Slave, Bite. (End)
I stared at the dead bastard. Blue blood trickled out, proving he wasn't human. I checked the head rolling on the floor. The mask had fallen off long ago.
What the fuck?
What the hell just happened? My body moved on its own and took the guy out. It all went down in an instant. I moved the muscles myself, but I couldn't even figure out how I'd done it.
How'd I pull that off?
I'd swung the vibrator around. And just like that, the bastard was dead. Two or three swings at most. With that—
Can this thing really kill guys like him?
I eyed the vibrator with a strange look. Black energy coiled around the staff. It was my mana, but...
Something's off.
Hard to call it just mana. The shape, the nature. And the vibe... it felt like...
...ora?
The ora that knights used. It was damn similar. Why the hell did this pop up out of nowhere? And what was with that movement just now?
No way.
The vibrator. Did this thing do something? It was the only thing left that could explain it.
"What the fuck are you?"
What the hell was this thing? World Tree Relic, some divine artifact that popped out of it. Did it have effects like this? If so, what kind? Like auto-farming or some shit?
"...Hmm."
How do I test it again? I waved the staff around, but nothing happened.
Then—
Crack!
"...Guh!?"
Sudden agony ripped through every joint. Oh fuck, my growth plates.
This shit hurts like hell!
I'm still growing—won't this close 'em up? I trembled from the pain. It hurt so bad drool leaked from my mouth.
"Hurk... huff..."
I clawed at the ground, groaning for a while. Mana sickness? Nah.
Feels different.
The old one was like your gut getting wrung out, throat closing up like you were gonna choke. This? Just...
...fucking brutal muscle soreness?
Like doing three hours of forced leg day at the gym, times ten. Nothing to do but endure it.
Fuck, I'm gonna die.
I wanted to laugh bitterly, but it hurt too much. What a bullshit situation.
"Urgh... uuuugh..."
I let out these pathetic moans. Moans, huh? Kinda weird vibe. Anyway.
I gritted through the pain for a bit. Then—
Ssssh.
Sssssh.
"...Huh?"
Something changed with the corpse in front of me. The guy in the crow mask, dead. His body started melting away slowly.
What the fuck? That's nasty as hell—why's it doing that?
Grotesque as shit. As I freaked out at the sight—
Sizzle.
Something unknown burst from the blue-blooded sludge. Real slow. Real creepy. What oozed out took a human shape. Kinda?
Human? Nah, not quite. Whatever it was, it pissed me off just looking at it.
Then—
Tilt.
The formed head twitched, and it spoke.
[What is it?]
Hearing that hit me with intense disgust. Like seeing something you shouldn't. Or something that shouldn't exist.
[What are you? You're not Rachel.]
Rachel...?
Rachel. That was—
The original heroine.
The romance fantasy world's protagonist. Her name was Rachel. Why the fuck was her name coming up here?
[Not Rachel... but why did I react? What are you?]
"And what the hell are you? Not even a clay slime or some shit—why do you look like that?"
Looked so fucked up I had nothing to say. Made me sick to stare at. Plus, it reeked of danger.
[Not Rachel. But why'd I react?? What's your deal?]
"You and that other fucker. Always just spouting whatever the hell you want."
Grunt. I swallowed a groan and forced myself up. Every muscle screamed.
[This is weird. If my child handled the job and died... I shouldn't manifest like this.]
The clay slime turned its head. Its gaze went to the prophet's corpse in the corner.
[Job was done right. Why'd this happen... no clue. Or does it matter?]
Grind. Gurgle.
The slime's body shifted slowly.
[Yeah, doesn't matter. Rachel or not—that bitch—whatever. You're here, so it must mean something.]
Oh shit. This is going south fast. A chill ran through me.
[Child, child. Let me ask you. Are you an irrational existence too?]
[Even if not, that's fine. Just remember me.]
Hallucination? The expressionless slime felt like it was smiling.
[I'm Sloth, you see. Even if you die now, remember me.]
"...I'll remember if you don't kill me—can't you skip that part?"
I bit my lip and spat it out. The slime shook its head.
[Impossible, I'm afraid.]
Figures.
Nothing ever goes easy in this shithole world? Was coming here the mistake? Just when bad shit kept piling up—
[Well then—]
Whoosh.
Before it finished, heat surged from somewhere.
Huh?
I looked up at the ceiling. Energy gathered there, visible now.
Wondered what it was, but—
Kwaaaaaah—!!!!
Flames burst through the ceiling, vaporizing the thought.
"Whoa..."
Intense heat. The fire incinerated the upper ceiling. A vicious mana spectacle. The quality and density made me swallow a groan.
"...I came 'cause you were taking too long. What the hell's this mess?"
Someone descended the stairs. Fiery red hair, stacked curves. My lovely slave, Helena.
"And what's this shit?"
Helena gripped her staff, face twisted in disgust at the slime. To me, she felt like a goddamn savior.
"Ooh..."
"What the fuck did you do to cause this..."
"Bite!"
"...Huh?"
Helena froze mid-sentence. I saw her face scrunch up. I kept going.
"Slave, bite...!"
"..."
She mangled her expression at my words.
"...Un-fucking-believable."
I ignored her muttering—I couldn't kill it myself anyway. Her staff spun.
Whoosh.
Her heart entered my view. Six circles. They spun wildly. Mana churned violently. Her flame-like lips moved. Mana gathered at her mouth.
Prepping a chant.
Fuck, I'm at my limit...
I'd held on till then, but now I let my mind go. Fuck it, she'll handle it. As things felt maximally fucked, with brutal soreness, I blacked out.
＊＊＊＊
Gurgle. Glub.
What.
Cracked eyelids. Dizzy mind stirring faintly. Suddenly, I was underwater. Couldn't breathe. The sticky feel and blocked lungs forced it home.
Where the hell is this?
Weird-ass place. How do I get out? Waterboarding now? Panicking, searching for escape—
[A bit disappointing.]
A voice from somewhere. No direction. Like 360 degrees all around.
Ssssh—!
The floor glowed. Looked down—a long line formed, then a massive eye appeared. Lime-green glow. Felt familiar.
[I permitted it 'cause it was fun, but that worthless karma—dunno if it'll be gain or loss for you.]
[Wanted to give more if possible. But that puny vessel holds you back.]
[Devour more. Grow faster that way.]
Fwoooosh—!!!
Glub—!!
'Guh!'
Water pressure crushed my body. Agonizing. Nauseating—I bit my lip.
The voice kept going.
[Too lofty for mere mortals' midst.]
[Trample the clueless. Come here soon. Only then.]
Laughter mixed in.
[Can I claim you properly.]
Chilling words. Dizzying possessiveness widened my eyes. They flashed open.
"Hah... huff..."
I woke to a pure white ceiling.
"..."
Unfamiliar ceiling. I'm so sick of these. Of course it was. How many familiar ceilings did I even have in this world?
Stared till I sighed.
Something.
Felt like a dream, but fuzzy. Unpleasant haze.
I sat up anyway. Fine. Nightmare or whatever wasn't priority.
What mattered now was—
"I'm alive."
Dunno where, but survival first. Did our slave handle it at the end?
Expensive slaves are the best.
Red Tower Master. Marquis-level powerhouse, they said. Fiery and dumb-looking, but apparently strong. Wasn't sure she'd show.
"Ow..."
Joints still ached. How long was I out? Felt like a while.
Shook off dizziness, looked around—
"..."
Locked eyes with something. An angel. The one stuck to Aeria, here too. Even underground.
"You really got business with me? If so, say somethi—"
[You're awake.]
"Whoa, fuck...!"
I jolted back.
"Y-you talk? Why now?"
The angel spoke. Couldn't before, right? Why suddenly?
Befuddled—
[Sorry to rush, but no time. I have a question for you.]
"Wait, hold up. Lemme ask first."
I cut off the angel. I had questions too.
"That thing I asked before."
[...Pardon?]
First time I met the angel.
Time to hear the answer.
"You a virgin?"
The unheard reply. Dead serious face, I asked.
[Is he actually insane?]
The angel looked at me like I'd grossed it out for real.