Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 85

　In the underground basement cell, a young boy was cruelly abandoned.

　Wrapped in straw matting, he was tortured, kicked, beaten, and drenched with cold water from head to toe by the jealous and angry mob, who had grown tired of their punishment. The young boy who had endured harsh punishment and vigilante justice was already barely conscious and on the verge of death.

　He does not know whether he is alive or dead. His limbs were numb, but he could vaguely feel the dull pain.

　As he felt so, he heard the footsteps going down the stairs, like a distant echo but also like it was right next to him. However, his thoughts were muddled and he couldn't recognize it clearly.

　Still, he notices a light approaching from behind the bars. He gazed at it with a blank stare. Two figures stop in front of the bars.

　"Yun-shoku, this is the one," says the first figure.

　"What a pitiful sight," remarks the second figure with a hint of disdain. "He looks like nothing more than a rag. Is he all right? He's no use to us if he's crippled."

　"That's fine," replies the third figure, their voice calculating. "I was ordered to take him regardless. After all, what he did was what he did. It's an opportunity for him to repay his debt."

　In a way, it was a type of mercy. Normally, it would not be surprising if the punishment could have amounted to nothing less than a death sentence.

　At the same time, it was in effect a death sentence. Considering the average life expectancy of the servants, there was no chance that this boy would live out his days. On the contrary, it was quite possible that he would be eaten alive in horror and pain on his first mission.

　The prison guard's laughter, as well as the silent company he kept, were both the result of this. Cowering his shoulders, the prison guard puts his hand on the padlock. He removed the lock with a key he had taken out of his pocket.

　Now, one person stepped into the cell. The person gazed down at the young boy. The boy looks up at the person, and they look at each other.

　"I have been ordered to take care of you," the person said, their voice gentle but firm. "It seems that I am to be your guardian from now on."

　The boy looked confused. "Huh? Ah..."

　Before he could comprehend the meaning of the words, the young boy was hugged by the person. The arms were both firm and soft. The long black hair brushed the boy's face, and a faint sweet scent tickled his nostrils.

　The boy instinctively felt relief and a little embarrassment at the sensation. At the same time, his deepest rationality scoffed at him. He scoffs at himself for being so carefree in this situation. But... still, surely, helplessly, the boy felt relieved. The presence that rescued him. It was like a spider's thread in hell.

　"Let's get you patched up first. I'm short-handed here. Can you hold on a little longer?" The voice was gentle and reassuring, but also carried a sense of urgency.