The Black Star Knights' Toy Den: Prelude to Ruin
The two officers quickly covered the woman's mouth and, laughing with delight, dragged her toward a watchtower atop the fortress wall adorned with countless skull emblems. "I'm sorry. Please. Please let me go! If you release me here, I'll split all the jewels and gold coins the Grand Duke gave me between the two of you. Please, I beg you."
"Kuh, what a waste, miss. I'd love to listen to you, really. But how about we have some fun here first? I haven't seen a woman in so long, I don't feel like just letting you go."
"I-if I do it, will you let me go?"
"We'll see how well you perform."
The woman began to service them with desperate care, treating it as her final lifeline, even as numerous soldiers standing guard on the wall watched the scene unfold. Not even the Grand Duke had ever cherished her so attentively.
"Whoa, she's incredible. Melting me right down."
"Hey, why aren't you doing me? I'm lonely too."
"I'll take care of the officer later."
"Really? I'd rather do it together."
The officer flipped up the woman's evening dress and played a cruel prank.
"Aah, don't do that."
"Oh? Still think you're some noble lady?"
"A-ah, I'm sorry. I'll do anything. Handsome big brothers…"
"Kukukuku. Cute little thing."
Meanwhile, the number of soldiers watching the spectacle steadily grew.
"Hic, everyone's watching…"
"Oh? Looks like you don't want to be released. Hell awaits you ahead, worse than a beggar's den."
The woman had no choice but to obey the knights' words, tears streaming down her face from shame. Soon, the two knights began to toy with Delie however they pleased. Whatever they desired, she had to comply. The woman who had fallen from Cinderella's status in an instant had no option but to follow.
"Haha, hahaha."
"You took so much from the Grand Duke, yet you still have the strength to please us like this? Heh, that bastard. Ugly as he is, he sure knows how to pick the finest women."
"Aah, handsome big brothers! …Being welcomed so passionately makes me so excited. Hehe. I'll come play again. Please, just let me go. Neeeng~?"
At last, the officers did as they pleased with the actress-like beauty who, until yesterday, no one but the Grand Duke had dared to touch. Perhaps this woman would one day bear their child. If someone so beautiful would do that for them…?! The mere thought delighted the officers.
"Kukuku. You worked hard. We had fun too. But unfortunately, we won't be seeing each other again."
"Aah, big brother. You're so cool."
"Kuk, then follow us."
"Yes."
Since she'd served them diligently, they must be about to release her. That's what Delie thought. Forgetting the humiliating shame of having been watched by dozens of soldiers, she tidied her appearance, intoxicated by the joy of imminent freedom, and followed the two officers with a lively step.
But then…
"W-why are you stopping here?"
"Sorry, but it's orders. Can't be helped… Get in!"
"Kyaaaaaaaah!"
The officer flung open the door of the skull-emblazoned watchtower, shoved the woman inside with force, and slammed it shut. Whispering to himself, he said, "What a shame. I heard some senior officers even married women like this and embezzled bribes together."
"And look where that got them…"
"Tch. I really wanted to run away with her too."
The skull emblems visible from afar turned out to be no mere decorations—they were the bones of officers who had been caught helping women escape. The womanizing Grand Duke frequently sent such pretty women into this black tower several times a month. The officers and the Grand Duke, sensing the gravity of the situation, began pairing them in twos to prevent anyone from developing feelings, but even that proved ineffective. It only increased the number of bones hanging from the watchtower from one to two…
Thus, the officers who followed them established a new custom: they would ensure the women gave them a moment of clarity before sending them in.
…The black tower was like a rest stop for the Black Star Knights. Any woman who entered had to live the rest of her life as a toy for every member of the Grand Duke's beloved order. From the lowest knight to officers and commanders—any Black Star Knight could use her like a plaything.
"Kikikiki! Kikikikikik! She's here again, she's here!"
"What's with this one? Silver hair this time?"
"Whoa! Amazing. Don't tell me you're the rumored Seira?"
"Not quite up to the rumors, but still incredibly pretty?"
"If this is Seira, I'm a bit disappointed."
Among the beautiful girls brought here, Delie was undeniably the most stunning. The Grand Duke had kidnapped a girl whose appearance points exceeded tens of thousands with continental-level beauty. Naturally, the moment she entered, knights began sending her flirtatious glances and approaching from all sides.
"Kyaaaaah! Please! Let me go!! Aah!"
Just as Delie realized her fate and screamed, reaching for the door handle again, a massive man snatched her body. He tore off her silver wig and waved it in the air.
"Damn it! It's a wig. Kyakyakakak."
The moment women were sent into this toy den of the Black Star Knights, they were immediately surrounded by countless knights resting there. They were forced to "greet" them with countless handshakes.
"Please let me out. Please. Hic hic hic hic."
"Didn't you hear the rumor? You're staying here until you die? Kikik."
"We'd like you all to live as long as possible."
"Look at her, she's already lost it."
"Huuu, please. Please don't do this…"
Delie was now surrounded by at least forty male knights. She crawled toward the wall.
"Please, please let me go. I'll give you as much money as you want."
"We'll just use that money to visit girls like you anyway."
"This one's cuter when she resists, kukuku. Let's play rougher."
This place was nothing less than the empire's greatest paradise for men—and its worst hell for women. An unlimited, free toy store. The very barracks of the male Black Star Knights.
Moreover, these knights included not only the most vicious criminals wanted across the empire, but also those of foreign descent or famous street fighters—so long as they possessed exceptional warrior skills, all were accepted without exception. And when their duties ended and they returned to the barracks, the Grand Duke would send them the finest beauties gathered from across the territory as a lavish evening banquet every single day.
Each woman had to service these vigorous criminals at least thousands of times a day as a toy for every single one of them. The problem was that over a hundred such brutal knights would often line up in queue daily. Even with ten top-tier beauties present, each woman had to serve as a toy for over ten hours without rest. When the Grand Duke failed to send new toys for an entire month, creating a "woman drought," the women's suffering became indescribable!
Delie, who had once been filled with dreams of becoming a quasi-Cinderella, became a short-lived Cinderella shared among hundreds of noble knights here.
…I gazed wistfully at the crown prince being dragged away under the strict surveillance of hundreds of knights, my eyes filled with boldness.
"Fool… You're asking for trouble."
Then I glared at the black tower, the tallest structure in the city.
"Haa, that Lady Delie must be suffering something terrible in there right now."
Delie. The character who would open the curtain on this novel's reputation as an extremely ruinous story. Of course, Seira too would be treated as a toy wherever she went, enjoying popularity while experiencing her own share of ruinous fortune. But Delie's case was truly on another level.
"Dragonai… Why aren't you coming to save meeeeee!!!"
From within Koban City, I stared blankly at the towering Yugna Mountain range that pierced the sky like a century-old fortress wall and screamed alone.