Ascalon and the Ice Queen - Part 4

----[Elise's perspective]

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[The psychostimulant has been synthesised. The body has been cleansed and the sleeping pill has been removed]

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Just coming to my senses, that message attacked my head.

I'm still a bit drowsy.... What the fuck did they inject me with...? My head is spinning round and round...

-Oh, you're awake again. Don't even try to free yourself, those chains nullify all your powers.

The one speaking to me is a man, elegantly dressed. Coat, waistcoat, tie, shoes and dress trousers. He has everything it takes to look like a businessman from my world.

That look... that face... I think I'm hallucinating a little bit, but I think I've seen this image before...

In my half-sleepy mind, I can barely articulate the only word I associate with a figure like this.

-Sen... sei...? -. Without meaning to, I blurt out the word in Japanese.

-Mm? How do you know that word?

The man reacts to my tone of voice. It seems I was right... I shake my head from side to side in an attempt to shake off the sleep... and only then, I speak slowly.

-Yasunari-sensei. Is that you? -. I ask without hesitation now.

The image of this man looks distorted... no, in fact, it is so distant from the figure I have etched in my memory that it appears to me as a completely and utterly different entity.

Pointy ears and dark eyes. But otherwise, he is the same Yasunari Hideaki I know.

-Hey, how do you know me?! Who are you?!

Sensei's reaction is just what I would have in his position. I find it unbelievable that the coincidences lie to this extent.

But... it's strange...

Is this even possible?

-I was your student. I'm Saeko. Nishimiya Saeko, can't you see it on my face?

Sensei froze in place, regaining her composure in the situation. Though now her face shows a little more confusion than before. I look past him, and spot the cat girl who distracted me before I fainted.

Oh, she might be helpful.

-Ask your kitty to use [Valuation] on me, and you'll see that I'm not lying about anything I say.

Sensei reacts, and signals his partner behind him to do as I suggested.

I could feel his gaze the instant she activated her [Valuation]. It seems I didn't make a hasty judgement in assuming she had such an ability.

-Vampire girl speaks the truth...

-Let go of the chains! As soon as he receives confirmation from the cat girl, Sensei gives the order to other subordinates who seemed to be behind me just in case something happens.

They approach me, and as they remove the chains, I slowly regain my strength. That rubbish is too broken, I find it curious how such an object as such chains exist.

Oh, but of course it's not going to stay that way.

Having my speed and strength back, I quickly grab Sensei by his shirt and creating a pistol, I point it point blank at his chin.

-Boss...! -. The cat girl tries to jump to Sensei's aid.

But I don't care, and independent of her leap for help, I just kick the chair Sensei was on to keep her at bay.

-Wait Nishimiya, listen to me...! You don't have to do this!

-Why don't I have to? You had me drugged and brought to who knows where, those simple actions are enough for me to rip the lid off your skull. I must say, you've become bolder than I remember, Yasunari-sensei.

-Let me speak, please! We didn't kidnap you for mere trivia, we need your help!

-Are those your last words...?

-No, Nishimiya please calm down! You'll get in big trouble if you murder me, just listen to me!

-Ohh? Big trouble? With who?

-With my boss! The head of the rebellion! You don't want to get hurt, do you?!

From his impatience, you can tell that the person he's talking about is a very strong individual. But I'm still angry at Sensei for what he did...

I could really kill him.

I've killed for a lot less, I wouldn't have to stop right now... Right?

But...

-He's the one who sent them after me?

-Yes! We can't do anything without your help, please!

Ohhh. So nothing, uh.

-Get him.

-Huh? -Yeah.

-Bring your boss in. I want to talk to him.

-No! He's gonna be mad if I call him about something like this! Come on, let's settle things in a civilised manner.

-There's nothing civilised about it since I was kidnapped. No! Come on, hurry up. Or...

I change targets, without letting go of Sensei.

This time I point towards the cat girl who has remained a bystander in all this. And I whisper to Yasunari-sensei in his ear in a low but violent tone...

-Or the only thing you're going to pick up from this girl is her ears, so go and get your boss before things get too hot in here.

Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, Yasunari-sensei's knees give way. And he stumbles.

The cat girl rushes to his aid, but I don't care about that anymore.

-Call the boss! -. Shouts the cat girl to the other two in this room, who run with everything they have to call this so-called boss.

I take my seat again. And as the others return, I continue talking to Yasunari-sensei.

-You don't mind if I kill the one who's coming, do you? -. I speak as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

To which Sensei replies:

-Since when did you become so cruel, Nishimiya! I don't remember you being such a person!

Ugh, his shrill voice has me a bit fed up, but I have to put up with it anyway. I'm actually a bit annoyed that she calls me 'Nishimiya', since I'm not Saeko. But it's best if I just tolerate it with my mouth shut.

-This world made me become this way. Well, more specifically this dungeon. Did you hear about the person who defeated the boss of the floor below this one?

-Ah, yes. Somehow someone killed to the mastodon of Drïmur, I'm surprised to hear...

-I did that. With my fists.

Now there is an expression of disbelief on the cat girl's face.

Well, it's to be expected that they won't believe me if I don't give them reliable proof of it. I open my inventory and pull out the warhammer belonging to the orc. They both now have the same shocked expression on their faces, their eyes widening and their mouths gaping like saucers. They are completely stupefied by the weapon in front of them.

-Do you believe me now? -. I ask to return their disbelief.

They turn to look at each other, then drop their shoulders after their shock has worn off. So, I return the hammer to my inventory.

-Well. Believe me or not, I was the one who killed Drïmur... I didn't want to do it, but I had no choice.

-I believe you! -. Sensei says.

-I believe you too! -. Reaffirms the cat girl.

Uh, it's quite out of place to call them that...

-Hm... I was thinking maybe I should introduce myself again. Kidnappers, I'm Elise, simply Elise, and I'm a vampire. I don't want to be referred to by any name other than that. So, I would like to know, what are your names?

Now more confused than before, but willing to continue the conversation, they both mutter at different volumes:

-My name is Seth, I'm a dark elf... -. Yasunari-sensei... no, Seth-sensei says with an embarrassed tone.

Don't worry, I was ashamed of my new name at first too.

And the cat girl mutters even lower:

-My name is Catalina, and I am a hybrid between human and cat woman... -. I guess the embarrassing part is that she's not purebred.

Although...

-Are there humans in the dungeon? Because it seems very strange to me, it sounds like a continuity error.

-A continuity error of what...? Well... it doesn't matter. The thing is, my parents are hybrids too, and that's been going on for generations in my family.

-Oh, so you're basically the lowest in the bloodline.

-You could say that...

Mm...

In any case, I suppose you must have some clichéd motive for joining the forces of revolution. This is lighting a spark in my heart. And I want it to rub off on her for some strange reason.

I stand up again, and putting on a dramatic expression, I ask:

-What are your motivations for turning against Orphelia? Tell me.

I don't want to raise high expectations or give her wings. I mainly want to focus on having second thoughts when it comes to fighting. That way there will be a reward over and above deathmatch.

For that reason, I wouldn't be left with a vacuum. I wouldn't have fun killing Orphelia either. I would simply kill her.

Catherine takes her time to think... but with a determined look, she fixes her gaze on my eyes and shouts eloquently:

-I want to have the rights that weren't given to me! Orphelia swears that her city is free and peaceful, but the reality is that everyone blatantly judges you for not being purebred! Nobody here cares about you if you're like me, and I'm sick of all these injustices because I can't live in peace because of them!

-Have they ever hurt you?

-Of course they have, they're all so brutish and savage, I don't understand how they can say they're sapient monsters by the way they act!

I understand.

She's not being encouraged to behave like this, I can tell just by looking at her [Status]. She's behaving this way because she's someone who Orphelia let it pass her by. Seth-sensei and everyone here is probably going through the same thing.

If there is no equal treatment among the same citizens, there is no way this can be a stable society.

I don't know if this decision is going to be the right one, but...

I bend down, so that I can look her in the eye, face to face, and say the following while keeping my serious countenance:

-I want you to believe in me. All who are equal to you will get what they deserve equally.

-How do you plan to do that?

-Well...

Interrupting my words, the sound of someone pounding wildly on the door after opening it covered our ears.

-Seth, Catalina, what's wrong?!

A small smile breaks out on my face. And sooner rather than later, I move my body towards this new target and breaking through any kind of physical barrier by enhancing my attack with [Steel Claws], I pierce through his chest with a single blow and rip out his heart only with my right hand.

The leader of this rebellion died just like that.

Everyone froze in surprise, and before they could turn against me, I activate [Slayer] to overpower them.

I took my hand off the chest of the [Beastmen], who by the way, was a lion. And I drop his heart on the floor.

His corpse just collapses. That shows how insignificant he is. Then, I start licking my hand which is soaked in that red, slimy blood.

-This is what I mean... he couldn't withstand a single attack from me, and you thought he was going to give you the victory? Pathetic! Follow me instead. I promise to be a proper queen to you all, [Demi-Humans].

-Queen...? -. Catalina murmurs, doubtful.

And I reply:

-That's right. I will be at least temporarily. Come with me, Catalina. I want you to give me a little tour of these facilities.

-Oh, yes, I'm coming, Miss...!

I hope what I have in mind goes well. And that way I can make Catalina the one who takes the throne after dismissing Orphelia. I'm going to take the time to form her character and let her know that she's right for the role.

-Wait, I'm coming with you too! -. Seth-sensei ran after us to catch up.

I can see that I recorded my idea correctly. They would never have been able to do anything with such a rubbish boss.

There will be those who oppose the new administration, I'll just cut off their heads and that's it.

I also need to think of a way to take Olivia's suggestion away... I guess I'll think of something in the moment.

For now, I guess I'm going to plan how to get into the castle in the first place. Oh, and also...

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[The skill "Stats Share" has been purchased for 2000 Skill Points]

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I had to occupy them with something. So I can make sure that those who serve me are more useful.