Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Chapter 5 - Each Other's Plans
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Crow was dragged away, unleashing his fury all the while, until he soon collapsed in utter exhaustion, sprawled out limply.
His sickly body simply couldn't handle such intense rage. This was a critical time when he needed rest above all else—throwing a fit like this was the last thing he should be doing.
Only after Crow had worn himself out did the guards wipe their sweat and check on his condition. Strangely, he felt even harder to control than before.
"Should we take him to the infirmary?"
"...Nah. Let's head to C Wing. He won't be causing any more trouble anyway."
What he needed wasn't treatment.
He needed his agitated mind to settle,
and the everyday routine of C Wing, filled only with helplessness and defeat.
Back in C Wing, Crow could barely walk, so Lily and Creep supported him as he slumped onto a chair at the table like a sack of potatoes.
Even just sitting there drained him, forcing him to lean his weight on the smaller Lily just to bend at the waist.
"Looks like the correctional officer was hassling you again."
Across from them sat Scardi and Rin.
They smoked short cigarettes while enjoying a healthy dessert of simple yogurt and bread.
"We've already eaten, so you should have some too."
As Scardi said,
strawberry yogurt and bread crumbs were already smeared around Creep's lips.
Despite Creep once being the most annoying pest, Scardi surprisingly showed her mercy by sharing food with her too.
"...Th-thanks."
His appetite hadn't returned thanks to the meds, but his body desperately craved nutrients for recovery.
He had to shove something in his mouth right now.
His powers weren't working anymore, but his stomach felt like it was about to die of hunger. Just no appetite.
He tore into the dry bread with his parched mouth, chewing and swallowing roughly. Unlike the stale, hardened biscuits from the prison, this was pretty tasty and soft.
In C Wing, Crow didn't have to think much. Or more precisely, it was better to stop thinking altogether and just go with the flow.
Letting useless thoughts creep in
would make his mind crumble, and his drug dependency would only worsen.
So he just ate the food in front of him,
gave his body to those demanding it,
protected Lily,
got beaten, raped,
smoked cigarettes handed to him by Scardi...
He just had to focus on those few things.
Simple tasks, none of them hard.
"Little bro, how's life here treating you? Not so bad, right?"
"Yeah."
But an ominous, indescribable tension hung over the table. Whenever Lily and Scardi talked, a weird vibe always started swirling.
"Surprising, though. Taking care of Creep like that. She used to harass Crow relentlessly. You know that, right? Even outside, she was always after him."
"She was."
Lily spread jam on a piece of bread and took a light bite.
She could finally eat the one she'd saved to share with her brother.
Watching Lily's unwavering loyalty to Crow, Scardi gave a wry smile.
"You're an interesting one, little sis. Always moving against my expectations. Seems you're surprisingly kind and affectionate."
"I actually like you, Scardi. I used to think all villains were messed-up social misfits, but you always help me and my brother."
Lily smiled now too. A strangely mechanical smile. Purely for show.
In response, Scardi flashed a brief eye smile and lit another cigarette. The smoke rose ominously toward the ceiling.
They spoke as if praising each other,
yet clearly saw one another as their greatest enemy.
"Oh, and I noticed some groups eyeing you with real distaste."
Still, the conversation didn't break.
Five sat at the table,
but Lily and Scardi led the talk.
"It's 'cause you're hanging with Creep. Draws eyes. Back when she tormented C Wing folks and had her gang, now she's turned into this lapdog?"
The topic was Creep.
The unexpected variable had badly injured her head, and now she watched Crow and Lily eat, drooling steadily.
Even after finishing her share, her belly wasn't full.
"In cases like this, I can't protect you. Sure, I'm C Wing's boss, but that doesn't mean I command everyone or smooth all relations. As you know, with all the rough inmates, plenty slip my control."
"I know. But you always step in. Thanks to that, me, Oppa, and Creep get to enjoy this tasty breakfast."
Lily tore off half her bread and gave it to Creep.
"Whoa! For me!?"
Creep's eyes sparkled with life. She thanked Lily profusely, snatched the bread, and wolfed it down.
"Th-tha-thanks! Nom...!"
So faithful to her desires.
How could anyone have that much appetite?
Maybe her unique physical abilities and sturdy build demanded tons of energy.
"Truth is, more important than the gangs glaring at Creep is..."
Scardi watched intently and added,
"that she could snap out of it any moment."
Even acting childish,
her elastic body and personal physique hadn't changed.
There had to be girls messing with Creep.
Yet after a few hours, she'd strut around C Wing with her healthy body like nothing happened.
Lately, her skin even had a glow. Seemed like becoming childishly dumb shielded her from environmental stress.
That was one of the things unfolding way off Scardi's predictions.
Scardi had figured needling Creep's old gang a bit more would threaten her big-time.
But the brainless idiot seemed to see the world as a flower garden just by sticking near Crow.
Right, speaking of which,
even Crow pitying Creep and keeping her around was way off Scardi's expectations.
She'd endured torments worse than death—how could he share a room and care for her?
That made Scardi find Crow irresistibly intriguing. Choices she herself would never make, yet after breaking, Crow still picked similar paths.
"..."
That was the difference between Crow and Creep.
Creep had truly forgotten everything, embracing a primal life in stupidity,
while Crow desperately tried not to think, accepting prison life.
Otherwise, just staying sane would bring immense pain.
So better to live like an idiot.
Get hit when hit,
suck when told to suck,
spread when told to spread.
"Oppa, eat slowly."
The reason he hadn't fully lost it was surely the girl beside him. As long as Lily lived, Crow couldn't let go of his sanity.
So Scardi observed their bond closely while smoking. Cigarettes always aided calm thinking.
Lost in thought amid the smoke, good ideas often surfaced.
"You two are really close."
Scardi flicked ash lightly as she spoke. Right now, she pondered how Crow would change once Lily died.
Cutting his last lifeline would make controlling him tough. Still, honestly, she kinda wanted to see him snap after losing everything.
"Thank you."
And she wanted to see if that ominous little girl stayed composed even facing death.
Scardi didn't fancy the word "madness," but this girl before her seemed to fit it perfectly, she mused.
"Life's funny. Crow hoped you'd never end up here. Justice pulled some scary shit."
"Yeah. She's targeted us from the start. Justice Unnie's power grows the more people rely on her. Killing us would make the world depend on her even more—maybe that's her play."
Crow's face hardened at Justice's name, while Creep sulked over her finished bread.
With the two between them, Lily and Scardi subtly discussed the [Incident].
"...Don't think you'd lose to Justice, little sis. Were you too careless?"
"...Never imagined fighting Unnie back then."
They were convinced right there.
Lily had framed Crow,
and Scardi seized the chance to make it plausible.
They'd helped each other.
No hard proof, but they felt it clearly.
Only the woman across from her could orchestrate something like this.
"You worked hard anyway. So young, yet proving Crow's innocence alone."
"I'd do anything for Oppa."
Both excelled at steering events their way.
"I think Crow's innocent too. He's not the type. Justice seems riskier, with her temper and brute strength..."
"Agreed."
So they'd briefly allied to drag Crow into this hell,
but now they needed new strategies to pry each other away.
"Watch out for Justice if you get out. Your charge is just attempted murder—not a huge sentence. A few years, then freedom. Avoid her then. Or I can hook you up somewhere safe. Crow asked me to look after you."
Scardi planned to release Lily.
After a secret deal with Crow, she'd pull judicial strings for minimal time.
Then it'd be just her and Crow left in the prison. Dealing with Lily could come later.
If Crow heard Lily died outside, wouldn't he shatter completely?
"Thank you. But right now, helping Oppa recover by his side matters more than far-off futures."
Meanwhile, Lily prepared a riot.
A few deaths,
an escape,
an irreparable storm of blood.
A bloody riot.