Yet the mont he ca within reach, Baelgor suddenly extended his hand. His palm pressed against Cisco’s shoulder with the weight of a falling mountain.
A cold, suffocating force slamd into him. It wasn’t physical strength alone; it was sothing deeper, primal like a fragnt of the abyss brushing his mortal shell.
Cisco’s body jolted violently. His knees threatened to buckle, his spine scread, and before he even realized it, he leapt back, eyes wide with raw terror.
"What, what kind of power is that...!?" His breath ca in sharp bursts as sweat trickled down his back. "Just a touch... just a single touch, and it sent shivers straight to my marrow. No... this isn’t a pampered rich son. This is sothing else entirely. Could it be... the product of one of those monstrous hunter families? Just what kind of monsters are these guilds breeding!?"
Cisco’s heart scread danger, but his mind scread profit louder. He had already invested too much to stop halfway. And he knew better than anyone, greater risks often led to greater rewards.
Baelgor, on the other hand, withdrew his hand and smiled faintly, almost indulgently.
"It is alright, human," he said, his voice calm, regal. "That will only happen once."
Cisco froze, blinking. "...Only happen once? What the hell does that even an?"
But before he could question it further, Baelgor was already walking again, as though nothing had happened.
Cisco clenched his teeth, straightened his coat, and forced a grin back onto his face. "Doesn’t matter. I’ve already paid so much into this gamble. To back out now would be spitting on my own fortune. No matter what this fool is, he’s worth following. Even if I have to bow, crawl, or lick his boots, I’ll bleed him dry."
And so, despite the lingering terror in his bones, Cisco followed Baelgor.
"My lord, if you don’t mind... what is your na?" Cisco asked carefully, eyes narrowing as if to study every twitch of Baelgor’s face.
The question hit Baelgor like a spear. His steps froze, his shoulders stiffened.
"Na? Damnation—I never thought of that! Curse this human custom! Dungeon rulers do not need nas; we need only titles. Yet these pitiful mortals demand labels before they kneel? Hmph... I must devise sothing natural, sothing ordinary... a disguise worthy of my brilliance."
His golden eyes darted around frantically for inspiration.
And then—salvation.
Across the street, a yellow carriage rumbled by with glowing letters plastered boldly across its roof: TAXI.
"Hah! A na fit for a king. Short, sharp, commanding. Taxi... yes, this has the ring of destiny."
But Baelgor wasn’t finished. He needed sothing to sound so convincing, then he decided that use phrase; NORMAL HUMAN.
The heavens themselves were guiding him.
Baelgor’s lips curled into a smug smile. He turned to Cisco and, with all the gravity of a monarch declaring his lineage, announced:
"My na... is Taxi Normalhuman."
He puffed out his chest, utterly convinced he had perford the greatest deception in history. "Yes, flawless. No mortal alive will ever suspect the truth behind this brilliant disguise."
Cisco blinked. His jaw slackened. For a mont, he thought his ears had betrayed him.
"...Normalhuman? Did he just...?" His mind spun. Is this guy serious? Taxi Normalhuman? That’s not a na, that’s the kind of thing you get when a donkey kicks you in the head while you’re filling out paperwork.
A strangled laugh bubbled in his throat, and he nearly choked trying to swallow it down.
"No... no, hold it together, Cisco. Keep smiling. Don’t ruin the con. He’s rich, he’s clueless, and, by the gods above, he actually introduced himself like that with a straight face. Is he insane, or just that arrogant? Normalhuman? More like Crazyhuman!"
But outwardly, Cisco forced a respectful nod, his lips twitching as he fought for composure. "A... a fine na, my lord. Truly... unforgettable."
Baelgor bead, completely oblivious to the sarcasm dripping from Cisco’s tone. "Indeed. Soon, the world shall tremble when they hear the na Taxi Normalhuman!"
Cisco, anwhile, was already thinking: "Oh, they’ll tremble, alright. From laughter."
Cisco practically dragged Baelgor by the sleeve, eager to leave behind the clapping crowd and their embarrassing cheers. His face still burned red, his pride was in tatters, and every congratulation felt like another dagger to his soul.
"Damn it all, embarrassnt alone might kill today... but fine. Fine! I’ll endure. If it ans wealth, if it ans milking this fool dry, I’ll crawl through mud and smile through sha. One day, this humiliation will be paid back in mountains of gold."
At least, that was what he told himself.
Yet when Cisco risked a glance at his "lord," he froze.
Baelgor wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t irritated. He wasn’t even confused.
He was... smiling.
Not the awkward grin of a man caught in a scandal. Not the fake politeness Cisco himself often wore. No, this was a calm, confident smile. A smile that said everything was going exactly as planned.
Cisco’s heart skipped a beat.
"...Why is he smiling? We were just mistaken for a couple out there, and he’s smiling? Why? Don’t tell ... don’t tell it’s what I think it is..."
Slowly, Cisco turned to look at Baelgor again, his imagination running wild.
Baelgor’s expression hadn’t changed, still that calm, satisfied smile.
Cisco’s mind exploded.
"That smile... I’ve seen it before. It’s the smile of a predator who has found his prey. No... no way. Don’t tell this fool... plans to... to...!? Gods above, of all the sons of rich hunters, I had to run into this one! The rumors were true, weren’t they? The rich and their... inordinate fantasies, their unnatural desires. He’s one of those! Definitely one of those!"
His eyes went wide, his body stiff as a board.
Baelgor, oblivious to the storm of thoughts raging in Cisco’s head, simply walked a little closer, still wearing that sa serene smile.
Cisco nearly choked. "Oh gods, he’s approaching ! Is he planning to do it now? Here? In public!? Have so sha, fool!"
He bit down on his lip, his thoughts racing faster and darker.
"Well... I suppose... if the paynt is enough... if I can squeeze enough gold out of him, maybe... just maybe... I can endure it. It’ll only be this once. One ti, and I’ll never see him again. Yes... for wealth, for survival, I’ll grit my teeth and take it!"
Baelgor finally stopped in front of him, placing a hand on Cisco’s shoulder with solemn dignity. His golden eyes glimred, his aura radiating pride.
Cisco’s face went pale.
Baelgor suddenly stepped closer, his golden eyes glimring with a strange light. His hand ca down on Cisco’s shoulder, heavy as a mountain.
"Commoner," Baelgor said with a voice that rumbled like thunder. "Tonight, you shall provide ... pleasure."
Cisco froze. His mind short-circuited.
"...Pleasure? P-Pleasure!? Oh no. No, no, no. Don’t tell ....?!!"
Before he could even stamr out a response, his vision twisted. The world spun, and when it cleared, Cisco found himself standing in a grandiose chamber of black stone.
Golden chandeliers blazed overhead, casting light across walls lined with gleaming chains, shackles, and whips.
Cisco’s heart dropped into his stomach.
"Oh gods above... it’s true! He’s not just one of those rich sons with odd hobbies....he’s the worst kind! Not just indulgence, but torture! He enjoys this kind of thing! Ancestors, save !"
His knees buckled. Tears pricked his eyes. He had imagined wealth, riches, and treasures from following this "foolish rich son." Yet here he was, staring at a nightmare that looked straight out of a sadist’s fantasy.
Then, with a snap of Baelgor’s fingers, glowing chains coiled around Cisco like serpents, binding his wrists and ankles, spreading him into the shape of an ’X’ in the air.
Cisco’s shriek echoed across the chamber. "N-nooo! My lord! I was wrong, forgive ! I’ll never scam anyone again, I swear! I’ll donate to the poor! I’ll live righteously! Please spare !"
Baelgor, anwhile, simply stepped forward, inspecting his trembling captive with a cool gaze. His massive fra lood larger than life, his shadow falling across Cisco like a predator examining prey.
"You thought to trick out of gold earlier, did you not?" Baelgor asked coldly.
Cisco’s tears flowed freely. "He knows! He knows everything!"
"I-I never! Nothing of the sort, my lord! I was only trying to serve you! Please, I beg of you, let go!" he sobbed, mucus dripping as he wailed like a child.
Baelgor lifted one of the golden whips from the wall. Its runes glowed ominously. A cruel smile tugged at his lips.
Cisco scread. "Why !? Why always !? This is my punishnt for greed, isn’t it!? Ancestors, why didn’t you abandon soone else!?"
His cries filled the chamber, as Baelgor raised the whip...
The whip ca down.
SMACK!
Cisco scread, his voice echoing across the chamber. "AAAAHHHHHHH! Forgive , my lord! I was wrong! I’ll never scam another rich fool again, I swear!"
CRACK!
"AHHHHHHHH! I’ll feed the poor! I’ll build orphanages! I’ll even help old grandmas cross the road!"
CRACK!
"rcy, rcy! I’ll give up gambling! I’ll stop cheating at cards! I’ll even....AHHHHHH...I’ll even pay my taxes!"
Baelgor’s expression remained calm, almost regal, as though this was no more than a minor disciplinary act. Each strike was controlled, deliberate, not ant to kill, but to humble.
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