Tilea's Worries

My head is clear.  

I feel incredible. The fog has lifted, and I finally see everything with clarity.  

Why didn’t I notice before?  

I have this power within me.  

It’s always been there.  

Yet, I never realized it.  

Not just me—this is a power no one would ever notice, a skill humankind left behind in ancient times.

The right configuration of circuits can change everything.  

I am no longer just myself.  

Now, unleash the full extent of the profound power imprinted in my mind!  

Max output of accelerated thought mode!  

Engage parallel strategy and logic thinking modes!  

Analysis!

I accelerate my brain’s processing.  

First, let’s assess the situation.

Body damage rate: 17%.  

Right hand… second and fourth knuckles missing.  

Left hand… left wrist gone. Left upper arm muscle torn.  

Right leg… ankle severed, femur fractured, calf torn.  

Left leg… first, second, and third toes missing; fourth toe lacerated.  

Chest… fracture on third rib.  

Other incomplete fractures… around ten locations.  

The right leg is severely damaged.

At this rate, walking will be difficult. Blood loss stands at 14 milliliters per second, and one-sixth of my blood is already gone.  

A pool of blood has formed on the ground.  

Time until death by blood loss: 14 hours, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds.  

Something must be done—or rather, Ebeanz is preventing death by blood loss.

He’s likely refined his technique over time, becoming skilled in extending his tortures. He applies herbs and potions to pull me back from the brink of death.  

Better than some doctors.  

…So blood loss is not a concern.  

The lingering pain, however, is.

The pain is steadily increasing, rising by about seven microsensations per minute. At this rate, I’ll die of shock in 7 hours, 35 minutes, and 32 seconds.

Analyzing pain sources…

Major pain signals from all limbs confirmed.  

Right hand: 13.6%.  

Left hand: 24.7%.  

Right leg: 35.7%.  

Left leg: 10.3%.  

Chest: 3.2%.

Most of the pain is from my right leg.  

The pain spreads throughout my body.  

At this rate… but of course, Ebeanz knows this.  

Suddenly, the pain subsides slightly, just below the threshold of madness.  

My heart rate drops from 250 to 150… stable.  

He’ll likely increase the pain again once my heart rate reaches 100.  

He’s set this as a cycle, trapping his victims in an unending torment.  

For now, I can tolerate it.  

Though it’s mildly inconvenient. I’ll disable my pain receptors.

I cut off the pain receptors and look at Ebeanz.  

Ebeanz continues his work, occasionally saying, “Guess what this is?” and waving something severed in front of me.  

He’s trying to frighten me.  

Childish.  

A rotten brat, trapped in a grown man’s body.  

I can’t waste any more time on this scum.  

Let’s end this quickly.

First, I’ll disable the magic seal in the room.  

Decoding the spell…

I analyze the spell cast over the room and begin breaking it down.  

Magic seal involved…

Sezon-type… irrelevant.  

Mesot-type… irrelevant.  

Evayer-type… irrelevant.  

Xenon-type… relevant.  

…

Now, the year it was developed…

Year 794… irrelevant.  

Year 371… irrelevant.  

Year 223… irrelevant.  

Year 114… relevant.  

…

Magical power: over 5,300 watts.  

…  

Mana composition…  

…  

…  

Decoding complete in 67 minutes, 35.32 seconds.  

Hmm… doable, but time-consuming.  

Manual decoding would take too long.  

Aborting analysis.

Searching alternate routes…

Deterioration over time.  

Third-party interference.  

Physical destruction of the magic array.  

…  

None has a success rate above a few percent within the time frame.

Highest chance of success:  

Deactivation by Ebeanz himself.  

Success probability: 85%.

Gathering information on Ebeanz…  

Commencing profiling!

Based on prior conversations, actions, gestures, and thought patterns, conducting a multifaceted analysis.  

Pathological lack of empathy.  

Antisocial personality disorder.  

Total absence of empathy.  

Borderline personality disorder.  

Hedonistic.  

Violent impulse syndrome.  

Supremacist.  

Complete egotist.

Conclusion: appealing to emotion is futile.  

Ebeanz is cold, ruthless, and egocentric, with no compassion, remorse, or regard for societal norms. He takes whatever he wants, indifferent to consequences.

Should I appeal to his interests?  

Not enough time. He’s deeply invested in the benefits he receives from Elizabeth. To tempt him, I’d need an offer greater than what she provides.

Then…  

I open my eyes, focusing on Ebeanz’s face.

“So, how does it feel not being able to fight back? Pretty awful, huh? I’m loving this.”

“…”

“Don’t be so hopeless. Relax, the Vincent bloodline will live on—I’ll make sure of that.”

“Heh.”

“What? Finally losing it?”

“No, I just find it amusing. Strong bloodline? You keep boasting about strength, but tell me, what’s so strong about you?”

“Oh, still talking big? Keep it up! It only gets me more excited. Let’s see, the balance is off here. Ha, maybe I’ll even it out a bit.”

Ebeanz chuckles, lifting and lowering his cleaver, pretending to frighten me.

“Pathetic. You use this barrier to suppress my magic, taking away my power to scare me. What, you can’t handle women unless you strip away their strength first? Really, it’s pathetic. Can’t even approach without breaking their limbs first? The street thugs are braver than you. Are you really that afraid of women?”

“Miless, that’s a bad move. Provoking me won’t end well. It’ll only bring more pain.”

“Oh, did I hit a nerve? You’re a bundle of insecurities, trying so hard to seem strong. What a sad, fragile man. You’re done as a man, aren’t you?”

“I misjudged you, Miless. You’re more entertaining than I thought.”

“Save the laughs. You’re not a predator; you’re prey. Oh, don’t believe me? How about we have a duel? I’ll even let you drop the barrier and let’s see who’s stronger. But you won’t, will you? You’re too weak.”

“Heh, there’s always one. Someone like you always tries provoking me, thinking it’ll work. You’re trying to get me to release the magic seal, aren’t you? It’s useless.”

“Oh, there you go, making excuses. Afraid of getting exposed for the weakling you are? I’d crush you with my magic; I’d love to see that. But no, you have to disable me to feel powerful. Some guard you are—must be all connections. No need to answer; I already know.”

“Ha.”

“What? That laugh is so annoying! Trying to act big? Oh please. Every woman can see through you. We all know you’re just a small, insecure weakling. I’ll say it plainly: you’ve never been popular with women in your entire life.”

For the first time, Ebeanz’s smile faded.  

His face twitches, a vein pulsing at his temple.  

I’ve provoked his anger.

“Alright then. Poor provocation, but I’ll take the bait. Just another smug magic student thinking she can win with spells? Thinking she’d win if I hadn’t sealed her magic? You’re in for a rude awakening. I’ll teach you the difference in our levels—and then I’ll make you suffer endlessly.”

Psychological manipulation succeeded.  

As expected. According to my profile, Ebeanz has a deep envy of the powerful. His insecurities and complex regarding strength run deep.

Some people can overcome the barriers, but not Ebeanz. His unquenchable desire and twisted mind… These form the root of his sadistic nature. His behavior stems from his weakness.

Spurred by my taunts, Ebeanz mutters an incantation.  

In that moment—  

The anti-magic barrier in the room dissipates.  

The air feels clear again.  

I can summon it.  

I release my magic.

“Go ahead, Miless, cast your spell. Show me this powerful magic you’re so proud of. I’ll even let you go first. Consider it a handicap.”

“A handicap? After all this torture? What a joke. Do you even know what pride is? No, clearly you don’t. Let me spell it out—P-R-I-D-E.”

“Well, well, you’re the first to make me this angry. A first in my history of torture.”

“Sigh… this whole thing makes me feel like I’m stooping to your level. Enough chatter. Let’s end this quickly.”

“Yeah, yeah, I see that confident look now that you’ve got your magic back. I’ll make sure to wipe that smug expression off your face with despair. Go on, take your shot!”

“Alright, alright. Give me a moment to stand up.”

“Hah, that’s right. I took your right leg and left wrist, didn’t I? Must be tough, trying to get back on your feet. Sorry about that. I turned them into little bits for the rats.”

*Sigh.* I don’t need any more pointless exchanges with this scum.

I gather my magic.  

Focus. Deeper and deeper.  

Until the darkness of Favuta is unleashed.

My sharpened focus forges my magic to unprecedented refinement. Suddenly, a message appears in my mind:  

**[The Staff of Darkness is ready to be summoned. Summon?]**  

I select “Yes.”

A staff appears in my hand, about 60 to 70 centimeters long. It’s a sleek black cane with a dark, ominous aura surrounding it. Just looking at it sends chills down my spine.

“What!? A conjuration spell!? And a rare artifact, no less! I didn’t know you could do that!”

“You’re quick to react,” I say, rising steadily to my feet, holding the staff in both hands.

“What the… what’s with those pitch-black limbs!?”

Ebeanz’s eyes widen in shock. My severed arms and legs have been replaced by limbs of pure black flame.  

These are my “Dark Hands” and “Dark Feet.”  

The result of activating dark magic.

I twirl the staff, summoning a magic circle.  

“W-what are you—ahhh! Why is my left hand glowing!?”

“Hehe, why indeed?”

“Now that I think about it, something feels off. You were terrified at first. Why are you so calm now? You’re like a different person… who even are you?”

“You’d better worry more about yourself,” I reply, pointing to his left hand.

“Gahh! W-why is my hand… moving like that!?”

The flesh of Ebeanz’s left wrist ripples and convulses.  

“Oops. I may have already set things in motion.”

“What did you do to me!?” Ebeanz roars and lunges at me.  

Too slow.

I aim the staff at him, and begin the incantation.  

*Eye for an eye…*  

*Tooth for a tooth…*  

*Hand for a hand…*  

*Foot for a foot…*  

*Burning for burning…*  

And finally…  

*Life for a life.*

“Let me return the favor for your torture.”

“Th-that means—ughyaaahhh! M-my hand! My hand is…!”

Ebeanz’s left hand is sliced in the exact same places he cut mine, with every severed piece sucked into the void of Avalon.  

This is a reflection curse, one of the first keys of dark magic. It returns any injury inflicted upon the caster. Not only pain and wounds—loss itself is reflected.  

In exchange for his suffering, my left hand is restored.

“Gaaah! It hurts… it hurts so much!”

Ebeanz clutches his left hand, writhing and screaming on the floor.

“Oh, that reminds me…”

“Hahh… hahh… it hurts, it hurts so bad!”

“Listen while you’re suffering, will you? Earlier, you kept asking, ‘What’s this?’ and shoving bits of me in my face. I ignored it at the time, but ignoring you was wrong. Here’s your answer: it’s your left hand.”

“M-my left hand? Aaaaah! Why is it all shredded and disappearing into nothing!?”

Ebeanz shrieks hysterically as his left hand crumbles into dust. As his left hand disappears, mine fully regenerates.  

It’s now as pristine as it was before the torture began, even erasing the old scars.  

I flex my hand experimentally. There’s a slight numbness—the new flesh and nerves haven’t quite synced, but it should settle in with use.

Now, for the right leg.  

I activate the reflection curse again.

“Nooo! Now my leg—aaah!”

Blood spurts from Ebeanz’s right leg as he collapses, writhing and convulsing in agony. The pieces of flesh are absorbed into Avalon.  

Sensation returns to my right leg.  

I tap my toes on the ground; a bit of stiffness, perhaps needing a stretch.  

But that can wait.

Now, the right hand.  

“Nooo! S-stop!”

And finally, the left leg.  

“W-wait, please! It hurts so much!”

As Ebeanz shrieks in agony, each of my wounds heals. Finally…  

“Back to normal.”

I stretch both arms above my head, letting out a satisfied sigh.  

I still feel a little stiff.  

I bend and twist my body, loosening up with some stretches.

*One, two… one, two…*  

Ebeanz lies on the floor, drooling as he watches. I stabilized his mind midway to prevent him from dying of shock, applied healing, and stopped the bleeding. I couldn’t let him die before the process was complete.

Now that my injuries are fully healed, it seems the time has come.

“Hah… hah… hah… W-what are you? How can a human use dark magic? That’s impossible!”

“I should be asking you—why can’t you? The darkness is right there for the taking.”

“You… you monster!”

Ebeanz shouts, struggling to his feet as he tries to make a run for it.

“Wow, you’re still able to move in that state?”

Despite his injuries, he rises, favoring his right leg. I stabilized his mind enough to give him a degree of strength. Perhaps I was a bit too lenient?  

But it doesn’t matter now—there’s no need to hold back.

I advance toward him.

“Stay back!” Ebeanz stumbles backward, his face twisted in fear.

“Pleading for your life is pointless. Though I’m sure you already know that.”

“Hah… hah… p-please, wait…”

“I won’t.”

As he backs away, I close the distance between us, maintaining the pressure.

“W-wait, please. I… I have something to tell you.”

“I’m not listening.”

“N-no, it’s… it’s about Elizabeth, your friend—”

Friend?  

A lie, obviously.  

But if there’s even the smallest chance that someone’s life is on the line…

“I know your type. This is likely a bluff, but… I’ll give you ten extra seconds. Lucky you.”

“Thank you! It’s… it’s…”

“Yes?”

“It’s this!”

As he shouts, the room is suddenly filled with another anti-magic barrier.

“Hah, I caught you off guard. Yeah, you got it. There’s no information. That was just to buy time. I’ve reactivated the barrier, and I won’t be deactivating it this time. Now, I’ll make you pay back that humiliation a hundredfold. I’m a man who holds grudges.”

“Hmph.”

“Wh-what’s with that attitude? Be afraid! You can’t use magic anymore! The tables have turned! Now, beg for mercy!”

“Disable.”

With a single word, the anti-magic barrier deactivates once more.

“I-it can’t be! How did you do that!? Only Elizabeth and I know the deactivation key!”

Ebeanz’s eyes bulge in disbelief.

“You’re really not that smart, are you? I watched you disable it earlier.”

“So what!? That doesn’t explain how you did it!”

“That’s where you’re wrong. When you activated the spell, you didn’t apply any security measures. The spell’s workings were practically broadcasted.”

“S-security? What does that even mean?”

“If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. Not my problem, and I certainly don’t owe you an explanation.”

“This… this can’t be… you’re just a magic student. No way someone at your level could do this.”

“I already told you—I’m nothing special. You’re just weak. Now, enough of this charade.”

I point the tip of my staff at Ebeanz.

“W-wait! Please, wait! I was wrong!”

“…Pleading is useless.”

“P-please! Just listen. I admit it, I got carried away. Hah… hah… I’ll even join you. I’ll help you kill Elizabeth!”

“No thanks. I don’t need trash.”

“W-wait, I have money! I know where Elizabeth keeps her hidden funds!”

“Not interested.”

“H-how about information, then? I know what Elizabeth is planning. I’ll tell you!”

Planning something?  

It doesn’t matter; she’ll be dead soon.  

Unless she’s already hired someone for a job…

I’ll listen, just in case.

“Continue.”

“Oh, you’ll hear me out? So you realize the value of the information I possess. But I’ll only tell you if you promise to spare me. Once I escape, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Heh. I’m supposed to believe you’ll talk after you’re out of reach?”

“Of course. I know you’re nothing but a pathetic scumbag. But I’ll believe one thing—Elizabeth really is planning something.”

“Heh heh, that so? Then let me show you some proof first. The horrifying plan of Elizabeth’s!”

With that, Ebeanz moved toward a large cupboard in the room.

“Oh, what are you scheming now? This is tiresome. I’ll just get the information directly from Elizabeth myself. You can die here.”

“Whoa, slow down! Don’t get so hasty. The plans are right here in this cupboard. I’ll show you, just wait a sec.”

His sleazy grin says it all. So, what kind of pitiful trick is he planning?

*Analyze.*  

*Target: Cupboard.*  

Hmm? There’s something inside!  

Composition…  

Moisture: 753 millisieverts.  

Protein: 54 oxons.  

Lipids: 7 million units.  

Mineral content: 3 million units.  

Sugars: 1 million units.  

…  

…  

…

This is…  

“Ebeanz, don’t move.” I aim my staff at him again.

“H-hey, what’s wrong? I’m just grabbing the papers. Elizabeth’s plan, remember?”

“I’ve had enough of your lies. There are no documents in there.”

“I’m telling the truth!”

“No, all that’s in there… is a human.”

“Whoa! H-how’d you know? Are you superhuman or something? Spot on.”

“That’s it. I’ve heard enough. Time for you to die.”

“Wait! You’re right. It’s a person. A person I’m currently in the middle of torturing.”

“Shut that mouth of yours.”

“Come on, just look! If you don’t, this poor thing will die.”

Reluctantly, I lower the staff a little.  

Ebeanz grins and pulls out a young girl from the cupboard.

Horrific…  

She stands there like a lifeless ghost.  

She’s breathing, barely alive.

*Analyze.*  

*Target: Girl.*  

Damage level: 85.72%.  

Wounds, fractures, breaks, disfigurement… there’s not an unscathed inch on her body.

“Disgusting. You’d better be prepared for what’s coming.”

“Hold it right there. Move one step, and I’ll kill her.”

“Huh? And why should I care about some girl I don’t know?”

“Oh, I see how it is. You’ve certainly changed, but I think I’ve still got a handle on your personality. Sure, you don’t know her, but you’re not about to abandon this pitiful girl. Am I wrong?”

“…Seems you know me well enough.”

“Heh heh. Then, put the staff down, face to the ground. Move even a bit, and she’s dead.”

I don’t move.  

“Get on with it! You know I won’t hesitate.”

Ebeanz tightens his grip on the girl’s neck, ready to strangle her.  

I toss the staff to the floor.

“Good. Now, down on the floor. And I’m going to hit you with a magic shot—don’t even think about defending yourself.”

“Hmph.”

“W-what’s with that attitude? Move even a little, and she’s dead!”

“But if you kill her, you’ll die too. Is that really what you want?”

“D-dammit!”

Enraged, Ebeanz throws the girl at me.  

As I move to catch her, he fires off multiple magic shots at us, aiming to hit me while I shield her.

How pathetic.  

I hide the girl behind me and block the incoming shots with my arms crossed. A dull thud resonates as I absorb the impact.

While I hold the defensive stance, Ebeanz unlocks the door and tries to escape, dragging his crippled right leg but moving swiftly.

Persistent, aren’t you?  

But you won’t get away.

I cast dark magic at his shadow as he runs, a high-speed black arrow that pierces it in an instant.

“Gah! W-what? I… I can’t move!”

“That’s right. I’ve pinned your shadow to the ground.”

“Y-you’ve got to be kidding me! Is there anything you can’t do?!”

Ebeanz flails and curses.

“Let’s get this over with. First, I’ll heal the girl.”

“W-wait, you can’t mean…”

“Oh, yes. Every bruise, every fracture, every last bit of her suffering—I’ll transfer it to you.”

“No way! S-stop!”

Ebeanz cries out, spittle flying as tears stream down his face. It’s futile. His shadow is pinned, leaving him unable to move.

I retrieve my staff from the floor, raising it high.

*Eye for an eye…*  

*Tooth for a tooth…*  

*Hand for a hand…*  

*Foot for a foot…*  

*Burning for burning…*  

And finally…  

*Life for life.*

All of the girl’s torture, returned to Ebeanz.

“Dark Magic: Pain Reflection!”

Ebeanz’s screams echo through the room as the agony that was inflicted on the girl courses through his body.

Gradually…  

The girl’s injuries fade away.  

Her eyes flutter open, and she becomes aware of her surroundings.

“Aaaaahhhh!”  

She begins to cry, the suppressed emotions finally breaking free.

“Noooo! Stop, please stop!”

She sobs and screams, shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s alright now.”

I gently stroke her head.

“The nightmare is over. I’ll make sure it ends for good.”

I lower my staff and activate it.

≪Memory Erasure≫  

≪Mental Stabilization≫  

≪Calming Therapy≫  

≪Nutritional Infusion≫  

≪Sleep Aid≫

I cast each spell on the girl in turn, bringing warmth and life back to her face.  

Color returns to her once-pale cheeks.

“That’s right, good girl. It’s all over now. This was just a bad dream, one you can leave behind.”

“M-mama… I’m… sleepy…”

I pull her close and cradle her gently. She drifts off, breathing softly in her sleep.

I lay her on a bed and turn back to Ebeanz.

“H-hah. W-wait. P-please, it hurts so much! Give me a chance!”

“I’m sure it does. And I’m still dulling the pain. I can’t let you die until she’s fully healed.”

“Hah… hah… I was wrong, I admit it. Please, show mercy.”

“I won’t. Not for someone who sacrificed all these innocent people, even a young girl.”

“N-no, please. Kids just annoy me. It’s my nature. Call it an illness, something I can’t help. Please, forgive me.”

“I’ve been kind enough to reduce your pain to allow this conversation, but it’s over now. Prepare yourself to feel everything at full force.”

“W-wait, what do you mean? You’re done, right?”

“No. Dark magic doesn’t just target the living—it works on the dead as well. There’s more than just this girl’s pain, isn’t there?”

I glance at the corpses floating in the filthy water.

“N-no, don’t tell me…”

“Ah, you’re sharp for once.”

I spin my staff clockwise twice, summoning the dark aura of all the tormented souls in this chamber.

I dedicate this pain and suffering to the dark god Tirefar, for all those who seek peace…  

And judgment for their tormentor…

Bound by this contract, Miless will act.

“Prepare for judgment, Ebeanz.”

I point my staff at him.

“W-wait, don’t! No, this can’t happen!”

“Supreme Dark Magic… Ultimate Equivalent Exchange!”

“Gyaaah! It hurts! This isn’t equivalent at all! It huuuurts!”

Hundreds? Perhaps thousands of tortured souls pour their pain into Ebeanz.  

His body twists and contorts, crushed under the weight of suffering from every direction.

“I’m breaking! This is insane!”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you pass out. I’ll heal you just enough so you can bear the pain again and again, adding more with each cycle.”

“N-nooo!”

His vile screams fill the room.

*Screams… music?*  

No.  

It’s just noise. Unpleasant noise.

“P-please, I beg you… I… Elizabeth, it was mostly her! She ordered me!”

Ebeanz’s voice slurs as he stammers his plea.

This place, this torture chamber, is the work of Ebeanz and Elizabeth.  

Perhaps he’s right.

“You know, you’re not entirely wrong. It wasn’t just your doing.”

“Th-then, th—”  

“Here. Write it down.”

“W-write… what?”

“Oh, come on. Write in this notebook. Which pain belongs to you, and which to Elizabeth. You’re good at taking notes, right?”

“Aahhh… I can’t… hold… a pen!”

“Oh, you can’t write? Well, maybe you’re just choosing not to. How noble, willing to bear your master’s sins as well.”

“Aaaahhh! No, no… that’s not…”

Ebeanz’s pitiful wails echo through the dungeon as I ascend the stairs, carrying the peacefully sleeping girl.

Next up is the real trash, Elizabeth.