I Won't Show Mercy (2)

As I soaked in the bathtub, random thoughts flooded my mind. Even in my previous life, I'd been an orphan. To be honest, when I was young, I resented it deeply—and at other times, I desperately wished for it. Parents, that is. How many times had I felt the misery of being the man of the house as a boy? If only there had been someone I could rely on when things got tough, would I have understood my situation a little better?

Master Tia's attention felt strange. Uncomfortable one moment, ticklish the next. A sensation that was hard to put into words.

"Hoo."

The scent of herbal medicine wafted through the air. With no plumbing facilities, this was a medicinal bath Master Tia had prepared herself. Why go to such lengths for me? But all I could feel was gratitude. A subtle medicinal effect circulated through my entire body. My muscles relaxed, melting away as if my body itself was dissolving. Even the horrific memories from after my possession felt like they were being healed.

The bathwater gradually grew cloudy.

"Heh."

Was filth really leaving my body, leaving only a healthy physique behind? Marrow cleansing and bone transformation from this bizarre herbal bath. I entertained such amusing fantasies. But the water was getting even murkier. It had started clear and milky white, but now it was turning gray. Then it began to darken further.

What the hell? Was this really marrow cleansing? Was I actually being reborn? Half-excited, half-worried, I called out to Master Tia.

"Um, Master!"

"Child, what is it?"

Her voice came immediately from right outside the door.

? When did she get there, Master?

"Um, the bathwater's color is getting weird?"

"That's how herbal baths are, child. Don't be scared."

"Oh, so it normally turns black like this? That's pretty amazing."

But before I could finish, Master Tia kicked the door open. Or rather, smashed it. The bathroom lock exploded off with a bang.

"Child!"

"Wha—Master, why all of a sudden…?"

Master Tia frowned at the blackened bathwater. Considering her usual stoic expressions, this was unusual. Then she stuttered.

"M-Master?"

"Stay still. Does it hurt? How could you endure it so foolishly…!"

"Could you explain what's going on? It tickles so much…"

Thankfully, the examination ended at my upper body.

"Two brands…! Child, when did these appear?"

"I have no idea…"

"Don't you remember anyone? Did you eat anything strange?"

Suddenly, an interrogation began in the bathroom.

"This isn't the time. Come out now."

You have to leave first, Master…

Master Tia laid me on the table in just my underwear.

"…"

"Raise your arms above your head. Spread your legs a bit more."

It was mortifying beyond belief. The situation was bad enough, but I had no excuse to stop her.

"You're absolutely sure there's nothing inside your privates?"

"Yes, Master! I checked very thoroughly, I swear!"

I desperately convinced her not to strip ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me completely. She seemed to understand to some extent… and compromised on leaving me in my underwear. But honestly, it was barely underwear—just a scrap of cloth covering the essentials while exposing my ass completely. If anything, it was like fundoshi. The mood was so serious I couldn't refuse. If I could throw a real tantrum like a kid, maybe, but my pride wouldn't allow it. God, I'm so humiliated I could just bawl my eyes out.

"It begins."

With those words, Master started sprinkling water slowly over my body, her eyes gleaming as she inspected every inch.

"Hng…!"

"Stay still."

Her fingertips brushed my skin like a feather. It tickled so badly I thought I'd die. Suddenly, the worst possible scenario flashed in my mind. What if… I get a reaction down there?

No!! Fuck, anything but that!!! No joke—I'd bite my tongue and off myself like a clown. In the end, I bit my lip until it bled to endure.

"…"

Master glanced at my expression and grew even more grave.

"Let's finish quickly, child."

Tiny dot-like marks. Brands. One inside my armpit, another near my shoulder blade. The endless torment finally ended.

I agonized over whether to spill everything about the status window right after, say there were two brands, at least ten times.

"…"

I dressed in a daze, pulling on my outer clothes haphazardly. Master Tia fidgeted like she'd committed a crime.

"Did it hurt a lot?"

"Same as always. Honestly, it was more ticklish… haha…"

I forced a smile. Strictly speaking, my human dignity was in tatters… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but a split lip was nothing.

"You're trying to hide it from me again, child."

It wasn't accusatory. Her voice was lower, more subdued than usual. Naturally, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she pulled out a medicine box and applied ointment to my lip. Then, without hesitation, she stroked my hair.

"Occasionally—very occasionally—I'll allow you to act spoiled with me."

"Ah… yes, thank you."

She quickly withdrew her hand and calmly began her work.

"Watch closely. Brands inherently take form."

She poured the contaminated grime from my brands onto paper. Geometric hieroglyphs bloomed. Othala (ᛟ).

The meaning interpreted itself, as if I'd known it all along. After falling into this world, communication and reading came naturally. Likewise, the status window ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠imprinted language info directly into my brain.

"It signifies the loss of family and separation from belonging—a rune."

"A rune? So brands are like magic?"

"They once were. Once."

Master shook off her reverie and scattered the second batch of grime. Gebo (ᚷ).

"A twisted contract…"

"Child, did you just read the rune language?"

"Huh…? Did I?"

I was mentally exhausted, so I'd apparently mumbled unconsciously. Shit. As I scrambled for an excuse, Master spoke first.

"Be honest. Has the brand activated before?"

"Yes, about a month ago."

"Child, you're incredibly lucky to have survived. How?"

"Hehe… You helped me back then, Master."

"Ah."

Master Tia's eyes widened slightly.

"I see… So that's what happened. And I didn't even realize…"

"Master?"

"Dodo, you've been in pain all this time. How could I…!"

"No! I'm fine! Totally fine…!"

"Child, you're not fine. I understand now. A brand soaked in water couldn't not hurt."

"Master, you're misunderstanding, I—"

"I was careless… Too careless."

Anxiety and impatience showed on her face. No…! I really don't hurt! Without giving me a chance to speak, she hugged me tightly, stroking my hair as she continued.

"Dodo, child. Being able to read the runes means the brands have already eroded you."

"What happens then?"

"At some point, the mana flows backward, rupturing all your organs and killing you."

Ugh… Hearing the truth about that pain made it even more horrifying. A death sentence I never imagined! The runes were just from the translation perk—did that mean I was really dying soon? Amid my racing thoughts, Master asked again.

"Have you ever felt pain like your insides were being torn apart?"

It was right before meeting Master—long ago now, but the chill down my spine returned. My organs shredded in every direction…

"Ah, yes."

"This is dire… It's too late. It's imminent."

Master hugged me even tighter, her fingertips trembling faintly. I was starting to suffocate.

"…But it's not without a way. Child, I take back what I said before."

Her tone was calm, but different from usual—urgent, desperate. Her eyes hardened with resolve. Only then did she realize she had me pinned to her chest. A brief silence. Then she gently released the embrace, reverting to her cold master persona. A bit… too late, though.

"Take back…?"

"It'd be inconvenient if you died suddenly, Dodo. I planned to use you, but first, I'll teach you to control the brands."

"Ooh!"

She'd reset her character without blinking… As her unworthy disciple, I'd play along.

"A brand is like a distortion in the mana circuit."

"Mana…! Mana!"

"Yes, mana. Clever child. So how would you control this brand? Guess."

"By controlling mana?"

"Correct. Excellent."

She almost stroked me unconsciously, then clasped her hands behind her back again.

"…But controlling mana at will takes a very long time, child."

"With you here, Master, I'm confident!"

"Your spirit is good. The most important thing is your patience… No. Skip that."

She gave me a pitying look, then averted her eyes. Normally it doesn't hurt at all! Correcting her now wouldn't be believed. Her excessive worry made me feel bad. I'd have to prove I was fine soon.

The very next day, mana control training began. Master took me to the training ground in the backyard.

"Take this."

A wooden sword. She stood opposite me.

"This one is fundamentally a martial artist, so theory is hard. But mana flow aligns with movement."

"Understood. Feel it by clashing swords?"

"Clever. How do you know after one hint…"

Master Tia's character started cracking again. After a silence, she cleared her throat.

"…It'll be grueling, and it'll take time to get the feel. Begin."

With that, her wooden sword lightning-struck toward my head.

"Ugh!"

She blinked in like teleportation and struck. Just before my head shattered, she diverted to my wooden sword. It exploded with a crack, but she twisted her wrist post-collision, deflecting the shards aside. Godlike swordsmanship…! Yet she frowned, worried I'd get hurt.

"…We continue."

She tossed me a second wooden sword. It shattered on clash. From the third to the tenth, she repeated. I felt something, but my eyes couldn't follow. Then the eleventh. My body moved instinctively. It finally met her incoming sword. A sharp tingle in my hands. My sword bent with a creak instead of shattering.

"I did it! Master!! Did I succeed?"

"…!"

But Master Tia stood frozen, speechless. Eyes full of disbelief. Her reaction was off. This… wasn't supposed to work this fast, right?