I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 40

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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 40

Hmm.

“It seems the prisoners in the Upper Tower have been causing quite a commotion lately.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it’s not common for several people to die outside the Tower.”

Recalling even what Sergeant Steven had told me, it seemed like something suspicious was happening in the Upper Tower that even the Warden wouldn’t reveal.

I slowly opened my eyes.

‘Well, it’s not my concern anymore anyway.’

I can’t say I didn’t form any connections here. But everyone will get by just fine on their own.

Though everyone called me ‘Boss,’ I was actually a leader who really hadn’t done anything.

No one would miss me. Even if they did, they’d gradually forget.

Just as I slowly forget the deaths of those who died here.

“Yaaawn.”

I’m sleepy.

It’s probably because I’ve been thinking for a long time after so long.

Living without any thoughts is the best way for people to live.

“…”

When I turned my gaze, Helios was staring intently at me.

It was breakfast time now.

Helios’s food tray was already completely empty. He sure eats well.

Here, you have to eat well when you can.

‘In the Tower, when various trials upset your stomach, throwing up is a common occurrence.’

Is that all? Prisoners fight with each other, and if you get caught up in it, you starve miserably in solitary cell.

“What were you thinking about so deeply?”

Helios frowned slightly.

Until recently, whenever he got even a little close to me, he would act stiff like some wooden doll.

Now it seemed like that behavior had mostly disappeared.

‘I still don’t know what the reason for that was though.’

I tilted my head slightly while resting my chin on my hand.

But there were things that hadn’t changed.

When I stared at him silently, Helios would soon avert his eyes.

And quite shyly at that.

“Are you going through puberty these days?”

“What?”

“You shyly turn your head away whenever you see me. Are you writing some secret diary in your room or something?”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

His handsome face crumpled. Even so, being pretty was a talent in itself.

“Then why are you avoiding my eyes?”

“Just… I’ve been having various thoughts lately.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

“Master must be nice, living such a simple life.”

Are you suddenly dissing me here?

When I replied expressionlessly asking if that’s how he was going to be, Helios sighed with a complicated expression.

“I’ve been constantly thinking about the ability Master showed on the 29th Floor. Whenever I think about it, I feel like I’m still far behind.”

After all, there was still a gap of more than three grades between Helios and me.

Like the saying that the more you know, the more you see, it seemed the gap felt overwhelming to him.

I had expected this.

‘Though that time came faster than I thought.’

When I didn’t answer, Helios hung his head with the same complicated expression.

His drooping shoulders made me a bit puzzled.

‘Why is he sulking?’

I reached out and grabbed Helios’s chin, lifting it up.

“…What are you doing?”

“Why are you discouraged?”

Helios made a bewildered expression while caught in my grip.

“Who said I was discouraged…”

Right. Even your voice lacks strength.

Helios tried to swat my hand away, but naturally my hand didn’t budge at all.

His eyebrows twitched.

“Let go.”

“Your eye corners are drooping, your pretty mouth corners are drooping. Your shoulders are drooping too.”

“…You have no intention of letting go.”

“Don’t be discouraged. I’m cherishing you so much, so why are you losing spirit?”

From the 30th Floor onwards is the domain of Grade 1, the highest among Low-level Prisoners.

Actually, whenever we talk about grades, I can’t help but think they’re ranked like beef and pork.

In Helios’s case, he already had no rivals within the same grade.

Hadn’t he already proven it by beating down a Mid-level Prisoner in the corridor?

‘I seemed pretty proud back then too.’

Is this the joy of raising a Newbie?

Though my goal was getting out of prison, this kind of small sense of achievement wasn’t bad either.

It had been so long since I felt even such small emotions in this prison.

‘With this talent, there’s absolutely no reason to be discouraged.’

He was a natural genius who absorbed everything like a sponge when taught.

The reason I hadn’t told him this fact was because I judged it wouldn’t be helpful for him to know.

Just looking at his appearance, he had quite a cunning aspect as if he’d toy with people.

Yet inside, he had the serious and righteous temperament of a Hero.

This prison doesn’t suit him in many ways.

But humans are creatures of adaptation, so someday he’ll get appropriately tainted and find the right line to blend in.

‘It would have been easier if he were the type who lived for his own arrogance.’

It was good that he was the type of person you could never find in this prison.

The lower you are at the bottom, the more you yearn for what’s above.

‘Of course, there are those who feel inferior when they see this kind of kid.’

I felt body heat on my wrist.

“…How long are you going to keep holding on?”

It was a voice full of complaints.

Sure enough, I could see a rebellious gaze.

He can’t shake it off with force, so he has no choice but to endure it. But those eyes look like they’d scratch like an angry dog the moment they see an opening.

“Master raised you so well, but now you’re losing confidence, which is absurd.”

“I’ve been wanting to ask, but don’t you feel embarrassed talking about yourself in third person?”

Actually, if I had to choose, even if he looked ready to pounce at any moment, I preferred him getting spiritedly angry rather than being dejected.

I opened my mouth expressionlessly.

“Master doesn’t know about such things~.”

“…You’re insane.”

Taking advantage of the moment when his strength weakened, Helios knocked my hand away with a ‘thwack’ sound.

“What are you so worried about? You won’t die.”

The cafeteria was quite noisy.

There were some gazes focused on us, but there were more prisoners minding their own business.

Helios opened his mouth with a complicated expression.

“Why?”

“…”

“Because Master will protect you?”

Light purple eyes glared at me as if they would bore right through me.

No matter how I think about it, I don’t think I said anything worth getting angry about.

“No? You have to survive on your own.”

“…If that’s the case, then why.”

“Hm?”

“Never mind.”

Helios stood up from his seat.

His profile as he passed by was quite red.

‘He’s getting angry again.’

The fact that he picked up his food tray when he stood up was exactly why I secretly called him a hero or noble.

‘If it were me, I would have said “you clean it up” and run away.’

Always proper and upright.

But straight things are bound to break.

I followed Helios closely. I met him again outside the cafeteria.

Helios asked as if something was strange.

“What happened to the food tray?”

“It’s probably on the table?”

“Why didn’t you clean it up?”

“Right.”

“….”

Oh, how disgusting. I chuckled softly.

Whispering ‘come here,’ I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him toward me.

I caught his forcibly lowered head and gently stroked it.

“Don’t die and climb up. All the way to the summit.”

“….”

“Even if I can’t protect you, I can help you not die.”

My eyes met with Helios’s.

Heat began to rise gradually on his pale cheeks. I don’t know what’s making him so upset that he keeps getting heated up.

“…How is that different from protecting me?”

I pretended not to hear his quiet mumbling. If he wanted me to hear it, he would have spoken louder.

“Why do you keep turning red? What’s making you so upset?”

“I’m not upset.”

“Then, shyness? Are you really going through puberty?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

I thought for a moment, then answered honestly without much thought.

There was no particular reason to hide it.

“I don’t understand people’s emotions well. It’s hard to figure them out.”

“….”

“I’m comfortable living, but it’s difficult to fit into society.”

Helios stared at me intently, seemingly forgetting to shake off my hand.

“So, understand as your duty as my disciple. Of course, I’m forcing you to.”

“…Then you’re saying you don’t know why I’ve been acting strange lately?”

“…? How am I supposed to know when you don’t say anything?”

“….”

Helios let out a long sigh and then made an upset expression. See, you are upset after all.

Then he lowered my hand from his head and rubbed his face.

“Haah….”

“While we’re at it, tell me and I’ll listen. What made you act strange? Don’t get so upset and just tell me.”

Checking Helios’s condition is important too. I’ve raised him well, but it would be troublesome if his mind breaks and he can’t climb up.

“First of all, I’m not angry or upset.”

Even though he said it with such a rebellious face that it wasn’t convincing, I nodded.

“It’s just…. I admire Master.”

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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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