I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 88

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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 88

Helios’s prediction was accurate.

Among the party, Haira, who had the sharpest intuition, had long since noticed Brett’s subtly changed appearance.

Perhaps it was from the very moment the change began.

Haira took in the sight of Brett gazing into the distance.

“What worries are overflowing so much?”

Brett turned his head.

“You couldn’t land a single hit with those attacks you used to boast about for their swift accuracy?”

“Ahaha. Isn’t that baseless talk?”

In today’s quarrel and fight, Brett hadn’t landed a single attack on his opponent.

Though not as many fights as Helios was going through, the entire party was experiencing growing pains.

“In this team, you and I are the only Normal Persons. What do I do if your screws come loose?”

Ged and Seth were enthusiastically doing something in mid-air.

“What am I supposed to do about those idiots?”

On the 43rd Floor, they were doing that, saying they’d subdue the Floor Masters with even swifter accuracy.

“Hahaha.”

“…”

“…Though you don’t actually think they’re idiots.”

Brett was smiling as always.

However, in front of her, who had moved hundreds of millions with just a person’s expression, it was acting close to useless.

He’s putting on an act.

“Right, I don’t think you’re an idiot either. So don’t give me reason to think that way, and at least deceive me properly.”

“…Hmm?”

“Or instead of acting frustratingly, at least say something. The life debt I owe you is worth at least that much.”

On the Floor where Ged had appeared as an enemy, Brett had saved Haira.

Brett smiled brightly. The smile that started as survival to hide his sharp eyes.

Sometimes made even him forget what expression he truly wanted to make.

“Tsk, let’s go.”

She’s sulking. Haira decided to give it more time.

Brett stared at Haira’s back.

His smiling eyes sank for a moment.

And Mint, who had heard this entire conversation thanks to her exceptional senses, yawned lazily.

A Guard was calling from afar.

The Trial was beginning.

“So what if Brett is acting strange?”

She shrugged as if asking what it mattered.

“Will he just cause more trouble?”

* * *

“Welcome, everyone who has arrived at the 43rd Floor.”

A polite tone.

“For those who don’t know us, let me introduce ourselves—we are the Floor Masters of this floor, the ‘Red Scorpion’ Fam.”

Mint made a brief assessment.

Well now, there’s a proper madman here too.

The moment they entered the 43rd Floor Plaza, what Ged’s Group encountered was a long line of Floor Masters.

They were all wearing the same prison uniforms anyway, but they stood with razor-sharp precision as if they were nobles.

‘Proper madmen usually have good brains too.’

Team ‘Red Scorpion’ numbered nine.

“Let us inform you of the competition details where you’ll compete against us, the Floor Masters.”

The one speaking rapidly seemed to have made some kind of decision.

Seth looked dejected.

Haira clicked her tongue in annoyance, while Brett was laughing heartily as usual.

Mint looked at the pit and made her judgment.

‘Haven’t seen this before. Must have been hastily constructed.’

Unlike other floors, there was a massive pit dug in the center of the 43rd Floor Plaza.

Since the bottom wasn’t visible, falling down there would mean instant death.

And connecting the ends of the pit were countless…

“Bridges?”

“You’ve observed correctly.”

The one giving the explanation clapped his hands.

Another difference from previous floors was that there were no prisoners who were excessively afraid of the Floor Masters.

Moreover, they were all gathered in small groups, apparently in teams.

‘Rarely, this seems to be a properly functioning floor.’

“As you can see, the competition we, the masters of the 43rd Floor, propose is ‘Rope Bridge Crossing.'”

The prisoners stirred restlessly.

Surely there must be prisoners attempting this floor again.

“Their reactions suggest they’re hearing this for the first time.”

Helios muttered.

Indeed, everyone seemed confused.

The competition format proposed by the Floor Masters ‘Red Scorpion’ was simple.

Each team would get on the bridges, and whichever team had all members reach the goal point first would win.

“Arriving first means you pass, arriving before us also means you pass.”

“…I have a question.”

One prisoner raised his hand.

The one giving the explanation smiled gently. A silent affirmation.

“Why exactly did you suddenly change the competition format…”

“Oh my, that’s not a proper question.”

Thud. The prisoner who couldn’t even finish his question collapsed and never got up again.

He was dead.

The atmosphere turned ice cold.

“A proper question… If one team member falls, can the remaining team members still reach the destination?”

“Yes. Even if a team member falls, only the survivors need to enter. However, all survivors must enter without exception.”

Helios lowered his hand.

There was no further explanation.

To summarize, all surviving team members must cross the bridge completely. That was the only requirement.

Since it was a simple Trial.

“There are plenty of ways to interfere.”

Besides Helios and Ged’s Group, there were three more teams.

“Huh, but is having more people a disadvantage?”

“Uh, is it like Ged said?”

“Well, we’ll only know after trying.”

“I agree with Boss.”

“Haha, and I’m not great with heights either.”

Everyone stood in front of the bridge.

The bridge was a crude structure with planks laid over two ropes.

“Ugh, it doesn’t look very sturdy…”

“And there are so many planks?”

But the planks weren’t laid out all the way to the end.

“I-It looks like the planks can be removed. Don’t we have to lay them down as we go?”

“Ahem, that’s probably right. The military sometimes uses this type of bridge too. It’s an emergency structure. The Trial is simple, but it’ll take quite a while.”

Each team spent a brief moment strategizing.

Mint thought indifferently.

Well, this is perfect for causing trouble.

“Then. Let’s begin!”

Someone with a booming voice from the Floor Master’s side shouted.

‘Good, this is easier than the previous competition.’

The members of what could be arbitrarily called Team A, the first ordinary prisoner team, rushed forward.

The prisoner who stepped on first flinched and trembled.

‘What? It’s shaking quite a bit?’

True to its crude nature, the bridge swayed severely. However, the prisoners maintained their balance fairly well.

“Ooooh!”

While everyone was struggling, Helios and Ged’s Group turned to Brett.

“Brett.”

“Ahahaha, my goodness. The day I become the protagonist has finally come.”

The moment he said that, shadows extending from Brett’s body covered the bridge and stretched upward to create handholds.

“Run!”

“Master, what are you doing not running?”

“Oh, run. Run. I’ll match the pace accordingly.”

Mint casually waved her hand, seeing off the party’s retreating figures.

And from the Floor Master team with many members, only one person surged ahead at tremendous speed.

The man flew through the air without even touching the planks. Before long, he reached the end in an instant.

‘Elemental-type, Wind Element. If he can fly even briefly, that’s quite impressive.’

A rare type even among Elemental-types. Moreover, he’s a Dual Ability User who also uses Musculoskeletal System.

The man’s name was Barret, and stopping just before the Goal Point, he grinned wickedly.

“Hahaha, let’s have some fun!”

At the same time, wind began to blow, and countless arrows were created in mid-air.

The arrows made of wind soon rained down on one ordinary prisoner team’s rope.

Thud thud thud!

The ordinary rope under attack couldn’t withstand it and snapped completely.

“Aaaahhh!”

“S-save us…!”

The prisoners, who could never get used to death, felt fear. Falling meant death.

There were also teams that froze in place while leisurely removing planks.

Unfortunately, the arrow rain didn’t miss them either and targeted them as well.

“Aaaahhh!”

Most couldn’t withstand the second wave of Strong Wind and arrow rain, either collapsing or being blown away.

“W-we won’t go down easily!”

However, not everyone was helplessly defeated.

One team’s rope was cut, but one of the team members grabbed the rope with his hands using superhuman strength before the bridge collapsed.

“Everyone jump before it collapses!”

“Material Type user, make planks!”

The attempt was good, but…

“Now, it would be troublesome if you forgot about us.”

“Gah!”

A blind sword aimed for their backs.

Thud thud thud. Like fruit unable to bear its own weight, people fell into the Pit.

It was a sword thrown from the Floor Master side, ‘Red Scorpion’, who hadn’t crossed yet.

Mint glanced at them, who were completely confident. There was a reason the Floor Masters were confident in this Trial.

‘They did prepare quite a bit though.’

Well, in Mint’s view, it was still quite lacking.

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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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