Whose blood?
What a strange question.
"Is this question important?"
Maud examined the crisscrossing wounds covering the man's body from up close.
Tsk. Old wounds had yet to heal, yet new ones had already arrived. That was the perfect description of this man's current state.
With injuries this severe, setting aside his ability to withstand damage, his ability to endure pain alone was extraordinary.
The man stared intently at Maud, his focused gaze devoid of emotion.
"Important."
He had gone several days without food or water, leaving his voice hoarse and deep. When he spoke, it sounded like the low growl of a beast.
Maud lifted his gaze to meet the man's eyes.
An ordinary person would have felt displeased under that gaze, which seemed to be looking at a corpse—let alone those high and mighty nobles.
Being tied up here and tortured seemed, to some extent, like something he had brought upon himself.
"Some belonged to the Marines, some to the soldiers, and some to the nobles aboard the ship. That's about it."
"..."
The man fell silent, but his mouth slowly spread open, revealing a neat row of white teeth.
He smiled.
At the same time, a trace of warmth appeared in his gaze toward Maud.
"Good kills."
His hoarse, deep voice was filled with satisfaction.
Was he referring to the Marines or the nobles?
Most likely the latter.
Maud grew somewhat interested and asked, "What's your name?"
"Mars Jim."
"A slave?"
"Yes."
Jim answered frankly, seemingly unconcerned about his status as a slave.
Maud thought for a moment, then drew Chidori and sliced through the layers of chains binding Jim.
Clatter.
The heavy chains fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Jim looked at the chains that had been severed so easily, surprise showing in his