Previously: Liz infiltrated the mansion of the ruler, Zenos, pretending to have collapsed, but she ended up as the subject of Lily’s medical examination.
“–Men… Where are the men…?”
Liz, still lying on the bed in the clinic, sweat beading on her forehead with her eyes closed.
She had been thoroughly examined by the elf girl, touched all over, and even had her eyelids forced open and a light shone into them.
“–Wh-what is this mansion…?”
She had planned to use her succubus blood to enthrall any male guards who appeared, but no men were showing up.
“Hmm, the pupillary reflex seems fine… After that, um, what should I do again…?”
The elf girl looked down at Liz and muttered to herself.
“Ah, that’s right! Zenos said that when someone is unconscious, I should check their level of consciousness…!”
There was a rustling sound as she prepared something.
“To assess the degree of coma, I should try applying pain… R-right… Okay… So, first, I’ll crush her nails—”
“W-w-w-wait, wait, wait, wait!”
“Eh, did you wake up?”
“S-snore…”
“Huh, are you asleep? Was it just Lily’s imagination…?”
“–Th-this is bad… This place is dangerous.”
Sweat trickled down Liz’s temple. The ruler’s mansion was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
Perhaps it had been a bit hasty to come alone. After all, the young elf girl, who seemed like a mere caretaker, was calmly acting like a torturer.
This place was a lawless zone, even worse than the depths of the underground guild.
A paradise for the abnormal.
It was to be expected of someone who had unified the chaotic slums.
“–I-it might be bad if I don’t wake up soon…”
At this rate, she didn’t know what they would do to her. Honestly, she felt her life was in danger.
If she woke up and caused a commotion, surely one or two male guards would come. That moment would be her chance.
Just as she was about to open her eyes—
“Sensei, are you there?”
Someone entered the building, and Liz hurriedly closed her eyes.
“–A man, has he come?”
She opened her eyes slightly and looked at the visitor—
“Ah, Zofia. Zenos is out on a house call today.”
“Ah, is that so? I forgot.”
The visitor, who had her black hair tied back, replied disappointedly to the elf girl’s words.
“–Tch, another woman.”
She had heard the name Zofia before. She was the one who controlled the lizardmen in the slums.
Zofia noticed Liz on the bed and said:
“Hmm, a patient?”
“Yeah, Ringa brought her in. She hasn’t regained consciousness…”
“Hmm, her complexion looks good, is she really sick?”
Gulp, a sound went off in Liz’s mind.
“Well, whatever. I got some good meat, so I brought it as a gift.”
“Eh-, you’re always so kind.”
“It’s the least I can do since you’re taking care of us. Well, I’ll leave it here.”
“U-understood, thank you.”
Zofia placed the package on the table and left. It seemed she had brought a tribute.
However, she was momentarily flustered when it seemed like her feigned illness was about to be discovered. It seemed that being one of the three major powers of the slums was not just for show.
“Zenos, are you there?”
Another visitor. She slightly opened her eyes, hoping it was a man this time, but standing there was a tall, dark-skinned woman.
“–Again, again… Another woman…!”
“Ah, Reve, Zenos is out on a house call today.”
Reve was probably the leader of the orcs. She glanced at Liz on the bed and said a word.
“Hmm, an intruder?”
Gulp. The edge of her eyebrow twitched.
The elf girl shook her head and said:
“No, she’s someone who collapsed. Ringa brought her in, but she hasn’t woken up…”
“Oh, she hasn’t woken up… How about I give her a good punch in the gut?”
“–W-w-w-wait, wait, wait, wait!”
She casually said something outrageous. It seemed that only truly abnormal people appeared here.
“That’s not okay, Reve. She’s a patient.”
“Hmm, is that so? When my subordinates are knocked out, they usually wake up with a punch to the gut from me, but oh well. I’ll be going then.”
“Okay, bye-bye.”
When Reve left, silence returned to the room.
But… Liz thought.
“–There are no men…”
They weren’t coming.
Men.
Really, seriously, no men were appearing.
She wondered if there were any men in this mansion other than the ruler. She thought that there should be some for guards and heavy labor, but…
As she was pondering her next move, the elf girl said worriedly.
“Hmm, what should I do? She’s not waking up at all…”
And then, as if she had an idea, she tapped Liz on the shoulder.
“Ah, that’s right! Wait here for a moment. Zenos should be back soon, so Lily will go and get him.”
Saying that, she dashed out the door.
“–Eh, she went outside…?”
Was it for some errand? She was muttering something about going to get someone.
“But this is a chance.”
Liz opened her eyes and slowly sat up in bed. The girl who served as caretaker, examiner, and torturer had disappeared.
She couldn’t sense anyone else around. She should use this opportunity to search the house and find the entrance to the underground space where the ruler’s room was located.
“…Hmph. It took a little longer, but it was worth the wait. I’ll be the one who wins in the end.”
As she said this, Liz reflexively touched her neck. She felt a sudden chill.
“No one’s here… right?”
In the mansion where abnormal people gather, the most absurd being is about to descend—
A/N: Now, a natural disaster descends—
Liz, behind you…!