Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Stranger
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Just as Scardi had said, the prison guards soon took me out briefly and sat me down somewhere that looked like an interrogation room, then began throwing questions at me.
Of course, the inside of the interrogation room was painted in a dull gray—at best a damp beige—so it gave off the same depressing atmosphere as the inside of C Wing.
“Ehem. Tsk. Since dawn…”
The man sitting across from me was fairly old. And judging by his expression, there wasn’t the slightest trace of passion or interest. It felt as if he had been resting and was dragged out against his will and told to investigate me.
“Why did you fight?”
On top of that, his formal yet sharp questions didn’t change at all, even after seeing my bruised skin and swollen eyes.
“…They started the fight first, so I fought to protect myself.”
“Anyway, mutual assault.”
Maybe he’s being especially harsh on me. He definitely knows who I am.
“You acknowledge that, right?”
“…Yes.”
Sometimes, when dealing with someone you dislike, you become even more formal than usual. Showing exactly that kind of attitude, the man investigates the incident. He shows little interest in its circumstances or outcome.
“Mutual… assault… well, nothing serious. Any other special notes?”
That’s why it takes quite a bit of thought and resolve to bring it up.
Will this man really try to help me? Will he file a report so they can be sent to A Wing or B Wing?
“I was forced.”
“Pardon?”
Still, I have no choice. I need to honestly lay out what happened to me. I don’t know which direction things will flow, but there’s no reason to deliberately hide the incident.
“Those women tried to do it by force.”
“Hm… Yes. Ah! Right. I think I vaguely heard that during the handover earlier.”
The man’s attitude doesn’t change. He simply throws a few more questions.
“So, are you saying they tried to force you, or that they actually did it?”
“They did.”
Even though it’s a clear fact, in the situation of speaking it aloud, a strange sense of shame arises.
A shame without knowing why.
“All six of them?”
“…I don’t know about that. Two for sure.”
“Who and who?”
“Uh, Acid and Black Owl…”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. That’s enough.”
A few more sentences are added to the paper in front of him.
Their names, and special notes about what I additionally suffered.
After that, he pushes the paper toward me.
“Now write down as much as you can remember.”
“…What should I write?”
“You said you were forced, didn’t you? You have to write it as detailed as possible so the person in charge can properly judge the case and take action.”
For a moment, something surged up to my throat,
then barely subsided again.
“…Understood.”
As I write down the course of events on the paper he handed me, I subtly lift my gaze upward. The special notes he wrote a few seconds ago catch my eye.
[Mutual assault. Similar degree of injury. Acid Black Owl rape attempt? Rape?]
There is nothing else.
He simply summarized what I said very briefly.
That’s it.
He has no interest in what I am going through.
“Seriously, a woman raping a man… what a world…”
Instead, staring at his smartphone screen, he clicks his tongue and mutters to himself loudly enough for me to hear.
It doesn’t seem like he’s aware of it. His voice is just loud, so I end up hearing it unintentionally.
“Good at brawling but rape… sss-”
Still,
I know there’s no malice, but—
“That doesn’t seem right…”
Every time his voice comes through, my handwriting tilts crookedly.
If only he would endure it quietly.
After the investigation, which felt endlessly long, finally ended, I was sent back to C Wing.
On the way back, I learned a few things.
There are very few men in the villain detention facility I belong to. Most of the prison guards and facility staff are women.
Judging by the slightly different attire of that man I saw earlier, he’s probably an internal prison staff member in charge of another duty. Maybe he really was dragged in while resting.
If they simply grabbed any man and made him conduct the investigation instead of a guard.
I wonder if there was a reason they had to bring in a man, but perhaps it was a consideration for me, who deviates far from the prison’s regulations.
An investigation into the circumstances of a sexual assault, conducted by someone of the same sex. Of course, it felt far more inefficient than receiving it from the other guards.
And certainly, compared to other places, the guards at the villain detention facility have a different atmosphere. Their uniforms and loaded guns create considerable intimidation.
Yet they do not show strong coercion toward the prisoners. Rather, they guard us as if dealing with bombs.
“Go in.”
Standing before the large metal door leading into C Wing, I take one last look around. In the distance, I can faintly see the entrance to B Wing, and scattered in between are strange spaces decorated like counseling rooms or auditoriums.
Most of the rest are cooking facilities or convenience facilities for the guards.
There’s no difficulty memorizing the internal structure.
If something happens—
if something really happens—
There might come a time when I have to escape on my own.
I must not forget the layout.
…No. That’s wrong thinking.
Don’t think like that.
My comrades will come to get me out soon.
Inside C Wing, the noisy atmosphere has returned. Conversations flow between prisoners at the seven round tables placed in the common area.
Of course, when I enter, a brief silence and a strange current flows. Several villains pay attention to me.
As quietly as possible, as naturally as possible,
I head toward my bed area and gather my prison uniform and underwear. Even after several hours of investigation, my clothes are still soaked. It’s about time to change.
Ideally, I’d like to change confidently right here, but just because I don’t avoid fighting them doesn’t mean I need to invite danger myself. I need to live carefully without drawing attention.
So I carry my clothes into the restroom. If there are stalls, I plan to go into one and quickly change before coming out.
“…”
However, there’s one more fact I didn’t know.
There is no such concept as stalls here.
Inside the restroom, toilets are lined up in rows. The sight of dozens of them placed in a row almost makes me laugh in disbelief.
There are a few women currently using them. When our eyes meet, they giggle first and watch my reaction.
Snickers can also be heard from outside. They all seem to understand the meaning of the prison uniform in my hands and can guess the absurdity and irritation I’m feeling.
It doesn’t matter.
Don’t care.
I’ll just go back to my spot like this and change as if nothing’s wrong.
“Hey, look at him.”
Ignore it. It’s nothing.
I won’t lose. There’s no need to get stressed over mere laughter and stares.
“Waa…”
“Your turn. Hurry and put down your card first.”
Facing the wall, I begin taking off my top first. There’s no need to rush, but I shouldn’t take my time either.
Whistling,
cheers,
remarks to hype up the atmosphere.
“Oppa, I love you~!”
“Ah, you crazy bitch! Kya-ha-ha…”
The fleeting indifference I felt earlier has completely vanished. Just because I pushed away the villains who directly approached me doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in me.
“Hey, when you pull down your pants, can you look over here? I’ll give you my dinner tonight too. Seriously!”
“We just want you to show us properly when we feel like seeing it.”
Countless stares piercing into my bare skin,
and the voices of criticism that follow.
“Does it wear down if we look? Huh?”
“It’s okay even if it’s small~”
Hearing all of it clearly, I change clothes. Put on underwear, put on pants, then outerwear again…
“Whoa, it’s kinda big though?”
“Really?”
“I saw it through the gap just now. Seriously.”
“Oppa! If you’ve got something good attached, live proudly and show it off! Why won’t you show us!”
Then I just sit down.
“Ehh…”
“We should follow him when he goes to the bathroom.”
Cries of disappointment rise around me. It’s fine. I didn’t change to show them anyway.
“Fucking noisy as hell. Is this their living room or something.”
Amid that,
someone boldly shouts.
At one of the tables, they are sharing cigarettes and playing cards.
“…Ruining the mood again. Fucking bitches.”
The attention on me lessens.
Instead, everyone looks toward that table.
I’m no exception. My eyes automatically turn to check who they are.
At the end of that gaze,
once again, two familiar figures.
…Scardi and Rin.
“Stop, stop. Wait a second. Isn’t this a bit disappointing?”
After Rin’s remark, the atmosphere shifts.
A villain sitting at the table on the exact opposite end steps on her chair and stands up, drawing attention.
“Hey there, Secretary. Why are you scolding the kids like that? That’s too much.”
This crazy…!
I know who she is. It’s absurd that I only now realized she’s here.
Even if I was out of it…
“We’re all living together like family here. If you throw around nasty words and put them down like that, it’s disappointing! Boss, instead of just sitting there next to her, you should say something too!”
A lifeless smile,
and a short wink sent to me.
Codename: Creep.
Charge: serial murder.