"Brother, start a rebellion. I will be your hammer."
"Hold that thought. It's a good idea, but let's try what we can do first."
We still have one day left. If I don't sleep, I have 24 hours.
"Brother, we're dealing with a human female knight known for her nobility. How can you make someone talk who wouldn't open her mouth even under torture?"
As Tral said, the female knight had endured severe torture. Perhaps due to the unique abilities of knights in this world, she withstood the torture of weak goblins and demons despite having her head bashed.
"Who knows. We have to try to find out."
"True. Then how will you make her talk? Would a human knight really betray her own kind?"
"Of course. Do you think all humans are like you?"
If all humans were like Tral, Demon King Solomon would have been conquered long ago, and we would all be dead. But I know humans better than anyone.
"The torture wasn't intense enough. Once we start dismembering her limbs, she'll talk from the pain."
"She didn't even flinch when all her fingernails were pulled out."
"..."
That's because their torture methods were primitive. I thought of other methods I'd only seen in movies. I found the prison where some humans were still alive, and Tral, who had survived by presenting wild boar roast to Forneus, followed me closely.
"Ugh."
The pungent smell of blood stung my nose. The human female knight imprisoned in the cell hung her head with bruises all over her body. Her blonde hair, which had shone brilliantly at the dungeon entrance, was now matted with dark red blood.
"What's the matter?"
A skeleton guard blocked my way, and I informed him of Forneus's orders.
"Tsk, poor fellow. Go in."
Even if Forneus hadn't given specific instructions, everyone in the legion would know the rumors about me. As the one who captured the female knight, my name and reputation were quite well-known.
"Just one day of honor though."
"Brother, don't lose hope. That honor could be the first step toward your fiery future. Isn't it said that a hero's childhood is always difficult and challenging? Now, let's look at the life of the Red Wolf—"
"Quiet, just bring out what I asked for."
"Here it is."
Tral handed me a book found among the humans' belongings. The paper quality was shabby, and the content was some insignificant erotic novel, but what mattered to me was the paper itself.
Clank.
I approached the female knight. She was bound to the wall in an X shape, with her head hanging down. Her armor had already been stripped away, and she was wearing a brown rag that prisoners usually wear.
"Key."
"Here it is."
I received the key from the guard and removed her gag. Through her disheveled bangs, fierce blue eyes shone, and the female knight twisted her head and bit my neck.
I tucked the gag into my waistband, then lifted the female knight's chin.
"As I thought, you were awake."
"Grrrr!!"
The female knight bared her teeth, trying to bite and tear my neck. But my skin was too tough, and the female knight, weakened by torture, could only manage a small tantrum.
"What's your name?"
"Ptui!"
The female knight spat blood and phlegm in my face.
Whoosh-!
Tral thrust his fist next to the female knight's face. It was so fast that even I was surprised, but the female knight's eyes trembled at Tral's fist that had brushed her cheek.
"Tral."
"Brother! How dare a mere human offer such an insult...!"
Tral was enraged as if he had been personally insulted by the spit I received. I didn't mind at all, but the female knight seemed terrified by Tral's fist.
Trickle.
Yellow liquid began to flow down the female knight's thighs. She had wet herself from just one punch by Tral. A sour, pungent smell stung my nose along with the smell of blood.
"Tsk. Your name?"
"...."
"Did my brother not ask you, human? Tell us your name."
Tral threatened, raising his fist. The female knight, watching both of us cautiously, parted her lips that were dried with blood.
"A-Ayla."
"Brother, this human's name seems to be A-Ayla."
"It's 'Ayla.'"
I corrected Tral's misunderstanding, and the female knight—Ayla—started to watch me cautiously.
"Now let's start gathering information. Ayla, which knight order are you from?"
"...Do you think I'll tell you?"
Ayla glared at me with a fierce expression. Despite having wet herself, she still seemed afraid of Tral's fist and didn't spit at me again. Instead, she just spoke with a resolute expression, closing her eyes tightly and then opening them.
"...Kill me."
"...."
I never expected to hear that line here. My head went blank, and Tral was infuriated.
"Human! If you've been defeated, answer the questions obediently!"
"Shut up. Even though I may be defeated..."
Ayla twisted the corner of her mouth, tilting her head back.
"My heart will never be broken!"
"I've heard female knights are known for being stubborn, so it's true."
I couldn't help but snicker, but Tral beat his chest in frustration at my laughter.
"Brother! If you can't get information from this woman, you will die!"
"Are you trying to help me, or do you want me to die? How could you say that in front of her?"
I scolded Tral, and he backed away as if deeply shocked.
"B-Brother... it's a misunderstanding. I, I absolutely did not intend to—"
"Hmph, how convenient. If I keep my mouth shut, this pig is a dead man, right?"
Ayla snorted at Tral, raising the corner of her mouth.
"Good. Taking an orc with me to the afterlife as a companion. Now I have no regrets. Kill me."
"...!"
Tral trembled, then suddenly fled from the prison. I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief, and Ayla taunted me.
"What now? You won't get any information from me. Hehe."
"Your tone sounds like you're deliberately trying to act tough."
Flinch. Ayla's bound hands twitched. I tore a page from the book, soaked it in water, and wiped the blood off Ayla's body.
"Hmm, so this is your face. Pretty."
"Y-You're insane."
Ayla frowned, perhaps flustered at being called pretty by an orc.
"I-I am a knight! Do you think I'd be happy to be called pretty by an orc?! Absurd!"
"Nice face and a good body. You would bear children well."
I put my hand inside her rag and lifted it. Her belly was covered with whip marks and bruises, but her breasts, sitting firmly on well-trained abs, clearly made their presence known.
"Y-You beast! Are you trying to shame me?!"
"Well? Will you give me information if I stop?"
Ayla bit her lower lip and swallowed her words. After wiping all the blood from her body with paper soaked in water, I unlocked the shackles on her wrists and ankles.
Clank.
As soon as her wrist was freed, Ayla didn't hesitate to grab my neck. She even infused a tiny bit of magic to strangle me, but unfortunately, it didn't hurt at all.
"H-How...?!"
"Did you forget? I was the one who knocked you out. You can't kill me with just that level of strength."
"T-This is ridiculous...! How can an orc that's not even an adult...!"
Ayla shook her head as if unable to accept my strength. I wanted to boast that it was the result of three years of hard training, but I couldn't say anything since Tral had become even stronger than me.
Instead, it was time to show the results of that training differently. After releasing all of Ayla's restraints, I placed her belly on my right shoulder and lifted her up.
"W-Wait?!"
Ayla wriggled on my shoulder. Ignoring her, I wrapped my arm around her waist and left the prison.
"What's going on?"
"I got permission from Lord Forneus. The prison isn't a good place to extract information from this human."
"Is that so? It doesn't matter. She can't escape this dungeon anyway."
The skeleton didn't think much of it. After greeting the skeleton, I left the prison with Ayla. Her resistance gradually subsided.
"...."
"...."
Neither Ayla nor I said anything. I carried Ayla toward a secret place I had prepared within the dungeon. As I got closer and closer to the entrance, Ayla became quieter, like a mouse playing dead.
"Young orc, what is that?"
The gargoyle guarding the entrance was wary of me, and I repeated the explanation I had given to the skeleton guard and added:
"It's part of the process to extract information from the human. The door."
"Hmm... I suppose it's fine. This area is all our territory anyway. You are the guardian who defended the dungeon in our place. I salute you."
The gargoyle guard opened the door without suspicion, and I left the dungeon with Ayla. Ayla's body began to tremble slightly, and I entered a log cabin that Tral and I had built while hunting in the forest.
Thud.
I put Ayla down on the bed. She was looking at me with a complex gaze.
"What are you planning...? Do you think I'll talk because of this...?"
"No, you don't need to talk."
I took out the gag that I had tucked into my waist and covered Ayla's mouth.
"Mmph?!"
Ayla resisted, but it was useless. I laid Ayla on a makeshift bed covered with animal fur, then climbed on top of her.
"Even if I get information from you, Forneus will probably kill me if it's useless. If I'm going to die anyway, I might as well have some fun before I go."
"...!!"