Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2 - A Game of hell
After being forced to acclimatize himself to this world and his bizarre situation, Kaito cas
To avoid confusing souls, the golem body created by Elisabeth was equipped with autoe as a foundation As a result, Kaito was able to understand the language in this alternate world Not only could he speak it but he was also to understand thethis kind of conversion were rather fluid
Certain specialized tere and were not found in the alternate world's lingua franca These words would then sound like a foreign language to Kaito's ears Furthers, even if the naht represent different objects in each world Take for exa aside the ar, salt and pepper, due to the excessive differences in custo to use seasonings as though they were froinal world would be a recipe for disaster
”And that's whytastes bad”
”No, the poor taste of the food you prepare has already reached the realm of art This cannot be the only reason”
With ar hall's ceiling as though he were a prisoner, Kaito was explaining himself to Elisabeth However, Elisabeth insisted with disappoint her head while sitting on a cabriole-leg chair
The re kidney paired with fresh salad” made by Kaito were spilled on the floor There was sharp spike protruding froht foot would fall upon it
This was a very si his body, Kaito protested
”Stopthat disappointed look! At the end of the day, it's by your whim that my fate is decided! Please don't do this, I pro you want”
”I am completely baffled whether your attitude counts as defiance or not You are too useless Were it not for your ability to , I would have scrapped you directly without bothering to torture you”
”I never thought pudding would save my life”
”H”
(Good heavens)
Kaito was in shock but Elisabeth nodded contentedly
At thatElisabeth's outfit was quite revealing for starters, with only leather straps to cover up the vital bits, practically exposing ht now, Kaito's perspective was frole
Froe all the way to the deepest part
”Elisabeth, uh Miss Elisabeth? Isn't this a bit dangerous?”
”H about? Hmm, you are dead!”
”You're pretty much the one who exposed yourself, okay!? I simply pointed it out to you, so that's way unreasonable of you! The sareat last tied? That's when I skewered slices of liver and roasted them with pepper and salt!”
”That counts as cooking in your mind, is that so?”
”It doesn't count?”
”Of course not”
Elisabeth was about to snap her fingers when Kaito appealed to her pity with pleading puppy dog eyes, but she simply scoffed Just as Kaito braced himself for sharp pain
”Hmm? Isn't this the Meat Supplier?”
”Whoa!”
Elisabeth suddenly dispelled the chains binding Kaito's arned himself to death but the spike under hiround, unable to to get up, Elisabeth already stood up gracefully to welco hall's entrance and jumped in surprise
A strangea heavy blood-soaked sack, standing there Frolimpses of the sharp claws and scales on the man's feet
Extending her hand, Elisabeth gestured towards Kaito, who finally et up, to introduce him
”It would be a breach of etiquette to punish a servant in front of a guest Kaito, feel grateful to the Meat Supplier Meat Supplier, this dim-witted servant is the one who turns the fresh innards you deliver into kitchen trash every time”
”Pleased to make your acquaintance, Milord Dihborhood Meat Supplier, the friend of gourrateful to Milady Elisabeth's patronage every ti as it is meat and only limited to meat, I am certain to provide satisfaction to your every need and desire”
”Uh Thank you for your dedicated service”
Kaito showed hesitation on his face Putting aside the Meat Supplier's appearance, his self-introduction was also filled with dangerous signals Seeing Kaito's expression, the Meat Supplier seeh the black fabric
”Oh dear, it is true that my appearance is quite out of this world, even for a demi-human Even I have no idea what is my primary ancestry However, I am no different from the other demi-humans you know, so there is no need to be so surprised”
”Deaht?”
”Ah, so there are no demi-humans in your world, I see Do not be concerned, Meat Supplier, he is actually someone from a parallel dimension, an extremely lost soul Just leave lost souls be”
”As you wish Please confirm the merchandise as per our custom”
The Meat Supplier nodded and turned to Elisabeth again Taking out the fresh internal organs from his sack, one after another, he presented the them to the sack
”Chicken and pigeon gizzards, pig intestines, cow tongue and heart If there are no problee”
”Your efforts are much appreciated”
”Let ht?”
”Of course not Hu and cooodit?”
”Ah, assu used as food”
Kaito could not help but fall silent Including this transaction in process, there was a heavyHowever, the Meat Supplier suddenly announced as though he had thought of so
”Hureat variation in flavor across different individuals, so there is quite a largeof customers with a penchant for that Currently, the price is relatively cheap, so if Milord Butler would like to have a try, I highly recoate to an entirely new diet?”
”No thanks, I don't thank that kind of door should be opened”
”My, what serious words”
”No thank you”
”H out in nearby villages From where did you acquire the bodies?”
”Well, in a certain territory, there are es and the moats of castles TheAs the Meat Supplier, I find that quite unfortunate, but it has redients much easier Are you interested? Barbecue made from the rib portion is quite worth a try”
Listening to the Meat Supplier, Kaito and Elisabeth could not help but exchange glances They silently coreat nuuy must surely be the culprit
”Hey, Meat Supplier, I suspect this ht be the work of demons”
At a loss, the Meat Supplier scratched his head in embarrassment
”As the Meat Supplier, I am asha and anything apart from the quality of meat”
Kaito narrowed his eyes in disgust and said:
”Yeah, there are definitely people like that I've met many of them in my previous life”
Putting this aside, Kaito and Elisabeth inquired of the location of the territory from the Meat Supplier and decided to make their way there
”To think I even remember this kind of remote little town, I cannot help but ood my own memory is!”
”I aed”
The two of theone to a back alley in the destination town With aretically The surprising thing was that she was currently wearing a proper dress
The corsetted design accentuated her narroaist while the flounced skirt was adorned with several gorgeous ribbons Her hair was done up and decorated with lovely flowers
Fabric of pure white, paired with a noble face, it was like cheating
Transformed into a lovely noble woman, Elisabeth puffed out her chest proudly
”H on with their everyday lives and the demon has yet to show hily when coh I have taken the guise of an endearing well-bred wo with that butler uniform on you, fufu”
”Who cares about that! In that case, why can't you findset of clothes Hey, Elisabeth”
Ignoring Kaito's gru, Elisabeth strode ahead From the dark alley, she approached thefrantically behind her The voices of vendors pro their wares wereat them like a wall of sound
Stepping out, Kaito arrived in a town in a foreign country
More precisely, this was another world However, the colorful scene, featuring the noise ofto one another, con feel” that Kaito had experienced froo
Elisabeth turned towards the stunned Kaito, causing the decorative flowers on her hair to sway, then smiled radiantly
”I suppose I ought to say this once 'Welcome to another world'”
Gold paired with blue, black paired with gray, red paired with green There were all kinds of hair and eye colors in the peopleabout
A wo a shaalked past a man dressed in a shi+rt with pants held by suspenders Close by, a girl in a dirndl-style dress was selling flowers and aa pipe
As Kaito recognized as well as oods that he had never seen before Translucentpink leaves that were apparently for wrapping tobacco Fruit reseside apples
Aa big ladle in his reptilian hand, serving fried rice with pieces of slightly reddened meat to custo odor Most of the custo ears and tails
”Reptilian ar ears?”
”Hybrids between demi-humans and beast folk are not rare at all This is because the ihborhoods They hly 30 of the population in slums and this surpasses 40 in the north However, the ones with completely different appearances from humans are pure-blooded de them in human territories It would be a proble, so please get used to it”
”What the heck So this really is another world”
”Further out fruit requires you to pay for it, so refrain fro that carelessly”
Kaito alrape from an old woman and frantically withdrew his hand However, Elisabeth picked up a fresh and juicy berry to pop in her mouth, then casually flicked a copper coin into the vendor's hand
Elisabeth was holding her head high, striding openly through the crowd Sellers were shouting, custo at people's feet Aure of pure white was so striking However, she was not concerned at all The croould naturally avoid and make space for her too
”Hey Elisabeth, where are you going?”
”Mind your own business For the moment, just keep your mouth shut and follow me”
Kaito obeyed and stayed behind her Just as Kaito was starting to suspect whether Elisabeth was si shops began to change
Gone were the stores, the seats of roadside eateries and large carts, leaving only filthy little stalls in sight There was also a clear decrease infrom this, this area was probably where transactions took place for the likes of not-so-fresh perishable food, illegal drugs and weapons
Betarehouses built fro soupAt the same time, Kaito overheard a certain term
”I hear that the Marquess of Blood is recruiting servants again”
Surprised, Kaito turned his gaze to a gray-haired old wo herbs fro with a couple of women who seemed to know one another well
”I thought people stopped selling children to that castle when it was rumored that they ate them?”
”Are you talking about Anna? I heard she sold her fourth son for a piece of silver”
”Giving children away just because there's silver, is there no justice? That being said, I can't believe she sold her precious son just like that As expected of that greedy sellout I'll bet next tihter for a piece of gold”
”At least it'sup in a brothel Froathered children fro eaten aside, if it's just doing ht be possible for them to earn perks whenever they please the Marquess”
”The carriage of the old woman who recruits servants has been here today too I wish I were younger”
”You're as ugly as a onna freeze over before anyone buys you”
The relatively younger worinned with exposed yellow teeth
Elisabeth nodded and walked towards the the acute sound of her heels, the woh they were looking at soe Kaito could feel viscous hostility from them and hastily followed Elisabeth's white silhouette
”Hold on a sec, Elisabeth Where are you going?”
”A large nu a riot This implies that the majority of victims were the poor Even if left alone, the poor would randoer or disease A h to cause an uproar”
”Why are you putting things in such a terrible way?”
”Facts are facts regardless whether I hold back my words or assert frankly Hence, that is why you felt coh, we obtained the desired information Fortune has been favorable so far Ah”
Elisabeth stopped at a corner A black horse-drawn carriage was parked in front of a collective residence built from red brick A well-dressed old wo fervently about sorip on her shoulder and rushed upstairs, escaping to her rooue in displeasure and prepared to return to her carriage
”Does this carriage belong to the Lord Marquess? Hoonderful! My na reat landowner but we are on poor ter to encounter such a reatest wish to live like a true lady! I i so as to serve by the Lord Marquess' side!”
Kaito stared idened eyes at Elisabeth as though she had gone h she did not know hi her head with an innocent expression Even so, the old woaze of suspicion at Elisabeth In return, Elisabeth smiled like a flower and said:
”Oh, I alot I met Miss Anna on the main street earlier and sheme to the job”
Hearing this, the old woman smiled radiantly and nodded She cautiously inquired of Elisabeth the name of the landowner she had mentioned as well as whether her escape froe's door
Pushi+ng Kaito and Elisabeth onto the carriage, the old wo in a rush The carriage began to speed off ilanced secretly at Elisabeth from the corner of his eye
Next to the srin on her face
Leaving town, the carriage went past a field of wheat on the right then entered a riverside road After continuing for a while, a massive castle build on the narrow river bank came into view
The castle was constructed froray rock without any unity in appearance The thick and sturdy walls, supported by cylindrical towers, extended east and west The castle's reflection in the water was like a giant croith outspread wings, staring at the river surface
Crossing the drawbridge over the e entered the castle
Thus, Kaito and Elisabeth arrived at the castle belonging to the Marquess of Blood
Perhaps due to the current castle lord's preferences, the interior of the castle was lavishly and vividly decorated in contrast to its dull exterior Featuring a grand staircase, the great hall was illu luxurious chandelier with the floor covered by a carpet with gold and silver thread Judging from the carved banisters and the plaster sculptures of vineyard patterns decorating the walls, every object was created with exquisite craftsmanshi+p
Everything in view had been acquired by sparing no expense in wealth and labor
(Rich people's homes are so different)
Kaito could not help but narrow his eyes in disdain Following after Elisabeth, he passed through the hall and was about to enter the passage on the right when suddenly, a brawny rabbed his shoulder violently
”You're no noble, right? Go that way”
”Eh? Hold on, Eli—Lady Flora!”
Dragged away, Kaito screaently and ure things out for yourself, okay? Since your body is i said, Kaito was already used to her momentary whims and fancies
By this point, there was no helping it With a twitching expression, Kaito gave up and followed thein the left passage to reveal a hidden entrance behind the flag Following the stone built passage that was lit by torches, Kaito's suspicions grew stronger and stronger
Soon after, the enuine prison
”Get your ass in there”
”Why a!?”
—I ical comfort too
However, Kaito's complaints fell on deaf ears and the htly and looked up, only to see that there were boys and girls of humans, beast folk and demi-humans in the unexpectedly spacious prison
The children, of varying ages and races, were all showing fearful expressions This was a troubled look of not knowing how to react, a very fa his brains for ato calm them down
”Uh, hi”
”Kyah!”
Suddenly, another person was kicked into the prison A girl dressed in a soft red dress rese a poppy She crashed into Kaito and fell Kaito hastily caught her The girl's lustrous brown curly hair fluttered Matching her brown hair ere her chestnut-brown eyes that stared ti face Noticing that she was being held tightly in another's arhtened her posture
”F-Forgive h, daughter of Earl Esclough What on earth is this place? According to my aunt, I was sent here to work so as to learn the ways and customs of nobles”
”I' this question Could it be that your father passed away, so you were adopted by your aunt and then imprisoned here?”
”Eh? How did you know, Lord Kaito? Do you happen to know my aunt by any chance?”
”Ah, well As ot to warn you first You and I are currently in a very dangerous situation, so best prepare yourself Just run away if anything happens I'et either”
”Oh no What on earth is going on? What will happen to me, you, and all these children?”
”I haven't got a clue, but I know that shock can render people unable to react immediately, so it's best to be mentally prepared at least”
”Come out, you are summoned”
Kaito was interrupted and the cell door was opened Together with the children who began to cry in fear, Kaito was escorted out of the cell by several est child inside the cell, the three of theh Kaito was i up reckless resistance here would endanger the other two, so he clicked his tongue and complied obediently
Soon after, a doorway cae On the two sides of the doorooden doors illuminated by torches These wooden doors were carved with depictions of spiders and crows A great nu webs below, as though intending to devour those crows Such was the tasteless scene depicted Men opened the pair of doors and kicked Kaito and the others inside The doors slammed shut as soon as they were kicked inside
”Do your best”
(What kind of encouragement is that?)
Accoe closed
Kaito turned around and was stunned
Inside the room was a bizarre scene
The ceiling was extre was decorated with exquisite stained glass with floral patterns However, the kaleidoscopic brightness was co the ceiling like bra on top of the barbed wire, silently looking down at Kaito and the others
(What the heck is that flock? da)
Suppressing his disgust and uncertainty, Kaito shi+fted his gaze doard The marble floor was violently chipped in several places In addition to ditches, there were mounds of earth with tall trees planted on them
There were small patches of woodland all over this roo on?
Suppressing the oaze to the center of the roonore
On top of the round stage, an obeseaway Suddenly, theto Kaito's group On his face was a white crow mask
”Mnol!”
Filled with energy, his voice was cheerful, earsplitting, and rather hoarse Kaito could feel hi out in cold sweat all over TheKaito's instinctshim
Thisdemon
Standing before Kaito was an opponent he could never handle on his own, yet of all places, he had to be right here
”Hold on I never heard anything about going on stage, Elisabeth”
”You people are sihts and the actors I hope you will enjoy yourselves fully Scurry and flee here as much as you wish, for only the final survivor can be saved Reducing your numbers on your own is totally fine tooooooooooooooo”
The rew even hoarser, his tone evenhis speech sloppily, the man collapsed backwards Before Kaito had a chance to analyze what his words ht from the barbed wire
Kaito could not help but widen his eyes The crow flying down had a wingspan coht The crow dove down at Kaito's group, the fierce wind fro Kaito to close his eyes At that very moment, he heard a scream from close by
”No, doooooooooooooooooon't!”
A boy was abducted fro hooked talons to catch the boy, the cro up, approaching the side of the do A closer look revealed many spears embedded at that spot
(What are those for?)
As soon as the question surfaced in Kaito's h to answer him
Just as how a shrike would impale their prey for later consu on the ceiling, crying out hoarsely and feebly, arching his body violently like a shrireat a mildly However, his chest continued to heave up and down
Confronted with such a horrific scene, Kaito was speechless
Earlier, his attention had been drawn to the crohich made him overlook the roof But now,like speci endless suffering while still alive
Cold sweat slid down Kaito's forehead Given the situation at hand, regardless of his is would be over as soon as he was impaled on a spear like the rest of them
Many crows took flight Frozen in fear, the children stood motionless Kaito yelled out loud:
”Run for your lives, all of youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”
As though freed froan to scatter and flee
Kaito sensed strongly that this was a fresh new hell
Several children were gathered at the entrance to the underground passage, but the doors were locked
”This isn't gonna work Don't gather there Hurry and run!”
Kaito yelled at the crying boy as banging at the doors and started running with the other children So her to fall In the confusion, Kaito grabbed her pale arm decisively
”This way, Melanie”
”Lord Kaito”
”No, no, mommy, mommyyyyyyyyy!”
In front of Kaito, a crow had caught a deirl's ankle while she was suspended in irl thrashed her arround
”No, no, no, no, o, save o, mommy, mommyyyyyyyyy!”
”Hang in there!”
Kaito gave the girl's ankles a vigorous tug to the side, causing a chunk of flesh to be gouged deeply fro her to scream sharply However, the crow crashed into a nearby crow, loosening its grip as Kaito predicted
”Guh”
Kaito ether with Melanie Kaito's shoulder gradually greet and heavy froht in their surroundings
Black feathers drifted dohile deafening screa the floor
The children crying and screa but no one came to save them Amid this despair, everyone was a helpless victi sensation in his stohts
”Screw this!”
Taking Melanie and the deirl with him, Kaito barely made his way into a patch of woods There were several clusters of trees in the great hall with thick foliage, enough to block the crows' view temporarily to enable them to escape
These trees were apparently placed by the de anger, Kaito had no choice but to feel thankful for this giirl, Kaito grabbed the he next to him, and tore it forcefully
”Sorry, I need to use this!”
”L-Lord Kaito, why are you doing this?”
”Help e this child's shoulder Over here and that part too Please!”
”Oh, I-I see I shall help right away!”
Melanie clenched her fist and clu At that aps in the trees The crows had yet to discover Kaito and his co to the center, i him on a spear
”damn it”
Kaito could not help but turn away froe Between the trees were axes and swords wrapped in cute ribbons Kaito naturally realized the intent and instantly felt all the blood in his body run cold
The de your numbers on your own is totally fine too”