Ⅴ
Arthur's fingertips brushed lightly over the Lead Box without making the slightest sound. The only sound was the laughter that kept spilling from his lips-
"Do you know how to play Count to Seven?
When you reach seven, a number containing seven, or a multiple of seven, you say 'pass.'
If you accidentally get it wrong...
I'll let you experience pain."
The South Los Medium spoke softly to the Lady of Pain.
At that moment, the South Los Medium wore no particular expression, and his eyes were utterly calm. Yet somehow, in Mihailo's perception, she felt that the South Los Medium before her was his true self, that he had stripped away his everyday mask and was now revealing his brutality—that was what she believed.
Because...
When she held an absolute advantage, she also enjoyed playing games like this.
Making the sorrowful feel greater sorrow.
Making the despairing feel deeper despair.
Just as the Medium before her had said, making the Lady of Pain experience "pain"-wasn't that an entertaining prospect?
But the Lady did not believe the Medium before her could accomplish that.
And so, the Lady remained silent.
Responding with silence was both a method and a statement.
The Lady chose the most passive means of provoking the Medium before her. It stemmed from the pride of one who had once been called a god.
Even though she had fallen from divinity.
She would never do such a thing.
She was no defeated dog that had been tamed.
Meanwhile, the South Los Medium continued—
"Now...
Let's start by counting to one thousand!"
As Arthur said this, he took out the ring [Devoted Blood].
Abel, who had long since grown impatient, kept drawing on the power of the Contract to plead with Arthur-
"Let me eat! Let me eat!