I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 12

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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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Episode 12

“When exactly are we planning to make progress?”

“You mustn’t ignore the fundamentals. Prisoner Helios.”

“That damn ‘prisoner’ talk is driving nails into my ears. I know I’m a prisoner even without you adding it every time.”

“When a guard calls a prisoner, it’s one of three things: ‘prisoner,’ ‘mutt,’ or ‘bastard.’ So perhaps you’d prefer being called bastard? I respect personal preferences.”

“…Prisoner would be best.”

Helios answered through gritted teeth.

His neatly handsome eyebrows were raised high.

Looking closely, he had quite a handsome face, but it was always wrinkled by default.

I got curious at first and tried touching it, only to get hit.

It didn’t hurt, but I learned the lesson not to touch carelessly and decided to be careful from then on.

‘You’re not supposed to touch others carelessly in the first place.’

The prisoners here, whether exhausted by loneliness or driven mad by curiosity, were intoxicated by some kind of madness and did whatever they pleased. I wasn’t much different either.

Indeed, when common sense disappears, these things become uncomfortable.

“Kia is like fuel, so to speak. It can move a train, or become fire that harms people.”

Kia is a power that can do anything.

It’s like the mana that wizards use in fantasy novels, I suppose.

Though it’s more common than wizards since half of humanity can use it.

“There are five ways to use Kia.”

“That’ll make exactly ten times I’ve heard that by today.”

“Counting numbers too – what an excellent student attitude.”

Helios made an expression that said ‘Who’s whose student?’ but obediently kept his mouth shut.

From experience, he seemed to realize that saying anything here would only delay hearing what he wanted to hear.

“You want to learn ‘Kia’ from me, right?”

“…So what? You’re not saying you’ll teach me everything from start to finish, are you?”

Helios had simply asked me to teach him how to make a shield.

But this was actually no different from a child who couldn’t even memorize multiplication tables asking to learn calculus.

“While learning Kia from this instructor, you may call me master.”

“Bullshit.”

“Ah, among this instructor’s colleagues, there was one who cursed when too pleased. Are you that type as well?”

“…”

Helios showed a very enthusiastic reaction to my offer to teach him.

Honestly, from my perspective, even though he had just awakened Kia Sight, he was far too lacking.

‘At this rate, he’ll die the moment he reaches the 11th Floor.’

He looked like he’d die any moment. That couldn’t happen.

Anyway, since he’ll become a great expert in the future, it shouldn’t matter if I teach him the basics.

Of course, I didn’t care if my actions caused the novel to unfold differently from what I knew.

I just needed to get released.

I had no interest in anything else.

“First, the basics of handling Kia are…”

“First seeing the Kia spread throughout nature, then touching it, then gathering it in your hands, right? Plus, the weapon I held on the 1st Floor was a tool to help with these basics.”

“Excellent.”

“I’ll say it again, if you can’t memorize something you’ve been hearing for a whole month, you’re just lacking as a human being.”

When I tried teaching New Prisoners a few years ago, there were some who couldn’t even understand, let alone memorize, even after being taught for a whole month. No, there were many.

That was why I taught only the basics for a whole month.

‘Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you should assume others are at the same level.’

I nodded and continued with the next explanation.

Actually, by coming up to the 4th Floor, Helios had already cleared the basic stage.

“Anyway, there are a total of five ways to handle Kia. ‘Musculoskeletal Type, Attribute Type, Material Type, Mental Type’. And ‘Other Type’ which doesn’t belong to any of the previous methods.”

“…”

“Everyone is born with one of these five types, and with talent or effort, you can use up to two characteristics at most.”

“…”

Helios looked down at me with a displeased expression.

Ah, I think I understand this expression now too.

It was an expression filled with the complaint ‘I already know that, so what?’

He was definitely at a different level from the New Prisoners I taught when I was a prisoner. Then…

“Stand up.”

Helios’s eyes widened.

With his purple eyes looking so large, how should I put it. He looked a bit more alluring yet innocent. This is really…

‘He has a face that could bewitch people even while just sitting still.’

If I hadn’t become his Personal Guard, he probably would have been frequently bullied with that face.

Among the higher-ranked prisoners, there were plenty of wicked bastards who treated such beauties like their personal toys.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Training, and practical experience. I thought I’d show you what you’ve been wanting so much.”

“…Suddenly?”

Even while saying this, he looked pleased.

I don’t think the theory lessons were boring. Was repetitive learning the problem?

“This instructor has had the opportunity to teach people before.”

“I’m not your first?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Helios made a strange expression but told me to continue.

“Why are you like that? Having experience should be much better for you, right? Teaching isn’t something just anyone can do.”

“No… It’s nothing. You look quite young, so I was just staring because it’s strange that you’ve taught someone.”

I see. I nodded and brought one hand behind my back as if taking an at-ease position.

“What are you doing?”

“This instructor has learned from long experience.”

Familiar faces flashed through my mind.

The faces of high-ranking prisoners who had shared hardships with me, Ramona and Deril.

“…Hey, I’m giving you advice, but if he was the type to listen to words, he wouldn’t be in here.”

“Oh my, why are you telling him? We could have watched something more entertaining!”

I took a step back.

“From now on, I’ll show you the five types of Kia directly.”

Interest and concentration appeared in Helios’s eyes.

“From now on, think about gathering Kia above your stomach.”

“What…?”

“That alone will provide minimal defense.”

“Wait, explain it properly!”

“Learn with your body.”

I put strength into my feet and raised one hand.

“That’s the most effective method. By the way, I’ll only use one hand.”

The moment I threw my fist, I confirmed Helios quickly raising his hand to activate his Kia.

As expected. The corner of my mouth slightly rose.

Thwack!

My clenched fist struck Helios’s stomach.

“This is ‘Musculoskeletal Type’.”

I explained calmly.

“It’s the ability to gather Kia in one part of the body to maximize attack and defense power.”

“Cough cough…!”

“Among all types, it’s the easiest and most convenient for offense and defense, and can produce above-average attack and defense power. It’s also the easiest power for beginners to handle.”

“…”

“Those born with this type of power tend to be large and broad-shouldered, regardless of gender.”

I said while looking at Helios who had fallen to the ground.

“Like you?”

Surprisingly, Helios was sitting with one knee bent.

I had thought he would fall flat? I whistled softly.

Of course, he was glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me.

* * *

Crazy, crazy!

She was definitely crazy.

Helios glared at Mint as if he wanted to kill her, while feeling cold sweat running down his back.

That was understandable, as he could have died from that attack just now.

‘I would have died if I hadn’t blocked it.’

Of course, Mint had the ability to stop at the last moment if she judged that Helios wouldn’t be able to block it, but there was no way Helios could know this.

“Hmm, you look fine.”

Where exactly!

Helios felt his stomach throbbing painfully.

If he lifted his clothes, there would probably be handprints left there.

Judging by the unusual pain, it seemed like bruises would form by this evening.

“…Weak.”

His father’s voice seemed to echo and reverberate in his ears.

From his childhood experiences, he was very accustomed to pain.

When Helios stood up, Mint looked at him with satisfaction.

Helios was dismayed by her expression, as if she truly believed he was perfectly fine.

‘She has the kind of face that would make you believe humans are made of steel.’

Although Helios wasn’t a Kia user, having been born as the son of a duke, he knew the basic fundamentals very well.

In other words, he already knew everything without needing Mint to give him those tedious theoretical explanations!

However, even someone like him knew that learning and knowing what his attribute was couldn’t be done immediately like this.

He was someone who had only awakened to Kia for about a month at most.

This was like being pushed off a cliff and told to try tightrope walking.

Helios gritted his teeth but endured it.

‘That guard… is skilled with Kia.’

Even to him who knew nothing, that guard was strange and mysterious, and far too strong.

If there was something he needed, he would bow his head to obtain it. He wanted to survive.

“Get up. Next is ‘Attribute Type.'”

Until someday he could leave this prison and return to the father who had sent him to this hell to get his revenge.

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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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