...

Madness overtook me.

No, no that wasn't right.

Between all the anger and rage and sorrow I was feeling.

There was an odd sense of calm.

The safety order did not allow me to grieve.

“Now then, Mari Beta”, the thing resumed. “You perpetrated slavery and allowed a witch to escape. What do you have to say in your defense?”

I laughed.

It was all I could do.

“He has gone mad”, said a piece of flesh.

“So you have nothing to say?”, asked the thing.

“I am going to kill you”, I promised. “I will take everything from you and strip it bare.”

“How dare you speak to my lord like that!”, said another.

“Order him to speak. I wish to know why he lost against you.”

And so I did.

Dispassionately and with a nauseating calm.

II told them everything that transpired yesterday and today. How I was **** to throw the match and how Ojou-sama was in control of everything.

Once I finished there was a queer quiet in the room.

“I...I...” one of them was grasping for words “You threw the match? This was all a sham? No...that that is impossible!”

“I figured as much”, spoke the golden monstrosity. “There where some oddities in the prior rounds as well.”

I laughed. “Are you heading out now to kill the crime boss? You seem to be awfully fond of killing after all.”

“That will not do”, the monster said. “Your word alone will not suffice as evidence.”

“I thought so”, I sneered. “You are working for her, aren't you? Yes, that makes sense, a bunch of butchers working for a butcher.” I laughed.

“You are doing us wrong”, filth said. “We had nothing to do with this.”

Worthless. “Get on with it and slaughter me already, then. I have nothing more to say.”

“Very well.”

“Please wait, my lord”, she said. “While it is true that he is insolent and has sinned, I do not think his execution is warranted. I propose another form of punishment.”

“Speak.”

“He should join us. He is a formidable foe but would make a very valuable ally. Henceforth, he should dedicate his skill to the fulfillment of your dream.”

“Perhaps”, the golden monster allowed. “Perhaps that is one way to atone for his many sins.”

In the end, I was not allowed to die.