Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Itzriel (3)
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Underground prison built inside the garrison.
It looked like a two-story building on the outside, but deep underground lay a prison for confining criminals.
“…Fuck, what the hell’s going on.”
“That’s what I’m saying…”
The anxious gazes of those guarding the outside of the building followed the intermittent explosions echoing from afar.
Something had clearly gone wrong, but they hadn’t received any specific orders yet.
That was when a sudden shout rang out.
“What the hell are you doing here!”
From the darkness emerged a figure in uniform stained with blood.
The rank on his chest marked him as a lieutenant. Startled, they could only blink in silence.
They didn’t know what they’d done wrong, but the man’s reaction filled them with dread that it was something major.
“Didn’t you hear those sounds? What are you waiting for—go provide support!”
“W-We were in the middle of guard du—”
“Shut up. Who’s the commanding officer? Get him here now!”
At the lieutenant’s irritation, the soldier on guard duty hurriedly rushed inside and fetched the one wearing a superior’s insignia.
He looked at the lieutenant who had summoned him with uneasy eyes.
“W-What’s the matter, sir?”
“We’re short on manpower right now—what the hell are you doing here! Didn’t you hear the order for all troops to provide support?”
“We were only told to double the guards tonight. No other orders.”
“That was earlier! Itzriel’s life is in danger from the enemy’s surprise attack. We need support urgently. Leave the minimum personnel and follow me!”
“Y-Yes, sir. Understood!”
The superior selected personnel, leaving only four sentries at the entrance, and hurriedly followed the lieutenant.
The lieutenant, leading the way, suddenly stopped at a narrow alley and turned around.
“Oh, right. I forgot to mention this.”
“Yes?”
Crack!
The superior stared blankly at the sword piercing his chest.
“…?”
Spurt!
His heart pierced, he collapsed limply to the ground.
At the same time, imperial soldiers sprang out from all directions.
Amid the panicking, milling soldiers, sword flashes gleamed.
Those unable to distinguish friend from foe offered no proper resistance and were wiped out in an instant.
“Phew, went off without a hitch, right?”
Lieutenant Allen wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and flashed a proud smile.
Iriel gave him a thumbs-up for his acting skills.
Allen and the others were all clad in pitch-black uniforms made from monster hides, overlaid with breastplates emblazoned with a black dragon.
Imperial army combat gear.
Acquiring the uniforms had been easy. Dead imperial soldiers were piled like mountains in the bandit stronghold.
They had infiltrated the garrison disguised as imperial soldiers from the start.
Returning to the underground prison, they easily dealt with the soldiers on guard duty as well.
“If anything happens, send the signal.”
Gakwen earnestly instructed two of his subordinates before descending the stairs to the underground.
He assigned them to stand guard outside, pretending to be sentries.
The staircase was so narrow that two adults couldn’t walk side by side.
Allen proceeded cautiously through the dim darkness, relying on the sporadically placed lanterns on the walls.
The deeper they went, the damper the air became, assaulted by the musty smell of mold and an indescribable rot.
At the bottom of the stairs stretched a short corridor. Orange light leaked from the door at its end.
Allen and Gakwen quietly approached, exchanged glances, and nodded.
Allen urgently knocked on the door and shouted.
“Big trouble! Something’s happened outside!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The door opened without caution at the sudden urgent voice, and in that instant, the prepared sword plunged into the opener’s body.
“Guh…”
A short groan escaped as his dilated pupils lost focus and shook.
“W-What?!”
The guards inside jumped up in alarm, but they crumbled under Allen and Gakwen’s sudden assault without mounting any defense.
“Whew.”
Allen wiped the blood splattered on his face and took a deep breath.
Beyond the guards’ room stood a firmly shut iron grate. Behind it, cells holding prisoners lined both sides of the corridor.
“Here it is.”
Iriel swiftly unlocked the grate with a key found on the guards’ bodies.
Iriel and her companions opened the prison doors one by one to check inside.
Clank.
As the sturdy iron door opened, hollow, lifeless eyes lifted from within the gap.
Inside the room was a gaunt man. The clothes draping his emaciated frame were soaked in blood, and his vitality was already fading.
It was clear at a glance that he had endured severe torture.
And he wasn’t the only one.
In this filthy environment reeking of waste, with no proper cleaning, people were dying.
For now, they focused on finding Cracker and his comrades.
Among the rooms they checked at random was one still in use for torture. Implements hung on the walls, and a nose-stinging stench pervaded the air.
The bloodstains on the tools and floor alone hinted at the horrific scenes that had transpired.
Iriel frowned deeply at the sight.
That was when a familiar voice came from afar.
“…Gakwen?”
“Boss!”
Iriel, who had been gripping the doorknob of the torture room, whipped her head around. It seemed they had found Cracker.
“H-How are you here…”
“Explanations later. Let’s go.”
Allen entered the room and urged them on.
They didn’t have time to spare. Fortunately, their condition was far better than the others’, allowing them to walk on their own.
But they couldn’t just take Cracker and the bandits and leave.
They gathered all the other prisoners in the jail as well. Besides Cracker and the bandits, there were five more.
This place held not criminals, but those who opposed the empire.
They were all in similar straits.
“…You mean it?”
A prisoner gripped Allen’s shoulder tightly, suppressing his surging emotions. His hoarse, raspy voice trembled.
“Yes. Let’s go together.”
Allen nodded and draped the man’s bony arm over his shoulder.
Those unable to walk were carried on backs, while the somewhat able supported each other.
Fortunately, their numbers were few enough to bring everyone out.
As they reached the surface, fresh air greeted them.
Explosions still echoed intermittently from afar.
They pressed on at maximum speed.
The interior remained quiet, thankfully.
Far ahead, between buildings, a wide-open gap in the wall came into view.
Almost there.
That was when an unfamiliar shadow blocked their path.
“Keekeke. You rat bastards.”
The man barring their way curled his lips in a long sneer. At the same moment, the clamor of military boots rang out as soldiers poured from the alleys.
The group halted, adopting wary stances. In an instant, their path was sealed.
“Did you think you’d escape this place unscathed?”
The man bared his teeth.
Sent to deliver the order to kill Cracker, he had stumbled upon those seizing the prison by chance and hurriedly rallied soldiers to block their way.
A golden opportunity to claim credit.
It had rolled right into his lap.
“…”
The group could only aim their swords at the enemies in silence.
Fleeing backward was impossible anyway.
Their only way out was through these foes.
But the situation was disadvantageous.
Though they had upper mana users like Allen and Iriel, plus Cracker and the bandit elites, the latter were in poor shape and they were outnumbered.
‘…No way out, huh.’
Allen met Iriel’s eyes.
Neither had any clever ideas.
They could call Genes, but that would draw all remaining soldiers here.
Even Genes couldn’t protect everyone while fighting.
Ultimately, breaking through themselves was best, but…
The problem was the rescued prisoners.
They were so drained they couldn’t move alone.
Taking the bandits along was feasible, but the prisoners too was honestly impossible.
“…”
Allen looked at the one he was supporting. The man gazed back with resignation.
In a quavering voice, he said,
“Slit my throat and go.”
He preferred ending his life here over returning to prison.
For a moment, Allen’s mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. He didn’t want to abandon them, but there was no solution.
Allen eyed the confident imperial soldiers.
That was when a distant rumble faded into the air.
Rumble.
Allen didn’t miss how they flinched at the sound.
Bloodstains on their armor, flushed faces.
Right—they had been on the battlefield until moments ago.
Suddenly, a spark flashed in Allen’s mind.
“Everyone, make way.”
A voice brimming with the dignity of a local overlord flowed from his mouth.
Allen handed the one he was supporting to someone beside him and strode forward through the group.
Iriel and the others watched his back with bewildered gazes.
“You fools. You thought this paltry force could stop me?”
Allen’s voice, cold as frost, settled over the area.
He swept his gaze over the imperial soldiers with the arrogance of a king.
“What?”
They were the ones flustered by Allen’s boldness.
“Do you even know who I am and dare block my path? If you value your lives, get lost. I’m sparing you only because I have those to protect.”
Allen rebuked them.
“W-What bullshit. Where’s this bluff coming from!”
The leader shouted back but didn’t charge recklessly.
Iriel, watching from behind, sensed the momentum shifting toward Allen.
‘W-Wait, this might actually work?’
Iriel swallowed hard, observing.
“I’ll count to five.”
With inexplicable confidence, Allen raised his hand to eye level where the imperials could see.
Tension gripped both sides for different reasons.
‘H-He’s pushing it too far, right?’
Iriel shot him an anxious look.
She figured the imperials wouldn’t fall for such a reckless gambit.
But contrary to her worries, unrest stirred in the imperial ranks.
To them, Allen’s bravado didn’t seem like mere bluffing.
They had already witnessed Genes tearing through their ranks alone.
A languid yet firm voice issued from Allen’s mouth.
“Anyone still here when I reach five dies.”
Iriel naturally thought of Genes at his sharp, decisive tone.
Now that she noticed, his speech and mannerisms were quite similar.
Allen was mimicking the arrogance of Genes, whom he had observed closely until now.
“One.”
Allen began counting indifferently. Cracks spread in the imperials’ gazes as they watched.
‘I-It might really work!’
Iriel marveled. Allen’s acting was spot-on. The enemies were visibly shaken.
“Two.”
Allen counted at a steady rhythm. With each number, the imperials felt mounting psychological pressure—and so did their own side.
“Three.”
“Eek.”
A short groan burst from someone.
The imperials fidgeted helplessly but none dared charge him.
The group didn’t know it then, but rumors had spread among the imperials of two powerhouses on the enemy side.
One who broke the encirclement at the annex and fled, and one who single-handedly wiped out a company at the bandit stronghold.
With Genes rampaging elsewhere, they couldn’t help mistaking Allen for one of them.
“Four.”
The count continued rising.
“Five.”
Finally, the last number fell. Yet the imperials still aimed their weapons at Allen.
‘…Did it fail?’
As Iriel bit her lower lip, Allen slowly drew his sword and spoke.
His performance wasn’t over yet.
“If that’s what you want.”
Moonlight shattered over the white blade emerging from its sheath.
Seeing him without a trace of hesitation,
“Uwaaaah!”
The imperials could endure no longer and turned to flee. As the front line broke, panic swallowed them whole.
Soldiers ran for their lives without looking back, as if death pursued them from behind.
Silence soon blanketed the area.
“Haah.”
Allen exhaled deeply, forcing his loosened legs to hold, and glanced back. The group stared at him in admiration.
“…Let’s hurry.”
The crisis was averted, but the situation wasn’t fully resolved.
They swiftly scaled the garrison wall and headed for the pre-prepared carriage.
Now they had to pass the firmly shut gates and exit Cartusi.
“Hya!”
Allen whipped the carriage into motion and, at the same time, fired a signal flare into the sky announcing the rescue.
Pew—!
A red streak soared through the dark sky and burst into flames.
Boom!
A signal for Genes.