I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#28. Narok (3)

 

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Byron Hadley is a 2nd Grade Prison Guard.

 

From 1st Grade Prison Guard onwards, one can apply for rotating shifts to the Surface, but such privileges are not allowed for 2nd Grade Prison Guards.

 

Therefore, he had already been stuck here in Narok for over ten years.

 

Originally, he should have been promoted to 1st Grade Prison Guard by now… but one unsavory incident from long ago had interfered with his advancement several times.

 

‘Damn it. All this just because I beat two prisoners to death in a fit of rage. Isn’t this unfair?’

 

Hadley planned to meet the new Prison Warden and protest about this matter.

 

To let such talented personnel as himself rot in 2nd Grade for years just because he had stomped two bug-like prisoners to death.

 

Step— Step— Step— Step—

 

Hadley walked through the long corridor and opened the door at the far end.

 

Then he saw several candles flickering in the darkness.

 

Beyond the dim cluster of light, he could see the face of the new Prison Warden.

 

“Huh!?”

 

Hadley unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.

 

The gaze visible beyond the candlelight was not human.

 

It was as if he was facing a ghost.

 

Meeting that extremely emotionless and cold stare, his lips wouldn’t part properly.

 

“Byron Hadley.”

 

The Ghost opened its mouth.

 

Hadley unconsciously responded.

 

“Yes, yes!”

 

“Sit.”

 

The Ghost tilted its head slightly.

 

A chair slid out from the darkness on its own with a scraping sound.

 

He thought the Ghost had moved it with Psychic Power, but it turned out the Ghost sitting in front had pushed the chair with its foot.

 

Blink blink—

 

Hadley looked closely at the Ghost before him.

 

White hair, red eyes, pale complexion.

 

The Ghost’s identity was Featherback.

 

Featherback stared intently at Hadley’s face before him.

 

“I said sit.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

At those words, Hadley hurriedly sat down in the chair.

 

His original resolve to argue about his promotion had already completely vanished.

 

The thought that defying the human before him would only lead to death made him break out in cold sweat.

 

‘Just from making brief eye contact…’

 

Hadley immediately understood what kind of human Featherback was.

 

The type of human who must never be crossed.

 

A being born with that unique aura of those who are born at the top and die at the top, standing at the apex of the food chain.

 

At least, that’s what Hadley thought.

 

Then, Featherback asked.

 

“That eye.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Why did you become one-eyed?”

 

Featherback pointed at Hadley’s eye covered by the eyepatch.

 

After hesitating, Hadley answered.

 

“It wasn’t anything major. Just an accident while working…”

 

“Not anything major?”

 

A slight wrinkle formed between Featherback’s brows.

 

And soon, his voice became even colder.

 

“Your eyeball is indeed a trivial existence. But since that became your answer to my question, it’s no longer a trivial existence.”

 

The cold aura emanating from Featherback’s body created icicles on the ceiling and walls.

 

Hadley was trembling from both fear and cold.

 

“I, I’m sorry.”

 

“Be careful with your next answers. You only have one eyeball and one life.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Hadley’s attitude was now perfectly disciplined.

 

He sat rigidly upright and answered Featherback’s question.

 

“So… there was an escaped prisoner. While chasing that prisoner, I hit a stalactite and lost one eye.”

 

“Since you were injured while chasing an escapee, you must have received workers’ compensation insurance money.”

 

“No, no. I didn’t receive any insurance money.”

 

“Why? Mörsolt provides proper compensation to those injured during official duties.”

 

“Actually…”

 

Hadley scratched his head and continued.

 

“Because it wasn’t during official duties.”

 

“How is chasing an escapee not official duty?”

 

“It’s hard to call him an escapee… because that bastard wasn’t a prisoner confined here in Narok.”

 

It was an answer that was hard to understand at first hearing.

 

A slight hint of irritation crossed Featherback’s expression.

 

Then Hadley hastily supplemented his answer.

 

“I, I’ll explain everything!”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“So this was already 14-15 years ago. There was a couple imprisoned here in Narok. Both were high-ranking officials. From what I know, they were people who worked at Mörsolt Castle…”

 

“And then?”

 

“That couple was imprisoned in the deepest level of Narok here, but we found out later that the woman was pregnant.”

 

The environment of Narok is harsh.

 

There’s no way a woman from the upper class could endure it, especially while pregnant.

 

Hadley shook his head and continued speaking.

 

“But somehow, that woman gave birth. When we gathered circumstantial evidence later, it turned out the man had given almost all of his daily food rations to the woman. And he ate cockroaches and rats… anyway, that’s how he managed it.”

 

“What happened to the child?”

 

“That, that is…”

 

Hadley touched the empty space beneath his eyepatch with his hand.

 

“The child born to that couple escaped outside the iron bars and fled somewhere deep into Narok.”

 

“What happened to the couple?”

 

“While torturing them to find the child’s whereabouts… I ended up killing them. It was completely an accident. Because of that, I failed the promotion examination several times.”

 

“You couldn’t catch the child?”

 

“I tried to catch it, but failed several times. In the final pursuit, I even lost one eye while chasing it. Since that child wasn’t a prisoner who had been formally tried and imprisoned here, I couldn’t even receive prison guard insurance money.”

 

Hadley’s body trembled with rage whenever he recalled that day.

 

“But I’m determined to catch the ‘Ghost.'”

 

“You call the child of the dead prisoner couple a ghost?”

 

“That’s what I call it. The other prison guards don’t seem to have any interest though.”

 

“That won’t do.”

 

“?”

 

Hadley looked up with an anxious expression.

 

He was worried that Featherback might prevent him from catching the Ghost.

 

But Featherback’s following words were much better than Hadley had expected.

 

“A prisoner’s child is a prisoner. The escaped ghost is naturally a formal escapee. Prison guards must catch escapees.”

 

“That, that’s right! That’s exactly what I meant!”

 

“Furthermore, you are a righteous person who was injured while performing official duties. I will formally report to higher authorities and bestow a commendation and consolation money. Of course, you’ll be registered as a person of national merit and insurance money payment will be completed.”

 

“Really!? Holy shit! My goodness! This is unbelievable! I never thought such a day would come in my life! This isn’t a dream, is it? Excuse me, but could you slap my cheek once, Prison Warden!”

 

Hadley jumped up and down with joy like a child.

 

But what excited him most of all was Featherback’s next line.

 

“And we’ll conduct a massive search to arrest the Ghost. It doesn’t make sense for an escapee to be roaming outside the prison bars.”

 

“Of course! Of course! That’s how Narok should be!”

 

“We’ll catch the Ghost on Mörsolt’s honor.”

 

“Indeed! Indeed! You are truly Mörsolt! You have keen insight and are a wise ruler!”

 

“And I’m appointing you as the overall commander of that arrest operation.”

 

“Prison Warden! I love you! I pledge my eternal loyalty!”

 

Hadley was now foaming at the mouth as he saluted.

 

Featherback nodded his head.

 

“To catch the Ghost, we’ll need a veteran prison guard who knows the terrain and ecosystem of Narok well. And it should be someone who has a grudge against the Ghost to make luring easier.”

 

“I’m the perfect candidate in every way! I’ll stand at the very front and catch the Ghost! I’ll definitely cut off that bastard’s head and present it before you, Prison Warden! I swear this on my honor, no, on the honor of my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents!”

 

“Good spirit. I understand. If you carry out this arrest operation well…”

 

Featherback’s gaze looking at Hadley softened warmly.

 

“I’ll consider promoting you not just to 1st grade, but a two-step promotion to special grade.”

 

“…! …! …!”

 

Hadley’s remaining eye blazed fiercely with greed.

 

It was bright enough even without a candle.

 

* * *

 

In the deepest level of Narok, countless caves were carved out.

 

A space too cold, damp, and dark to even be used as a prison for prisoners.

 

Each small cave here felt like an entrance leading directly to hell.

 

Black holes that seemed to swallow even the faintest light.

 

There weren’t even the common bats or insects.

 

Only death would be crawling across the floor of this place.

 

“This is the area where we suspect the Ghost is residing.”

 

Hadley had appointed himself as Featherback’s guide.

 

He was strangely enthusiastic about pursuing the Ghost.

 

“…”

 

Featherback surveyed the depths of Narok.

 

The entire space was submerged in complete darkness.

 

It was so dark that if you stretched out your hand, you couldn’t see the number of your fingers.

 

…Drip!

 

A cold water drop fell from the tip of a stalactite twisted like a witch’s teeth.

 

…Tick! …Tick!

 

That sound is as regular as the second hand of a clock.

 

…Tick! …Tick! …Tick!

 

As if measuring the time until reaching death.

 

The floor’s slope was irregular and rough, and with each step, thin mud puddles grabbed at his ankles.

 

Splash—

 

Each time he stepped in the mud puddles, a stench like something rotting wafted up.

 

Sometimes he could hear something wriggling inside the puddles, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

 

Black moss clung thickly to the walls, looking like the sediment of despair that prisoners had vomited up over long years.

 

‘This place remains just as it was in the old days. How nostalgic.’

 

Featherback knows Narok well.

 

This cave is not simply an underground space.

 

It is a place where darkness and despair, hatred, and fear have condensed.

 

The moment prisoners set foot in this place, they instinctively realize.

 

The fact that they will never be able to return to the surface again.

 

‘The inherent fear that humans possess. Narok is a place that stimulates and amplifies that.’

 

However.

 

“Prison Warden! This way!”

 

Hadley, walking ahead of Featherback, seems to feel no such terror at all.

 

He seemed like someone born to serve in Narok.

 

‘Kehehehe— Ghost. You’re finished now. Until now I couldn’t catch you because I lacked authority, but now that the Prison Warden is providing such full support with manpower and supplies…’

 

Hadley draws his prison guard blade and licks the edge with his tongue.

 

‘This time I will definitely find you. And I’ll kill you.’

 

Then, Featherback, who had been walking behind Hadley, nodded his head.

 

“I do hope that comes to pass.”

 

“…!”

 

Hadley tilted his head, wondering if he had spoken his thoughts aloud.

 

Eventually, Hadley and Featherback stood before a cave.

 

This cave was particularly large and deep, making it impossible to see what was inside.

 

Hadley said.

 

“This is the place where we suspect the Ghost is hiding. It’s the most likely location.”

 

“Good. Deploy personnel and begin the search.”

 

“There’s no need to search. I’ll make him come out on his own.”

 

“How?”

 

At Featherback’s question, Hadley smiled sinisterly.

 

“Leave it to me. Within the next hour, I’ll have him kneeling before the Prison Warden.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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