Now dressed in clothes that were more than a size too large for me, I watched Anthony tie the chain that was around my neck, around the cage door.

Then, it was locked in place, by reusing the padlock from the now-defunct barrel bolt.

But, though I was silent, I wasn't just watching. Nor was I just waiting for him to hand the bowl of…

Whatever the hell that was, to me. It was surely food, though.

***

A couple days have passed since then. We're currently camped near a cliff face, just outside of a forest.

I've been able to get out of my cage, regularly. No more being cooped up.

But only with Anthony constantly holding my leash.

Nevertheless, I've been getting my daily exercise. And eat twice a day.

Every other day, he makes sure to bring me a small basin of water, and with that, I wash myself clean.

He was always keeping a close eye on me, though.

Of course, I was shy at first.

But… after a while, I just came to accept him as part of my life now.

He wasn't gentle, by any means.

I can't even count how many times he's shoved me forward, when I don't follow the protocol.

But, he's never backhanded me again, or did anything to hurt me, other than that one time.

Everything else he's done, was more so encouragement, than just indiscriminate punishment.

Or maybe… that's wrong.

And I've actually… somehow been conditioned to find him likeable.

I doubt it.

But… I can't really deny it either.

Every time he's around, I can hear a small melody in the distance. I like to hope that it's just my stress, though.

But, even that stress was going away, as I saw my bruises and wounds slowly fade.

Something which made me smile brighter with every passing day.

Once my two hours of outside time was up, it was time to return to my cage… no. I suppose it's my room now, for the night.

He had given me a proper roof, and some beddings too. Which I'm sure he bought with his own money, when we passed by a caravan.

Of course, thankful for that, I followed his instructions, as much as I could.

This time, I didn't even need to be told, before I climbed back into my cage and hung my chain out the bars. Waiting for him to lock it.

"Good girl."

…

I've... had a lot to think about...

For one. Trauma.

Hardly preposterous, but I seem to have developed it.

Whenever I even think of her, I just begin shivering uncontrollably…

She really did… somehow… manage to break me.

Then there was…

"Here. Eat."

This guy, who always acted the exact opposite with me.

"... Thank you."

I received the bowl, and decided to eat the now cold…

Porridge again, huh…?

"I'll be back in the morning. Sleep tight."

I merely nodded in response, before turning away.

Then, I stared at the cuffs around my wrists and ankles.

Lead.

Lead is soft. If I remember correctly.

No matter how much they reinforce it, they'd still have to keep most of the item pure, otherwise the effects would be lost.

Unfortunately, without magic, grinding it against the cage was my only real method of breaking it. But that just meant it was practically impossible.

So, I thought of using their weapons. But of course, nobody would be dumb enough to leave their swords or axes out in the open, when I'm around.

Thirdly, there was the iron chain around my neck. It was the second toughest thing here.

But…

My line of thought was broken, when I felt the cage jolt, and my porridge was spilt.

Unbeknownst to me, the three men from that night, two weeks ago, who glared at me and Anthony, had now gathered around my cage, with their hands on the bars.

Oddly enough, I feel like I've known them for a very long time. I feel that way for all of my captors, somehow.

I'm guessing that's because their drinking and eating stories are my only entertainment. So I always perk my ears up.

They were pretty rude this time, though. So, I was going to act the same way with them.

"What...?"

I asked them, as I tried to sit upright, though to no avail.

"Are you here to beat me up too, now that your Commander won't do it? You sure waited a long time, didn't you?"

"You bitch…" Only one of them responded to my taunt. Given the long unkempt hair, and the scar on his face, it should be safe to assure that he was their group leader.

Meanwhile, the other two were exactly like what you'd expect from followers. A bit more kempt, but completely overshadowed by their leader.

"I've been called that enough to be desensitized to it, don't you think?" I responded quickly, before lying back down on my side. No drinking tonight, it seemed. So I wanted to rest.

I also wasn't really that hungry, I guess.

Wait…

I wasn't... afraid of them, for some reason.

They're brawnier, and there are more of them too. I'd have a much more likely chance of dying to them.

But… unlike the Devil. They don't…

No.

What good does that really matter?

Until I can somehow get over that trauma. Then, I should just continue planning, and ignore them, while I can.

"Oi!"

Once again, I felt the jolt of my cage being shaken.

"Listen to me when I'm talking, you bitch!"

It was a small cage, after all. Three men together, would be able to shake me around like a snow globe, if they wanted to.

"Shut up, Barbarian! Do you want to break the cage, or something?!"

Hm…?

That's it…!

No… wait…

Is it…?

What would I do when that… it's decided.

It may be a bit rash. But I might have a trick up my sleeve.

"Oh. You just want me to listen?" I laughed, before rolling over, and turned my back to him. "Go ahead. Sure. Maybe you want me to hear about what my weapon did to your family, or something?"

"Too bad, I guess. I've already lost whatever remorse I once had. I'm now actually angry that I stopped manufacturing once the war stopp-"

A loud clang of steel against steel, echoed in my ears, driving me dizzy.

A bit fearful, glanced back behind me.

And there, I saw it.

A rusted, golden axe had torn through the rusted cage, stopping just inches away from the back of my head.

Almost immediately, I felt cold sweat all over my body.

I didn't think he would…

I thought he would just…!

Trembling, I instinctively crawled backwards.

But, at the exact moment that I was close enough, the two other men reached in. One grabbed my hair, while another grabbed my shirt.

Meanwhile, their leader discarded his axe and now pried the cage open with his bare hands. Thus, making it creak even louder than it already had.

Why hasn't anyone noticed yet?!

Where was Anthony?!

"You actually thought you were safe, didn't you?" The man grinned, while my cheeks grew paler.

He actually did it! He tore off a side of the cage, and threw it over to the side.

"Heh. Your Private won't be coming to save you. He's dealing with my boys. He'll probably be dead, by the morning."

I recognized his smile.

No. I've never seen that kind of ominous, hideous smile before.

But, even so.

I felt a primal, distinct fear. That something far worse than death was coming next.

I tried to curl up even smaller, but there was no way I could keep my legs close.

I felt his rough palm wrapped around my calf, and I was pulled towards him!

"NOOOO!"

He had pulled on the leg that had barely healed after being cut almost a month ago. And that was already painful enough.

But, that was nothing, when I thought of the horror that would come next.

The other two had let go of me, offering me to the brute.

But that wasn't going to happen!

Desperately, I gripped the other side of the cage, and kicked at him with my other leg, managing to hit him square at the face.

But…

"Heh."

He just grabbed my foot, placed both feet beside his waist, then pulled me right out!

But the chain! The chain was still wrapped around the-

"Ugiiiih!"

I squealed like a pig, choking, feeling as if I was just one more yank away, from having my neck twisted off.

"There's no sad story, Noble Girl. I just took this mission, because there was the chance for me to rape the prestigious Lady of Golden Steel."

With the chain suspending me from one side, and his hands holding my legs, it was the worst position that I could possibly find myself in.

"You better lock your legs around me, or you might just die."

Not even thinking twice, I did as he said, desperate, and at the end of my wits.

I heard him laugh, then I heard my oversized clothes get torn apart. But, as I felt the cold of the night - that was immediately replaced by the feeling of warmth his palms had moved to my hips, keeping me in place, with my legs still tightly locked around him.

And…

I felt it.

Something hot, hard, and…

"... nooo-!"

I whimpered weakly, but was unable to offer any real struggle. One wrong move and I might accidentally snap my own neck.

"... plea-ack! Noo….khh!!!"

But, would I rather endure this, than accept death…?!

Hot!

Hot!

Painful!

Soundlessly, with me being only able to see the leaves which made up the roof of my cage, I felt something penetrated inside of me.

Something foreign.

Meaty.

Disgusting.

Bit by bit, inch by inch, I was slowly, but surely violated.

I could feel my insides expand, before squeezing back, trying to expel the intruder.

But…

"... Agh…!"

I lost my voice.

It hit.

It hit my womb.

I could feel the pop that it made, as it knocked on my deepest part.

"You were a virgin, huh?"

I could hear him gloat, but even that was growing fainter with every minute.

I want to die.

I want to die!

I WANT TO DIE!

ONE TWIST! THAT'S ALL I NEED TO DO!

"Yes. That's right! Cry! And squeeze as tightly as you can!"

Slam!

Slam!

Slam!

The disgusting thing was easily in the process of completely deforming my insides.

And I couldn't do anything about it.

I couldn't stop him.

I couldn't even try to spit at his face.

I felt his hips repeatedly hit mine and…

To my disgust, I could hear the sounds louder, and louder.

"You're getting into it, aren't you? Hahahahaha!"

Nooo!

That's not the! This is just-!

"You really are a whore, aren't ya?"

That's not-uhk!

He pulled me even closer to him, which meant yanking the collar even tighter.

I squeezed him even harder, trying to pull him closer to myself… this disgusting…!

And much to dismay…

He laughed again, hurrying his pace, repeatedly slamming against me.

…

He's started twitching inside of me.

PLEASE!

STOP!

"Oooh…!!!"

I can feel it… inside me. Sticky… hot… it's there now…

…

..

.

I've been soiled completely…

Outside, and inside.

"Let me get a taste of those lips, whore." He drew closer, with one arm holding me by the hips, and the other hand on the back of my head.

I let him draw close.

What else could I have done?

"... Nnnngh…!"

I received him.

I let his tongue explore my mouth.

While my hands slowly slid underneath his armpits, locked around his shoulders, clung tightly onto the back of his neck..

I squeezed my body to his.

All while enduring the shame!

All of the humiliation!

None of them were ever going to be worse than having done this!

Me! Tightly embracing the brute who stole my chastity!

But…!

He's not getting the last laugh…

I'm not letting him have that…!

There was no way… no real way I could damage him physically.

My arms were too weak.

I wouldn't even be able to penetrate his skin with my fingernails.

Without any preparation, that is.

With my hands on his neck, I feigned my moans, biting on his shoulders, like a needy whore. Slowly. Slowly I inched my way up.

I felt him pull back, so I tightened my hold, and took the initiative, instead. I squeezed tightly around his member.

I needed him to keep close to me…!

"... I want…" I was absolutely disgusted to even hear myself speak. But… "I want more… please…"

With tears in my eyes, I begged like a whore.

To which…

"You don't get to tell me what to do, bitch."

He obliged.

I could feel him pry me open, once again.

But I endured. Even as I felt his thrusts get easier and easier to handle….

I just tried to ignore it, as much as I possibly could.

Kissing him, as much as I could, reciprocating by licking even the roof of his mouth.

I felt him twitch violently inside of me again. And with another jolting slam, I felt a fresh but just as disgusting warmth invade me again.

…

"Ahg...gah…!"

But this time…

In addition to my… womb… I could also taste his warmth invade me through my mouth.

Blood.

All over my face and neck, as I tore through his arteries.

For a split second, I felt completely weightless, before slamming backfirst into the mud.

It winded me, but it didn't get rid of my crying smile. Rather, I now lost the tightness around my neck.

"Plooh…!" I spat out the bits and pieces of him that I had torn off.

With him lying on me, I held him even closer, before whispering into his ear.

"Fuck you… how do you… like that…?"

"...!"

"...!?"

I could hear the other two yelling. But they were inaudible to me. Maybe my rapist was also saying something, and I just couldn't hear it too.

I don't know.

I didn't care.

I was just way too happy, to be able to free myself from him.

This brute who now had his eyes retreating to the back of his head, and his life literally dripping out of him. Of course, I shoved him out of the way.

Using what strength I could muster I reached for the axe he discarded and pushed myself up, so that I was sitting against the cart wheel.

Then, with the other two running towards me, I held the weapon in front of me, and grinned. Making full use of my new makeup, I smiled. With my tears now drying off, and the blood dripping onto my chest.

"You were probably going to take turns with me, right…? Come on then! I'm right here!"