#056

Do you know the feeling of being unable to do anything even with your eyes open? Ulli, at least, knew that feeling well. She had lived like that for seven years out of her twenty-eight.

She hadn’t been exceptionally unlucky compared to others, but she hadn’t been particularly lucky either. It was as if she had used up all her luck when she was young, and Ulli began a nomadic life with her father’s death.

The life of someone without power is always arduous. Especially for women. Her appearance, which drew attention even when she tried to be inconspicuous, was a poison to a woman left alone. Ulli had seen many things that people shouldn’t see. Enduring it was solely her mother’s burden.

She endured seven years of hell she didn’t even want to recall, and Ulli finally became someone who could act. Her mother had already lived through hell and passed away. Even after losing the will to live, she believed she wouldn’t experience the same fate as before.

Until now.

The sensation of her body and mind not obeying, even though her deeply rooted consciousness was wide awake, was truly strange. After seeing the green light spread, Ulli began to move according to the instructions of the gaunt, tree-like Sorcerer. She couldn’t even blink at will.

For the first hour, she couldn’t believe it, and after that, it felt like going back to the past. It was so horrific that it wouldn’t be strange if she died screaming an unseen scream.

The only fortunate thing was that she hadn’t suffered humiliation, but it offered little comfort. For three days, Ulli woke up at unwanted times and did unwanted things, ate even when she wasn’t hungry, and slept even when she wasn’t sleepy. Just like when she lived as her uncle’s puppet in the past.

The most agonizing part was that Ulli remembered all of it. Ulli had berated and beaten a child who had collapsed from hunger, forcing them to process the drug, and had watched over sick women who shouldn’t be working here, making them grind powder ceaselessly.

Still, Ulli waited for her chance. She believed that if she continued to resist, she would regain control of her body.

But time wouldn’t wait.

“Please, just a moment, can I rest for just a moment? My wrists hurt so much… I can’t move.”

Arin from Sector 1, the first to be brought in, collapsed. According to what she heard, she had been faltering for the past ten days, unable to meet her quota. Arin was a widow who had lost her mercenary husband to Demonic Beasts.

She had raised her newborn daughter alone for ten years and was already suffering from many illnesses. To be forced to work without rest on top of that, she couldn’t possibly endure. Arin had already been here for three months.

“Get up, don’t try to slack off.”

Her mouth blabbered on its own, regardless of Ulli’s will. She threatened Arin with her greatsword, as if handling a beast in a cage. As the intimidating sword entered the cage, the other women stepped forward to block.

“Ulli, please snap out of it! Arin is sick. If you make her work like this, something terrible might happen!”

Lana, who knew Ulli, shouted at her.

Seeing Arin’s terrified face, Ulli replied inwardly. I know, Lana. I want to wake up too. Guilt and remorse drove Ulli. In her mind, she spoke to her greatsword.

Hey, damn Pantel. Do something. We made a contract. You promised to help me so I wouldn’t see hell anymore. In return, I offered my life.

The sword remained silent. Without being fed her blood, it was no different from an ordinary weapon, which was why. While the Sorcerer hadn’t noticed the greatsword’s strangeness thanks to that, Ulli found the greatsword repulsive at this moment.

“I’ll give you ten seconds. If you don’t return to your spot within that time, you’ll become Volgmek’s meal.”

Even the women hesitated at those words. Volgmek was a Demonic Beast controlled by the Sorcerer. The enormous beast, which they had never seen before, was so powerful that it was doubtful if anyone could kill it.

Volgmek had to be fed twice a day. At least two humans, alive or recently deceased, had to be offered, and the Sorcerer fed mercenaries or merchants who had fallen into the sand pit to him. Ulli was lucky. Though she didn’t know if it could be called luck.

“I’m starting the count now.”

Ulli began to count. Those who had been holding out eventually faltered and left their spots as the numbers dwindled. Arin trembled, trying to get up. When the count reached three, only Arin and her daughter, who had been brought in with her, clung to their mother’s legs. Finally, the numbers disappeared.

And Arin couldn’t get up.

“Wait, just a moment, Ulli. I’ll get up. I’ll get up!”

Arin pushed herself up with her arms, her voice filled with terror. But her wrists, completely drained of strength, couldn’t support her. It was only natural, as she had spent all day trimming and grinding flowers until her wrists were ruined.

The cursed flowers were as tenacious as demons, and couldn’t be easily ground. It took a full day to turn just a few blossoms into fine powder. This was precisely why so many people were needed.

“Dispose of her.”

One of the mercenaries approached Ulli, appearing from nowhere. He wasn’t from Gael’s mercenary group but was a member of another mercenary unit, selected and brainwashed like Ulli.

Ulli nodded at his words. No, no, no, don’t do that…! Her body, devoid of feeling, betrayed Ulli’s intentions. Opening the cell door, Ulli easily grabbed Arin and dragged her along.

“Don’t take my mom away, I’m sorry, Mom…”

The child clung to her legs. However, the two weak women couldn’t overpower Ulli. The surrounding gazes, filled with resentment, watched Ulli coldly.

But they couldn’t move easily either. They knew what had happened to the women from Sector 2 who had tried to resist.

“Mom, Mom!”

Lana held onto the child who was trying to follow Arin. If she had followed, the child would have become Volgmek’s meal. The mercenary closed the door. Even though Ulli knew he was a brainwashed being like herself, at that moment, she hated him to death.

“Ulli, I’ll do better. Just once, h, just once, Arne can’t do without me…”

Even as she was dragged away, Arin pleaded. A bruise formed on Ulli’s chest. Seeing the mother crawling on the floor to protect her daughter, Ulli wished she could die right then.

But regardless of Ulli’s wishes, they arrived at Volgmek’s lair. Volgmek wasn’t there, perhaps having gone out with the Sorcerer. As Arin finally began to sob, the mercenary gave an order.

“You’re noisy.”

The mercenary turned. Frowning, he drew his sword. Arin gasped and crawled towards Ulli. Even though Ulli had dragged her this far, Arin sought Ulli. Her eyes reddened. Ulli’s lips slowly parted.

Snap out of it.

She whispered to herself, straining with all her might. She wanted to look down. She had to see Arin’s face, clinging to her, begging for salvation. Her fingers trembled.

The more her will resisted the Sorcerer’s Magic, which felt like a nail driven into the center of her brain, the more her head throbbed. Veins stood out on her neck. Ah, ah, she cried out, and Ulli finally moved her eyes. She lowered her gaze slightly.

“It would be better to just kill her.”

The moment the mercenary’s sword slashed through the air, Ulli saw Arin’s face looking up at her. Her pale face, holding onto her last hope, was like her mother’s.

Are you really going to do this, Ulrika?

As the self-scolding, like spitting blood, whipped her, Ulli’s hand also moved. It felt like fragments embedded in her head shattered, and the greatsword reacted to her. Her heavy arm moved slowly. But it was slower than the mercenary’s sword.

“No…!”

It was the moment before Ulli’s scream burst out. The mercenary’s sword stopped. She saw Arin, panting, clinging to Ulli’s legs, lift her head. For a moment, she thought her scream had reached him, but that wasn’t it. She soon understood why.

The mercenary’s sword narrowly missed Arin and fell to the floor. Simultaneously, the mercenary, who had been blinking, collapsed. Someone caught him as he stumbled. As the sturdy man’s upper body gave way, someone appeared behind him. It was a face Ulli knew.

“You…?”

She saw alluring purple eyes. As they drew closer to her pupils, the gem-like irises stared intently at Ulli. The sculpted features on her sharp jawline were utterly unfitting for a cave.

Yet, strangely, she looked as if she had been rolling around in such a place her entire life. Despite being a noble royal.

“Have you regained your senses?”

A pleasant voice asked calmly. At his words, Ulli quickly came to her senses. Her body obeyed her will. She looked down at Pantel in her hand. It had reacted just now.

“…Yes.”

She considered using a more formal tone, but Ulli decided to continue as she had been.

“There’s no time, so please follow me quickly.”

The man gestured towards Arin with his eyes.

“You’ll need to support her.”

Then, without waiting for Ulli, he began to move. Lifting the large mercenary with ease, he moved quickly somewhere. Ulli quickly looked down. Arin flinched, trying to pull away, but Ulli was faster.

“It’s okay now.”

She extended her hand.

“I’ll protect you from now on.”

Seeing Arin’s tearful face, she slowly took Ulli’s hand. Her cold, dry hand felt like a corpse, so Ulli gritted her teeth and supported Arin.

Cullen led them into a cave. It was a space where the belongings of the dead were piled up, rarely used by Sorcerers or mercenaries.

“Are you alright?”

He asked as Ulli and Arin entered. Arin stayed close to Ulli and nodded. Surprisingly, they seemed to know each other.

“Thank you, Cullen.”

“Do you two know each other?”

Ulli asked with a voice of surprise, and Arin shook her head.

“I saw him for the first time three days ago. Strangely, he didn’t change like Ulli… and he took care of us when the mercenaries weren’t looking.”

Cullen gathered some cloaks from his belongings and spread them on the floor. Ulli quickly had Arin sit on them. Arin, holding her hand and saying “Thank you,” looked so pathetic that Ulli almost burst into tears again.

Meanwhile, Cullen handed Arin bread and a water bottle. Watching Arin eagerly accept them, Cullen spoke.

“How were you freed?”

Ulli gripped her greatsword tightly. Slowly turning her gaze, she said only what was necessary.

“I don’t know. I hated doing that more than dying, and then… I regained control without realizing it.”

This time, Ulli asked.

“And you? How were you alright from the start?”

If he had been helping Arin and the women for three days, it meant he hadn’t been affected by the Sorcerer in the first place.

“I’ll tell you later. For now, getting out of here is the priority.”

That was true.

“Ulli, have you found out or observed anything during this time?”

Ulli hesitated. She had learned a few things during the three days the Sorcerer had controlled her at will.

However, if she said this, she would definitely be suspected. Moreover, that man was royalty. He must be the new Crown Prince she had heard about in rumors.

“If you don’t intend to kill me, I won’t harm you either. So, speak. The important thing is getting people out.”

Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Cullen spoke. Looking into his purple eyes, as calm as his resolute voice, Ulli felt a strange sense of relief instead of hatred. The royal she had so despised was very different from what she had imagined upon meeting him.

Perhaps he is different…

“There is one thing.”

Ulli decided to speak for the sake of a greater cause than her personal feelings.

“The weapon the Sorcerer uses…”

She took a deep breath.

“It’s from Dark Island.”

The very place her Pantel had come from.