My Second Chance in Life in Another World-Chapter 62: ALAD’S CUNNING GAME

"Bring Crestia over and let her sit, and you take a seat too," Alad commanded Cirris, his tone carrying an air of lazy authority. His smirk widened as he pointed at me, his eyes gleaming with malice. "And you, sit as well."

The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, the walls of the enclosed space seeming to press in closer with every passing second. I reluctantly followed his order, lowering myself into the chair with clenched fists resting on my thighs. Crestia was dragged forward by Cirris, her bound form trembling. My heart sank at the sight of her vulnerability as Cirris sat her down roughly beside me.

"As I mentioned before," Alad began, his voice dripping with mock politeness, "this game is simple. There are three rounds of punishment, and you will choose who will take the punishment." He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "However, remember that if you choose yourself over Crestia, the punishment triples. Do you understand? Then let’s begin."

His grin widened, the sheer delight in his cruelty sending a chill down my spine.

"For the first punishment," he announced, his tone theatrical, "it will be a strike from Werk’s intermediate sword skill, Snake Bite!"

Werk stepped forward, the wooden sword in his hand glinting faintly under the dim light. His movements were deliberate, his stance practiced, like someone too eager to demonstrate their skill.

"Hehe, it’s an order, so I can’t help it," Werk said, his tone mockingly apologetic. His lips curled into a sinister grin as he added, "Please understand that I’m just following his orders. Don’t hate me. HAHAHAHA!"

He laughed maniacally, spinning the wooden sword as if preparing for a performance. The sound of the blade slicing through the air added another layer of tension to the room.

Is everyone in Alad’s crew like this? I thought, my gaze darting between Alad, Werk, and Cirris. From Alad’s smug demeanor to Werk’s sadistic glee and Cirris’s betrayal, it felt like they were all under some twisted spell.

"What is wrong with them?" I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible.

"I’ll give you a minute to decide," Alad interrupted my thoughts, his voice sharp. He snapped his fingers at Cirris. "Cirris, remove that gag from her mouth; let her speak."

Cirris moved swiftly, pulling the gag from Crestia’s lips with little regard for her comfort. She coughed slightly, her throat dry from hours of restraint, but the moment she regained her voice, she spoke up, her tone filled with desperation.

"I’ll take it! I’ll take it!" Crestia exclaimed, her eyes locking onto mine, pleading.

Her words struck me like a hammer, but I couldn’t let her bear the pain. "What are you saying? That’s an intermediate sword skill. I can’t let you experience that. I’ll take it," I replied firmly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest.

Crestia shook her head violently, her eyes brimming with tears. "Will, let me take it. You’d endure three times the punishment if you choose yourself. I can’t bear to see you suffer like that," she said, her voice trembling but resolute.

Her concern only fueled my determination. "Heh, three times wouldn’t hurt me at all," I said, forcing a smirk even though fear churned in my stomach. I couldn’t let her see my hesitation. "Who do you think I am? Let me take it; I can’t bear to see you hurt anymore."

The room seemed to hold its breath as we stared at each other, the weight of the decision pressing down on both of us.

"Ding, ding!" Alad’s mocking voice broke the silence, his laughter echoing in the room. "Time’s up! So, who will take the first punishment?" His eyes gleamed with excitement, his sadistic enjoyment of our predicament more apparent than ever.

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I answered. "I’ll take it."

Crestia’s expression twisted in anguish, but before she could protest, I spoke again, my voice softer this time. "Crestia, it’s okay. You’ve been through enough. Let me handle this."

Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she nodded reluctantly, her voice barely a whisper. "Will, thank you, but... I don’t want to see you hurt for my sake. I’ll take the second one"

Alad clapped his hands together, his grin growing impossibly wide. "Wonderful! What a touching display of selflessness. This is why I love games like these!"

If I refused her here, it might complicate things further. Crestia was already terrified, and any further argument might only worsen her distress. I could only hope the second punishment would be less severe than the first.

"Okay," I said reluctantly, meeting her tearful gaze. "I’ll leave the second punishment to you."

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft but trembling, as though even agreeing to this was tearing her apart.

"All right!" Alad interrupted, clapping his hands together with twisted glee. "So it’s Will who will bear Werk’s Snake Bite—not once, but thrice! Can he endure it? Let’s find out. HAHAHAHA!"

Alad’s laughter echoed in the enclosed space, each note digging into my nerves like a blade. His enjoyment of the spectacle made my stomach churn, but I held my ground.

Werk stepped forward, gripping his wooden sword with a flourish. The way he carried himself made it clear he took pride in his skill, his smirk widening as he approached me. His eyes gleamed with a cruel spark, and for a moment, I wondered if he’d enjoy this punishment more than Alad himself.

"Stand up," Werk ordered, motioning for me to rise.

My legs felt heavy, as though they already knew the pain that awaited me, but I complied, forcing myself to stand tall.

"Snake Bite!" Werk bellowed, his voice filled with dramatic intensity as he activated his skill.

Snake Bite was no ordinary technique. I’d seen it in action before—a combination of speed and power, blending the swiftness of ’Sharp Nail’ with the devastating force of ’Single Shot’. It wasn’t something meant to be endured lightly.

I barely had time to brace myself before the strike connected.

The wooden blade slammed into my stomach with an unnatural force, as though it were made of solid steel rather than wood.

"AAAARRGGGHHHHH!" The scream ripped from my throat before I could stop it. The pain was overwhelming, radiating through my entire torso and leaving me gasping for air. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor.

"Will!" Crestia’s voice cut through the haze of pain, sharp with worry.

Her cry snapped something inside me, and I forced my trembling body to respond. Gritting my teeth, I pressed my hands to the floor and pushed myself up. The ache in my stomach throbbed with every movement, but I couldn’t let her see me like this. I couldn’t let her think I was weak.

I staggered to my feet, wobbling as my knees threatened to give out again.

"Will?" Crestia’s voice was soft now, full of concern. Her tear-streaked face twisted with anguish as she looked at me.

I forced a smile, though my face felt like it might crack under the strain. "Don’t worry," I said hoarsely, my voice barely audible. "It didn’t hurt at all."

Her lips trembled, and I could see she didn’t believe me, but I didn’t care. I’d endure this pain for her sake, no matter how much it hurt.

Why am I going this far? I wondered, the question nagging at the back of my mind. Is it because she’s my friend? My ally? Or... is it guilt?

I shook the thought away. It didn’t matter why. What mattered was that I had to protect her, no matter the cost.

Werk smirked, clearly unimpressed by my attempt to stay standing. "Ready for round two?" he sneered, raising his sword again.

Before I could respond, the next strike came.

The blade slammed into the same spot on my stomach, the force even more punishing this time. My knees hit the floor hard as the air was knocked out of me again. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I thought I might black out.

"Will!" Crestia cried again, her voice breaking.

I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms to anchor myself. Get up, I told myself. Don’t let her see you like this.

With a guttural growl, I forced myself upright again. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but I stood, swaying slightly.

Werk raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he masked it with a smug grin. "Impressive," he said mockingly. "But let’s see how you handle the third strike."

The third blow came faster than the others, the force so overwhelming that I didn’t even have time to cry out. My body hit the ground with a dull thud, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. The pain was unbearable, a white-hot agony that radiated through my entire body.

"Wow," Alad said, his voice dripping with mock admiration. "You did great! I didn’t expect anyone to remain conscious after receiving three Snake Bites from Werk. Did you hold back, Werk?"

Werk shrugged, twirling his sword lazily. "No, I didn’t. He’s just a bit more resilient than your average student. But look at him now." He motioned toward me with the tip of his sword. "He can barely stand and might pass out at any moment."

I gritted my teeth, forcing my body to push through the pain. Slowly, I rose to my knees, then to my feet, each movement excruciating. My vision swam, but I refused to let myself collapse again.

"Will!" Crestia’s voice was laced with desperation now. Her wide eyes filled with tears as she watched me struggle to stay upright. "I’m so sorry," she whispered.

I turned to her, my breathing ragged. "Don’t be," I said, my voice rough but steady.

Her face twisted with guilt, and she shook her head vehemently. "No, Will, I promise—I’ll take the next punishment. I can’t let you suffer anymore."

Her words struck a chord in me, and for a moment, I wanted to argue, to tell her I’d handle whatever came next. But the determination in her eyes stopped me.

She meant it.

"Okay, without further ado, let’s move on to the second punishment!" Alad announced, his voice brimming with sadistic glee.

The room seemed to darken with his words, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on us like a weight. Alad’s smile widened as he revealed the next trial.

"The second punishment is... receiving ten lashes!" he declared, his excitement undiminished.

My stomach churned at the announcement. Ten lashes wasn’t just a punishment—it was torture.

"So, as you both agreed, Crestia will be the one to take it, right?" Alad said, his gaze shifting to Crestia like a predator eyeing its prey.

Crestia froze under his scrutiny. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Then, finally, she stammered, "A-ah, n-no... p-please, anything b-but that." Her voice quivered, her usual composure shattered.

Her reaction shocked me. Crestia had been firm and determined just moments ago, but now she looked as though she might break at any moment.

"What’s wrong?" Alad asked, feigning innocence. "Weren’t you willing to endure it to prevent Will from getting hurt?"

He leaned closer to her, his wicked grin widening. "Oh, right! I remember using this on you in the past. Did those memories resurface?"

Crestia flinched as though he’d struck her. Her hands clutched the edges of her seat, trembling visibly. Her wide, frightened eyes darted toward me, silently pleading for help.

It hit me like a bolt of lightning—this wasn’t just fear of pain. This was something deeper. He’d used this method of torture on her before, scarring her in ways that weren’t just physical. The realization made my blood boil.

So that’s it. He’s exploiting her trauma to break her.

The rage bubbled inside me, threatening to consume my thoughts. Alad wasn’t just a sadist; he was a monster. My fists clenched tightly, my nails digging into my palms. If we ever made it out of here alive, I swore I’d make him pay for everything he’d done.

"I’ll take it," I said suddenly, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Alad turned to me, one eyebrow raised. His smirk remained firmly in place, though, as if he’d already anticipated my defiance.

"Huh? But didn’t you agree that she would bear the second punishment?" he asked mockingly, tilting his head to the side like a cat toying with a cornered mouse.

"Shut up!" I snapped, my voice echoing louder than I intended. The raw anger in my tone made Alad flinch, his smug expression faltering for just a split second. "I said I’ll take it, right? Stop with your nonsense and just get it over with!"

The room fell into stunned silence for a moment. Even Werk, who had been grinning in the corner, paused to exchange a glance with Alad.

"Wow, that’s surprising," Alad said, recovering quickly. His smirk returned, though his eyes gleamed with amusement at my outburst. "Did you lose your temper? That’s a rare sight."

"Will?" Crestia’s soft voice called my name, trembling with a mixture of relief and guilt.

I turned to her, meeting her tearful gaze. She looked so small, so fragile in that moment, that my resolve only hardened. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Crestia, don’t worry," I said, forcing a smile despite the tension in my body. "A few lashes are nothing compared to the Snake Bite. Let me handle this."

"But—" she began, her voice breaking, but I cut her off.

"You’ve been through enough already," I said firmly. "I won’t let him do this to you again."

Her lips quivered, and she dropped her gaze to the floor, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I’m so sorry, Will," she whispered. "I promise I’ll take the third punishment, no matter what it is. I’m really sorry, Will."

Her apology felt like a knife to my chest. I didn’t want her to blame herself for this—it wasn’t her fault. None of this was.

"It’s not your fault," I said quietly, hoping my words would reach her through her guilt.

"How touching," Alad interjected, clapping his hands slowly. "This little display of selflessness is so entertaining. But enough chatter—Werk, prepare the whip."

Werk moved to the side of the room, retrieving a coiled leather whip from the wall. He unrolled it with a flick of his wrist, the sharp crack of the whip echoing in the room like a harbinger of pain.

Alad was a truly cunning man, a manipulator who thrived on chaos and suffering. His games were more than mere cruelty—they were works of psychological warfare, each move designed to divide and torment. In this particular game, the players might easily turn their ire toward Crestia. After all, I had already endured the first punishment, and now I was being chosen for the second. Crestia had yet to suffer any of Alad’s twisted punishments. It wouldn’t be impossible if others see her as unfairly favored, perhaps even complicit.

But Crestia wasn’t the enemy. No, the true villain was Alad himself. He orchestrated every move, every word, to redirect the blame away from himself and sow discord among us. His masterstroke in this game was exploiting Crestia’s past trauma, using it as both a shield and a weapon. He knew that by forcing me to suffer, he could isolate her further, making her feel responsible for my pain. He was a master of deception, a sadistic puppeteer pulling strings with precision.

And I vowed, silently and fiercely, that I would make him pay for it.

Alad’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

"All right, for the second punishment, Will will take it once more!" His tone was far too jovial, as though he were announcing the winner of a grand prize instead of condemning me to another round of torture.

Alad raised a hand, commanding silence before continuing. "To be clear, as you will bear the second punishment, it will be tripled. You’ll endure thirty lashes."

Thirty lashes. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stand tall even as my mind raced. I had barely recovered from the first punishment, and now I was expected to endure three times the pain.

But I wouldn’t give Alad the satisfaction of seeing me falter. I wouldn’t let him win.

As I steeled myself for what was to come, Alad smirked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. He raised the whip, its leather coils glinting ominously in the dim light. I braced myself, muscles tensing in anticipation.

The first lash came without warning, striking my left arm with a sharp, stinging force that made me gasp. The pain was immediate and searing, spreading like fire beneath my skin.

"That’s one! Twenty-nine more to go!" Alad crowed, his voice dripping with mockery. He sounded as though he were counting off points in a game rather than inflicting real, tangible pain.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, determined not to cry out. But with each lash that followed, the resolve I had so carefully built began to crack. The whip struck again and again, each blow landing with cruel precision. My back, my arms, even the backs of my legs were targets for Alad’s merciless strikes.

By the time he reached twenty, I could no longer hold back the cries of pain. The sounds escaped me unbidden, torn from my throat as the whip bit into my flesh over and over. My vision blurred with unshed tears, and my breaths came in short, ragged gasps. Still, I refused to beg for mercy.

Alad, of course, reveled in my suffering. He paused between lashes to taunt me, his voice dripping with mock concern. "Oh, come now, Will. Surely you can handle a few more, can’t you? After all, you’re the hero here, aren’t you?"

The only voice that broke through Alad’s taunts was Crestia’s. She stood off from her seat, her eyes brimming with tears as she watched the punishment unfold.

"I’m sorry, Will," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I’m so sorry."

She repeated the words over and over, like a mantra, as though saying them enough times could somehow lessen my pain. Her guilt was plain to see, and it only fueled my determination to endure. I wouldn’t let her blame herself for this. This wasn’t her fault—it was Alad’s.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the thirtieth lash fell. My body screamed in protest, every nerve ending alight with agony, but it was over. Alad stepped back, admiring his handiwork with a satisfied smirk.

"You see it now?" he said, addressing the room as though delivering a lecture. "Punishment is an important part of the game. It keeps things... interesting."

I sank to my knees, my breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. My entire body ached, and the sting of the lashes was a constant, burning reminder of what I had endured. But even as pain threatened to overwhelm me, I kept my head high.

Alad might have hurt me, but he hadn’t broken me. And he never would.

Crestia rushed to my side, her hands trembling as she tried to assess the damage. "Will, I—"

"Don’t," I interrupted, my voice hoarse but firm. I met her tearful gaze and forced a small, reassuring smile. "It’s not your fault, Crestia. None of this is your fault."

"But—"

"None of it," I repeated, more forcefully this time. "Don’t let him make you think otherwise."

Her tears spilled over, but she nodded, biting her lip to hold back a sob.

As she helped me to my feet, Alad watched us with a smug, self-satisfied grin. But beneath the pain and exhaustion, a spark of resolve burned bright within me.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Alad might think himself untouchable, but I would find a way to bring him down.

For now, I would endure. But one day, I would make him pay for every ounce of pain he had inflicted.

And I would make sure that he never hurt Crestia, or anyone else, ever again.