The Tower of Urolithiasis - Part Two

She woke to the heavy, leaden body typical of someone rising after sleep following total exhaustion, along with the bitter metallic taste lingering in her mouth. An ancient-looking ceiling and the clamor from outside greeted her. She had barely stirred from a bed that had clearly seen decades of use, yet the moment she opened her eyes she found herself in a blood-drenched room, sending chills racing across her skin.

"Where... am I...?"

No one answered. She had fallen asleep alone in the dilapidated room.

As she looked around, something caught in her hand. When she grasped it, a handful of shattered teeth greeted Sunho.

"Eek—!"

Her usual composure vanished. She jolted in terror as violent goosebumps raced from the broken teeth in her palm, up her wrist and along her forearm without end.

This isn't a torture chamber or an underground cell, right?

Looking again, it was clearly an old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠civilian house—the same sort of building she had seen during a street inspection long ago.

"Why... a place like this..."

She searched her memories and scanned the room once more, but it remained an utterly unpleasant sight. The blanket and pillow were soaked through with blood, and the basin beneath the bed overflowed with it. And then there were the teeth. What sort of crude, degrading torment was this? She bit her lip, only to realize she felt no pain.

My teeth have regenerated... and my nails too?

Ignoring the horrific surroundings, she examined her body. Her skin was smooth and flawless, without a single stretch mark. The thigh flesh that had been sliced paper-thin during torture had healed completely, as though it had never happened. Her tightly pressed lips felt no pain, and her ruined eyes had been restored.

"So you're finally awake."

"Eek...!"

The moment she finished checking herself, the door opened as if the timing had been calculated. Roman stepped inside, scratching hair that had grown considerably longer. Sunho instinctively lifted the blanket to cover herself.

"Roman Cornelius... why are you here...?"

"You already know the reason, don't you?"

"…………"

She retraced her memories. Just before losing consciousness from exhaustion during the torture, she remembered the eunuch being attacked by someone.

So it was Cornelius's side that came to the rescue. To think help would arrive from the one direction I never expected...

Whether the torture had shattered her insight or she had always been shortsighted, she blamed herself—perhaps simply because she lacked the energy to think otherwise—and her face crumpled. Then two familiar faces appeared beyond the doorway.

"Sister..."

"Sunho, sister... are you all right...?"

"So both of you came too."

The sight of those familiar faces brought relief, and the tension drained from her. Though Sunho's frame was far smaller, she accepted the embrace as her two lovely younger sisters approached cautiously and clung to her. Their body types shared almost no similarities, yet the three of them shared quiet dispositions and similar features, creating a harmonious picture.

"Those two looked after you all night. The smell of blood would get on their clothes, but they were so stubborn I couldn't talk them out of it."

"Then... everything around me is from my own...?"

"That's right. The blood and teeth scattered across the floor came out while you were regenerating, so there's no need to be afraid."

He picked up one of the broken teeth Sunho had thrown aside and showed it to her again. It was unmistakably one of her own teeth shattered during the torture.

"For your recovery I used water boiled with golden crops. Even after preparing it myself I wondered, With a body in that condition, will this really be all right? I can't tell you how shocked I was when it actually worked."

"I was shocked as well... It feels as if everything I endured until now might have been a nightmare..."

She tried to rise in order to express her gratitude, but her body swayed.

"...Ugh!"

"Sister..."

"Don't push yourself..."

"Yeah. You weren't given any special medicine, so your stamina is exactly as it was. Don't overdo it. The accumulated stress and mental trauma are still there, so eat something sweet and rest for a while."

With those words he stepped outside briefly and returned with warm porridge and fruit. It was obvious he had prepared them in advance, anticipating the moment she would wake.

Thanks to that, Sunho—still somewhat dazed—forced the food down and regained her strength. Only then did she look outside once more.

"Where are we?"

"On the outskirts of the capital, in a slum near the red-light district where the twins used to live. Your condition was critical and we couldn't flee far, so Xiao happened to know this place. We're hiding here."

"I thought it looked familiar, but I never imagined it would be that district."

"Xiao... knows the geography around here well..."

"The big sisters here... hid us..."

They were daughters of prostitutes who had originally lived in this area. The one who had brought the two younger sisters to the palace after hearing their story was none other than Princess Sunho herself. Even though she had been friendly with the prostitutes here, the idea of hiding in a red-light district was absurd. After causing such an incident, remaining inside the capital itself was reckless. The army was probably searching for her with full force, yet they were still here; the other side must have found it equally baffling.

"What about the others we rescued...?"

"Everyone was rescued safely. They're currently resting in separate rooms, treated as customers who came to purchase women, so you can relax."

"We weren't discovered?"

"Some soldiers did come to inspect earlier, but the women here deliberately let out loud moans and pretended to be in the middle of sex. Thanks to that, the soldiers lacked the nerve to actually look inside the rooms and left after a cursory check. Heh heh, of course it would be awkward. No matter how much it's part of the job, who wants to walk in on people vigorously fucking~!"

"A vulgar yet effective method. It seems we've incurred quite a debt."

"I only came at my younger sisters' request and for personal revenge, so don't concern yourself with it."

"Those two I understand, but... personal revenge? Did those fools cause you trouble as well?"

"I said it was personal. I can't tell you the reason. Still, since I've come all this way, I intend to watch until those bastards are completely ruined. Keep that in mind."

His tone was growing increasingly casual, yet Sunho paid it no mind. The man before her was her benefactor—a tremendous one. Even if he demanded her body right now, she would have no right to refuse.

"By the way, what about that woman?"

"You mean Riu."

"Yes. Where did that valiant female general go, leaving only you behind? She never struck me as the type to flee alone."

"She died in battle."

The blunt answer surprised even Roman this time.

"Really~? She was that strong~?!"

"I don't want to believe it either, but that's what they claimed... I didn't witness it myself. The eunuch kept babbling and threw her belongings at me."

"Logically, couldn't it have been a lie meant to torture you and drain your will?"

"The way they described her death was far too vivid for that... No, let's stop these depressing assumptions. My mind is already worn thin. I have no desire to entertain such thoughts. As Duke Cornelius says, Riu must still be alive. At least, I have chosen to believe that."

"You're tough. If it were me, I'd have been sobbing uncontrollably by now."

"I will do exactly that. Once this is all over and I'm alone."

He whistled, saying her declaration sounded impressive. Sunho rose with an exhausted expression. She wore nothing but the blanket, yet felt no shame. Instead, her gaze was drawn to the massive tower visible through the window.

That direction... Infinite Hell... and the area where the various detention camps are located as well...

Several towers resembling clusters of lumpy purple tentacles piercing through buildings stood in the distance. Starting with the underground Infinite Hell where she had been confined, the other camps holding resistant soldiers were in utter chaos. It looked as though a colossal Cthulhu had swept across the Chang Kingdom, and strange waves emanated from the towers.

When she tuned into the flame relay to eavesdrop, the screams of soldiers felled by the waves reached her one after another. Every single one clutched their groin and vomited foam. Those who approached the towers suffered the same fate. The only exceptions were people who had already been fleeing; one soldier tried to chase them, only to grab his crotch and slam his head into the ground.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...What is that? What exactly have you done to this country?"

"You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can see for yourself. It's a tower that automatically scatters a curse on anyone who approaches. Once the wave touches you, you're immediately struck with urolithiasis. If you don't flee, the effect stacks. It eventually fades with time, but the towers will remain standing for two days. Anyone who doesn't run will probably die from shock."

"Stacks..."

Looking closer, even birds flying through the sky fell and died the instant they neared the towers. Roman's urethral curse had evolved into The Tower of Urolithiasis, a structure whose mere existence was now a sin.

"Why the long face?"

"No, it's just... to see the country I was supposed to protect reduced to this. I know I should be glad, yet my heart feels complicated."

"You choose the strangest places to feel responsible."

"Still, how did all of you reach that far?"

"What do you mean?"

"Infinite Hell. They had deployed a barrier that blocks magic all the way underground. How did you—"

"Oh, that? We came through the sewer system. It's spread throughout the entire Chang Kingdom, so movement was easy. ...It did smell, though."

"How did you know the layout in such detail? There must have been soldiers guarding it, and the interior is like a maze."

"A plague happens to be spreading. The rotation must have been disrupted because of it; security was lax. As for how I found the path, I can't tell you. There's a method I can't share with others, so just accept that."

She could never say those words aloud. That was why Sunho's expression grew even more sour.

"...For a foreign noble to know the heart of our country so well. Is this the result of the eunuchs letting their guard down? When I think that their negligence is what allowed us ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to be rescued, it leaves me equally conflicted."

"Relax. I'm the only one who knows."

"The fact that you know is the biggest problem."

The Tower of Urolithiasis continued radiating its waves while soldiers screamed, blocking its path. The capital had been noisy outside; now she understood why. The Curse of Urolithiasis had not ended from the moment Sunho woke until now. On top of that, Sunho's faction had raided the detention camps and escaped, a eunuch had been killed, and a plague was spreading. It was a vision of hell. All of it had been carried out almost single-handedly by Roman, and the fact that such a man knew the capital inside and out naturally filled her with unease...

No. He is my benefactor. These thoughts alone are rude.

Therefore she maintained proper etiquette.

"What do you plan to do now?"

"Using my towers and your Sunho faction, I can neutralize this country's army for two days. In the meantime I'll storm the palace, crack that egg-head open, and fry him up nicely."

A direct assault on the main base. But this is the perfect opportunity. I should follow his lead.

Though he spoke casually, it was only possible because Roman was here. When Sunho nodded, her desire surfaced alongside it.

"While I'm at it, I want to see the face of the emperor who started all this. Once everything's settled, maybe I'll ask for a little reward... How about it? You won't refuse in this situation, will you?"

"We can discuss that when the time comes. I will repay you generously, so please rest assured. Or shall I write a promissory note?"

"You're not the kind of woman who needs such things, so forget it."

"What if I try to avoid paying?"

"If you avoid paying, then you'll be the one getting fried."

"…………"

Sunho quietly lowered her head.

"I will keep it in mind."

"...Good."

Roman smiled in satisfaction, then jerked his chin toward the Xiao and Mao sisters.

"You're covered in a mix of blood and sweat, so go wash up. Both Xiao and Mao have been waiting for their sister to wake, so vent to them if you need to."

"Aren't we moving immediately?"

"Tomorrow is going to be extremely busy, so today I plan to rest until you've recovered your strength. It would look bad if you collapsed right after we finally set things up nicely, wouldn't it?"

He grinned slyly, as if the earlier moment when he had been comforted by Perpena saying there is that much leeway had been a lie.

"Understood. Then I will take advantage of your kindness."

"If you need anything, tell the twins. Cry until you're sick of it."

"…………"

She did not answer that last remark, but the accumulated stress from this ordeal must have been great; she immediately ran to the bathroom. The Xiao and Mao sisters followed her inside.

Thanks to that, Roman was left alone in the room that still reeked of blood. He folded his arms and gazed outside.

"How is it on your end?"

Yes! Just as you instructed, my lord, we have located the underground passage leading to the palace! But why would there be a path to the palace in such an obscure place?!

"It's an emergency passage once used by the old imperial family. It's been abandoned for so long that no one remembers it anymore. Lady Perpena told me about it. She did warn that it might be unusable because it's so old... Can it still be used?"

I see. Fortunately, aside from dust and insects, it remains usable. I checked from entrance to exit and found no problems.

"Then that's fine. Nothing else to report?"

Yes. It appears to lead toward the rear palace... The palace is in chaos right now, so all the women have been locked up here, and it seems Her Majesty the Empress is among them.

"The perfect place to enter. As expected of Lady Perpena."

Also, according to rumors here, security inside the palace is brutal. Especially after the eunuch's death spread, they're using strange sorcery to protect themselves. It may become an obstacle to our plans.

"Sorcery... Could it be a curse?"

That was the tone. People who visited the eunuch without prior appointment had their heads severed, so it doesn't seem ordinary.

"If it's a curse, Lady Perpena and I can handle it somehow. If anything happens, return immediately before you're discovered."

Just in case, I will keep the flame relay open until we withdraw.

"Good."

Fortunately, no incident occurred on the other side until the flame relay ended. Once they reached safety, the connection was severed. Everything had gone smoothly, yet those last words caught in his throat.

"There's no way a mere curse would make me feel this uneasy. Even I, who received a blessing from an Evil God, sense something that could hinder me? My plan was to finish Lady Perpena's revenge with an egg-fry tomorrow and enjoy a cheerful, carefree ending... but..."

Deciding to remain vigilant, he activated a new curse. Gripping the straw doll that had bulged up on his right palm, he prepared for tomorrow.