Inside the secret room under the mansion where various acts of debauchery had been committed, five men were sitting on the ground, tied and beaten up. Anyone that lost consciousness was cruelly woken up with a couple of slaps to the face. Their powerless appearance, bruised faces and terrified expressions brought a smile to the group of elven women that were usually the victims.

“Where did you take the rope from?” [Elf]

“Unique skill or something like that.” [Ryner]

One of them exchanged a few words with Ryner who was the one that punched, kicked and tossed the nobles around before tying them up. Then, she spoke to the anxious elven maiden that had been bought at the auction in their native tongue.

“I really can’t understand you at all. That sucks.” [Ryner]

“As if humans could speak our language.” [Elf]

“We do not teach it to other races, so do not ask if you can learn it.” [Elf]

“Stick to your human tongue.” [Elf]

“Hey, I speak over fifty different elven languages. I learned them all from distant worlds.” [Ryner]

“Are you making fun of us?” [Elf]

“Please tell us believable lies next time.” [Elf]

“That sounded stupid.” [Elf]

“Fine. I’m eight hundred thousand years old, fought against some gods and committed mass genocide a few times.” [Ryner]

“… Humans really are…” [Elf]

“Whenever I speak to him, I feel like an idiot for being caught…” [Elf]

“In my case, I feel like punching him.” [Elf]

While Ryner talked to the bound elves, the girl who was frightened of him seemed to have calmed down a bit after seeing their interaction.

“Well, let’s get started.” [Ryner]

Ryner grabbed a bottle of wine from a round table and squatted down in front of Earl Tenneb who was teary eyed and shaking in his boots.

“Hi, I’m, uh, the problem that you wanted to get rid of.” [Ryner]

“H-h-h-h-h-how did you get in here?! How do you know about this place?! How are you still alive?! M-m-my men should have killed you!!” [Tenneb]

The terrified noble threw a barrage of questions as he remembered the faces of the triplets that he sent along with Edwin before going to the auction. The jolly smile that he always wore was utterly destroyed.

“First, I’m good at sneaking around and was hiding behind the bed the whole time. Second, your captain told me. Third, I killed those three.” [Ryner]

“I-impossible! There’s no way anyone could get past security! B-Bern wouldn’t betray me with all the money he’s getting! And those three were some of the strongest B ranks! They had an Artifact!!” [Tenneb]

“No, your security sucks. Bern’s actually not that loyal. Also, those triplets weren’t really that strong.” [Ryner]

The multitude of questions was answered by a multitude of answers that only sent the earl into more confusion. The fat aristocrat believed in his mansion’s security, in his captain’s silence and his three soldiers’ success.

After all, his home was crawling with guards and he let them use the guestrooms. Bern, that prideful A rank, was no stranger to torture and would surely endure until he found a way to escape. Lastly, those blue-haired triplets were powerful B ranks that were renowned for their coordinated attacks that were like incessant waves and he even gave them an Artifact that he received from his “new friends”. Those three once killed a dragoon in the past. He thought for sure that they would come back with the perp’s head before the end of the day.

Then again, it was to be expected.

Tenneb didn’t plan for the possibility that his enemy could surpass the S rank, or that Bern was weak to a torture method that attacked him psychologically.

He couldn’t have known that before he even arrived in Jadistro, Ryner had sneaked inside his mansion undetected on multiple occasions after interrogating Bern.

He couldn’t have known that the junk he found stuck on his desk before he left for the auction was actually one of the many listening devices planted around his home.

Finally, he couldn’t have known that Ryner had already found his secret room and struck a deal with the elves, which was why these women were all so calm and composed.

That was why he was in his current predicament.

Ryner pulled out the cork of the bottle with his teeth and retrieved from his pocket dimension something that they were unfamiliar with.

A black handgun.

“Anyway, let’s start your torture.” [Ryner]

“T-T-T-TORTUUUURE!!?” [Tenneb]

“Well yeah. Why do you think I bothered doing all this?” [Ryner]

Ryner pointed behind him with his thumb. Sitting near the wall was the group of captured elves who were all staring at him.

“I wanted to get them all out the first time I sneaked inside your mansion, but they all have a slave curse. That’s why I decided to wait for you, their master, to show up here, in this room, that’s soundproof and isolated. It’ll make things easier.” [Ryner]

The fat noble’s face grew even paler than it already was with every word that left his captor’s mouth.

“They can’t escape so long as they have that slave curse controlling them. Plus, they told me that they’ll die too if you’re killed. Slave curses sure are ridiculously powerful, binding someone’s life with a few words. I can’t get rid of them, which, frankly, sucks since I studied so many curses. I feel like a student that realized most of what he learned isn’t useful in society.” [Ryner]

Ryner brought the bottle of wine to his mouth once he was done grumbling.

“Tenneb! Order the elves!” [Noble]

A bound noble, who was next to Tenneb, shouted rapidly, angrily and impatiently.

“Have them kill him quick! Hur-!” [Noble]

BANG

“AAAGGGHH!!” [Noble]

The man’s scream filled the room after an explosive sound.

He couldn’t finish his sentence because of the burning pain in his leg. All of the nobles trembled and leaked out a pathetic cry at the loud noise. The elves also flinched and grimaced in pain as their ears rang.

Ryner had suddenly shot the now squirming noble in the leg with his gun, much to his captives’ horror. Then, he spit out the wine in his mouth at the wound, which only served to bring more pain caused the aristocrat to scream louder.

“Wha, what was that…?!” [Noble]

“An Artifact…?” [Noble]

No one knew what sort of weapon it was. All they understood was that the foreign object in his hand just punched a hole through a man’s leg.

“Ah, sorry, my hand slipped. Here. Eat this.” [Ryner]

Ignoring the frightened gazes, Ryner forcefully fed the wailing aristocrat a red and white mushroom that he took from his pocket dimension.

“That’ll make you feel better… Or maybe not.” [Ryner]

Seeing him convulse with part of the mushroom sticking out of his mouth, the sleepy-looking man tilted his head.

“Maybe it was the green one that gave an extra life? … Whatever.” [Ryner]

But, after a second, he shrugged his shoulders and examined Tenneb’s condition. The earl was trembling in fear as he stared at his fellow noble who was shot, had wine spat on him and was forced to eat a poisonous mushroom.

“You’ll free the elves, right?” [Ryner]

Ryner’s almost gentle voice made him turn his eyes towards him like a rusted robot.

“You’ll free the elves, right?” [Ryner]

The question that was repeated with the same tone horribly pressured him.

“I, I…” [Tenneb]

“Let’s face it. The elves can’t kill me with those magic shackles on and no one’s coming to the rescue. You’re not some brave warrior. You’re the guy that stands at the back, away from danger and gives orders from a safe place. So, really, we both know what you’ll do next. There’s no need to uselessly put yourself in danger, especially not for some slaves.” [Ryner]

As if coaxing him, Ryner softly laid out the facts and told the fat noble his personality based on his observations. To Tenneb, whose mind was in utter chaos, it felt like every word clearly described him.

“You’ll… You’ll spare me if I do?” [Tenneb]

“That’s right. I won’t hurt you or anyone else. Just free the slaves.” [Ryner]

Besides the poisoned noble lying on his side, all of the captured aristocrats had hope in their eyes and kept quiet when they heard that they would be spared. Their gazes were silently urging the earl to hurry up and do as Ryner said.

“A-alright! All of you elves, I release you! Y-you’re free! FREE!!” [Tenneb]

After Tenneb shouted so, the elven women felt a discomforting heat crawl on their backs. The mark of slavery lit up in red, which could faintly be seen through their thin white dresses, and disappeared.

The eight elves understood instinctively. They were free, but none rejoice. Besides the bewildered girl that was bought at the auction, the seven women narrowed their eyes dangerously and stared at Ryner. He regretfully understood what they wanted.

“You got the keys to their cuffs?” [Ryner]

“Y-yes!” [Tenneb]

He took the keys for their shackles from Tenneb and threw it at them so that they could free themselves. Then, he went back to questioning the fat noble who, just like his friends, had a fearful yet hopeful expression.

“The three soldiers that I fought, one of them had an Artifact. You got it from your ‘new friends’.” [Ryner]

“H-how did you-?!” [Tenneb]

“Who are they?” [Ryner]

Interrupting his words, Ryner urged him to answer quickly, which he did to ensure his safety.

“T-t-they’re a secretive bunch. I was approached by one of their men and was shown how powerful they are. People I wanted dead suddenly died, money was given to me like water and even t-that Artifact. It’s like they had everything and more, l-like that drug that they asked me to test. I don’t know whose part of it, b-but I can tell you about those that contacted me as messengers.” [Tenneb]

“Does their group have a name?” [Ryner]

“Yes. It’s the First Order.” [Tenneb]

“… Well, damn, that sucks. You really are connected to them.” [Ryner]

When Ryner heard that familiar name, he couldn’t help but placed his hand over his face.

“I would’ve liked to let you go as bait to fish them out.” [Ryner]

Putting his gun away, he stood up with the wine bottle in hand. His ominous words caused Tenneb and the other nobles to turn pale.

“W-what do you mean?! I did as you asked! I freed the slaves! You, you said you’d let me go!!” [Tenneb]

“T-that’s right! You’re supposed to spare all of us!” [Noble]

“Is it money?! You want money in exchange!? I’ll pay you whatever you want after!” [Noble]

All of them desperately appealed to him, but no one could change his mind.

“Relax, I won’t kill any of you.” [Ryner]

After all, he really was going to spare them.

“What about you all?” [Ryner]

But, he wasn’t the only one in the room with the nobles.

“Isn’t that obvious?” [Elf]

“We will make them pay.” [Elf]

Seven elven women, now free of their magic shackles, slowly walked towards Ryner and stood behind him. They were all glaring at the trembling nobles with quiet murderous intent.

“That sucks.” [Ryner]

“You plan on protecting them from us?” [Elf]

“No. I know better than to get in the way of a bunch of angry women. Besides, revenge was part of the deal.” [Ryner]

“That’s right. Revenge was what you promised us along with our freedom and safety.” [Elf]

“Please don’t go back on your words now.” [Elf]

“Fine. Make it quick.” [Ryner]

Ryner shrugged his shoulders and walked away, leaning his back on the wall. The seven elves were now right in front of the five nobles that were all staring at them fearfully.

“Although we’ve learned just how barbaric you humans are compared to us, we’re not above excessive violence. In that regard, our race does resemble yours.” [Elf]

After their representative finished speaking, all of them recited words in their elven language. Fire appeared out of nowhere and coiled around them, much like snakes. At such a terrifying sight, the pants of a few of the tied up men became wet.

“W-w-wait!” [Tenneb]

Turning a deaf ear to the weak plea of Tenneb, whose pants were stained at the crotch, the former slaves all attacked at once. The fire snakes preyed on the poor men who couldn’t escape and set their bodies on fire. They violently squirmed and writhed in pain. Their flesh was being burned off their bones as they wailed like madmen. Screams soon filled the soundproof room as the smell of smoke and burnt meat wafted in the air.

“… Yeah, women are scary.” [Ryner]

During that time, Ryner watched it all happen while feeling a bit regretful that Tenneb died. He could have used him to track down the First Order, but he had already told the elves that he would leave the nobles to them. He didn’t want to go back on his words. It was important to get the elves to trust him.

As for the elven maiden that didn’t participate in the revenge, she was watching the execution while trembling in fear, but without turning her eyes away.

However, the golden blonde-haired girl also glanced at Ryner repeatedly. Her gaze contained wariness, but also puzzlement.

She didn’t know how she should treat him.

At least, not until he made her cry.