-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Cellmate
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“...”
“Did you get hurt somewhere when I wasn't looking? Or—”
“I know, I know, so be quiet...! Are you going to keep your promise or not?”
What Helios asked for wasn't a difficult promise to keep.
Not to get hurt.
In truth, the sword that had flown from among the prisoners was one Mint had made herself, and the attack had been self-inflicted.
“Fine. I'll try.”
The reason she had resorted to such a method was that the remaining prisoners wouldn't attack her.
They were bigger cowards than she'd thought.
So, she had acted to make use of the 'self-defense' clause in the manual.
As expected, she was an exemplary guard who adhered splendidly to the rules.
“By the way, Prisoner Helios. We have a problem.”
Mint said with a serious expression.
“They must be all out of meat in the cafeteria.”
“...”
***
That night, a rumor spread like wildfire that the high-grade/level 3 prisoner 'Grogi' and his crew had been beaten unconscious by the new guard.
Along with it came the news that the notoriously ferocious Grogi's wrist had been completely crippled.
It shocked not only the guards but all the prisoners of high-grade and below.
In the dead of night, Mint was secretly and urgently summoned.
By the Warden.
***
Tap, tap.
In the dark room, only the sound of something tapping echoed.
“...You said you learned common sense, didn't you?”
The balding Warden, Ralph Gaman, whose hair was gone only from the crown of his head, clutched his throbbing temples.
Mint said confidently.
“I did.”
Ralph Gaman clutched his throbbing head once more.
“Is beating down a high-grade prisoner your idea of common sense?! You went and crippled the man!”
“Ah... Didn't you say there were some people the prison didn't need?”
“When did I ever say that!”
Mint thought long and hard.
“There's nothing more troublesome than a useless bastard reaching a high grade.”
On second thought, the Warden had only said something with a similar nuance; he'd never said those exact words.
In any case, it seemed he was taking issue with what had happened with Grogi's gang that afternoon.
Mint spoke with the pride of a guard.
“Don't you worry. It can be handled as 'self-defense'!”
“Who's worried about that? Hah, you shouldn't have started a fight in the first place, self-defense or not. Did you forget I told you to handle things quietly?”
Mint thought hard again.
She hadn't killed anyone, there wasn't a pool of blood, and she had wrapped it up with 'minor' violence.
‘Didn't I wrap this up splendidly?’
Besides, even if she had dodged Grogi's attack, those bastards would have come back again.
If anything, the attack in front of the Tower today was a stroke of luck.
Because there were no witnesses!
“Prisoner Helios is alive because they attacked at the Tower. If they had attacked in the main building, there wouldn't have been much I could do, you know?”
Even as a dedicated guard, her duties didn't extend to entering the main building and watching him until lights out.
So, what Mint said was true.
Yes, she was right—right in a way that made you want to punch her!
“It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't stood out in the first place! Do you think I don't know this happened because you're playing dedicated guard and protecting him?”
“Hmm. I'm not quite sure what the problem is.”
“You should have just let him take a few hits!”
The Warden slammed his desk as he spoke.
Certainly... his point wasn't wrong.
Mint could have kept a moderate distance from Helios, been a moderate bystander.
She could have stepped in only when it was absolutely urgent.
But the prison was overflowing with those who desired pretty, beautiful toys. So many things happened that would have been a relief if they had ended with mere violence.
There was no telling what would happen if Helios was dragged away by those who lusted after his face.
Afterward, he would have attracted a swarm of perverts and lechers, regardless of gender.
To just assume everything would turn out fine in the end because he was the male lead...
Mint knew this prison all too well.
‘Right. Why did I step in?’
Perhaps in the book, the male lead had overcome all these trials with his own abilities.
In any case, it was undeniable that Mint herself had overstepped.
After a long moment of thought, Mint spoke.
“He's... too pretty to be broken.”
Even she wasn't entirely convinced, but there seemed to be no other reason.
It wasn't pity; that emotion was a distant memory. It wasn't admiration for her once-favorite novel; all that glittered had lost its value long ago.
Her broken emotional circuits only clouded her judgment when it came to feelings.
“Hah, since when did you care about looks?”
“Truthfully, if you really disapproved, you would have dealt with me first. The fact that you called me here means you haven't, doesn't it?”
The Warden's mouth snapped shut.
Correct.
For someone who had claimed the prisoners' throne, Mint always acted naive and detached.
“For the man who doesn't even show his face when delivering punishment to appear like this... it must be to offer a solution.”
In reality, her judgment was better than anyone's.
Sometimes, frighteningly so.
“...Damn, you're quick on the uptake.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It wasn't a compliment, so shut up. Starting tomorrow, your role is changing.”
He couldn't punish her.
There was no prisoner better suited for this mission than Mint.
‘With what happened today, 'he' will surely seize the opportunity to make a move...’
A snake-like face flashed through the Warden's mind.
Whether she knew the importance of the mission or not, Mint's expression was calm to the point of being aloof.
But the Warden knew full well how much the prisoner before him had longed for release.
This woman would do anything to get out.
No, besides her release, there was nothing she desired or obsessed over.
Wasn't this the person who didn't even care how much her own subordinates followed her?
In other words, she was the perfect chess piece for a politician like him to use.
The eyes of the general manager, a middle-aged man who had spent long years in this worst of prisons, darkened ominously.
“From now on, your role will be...”
***
Sergeant Steven wore a peculiar expression.
“Well, what do you know... I've never seen anything like this.”
Bewilderment, confusion, absurdity, daze. And so on.
His face was filled with a flurry of emotions.
Despite that, I could read a flicker of interest in the corner of his eye.
Then again, from a third party's perspective, it was a rather amusing event.
“Alright, alright. Listen up, you Stray Dogs in this room. All of you.”
Sergeant Steven knocked loudly on the open door of a cell.
The steel was incredibly thick, yet the sound was crisp.
It was a small gesture, but producing such a sound from steel was no easy feat. He had deliberately made the sound resonate through the air.
It was clear that Sergeant Steven was quite skilled.
‘Attribute type? Or maybe material type.’
“There's going to be a change in this room's roster. You'll be using a four-person cell with just three people, so I guess that's good news for you.”
I glanced at the prisoner staring intently at us.
‘Some of the prisoners who fought alongside Helios on the first floor are here.’
Among them, the one staring with a particularly tenacious gaze was Helios.
“Prisoner Helios. You, come with me.”
Helios stared at me with a persistent, almost obsessive gaze as he got up and walked toward Sergeant Steven.
He remained silent the entire time he followed Sergeant Steven, but he kept glancing at me with an uncomprehending expression.
I suppose he would be curious.
Finally, we arrived at a cell.
‘It's shabby.’
A rusted iron door, a testament to its age, greeted us.
Creeeak—
The sound of the door opening was utterly grim. Unimpressed, I stepped into the cell and looked around.
A wall so old that stone fragments crumbled from it. A bed that looked like it smelled of dust.
On the wall were stains that could have been blood or filth.
“This is the only two-person cell available.”
From experience, I knew those stains wouldn't come out, even with cleaning.
“Hey, rookie. You've got it rough.”
“Not at all.”
Sergeant Steven chuckled.
“Jeez, how badly do you want to climb the ladder to accept a punishment like this? I would've quit.”
“...”
When I didn't answer, Sergeant Steven seemed to draw his own conclusions and patted my shoulder.
“Hang in there. You'll be back on duty soon enough.”
‘Somehow, I doubt that'll happen.’
Even as I thought this, I obediently lowered my head.
Sergeant Steven quickly returned to a professional demeanor and stood before the two of us.
“Prisoner Helios, this is 'Garet,' your fellow prisoner starting today.”
I could feel Helios turn toward me in shock.
What's there to be surprised about?
‘You saw everything when I first showed up in a prisoner's uniform.’
I stared ahead nonchalantly.
“Guard Garet, as he was formerly known, will be temporarily serving time as a prisoner as punishment for a homicide incident he caused yesterday.”
I hadn't actually killed anyone, but it seemed the higher-ups were planning to cover it up by saying I had taken care of Grogi and his gang.
In truth, the higher-ups probably didn't need a guy like Grogi anyway, so they likely thought it was a good opportunity to get rid of him.
There are always guys like that.
Not worth the effort to actively dispose of, but if left alone, they rot society like a festering sore.
“From now on, stick by the target's side as a prisoner and protect him. The mission is the same.”
The Warden's voice echoed in my head.
“To monitor and protect the 'VIP' 24 hours a day.”
