Chapter 383

The basement was wider than expected. It felt even larger than the mansion itself.

[The air here is filthy. Disgusting.]

‘It seems like a perfect place for rags and bugs to live. Wasn’t this originally Isabella’s secret space?’

That woman seemed to love vast, damp, musty, and smelly caves like her own crotch.

Claire would probably like it too. She must have lived with a lake-sized cave between her legs. Though Ophelia restored it with magical surgery.

[Living in such a place, that sorceress must have a strong stomach.]

No matter how strong her stomach is, it can’t be as strong as yours. You ate people in a place reeking of organs without even gagging once.

—

Unlike the corridor, Ophelia’s lab was more comfortable than expected.

Did she only purify the spaces she frequently uses? The stuffy underground feeling was completely gone, as if external air was circulating.

“I’m here.”

“Oh? You came faster than I thought. Did something happen in the eastern plains?”

Ophelia seemed to have guessed how things went just by my early arrival.

“There’s chaos in Ka`har’s homeland. Some evil sorceress appeared or something. If it’s an evil sorceress, she’s right here.”

Look at that. She’s opened a children’s dissection class with mini Isabella again.

“Your words are harsh. Wouldn’t the person who commands such a subordinate be more evil?”

“What are you talking about? I’m the honorable paladin who even enlightened an evil sorceress.”

“Oh right, you were an honorable paladin… Here’s living proof that the Church Order has finally gone mad. If you pray to God, maybe magic will pop out instead of holy power?”

Ophelia chuckled, put down the dissection tools she was holding, and took off her gloves. Then, her slender white fingers reached into her cleavage and pulled out a long magic herb.

…Why was that in there?

Magicians are truly incomprehensible.

—

I smoked a cigarette with Ophelia and watched the newly reborn Isabella.

“Hieeeek… Hieeeek…”

Isabella, nailed to the table, surprisingly resembled the Ka`har prisoner I had captured.

It seemed all her organs except her heart and lungs had been removed, leaving her belly almost empty. Maybe she never had them in the first place.

Moreover, thin iron needles were embedded in the nerves connected to her spine. Clearly, they were for electrical stimulation.

…This woman knows how to interrogate. Who would have thought a pure magician, not even a modern person, could reach this level?

Perhaps the saying that sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from science is true.

“So, what exactly are you trying to find out by keeping Isabella’s insides open?”

“Huh? Oh. I wasn’t trying to interrogate her. I was just checking her nerve sensitivity through pain reflexes. Right now, 30-50 times is the limit, but I want to increase it to 3000 times eventually.”

At 3000 times sensitivity, wouldn’t she die from just a poke…?

Anyway, leaving Isabella’s fate to Ophelia was an excellent choice. She was literally a genius of torture.

“But it’s a bit disappointing. I wanted to hear what she’d say, but every time I come, she seems unable to talk.”

“She can talk. She just clammed up when she saw you. Her language center is still intact. Just a while ago, she was begging me to stop.”

Oh really? That’s good to hear.

I immediately leaned in close to Isabella and grinned.

“Oh, our dear witch. Were you too embarrassed to show me your tearful begging? Pretending to be mute? I almost fell for it.”

“……”

Isabella didn’t respond. She didn’t even want to talk to me. But what can you do? Criminals don’t have the right to remain silent. No right to a lawyer either.

It’s a principle from the original world, but it’s not much different here.

“Why the serious face, witch? Smile. I said smile. You achieved immortality that eight thousand people couldn’t, right? So you should smile. Like this.”

I pulled up the corners of my mouth and forced a smile on Isabella’s face with my fingers.

“See? Looks better when you smile. You might not know this, being a foolish witch, but laughter actually reduces pain. Considering the pain you’re about to endure, it’s advice worth engraving in your bones, right?”

Isabella frowned but still didn’t say anything. She’d scream like a pig if I poked her with a needle, but she’s being stubborn.

“Oh, by the way, what did you say to me again…? That you’d make me lick between your legs? That body of yours can’t handle it. How about licking mine instead? Like a dog.”

I giggled and pointed between my legs with my finger. Isabella’s face twisted in disgust.

[Don’t talk nonsense…! If you dare do such a thing with my body, I swear I’ll…!]

Hersela threatened in a horrified voice, like a girl who found a caterpillar in her underwear. Who knew she could make such a voice?

‘No, of course, it’s a joke. You think I’d really do that? Disgusting.’

It was just a taunt to mock Isabella.

“Did you sew your mouth shut? No answer. Should I call Leonor? She’d be thrilled to see the witch again.”

She’d probably cheer and prepare some batter.

“Witch tempura is quite popular in the capital these days. Oh, you don’t know what witch tempura is? It’s something Leonor made, deep-frying a witch’s body in oil…”

“……Don’t get cocky. You filthy, smelly barbarian…!”

Finally, Isabella spoke. Though it was just an insult.

“Barbarian, yes… but isn’t the filthy, smelly one you, witch? You still reek of rot.”

“……Do you think you’ve won? Enjoy that feeling now. Someday, you’ll be screaming and wailing…!”

Threatening like a frog with electrodes.

“Screaming and wailing? That’ll be you, witch. I heard you begged Ophelia, crying. Ernst should have seen that.”

I brought the cigarette in my hand close to Isabella’s belly. As the heat of the cigarette reached the nerves with electrodes, Isabella’s expression stiffened.

“How dare you…!”

Trying to act calm, but even Isabella couldn’t handle 30 times the nerve sensitivity. Her pupils were trembling.

“Our dear witch, you’re scared, aren’t you? Poor thing. Are you afraid of pain now? Without your magic, you’re just a child.”

“……”

Isabella closed her mouth again. Doesn’t want to talk anymore? Then I’ll make you talk.

I pushed my finger deeper.

-Sizzle!

The sound of flesh burning. The exposed nerves shriveled from the cigarette’s heat.

“GYAAAAAAAH-!”

Isabella screamed and twisted her body. Her eyes rolled back, and she thrashed her head like a metal singer overdosing on heroin.

“Ahahaha! ‘Gyaaah’? That’s your scream? Hilarious!”

I burst out laughing and pulled out the extinguished cigarette butt, crushing it. Isabella continued to convulse like an electrocuted pig before finally slumping.

Is she dead?

“…Hersela. I was still experimenting with that.”

“Oops, sorry. I couldn’t help it. Make a new one.”

I shrugged and lit a new cigarette.

—

After throwing the ashtray-like Isabella into a dissolving solution, I chatted with Ophelia for a while.

“How’s Claire? Still in that state?”

“Yep. I can’t mess with her mind or brain carelessly, so I’m experimenting with Isabella first…”

Ophelia sighed deeply.

If someone saw this, they’d think she’s a loving sister worried about her ill sibling.

In reality, she’s the worst little sister who regressed her sister to infancy through all kinds of torture, including sexual torture, and keeps messing with her.

Both sisters are a perfect example of reaping what you sow.

We didn’t just talk about Claire.

“Do you know where Asha’s workshop is? I left some Ryurik leather with her, so you should go order some clothes too.”

Armor made from the self-repairing beastman king’s hide. Top-tier equipment you can’t find anywhere else. A special welfare service for Epe de Ciel members.

“Ryurik? Oh, the wolf king. Leather clothes aren’t my style… but maybe I can ask for boots and a cloak.”

“Pretty useful, right? Even blind spears won’t pierce it, and it repairs itself if torn.”

“That’s amazing.”

Ophelia whistled, slightly impressed.

—

After telling her about Jahan, we went upstairs together. Now that we’re living together, we should at least know each other’s faces.

Damien and Milia had just finished cleaning up and were in the corridor. We joined them and headed to the reception room.

“Oh, right. Damien. I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

I whispered into Damien’s ear.

“That incident at the northern hot springs. Never mention it. If you say even a word, you’re dead.”

Jahan would kill you if he found out.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Damien nodded.