I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 59

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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 59

She could feel Ged and Seth, who had been standing near the centipede, looking at her in surprise. Brett’s hollow laughter could also be heard faintly.

Among Ged’s Group, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t owe Mint a debt.

What if they wanted to help, but the other party stubbornly refused even their attempts to repay favors?

“You said you didn’t want Boss to die, right?”

Then they should at least do their best to help with that goal.

“I don’t want to see Boss die either. It’s frustrating that I can’t do it myself, so I’m risking my life to push you. I can’t say I don’t have any cunning motives. But I also sincerely hope that everyone can go up without dying! Can’t I say that?”

Haira also knew.

Their Boss Helios was a clean person who didn’t fit in this prison. So much so that one would wonder what his crime even was.

Such a person would be vulnerable to the death of colleagues.

His own death might also be a great shock. That’s what she judged.

“Right.”

Mint lightly shrugged her shoulders. Composure emanated from her expressionless face.

“I keep you by my side because you have that kind of heart. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have kept you.”

Haira flinched for a moment, understanding the implied meaning.

Mint ignores useless words. She also ignores bothersome words.

Had she listened silently to discern her sincerity?

Moreover, her tone suggested she had already finished judging Ged’s Group long ago.

“In this garbage den, friendship, camaraderie… well, how could anyone always be sincere? That level of affection is enough.”

They had already been tested without knowing it.

“It’s that kind of affection that makes hellish places livable.”

Of course, sometimes it was precisely that shallow affection that brought people to ruin.

Instead of speaking this truth, Mint swallowed it down.

* * *

I smiled slightly.

“And you know, I really don’t know who’s the one looking down on Helios.”

Haira hesitated for just a moment.

Soon Haira’s face turned sharply. She was probably looking at the same place I was looking.

Namely, where Helios was.

“If I thought he’d be lacking, I wouldn’t have let him fight.”

I could roughly guess how Haira viewed me.

Heartless, neglectful. Did she also see me as irresponsible?

Rather, I was pleased to newly discover through this outburst that Haira had genuine camaraderie toward Helios.

Because that’s what he needs.

I don’t particularly care what kind of person she thinks I am.

But I don’t do things that would get the Male Lead killed.

“Look.”

Helios stood where Ged’s group and my gaze converged.

Breathing roughly. With his hands hanging limply.

“Haa, haa….”

He was a blood-soaked mess.

Haira muttered with wide eyes.

“Wh-when on earth….”

The boss lay collapsed on the ground. No longer moving.

It was his victory.

He had finally brought down ‘Father’, who had appeared as an object of terror.

“If I had stolen the boss, he would have been angry.”

How fierce the battle had been could be understood just from the sounds and vibrations in the air.

Where he had been, there were large marks as if clawed by a giant beast.

Traces that looked like spear marks, or perhaps sword marks.

Among the scars, he stood tall. No, more precisely, he was swaying.

The bleeding was severe. His face was deathly pale as if he might collapse at any moment. Yet his bright eyes were staring at me.

“If you understand so well, why don’t you know what’s important?”

“What?”

From the ceiling, the guard’s voice announcing the end of the trial echoed.

Since I had opened my five senses more than usual for battle, I could hear even the smallest words.

But instead of speaking, Haira let out a sigh.

This eventful trial had come to an end.

“Thank you.”

This trial was more difficult than any other floor. As proof of this, as soon as they came outside the tower, Helios and Ged’s group collapsed to the ground.

It wasn’t strange.

After every trial ended, most prisoners sprawled out like this.

Some because of barely healed injuries, others because of mental trauma.

It was rare that Helios and Ged’s group had come out unscathed until now.

It was a very natural occurrence.

‘Rather, if they’re finally exhausted after reaching the 38th floor, that’s quite an achievement.’

In the midst of this, Haira had greeted me.

Even with a face that looked like she might collapse like her colleagues at any moment.

The fact that she spoke to me while giving her all against the centipede earlier was actually remarkable.

‘Mental-type kia drains all the body’s strength.’

It’s not for nothing that those with this type of kia have short lifespans.

“You don’t need to thank me.”

I said, looking down at Haira.

“Who knows if you’ll regret those words later.”

At these words, Haira frowned as if she understood yet didn’t. Her lips twitched as if she wanted to say something more.

Before that, I added one more blunt comment.

“I don’t even know what you’re being grateful for?”

“Thanks to you, we’re climbing up. Both me and my colleagues.”

“So you call them colleagues.”

“Of course?”

Would it be strange to say that her upward gaze was too straight for a criminal?

All of Ged’s Group, having stayed by Helios’s side for so long, seemed to be gradually resembling the Male Lead’s gaze.

Except for Ged, who was always shouting about loyalty from the beginning.

…Though it probably wasn’t entirely a good thing.

“Think carefully. The possibility that a colleague once will be a colleague forever isn’t that high.”

“I’m curious too, though it doesn’t seem like you’re trying to drive a wedge between us. What do you gain from saying such things?”

“A caring heart toward my disciple’s friend? A mother’s heart, perhaps.”

“…Isn’t it more like a father’s heart?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

If I had to be precise, let’s call it my personal sense of duty for not being able to provide proper guidance to her when she entered as a new prisoner.

“You have a good ability, and the higher you climb, the more places will overflow with desire for your ability.”

“I understand that you don’t particularly like things like friendship or loyalty. Enough to even openly advise abandoning colleagues.”

“…”

“So, would the benefits be that great if I abandoned my colleagues? Would I become rich or something?”

At her tone dripping with sarcasm, I smiled slightly.

“Which is more, 1 million gold or 100,000 gold?”

“Obviously 1 million gold.”

“But the person offering 1 million gold is a scammer, while the person offering 100,000 gold is a trustworthy merchant who has never caused a single problem.”

“That question is flawed from the start…”

“You have to think.”

I glanced toward a certain spot.

“You have to think about things not in the question too. Not everyone asks questions in an easy-to-understand way. Even you, Haira, when you were scamming people, you didn’t kindly tell them everything, did you?”

“…”

I shrugged my shoulders once more.

“You’ll soon learn just how dangerous and attractive your ability is.”

Mental-type Kia ability users who survived and grew to advance their ranks all became dangerous individuals.

“But if you really intend to stay with this party.”

I looked toward the same spot once more and whispered quietly.

Haira’s face twisted sharply.

“…You want me to believe that?”

“Who said anything about believing?”

“…”

“And listen, if you keep climbing like this, there will come a section where you absolutely must play an active role.”

Right now it’s combat-focused, so the fighters like Helios and Ged stand out, but.

“That’s when you’ll be the one saving them. Isn’t that cool?”

“Not cool at all.”

Looking at her frowning expression, he laughed out loud and moved to a different spot.

He stopped walking and plopped down heavily.

“Why is he being so pitiful?”

It was next to Helios, who was still lying collapsed.

“Instead of exchanging conversations savoring victory with his colleagues. Why is he lying alone as if he’s being ostracized? Making Master sad.”

“…I’m not in the mood for that.”

Though the battle was over, Helios was still breathing roughly and heavily.

Because his inner excitement hadn’t subsided.

“Go away.”

Moreover, he answered while covering his eyes with the back of his hand, his voice weak.

No, it seemed like there was anger contained in it too?

I reached out my finger and gently tousled his hair.

Though the Tower healed wounds, it didn’t wipe away sweat, so it was slightly damp.

Hair like silver thread.

“Was it very difficult?”

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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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