Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Preliminary Work
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At the very moment Lily and Creep were holding their secret meeting,
Scardi lay comfortably on her bed, organizing her thoughts.
Whenever she pondered something, she had a habit of voicing it aloud and discussing it. Of course, the one serving as her conversation partner was Rin, right above her.
"Things have gotten tricky because of Creep. It'd be better if she just took care of Lily for good."
Rin would then shift on the bed with a creak, offering a few questions or pointing out puzzling parts for the woman she served.
"They don't seem to get along. Won't she finish it within a few days?"
"No, Creep doesn't kill people that easily. If she kills someone before fully revealing her true nature, it means she's been ordered to do it, or she's trying to wrap it up quick and grab her own gain..."
Scardi answered each question kindly, slowly reviewing to ensure she hadn't missed anything.
Even before entering the prison, the two had always spent time like this. With Rin's help, Scardi could organize her thoughts faster than usual.
"She probably doesn't want to kill that girl so easily."
But today, even with Rin's help, her thoughts dragged on. Scardi recognized her own feelings and sorted out her emotions toward Crow.
"...More than that, I'm worrying about what to say to Crow. If things continue like this, Lily will die, and Crow won't be able to stay sane."
The night was deep. Even with the bunk bed frame filling her view, she gazed further, laying plans.
"It'll be too late otherwise. I need to tell Crow the truth before Lily dies."
"You mean the frame job?"
"That's ambiguous. The Director's death was probably her doing too. But the solid evidence we have is just that she went around killing agents and witnesses to destroy evidence..."
Carefully,
calmly.
Scardi considered both the information she had
and Crow's situation, seeking the best solution.
"The problem is how much Crow adores Lily. In this situation, no matter how much evidence we shove in his face, he'll deny it."
"Exactly. He's not the type to waver easily."
How could she completely shatter the bond between Crow and Lily?
At what timing should she reveal Lily's secret to shake Crow again?
"...Three days from now."
No, maybe she didn't even need to convince Crow. Just ignite a small spark in his heart.
Crow must have been wary of Lily once,
and even now, he likely harbored fear toward her.
He was simply focusing all his attention on her due to the unique circumstances of the prison.
"On the day of Lily's trial, separate Crow and Lily. Make it so he can never trust her again."
"Yes."
Rin gave a simple reply without backtalk and turned over with a creak.
"Thanks, as always."
"Not at all."
With that, they closed their eyes
and quietly drifted to sleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
While everyone else was asleep,
Duksoon still couldn't sleep and waddled down from her bed.
Creak!
Creak- Creak! Creak-creak!
"...Ah, fuck."
"Eek! S-Sorry... I gotta pee..."
Ever since Creep regained her senses, the women below her didn't dare act up or make noise, huddling quietly.
Thanks to that, Duksoon could eat her fill again. While the villains with their right hands smashed to bits moped around, Duksoon had bought cola, ramen, all sorts of tasty stuff, and stuffed herself silly.
But after finally indulging in greasy food, her stomach hurt, forcing her to head to the bathroom mid-sleep.
Still, her roommate lacked the strength to hit or yell, just tossing irritably before sleeping again.
Screech-
"Phew, whew..."
Duksoon barely escaped the room and scurried to the bathroom. With everyone asleep, she had to tiptoe quietly.
Especially our Duksoon, who was expert at sneaking around. A stealth skill she'd honed in high school to evade the mean girls.
"Huh...?"
But clutching her rumbling stomach, she halted because
she sensed an unexpected presence in the bathroom.
Of course, even at bedtime, a few people came and went. But voices meant someone had occupied it for a clandestine meetup.
What rotten luck.
Duksoon broke into a cold sweat, her mind racing at top speed.
If she just peed there, she'd be mocked as the shit-and-piss girl until release.
Better to squeeze in despite the awkwardness and do her business.
"...For Scardi, it'd be best to kill her..."
"...My ability, if used properly..."
But the closer she got, the more ominous the conversation sounded.
"If you don't kill her during the breakout, it'll be dangerous."
"Hah- Fine. I'll do that much. But you know you have to completely wipe out the drug effects for it, right?"
"...I'll handle the dosage. The breakout comes first anyway, doesn't it? Once we're out, no more drugs, so my powers will recover quick."
"No guarantee you won't stab me in the back."
"Controlling your mind directly would be more than enough, wouldn't it?"
Duksoon's wailing stomach suddenly went silent. Her survival instincts were analyzing the implications.
"...Hold up."
But it seemed too late.
Creep sensed Duksoon's presence with her sharpened senses.
"Eek!"
Duksoon waddled away desperately, but against peak-condition Creep, a normal person like her had no chance of escape.
Tak-
Creep's hand landed on the shoulder of Duksoon, who was barely shuffling to flee.
They already knew each other well, so no words were needed.
"What do we have here? It's our little maknae."
But at Creep's sweet yet sinister smile, Duksoon trembled and peed herself right there.
Trickle-
The floor got wet. Creep had deftly stepped back, so only the floor and Duksoon's underwear were soaked.
"I-I... I didn't hear anything... Hic..."
"Huh? We didn't say a word. What do you mean you didn't hear? So you did hear voices?"
"N-No! No! No no no...!"
Duksoon had witnessed multiple times what happened to those who sassed Creep. Like a rabbit half-swallowed by a tiger, she shook violently and begged.
"Stop it."
To Lily, who saved her,
how much respect and love did Duksoon feel?
Lily made Creep back off.
Lily was the one constantly beaten,
yet she held the upper hand.
Creep smirked without retort and retreated. No need to bother with trash like Duksoon.
"Duksoon unnie, you okay?"
"Sob, hic... Y-Yeah..."
"I'll get a rag. Let's clean up quick and go back."
But Lily fussed over Duksoon more than seemed normal.
Of course, behind her mechanical smile burned rage at this filthy pig who dared touch Crow oppa—she wanted to rip out every bone and grind them into juice.
Still, she valued Duksoon's utility highly for now.
Lily fetched a hand rag from the bathroom corner. Even though it wasn't her mess, she diligently wiped the floor with Duksoon.
It was so ridiculous that Creep cackled from behind, while Duksoon sniffled, mortified yet grateful, blowing her nose.
"Th-Thank youuu..."
"No biggie. Unnie, you're my favorite here after Crow oppa."
But deep down, Duksoon feared Lily. She couldn't handle the blazing gaze Lily shot whenever she met Crow.
"So I'll tell you. Unnie, I want out of this prison altogether."
"Huh...?"
Contradictory emotions churned in Duksoon's heart.
Lily scared her, but she was also oddly kind, and Duksoon kinda wanted to mess around wildly with Crow oppa too...
"Wanna come with?"
"Wha...??"
But,
even so, breakout was overkill.
Duksoon's trial was also in three days.
Duksoon at 9:30 a.m.,
Lily at 11:00 a.m.
"Wh-What are you talking about..."
Even if her sentence got a few months longer at trial,
she'd eventually serve it out and regain freedom.
Breakout was too risky for Duksoon.
No matter how tough, better to endure and get out legitimately.
"Br-Breakout... no way..."
"Mm."
The smile vanished from Lily's eyes.
Duksoon felt
a twinge of unease.
"Really? That's a shame."
Her lips forced a grin,
but her eyes were ice cold.
Duksoon found Lily terrifying.
Even more than Creep lurking behind.
"Uh, ah... yeah... or maybe not... it might be okay... E, eheh..."
So she nodded.