Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Recórdak (4)
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Recórdak's control room. The place that monitored the entire prison through hundreds of CCTV cameras was unusually quiet today. Normally, thirty guards worked in three shifts, but only five remained to manage the College Board's special activities.
"Yaaawn..."
The work itself was half-hearted. The guards lounged in their chairs yawning, played games on their smartphones, or stared blankly out the window.
"...Look at that rain outside."
One guard muttered with droopy eyes.
The scattered rain was a bit unusual, but there was no real worry. Mana High students were students in name only—they were as strong as any decent warden—and above all, a "supervisor" dispatched by the university association was present.
Bang- Bang- Double kill-
The guy in the back playing a smartphone game. A combat agent who knew his stuff.
"Oh, right. A storm warning came down fifteen minutes ago."
The chief guard frowned at the rookie's words.
"Fifteen minutes? Are the weather bureau idiots nuts?"
Whiiiiiish— Right on cue, the wind howled.
Thicker raindrops battered the windows, leaves and debris stuck to the glass... in that instant.
————.
Suddenly, the whole world turned blindingly white. A hazy glow rose without warning, and dazzling light poured through the glass.
Kuuuung—!
Thunder rumbled belatedly.
Then came the blackout. Every device shut down in an instant, plunging the room into darkness.
Pop- Pop- Triple kill-
Only the faint glow and sounds from the smartphone screen flickered.
"Ah. What the hell."
The guards got to their feet anyway.
"Ah. Hey. Can you hear me? Shit, the radio's dead. Hey, try the phone."
"Phone's not working either? No signal."
Both smartphones and radios were out.
"Mana storm, maybe? We're screwed, right?"
Mana storm. A phenomenon where raging mana in the atmosphere disrupted transmissions.
"It'll be back in five minutes, you idiots~ Someone's probably at the backup generator downstairs. Just wait."
"Oh, yeah, you're right?"
They calmed down at the chief's words.
Of course, with the supervisor here too, what could go wrong?
Ring ring— Ring ring—.
Suddenly, a bell rang in the darkness. All the guards turned toward it.
"Hello."
The supervisor seemed to answer a call. Quick as ever.
"Then let's start right away?"
The supervisor stood, phone to his ear, grabbing a bag of snacks from the desk.
The rookie guard asked curiously.
"Supervisor, your phone works? Is it a special custom model? Ours are all dead."
"......"
The supervisor just stared at him silently. His blank expression was somehow eerie.
The guard scratched his neck with a wry smile.
"Haha... Did I overstep?"
"Who said that?"
The supervisor asked. An inexplicable question.
"What... do you mean?"
The guard blinked in confusion, and the supervisor repeated, eyes twitching.
"Who said it. That I'm the supervisor."
"......Pardon?"
"I was just here. Did I say anything to you guys?"
"No, but that's..."
The guard glanced at his throat. A badge hung there: [Supervisor License: Holden Crofoot].
In that moment, chills raced up the guard's spine. Goosebumps prickled his skin.
Something was off.
His face.
Obvious upon closer inspection.
The guard swallowed hard, hand drifting to his hip holster. The fake supervisor pocketed his phone.
"Who the hell are you—"
The moment he shouted, it was over.
——Five minutes earlier.
Recórdak's isolation sector.
"...How much did you hear."
Elise asked in the flickering dim light of the faded bulb.
"Hear what."
I'd heard everything but played dumb. Elise quickly changed her question.
"I mean, why you're here."
"Treasure hunting. Isn't that why you're here too?"
She fiddled with her eyebrow at my innocent reply.
"Well, yeah, but... Were you tailing me?"
"What? You got paranoia or something?"
"Para... noia?"
Elise muttered, looking baffled.
"You're acting shady. You snuck out alone, so I thought you'd found something and followed."
"Sha... dy?"
A vein throbbed at Elise's temple.
"Yeah. You left the door open. If you open it, close it."
Of course, Elise couldn't close it. Claustrophobia.
"Fine. I get it, so turn around and leave. No hard feelings if you go now."
Elise pointed to the exit. I ignored her and approached. She flailed her hand to stop me.
"Stay there. Don't come closer? Your face is making me nauseous."
"Puke then."
She glared, but I just stood beside her and peered into the solitary cell.
"Hmm..."
There he was, as expected. "That guy."
My old friend.
"......"
I looked at him. He looked back. No words exchanged.
"I said leave. You brain-dead?"
Elise shoved me venomously. In that brief gap, Yael raised one eyebrow slightly.
Communication enough.
I didn't acknowledge him.
"Leave. Now—"
Kuuuung———!
As Elise tried to shoo me out, a ominous rumble echoed. All lights went out simultaneously. Pitch black engulfed the interior. Even Yael beyond the reinforced glass vanished from sight.
"Blackout? Hey, do something."
"...What can you do?"
Elise emitted mana. Blue light flickered, illuminating about three meters around us.
——Kraaaah!
"Eeeek!"
Suddenly, Yael plastered himself to the glass. Elise nearly toppled, and Yael chuckled.
—Pffhehehe.
"Y-You crazy prisoner—"
Elise trembled, face flushed, then glanced at me and stormed out of the solitary area.
"...Hm."
Alone now, I faced Yael through the reinforced glass. Meeting his blue eyes, I mimed zipping my lips.
No snitching from now on. Prison code.
—...Pfft.
His odd expression cracked into a smirk. Just like old times, he said with a grin.
—You must be bummed?
"About what."
—You tailed Elise, but you're not her type.
"What're you on about?"
—Come on. Her ideal guy's tall. Not you.
Yael held his hand horizontally at chest height. You're too short— something like that.
I was dumbfounded.
"...Heard that, and now I'm depressed."
—Ha! Honest guy.
Yael laughed heartily, then whispered softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
...Don't make it obvious if you can help it. It's dangerous.
I gazed steadily at him. Yael backed away to sit on his bed.
Whiiiii...!
Then an unnatural wind seeped in from outside. Yael narrowed his eyes sharply and nodded toward the door.
—Go. It's risky if you stay long.
"Yeah. See you."
Yael murmured low.
—...If possible.
"I'll come back."
To see you.
Yael arched one eyebrow in a ? shape, and I retraced my steps down the isolation corridor and out.
Shooooaaaah—!
By now, fierce rain and wind battered all of Recórdak. Ten seconds outside, and I was soaked.
"What're you doing?"
"......"
In the middle of the yard amid the spray, Elise stood glaring opposite, utterly still like a ghost. I looked that way and frowned.
"Who's that freak."
A person approached.
One arm around what looked like a senior student, the other clutching a snack bag, munching away as he came.
Eerie.
Not his actions—his appearance.
Black eyes. No whites. Like his sockets were painted pitch black.
"Huh? Who're you guys?"
The guy who met our eyes passed us by, then stood before the isolation door.
Crunch—!
The steel door shattered at his gesture.
"...What kinda bandit is that—"
"Wait."
I stopped Elise from charging.
I'm pretty good at remembering faces. Even if I forgot, Notebook would remember—but this guy was unforgettable at first glance anyway.
"He's pretty strong."
Black sockets. Easily over two meters tall.
I knew him. Pre-regression bad blood, or major client, maybe.
Name: Draven Lakops. A.K.A. the Crusher.
One of the underworld's top point organizations—soon to be infamous—the New Moon Crew. And he wasn't alone. Quietly emerging from behind the yard was another man.
College kid face, but bandages wrapped tight around his neck, scar etched on his cheek...
"Hey, this is bad."
I let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
Shorter lifespan than pre-regression.
"Hello."
He greeted us. No need to respond, but I smiled back brightly.
"Hi."
"......Hi?"
Elise turned to me, incredulous.
Boom—!
Right then, a noise echoed from the isolation sector Draven had entered.
—Wha- Wh-what're you- Uuuaaagh! Uwaaaaaaaaagh-!!!
A long, agonized scream mixed in. How does a human scream like that?
Obviously not Yael's voice. He wasn't on a death timeline anyway.
"...Greet him back. Hurry. Unless you wanna end up like that."
I urged Elise frantically. She, predictably, ignored me.