Escape
"Th-this can't be... This makes no sense!!"
Baron Jeffrey wiped the sweat streaming down his forehead as he hurried to his private room deep inside the prison. The man who rarely walked much was now moving with more sincerity than anyone else.
"Seal the corridors!"
"It's no use! R-run away!"
Why is this happening?! What happened to the viscount?! No, I need to survive first... The secret passage comes before anything!
And with good reason. Behind the baron right now...
"Kieeeek!!"
"Where the hell did this monster come from?!"
"Block it!"
...a massive demonic beast covered in grotesque tentacles all over its body was devouring the guards.
"Gaaahhh!!"
"Request reinforcements! Hurry!"
The horrific scene evoked the image of hell descending upon the mortal world.
"You lot! Protect Lord Jeffrey at once!"
"Follow him, quick!"
Is this my fault? No! I was just following the viscount's orders!
He racked his brains repeatedly even as he ran nonstop, trying to figure out the cause of this unreasonable catastrophe.
...Did the prisoners we released cause trouble?
But no matter how much he thought, no clear solution emerged. If he had that kind of brains, he wouldn't have been exiled to this remote outpost from the royal capital in the first place.
Damn it! It was just a show to extract one hero, but things blew up like this...!
He belatedly blamed himself, but the deed was done.
If word of this gets out, I'm finished!
Anxiety overwhelmed his body.
"Lord Jeffrey, we've arrived. Please open the door!"
At the escort knights' shout, his mind snapped back, and he glanced around. In front of his door.
"Hoo..."
Only then did he relax his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief. Yeah, it was needless worry. The guards of Prisone Prison were all his private soldiers anyway.
Once I escape, I can pin the blame for this incident on them and kill off all the survivors. Heh heh heh...
For lowly commoners to die for their master—what an honor. They'd surely express their gratitude even in the afterlife. Plus, the Magic Tower would want to cover this up too, so they'd definitely help.
"Heh heh..."
His thoughts reached that point, and Baron Jeffrey curled his lips into a hideous smile of satisfaction. His path to promotion was still open...
Creak—clunk—
Or so he thought.
"You're late? Want to end up as monster chow?"
...until he saw the man.
"N-no way. Why are you here...? No, how did you even get in without a key?!"
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief several times, but
"How'd I get in? I just opened it and walked in."
the man in front of him waved mockingly, as if sneering at him. Striking white hair and black eyes.
Tanas the hero!
"......"
And he was sitting brazenly in front of the bookshelf... as if he knew about the secret passage.
No way, I disposed of everyone who knew...!
It had to be mere coincidence. Nothing else!
His strangely relaxed demeanor was especially irritating, but Jeffrey steadied his mind and glared at him.
Shing—shiiiing—
"How dare a worthless hero like you!"
"Such insolence before Lord Jeffrey... You wanna die!!"
Seeing his escort knights drawing their swords one after another filled his shoulders with strength. A hero was still a powerless fool. He could kill him anytime, but there was something to ask first.
"Where's the viscount?"
"Oh? The viscount? You mean this guy?"
The hero smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth, and tossed something onto the floor.
It was...
"...The viscount's brooch!! You mad bastard! He's part of the first prince's faction...!"
The fool had lost his mind. How did he plan to handle the aftermath...?
Suddenly, the man fixed him with a sharp gaze and brought his index finger to his lips.
The silent pressure squeezing his heart made Jeffrey shut his mouth unwittingly.
"Lord Jeffrey? Your complexion..."
"Are you alright?"
A chilling sensation at the nape of his neck. He averted his eyes from those razor-sharp pupils, like honed steel, and swallowed hard.
How can a worthless hero do this... Who the hell is that guy?!
"Hero, what have you done?!"
"Kill him first!"
His heart pounded wildly, sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.
Don't, you idiots! W-we're gonna die...!
The man quietly opened his mouth.
"...Shut up."
"What?"
"I'm not in a great mood right now."
With those words, he raised his hand.
* * *
I'd originally planned to just take the copy demon's head and clear my name, but... why'd I go this far?
"Wh-who are you? I can't believe you're that worthless hero..."
Seeing him kick me and yell one moment, then humbly bow his head the next...
Power is a mysterious thing.
Anyway, no obligation to answer.
"Didn't plan to go this far."
I shook off the blood from the shackles and shrugged.
"Guh! Then why... why are you doing this?!"
The pig clutched his missing ankle, tears streaming down.
Why? Two big reasons. First...
"I hate guys who don't know their place."
"What does that... I-I don't know anything! I didn't do a thing!!"
Baron Jeffrey wailed pathetically, bowing his head.
"......"
Hero party members aside, are all the people in this world just conscienceless scum? It's no different from the martial world I came from.
"Look."
I pulled a bundle of parchment from my bosom and tossed it at his feet.
Realizing what it was, his face drained to paper-white in an instant.
"Th-this... Why is this still around?!"
"Human trafficking and body experiments are standard... and kids as test subjects too...?"
Especially since I hate human sacrifices.
"You said sinners get punished—that's the way of the world."
"H-hero, I'll explain everything, so please..."
"I'll give you your punishment. Take it gladly."
I cut off his excuses, and realizing it was futile, he finally snapped.
"Pretending to be righteous now?!"
The baron screamed madly.
The hero said nothing, not even responding.
Because the task was clear.
"Keep your wits about you."
It's been a while, so not sure if it'll work perfectly.
Reverse Blood Demonic Art
Ominous inner energy ripples, emanating dark and sinister qi.
"D-don't... Don't do it!!!"
Hey, stay still or you'll end up a vegetable.
"Gaaaaahhhh...!!"
I let his death throes flow in one ear and out the other.
"......"
Then shoved my finger straight into his head.
*
"Open the door to the Magic Tower."
"Ughhh... M-Magic Tower...?"
The baron felt a moment of doubt, but it didn't last.
"Still got strength left to question, huh?"
With good reason—he wanted to escape this pain even for a second.
What did the reason matter? Right now, the hero terrified him.
It had only been an instant, yet his whole body trembled as if tortured for hours.
"Gaaaaahhhh!!!! O-okay, I'll open it. Just spare my life..."
"No."
"...Pardon?"
Tanas shook his head firmly and replied coldly.
"The greatest mercy I can give you is death."
"What nonsense... Aaaaagh!!!!"
Each time he blew true qi into him, pain like his body being shredded and burned wracked him.
Over and over... and over.
"Plenty of time, so decide slowly."
Please stop...
Would it matter?
If it meant freedom from this agony... This bastard would torture him forever.
"......"
Finally, the pain surpassed the fear of death.
"Decided?"
"...Yes."
His lower body already crippled, Baron Jeffrey drooled and nodded.
**********
After dealing with the baron and the giant demon in one go,
"Survivors?"
Turning slowly, the one-armed porter bowed politely and answered.
"They were all used as test subjects... No one left."
"......"
Too late.
"Sorry."
What do you have to be sorry for?
Just a bit bitter.
"Whatever. You didn't forget what I told you, right?"
"Just deliver this, yeah?"
The porter nodded and held up the iron canister.
Right. The copy demon's core and head.
Once investigated, it'd be clear it mimicked a hero's mana signature.
At least things went according to plan.
The moment my false charge of assassinating the princess would be lifted.
"But"
"Why?"
"Wouldn't it be better to hand it to the kingdom's special investigators or the Three Goddess Church? Even so, they're the experts..."
"......"
Spouting nonsense again.
If he'd seen my trial, he wouldn't say that.
I waved my hand dismissively and continued.
"A bit picky, but deliver it to that person no matter what. One of the few trustworthy people in the kingdom."
"If my brother says so..."
"Just in case, take this too."
I handed the pendant I'd been wearing to the porter.
"Th-this is the hero's insignia, isn't it?"
"Show it if they doubt you."
The porter hesitated as if pondering, then clenched his remaining fist and looked at me.
"...Do you trust me?"
Trust you? If not, just burst his heart—no worries.
But outwardly, I nodded and turned boldly.
"I keep promises. You know that, right?"
"Yes... I'll deliver it no matter what."
"Then go. And never show your face before me again."
Never meet again.
"Hero."
What now?
"To think you'd give a chance to live even after trying to kill me... Thank you once more."
He bowed with a serious face.
"Enough."
What's with the cringe?
"I don't know why you've hidden your power until now, but... seeing how you acted when bandits attacked without knowing my place, or the horrors in the prison, I get it."
"......?"
"You only show your power to save people in crisis! I'm truly sorry for my rudeness in the party without realizing..."
I raised a hand to cut off the porter.
"Stop."
"Pardon?"
Feels overly romanticized, but...
Whatever. No future dealings.
"Go already."
"Sorry. Anyway, I'll repay the grace of sparing me someday!"
I glanced at him leaving, then headed the opposite way.
A brilliantly shining portal—the one Baron Jeffrey opened in exchange for his rest.
The second reason I took time to smash the prison...
A glowing blue window in front of my eyes.
The first time I opened my eyes in this world, when I beheaded the copy demon,
'Border Purification' Quest Completed.
(2/3) Complete
🎁 Clear all for arbitrary reward.
And when I slew the giant demon, the window that popped up.
"......"
Didn't expect game quests to work the same...
Lucky, I guess.
Now I absolutely can't miss the hidden trophy.
"This'll be fun."
With those words, I stepped into the portal to the Magic Tower.