Chapter 38: Guild (3)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 38: Guild (3)

Flesh Burst was one of the few deranged skills that used a character's life force as fuel.

The pain managed to overpower Pain Resilience before adrenaline was released into my body... But the toll my suffering took couldn't be easily ignored.

Chhhhhh!

The iron bars almost melted thanks to the blood splattered in the explosion. The bars bent easily when I applied some sideways force.

"Ugh..."

Aside from the pain, both hands healed quickly, not just because of the Immortality Imprint, but also thanks to the vampire essence I recently obtained.

As soon as I got out into the hallway, I spotted a guard.

"What? What?! What are you doing?!"

It was the same guard who had come by to ask what I would want for my last meal. It seemed he heard something explode and ran straight here.

"Eek! J-Jailbreak! The prisoner has escaped!"

Before he could make any more noise, I quickly sprinted forward and slammed a fist into his stomach.

Smack!

The guard dropped like a fly.

When I promptly searched his clothes and took out the keys, the other prisoners watching the situation with interest from inside their cells went crazy. They realized what I was trying to do.

"Hey! Barbarian! Are you really going for it?"

"Kekeke! You're crazier than I thought!"

"Me too! Take me too!"

Considering that this place was under the Adventurers' Guild, most of these people were likely looters. But...

Necessity knows no law.

A poor barbarian who had been unfairly framed for a crime didn't care about something like that.

They're going to end up dead soon anyway.

The only good plunderers were dead plunderers. This belief, which had been solidified in my mind within a few days of waking up in this world, would probably remain there for the rest of my life.

"Hahaha! Freedom! I'm free!"

"Let's get out!"

I released all the prisoners on my floor. These weren't the kind of bastards that I'd be able to control, but that didn't matter. That hadn't been my intention in the first place.

"Woahhh!"

After that, I really didn't have to do much.

Madness was contagious. The prisoners joined forces, headed upstairs, subdued the guards, and released more prisoners with the keys they obtained. Of course, there were quite a few who refused to participate in the escape even though their doors were unlocked. Percentage-wise, the amount was about 50 percent.

Either their investigations are still ongoing, or they're really innocent like me.

As I was quickly advancing through the chaos, I noticed a group of prisoners gathered at a specific door. It was the interrogation room I'd gone in and out of countless times these past two days.

It was immediately obvious what was happening.

"G-Go back to your cells!! I-If you go back now, we'll pretend this didn't happen—"

Some guards were trembling behind the locked door, and the prisoners were trying to rip the door open.

"We need their key to go upstairs!"

"Tear it off!"

However, the odds of that thick iron door falling off were low, no matter how hard they shook it.

Damn it, do I have to do that shit again?

That was what I was thinking when—

"Do you think you're going to get out of this alive? You'll all receive death sentences! Execution!"

A familiar voice came from behind the door. Looking through the small grate, I saw a familiar asshole investigator sandwiched between the two guards.

I didn't expect to see you this early.

"Get out of the way!"

With a happy heart, I pushed past the prisoners to get closer to the door. And then I exploded my left arm, which had only just recovered, again and again.

Flesh Burst, Flesh Burst, Flesh Burst.

After five repetitions, the handle melted and the locking mechanism was destroyed. The product of my flesh, blood, and pain.

The prisoners burst into mad cheers.

"Ahhh!"

"Barbarian! Barbarian! Barbarian!"

"He is a free barbarian!"

Afterward, the investigator's eyes widened as I entered the interrogation room.

"Y-You! H-How in the world...?!"

To be fair, no one would have been able to see this coming. Most of the special abilities possessed by ninth-rank adventurers were trivial. That was the reason why, aside from the iron bars, I hadn't been restrained any further. How could he have known that I had such an ability?

All I could say to him was this:

"Blame the horrible childhood that forced you to grow up with such a lack of imagination."

"I-I grew up in a decent family!"

"It was so bad that you had to lie?"

"W-What!"

Cough!

I clocked the investigator with all the anger I'd been suppressing these past few days, and he promptly dropped to the floor wriggling like a worm. Thanks to the thick layer of fat absorbing the shock, he was still conscious.

"Y-You crazy bastard...!"

This uneducated swine slurred all kinds of curses at me despite being unable to properly breathe.

"You're dead! How dare you use a special ability inside the prison and cause this chaos! Do you think you can handle the fallout?!"

Handle it?

"That sounds like something you should be wondering right now. If my plan succeeds, you're fucked."

"W-What can scum like you do to me?!"

I smirked.

"What can I do?"

Wrong question.

"You should be asking what I can't do."

I was a son of a bitch who was willing to do just about anything when my life was at stake. Which was too bad for this poor, unimaginative bastard—

"For now, go to sleep."

When you wake up, either you'll be in hell, or I will.

Smack!

"Tear it off!"

However, the odds of that thick iron door falling off were low, no matter how hard they shook it.

Damn it, do I have to do that shit again?

That was what I was thinking when—

"Do you think you're going to get out of this alive? You'll all receive death sentences! Execution!"

A familiar voice came from behind the door. Looking through the small grate, I saw a familiar asshole investigator sandwiched between the two guards.

I didn't expect to see you this early.

"Get out of the way!"

With a happy heart, I pushed past the prisoners to get closer to the door. And then I exploded my left arm, which had only just recovered, again and again.

Flesh Burst, Flesh Burst, Flesh Burst.

After five repetitions, the handle melted and the locking mechanism was destroyed. The product of my flesh, blood, and pain.

The prisoners burst into mad cheers.

"Ahhh!"

"Barbarian! Barbarian! Barbarian!"

"He is a free barbarian!"

Afterward, the investigator's eyes widened as I entered the interrogation room.

"Y-You! H-How in the world...?!"

To be fair, no one would have been able to see this coming. Most of the special abilities possessed by ninth-rank adventurers were trivial. That was the reason why, aside from the iron bars, I hadn't been restrained any further. How could he have known that I had such an ability?

All I could say to him was this:

"Blame the horrible childhood that forced you to grow up with such a lack of imagination."

"I-I grew up in a decent family!"

"It was so bad that you had to lie?"

"W-What!"

Cough!

I clocked the investigator with all the anger I'd been suppressing these past few days, and he promptly dropped to the floor wriggling like a worm. Thanks to the thick layer of fat absorbing the shock, he was still conscious.

"Y-You crazy bastard...!"

This uneducated swine slurred all kinds of curses at me despite being unable to properly breathe.

"You're dead! How dare you use a special ability inside the prison and cause this chaos! Do you think you can handle the fallout?!"

Handle it?

"That sounds like something you should be wondering right now. If my plan succeeds, you're fucked."

"W-What can scum like you do to me?!"

I smirked.

"What can I do?"

Wrong question.

"You should be asking what I can't do."

I was a son of a bitch who was willing to do just about anything when my life was at stake. Which was too bad for this poor, unimaginative bastard—

"For now, go to sleep."

When you wake up, either you'll be in hell, or I will.

Smack!

This time I threw a fist at his face instead of his plump body, and the bastard passed out with foam in his mouth. It was then that the prison officer shouted something at me.

"Key," I said.

"D-Do you know what you've just done!"

I did. But, what about it? I would have ended up dead if I had just stayed put.

I said just one word.

"Key."

"Hey, it's not too late—"

"Key."

"H-Here..."

When I took the key and turned around, the prisoners cleared the way just like in the movies.

Trudge, trudge.

Passing by them and standing in front of the stairs that would take us aboveground, I took a deep breath. Was it really okay to go this far?

Worries suddenly filled my mind, but...

These assholes are the ones who didn't give me a choice.

I turned the key and shouted, "Let's go!"

Everything that happened from now on was self-defense—to protect my life, which was more precious to me than anything else.

***

This branch of the Adventurers' Guild's prison system was deep underground. The double doors connecting it aboveground were also so thick that the people on the ground floor of the guild were unable to tell something was wrong until it was already too late to stop it.

How fortunate for me.

Rattle!

Climbing up the long stairs and opening the door, I saw the interior of a peaceful building that sharply contrasted with the dungeon. Administrative staff and adventurers were swarmed in front of a counter.

An employee noticed me showing up inside the building, which couldn't be accessed by ordinary adventurers, and asked, "Uh, how did you get in here?"

Of course, no response was necessary. The employee then spotted the open door behind me and realized what was going on in an instant.

"P-Prison break!"

As soon as they shouted this, the eyes of everyone inside the building turned to me. A heavy silence descended in an instant.

However, even among these adventurers who led spontaneous lives, there was a particularly impulsive bastard.

"Miss! If I catch that thing, will you have coffee with me after work?"

A man standing next to a female employee jumped over the counter in an instant and ran toward me. And at that exact moment—

"Ahh!"

"That's the smell of freedom!"

Prisoners started pouring out from the stairway.

"Huh... hu-huh!?"

"S-Stop them!"

"Adventurers, please lend us your strength! The guild will offer a reward!"

"Aaah!"

The prisoners charged forward without fear, and the adventurers took out their weapons to fight back.

"Kill them!"

Blood abruptly began to spill in the peaceful branch building. As the one who had spearheaded this fiasco, I took a step back from the front lines and quickly headed for my destination.

This time I threw a fist at his face instead of his plump body, and the bastard passed out with foam in his mouth. It was then that the prison officer shouted something at me.

"Key," I said.

"D-Do you know what you've just done!"

I did. But, what about it? I would have ended up dead if I had just stayed put.

I said just one word.

"Key."

"Hey, it's not too late—"

"Key."

"H-Here..."

When I took the key and turned around, the prisoners cleared the way just like in the movies.

Trudge, trudge.

Passing by them and standing in front of the stairs that would take us aboveground, I took a deep breath. Was it really okay to go this far?

Worries suddenly filled my mind, but...

These assholes are the ones who didn't give me a choice.

I turned the key and shouted, "Let's go!"

Everything that happened from now on was self-defense—to protect my life, which was more precious to me than anything else.

***

This branch of the Adventurers' Guild's prison system was deep underground. The double doors connecting it aboveground were also so thick that the people on the ground floor of the guild were unable to tell something was wrong until it was already too late to stop it.

How fortunate for me.

Rattle!

Climbing up the long stairs and opening the door, I saw the interior of a peaceful building that sharply contrasted with the dungeon. Administrative staff and adventurers were swarmed in front of a counter.

An employee noticed me showing up inside the building, which couldn't be accessed by ordinary adventurers, and asked, "Uh, how did you get in here?"

Of course, no response was necessary. The employee then spotted the open door behind me and realized what was going on in an instant.

"P-Prison break!"

As soon as they shouted this, the eyes of everyone inside the building turned to me. A heavy silence descended in an instant.

However, even among these adventurers who led spontaneous lives, there was a particularly impulsive bastard.

"Miss! If I catch that thing, will you have coffee with me after work?"

A man standing next to a female employee jumped over the counter in an instant and ran toward me. And at that exact moment—

"Ahh!"

"That's the smell of freedom!"

Prisoners started pouring out from the stairway.

"Huh... hu-huh!?"

"S-Stop them!"

"Adventurers, please lend us your strength! The guild will offer a reward!"

"Aaah!"

The prisoners charged forward without fear, and the adventurers took out their weapons to fight back.

"Kill them!"

Blood abruptly began to spill in the peaceful branch building. As the one who had spearheaded this fiasco, I took a step back from the front lines and quickly headed for my destination.

I don't have time.

The prisoners would buy me maybe five minutes, no more. Except for a few clubs stolen from the guards, they didn't have any weapons.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked out the window.

And getting outside will be impossible.

News of the commotion had already reached the streets, and adventurers outside were also starting to take notice. If I went outside right now, I would just be beaten and taken downstairs again.

The solutions to my problems were above.

"You! Who are you?"

All the employees I encountered in the hallway were knocked out cold by my fists. Then I glanced over the railing to take stock of the situation on the first floor.

The brawl now involved dozens of people. I reached a hand out over their heads.

And...

Flesh Burst.

As my hand exploded, acidic blood poured down on them all like a sprinkler.

"Aaaaaah!"

Dozens of people screamed in unison after coming into contact with my blood, whether they were adventurers, prisoners, or what have you.

That made me feel a little guilty, but... It had to be done to increase the odds that the next stage of my plan would succeed.

[You have activated Offering Imprint.]

When I activated the combo move, an engraving appeared on the foreheads of those covered in my blood, and a red light filled the area.

[Your physical abilities are temporarily increased by the number of sacrifices located within a 100-yard radius.]

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The number of sacrifices was tens of people.

So this is why all those athletes take steroids.

Power rushed through my veins. The railing I had unintentionally been gripping onto was dented with a creaking sound. Even the anxiety I had been experiencing disappeared.

If this is how it's going to be, I can definitely pull this off.

"Arghhh!

After leaving the commotion on the first floor behind, I climbed the stairs again and headed to the third floor.

Fortunately, it looks like he hasn't left.

I peeked into the rooms on the third floor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and found they were completely different from the ones on the lower floors. The entire floor was made up of offices. The wooden furniture, decorations, and plaques on the wall gave off a rather old-fashioned vibe.

"What is this commotion? You, go downstairs and check it out!"

"Yes, Mr. Branch Manager, sir!"

So that's the branch manager.

Having identified my target, I hid behind the door. And, the moment the man who had just gotten his orders from the branch manager opened the door and came out, I punched him in the chin with all my might.

Crack!

Whoops, I hadn't meant to break a bone.

Thud.

As the assistant to the branch manager, I thought he would at least fight back, but the man dropped to the floor. At the same time, the branch manager jumped up.

I don't have time.

The prisoners would buy me maybe five minutes, no more. Except for a few clubs stolen from the guards, they didn't have any weapons.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked out the window.

And getting outside will be impossible.

News of the commotion had already reached the streets, and adventurers outside were also starting to take notice. If I went outside right now, I would just be beaten and taken downstairs again.

The solutions to my problems were above.

"You! Who are you?"

All the employees I encountered in the hallway were knocked out cold by my fists. Then I glanced over the railing to take stock of the situation on the first floor.

The brawl now involved dozens of people. I reached a hand out over their heads.

And...

Flesh Burst.

As my hand exploded, acidic blood poured down on them all like a sprinkler.

"Aaaaaah!"

Dozens of people screamed in unison after coming into contact with my blood, whether they were adventurers, prisoners, or what have you.

That made me feel a little guilty, but... It had to be done to increase the odds that the next stage of my plan would succeed.

[You have activated Offering Imprint.]

When I activated the combo move, an engraving appeared on the foreheads of those covered in my blood, and a red light filled the area.

[Your physical abilities are temporarily increased by the number of sacrifices located within a 100-yard radius.]

The number of sacrifices was tens of people.

So this is why all those athletes take steroids.

Power rushed through my veins. The railing I had unintentionally been gripping onto was dented with a creaking sound. Even the anxiety I had been experiencing disappeared.

If this is how it's going to be, I can definitely pull this off.

"Arghhh!

After leaving the commotion on the first floor behind, I climbed the stairs again and headed to the third floor.

Fortunately, it looks like he hasn't left.

I peeked into the rooms on the third floor and found they were completely different from the ones on the lower floors. The entire floor was made up of offices. The wooden furniture, decorations, and plaques on the wall gave off a rather old-fashioned vibe.

"What is this commotion? You, go downstairs and check it out!"

"Yes, Mr. Branch Manager, sir!"

So that's the branch manager.

Having identified my target, I hid behind the door. And, the moment the man who had just gotten his orders from the branch manager opened the door and came out, I punched him in the chin with all my might.

Crack!

Whoops, I hadn't meant to break a bone.

Thud.

As the assistant to the branch manager, I thought he would at least fight back, but the man dropped to the floor. At the same time, the branch manager jumped up.

"Y-You! Who are you?!"

Me?

"An innocent barbarian."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

To clarify a bit more, I was here to prove my innocence. But, like a typical barbarian, I was doing so in a physical way.

"So you're the one who caused the commotion down there!"

Like a true branch manager, the man quickly assessed the situation and immediately took the sword decorating the wall down. As a former adventurer, his stance was perfect, unlike all the employees down below who were just bookworms.

It didn't matter, though, since I had doped up in anticipation of this exact scenario.

"Miss, stand behind me."

"Y-Yes!"

A moment later, the woman sitting and facing the branch manager hid behind him, and both sides were ready to fight.

If I were playing the game, would this be considered a boss battle?

I took one last deep breath. For my plan to succeed, I had to subdue this man. If possible, it had to be before the commotion on the first floor ended.

"Behelahhh!"

Thanks to the dozens of people in Offering Imprint's area of effect, the moment I jumped off the ground, it was with an explosive burst of speed that flung my body upward.

To be honest, even I couldn't get used to the speed. But the branch manager wasn't too shabby either.

"You fool!"

He accurately read my movements, mapped my exact trajectory, and buried his sword into my wrist. However, with me in super-barbarian mode, the swing was not enough to cut into my bone.

Khak!

There was a dull thunk as if something in my body had blocked the sword's path. Then, the blood that sprayed from the wound soaked the branch manager's shoulder.

Czzz!

"Ah! Arghhh!"

The branch manager was distracted by the unexpected pain. After that, it was too easy. Taking advantage of his moment of hesitation, I targeted his throat with my fist, and that was the end of that.

The branch manager groaned and dropped to his knees.

Despite my concerns, the boss battle had quickly come to an end. I guess they hadn't ever expected something like this to happen. Apparently, it was a common trait of all Adventurers' Guild employees to lack imagination.

But I did not.

"Y-You...!"

I always imagined the worst-case scenario. Since I had no way of knowing what kind of essence this former adventurer might possess, I smacked him in the back of the head to knock him out.

And so, the first phase was complete.

"P-Please don't kill me!"

What should I do about this woman, though? Judging by the way the branch manager had been groveling before her, she must be of very high status.

"T-That's the district chief's daughter! If you touch her, you will never get out—"

What the heck, how did he wake up so soon?

Smack!

I knocked him out again with more strength than before and calmly continued to think this through.

The daughter of the district chief...

It seemed that things were going to go much easier than I had expected.

"Y-You! Who are you?!"

Me?

"An innocent barbarian."

To clarify a bit more, I was here to prove my innocence. But, like a typical barbarian, I was doing so in a physical way.

"So you're the one who caused the commotion down there!"

Like a true branch manager, the man quickly assessed the situation and immediately took the sword decorating the wall down. As a former adventurer, his stance was perfect, unlike all the employees down below who were just bookworms.

It didn't matter, though, since I had doped up in anticipation of this exact scenario.

"Miss, stand behind me."

"Y-Yes!"

A moment later, the woman sitting and facing the branch manager hid behind him, and both sides were ready to fight.

If I were playing the game, would this be considered a boss battle?

I took one last deep breath. For my plan to succeed, I had to subdue this man. If possible, it had to be before the commotion on the first floor ended.

"Behelahhh!"

Thanks to the dozens of people in Offering Imprint's area of effect, the moment I jumped off the ground, it was with an explosive burst of speed that flung my body upward.

To be honest, even I couldn't get used to the speed. But the branch manager wasn't too shabby either.

"You fool!"

He accurately read my movements, mapped my exact trajectory, and buried his sword into my wrist. However, with me in super-barbarian mode, the swing was not enough to cut into my bone.

Khak!

There was a dull thunk as if something in my body had blocked the sword's path. Then, the blood that sprayed from the wound soaked the branch manager's shoulder.

Czzz!

"Ah! Arghhh!"

The branch manager was distracted by the unexpected pain. After that, it was too easy. Taking advantage of his moment of hesitation, I targeted his throat with my fist, and that was the end of that.

The branch manager groaned and dropped to his knees.

Despite my concerns, the boss battle had quickly come to an end. I guess they hadn't ever expected something like this to happen. Apparently, it was a common trait of all Adventurers' Guild employees to lack imagination.

But I did not.

"Y-You...!"

I always imagined the worst-case scenario. Since I had no way of knowing what kind of essence this former adventurer might possess, I smacked him in the back of the head to knock him out.

And so, the first phase was complete.

"P-Please don't kill me!"

What should I do about this woman, though? Judging by the way the branch manager had been groveling before her, she must be of very high status.

"T-That's the district chief's daughter! If you touch her, you will never get out—"

What the heck, how did he wake up so soon?

Smack!

I knocked him out again with more strength than before and calmly continued to think this through.

The daughter of the district chief...

It seemed that things were going to go much easier ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than I had expected.

...Or get way out of control.

***

"Sir! Are you all right!"

An employee came up to assess the situation on this floor after finally sorting out the mess on the first floor. Of course, that wasn't a problem for me. The branch manager had already completed his career change to become my pet parrot.

"Say you're fine."

"...I'm fine. But what happened downstairs?"

"It's all sorted out for now! A few escapees are hiding in the city, but they will be found soon."

"That's... good news."

"Oh! But where is your secretary, Robert? I thought he'd be with you..."

The secretary? He was sleeping in a closet with a broken chin. Of course, the branch manager wasn't allowed to give that question an honest answer.

"Make up an excuse."

"...I sent him out to do some work. I have urgent work to do myself, so make sure no one comes up here unless I ask for them."

"Yes, sir!"

Soon after, the employee left, and I immediately got out from under the desk. In my arms was the daughter of the district chief.

The branch manager's mustache trembled as he glared at me.

"I'm sincerely warning you that it would be in your best interest to stop now."

"I see."

The branch manager's advice went in one ear and out the other.

Best interest, my ass. If I quit here, what are the chances I'll end up anything but dead?

"Think about it. I don't know what you're aiming for, but I can help—"

"I see," I replied, picking my ear with my little finger.

"You crazy bastard!" the branch manager roared, apparently hitting his limit. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

I did.

To be honest, I'd already heard that question multiple times on my way here, and I was getting sick of hearing it. What did he want me to do? Either I did something crazy, or I died. It was a black-and-white situation.

I nodded my head once more. "I see."

"What exactly do you see—" the branch manager started to shout, but...

"If you don't shut up, I will kill this woman."

When I pretended to tighten the arm I had wrapped around the district chief's daughter's neck, the branch manager shut his mouth.

Upon closer inspection, his face was white as a sheet. Well, I could understand why. In addition to the jailbreak at his branch, the daughter of the district chief had also been taken hostage. What a terribly troubling situation.

No matter how this fiasco ended, this bastard wouldn't be getting out of it unscathed either.

You reap what you sow.

As I was thinking this, the woman I was holding hostage suddenly opened her mouth.

"My name is Julian Urbans. Not 'this woman.'"

Her voice was calmer than the terrified tone she'd used before. I could also feel her heartbeat thanks to our close proximity, and it seemed quite stable.

"Tell me what you want," she said. "There must be a reason for someone like you to pull a crazy stunt like this, right?"

"Someone like me?"

Had I ever met this woman before? When I cocked my head, she continued.

"You are not at all frightened by what you've done. Your breathing is even, and your eyes are completely steady."

"Your point?"

"You planned this all out, right? A long time ago."

Plan? I had made one... About thirty minutes ago.

I thought she was about to say something worthwhile, but it was just a waste of time.

"Maybe you even knew I was going to be here today—"

"Quiet."

She gasped.

After covering the apparently overly conceited woman's mouth with my hand, I asked the branch manager for what I needed.

"Bring me the investigator who was in charge of my case, a guy named Harts Young of the Crystal Union active on the first floor, a wizard from the Tower, and an official priest from the temple."

All my preparations were complete. Now it was time to turn this situation around.

...Or get way out of control.

***

"Sir! Are you all right!"

An employee came up to assess the situation on this floor after finally sorting out the mess on the first floor. Of course, that wasn't a problem for me. The branch manager had already completed his career change to become my pet parrot.

"Say you're fine."

"...I'm fine. But what happened downstairs?"

"It's all sorted out for now! A few escapees are hiding in the city, but they will be found soon."

"That's... good news."

"Oh! But where is your secretary, Robert? I thought he'd be with you..."

The secretary? He was sleeping in a closet with a broken chin. Of course, the branch manager wasn't allowed to give that question an honest answer.

"Make up an excuse."

"...I sent him out to do some work. I have urgent work to do myself, so make sure no one comes up here unless I ask for them."

"Yes, sir!"

Soon after, the employee left, and I immediately got out from under the desk. In my arms was the daughter of the district chief.

The branch manager's mustache trembled as he glared at me.

"I'm sincerely warning you that it would be in your best interest to stop now."

"I see."

The branch manager's advice went in one ear and out the other.

Best interest, my ass. If I quit here, what are the chances I'll end up anything but dead?

"Think about it. I don't know what you're aiming for, but I can help—"

"I see," I replied, picking my ear with my little finger.

"You crazy bastard!" the branch manager roared, apparently hitting his limit. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

I did.

To be honest, I'd already heard that question multiple times on my way here, and I was getting sick of hearing it. What did he want me to do? Either I did something crazy, or I died. It was a black-and-white situation.

I nodded my head once more. "I see."

"What exactly do you see—" the branch manager started to shout, but...

"If you don't shut up, I will kill this woman."

When I pretended to tighten the arm I had wrapped around the district chief's daughter's neck, the branch manager shut his mouth.

Upon closer inspection, his face was white as a sheet. Well, I could understand why. In addition to the jailbreak at his branch, the daughter of the district chief had also been taken hostage. What a terribly troubling situation.

No matter how this fiasco ended, this bastard wouldn't be getting out of it unscathed either.

You reap what you sow.

As I was thinking this, the woman I was holding hostage suddenly opened her mouth.

"My name is Julian Urbans. Not 'this woman.'"

Her voice was calmer than the terrified tone she'd used before. I could also feel her heartbeat thanks to our close proximity, and it seemed quite stable.

"Tell me what you want," she said. "There must be a reason for someone like you to pull a crazy stunt like this, right?"

"Someone like me?"

Had I ever met this woman before? When I cocked my head, she continued.

"You are not at all frightened by what you've done. Your breathing is even, and your eyes are completely steady."

"Your point?"

"You planned this all out, right? A long time ago."

Plan? I had made one... About thirty minutes ago.

I thought she was about to say something worthwhile, but it was just a waste of time.

"Maybe you even knew I was going to be here today—"

"Quiet."

She gasped.

After covering the apparently overly conceited woman's mouth with my hand, I asked the branch manager for what I needed.

"Bring me the investigator who was in charge of my case, a guy named Harts Young of the Crystal Union active on the first floor, a wizard from the Tower, and an official priest from the temple."

All my preparations were complete. Now it was time to turn this situation around.