Editing Sorcery Hacker:Volume3 Phase01 (section)

=== Option 02: The Combined Royal Family’s Secrets===

Everyone has their secrets.

And organizations grew by obtaining every last one of those secrets.

The Combined Royal Family’s small lakeside castle’s true value was found in its dungeon.

That cold, stone space was somehow different from a natural cave. The magical lights and people’s sweat and breaths may have transformed the unseen smells there.

But this was a nightmarish transformation.

Shadows of death and pain were adorned by metal bars, metal panels, and chains.

In those shadows, a woman in glasses was leaning forward to an unnatural extent and restrained in a thick piece of wood with three holes to hold her neck and wrists.

Her name was Jennifer Evening.

The Academy Towers Student Council Advisor in a tight skirt suit was immobilized like someone awaiting execution by guillotine, but she still moved her eyes behind her glasses to carefully observe even the small finger movements made by the room’s master. Her vision hadn’t been taken with a blindfold or by gouging out her eyes, but not out of kindness. A large mirror was placed in front of her so she could see her own humiliating pose.

She couldn’t imagine what would be done to her next if she displeased the room’s master.

Only sadists enjoyed causing pain. Causing unnecessary pain could actually be detrimental since it could end up killing her before she talked or even numb her sense of pain. No matter how much of a delicacy it was, anyone would get sick of roast beef if they were served it every meal for three days straight.

That was why the pros actually disliked bloodshed. They avoided doing the same thing repeatedly. They always provided new stimuli and never let the fear get old. It was important to maintain an atmosphere much like slowly moving a pin toward an overinflated balloon.

So who was the considerate master of this room?

The person slowly pacing the room between poor Jennifer and the mirror was a young girl. She was a maid with her silver hair worn in ringlets.

“Now, then.”

She was Angela Messenger, the manager of Fermiliquidio, sword of the 5th in line to the throne.

“Tell me everything you know about the Student Council you manage. Do that and I will let you take a more comfortable position. But I will not forgive you no matter what you do.”

“…”

That one statement hinted at both reward and punishment.

Angela’s voice had an unnatural quality, like a flavor that was both salty and sweet.

“There is no need to drag out the cruel whips or candles. Force someone into an unnatural pose and their body will begin to cry out in protest all on its own. I know those indecently lifted hips are approaching their limit. Tell me what I want to know and I will show you some kindness.”

Jennifer was indeed at her limit.

That was a simple fact – no extra theatrics were needed there.

She was being carefully and precisely tormented based on a perfect understanding of the human body’s structure, so this information had been calculated out with greater accuracy than a train schedule.

So Angela didn’t even need to count to three.

“S-Surace Bran Zorca Totalinus. Sex: Female. Age: 17. Position: Student Council Vice President.”

One of the maid’s eyebrows shot up.

This information was not what she could call crucial, but it did suggest a member of the Combined Royal Family was part of this. Depending on how this played out, Angela could be assassinated to cover up that fact.

But she kept going.

Her primary job was to preserve the royal family’s peace. Maybe that very royal family would send an assassin after her, but her own life was secondary.

“Continue.”

“She loves bathing. She is a skilled fighter, but whenever she works up a sweat or messes up her hair, she immediately goes and takes a bath. She often skips an entire hour of her classes for that reason.”

“…”

“Sibell Wildcat. Sex: Female. Age: 15. Position: Secretary. She faithfully obeys any orders or instructions, but she loses interest quickly and wanders off. She likes to nap in the sun, so search the sunny and breezy areas if you want to find her.”

“…”

“Gark Bryan. Sex: Male. Age: 18. Position: Treasurer. That hulk of muscles has a surprising fondness for cute things. And he actually believes he has kept that fact hidden. Hee hee. Even though it’s so obvious.”

This was taking an unusual turn.

Angela briefly wondered if a suggestion had been implanted in the woman’s mind to guide her in this direction, but a closer inspection showed things were even more unusual.

Jennifer Evening had been restrained for a long period with her neck and wrists held by the thick piece of wood and her butt sticking up high to inspire embarrassment. She looked like a dog preparing to mate and a proud person should have found that unforgivable, but her cheeks were flushed and her eyes damp.

There was no doubting it.

She was enjoying this.

Angela found this job unpleasant, but that teacher was breathing heavily.

“Hee hee. Hee hee hee hee hee. I know exactly how to get you to treat me more roughly, so I have calculated out exactly what I must do to earn a reward. Ha ha☆ A reward!? Oh, how indecent of me. But you are the only one in the world willing to insult me and whip me, so this must be a trial of love. I can take anything you throw at me. Now love me so hard it leaves scars!!”

“…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………”

Angela froze, her mouth forming a small triangle.

This was even more messed up than she had feared.

Finally, the young maid cursed the world under her breath.

“This woman has fallen for ''the love story of the criminal and the hostage'', hasn’t she?”

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