Chapter 10: A Twisted Bargain

The day to meet the Lord finally arrived.

Following the old woman’s instructions, the meeting with the Lord was set for evening.

I stood shivering at the wooden hut’s entrance, wrapped in bandages and clad in an ill-fitting old robe, gazing expectantly into the distance.

To be frank, my emotions were surprisingly complex as I stood once again in the very spot where I had first arrived.

Being with this old witch, Lulu, seemed far more relaxing than facing the Lord.

After all, the Lord of the manor always exuded a serpentine danger, keeping me on edge every single moment.

Yet, I knew I had to return. This world of witches was not where I belonged.

Despite having witnessed legendary magic, at the end of the day, I was destined for a harsh and perilous reality.

“They’re here,” Lulu, the witch, whispered softly to my right.

She was dressed in the same attire she wore that first night, now complemented by a black mask. This, combined with her melodious, oriole-like voice, imbued her with an undeniable aura of witchy mystique.

Following her gaze, I looked into the distance. Sure enough, a faint, orange-red glow became visible amidst the dark trees, slowly drawing closer.

“You detect things so quickly,” I remarked, impressed.

“Hehe, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the organs that fellow will bring me,” her voice brimmed with barely concealed excitement. “They are an indispensable ingredient for my ‘Advancement’…”

‘Advancement’?

What could that possibly be?

I didn’t fully grasp what the old woman meant, but a vague sense of unease settled within me. There was no legitimate ‘Advancement’ that would require such strange and sinister ingredients.

Could it be that her face had become so grotesque precisely because of such a thing?

Tsk, tsk, tsk…

As if sensing my silent disparagement, Lulu shot me a cold glare.

“Don’t think I can’t read your mind. You’re surely thinking that I became this way because of using that very thing, aren’t you?”

“Let me tell you, it’s quite the opposite. I ended up like this precisely because I used animal organs instead of human ones back then.”

“If I had been more inhuman, more twisted, more insane, I could have become far more beautiful and youthful than you are now!”

Lulu’s tone was laced with clear regret and resentment, as if, given another chance, she would show no mercy.

“Actually, I think you’re more twisted than me,” she suddenly said. “When you first arrived, I thoroughly examined your body and discovered that you actually…”

“Stop!”

I abruptly cut her off, my heart pounding like a drum, filled with a trembling fear. My voice echoed with anxiety and unease.

Clearly, I was terrified of what she might say next.

But I was even more afraid of her spreading the information.

“Oh?” Lulu’s voice held a hint of amusement. “What? Is it ‘I had no choice’ again?”

“I… I… I just…”

I didn’t know how to explain myself to her. I couldn’t possibly tell her that I had come from another world, enduring five long years of wandering.

Sleeping rough, utterly alone, a solitary figure wishing for death every day. Then, an opportunity for a complete turnaround appeared before me, with countless others vying for it.

Life’s opportunities are finite; if you don’t seize them, they slip away.

So, I couldn’t let this chance pass. I had no choice…

“I was just too afraid of poverty…”

I spoke this answer softly, my voice barely a whisper, yet I knew the old woman heard me.

Whether this answer satisfied her or not, she didn’t pursue the topic—a topic I deeply disliked.

Lord Axas’s figure finally appeared in the distance. The guard accompanying him wasn’t the same one from last time; this fellow was noticeably taller than the previous coachman.

Both, however, exuded an aura that suggested they could cut someone down at any moment.

“The organs of ten virgins. I know the specific parts you need. Are you satisfied?”

The Lord gestured towards a wooden box held by his guard, revealing bloodied contents within. Even from a distance, I could smell the strong, nauseating stench of blood, making me want to vomit.

“Hehe… they smell fresh. You’ve gone to great lengths.”

Lulu nodded, her voice sounding extremely pleased. She then reached out, pulling me forward a few steps.

We stopped about ten paces away.

“And what I have here… is a woman brimming with charm. Are you satisfied?”

Lulu’s words were directed at me, as I was, at this moment, the object of her transaction with the Lord.

Soon, I felt the Lord’s gaze upon me, incredibly heavy and profound.

“Her face is wrapped in bandages; I can’t see it clearly,” the Lord said, sounding rather displeased.

“Her flesh won’t be fully healed until tomorrow, but I still have a way to show you her true potential…” Lulu patted my back, whispering, “Go closer. Get near him.”

I immediately understood her intention, taking small, hesitant steps until I stood before the Lord.

As I approached, Lord Axas’s previously placid eyes grew solemn. When I was still several steps away, his breathing suddenly became ragged.

Finally, the usually composed old man unexpectedly stepped forward, violently seizing me by the neck and forcefully pulling me right in front of him.

“Ugh—”

Although I knew I didn’t deserve this man’s pity, I never imagined his actions today would be so savage and brutal, treating me like a mere animal.

Suffocation flooded my brain, leaving my body numb and powerless.

How strange…

Even when I was abused before, I never felt like this. My body seems to have become very weak, very troublesome…

“The witch’s power is truly astonishing…”

I suddenly heard Lord Axas’s voice, filled with wonder.

“Even I can hardly restrain myself… Excellent.”

The suffocating pressure on my neck abruptly vanished, and a feeling of rebirth surged through me like a dam breaking.

“Haaah— Haaah—”

I lay on the ground like a discarded rag, desperately gasping for oxygen.

“I’m taking the person. I eagerly await her appearance once her face has healed.”

Lord Axas ordered his guard to hoist me onto his shoulder. After exchanging a few more words with Lulu, he prepared to take me back.

From his tone, it seemed my transformation this time had greatly excited him. Perhaps it would make his plans proceed more smoothly…

I wasn’t particularly happy, but at least I felt a sense of relief. At least this way, he wouldn’t harm that child…

“Wait.”

Lulu suddenly called out, stopping the Lord as he was about to leave. My peripheral vision caught her. She extended her hand slightly towards me, her body leaning forward, an action that made me feel as if she wanted to say something.

But she remained silent for a long time.

Lord Axas seemed to grow impatient, scoffing before quickening his steps, leaving without a moment’s delay.

“If… I mean, if…”

“If even a tenth of the ‘potion’ could lead to ‘Advancement’…”

“Then you… again…”

I don’t recall the rest of her words clearly; the wind through the forest obscured Lulu’s parting message. Moreover, the Lord seemed to realize these words were of no benefit to him and hastened his departure, not lingering for a second.

I watched the old woman’s figure grow smaller and smaller, until she resembled a solitary leaf, slowly sinking into the dark waves of the night. Years later, when I recalled that moment, I vaguely sensed a hint of… anticipation in her voice.