I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 29

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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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#29. Child of the Abyss (1)

 

— — —

 

Deepest Level of the Abyss.

 

The winding holes that had been drilled through—no one could tell their total length or what shape lay within.

 

Only groundwater that had pooled there since ancient times and darkness rippled within.

 

Trudge— Trudge— Trudge— Trudge— Trudge—

 

But today, that place was bustling with countless signs of human presence.

 

Prison Guards of the Abyss were sweating as they carried something.

 

Countless items loaded in crates and wagons.

 

They were firewood, oil, and straw bundles.

 

Among them were Prison Guards carrying dried moss and mushrooms.

 

What they all had in common was that they ‘burned well’ and ‘produced lots of smoke.’

 

…Thud! …Thud! …Thud! …Thud!

 

Eventually, countless crates were piled up at the cave entrance.

 

The Prison Guards set them all on fire at once.

 

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle! Whoooooosh—

 

The fire spread to the oil-soaked straw bundles.

 

The hazy spreading firelight distinguished between smoke and darkness.

 

Hiss— Sizzle!

 

The Prison Guards were sprinkling water here and there to keep the fire from getting too big.

 

Each time they did, an enormous amount of smoke billowed up.

 

Sssssssssss…

 

Due to the damp, heavy air, the smoke couldn’t rise upward and sank downward instead.

 

Into the cave where only darkness and groundwater pooled, a giant serpent of smoke was crawling in.

 

The torches the Prison Guards thrust forward lit up the darkness inside the cave, but that was limited to just a few steps.

 

Whoooosh—

 

The smoke created by the flames slowly flowed into the cave whose end could not be known.

 

“This way, they won’t be able to stand it unless they burst out of the cave.”

 

One-eyed Hadley spoke in a confident tone.

 

Beside him stood Featherback with his arms crossed.

 

“I wondered what method you had to catch the escapee, and it’s just making smoke?”

 

“It’s not just smoke, Prison Warden. Look at this.”

 

Hadley held something out in front of Featherback.

 

They were mushrooms and moss that had dried up and withered.

 

Strange creatures that grew naturally on the walls, floor, and ceiling of this place, the Abyss.

 

Hadley smiled bitterly.

 

“These things, when you burn them, they produce an absolutely tremendous amount of smoke.”

 

“Even so, aren’t they just mushrooms and moss?”

 

“They’re not simple fungi. Even if you gather just a thumbnail’s worth and burn it, it produces as much smoke as if an entire hut were completely burned down. Look.”

 

Featherback turned his head following Hadley’s gesture.

 

Indeed, the stream of smoke crawling into the cave was tremendously thick and long.

 

The concentration was so dense and acrid that even the prison guards watching from a distance were streaming tears and snot.

 

Cough— Cough— Cough—

 

Even that tough Hadley coughed repeatedly upon smelling this smoke.

 

However.

 

“….”

 

Featherback simply stood still in the middle of this smoke without a single change in expression.

 

Seeing this, Hadley’s mouth fell open.

 

“P-Prison Warden, doesn’t it sting?”

 

“Not particularly.”

 

Featherback answered in an indifferent tone.

 

If it was acrid smoke, he had to breathe it in every moment on the battlefield.

 

Moreover, that smoke wasn’t created from burning mushrooms or moss.

 

Gunpowder smoke rising from where the corpses of family and comrades had burned away.

 

Featherback closed his eyes briefly, recalling that smell.

 

“By the way, I don’t know much about the escapee. The report just said ‘a child born to a prisoner.'”

 

“Ah, I know that well.”

 

Hadley began explaining in the softest and most friendly tone possible to make a good impression on Featherback.

 

“Long ago, more than fifteen years ago, there was an administrator who worked for the Mörsolt Family. His wife was also an administrator.”

 

“That was before I was born. Did the couple work together as administrators?”

 

“Yes. I heard they were absolutely terrible people. Their misdeeds were beyond description. They not only took bribes from everyone around them but also embezzled public funds, stole their subordinates’ wealth, and were thoroughly corrupt.”

 

Hadley continues, spitting as he speaks.

 

“Then one righteous administrator couldn’t stand it anymore and made a conscience declaration. It was a report saying that even though they were fellow administrators, hadn’t this crossed the line? Thanks to his conscientious report, that wicked couple’s misdeeds came to an end. Here in Narok.”

 

“A righteous administrator who made a conscience report. You must have been close to him.”

 

“We were back then. Now, well, it’s been so long that we’ve lost contact…”

 

Hadley mumbles his words.

 

Then he quickly changed the subject.

 

“Anyway, that wicked couple didn’t come to their senses even after being imprisoned here in Narok. Whenever they had the chance, they taught the prisoners something seditious and looked down on and despised the prison guards.”

 

“Is it possible to ignore and look down on prison guards holding whips and clubs?”

 

“That’s exactly what was so absurd about it. But those bastards were definitely looking down on me. No matter how much I whipped them or beat them with clubs, those damn looks in their eyes remained the same. Those eyes that looked at me like they were pitying some pathetic beggar. I should have gouged them out…”

 

Featherback cut off Hadley’s words and asked.

 

“That couple taught something to the other prisoners?”

 

“Yes. It was bullshit like mathematics, philosophy, and military strategy. Sometimes they would gather together and even sing songs. How ridiculous. I wanted to kill them all, but it was hard holding back. Those bug-like things pretending to be human or whatever.”

 

“Was the escapee we’re looking for there too?”

 

“That’s correct. Exactly right.”

 

Hadley lowered his voice.

 

“That bastard is a very dangerous prisoner. Not only was he indoctrinated with all sorts of seditious and insolent ideas from his parents, but he also stole and learned various criminal knowledge from all kinds of criminals imprisoned here in Narok.”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“I captured and tortured all the prisoners who had been close to that escapee bastard for interrogation. From pickpockets who wandered the slums to gang leaders from back alley criminal organizations, every single one of them said they had taught that escapee something.”

 

“What did they teach him?”

 

“Nothing special. Everything from pickpocketing to lock picking, safe cracking, hiding corpses… and further, how to form and manage organizations. How to manipulate ledgers and evade taxes, and how to use fists and blades… all the disgusting schemes that street thugs commonly devise.”

 

Hearing Hadley’s harsh criticism, Featherback quietly nodded.

 

‘From petty crimes to serious crimes, and even the ideology to create and operate organizations.’

 

Well, he would need at least that much education to be able to start a rebellion.

 

Featherback searched through his memories from his previous life.

 

The riot that had occurred in Narok.

 

The ringleader of the rebels who led it was a truly monster-like human with disheveled hair, an emaciated body, and eyes dripping with murderous intent.

 

He had been educated about the surface world by his high-ranking elite parents, and educated about the underworld by the big-shot prisoners of Narok.

 

And based on that knowledge, he had gathered countless prisoners together to suppress the prison guards, and even turned some of those guards to his side before rising up.

 

‘Because of that rebellion, the Mörsolt Family had to lose about thirty percent of their power.’

 

A riot that broke out above while they were facing the Demon King’s army in front.

 

The army that had no choice but to retreat to suppress it.

 

Even thinking about it now, it was such a painful blow.

 

If he had known that such seeds of discord were smoldering in Narok, he would have drawn his sword much earlier.

 

‘…The leader of the rebels, ‘Rorschach Roschek’. I’ll be meeting him a little earlier in this life.’

 

Featherback was waiting with a firm grip on the sword at his waist.

 

Just then.

 

Tap tap tap tap tap!

 

Footsteps began to be heard from deep inside the cave.

 

Cough— Cough— Cough—

 

Soon, along with coughing sounds, a shadow collapsed on the floor outside the cave.

 

A small figure gasping for breath and struggling toward the fresh air.

 

The moment he saw it, Hadley’s one eye rolled back.

 

“It’s an escapee!”

 

He caught the scent of the escapee before any other Prison Guards, even before the Tracking Dogs.

 

Hadley pushed past the Other Prison Guards and ran at full speed.

 

Soon, a small child with long hair and a gaunt frame was caught in Hadley’s brutal grasp.

 

The Child tried to struggle but couldn’t overcome Hadley’s strength.

 

“Finally caught you! You Ghost bastard!”

 

Hadley growled at the Ghost.

 

“Because you’ve been wandering around the Guards’ Quarters every night making those eerie sounds, I’ve developed chronic insomnia! From tonight on, I’ll finally be able to sleep peacefully!”

 

Ecstasy and hatred, along with very old and deep-seated contempt, poured murderously through Hadley’s one eye.

 

Then.

 

…Stab!

 

Blood spurted from Hadley’s forearm.

 

Ghost. Escapee. Child of the Abyss.

 

This small being with many names had gripped a Sharp Stone Fragment and stabbed Hadley’s arm.

 

But Hadley didn’t care at all and threw the Child to the Floor.

 

“Gack!”

 

The Child collapsed on the hard Stone Floor.

 

But before he could even scream, Hadley trampled the Child’s neck with his Military Boots.

 

Through the Child’s disheveled Hair, Pupils filled with hatred were visible.

 

Hadley looked at them and sneered.

 

“Just wait a little. I’ll beat you to death just like your Parents.”

 

“…!”

 

Then the murderous intent emanating from the Child’s eyes grew even thicker.

 

Such a murderous gaze that one would wonder if these were truly the eyes of a child.

 

But Hadley didn’t care at all and mocked the Child.

 

“Your father had exactly that same look before he died. Completely different from your mother though. Your mother looked at me like she loved me to death. Well, of course she would. I cherished her so much every night. Of course, from your father’s perspective, he would have wanted to kill me. Actually, I’m not even sure if he was really your father. Maybe I’m your father? Come to think of it, timing-wise, I’m more likely to be…”

 

“Shut up.”

 

The Child spoke.

 

“If you insult my Parents any further, I won’t let it slide.”

 

His voice was extremely hoarse and quiet from not eating properly.

 

But his pronunciation was remarkably clear.

 

Hadley curled up the corners of his mouth as if he found it amusing to death.

 

“What will you do if I don’t let this slide?”

 

“….”

 

“Hm? What will you do, I asked. What can you possibly do? Other than squirming like a bug crushed under my foot. What can you do?”

 

“….”

 

The child remains crushed under Hadley’s foot, unable to say a word.

 

Only grinding his teeth hard enough to break them.

 

Hadley raised the bludgeon hanging from his waist.

 

“First, I’ll crush those insolent eyes of yours. Don’t worry, it’s all ‘Procedural Suppression’ after all.”

 

Just then.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

Someone’s voice stopped Hadley’s bludgeon.

 

Step— Step— Step—

 

Featherback was walking toward them.

 

Hadley instantly came to his senses.

 

“Ah, Prison Warden. I caught him. He was trying to escape, so I was about to take measures…”

 

“This is a slightly different matter from the current situation.”

 

Featherback looked at Hadley and asked.

 

“That ‘Righteous Administrator’ you mentioned earlier, is his name perhaps Judas?”

 

“…!”

 

A look of anxiety instantly crossed Hadley’s face.

 

Featherback slowly nodded his head.

 

“Hmm. As far as I know, that Administrator named Judas was quite far from being righteous and conscientious.”

 

“I, I don’t know much about the world of Administrators…”

 

“If Yudi Administrator saw them as a thorn in his side and made accusations, they were likely innocent and clean administrators.”

 

Featherback continued speaking to the bewildered-looking Hadley.

 

“I’m talking about the Roschek Couple who were unjustly murdered for hire by you.”

 

“P, Prison Warden? What do you mean…?”

 

Hadley’s complexion turned pale.

 

Featherback pulled out an old ledger in front of him.

 

“Let’s see. It’s clearly recorded in the ledger that Yudi Administrator left behind while he was alive. Fifteen years ago from now. The cost of sending his political enemy to the underground prison and arranging for the Prison Guard there to kill them.”

 

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about, Prison Warden. What is that even…”

 

“An amount equivalent to 20 years’ salary of a 1st Grade Prison Guard. Considering the prices of that era, it was even more money.”

 

Featherback closed the ledger with a snap.

 

“If I could receive 20 years’ worth of a 1st Grade Prison Guard’s annual salary all at once, I wouldn’t have much complaint about staying as a perpetual 2nd Grade. Don’t you think?”

 

“….”

 

Byron Hadley, who had been passed over for promotion so many times he was called a perpetual 2nd Grade.

 

He was restlessly fidgeting while wiping away cold sweat that poured down like a waterfall.

 

Soon after, Featherback continued speaking.

 

“I will carry out Summary Execution on the scene.”

 

“…!”

 

Hadley, who had been trembling, raised his head.

 

Then a white, cold blade slipped into the empty space beneath his chin.

 

“2nd Grade Prison Guard Byron Hadley. For abuse of authority, embezzlement of public funds, illegal solicitation, contract killing, and 91 other crimes, I hereby render the following judgment.”

 

Simultaneously, a crimson fountain of blood erupted, drawing a long line across the wall.

 

“Death sentence.”

 

Featherback sheathed his sword, not a single drop of blood on it.

 

“….”

 

Meanwhile, he felt a gaze blankly staring at him.

 

Featherback turned his head.

 

Ghost.

 

Escapee.

 

Child of the Abyss.

 

Beyond the countless aliases he had been called by instead of his name lay the name ‘Rorschach’ of the Roschek Family.

 

The Child was looking at Featherback with an intense gaze.

 

The enemy he had fought against to exhaustion in his previous life, the foe who had driven a great sword into his family.

 

Featherback extended his hand toward him.

 

“Stand up.”

 

In this life, he intended to embrace that terrifying enemy as an ally.

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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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