Chapter 92. Katarina in Danger
Chapter 92. Katarina in Danger
'The Anti-Human Alliance is the final stronghold where those who can no longer rely on their fellow humans find refuge.'
That was the answer given by the one she had newly sworn her loyalty to.
It was something her father had emphasized time and time again.
The organization he had created aimed to uproot the Arhen royal family, the ruling power of humanity, and sheltering the victims born from that process was a necessary reminder of that purpose.
Knowing this, how could anyone who joined the organization ever undergo a change of heart that would lead them to betray it?
'Having already crossed a river I cannot return from, do you think I could ever truly be with anyone else besides you all now?'
The firm resolve in those words, and the faint regret and bitterness he couldn't quite hide, proved it.
Even if he had genuinely given his heart to those girls, even on the off chance that he had,
if the secret of his birth were to ever come to light while he was with them, their trust would instantly twist into a sense of betrayal, and all of humanity would turn against him.
Yes, that was why his own feelings hardly mattered when she asked him that question.
His words about returning to the Anti-Human Alliance were surely no lie.
'That's a good thing, I suppose. For us.'
But Katarina couldn't help but find it regrettable.
A victim of the tyranny wrought by humanity's current powers, his long undercover life had left him unable to find peace, so he had returned to their side.
'I understand you. This is a world where no one in our organization can find salvation, yourself included.'
And heartlessly, she was trying to push such a pained man into the role of head of the organization.
Simply because her father had kept a man who sought nothing more than refuge in the organization close at hand.
And to shift onto him the responsibility that she, who could do nothing but swing a sword, could never bear herself.
'I am sorry for forcing the burden of all of us upon you. You may scold my incompetence for not taking the role I should have. But please, know this.'
After parting from Dave, Katarina raced through the mansion's darkness and pressed a hand to her chest, as if suppressing the guilt she felt in her heart.
She dwelled on the lingering sensations that still hadn't faded from her body even after their intimacy.
'If you take my father's place as the head of this organization, I shall dedicate this body and soul to serving you until the day the world you desire comes to pass.'
Such intense pleasure.
She would meld that pleasure with the loyalty she felt toward him, using it to drive home the resolve she felt in this moment.
'Even if the entire world betrays you, I alone... I, at least...'
Yes, this was the only thing someone good for nothing but swinging a sword could do.
Reaffirming that, Katarina finally reached her destination and soon slipped out of the darkness, ready to step into the company of those waiting in the warehouse.
"Sorry I'm late. Any problems while I was away?"
"......."
"...Why the silence?"
The atmosphere was unnaturally quiet. Most of all, no one spoke despite clearly noticing her presence.
The strange silence lasted only a moment.
"Ka... Lady Katarina."
A familiar voice soon cut through the crowd.
"R... run...!"
Before the words could even finish, they faded. A puzzled Katarina stared blankly toward the voice.
"...What?"
What was he trying to say?
Run? But why?
-Whoosh!
In that instant, a hand shot out from behind her. She had sensed its presence already, but the familiarity of it delayed her reaction.
Because the hand reaching for her was none other than that of a comrade.
"What the... Ngh!"
The hand roughly seized her clothing and yanked. That was only the beginning; soon, more hands swarmed out of the darkness, seizing her limbs and stripping off her gear.
"...Woman."
A hollow voice reached her through the chaos.
"She's a woman. Woman."
"Ehehehe, a woman...!"
As utterly deranged laughter mixed in, their hands tore at her clothes, exposing her bare skin.
"You bastards, what the...!"
These were her own subordinates. The field operatives of the Anti-Human Alliance were committing this vile act. Could they have plotted a rebellion while she was away? The thought crossed her mind, but their actions and voices lacked any sense of self.
'No, this isn't their will.'
Their eyes, visible in the darkness, proved it. Bloodshot and hollow, as if drunk on drugs or alcohol, their gazes hungered for her body.
"...Violate her. Violate."
"The woman, violate..."
This was mind control.
The work of the demonic race.
"Oh my, there was one who didn't fall for the aphrodisiac?"
The being suspected of being of the demonic race soon emerged from the darkness, revealing herself before Katarina, who was pinned to the floor.
A mirage that gradually materialized from thin air resolved into its true form. Pale skin and bat-like wings sprouting from the head marked a race with high notoriety among the demonic race.
"Ufufu~ Look who we have here. Isn't it the lone flower of the action squad?"
Katarina's face contorted fiercely as she recognized the distinctive sneer on the other's lips.
"...Morgana. What the hell is the meaning of this?"
Fata Morgana.
She was one of the demons who had entered this mansion alongside them, a favored subordinate of the demon currently dominating the Anti-Human Alliance.
Even though their master sat at the head of the Anti-Human Alliance, the only aides she kept close were her fellow demons.
All the organization members found it repulsive, but until now, they had followed orders and carried out operations without protest.
At least they had figured that as long as they obeyed meekly, they wouldn't be harmed.
"What... have you done? Why... my subordinates... Ngh!"
So why was this witch bewitching their own subordinates, binding her body and trying to molest her? As she struggled and ground her teeth, Morgana cackled and showered Katarina with mockery.
"Whoa, stripped like this, our sister here has surprisingly big tits~ Prancing around with such a lewd body and shaking her ass in front of men? Guess it's no surprise all that pent-up frustration burst and led to this mess~"
"Shut up and answer me! What the hell are you thinking, pulling a stunt like this!"
Unable to contain her fury any longer, Katarina screamed. The sheer force of her killing intent made the men around her flinch for just a split second.
Yes, even if their minds were controlled, their loyalty to her hadn't completely faded from their subconscious.
Seemingly impressed by that fact, Morgana, who had been observing from mid-air while floating, let out a snicker and began to explain.
"Those are our Lord's orders."
The demon who had commanded her—the demon who, despite being of the demonic race, had been seated as the head of the Anti-Human Alliance—had ordered her to seize control of the subordinates who had been following her all this time.
"Come to think of it, the hero party is about to fall into her lap anyway, so why bother exhausting ourselves arguing with a bunch who are only good at hiding? So she decided it'd be better to use them up as disposable slaves a few times rather than waste effort managing them as subordinates."
"...Bullshit."
To use them up as slaves and throw them away?
Was that even a remotely sane thing to say?
What kind of state of mind had her father been in when he betrayed humanity to create this organization and handed it over to the Demon King's Army? How hard had he struggled to preserve the identity and dignity of humanity amidst the demons? Yet these bastards, not content with snatching the organization while her father was gone, were now trying to physically seize it by ignoring all order?
"Just what do you people take us for...?"
"Take you for~? It's ridiculous for humans to play nice with us in the first place, isn't it?"
Morgana flashed a greasy smile at the agitated Katarina.
"You seem to think being sentient puts you on the same level, but to us, you're just livestock that provides vitality."
Isn't it something you should be grateful for—giving a productive task to parasites clinging to the Demon King's Army? Parroting the words her master had constantly emphasized, Morgana glided through the air, preparing to exert her power over the restrained Katarina.
"Still, don't be too scared~ Even if every hole you've got is going to be worn ragged like a dirty rag, I'll still make it a happy time for you. I'll put my power into it."
Was she planning to seize control of her as well?
Grinding her teeth, Katarina tried to resist somehow, but it was impossible to fight against such overwhelming numbers by herself.
What's more, these were merely her subordinates, mind-controlled. If she resisted too fiercely and caused them serious harm, she wouldn't be able to face them when they woke up.
'But at this rate...'
The moment she felt her consciousness being suppressed by the gradually spreading power, her will to resist swelled in defiance, and she caught sight of Morgana's expression slowly twisting before her.
"Huh? Why isn't it working?"
As if whatever Morgana had planned wasn't going as expected. Voicing this question, Morgana slowly tilted her head to the side.
"Strange, there's nothing wrong with my power. Did someone else dip their wick in first or something?"
She could feel the trace of someone having bound her mind before she could.
The moment she heard those words, Katarina immediately grasped the situation and began gathering mana in her body.
'Lord Dave.'
The power that had first dominated her mind had left remnants within her, hindering the other party's power.
-Slaaash!!
That conviction honed her mana, sharpening it abruptly until it severed everything around her. As severed fingers flew in all directions from her spinning body, a single dagger shot through the gap and precisely pierced Morgana's throat.