I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 174

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

Chapter 174

“What should I call you, Sir ‘Garret’? Or Mint?”

“Call me whatever’s comfortable.”

I shrugged my shoulders. The reunion was bland and tedious.

“Either way you call me, you won’t care anyway, right?”

At my words, Haira’s expression became subtle. She placed the meal on the table and let out a low sigh.

“Right, this was Sir Garret after all. Seeing you after so long really clears my head.”

I stared intently at the muttering Haira.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Haira.”

I could tell just by looking.

She had become a considerable Psychic-type Kia User.

Of course, I knew she had that potential, but reaching such heights depended entirely on effort.

“…Yes, thanks to someone.”

Thanks to Helios, I suppose. I nodded slightly.

“Did Helios tell you to brainwash me? Or to erase some of my memories?”

“…”

Haira said nothing.

“Let me tell you in advance – unfortunately, it won’t work.”

Haira narrowed her eyes slightly. Her face showed a hint of defiance.

“Well, we won’t know until we try, will we?”

“I wonder if there’s any need to waste energy. Even though you’ve become a remarkable ability user, this is a matter of my constitution.”

“…”

Haira stared at me quietly, then sighed once more. Her face looked completely deflated.

“Really, you’re exactly the same despite all the time that’s passed. You are.”

Unlike Helios, there was no anger in Haira’s eyes.

“Right, Boss said something similar… Boss knows it won’t work too. How could she not know? The disciple who received the most teachings, no wait. You were the only real disciple.”

“…”

“Seeing Sir Garret… no, Mint, I understand now. Why Boss is dying of frustration even after bringing you here.”

“Dying? On whose authority?”

“…You don’t really mean literally dying, do you?”

Then what did I give up to come here so obediently? Even if it’s a joke, that’s going too far.

“Let me ask you just one thing. Why did you abandon us? Boss, and us too.”

I answered with a calm expression.

“We’re not in a relationship where we should resent each other, are we, Haira?”

I recognized her talent and placed her beside Helios.

The reason she, who could have remained just an ordinary ability user, was able to bloom her talent was due to her own efforts as well as meeting me and Helios.

Haira seemed to understand and smiled slightly while leaning back against the table.

“Right, that’s true. But Mint, just think about it once. You don’t understand Boss at all right now, do you?”

I didn’t answer.

“You must be aware that you don’t understand yourself either. But you know what? I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. You really are the most enigmatic person in my entire life as a con artist.”

“Should I consider that an honor?”

“You don’t even think so yourself, so what’s the point.”

The cynical tone gave me a momentary sensation of being back in Prison.

“I’m just saying I’ve pondered this for a long time too. Why you left so decisively without any lingering attachment. You clearly had both affection and obsession toward Boss.”

It wasn’t wrong.

“It’s just that you’ve never once felt anxious, frustrated, or restless because of another person. You’ve never loved anyone or let anyone close to you. And if there was someone, they’re no longer by your side.”

Quite impressive, I’d say. Her insight was almost spot-on. She could open a Fortune Telling Shop.

Haira tapped her own head lightly.

“You always speak with This Place, while Boss has become a fool who moves according to what her heart tells her Here and now.”

“…”

“Actually, I wanted to tell you to at least try apologizing, but knowing Boss, she’d probably get angry and ask why you’re apologizing now of all times.”

I think so too.

“What I mean is, if you were to shed tears first and beg for forgiveness, wouldn’t this relationship change?”

I hesitated for a moment.

Tears.

What should I say to someone asking me to do something I cannot do?

“Or try saying you love her.”

I slowly raised my eyes.

“Hmm, why do you look so surprised?”

“…”

“I saw you biting and sucking on Boss, clinging to her so intensely it was sickening to watch back in Prison.”

“Haira, you must have seen me beat up Helios countless times too. Did you think the same thing then?”

“You never let him die. In the end, even that beating was for Boss’s sake.”

“…”

“Mint, people call that affection.”

I know that too. Helios was special, which is why I came Here.

“Let our Boss live like a Normal Person.”

Our – that word was quite irritating.

“…Would that even be possible when I’m not normal myself?”

“When abnormal people meet, what’s normal in their world of two becomes the standard. More importantly, Boss’s heart being broken.”

“…”

“That’s Mint’s fault. You need to take responsibility.”

Haira stopped mid-way through tapping her head, looking surprised.

“And you’re angry now?”

Haira smiled.

“When someone you like is with another person and you feel irritated and angry, that’s called jealousy.”

“…”

“It’s actually such an obvious thing, but thinking about it, maybe it wasn’t so obvious to Mint.”

It wasn’t a tone that sounded like teaching. It was just a calm tone as if stating facts.

It seemed that Helios wasn’t the only one who had changed with time.

“If I may dare give one piece of advice, Boss is a more kind and righteous person than you think, Mint.”

“Truly righteous people don’t kidnap or confine others.”

“That’s also true. So the fact that Boss made choices contrary to her nature is also a result you created, Mint.”

“….”

“If Boss gives up at this rate, would you be okay with that, Mint?”

Haira said nothing more and just stared at me intently before turning away.

Still, seeing it this way, she muttered that she was glad I was alive.

* * *

Helios was sitting in the chair in his office.

“Your meal?”

“…I’ve taken care of it.”

The subordinate who finished answering left the room while reading the atmosphere.

Currently, there wasn’t a single intact item in Helios’s office.

It was because he had broken or torn apart everything.

Though Helios had confined his master as he wanted, he couldn’t understand the surging anger and resentment even himself.

His master had even yielded first and come to kiss him, hadn’t she?

Yes, that was the problem.

For his master, abandoning things and returning to show affection again – everything would be easy.

But Helios was not like that.

The heavier the rock, the harder it is to move and change direction.

Helios loved Mint to the point where his chest ached. She occupied his entire heart.

However, the moment she abandoned him, and then as three more years passed.

This became love-hate, became anger, and became hatred again. Burned black, it became a flame burning under the name of obsession.

It meant he could no longer return to being the Young Fool in the prison cell who loved her with such distant adoration, sometimes worship.

“Disciple.”

But Mint treated him with the same unchanged attitude as when she had seen him in prison.

“…What.”

Helios, who had been looking himself over carefully, let out a hollow breath as if incredulous.

Could it be that he himself.

Was hoping at this point that his master would acknowledge his changed self and see him as a man?

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