The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 391: The Worst Torture (4)

...He didn't know?

Everyone in the hostage situation was stunned.

Even the hostage, Kirko, and the hostage-taker himself, Sakkuth, couldn't hide their disbelief.

Level 8 prisoner Sakkuth De Leviathan.

It's also a bastard from poisonous Leviathan.

A vicious criminal who nearly caused a terrible pandemic across the Empire.

He was a mastermind whose viciousness was completely uncontrollable, even when he wore the BDISSEM cuffs that bound his mana and physical power.

It's the plague and poison he spreads through sweat, saliva, blood, and even breath.

He was assessed to be as a level 9 prisoner, comparable to other high risk prisoners such as Megidio, Lord Griffin, Aurora, Snow White, and Cinderella.

So much so that some senior guards have even recently suggested that he should have been placed in Level 9.

As a result, he is a burden to the guards, an unwanted and at times, a prisoner who is even avoided to the point of fear.

But to accept a cigarette offered by such a monster and smoke it without question, Is that just a low-level prison guard?

This is exactly what the guards are surprised about.

This is something that would never be possible with ordinary guts.

He has already passed the point of no return. Unless you're desperate to die.

Sakkuth also asked in disbelief.

"...Didn't you know about it?"

"No, I didn't."

Vikir replied, puffing on his cigarette.

It was true that he didn't know, but it certainly wasn't a gamble with his life.

After all, Vikir's body is infused with the poison of Madame Eight Legs, which is capable of consuming all poisons and plagues.

'Madame devours many poisons, and then concentrates them in her poison pouches.'

It doesn't matter what plague you have in your possession.

No matter how vile, no matter how poisonous, no matter how terrifying, the moment it enters Vikir's body, it becomes mere prey for the Madame.

Knowing this, Vikir nonchalantly puts the cigarette in his mouth.

But to the unknowing Sakkuth, he could not fathom the intentions of the lowly guard in front of him.

"I don't know what I'm looking at."

Sakkuth shrugged his shoulders in disbelief.

Then he threw Kirko, who was clutching her throat, into the distance.

... thud!

Kirko spewed blood and sprawled on the floor.

"Kuughh!"

But the moment she hit the ground, she immediately got up, straightened up, and drew her sword.

Any other junior guard would have been stretched out.

'... It's a talent that will serve her well in the future, if she doesn't die in some nameless battle.'

Vikir glanced at Kirko behind her and realised once more that his judgement had been correct.

Then.

"You. You like her that much?"

A voice broke Vikir's from his thoughts.

Vikir turned his head to see what was going on, and Sakkuth was looking down at him in disbelief.

"A man risks his life for a mere slut. Don't you know what it means to be held hostage by me?"

He seemed to understand that Vikir (or, more accurately, the character he was playing) was gambling with his life because of his love for Kirko.

The other guards seem to take a similar view.

"Did Garm like Kirko?"

"You couldn't tell, he was always staring at Kirko whenever he was on duty."

"But even so, isn't that a little reckless?"

"He's a real man. Risking his life for the girl he's in love with."

"What a jerk. He's an idiot. He's just an idiot."

"Look, the look on the high-ranking guards' faces has already changed. It looks like they will push ahead with the suppression."

Hearing the guards' chatter, Sakkuth snorted in response.

"You're a sacrificial lamb, a pawn, a throwaway card. Do you really think those bastards that surround me care about the life of one of the low-ranking guards?"

"...."

"Hmm. Sure. He's probably smoking a cigarette with my blood on it because he's too obsessed with that bitch. Crazy bastard."

Vikir thought for a moment.

'I suppose. If it was Garm, maybe it really was.'

The words in Garm's diary, the love he had for Kirko, the way he'd written about her, would have been enough for him to give his life for Kirko.

But not Vikir.

The reason he came forward was to pursue thorough practical purposes.

"Now, then, let us begin our conversation, and keep your voice down."

"...Was there really something to talk about? not just put on a show for your girl?"

"Shut up and listen."

Vikir was just about to open his mouth.

"Garm!"

Came a voice from behind.

Vikir and Sakkuth turned around, startled, to see Kirko with her sword half drawn.

"Get down!"

At the same time, a slashing blow.

...Flash!

Surprisingly, the aura became denser and more concentrated, almost to the point of being liquid.

Was it an enlightenment in a life-or-death situation?

At the same time, Kirko, whose level had risen to the next level, performed a sword aura.

"Ugh! You stupid bitch!"

Sakkuth was stunned.

Vikir was also quite taken aback by the unexpected turn.

Fortunately, Kirko's surprise attack was stopped by his fellow guards.

The female guards, with whom Kirko had always been friendly, rushed over and grabbed her by the arms and legs.

"Kirko! Are you crazy!?"

"There will only be two hostages!"

"Let's not make Garm's sacrifice in vain!"

The guards, rushing from behind, grabbed the struggling Kirko and dragged her backwards.

It was quite a contrast to when Garm stepped forward and there was no one to stop him.

"Hey, let go of me!"

Kirko looked at Garm, her hands flailing.

His colleague, the man who had stumbled into the limb that should have been her, the man who had risked his life to save hers.

There was nothing but confusion, agitation, and urgency in Kirko's gaze as she looked at Garm.

Then.

"Don't come."

Vikir's words were short.

"...!"

Kirko stopped struggling for a moment and stared blankly.

Vikir drove the wedge in again.

"It's only in the way."

"Ha, but...!"

"Go away. On the contrary, it helps."

A hard line. But the cold attitude had the opposite effect.

Even those who had just condemned Garm's actions as reckless could only admire his determination.

What a dazzling display of sacrifice and determination.

By now, Kirko had grown sullen and quiet, and tension was beginning to return to the siege of the guards.

Even the senior guards began to talk.

"That junior guard, he's got some nerve. Is he risking his life for his motivation?"

"The look in his eyes. It's like I'm seeing the days when I was a junior guard, and even then, it was motivation and love of country."

"It is a great loss to lose a man like that."

"They said his name was Garm. He's been topping the monthly evaluations among the junior guards for few months."

"Let's get to work on saving the hostages as best as possible. First, let's start by secretly approaching the personnel at the rear."

"We've already sent a squadron through the ceiling."

... However.

Vikir himself, who was actually the target of the rescue, didn't seem to pay any attention to his surroundings.

Instead, Vikir simply walked over and stood next to Sakkuth.

He was being held hostage instead, but the atmosphere was somehow different from that of Kirko.

Either way, they were finally alone.

Sakkuth asked Vikir quietly.

"Heh... I'm a little excited to see what kind of conversation we'll have at this point."

"I'm glad we're alone, now let's get to the point."

Vikir said in a voice so low that only Sakkuth could hear it.

"The construction of Level 10 must proceed. When you interfere like this, it slows it down."

"...Is that your point?"

"Yes, indeed. The construction of Level 10 must proceed as scheduled. Your riot has delayed it by a day."

"What do you want me to do, you madman? That's your business, what do I care?"

Sakkuth could not hide his disbelief and anger.

But Vikir remained nonchalant.

Putting a finger to his lips to silence him, Vikir spoke in a smaller, lower voice.

"If construction is delayed, it will be a loss for you as well. The moment the blue sphere in the centre of the Level 10 construction zone explodes is the moment of timing, and the longer the construction is delayed, the longer you have to wait here."

"...Wait? For what? What's timing?"

"What would it be, you stupid?"

When Sakkuth asked in a curious tone, Vikir scolded him briefly as if he was pathetic.

Sakkuth's eyes turned red for a moment.

It was bad enough that he was being psychologically manipulated by a lowly guard, but now he was being called stupid.

That's right, by a 'Stupit Garm'.

Sakkuth was about to explode when he was told off for talking back.

Unbelievable words came out of Vikir's mouth.

"Just in time for the Queen to save you."

It was enough to send a chill down Sakkuth's spine.