Chapter 131

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Chapter 131: Speak Honestly for Leniency, Braised From the Pot’s Bottom

In the dimly lit kitchen of the torture tower, a clay pot simmered atop a small fire stove. The thick, milky-white soup inside bubbled gently, filling the air with a savory aroma.

A half-fish head and tail protruded from either end of the pot, its lifeless, wide-open eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, as if silently accusing the room’s occupants.

In the direction pointed by the fish head, Lolth sat on a chair, legs crossed, her chef’s hat slightly askew. She idly twirled an ancient brass key in her hand.

Behind her, the small-statured Kanor knelt on the floor, sharpening a kitchen knife with practiced precision. Both of their gazes were fixed on the giant turtle sitting on the ground in front of them.

“So, what exactly is your background? Speak honestly, and I’ll consider leniency.”

Lolth’s tone was calm but carried an undeniable weight, her sharp eyes locking onto the turtle.

The turtle, however, remained defiant.

“Hmph, you abyss-dwelling—”

Swish!

A kitchen knife flew past the turtle’s head and embedded itself in the tiled floor with a dull thunk.

Lolth didn’t even flinch. The knife had come from Kanor, who stood behind her with a blank expression.

“I slipped,” Kanor said flatly, shaking her hand and staring at the turtle. “Now, what were you saying?”

The turtle gulped audibly, its tough demeanor vanishing in an instant.

“…the great succubus, the benevolent lord of Hillenbrand Town, the esteemed and beautiful Lady Lolth, and her most trusted disciple, the future culinary master, Lady Kanor,” it stammered, eyes darting nervously. “I’m just a poor pirate sailor who’s been cursed!”

Lolth raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“A sailor?” she repeated.

It was a surprising claim. Vera Plain, located in the western part of the continent, was entirely landlocked.

To reach the ocean from here, one would need to travel west across the Moon Rising Mountains, pass through the infamous “Swamp of Magic,” and finally arrive at the desolate western coast—a barren stretch of salt beach bordering the sea.

Furthermore, maritime activity in this world was concentrated in the eastern Seven Kingdoms and the southern Ryman Empire. The idea of a pirate sailor appearing in Vera Plain was as strange as an orc suddenly emerging from an elven holy spring.

Lolth’s thoughts drifted to the sunken ship she had discovered while exploring the Larech River.

At the time, she hadn’t paid it much mind, but now that she thought about it, the ship’s size, displacement, and sail design were far more suited to ocean travel than river trade.

“Could it have been… a pirate ship?” she muttered to herself.

Her gaze sharpened as she focused on the turtle.

“That ship was yours, wasn’t it? Explain how you ended up here, what this curse is about, and what’s in that box.”

The turtle’s expression grew pained.

“I-I-I… I can’t remember everything!” it stammered.

Another kitchen knife whizzed past its head, this time grazing its shell.

“Confess, and you’ll be treated kindly. Resist, and you’ll be treated harshly,” Kanor recited, quoting a phrase she’d seen on the Interrogation Department’s wall.

The turtle raised its hands in defeat.

“I swear, I’m telling the truth! I used to be human—probably a pirate. One day, I went to sea in search of treasure, but there was a shipwreck. Everyone on board perished… When I woke up, I found myself transformed into a turtle, cursed and stuck in this river!”

Kanor opened her mouth to press further, but Lolth raised a hand, signaling her to stop.

“This turtle’s soul is severely damaged. It’s unlikely to be lying,” she said, her voice thoughtful.

Turning back to the creature, she continued, “Let’s set your past aside for now. Tell me about this key and that box.”

The turtle nodded quickly, eager to comply.

“I remember this part clearly. I found the box on my last treasure hunt. It’s said to contain relics from a lost ancient civilization—items with the power of Divine Artifacts!”

Its voice rose with excitement, but Lolth interrupted with a skeptical question.

“Then why didn’t you open it and use whatever’s inside?”

The turtle deflated at her words.

“We… we tried! But the box isn’t ordinary. It can’t be opened by just anyone. Only someone destined—someone carrying the fate of the continent—can unlock it. None of us could open it, and our attempts brought misfortune upon us…”

Lolth’s eyes narrowed.

“And you’re certain that misfortune won’t follow us?”

“That won’t happen!” the turtle said hastily. “I’ve been cursed for a long time, and whatever summoned the misfortune is no longer active. It can’t affect the land now.”

Lolth studied the turtle carefully. Its trembling form and sincere tone suggested it wasn’t lying.

“Fine,” she said finally. “Kanor, you’ll open it.”

Kanor hesitated.

“But teacher, you captured this thing—”

Lolth cut her off, handing her the key.

“The turtle claims you’re the chosen one. Go ahead and try. I’ve already checked the box—there’s no danger.”

As she spoke, she scanned the box again, frowning.

To her surprise, the box resisted her senses entirely.

Even so, there were no signs of immediate danger. The magical formation carved onto the box, originally designed to summon disasters, had long since failed.

The only active magic seemed to be a “soul recognition” mechanism.

Though it was unclear why the box might respond to an eight-year-old girl, Lolth couldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely.

After all, with Kanor’s unusual luck and mysterious background, anything seemed possible.

“…Let’s see if it really works,” Lolth murmured, watching as Kanor approached the box.