I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 190

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

Chapter 190

I tilted my head while listening to ‘Hades” story.

“It’s nothing new, the story of you becoming abnormal wouldn’t be surprising.”

“….”

From the beginning, neither he nor I were normal by the world’s standards.

It was something we both acknowledged, about ourselves and each other.

“You just became a bit more abnormal.”

Do I understand his choice?

Not particularly. I don’t intend to understand it either.

However, in one corner of my mind, I think that if I were in Hades’ position, this choice would be efficient.

“You made a rational choice.”

Of course, it’s unfortunate for me. In the end, it means discarding immediate obstacles and prioritizing becoming Emperor above all else.

“After becoming Emperor, you’ll reclaim what you forgot?”

“Well, something like that.”

Hades was still crying in this room. It was fascinating. Were those tears physiological tears that came out during his mad laughter?

“While love existed, you would focus only on me, and you realized you’d never possess me forever.”

Or unlike me, could he actually shed genuine tears?

“The ‘me’ who castrated love was born that way.”

The slowly crying Hades grew distant.

When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in reality.

‘He didn’t intend to confine me.’

‘Hades’ was standing nearby.

He wasn’t in an attacking stance, but he still hadn’t dropped his guard.

“So what exactly is your current state? A different personality?”

“That’s right. And… I want to make this clear.”

He extended his hand to me. A noble’s greeting. Even knowing what gesture it was, I didn’t give him my hand.

‘Hades’ seemed to understand and pretended to grasp a hand in empty air, then even kissed the empty air.

He looked quite pleased.

“Even after becoming Emperor, I don’t particularly want to find the original, yes. The other personality.”

Emotions that humans like Hades and I cannot understand.

They’re like cumbersome baggage.

I thought the same way before experiencing them directly.

“Not only did I castrate love, I made it so I can’t feel love itself. I created it that way.”

This bastard before me who has already lost love and can no longer feel it again.

He would be abnormally rational, pursuing logic and reason while being selfish.

He would act efficiently for his goals, discarding morality and goodness.

“I can’t even make an oath. Isn’t that ridiculous? The one thing I absolutely cannot tolerate is forgetting you.”

“No, I think I understand.”

I would have thought it was good if Hades had forgotten me.

The remaining hatred would have evaporated, gradually becoming indifference.

Hades knew this.

Just as I wanted Helios to hate me, to engrave me in his bones and never forget me.

And just as I couldn’t tolerate even Helios giving up on me.

That Guy and I were terribly alike.

“….”

‘Hades’ wore a strange expression.

“I didn’t expect to hear such words from the young lady who remembers.”

“Young lady my ass, cut it out. You newborn bastard.”

“Unfortunately, since I inherited the memories, I do remember all our long years together. Just without the love, only the love is missing.”

That Guy tapped his own head and smiled affectionately.

“This is better for you, isn’t it?”

An undeniable fact. But instead of answering, I stared at That Guy intently.

“What’s your goal?”

He had already said it himself. To become Emperor.

“To become Emperor. That hasn’t changed.”

But if it was just to become Emperor, there was no reason for him to contact me like this.

If he had forgotten his love for me and even his obsession, then That Guy could just do what he needed to do for his own goals.

“I have no intention of interfering.”

“I know, I expected as much.”

“….”

“That Guy thought the same. That if I didn’t seek you out, we’d never see each other again.”

“So? What do you want me to do about it? Just state your business clearly.”

“…That Guy felt this same absurdity too.”

‘Hades’ muttered quietly as if finding it ridiculous, then elegantly shrugged his shoulders.

“Right. You’re absolutely right. In fact, I have no reason to contact you in this state. It’s a waste of time.”

“….”

“If I were only after the throne, that is.”

As expected.

“I want retribution against the one who exiled me to prison. Revenge, isn’t that a nice name?”

‘Hades’ lips curved up gracefully. His voice lowered.

“And that person is also connected to you, young lady.”

Certainly, according to the setting, Hades was defeated by someone’s conspiracy and schemes, and overwhelming power, and was exiled to the Continent’s Worst Prison as a child.

The culprit would have also taken measures to ensure Hades could never return.

“It should be familiar to you. Right?”

“….”

“My Boss. And this Empire’s Crown Prince.”

“….”

“And… the hidden youngest Serial Killer.”

‘Hades’ bared his teeth in a grin.

“The reason why you ended up in Niflheim for 10 years.”

Only his eyes gleamed fiercely.

“It would be easier to hear if I called him the true culprit, wouldn’t it?”

* * *

To talk about the Crown Prince and another Male Lead from the book, the story goes back to the past.

When I arrived at the capital after wandering the continent, the first thing I did was investigate ‘Minte’ and Limnades, as well as the past trial and serial murder case.

Besides that, I investigated everything I could about Helios, Alpeion, Hades, the Imperial Palace…

Since I remember the original story, there was information I knew, but there were also things I couldn’t know.

For instance, I knew who the culprit was from the beginning. The true culprit was the Crown Prince. A fact I’d known since prison.

But why was ‘Minte Limnades’ framed?

I approached it this way.

No, why did it have to be ‘Minte Limnades’?

Right. It had to be Limnades.

The answer to this could be found in the case records.

“Hmm, Guild Master. I looked into it, and apparently at the time, as evidence… there was an Imperial Crested Badge found at the scene.”

Among the victims touched by the youngest serial killer at the time, most were poor, but there were also children or relatives of great nobles and wealthy people.

Therefore, the Imperial Palace couldn’t let the trial pass by vaguely.

A pure gold badge with the imperial emblem found at the scene.

Those who could obtain this were extremely few.

The Emperor’s direct descendants.

And a small number of noble houses that the Emperor had personally commended and granted.

The problem was that there were exactly two of those noble houses.

Limnades and Alpeion, called the Emperor’s loyal hounds and guard dogs.

Young Hades at the time had a very clear alibi.

As soon as Duke Alpeion heard that a badge had appeared at the scene, he publicly appeared at the banquet hall with his own badge.

Before the Emperor had any chance to intervene.

…Only Limnades remained.

The Marquis had two children.

Unable to give up his heir, the Marquis sold his daughter to the Imperial Palace for a high price.

That was the story.

In the original work, it wasn’t revealed what happened to the twelve-year-old girl who was framed.

‘We could only assume she died.’

And for over 10 years, the true culprit lived as if nothing had happened.

Rather, he began committing serial murders in the capital again, as if a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

That was the last Male Lead who hadn’t yet appeared before my eyes.

Crown Prince Deflon Carkeya.

“I thought about it rationally. What would you be after, now that you’re out of prison.”

“….”

“Without love clouding my judgment, the answer became clear. You want revenge and retribution. Right?”

‘Hades’ whispered softly.

“You came back to this capital to repay whoever wrongfully imprisoned you for 10 years, either equally or several times over.”

It was both right and wrong. My first priority had always been Mama’s funeral.

And even that had been surpassed by my affection for Helios.

I didn’t say that. This man didn’t need to know.

Crown Prince Deflon was inherently cruel, another broken human who found pleasure in dismembered things.

Considering this novel’s genre was a dark story, it was also a perfectly fitting ending for the material.

“So what?”

“What?”

“Whether I want revenge or just let everything go and live on, what’s it to you?”

“….”

I let out a snicker.

“You call your past self, no wait. You call your other personality an idiot. But he seems smarter than your fucking self.”

I raised my finger and slowly pointed at the ground floor.

“At least he knew when to bow his head and when to back down.”

The second letter Hades sent contained fragments of old newspaper articles about the youngest serial killer case, and the words ‘true culprit’ were written on it.

Click.

As soon as I reached out, a heavy and familiar weapon appeared in my hand.

A pistol.

The gun barrel was aimed at his head.

“Stop scheming and listen straight.”

I came here, but that doesn’t mean I came happily. I wasn’t pleased about it.

“If you have a favor to ask, bow your head first. You newborn bastard.”

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