Chapter 149: The Perpetrator’s Punishment and the Victim’s Crime (2)

The limbs bound by chains were bent in three, four places on both arms and both legs.

There were no nails on those fingers.

Burns and traces of being whipped all over her body, and further needles, or rather thick iron skewers, were still stabbed in.

From her crotch a liquid mixed red and white dripped, and the clitoris above that looked connected by a single layer of skin.

The breasts that should have been voluptuous had only a reddish-black scar on the right as if cut off, and the left was swollen the opposite way.

The nipple that should have been at the peak had only a scar remaining.

The face that should have been regular like an elf was also swollen, and the eyes barely visible were cloudy white as if blinded.

In the mouth half open from swollen cheeks the white teeth that should have been there could not be seen.

This... can only be called truly horrible.

The chest rising and falling slightly meant Yanica was alive.

Without minding the feces and urine at Yanica’s feet Rosina and Sheena attached themselves to Yanica and began chanting magic.

I also for the time being rushed to Yanica and tried to take off the chains binding her wrists.

"Not yet! If you take them off now she will go mad from the pain!"

Rosina interrupted the magic and cautioned me.

What I can do is...

I put my hand on Yanica’s face and put in magic.

The swelling receded and it returned to a refined brown face.

"No... nooo... forgive me already..."

Yanica pleaded with me while shedding tears.

I further put my hand on Yanica’s body and put in magic.

"That’s right, that way is faster."

Muttering that Rosina had Sheena withdraw.

Yanica’s chest, crotch, limbs, body returned to original.

"Aaaah!! ...Hiiii!! ...Kaaaaah!!"

Each time Yanica trembled her body.

When I healed everything I took off the leather belts of the limbs binding Yanica’s both arms.

Yanica who collapsed onto the floor covered in feces and urine was looking at empty space without shedding tears.

When I knelt in front of Yanica I put the mantle I had been wrapping on Yanica’s shoulders.

When I stood up Sophia knelt in front of Yanica in my place and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hein, what is this?"

I turned back to Hein and questioned Hein in a strong tone that was not honorifics.

Beside me Rosina and Sheena were also looking at Hein with accusing eyes.

"This is... certainly my responsibility."

Hein said that as if groaning with a tragic face, putting a hand to his mouth.

He kept his mouth shut like that.

"Ueeee!!"

Then he went to the corner of the room, put a hand on the wall, and vomited.

Seeing that I looked at Rosina and Rosina shook her head as if fed up.

"Anyway let’s leave here."

Saying that this would not become a talk as is, Rosina proposed.

...

"So the interrogators ran wild."

I confirmed with Hein.

This was the soldiers’ duty room above the prison where we were made to wait.

I was interrogating Hein.

Here it was just the two of us.

Rosina and Sheena seemed busy so I had them return to work.

I had Sophia take Yanica and return first.

The soldiers who were here together with the soldiers who were below would be cleaning the room where Yanica was tortured and inside the cells.

And according to Hein’s talk, the Hansen interrogator who saw Yanica’s face carried out excessive torture on Yanica as if she were an enemy.

The men who had gone mad in the cells seemed to be those interrogators.

"What about Hein’s subordinate?"

"...He was apparently from Hansen."

He volunteered himself for interrogation, a job people normally dislike, they say.

Because no one else wanted to do it they decided on that man, apparently.

"So that man is also in that cell."

One of the three men in the cell is Hein’s subordinate, they say.

"...Haa."

"I’m truly sorry."

Hein still with a pale face bowed his head while sitting.

Well, certainly if they are Hansen residents who had such a horrible experience, seeing Yanica who is their enemy they might do something like that.

Thinking that, I who readily consented am not without fault either.

"...However Yanica should still have been dressed as a man then..."

"Apparently any dark elf was fine."

"...Haa. Don’t they notice they’re doing the same thing as those guys."

Is it fine because it’s revenge, or the spirit of an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.

"I’m truly sorry."

He stood and bowed his head again.

"No, then I’m equally guilty. Hein-san is also busy."

Because he was busy he left it to a subordinate.

The subordinate had information he himself did not know.

Then I am the same.

I am the one who left Yanica with Hein, and if you trace it back Rina’s matter is like that.

Besides Yanica was an enemy, and there is Yuki and Rina’s matter.

That I abandoned the role of giving Yanica punishment is a large cause.

I cannot blame Hein who did it in my place.

"If you say that it helps."

Hein wore a bitter smile.

That face was still pale.

Apparently the cause is separate from Yanica’s matter.

"...You seem to be having a hard time."

"Building is several times harder than destroying."

That’s right.

Rosina also seems to be having a hard time, and Helene goes without saying.

Am I the only one free.

"So did you learn anything?"

I asked the original purpose of leaving Yanica.

Hein slowly shook his head.

"I’m sorry. Even though it became like this there were no results at all."

"Well, it can’t be helped."

With the interrogators like that.

"I’ll also try asking various things."

That should have been faster.

I reflect that I troubled Hein’s hands and used wasted time.

"Please."

Whether noticing that or not, or perhaps his character even if he noticed, Hein bowed his head.

"Yes. Then I’ll take my leave."

I heard the reason, and I thought it questionable to detain Hein forever, so I decided to take my leave.

"I’ll return as well."

Hein also seemed to return.

Though unlike me going home he would return to work.

"What will you do with those guys?"

While standing and walking toward the duty room entrance I asked Hein walking beside me the same way.

Those guys are of course Hein’s subordinates and the interrogators put in the cells.

"For now we’ll keep them here. This is not the time for that. Then."

Muttering that there were no hands at all he walked toward the castle.

I also started walking toward my house.

Meanwhile I thought alone.

Wasn’t it a good punishment for Yanica.

She did that much to Yuki.

If you go by the logic of an eye for an eye... that is.

Thinking that way I cannot help also thinking I did something bad to Hein’s subordinates.

Because they tortured Yanica and went mad.

...Nn?

Why did they go mad?

...

"I’m ho...me...?"

Without an answer to the question I arrived at the house.

"Ueen, enen, uwaan"

When I opened the door and tried to enter the house someone’s crying voice could be heard.

In the wide entrance that could be called a lobby the Dules were gathered.

"What’s wrong?"