Chapter 146. Prisoner
Ethan, the Warrior of Compassion.
Back when I hadn’t yet gained my unique ability.
In other words, during the time when I was still weak, we had a brief, unfortunate encounter.
Of course.
It was a bad connection, but it wasn’t something that left deep resentment.
Honestly, if I had felt a stronger grudge, I would have tracked him down and exacted revenge once I gained power.
Even after gaining strength through my unique ability, I didn’t bother trying to find Ethan. I just dismissed him as an immature brat and didn’t pay much attention to him.
He was a piece of trash with his morals shattered, but still.
He hadn’t committed a wrong big enough for me to seek revenge.
At least by my standards.
【Bubble Bubble】─That’s Ethan, right? I’m not seeing things, am I?
【Luna-chan】─Maybe it’s just someone who looks like him?
“It seems like Ethan. There can’t be another human with such a freely arranged face.”
【Luna-chan】─Eh? Now that you mention it, that’s true, huh?
【Pururu】─LOL, you’re being savage.
【Mir-Stin】─Making fun of someone’s face is wrong, but… he really does look, uh, free-spirited…
【Mysticism】─He’s ugly. 😟
It wasn’t mocking.
Nor was it a personal attack.
It wasn’t even about making fun of his ugliness.
It’s just that.
Ethan’s face was so unique, it was hard to imagine anyone else looking like him.
To put it kindly, his face was distinctive.
To say it plainly, his face was so horribly distorted that it overflowed with individuality.
Even Picasso’s drunken self-portraits would look more organized than that.
I heard the name Ethan means “strong and lasting,” but I bet in his case, it’s because the mental shock his face delivers lasts a long time.
【Pururu】─But is he really a Fallen Hero?
【Bubble Bubble】─Yeah. His name is Ethan, and he used to be called the Warrior of Compassion.
【Mysticism】─The more I look at him, the weirder he looks. 😭
【Yumi】─Let’s refrain from making fun of someone’s appearance. It’s not like he chose to be born that way.
【Rizenova】─Hmm. To be honest, I don’t see how he’s any different from you all. He looks the same to me.
【Mir-Stin】─Take that back.
【Bubble Bubble】─It’s okay to make fun of his looks. He’s a piece of trash who betrayed humanity.
【Bubble Bubble】─And I heard he did something horrible to Gauntlet, too.
As if she remembered something I had mentioned before.
Elise started explaining the events that occurred between Ethan and me in the chat.
Upon seeing Elise’s ongoing messages, the assistants became enraged.
【Pururu】─What a bastard.
【Pururu】─He was called the Warrior of Compassion? F*ck.
【Bubble Bubble】─It was a title given by the kingdom, so people referred to him that way.
【Mysticism】─🤬 His face is dirty, and his personality is even worse.
【Mir-Stin】─Wow. Was he trash, acting just as he looked?
【Rizenova】─He’s a man deserving of punishment.
【Luna-chan】─Did something happen between them? This is my first time hearing about it.
【Luna-chan】─Then why don’t we have Gauntlet join in and torture him together?
【Yumi】─No wonder he looks so vile.
【Yumi】─I never thought someone’s personality could match their face.
【Yumi】─If he’s going to look like that, he should at least have a decent personality.
【Pururu】─She flipped the switch real quick.
Anyway.
For some reason, it seemed plausible that he had become a Fallen Hero.
Despite his title as the Warrior of Compassion, he was a man whose character was utterly destroyed.
［Do you know that prisoner?］
As I stood there staring at Ethan, Infernos asked curiously.
I nodded in response to the question.
“Well, I do know him.”
［This is quite a surprise… Were you close? If you wish, I could arrange to have that prisoner freed.］
“Free the prisoner? Do you even have the authority to do that?”
［I don’t have the authority, but with the right words, convincing the guards to release one prisoner wouldn’t be too difficult.］
This was unexpected.
It seemed Infernos wasn’t just some sidekick in hell after all.
I had underestimated him, thinking he was just some delusional with memory loss…
［So, what will you do? Should I go and tell the guard to stop the torture?］
“No, it’s fine. I do know him, but we weren’t close.”
In fact, we were closer to enemies.
Just as I was about to add that thought.
My eyes met Ethan’s, who was hanging from the pillar, undergoing torture.
“You, you’re…!”
In that moment.
Ethan’s eyes widened.
It seemed he recognized me too.
“Gauntlet, you’re Gauntlet, right?!”
As if he had found his savior, Ethan shouted.
His voice was full of joy.
【Bubble Bubble】─He’s the first to greet you? Has he lost his mind?
【Pururu】─What’s with the familiarity? Does he have a death wish?
【Mysticism】─😠
【Yumi】─Even his voice sounds ugly.
【Mir-Stin】─It sounds like a pig’s squeal.
【Luna-chan】─Gauntlet, greet him warmly. Then go torture him.
Because of Ethan’s outburst.
Some of the prisoners and guards in the punishment area turned their attention toward us.
［Hmm. Is that an explorer?］
［How slow. You’re only now realizing an explorer has arrived?］
［No wonder I suddenly felt weaker. It was because an explorer was nearby.］
［I was so engrossed in the torture, I only noticed now.］
［Hmm? Isn’t that Infernos next to the explorer?］
The humanoid monster torturing Ethan.
It stopped whipping him, knocked Ethan unconscious, and then stared at me, raising its eyebrows.
Infernos hurried over to the creature and introduced me.
Emphasizing that I was an explorer with the trait of The Assisted One.
As the explanation about me ended, the guards, including the whip monster, slowly lost their wary expressions.
［Hmm. An explorer with the trait of The Assisted One is always welcome.］
Click, click.
Along with the sound of light footsteps.
The whip monster walked toward me with a proud gait.
And with a slight smile, it extended its hand.
［Your name is Gauntlet? Nice to meet you. I’m Whipra.］
Though she was imposing when torturing the prisoner.
Now, as she extended her hand for a handshake, a warm aura was emanating from her.
【Pururu】─What’s up with her clothes?
【Mir-Stin】─Didn’t notice from afar, but up close, that’s very revealing.
【Mysticism】─😠 She must be a pervert.
【Yumi】─That’s a bit too much. Quite vulgar.
【Luna-chan】─Eh? Why are you all reacting like that? It seems like normal clothes to me? Plenty of people dress like that in Korea, right? o_O
【Bubble Bubble】─It’s not exactly strange, but there’s no way I could wear that.
【Rizenova】─The whip looks nice though.
After shaking hands with Whipra.
I habitually checked where her mark might be engraved.
But I couldn’t see a mark.
Even after subtly shifting to check her back after the handshake, no mark was visible.
It wasn’t likely that the mark was hidden under her clothes.
If I focused, I could sense the mark even if it was covered by clothes.
While I found this strange.
［Hmm? Are you interested in my body?］
Whipra asked with a lewd expression, rubbing her chest.
［If you want, you can touch it.］
【Pururu】─You wanna die?
【Mysticism】─🤬
【Yumi】─That monster is evil! We should get rid of it!!!
【Bubble Bubble】─Looks like a Succubus. Let’s kill it.
As Whipra made her bold move, a few of my monsters blocked the way, speaking coldly.
［Ahem. Our son only touches his mother’s chest.］
［Warning. Gauntlet prefers my eyes more.］
［Move aside with that barely-there chest. Father isn’t interested in anything but mine.］
It was Nyara Nepenthis, Iris, and Kinogine Arachne.
【Mir-Stin】─Huh? Is that true?
【Pururu】─Would that be true?
【Luna-chan】─Why’s Iris joining in on this? o_O?
I had the monsters step back.
Then, I asked Whipra a question.
Had she ever been tamed by an explorer with The Assisted One trait?
Whipra smiled and confirmed it with a playful glint in her eyes.
［Oh my, you figured it out right away?］
“You’re from the Ancient Labyrinth, and most creatures that can’t be tamed fall into that category.”
And.
The one who had tamed Whipra wasn’t likely to be Artpega Unibicorn’s mother.
Whipra and Artpega seemed to be meeting for the first time.
Besides, Artpega’s mother had mentioned she didn’t tame female monsters.
Whipra seemed to have a strong affinity toward those with The Assisted One trait, as she kept glancing at me with a smile.
［This explorer is incredibly strong. If our Geodani had been as strong as you, he wouldn’t have died.］
Geodani seemed to be the name of the explorer who had tamed Whipra.
【Pururu】─The name is Geodani. LOL.
【Mir-Stin】─LOL. Sounds like a brand name.
【Mysticism】─Weird name. 🤭
【Yumi】─Tsk! Don’t make fun of someone’s name!
【Bubble Bubble】─Huh. I feel like I’ve heard that name before.
【Luna-chan】─Yeah? Feels like I heard it recently too.
【Rizenova】─You all have terrible memories.
【Rizenova】─It was at Kendora, where Gauntlet-sama recently set up a Dimensional Altar. The name of the person who had set one up there first was Geodani.
“Oh, right. That explorer’s name was Geodani? I’d completely forgotten.”
［Oh? Do you know our Geodani?］
Seeing my reaction, Whipra looked surprised and asked.
I briefly explained how I knew about Geodani.
Even mentioning the planet Kendora.
***
Whipra’s expression didn’t look good after hearing about Kendora’s current state.
It must have been weighing heavily on her.
After all, the world they had been protecting was on a path to destruction.
I wanted to tell her more about Kendora’s situation.
But I didn’t have much time at the moment.
I had no idea when the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket I was using would expire.
For now, finding the vending machine took priority.
Thus.
I promised to share more details when I returned.
Including the relationship between Ethan, who was still unconscious, and me, which I would explain then.
With that, I told Whipra I’d be back soon and began walking in the direction the voice guide indicated.
By the way.
Artpega Unibicorn had already completed the **Monster Guidebook** entry for Whipra.
■Whipra
─Actual Danger Level: S-Class.
─Current (Nerfed) Danger Level: B-Class.
─Ability: Whip.