The atmosphere in front of the dormitory was tense. Catherine, Thomas, Virginia, and Pierre stood frozen, still processing what they had just witnessed. Elizabeth, the noblewoman, was on the ground in a position difficult to describe: her knees pressed to the floor, her hands forming a "double peace" sign with a forced smile on her face, while tears streamed down her cheeks. The chain around her neck, held casually by the Navigator, only added to the absurdity of the situation.
"Navigator, what exactly were you thinking?" Thomas finally broke the silence, his voice firm and filled with disbelief. "I know you've always had unusual methods, but this… this is beyond the pale."
The Navigator chuckled softly, as if amused by everyone's reactions. "Thomas, you're too serious. Elizabeth here just needs a little 'moral guidance.' She's a bit rebellious, that's all," he said casually, patting Elizabeth's head as if praising a pet. "This correction session is necessary to make sure she understands her place."
"Moral guidance? By doing this?" Virginia shot a sharp glare at the Navigator, her expression a mixture of disgust and anger. "This isn't moral guidance. It's humiliation." As someone known for her strong principles, Virginia clearly could not accept such treatment, especially toward a woman, regardless of whether Elizabeth was at fault.
Pierre sighed heavily, trying to make sense of the situation, though his gaze was fixed on Elizabeth, who looked utterly defeated. "Was this really necessary, Navigator?" he asked with a flat yet serious tone. "Isn't there a more humane way to discipline our new teammate?"
Catherine looked at Elizabeth, still silent on the floor. Her expression was filled with empathy but also tinged with disgust at the Navigator's methods. "You're truly a hard person to understand," she said, shaking her head slightly. "But I won't stand by and watch this. Elizabeth is a noble, and treating her like this only demeans you."
The Navigator responded with a relaxed smile. "Don't worry. This is the most effective way to deal with someone stubborn like her. If I'm too soft, she'll keep acting out. Noble or not, here, she's one of us," he said with firm conviction.
Luna and Sasha stood at the back of the group, still silent with stunned expressions. Luna bit her lower lip, clearly uncomfortable, while Sasha appeared unsure how to react.
Elizabeth, who had been bowing her head, finally lifted her face slightly. Her eyes glared at the Navigator with a mix of hatred and humiliation. "You… are a devil," she said in a trembling voice. But her tone was weak, as if all her courage had been stripped away.
"Thank you for the compliment," the Navigator replied nonchalantly, grinning widely. "Now, Elizabeth, shouldn't you introduce yourself more enthusiastically? This is your chance to prove you can be part of this team."
Thomas clenched his fists but knew arguing with the Navigator now would lead nowhere. "If this is your way of leading, then I have nothing more to say to you," he said coldly.
"You're too quick to judge," the Navigator replied, standing casually while still holding Elizabeth's chain. "Trust me, you'll see the results later."
Virginia, still fuming, crossed her arms. "I just hope she doesn't lose all her dignity before that happens," she muttered sarcastically.
The Navigator glanced briefly at Virginia, then turned his attention back to Elizabeth. "That's enough, Elizabeth. I'll remove this chain if you promise to behave from now on," he said firmly but calmly.
She didn't respond verbally, only nodding slightly. Catherine looked at her with sympathy but said nothing further. Everyone felt the situation was wrong but chose to hold back, at least for now.
"Alright, everyone," the Navigator said with a grin. "You can return to your activities. Remember, we have a big mission ahead. Be prepared."
The Navigator stood before them all, smiling as if satisfied with what had just transpired. Without further words, he approached Elizabeth, who was still sitting on the floor, her face red with shame. With a swift motion, he unfastened the chain around her neck.
"You're free now," he said in an almost friendly tone, though the cold smile on his face suggested otherwise. "But remember this well, this won't be the last time if I see another 'friendly fire' warning from you."
The Navigator leaned down slightly, bringing his face close to Elizabeth's ear. "Do you understand?" he whispered, his tone low but sharp.
Elizabeth only bowed her head lower, not daring to look at anyone. Her body trembled slightly, but she said nothing. The tears that had been falling earlier were beginning to dry, but the lingering humiliation was painfully evident on her face.
With that, the Navigator turned and walked away. "Luna, let's head back to the main headquarters. There's a lot to oversee," he said, waving to the others without looking back. Luna, who had been standing stiffly with an awkward expression, simply nodded and quickly followed the Navigator, leaving the others behind.
The group remained silent for a moment after the Navigator left. Catherine was the first to break the silence. "What was that?" she asked, her eyes narrowing at the door where the Navigator and Luna had disappeared. "I know he's strange, but this is crossing the line."
"I… don't even know what to say," Virginia replied softly, her gaze resting on Elizabeth, who was still sitting on the floor. "Elizabeth, are you alright?" she asked gently.
Elizabeth didn't respond. She continued to bow her head, her fists clenched on her lap. Catherine knelt in front of her, her tone unusually gentle. "Hey," she said, "if you want to talk, we're here."
Thomas, who had been standing with his arms crossed, let out a long sigh. "That Navigator… he really has no heart," he muttered, shaking his head. "But I can't say I'm surprised. He always does whatever he thinks is necessary, even if it's… well, like this."
"We can't let this keep happening," Catherine said, standing up again. "This isn't right. Even if he's our superior, there are limits."
Pierre, who had been leaning against the wall in silence, finally spoke. "But he did manage to stop Elizabeth from attacking," he said calmly, though his face showed discomfort. "One way or another, he ensured everyone's safety. That's his job, isn't it?"
"Job or not, this method is still wrong," Catherine snapped. "No one deserves to be treated like that."
Elizabeth slowly lifted her head, looking at Catherine with eyes still slightly wet. "I'll be fine," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you, but… please leave me alone for a while."
Virginia gave a small nod. "Alright," she said with an understanding tone. "We'll be here if you need anything."
One by one, they left Elizabeth where she was. Catherine looked at her for a moment longer before turning away, clearly still angry and frustrated. Pierre followed behind them, while Thomas let out another long sigh before walking off.
Now alone, Elizabeth took a deep breath. She touched her neck where the chain had been, then clenched her fists. Her eyes fixed on the floor with a new intensity, as if deciding something within herself.
"I won't let this happen again," she whispered to herself. A spark of determination began to replace the shame that had dominated her.
Elizabeth slowly stood up from the floor, her face still flushed with embarrassment. Her steps were heavy as she walked toward the dormitory, as though an invisible weight bore down on her. When she reached the corridor, her eyes landed on a door with a plaque bearing her name: Elizabeth Bathory. The door seemed to underline her place in the group that had just humiliated her.
She opened the door and stepped into a room that appeared to have been automatically set up by the system. It was clean and elegant, yet it felt cold to her. Standing in the middle of the room, Elizabeth unconsciously touched her neck again, recalling the chain that had bound her. The chain may have been physically removed, but its memory still gripped her mind.
She thought about what had just happened in front of the dormitory. The Navigator's face, with its calm smile, lingered in her mind, causing her chest to swell with a mix of anger and fear. "How could he treat me like that?" Elizabeth murmured, her voice trembling. Her eyes began to sting, and tears slowly trickled down her cheeks.
Elizabeth collapsed onto the edge of the bed, crying softly. Shame and anger mixed within her, but beneath it all was a bitter realization that made her tears flow even harder. "I was wrong… I truly was wrong," she whispered to herself. She knew that her action—attacking the Navigator without speaking first—was a grave mistake. She had allowed her anger and her noble ego to control her, disregarding the consequences.
"But… does that justify treating me this way?" Elizabeth thought, hugging herself. Her dignity as both a woman and a noble felt utterly crushed. Fear began to creep into her mind as she recalled the Navigator's final threat whispered in her ear. If another friendly fire warning appeared, this wouldn't be the last time.
"He didn't hurt me," Elizabeth murmured, trying to convince herself. "But… he could if he wanted to." The thought made her body tremble. Her hands moved slowly to touch herself, seeking comfort, but she found only fear. Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish the thoughts from her mind.
"I am Elizabeth Bathory," she said, attempting to strengthen herself. Her voice wavered, far from the confident tone she usually carried. "I am a Countess. I won't let someone like him destroy my dignity." Yet, even as she spoke, her heart acknowledged how small and powerless she had felt in the face of the Navigator. Somehow, he had subdued her without needing physical violence.
Her beautiful face now looked tired, but behind the tears streaming down her cheeks, there was a spark of determination. I will fix this, she thought. I'll show them that I'm more than a girl who can be humiliated like that. However, before anything else, Elizabeth knew she would first have to face her guilt and shame.
She took a deep breath and wiped her tears away. With trembling steps, she walked toward the large mirror standing in the corner of the room. There, she saw her reflection—her eyes puffy from crying, her face still flushed. Elizabeth lifted her chin slightly, attempting to display the noble composure that had always defined her.
"This is not the end," she said softly to her reflection. "I am Elizabeth Bathory. I will rise again." But even as her words sounded firm, Elizabeth knew that to do so, she would first have to find the courage to face both the Navigator—and herself.
***