Chapter 84. By a Whisker (1/2)

—Seriously?

Kazuki sounded really happy.

—Where…. No, hang on. What about signs of infection?

Teresa Hussey's condition couldn't be described as good even as lip service. One of her eyes was blackened; dried blood was evident on her nose; her lips were busted open unsightly; her swollen, reddened cheek….

Several spots of her body were also reddened and bruised, and the stink from all sorts of filth wafted around heavily. Her current appearance attested to the indescribable hardship she had gone through. But Seol Jihu couldn't spot any tell-tale signs of infection from forced breeding.

He displayed her condition through the communication crystal and opened his mouth.

“I found her in the experimentation area. She seems to be tortured, but I don't think she's been infected.”

—Tortured? …Ah!

Kazuki sounded as if he had just about figured out the process of how she was discovered. Now that he had seen her through the crystal, his suspicions would be satisfied too.

—Hmm. I was on my way back, but if you want, I can come and help you.

“No, hang on. It's difficult to describe exactly where I am. So, go back first.”

—Got it. I'll trust you.

The communication ended there. Seol Jihu quickly checked her wrists and ankles. If she had been tied down with special restraints, things might have become troublesome, but thankfully, she was bound with thick ropes, instead. As he pulled out a dagger, his eyes met the Princess's. She looked as if she had seen a mirage just now.

“…Is this a dream?”

Her voice was really hoarse.

“Or a hallucination?”

He simply grinned back at her. She must have found his response rather mean-spirited because large teardrops formed on those two jewel-like eyes next. She sniffled her reddish nose and continued on with a desperately pleading voice.

“Please, say it ain't so. Please.”

“This is neither a dream nor a hallucination.”

Seol Jihu replied concisely back to her.

“I came to rescue you, Princess.”

“But, how?”

“I know you have lots of questions, but please, hold them in for now. We don't have much time left.”

He quickly knelt down on one knee.

“…Ah.”

Teresa Hussey suddenly became flustered for some reason.

“What should I do, what should I do?! Sob, I can’t get married now.”

“?”

“I couldn't help it, that perverted bastard didn't want me to use the bathroom….”

She explained her situation in a voice that got progressively smaller.

'…Perverted bastard?'

“….It's fine.”

Seol Jihu quietly replied to her.

“I'm just thankful that… you managed to stay alive until now. Truly.”

He was being genuine here. Because he was concentrating on cutting the bind on her ankles, he failed to see what her facial expression was like when she heard his words.

“….Can, can I cry now?”

“Nope, you can't.”

“What about a hot-blooded kiss, then?”

“Obviously no, wouldn't you say?”

While sharing a carefree banter, he brought the dagger closer to the rope binding her ankle, but then….

Dururuk!!

He heard a sound from the other side of a wall. Gulp! He swallowed his breath. His hands stopped moving. His heart palpitated and the muscles in his entire body seemed to contract.

Now that he took another look, this building was shaped like a rectangular container from the outside, but the torture chamber was much closer to a square box. Only then did he finally spot a doorway to the far corner. He quickly remembered that this whole place being marked 'Do Not Approach'. But he forgot all about it because of Teresa Hussey.

What should he do now? Too bad, even before he had the chance to come up with a plan, he heard the sound of the door being yanked open. He instantly lowered his body and hid behind the large X-shaped frame. Meanwhile, Teresa Hussey quickly lowered her head and began opening her mouth.

“Someone, anyone, help me. Save me. I want to go home. Ahhh….”

She began muttering all to herself. Splash, splosh…. Sounds of wet footsteps could be heard before a huge shadow was cast around the wooden frame.

“Here I was, wondering why I suddenly heard voices. You were yapping to yourself?”

Prrrr. An ear-grating voice akin to a bubbling quagmire came from the shadow's owner.

Teresa Hussey's quick-witted thinking helped him to overcome the immediate danger. Of course, Seol Jihu continued to remain vigilant. If this thing could move even under the rudium's control, then it had to be a really high-ranking creature. He didn't want to believe, but it was really here.

Cold sweat trickled down his backside. Luckily, the thing must've been staying inside this building and didn't know what was going on outside. But, if it found out what was going on from the get-go, then….

“Hmm?”

The unknown creature suddenly began frowning.

“How did this bastard get here?”

Right at that moment, Seol Jihu thought his heart would explode, but…

“Didn't I forbid it from coming here?”

….But, he quickly realized that the high-ranking Parasite wasn't talking about him, but the mutated Orc he spotted during his search and made it enter the building first.

Although it was a good fortune among a sea of misfortunes, it was too early to feel relieved. He hurriedly grasped the rudium and undid all of the mental control other than the friend-foe-recognition.

The mutated Orc turned around to leave. Even the hatchery, once deathly-quiet, was filled back up with sounds of renewed activity. The unknown Parasite creature tilted its head as the mutated Orcs began moving around again, but then….

“I, I'm thirsty….”

…Then, it reverted its attention back to Teresa Hussey after hearing her pained moan.

“Water, water….”

“Hoh.”

Splash, splosh…

The creature approached the frame again. Saliva quickly pooled in Seol Jihu's mouth. He felt tension surge through his entire body and didn't even move an inch from the spot. He even stopped breathing altogether.

“Kekeke. Looks like you're seeing hallucinations now. Is this your limit, then?”

“Water. Gimme water….”

“To think, she'd break down already. That's too bad. Where's your initial spirit disappeared to now?”

“Euhk.”

“Well, I guess that's because you're from an inferior species. Still, you did resist more than expected.”

The ridiculing words forced Teresa Hussey to chew on her lips.

“So, you want to drink water?”

She quietly nodded her head.

“And you want to eat something, too?”

“….Yes.”

“Then, speak.”

She formed a conflicted expression.

“It's not difficult. All you have to do is to tell me.”

The unknown Parasite opened its arms wide.

“Our Queen is magnanimous and merciful.”

“….”

“Even if you're from one of the inferior species, she will not abandon you as long as you have one redeeming quality, however insignificant. So, speak up. Speak everything about the oath made with the seven gods. That is the only way for you to prove your worth.”

Teresa Hussey looked to be in a deep dilemma before her head faltered even more.

“I, I need more time to think.”

“What a frustrating little fool. How much more time do you require? Maybe, you still haven't understood what I'm saying?”

“We humans are different from your kind. I have people who believe in me – my family, my friends, my subordinates. If I do as you say, then I become a bitch that betrayed their trust.”

“Tsk, tsk. That is why you're inferior. All those emotions are useless when compared to the brand new world our glorious Queen will bestow unto this world.”

“God damn it! I get it. I hear you, so gimme time to think about it for myself!”

Seol Jihu finally grasped what the Princess was trying to do here. She was trying to send this high-ranking Parasite away, thus giving themselves a window of opportunity to escape.

“Fufufu. Aren't you a funny one? You think I don't know what you're trying to do?”

“What was that??”

“Was it four days ago? Didn't you waste dozens of minutes by repeatedly telling me you'd think about it and then, began demanding from me this and that? You think I'll be fooled twice?”

'She already used this tactic before….'

Seol Jihu despaired inwardly. But then, Teresa Hussey began shouting out.

“Damn it! Even if it's for a short while, it'll be fine! With you around, I can't get my thoughts straight!”

The unknown Parasite snorted derisively, but it didn't say no. Even without looking, one could tell the creature felt conflicted. It wouldn't be so bad to give her time to rationalize her thoughts now, would it? However, the being didn't back away peacefully.

“For a short while, is it? I guess it doesn't really matter, but if you are trying to deceive me again, then you better prepare yourself.”

“I'm really trying to think about it.”

“Fine. I shall hope that you're being serious. If not….”

Pow!

“Euh-huuk!!”

The creature's fist roughly slammed into her midriff. Teresa Hussey's eyes shot open wide. Drool leaked out of her gagging mouth. The unknown Parasite cackled on.

“….We are going to enjoy yet another fun time together.”

Cough, cough!!

The creature ignored the coughing human and left through the exit.

“Urgh, that hurts.”

Teresa Hussey complained bitterly. Meanwhile, Seol Jihu quickly moved his hands. He felt sorry for her reddened midriff, but there simply wasn't enough time to ask how she was doing right now. That high-ranking Parasite's entrance had eaten up way too much time already. If it weren't for her quick thinking, he might even have overshot his time limit, too.

The ropes were thick, but they didn't pose much of problems when he used his mana.

“Can you walk?”

“Yes…. Uh, eh?”

Finally freed, she unsteadily faltered as her feet touched the ground. Her arms flailed about and she nearly fell, but Seol Jihu caught her in time. He lifted her up in an embrace by her slender shoulders and below her knees. Wasn't this the famed princess carry?

“Oh, my~?”

She blinked her eyes after inadvertently ending up in his arms. Seol Jihu cautiously scanned the outside, worried that the unknown Parasite was nearby.

“I hope that thing won't show up soon.”

“No, it's going to, pretty soon. Remember, I tried to fool it once before, and besides, the bastard's got one hell of a short fuse.”