Chapter 2 Part 5: A Delusion for the Sake of Delusion

Thwack!

Killian, with a vibrant expression, kicked away the remaining books.

With the supports under my feet collapsing, I lost my footing and was left dangling precariously from the rings on the ceiling, hanging between life and death.

Naturally, I couldn’t hold that position for long.

“Aaah!

Aah!”

The reason I repeatedly strained my arms to pull myself up, trying to avoid the ivory piercing deep inside, was not pleasure but survival instinct.

The instinct that if I collapsed like this, I’d be broken.

“Hngh!”

But the ivory and the display stand were firmly fixed to the floor.

The harder I tried to endure, the more my wildly shaking body changed the angle of penetration.

Unable to adapt, the only thing I could do was—

“Ple, please…….”

Beg the one who had driven me to this state.

“Save me, hnngh…… save me, you f*cking lunatic!”

At some point, I couldn’t tell what he was saying or what I was saying anymore.

Only one thought filled my mind: this insanity had to stop.

And then, once I got down from here, I’d slit that bastard’s throat while he was still gasping and laughing.

“Should I save you?”

Even in the midst of it, those words came down like a lifeline, clear and distinct.

“How can I lower you when you’re thrashing like that?

You have to stay still.”

Stay still…… how could I stay still while floating in the air?

“Relax your body.

Come down slowly.”

With survival instinct overriding defiance, I followed his words as if spellbound and began to relax.

As I slowly released the tension from my overworked, cramping arms, my body gradually lowered.

“Hngh…….”

“As long as you don’t thrash around, you won’t die even if it goes all the way in.

So stay still.”

I curled up and barely caught my breath, which had been on the verge of stopping.

Killian leisurely manipulated the device holding the rings.

I felt the pressure on my wrists lessen—the chains were loosening.

“Ugh, hnn.”

Just as he said.

“Aaahnn, haah…….”

I could see the ivory moving beneath my belly, but I wasn’t dead.

“Hrk…… huk…….”

“It’s smaller than Gideon’s, isn’t it?

Did you see me lying?”

You put two in and you’re whining.

Killian, speaking with a droning sound, removed the rings from my wrists.

Still perched on the now-still apparatus, he lifted me up as if it were nothing—despite looking at least ten centimeters shorter than Rudan, showing no sign of strain.

“I never knew you were such a skilled curser.”

The moment he set me down on the floor, I collapsed.

I couldn’t even move—I didn’t have the energy to care about the saliva dripping from my mouth.

My body, still simmering with stimulation, trembled relentlessly, and every part of me ached as if I’d been beaten.

Crazy bastard.

“Try stretching out.”

“Don’t, touch me.”

“You want your d*ck to necrose?”

“You f*cking—”

Killian, with the expression of a well-fed cat, propped me up and made me lean back against him.

I didn’t have the strength to shake him off, so I let him be.

He nuzzled my nape, trying to do something like aftercare.

“Don’t.”

“You need to soothe me.

Are you going to be that cold?”

I didn’t answer.

I was certain that he, having already been satisfied enough, wouldn’t take away what he’d given me now.

Even when ignored, Killian giggled as if quite pleased and untied the ribbon that had been constricting me.

As the sticky, soaked strip of fabric fell away, the dregs of unspent desire dripped out in small spurts.

“Hoo…….”

Killian was kneading my hand like dough as I took deep breaths.

“What are you doing?”

“Open your hand.”

He placed a bundle of keys into my palm.

“A gift, since it was fun.”

As if you weren’t going to give it to me anyway.

Gift, my ass.

“I’m a busy man, so I need to go now.

Shall I carry you to the bedroom?”

He looked ready to scoop me up and stand the moment I answered.

I knew it would be physically easier to comply, but my returning sanity vehemently rejected his offer.

With a weak push of my arm, Killian readily let me go.

I sprawled back onto the floor.

“No need.

Go do your work.”

“Alright, then.”

Killian accepted the refusal lightly and rose.

So, this was my last meaningless shred of pride.

I’d already suffered humiliation.

Showing weakness and relying on him was another matter entirely.

“Falling asleep there isn’t a good choice.

Someone might come looking for me, you know.”

“Yes.

Thank you for the advice.”

I closed my eyes, listening to the sound of his footsteps receding.

My mood…… was shit.

***

“Come out.”

The little wizard kid was back to the grimy state I’d seen on the day we first met, in just one day.

And for some reason—whether he’d been discriminated against by Killian’s subordinates—he was alone in a separate cell.

“Rudan!”

The moment I opened the door, he came running with teary, glistening eyes, ready to hug me—but I deftly stepped back.

The kid, catching on quickly, let out an awkward laugh and stopped his approach.

This was why I liked him.

“How did you get back yesterday?”

“Those people carried me!”

“So no credit for you.”

“Hehe.”

The masked wizards turned their heads toward me at El’s words.

I couldn’t see their faces, but I could imagine their expressions—looking at me like I was some kind of savior.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the mood to bestow favors today.

“Did you eat?”

“Ugh…….”

“Didn’t even give you food?

No business ethics.”

Leaving the flustered mages behind, I took El’s hand and walked out.

I had no reason to look after someone else’s subordinates—Killian could feed them or not.

The first-floor kitchen always had simple snacks prepared.

With no one guarding it, I grabbed as much as I wanted and sat down.

El, who’d apparently been starving, grabbed a large cream puff and shoved it in his mouth, getting powder all over his face.

“Is it good?”

“Yes!”

Good.

If you’re happy, that’s what matters.

It’d be inconvenient if the little lamb who had to work like an ox for me got discouraged.

While I gulped down cold water to soothe my burning stomach, El finished his share of food neatly and stared at me blankly.

Still hungry?

Growing kid?

“You can have this too.”

“Ah, no.

That’s not it.”

The boy refused the sandwich I pushed toward him and hesitated before speaking.

“Are you okay?”

“About what?”

There was no way the kid who’d been in the basement all day could know what happened upstairs.

Feeling strangely guilty, I answered gruffly, and the boy rolled his eyes.

“Cold sweat…… you keep sweating…….”

“Ah.”

This wasn’t just because of Killian.

Since I woke up after fainting, the nausea that had somewhat subsided had surged back violently.

I couldn’t even properly pick up my clothes, let alone come down, thanks to the draining dry heaving.

Unlike Killian had said, no one had come looking for him—thankfully.

If that were the only problem, I’d be lucky.

But the cramping pain in my stomach kept recurring just when I thought it was over.

I worried something was wrong with the baby, but that didn’t seem to be the case—whether that was a blessing or not, I couldn’t tell.

It was only by pitch-dark night that I finally had the energy to go get the kid.

“I’m fine.

It’ll get better with rest.”

I had no appetite, but the kid was staring at me with a face that looked ready to cry if I so much as touched him, so I forced down some food.

Only after I’d cleaned my plate did El look somewhat relieved.

“I, I know a little healing magic too.

Just tell me whenever you need it.”

“Doesn’t that need ingredients too or something?”

“Hmm…… well, yes, but…….”

El grinned, showing his teeth.

“I can just go out and get them.

I’m not locked up anymore, after all.”

I had nothing to say, since I was the one who’d caused that situation.

“The Tower Lord said he’d get them.

You don’t have money.”

“Even without money, there are ways to get things.”

The boy pouted.

“Besides, do you trust Killian, Rudan?

He still hasn’t brought the things I mentioned last time.

And he even locked me up like this!”

“……You’re right.”

Though there were additional reasons, I agreed.

“Anyway, this is a big problem.

It’s too risky to be apart from you, but if we go together, they’ll put surveillance on us.”

The child’s cheeks were puffed up as he chattered away once the dam broke—he was sulking.

Needless to say, I had no intention of letting this situation continue for long.

“Hold on just a little longer.

We’ll be leaving here soon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

First, I’d squeeze out everything I could and then make a plan.

Facing Killian was unpleasant, but those eyes back then were seriously fixated on something.

If I played him well, I could probably extract whatever information I needed.

If I slipped up, I might end up going through something like today again…… but was that what mattered right now?

Getting out was what mattered now.

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