"What... what the hell is going on!!!!!"
The carriage was racing like mad toward some unknown place. It jolted and bounced so violently that it felt like we were hurtling across jagged rocks. Terror gripped me. What in the world was happening?
I was tossed around inside the flask, my body smacking painfully against the glass. It was the kind of pain that would definitely leave bruises. But I was too mentally shaken to care about physical pain.
"Kahel, Kayton, Beckey! Please come back and save me!!!!! I'm being kidnapped right now!!!!!!"
I tumbled helplessly inside the flask, screaming their names with all I had. Never before had I felt such despair over being stuck as a fish in a bowl.
If I were human, I might've thought up some kind of escape plan. Even though I knew it was useless, I pounded my tiny fists against the solid walls of the flask over and over. Of course, it didn't budge an inch.
'What is this, reinforced glass or something? Damn it!'
Wait, hold on. If I get out of here… will I die? Like a fish that can't survive outside of water, maybe I'd say my final goodbye the moment this flask breaks.
Exhausted and dazed, I stared blankly out the window. Suddenly, the scenery changed. Just moments ago, I had still been seeing the world of this realm, but now…
Outside was a sheer cliff of darkness. The sun couldn't have set so quickly. It was like falling into a vacuum, or a black hole. Every sound vanished.
That's right—until just now, there had been strange noises. Little creatures making hissing sounds, shrieks, giggles, and chatter. But now, everything had been swallowed by darkness. A silence so deep it made the fear even more suffocating.
'Where am I? Is this hell?'
The carriage was still moving, slowly but surely. It just wasn't dashing madly like before. I curled up tightly, trembling uncontrollably.
There was a reason Kayton had warned me not to go out. I couldn't help but silently blame him now, wishing he'd stopped me more forcefully.
'If only he'd been firmer… no, this is all my fault anyway.'
The sorrow was overwhelming. I started to cry, sniffing softly at first. Though I couldn't feel tears stream down my face in this water, I could tell—I was definitely crying.
'Mom, Dad, my friends... I miss you so much. I didn't even get to say goodbye properly back in that world, and now I've ended up in hell?'
The more I thought about it, the more pitiful I felt. I started bawling—not just sniffles now, but full-on sobbing.
And then…
'Wait. What if I try using one of the spells I've learned?'
I racked my brain, trying to think of anything I could use in this situation. But fear and anxiety made it hard to concentrate. Still, I forced myself to keep trying.
Alright… let's start with the summoning spell I practiced on day one and then gave up on. Maybe a spirit or something will show up and save me.
Just as I was about to chant the incantation in my mind—
Ting.
A sharp, shattering sound rang through my head, like something metallic had snapped. I froze, eyes flying open. Did I do something wrong?
I focused again and tried reciting the spell.
Ting. Ting. Tinnng!
"Ah…!"
A shocking sensation clawed at my brain like metal scraping across it. I gasped, drenched in cold sweat. My strength was being drained rapidly.
I tried one more time—but I couldn't. My body was still reeling from the shock, as if I'd just been electrocuted. I trembled violently, paralyzed with fear.
'Magic... summoning... It's useless. I can't try again.'
Suddenly, the view outside the window changed. The cliff of black nothingness was gone, replaced by enormous, grotesque plants that loomed over the carriage like sentient beings.
'Where… am I?'
The plants were massive, like those you'd only see in a jungle. But unlike normal jungles, the colors weren't just green—there were reds, yellows, purples, even silver.
A giant Venus flytrap-like plant bared its teeth at me in what looked like a grin. A massive sunflower with a bright red stem and bluish petals waved its leaves like a fan, sweating profusely. It was bizarre beyond belief.
It was night. Or at least… it felt like night. Maybe the plants were just so overgrown that they blocked the sky. Like in movies, when forests or jungles are so dense it looks dark even during the day—this was exactly like that.
Just as I was struck by the strangely romantic notion of this jungle-from-hell, the carriage slid to a halt. And then, with a jolt, the door swung open.
I stared blankly at the figure that appeared before me.
Was it a monster? An animal? A person? It had the head of an eagle, the body of a man, and wore a lavish, jewel-studded cloth draped around its waist.
"We're here, little one," it growled in a metallic rasp, like I was just some fare in a taxi.
I blinked dumbly. "Wh-where?"
"You'll see when you get out."
The eagle-headed man replied lazily, nodding once. At his signal, two large, red-furred chimpanzees leapt into the carriage.
"KYAA!!!!!!"
With agile movements, the chimpanzees picked me up and carried me outside. I had been delivered into the heart of this 'bizarre jungle.' The chimps flanked me, walking on either side as we moved forward.
"W-where are we going?"
I asked, but they only responded with hisses and grunts—no actual words. I wasn't even sure they could talk.
The eagle-headed man strode confidently ahead, leading the way with long strides. I curled up tightly again, overcome with dread.
Before long, we arrived at a clearing that looked like a sports arena. A wide, round space not too large—but filled with strange creatures.
The chimpanzees set me down in the center like I was some circus act, then vanished.
For a moment, I forgot to be afraid. I was too busy examining the crowd around me, curiosity overpowering my fear. At first they just looked like monstrous beasts, but as I stared, I realized most of them were hybrids—part human, part animal.
Some had animal heads and human bodies, or vice versa. Some were half-human top to bottom. They looked eerily like the creatures you'd see in those old paintings of hell.
'Maybe those painters had been here before. Maybe this really is hell...'
"O Homunculus…"
"…..!!"
A solemn voice rang out of nowhere. Startled, I looked up—
Right before my eyes, a small, pitch-black dragon stood with its wings folded, gazing straight at me. It was about the size of two large horses put together.
A! d-d-dragon!!! When did that show up?! It definitely wasn't here a second ago!!! Holy crap!!!
I stared at it, stunned and awe-struck, but the dragon flicked out its long tongue and spoke again. Its voice rumbled like it could shake the earth.
"You are hereby summoned to stand trial before us."
"What?! Trial??"
"That is correct."
"Wait—what for?!"
"For you have murdered our kin, Kuklos."
"…Kuklos?? Murdered??? What are you talking about?! I've never killed anyone!!"
"During your very first summoning lesson as a homunculus, you called forth Kuklos—my old and cherished friend—and allowed him to be slain by the hands of a mere human alchemist. That is the crime for which you now stand before us."
And just like that, it all clicked.
That hideous red bat I summoned, the one who threatened Beckey and was killed by Kahel—that was this dragon's friend.
So this was revenge. That's why they kidnapped me. Which means… this place must be the Fellborn Dominion. That thing back in the carriage did call itself a beastling.
Everything suddenly made a terrible kind of sense. Ha… Kayton was right. I should've stayed in bed. This is bad.
"Do you have anything to say?"
The black dragon hissed, flicking its red tongue toward me threateningly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice and not let it shake.
"Of course I do. Because I don't believe this was my fault."
"He died because of you—how could it not be your fault?"
This time, the dragon's eyes glowed crimson. It was definitely angry.
"First of all, I had no idea he would show up when I tried that spell. Second, he attacked my friend first. So I believe that was neither intentional nor malicious—it was self-defense."
"Oh? 'Self-defense,' is it? Not bad, for a baby-faced homunculus. You've got a clever tongue."
The dragon let out a mocking chuckle, and I felt a chill run down my spine. That laugh didn't bode well for me.
"And besides," I added quickly, "you guys kidnapped me. Isn't that a crime too? Seems we're even."
The dragon turned to the crowd.
"Dear jury, what say you? Is there anyone among you who objects to this brat's execution?"
The air erupted with shrieks and cackles—Kkya, Kkak, Keeek!—a chorus of bloodthirsty delight. I didn't need translation to know: they all wanted me dead.
"Well, to be fair, you do make a decent point, little one."
The dragon's red eyes gleamed again as he continued, amused.
"So I'll give you a chance. If even one of our lovely jurors here objects to your death sentence—just one—I'll spare you."
"...…"
"Merciful, aren't I? Not two, not three—just one."
"T-that's… wouldn't it be easier to just let me go…"
Oh my-as if killing me isn't enough, now he wants to tease me with hope first! From the looks of them, I doubted a single beastling here would lift a claw to save me.
"Now then, let the trial begin. Anyone who wishes for this homunculus to live, please come forward."
"....!!!"
Silence. As if death itself had swept through the crowd. The dragon licked his lips smugly and spoke again.
"If such a person exists, step forward now. I will count to ten. One. Two…"
The beastlings whispered and cackled among themselves. Some outright gave me a thumbs down. I felt like a gladiator dumped into the middle of the Colosseum.
"Seven, eight, nine…"
The dragon lifted his head high and deliberately dragged out the last number. A total sadist, clearly enjoying this moment.
"Seems like no one's coming. Very well then... Let the execution begin—"
"Ten. I object."
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind and a thunderous voice rang through the arena. Wait—who was that?! AM I SAVED?!
The whirlwind gradually settled, shrinking in size until it cleared beside the dragon. I rubbed my eyes, squinting to see who had appeared.
A tall, shadowy man, dressed entirely in black. A black knight atop a black steed. But today, he wore neither his hat nor his mask.
I recognized him instantly. That man with the glowing red eyes—the one who had been watching me from outside the carriage. The one who had stared at me in silence.
"E-El... Elias?! Why are you here…?"
The dragon let out a displeased roar, its claws scraping the ground in agitation.
"Should it be strange for me to come to my own land, Rekko?"
His absurdly long black hair swayed in the lingering winds of the fading whirlwind.
He had planted a long black spear into the ground and leaned against it slightly, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"What business do you have here, Elias? Shouldn't you be lounging in the imperial palace?"
Imperial palace?!
"Ahh, but this is far more entertaining," the black knight replied, his voice dripping with mischief.
His absurdly long black hair rippled in the fading winds as he leaned half-casually against the long black spear he had thrust into the ground.
He turned to me and smiled.