SLIME LEGION

Chapter 21: A Problem

"We have orders from Her Highness to bring you to the capital." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"...And why is that?"

"We are merely servants."

That was all they gave as a response.

Currently, I was in the garden, sat on a bench while both Moressa and Carmela stood behind me with serious expressions. I had told them to sit with me, but they seemed more comfortable remaining on their guard. Well, I guess it’s to be expected since they are supposed to protect me...

"...I won’t go," I answered.

Nirai Kingscrown—Lorel’s freakish stepsister whom, for the love of me, he could never understand. Unlike all his other siblings who clearly didn’t like him and would OBVIOUSLY kill him without hesitation to save a dying MONSTER, Nirai was a complicated one... No one knew her intentions for Lorel... Not even Lorel himself. All he knew was what I knew now: she was a sadistic megalomaniac with a pathological mental disorder, who derived no better pleasure than to see Lorel bleed...

Yes, literally bleed. For some fucked-up reason, she loved his blood. If this world had vampires, I would have no doubt she was one. On certain occasions, she would have him invited to her mansion, and none of those visits—NONE—ended without her nasty kink showing itself. The past Lorel might have been some kind of masochistic bastard, but I’m not him...

Hearing my response, I could see the knights’ expressions change... They then reached for their swords as though by instinct.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness, but our orders were clear not to take no for an answer. You either come with us willingly, or we apply force."

"I dare you—"

He hadn’t even finished the sentence before Moressa moved, her hand drawing a sword that pointed directly at them, tendrils of electric current running through her. A glance revealed Carmela with a blank expression—so blank it was disturbing.

"He won’t go with you either way. You either leave as you came, or be removed," Moressa said. Damn, girl. Feisty.

"Be warned, if you stand in the way of Her Highness’s orders, you will be exterminated."

The three knights pulled their swords, and I felt an overwhelming aura so intense I couldn’t breathe...

Fuck... I’m going to lose consciousness—

Eh?

A slender hand was placed on my shoulder, and the next instant, the pressure disappeared like it was never there to begin with—like it was just a trick of the mind.

It was Carmela. She gave me a small smile, catching my eye. "It’s alright, Master. Don’t be afraid," she said, and I felt even calmer.

Damn these stupidly strong knights.

I have knights of my own, but for some reason, only a few are around the mansion. There’s another mansion some distance from here, but that’s the servant quarters. I don’t think ALL my knights are there, so where the hell did they go?!

"...Y-You... Bugs..."

Was all I heard, and the next instant, a loud clank of steel followed. Immediately after came a sweeping kick from Moressa that sent the first knight flying back, though that one managed to regain his bearings and planted his sword, sliding through the ground until he came to a stop.

"Wait, Moressa!" I know she’s strong, but these girls are killers dressed up as nobles. I can’t let—

"I’m sorry, Master, but you can’t be here," I heard, feeling Carmela’s hand tighten on my shoulder.

The very next instant...

...I was in my room.

Oh, no!

I stood up but then instantly realized something... This is not my room.

The bed was smaller; in fact, nothing about it was similar to my room, not even the ceiling.

"Where did she send me?" I looked around. Is this another room in the mansion?

I ran to the nearby window and opened it, but to my dismay... I was in the city. She had sent me somewhere in the city.

"Fuck, I should have just gone with them! Now the girls are in danger. The hell was I even thinking, acting like I had everything under control?!"

I was freaking out. The thought of the girls being killed terrified me far more than I thought it would—especially Carmela.

*Gruuuu...*

I heard a sound and frowned, turning to look around the room.

*What was that sound?*

The room seemed empty. Or was this someone’s house...? Tsk, what am I saying? Of course it’s someone’s house.

*Gruuuu...*

There’s that sound again. Wait. I think it’s coming from the wardrobe.

I looked closely at it.

*BAM!*

*BAM!*

The heck, what’s in there?

I walked carefully toward it, then grabbed the handles.

*Creak...*

I opened it, and lo and behold... Anthony. In bondage.

Seeing me, his face lit up with joy, but he was gagged and couldn’t speak, so I took care of that.

"LOREL, THANK GOD! YOU’VE COME TO SAVE ME!!!"

He was crying. Tears of joy? His face was swollen all over, and his arms and legs were tied up. Wait, who even... Hold up, Carmela brought me here, right?

"What happened?" I took a deep breath before asking.

"I don’t know... *sobs*... I only remember waking up here, and then some monstrous witch began to torment me..." He was traumatized... It couldn’t be Carmela, right?

"Did this monstrous witch perhaps have pink hair?" Please say no.

"I don’t know!"

Eh?

"She always blindfolds me! I don’t know what she wants from me. I offered her money, I even offered her my affinity if she could take it, but she only wanted to torture me!" He trembled visibly as he reached the end of his sentence, then tried to hug me, but I moved back on instinct... A big no.

"...Comfort me, you heartless bastard."

"Not in my life," I said, regarding him carefully.

*Boom!!!*

Something exploded. It seemed to be the bathroom.

"Let’s get the hell out of here!!!"

He was already running, but then—

*Boom!*

The door exploded, and out came a face I didn’t recognize. A girl. A very hot girl. Blonde hair and red eyes. Her hands were literally on fire, her clothes burning from the intensity of the flames.

She looked at the fleeing Anthony.

*Whoosh!*

A huge ball of fire blew him straight through the wall.

...Welp. That dude is dead.

Instinctively, I raised my hands in surrender. I’m so fucked.

"It’s really you..." she said.

"Yes, it’s me, your willing captive. I won’t struggle, you can tie me up—"

Alas...

"LOREL!!!"

SHE EVEN KNOWS ME?!

I turned to run, but it was too late. The lunatic reached me in a single sprint and grabbed me by the neck. The next thing I knew...

It was lights out.