(And that succubus! She actually bit my neck and ears, and lifted my clothes to touch me, how detestable! When I can't even bear to touch my own body myself!)
"Lumine touched quite a bit, didn't she?"
(Wha?! Lumine... Lumine is different... Besides, wasn't I forced back then too... (//﹏//))
"Mm-hmm~"
(Hmph to your head!)
"Tao Ge!"
Two underlings who had just come out and closed the iron door immediately called out to Tao Ge upon seeing him.
"Mm, why is it so noisy?"
"Tao Ge, when I was delivering their food earlier, a brat bit me. I was so angry that I dragged him out and beat him up."
"?!" Ying's eyes instantly turned cold. Seeing that there was no one else around, she immediately broke free from her ropes and delivered an elbow strike to his abdomen with great force. He grimaced in pain and knelt on the ground, clutching his stomach.
"You..."
The other person was about to speak upon seeing this when Ying grabbed his clothes, yanked him forward forcefully, and simultaneously raised her knee, driving it fiercely towards his groin.
With a loud "thump!", the man collapsed onto the ground, unable to even cry out.
"You, open the door."
Ying urged Tao Ge in an icy tone, and with a casual chop, knocked the kneeling guy unconscious.
"Yes!"
Tao Ge once again witnessed the terrifying side of Ying and quickly fumbled for keys on their person, opening the iron door.
Creak——
Even though Ying was mentally prepared, she was still shocked by the dire state of the environment.
It was like a combination of a junkyard and an execution chamber. The air was thin, humid, and cold. Blood on the ground mingled with a pungent stench, like a viper's fangs, constantly gnawing at one's skin.
A group of children were imprisoned behind the iron gates on the left, like in a prison. Their hands and feet were tightly bound with ropes, their mouths taped shut, rendering them unable to make any sound, only whimpers and cries.
One of the slightly older children lay on the ground, unable to move. His fresh wounds indicated that he was the child who had been beaten just now.
On the right, various torture instruments were displayed: iron frames, whips, belts, and other items.
"Th-that... Great Aunt... can I leave now..."
"Heh heh... Scram..."
Hearing this, Tao Ge's heart leaped with joy. He turned to escape and report to the boss, but as soon as he turned, Ying knocked him unconscious with a chop.
Ying took the key and summoned her black sword, pointing it at the man. However, after a long internal struggle, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to stab him.
"Tch... I still can't go for the kill... If I were decisive, I wouldn't have had Lin Ying notify the Millelith..."
"It's really annoying to see the host let them off so easily..."
"Hmph... I just can't bring myself to kill, but I never intended to let them walk out unscathed!"
"Oh? What does the host mean..."
"Heh heh... I can still ensure they can never procreate... But the most important thing now is to rescue them first."
Ying stood up and walked towards the cell door. Using the key, she opened it and went to their side, cutting the ropes binding them with her black sword.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, big sister is here to save you."
"Sis... Sister... you're so amazing..." The first little one to have his ropes cut, after tearing the tape from his mouth, sobbed to Ying.
"Don't cry, don't cry. With me here, nothing will happen to you anymore. Do you still have strength? If so, could you help big sister untie the ropes for those little ones who have no strength?"
"Un... Un, okay."
Ying quickly untied all their ropes and distributed some food from her spatial inventory before turning to check on the condition of the little boy lying on the ground.
"Hiss... Those two damned guys were too ruthless... I can tell he's severely injured myself..."
(Will he bleed to death, System?)
"Not for now, but the host can't stall for too long."
(So we can't stay here and hold the line... But if I fight my way out directly now, I might not be able to take care of them... What should I do...)
"Mm... Considering how hard the host is trying, the System will give you a little reward."
(A reward? What reward? Medicine? Or weapons?)
"No, it's displaying the locations of the Millelith and that team called 'Brother Guan' on the map."
(Locations?!) Ying quickly checked her magical mini-map.
(Huh? Why are there two Millelith teams and two of 'Brother Guan's' teams, and they're all overlapping?)
"Host, are you stupid? Clearly, someone has been captured, and part of them were escorted back while leaving someone to guide the way."
(Emm... Okay, what you said makes a lot of sense... Looking at the distance, it's not far from us now... Since the Millelith will handle the aftermath... wouldn't it be wonderful to teleport them away directly?!)
"So many people, host, are you sure you can handle it?"
(Emm... Okay, what you said still makes a lot of sense.)
"Besides, the host can't teleport right now."
(Huh? Why?)
"Does the host remember how she treated their leader earlier?"
(How I treated... Ah! That slash was indeed a bit too harsh... So... that succubus really wants... to kill me now, huh...)
"It's not that she wants to kill you, just to torment you. After all, the host is so cute, she's already smitten."
(Really? I find love at first sight hard to imagine, and she's a girl...)
"There's no benefit for me to lie to you, host."
(That's true... But since she fancies me, why is she still hostile towards me?)
"Nonsense, if someone slashed your face, would you not be angry?"
(I'd definitely be furious! How dare they touch my face?! Is this cute face something they can touch?!)
"See?"
(Ah, this... It seems I'll just have to hide here and wait for the Millelith to arrive...)
"That might not be possible either."
(And for what reason this time!)
"Because their leader has already ordered her subordinates to find you. They'll probably find this place before long."
(Huh?! Why?! Shouldn't she wait for her wounds to heal before looking for me?)
"Mm... Plot needs, I guess~"
(Damn! That damned dog author!)
"A reminder for the host, it's best not to criticize the author at a time like this."
(Emm... Thank you so much, my dear author! (t^t))
"So, host, quickly think of a solution. Should you lure them away... or mislead them... or attract them..."
"Is there any difference between your hints and stating it directly... Do I have to say it out loud myself? (ᗜ˰ᗜ)"
"Heh heh~"