The screams lasted only a moment.
After Haruki's single move, everything fell into a deathly silence. Within several hundred meters, the ground was littered with mutilated corpses, each one twisted into a grotesque pose.
Gozuki's group and the women beside Haruki stood frozen, stunned by the apocalyptic sight. It took a long time for any of them to snap out of it.
Forget the elite assassination squad who didn't know Haruki's background—even those women who already understood how powerful he was hadn't expected him to wipe out thirty thousand elite soldiers in a single move. The scene had deeply shaken them, but beneath the shock was a fierce pride: the god-like man who caused all this was theirs.
"Huh? Why am I still alive? Taeko, thank goodness, you're okay too!"
That sudden cry of joy snapped Gozuki's group out of their daze.
They turned toward the voice and spotted two girls standing conspicuously on the battlefield—or what was left of it—amid the sea of corpses. Neither had a scratch on them, just standing there all alone.
The voice belonged to Chelsea.
When the countless deadly weapons had rained down from above just moments ago, Chelsea had been so terrified that she didn't even notice dropping the lollipop she was chewing. Despite her exceptional talent in assassination, her physical abilities were always a weakness. She barely knew any combat techniques, so in that instant, she had done what any little girl would do in a crisis: curled up, hands over her head.
Chelsea was naturally cheerful, talkative, and mischievous, with a bit of a devious streak. Realizing that she and Taeko had somehow survived that terrifying assault, she immediately jumped up and patted herself and Taeko all over. Finding that neither of them had a single injury, she burst out cheering.
In contrast to Chelsea's relief, Taeko remained quiet.
For one, she hadn't seen any sign of Babara. Judging from the earlier carnage, Babara had probably ended up like the rest—a pile of flesh. Taeko had always relied heavily on Babara, who had raised her since she was young. Her death hit hard.
And more than that, it was clear their survival wasn't due to luck. That man had deliberately spared them. But Taeko didn't believe for a second that he would just let them go. Now, she was deeply worried about what would come next.
All she could do was laugh at herself. Not long ago, their group had been so confident, boasting that their target couldn't possibly escape. Yet in less than fifteen minutes, the tables had turned completely. Judging by the still-glowing Gate of Babylon in the sky, there wasn't even the slimmest chance of escape left.
Taeko's suspicions were spot on. The only reason she and Chelsea were still alive was because, in that crucial moment, Haruki had deliberately controlled the Gate of Babylon to spare them. Babara, however, hadn't been so lucky. From what Haruki had gathered during their earlier exchange, Babara was nothing more than a two-faced schemer. He'd shown her no mercy—she had been obliterated in that very strike.
Seeing the expression on Taeko's face, Chelsea immediately caught on and slapped her hands over her mouth. Her wide eyes darted around in panic, looking for a way to escape as she muttered under her breath, "Didn't see me, didn't see me..."
Haruki couldn't help but chuckle at Chelsea's antics.
"Hey, you two coming over on your own, or do I need to come get you?"
Haruki's voice broke Chelsea out of her fantasy.
"Uh, Taeko, what do we do? Should we run for it?" she whispered.
Taeko rolled her eyes at the stupid question, pointed up at the Gate of Babylon, and asked, "What do you think?"
Chelsea followed her gaze and looked up at the golden vortex still spinning in the sky, filled with countless gleaming weapons. She glanced back down at the scattered limbs on the ground and shivered, then muttered, "Forget it. Looks like he doesn't plan to kill us. I don't want to end up like the others. Seriously, how can there be a Teigu this insane? Compared to that, mine might as well be trash."
Turning back to look every few steps, Chelsea and Taeko crept toward Haruki at a snail's pace.
"Hurry up, you're so slow."
Haruki had the Danger Beast crouch low to the ground so the two could climb up its front legs and join the group. Then, as if nothing had happened, leaving behind a field of corpses, Haruki resumed his pace, guiding the two Danger Beasts toward the Empire's garrison city.
And now, on the back of the Danger Beast...
"Hey, what exactly are you planning to do with us? If you're going to kill or torture us, just say it already."
Chelsea couldn't hold back anymore, watching Haruki silently scan her up and down without saying a word. But the way her hands were tightly clenched betrayed that her bravado was mostly an act.
As soon as they got on the Danger Beast, Haruki had taken the makeup case Chelsea had been carrying—her Teigu, Phantasmagoria: Gaea Foundation—and casually pointed out that he'd known all along she'd been tailing them using the Teigu.
Chelsea now understood there was no chance of escape. Haruki knew everything about her.
Taeko, who had remained silent since they boarded, perked up and listened closely. After all, what Haruki decided now would determine their fate.
"I've thought it over carefully. There are quite a few ways to deal with you. I could hand you over to one of the Empire's labs as test subjects, give you to Esdeath as toys—she loves torture, after all—or maybe hand you off to some of the more twisted nobles in the Capital. You know how many of those freaks there are…"
Hearing that, Chelsea and Taeko both turned pale. They knew exactly what he meant. If that really happened, death would be far more merciful.
"But honestly, that would be such a waste. You two are rare beauties, after all."
Just when the despair on their faces deepened, Haruki spoke again.
"Yes, yes! That would be too much of a waste. Please, anything but that! We'll do whatever you ask—serve tea, cook, clean—we can do all of it!"
It was like catching a lifeline just before drowning. Chelsea quickly spoke up for both herself and Taeko. She was on the verge of tears, thinking to herself, What kind of person is this? Where's the heroic air of the man who just obliterated an entire army with a snap?
"Alright then, you said it yourselves. I didn't force you."
As if he'd been expecting this answer all along, Haruki responded the moment Chelsea finished speaking.
Before the two could react, two unfamiliar objects appeared in his hands. He flicked them toward their necks. The instant they made contact, the items morphed into black collars with white edges, fastening themselves snugly around their necks.
These were slave collars Haruki had redeemed from the System. Once worn, they couldn't be removed without his permission. Not only that, but the wearers would be physically incapable of disobeying his orders. If either of them tried to act against his interests, their bodies simply wouldn't obey.
After all, Haruki had just killed their mentor. He didn't believe for a second that they would truly let go of their hatred so easily. That's why he planned to bring them back to the Capital and properly train them.
"What the hell is this?! Dammit, take it off!"
Realizing they'd been collared, Chelsea and Taeko immediately started struggling to tear them off.
"Don't waste your energy. These collars are tougher than most Teigu. Without my permission, no one's taking them off. And didn't you just say you'd do anything? What, having second thoughts already?"
Haruki eyed them meaningfully as he spoke.
He had to admit, the collars made them even more alluring.
Chelsea, with her long orange hair cascading down her back, orange eyes, headset, and uniform, now had a subtle, seductive edge added to her usual charm. Taeko, already tall and statuesque—comparable to Cornelia—looked downright dangerous with the collar on, like someone you'd commit a crime for.
Haruki's words immediately silenced the girls who had just been struggling.
Remembering the cruel options he'd listed earlier, both of them shivered. Compared to that, giving in was clearly the better choice.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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