Vol 1 Chapter 9 (1/2)

I came home to another beating.

It was always like that.

“Augh, d.a.m.n it.”

I spat out a curse.

At least it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be; I wasn’t beaten half to death this time.

I acted like I was in enormous amounts of pain, crying, begging for my life, and faked fainting in agony.

I threw away my pride and resorted to acting.

Just thinking about getting beaten so much, I acted like there was no tomorrow.

As a result, I only wound up with a nosebleed and a dirty robe.

It seemed he didn’t want me dead anyway.

However, even if I did die, I think that a.s.shole would just laugh it off.

My hatred continued to grow.

I avoided death, but my body was battered and bruised.

“But I’m glad he didn’t find out.”

I thought about my future plan as I ma.s.saged my aching body.

Let’s go back in time a bit, to when I’d just arrived back at Mark’s tent.

I gave Eris an order, “Scout ahead and tell me if you see a big man”.

I didn’t want him to start looking into why I bought so many unrelated things.

Eris came back from scouting and reported that “I didn’t see a big man”.

And Mark certainly wasn’t there when I looked at the tent from some distance away earlier.

I snuck into the warehouse tent from a side opening and hid all the stuff I had purchased in the Oasis District, then stowed Eris in the low-cla.s.s slave tent. I ordered her, telling her “You must enter that tent, Eris”.

I then went back to Mark and reported, “I just got back.”

“Unfortunately there weren’t any good clothes to choose from today. I think it’d be best to wait until the day of the flea market, so I’m returning this 1 gold coin.”

That’s what I told him.

And what did he do?

“Huh!? What if a customer comes while you’re still at the flea market, you s.h.i.+t-for-brains? If I miss a sudden business deal because you wasted your time dressing up Mina, what are you gonna do about it?”

I got hit by his fist and his words at the same time.

I know, I’m just a convenient punching bag to him.

――What are you gonna do about it?

I’ve heard that magical phrase countless times in my earlier life.

It even dredged up some bitter memories.

But I won’t let him look down on me for much longer.

I’ll only be satisfied when I’ve achieved my vengeance.

It was my turn for night watch duty.

I had been eagerly awaiting this day to execute my plan.

(The animal glue really stinks.)

It was a small amber-colored ma.s.s of hardened powder.

If I place it in water and boil it, it will become an adhesive.

So now, I’m boiling the animal glue to do just that.

The animal glue came from extracting low purity gelatin from the skin and bones of animals.

It was for that reason that it had a smell of an animal when boiled, or rather the smell of of an animal’s rotting carca.s.s.

The slave nearby moved away because of the intense smell.

That was fine.

I ordered the slave saying, “I’m sorry, but will you watch the fire? Whatever happens, don’t leave this place”.

Thus, the battle slave will not move away from the fire pit anymore.

(Great, the first part of the plan was set in place.)

What to do with this animal glue?

First, I boil it and drain the water so that only the highly viscous adhesive solution remains.

Then, soak a piece of cloth in the adhesive solution.

Finally, cover Mark’s face with the adhesive soaked cloth.

And suffocate him.

(After covering him, I have to act quickly.)

After covering him, I have to make sure he can’t sit upright and peel it off.

Therefore, I have to use the blackjack and mercilessly beat him.

I think I should also splash the hot animal glue, which is about 80°C, on his crotch.

(I a.s.sume Mark will fight back along the way, but that’s not a problem.)

I checked the tile which was wrapped around my body.

This will protect my vital points such as my sides and my solar plexus.

Even if Mark went on a rampage, I don’t think he’ll be able to cut me down.

(Now it’s only a matter of timing.)

As I was thinking, I saw the slave that was watching the fire.

He was still following my command and shouldn’t be able to leave from that spot.

“Excuse me, do you have a minute?.”

“What is it?”

I began to talk to the slave by asking one question.

“Did you hear a noise coming from Mark’s tent?”

“Really?”

“I will check the situation for a moment. Meanwhile, don’t ever take your eyes off from the fire.”

“Huh, Yes, I understand.”

The slave nodded obediently.