Chapter : 10 “The Ceiling Got Blown Away”
“Good day to you. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. I have once again been thrown into prison. And I am extremely irritated.”
However, I have not lost my composure. No matter how angry I become, I always remain calm. Always.
Unlike the royal capital’s underground prison, the prison in Elzemarin is located above ground. It seems easier to escape than the capital’s prison, but I had just escaped once already. They will surely be more cautious now.
…Well then, the question is what to do from here.
As soon as I was thrown into the cell, I surveyed my surroundings.
There was a small barred window near the ceiling acting as a light source.
As expected, the floor, walls, and ceiling were all stone.
One of the walls was made of iron bars, with a door set into it. A very ordinary prison cell.
Simple, yet sturdy. Because it wasn’t overly complicated, breaking out or escaping would not be easy. Not that I expected it to be!
While I was observing the cell, the soldier who had been talking outside returned to stand in front of me.
“…I can’t believe you’ve been in hiding for nearly two months.”
The soldier looked down at me through the bars with an oddly amused expression. Well, capturing me would certainly earn him a reward.
“You really made us search all over!”
“Oh my. I never asked you to search for me. Perhaps incompetent soldiers just caught me on their own, let me escape on their own, and then went looking for me on their own?”
I replied casually, and the soldier seemed to get irritated. Such a low boiling point, isn’t it?
“You insolent criminal!”
“Oh dear. Do I have any obligation to entertain a low-ranking soldier like you? If you want a pleasant conversation with me, bring a tea set. How inconsiderate.”
“Low-ranking…!?“
While talking to him, I suddenly realized something.
I vaguely recognized this soldier.
“All of this is your fault! Because of you, I was reassigned here! I had to leave the royal capital and hunt you down!”
…That’s right! I remember now!
I remember nowww!
This guy—
He was the one who punched me in the throne room!!
This is… a problem. But also an opportunity!
I held a grudge against the nobles and royalty who framed me, but I also had a grudge against this soldier.
Not only did he punch me, he also insulted me!
Meeting him here must be fate! In that case, perhaps I should go a little ahead and enjoy some revenge.
“Listen carefully, Violia Nico Fortesia! You will be escorted to the royal capital, and executed in the plaza in front of the castle—wh—why are you smiling!?”
“Oh my? I’m not smiling at all, am I?”
To me, this man was nothing more than prey. Of course I would smile.
“Y-you disgusting…! You will be transported this evening! Stay quiet until then! Understood!”
And so he left.
Now then.
I’m getting a little excited. Though, before excitement, it’s more like nervousness. After all, I will be transported in just a few hours.
Still, it seems they won’t make the same mistake as last time, so escaping through normal means will be difficult.
So I will either have to cut the iron bars or dig through the walls… but without tools, that would be difficult.
However, that’s fine.
Because this time, they themselves will take me outside.
“Time’s up. Get out.”
By evening, I was escorted out of the cell with handcuffs on.
As expected, there were many soldiers surrounding me, all pointing weapons at me.
If I so much as make a strange movement, I’ll be killed. That’s what this means. Unlike last time, there are no careless fools here.
But there’s no need to panic yet. I just have to wait for the right opportunity.
“Very well.”
I walked forward elegantly. Fortunately, I didn’t have leg restraints.
Outside the prison, soldiers stood in formation.
To arrange such an escort just for me… what excessive treatment. You could have made it lighter.
“Get in.”
“Yes, yes.”
I entered the carriage as instructed. It seems I will be transported in this carriage, surrounded by soldiers all the way to the capital—like a royal funeral procession. Honestly, they could have made it lighter.
Two soldiers entered the carriage with me, and the door was locked from the outside.
One of them then placed shackles on my feet.
…but that’s fine. I had already confirmed that this soldier was carrying the key.
Once he finished, the carriage began to move.
It rattled along and soon left Elzemarin.
…This should be the place.
“Ah.”
As the carriage jolted strongly, I made my move. The soldier reacted.
“What is it?”
“It seems my leg shackles came off…”
“Huh?”
“Look.”
As he leaned in—
I slammed my head into his jaw!
When the brain is shaken, it really hits. A blow to the jaw is especially effective. With good timing, a single headbutt is enough to knock someone out.
The other soldier tried to react, but I kicked him in the face.
It didn’t go perfectly, so I followed with an elbow strike to the neck.
In a tight carriage like this, everyone is hunched over, making the neck easy to target.
Both soldiers collapsed.
As expected, the noise was drowned out by the rattling carriage.
I searched their pockets. The key to the leg shackles was there.
But unfortunately, they didn’t have the key to my handcuffs.
So I left the handcuffs as they were, took a dagger from one of them, and prepared myself.
Inconvenient, but manageable.
And soon, the best conditions would arrive.
Sunset.
This is my plan.
When the carriage stops at sunset for the guard change, the door will open.
The moment it does, I will leap out.
Then I will break through and escape into the darkness of the forest.
I waited by the door, short sword in hand.
Then—noise outside.
“They’re here.”
The guards were switching shifts. The door would open any moment—
That’s what I thought.
But—
The thing that opened was not the door.
It was the ceiling.
It exploded.
“…Huh?”
No, seriously, what is this? Do ceilings normally open like that?
With an explosion, no less.
I looked up.
And there—
“I told you we’d meet again.”
A feral, wolf-like grin.
“Ah… g-good day to you… Doran Paruk…?”
That man.
The “dangerous guy” I helped escape from the underground prison in the royal capital.
