Chapter 30: Flossi’s Gift

Ivy’s breathing slowed as she leaned against the wall.

After finding a position that was comfortable enough to avoid large movements, she hadn’t moved for a long time.

Because any significant movement made Ivy desperately want to use the bathroom.

She had drunk far too much water just now, and it had mostly been digested by this point.

She didn’t know how others handled this kind of situation.

But Ivy’s upbringing and pride told her she couldn’t relieve herself in such a humiliating way out here.

Her small face flushed deep red, the long-lasting restraint causing her to sweat and feel extremely uncomfortable.

She pressed her lips together, putting all her strength into suppressing the sensation.

However, this distraction eased the headache and the ringing in her ears that had previously made her restless.

Still, Ivy felt she wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.

But as long as her consciousness remained clear, she refused to do something so shameful.

Just then, Ivy suddenly felt something cold brush against her skin.

Her already tense, rigid body twitched instantly.

W-what was that?

Ivy thought she must be hallucinating—did something just touch her?

A chill spread through her, fear wrapping around her mind, prompting her to instinctively open her eyes and look around.

But the void before her made her remember again—she couldn’t see anything.

She calmed the wildly pounding heart and uneven breaths caused by the fright, painstakingly shifted her body, and positioned herself into a posture that could somewhat protect her.

This movement was agonizing; she bit her lips hard enough to draw blood just to pull it off.

Only then was she able to avoid doing something disgraceful here, under Flossi’s possible watch.

Ivy stayed frozen like this in the corner for a long time, but the cold sensation never came back.

Her body relaxed a little, but the urge to urinate surged once more.

She forced herself to tense up again, stifling it.

It must have been… just her imagination.

Maybe it was just too damp here, and a drop of water had fallen or something.

Ivy comforted herself with this thought, but her mind couldn’t stop conjuring terrifying images of monsters.

This utter ignorance of the outside world magnified her fear infinitely.

Before, she managed to control her thoughts because she knew this place was under Flossi’s control and shouldn’t be too dangerous.

But after being startled by that cold, unknown thing once, no matter how much she tried to tell herself there was no real danger, her thoughts kept drifting toward horror.

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it, don’t think about it, don’t think about it!!!

Ivy screamed inside her head, yelling away all those wild thoughts.

Her chest heaved, the restless feeling growing stronger, and she nearly lost control of her temper.

She sensed her emotional instability increasing, an almost imperceptible anger lingering inside her.

It made her want to gouge her eyes out, just to regain her sight.

Even she didn’t understand why such a terrifying thought had come to her, but a frenzied voice inside insisted on it.

After that wave of madness, Ivy finally dispersed the fear in her mind, but her condition became stranger.

It seemed like even more negative effects had piled onto her.

Ivy thought about it.

If she could open something like a status bar right now, there would definitely be a string of negative buffs.

Just then, the cold sensation that had attacked Ivy before returned.

Her pupils suddenly contracted sharply.

Though she couldn’t see anything, this was only visual obstruction, not true blindness.

So this basic reflex still worked.

Ivy instinctively screamed and tried to shake off whatever was on her hand.

But to her surprise, she couldn’t.

The cold feeling seemed like some sort of rope, or… a tongue?

Ivy didn’t know why she thought of that, but the fear she had just shaken off rushed back.

She struggled desperately to break free, but it was useless.

Meanwhile, she had to divide her attention between fighting the binding sensation and controlling her body’s instinctive reactions—completely trapped.

The next moment, the “rope” binding Ivy’s hand suddenly tightened, yanking her arm to the side.

At the same time, icy touches came to her legs and the other free hand.

Her mind sharpened like never before; she wanted to react, but the “rope” was far quicker.

It tightened instantly, hoisting Ivy up into the air, limbs spread wide like a starfish.

At this moment, no matter how slow her reaction, Ivy could guess that this was no unknown monster—but another punishment from Flossi directed at her.

What made it worse was her body was already at its limit; this rough treatment nearly broke her control.

Ivy’s once rosy cheeks paled as she tightly closed her eyes, biting harder on her lip, toes curling.

After a long while, she finally recovered enough to open her eyes, though she felt the act was somewhat pointless.

Still, she didn’t close them again but looked upward, guessing Flossi could see and hear her.

“Flossi, what do you want to do this time?!!”

Just as Ivy expected, it was indeed Flossi behind everything.

Flossi stroked her chin thoughtfully.

She had been watching Ivy’s reactions since she first felt the need to use the bathroom.

And now, this was the second gift Flossi had prepared for her.

Thinking this, Flossi chuckled softly, then cast a teleportation spell, appearing directly in Ivy’s little dark room.

Looking at Ivy hanging midair, legs slightly turned inward, struggling to hold herself together, Flossi snapped her fingers.

The blood mist sealing Ivy’s hearing dissipated, and Ivy’s hearing returned.

“Little Ivy, this is the second gift I’ve prepared for you. How do you like it?”

Flossi said as she slowly approached Ivy.

“A g-gift??? What gift?”

“Flossi, what are you going to do?!!”

Ivy instantly grew alert and struggled, but all it did was make her body more uncomfortable.

A bad premonition settled deep in Ivy’s heart.

Flossi came in front of Ivy and slightly lowered the magical rope suspending her.

Then she gently placed her hand on Ivy’s stomach, pressing down softly but firmly.