The Punishment Hall (4)
The Punishment Hall (4)
We slipped out of the church headquarters in secret. A trip with just Maya and me.
As soon as we left Ainkad, we wrapped ourselves in thick fur coats. Thanks to having them fitted in advance, they fit perfectly.
"...Boss and Maya. Couple outfits."
"Do you like black?"
"I like anything. Traveling is the best."
Maya pressed herself against the carriage window. She pretended otherwise, but after being cooped up in a room, she must have been itching to get out.
Let's see... we still had time... and it seemed like we could afford to take it slow...
"Want to take it easy?"
"Yeah!"
Company welfare is something you have to take care of at times like this.
I immediately pulled out a map. I planned thoroughly.
"If we push hard toward Tantalos, ten days..."
"Will the horses hold up?"
"They will. We have Holy Arts, after all."
Whenever they got tired, I could just pour Sacred Power into them. I'd keep them in a constant state of forced doping.
I casually stuck my head out of the carriage. The coachman flinched in surprise.
"Wh-what is it?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
I casually held out the map.
"Is there any place around here worth visiting?"
"A place worth visiting...?"
The coachman blinked.
"Aren't you going out on a secret mission?"
"I'm planning to stop by while I'm at it. It's not that urgent."
"Ah... yes..."
The coachman took the map. After marking a few spots, he handed it back.
"The most famous place among the circled spots is Filamon, near the border city of Tantalos. There's a volcano beside it, and they say hot water springs up even in the dead of winter. It sits along a frozen sea, so grilled seafood is famous there. I've heard the grilled squid is especially good."
".......!"
A hot spring event?!
And on top of that... a chance to melt my body in hot water?!
"Maya. The destination's been decided."
".......!"
Maya nodded vigorously.
"Maya. Extremely excited."
"Same here."
Ahh. Let's soak in the hot spring water and have just one drink.
No more, no less, just one drink!
. . .
First Punishment Office.
Footsteps echoed through the quiet corridor. Warden Monica lightly organized the documents she had to report.
If she didn't organize them like this, Prison Director Veronica wouldn't even glance at them.
A diligent subordinate under a lazy superior. It was a surprisingly common type. But Monica didn't particularly mind.
The prison director might look sloppy on the outside, but she was someone who did things properly when it counted.
The work of the Punishment Office was honorable. Managing sinners and administering punishment was not something just anyone could do.
Monica took pride in her profession. Rehabilitating sinners and heretics was like a mission entrusted to her by Ra.
"...Let's do our best again today."
But not even ten minutes after resolving herself, the first trial dropped right in front of her.
"Monica."
Monica frowned. She let out a sigh and forced a smile.
"Warden Rupes."
There's always one.
A person who muddies the waters of a peaceful workplace.
Warden Rupes. The newly appointed man seemed to have no interest in his own duties. Instead, he was very interested in all sorts of trivial matters.
For example, flirting with the guards, or secretly making contact with female prisoners.
Monica casually checked where Rupes had come from.
Cellblock 5.
That was where the female prisoners were. The women's detention block she managed.
Monica let out a sigh.
"Warden Rupes. The women's cellblock is clearly supposed to be off-limits."
"Oh, come on. Why so strict? It got a little noisy, so I went to check. I was trying to help. Or wait... don't tell me you're jealous?"
Rupes smirked.
"I've always only had eyes for Monica, you know? I told you, you can speak casually with me. Why won't you?"
"We're on duty, Warden Rupes."
"What do you do when you're off duty?"
"I'm busy."
"What's there to be so busy about? What is there even to do in Tantalos?"
Rupes fell in beside her. Monica glared at him.
She had clearly said no several times. She had even asked him to stop.
But he stuck right beside her as if he didn't care. That subtle distance was extremely uncomfortable.
"Warden Rupes."
"What?"
"...You're too close."
"Am I?"
Rupes casually reached toward her hair.
"Seems like a normal distance to me."
"......"
"How does Monica take care of her hair? How can it be this soft?"
"Don't touch me."
"So cold."
Rupes raised his hand. He glanced at the documents she was holding.
"On your way to the Director?"
"Yes. Do you have business there too, Warden Rupes?"
"Hmm..."
The footsteps following her stopped. Rupes quietly fell back.
"I don't really have business there. Mind if I take a look at some of these reports?"
"Ah."
Some of the reports he grabbed on his own scattered across the floor. Rupes had carelessly mixed together various reports and the important letters that had been organized, and he checked the contents.
"As expected of Monica! You really do great work. Even the cellblock I manage is all organized, isn't it?"
"....."
"I'm counting on you again today. I'll be looking over some work. Come by whenever you want. Even if it's not about work, I'm always happy to see you."
Rupes walked away. Even someone as unreasonable as him was afraid of the Director, was he?
At times like this, that was definitely helpful. Monica calmly reorganized the reports he had handed back.
"...At times like this, I want to throw away the mission and everything else."
After letting out the words she had been holding back as a mutter to herself, Monica started walking again. But before she had taken more than a few steps, the inside of the prison suddenly flashed red.
[Warning. Warning.]
[Escapees detected.]
[All guards are requested to arm themselves immediately and gather at Cellblock 5.]
Cellblock 5... that was where Warden Rupes had just come from...
"Aagh! Seriously!"
Monica exploded in anger.
"There's never a quiet day! Rupes, youuuuuuugh!!!"
. . .
"Mmmmm..."
I melted in languid bliss. Thanks to arriving earlier than planned, we had even more leisure. Since I could spend several days soaking in this hot spring, I relaxed and had a drink.
The place where I soaked my body was a hot spring. The drinks floating on top of it were chilled just pleasantly enough...
The wind blew. It was cold enough to freeze my face. But in contrast, my body was hot enough to melt at any moment.
The harmony of hot spring and cold...
Wasn't this insane! It was a local specialty that couldn't help but be a travel destination!
"...Heh."
And on top of that, what overflowed was money. I had so damn much of it that I could do whatever I wanted.
Even after setting aside this and that, the money I could spend personally was in the hundreds of millions. And I also had a Sacred Relic that endlessly produced Nectar, which was practically a treasure trove...
"This is paradise..."
Renting out an entire hot spring was worth it. The daily rental fee alone cost several hundred, but so what.
Happiness is what matters most!
"Boss. Are you there?"
A voice came from beyond the wall. I sank my body deep into the hot spring water.
"Are you theeeere?"
"Maya. Banana milk."
"What about strawberry milk?"
"...Now that you mention it, I want some."
"Are you tired of swimming?"
"No. I want to swim a little more and then eat. Can't I come where you are? I'm bored alone."
"It's not that you can't, but..."
Still, she's a girl, so I should be considerate.
"Let's meet after we get out. Got it?"
"...Okay."
A somewhat dejected voice came back, but before long, she started splashing around again. She seemed to really like the hot spring water.
She was like a puppy. How should I put it... she had that quality that made raising her worthwhile.
I could simply use her as a weapon, but she was also cute on a daily basis, so I liked her even more.
When we got out, I'd have to buy her both strawberry milk and banana milk.
Knock, knock.
A sound came from outside the entrance.
"Yes?"
"Is there anything uncomfortable?"
The voice of the hot spring owner. When I said I'd rent out the entire facility for the day, his mouth had stretched from ear to ear. I answered casually.
"No. It's very comfortable."
"If anything is uncomfortable, please call me anytime."
"Ah, could you prepare some dinner? So we can eat as soon as we get out."
"Of course!"
The owner left. I finished off the remaining drinks.
Ahh... this is nice...
Even if I died like this, I'd have no regrets...
【...Peek.】
I felt a gaze. Through the hazy steam, I glanced at Beatrice's spirit form, which was staring at me.
"Beatrice."
【Y-y-y-y-yes?】
"Where are you looking?"
【I-I wasn't looking?!】
She covered her face, but I could see her eyes between her fingers. The sound of her gulping.
【...I-it's... big.】
A snake shot out from the ring.
"Hah... hah... I can't hold back any longer..."
-Get back inside.
"Ugh... Big Sis Raaa..."
-If you wag that hideous tongue at my apostle one more time!
I thought I was alone, but there were three people watching.
...Maybe I should get up now.
【...Kyaaah...!】
"Z-Zahard... that is truly terrifying...!"
-I crafted that body myself... but I never imagined it would grow this much...!
Could you all just be quiet?
I threw on some clothes roughly. As I tightened my waist cord and opened the door, I ran right into Maya, who was coming out thoroughly boiled.
"Boss. Maya is boiled meat."
"You tie your waist cord like this."
I straightened out her disheveled clothes. Maya nodded off with her eyes half closed.
"Sleepy?"
"No, hungry."
"Good. Let's drink some milk first and then quickly get some food...!"
CRAAASH!
Suddenly the wall shattered. Wood fragments and debris flew everywhere.
My freshly washed face was dirtied by the white dust that rose up. I narrowed my eyes.
"H-hah... hah... if I've come this far... it's safe..."
A woman in prison clothes. She was quite pretty, but her prominently muscular build wasn't my type.
She was too bulky on the sides. And why did she suddenly appear by smashing through a wall?
I stared up at her blankly.
Our eyes met, and she stopped dead in her tracks. She looked at my face and grinned.
"A d-delicious-looking man...?"
Her greedy gaze swept up and down my body.
"As the first meal after escaping... you're absolutely perfect...!"
She was in prison clothes. Judging by what she was saying, she seemed to be an escapee...
I let out a sigh. What the hell was this now?