Chapter 34 : Humiliation

The steel blade flutters gently in the air.

It was something that the man in front of me had been holding just a moment ago; it was a strange knife blade that seemed to be spring-loaded and could be ejected.

"Now then."

The knife, with its handle missing, stopped dead next to the man's face and was then aimed at the man's thigh.

"Guh!"

Fresh blood spurts out with a short cry.

There was a lot more blood than I had expected, so I quickly pulled the blade out.

He brings the blade in front of his face and observes it.

It is a straight, double-edged knife with a hollowed-out center like a slit.

I thought it was just for weight reduction, but it seems that it also acts as a straw to make the person you stab bleed.

"But now you're in the way."

He muttered and snapped his fingers.

The magical energy changes and seals the hollow part of the knife, turning it into a single sheet of steel. If the victim bleeds too much, they will die quickly, and getting dirty is also a problem.

At the same time, he closes the man's wound to stop the bleeding, and while he's there, he lightly scans his entire body. Yes, I thought so. No wonder he had such a weak reaction.

I touched the man's leg. Normally I would have touched his chest or neck, but because of the height difference and because he was hanging in the air, I couldn't reach him. Anyway, I poured magic power into that spot.

"Guaaaaaahh?!"

Suddenly, the man lets out a shameful scream.

"You... you bastard, what did you do...?!"

"It's no big deal. I just removed the spell that had been cast on you. I think it blocked your sense of pain. You seemed fine even though your arm was broken."

The man's face twitches in convulsions as he is hit right on the mark. Or perhaps he is imagining what is about to happen?

Without hesitating, I stab the knife again. Last time it was in the left leg, this time in the right.

"Gwaaaaahh!?"

Yeah, a nice voice. That's how it should be.

This time blood doesn't spurt out. The blade acts as a lid to seal the wound. The handleless knife continues to sink, carving into flesh until it is completely embedded in the man's leg and emerges on the other side.

"Ah... but...?"

The man gasped in pain but had a puzzled look on his face. It seemed he had noticed.

The man's leg, where the blade had passed through, was stained with blood, but the injury itself was already gone. I had treated him. Naturally, it was not out of kindness.

"Hey, did you know? Healing magic can also be used for torture, you know?"

The knife pierces the center of the body.

The blade that had pierced the victim's mizoo area rotated inside the body, stirring up the organs as it went, shattering the spine and emerging from the victim's back.

By that time, the body had returned to normal. All that was left was a red stain on the surface of the skin and clothes. The only thing that remained was for the man to vomit blood.

Hearts are gouged out, ears are cut off, lungs are crushed, eyeballs are pierced, intestines are pulled out, limbs are torn off.

This was repeated dozens of times, until there was no part of the man left that wasn't stained with blood.

Since he is constantly regenerating while destroying, he has no injuries, but his reactions are gradually slowing down. He is now exhausted and can no longer scream.

"Hey, say something. I'm getting bored."

As he spoke, he drove the blade into the man's right arm, which was hanging from his body. However, the man only trembled slightly and didn't even make a sound.

This is boring. I think it's time to end it.

I let out a sigh and walked over.

It was a meaningless action. I thought I'd just observe it for a bit to change my mood. That was all I had planned, but as I got closer I noticed "it."

I burst out laughing.

"Pfft...! Ahahahahaha! It's so dirty! I've wet myself!"

Judging from the dampness between my legs, it looked like I had already lost some heat. It wasn't just now. It must have happened a long time ago and I just hadn't noticed.

I had wasted my time. But I was still in a good mood and spoke to the man in high spirits.

"Hey, how does it feel? Being bullied by a girl and peeing your pants? It's so embarrassing, isn't it? Do you want to die?"

I want to see your expression properly.

I crawled underneath him and looked up at his face, and saw his lips moving slightly.

"...Ugh...it hurts..."

"Hmm? What's that? I won't understand unless you say it clearly."

When I said that, my voice rose, albeit slightly.

Because I was concentrating on my ears, I managed to pick up the raspy voice.

"...Please...forgive me..."

Looks like he's given up.

"Eh? It was just starting to get interesting again."

But oh well. She's been crying for a while now, so I might as well think about it.

"Well, if you apologize properly and beg me, I might be able to forgive you."

The man reacted with a start to my words.

"...Really...?"

"Yeah, really? If you can do that, I'll think about it."

I'm so kind This guy is crying with joy. He's been crying for a long time though.

The man seemed to relax just a little and spoke.

"...Sorry, aaaaaaahhh!?"

Then, in the middle of his line, he screamed, probably because he pulled the knife that had been stuck in his elbow all the way down to his shoulder in one go.

"Sorry, what?"

I smiled as I waited for him to continue. Of course, I didn't forget to pull out the knife during that time. Rather, I stabbed the man's body again and again at a pace I had never done before.

"Until now, I, I, I, want, to, understand, I, don't, understand, I, don't, understand!"

Watching the man twitching in small convulsions again and again, I felt more excited than I had ever felt before.

"...Yeah, I was able to say sorry. And then?"

"Huh!?"

The man tried to say something, but stopped. That was understandable. With his airway completely blocked, it was impossible to make a sound.

The knife slammed into the man's neck from the left side, blocking most of his neck, including his airway and carotid artery, and took a good ten seconds to penetrate to the other side.

Naturally, the tissue quickly regenerated, leaving only a small drop of blood behind.

It wasn't a replacement, but the man spat out blood mixed with bubbles with a gurgling sound.

I accepted it without avoiding it, and as I felt his body heat on my left cheek, I urged him to continue.

"after that?"

"...that's...so..."

The man pleaded as various bodily fluids flowed from various parts of his face.

Yeah.

This kid did his best.

I really tried my best.

So I'll respond with a big smile.

With that in mind, I gave him a smile that was as bright as a blooming flower.

And then he spoke the words.

"No way "

I said I would think about it, but I didn't say I would forgive it.

And the party begins again.

Thunder

As the restraints on his right arm are released, the man collapses without a sound.

He lay face down, not even moving. But I wasn't satisfied yet. The fire was already lit.

"Wake up. I didn't give you permission to pass out."

I thought to myself, "I'll grab her hair and help her up." And so I approached her. That's when it happened.

Bang!

"!?"

A shock that hit me right in the gut. And then,

"Guaaaaahh!?"

A man's scream, a long time coming.

Suddenly, I realized that Berserker was right next to me, so close that I could almost touch him.

Not understanding what had happened, he looked Berserker up and down, then he noticed.

Berserker had crushed the man's right arm by stepping on it.

"What are you planning?! Stand back! I never gave you that order!"

Berserker leaves without resistance.

What on earth is that all about?

It feels like all the excitement has been doused in cold water.

This has never happened before. Berserker had always followed my instructions faithfully. So why did he suddenly...?

"Ugh... Ah... Guhh...!"

Regardless, he bends down and examines the man's wounds.

I'm bleeding badly, so I'll stop the bleeding with magic for now. I don't mind dying, but I'll do that after I've had some more fun.

His right arm was completely crushed from the elbow down.

It was only natural, seeing as he had been crushed by Berserker's massive body. Not metaphorically, but literally.

"?"

Among the mixture of blood and mangled flesh left in the Berserker's wake, he could see the faint glow of something foreign.

A purple metal object, partially buried in the ground, but not broken. It was...

"『All the signs that should be brokenRule Breaker"!?"

I instinctively jump back.

『All the signs that should be brokenRule Breaker"

The Betrayed Magic Sword, said to have been possessed by the Traitorous Witch, capable of destroying all kinds of contracts.

(Why is something like that here?!)

But wait. Caster's true identity is the traitorous witch Medea. It wouldn't be surprising if her Master possessed her Noble Phantasm.

The question is, why has it come out now?

Observe from a distance.

The magic sword hadn't been broken even after being trampled by Berserker, it was just stained with the man's blood and flesh.

The flesh of what must have been a hand was still clinging to the handle, suggesting that it had not been thrown out in the confusion of the moment, but rather that the man had been holding it in his hand. And the tip of the sword was-

I couldn't help but hold my breath.

There is a small footprint just a few centimeters from the tip of the blade.

It goes without saying. It's mine. Here's what it means.

(Was he almost stabbed?)

I didn't notice at all.

Of course, being stabbed in the leg is no big deal.

For a normal person, this may be a big deal, but I'm a magician. I can heal it right away.

『All the signs that should be brokenRule Breaker"Consider the power of ".

It is a seemingly modest but terrifyingly evil Noble Phantasm that nullifies all magical contracts. If things went wrong, it could have stolen Berserker's control along with his Command Spells.

If that were to happen, I would have no chance of winning against Berserker.

(Did he lose? He was so close... if it weren't for Berserker's quick thinking he would have lost!)

They took advantage of my carelessness.

That's all there is to it, but it can't be helped. Who would have thought that an enemy so weak that they couldn't even scream would fight back? -- Wait, scream?

(I was weakened, right?)

It feels like it takes about an hour.

He continued slicing until the man stopped responding. He grew bored with it and released the restraints, seeking new excitement.

However, this guy "screamed" when Berserker crushed his arm. He shouldn't have had any strength left to do that.

I scan the man's body again, not briefly this time, but as precisely as possible.

"What is this...?!"

He thrusts a knife into the man's back.

"Ugh... that...!"

The reaction was slow. But the power that was supposed to have been lost had returned to that voice. Hearing that, I was certain.

"You're... "killing" your sense of pain, aren't you!?"

The nerves that sense pain themselves have been destroyed. The blocking of pain sensation through magic is just a camouflage to hide that fact.

"...To be precise, they are currently "dying". If they drop to zero, their reaction will slow down."

"can't believe it……!"

At this point, there's no hope of recovery even with magic.

Sensations and emotions exist because they are necessary.

If you don't have it to begin with, it's one thing, but if you lose it, you can't maintain the overall balance, no matter how extra it may seem.

Although blocking it temporarily is one thing, if it is killed completely, eventually all five senses will be dragged down and necrotized.

Does this guy understand that?

If you can't feel pain, you might be able to endure torture.

In this way, he lured the enemy into letting their guard down, waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

(It's all been an act up until now...?)

From the beginning to here. That's one set.strategyTacticsstrategy.

I have goosebumps all over my body.

It would certainly be effective.

In truth, I was just one step away from allowing the other side to turn the tables. If you're going to fight as someone who isn't even a magician, maybe that's the level of resolve you need. It's better than dying, anyway. However--

(But is that really normal?!)

Even though he couldn't feel pain, his other senses were still intact. The discomfort of the torture was something that couldn't be wiped away. Or rather, he was sure he still felt pain, even if it had been reduced.

Even if you do that, there is no guarantee that you will win, and even if you do win, the best that awaits you is a future where you will be left partially paralyzed.

What kind of discipline does it take to choose this path even if you have no other options, and even to come close to success?

It's impossible. It's impossible for a human being. It's like...

"You…monster of reason…!"

Those words slipped out unconsciously.

I approached cautiously, this time with Berserker standing nearby.

I don't think it can get any worse than this, but I can't bring myself to let my guard down any longer.

Walking forward slowly, careful not to touch the blade, he kicked the magic sword away, pushing it far away.

This should be okay for now. Probably. Probably.

I called out to the man who was still lying on the ground.

"Illyasviel von Einzbern."

"……a?"

When I introduced myself, the man replied in surprise. His voice was a little weak, but he still didn't seem weak.

"My name. When asking someone's name, it's polite to give your name first, right? Can you tell me yours?"

"...What's the big deal now?"

"I've become interested in you. If you tell me your name, I won't kill you, okay?"

"...I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. I'd be happy to give my name if it would help me."

"Hikigaya, Hachiman -- Hachiman, right? Hey Hachiman, will you be mine? I'll love you and Shirou, okay?"

"…I suppose an invitation from a beautiful lolita girl is a scenario that any otaku would drool over, but to be honest, I have a bad feeling about this. Unfortunately, I'm a siscon, not a lolicon."

"Are you dissatisfied with me?"

"I'm just an innocent otaku boy. I don't want a bitch who casually announces that she's two-timing."

"...I've always thought this, but calling me Hachiman is rude. I'm older than you, though."

"teeth?"

Seeing Hachiman stunned by my words, I feel a little better. Is this what they call a win in this country?

"Fufu, you finally surprised me, huh? But, I guess you rejected me..."

I suddenly put my hand on Hachiman's back.

"What are you doing...ugh, ahhhhhhh!?"

This time it was a real scream, not an act.

"You... what are you doing...?!"

"It's a technique to temporarily sharpen your senses. It'll probably burn out quickly if you use it on a nerve that's this frayed, but it'll wear out soon anyway, so it doesn't matter, right?"

Hachiman's cheek twitches.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. I made that promise clearly. Do you know? Even if it's just a verbal promise, a contract is absolute for a magician, you know?"

But, he continues.

"That being said, he should pay for humiliating a woman, don't you think?"

"...Please, be gentle..."

Hachiman's face twitches, but he still smiles as he answers.

It was probably just the best he could muster, but I found him incredibly endearing.

The thought that I would be the one to monopolise his final moments before he completely lost his sense of pain made me incredibly excited.

When she thought about it, there had never been anyone of the opposite sex around her until now. Apart from family members like Kiritsugu and Shirou, Hachiman was the first man she had ever come into contact with.

Perhaps this feeling is what first love is like.

With that in mind――――

And again.

A long, long scream echoed through the misty Einzbern Forest.