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  Vol 2 Chapter 37: Rotten Filth

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  “Th-this is the pce, my lords...”

  A man wrung his hands together, his entire demeanor dripping with servility. He groveled in such a pitiable mahat one might mistake him for an i scurrying in fear.

  Upon closer iion, this man bore an uny resembo someone who had once caused trouble iisserie. No ce there- it was, in fact, the same person.

  After Sisi and her panions had goo retrieve Marlyno, Misako had set to work. Employing an illusionary barrier rooted in her unique abilities, she had enshose at the hideout in an eborate trap, rendering them incapacitated within a maze of phantasms. It was during this operation that she stumbled across this particurly impudent man- the very one who had dared to raise his voice against her.

  Their suspis that the string of ret is might be interected had proven correct. What surprised them, however, was that this man wasn’t merely some hapless pauted by higher forces- he was actively plicit.

  A round of questioning, enhanced with some persuasive methods, had brought the full story to light. Evidently, a powerful figure withiown had been covertly providing resources and prote to this operation. The hideout itself existed solely due to that person’s financial bag.

  As for the boratory portion of the operation? That was the work of an individual amed Bze. This was the same deranged figure who had been driven to the brink of madness by Aris’s ability, now reduced to a barely human state. Iingly, the financier behind all this chaos had no knowledge of the boratory’s true purpose.

  Regardless, the financier would not escape unscathed. Retribution was iable, and that recisely why Misako, Aris, and Veridith were now at this opulee.

  Marlyno, Sisi, and Mira had bee behind on purpose. Farkonia had suggested giving them a ce to rest and talk amongst themselves. As for Elyssa and Diana, they had also remained behind, lending Farkonia aid while she delivered an urgent message to the Adventurers’ Guild. Thus, the task had fallen squarely upon the shoulders of this trio.

  “...Uood.”

  While Misako maintained her posure, Aris had spent most of the ret days in a dormant state, her body andeered by Arymm. Having just awakened, Aris was still catg up os. Apart from a particur someone who had brazenly attempted to attack either Arymm or herself, the details of their journey remained hazy to her. Veridith, ever diligent, had been filling in the gaps as they moved.

  “Lead the way,” Misako instructed curtly.

  The man hunched his shoulders even further, resembling a rodent forced to walk upright. He led them through a gaudy yet tasteless mansion- its excessive use of gold making it appear more akin to a child’s crude attempt at building a pa a game.

  “Stht there! This is the domain of- ”

  The guard at the mansion’s door had no time to finish his warning. His head was instantly charred to bed ash and crumbled to the floor.

  The sight sent a shiver through the guide. He silently thanked every god he could think of for his decision to cooperate ahem here.

  Misako and her panions advanced unimpeded through the vulgar corridors. Eventually, they arrived at a door.

  “Allow me,” the man offered hastily, opening it to reveal peared to be a study. But rather than shelves lined with books, the room was cluttered with ostentatious tris and ors.

  “...Looks like he isn’t here,” the man muttered nervously, gng back at Misako. Her expression of growing impatience made him immediately fall to his knees.

  “I’m so sorry! He’s usually here at this hour, admiring his colle. I don’t know why he isn’t- ”

  A series of frantic apologies, punctuated by the sound of his forehead smag the marble floor, filled the air.

  “Enough. Think. Where else might he be?”

  “Er... um... Ah! The basement! He mentioned something about the basement once!”

  He leapt to his feet and scurried ahead, leading them to a far er of the estate where a thick rug cealed a hidden trapdoor.

  “This is it,” he said, trembling as he lifted the rug and revealed the door beh.

  The trapdoor creaked open, revealing a stairway desding into darkness. A foul stench wafted upward, making all of them grimace. It was the unmistakable odor of rot.

  Without hesitation, Misako bound the man in magical restraints and desded the steps alongside her panions.

  ...

  “What is this...”

  The se that greeted them in the basement was nothing short of horrifying. Iron cages filled with creatures of various kinds- monsters aient non-human species alike- lihe room. All were battered and broken, their bodies marred by wounds. Some injuries had festered, spreading iion. Many were unscious, their breaths shallow. Those still awake had no light in their eyes, only a hollow, despairing gaze.

  Misako ched her fists tightly, her rage barely tained. Aris, more perceptive to the emotional toll, shielded Veridith’s eyes from the ghastly sight.

  “That bastard...”

  “Misako.”

  Aris’s calm voice cut through Misako’s seething anger. She poiowards the far end of the room.

  “Over there. I sense a human presence.”

  Misako so attention, and the trio dashed toward the source of the presence.

  They arrived at a rger cage, its door swinging open. Inside, a small child with beast-like ears hung limply against the wall, blood dripping from their many wounds. Before them stood a bloated man, wiping blood from his hands as he muttered disdainfully.

  “Pathetic. Just what I expected from these subhumaures- hmm?”

  The man turned and spotted Misako and her panions. A lecherous gleam flickered in his beady eyes as they roved over the women.

  “New arrivals? How delightful. I don’t recall- ah, never mind! You’ll do quite nicely.”

  Stepping out of the cage, he reached a pudgy hand toward Misako.

  “I’ve decided. I’ll take you to my room, and- AHHH!”

  Before he could finish his sentence, his outstretched hand was severed. The torn flesh was jagged, as though ripped apart rather than ly cut.

  “You... How dare you...!” he bellowed.

  “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?” Misako replied icily, her gaze filled with pt.

  “You filthy- ! Do you know who I am? I am- ”

  “Too muoise.”

  The man never finished his procmation. His jaw and voice box were torn away in a swift, brutal motion- this time by Aris.

  Though her emotions often bordered on apathy, Aris harbored a deep-seated hatred for individuals like him. As a former saint, she had seen her fair share of corrupt nobles and church officials who wielded power as a on to exploit others. The pain they caused had pyed no small part in her fall from grace.

  Thus, her remaining feelings- rare as they were- burned with righteous fury and true justice.

  “Let’s treat the child and the others first,” Misako said after a moment, her voice taut with restraint.

  She paused, gng at the wretched heap of a man writhing silently on the ground.

  “Then we’ll decide what to do with this filth.”