Abyss of Sin

Momonga's heart tightened at these words. Could it be that they had discovered an enemy of the Slane Theocracy, and because Demiurge was unable to handle it, he was being called upon to intervene?

Hmm, if he hadn't yet become involved in the disputes between major powers, he would have attempted to befriend the other party. But if they were truly being overbearing, he would defend Nazarick—which he had built alongside his companions—even if it meant fighting to the death.

Sigh, let's hear what Demiurge has to say first.

"What is the matter?" Momonga asked.

"This matter concerns the task you entrusted to me, Ainz-sama. It has now been fully completed. I have lived up to your expectations and finally discovered a clue. However, I am incompetent; this clue requires the use of Ainz-sama's magic to be fully revealed. Please, Ainz-sama, come with me," Demiurge said.

"Hmm, very well." Momonga nodded. He would finally be able to learn what it was that Demiurge had been working on.

The girl struggled to open her eyes. She looked at the dim room, her mind a blank slate. If there was one word to describe her current state, it would be "void."

She knew nothing—not where she was, nor why she was here.

"Ugh..."

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her brain. She tried hard to recall the few remaining memories she had, but it was in vain. She could remember nothing; the only thing she could grasp was fear.

But what was she afraid of? She didn't know. She didn't even know her own name. However, the survival instinct of a living creature kept her from dwelling on such questions, prompting her instead to observe her surroundings and her own condition.

Hmm...

Naked...

Unable to move her body...

Blood...

It was blood...

There were wounds on her body. Was she injured?

No...

These wounds were not enough to cause such excruciating pain. The source of the agony was...

The girl turned her head with great difficulty. In the dim light, she saw that her arms were not only bound by iron chains but also pinned to the wood with thick iron spikes driven through her forearms...

She was firmly fixed to a cross, unable to budge...

So that was it...

The girl finally understood her current state a little, but it wasn't enough. She still hadn't found the source of the intense pain...

Her gaze continued along the arm pinned to the wooden frame...

Suddenly, the girl froze. Her arm ended just above the wrist; it was empty there, nothing remained...

So that was it...

It was gone...

Fear washed over her. A sentient being instinctively feels terror at the mutilation of their own limbs...

The girl shifted her gaze to her other arm. It was the same; where her hand should have been, there was nothing...

As her consciousness gradually cleared and the chaos receded, the girl felt two more points of intense pain. She looked downward; her legs were overlapped and deeply nailed to the wooden frame...

But this was far from the source of that agony. As her gaze continued downward, the girl's heart hammered violently. Just like her hands, where her feet should have been, there was only emptiness...

"Hah~ hah~ hah~"

The girl wanted to let out a terrified scream, but her throat was seized by a sharp pain, and she could make no sound at all.

However, her ragged breathing did not seem to be in vain. Soon, footsteps echoed from outside the iron door, and then the door was flung open.

The girl looked toward it as if clutching at a straw, but in an instant, a deeper terror flooded her entire being, so much so that the intense pain was forgotten.

"Are you awake? I was actually quite worried about you. Fortunately, I managed to treat your wounds."

The visitor spoke in a dainty, shy girl's voice, though the tone was somewhat raspy.

"That's wonderful. You seem to have quite a bit of spirit left. If you had died, I truly wouldn't know what to do. It would surely make that person angry. Are you hungry? I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you."

If one ignored the octopus head with six bulging tentacles, the bloated body squeezed into a black restraint suit that dug into its flesh, and the round mouth filled with rows of sharp fangs and a straw-like tube that occasionally darted out...

One might truly think it was a lovely young lady.

Neuronist Painkill held a tray in her hands, from which wisps of steam rose in the dim light.

Although the girl had been so frightened by Neuronist's appearance that she had forgotten her pain, the aroma from the tray teased her sense of smell. In her terror, her stomach let out an untimely "gurgle."

"Oh my, it seems you really are hungry. I was worried that if I brought it over rashly and you didn't want to eat, it would be a bit troublesome. Since that's the case, how wonderful. Hmm... but you probably aren't in a convenient position, so I shall do it for you."

Neuronist approached the cross, brought the tray before the girl, and used her other hand to pick up a piece of cooked, fragrant meat, holding it to her lips.

The girl was so tempted by the aroma that she momentarily forgot her predicament. Her hunger overcame the agony, and she took a small bite of the food offered by the horrific monster.

It melted in her mouth—soft, tender, and delicious. The girl had never eaten such tasty food before. Although she couldn't recall her past memories, she felt certain she had never tasted such a delicacy in her life.

"Hehehe..." Neuronist's fat wobbled as she laughed. She covered her fang-lined mouth with her hand, acting coy as she said, "It seems you like my cooking. But to say my culinary skills are superb would be an exaggeration. I suspect it is because the raw ingredients for this dish were taken from your own body, which is why it suits your palate so well. Hehehehe..."

"???"

The girl froze upon hearing this. She didn't understand what the monster meant. She stopped chewing and stared blankly at the tray...

"Urgh... ugh..."

The girl felt as if she wanted to turn her stomach inside out and empty everything she had just eaten, but after dry heaving for a long time, nothing came up.

"Eh? Are you not satisfied?" Nilost's tone was somewhat displeased, and she immediately followed up with a fearful, trembling voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect it to taste so bad to you. Why don't you tell me whose meat you want to eat? I will certainly satisfy you."

The girl struggled with all her might, but being firmly pinned down by iron nails, her efforts were futile; the movement only tore at her wounds, causing even more pain.

"Fine, since you won't say, I'll just choose for myself." Nilost tossed the plate in her hand aside. The dish scattered across the floor, and among the mess, one could see some of the things the girl was now missing.

However, just as Nilost was about to make her move, all of her actions suddenly ceased, and she retreated to the side.

Two figures suddenly appeared in the room.

"Lord Ainz, I welcome your arrival." Nilost knelt before Momonga, who had just appeared.

"Mm, no need for formalities. Rise." Momonga nodded, then cast his gaze toward the girl bound to the cross in the room. Though her face was covered in filth, how could he forget someone he had met only a short while ago?

"Enri..."