Punishment

"Make one move, and it's the last thing you'll do," I say, pressing my gun against Sophia's temple. I haven't blown her brains out yet for one simple reason: I need information.

"Please! Don't kill me!" Sophia begs, her face pale, her whole body shaking after seeing me kill the two royal knights. "Please! I didn't have a choice; the king ordered it!"

"Then tell me, why does he want to turn us into sex slaves? What was the auction all about?"

"It-it was an auction for nobles to buy summoned people as slaves! The summoning ritual costs a lot, so they just wanted to make some money back!"

Or in other words, get as much value out of us as possible. It is just as expected. If the royal family couldn't make use of us as heroes, then they would at least sell us for some money instead of just letting us go free. And of course, there is no such thing as a reverse summoning spell. The whole thing was just a cunning plan to gain our trust and, at the same time, make them appear as good, caring people in front of Hiroshi and Takumi's eyes.

"Please…" Sophia continues begging. "Please spare me, I'm just following orders!"

"Tch, honestly," I glare back at her. "Do you really expect no consequences after trying to enslave us? How does that make any sense? But well, since you showed a little bit of remorse, I can make it painless."

There is no reason for me to spare an enemy.

"Wait!!! WAITTT!" Sophia screams. "I-I can guide you out! You need me! I know the layout of this castle, I can help you get past the guards. Just let me live, please!"

"Oh?"

I lower my gun.

Now I consider her words; she really has a point.

I'm not familiar with the layout of this place, and there are so many guards that it would make getting out of here nearly impossible. Well, I alone can do it, but getting Yumi out with me will be ten times more difficult. Thus, having Sophia on my side may be my only chance for both of us to escape this place unscathed.

But should I trust her? A person who minutes ago wanted to put a slave collar on my neck?

At that moment, my gaze lands on the iron collar lying on the ground, and an idea comes to mind.

"All right," I say, pointing my other gun at the collar. "First, explain how this thing works."

"Wha... what do you intend to do with that?" Sophia stammers, probably having figured out what I was trying to do.

"You're questioning me? Want a hole in your head?"

"No! I'm sorry!" Sophia hastily replies. "That's a slave collar," she begins. "When it's placed around someone's neck, it suppresses their will, rendering them obedient to the commands of their master. You only need to place blood from both the master and the slave onto the collar…"

Given that the collar is already stained with both our blood, what to do next is clear.

"Wear it," I order..

"You… can't be serious…" Sophia's voice is barely audible, thick with disbelief.

"What? So it's okay for you people to put that on me, but it cannot be the other way around?"

My patience is wearing thin. I pressed the gun more insistently against her temple, commanding coldly.

"Wear it! Now!"

"Aaa! Alright! Please, just don't kill me!"

Without any other choice, Sophia picks up and holds the collar in her hands, the cold metal reflecting the dim light in the room.

"You …are right…" she murmured. "Maybe… I deserve this…"

And then, taking a final deep breath, she clasps the collar around her neck.

Click.

In an instant, some information about Sophia is sent to my brain, as if she and I are now somehow connected.

"Wait, your name is not Sophia, but Rosaria Valeraine?"

"Yes… Rosaria is my real name…"

Other than that, she is currently twenty-five years old and has a Heroic Rank blood talent. She has a great affinity with water-type magic, but for some reason, is now practicing illusion type. 

"So, the master can compel the slave to do anything?" I ask.

"Yes…" Sophia replies.

But can I really trust this thing? That's the big question. I need to see evidence of how the slave contract worked. After all, I only trust my eyes, not some random magic that I'm seeing for the first time.

Thus, I level my gun at the wall, ensuring Sophia's attention.

"Watch carefully, this is how you use this weapon."

Bang!

I shoot. The bullet makes a serious hole.

"Now, take this gun and shoot yourself in the head."

That's my first order. The collar glows at my command.

"AAaarrrggh!" Sophia screams. "Whyyy! Whyyyy?"

She's clearly resisting, but as the slave contract takes effect, her hand reaches for my gun. Immediately, she points the gun at her own head.

"Please, master, please!" Sophia screams and begs, tears bursting out of her eyes. "Cancel your order, please!"

A torrent of emotions is also rampaging through into my mind, as she and I are now connected. As a side effect of the slave pact, I can now feel what she's feeling. Thus, I sense her intense fear, her disbelief, and the huge resentment she has towards me. It almost makes me hate myself for doing this.

But still, I just watch the scene with cold eyes. There are two things that I'm wanting to confirm. One, is it ever possible for the slave to disobey the master, such as when the master wants them to commit suicide? And two, is there any restriction to the command I can give?

"AAAAA! FUCK YOUUU!!!" 

Sophia pulls the trigger.

Click!

Inside the gun, there is no bullet.