Torture.

Chapter4

“Wakey wakey there,” Leo said as he leaned in and lightly slapped Isabella’s face. The impact was enough to pull her out of unconsciousness, and she slowly forced her eyes open, her vision blurry and unfocused. She struggled to process her surroundings before muttering weakly, “W-Where… where am I…?” Her gaze shifted slightly as recognition flickered in her eyes.

 “N… Nolan..?” she whispered in confusion. 

“That’s right…” Leo replied as he stood up straight. “I thought you were a goner…” he added casually. Then, with a faint dark grin forming on his face, he continued, “But since you’re awake… best I help mend your wounds… I mean, you did do that for me.” 

He stepped aside as he spoke, revealing Ralph standing nearby wearing gloves, and in front of him was a table filled with weapons—swords, knives, needles, and more deadly tools laid out in an organized yet disturbing manner.

Isabella’s eyes widened in shock at the sight. She immediately tried to move, but her body was stiffened by the tight ropes binding her completely, preventing even the slightest movement. “Wha… what are you doing?” she asked, her voice shaky with fear. “No… please let me go…” she pleaded. 

“Don’t worry, we will let you leave…” Leo said calmly as he sat down on a rundown chair nearby. The chair released a puff of dust, making him cough slightly. “Darm… rusty things around here,” he muttered before continuing. “But I have a question for you… let’s say we do let you go, don’t you think you will still suffer the same fate?” 

Isabella trembled as she asked again, “Wha… what do you want?”

 Leo crossed his legs and replied simply, “It’s simple… answers. But whether we get them in a nice manner or not is up to you.”

 Without hesitation she answered, “Fine… I will tell you everything.” “Good,” Leo said as he looked at Ralph and gave a nod.

Ralph picked up a hammer and began walking toward her. “Now just for fun… here are the rules,” Leo said calmly. “If I feel like you’re lying, each weapon over there will be used on you. But if you tell the truth, we switch the weapon and ask another question… are you clear?” 

“Just ask already,” Isabella snapped, anger mixing with fear. “Ohh my… now that’s not a nice tone to use,” Leo said lightly.

 “Ralph.” 

Without hesitation, Ralph slammed the hammer onto one of Isabella’s toes, causing a loud, painful crack. 

“Arhhhh!!!” 

Isabella screamed in agony, struggling violently, but the ropes held her tightly in place, preventing any escape. 

Leo remained composed. “Now then… first question… who sent you?” he asked, leaning forward with a sharp, intense expression.

 “I don’t know,” she replied immediately. 

“Wrong answer,” Leo said as he signaled Ralph again.

 Without hesitation, Ralph struck her smallest toe with the hammer, causing another wave of unbearable pain that echoed through the room, frightening even the nearby forest birds into flight.

 “I will ask again…” Leo said as Ralph changed weapons, picking up a fence-cutting tool. “Who sent you?” 

“Like I said…” she gasped through the pain. “I don’t know…” 

“Wrong ans—” 

“WAIT!!” she shouted urgently before he could finish. “I don’t really know… but it was a female! Her face was covered so I couldn’t see her! She said the mission came from the higher thrones… that’s all I know, I swear!”

Ralph turned his gaze toward Leo, who observed Isabella closely, studying her reactions carefully.

 “Fine… I will take that for now,” Leo said calmly. 

“Second question… how did you poison me the second time?”

 Isabella swallowed hard before answering, “The food you ate… it was placed with a last-minute poison active… whoever eats it will survive only a few hours and die as if from natural causes.”

 Leo narrowed his eyes slightly. “I have heard of that kind of poison… it’s called the last-minute kill for a reason,” he said. “But how did you get your hands on it? Only high nobles can access it.” 

“The female… she’s the one who gave it to me as a last resort,” Isabella replied. 

Ralph stood silently, his mind racing with questions. For all the years he had known Nolan, he had always been someone who avoided unnecessary attention, yet now he seemed to understand far more than expected. 

This character… why would someone want Nolan removed this badly? What is it about him that draws so many targets? Ralph thought.

Leo leaned back slightly as his own thoughts deepened. This novel I’ve been sent into isn’t ordinary… it follows a fantasy system, yes, but beneath it is something far darker. Magic is only the surface. Heroes don’t always save people… some destroy them, some go insane, and some end up broken… just like Isabella, he thought. 

“Last question,” he said aloud. “The last-minute poison… why did you stop it from finishing me off?” 

Isabella hesitated before replying, “Personal reasons…” looking away.

 Leo studied her for a moment before speaking again. “Let me guess… you were going to die anyway. When you saw my condition, you thought it was better to let me rest peacefully instead of suffering. And when that failed… you changed your mind. Rather than dying at the hands of the one who you were sent to kill, you’d rather die by the hands of the one who sent you instead, right?” 

Isabella said nothing, only looking away silently.

 “That confirms it…” Leo thought as he stood up. This world is not just a system fantasy… it’s a broken place where despair hides behind every role.

“Ralph… untie her,” Leo commanded with a cold expression. 

“But sir…” Ralph began, but stopped immediately when he met Leo’s eyes. There was a burning resolve inside them that left no room for argument. Without another word, Ralph obeyed and untied her.

 Once freed, Isabella did not move, remaining frozen where she sat. “Why…” she muttered softly. 

Leo looked at her and said,“I know you’ve probably heard this before… ‘be by my side and I will protect you.’ But I won’t say that. Instead, join me. Right now, you have zero chance of surviving alone out there. Lend me your skills, and in return I will lend you the protection you need,” he said as he raised his hand toward her.

Isabella froze, conflicted, her mind racing with thoughts. How can he say that… who is he? Three months ago he was just a depressed noble boy crushed by this world… and now he feels like a completely different person. Should I accept? Will he use me like the others did? What is happening right now…? 

Slowly, her hand moved toward his. Leo watched her carefully as their hands met. 

“Good… with this, we are officially partners,” he said with a faint smile. “Let’s work together to change the game.”

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