I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 120
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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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Chapter 120
Even up to the moment she heard these words, she remained composed. But then.
Wait a moment.
“You’re saying I don’t look like how Master first described me to you. Not then, not now.”
As Helios’s explanation continued, Mint recalled something she had momentarily forgotten.
He had awakened the ‘Ability to See the Unseen.’
And.
Mint had never once had black hair in her life as ‘Mint.’
If there was such a time, it would have to go back to the very distant past. More than 10 years ago, when she went by the name ‘Pakha.’ Back then, she would have had black hair.
Helios’s confession wasn’t over yet.
“And ever since I poured out all my Kia and opened my eyes, I can even see letters.”
In truth, even now Helios wondered if it was right to say this.
But once the words were out, there was no taking them back.
He continued speaking.
“The flickering letters are.”
Helios’s eyes moved slowly.
“‘Pak… ha?'”
And the moment he pronounced it, Helios flinched.
The face of his Master before him was one he had never seen before.
Could that be called surprise?
No, that was shock.
Had he ever seen Master look surprised?
She had always been composed and detached.
Even when telling him about the massive rift that would devastate the north moving toward the village.
Even when she knew that if they couldn’t eliminate the rift, everyone would simply die, hadn’t she been indifferent?
Having watched from beside her, he knew. She wasn’t cruel or cold enough to feel inhuman, and she was someone who treated him gently.
But even to Helios, she didn’t show affectionate or human-like behavior.
In this situation, Mint’s shock could only strike Helios’s eyes even more powerfully.
Somehow…
Her appearance as a woman with wide-open eyes in surprise looked the most human among all the expressions he had seen.
‘Is it okay to say such things?’
Ironically, she seemed so fragile that Helios felt bewildered.
Helios captured this moment with the intensity of someone who wouldn’t even blink.
However, Master being Master, that emotion didn’t last long.
Though he had watched without even blinking, she instantly regained her composure and tilted her head.
“Surprising.”
It was a response that neither confirmed nor denied his words.
Generally, this was the kind of reaction Mint showed when she was affirming something but didn’t want to reveal it.
Helios’s heart pounded violently.
Could it be that it was truly Master’s ‘real’ appearance?
His Adam’s apple trembled slightly.
He felt feverish, but he had to ask. Once they entered the prison, such conversations might become difficult.
“By any chance, is that appearance just now… Master’s true form?”
After a moment of silence, Master shook her head.
“No, that’s… not my appearance.”
Mint unhesitatingly denied her past.
It wasn’t a lie. This wasn’t ‘Mint’s’ appearance. It was a face from long ago, from the past before she became Mint.
However, she unconsciously found herself touching her own face.
In her disguised reflection in mirrors or windows, there was no trace of ‘Pakha’ anywhere.
Helios must have used his Kia ability once again to see what even Mint herself couldn’t see.
‘For an ability that wasn’t in the original story, it’s quite remarkable.’
Mint extended the hand that had been caressing her cheek.
“Of course, she’s not unrelated to me.”
Then she patted Helios’s shoulder. She was actually curious.
“Thank you.”
If she looked into Helios’s eyes, would ‘Pakha’s’ image be reflected there?
However, Mint didn’t do that.
“For seeing everything that even I can’t see.”
Should she be grateful that he recognized what even she had forgotten?
She wasn’t sure about that.
Helios had simply become a little more special, that’s all.
* * *
They returned to the prison.
Though they hadn’t been outside for very long, even the air felt completely different.
If even I, who had spent 10 years in this place, felt this way, the difference Helios experienced must be even greater.
‘Besides, unlike me, he’s someone who lived as an ordinary person.’
Though he’s adapting well considering that.
I felt a little proud. It meant I had talent for raising disciples.
Of course, if he hadn’t been the Male Lead, I wouldn’t have gone this far.
The matter of ‘Pakha’s’ appearance that Helios had mentioned was somehow settled for now.
Since he seemed to have many questions, I took the initiative.
I told him that after reaching the 100th Floor, if he came to find me, I would tell him everything.
Helios complained, saying ‘Master always does things like this,’ but when I made a Kia Oath this time, he shut his mouth tight.
‘Thanks to that, he seems to be showing enthusiasm, so is it fortunate?’
Not long after arriving, I went up to the upper levels for the first time in a while to report as a guard.
Though I couldn’t meet the Warden, a fairly high-ranking guard came down to inform me of the special evaluation results.
“70th Floor.”
The result was quite successful.
Well, they had changed the examination to a more difficult rift midway due to the pursuers. Even so, we cleanly dealt with it and returned within the designated time.
‘There was no problem with the recording device either.’
Since I had put away the device immediately after Helios eliminated the rift. No unnecessary conversations were recorded.
Sergeant Steven also judged that there were no problems with the process at all.
It was as expected.
“Congratulations, you skipped the 20th Floor?”
Helios had a subtle expression.
In other words, I couldn’t tell what kind of expression that was.
“You don’t look particularly happy about it.”
“…No, it’s not that. It’s just.”
The conversation with Helios couldn’t continue for long. I sensed a presence approaching us.
Tsk, I clicked my tongue.
I could feel Helios looking at me with confusion, but my gaze remained fixed in one direction.
Today, I was waiting in the Central Block prisoner waiting room to hear the examination results, and Helios was also there to hear his results.
“Helios. Go down to the 1st Floor like this. The Sergeant will be there. Go back first.”
“…What about Master?”
“I still have a report to make.”
I turned around and smiled slightly.
“I came back in prison uniform, but inside I’m a guard.”
It had been a while since I had changed to ‘Garret’s’ appearance upon returning to the prison. Helios slowly turned his back.
Then he turned only his head and scratched his cheek.
“…I hope you come back quickly.”
His ear, visible through his hair, was slightly flushed.
“I’d like you to come and properly celebrate with me.”
Then, without even waiting for an answer, he strode away.
What is that cute creature? It’s so adorable that I feel like I might stomp my feet and break the floor. I wondered if this sensation was ‘normal.’
While I was thinking, the presence drew even closer. When I turned my head, I could now see the figure of the person who had made the presence known.
Helios had already gone down the stairs.
“Our young lady, so you were here?”
Someone appeared from around the corner of the corridor, leisurely leaning their body.
Unlike usual, they seemed to have walked somewhat hurriedly, having discarded the guard cap they normally wore neatly.
It was Hades.
When our eyes met, his eyes curved into thin crescents.
“I’ve been looking for you for quite a while.”
His complexion was pale as always. But his eyes showed more bleakness than ever before.
“Not knowing that it’s darkest under the candlelight.”
His voice was beautiful enough to enchant an ordinary person.
There was no one else in the corridor.
This too must be something Hades intended. I wondered if he would come looking for me as soon as I returned.
Though I don’t know his intentions for appearing only after the examination results came out.
“But why did you set up residence here?”
Between the enchanting voice that rang out so gently, dark red Kia rippled threateningly as if it would bind me at any moment.
“It makes me want to kill you.”
At those words, I slowly raised my eyes.
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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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