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nDo you still like it?

nEventually, it was a middle-aged man who ran in front of them. Moreover he was wearing the familiar prison uniform.

n‘A prisoner?’

nMartin was wary, wondering about the man.

n“No, you’re not a guard. A knight?”

nMartin heard the prisoner’s tone and immediately recognized his identity. A noble prisoner.

nThose who had been imprisoned in the central area until recently and were moved to the ward where they were monitoring.

nNoble prisoners were treated differently from other prisoners. Among these was the surprising condition of being free to go to the bathroom at night, which gave great freedom in this situation where surveillance personnel were not adequate.

nThe reason was that they had already identified all of the noble prisoners. Those who were currently enjoying their freedom were those who had not yet been released from prison.

nThe prisoner who ran, quickly explained the situation of why he was running.

n“I am Baron Palladis. Oh well, I’m in a hurry, so…….”

nHis expression was urgent and looked like he was quite surprised. Martin’s face grew serious when he heard all the circumstances.

n“Did you see a suspicious person?”

nListening to what the prisoner described, they were not even the Imperial Guards or Imperial Knights dispatched here.

n“Oh, was it a woman and a man?”

nMoreover, one is a woman. Martin thought of a female knight in the Knight’s Order, but couldn’t find a match. Above all, there were no female knights among the knights dispatched to this building.

nThe more he listened, the more similar it was to what the Empress has described. Martin’s colleague immediately reported it to the Empress.

nAfter a while, the prisoner was brought before the Empress. Walking behind the knights, the prisoner, Baron Palladis, bowed his head.

n‘It’s been good so far. Well, of course.’

nIn fact, Baron Palladis was a prisoner who had not yet been released from prison, as explained earlier. It was easier for him to deceive others than anything else. It was also true that he was a prisoner who was sentenced to prison for such a crime.

nAnd he was already in his third imprisonment. The third time he’s been in and out over the years. After this, he should be released for the third time. For some reason, he thought that the situation in Kambrakam was very strange before his release, but he understood the reason only a few hours ago.

n‘Hoho, I didn’t expect my dear friend to ask me such a big deal.’

nThe prisoner Baron Palladis’ crime is ‘scam’.

nIn his opinion, the purpose of scammers is largely two things. Survival or money. Baron Palladis was neither. Because he made terrible money from his first scam. He probably had enough money to live on for the rest of his life.

nThen why was he imprisoned in this prison again, because he was addicted to the act of scamming others.

nThis was no different from gambling addiction. The joy, thrill and happiness of the moment he managed to scam someone. It is very similar to drug addiction in that those who have already tasted it cannot return.

nSo once a young prisoner friend said,

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nA prisoner with pink hair that stood out. She did not know how conspicuous her appearance was, and her face was simply indifferent to everything without fervent attention and gaze.

nHe knew from experience that a face like this can sometimes drive certain people crazy. Therefore, he also expected rumors that would later be heard in social circles. In fact, this indifferent friend sometimes says a lot of funny things.

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nShe blinked her eyes once in a while and said something strange. Such a person suddenly appeared as a noble person pursued by the Empress. Hello, Uncle. Still indifferent, but with a very friendly tone.

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nOf course he does. Baron Palladis was delighted with her re-appearance, which once made him forget his boredom in this boring prison.

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nIt didn’t matter why she appeared breaking down one of the walls of the prison cell. The prison mate he met again after a long time just told him what to do to satisfy his boredom and hunger for this bad addiction.

n“Raise your head.”

nHe didn’t know what his neck would be like if he failed. The situation was completely different from when he sold fake fairy tales and deceived the great nobles. Nevertheless, Baron Palladis accepted the task. It was because it would be less dangerous if he passed it well, and there were enough holes for him to escape.

nDon’t be too bold when it comes to scamming. At least in the current situation.

nAt this moment, appropriate fear and trembling would rather increase credibility. When Baron Palladis’ story was finished, the Empress twisted her lips.

n“…… Is that really true?”

nThe Empress’ gaze, who was rumored to have made the Empire prosperous, was more gloomy and dark than he had expected. Baron Palladis said without hiding his instinctively trembling body.

n“Oh, yes! I’m sure, oh my God, Your, Your Majesty. Those unknown people…… they were heading towards the easternmost part of Kambrakam!”

nThe easternmost part of Kambrakam, it is the place where the most evil of the prisoners are kept. And on top of it was the monitoring room of the Chief Warden.

nIn the monitoring room, there were wizards that managed the magic circle in this prison. Baron Palladis did not know this far, but Lenag, including Iana, thought this would be a good bait for the Empress.

n“Summon all the knights, now!”

nAt last, listening to the Empress’ command, Baron Palladis thought quietly.

nWould this be enough, young friend?

n***

n“It won’t last long.”

nI said walking in a hurry. There was no stopping us as we made our way down the spiral staircase. Those who could already be restrained were knocked out in the hallway, tied up and hidden out of sight.

n“Miss Iana is right.”

nThings worked out well thanks to Baron Palladis, who willingly agreed to the operation unexpectedly, but this was not a long-lasting move.

nA bait is a bait anyway. The Empress will soon notice everything and run to this place. But it didn’t matter. Because I didn’t mean to completely outrun her from the start. It was a success as long as it bought us time. At least enough time to restore Ricdorian’s body.

n“Ricdorian!”

nWhen I finally got to Ricdorian’s cell, I made him attack the wall. Despite Ricdorian’s powerful attack, the wall did not budge. I stared at the wall silently and pointed to a spot.

n‘When Ricdorian used his power, it was clearly visible.’

nA strange pattern appeared and disappeared from a single brick. I quickly grabbed the brick and pooled my power. The wind blew in the cell without even a window. Soon the wind shook me and my companions’ hair wildly.

nThud!

nI thought I could hear the bricks collide and fall, and a huge cavity appeared in front of me. It was the cave that I went in with Ricdorian.

n“You can go in here.”

nI quickly set foot together with my companions. And as soon as I took a step, I noticed it.

n…… It’s different from the last time, isn’t it?

nObviously, when Ricdorian and I went in together, a dark hallway opened up, and I remember that the blue light came soon. However, what appeared in front of me was a more ornate pillar, and the lighting around it was also colorful.

n“…… what is this? Ricdorian. Look at that. It seems to be a different place than the one we went into, right?”

n“I think so.”

nRicdorian also nodded while looking puzzled, as if he was thinking the same thing.

n“Then did we come in the wrong way?”

nFrancia muttered, growing serious at the same time, I looked down at my hand.

n“…… no. I don’t think so.”

nThere was a faint but blue light on my hand. I instinctively knew. We didn’t come in wrong. Rather…….

n“We got it right. This is it.”

nThe more I stepped my feet in, the more I felt like I was really on the final stage. For a while, everyone walked silently.

nWithin our formation, I was placed in the center, Ricdorian in front and Lenag and Francia in the back. Everyone was vigilant and watched the surroundings. On the other hand, I was wary like the Roses, but I felt a little different.

n‘It’s strange.’

nI opened my lips slightly in an indescribable strangeness.

nWhy do I feel nostalgic in this space? Nostalgia, I can only describe it this way. Because this feeling that pierces my chest was longing. I didn’t feel this way when I came in with Ricdorian.

nLooking at it a little closer, I could see it. It wasn’t my longing. It was the feeling of the guardian deity in me. My guardian deity was emitting waves of emotions close to sorrow.

nWe passed the long hallway and went down the stairs once more. When we finally came down the last stairs, a wide space opened up. For some reason, the space without the window was filled with white light and was as bright as daytime.

nIt was so wide that it was incomparable to the space I saw at the end of the hallway when I was walking with Ricdorian. And in the center of the space, a huge stone was floating.

nNo, would it be better to express that in an unusual way? A slate? A headstone?

nThe square cut stone was engraved with geometric patterns. There I found a familiar pattern. The Roses and their guardian deities. Obviously, that alone was consistent with what I saw when I came in with Ricdorian.

n“…… What is that?”

n“It looks like an altar.”

n“I feel the same way.”

nFrancia and Lenag spoke in turn.

nAs they say, the square-shaped stone is laid flat under a headstone that floats in the air. It was as high as my shoulders.

nFrom all angles, it felt like an altar.

nI slowly stared at the headstone floating in the air. The more calmly I looked at it, the more I seemed to know everything now. In the place where the Red Rose was, there were red gems studded in it, like before. However, the jewels that would have been embedded countless times were almost broken, and only one remained, revealing a brilliant light.

nAs if there was only one petal left.

n…… That’s Ricdorian’s state.

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