I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 18

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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 18

“And prisoner Helios. You will also be punished as an accomplice in yesterday’s incident.”

Because I took down Grogi, even more attention would be focused on us.

And accordingly, ‘That Guy’ was also planning to make his move.

“Since this will happen as a result of your actions, you should take responsibility for it.”

Well, I think differently.

Whether he liked it or not, Helios would have somehow drawn the attention of Niflheim’s prisoners.

First, his appearance was striking. Moreover, his talent was also outstanding.

“Under upper management’s directive that you both need separate supervision for a while, you’ll be sharing this cell with Garret.”

But he was still just a seed that would someday become a great tree, and in this state, he was far too tempting prey for those who liked to trample on such sprouts.

“And prisoner Helios. Starting next week, you’ll enter the Tower from the 20th floor.”

That said, I hadn’t expected Helios to receive this kind of punishment as well.

Sergeant Steven turned toward me with a complicated expression for a moment.

It was a mysterious face that could have been either interest or concern.

“Of course, prisoner Garret over there will also enter the Tower together.”

Sergeant Steven left the room.

The sight of the thick iron door closing wasn’t unfamiliar.

‘Though I didn’t expect to see it again this quickly.’

It’s fine. I’ll make sure this is the last time I see that door as Garret.

‘I need to get out.’

As soon as the door was completely closed, Helios turned his body sharply.

I could clearly see him reaching out his arms, but once again I didn’t bother to dodge.

Both his arms gripped my shoulders tightly.

“What the hell is going on here?”

His flustered expression was fascinating. I didn’t know he could make such a face.

“It’s exactly as you see it, prisoner Helios. Ah…”

After saying that, I realized my mistake.

There’s no reason for me to address him like that anymore, is there?

Since I’ve returned to being a prisoner, not a guard.

“I’m not a guard anymore, so I can’t call you prisoner. What should I call you?”

“Is that what’s important right now?! Murder? You’ve never killed anyone before!”

“We’re going to be sharing the same room from now on, so what could be more important than how to address each other?”

“There definitely wasn’t anyone dead. Everyone was breathing!”

I nodded my head seriously.

“If you’ll allow it, there’s a way I’d like to address you.”

“…Please, would you just listen to what people are saying?”

Ah. Helios’s forehead wrinkled again.

I chuckled softly.

“Right. I didn’t kill them. Probably none of them died after going back either.”

“Then why on earth?”

“Because the higher-ups want it.”

“That’s unreasonable. They were the ones who started the trouble in the first place, weren’t they?”

“That’s strange. Do you really think fairness and reason are well-maintained here?”

“…”

“Legality, morality. That’s nice. But if you wanted that, you shouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

After saying this, I hesitated for a moment.

After all, those words didn’t really suit me or Helios, who ended up here because of crimes we didn’t commit.

“Since we’ve become colleagues anyway, let’s sort out what to call each other first.”

“…Don’t you feel wronged at all?”

I tilted my head. A sense of injustice…

“I think I had that feeling 10 years ago.”

“What?”

“Just something I said. I don’t particularly feel wronged. Originally, when we enter, we agree to follow any orders whatsoever upon admission. So the responsibility for the trouble and actions I caused naturally lies with me.”

From the moment Grogi appeared, it was a natural progression for things to get tangled up no matter how I tried to resolve it.

What could I do?

Besides, since I came into the Main Building as a prisoner, now I can protect Helios 24 hours a day.

“I don’t particularly regret it.”

I’m satisfied. I think the Warden’s handling of the matter was appropriate.

Actually, telling a newly arrived prisoner to start from the 20th Floor is basically telling them to die.

But Upper Management said I should go in together too.

This means. They’re telling me to give him a ride.

‘Fine, I’ll give you a limousine ride.’

“More importantly, about what to call each other.”

“Ha, call me whatever you want! That doesn’t matter at all, so do as you please!”

“Really?”

“Yeah. What about you, what are you planning to do from now on?”

“You really don’t regret it? I can really think you won’t mind, right?”

“Yes, I won’t mind!”

I nodded.

“Got it. And as for what I plan to do from now on… Since I’ve become a prisoner, I’ll have to live as a prisoner, right?”

With those words, I grabbed Helios’s arm.

While he flinched, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close to examine his face carefully.

“…What are you doing?”

‘As I thought.’

I could see traces of injuries all over his face. There were bruises on his neck.

He was in worse shape than when he had just come out of the Tower.

‘Looks like trouble found him.’

The moment rumors spread that the New Guard had dealt with Grogi, it seemed there were those who couldn’t hold back and came forward.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“Huh? Huh?”

“You got hit.”

“….”

“Where did you get hit? Who beat you? Explain.”

His face was very close.

It was unavoidable if I wanted to see the wound properly.

“…Whether I got hit or not, wh-what’s it to you.”

“Why wouldn’t it matter? You must have gotten hit because of me.”

I could feel his ragged breathing, but strangely it wasn’t unpleasant because it carried a rather sweet and refreshing scent.

Somehow the breath coming over seemed a little warmer than before.

“…Why would it be because of you.”

Of course it was. With rumors spreading that a Personal Guard was involved, how many small-time thugs must have gathered to hear the full story. It was obvious without even looking.

Come to think of it, we weren’t guard and prisoner anymore.

Then there was no need to use guard-like speech, right?

Making the two months of diligent practice seem pointless, I quickly corrected my tone.

“There really wasn’t anyone who hit you while mentioning me? I’m warning you in advance, it’ll be better for you to spill everything instead of trying to be clever about it.”

Helios, who had been mumbling, frowned deeply and turned his head slightly.

He lightly covered his mouth with his large hand.

“…I don’t know! There was no one like that. Got it? More importantly, why is your way of speaking like this?”

“Since I’m not a guard anymore, there’s no need to be stiff, right? Come to think of it, there’s a title I’d like you to call me.”

“Do you happen to… have some disease where you die if you don’t hear titles? Why are you so obsessed?”

“Not ‘you,’ but Master. Helios.”

Helios looked slightly surprised and stared at me again.

“The 20th Floor of the Tower is absolutely not easy. If you don’t learn well from now on, you’ll die.”

Being so close together, our noses lightly bumped.

I could feel the trembling air as Helios moved his lips.

I didn’t know why his hands were trembling.

But the wavering visible in those jewel-like beautiful purple eyes was quite pleasant to watch.

“Now that we’re fellow prisoners, it’ll be easier to teach you, right?”

“….”

“So not ‘you,’ but Master.”

After a moment of hesitation, Helios very lightly grasped my wrist that was holding his collar.

“…Master.”

The voice that reached me was small, echoing softly like that of a young child learning to speak for the first time.

Yet unlike before, it was mixed with warmth.

I slightly lifted the corners of my mouth.

“Good boy.”

Never once blaming me. I suddenly found him endearing.

“Ah, it’s okay to resent me for making you go to the 20th Floor.”

Helios’s lips twitched.

His head slowly dropped.

“I don’t resent you.”

Unexpected words reached my ears. I couldn’t help but be surprised.

He doesn’t resent me even though he got beaten up because of me?

“You don’t have to pretend to be nice.”

“Who said I was pretending to be nice?”

“I’ll teach you Kia well even if you resent me.”

“…Are you seeing me as someone who’d give his liver and gallbladder just to learn Kia?”

“Aren’t you?”

“No!”

Helios’s face turned fierce.

Even when fierce, he was handsome and pleasant to look at, but I couldn’t understand why he was angry.

“It wasn’t your fault to begin with, so what am I supposed to blame you for?”

Not ‘you,’ but ‘Master.'”

“Do you have time to insist on titles even in this situation? Just answer me!”

“You get excited easily. Is your throat okay?”

“…”

The prison walls are thick, so this level of bickering wouldn’t leak outside.

But if the guards misunderstand that we fought, we might face disciplinary action.

That means quite troublesome things would happen.

“Hah… Fine. It’s hard to have a proper conversation with you.”

Not ‘you.'”

“Right, Master, Master!”

Good. I nodded satisfactorily.

Then I passed by Helios standing firmly and flopped down on the bed positioned on the left.

Wow, this kind of hardness is completely nostalgic.

‘The guard’s bed was nice though.’

“What are you doing?”

When I slightly opened my eyes, I saw a face looking at me incredulously.

“Why?”

“In the middle of our conversation…”

“Ah, did you prefer the left side? Should I move to the right?”

“No, where are you going in the middle of our conversation?”

“You should lie down and rest too.”

“…You have no intention of listening.”

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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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