I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 64

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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 64

“Come to think of it, Boss, you’ve been putting us through intense training even before we entered the 39th Floor… Is there some kind of change happening?”

“Right. The 39th Floor wasn’t any different from the other floors, was it?”

Seth, who had been fidgeting under my gaze, flinched.

“Th-then does that mean something even more terrifying is coming?”

“Hahaha, as long as it’s not bugs, I’m fine. Right, Boss?”

“Well…”

At Brett’s question, Helios answered with a calm expression while subtly avoiding eye contact.

“I don’t mind bugs either. I can overcome them now…”

His gaze briefly touched mine. No, I got caught at the end of his sidelong glance.

“Because I have a way to overcome them.”

At his voice that seemed to leave room for interpretation, everyone’s gazes turned toward Helios.

And then toward me.

Why me?

“Ahem, Boss. So you’re saying that starting from the 40th Floor, the trials will be similar to those up to the 39th Floor but somewhat different?”

“Similar.”

There was no reason to hide it after coming this far. When I easily confirmed it, everyone became serious.

I stared at Seth again and then glanced at Ged once.

“It would be easier if it were you or Seth.”

At that, Ged’s Group made puzzled faces.

Especially Ged and Haira, I could see them struggling to not just let what I said pass by.

“Wh-what does that mean, Boss? This Ged. Even though I’ve steeled my heart as a man, I’m getting a bit anxious…!”

“Haha, Boss. It’s not bugs, right? As long as it’s not bugs.”

“Boss…! Wh-wh-why me?!”

However, the conversation couldn’t continue. The dart was moving swiftly. It was time to choose.

“This floor will be a bit more powerful since it’s the last floor of this trial.”

“Ack, when Boss says ‘a bit more,’ doesn’t that really mean it gets re-really difficult?!”

“Huk…”

Brett momentarily lost his laughter and made a gasping sound, but it wasn’t because of Seth’s words.

I clicked my tongue slightly.

The dart had chosen Ged, not Seth. Between the two, Seth would have been a bit better.

“Uwaaah! Why…! Why is it this body again!”

With this, Ged had been selected three times in this trial.

‘Originally, this section is meant to be cleared by a larger group. It is a bit unusual.’

“What’s wrong, Ged? Where are you going?”

“Huh? Huh huh? I’m not moving on my own… Mmph!”

“Ged!”

Ged’s body floated up and was dragged somewhere. His panicked expression was clearly visible.

soon disappeared from sight.

“Don’t worry, they’re probably not dead or hurt.”

“…What exactly was that?”

Even to Haira’s question asked on behalf of the group, I casually shrugged my shoulders.

“What do you mean? You’ll find out soon enough.”

Soon the world around us was turned upside down.

Bang! Crash!

It was a vast wasteland. A space similar yet different from the floor that had shown Ged’s previous fears.

“Isn’t this the place we saw on the 31st Floor?”

“Uh… No. That place was summer. Now it’s winter, and it seems like a somewhat different place?”

Unlike the whispering party members, Helios was looking around with a calm and careful expression.

He had quickly adapted.

‘I always feel this way, but his adaptability is really incredible…’

Except for his wavering at certain keywords—like bugs—it was as if he’d been sent to demonstrate the textbook method of surviving in this prison.

His ability to adapt to the Tower and prison was exceptional.

Boom!

Someone came running frantically from where the sound was heard. They were wearing a military uniform.

‘Ged was a soldier.’

I had learned what he did outside from the previous 31st Floor.

From his style of short-cropped hair like a soldier to his frequent military stories, it was impossible not to know.

But hiding one’s career or identity was a common thing in this place.

Unless you had Kia to discern lies, it was better not to believe everything that came out of people’s mouths.

However, Ged was unusually simple and truthful.

Always smiling cheerfully and calling Helios Boss, but doing his best at what he was assigned, he was practically the leader within Ged’s Group.

Moreover, while serving as a tank to protect the party, he seemed skilled at commanding others.

He especially worked well with ranged ability users like Seth.

I had learned the reason this was possible from the floor where Ged’s fears appeared, including the previous 31st Floor.

“That’s impossible… You’re saying hyung held such a high position?”

“Hahaha, now do you understand the coolness of manly Ged, Seth?”

Ged was an officer. And one with quite a high rank at that.

“I don’t see Ged anywhere though?”

It seemed like a local battle was taking place quite far from where we were standing.

The sound of artillery shells could be heard.

The war zone seemed quite distant, with only smoke billowing and decorating the sky.

While Helios and the party were talking to each other, small footsteps could be heard nearby.

As they approached, not only I but also Helios and the party noticed.

“Seth!”

“Ah, I know!”

Seth quickly used his Kia, telekinesis.

‘There shouldn’t be any need to use it.’

Sure enough, a faint scream could be heard. Choking sounds followed as well.

“Huh, huh… a child?”

The being dangling in mid-air was none other than a very small child.

Seth made a bewildered expression. Soon his face became one of not knowing what to do.

“Why, why. Why is there a young child on this floor?”

Helios glanced at me. Then he opened his mouth.

“I don’t know. Either this child is one of the things Ged fears… Or since it’s the final floor and has become stronger, it’s now manifesting the entire space of fearful subjects from his memories.”

I clapped my hands.

“Correct.”

Haira’s expression, which had been maintaining composure, slightly wavered.

“Then this entire vast place is exactly like the space from Ged’s memories?”

“Similar.”

“Hahaha, what a troublesome floor.”

“Um, then should I, should I put this child down for now?”

Seth gently raised his hand.

The child had only struggled when first lifted, but was now quietly suspended in mid-air.

It was a boy. Dirty and with worn clothes, but a pretty boy who would look charming if cleaned up.

As soon as the kid’s feet touched the ground, he quickly ran over and clung tightly to Seth’s leg.

“Huh, what?”

“Hahaha, I thought he was going to attack.”

“…I can relate.”

A dagger made of shadows was aimed at the child’s neck. It seemed Haira had also been thinking of using her ability.

Having been hurt by so many bosses, they didn’t let their guard down even at the sight of a young child.

‘Hmm, good to see.’

Even if Brett and Haira’s attacks had failed…

He wouldn’t have been able to avoid Helios’s attack, who quietly made a spear then dismissed it.

I don’t like that they relaxed just because he didn’t attack. But their wariness regardless of gender and age gets full marks.

“Um, if this place is exactly like the world from Ged’s memories, then this child is someone who poses no harm, right?”

Seth picked up the child clinging to his leg and glanced around cautiously.

Though he was in his early twenties, his youthful face and the feeling that he’d just become an adult made it look like a young older brother holding a young younger brother.

“Yeah. At least it seems that way for now.”

“Hahaha, aren’t you all letting your guard down too easily? At this rate, someone might stab you in the back…”

Crack!

“Ah.”

The smile disappeared from Brett’s face.

* * *

The hardened shadow shatters under the invisible force.

“K-Kia?!”

That’s right. The moment Brett reached out his hand toward the child, an indescribable familiar force tried to break his fingers.

Brett skillfully replaced his fingers with shadows and pulled his hand away.

“It’s Kia.”

Helios stated matter-of-factly.

Everyone stared at the child with half-bewildered expressions.

In the Empire, the age of Kia awakening varied wildly without consistency, but there was still an average.

However, this child was ridiculously young compared to the average age.

“Uh… this seems to be the same telekinesis as mine?”

Seth said with a bewildered expression.

“Haha, really? And one thing is certain.”

Brett said leisurely, laughing but with only his eyes gleaming coldly.

“It seems to follow you, Seth.”

That’s right. After the child shattered Brett’s shadow, it clung to Seth’s embrace, trembling violently.

BOOM!

Once again, an artillery shell exploded.

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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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