"Nn... nnh?!"
A splash of cold water jolted me awake. What happened? Right... I was trying to save those women, and then I was ambushed. I was careless. I was so focused on rescuing survivors that I let my guard down. But wait... is this a blindfold? It's pitch black, I can't see anything. And... why do my arms and legs feel so light? I try to move my tongue to speak, but I can't feel anything in my mouth!
"Mmm! Mmph!!"
"Hehe... so you're awake? To think you were the famous Lady Nagant... Even now, it sends a shiver down my spine. If things had gone differently, I'd have a hole in my head right now."
That voice... no mistake. It's the Boss.
"Mmm! Mmm-nnn!!"
Damn it! What's going on?! Am I gagged? Why can't I make a sound?!
"Kekeke... I'm sure you have plenty to say, but I'm afraid I won't be hearing that pretty voice of yours again. I've already cut out your tongue."
"N-nn? (What?)"
"The organs of a healthy, beautiful woman like you sell for a premium. Especially since you're a Hero who's killed so many villains. Your parts will be marketed as 'Top Grade' merchandise."
"MMMM-MMMM!!!!"
Stop talking crazy and tell me what you did to me!!
"I've taken your arms and legs, gouged out your eyes, and removed your tongue along with a few internal organs. I happened to be short on a liver and some kidneys, so you were a lucky find."
What? What did he just say?
I couldn't believe it. Praying that it was all a sick joke, I tried to lift my body, but all I felt was a void—a terrifying, empty lightness where my limbs should be. Realization crashed over me, and I began to thrash in a panicked frenzy.
No... no, no, no! My arms... my legs... my eyes... my tongue... No! This can't be happening!!
"You seem quite excited. Your lovely organs might become a collector's item for some high-end buyer. Of course, a few parts will be preserved in formalin; there are perverts out there who collect that sort of thing. Well? Aren't you happy?"
"MMMMMMMM!!!! MMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!"
Happy?! You son of a bitch! Give them back! Give me my body back!!!
I flopped like a fish on a cutting board in protest, but the Boss only laughed at my misery.
"Kekeke... watching you wiggle around like a landed fish is hilarious. It's like watching a trained animal perform..."
Warm liquid began to track down my cheeks. I wanted to scream, to wail, to beg for mercy, but the void in my mouth allowed only muffled groans. The hollow, agonizing pain of losing my body parts... was this what all those other women felt?
"Don't worry, though. Once I'm done having my way with you, I'll have you stuffed and sold to one of those perverted rich bastards who adores you."
What? Having his way with me?
For a moment, I didn't even process the words. Stuffed?
"Quite shocked, aren't you? There's a high demand for stuffed Heroines in the third world and the underworld. We did the same with Mermaid Lady, who went missing a few days ago. Don't you worry, I'll make sure you're stuffed beautifully before we ship you out!"
"MM! MM!! MMMMMMM!!!!!!"
No! Not that! Someone help! Michikatsu!! Save me!! Save me, Michikatsu!!!
"Go ahead, scream all you want. No one can save you. Our hideout is disguised as an old cabin deep in the mountains, hidden far underground. You'll never be found. And by the time anyone does come looking, you'll have already been sold... But before the taxidermy begins, I think I'll see how Lady Nagant tastes."
NO!! NO!!! PLEASE!! HELP!! SAVE ME!! MICHIKATSU!! MICHIKATSU!!!!
"It's useless to struggle!!"
THUD!
"Kh..."
Pain exploded in my abdomen. He must have punched me with everything he had. It hurts... it hurts so much. Why? Why do I have to suffer like this? Help... please save me... Darling... Michikatsu...
"Hehe... well, I shouldn't damage such a precious item. I'll be 'gentle' with you."
The sensation of something foreign invading my body... a searing, tearing pain as he forced himself into me. My first... taken by a piece of filth that shouldn't even be called human. I wanted my first to be for Michikatsu...
More tears streamed down my face. I'm sorry, Michikatsu... I've been stained. And now... now I'm going to die.
"Hehehe... look at all those tears. You must be enjoying yourself! Let's take it up a notch then!"
No... please... just kill me...
"Is this the place? Kaina's distress signal... it cut off here."
Michikatsu came to a halt in front of a small cabin nestled deep in the mountains. Without a second's hesitation, he stepped forward.
"Huh?! In—intruder—"
Slash! Thud.
A guard dressed in tactical gear and armed to the teeth stood at the entrance. Seeing Michikatsu approach, he tried to reach for his radio, but a single horizontal sweep of Kyokuseibo sent his head rolling away before he could make a sound.
"I have no time for small talk."
Using the breathing techniques and the enhanced leg strength of a Demon, Michikatsu stormed into the hideout. Moments later, the underground corridors were filled with the sound of gunfire, screams, and the wet sounds of slaughter.
"Phew... being a virgin made it even tighter. That was great."
".........."
Kaina didn't move. Between the absolute despair and the forced physical reaction, she had lost consciousness.
"Well, time to take the heart and brain, then stuff her into a doll for the auction. Hehehe... even if she's a taxidermy piece, she'll essentially be an 'Onahole'—one that never rots. Business is good when girls this pretty try to be Heroes."
Smiling a rot-filled grin, the Boss placed an oxygen mask over Kaina's face to keep her body fresh with sleeping gas. He donned sterile gloves and picked up a scalpel with practiced ease.
He was a former doctor. Even before becoming the head of this villain group, he had a criminal record for illegally harvesting organs from his patients. After his release from prison, he built this organization. On the surface, they dealt in drugs, weapons, and gambling, but their true profit came from kidnapping Heroes and civilians—men were sold for parts, and women were turned into "merchandise" like this.
Just as the scalpel was about to touch Kaina's skin—
"Even All For One would be repulsed by the stench of your soul..."
"Who—?!"
SHNIPT!
A single slash sent the Boss's head flying from his shoulders.
"Kaina..."
Michikatsu stepped over the rolling head, crushing it beneath his heel as he tore the various tubes and wires from Kaina's body and pulled her into his arms.
"I am sorry, Kaina... I am so sorry. I was too late."
He held her broken, mangled form against him, tears streaming as he cursed his own failure.
"How could the same tragedy... happen again?"
He had no time to grieve. Kaina was on the verge of death. Faced with a choice, Michikatsu did the only thing he could to save her.
"Forgive me, Kaina... but I cannot lose you."
Stab!
Michikatsu extended his nails and pierced her neck, injecting a massive amount of his blood directly into her veins.
Time seemed to slow as Kaina's body began to change.
The missing limbs, the gouged eyes, and the severed tongue began to knit themselves back together with impossible speed. Her internal organs regrew, and her pale skin regained its luster.
When her eyes finally snapped open, the kanji for 'Upper Rank Three' (上弦 参) was etched into her irises.
She, too, had become a Demon.
"Nng... uh? I... I can see... My voice... Michikatsu?"
Waking up to find her eyes, tongue, and limbs completely intact, she looked around in bewilderment until she saw Michikatsu. She immediately lunged into his arms, sobbing hysterically.
"I was so scared... I was so scared, Michikatsu...!"
"I am sorry... I arrived far too late."
"I'm sorry, Michikatsu... I'm sorry! I'm dirty now... he took everything from me... I'm sorry..."
"Do not concern yourself with such things," Michikatsu whispered, stroking her hair as she wailed. "My heart is not so shallow as to judge you for what happened."
He continued to hold her and comfort her as the minutes stretched on, waiting for the storm in her heart to subside.