"You… you're joking, right? Miss Aria?"
Sayo lay on the cold, damp stone floor, ignoring the sharp pain in her shoulder. She stared wide-eyed at the iron whip in Aria's hand, the blood on it still wet.
Even now, her simple country mindset couldn't connect the gentle, kind noble lady from earlier with the hideous demon standing before her.
"This… this must be bandits forcing you to say this, right?"
Tears streamed down Sayo's face as her voice trembled with a last shred of hope.
"Stop joking, Miss Aria. This isn't funny at all…"
"Untie me quickly. Let's escape together, okay?"
Watching Sayo's painfully naïve expression, the cruel grin on Aria's face widened. Her blue eyes gleamed with twisted delight.
"Hahahaha!!!"
"So interesting! This is just too interesting!!"
Aria laughed until she doubled over, then used the handle of the iron whip to lift Sayo's chin.
"In the Imperial Capital, countless country bumpkins like you come here to die every day."
"But I've never seen anyone as stupid as you."
"At this point, in a place piled with bones, you still think I'm joking with you?!"
Aria leaned close, her once-delicate features twisted like a venomous serpent.
"Open your filthy eyes and look over there!"
She pointed toward the deepest part of the torture chamber.
There, on a cross, hung a boy covered in blood. Purple-black blotches spread across his skin, his breathing barely perceptible.
"I… Ieyasu?!"
Sayo's pupils shrank instantly.
That was the companion who had left the Village with her, swearing they would succeed together.
How could he have ended up like this?
"Recognize him?" Aria licked her lips, her expression utterly morbid.
"This one had quite the backbone. After I peeled off layers of skin and force-fed him poison, he still managed to cling to life for two days."
"I was just thinking—later, I'll hang all three of you up."
"Let him watch as I rip off your beautiful black hair along with your scalp. That scene will be absolutely perfect."
Sayo's mind went blank.
Her last hope shattered completely.
Is this… the Imperial Capital?
Is this the prosperous, opportunity-filled empire everyone talks about?
Those nobles in fine clothes… they were monsters wearing human skin.
"Why…"
Sayo's body trembled uncontrollably, her eyes losing all light.
"We didn't do anything wrong… We just wanted a better life…"
"Why is this world… so filthy…"
"There is no why," Aria sneered coldly. "Commoners should know their place."
She turned toward the wall of instruments.
"Since you still don't believe it, I'll use these little treasures to teach you a proper lesson."
Her fingers brushed over the tools one by one.
Finally, she picked up a small, sharp knife and held it over the torch.
"Where should I start?"
"Let's begin with your disgusting, clear eyes."
Step by step, Aria approached.
Just as she raised the knife—
"Oh my. Oh my."
A lazy, amused male voice echoed through the silent chamber.
"I really slept a bit too deeply."
"To think I'd wake up to such a wonderful performance…"
"Miss Aria, your acting is decent—but your taste is truly low-class."
Aria froze.
Her body stiffened as if struck by lightning.
She turned her head in disbelief.
The silver-haired man who should have been lying unconscious on the floor was now sitting casually on a chair, one hand supporting his chin, legs crossed.
Those eerie crimson eyes looked at her with open mockery.
"You… how is that possible?!"
Aria screamed, her eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. The knife slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground.
"That was a super-strong anesthetic specially made in the Imperial Capital!"
"I watched you drink every drop!"
"Even a top-tier beast wouldn't wake up without the antidote!"
"Why are you completely fine?!"
Her world collapsed.
Sayo stared at him in disbelief, then burst into tears.
"Mr. Uchiha!!"
"You're okay… thank goodness!"
"Run! Go call the Military Police! This woman is insane!"
Tobirama chuckled softly and shook his head.
"The Military Police?"
"Little girl, you still don't understand this world."
"They're nothing more than dogs raised by nobles like her."
He stood and walked forward, step by step.
The pressure alone made Aria's legs go weak.
"Don't come closer!!" she screamed, backing into the torture rack.
"Guards! Someone! Stop him!!"
Silence answered her.
No footsteps. No response.
Tobirama stopped in front of her, looking down with calm contempt.
"Forgot to mention," he said lazily,
"My body is immune to all poisons."
"That sleeping drug of yours tasted like flavored water."
He gently pinched her chin, forcing her to look into his crimson eyes.
"And besides…"
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Instead of worrying about why I didn't fall unconscious—"
"Miss Aria…"
"Shouldn't you be worrying about yourself now?"