Torture Princess: Fremd Torturchen, Vol. 3

by Keishi Ayasato

  The incoming blow was like an unmitigated natural disaster. Because of that, it would be virtually impossible for humans to stand against it.

  The massive crimson wave came bearing down on them. As it did, Elisabeth shouted:

  “Death Row Cell!”

  Stone walls deployed around them, sealing them in a tiny room with no windows or doors.

  It was a torture device designed to confine prisoners and starve them to death.

  The stone walls saved Kaito and Elisabeth from being engulfed by the meat for a moment. But the resistance the barrier offered proved to be fleeting. There was no way it could withstand a direct hit from a landslide.

  The stone walls crumbled in an instant. But Elisabeth summoned an identical set so quickly that Kaito could barely see her do it. As he stood stupefied, Kaito realized a certain fact.

  Magical techniques are the one thing we have that the baby doesn’t.

  Wielding her magic freely, Elisabeth continued to ward off the deadly external pressure.

  She summoned those stone walls over and over again. It felt like an eternity had passed. Eventually, the flow around them lightened by just a smidge. Picking up on even that tiny change, Elisabeth shouted out.

  “The Boondock Saints! Wicker Man!”

  “Simultaneous summoning? There’s no way.”

  Kaito mumbled quietly. A thunderous noise echoed from outside the walls. Kaito could guess what had happened. The Wicker Man had taken in as much meat as it could, then burned it up. Then the Boondock Saints had carved away at the resulting ash and shoved the room into the opening.

  Each time the giants and the flesh faltered, Elisabeth continued simultaneously summoning them.

  “Elisabeth…”

  “Rgh…”

  Beads of sweat rose up on her forehead. One by one they ran down to her chin.

  Her foe in this desperate battle was nothing more than a colossal mountain of flesh. That was what made it so terrifying.

  Vlad and the Kaiser watched her with interest. Kaito clenched his fists. At the moment, he was powerless. There was nothing he could do but stand amid the thunderous noise and believe in Elisabeth.

  A long, long time passed.

  Then the giant pushed conspicuously hard against the stone wall.

  At that moment, the violent noise and vibration stopped. Elisabeth lowered her outstretched hand and dropped to her knees. As she did, the walls around them began melting like heated toffee.

  The room’s stone floor vanished, and they all tumbled outside.

  The first thing they saw was the gray sky.

  A vast sea of ash and flesh surrounded them.

  If Elisabeth had erred just once, they would have found themselves buried beneath it. They stood still in shock, their vision filled with the bizarre spectacle of raw, piled-up meat as far as the eye could see.

  Eventually, Kaito’s whisper broke the overwhelming silence.

  “Is it…over?”

  In that moment, one chunk of ash-covered flesh violently stirred. Something red came flying out from within.

  Although it had been crushed all over and on the verge of grossly collapsing in on itself, it nevertheless gave a shrill laugh.

  “Hee-hee-hee-hee, ah-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

  Vomiting blood as it moved, the baby leaped at Elisabeth.

  “Elisabeth!”

  Kaito shouted. Still kneeling on the ground, she extended her hand. Then she drew the Executioner’s Sword of Frankenthal from within a vortex of darkness and crimson flower petals.

  Then she sped off like an arrow.

  “Hee-hee-hee-hee, hee-hee-hee-hee, ah-ha-ha-ha!”

  “Just die already.”

  The mad, cackling baby and the Torture Princess clashed.

  Then, for a second, time stood still.

  Kaito swallowed his breath. After a few seconds of silence, the baby’s massive head came tumbling off.

  The baby had consumed the utmost limits of what it could, and the blade had finally pierced it.

  The next moment, as though they’d received some sort of signal, the baby and the mass of flesh vanished.

  Having lost their footing, Kaito and the others were all hurled unceremoniously to the ground. Countless black feathers fluttered into the air before them.

  The feathers filled the sky, as if to convey some sort of blessing.

  Faced with that sublime, beautiful spectacle, Kaito realized something. Something had begun to change within the demon’s world. The rays of sunlight that had been blocked off until then were finally starting to make their way down to the earth.

  Bathed in sunlight, the baby’s corpse transformed into particularly large feathers, which blew away gently in the wind.

  Eventually, the feathers all burst into azure flames and burned away into nothing. Closing his eyes, Kaito whispered as he took it all in.

  “…I guess it’s really over.”

  And with that, the curtain fell on the final battle.

  Kaito looked at his surroundings.

  The demon’s world was collapsing, and Vlad and the Kaiser had vanished.

  Elisabeth collapsed, crashing to her knees atop the ground. Other than the amount of mana she needed to maintain the demonic roots within her body, she was practically running on empty. It would take a good while before she was back to full strength.

  As he gazed at her alarmingly defenseless back, Kaito shifted his expression. With a grim face, he rushed to her side. Kneeling in front of her himself, he called out to her.

  “Elisabeth, let’s make a run for it while we can.”

  “…”

  She didn’t reply. Her face was firmly cast downward, and she didn’t move a muscle. Frantically, Kaito grabbed her hand. Like he had once before, he pleaded with her with the intensity of one taking a vow.

  “When the King hit us with his mental attack, you told me how you really felt. Let’s go together. The three of us can live together again. You finished your job. I’m not gonna leave you on your own!”

  Upon hearing his plea, Elisabeth looked up.

  For a second, she smiled through her tangled black hair. Her crimson eyes were moist, and she was on the verge of saying something. But as though she were waking from a dream, her expression abruptly changed.

  She pursed her lips tightly. Then she roughly brushed Kaito’s hand away.

  Kaito was at a loss for words. She looked at him, then shook her head.

  “I told you once before, Kaito. Return to the castle alone. Then take Hina and flee.”

  “Being alone is lonely! That’s what you told me!”

  “Silence! I swore an oath!”

  Elisabeth practically screamed the words out.

  Her tone was violent, yet the emotions in her voice were completely suppressed.

  “I swore an oath to my people, to the people I tyrannized!”

  At that moment, images of the people the Torture Princess had subjugated flashed through Kaito’s mind. The men, the women, the children, the elderly. Their myriad corpses hadn’t possessed a shred of dignity, and their resentful cries sounded out one by one.

  Loathsome Elisabeth, repulsive Elisabeth, cruel, hideous Elisabeth!

  A curse upon you, a curse upon you, a curse, a curse, an eternal curse upon you, Elisabeth!

  Faced with those screams, she’d sworn an oath. That was what she’d continued living for, shameless as it may have been.

  Kaito knew there was something he ought to say, but he couldn’t for the life of him come up with it. And Elisabeth just kept shaking her head.

  Then she looked at him again.

  The smile that adorned her face was gentle, sincere, and exhausted.

  “Go… Go now… Please go. Flee. Have a family. Cause none to cry on your behalf. And don’t you cry, either. Live a life full of happiness and joy.”

  “Elisabeth…”

  “You need bear no burden. Harming the masses, being hated by the world, and spending your life
burdened by sins is a heavy thing.”

  As she spoke practically in prayer, Elisabeth extended her hands. In a wholly uncharacteristic gesture, she clasped Kaito’s cheeks in her hands, as though she were trying to burn the image of his face into her memory so that she would remember him even if her eyes were gouged out.

  Given that she was about to face an inquisition, there was a chance of that actually happening.

  Then through her gentle gaze, she spoke.

  “’Tis too heavy a burden for you to bear.”

  Her expression was that of someone instructing a child. Seeing this, Kaito understood.

  He had no choice but to understand.

  No matter how much I call out to her here, Elisabeth will never take my hand.

  That was the oath she’d made. That was what she’d promised.

  Even if he brought her by force, she would no doubt return in order to take responsibility for her sins.

  In order to die as the Torture Princess.

  “My beloved Master Kaito, my dear Lady Elisabeth! Where are you?! Are you all riiiight?!”

  Then they heard a voice.

  Somebody was restlessly, desperately running around atop the parched earth. It would appear that Hina had made it out safely. She was sprinting all around but then stopped on a dime once she noticed the two of them.

  Tossing her halberd aside, she rushed up to them like an excited puppy.

  “Oh, oh! Thank goodness! Thank goodness you two are all right! Nothing could bring me greater—”

  “…Hina, let’s go.”

  Kaito cut off her joyful shouts in a low voice.

  Sensing that something was amiss, Hina stopped in her tracks, her smile stiff. She looked back and forth between Kaito and Elisabeth. Leaving the sitting Elisabeth behind, Kaito stood.

  Hina shouted, as though she’d realized what was going on.

  “But Master Kaito, Lady Elisabeth is… Lady Elisabeth? Whatever might be the matter? Shall we depart? I can cook us up a banquet to celebrate the battle’s end! Delicious cooked organs, all the desserts you can eat… So please, Lady Elisabeth, stand up! Lady Elisabeth, I insist!”

  “C’mon. Let’s go.”

  “But we can’t… We mustn’t… I won’t stand for this! I simply won’t! If Lady Elisabeth doesn’t return with us, I—”

  “Let’s go!”

  Embracing Hina’s shoulder, Kaito forced her to start walking. Her emerald eyes warped, as though she were on the verge of tears. Although she was about to continue her plea, Hina suddenly went silent.

  Kaito’s hands were trembling. Realizing that, Hina shook her head and swallowed her impassioned cries.

  With that, Kaito began walking off into the distance. But his footsteps gradually grew slower and slower. Unable to bear it anymore, he stopped in his tracks and turned back toward Elisabeth.

  Her gaze was fixed directly on him. When she murmured, it was with a weak smile on her face.

  “Why is your face contorted so, Kaito? Be glad. You were forcibly resurrected by the Torture Princess, then coerced into fighting demons. But now, your nightmare is finally over.”

  “Lady Elisabeth…”

  “You too, Hina. Shed no tears for me. A smile suits your face far better.”

  “Lady Elisabeth, I… I…”

  “Live strong. And for the rest of your days, may you spend them in happiness.”

  Elisabeth gazed at Hina as though she were a beloved younger sister. Then she looked back toward Kaito. They silently locked eyes with each other.

  Faltering for a moment, Elisabeth shook her head. But then she spoke quietly, the words seeming to fall out of her mouth on their own.

  “I quite enjoyed our date.”

  “Yeah…me too.”

  Those weren’t the words of the Torture Princess nor of his master.

  They were the honest words of Elisabeth Le Fanu.

  On that final note, Kaito snapped his fingers. Azure flower petals and black feathers danced down through the air.

  He and Hina disappeared. Elisabeth was the only one remaining.

  Eventually, she let out a short, deep breath.

  She looked up at the sky with serene eyes. Dazzling sunlight was streaming down from the cracks between the thick gray clouds. She could hear the footsteps of paladins off in the distance. With the noise at her back, she scrunched her face up as though she were about to cry. But then she broke out into a calm smile as she whispered:

  “And my nightmare is finally over as well.”

  And then, with the time she had left to her,

  the Torture Princess wove a gentle lullaby.

  8

  Destiny’s End

  The cell had no windows, causing it to be steeped in constant gloom. Its chilly air called to mind a seabed and carried the scent of mold. If anyone spent too long confined there, the damp and the cold were liable to cause their body to ache and then to vomit up blood.

  Centipedes crawled along the ceiling. Rats scurried in and out of holes in the walls.

  And within that nasty, isolated cell, a single woman lay horizontal on the floor.

  Her face in profile was so beautiful she barely seemed human. Her hair spread on the floor was lustrous and black, her skin was as white as snow, and her lips were so red they seemed to be practically oozing with blood. But due to whatever horrendous crime it was she’d committed, her ravishing limbs were bound in a straitjacket.

  Lying down on the chilly stone floor, she sat motionless.

  She was silent, and her eyes were closed.

  Due to the silence of its sole inhabitant, a deep stillness permeated the cell. But the quiet, which seemed as though it would be endless, was suddenly shattered.

  The door opened.

  In an instant, the room was flooded with light. But a creaking noise rang out, and the room fell into darkness once more.

  The paladin had closed the door behind her.

  The woman’s silver armor paired well with her fine silvery hair and mismatched blue and purple eyes. However, a number of unseemly scars decorated her face, as though it had split from within. In spite of that, though, her gallant, beautiful nature was as refined as could be.

  The paladin looked down at the bound woman. Although she’d no doubt taken notice of her visitor, she remained motionless.

  After waiting a moment, the paladin, Izabella, suddenly spoke.

  “Elisabeth Le Fanu.”

  “Izabella, eh…? I see you survived.”

  “Somehow, yes. Unable to withstand the force of the mana, my whole body tore from within, yet here I stand.”

  “Hmph, so you bear scars… What a fool you are.”

  “I’m much obliged for your concern. But I wear these scars proudly. I have no regrets.”

  “Concern? Hardly… Now, what business do you have?”

  “I came here to meet with you.” Izabella gave her answer.

  When she did, Elisabeth’s mouth snapped shut. It was as though Elisabeth didn’t take a shred of interest in matters regarding herself.

  After wavering for a moment upon seeing Elisabeth’s reaction, Izabella continued in a calm tone.

  “I have something I wish to inform you of.”

  “…What might that be?”

  “Your servant, Kaito Sena, has yet to be located. Your castle was empty before the Church even began their search. He seems to have absconded with a number of your riches and automatons and gone into hiding.”

  “…Have you set pursuers on him?”

  “We have. However, he is contracted to the Kaiser. If he focuses his power solely on escaping, finding him is likely to be difficult.”

  “Mm, I don’t doubt it.”

  Elisabeth’s response was concise. Izabella dutifully responded with a nod. Having finished saying what she’d come to say, Izabella peered around the room restlessly. As soon as she did, though, she suddenly launched into some meaningless small talk.

  “This room is frigid, not to mention d
ark. Hardly what I’d call pleasant conditions.”

  “Given my sins, the fact I was exempted from interrogation and torture alone would easily qualify as special treatment.”

  “Perhaps… Oh, are your restraints getting loose over there?”

  Izabella leaned in. Her tone was clearly forced, almost as though she was trying to get whoever was standing on the other side of the door to hear her. She ran her fingers over the leather belts, none of which were loose in the slightest.

  Then she drew her face close to Elisabeth’s ear.

  “Please stay quiet and listen to me, Elisabeth.”

  “…”

  “Only a handful of people within the Church are responsible for this decision. But I was fortunate enough to be granted an audience with Godot Deus before his disposal, and both of us wish for your continued survival. The fourteen demons may be dead, but mankind’s avarice has no limits. We have no guarantee that another contractor won’t arise. I won’t deny that you have a duty to pay for your sins and that mankind needs a common enemy. But we can’t afford to lose your strength.”

  “…Hmm.”

  “The state is unlikely to overturn their decision saying the Torture Princess being burned at the stake is a necessary symbol. Treason though it may be, if you have any will to commit a jailbreak, I have trusted men who I can set into motion. Elisabeth, have you no desire to escape? You fought so hard.”

  Then Izabella paused.

  After running her fingers across the Torture Princess’s leather restraints one more time, she went on. Her voice was tinged with sadness.

  “You killed many, but you saved many, as well. You are the Torture Princess, but you are also a hero.”

  “…”

  “I feel that it is wrong to disregard that fact. If you have the will to break out of here, simply nod.”

  The paladin whose brother was killed by the Torture Princess urged her on. However, Elisabeth refused to nod. Izabella waited. But after a prolonged silence, she shook her head and stood up.