CH 3

Kia’s power made everything possible. Therefore, if they line up in order, there are old people, young people, men, and women in the ranks.

She had incredible potential and talent in Kia. The moment she awakened, she overwhelmed everyone and reached the top.

However, as a side effect, she forgot some common sense necessary for social life. But it couldn’t be helped, could it?

Even now, on the third day since she declared that she would find her lost social skills and live sensibly, she caused trouble.

‘But I was just cleaning. What does it have to do with being sensible?’ She questioned it, but becoming a sensible human being is not easy.

‘So what? I can’t even get released, let alone escape.’

She tilted her head.

“Sir, may I ask what this matter is about?”

“It’s not sensible to rush matters like this.”

“Now it seems every time I do something unpleasant, it should be considered not being sensible?”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Yes.”

Useless words were exchanged, but Ralph wouldn’t call her here only to scold her.

He was busy and was preoccupied with enjoying power, there was no reason for the inspirational figure to call her during this peaceful period.

Those who called her would have tasks worth ordering.

Unless a massive battle takes place here as it did a few years ago, there may be nothing else to do.

“Anyway, Mint, easy there, do it moderately.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that you purposely provoked those guys to make the place bloody today?”

She relaxed her posture slightly and stood nonchalantly.

“Those dreamers who want to become rapists as soon as they enter can become the nourishment of this land.”

It was audacious to say such things in front of the warden, but she was fine with it. It was the privilege of being a leader.

“You’re quite amusing. Do you think you have the right to punish someone when you killed thirty two people when you were twelve?”

“Then let’s change it to ‘If they’re weak, then they’ll naturally die.”

“Do you think it’s that easy?”

“I came here to live as I please.”

“….”

“Look at this. My Amy is wounded.”

“Amy?”

“Look at my right hair…”

“…Enough. Shut up.”

He clicked his tongue in a disgusted manner.

“Didn’t you also say that? This is also a place where crazy people live, so the line between right or wrong is thin, whether to do the right or wrong thing is my choice.”

Unfortunately, due to her long absence from common sense, she has been gradually relearning it recently.

‘It’s been almost ten years, so I should start preparing it for when I leave.’

The faint remnants of ‘Peppermint’ inside her are crying out, so she should listen.

The warden and the other prison guards prefer those who are more to their taste, whether it be the violent ones, those who lick the feet of those in power, or even the craziest one to be the leader. However, it ended up being me who rose to the top.

“Ugh, I am becoming a dog that barks diligently when you command, am I not?”

“When did you bark…?”

“Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof!”

“….”

“Woof–“

“Alright, shut up already!”

I could feel the warden looking at her with his usual expression of ‘are there any more lunatics like this?’

Sadly, she couldn’t even be released and was settled as a nuisance in the prison cell, but today’s conversation felt different.

“Do you want to get out?”

She looked at the bald warden, erasing her playful expression. As sge stared at the warden who had suddenly become serious, she tilted her head slightly.

“What hope do you have for this poor person?”

The warden leaned his arms on the desk, chin in hand.

“I could declare you dead on paper. But you have to do one thing for me.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

And then, a chance appeared before her like a dream.

Without hinting at what he meant, she waited silently for the next words.

In this prison filled with scammers, she needed to see his expression carefully.

Suddenly, he gave her an irresistible offer.

“If you help me, I’ll get you released.”

“What should I do, sir?”

“….”

Once again, the expression of disbelief flashed across his face for a moment. In this prison, the king-like existence suddenly gave her an order.

“A distinguished guest will soon arrive here.”

It was not that nobles didn’t come here. She was a typical example. She was a noble too.

Of course, it was rare for something like this to happen, but it does happen. And being a ‘distinguished guest’ means they were a high-ranking noble.

“Make sure that the new inmate who came here survives in this prison.”

“Is survival all that matters?”

The warden tilted his head.

“Can you make him the leader?”

“….”

This place was a prison, a lawless zone.

It was a promise that can’t be easily uttered, yet she reached out her hand.

“Trust me with it.”

A thin green light flowed from her hand like a thread. The warden reluctantly reached out his wrinkled hand. A golden light flowed from the warden’s hand. As their fingertips touched, the threads of different colors intertwined.

It was the oath of Kia. A vow that will burst the heart if broken.

“If the task is successfully completed, I will definitely release you. You will die and be erased, replaced with a new identity.”

With light shining in her eyes, she smiled widely.

After the oath, the warden, with an unpleasant expression, spoke while combing through his hair with his fingers, “But the place you need to go is the men’s prison in the west.”

Huh? Did her hearing get worse? She heard something strange.

“…Unfortunately, my biological gender is female.”

Wasn’t the distinguished guest a noblewoman? Well, it doesn’t matter either way. And going west was fine, but as she mentioned before, her gender is female.

“You have to hide it then.”

“…Sir, is it possible to attach something between the legs?”

“…What did you just say?”

“How can I have something that doesn’t exist?”

“I mean use a disguise!” The warden snapped angrily.

Right, disguise. But was that an easy task?

“We will take care of all the preparations on our side. You just get ready to disappear soon.”

“Alright, whatever.”

The unnecessary ‘Mint’ in the plan will disappear soon. She nodded without any regrets.

After that, there were a few more specific discussions, but nothing was as important as the reward. Even when her hand was still, it trembled slightly.

Finally, she can be released. There was only one thing left to do.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The warden would soon change my identity, and this task wasn’t particularly difficult. Meanwhile, I organized my belongings inside my prison cell. It had been a staggering 10 years, but I didn’t have much attachment to the place.

“I’ll be vacating this spot.”

Upon hearing my words, a woman with pink hair blinked.

She was a beauty, despite having a burn scar that covered about one-third of her face, and she had brown eyes.

“Ah, finally, execution? Are you being sentenced to death, leader?”

The beauty’s name was Ramona, someone skilled in ‘assassination’, specializing in creating poison using Kia. She had a background in producing the poisons.

“Tell me more, huh?”

“Quiet down, Ramona! Well, obviously? Seriously. I knew a day like this would come eventually. It was strange that she has been able to rant in front of the warden all this time without consequences.”

“Oh my, Deryl, why are you saying such things?”

A woman with a short and red hair, Deryl, said and Ramona responded.

She had a physique that rivaled most adult men, a characteristic of a muscle-enhanced Kia user.

Ramona and Deryl were prisoners belonging to the Superior/Grade 1 among the classifications made by the guards. The numbers attached at the end, 3, 2, 1, indicated our grades in terms of power, much like the ratings given to livestock. In other words, the two of them were of the highest grade under the leader.

“What? Wouldn’t it be normal for the warden to change the leader once or twice? I’m sure she’s finally being replaced. That human held the position for an exceptionally long time,”

Deryl said with a face that clearly suggested that it couldn’t be anything else.

It was only natural to think it was not about being released. Though it was a bit disappointing.

“Oh, so you’re saying it’s execution, or maybe you want to use the electric chair? Which one is it?”

“Well, think of it as something comfortable,” I replied, winking mischievously.

“Is it difficult to talk about?” Deryl was angry when I didn’t respond properly.

Ramona gently grab her, causing her to jump even more. It was a familiar sight.

Regardless, I turned my head. Then, I saw a woman huddled up in the corner, cautiously looking around.

“You heard that, right? It turned out like that.”

She had brown hair, a gentle face, she gave off a kind impression. She was the newly arrived inmate named ‘Hira’

“Um, what do you mean by that…?”

“Originally, I guide the new inmates for about a week, showing them around here and there.”

“….”

“This place is quite dangerous, you see.”

Despite being cautious, Hira didn’t seem scared at all. Although I keenly noticed, I pretended not to know and remained silent.