Chapter9-Rescue

I decided to go back to the room after dealing with all those body changes and stuff. Carefully, I made my way through the mess. 

The tunnel was harder to get through than I expected.

After walking for a few minutes, I finally reached the wooden walkway and fell onto my back. There was light—the torch was where I had dropped it while running away from the snake.

After resting awhile, I pushed myself stumblingly upright and started shambling down the walkway, lamp in hand. I moved slowly. I'd learned my lesson about the slippery wood, but also it was the top speed I could muster. Eventually, I reached the still-open metal door.

"How did a snake get this open?" I wondered aloud, glancing at the wheel mechanism on either side. Part of the wheel was wet with what may have been saliva.

"Did it use its mouth? No way."

Once inside, I didn't waste any time on curiosity on those snake shits.

Instead, I made my way straight to the desk where I had previously seen the many books kept. 

The desk was one of the few pieces of furniture still standing upright in the trashed room.

Avoiding the body on the floor with my eyes, I navigated the debris using my torch. 

Reaching the desk, I grabbed a book and tried to read, but it was difficult to do with one hand while holding the torch in the other. 

'Ugh, it's impossible for me to read like this.'

Frustrated, I set the book back on the desk and used the torch to search for any light sources.

It didn't take long to spot a bulb hanging from the ceiling. 

"Now, where's the switch?" I muttered to myself, guiding the torchlight around the room. 

After a few seconds of searching, I finally found an extension board in the right corner of the room.

I immediately went over and flipped the switch. 

The bulb flickered to life, casting a bright light that illuminated everything in the room. 

With the room now well-lit, I returned to the desk, placed my torch down, and picked up the book again to continue reading.

"That's better now."

Settling into a near by chair, I began to read.

...

After reading all the books on the desk for two hours, I didn't find a single useful thing. 

These books were either storybooks or about various monsters and species. 

I didn't get any solid information about this world. 

Frustrated, I kicked the chair I was sitting on and thought, "Dang, there's nothing here!"

After kicking some more furniture in anger, my eyes darted towards the drawer and the cupboard where I had seen many healing potions earlier.

Let's also check the drawer and see if I can find something useful.

I really hope I find something, or it will be a waste of time to stay here.

Deciding to check it thoroughly, I walked over to the drawer and started sifting through the potions.

As I navigated through them, I found nothing of interest and my hope began to fade. 

"Huh? What's that?"

Just as I was about to give up, I noticed something strange. In the middle of the drawer, there was a crack, and I could see signs of a hidden door behind it.

Curiosity piqued, I leaned in closer to inspect the crack. "Is there some kind of hidden compartment present here?" 

I muttered to myself. Determined, I started to carefully move the potions aside, revealing more of the crack.

Using my fingers, I pried open the drawer further, and to my surprise, the back of the drawer swung open, revealing a small, hidden compartment. 

My heart raced with excitement as I saw a faint outline of a door behind the drawer.

"Gotcha," I whispered, feeling a surge of anticipation. 

I reached in and gently pushed the hidden door, which creaked open to reveal a dark, narrow passageway.

Grabbing my torch, I shone it into the passage, revealing a set of stairs leading downward. 

'Looks like I've found something interesting,' I thought, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. 

But wait, wait!

Let's think before going inside.

This room belonged to that dead guy. Earlier, when I killed him, his pet snake chased me, and I only survived because of my good luck. 

From the looks of it, this compartment must contain something very precious to him, which is why he tried to hide it. 

There's a chance he set up a trap for anyone who found it, or maybe there's another pet of his guarding it. Going in without preparation is dumb.

So, after careful thinking, I took the knife stained with blood from the floor and also grabbed as many healing potions as possible in case I get hurt and need them.

Just as I was about to enter, a screen appeared before me.

New Quest: [Dead Man's secrets]

You discovered a hidden compartment that leads to someone's dark secrets. Go explore what's down there.

Objective: Investigate the Compartment 0/1.

Reward: List of Monster and Item Ranks

Bonus objective: Rescue them 0/2.

Reward: List of Essences needed for each upgrades 

(Accept/Reject)

I muttered, "Rescue them? But whom?" 

My confusion deepened as there was not a single hint of whom to rescue in the quest. 

This made me more suspicious. 

From the quest description, I deduced that there were two persons held as hostages in the hidden compartment.

I decided to take the quest seriously and promised myself something important.

If things didn't go well with the rescue, I would prioritize saving my own life over anyone else's.

Why? 

It's simple...

I didn't want to die before losing my virginity in this life.

The screen faded away, and with the knife gripped tightly in my right hand, I cautiously stepped into the hidden passageway. 

The stairs descended into darkness, and I illuminated the path with my torch to navigate forward. 

The torch's light cast eerie shadows on the damp walls.

After a minute of descending, I finally reached the bottom of the staircase. What I saw shocked me. 

The passageway opened into a dimly lit... Chamber.

Torture Chamber...

"What? Was that guy a criminal?"

As I stepped into the dimly lit torture chamber, a shiver ran down my spine. 

The air was heavy with the stench of blood.  

'This...'

My eyes darted around the room, taking in the sight of a desk adorned with various torture tools, a chair ominously placed in the center, and bloodstains splattered across the walls and floor.

My heart pounded in my chest as I cautiously approached the figures bound and gagged in the corner of the room. 

Their hands were chained together, and they appeared to be unconscious, their faces pale and peaceful despite the horror of their surroundings.

With trembling hands, I lit my torch and directed its light towards them. 

Relief washed over me as I realized they were both girls around my age. 

I knelt beside them, carefully inspecting their bodies for any signs of injury. 

Thankfully, aside from the bindings and gag, they seemed unharmed.

After seeing all this, I was sure of one thing that guy must have been a psychopath.

But who were they, and what brought them here? Was it possible that guy kidnapped them?

That seems to be the most likely scenario.

Questions swirled in my mind as I contemplated the situation. 

I decided to wake them up and ask them directly. With hesitant hands, I shook one of the girl's shoulders gently, murmuring, "Hello, are you okay? Wake up?"

Although I knew they were okay, my nerves got the best of me, and I stumbled over my words. After several attempts, the girl stirred and looked at me with fear in her eyes. She pleaded, "Please... Let... My... Sister go... Please... Don't kill her... But let... Her... Go," her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

Her cries woke the other girl, who shot me a fierce glare and accused, "You bastard, what did you do to my sister?"

Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to comprehend their accusations. 

Did they mistake me with that bastard?

Darn, that's so obvious! I look just like that guy, no wonder they mistook me for him.

Now, what's my next move?

After pondering for a moment and when nothing came in my mind, I decided, 'Forget it. I'll just set them free and hope for the best.'

I immediately shook my head vigorously and raised my hands in defense. "Girls, you've got it all wrong. I'm not that killer. I'm here to save you."

They exchanged skeptical glances but seemed unconvinced. Regardless, I proceeded to cut the chains binding them with my knife.

I really didn't expected the chains to brake so easily but who cares?

"Now, you're free," I announced, hoping to reassure them.

But they continued to regard me with suspicion. 

"Do I need repeat twice?" I said, this time with little frustration in my voice.

The girl with fiery red hair and piercing red eyes, her beauty contrasting with her fierce demeanor, helped her presumed sister to her feet. 

She had on tight jeans, a bodysuit with a deep neckline, and boots that reached up to her thighs.

She regarded me with a wary expression and asked, "Mister, are you Michael Frostburne, the son of the richest businessman?"