Basement Confessions
These fuckers don't know shit. "Real nice lookin'."
"Ughghghgh!!"
Whew, what an enthusiastic reaction. Being popular is such a hassle.
But seriously, did they have to cut out everyone's tongues? I just wanted a little chit-chat.
Good thing I came prepared with a pen, knowing this might happen.
Sigh, scary cruel Papa. I'm gonna die of fright.
First time in the basement, but damn, it's got a brutal vibe.
"Ta-ta-ta-dan~"
Wonder if the MZ kids these days know this tune? Whatever. Gotta introduce the room with flair.
Essential torture gear on the walls! A rusty saw caked with flesh chunks, and a sledgehammer that crushes bones in one go~
Can't skip the cell either. Bloodstains splattered everywhere, the stench, no bed or blanket—that's gotta be unique to this place, right~
No wonder they're turning pale as ghosts. Finally sinking in that they're fucked.
Start with the saw? Love how the rust and bloodstains give it that hip, stained look.
"Ellin, wait outside. Don't wanna give you nightmares."
"...Thank you, young master."
She bows her head with this sad look for some reason and heads out.
Aw, so cute. With guts that transparent, what more could I want besides making her mine later?
Anyway...
"Hey, you fuckers. Don't you only feel relieved after doing shit like this?!"
"Mmph-mmph."
Ah, these idiots don't get it. Calling 'em by name adds the real flavor right now.
"Doesn't really matter though..."
How should I fuck up these bitches?
"Rip this one here, this one up to here."
It's a dream. Gotta be a dream. The young master I knew wasn't like this.
"Stay still. Move and I gotta adjust the angle."
What the hell. This wasn't supposed to happen.
I joined the duke's house thinking I'd just bully the third son, pay off my gambling debts, and live easy!!
"Mmmph-mmph!!!"
"Heh heh heh, later you'll have just one hand left—gonna suck for eating. Nah, both sides for fairness? More aesthetic that way."
"Nngh-nooo!!!!!"
"You like it? Kugh, knew it—I'm a symmetry freak, that's the real kick. See one squinting eye, wanna gouge the other. Our tutor got the same treatment, huh? No wonder this bitch felt like one of us, hahaha—"
"Mmmph!!"
What the fuck is he even saying?
He's still just thirteen. So docile. Even when he rebelled a bit, he quieted down!!
Now he's spouting back-alley thug shit while jamming that saw into the tutor's wrist.
What... what the hell happened?
How's he pulling out curses and slang he's never learned?
"Ehey. Why so down? What's the problem—tell me~"
Even singing now? The two maids and the tutor rolled their eyes back and passed out.
Those red eyes that never glanced my way now fix on me.
"Gasp—"
Crimson glow in the dark. Beast-like glaring scarlet eyes gleaming, golden blonde hair swaying without losing its shine.
Fear freezes my breath; instinct swallows it whole.
"Hi? Head maid~"
A gaunt face too hollow for his age, dark circles under his eyes. And that hair-raising smile.
A kid with that empty, life-worn junkie grin?
"Head maid aunty won't faint, right...?"
Skinny fingers grip a pen that scratches my arm.
"Listen good, and I'll cut just here. Nah, got some affection, so here? Up to here?"
The pen tip scrapes up and down my arm.
"Mmmph-mmmph!!"
Fear over pain. The madness in his eyes and bloody glare paralyze my thoughts.
"Hahaha! Pissing yourself from this? Guess incontinence comes with age."
My crotch soaks wet, gross and hot.
But the shame's nothing next to the terror.
This kid's a monster. Has to be.
"Or... write the name or description of the fucker who put you up to this."
Pen and paper tossed in my face.
"Don't write? Wonder what happens then?"
Aaah... God...
"Young master... are you alright?"
"Yeah. Not bad. But shitty ventilation. Throat's scratchy."
"...I see."
Heh, this girl's face is blank as ever, but I can read her emotions clear as day.
"Didn't kill 'em... passed out just from talking. Tell 'em to let themselves out later."
"...I believed you wouldn't."
What a load of bullshit. She had funeral-face minutes ago, now look—that little smirk.
Ugh, pretty girls have it easy. Seeing that face melts my bitterness away.
"Young master. That's the annex over there."
"Yeah. Gotta feed the spiders. Make sure they ain't croaked."
"Not that—the duke..."
"If he's pissed, he'll come himself."
What can he do? And I can't go now anyway.
I suffered so much—gotta stretch out the push-pull a bit.
"Ah, yeah. This here's a precious handwritten letter from me? Have Ellin deliver it to the duke. Embarrassing stuff, he'll piss himself if he reads it—"
"Pardon? Ah... yes, young master."
My aegyo attempt bombed.
Just a blank stare. Guess cute sushi girls gotta be the violent type.
"Send some food too. Top-shelf stuff."
"Top-shelf?"
"A ton, fuckloads, meat-heavy."
"Ah... lots. Yes, young master."
What a cute girl. Listens so well, driving me nuts. Just three more years, baby.
Watched her scamper off, then pulled the paper from my pocket.
- Priest Billman - Bald with a protruding belly.
"Temple fuckers..."
The writing from Head Maid aunty.
"What kinda fucker is this?"
First time hearing the name. New face not in the book.
"...Bald already sounds sketchy."
Bald guys are always stupid good at something.
Ashbal Grize. Duke's third son. The forgotten child.
Three months since I started working here.
After greeting my master, I took this short-term exclusive guard gig to make money. Suddenly recalling the day I started.
Duke's family official mark on the intro letter at the mercenary guild, plus peanuts for pay.
"Hah! Fuck, it's posted again."
"Yeah, say you did it and the kids come back face fucked up, quit fast."
Rough talk from the mercs. Weird—exclusive guard should be decent work.
"Pity the kid, but how much? Even Cro got caught giving bread to Third Young Master, Head Maid chopped him."
"Duke's third eating bread? Weird. Abandoned kid for real, huh."
Duke's own son?
Strange. And it nags at me.
No other applicants anyway—applied on a whim.
No interview, no skill check. Head Maid just says start. Tosses me 1 silver.
"Girl swinging a sword fits the young master. Hope you last longer this time."
Fucking nobles. Thorny words piss me off.
Monthly pay's not bad, but not for duke guard work...
"...What's your name?"
Small, skinny kid.
Eight-ish?
Shiny golden blonde and red eyes scream noble blood, but the ragged look tugs at me.
Kneel to meet his eyes.
"Evlin, young master."
"Evlin... can I call you Ellin? Long words... huff... kinda hard."
Gasping mid-sentence. Malnourished.
Trembling hands weakly clutching his clothes. Affection-starved.
This kid really Duke's third son?
"...Sorry if you hate it."
Even peeks at my reaction, bows head. I grew up spoiled with master's love.
Commoner, but no lacks. But this kid...
"No. It's good. Thank you for the nickname, young master."
"...Really? Thanks, Ellin."
Tiny smile. Finally looks his age.
Heart aches.
Why bother talking to a stranger like me, gasping for breath.
Tells me his "spider friends" names. Friends are spiders...?
"This spider's Bhungson, that one's Tuldak..."
Names a bit weird—my imagination?
...
The young master turned out like that because of the maids, Head Maid, and tutor.
Almost rushed in rage, but his eyes stopped me.
'Ellin hates going too...'
Asked why, got that wistful look.
Mercs quit for this reason. Endured the bullshit, snuck bread without getting caught.
Patted his back every choking bite.
Pretty smile, thanks each time. Poor young master.
Wish he'd curse and swing power instead.
Feeling this for a noble. Guess my heart's not tempered yet.
...
Young master collapsed.
Crazy tutor—corporal punishment on a little kid.
"Kill the bitch or drag her out, please."
Glad order.
Heard the room talk, burst in to beat the tutor today—no holding back.
Sad she's cut off forever, but quitting in months anyway.
Planned to clean one piece of trash first.
But this command?
Teased him happily. Not really kill, right?
Why those regretful eyes?
Not for real, right?
...
After that, cleaned Head Maid, maids, tutor all at once.
Seeing him collapse in tears before the duke—heart dropped.
Body light as a girl's.
Moving to main building, checked if breathing.
Won't let it slide.
Gotta tell the duke. Need to beat those bitches to vent this frustration.
...
Duke happily approved.
'Don't kill. Son wants it.'
Obvious. Duke never liked 'em much.
Prophecy my ass—why that tiny young master?
Basement beat 'em near death. Called priests for minimal heal to wake him.
Hand slipped too hard—my bad.
That unconscious little body kept haunting me.
...
Good he didn't kill.
Sudden foul mouth, bold moves worried me a bit, but all good.
Still feel the affection in his eyes on me.
Duke must be relieved too. Can handle trash himself now.
...
"Ah, yeah. This precious handwritten letter? Ellin, deliver to duke. Embarrassing content—he'll piss himself if he sees—"
Piss himself? His idea of aegyo?
Dunno what face to make. His shy look tickles my chest weirdly.
Saw duke's grim nod when delivering the letter.
Heading to his room with maids' fancy feast, one phrase loops in my head.
'Piss himself.'
"Ellin here? Whoa—check this marbled meat. Eat with me, hungry right?"
'Piss himself.'
"Yeah, Ellin ok? Face red? Priests still here? I'll fetch 'em. Those fuckers take cash, drip heal, sweet gig. Wait."
"No, young master. Just..."
Big trouble.
Sudden curses mixed with cute talk. Little guy scampering around. Rich expressions gazing up at me.
And the love and lack in those eyes.
"Just feels a bit hot."
Young master... looks so cute.