Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: A Flawless Prison
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"With so many people suddenly showing up, it's a little scary."
Anje covered her lips with her hand and turned away with an innocent look.
The Audit Director Page and the Princess stared at her in utter disbelief.
"If you'd like, feel free to take a look around. There's really nothing much here."
Her demeanor stood in complete contrast to all the evil deeds she was known for.
But I was even more terrified than they were.
'What kind of wish is she scheming that demands such flawless acting...?'
Was she planning to brainwash me and seize control of the prison?
Or maybe raze it all and swallow up the entire North?
I swallowed hard and kept my silence.
In the meantime, Director Page slowly inspected the inside of the cell.
"Hmm. Just knitting, then?"
"Of course. It's still chilly here, even with spring here."
Anje sat demurely on the bed and flashed a bright smile.
"If you'd like one, I could give you a pair. I just finished some gloves."
The white-haired saintess spoke with eyes sparkling like rubies.
She held a pair of cute red wool gloves in one hand.
"No thanks. Stay put while I check your belongings."
The report submitted to the palace had clearly described her as having blood-red eyes like a sea of gore and deathly pale skin.
She had brainwashed hundreds of citizens into slaves, no less.
"Understood. Just let me know if you change your mind."
Yet who was this refined lady standing before them?
She ought to be jumping rope with the guards' intestines—and that would barely suffice—yet here she was, knitting?
'N-No, that can't be right. Check the drawer! The drawer!!'
He strode over and yanked open the desk drawer.
There had to be a list of her brainwashed slaves inside.
'Yes, just as I thought. What prisoner keeps stacks of documents like this! It has to be...!'
He flipped through the pages with practiced hands.
But the contents...
Director Page's pitch-black eyes went dull and lifeless.
'What the hell.'
I sidled up to him and whispered.
"See that necklace around the prisoner's neck? It's a sealing artifact. She's been like this ever since putting it on."
I gazed at her with pity, like a girl who'd injured her head.
"Even for a criminal, ending up like that... It's just too heartbreaking, isn't it?"
Anje's eyelids twitched at being treated like a fool.
As if she'd brainwash me on the spot and force me to lick her toes.
"True enough. No magic power emanating from her at all."
To brainwash hundreds would normally require immense magical power.
Yet sensing absolutely nothing...
Meant the prisoner was under perfect control.
"...On to the next cell."
Director Page snorted loudly.
There were other prisoners besides Anje, so they moved on for now.
"Haha, right this way."
A prickling glare bored into my back.
I ignored it and stepped out of the cell.
'This is going to be rough later.'
"Show me the female swordsman from the East next."
"You won't get much out of it, probably. She's still just a teenager."
I flung open Myoran's iron door as well.
A peaceful, quiet atmosphere greeted us—the only sound was the scratch of a pencil.
"Hmm."
Director Page scowled at the ordinary scene once more.
His eyes lingered on her petite shoulders at the desk.
"That girl matched blows with knight commanders?"
"Yes. As you can see, she's been on her best behavior since arriving."
After Anje's perfect performance, I was eager for Myoran's act too.
I approached and checked her study book.
Empire Language Guide for Children.
"As you see, she's learning the imperial tongue to blend into society."
Myoran looked up at my explanation.
The girl with raven hair and youthful eyes gave a light greeting.
"Pleased... to meet you, War-den siiir."
In terribly broken imperial speech.
"......"
I nearly burst out laughing.
The Princess behind us grimaced, goosebumps rising.
"Who... is that one beside?"
Page's eyelids twitched.
No one would mistake her for an Eastern Swordmaster.
"Her imperial's still pretty rough."
"Uh... yeah, it is."
The director had a daughter her age.
Having taught his own child a language before, it felt oddly relatable.
"Warden, my mana grow, yes?"
"Oh my, it has. You're such a quick study. Time for a reward soon."
I stroked Myoran's head like it was gold or jade.
Before I knew it, I was enjoying the charade.
But then.
She yanked my wrist when Page wasn't looking.
"Fun, huh?"
She dropped the childish smile and turned icy cold.
Like a massive cat yokai eyeing its prey.
"Think you know what I'll wish for?"
"Haha... Whatever it is, I'll make it happen. Just play nice."
At 'whatever,' she released me gently.
By the time Page turned back, she was the picture of studiousness.
"Odd. So docile."
"You almost seem to want trouble. As you see, control is perfect."
Page smacked his lips and tapped the floor idly.
Each tap made the sword leaning against the wall shift slightly.
"...!"
Right—Heavenly Jade's soul.
I snatched the sword before Page noticed.
The instant my hand closed on the hilt.
I sensed its fierce yin energy—something I'd never felt before.
'Chased from the body and fled to the sword?'
Holding it let us converse mentally.
The soul chattered excitedly.
'Sure. Looks like we don't need your 'help' anymore. Stay put in the corner.'
Glancing at Page, I tried sliding the sword under the bed.
'What're you on about?'
The voice that once granted eternal eclipse whispered sweetly.
Who lacks desire in this world?
I'm playing warden—a job not in my stars—just to chase mine.
Blue yin energy crept up my arm from the hilt.
The Heavenly Jade soul began peering into my deepest desires.
The soul pictured me lounging in a bedroom piled with treasures.
It broadcast the image straight into my mind.
Thrilled at finding a 'normal' desire at last, the soul quivered.
It asked in a trembling voice.
Then dug deeper into my desires.
'Y-Yeah. Gotta sleep when tired. Then wake up for conquest war...'
I stood there blankly.
The soul kept probing.
No matter how deep it looked, it was just me napping on treasure piles.
Then realization hit the soul.
My goal was simply to loaf through life with endless wealth.
No greater ambition.
The sword thrashed wildly in my grip.
I clenched it tight, hands behind my back out of Page's sight.
'Need 'em to sleep without a care.'
The soul fell silent, no rebuttal to the crystal logic.
Despair claimed it; the sword went still.
I nudged it under the bed with my booted foot.
Delivered bottomless despair to the inspection's final wildcard: the soul.
"......"
In the end, Director Page found zero leads.
First impenetrable fortress he'd faced; he let out a deep sigh.
"I got cocky. Sieging any castle is a slog."
"Honored you see our prison as a fortress."
Page murder-glared at my sly jabs from beside.
But justification's needed to strike.
He squeezed his eyes shut and headed to the cafeteria with me.
The sight there was even more absurd.
Fred and Nix peeling potatoes in one corner.
Damas himself hauled and mashed the peeled ones.
"Haha... Now Holy See class-1 criminals are cooking. And that's the Grand Elder's firstborn."
Cognitive dissonance wrecked him; Page clapped weakly.
"One prisoner harvested those himself. Cuts operating costs."
Even the truest hound blanks when quarry vanishes.
Page finally threw up his hands like a snake-chasing mutt.
"You alright, Professor?"
His old pupil Clea poured coffee.
Her reflection in the dark brew looked happier than before.
"Clea. Relieved you're faring well."
"Yes. Dig all you want—no stains here."
The muscled middle-ager admitted plainly.
He eyed the Princess beside me steadily.
"Yeah. Prison's state explains why royals covet your warden."
He sipped coffee, settling his mind.
"Supervised so tight I leave empty-handed."
Perhaps relief at his disciple's welfare.
Hands empty, yet his eyes held peace that warmed me.
"Not quite zero gains."
A messenger bird fluttered in through the cafeteria window.
Clea swiftly untied the leg letter.
"Heard you despise mafia."
"Correct. Auditing you partly over Bacar mafia ties."
He half-admitted it, gaze still wary.
I passed him the messenger's letter.
"Irony: they'll ease your worries."
"...?"
Page carefully slit the envelope.
Contents checked—
"This..."
"The mafia messing with academy kids? Not Bacar. Rival family."
While in the capital, I'd prepped intel on other syndicates.
Let me pinpoint Page's students' exploiters fast.
"Their intel: boss hideout, corruption rundown."
"Why hand this to me?"
His voice shook at the intel's value.
"Strictly, I'm your foe."
"Foe? That's opportunist talk—for ladder-climbers via Princess."
I doffed my dragon-horn headband.
Magic faded; dark circles reemerged.
"To an incorruptible patriot, Sir Page is just a dutiful servant."
Ruby-ringed hands clasped his firmly.
I beamed with the world's slyest eyes.
"So of course I'd help."
"...That view shames me."
Page bowed humbly.
Meanwhile, I secretly winked between Clea and the Princess.
No worries anymore.
"......"
The sharp pair instantly read my play: charm Page, crush rival mobs.
"Time to head out. Lingering just burdens you."
The two nodded oddly at departing Page.
Ready to demand wishes the second he left.
I caught it, brow furrowing.
"W-Wait, already? Fate brought you here—stay for dinner."
I bolted up, escorting the burly man.
But he kindly patted my shoulder.
"No. Can't burden such a fine man further."
No—after you leave, the real hassle hits.
"No flaws here. That's my report."
Something will go down.
Wish tickets.
Bound to be insane: raze the prison, gobble the empire!
"Actually, the prison still has issues! For real!"