mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 202: The Five Orange Pips (8)
Chapter 202: The Five Orange Pips (8)
Chapter 202: The Five Orange Pips (8)“Hmm... for a temporary shelter, it’s quite well made.”
“... Indeed.”
The KKK’s hideout, into which I entered with the tied-up Princess Clay, was much more sophisticated than expected.
In my mind, I had pictured a simple tent or a makeshift gathering in a humble dwelling, but this place was a full-fledged underground lair.
I couldn’t tell whether it was a natural cave that had been modified or something they completely built from the ground up. But just walking through the entrance, I was sure that this place was of considerable size.
“It doesn’t seem to be a space created by magic. Probably, it was an existing space that was remodelled...”
Princess Clay, murmuring with a somewhat impressed expression by my side, seemed to share my opinion about the cave’s natural state. That was fortunate. It meant their magical capabilities were within our expectations at least.
However, if they needed such a large space, the number of people might well exceed our expectations.
“This place seems to have been around for quite some time and looks a bit fragile. Can’t we just collapse it?”
“Hey, keep it down.”
“With my magic, I could easily annihilate the inside... Wait, what did you just say?”
“Keep quiet and keep walking.”
“Ugh?”
As I walked ahead, pondering such thoughts, I yanked the ropes binding the body of the Princess, who was whispering discontentedly by my side, tightening them.
“W-What is this insolence...”
“... You can’t just walk in so boldly. After all, you’re currently a prey of mine.”
“When have I ever been hunted by someone? I’m just playing along with your tempo. At least show some basic courtesy.”
However, the princess remained uncooperative.
While she was a competent individual who carried out tasks promptly and accurately, she was somewhat frustrating to deal with in such situations.
After all, having grown up in a noble ducal family, even leading the vampires from a young age, she was accustomed only to the treatment befitting the upper echelons.
But that was hampering our current situation.
“Well, there’s nothing to be done. From now on, there will be no more of my blood for you.”
“W-W-What...?”
It was slightly necessary to provoke her, to change her attitude.
“And that’s not all. Let’s end the contract.”
“... S-Suddenly?”
“I’ll let you go now. You and your minions can leave or stay. It’s up to you.”
Stopping in my tracks, I spoke those words, and bewilderment began to frost over Princess Clay’s face.
“Y-You’re saying that now...”
“Why? Haven’t you been held hostage against your will until now? It would be better for you if I let you go without any penalty, wouldn’t it?”
“B-But...”
“Take out the contract. You always carry it with you, right?”
Eventually, under my pressure, she slightly bit her lip and soon began to speak in a trembling voice.
“T-The contract... I don’t have it right now. I left it at the hideout...”
“... Is that so? Then let’s go get it now.”
“N-No! It’s not there either. I actually lost it.”
Of course, I had anticipated this response. Princess Clay still needed my blood, after all.
Anyone else might have been different, but Princess Clay, consumed by the intoxication of power and control, would not give up an opportunity to be free even if she were to fall in love with me.
“So... the cancellation of the contract is not possible. No, it can’t be done.”
“... Then let’s just make a new contract.”
“T-That’s...”
Clearly, she was flustered because she couldn’t extract more power from me.
“... I-I-If I’m not around, who will manage the organisation and the accounts?”
“I’ll promote Miss Milverton who’s managing the overall funds anyway. She’s very obedient, unlike you.”
“T-T-Then... who will clean the house?”
“I can just hire a cleaner, right? Since Miss Blaze was seriously injured, I was thinking of hiring a maid anyway.”
As I began to untie the ropes bound around her body, Princess Clay stared blankly and soon began to wear a lost expression.
“H-Hey, w-why are you doing something like this all of a sudden...?”
“... What are you talking about?”
“I-I was... the first to join you, wasn’t I? Even though I’m of senior rank... isn’t this treatment too harsh...”
Eventually, Princess Clay started to show a genuinely aggrieved expression, even beginning to whimper.
“... I believe that merit is more important than seniority.”
But I knew it was all an act, so I continued to respond indifferently.
“Uh, ugh...”
Then, biting her lip tightly, she began to tremble.
“So, Princess, this might be a good chance to prove your worth...”
“... M-My worth?”
With that, the man snapped his fingers.
- Whirrrr...
“... What?”
The ropes binding the woman in red swiftly unravelled with a crisp sound.
- Gooooooo...
“”........!””
At that instant, a monstrous red aura began to fill the main hall where the members were gathered.
“How dare... you insult... me?”
The unbound woman began to murmur fiercely, gathering all her strength to face the members in front of her.
“All of you... will be burnt in the fires of hell...!”
“That’s enough.”
“... Kulluk?”
However, the next moment, as the man snapped his fingers again, the woman was quickly bound by the ropes, dropped to her knees, and collapsed on the spot.
“Retract your energy.”
“Uggrh...”
“Do you want to crawl around again with your limbs torn apart?”
As the man caressed her chin with his hand and whispered coldly, the woman, clenching her teeth, soon meekly withdrew her energy and bowed her head.
“........”
Then there was silence.
- Clap, clap, clap...
In that silence, soon a small round of applause began to echo.
“Excellent.”
A member with a peculiar insignia, looking quite satisfied, was applauding.
“Wo-Wow...!!”
Noticing his cue, the members began to clap and shout in unison.
“Take that vampire with you and follow me.”
In the suddenly noisy atmosphere, the member with the peculiar insignia quietly moved to the back and whispered to the man.
“Let me introduce you to the senior officials including myself.”
“... Understood.”
Politely responding to him, the man bowed his head and then quietly grinned a triumphant smile. And this man was none other than Adler.
.
.
.
.
.
“... I-Is this sufficient?”
“Well done, Princess...”
Having successfully completed the initiation ceremony of the KKK as planned, and even managing to catch the attention of one of their officials, I gently answered the timid question from Princess amidst the cheers and began to follow the official.
Wait a moment!
But at that moment, a bright red message appeared before my eyes.
The area up ahead is dangerous.
“Well, has there ever been a time when it wasn’t dangerous?”
After reading the message, I chuckled and tried to flick the message away...
I sense the presence of a being trying to break the rules of the world.
“........”
So please step back. Neither you nor I are ready to face the harbinger of the erosion yet.
After hastily checking the urgent comment from the Miss System, I had no choice but to stop for a moment.
“... Miss System.”
Yes?
“Do you know what a developer’s destiny is?”
What is it?
Apparently, Miss System had forgotten who designed this world.
“What is it, if not fixing bugs?”
... Are you fucking serious right now?
As the creator of this world, it was time to meet the troublemakers who dared to ruin my world.