I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 17

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

Chapter 17

“….”

“Did you get hurt somewhere without me knowing? Or—”

“I know, I know too so be quiet…! So are you going to keep it?”

What Helios wanted wasn’t a difficult promise to keep.

Don’t get hurt.

In fact, the sword that had just flown from among the prisoners was one Mint herself had created, and the attack was also self-inflicted.

“Fine. I’ll try.”

The reason she used this method was because the remaining prisoners weren’t attacking her.

They were bigger cowards than expected.

So she acted to use ‘self-defense’ which was also in the manual.

Indeed, she was an exemplary guard who excellently followed the rules.

“By the way, Prisoner Helios. This is a big problem.”

Mint said with a serious expression.

“The cafeteria must be out of meat.”

“….”

* * *

That night, rumors spread widely that High-Grade/3rd Class Prisoner ‘Grogi’ and his fam had been beaten unconscious by the new guard.

Along with news that the wrist of the extremely vicious Grogi had been completely crippled.

It shocked not only the guards, but all prisoners below high-grade as well.

Mint was called away secretly and urgently at dawn.

To the Warden.

* * *

Tap tap.

In the dark room, only the sound of tapping something echoed.

“…You said you learned common sense?”

The balding Warden Ralph Gamon, who had lost hair only on his crown, clutched his throbbing head.

Mint said confidently.

“I learned it.”

Ralph Gamon clutched his throbbing head once again.

“Is beating down High-Grade Prisoners your common sense?! You completely crippled him!”

“Ah…, didn’t you say there are also unnecessary personnel in the prison?”

“When did I ever!”

Mint pondered thoughtfully.

“There’s nothing more annoying than some useless bastard getting promoted to a higher grade.”

Come to think of it, the Warden had only spoken with a similar nuance, never actually saying those exact words.

In any case, it seemed like he was taking issue with what happened with ‘Grogi’ and his gang during the day.

Mint spoke with pride as a guard.

“Don’t worry. It can be processed as ‘self-defense’!”

“Who’s worried about that? Ha, you shouldn’t have created a fight in the first place, before any self-defense. Did you forget everything I said about handling things quietly?”

Mint pondered again thoughtfully.

She hadn’t killed anyone, there wasn’t blood everywhere, and she had resolved it with ‘minimal’ violence.

‘Didn’t I handle it splendidly?’

More importantly, even if she had avoided Grogi’s attack, those bastards would have come back anyway.

Rather, today’s attack in front of the Tower was actually fortunate.

Because there were no witnesses!

“At least because they attacked while we were at the Tower, Prisoner Helios is still alive. If they had attacked in the Main Building, even I wouldn’t have been able to do anything, right?”

Even as a Personal Guard, it wasn’t like she could enter the Main Building and monitor him until bedtime.

So Mint’s words were correct.

Yes, they were correct words that deserved a beating!

“You shouldn’t have stood out in the first place! Don’t you think this happened because you’re his Personal Guard or whatever, protecting him?”

“Hmm. I’m not really sure what the problem is?”

“You should have just let him get beaten up moderately!”

The Warden said this while pounding his desk.

Certainly… it wasn’t a wrong opinion.

Mint could have kept a moderate distance from Helios, watched moderately from the sidelines.

And only stepped in during truly urgent moments.

But among the prisoners, there were plenty who desired pretty and beautiful toys. There were far too many incidents where it would have been fortunate if things had ended with just violence.

There was no telling what might happen to Helios if he was dragged away by those who took a liking to his face.

And afterward, perverts and deviants of all genders would have swarmed around him.

To say that everything would work out fine in the end because he was the Male Lead.

Mint knew this prison too well.

‘Right. Why did I step in anyway.’

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 intervened excessively.

After much contemplation, Mint said.

“He’s too pretty… to be ruined.”

Even she found it unclear, but there seemed to be no other reason besides this.

It was too distant to call it sympathy, and too devoid of sparkle to call it longing for her once-favorite novel.

Her broken emotional circuits only clouded her judgment when it came to feelings.

“Ha, since when did you start caring about faces?”

“Actually, if I really didn’t like him, I would have dealt with him myself first, but since I didn’t, that’s why you called me here, isn’t it.”

The Warden clamped his mouth shut.

Correct.

Mint had always acted naive and detached for someone who occupied the throne among the prisoners.

“The fact that someone who doesn’t even show their face when handing out punishments has come out like this. It must be to discuss a solution.”

In truth, she had better judgment than anyone.

Sometimes to a chilling degree.

“…Your intuition is annoyingly sharp.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It’s not a compliment, so shut your mouth. I’m changing your role starting tomorrow.”

He couldn’t punish her.

There was no prisoner more qualified for this mission than Mint.

‘After today’s incident, ‘that bastard’ will also start moving to catch a tail…’

A snake-like face flashed through the Warden’s mind.

Whether she knew the importance of the mission or not, Mint’s face was quiet to the point of being detached.

However, the Warden knew well how much the prisoner before him had longed for release all this time.

This woman was someone who would do anything for her release.

No, she desired nothing and was obsessed with nothing other than release.

Wasn’t she someone who had no interest in even how much her subordinates followed her?

So, for a ruler like him, she was the perfect chess piece to use.

The General Administrator of this place, a middle-aged man who had spent long years with this worst of prisons, had eyes that sank with sinister intent.

“From now on, your role will be…”

* * *

Sergeant Steven had a peculiar expression.

“Wow, what… how can something like this happen in this world?”

Bewilderment, confusion, absurdity, dumbfoundedness. And so on.

His face was full of flustered emotions.

Nevertheless, I caught a hint of interest in the corner of his eyes.

Well, from a third party’s perspective, it would certainly be entertaining enough.

“Now, now. You mutts in this room. Everyone pay attention.”

Sergeant Steven knocked loudly while keeping one cell door open.

It was incredibly thick steel, yet the sound was crisp.

Though it was a small action, making such a sound from steel wasn’t easy. He deliberately resonated the sound through the air.

I could tell that Sergeant Steven possessed considerable skill.

‘Attribute Type? Or maybe Material Type.’

“There will be changes to this room’s personnel composition. The four-person cell will now be used by three people, so this should be good news for you.”

I glanced at the prisoner who was staring intently at us.

‘There are also prisoners who fought alongside Helios on the 1st Floor.’

Among them, the one staring with particularly persistent eyes was none other than Helios.

“Prisoner Helios. You come with me.”

Helios looked at me with persistent and obsessive eyes as he stood up from his seat and walked toward Sergeant Steven.

Throughout the walk following Sergeant Steven, he remained silent but kept glancing at me with an incomprehensible expression.

Well, he must be curious.

Finally, we arrived at a cell.

‘How shabby.’

I wondered how old it was – a rusted iron door greeted us.

Creeeeak—.

The sound of the door opening was utterly eerie. I entered the cell without emotion and looked around.

The walls were so deteriorated that stone fragments were crumbling out. The bed looked like it would smell of dust.

On the walls remained traces of what could have been blood or filth.

“Is this the only two-person cell available?”

From experience, that stuff won’t come off even with cleaning.

“Hey, newcomer. You really got the short end of the stick.”

“No, sir.”

Sergeant Steven chuckled.

“Geez, just how badly did you want to get promoted that you’d accept this kind of punishment? I would’ve quit.”

“…”

When I gave no response, Sergeant Steven seemed to draw his own conclusions and patted my shoulder.

“Hang in there. You’ll be back soon enough.”

‘Well, I doubt that’s going to happen.’

I thought this while obediently bowing my head.

Sergeant Steven soon returned to his professional demeanor and stood before both of us.

“Prisoner Helios, this is your fellow prisoner ‘Garret’ starting today.”

I could feel Helios turning to look at me in surprise.

What’s there to be surprised about?

‘You saw everything from the moment I first appeared in prison uniform.’

I stared ahead indifferently.

“Guard Garret has been disciplined and punished for a murder incident yesterday, and will temporarily serve as a prisoner.”

I hadn’t actually killed anyone, but Upper Management seemed to be covering it up by roughly treating it as if I had taken care of Grogi and his gang.

In fact, Upper Management probably had no particular need for someone like Grogi, so they’d think it was good riddance.

There are always guys like that.

Those who aren’t worth the trouble of actively eliminating, but who eat away at society like pus when left alone.

“From now on, stay by his side as a prisoner and protect the target. The mission remains the same.”

The Warden’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Monitor and protect the ‘VIP’ 24 hours a day.”

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