The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 110

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 110
‘Once I slip out of these iron bars, I might be able to escape using Magic.’
Rachel turned her mind toward every possible angle. Then she studied the movements of the guards. They didn’t seem particularly wary of Rachel or Duke Sinclair.
‘In a state like this, I should be able to get out.’
Rachel constructed several scenarios in her head. And among them, the one she chose was none other than—
“Ugh…”
—pretending to be in pain.
“Why does my head hurt so much…?”
Not exaggerated, but visible enough to the guards, Rachel wrapped her hands around her head.
“Um, excuse me. Is there a physician here?”
Rachel spoke plaintively. The guards laughed through their noses.
“You think that’ll work? Not a chance.”
The guards seemed to have already figured out what Rachel was trying to do.
‘…It didn’t work. Then I’ll have to resort to direct confrontation.’
Direct confrontation within the cell was manageable. The problem was that she had no way of knowing how many soldiers were stationed outside the prison.
‘And these iron bars are twice as thick as ordinary ones.’
The bars were easily a hand’s breadth thick. If she used enough Mana to pierce bars of that thickness in a confined space, the recoil would surely injure her.
‘No matter what, it’s equally disadvantageous for me.’
Rachel exhaled deeply. Then she looked down at her hands.
‘I want to escape on my own before Lucas arrives. It has to happen that way.’
She didn’t want Lucas to come to such a place because of her. So Rachel sank into deep contemplation.
How to escape—turning the question over and over in her mind.
* * *
Lucas sat atop his horse, his cloak draped over him. He drove the black horse faster than anyone, at relentless speed. Directly behind him, Henry pursued with his jaw clenched, riding without pause.
‘Rachel is most likely in Lein.’
The capital of Anareó, Lein, was surrounded by steep, forbidding mountains carved as if by a knife. Because of this, the place earned the epithet of a fortress blessed by heaven—a perfect location to confine Rachel.
‘I’ll strike Lein and eliminate the Emperor of Anareó.’
Lucas’s resolve was iron. Now that the game had escalated, he intended to remove the Emperor of Anareó. And Henry could read Lucas’s thoughts as well.
‘It seems the Crown Prince means to eliminate the Emperor of Anareó.’
The process would surely not be easy. Yet Henry could sympathize with Lucas’s intention.
‘It will be a difficult trial ahead.’
Henry hardened his resolve.
‘I hope the young lady is doing well.’
Rachel occupied his every thought. In these treacherous circumstances, his concern for her well-being was profound. Rachel was an extraordinarily strong person, but that did nothing to diminish his worry.
‘She’ll be fine. No—she has to be fine.’
Henry pushed aside his darker thoughts. Then he urged the horse faster still.
The road to Lein was harsh. Every fortress had its garrison, and shaking them off was grueling work. Yet Lucas demonstrated his cunning at each obstacle, eluding the patrols with precision.
“Lein is within sight.”
Lucas, his cloak still about him, gazed at the fortress encircled by distant mountains. No matter how he looked, there seemed to be no gap through which to enter. He narrowed his brow slightly.
Reaching this point was good. But how to search through the vast expanse of Lein was the real question.
Moreover, if the Crown Prince fell into enemy hands, the situation would become impossibly complex. Knowing this, Lucas could not afford to move recklessly.
“I see no clear path forward in such circumstances.”
Sir Hank, the eldest among the knights, spoke quietly. He was a seasoned knight who had been deployed on many operations. Even for him, the present situation was deeply unsettling.
‘How will the Crown Prince navigate this impasse…?’
Contrary to Hank’s anxiety, Lucas’s expression remained composed.
“We divide into groups. A Mage contingent, a Knight contingent, and myself. Three groups in total.”
Lucas spoke evenly. At his words, the Mages and Knights exchanged glances. They waited in silence for his command.
“The tasks for the Mage contingent and Knight contingent are…”
Lucas’s voice grew progressively quieter. Everyone gathered close to him. Their eyes were bright with anticipation.
* * *
Katie visited the prison frequently. Only later did Rachel discover that her Protective Stone Necklace was now hanging around Katie’s neck.
“You… took that?”
“You failed to keep it safe.”
Katie laughed brightly as she spoke. To steal someone’s possession and then tell them they’d failed to guard it was utterly absurd.
“With this, I’m no different from the Empress of Tirnes.”
Katie uttered words that made no sense. Rachel scoffed. Did she truly believe that the Protective Stone Necklace would grant her the position of Empress of Tirnes?
“If you had wanted to become Empress of Tirnes, you shouldn’t have betrayed your homeland like this.”
“When did I ever say I wanted to be Empress of Tirnes? I don’t care about such things anymore.”
“What?”
“Anareó will conquer Tirnes and establish a vast empire. I’ll be the Empress of that great empire.”
Only then did Rachel understand what Katie was dreaming of. She was convinced that Anareо would win the war. And it seemed she was planning to seduce the Crown Prince of Anareо.
‘She hasn’t abandoned her ambitions.’
Rachel clicked her tongue inwardly. She had no intention of indulging Katie’s grandiose dreams, but her own circumstances were far too precarious to risk showing open disapproval.
“By the way, does the Crown Prince of Anareо actually like you?”
Rachel asked casually. At that, Katie’s brow furrowed deeply.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Well, you’re right—it’s not really my concern. But I do feel a bit sorry for you.”
Rachel made a pitiful expression, as if genuinely sympathetic. Katie’s face began to flush.
“Don’t you dare pity me!”
“I’m not pitying you. As the betrothed of Tirnes’s Crown Prince, I’m merely offering to teach you how one becomes the betrothed of a royal house.”
Rachel dangled words that would catch Katie’s interest. Katie crossed her arms and let out a scornful laugh.
“Go ahead, then. Let’s hear it.”
“Why would I?”
Rachel opened her eyes wide as if she didn’t understand the question.
“Why should I give you that secret for nothing?”
“What?”
Rachel scoffed. Then she offered a faintly self-deprecating smile.
“Actually… I was thinking of making a deal with you.”
“A deal?”
“This cell is freezing. If you bring me just one blanket, I’ll give you information that could win the Crown Prince of Anareо’s favor.”
Rachel spoke with absolute confidence.
“I share everything with Lucas. You have no idea how much he knows about the Crown Prince of Anareо. Even just a few of the things I know would be enormously useful to you.”
Please, just take the bait. Come on.
Rachel coaxed Katie silently, desperate and hopeful.
“One blanket is all I ask in return.”
Rachel spoke while trembling slightly from the cold. Katie began to consider the proposition carefully.
Having made her decision, Katie glanced toward the door and nodded. A soldier came forward with a filthy blanket.
“Stay away from the door.”
Katie commanded. Rachel pressed her back against the wall with both hands clasped behind her. Sinclair did the same.
“I’m opening the door now.”
The soldier clicked the lock open. The iron door began to creak loudly as it swung wide.
Now!
“Move!”
Rachel, who had been gathering Mana in both her hands, hurled a sphere of concentrated Mana through the opening door.
The soldiers reflexively dodged, and the iron door swung fully open.
“Go!”
Rachel shouted. She meant escape with absolute seriousness.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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