Chapter 18…
The Greed Arc
Pain and Humiliation!
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The smell of dirt. The damp, clammy sensation of soil against my fingertips.
Where… am I?
“Wake up!”
Whip-crack!
A sharp sound tore through the air—then came the pain. Blinding, searing pain that jolted me awake. “Owwwwww! My thigh!! What the hell!!”
“I-it hurts!!!??”
Panicking, I scrambled upright—only to find myself dressed in ragged scraps of cloth that barely qualified as clothing. Something a homeless person might wear. In front of me stood a burly, mean-looking man, and beside him sat a short, shady fellow in a silk hat and suit, lounging on a wooden chair.
“Well, good morning, young lady. How are you feeling after your little nap?”
What is with this guy?
How am I supposed to feel good when you whipped me awake?! Is your brain okay?
I’m a little pissed off, actually.
“The worst,” I said flatly.
Instantly, the brute cracked the whip again.
Ouch! That’s like getting hit in the thigh with a jump rope in winter—but turned up to the max!
“I was kidding! I feel fantastic!”
“Good girl. Honesty suits you.”
That was sarcasm, idiot!
“My, my… you were quite an expensive purchase indeed. But with a beauty and charm as flawless as yours, no price was too high.”
Sounds like a compliment, but… I’m a guy, you know.
“And to think—you’re still a virgin. Impressive restraint on their part.”
…Wait. Hold on.
Waitwaitwaitwait—what!? Virgin!? Did he just say virgin!?
Hold on—how do you know that!? What did you people do while I was unconscious!?
“Relax. We’ll be sure to place a special protection so no one can take the young lady’s purity.”
That’s… reassuring? Wait, no, if they’re going that far, that means everything else is fair game?!
“Damn that slant-eyed woman for bleeding me dry… I’ll make you earn twice as much to get it back.”
“Wait—that definitely means I’m going to be overworked, right!?”
This job sounds worse than a black company from the interview stage!
“You’ll first become a fine slave. Normally, we’d take a year to train you, but we need results fast. You’re special—so you’ll start immediately. It’ll be hell, but don’t die, alright?”
Not just a black company—this one comes with bonus death threats!
“I’ll pass! Ah—stop! Not the whip again!”
The moment the man raised his whip, I felt true fear for the first time.
So this… is what terror tastes like.
“And that outfit… it bears the crest of Greed Castle. That means you’re connected to the royal family, aren’t you? Quite high-ranking, too. I thought maybe the king’s mistress—but since you’re a virgin, that can’t be it… just who are you?”
“…”
“Well, no matter who you are—your life is already over.”
Uh oh.
From the shadows emerged another man, carrying a rod glowing red-hot at the tip.
Oh no. I can already see where this is going.
“Um… are you planning to—?”
The short man in the silk hat smiled pleasantly.
“From today onward… you’re No. 35.”
“Stop! Please! I’m begging you! Don’t!!”
Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap this is bad—REALLY bad.
I tried to run—but they were too strong. I was grabbed, restrained, unable to move.
“Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention… that thing? It hurts like hell.”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Still held down, I was dragged onto a cold iron bed, my limbs strapped in tight.
Like one of those tables they use for human experiments!
“Please! Don’t! Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t!!”
“My, such a lovely voice. You can scream louder, if you like.”
“Guh…”
“Oh? Trying to hold your tongue now? How admirable. Even though your lips are trembling and your eyes are filled with tears… fufu.”
“Grrr…”
“Well then—it’s time. Do it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Don’t.
Don’t bring that thing near me!
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“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”
It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts IT HURTS IT HURTS—!!!
The agony bent my body backward, muscles spasming uncontrollably.
I screamed until my throat nearly burst, stretching my arms and legs as if they’d rip apart.
“No… no no no no no no! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Ghhhhh—!!”
Cold sweat poured down my entire body, my teeth chattering violently.
And slowly—right on my chest—was seared the number 35.
“Haa… haa…”
“Well, well. You didn’t even wet yourself. Not bad. Then again, your body’s probably empty now.”
“What… what the hell did you do… to my body…”
I will never forgive these bastards.
From that day forward… my life as a slave in another world began.
