The Inquisition's Grip
I couldn't even freely use my character's name, and a whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind. Did this woman know I was an outsider and come looking for me? Did she know I wasn't the original owner of this body? Had she heard the prophecy about an otherworlder throwing the world into chaos and come to check if it might be me? Or was it just bad luck? A chill crept down my spine, making my back slick with sweat, but I forced an awkward smile and tried to deflect for now. A normal person wouldn't pay any mind to something so bizarre, so playing dumb should be the ordinary response.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just an ordinary priestess."
"So now they call priests who resurrect the dead 'ordinary,' do they?"
"Ugh..."
So that's why she'd been searching for me. If that was the case, I didn't have much to say in my defense. But I could at least appeal that I'd reformed a criminal organization, so I wasn't exactly the root of all evil. I tried steering the conversation that way, but the priestess beat me to it.
"Of course, I've heard all about your devotion, Sister. Reforming the villains who kidnapped you—truly the deeds of a saint worthy of the title."
Was that praise? It had to be, right? Could I feel proud? I hesitated, gauging her expression, but her face remained icy cold. Years of office life and dating had honed my instincts, and they were screaming that this was sarcasm.
"But resurrecting the dead—especially a corpse mangled beyond recognition into a bloody pulp—that's the realm of miracles. Or perhaps... you have power over the dead."
"Ah, that. It's easy. When you resurrect someone, they come back half-dead and keel over again right away. But if you time a Heal just before they regain consciousness and keep them from instant death, they can briefly tank the heavy DoT damage from their injury debuffs, you know? Then you slam an instant heal and wrap up the rest to fill their HP... uh..."
I'd tried explaining in detail, figuring she was a priestess too and might appreciate it, but her eyes stayed frigid, so I trailed off. She was lower level than me and clearly not even trying to learn. I hadn't expected her to take notes, but a nod would have been nice. No reaction at all, no sign she wanted to learn. One sure way to piss someone off is to cut them off mid-sentence, so I just shut my mouth. She's the one turning down tips from a healer who can regrow bones and flesh. I'd aimed to lighten the mood a bit too, but maybe she already had me pegged as some necromancer type.
"It seems the weight of life feels utterly trivial to you, the way you speak so lightly of it. I wonder if you'd feel the same about the sister you call your own."
"...What have you done to Hanbyeol?"
They'd taken her. I'd suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed hit me like a blow to the head. My voice trembled naturally, and seeing that, the priestess smirked, thinking she'd seized control.
"Not yet. But if you don't cooperate..."
Her fake benevolent smile made my stomach turn, but with Hanbyeol's safety on the line, I could swallow my pride. Pride doesn't keep you alive.
"I'll do it. Just let Hanbyeol go. She's just a kid."
"Then follow me."
"S-Sis!"
One of Daesik's subordinates lunged to grab me, but I shook my head. It was common sense that a religious order outpowered a single city's criminal syndicate. And with Hanbyeol in their hands, picking a fight with this priestess would be disastrous.
"Sorry. I've caused you enough trouble."
"Guh...! I'll come rescue you for sure!"
Why was he acting like something terrible was about to happen? I shook my head again and followed the priestess. His subordinate bolted off, probably to report the news. Meanwhile, she walked ahead without a glance back, unconcerned I'd run. She's got Hanbyeol as a hostage. I ground my teeth and glared at the back of her head. It didn't threaten her or let me cast a curse—it just hurt my eyes—so I gave up.
"Is Hanbyeol... really okay? Right?"
"She'll be fine as long as you cooperate nicely. Nothing's happened to her yet."
"How can I believe that? At least let me see her face. Or take me instead—whatever—just release Hanbyeol."
"That depends on you."
Her voice was soft and gentle, a stark contrast to her cold face. I almost thought it was nice, but I wasn't some fool who melted for a pretty voice, so I swallowed my anger and trailed after her. We walked in silence for about twenty minutes. Though we stuck to the main road, it was far enough from the Gae Saeng Guild house to feel distant. Not impossible to return from, but the building she led me to wasn't a temple—it was a cluster of larger four-story structures joined together. Seeing young men and women in uniform light armor, I guessed it might be the city's army or guard.
They barely glanced at us before looking away, uninterested. Priests were common, after all. I felt their eyes lingering on the woman and my legs, but that was natural, so I endured the flush of heat in my cheeks. She took me into a remote building. Aside from the first floor, there were only stairs leading underground. As we approached, two spear-wielding guards blocked the way.
"Sister Iris, it's been a while. State your purpose."
"I'm from the Papal Court. Here to interview the otherworlders."
"Ah, things have been chaotic with these otherworlders lately, huh? Tough job. But from what the jailers say, they're not all bad eggs. If you put in a good word with His Holiness the Pope, maybe we can all coexist? We need the manpower with all these monsters popping up."
"That's not for me to decide. I can only hope it resolves well."
Could I dare hope? But openly escorting me to a prison meant they planned to lock me up. Lip service aside, the guards leered at our bodies and snickered among themselves. Should I run now? But even if I did, I had no way to shake pursuit. No combat power, and the Gae Saeng Guild was a shaky backup at best. Better to endure imprisonment without dragging them in. Then maybe, once they'd grown stronger, they could rescue me someday.
The underground level looked surprisingly decent—not like the cold stone cell with just wall chains and shackles where I'd been held. This felt more like a modern prison from the news. A world with slaves and facilities like this? Well, even in reality, slaves existed in corners I didn't know about. I was just the unlucky one.
We didn't stop at the first basement; Iris led me to the second. It was dimmer than the first, and the guards seemed edgier.
"Quiet down!"
The jailers banged on bars to silence prisoners, their voices laced with irritation. The shift in atmosphere made me shrink back as I followed Iris. There were stairs to the third basement too, but she didn't take me there. Instead, she opened a door with an unusually thick barrier, unlike the others.
I peeked inside and instinctively stepped back. Medieval torture devices filled the room, sending me into panic. As I started to collapse, someone grabbed me from behind—not supporting, but restraining. They shoved me into the torture chamber, and with my legs gone weak, I couldn't resist the rough hands dragging me along silently.
"Y-You're not going to... hurt Hanbyeol here, are you...?"
My voice choked with tears. Iris kept her soft smile and replied gently.
"It depends on you, remember? Thank you for your help, Brother Hamill. How many times has this woman tried to escape?"
So that's why she never looked back—she had insurance. I strained not to look at the devices, trying to stand tall, but my body trembled uncontrollably. I needed to beg for Hanbyeol's release, but fear sealed my lips. Instead, a gravelly, low voice answered from behind, like crawling into a cave.
"She hasn't tried to escape even once. Looks like her legs gave out at the sight of this place."
"Is she so righteous after all? We'll see. Now, what should we call you, the one possessing Sister Ivy's body?"
"I-I'm..."
"Oh dear. You followed for your 'little sister,' but the torture room was too much, huh? Ever experienced one before?"
She stepped close, gently took my hand, and pressed it toward a torture tool. I freaked out, shaking my head wildly. Her smile deepened at my reaction.
"I see. Even you, who treats others' deaths so lightly, fears your own pain. So, what was your original name?"
"I-I'm Ivy too..."
I trembled, terrified she'd hammer a nail into me if I didn't answer straight. But even then, she lifted a large nail and slammed it down—right next to my hand into the handle.
"Kyaaah!"
I tried to pull back, but Hamill held me firm. The nail pierced the handle, its sharp tip jutting out beside my hand. I cracked open my squeezed-shut eyes, relieved my hand was intact, but Hamill shoved my back, bringing Iris's face close.
"Don't utter that name lightly."
I learned then that someone could smile while speaking so murderously. I squeezed my eyes shut, hugged myself, and yelled,
"Y-Yes! Call me whatever! I just picked Ivy 'cause it sounded pretty—any name's fine!"
"People name themselves in your world? Fascinating."
Her tone softened a notch, so I peeked at her expression. She gestured behind me, and Hamill pushed me with unyielding force onto a wooden block of unknown purpose. It looked like those back-stretchers old folks use on hiking trails, and I eyed it uneasily. Iris stated firmly,
"We'll call you Eve. Stripping your name entirely would be excessive. But calling you by the original owner's name—the body you stole—would dishonor Sister Ivy. So, a shortened version it is."
"Yes..."
"Now, to business. What happened when you entered the dungeon with Mage Hanbyeol?"
"We haven't entered any dungeon yet! Hanbyeol and I both woke up straight in prison."
"Hmm... Eve. We don't want to harm Sister Ivy's body, and you don't want pain, right? Wouldn't it be better for everyone if you just told the truth nicely?"
"I-I'm telling the truth! We really woke up locked in that underground prison!"
"Brother Hamill."
Iris turned away as if it wasn't worth hearing more, and suddenly ropes appeared, coiling tightly around me. I looked around in panic—Hamill hadn't moved a muscle. The ropes bound my arms behind my back, immobilizing me, then knotted my entire body. Unlike in Daesik's office, they got my legs too, folding them until my ankles touched my thighs before suspending me in midair.
My weight distributed to my armpits, chest, back, and groin, squeezing everywhere.
"Kyuuuugh!"
"Looks like Eve fears pain but still hides something worth lying over. Guess you won't talk even in agony. No point wasting time—let's move on. Humans are weaker to pleasure than pain, after all. Brother Hamill, ready?"
"Yes, secured."
Hamill shifted the floating ropes with one hand, seating me on the wooden block, then tied them to a ceiling pulley. Now I sat rigidly upright on it, unable to bend my waist forward or back. A low protrusion in the wood's center pressed against my clitoris. Desperate not to feel weird in front of them, I tried shifting away with my thighs, but Hamill noticed and added weights to the ropes binding my folded legs. The pull was immense—I couldn't lift them anymore. My waist to knees stretched straight, and the extra sag pressed even more weight onto my sensitive spot.
"I-I'm not lying! Please! Stop!"
"I didn't expect you'd fold this much. Brother Hamill, flip the switch."
"Hiyaaaaah?!"
The block started vibrating. Intensely, rippling from my pelvis and lower belly up to deep in my chest. The motion made my sensitive nipples harden against the soft fabric. Not wanting to show my shameful face, I looked down—and saw them poking through my black priestess robes. Please don't let them see... But Iris approached with clicking heels, clamped my nipples through the cloth, and hung small stones on them. Even those vibrated, making me thrash wildly.
"I hope tomorrow's Eve is more honest."
"N-No... aaahhhhn!"
I wondered if they heard my moan as they shut the door. A familiar, terrifying pleasure began to surge.
