QT: Against My Will-Chapter 538 - 8.55 - Haunting Notes - Monster Heist

When Shina and the instructor reached his office, the instructor paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He turned to Shina, his expression somber.

"I need to show you something," he said, his voice filled with a mix of gravity, "Prepare yourself. It may be difficult to see."

Bing Shi’s heart raced, a sense of foreboding settling over her. She took a deep breath, readying herself for whatever awaited on the other side of the door.

The instructor slowly opened the door and walked inside, revealing a scene that struck Bing Shi with shock and sorrow.

On the bed lay a fragile girl, her face and body bearing the scars of a brutal attack. Tubes and wires connected her to life-saving machines, reminding Bing Shi of the darkness that could befall even the most innocent souls.

The instructor stood by her side, "We are still investigating what happened," he explained, his voice tinged with unexplainable bitterness, "Her chip alerted us that her heart stopped for a moment. We found her outside of the barracks."

A similar thing happened to Elera’s chip a while ago, which was why he had immediately appeared near the spot of her disappearance. (Elera used the space ring.)

Bing Shi nodded, her eyes fixed on the lifeless figure before her, ’Why is it always the purest of souls that get hurt the most?’ she asked herself, her eyes gazing earnestly into the past.

"Recruit, this must remain confidential for now," the drill instructor sternly instructed, jolting the silent recruit out of her daze, "We cannot afford to create unnecessary panic."

Bing Shi’s eyes locked on the handprint around Bertha’s neck, "Yes, sir."

Lost in her thoughts, Bing Shi heard the sound of footsteps approaching. A group of officials, dressed in formal attire, had arrived to take Bertha away in utmost secrecy.

She instinctively positioned herself in their path, unwilling to let Bertha be whisked away without understanding their intentions.

Ru Quan’s figure emerged among the officials, "Get back to your post, recruit." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Bing Shi gave Ru Quan a scrutinizing glance, "I will not rest until the responsible party is held accountable," she stated firmly before passing by the officials.

Dai An nodded slightly when Bing Shi sent her inside Bertha’s body, telling her to keep Bertha’s mind in a vegetative state.

’Keep a close eye on her.’

The weight of the situation surrounding the assault spread around. The significant differences in power within the ranks needed radical rules to maintain order, like the body chips that everyone within the military had to wear.

The chip collected data on their whereabouts and their physical condition. The fact that someone had dared to commit such an act indicated a person or a group with significant strength or a powerful background.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

Leaving the office, Bing Shi passed by a few soldiers who instinctively gave her a respectful distance.

There was a tangible aura of gloom surrounding her, like a storm cloud hovering above her head, casting a shadow over her path. It seemed like the person she had been looking for the whole morning hadn’t been found yet.

Entering the kitchen, Bing Shi mechanically began to wash the dishes. The rhythmic motion of scrubbing provided a temporary respite from the storm of emotions that raged within her.

Someone had clearly done that to provoke her. Bing Shi couldn’t fathom the depths of depravity that led someone to target such an innocent soul. No, it was her own depravity that had been stirred. Her own insatiable desire for more tolerance that had driven her to force Bertha down the thorny path.

’I twisted her life, shattered her trust, and plunged her into a world of suffering. And yet, nobody tried to save her...They even pounced on her like vultures...’

Bing Shi’s fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the sink. Paralyzed by fear, her limbs trembled slightly. Even the slightest hint of intolerance from her side would subject her to a great punishment befitting her betrayal of her divine role.

’~Calm down, you will break the poor plates.’

’I hate this! I hate this, I hate this!’

The clinking of dishes and the rushing water seemed to echo the irritation Bing Shi felt. Her tears mingled with the water that splashed upon her hands as her feelings had taken on a sinister hue.

"What have I become?" Bing Shi’s whisper barely rose above the rush of water, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.

Her heart, once filled with empathy and compassion, had mutated into a vessel that thrived on the malevolent energies that surrounded her.

Bertha’s silent acceptance of the suffering bestowed upon her became a sick triumph for Bing Shi. Gone were the pangs of sorrow and the yearning for justice. They had been replaced by a twisted satisfaction, a sick pleasure derived from embracing the pain and suffering of others, fueling her with a wicked vigor.

The pleasure that coursed through her veins was not solely derived from the infliction of pain, but from the twisted admiration she held for Bertha’s enduring spirit.

As Bing Shi continued to wash the dishes, her hands moved with a perverse precision, relishing in the cold touch of the water.

The clinking of dishes, once a sound of frustration, now took on a haunting melody that resonated with a distorted joy. ’Today, my dirty companions, together we shall embark on a journey of purification.’

While Bing Shi continued her dialogue with the dirty dishes, her mind danced on the razor’s edge between sanity and madness, ’You shall be cleansed, and I... I shall take pleasure in scrubbing away my impurities.’

Each collision of porcelain against porcelain sent a twisted thrill through her being, a dark delight in the act of scrubbing away the remnants of filth.

With each stroke, she imagined the stains being scraped away, a metaphorical purification that mirrored the darkness within her own soul.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

Ru Quan, his heart heavy with concern, followed Bing Shi silently, his steps careful as he hid behind a nearby wall.

His intention was to offer solace in her time of need, but what unfolded before his eyes stirred a volatile mix of emotions within him.

The once silent sobs that emanated from Bing Shi’s trembling form evolved into ethereal hums, permeating the air with a poignant and bittersweet melody.

The haunting notes hung in the air, weaving their way into Ru Quan’s very soul, evoking a profound connection that transcended words.

It was crushing for him to witness her transformation, to see her pain manifest in such an achingly beautiful manner.

Ru Quan walked towards Bing Shi to grab her plate, and began to wash the dishes in her stead, "What’s the matter? Is something troubling you?"

"...?!..." Bing Shi quickly hid behind his back as if she felt exposed, worried about what Ru Quan might have witnessed or inferred from her actions. She did create a barrier around the kitchen to repel everyone but her husband (he was an exception of exceptions after all).

After a long silence, she finally spoke in a hushed voice, her words barely audible, "I don’t know what to do."

She pressed her head against his back, "I miss the old me—the one who fought for justice relentlessly. Bertha’s situation is heartbreaking, yet I can’t seem to muster any genuine concern. I thought that if we got closer...I would rediscover that passion within me, enabling me to repay her with the same sincerity she has shown."

Bing Shi nuzzled her cheek against his spine, admitting that she didn’t really mind what happened to Bertha, "It’s as if I’ve lost the ability to care about anything at all. Even the sorrow I felt a while ago belonged to the instructor and not me. Perhaps...all I can manage now is to wear a facade of the old me."

After Ru Quan was done washing the dishes, he reached out and took her calloused hands, guiding them to wrap around his torso, intertwining their fingers together, "Take all the time you need to become the person you aspire to be," he whispered soothingly, "During this period, allow me to seek justice on yours and your team’s behalf."

Bing Shi nodded, glad that she didn’t have to feign being provoked as it would be exactly what the other party would want her to feel, "I fear that one day I might lose the ability to love you too. It’s as if the horrors that surround me might extinguish the connection we share."

"There is no need to fret about that," Ru Quan gently clasped her hand, holding it tightly in his own, "I want you to know that I would rather face the most bone-chilling horrors with you than live in a world without you."