Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Abyss (3)
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Byron Hadley was a Grade 2 jailer.
Grade 1 jailers could apply for rotations to the surface, but such privileges were not granted to those at Grade 2.
As a result, he had been stuck in this Abyss for over a decade already.
He should have been promoted to Grade 1 long ago, but a regrettable incident from years back kept derailing his advancement time and again.
'Damn it. Just because I beat two prisoners to death in a fit of rage... This is so unfair.'
Hadley planned to lodge a formal complaint about this with the new warden.
How could they let a talented man like him rot at Grade 2 for years just for squashing a couple of bug-like inmates?
Thud... Thud... Thud... Thud...
Hadley traversed the long corridor and opened the door at the far end.
There, flickering in the darkness, were a few candle flames.
Beyond the dim glow, he could make out the face of the new warden.
"Gasp!?"
Hadley involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath.
The eyes peering through the candlelight were not human.
It felt like staring down a ghost.
His lips wouldn't part properly under that utterly emotionless, icy gaze.
"Byron Hadley."
The ghost spoke.
Hadley responded without thinking.
"Yes, sir."
"Sit."
The ghost nodded slightly.
A chair slid out from the darkness with a creak on its own.
He thought it might be telekinesis at first, but it turned out the ghost sitting in front had just kicked it out with his foot.
Blink... Blink...
Hadley examined the ghost before him closely.
White hair, red eyes, pallid skin.
The ghost was Federback.
Federback stared intently at Hadley's face.
"I said sit."
"Ah, yes, sir!"
At those words, Hadley hastily plopped into the chair.
His initial resolve to argue about his promotion had vanished entirely.
A chill sweat broke out at the mere thought of defying the man before him—it would surely mean death.
'Just from locking eyes for a moment...'
Hadley instantly recognized what kind of person Federback was.
The type you must never cross.
Born at the top of the food chain, destined to die at the top—an aura unique to those apex predators.
At least, that's how Hadley saw it.
Then Federback asked,
"That eye."
"Pardon?"
"Why is it missing?"
Federback pointed to the eyepatch covering one of Hadley's eyes.
Hadley hesitated before answering.
"It was nothing much. Just an accident while working..."
"Nothing much?"
A faint crease formed between Federback's brows.
And with that, his voice grew even colder.
"Your eye is indeed nothing much. But since it dared to be the answer to my question, it's no longer nothing."
Cold air emanated from Federback's body, forming icicles on the ceiling and walls.
Hadley trembled in terror and chill.
"S-Sorry, sir."
"Be more careful with your next answers. You've only got one eye... and one life."
"Yes, sir!"
Hadley's discipline was now perfectly instilled.
He sat ramrod straight, ready to answer Federback's questions.
"So... there was this escaped prisoner. While chasing him, I hit a stalactite and lost the eye."
"Chasing an escapee counts as line of duty, so you must have received industrial accident compensation."
"N-No, sir. I didn't get any."
"Why not? The Meursault House provides proper compensation to those injured on duty."
"The truth is..."
Hadley scratched his head and continued.
"It wasn't officially on duty."
"How is chasing an escapee not official duty?"
"It's hard to call it an escapee... because he wasn't a prisoner confined to this Abyss."
It was an answer that didn't make much sense at first glance.
A flicker of irritation crossed Federback's face.
Hadley hurriedly elaborated.
"I-I'll explain everything, sir!"
"Do so."
"Well, it was about 14 or 15 years ago. There was this couple imprisoned here in the Abyss. Both high-ranking officials, from what I heard. They worked at Meursault Castle, I think..."
"And?"
"They were locked in the deepest level, but later we found out the woman was pregnant."
The Abyss environment was brutal.
No way an upper-class lady—especially pregnant—could endure it.
Hadley shook his head as he went on.
"But somehow, she gave birth. From piecing together the evidence later, the man gave her almost all his daily rations. He ate cockroaches and rats... something like that."
"What happened to the child?"
"Th-That's..."
Hadley touched the empty socket beneath his eyepatch.
"The kid born to that couple slipped out through the bars and fled into the depths of the Abyss somewhere."
"What about the parents?"
"We tortured them to find the kid... and I ended up killing them. It was an accident. That's why I've failed promotions multiple times."
"Couldn't catch the kid?"
"Tried, but kept coming up empty. Lost my eye in the final chase. Since the kid wasn't officially tried and imprisoned here, no jailer insurance either."
Hadley shuddered with rage at the memory.
"But I'll definitely catch that 'ghost' one day."
"You call the child of dead prisoners a ghost?"
"That's what I call him. The other jailers don't seem to care."
"That's not right."
"?"
Hadley looked up anxiously.
He feared Federback might block the ghost hunt.
But Federback's next words were far better than expected.
"A prisoner's child is a prisoner. The escaped ghost is an official escapee. Jailer duty is to catch escapees."
"Y-Yes, exactly! That's what I've been saying!"
"Moreover, you were injured in the line of duty. I'll officially report it upward, get you a commendation and慰问金. You'll be registered as a national merit recipient, and insurance paid out."
"Really!? Holy shit! No way! I never dreamed my life would see a day like this! This isn't a dream, right? Pardon me, sir, could you slap my cheek?"
Hadley bounced around like a child in joy.
But what excited him most was Federback's following line.
"We'll launch a full-scale manhunt and capture the ghost. Can't have an escapee roaming free outside the bars."
"Of course! That's how the Abyss should be!"
"On the honor of the Meursault House, we'll catch the ghost."
"As expected! The wisdom of Meursault! A sage ruler!"
"And you'll be appointed overall commander of the capture operation."
"Warden, sir! I love you! Eternal loyalty!"
Hadley was now foaming at the mouth while saluting.
Federback nodded.
"To catch the ghost, we need a veteran jailer who knows the Abyss terrain and ecosystem well. And someone with a grudge against it to make baiting easier."
"I'm perfect for it! I'll lead from the front and catch the ghost! I'll sever its head and present it to you, sir! I swear on my honor—no, my parents', grandparents', and great-grandparents' honor!"
"Good spirit. Understood. If you execute this capture well..."
Federback's gaze toward Hadley softened warmly.
"I'll consider a two-step promotion straight to Special Grade, skipping Grade 1."
"...! ...! ...!"
Hadley's remaining eye blazed with greed.
Bright as daylight, even without candles.
The deepest level of the Abyss was riddled with countless tunnels.
Too cold, damp, and dark to even serve as prisoner cells.
Each small hole felt like a gateway straight to hell.
Black voids that swallowed even faint light.
Not a single bat or insect in sight.
Only death crawled across the floor here.
"This is the sector we suspect the ghost resides in."
Hadley had volunteered as Federback's guide.
He was bizarrely enthusiastic about pursuing the ghost.
"......"
Federback surveyed the Abyss depths.
The entire space was shrouded in pitch blackness.
So dark you couldn't count your fingers outstretched before you.
...Drip!
A cold droplet fell from the fang-like tip of a twisted stalactite.
...Drip! ...Drip!
The sound was rhythmic, like a clock's second hand.
...Drip! ...Drip! ...Drip!
As if measuring the time until death.
The floor sloped irregularly, rough underfoot, and every step sank into muddy puddles that gripped the ankles.
Splash—
Stepping into the mud released a stench like something rotting.
Sometimes a wriggling came from within, but what it was remained unknown.
Black moss clung to the walls, looking like the accumulated dregs of prisoners' despair over eons.
'This place hasn't changed a bit. Feels just like home.'
Federback knew the Abyss well.
This cave was no mere underground space.
It was a nexus of condensed darkness, despair, hatred, and fear.
The moment prisoners entered, they instinctively knew.
They would never see the surface again.
'The innate human fear. The Abyss amplifies and stimulates it.'
But.
"Warden, sir! This way!"
Hadley, leading ahead, showed no sign of such terror.
He seemed born to serve in the Abyss.
'Heh heh heh heh— Ghost. You're done for now. I couldn't catch you before due to lack of power, but with the warden's full support in manpower and resources...'
Hadley drew his jailer sword and licked the blade.
'This time, I'll find you for sure. And kill you.'
Then, Federback, walking behind, nodded.
"I hope so."
"...!"
Hadley tilted his head, wondering if he'd spoken aloud.
Soon, Hadley and Federback stood before a cave.
This one was especially vast and deep; impossible to peer inside.
Hadley said,
"This is the most likely spot where the ghost is hiding."
"Good. Mobilize personnel and begin the search."
"No need for a search. I'll make it come out on its own."
"How?"
Hadley grinned slyly at Federback's question.
"Leave it to me, sir. Within the hour, I'll have it kneeling before you."