What does it feel like to have your soul forcibly branded?
Lillia knew now.
It wasn’t pain — pain was a physical thing that could be endured.
This was a deeper, irresistible violation.
She felt her mental world — the only place that belonged solely to her, where she could curse the perverted Demon Lord to her heart’s content — being breached by a tyrannical willpower.
That power carried Lucia’s unique aura of order.
It carved a complex Rune into her soul, stroke by stroke.
Her thoughts, her emotions, and every passing idea in her mind were now exposed to another person.
“No… get out… get out of my head…”
Lillia curled up on the carpet.
She clutched her head and let out a whimper, her whole body convulsing.
This feeling was more humiliating than being stripped naked and thrown onto the street.
Her last secret sanctuary had been breached.
“See? This is much better.”
Lucia crouched down, her voice carrying a hint of unconcealed pleasure.
She reached out and stroked Lillia’s sweat-drenched back.
“Now, you won’t have to go through the trouble of lying to me anymore. I will know any of your thoughts the moment they occur. There will be no more secrets between us.”
These words pierced Lillia’s ears.
She snapped her head up.
Her heterochromatic eyes of gold and blue were bloodshot as she glared at the woman before her.
“You… you Demon! Meow!”
She wanted to curse more harshly, to hurl every insult she knew at this pervert’s face.
But the moment that thought surfaced, a bolt of electricity shot through her neck.
It wasn’t painful, but it numbed her brain, causing the subsequent words to catch in her throat.
“It seems the purification function of the ‘Contract Ring’ is quite effective.” Lucia smiled as she watched her reaction. “It automatically filters out those… less-than-civilized words in your head.”
Lillia’s lips moved, but she couldn’t squeeze out a single word.
‘This thing isn’t just a bug; it’s a thought filter and a profanity blocker! How did this pervert come up with such a wicked thing?!’
“Alright, now that your ‘equipment’ has been changed…”
Lucia lifted her from the floor and placed her back on the large bed.
“Our new game can officially begin.”
Lillia immediately tensed her body.
Leaning against the headboard, she watched her warily.
“The name of the game is ‘Honest Q&A’.”
Lucia sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs.
“The rules are simple. I ask, and you must answer honestly.”
Another game! Lillia didn’t believe for a second that this pervert’s game would be simple.
“What if I don’t want to answer? Meow?”
“You don’t have the right to refuse.”
Lucia pointed to the black collar on her neck.
“The ‘Contract Ring’ will ensure your honesty. Every time you attempt to lie or refuse to answer, it will give you a small ‘punishment’.”
She paused.
“As for what that punishment is… you can try it for yourself.”
Lillia shuddered.
She had no doubt that the “punishment” was absolutely not “small.”
“Now, for the first question.”
Lucia spoke.
“When I kissed you just now, what did it feel like?”
The question hummed in Lillia’s head.
The color that had just faded from her face rushed back, burning so hot it made her dizzy.
She had to describe that feeling out loud?
‘This is worse than death!’
“I… I didn’t feel anything! Meow!” she blurted out without thinking.
The moment the words left her mouth — Zzzzt—!
A violent surge of electricity erupted from the collar, tearing through her entire body!
“Meow-aaaaah—!”
Lillia’s body arched violently, and she bounced hard against the bed.
Her muscles spasmed and tightened as numbness and stinging pain raced through her.
It left her body limp and her breathing stalled.
“It seems you still haven’t learned to be honest.”
Lucia watched the twitching Lillia with an expressionless face.
She waited for a few seconds for the current to subside before repeating the same question.
“I’ll ask again. When I kissed you just now, what did it feel like?”
Lillia lay prone on the bed, gasping for air.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
She wanted to be stubborn and protect her dignity, but the lingering pain and fear from the electric shock made her terrified to say another word.
She bit her lip and kept her mouth shut, fighting back with silence.
Lucia watched her without speaking.
She simply reached out one finger and flicked the black leather collar.
Click.
A soft sound.
Lillia trembled.
Zzzzt—!
An even stronger current exploded inside her.
“Ah—!”
Lillia let out another scream.
Her body curled into a ball, shaking violently.
She felt as if her consciousness was about to be scattered by the pain.
“Shall we continue?”
Lucia asked.
Lillia finally broke.
She didn’t want to be shocked again; that feeling was too terrifying.
“I… I’ll say it… Meow…”
Her voice was thick with sobs, and she could barely finish the sentence.
“Very good.”
Lucia nodded.
Lillia lay on the bed in despair, burying her face deep into the soft quilt.
It took all the strength in her body to let out the voice that made her want to die.
“…It… it felt good… Meow…”
After saying those words, all of her dignity was stepped on and crushed.
“Just good?”
Lucia wasn’t satisfied with the answer.
“What else?”
Lillia’s body stiffened.
‘There’s more? She wants me to be even more detailed?! This pervert! She’s forcing me to admit how shameful my body is!’
Lillia bit her lip hard, refusing to make another sound.
But she knew silence was useless.
A voice in her head was screaming, ‘I can’t say it! I absolutely can’t say it!’
Yet her body’s instincts cowered in fear of the impending pain.
Just then, a cool hand landed on her back.
“Don’t be afraid,” Lucia’s voice suddenly became very soft.
“Just say it, and it will be over.”
Lillia burst into a loud cry.
“…My heart… was beating… very fast… Meow…”
“…My body… was very hot… Meow…”
“…And… I liked it… a little… Meow…”
She spoke in fragments between her sobs.
By the time she finished the last word, she felt as if she had died; she was completely hollow.
The expected ridicule and mockery did not come.
Lucia just listened quietly.
Then, she lifted Lillia from the bed and let her lean weakly against her chest.
“See? Isn’t it much better to be honest?”
She used her thumb to gently wipe away the tears on Lillia’s face.
Leaning into that embrace, Lillia smelled the familiar fragrance, her mind a complete mess.
She didn’t understand what this woman wanted.
She had tortured her until she was broken, only to comfort her with such gentleness, leaving her utterly confused.
Just as Lillia was about to be deceived by this tenderness, Lucia spoke again.
“Now, for the second question.”
Her voice returned to its icy tone.
“Since you liked being kissed by me…”
She leaned in close to Lillia’s ear, whispering at a volume only the two of them could hear.
“Then if… I did something even worse, what would you feel?”
Lillia violently pushed Lucia away.
She scrambled toward the corner of the bed using both hands and feet until her back hit the cold wall.
“Don’t come near me! Stay away from me! Meow!”