Kurisu put his hand on his chin.
He's been working like this the whole time?! No wonder he hasn't gotten out.
Kurisu switched over to stats.
[Radahk Status]
[Chest: Crippled] [Stomach: Crippled]
[Strength 55 → 14][Martial Arts 37 → 11]
[Dodge 40 → 6][Dexterity 40 → 8] [Toughness 45]
I only looked at the base stats…
A sharp exhale left his nose.
I'm a fucking idiot.
His teeth ground together, I should've checked properly.
Scarring sat behind the fresh wounds.
Kurisu looked away. "…They've been keeping you like this, haven't they?"
Radahk pulled his shirt back on, his back still turned.
"Yes."
Kurisu clicked his tongue.
Of course they were… They won't even let him recover. Keep him useful but never strong, couple that with the lack of food and…
Kurisu's fingers twitched.
"…Okay, I'll do it."
Radahk raised a brow.
"Good… Then I will sleep."
Kurisu didn't move.
Yeah… sleep.
His eyes drifted toward the noble house in the distance.
Tonight I don't have that luxury.
Kurisu waited for Radahk to sleep and cracked open the lock. Then exhaled and opened his stat screen.
[Stealth 47]
[Thievery 63]
[Athletics 30]
"Yeah… I can do this." Kurisu made his way downstairs. There lay a guard sleeping.
He crouched past the guard's bed and out onto the main street. He looked right, four guards were drinking at the gate. Then left, a patrol was coming down the street, Kurisu ducked back inside as they passed.
"Malach is drunk again," A guard snickered.
"Again? How does master Ruben let him get away with it?"
"You know how nobles are." The guards passed.
Kurisu exhaled.
I'm barely high enough level for this.
He crouched outside and blended in with the darkness, dashing between buildings like a one-armed shadow.
I just need to get into Master Ruben's house, grab a medkit, and leave. His heart thumped in his chest
The images of the tortured slave's face flickered in his mind; his stomach twisted. He crept his way up to the house. It looked like a long metal bowler hat, completely different from the sandstone buildings around it. Like a vault.
Kurisu sighed, making his way to the door, no guards, no lights.
That's the easy part over and done with… Now.
He swallowed as he pulled a thin piece of metal out of his pocket.
[Lockpicking 37]
He began working the lock.
chick… chick… snap. He looked around.
chick… chick… Snap. Sweat dripped from his brow.
chick… chick….Click! He opened the door.
He made his way into the room, and he was met by luxurious carpets and iron partition walls.
The guards protect Ruben upstairs, so upstairs is a no-go.
Some guards walked about beyond the partition walls. Kurisu slipped into one of the side rooms.
"Fuck" he whispered.
He peeked around the corner, and two hooded Empire Noble Guards stood just at the bottom of the stairs.
His palms sweat as he stared at them.
These guards have stats in the 60's, if I step into their line of sight for a second…
His throat felt thick with fear…
Kurisu's eyes scanned the room.
nothing… Is there no medkit in here? He grit his teeth.
Shit...
He heard a footstep.
One of the guards started making his way to the room Kurisu was in with his hand placed over his Katana.
I'm fucked.
Unless… His eyes snapped towards a metal table with loose screws.
On the table was a sandwich and some grog.
This'll do. He crept towards the table, took the grog bottle and shoved it in his waistband, he threw the dustwhich on the floor and flipped the table over.
The guard raised his voice, "Anybody in here?
Biting his tongue, he unscrewed the table leg and held it in one hand… If this is like real life.
Kurisu's face clenched as he balled screws up in his hand. He threw them over the partition wall into the room opposite him.
Please work…
The screws hit the ground and clattered in the other room.
The guard flinched and looked behind him.
"What the fuck?!" He drew his Katana.
"Probably a rat," the other guard yawned.
"Even if it is, we should kill it… You know how master Ruben is."
"Fine," The other pulled out a Wakizashi.
Kurisu exhaled, his eyes searched the room, and then he noticed it.
A medkit in a basket.
Thank Okran! He stuffed the metal table leg into his waistband.
The guards burst out of the room upon hearing his footsteps leaving the building.
"Oi!" A guard roared.
Kurisu's heart jumped; he opened his stats.
[Yellow Eye Icon]
He jumped behind a machine outside.
Too close… He turned and crept behind the houses, making his way down the street. He clenched his teeth in frustration.
If that was in the game, I'd be dead. I got cocky.
Kurisu grit his teeth.
He looked down at his prize and almost got back to his cage when he heard screaming.
"what th-"
He stepped into the doorway of the slave house when he heard him.
"WHERE! IS THE BALDY?!" Scarface screamed.
Kurisu's stomach dropped. He heard a whip crack and a familiar grunt.
"SPEAK SHEK"
The whip cracked again—wet this time.
Blood audibly dripped on the floorboards as Kurisu walked back inside the slave house.
Radahk remained silent.
"I said speak!" It cracked again.
Kurisu got to the bottom of the stairs and looked up, his foot lifted.
It didn't land.
He stepped back and clenched his jaw. "If I go now, we are both fucked." He slipped behind some boxes under the stairs.
With every crack of the whip, guilt built in Kurisu's chest.
I'm sorry, Radahk.
He flinched every time the whip cracked; it grew into a steady rhythm of raw flesh and dripping blood. It wasn't for information anymore, it was for pleasure. Hours passed, the whipping continued, but… The grunting stopped.
"Malach, you can stop now. I think it's dead," Riddly groaned.
"It's not dead… It's sleeping." Scarface made his way down the stairs, and a drop of blood leaked through the boards and landed on Kurisu's cheek.
These bastards…
Scarface turned around when he got to the bottom of the stairs and looked at the crates. His eyes looked hollow, cloudy… Drunk?
"Le-hic-lets go!" He turned away and left the house, some guards following behind him.
I thought I was done for… Kurisu pushed the boxes aside and ran up the stairs.
He'd better be alive!
He made his way up, and Radahk lay there on the cage floor unconscious, blood pooling around him.
"Radahk!" Kurisu opened the stat screen while popping the lock open.
The whip hadn't just split skin; it had carved into him. Some strikes had torn deep enough that flesh hung open, wet and raw.
[Right arm Injured] [Stomach Crippled] [Chest Crippled] [left leg Injured]
[Blood -102]
He's almost dead… Fuck.
Kurisu threw the medkit out of the basket.
I have no medic skill, one arm, and a medkit that is 75%… Ok, focus Kurisu!
Kurisu flipped over Radahk onto his back… He's so heavy! His face went red.
Hurry! He clicked open the medkit as he sweat pooled on his skin.
The chest first, it's the most injured. Kurisu got the bottle of Grok and poured it on Radahk's chest before taking a sip himself.
His face winced as he placed it down and reached into the medkit. He found some crude bandages and began packing them into the wound.
Radahk's body jerked under his hands.
This is too slow… he's gonna bleed out. [Blood -104] Kurisu bit his bottom lip as blood splurted out from the pressure onto his arms.
"C'mon!"
He started desperately trying to pack more and more in.
Fuck, don't die, you big Shek bastard, otherwise I snuck out for nothing.
Kurisu began wrapping the Shek's chest. [blood -107]
Fuck, if it hits -116.5, he's dead.
He looked down at the Shek's stomach, he's fucked if I can't finish this.
Kurisu ripped a pack of bandages open with his teeth and started pressing them into Radahk's wound.
I'm too slow… this shitty arm! [50% speed penalty].
Kurisu started shoving the bandages deep into the wound without care for placement. I have to rush… something is better than nothing.
Blood squelched as he shoved more and more bandages in. [Blood -112]
Fuck he's only got 4 points left.
Kurisu grit his teeth as he wrapped the stomach.
[Blood -115.4]
He fell back and sighed, blood covered his face and arms.
"Shit," He opened the system
[Recovery Coma]
That was too close. He pushed himself up.
"If I'd taken any longer…" He grabbed the bottle of grog and took a big gulp.
I was cocky…That was pure luck.
"Scarface," He hissed, teeth clenched and wet with venom, he turned and looked at Radahk.
But his body interrupted him--
His stomach churned. Am I gonna be sick?
He leaned over and belched, his hands shaking and his face pale. Sandy chunks of goo splattered on the floor.
He wiped his mouth, "…Better clean up." he said shaking.
He gathered the tools, the Grog, medkit, basket, and hid them in his stash.
Radahk's chest rose and fell with each breath.
He should be up in a couple of days…
His stomach growled.
…I'll steal some Jerky.
Day 20–Night
Radahk shot up his fists, clenched.
"Welcome to hell," Kurisu smiled.
Radahk looked down at his hands, "I live?"
"Not for long if you don't eat," Kurisu chucked him some Jerky.
Radahk chewed on it, his eyes curious.
"You succeeded?"
"Of course I di—"
Kurisu paused.
…Wait.
He thought I'd die? And he sent me anyway? His eye twitched.
Then his gaze cooled, "I got lucky."
Radahk looked down at his chest, touching it in disbelief.
"As did I".
He clenched his fist, "Human".
Kurisu flinched. "Y-Yes?"
Radahk looked up at Kurisu, his face a fire of determination.
"I will be your ally."
Kurisu's face turned into stone.
"Too weak," He said mockingly.
Radahk's brow raised, and a faint curve grew on his lips.
"Correct"
Kurisu leaned back against the bars, exhausted.
A dry smile split his lips.
For the first time since arriving…
He wasn't alone.
[Game saved]
+1 Radahk