Hell is empty, and the devils walk among us.
“Hahahahaha! ……”
“Come on, scream again, will you? Why’d you stop? Everyone’s waiting to hear that moaning of yours—why’d you go quiet?”
“Hey, hey, is she dead already? She’s not moving at all.”
“Whoa, she’s moving again! Hahaha, keep going, don’t stop until she screams!”
“Come on, scream! If I don’t get to hear a few more cries, my precious weapon’s gonna break for nothing.
Gotta cut my losses, you know.”
………
Five men, beasts in human skin, kept beating and tormenting the white-haired girl lying on the ground, covered in blood, unable to get up.
They’d cut her Achilles tendons, and now they watched her crawl forward inch by inch with just her hands, taking pleasure in her struggle.
Some of them were dressed all prim and proper, looking like gentlemen, but they were nothing but animals in suits.
“Hey, keep crawling, why’d you stop?”
“Come on, little monster girl, crawl behind that tree.
Maybe if you make it, the big brothers will let you go.”
“Hahaha! ……”
The same sneers, the same ridicule, the same contempt and arrogance, all filled with a callous disregard for life.
Nothing was different from her past life to this one—this world was just as ugly, just as full of malice toward her.
Uncle Norma… I’m sorry, I can’t go on anymore…
‘Pathetic.’
…Who’s talking?
‘How shameful.
Has White Feathered Dragons really fallen so far that a few ants can bully you at will?’
That strange voice echoed in Jasmine’s ears, and only she could hear it.
‘Get up.
If you’re a White Feathered Dragons, if you’re a dragon and not a worm.’
‘Get up, and kill every human who dares insult the name of White Feathered Dragons!’
The woman’s voice was cold and cruel.
‘Don’t forget, you are White Feathered Dragons.’
The voice faded and didn’t return, but for some reason, a blazing fury ignited in Jasmine’s heart.
………
“Tch, boring.
She’s already broken.”
The spear noble kicked the white-haired girl, who didn’t move at all.
“This half-monster is surprisingly weak.
Looks like she’s got nothing going for her except maybe some sharp teeth.”
“Hey, I think this monster’s pretty special.
Maybe she’s some rare breed.
Should I pull out her teeth? They might make great weapons.”
The rope noble licked his lips, and he didn’t look like he was joking—he seemed ready to do it.
“Fine, you take the teeth, I want those horns!” the sword-and-shield noble cut in.
“You guys… whatever, just don’t fight me for the tail.”
“Heh, Young Master Robert, what do you say?”
“Do whatever you want.
Just leave the rest to me when you’re done.
I want her alive.
Once she’s on trial, you can do whatever you want with her.”
Robert glanced at them, then looked away.
“Hey, Young Master Robert is so generous! So, can I keep this monster as a pet afterward?”
The spear noble rubbed his hands together, leering at Jasmine.
“Aiden, you’re not actually thinking…?” The rope noble frowned.
“Heh, what’s the problem? She’s so pretty.
Honestly, I think this monster’s just as beautiful as the princess.”
The spear noble whispered, as if afraid Robert would hear.
“Fine, whatever, as long as you don’t cause any trouble, do what you want.”
“Heh heh…”
The spear noble, excited, grabbed Jasmine’s hair and yanked her head up, grinning wickedly at her.
“Little monster, from now on you’ll be my pet.
Just do your best to please me and make me happy!”
……
Jasmine didn’t say a word.
Her eyes, as dazzling as the stars, stared at the spear noble with an eerie calm that made his scalp tingle.
“Tch, looks like you haven’t learned your lesson yet.
When I get back, I’ll make sure to train you well—turn you into a maid who lives only to please her master, hahaha! ……”
As he spoke, the spear noble reached out to poke Jasmine’s cheek, but a sharp pain shot through his finger.
“Ahhh! You, you! ……”
Seeing Jasmine suddenly bite down on his finger, the spear noble’s face went pale.
He started punching and kicking her with his free hand.
“Let go, let go now! ……”
The other nobles rushed over to help, and Jasmine was kicked hard, sent flying a short distance away.
“Bastard, bastard! … Do you even know what you’ve done, you little freak?”
The spear noble roared, staring at his bloody hand.
“Pah!”
Jasmine spat out two bloodied fingers, as if getting rid of something filthy.
“My fingers! … You filthy little bitch, you’ve got some nerve!”
Furious at losing two fingers, the spear noble started kicking and stomping Jasmine over and over.
“I told you to be careful,” the rope noble snorted.
Jasmine, hurting from the kicks, stayed silent, eyes closed as if gathering her strength.
“Fine, you like biting fingers, huh? Good, I’ll pull out all your teeth and see what you bite then!”
The spear noble, crazed with rage, grinned viciously.
“Today I’m gonna pull out every last tooth in your filthy little mouth!”
He bent down, pulling a pair of iron pliers from his pocket, and forced Jasmine’s mouth open.
Just then, Jasmine’s eyes snapped open.
She leapt up and tackled him to the ground.
“What? ……”
The spear noble never expected Jasmine to have the strength to knock him down—after all, they’d already cut her tendons!
“No way, how can you still stand—”
Before he could finish, his pupils dilated.
Sharp dragon fangs pierced his armor with ease, crushing his throat.
He was dead.
“Pah!”
Jasmine spat out the chunk of flesh, blood soaking the corners of her mouth.
“Aiden!!”
It all happened so fast, no one—including Robert—saw it coming.
“That damned monster bitch!” The rope noble, furious, lashed out with his spiked chain, wrapping it around Jasmine’s neck.
“This filthy monster still has the strength to stand? Beat her until she can’t get up!”
“We could’ve spared your life.”
Looking at the spear noble’s lifeless body, Robert’s gaze turned icy cold.
“You killed a noble.
Do you know what that means?”
“Kill this monster.
The corpse won’t be as useful, but it’ll do.”
As the one in charge, Robert gave the order.
The crossbow noble immediately raised his heavy crossbow and aimed at Jasmine’s vital spots.
“Thwack! Thwack!”
The heavy bolts shot out, tearing through Jasmine’s body with a rush of wind.
……
Jasmine staggered back several steps, steadied herself, and slowly lifted her bloodstained face.
She was smiling.
