However, after Holo and Harpy left, Samael realized he had a rather awkward problem on his hands.
Namely, what was he supposed to do with the human pillow in front of him?
Samael's eyes drifted aside, and he cleared his throat.
"Ahem. If I said this was an accident, would you believe me?"
Like hell I would!
Martha glared at him, her chest rising and falling slightly with anger, her clenched fists growing even tighter.
"Uh, right. I understand…"
Seeing this, the Ancient Serpent raised a hand and touched the bridge of his nose. Then he turned toward the door, called over the fast-flying Harpy, and whispered some instructions to her.
What kind of trick is this now? I'm not so easily frightened! No matter what underhanded methods you use, don't even think you can make me yield!
Unable to move, Martha felt an ominous premonition rise in her heart. She immediately cursed him in her mind, strengthening her faith.
...
A moment later, the poor Holy Maiden stared at the vile blasphemer standing by the bed, and at the little vial in his hand that gave off a faint pink glow. Her body stiffened, and a grief-stricken cry welled up in her heart.
Despicable…
"Hey, are you sure you didn't bring the wrong potion?"
Samael looked at the potion in his hand, marked with the symbol of a serpent staff, and could not help turning back to ask Harpy with a dark expression.
"No mistake! That white-haired guy only gave me this one. Oh, right, there are dosage instructions too."
The silly bird guaranteed it with absolute confidence, then knocked her head as if remembering something. She pulled a piece of parchment from the Magecraft array and handed it to Samael.
With the formula and corresponding medical instructions in hand, Samael finally relaxed. He drew one-third of the dose into a syringe, expelled the air inside, flicked the needle in satisfaction, and walked toward Martha, who lay stiffly on the bed, with a smile.
Beast! Don't come near me! Don't even think of defiling my purity with violence! Don't think you can make me fall into carnal desire…
The violet-haired Holy Maiden's gaze was firm, but as a series of unspeakable scenes flashed through her mind, her blood surged, and her beautiful face flushed crimson with shame and anger.
Seeing this from beside the bed, Samael felt his kind, reassuring smile freeze on his face, and he grumbled inwardly.
No, I haven't even done anything yet. How are you already having a climax in your head?
Cough, cough. No, wait. Do I look that desperate? Sister, you've got the wrong idea!
The Ancient Serpent raised the needle, the corner of his mouth twitching helplessly, and explained patiently.
"Relax. This is just a potion that blocks Ether transmission and suppresses muscle activity. Apart from that, it has no side effects.
"Greece treats prisoners well. As an honor befitting a hero, I can allow you to move freely within Thermopylae. But considering how dangerous you are, I need to disarm you so you don't suddenly go berserk and slaughter my people. You should at least behave like a proper prisoner, right?"
Seeing that Martha still wore a cold sneer, clearly not believing a word, Samael could not help cursing Asclepius's mother bloody in his heart.
I told you to make a potion version of a muscle relaxant. Why the hell did you make it this sleazy pink?
After silently venting at a certain God of Medicine, Samael simply stopped explaining. With a dark face, he injected the pink potion into Martha's body.
Then, while waiting for the drug to fully take effect according to the instructions, the Ancient Serpent casually summoned Holo from outside and dumped the problem on the one who had caused it in the first place.
"You're idle, aren't you? She's your responsibility now. In fifteen minutes, undo her restraints and take her around for a walk. Just keep watch from behind. Remember to inject her once every four hours. When you come back tonight, bring her to the temple."
"You're still going to use a place like that?"
Holo looked horrified, yet her gaze toward Samael carried a hint of admiration.
"Use it, my ass! I want to talk to her about this war!"
The Ancient Serpent's face darkened, and he could not help punching the she-wolf on the head.
"Tch. Why should I? I'm not doing it!"
Holo held her head, rolled her eyes upward, and shook her head in refusal.
But when Samael decisively held up one finger, the she-wolf's throat bobbed. Her amber eyes moved back to him, and she solemnly stepped forward, gripping Samael's finger in her hand.
Then Lord Wise Wolf narrowed her eyes and reached out, straightening three more of the Ancient Serpent's fingers.
Four times? You really know how to take advantage of someone in trouble!
Under Holo's wise gaze that seemed to say she had him completely figured out, Samael's mouth twitched. Left with no choice, he accepted this filthy transaction, then turned, grabbed Harpy to act as his guide, and went out on patrol without looking back.
So it really was only an inhibitor…
In the dim room, after Martha broke free from her stiffened state, she rustled out of bed. Aside from her limbs feeling weak and her head a little foggy, there was nothing else wrong with her, so she gradually relaxed.
After resting briefly, the violet-haired Holy Maiden asked in a muffled voice to go outside for a walk. Holo nodded in agreement.
However, along the way, Martha carefully observed the structure and routes of Thermopylae, secretly making up her mind.
She had to find a way to escape this dangerous den as soon as possible and rejoin her army.
As Martha was deep in thought, she unknowingly drifted some distance away from Holo. The Wise Wolf stopped and turned to warn her.
"Little girl, I'd advise you to stay close…"
The violet-haired Holy Maiden nodded perfunctorily, clearly distracted.
But the low murmur that followed snapped Martha awake, her body going rigid.
"Just a friendly reminder. Samael's character doesn't represent the moral standards of the entire Greek army. He may let you off, but that doesn't mean everyone in Greece is so kind. I seem to recall that armies still have a habit of dividing up spoils and slaves…"
She had actually forgotten!
In the past, she could casually swing Tarasque around, but now she could barely split an apple. Even if she managed to get away from the monster beside her who had defeated her, there were still hundreds of thousands of soldiers gathered inside Thermopylae.
Three or five trained adult soldiers would be enough to capture her.
And when that happened, if they…
Martha shuddered at those nauseating images. She suddenly felt as if every gaze around her was filled with intense malice, as if they could not wait to strip her naked on the spot and violate her body.
Crunch.
At that moment, the girl with flaxen hair shining in the sunlight bit into a juicy apple and turned back with a smile, the corner of her lips lifting in delight.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you for Samael, so make sure you stay close."
As Holo turned and started walking, Martha hesitated for only a moment before quickly following after her. Without realizing it, she closed the distance between them, and even her hostility toward Holo faded considerably.
From the corner of her eye, the Wise Wolf noticed Martha's small movement behind her and nodded in satisfaction, quietly calculating in her heart.
Next, while she has been stripped of her martial strength and lacks any sense of safety, I need to keep reinforcing her fear of her surroundings, as well as positive feelings toward specific targets, such as sympathy, agreement, reliance, admiration, and so on…
Wasn't this what Samael called… Stockholm syndrome?
Her beautiful amber eyes flashed with cunning in the backlit shadow.
Hmph. One use is two sheep. If I keep her around, it looks like I'll be able to eat sheep anytime, anywhere for the rest of my life.
"Achoo!"
At the same time, Samael, who was inspecting the Thermopylae defensive line, suddenly felt a chill run through him and sneezed hard.