!"
She begged, but the officer declared firmly.
"Execution!"
"Yes!"
The blade fell mercilessly, decapitating her.
Thud!
"Ooh."
She died instantly, her lower body voiding urine and feces. Unimpregnated females met the same fate.
The bloodthirsty crowd grew even more excited amid the carnage, the festival of gore continuing.
"Next convict!"
This time, a non-human—a lizardman—ascended the stage. It was Leto, the one Namgung Seojun had been waiting for.
"Die! Die!"
"Killing kids? You'll rot in hell unforgiven!"
"Slay the monstrous lizardman!"
"God Claude! Punish this sinner!"
This was the highlight: the child-killer. Displayed three days at the shrine plaza, his infamy drew massive hate. The crowd pelted him with filth and large stones. Minor wounds dotted Leto's body, but he stayed silent.
With Leto on stage, the officer recounted the crime.
"Lizardman Leto entered the Tower as an adventurer—and an inviter at that. Yet in beautiful Estia, he fell for a woman. But! Witnessing her cheating with another man, he flew into rage and killed her, her lover, and her two daughters. Four lives snuffed in an instant—including young children."
He emphasized.
"Killing children is unforgivable. The Supreme God and Claude decree: children must be protected. They are beings to safeguard."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"Thus, lizardman Leto is sentenced to death. Last words?"
Leto stayed silent at his final chance. The officer continued.
"Does anyone object?"
This was mere formality—no objections in years.
But today was different.
"I object!"
Namgung Seojun's sudden shout drew all eyes. The flustered officer composed himself.
"Sir, you object? State your objection."
As the officer pointed him out, Seojun stood and replied.
"Lizardman Leto did kill people."
Everyone knew that; it was why he was here.
"But he did not take children's lives."
An unexpected claim. The officer faltered.
"Nonsense. He was in a house with four corpses and never denied killing them."
Seojun drew a small crystal orb from his pocket.
"The truth is in here."
He shouted to the mayor and vice-high priestess in the VIP seats.
"I submit this recording crystal as evidence. Judge by viewing it."
All eyes turned to the mayor and vice-high priestess.