Dalton was tied in a chain of cocoon, bolted and hanging from the ceiling. He watched Yome quietly as she was applying makeup once again. He wondered if that was the only thing she did, since he saw nothing other than the bed, a desk, and that mirror with a cabinet full of makeup. From the reflection of the mirror, Yome saw he was awake and turned to him.

“How was your trip down memory lane?”

“It wasn’t even my memory,” Dalton said. “Was I the hero, or was I that small boy that girl walloped?”

“You were the hero.” She gave him a questionable look. “Are you dumb? It was one of your many colorful lives.”

It was hard to believe that he had been a hero.

“Why did you show me that?” Dalton asked.

“So, you know, why that woman is trying to break down my barrier.” She motioned, and a screen popped up in front of him. Ingrid was pounding at a barrier.

“Ingrid is trying to break my barrier,” she explained. “She won’t though. Unlike her, one of my strengths is reinforcement. To break that barrier, she would need to have the strength of one thousand dragons. She only has the strength of five hundred by my calculations.”

“I see. I see.” Dalton said, as if he understood. He really did not. “That’s a weird power rating system you have there. Can you explain to me, why you use dragons instead of something more concrete?”

“A dragon is measurable.” She again gave him a weird look at his remark. “For example, the chain that is wrapped around you needs at least five dragons to break. You have the strength of a dead dragon.”

“Wh-what does that even mean? Is that an insult? If a dragon’s dead, does that mean it has no power?”

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“Oh, I’m sorry. Let me explain it better. You have the power of a dead human.”

“You just changed the species, and I’m still dead. You are just insulting me aren’t you. Just say it.”

“Dead gorilla?” She turned her head.

He was silent. He was sure now that she was just messing with him.

“Can I ask why you don’t seem to like me?”

Yome swayed her head back and forth. She was counting on her fingers. “There’s so many. I guess the most obvious and immediate reason would be that gorilla pounding on my impenetrable wall. Do you know how much magic I am using to prop it up? I’m at least half my strength. I had to reinforce my barrier for a thousand dragons, just because you didn’t listen to what I said,” she growled, showing her sharp teeth. “So, I told Ingrid that I would kill you in a couple of hours if Maya didn’t come.”

“If you’re making her call Maya, then why am I still here? Can you just let me go?” Dalton asked, exasperated by this whole ordeal.

“I was sure I made it clear. It’s because I hate you.” Her smile and tone were as refreshing as mint.

At that moment a artificial bell rang. It reminded him of the ones he heard from school before an announcement was made.

“Mr. Zulo, please come to Class A-5 to be properly disciplined.”

Dalton just noticed, but in this room, there were speakers in the corner of the ceiling.

“What was that?”

“It’s a school announcement. Have you never been to school?” She gasped. “Is that why you’re so stupid?”

“I went to school, I’m just shocked that this castle is a school.”

“Of course, it’s a school. Have you never played an eroge? A school is trope 101.”

Dalton was having a hard time following this conversation. Eroge? Part of him screamed that it was a dangerous subject to behold.

Sensing blood, the Witch of the Black Dragon grinned.

“Could it be?” She stepped up to him. “You’ve never played an eroge?”

“O-of course I have. I have played hundreds.” Dalton looked away.

“Name your favorites.”

“Damn it!” Dalton yelled.

“This is wonderful.” The witch snapped, and the screen changed to title screen of a game.

Doki Doki Adventure: Wet Wet Happy Days.

On instinct, blood jumped from his throat and out of his mouth. The witch started to cackle in delight as if she had found a new toy.

“You’re going to be watching me play this game. And then afterwards, you will watch me play more eroges.”

“Why are you doing this?” Dalton demanded.

The witch smiled. “Because I hate you.”