“What did you just say?”

I had no choice but to ask again, despite having heard her clearly. Lena spat out another curse without a flicker of hesitation.

“The fuck are you staring at.”

“Were you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?”

Her tone was razor-sharp, utterly devoid of the melancholy she’d shown moments ago. She’d had her irritable moments before, but this was the first time she’d displayed such naked aggression. 

I was too taken aback to even muster anger. Meanwhile, Lena dragged her unsteady legs forward, walking ahead on her own.

“Let’s just hurry up. We’ve got pointless work to do.”

“Watch your mouth, Lena. If someone hears that kind of thing…”

“Watch my mouth? Did I say something wrong?”

“Lena!”

I raised my voice, then nervously checked our surroundings. Fortunately, there was no movement from the door, and the pig was staring blankly at the wall like an idiot. 

In the end, losing my temper here would only backfire on me. I swallowed down the rising irritation and nodded.

“Let’s save the rest for later. Don’t make a scene here.”

“Whatever.”

“…Lena.”

Even so, Lena kept grating on my nerves to the very end. Acting purely on impulse without even a shred of rationality, she was no different from the other animals roaming this place. The fact that I alone had to maintain my composure in this situation felt deeply unfair.

…

A whore whose only talent is offering her body.

I had no choice but to repeat the unspeakable words silently in my head.

But that didn’t bring any relief. Only petty street thugs derived satisfaction from such things. Besides, I didn’t want to waste my time with Lena like this. The window I’d been given to make use of her was narrow, and it wasn’t an opportunity that came around every day. Just yesterday, I’d had to work alone because they were busy using her.

It was a truly fucked-up reality, but I still needed her.

I eventually set off toward the Student Council Room with reluctant steps. Walking a path I had no desire to tread, alongside two people I couldn’t stand, was pure drudgery. 

…

Come to think of it, sneaking into the building with Lope in the dead of night had been easier on the mind.

Though it was far too late for regrets now.

“Haa…”

I glanced back and saw Lena leaning against the wall, breathing heavily. She hadn’t even walked that far, yet her legs were trembling like a newborn foal’s—a truly pathetic sight. 

“Hurry up and follow. We don’t have time.”

“…I said I got it. Roselia.”

She shot me another sharp glare at my words. This coming from someone who couldn’t even lift her head properly in front of Duke. What a joke.

Disgusted by the sight, I lowered my gaze and noticed something pooled on the floor. Looking closer, a viscous liquid was dripping in a trail along the path Lena had walked. A thin shadow stretched out, as though someone had dragged a large mop across the floor.

Whatever that was, would it continue like this the whole way? A fairy tale I’d heard long ago suddenly came to mind—the story of a brother and sister who walked through a forest scattering breadcrumbs before being set upon by a wicked witch. Or was it a different story? Either way, Lena’s appearance was exactly like that.

And ahead of her walked the fool who had slit open the goose’s belly. That was how we crawled toward the forest of depravity, scattering self-mockery and hatred for others along the way.

“Alright. Get to work, ladies. I’ll just be watching from here.”

The moment we arrived at the Student Council Room, the pig cracked what he apparently considered a joke. I had no idea where he’d picked up such mannerisms, but that seemed to be his sole entertainment for the day. I nodded along halfheartedly to humor him.

“Right. Thanks as always.”

“No need for thanks. It’s my job, after all.”

Job, he says. Watching us while scratching his crotch and falling back asleep? Sure enough, the moment we took our positions, he slumped against the sofa. He was already blinking heavily, well on his way to passing out.

Of course, him sleeping was a hundred times better than watching him do something else bizarre. I was grateful for that much as I spoke in a low voice.

“Then let’s get started, Lena.”

“What. More pointless bullshit?”

“…At least we figured out what caused it.”

“That it’s completely trashed from the inside out? Yeah. What a fucking amazing discovery.”

Lena now sneered as naturally as breathing. She carried herself as though grating on my nerves was her life’s purpose. I met her eyes anyway, even knowing I’d only be met with the same wretched face.

Looking at her face this closely, there were fewer changes than I’d expected. That had been the most surprising thing when I’d seen her for the first time in a while a few days ago, trailing after Duke. Aside from her exhaustion-hollowed eyes and the dark bruises along her cheekbones, she looked almost exactly as she had before.

The real changes in her were the parts you couldn’t see. Her personality, her way of speaking, her attitude. She now had a constant stream of profanity on her lips and maintained a uniformly pessimistic demeanor—not many people would look at her and recall the former top student of the Academy, Miss Lena.

Or had she simply revealed her true colors? That suspicion crossed my mind now. Perhaps I’d been blind to her essence, blinded by her hollow reputation. 

…

In any case, seeing her legs trembling like that since earlier, it seemed there were more violently changed parts among the ones invisible to the eye.

“What are you staring at. It’s annoying.”

“It’s nothing.”

Lena snapped at me again sharply. Thinking about it, that wasn’t aggression so much as defensiveness. And that was a textbook symptom of a broken person. Under normal circumstances, she was the type I wouldn’t associate with at all, but I still needed her.

It was also true that she was the only one I could make use of. And so I attempted the bare minimum of conversation to calm her down. 

“Lena. Do you really have to be so hostile? It’s not going to do you any good.”

“What about you? Do you really have to do this pointless bullshit? When it’s completely useless.”

“I said watch your mouth. It’s not like we’re the only ones here.”

“Are other people blind? One look and anyone would know.”

“Please. Even if it’s hard, just bear with it a little longer, Lena. A way out will present itself soon.”

“Hah…”

Lena let out a hollow laugh. Then she fiddled with the broken components and spoke.

“Talking about a way out. You’re still spouting that bullshit.”

“I said lower your voice. And why do you keep picking fights like this? There’s nothing to gain from it.”

“Because it’s pathetic watching you bluff when you’ve already shown your empty hand.”

“Watch your mouth.”

I tried to hold back until the end, but today Lena was particularly vicious. On top of that, the accumulated stress of the past days exploded, and an edged voice slipped out before I could stop it.

“I have a limit to my patience too. I already have enough problems to worry about besides you. If you keep acting like this, I can’t help you, Lena.”

“Help. Who’s helping who here.”

“You’re the one who came to me begging to be saved in the first place.”

“Don’t bullshit me. You’re fucked now too.”

With a vulgar curse, Lena hurled the component she’d been holding to the floor. In that moment, even knowing I shouldn’t, I cried out in alarm.

“Lena!”

“Do you think I’m deaf? I heard everything about what happened that day. Even Duke doesn’t seem so fond of you anymore. And more importantly, with the communication equipment in this state, how exactly are you going to save me?”

“The equipment is broken, but I did get a response saying an escape vessel is coming. You can trust that much at least.”

“Based on what? And even if one does come, is there any proof I’ll be able to board it?”

“I told you. I decided I’d take you with me no matter what.”

“I don’t know. I don’t believe that at all.”

She no longer even made the minimal effort to lower her voice. If anything, she seemed to want everyone to hear. 

“At first, I did believe you’d help me. But well. That trust has been shattered to pieces now.”

“Lena. I know how hard this is for you.”

“No. You don’t.”

“Fine. I don’t. But I do know that you’re suffering. Living under Duke’s gang and being toyed with can’t be easy. But you know. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, Roselia. My trust broke when you came to find me a few days ago.”

Suddenly, a murderous intent beyond coldness flickered in Lena’s eyes. She stared straight at me with sunken eyes and spoke.

“Fuck. Yes. Until recently, I at least had a thread of hope. She must have some kind of plan. She must have a reason for all this. That’s what I told myself as I endured and held on. But what was the result?”

“Lena.”

“Before that, I searched and searched and you wouldn’t even answer. Then you suddenly show up out of nowhere and tell me to fix that wrecked equipment. Seeing that, what exactly am I supposed to expect? And it wasn’t even Duke who broke it—it was Lope who did it?”

“I can explain.”

“Explain, fuck. I know everything that happened. You dumped the troublesome Duke on me and flailed around trying to survive on your own, but unluckily got caught by Lope and got your ass handed to you. Right? That’s when I finally realized. I’m nothing but a meat shield to you.”

“That’s not what happened, Lena.”

“Don’t bullshit me, fuck!”

Lena finally screamed at me. The pig, who’d been sleeping on the sofa, startled awake and stood up. But she didn’t even glance his way and continued raising her voice.

“Miss Lena this, Miss Lena that. What have you ever done for me? I trusted you and tried to follow along, and what was the result? From the very first day, I was stripped naked in front of men I’d never seen before and beaten half to death! And then? What happened after that?”

“That…”

“You said you’d save me. That I’d be safe as long as I stayed with you! One by one the promises broke, and now I can’t believe a single word you’ve said. Not a single one!”

“Lena. Stop. This is your last warning.”

“Fuck off! Warning? Who the hell are you to warn me? You don’t have shit either. The chosen one who’ll survive this apocalypse? Don’t make me laugh. Where’s the proof? You’re really just another useless bitch who’s all talk!”

“That doesn’t make it my fault that you acted like an idiot in front of Duke!”

With the situation spiraling this far out of control, I couldn’t hold back anymore either. The last restraint snapped, and the fury that had been building in my head exploded. Meanwhile, the pig, apparently frightened by the situation, edged toward the door.

“The more I listen, the more you’re trying to blame everything on me. So what exactly are you so great at? What have you ever done? Comfortably chanting large-scale magic in the Annex while others offered their bodies? Then when I came to find you, you begged like a dog, pleading for me to save you?”

“Bullshit. You’re the one who begged me to come, you stupid bitch.”

“Why would I beg you for anything? You’re a worthless parasite who can’t do a single thing! Fine. Maybe back then I was fooled by that top-student facade. But now I know. You’re nothing but trash rolling in the gutter, just like every other idiot.”

“How very grateful. So you finally recognize my true worth. Why don’t you take a look in the mirror then? You’ve been trash and a parasite since our Academy days. Caking makeup over your shitty face and flirting with men while tormenting people like Lope. Isn’t that the kind of idiot you were?”

“Say something like that one more time and I’ll sew your mouth shut, Lena. I mean it.”

“Try it, fucker. Go ahead and try!”

“You worthless rag of a bitch!”

Unable to contain my rage, I grabbed Lena by the collar. For the first time, she flinched and pulled at her clothes.

“Let go! Let go of me!”

“Isn’t this what you wanted? Otherwise why do you keep pushing my buttons? Do you have some kind of disease where you can’t help yourself? Is that why you acted up with Duke too?”

“You fucking bitch…!”

“No? You just wanted to offer your body to that bastard, right? That’s it, isn’t it? Because you were a fucking rag of a bitch from the start! That’s why Lope dumped you too. It makes sense now. Why he came all the way here and never once looked for you. He knew, didn’t he? Right?”

“Don’t talk about…”

“Then you should have at least done that well. If that’s your talent, you should have offered your body well to Lope or Duke! If you’d just handled yourself properly, it wouldn’t have come to this. If you’d just done that!”

“Please stop talking about that!”

Bang!

“…!!!”

At that moment, the door shook violently and a loud crack echoed through the room. Lena and I both jumped and turned our gaze toward it simultaneously.

…

Thud. Thud. Thud.

And then, heavy footsteps approached. The moment Lena heard them, her legs began to tremble violently and her arms went limp. 

“Ah… Ah…”

“…”

“N… No… No…”

“…Damn it.”

“Roselia…”

Lena suddenly called my name in a pitiful voice. Tears were already streaming down her face.

“You fucking bitch…”

“Lena.”

“If you really want to help me…”

“…”

“Then help me now, for fuck’s sake…”

“Lena. Roselia. I’m coming in.”

“Ah…!”

She let out one last hollow breath. At the same time, the door opened and several men stepped inside. And at the center of them stood the owner of those heavy footsteps.

“…Wow. You two really are fighting.”

“…”

“I thought you’d done something stupid. Got me a little worried.”

“I told you it’s true.”

“I thought you two were close. Guess not.”

Duke spoke to the pig from earlier with what seemed like genuine surprise. Then he turned his head toward me.

“I told you to fix that thing. How are you going to fight while doing it? What, you don’t think you can?”

“It… It’s not that, Lena was…”

“What. It’s Lena’s fault again? Is that right, Lena?”

“…”

When I instinctively shifted the blame, Lena trembled all over and hung her head. Every trace of her earlier defiance had already evaporated.

“Do I really have to mediate? Huh. This is kind of like being a teacher. A bit funny.”

“No need to mediate, Duke. We can handle it ourselves…”

“And I heard everything you were saying outside earlier, Roselia. There was one thing you got wrong. I really wanted to point that out.”

“Hm?”

Cold sweat trickled through my hair. What had I said earlier? I’d been so angry I’d just been running my mouth. What did this stupid mouth of mine say? The escape vessel? Lope? Or—could it have been about the Land of Elves too?

I stood there racking my brain frantically. But Duke said something I never expected.

“Lena isn’t a rag. She’s the purest virgin in this world.”

“What…?”

What was this suddenly? Some kind of bizarre joke? I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Duke shrugged and walked toward me. Then he tossed a single word to the men standing beside him.

“Tie her up.”

“No!”

Lena’s scream tore through the air. She thrashed wildly, trying to escape, but the men moved faster. They casually stripped off her skirt and bound her legs tightly with a mop handle they’d brought with them.

“No! Please! Please, Duke!”

“So noisy. Anyone watching would think I’m doing something terrible.”

“I was wrong… I was wrong, I admit it. So please…!”

“It’s not like it’s the first time. Just spread your legs. Ah, they’re already spread.”

The men pinned Lena’s thrashing upper body onto the desk. And behind her, Duke was slowly approaching. The entire process was sickeningly natural, as though it were something they’d done countless times before.

And in his hand, he carried some kind of sack. Unable to even imagine what was inside, I stood rooted to the spot. Duke glanced at me and smirked.

“Just watch. I won’t lay a finger on you.”

An empty promise scattered into the void. And in the next moment, what emerged from his hand was an empty syringe, as hollow as Lena’s eyes.