77. Fang and Doris in the Underground Prison
"What'd you come here for?"
The werewolf warrior Fang glared at me with a low growl in his voice.
The guard next to him moved fast, punching him square in the face before sweeping his legs out from under him. Fang hit the ground hard, shooting a defiant glare at the guard, but the guy didn't hesitate—he stomped right on Fang's face. It was all business, like he'd done it a thousand times. The guard's expression never changed; no emotion at all.
Doris, the priestess girl, watched the whole thing with terrified eyes.
"Hold up—we're just here to talk."
I said it mostly to the guard. I wanted him to cool it because he scared me.
"Talk?"
Fang pushed himself up, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Yeah, but first, have a seat."
The guard grabbed Fang and shoved him into a chair.
Doris, looking all nervous, sat down too.
Now that I got a good look at them, they seemed late twenties, around Myra's age.
Fang towered over me by a head at least. His cropped short hair let those pointed ears poke out, and he had sharp eyes and a chiseled jaw. Unlike when we'd fought, he was dressed in filthy underclothes now, but the muscles bulging underneath screamed top-tier warrior. I always marveled at how Mizuki handled guys like this. Though, honestly, most men in this world had some decent muscle.
Doris had a round face—kinda tanuki-like. Maybe the brown hair down to her neck gave that vibe. Her big round eyes darted around constantly, checking her surroundings even as she kept her head down. She was short, about Fam's height, but her chest was definitely bigger. She was in the same skimpy underclothes as Fang.
"I want to buy you two as my slaves."
Fang and Doris exchanged glances at my words.
"What do you mean?"
Doris asked.
"Just what I said. With this mess, I figure you weren't in a position to defy Mii and the rest—you were just following orders as slaves."
"So even out of prison, we'd still be captives—yours this time."
Doris said it like she'd given up.
I glanced at the guard.
"Sorry, but I wanna talk to them alone."
"Yes, sir!"
He saluted sharply and left the room. I figured he'd argue, so that was a surprise.
"He's one of the goddess's chosen..."
Myra murmured, staring at the door the guard had used.
I nodded and turned back to Doris.
"The citizen council approved it—as long as you never set foot in this city again. So... I'll free you both once we're in Fulft."
"Shu-sama," Fam cut in.
"Not good? With Cecily and Ira, I pushed my way through. With Riley, I decided on my own. This time, I'll go with your call."
"...I don't mind if you make them your slaves, Shu-sama. But please don't forget they turned blades on you. I can't forgive that."
I nodded to Fam.
"That's the deal. Freedom depends on how you act from here on out."
"You expect us to believe that?"
Doris replied.
"Doesn't matter if you do. Stay like this, and the guards'll beat you till you're executed."
"..."
Doris fell silent, glancing at Fang.
"Sorry, but I'm passing."
Fang said.
"Why?"
"Don't like that woman over there."
He jerked his chin toward Mizuki.
"Because of Task?"
He shook his head.
"We fought. He died. Happens."
"Then what?"
"She held her own against me and Task—even when she was losing. But after dropping Task, she went easy on me. Insulted me."
"That wasn't my intention! I..."
Mizuki yelled back but trailed off.
"And when Mii hit me with that special skill, she shielded me. Ultimate humiliation."
Probably when Mii fired that laser-like blast from the Crystal Core. Mizuki must've tried protecting Fang and took the hit.
"What a softie."
I muttered, and Fam, Mizuki, and Myra all shot me looks.
"Well, that's kinda her charm, isn't it...?"
Myra said. Was she talking about me? Felt a bit shady.
"Anyway, I ain't taking charity from you."
Fang interrupted.
"So getting saved pisses you off?"
Mizuki said.
"I'm a werewolf warrior. We fight bravest on the battlefield. That's our pride. Lose, you die. Simple."
"Don't bullshit me! You dragged the townsfolk and us into it—what pride is that? We didn't wanna fight!"
"I'm just a slave. Can't defy orders. I follow 'em. Fight without shaming my clan on the field you gave me. You sullied that fight."
"Fine, I get you hate me."
Mizuki gritted her teeth.
"Mizuki, we done listening to this guy. Slaves don't get choices anyway. No good or evil here—he's just flexing on the battlefield. Borrowing his words, he's weak for losing to you. Strong guys don't get their pride dirtied. Let's just check Doris and bail."
This world's values never meshed with ours, I'd thought forever. And without changing that mindset, we couldn't survive here. If Fang was the ringleader fighting by choice, his point might hold. But this? Just excuses.
"Wait. I hesitated against Fang 'cause I felt bad killing Task. That hurt him, I think. If we leave now, he'll really get executed."
"You..."
Fang looked at Mizuki—not with that angry glare anymore.
"We're willing to take Fang as a slave. We don't even need his okay. If you don't want him dead, just order him like you and Mash want."
Myra chimed in. Mizuki and I exchanged looks.
"Mizuki and I are probably the same—stuck on our old world's values. Stuff like equality. No killing. Talk it out. Some feelings you don't voice..."
I listed what came to mind. Dig deeper, more'd pop up.
"What feelings can't be voiced?"
Myra asked.
"Words have power. Say 'em, you attract 'em. We call it kotodama."
"Sorry, I kinda get it but not really."
Myra looked apologetic.
"Nah, it's fine. Not pushing it—don't think it's right anyway. Values change by where you live. I get that. But can't shake 'em easy."
"I kinda get it. Don't badmouth the dead. Don't waste food. Don't sleep with head north, ya know!"
Momoka piped up. From the same world, but only "kinda"? Close enough, but it was veering off, so I stayed quiet.
Fam sidled up.
"I've started getting Shu-sama's point."
"That's why Mash hates ordering Cecily and Ira around, huh."
Myra said. Was that criticism or praise? Unclear.
"Nah. Just don't wanna piss 'em off."
I admitted straight.
"Got it?"
Fang said.
"Yeah."
"I'll take your deal. One condition."
"Shoot."
"Won't be your slave. That woman's—Mizuki's."
"What?"
"Mizuki's slave."
I looked at Mizuki—she was shocked too. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the corner. Fam followed for some reason. Myra, feeling left out, puffed her cheeks and tagged along. Wanted privacy with Mizuki, but whatever.
"What do you think of that guy, Mizuki?"
I whispered. Fam and Myra leaned in too.
"Not sure what you're asking. What about him?"
"Older guys are off-limits for you, right?"
"I got Mash! No one else—impossible!"
Mizuki snapped.
"That's just now. Mizuki's super horny."
Fam jumped in.
"Yeah. Even with you, Fam, and me, she used her charms and stole him."
Myra nodded along, piling on. What was this?
"No! That was forced!"
"So force is okay?"
Myra teased the panicking Mizuki. Stop stirring her up—things'd turn on me. But how to jump in?
"Myra, don't twist it! It's not! Had no choice. 'Cause it was... Mash."
Mizuki shouted. Momoka was eavesdropping, but it was loud enough anyway. Fang stone-faced, Doris gaping.
"Shu-sama and Mizuki share values. This'll lead to her collecting more guys."
"Fam? What're you saying? That's not our world's way. Mash just got corrupted here! I hate it, hate that side of him. But say that, I'm out... no choice!"
Mizuki yelled. Everyone heard.
"Wanted privacy, but pointless now. ...Whatever."
I coughed loudly to halt the girls. Awkward as hell, but turned to Fang.
"We'll take you as Mizuki's slave. Cool?"
He nodded.
"Doris?"
She looked more uneasy, eyeing the women behind me. Wonder what faces they had.
"...Okay. Don't wanna die here. I'll serve Mash-sama. Please protect me well."
Doris bowed deep.
"Nah, just Mash is fine. Talk normal."
Dunno what "well-protected" meant, but nodded.
"One more thing—can't let you out till we leave town. Bribed the guards for better treatment. Hang in there."
"When do we leave...?"
"Up to Mateo Company, but soon, I bet."
Gotta get Claire's okay to take 'em. If not, ask the wanderers.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks to everyone who liked, bookmarked, and rated.
Means a lot. I'll keep at it.
Thanks for typo reports.