I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 22

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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 22

Whether Helios felt the chill or not.

‘Wow, their skills are pretty decent?’

Mint quietly admired them.

Moreover, it was unexpected.

‘To shout and give hints to everyone.’

It was impressive that he immediately caught onto the hint, but it was also impressive that he shared it with everyone else without hesitation.

Ordinary people might be one thing, but the people here are criminals. When facing crisis, the majority usually made selfish choices.

‘Is this why he’s the Male Lead?’

Even in the novel, though he became corrupted, he would fix his character thanks to the Female Lead.

Perhaps it was possible because initially, or by nature, he was a moral and heroic person.

‘If this were a hero’s epic, this would make a good chapter.’

Actually, Mint had no intention of helping Helios on the 20th Floor.

‘What’s the point of just protecting a newbie? He’ll develop bad habits~.’

Originally, beginners grow the more they’re pushed. There’s nothing better than real combat for improving skills.

‘Life is real combat.’

Moreover, as Mint who had directly trained Helios, she knew well that he already had enough skill to survive.

‘He’s not the protagonist of this world for nothing.’

He had only just passed a month since learning Kia. Yet he survived the 20th Floor. It was truly amazing talent.

Therefore, Mint stepped in without delay the moment her disciple knocked down one scarecrow, his original goal.

‘Two scarecrows would still be too much.’

On this floor, the number of scarecrows appears in proportion to the number of dogs people have defeated.

And they focus their attacks on the person who defeated the most dogs.

In other words, Helios has better ability than those he’s with.

But the group Helios belonged to was definitely people experiencing the 20th Floor for the first time.

Of the four survivors, all but one had suffered fatal injuries.

Still, surviving on the first attempt was an amazing feat.

It meant everyone had talent.

‘Wow, when I was assigned to the 20th Floor, all the guys with me were trash.’

It was true. When she had just reached the 20th Floor, Mint was naturally a minor.

Those assigned with her tried to use her as a shield to buy time, and eventually threw her to the pack of dogs.

However, when the trial ended, only Mint had survived.

‘As expected of the Male Lead. His luck must be working – even his group luck is killer.’

When crossing the line of death together, even the most vile criminals would develop a certain camaraderie among themselves.

“Haa, damn it! What is this! I’m going to die!”

“Ugh, when can we get out of here…”

“Save me, sob, please.”

Listening to the cries of the survivors, Mint turned her head.

“If the scarecrow is the boss, then what are those packs of dogs?”

Helios had quite a serious expression.

The trial was over, but I didn’t know why he looked so grave.

“Ah, you wouldn’t know. Those dogs originally appear on the 10th Floor.”

“What?”

“So they were just meant to draw attention. Ah, of course they’d be stronger than the ones from the 10th Floor though.”

Helios rubbed his face.

He looked shocked to hear that the pack of dogs that had tormented him were just meant to divert attention.

“…This Tower is truly insane.”

Who would have thought that the space shown upon entering would be a hint?

And what could be the reason for driving prisoners into battle like this?

Looking at Helios with his exhausted expression, Mint just smiled faintly.

Her disciple hadn’t yet felt even a bit of this Tower’s true maliciousness.

For her, who knew all the Tower’s secrets, it was still too early to reveal such secrets.

[Trial complete. Congratulations, mongrels! Now get lost to the hell of the 21st Floor! Uhahahaha!]

A guard’s voice echoed from the ceiling toward the surviving prisoners. It was the same rough and cheerful voice as when it started.

“Congratulations. You safely passed the 20th Floor.”

“…I would have died without Master’s help.”

“Oh my, you even know how to give thanks.”

“…Hah. Where was that a thanks?”

“With your current skill level, taking down even one scarecrow is impressive. The number that swarms you is determined by your ability, you know?”

Mint consoled the dejected Helios. Helios was about to respond but stopped hesitantly.

Creeeeak—.

The door was opening.

The giant door opened and guards entered. They lifted the injured who couldn’t move with Kia.

“Agh, it hurts, I said it hurts!”

“Guard sir, please be gentle!”

“Shut up, you mongrel bastards.”

Of course, they weren’t kind.

No matter how much the prisoners complained, none of the guards paid any attention.

As Helios walked out unharmed, he suddenly cast his gaze toward one last place.

It was exactly where Mint had been lying.

“…!”

Where she had been, there was enough to call it a new mountain.

Countless scarecrows were piled up.

‘Just what are you.’

What kind of person are you? His questions about Mint deepened.

* * *

How long had it been since I felt this stiff and sore?

That was my impression right after coming out of the Tower.

‘It’s because I was just lying down.’

Lying on the stone floor wasn’t a good choice. I should have made a bed to lie on instead.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

I looked up and felt puzzled.

Helios was looking at me with his face all scrunched up.

“Mm, it’s nothing much. Just… I was lying on something hard in the Tower earlier, so my back is aching.”

“…That’s an even worse answer than I expected.”

“What were you thinking I was thinking about?”

“You don’t need to know.”

I blinked slowly.

“Anyway, I was thinking about making a bed, but then I stopped.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? My body would be more comfortable, but that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? When my disciple is fighting hard down below.”

“…”

Then Helios quietly pressed his forehead.

“Let me tell you something. It already wasn’t appropriate.”

“What do you mean? Explain it so I can understand.”

Seeing that I didn’t understand, Helios was about to say something but then closed his mouth.

He seemed to be saying something with his eyes too, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Our conversation couldn’t continue. Because someone approached us.

“Hyung, there you are!”

The Tower front was bustling with prisoners who had finished their trials. I recognized that the approaching man was from the group that had been with Helios.

It was the man who had his head shaved short like a soldier.

Helios looked very surprised.

And for good reason, because inside the Tower, the Buzz Cut Man had not only had one arm mangled, but had been injured to the point of near death.

But now he looked perfectly fine. As if he had never been injured at all.

“No need to be surprised. From the 20th Floor onwards, all wounds disappear completely when you come outside.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s a mysterious Tower, isn’t it?”

What kind of Tower is this supposed to be? I could clearly see that’s what Helios was thinking.

Actually, he didn’t seem to have noticed the most important secret yet, but I planned to just leave it until he figured it out himself.

Before Helios’s surprise could even settle, the Buzz Cut Man arrived in front of him.

“You remember me, right?”

“…”

“Thanks for helping me inside earlier. I came to say thanks!”

Ah, Helios saved him earlier, didn’t he?

“The thanks is enough.”

“Wow, you’re as cool as you are handsome, hyung. Haha.”

Even though Helios was quite tall, the buzz cut man was slightly taller.

‘Looking at his build, it’s 99 percent Musculoskeletal System.’

The man’s elbow was bruised.

It was a common aftereffect that those with Musculoskeletal System abilities suffered from, as those who fought using Bone Strengthening often carried such injuries around their joints after using their abilities.

The man extended his hand toward Helios.

“I’m Ged Satein. I’ll see you on the 21st Floor too, right?”

“…Helios.”

That was unexpected.

I’d seen him act so prickly that I naturally thought he wouldn’t even acknowledge the man’s greeting.

But he accepted the handshake and greeted him back.

‘Is he only prickly with me?’

Why would that be? Ah, well, even though he became a prisoner, I was still a guard, so it could be burdensome.

I understood.

While I was nodding to myself, the buzz cut man, Ged, greeted me as well.

“Ah, nice to meet you too, hyung-nim.”

Helios was “hyung” and I was “hyung-nim.”

‘This is the route where he arbitrarily makes me his big brother.’

It was interesting.

“You were really amazing, you know? So manly! Uhaha.”

I just stared at him blankly without giving any particular response. I simply turned around.

I heard a confused “Huh?” but I started walking away.

“Why did you ignore him?”

Helios followed and asked. Since I’d already sensed him following, I answered calmly.

“Why should I respond?”

“…Huh?”

“I wasn’t interested.”

“…”

“I only see you.”

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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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