Rosa was chained inside what appeared to be a prison cell. Standing in front of her was a girl she knew all too well—the same one who had demanded Velt and the Ring of Rurhy days ago.
“What a shame, little sister,” the girl said with a twisted smile. “You had such a cute boy all to yourself and didn’t want to share him with your sister.”
“Don’t you dare, Sarha,” Rosa snapped angrily. “He’s married.”
“Yes, I know,” Sarha replied with disdain. “To a stupid dark elf. Disgusting. But don’t worry, dear sister… I’ll train him properly so he learns to obey. And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll let you play with him a little.”
She laughed shamelessly.
“You have no right to steal other people’s happiness just to satisfy your whims,” Rosa muttered through clenched teeth.
“Excuse me? Did you say something?” Sarha asked mockingly, cupping her ear. “Speak up. I can’t hear you.”
“I said you’re a despicable bitch who only craves attention!” Rosa shouted, releasing years of pent-up resentment—memories of Sarha humiliating her since childhood, always getting away with it.
The slap echoed sharply.
Rosa’s head snapped to the side, her cheek burning where Sarha’s hand had struck her.
“Look at you, sister,” Sarha said coldly. “You force me to raise my hand. How rude.”
She crouched down until they were at eye level.
“This is how it’s going to be: I’ll train that boy to become my new pet… and you’ll divert all suspicion toward someone else. If you behave, I might even let you keep one of my old pets.”
“Rot in hell,” Rosa spat. “Let him go. He doesn’t belong to you.”
Rosa spat in her face.
Sarha sighed in annoyance.
“Sister, I’m being very kind by not reporting you to Father,” she said, grabbing Rosa by the neck. “So if you want your little adventurer secret to stay hidden, I suggest you cooperate.”
“I… I won’t…” Rosa gasped.
“What a pity,” Sarha said with fake sympathy. “I tried to give you the easy way out. But what else could I expect from the daughter of a filthy concubine?”
Rosa was about to respond when a distant scream echoed through the halls.
“What was that?” Sarha asked, turning around.
Suddenly, one of the walls cracked violently—and an orc burst straight through the stone.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“W-what is happening…?” Sarha cried, backing away in terror.
Thirty minutes earlier…
The first thing Velt saw when he opened his eyes was the dungeon floor.
“What happened…?” he murmured, trying to move, then pausing. “Wait… am I hanging upside down?”
“You are currently in the dungeons of the feudal lord’s residence, after being rendered unconscious,” Cero replied.
“Thanks for the summary,” Velt said sarcastically, struggling. “This thing is sturdy…”
The chain didn’t budge.
“Cero, change form.”
“Understood.”
In an instant, Velt’s body shifted into its violet mass. The restraints slipped off effortlessly, and he dropped to the floor. Moments later, he returned to his human form.
“That was easy.”
Looking around more carefully, he realized he wasn’t alone. Several men were imprisoned nearby, many wearing strange collars around their necks.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” Velt asked, approaching one of them.
The man only barked in response.
“…What?”
“Don’t waste your time,” a nearby voice said. “That one’s already had his mind broken.”
Velt turned and saw a young man in another cell.
“What do you mean?”
“The princess brainwashed him and turned him into her pet.”
“Pet…?”
“When that brat sees a guy she likes, she doesn’t care if he’s married or not,” the man said bitterly. “She wants them, so she takes them. Most of the men here were torn away from their wives and children. The ones wearing collars… they’re already lost. Or so they say.”
“Are you here for the same reason?” Velt asked.
“Just like you,” he replied. “Once she sets her eyes on you, your life is over.”
Velt looked around at the imprisoned men.
“How can she get away with something like this…?”
“When your father has power, I guess you can do whatever you want without consequences,” the man said with a weary laugh.
After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
“What are you? I saw you change shape.”
“Nobody important,” Velt replied. “Don’t worry about it.”
Then he clapped his hands.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got things to do… and a wife waiting for me.”
“And how do you plan to get out of here?” the man asked.
“Like this.”
Velt’s body expanded and transformed into the form of an Orc King.
With a single blow, he shattered the cell.
“Hey! I don’t know how you did that, but free me too!” the man shouted.
Velt broke his cell and chains.
“I owe you one,” the man said, rubbing his wrists.
Soon, voices rose all around them.
“Help me too!”
“I have a wife and daughter, please!”
“Free me—I can fight!”
Without wasting time, Velt and the man began freeing everyone who still retained their sanity.
“Feels like it’s been ages since I walked this much,” the man said, stretching his legs.
“Congratulations on your return, I guess,” Velt replied, reverting to human form.
“Velt, there you are!” Dash said, appearing through the crowd.
“Everyone’s safe, but I don’t see Rosa,” Luke added.
“I’ll find her,” Velt said. “You evacuate everyone to a nearby dark elf village. Tell them you’re going on my behalf.”
“Wait! There are guards outside,” Dash warned.
“I’ll handle it. Do as I said.”
“I’m coming with him,” the freed man said.
“I don’t want to drag you into this,” Velt replied.
“It’s personal,” the man said, cracking his knuckles. “They dragged me out of my house and beat my father.”
“I understand,” Velt said. “I’m Velt.”
“Jack. Nice to meet you.”
“I need you to get them out safely,” Velt said to Dash. “I won’t repeat myself.”
Luke nodded.
“Let’s listen to him.”
Dash sighed.
“We want explanations later.”
Velt nodded.
As Dash and Luke led the men away, Velt and Jack advanced, taking down guards along the way.
“Do you know where they store the confiscated weapons?” Velt asked.
“Yes. My daggers should be there too.”
“You use daggers?”
“I’m better at mid-range,” Jack replied.
“Then do me a favor—bring me my sword and my dagger.”
“If I find them, I will.”
Jack moved off.
Velt smiled.
“Cero, let’s take the shortcut. Get ready… because I’m going to crush everything that stands in my way.”
His body once again transformed into the Orc King.
