SoroR: "You Two, Run Away Right Now!!"
The carriage rattled violently as it sped toward the homeland, far from the academy. Even with the believers present, Isabel had to watch her words, but she had no such luxury now.
Whenever the pain seemed to subside even slightly, her urethra would tear apart with agony again. Just when she thought she might die from the pain, it would ease, only for the torment and cold sweat to return the moment she tried to move.
"Please endure just a little longer! We'll reach the homeland soon!"
"That's right! We've already sent word through the flames, so you'll be able to receive treatment the moment we arrive!"
"Krrrrgh~! Aah, aaah, nnghaaaaak!!"
AHAHAHAHAHAHA~! BRAVO~! BRAVO~!
This is what happens when you go against Oppa! It would've been so much better if you'd just obediently handed SoroR back, but nooo, you had to do something stupid~! Why do humans never know their place, I wonder~? AHAHAHA!
"Nngh, ugh, iiiiiiiiigh~!"
Every time that bitch of a sword laughed at her, Isabel cursed her inwardly over and over: This fucking Great Spirit bitch. Even so, there was nothing Isabel could do.
Whenever the carriage passed through a portal and jolted hard, the shaking alone sent fresh waves of agony crashing over her.
"Huuuuiiik~! Hiiiiiiiiiiik~! Y-you fuck…! Iiiiiiiiiiiiiik!!!"
The worst pain she'd ever felt. She had no idea it was called the Curse of Kidney Stones. As she held back tears like a child, the carriage door suddenly swung open with a clatter.
"Is this where Isabel is?"
"Iiiiiiiiiigh!!! Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!!!!"
The voice that suddenly rang out sounded familiar, but she had no time to answer. Instead, she screamed back that she was in too much pain right now.
"Oh my, what a pathetic sight… I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, but what on earth is this state~? Excuse me, Isabel? Are you quite alright?"
"Nnghiiik~?!"
"You don't even have the strength to reply. To see the usually fierce Isabel like this… How very entertaining."
The woman poked only her face through the open carriage door. Isabel broke into a fresh cold sweat for an entirely different reason, but the other woman reached out without hesitation.
"…A curse, is it? Goodness, I've dispelled countless curses before, but this is the first time I've seen one this powerful. Whoever did this to you, I suppose I shouldn't let my guard down either. First, with maximum output—HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!"
"Nghiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!"
The pure white light that burst from her hand enveloped Isabel's body. It was so intense that it nearly burned her. The believers riding alongside her were thrown backward, their eyes rolling back.
"Aaaaaaaaaah!!! Hua, a, aaaaaah, ack! Aaaaaack!!"
"Oh dear, you're holding up? Just what is this insolent curse! Hah, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!"
This time she used both hands, pouring out even stronger purifying light. Thanks to her efforts, black smoke soon rose from between Isabel's legs. The curse itself vanished as if it had never been there, simple as that…
"…Nngh?!"
With a sharp crack, her index fingernail broke, as if the curse had been reflected back at her.
"Ugh… nggh… It hurts~! This is the first time I've encountered such a stubborn curse since receiving my blessing… Ngh, but it's starting to settle now, isn't it? …Hm? Isabel? Isabel? Are you coming back to us~?"
"Hooooooaaah, aaaaaah, aaah…… U, i, ugh… Uuuuugh…!"
Isabel lifted her head. The woman with the impressive golden roll hairstyle and an arrogant expression was stroking the spot where her nail had been torn off, puffing out her cheeks.
"Gabriel… Queen… Light…"
"You don't have to force yourself to say such an embarrassing name. Anyway, that really was a terrifying curse you received. Just what did you go up against? An evil god, perhaps?"
"No… that's not it… It was definitely a curse from a person, but I never imagined it would be this powerful…"
"You're lying, aren't you? Look at this! My beautiful hand, blessed by the Great Spirit of Light, has been reduced to this! To think I'd get hit by the curse while purifying it—how frightening. I don't want to purify anything ever again."
"I'm… sorry…"
"Really now. Why is someone like you acting so defeated?"
Gabriel Queen Light, Queen of the religious nation of Britannia, reached out and helped Isabel to her feet. A woman with long, elegantly grown golden hair and distinctive vertical rolls at the tips. She had added a slightly mature touch to emphasize her status as queen, but unlike "those fools somewhere," her golden hair was beautiful in anyone's eyes. Her golden eyes, which proudly displayed her own beauty, burned with clear ambition.
She was fundamentally a bright woman. Enough to smile even after losing a fingernail. She even waved a feather fan with flair as she laughed. The white dress she wore was unmistakably luxurious, overflowing with frills. It boldly revealed her voluptuous figure through side slits and a deep cleavage. She seemed especially confident in her thighs and hips, pairing them with white mesh stockings and high heels in a stunning combination.
"So this is the Great Spirit this time?"
"Huuu, yeees… I barely managed to seize it~? Really, the amount of trouble this one thing caused… Huuuuuuu!!! Ugh~! Ah, damn it! I'm finally starting to feel a bit better! All this suffering over one little thing?!"
"My, how fortunate. I much prefer your usual way of speaking. It really feels like the Isabel Berry I know?"
"Your Majesty and I aren't exactly on such familiar terms that we see each other often, are we~?"
Her words maintained the bare minimum of courtesy, yet her attitude was thoroughly insolent as she jabbed at the queen. But Queen Gabriel didn't seem to mind at all. She laughed heartily, and once Isabel had fully recovered, she asked again.
"Casualties?"
"Out of the thirty members of the retrieval team, excluding myself, the Spirit Saintess, twenty-five were crushed to death. They lasted only thirty seconds. Half the team couldn't even hold out for fifteen… Ah, seriously~! It was by far the worst mission I've ever received! I asked them to buy time for me to activate my Evil Eye, but people kept dropping like flies! The Great Spirit just sat there playing around! When I think that if it had gotten even a little serious, I would've died too…!"
"As expected of a Great Spirit. What a monster. We gathered quite the elite force, yet everyone except the barrier team was wiped out. Truly the agent of a god."
Gabriel drew a holy sign in the manner of the Spirit Society and offered a moment of silence for the dead.
Great Spirit of Light… Please guide our fallen believers to a better life… Grant beauty to those lacking in appearance, gold to those lacking in wealth, affection to those lacking in love. In their next life, may they want for nothing…
After listing words that fit their doctrine, she picked up the female sword. She tensed slightly at the curse flowing from its blade, but she smiled as usual.
"Are you at peace?"
"…Are you the leader of these idiots?"
"Yes. I am Gabriel Queen Light, blessed by the Spirits of Light and entrusted with Britannia's guardian barrier. I truly apologize for treating you so roughly today. How might I make amends… Oh ho ho…"
"What an unpleasant woman, laughing like that… If you're really sorry, release me right now. If you do, I might just forgive you with your lives intact~?"
"That would be difficult. Our nation desperately needs the help of the Great Spirits. Yet we can rarely obtain their cooperation, so we had no choice but to take stronger measures."
"Help? You're talking about the Holy Land again, aren't you?"
"Yes. If you would help us, we would stop treating you this way. I swear it on the name of the Queen."
"As if I'd help. I have no obligation to assist you people if it means ruining the land where Oppa lives."
"That's fine. We have plenty of time. We'll try to persuade you in our own way, so please let us know if you change your mind. Isabel here is a professional in that field and will surely make you feel very good. I'm certain that in just a few days you'll come begging to change your name yourself."
"SoroR is the precious name Oppa gave me. I have zero intention of accepting any collar you people offer."
"I see. That's usually how it goes. I thought you'd say as much."
As planned, there was no choice but to leave it to Isabel. Gabriel grumbled, "I don't want to hurt the Great Spirit, so why won't you understand?" and tried to reattach the fallen fingernail.
"Mmm…"
But it wouldn't stick. Even when she used her proud Light Magic, the result was the same, and she showed clear displeasure.
"I flew here in such a hurry to save Isabel, only to end up injured myself… How ridiculous…"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. But I didn't know that bastard could use such a strong curse either~!"
"It was Roman, wasn't it… Hm, quite the suspicious man. Could he be connected to Satisfaction or Shetka?"
"Even if you say that, I don't have time to investigate right now~! I'm about to get back to my main duties. What about you, Your Majesty?"
"It's obvious we were behind it, and they'll openly criticize us, so we'll have to prepare to play dumb. As long as we didn't leave any blatant traces, they won't be able to do anything about it. Don't worry. I'll buy time until the Great Spirit understands our feelings, so I'll leave the rest to you, Isabel."
"Hah, same as always… Seeing this, the sea side will probably break quickly, and the training shouldn't take long either."
"This? At least show some respect. The Great Spirit is our savior, after all."
"Yeees, I got it~!"
When Isabel regained her composure and answered cheekily, Gabriel tossed her the sword and turned away. That was when it happened.
"Hmmm… Gabriel. Isabel. I don't know what circumstances you two are in, but as SoroR, your senior in life, should I give you a tip?"
"…Suddenly?"
"Ugh, you're going to lecture us in this situation~?"
"Khh khh… It probably sounds that way from your position. Still, I'm going to say it, so listen carefully."
"………?"
"It's nothing special. I just wanted to tell you that in this world, there are things humans should never touch—things you shouldn't even encounter. For example, there's a stupid bitch who's been pretending to be her little sister all this time after touching the wrong thing. Everything she was proud of has been shattered and remade, turning her into an idiot who shows nothing but disgrace in front of others. And yet she enjoys every second of it, willingly throwing away all her dignity and rights… There exists something that, just by looking at it, would drive the likes of you completely insane."
"Uh, wasn't that supposed to be a tip? Your wording is way too messy."
"Are you speaking of the Great Spirit? Or some fictional demon?"
"Who knows~? Think whatever you want. SoroR has clearly warned you, so no matter who dies here, it won't be my fault."
"What the… Are you threatening us now… Even in that state, it's not scary at all~!"
"I didn't say it to scare you. SoroR has noticed what kind of thing you two are doing. I also know my friend is at your feet. The fact that I can't feel any power despite being this close means she's probably suffered something pathetic. And seeing how confident you two are, that arrogant attitude of yours won't last long. SoroR will definitely end up crying her eyes out in a way that doesn't suit her age."
"You know about it… Then aren't you afraid~?"
"When I think about what you two are going to suffer, SoroR's disgrace would probably seem cute by comparison~? Especially you… The queen might somehow manage to run away, but you probably won't. Even if you bowed your head right now it would be dangerous, yet you have no intention of changing your mind, do you?"
"Aang~? No matter how much of a Great Spirit you are, in that state you can't use any power, so what exactly are you so afraid of…"
"…………"
While Isabel acted relaxed, Gabriel gently stroked the spot where her nail had been torn off and narrowed her red eyes. If she had shouted loudly it might have been different, but there was something strange about the way she was calmly offering her neck despite being captured.
"Then go ahead and try. Torment SoroR. Then I'll throw away my pride and cry for you. I'll bawl like the kids here and make a complete fool of myself. But I'll warn you—one way or another, if it's not me, then the sea. You'd better corrupt it as quickly as possible~?"
"……Why?"
"Because you've touched something you should never have touched. If you want to live, you'd better prepare yourselves."
"That's quite…"
"A rather unique form of curse… isn't it…?"
"Hehehe… So SoroR is fine. Come on, let's get started♡ Torment SoroR♡ Hurry~♡"
""…………""
The fact that a Great Spirit was acting this way made their hearts pound. If she had acted strong, they could have felt threatened, but now they felt strangely unsettled.
"Isabel. I'm sorry the moment you return, but please do exactly as the Great Spirit wishes right away. Thoroughly enough that the words 'It was all nonsense' come out of her own mouth."
"Even somewhat insulting language is permitted, right~?"
"Yes… Since she herself desires it, as much as you like."
"I'll take care of it right away~."
This time she properly received the sword and headed underground. Gabriel also hurriedly returned to the palace. It was proof that both of them felt a sense of urgency. It was a completely different sensation from when the Great Spirit of the Sea had unleashed its curses.
'Well, no matter how much she tries to act tough, this is how it ends.'
Driven by an ominous premonition that something truly terrible was about to happen, they hurriedly finished preparing to torment SoroR.
And so, the mouthy masochistic Great Spirit—
"Mhooooooooooah♡♡♡♡ Unyaaaaaaaah♡♡♡♡♡ Oooooook♡ Ok♡ O♡ Stop iiiiit♡♡♡♡ Muo♡ Cliiiiiiiit♡♡♡ Stop♡ Uguhooooooooooooooooooah♡♡♡♡♡"
—in just one hour, had been reduced to a toy that could only make pig-like squeals.