Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Scheme
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"Make yourself comfortable."
It's been a really long time since I've spent time in the common area. Compared to the cramped, stuffy two-person cell, the high ceiling and buzz of conversations here soothe the human mind even more.
Of course, those two things aren't the only psychological factors easing my frustration.
The fact that Scardi, who brought me here and sat down at the table with me, finally makes me a weapon against Creep brings a strange sense of pleasure.
"...Yeah."
Even this brief change of pace feels off because it's all thanks to Scardi, but for now, at least, she's definitely safer than Creep.
This isn't compromising with a villain. It's just analyzing and using them to survive in this place...
"I heard you met with a correctional officer."
"Yeah."
Still, I don't know much about Scardi even now. I've tried to gather info and analyze her, but she's always stuck with Creep, so I haven't had time to sort my thoughts.
All the info I have on Scardi is frozen at two years ago.
Back then, she was expanding her influence with an even more intimidating presence than now.
No, more accurately, she already had no rivals in the underworld by then, so it was about plotting crimes that absolutely had to be stopped.
"Must've been tough."
Even back then, Scardi was pretty gentlemanly compared to the lunatics who killed on a whim without questions or the arsonists trying to blow up entire cities.
She ruthlessly eliminated anyone blocking her path and was willing to sacrifice anything for greater ambitions,
yet Scardi had a gentle side.
And this wasn't just toward me.
Scardi was a woman who gave ironclad trust and solid rewards to everyone by her side.
"Why don't you eat?"
But she never acted without expecting something in return.
The perfectly cooked ramen right in front of me,
the smoked chicken leg and tuna,
were too generous and burdensome to be simple favors.
"...No, I'm good."
"You don't get chances like this sharing a cell with Creep. Come on, eat."
"I said I'm good."
It's just food.
A person can last a few weeks without eating.
No matter how hungry I am or how my strength is fading, I'm not dumb enough to gobble up favors from a villain.
"...Still no compromise, huh. I get it. But this isn't a compromise."
Scardi leans forward, sitting diagonally at the table. Her haughty eyes and unreal beauty draw closer, becoming sharper and clearer.
"Keep living like that, and you won't last long. Your weakened recovery ability has its limits."
She's right.
I've already sensed my body's limits.
"But if I help you, things change. Right?"
Even so, I can't just swallow her suspicious favors whole.
"...Scardi, we were never close enough to help each other out."
We're enemies.
We were enemies before,
and we still are.
"What do you want? Spit it out straight instead of beating around the bush."
"I already told you. I don't want you dead, and I want to help you. That's it."
Yet Scardi offers her kindness with an utterly serene expression, not a hint of wavering.
"So eat. This isn't from a villain—it's from your friend."
"Never made friends with villains."
No matter how I prod,
she doesn't falter.
"The enemy of my enemy is my ally, so we're friends in the end, aren't we?"
"..."
And she hits the exact point.
Only facts I can't refute.
"...Fine, if you're against it, Crow, I can't force you. But is Creep in that room thinking the same as you?"
She lays a trap I can't escape,
"Once our meeting ends and you go back inside, what will Creep do to you? You know better than I do."
and shoves kindness into my small mouth.
"Even if you refuse this gift and go back empty-handed, do you think Creep will treat you nicer for it? No. Our meeting is the worst stress for Creep, and that rage will pour onto both of us. It's already irreversible."
Kwak—
The moment Scardi finishes,
I grab the smoked chicken leg and stuff it into my mouth.
"Yes, that's the natural choice. Not a compromise. You have to eat to survive."
The savory crust and fat wrapping the outside,
and the moist flesh cowering beneath.
From the first big bite, catharsis floods my whole body. The nutrients naturally depleted by constant healing restart operations, shedding tears of joy the instant they receive new energy.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea... Chomp... It's not..."
My head rings. With quality calories incoming, all my nerves focus on the food.
"S-Scardi. You're just like Creep..."
"Eat slowly. Don't choke."
Even so, my restarting brain properly infers Scardi's intent.
She's using me to break Creep.
By calling me out like this and provoking Creep, she'll definitely cause an incident soon.
But she's already stirred trouble in A Wing, B Wing, and the Special Supervision Wing.
So,
her punishment becomes uncertain.
They might not let her live anymore.
"Yeah. Listen while you eat. You might know this, but executions hardly ever happen inside this prison. Even for the worst villains, weakening their abilities and suppressing them is best. But there's one exception."
I know what Scardi means.
Summary execution.
The correctional officer's authority for immediate disposal...
"Correctional officers can decide on disposal the moment inmates repeatedly escape control or endanger the entire prison. And she's already watching Creep. She won't want to keep a villain alive who killed a guard."
She's got the whole plan laid out. Scardi really is dangerous. But this ramen is too good. Every drop of broth is so rich, making me praise modern technology with every bite.
The chewy noodles and spicy broth harmonize in devastating pleasure. For a body starved of food for so long, these are ecstatically perfect.
"And you even have a personal connection with the correctional officer, right?"
...Hold on.
My body freezes for a moment.
"Ugh... Hack!"
No reason to stop eating, but Scardi's words restrict my movements.
"How do you know that?"
I quickly swallow the noodles and ask. She adjusts her posture and answers.
"Doesn't matter. Let's just say I have good sources. The key here is that your mere existence maximizes the conflict between the correctional officer and Creep."
There's definitely something suspicious, but Scardi's plan has a very high chance of success. It's the mastermind I doubt, not the plan itself.
Excluding my broken relationship with Orca...
"...I did have a connection with the correctional officer, but not anymore. I'm treated like a villain now, so she won't care about me."
"What?"
Even after I tell her,
Scardi doesn't change expression, just tilts her head.
"Didn't know that. Hm. Makes sense."
I can't tell what else she knows
or how far her plans go, but
"We'll need to adjust the plan."
Scardi never stops thinking.
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For the first time in ages, my stomach feels full. Honestly, I could've eaten five times more of the same amount, but in this situation, these generous instant foods alone bring happy satiety.
"Haa..."
Feeling the warm ingredients filling my gut, I focus on rest. In that moment, no one could touch me. With Scardi beside me, even Creep's gang couldn't.
They're just huddled near Creep's room, sweating bullets, trying to soothe her mood.
Doesn't concern me. My body, which could barely sit earlier, is now in decent shape. As long as I don't die, I can keep enduring no matter how much Creep rages.
"..."
But,
Creep's gang's reactions are weird.
"C-Crow! Know when to quit and come back...!"
"B-Boss, really sorry, but this is gonna cause big trouble..."
A few rush to our table, interrupting. Even with Scardi here, they shouldn't touch me, but they act like...
something's chasing them.
"H-Hurry up!"
"Unnie, just a bit longer. Yeah?"
Eventually, they grab my arm and drag me forcibly. Neither Scardi nor I expected this, so we're both flustered.
Rin and her friends, watching, approach to help Scardi. Soon, the place turns chaotic, tension ready to explode.
"What are you doing? We're not done talking. Let go of my arm."
"F-Fuck! What do you want us to do...!"
Seeing Creep's panicked underlings,
Scardi and I sense something ominous is happening.
Thud, thud...
A sticky footstep echoes in sync.
Creep steps out herself and heads to our table.
"H-Hic..."
Even her own gang shrinks away in fear.
Left at the table: Scardi's group and me.
Showing a state completely unlike what I expected, she approaches quietly and says,
"I'm taking him."
Not even hours have passed, yet her eyes are filled with nothing but black.
"Our date's over, right?"
In that state,
Creep grips my wrist like she'll crush it.