Iris Craven Lily felt as if she was bearing witness to hell. It was a massacre, so cruel that it didn't look like something accomplished by humans. On Axel's orders, she was observing Moon Blossom. She watched them enter the underground casino before it started operations for the day and, after a little bit, she followed them inside.
It felt as if she had wandered into a hellscape. Everyone was dead. Every step she took felt as if she were wading through a lake of blood, and everywhere she looked, she could see piles of corpses. The stench of death made her retch. No one could've killed this fast unless they'd intended to from the start.
It was difficult to believe that an inexperienced commander had created this landscape as part of a practice regimen. She'd only been slightly late and yet they'd managed to create such a terrible sight. They truly weren't a normal bunch of mercenaries.
"Wh-What is this..."
It was the first time that she'd seen something so horrible. Iris had been born the daughter of a family of nobles, high enough in the hierarchy that they had their own piece of land. She'd grown up in a kind and gentle world. The sight of the blood and bodies before her was so tragic, she felt tears prickle behind her eyes.
She'd only just turned fifteen the other day. Those years had been peaceful, so she was sorely lacking in life experience.
***
"What in the world do you think you're doing?! You killed all of them as soon as you entered, didn't you?! Why would you do that?! It's far too cruel to rob them of the chance for rehabilitation just because they're criminals!" The girl was absolutely furious.
"What's your name? I'm sure you know already, but I'm Asura Lyona."
"I'm Iris Craven Lily, the hero assigned to monitor you. What are you going to do to him?"
"I'm going to torture him for information and then kill him," Asura replied calmly.
"Why are you the ones who'll judge him for his sins?! That's what the military police are for! And it's crazy to execute everyone!" Iris looked as if she was seconds away from attacking them. She reminded Asura of a particularly yappy dog.
"Yeah, you're right," she said. "But we're doing work on behalf of the military police. This is what they want."
"You're lying! There's no way the military police would order a massacre!"
"Hmm." Asura thought for a second before she said, "In any case, could I request that you remove that sword from your back and place it on the ground, Iris? Make sure you keep it in the sheath."
"Huh?"
"You're a hero, aren't you? It's terrifying to have you in the same room as us while you're armed. It feels like you're trying to threaten us. Picture the scene in your head. It looks less like you're trying to negotiate and more like you're trying to force us to obey. Don't you agree?"
"I...do."
Iris obediently removed her belt, which bore the sheath and the sword in it, and placed it upon the ground. In Asura's opinion, all heroes had a happy-go-lucky mindset, but Iris was a step above the rest. She was way too happy and way too lucky. The mercenaries of Moon Blossom looked like they couldn't believe their eyes either, and Asura huffed out a small laugh at their expressions.
"Now then," Iris said, "listen to me."
"Wait," Asura said. "It's still threatening. You're a hero, so turn your back to us. It's hard to relax unless you give us a handicap as severe as that."
"Will this do?" Iris truly chose to obey Asura and turn her back to her.
She was completely defenseless. This was the action of someone who didn't think that they'd be attacked. But how could anyone believe that in this situation? A normal hero—no, a normal human—would never think to turn around under such circumstances.
Marx's mouth hung open and Lumia's expression was twisted in shock. Iina silently mouthed, "She's an idiot," while Jyrki scratched his head, doing his best to understand Iris's actions. Reko and Salume remained silent as they observed the proceedings. The manager looked as though he was completely lost as to what was happening.
"Good. You're a very nice and obedient girl." Asura smiled, and then she snapped the whip through the air.
The leather slashed from Iris's back to her bum, ripping through both cloth and skin. A second after the resounding snap, Iris screamed. She fell, crying out in pain, and writhed upon the floor.
"But in certain situations, your obedience will work against you," Asura continued, looking as though she was enjoying lecturing Iris. "Just like what happened right here. You really shouldn't discard your weapon or reveal your back so easily."
"Y-You call yourself a hero?! Asura, give me that!" An enraged Lumia grabbed the whip out of Asura's hands and used it to hit Iris. Iris didn't even scream. A yellow liquid leaked out from between her legs and her body jerked involuntarily after the strike. "You're not aware of what it means to be a hero, are you?! Throwing away your weapons, turning your back on an enemy, and on top of that, not even dodging?! Do you think being a hero is a joke?!"
Lumia raised her hand to hit Iris a third time, but Asura quickly grabbed her arm. "Calm down. Our request was to train her, not abuse her. We obviously can't kill her either. I understand how you feel, but stop. Our goal here is to teach Iris about how cruel and nasty reality is, as well as have her understand that she can be attacked at any time. We're supposed to make her fit for a real battle, remember?" Asura said calmly. Upon hearing that, Lumia finally relaxed a little.
"Remember to not...get on the vice captain's bad side..." Iina murmured to Reko and Salume. They nodded furiously in response. "I don't get...why she was so mad though..." She tilted her head to the side, and once again, Reko and Salume nodded minutely.
"It must've been because of the sheer disrespect she had for what it means to be a hero. Even if Matias had been the one to turn his back, he would've dodged the first hit. In fact, he probably would've kept his hand on his weapon," Marx spat. "Jyrki, tie up Iris just in case. There's still some rope, isn't there?"
They'd brought the rope along to tie up the manager, but there should've been an extra length of it.
"Yep!"
"Can't a hero make rope go rip?" Reko asked.
"You mean like forcibly rip it apart and break through?" Asura asked in response. Reko nodded. "It's not as if she's Axel, so it's fine. Heroes are humans, even if the people love to deify them."
"Hmm..."
"I don't think she'll be able to move properly for a while anyway. Oh, but it'll be annoying if she keeps interfering with our work so, Jyrki, stuff her mouth with a towel or something, all right?"
"Aye-aye."
After seeing Jyrki approach Iris, Asura slowly took the whip out of Lumia's hands and then turned to face the manager with a bright smile. "Now then, I've kept you waiting."
"Pietro!!! Pietro Angelico!!!" the manager practically sobbed.
"What was that?"
"That's Little God's name! It's Pietro Angelico! Please don't hit me with that!!!" the manager explained, shrinking back and shuddering. He'd seen what that whip had reduced the hero Iris to.
As for Asura, she'd frozen, her face stiff and expressionless.
"Asura?" Lumia said, but her call fell on deaf ears.
"Pietro...Angelico?" Asura murmured, the words slipping from her mouth unconsciously. Upon hearing herself speak the name, a terrible pain flashed through her head. It was so strong that she almost fell to the floor.
Lumia supported her from the side. "What's the matter, Asura? Are you all right?"
"Sorry. Take over for me. Get him to spill the location of their headquarters."
"Roger that. Go rest up."
Asura once again handed the whip to Lumia and then sat down in a nearby chair. "Marx, can you give me some water?"
"Of course." He cast Water Prison close to Asura's face. She scooped some of the liquid out and swallowed it down from her hands. "Are you all right, Boss? Are you still affected by the poison?"
"No, I'm not. That's not it." Asura scooped out some more water, and this time she splashed it on her face. She couldn't calm down. Her childhood memories...or rather, the memories of when Asura still hadn't remembered who she was...left her shaken.
"I'm done," Lumia said.
"That was fast," Asura said after she collected herself.
"He spilled almost everything he knew," Lumia replied with a light shrug.
"Boss, shouldn't we heal up her back for her?" Jyrki asked from the ground as he tied up Iris's arms and legs. She was still crying from the immense pain of the injuries.
"Right. Lumia and Marx, you two handle it."
"I don't want to," Lumia said. "Let her suffer and repent for a while."
"I can understand you're furious at how naive she is, but this is an order, Lumia. Heal her."
"If it's an order...then fine. But I'll take my time with it."
"Yeah, I figured. Take as much time as you want."
Asura stood up and slowly walked towards the manager of the casino. She turned to face Salume and Reko, and then gestured for them to approach her, so they did. Marx cast Bandage to cover Iris's wounds while Lumia activated her healing magic. Iina looked at Iris, then at the manager, and then she ambled towards Asura. Jyrki was staring at Iris with clear worry on his face.
"This is my final question," Asura said to the manager. "Was Pietro Angelico a soldier in the past?"
"Y-Yes, that's right! He often bragged about the Great Massacre and how he pillaged a rural village under the guise of searching for Jeanne!"
"I see. You know, that rural village was a nice and peaceful one. I suppose he didn't mention anything about how his army was almost destroyed, did he? I bet he didn't." Asura smiled, looking like a normal girl. "Reko, lose your virginity to him." As she gave the order, she pressed a dagger into Reko's hands.
"My virginity? I'm a guy, you know?" Reko said confusedly.
"I-I think she's talking about your butt..." Salume said, a furious blush on her face.
"Idiots..." Iina sighed. "To lose your virginity...means to kill someone for the first time..."
"That's right. It's still too early for you, Salume, so you can watch. Make sure you don't avert your gaze. If I see you look away, I'll hit you with that whip. Got it?"
"Y-Yes." Salume nodded fervently.
"W-W-W-W-W-Wait! Please spare my life! Didn't I tell you everything I knew?!" the manager screamed, crawling backwards on the floor.
"Iina, hurt him a little so it'll be easier for Reko to finish the job."
"All right..." With a very happy look on her face, Iina began to dole out violence upon the manager.
From her place on the ground, Iris was screaming something at them. But none of her words were intelligible through the towel Jyrki had stuffed in her mouth.
"I'm still healing you, so don't move," Lumia said as she smacked Iris on the head.
"That's enough, Iina," Asura ordered. "Sit him in that chair."
"All right..." Iina forcefully dragged the manager to his feet and then sat him down in a nearby chair. He had gone limp, so Iina held him up from behind.
"Reko, make sure you hold your dagger on its side," Asura said kindly.
"Yes, Boss," Reko said with a nod, following Asura's orders and adjusting his grip on the dagger.
"Stab it into his chest and slide the blade in between the ribs. That's why you have to hold it at a sideways angle. Do you understand?" Asura's voice was gentle, much like that of an older sister mentoring her little brother. She'd remembered that she was supposed to have had a younger sibling.
"If I stab it in vertically, the blade will grind against the rib and it won't be a fatal wound?" Reko asked.
"There's a chance that could happen, yes. Now go ahead, Reko. There's a good boy."
"Yes, Boss."
***
When Iina let go of the manager's body, he slid off the chair and onto the ground.
"Wow, Reko," Jyrki said. "Virgins usually freak out their first time."
"I was impressed as well." Marx nodded. "I didn't see any hint of hesitation from him."
"Same..." Iina said. "Normally...it's scary..."
"I'll explain for the benefit of everyone here," Asura said. "Reko's mind is broken."
"Broken?" Jyrki echoed.
"Like me, he's not able to feel much empathy towards other people, so he doesn't feel much or any guilt about killing them. Well, in Reko's case, I don't think he feels anything at all."
It looked like Reko interpreted Asura's words as praise, because he puffed out his chest.
"Hmm..." Iina stared at him.
"If you want to be technical about it, Reko and I aren't completely the same," Asura continued. "I was always like this, whereas Reko was a normal kid when he was born. But I suppose the best way to describe it is that he broke due to external factors. In Reko's case, it's from the shock of seeing an intermediate-tier monster kill his entire family."
"My heart is broken. So heal me, Boss," Reko joked, latching onto Asura's arm.
"There, there. Good boy, Reko."
Asura casually reached out and ran her fingers through Reko's hair as if it was completely normal, and everyone—including Reko and Asura herself—froze in shock. What am I doing? Reko isn't your brother, Asura Lyona, she scolded herself. Hearing Pietro's name earlier had revived memories and emotions of Asura's peaceful life in her village before she regained her memories of her past self.
"W-Well, Boss, it's time to go! We don't need to be here anymore, yeah?" Jyrki exclaimed, and Asura nodded.
"Sorry, Marx, but could you carry Iris? Once we get back to the inn, I want you to continue healing her, Lumia. Salume and Reko, go to the nearest military police office and report what happened here. We'll attack the Felmafia's base tomorrow, so I want Jyrki and Iina to scout things out first. Once you all finish your tasks, then you can take the rest of the day off. Now, go."
***
Once the group returned to the inn, Asura removed the towel that was gagging Iris. As soon as she did, Iris started whining loudly, so Asura stuffed the towel back in her mouth.
"I'm not going to eat you or anything, so calm down," Asura sighed. Aside from her and Iris, Marx and Lumia were also in Asura's room. Marx had stayed after carrying Iris in and Lumia was here as the healer. Iris lay on Asura's bed, placed there by Marx. "Lumia, heal her," Asura ordered.
"I don't want to, but I will." Lumia sat on the mattress and began to cast her magic over Iris's wounds.
"What do you want me to do, Boss?" Marx asked.
"You can either rest up or stay here to chat with me. Which will it be?"
"I'll stay." With that, Marx settled against the wall.
"If you promise to keep quiet, I'll take that out," Asura offered to Iris.
She nodded so Lumia removed the towel from her mouth. As soon as she did, Iris started her lecture, though at a significantly lower volume than before.
"You monsters! How despicable of you, to let a child kill that man. You are the ones who are the criminals. You are the ones who should be arrested."
"And you have absolutely no right to call yourself a hero," Lumia said.
"Huh? I passed the Hero Selection Exam, so of course I have the right. I won all of my matches fair and square, without taking even a single hit. Everyone praised me! They said I was even better than Jeanne was."
"By the time Jeanne was your age, she'd already been on the battlefield and accumulated real combat experience."
"Humph! By the way, isn't Jeanne a blemish on the heroes' reputation? I wish they would stop comparing me to her." Iris turned her face away with an irritated huff.
"You were the one who brought her up," Lumia said exasperatedly.
"That reminds me. What's wrong with you people? How can you just attack me out of nowhere when I'm a hero? It's absolutely inconceivable."
"Didn't Axel tell you anything?" Asura asked. "We're suspects for the murder of Matias and we don't give a damn about killing heroes."
"I...did hear about that. But until I saw your crimes with my own eyes, I didn't think that you would be this cruel."
"Then you really are an idiot," Lumia sighed with a shake of her head.
"I'm not an idiot! You are! Murderers! Criminals! You horrible monsters!"
"Shut up!"
Lumia smacked her hand against Iris's back, which was still injured from her whipping. Even if Marx had used his Bandage on the wounds, the pain shouldn't have faded just yet. As expected, Iris screamed in response.
"Do me a favor and stay quiet," Asura sighed. "You're going to bother the other customers."
Not only was Iris a happy-go-lucky idiot, but she also had a fairly troublesome personality.