My head begins to throb with anger as I process his words. I feel rage bubbling up within me as his words about touching Alto echo in my head.
Yes…I see my error now…I grossly miscalculated just how much of a piece of shit this guy was. Why was I trying so hard to avoid conflict with someone like this? I can't even remember anymore, but it's irrelevant now. He doesn't appreciate the carrot...that only leaves the stick.
Soon, I'm overflowing with bloodlust.
I glance at Zara and Alto, and they're both staring at me expectantly. They don't look afraid, but I can tell they're suppressing their rage. Alto's face is one of sheer determination, and the meaning of her expression is clear…'please, just say the word'.
I sigh deeply, my back still turned to Belmod, and send a thought message to my party.
[There's been a change of plans…trying to leave peacefully was a mistake. Trash like Belmod shouldn't be left on the street.] (Mizuki)
I sense Nina's rage turn to anticipation. I spin on my heel to face Belmod again, and he's giving me a smug look.
I feel my rage deepen, and I almost snap right there, but composure is key. I cast a silencing spell over the entire throne room.
"Tch…Nina, I think you were right…I've been entirely too lenient with this idiot. Zara and Alto, I appreciate you enduring all that for me, but that's unnecessary now." (Mizuki)
Belmod's eyes go wide in shock, then his expression turns murderous.
"Alright, runt, yo-" (Belmod)
"Shut up, Belmod. I tried to play nice with you for the sake of your guards, but you've exhausted my patience now. I'm about to teach just how much you erred by threatening my friends…especially what you said about Alto." (Mizuki)
Belmod's expression is briefly replaced with confusion. Before he recovers, I raise my voice to address everyone in the room.
"Guards of the palace! I have no wish to kill men just for upholding an oath to protect their ruler! Unfortunately, your buffoon of an emperor has made peace impossible! If you keep your swords sheathed, you will not be harmed! However, if you draw your weapons against us, then you'll die with Belmod! I'm sorry that it's all the mercy I have left for you, but you've been warned!" (Mizuki)
The atmosphere in the room completely changes, and for a moment, it's dead silent. Then, I hear innumerable swords being drawn.
Belmod's eyes are hollow, and his tone agitated, as he calls out to them.
"Kill them! Keep the elf alive if possible!" (Belmod)
I smirk at Belmod, then before the guards or him can make their move, I activate a gravity spell over the whole room. It's strong enough to pin a fully enhanced Zara, but I make sure to exclude the area where my party and I are standing. The effect is immediate…
"GAHHHH!" (Belmod)
Belmod's cries ring out along with his men's, as they're all slammed to the ground hard enough to break bones. I see a few of them struggling, some even managing to move slightly, but they're still defenseless.
"Nina, could you please go around and humanely execute all the soldiers that drew their swords? Make sure to leave those with sheathed swords alone, as well as Belmod and the slave trader. Zara and Alto, wait with me here." (Mizuki)
Alto and Zara nod their acknowledgement. I quickly summon my item box in front of Nina so she can retrieve her daggers, and she grins at me maliciously as she does.
"Fufufu…of course, Mizuki! I'm happy that you're letting me enforce consequences for those insults." (Nina)
I smile at her and nod, then she jumps off towards the guards and begins stabbing them through their exposed necks in quick succession. Belmod watches in horror as his men are slaughtered by Nina, and he calls out in confusion between his pained groans.
"GAHHH! What the hell is this!? What are you!? As your emperor…GAHHH…I order you to stop!" (Belmod)
I walk over to Belmod, unaffected by my spell due to constant body enhancement, and I squat down to give him a menacing stare. Seeing me casually resist the spell, his face contorts in confusion and fear between pained groans.
I grab him forcefully by the hair, lean over, and whisper in his ear coldly.
"If you'd just left my friends out of it…you and your men might have lived. Now, all their blood is on your hands, Belmod. Don't worry, though, you'll be atoning for it with your life very soon." (Mizuki)
I see the color drain from Belmod's face, then after a few moments he slumps over and stops moving – probably passed out from the strain of the gravity spell. I alter the gravity spell to lighten the force on him, so he doesn't die prematurely.
I turn my attention back to Zara and Alto, and I give them an apologetic smile. The screams of some soldiers are still ringing out, so I cast a second silencing spell over the three of us.
"How are the two of you? I know that wasn't easy…I'm sorry if I could have handled it better." (Mizuki)
Zara smirks at me.
"Fufufu…I am a wolf-kin, Mizuki. Foolish threats do not scare me, and I take no issue with your decisions." (Zara)
Alto seems confused and apprehensive.
"Mizuki…I trust you, I do…but why did you tell him you'd spy on my country? Why were you going to just leave here and let them live, even knowing that he condoned our enslavement? Please…explain it to me…I don't understand." (Alto)
Alto is staring at me pleadingly, so I walk over and hug her briefly.
"It sounds like he was planning to invade your country, and they still might, even with Belmod dead. I planned to feed him false information at Elira's direction while investigating their plans and the slave trade. Then, I could help you squash both threats permanently. We could have killed the trader soon after we left here, and I wouldn't have let Belmod live indefinitely either." (Mizuki)
I see realization and relief flash across Alto's face, and she smiles at me gratefully and nods.
"Thank you, Mizuki. I'm sorry if it seems like I was doubting you…I just didn't understand. So, the reason you told Nina to spare them again just now…" (Alto)
I mean…I think she was kind of doubting me…but I forgive her. I make a placating gesture and smile at Alto.
"No worries…I'd never betray my dear friend. To answer your question, the trader is being saved for you and Zara to punish however you wish – I'll support your decision. Belmod…what he said, what he was willing to do…I'm going to kill him painfully for that. He won't have the same painless execution as his guards." (Mizuki)
Zara and Alto both nod their agreement, then we share a friendly but morbid silence. After a few moments, I drop the second silencing spell and look back out to the scene around me.
The room has fallen silent, and blood is spilling in from the borders of the room in every direction. I cancel the gravity spell entirely.
Nina is walking towards us, covered in blood and dragging the trader and one other person. When she arrives, she tosses them in front of me with a grin. The other person is Lobe, that kind of chill guard that escorted us here.
"Fufufu…this was the only guard smart enough to take your warning, Mizuki. I left the trader alive as you requested. What do you plan to do with them?" (Nina)
Hmm…looks like they lost consciousness, too. What order to do this in…let's see…
I cast a healing spell on Belmod and the slaver, then kick Belmod off away from us a few meters. He begins to stir, so I place a forcefield around him in the shape of a cube. I make sure to keep the forcefield latticed, so it's not soundproof. I want him to have a front row seat…to hear and see what's coming for him.
I use a gravity spell on Lobe to gently float him away from us to safety, and I heal him as well. Then, I cast a cube forcefield around him like Belmod's, but I make it soundproof and light absorbing, so he can't see or hear us when he wakes up. No need to subject him to the scene that's about to unfold.
I return my attention to the slaver, who seems to be stirring finally. When he comes to his senses, he notices the scene around him, and he becomes fearful. Nina is standing next to me, covered in blood, and begins taunting him.
"Fufufu…that's right, worthless little worm. Look around…they're the lucky ones, compared to what's about to happen to you." (Nina)
Jeez…that's dark as hell Nina! She's right, though, this guy can die screaming for all I care.
The slaver hears Nina's words and begins screaming hysterically and crawling towards me…he looks up to address me pleadingly as he does.
"Please! Please, show me mercy! I have a wife and kids! Don't let these monsters kill me!" (slaver)
The slaver begins sobbing, and the faint smell of urine emerges. I just look at him coldly.
"You see…I don't care that you have a wife and kids. You've enslaved wives and children, while all I'd be doing to yours is ridding them of the worthless trash in their life. I'm sure you've made them plenty of money to live without you, by exploiting non-humans, so they'll probably be fine. If I had my way, you'd die right now." (Mizuki)
The slaver's sobbing intensifies, and I can hear the faint mumblings of the word 'please' through his sobs. I continue.
"Fortunately for you…I don't get to decide your fate. Instead, the people you should be begging are my friends, Alto and Zara…the women you tried to take as slaves. If they want to let you go right now, I'll support it. Conversely, if they decide that you should be flayed alive and healed on an endless loop until you go mad and lose the will to live…well, I'll support that, too. So, I suggest you get to groveling." (Mizuki)
[Alto, Zara, he's all yours.] (Mizuki)
Alto nods at me absentmindedly as she closes in on the slaver with Zara in tow. He looks up at them fearfully and begins screaming and pleading again. I'm curious what they'll do to him, but a sudden outburst distracts me.
"Guards! All guards! Your emperor commands you to enter the throne room and slaughter these people! Guards!" (Belmod)
Belmod has come to his senses inside the cube prison, and he is yelling frantically for support. He appears to have drawn his sword.
This idiot is in complete denial…did he think that, after all that screaming earlier during my gravity spell, the guards would have waited around outside if they could hear? I sigh deeply, then I turn and make my way towards Belmod.
Seeing me approach, Belmod's face contorts in anger, and he begins swinging his sword against the forcefield. Obviously, it's useless – I made it.
"You…runt! What the hell is this!? Have your dual class friend release this spell and face me yourself!" (Belmod)
I narrow my eyes at Belmod, and snort at him. Everyone who can hear and see me right now is my friend or is sentenced to death. So, I don't have to be coy anymore.
"That is a spell that keeps you prisoner in an invisible box, and there is another one that prevents sound from leaving this room. No guards are coming to help you. Also, Belmod, you should know that woman is named Nina. She's my lover, and she's not the one who cast the spell…" (Mizuki)
To make my point to Belmod, I summon my item box and pull my katana and dagger out. Seeing this, Belmod's face becomes shocked, but he seems to accept it and move on. I've got to give him credit for that, at least.
"Oh? You think you're not a runt just because you can use some magic. Let me out of here and I'll teach you your place." (Belmod)
Is he truly not understanding what's happening here? I just used an incantation-less spell that he can't even break out of. How does he think he has a chance? Also, why is he dying on this 'runt' hill…literally.
I shake my head at him in exasperation.
"Very well, Belmod. I was just going to strangle you to death slowly with that spell that's keeping your prisoner, but if you'd rather die in combat…I'll grant your wish." (Mizuki)
Behind me I can hear pained screams from the slaver…I guess Alto and Zara have started. I should do the same.
I drop the spells on Belmod and give him an inviting gesture, then I extend my max enhancement to my katana and prepare for his advance. Belmod smiles viciously.