Torture the hero, why has the Demon King's castle collapsed again?

Page 52

Mino took a deep breath and decided to let it go.

"In that case, I'll go back to keeping watch..."

Mino casually picked up the book from Swell and flipped through the pages, but finding it completely incomprehensible, he put it down with a serious expression.

"As the Demon Strategist, do you have any recommendations for places to visit in the Demon King's castle? Like a powder keg filled with explosives, a secret room with a hidden passage to the outside world, or even a room where you can dig down to the sewers..."

"I am a demon strategist, not a demon guide." Swell was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

"However, it's not impossible for you to know..." The pages turned gently, and Swell's voice echoed atop the Demon King's castle:

"Would you be interested in trying my torture, my esteemed hero?"

Chapter 71 The Torture of the Demon Swell

"Your interrogation?"

Mino immediately lowered her head, looking at Swell with an extremely solemn expression:

"So that's how it is... Are you trying to force me to study? You're the really ruthless one—"

“From what I understand, apart from the Book Demon race, you humans are the race most enthusiastic about acquiring knowledge…” Swell was silenced by Minogan again, and said in a muffled voice, “It seems you are an exception.”

"No, you're wrong! I'm a social elite who has received nine years of compulsory education! I've reached the advanced level where I have no books in my hands and no books in my heart."

Mino proudly raised her head: "I won't even look at those mere level one or two books!"

“Well, although I don’t know your classification criteria… I have heard that the Kingdom of Kur has been implementing a ‘nine-year compulsory education system’ in recent years, requiring all school-age children to read academic books and accumulate knowledge.”

Swell nodded with some appreciation, but then looked puzzled: "I don't know why, but in the comments section of some of the government decrees, many people have said that it's torture or torture!"

"Wow! You know quite a bit!" Mino's eyes gleamed with pride.

"This torture... no, this learning opportunity! It was I who suggested to Prince Ota that it be promoted throughout the country!"

“…You’re the biggest devil, aren’t you?” Swell found it easy to kill conversations with Mino.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Swell shook his head and began to explain, “My hero, you should know that the power of the Book Demon lies in ‘knowledge’.”

“We draw knowledge from books and we also transmit knowledge... and this authority depends on the principle of ‘equal exchange’.”

"What does this have to do with your interrogation?" Mino asked, somewhat puzzled.

As a demon, why would Swell need to ask himself if he wanted to be tortured, or if he could even resist?

“That’s the crux of the matter…” Swell said calmly, “I cannot force any information out of you, because according to the principle of equal exchange—”

"For every piece of knowledge you give me that I don't know and that falls within a specific category, I must give you a piece of random, valuable, secret knowledge—that is, intelligence."

Mino was startled.

He immediately realized the risks and value of Swell's "torture".

Although the information provided by the other party may be random, there is no loss if we provide even a single insignificant piece of information.

If the randomly obtained intelligence is extremely important, it will have great significance for oneself or the human faction!

But this is also dangerous: since what is to be revealed is knowledge, there is no room for falsehood... and once this knowledge falls into the hands of the knowledgeable demon of books, it may be able to deduce even greater secrets based on countless fragments of knowledge!

Mino narrowed her eyes, instinctively wanting to refuse.

【Ding--】

Even if he learned more information from Swell, it would be no different from being a bystander in the Demon King's castle since he couldn't take it out...

The torture quest for the demon "Svir" has been generated.

But if he were to accidentally let slip a seemingly insignificant but extremely dangerous piece of information, he would be finished...

[Torture Mission: The demon Svir has invited you to undergo torture. Please accept and complete an information exchange with him.]

Mino opened her mouth, about to firmly refuse:

[Reward: One random attribute of the human faction is greatly increased for all allies for 24 hours]

*Thump!* Mino slammed her hand firmly on the table, her eyes filled with determination.

"Life is a high-stakes gamble!"

"Hehe, as expected of a hero, you certainly have the composure to back it up."

On the stone platform, Svir's true form slowly floated up, a deep black light condensing on its body, spreading out like tentacles and connecting with Mino:

"This is a contract technique inherent to our Book Demon clan, and each time it's established, it requires a considerable amount of energy," Swell explained cheerfully.

“You should know that the Contract Spell is absolutely fair. It can automatically measure the performance of the contract… and if the contract is not fulfilled, I can use the contract to automatically extract one piece of information from your memory.”

"Now, the torture contract has begun..."

Mino looked at Swell with increasing seriousness. He hadn't expected that simply expressing his agreement would allow the Book Demon's contract magic to forcibly bind him to the Book Demon.

This must be the opponent's trump card, but because it's not suitable for use in combat, no one has discovered it until now.

But... so what?

Mino smiled slightly, knowing that the rewards for this interrogation mission were unprecedentedly generous.

Randomly boosts any attribute of the human faction, or significantly!

If it were just a normal qualitative change, that would be one thing, but this is a terrifying quantitative change—enough to turn all the people of the Kingdom of Kur into true citizens of the homeland!

He believed that once the rewards were distributed, the wise and unparalleled Prince Ota and Chief Lak would definitely notice this unprecedented opportunity and launch a full-scale war against the demons!

At that time, even if the so-called most powerful Time Demon King were to take action, he would not be able to resist this natural disaster!

"So, what kind of knowledge are you prepared to provide me, Hero?"

Swell said confidently, "By the way, the scope I specified is intelligence that 'would shake the demon camp'."

Mino narrowed his eyes, a glint in them—as if he were back in the perilous moment of battling the demon.

This time, however, it's a battle of wits between the two sides—a war of wits!

Although it can be seen from Swirl's words that, due to the limitations of the Contract Technique, the scope of information he specified could not be too precise.

But it is clear that the other side has been planning this for a long time. The scope of "shaking the demon camp" is the most comprehensive and impeccable constraint!

If he only provides some trivial information, such as the slogans that the human armies on the border change regularly, the location of a certain border granary, or scandals and anecdotes about the royal family and nobles, then he will be in trouble.

That wouldn't have any impact on the demon faction. What could truly shake the demon faction would be strategic intelligence that could effectively strike at their reputation, combat power, and even their weaknesses!

Such as the secret pact between humans and the Ice and Fire Dragon Clan, the weapons against the demons secretly developed with the dwarves, and even the measurements of Saint Lena...

How could he possibly reveal such a top-tier secret that could get one's blood pumping?!

“This is really troublesome. As expected of the demon strategist Swell…” Mino’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. “It seems that it will be quite difficult to gain knowledge from you.”

The fatal flaw lies in the constraints of the contract technique; if he cannot provide the corresponding information, then Swell can directly access his memories.

But if he reveals the information, it will be a devastating blow to the human camp!

"Damn it... Do we have no choice but to reveal the agreement with the dragons or the weapons of the dwarves?"

Mino gritted her teeth, her expression filled with deep resentment.

Even though he had prepared for the worst when he agreed to the torture, he still felt uneasy about giving up so easily.

You have to understand that the previous times I was given away for free were all done with comfortable massages, delicious meals, and generous amounts of gold coins. How could you think you could manipulate me with a simple contract technique? How could you do that to all those sweet and soft female demons I've been through all this time!

Just as I was making this difficult decision in my mind, a flash of inspiration suddenly came to me.

"Wait...maybe this information will work!"

Chapter 72 The Most Perverted Hero in Human History

"Heh, you want information? Then you'd better listen carefully!"

Mino straightened his back, and a confident smile suddenly appeared on his face.

Isn't this... information that doesn't exist in Swell's knowledge base, and whose release wouldn't cause harm, information that can't be stopped—

"I possess the power to escape the Demon King's castle in a critical moment!"

Mino clenched his fist and spoke frankly.

A reward from the cheater—!!!

His internal injuries were healed, the Holy Sword Artotai was revived, the prison key and the Demon King's Castle key were hidden in the system space, the human faction buff aura was about to be redeemed... No matter how much of the rewards were free, tell me, are they helpful or not?!

The undeniable fact is that he has the ability to escape the Demon King's castle and become a potential threat—this is beyond question! And the demons of the Demon King's castle have absolutely no way to stop him!!!

Isn't the chance to reappear as the strongest hero in the world enough to shake the Demon King's army?!

As Mino had expected, the moment the words were spoken, the contract magic linking her to Swell turned pure white.

This confirms that the intelligence they possessed falls within the scope specified by Swell.

White magic began flowing into Svir's direction; the conditions for the contract were about to be met...

"As expected of the hero, he actually used this move?" Swell calmly swayed his body, showing no surprise whatsoever.

"It's a pity, though."

"This does not meet another condition required by the contract."

The next moment, to Mino's astonishment, the pure white energy dissipated like light.

"The information you provide must be within a defined scope, and it must be something 'I don't know'..."

"Hero, we have long suspected your motives for always giving away information despite enduring interrogation... We are now convinced that you possess a secret weapon that allows you to escape the Demon King's castle."

"Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why you are always so cooperative and provide such accurate information."

"Although I don't know how you did it, as the strongest hero in human history, I wouldn't be surprised if any miracle happened to you..." At this point, Swell chuckled softly.

"Therefore, the fact that 'the hero Mino has the ability to leave the Demon King's castle' is already written knowledge to me and cannot be put into practice."

"Holy crap! There's a cheater!"

Mino's eyes widened, only to hear Swell's confident analysis:

"Hehe, Lord Mino, I admit that while you were enduring humiliation and pretending to give us information to lower our guard, you were also constantly infiltrating the Demon King's castle to spy on the secrets of the demon race. This almost open scheme was very clever... Unfortunately, it has long been seen through by the unparalleled wisdom of Lady Kletina."

Upon hearing this, Mino's mouth gradually widened—had he really acted that great? How come he didn't know?