Clip-clop, clip-clop
The carriage drawn by the fiery horses wasn’t moving too fast, a testament to the driver’s skilled horsemanship.
However, transporting prisoners usually wouldn’t be at this leisurely pace. Today, because there was a “special” prisoner aboard, he had likely intentionally slowed down.
I sat silently on the blanket, feeling utterly uncomfortable—the carriage compartment was just that size, but it could still cram in three or four adults… It’s just that this guy, whenever I moved my legs to the left, he would shift his over as well.
No matter how I tried to avoid him, he wouldn’t give up, seeming to take delight in it. It was as if he absolutely had to have some sort of “contact” with me.
“Little girl, are you hungry?” “Little girl, are you thirsty?” He would occasionally utter words of concern, startling me into hurriedly shaking my head. His tone was so unnervingly playful that I felt like a student caught alone by the dorm supervisor during a room check… I tried my best to shift my gaze out the window, avoiding eye contact with the mercenary in front of me.
Even though the scenery outside wasn’t ideal, it at least gave me some peace of mind—
That’s when I caught sight of a somewhat familiar figure…
A grayish-black cloak, a black hood, the sturdy thief attire making the figure appear particularly petite, with unintentionally revealed black hair and long ears, and those bright eyes…
And also a tall, yet stumbling, old grandfather leaning on a walking stick, his skin full of wrinkles—
It couldn’t be, there’s absolutely no mistake! That must be Alec and Elfu!
I was so excited I started stomping my feet in the carriage, only calming down when the mercenary told me to—
We had already arrived at the prison.
I contained my overflowing joy and excitement, doing my best to cooperate with what the mercenary called “processing.”
First was the main hall, then we bypassed the tedious, useless corridors.
Goodness, the whole town’s economy is terribly poor, yet you build the prison so lavishly (compared to other buildings). Why not prioritize the citizens’ livelihood instead.
Then, the scenery changed 180 degrees—looking at that dark, dungeon-like entrance, I knew I had to leave this place immediately. A surge of impulse welled up in my heart: I must go see Elfu and Alec.
Even though I don’t know where Huihui is, we’re definitely going to meet! I’m full of confidence in this; my eyesight isn’t wrong.
“Even though I quite like you, I still have to give Dick some face. Really sorry about this.”
After being half-forced into the cell, I found a relatively clean spot to sit and began observing the entire cell and even the area outside—
The cell overall felt cramped and messy. In the corner was a pile of straw of unknown purpose, and a tattered straw mat lay askew to one side, as if saying, “Sleep? Hell no.” And that was it. At most, I could see my own haggard, lifeless face reflected on the iron bars of the door, polished enough to serve as a mirror.
Activating [Soul Vision], I noticed only one side of the cells held prisoners. No wonder, since I was placed in the cell visible from the corridor corner, simply called “the outermost cell.”
I remained still, thinking of every possible way to completely “infiltrate” and escape the cell. After all, who knows what foolish things Elfu and Alec might do or where else they might go in such a short time.
“Seems there’s no way, huh. What should I do then.”
This cell wasn’t equipped with magic-suppressing formations, so my spells wouldn’t be restricted. (Though even if there were suppression, it probably wouldn’t stop me anyway.)
It seems the anti-magic formation hasn’t been widely adopted across the country yet. Only particular mages or witches—special types of prisoners—need to be confined in specially prepared cells.
For me, it’s all the same. If there’s something that can attract attention… isn’t this the perfect place?
“Oh right, let me create a little chaos.”
…
…..
Alias: Ling Shi Yue Yu — Real Name: Yu Yue Shi Ling
Age: 11
Status: [In Custody] [Bounty — Missing]
Form Status: homeless / girl
——————
Attack: ??
Speed: ?
Magic: ???
Strength: ?
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Mental Power: A+
Airheadedness: F / Wisdom: A+
——————
Toggles: [Judgment] [Injury Escape] [Scholar’s Mind] [Elemental Wrath] [Growth — 5.0 Acceleration]
Innate Traits: [High Stamina] [Forced Reversal] [Blood of KRYY] [Recovery Healing]
Weaknesses: [Cold Sensitivity] LV. MAX [Heat Sensitivity] LV.6 [Mental Resistance] LV.-2
——————
New Trait:
[Complete Absorption · Benefit] — When consuming/ingesting any potion/food, maximizes its beneficial effects.
New Combination Discovered:
Trait [Complete Absorption · Benefit] — Merge — Talent [Complete Rejection · Detriment]
Acquired Innate Trait:
[Divine Taster] — When consuming/ingesting any potion/food, maximizes its beneficial effects and minimizes its negative effects to the greatest extent.
…
“Captain, you seem in a good mood today.”
“Heh heh, just look at who I brought back today. That little thing, so pitiable and cute now, she’s definitely going to be a beauty when she grows up. It’ll be something else.”
“But, Captain, I heard that little girl has insane strength. She beat up Lord Dick pretty badly and completely broke Homus’s arm.”
“Even so, she still obediently came with me. You know what that’s called? Charisma, understand?”
“Honestly, I still don’t get it.”
“It’s fine, you’ll understand someday. Hurry up and find a wife to settle down with; life here isn’t easy to get by… Isn’t your mother still bedridden? If you need it, I’ll issue your relief pay today.”
“Captain, you’re really—”
“Hey now, we’re like brothers, aren’t we? Alright, enough joking.”
“So Captain, what are you planning to do with that little one?”
“No choice. She’s still young, has her own desires and dreams ahead. Can’t just let her rot here… Let me think of a way to find her parents. Looking at her, she doesn’t seem like someone who’d end up in that Dead Croton orphanage.”
“So, Captain, all those teasing remarks you made earlier?”
“They were just jokes. I just like kids… Kids really need to be treated well… Cough, don’t worry, I’ll handle it myself. [Gary], really enough already.”
“Captain, here, these are the bounty notices that just arrived today.”
“Oh, thanks for the hard work… Thief apprehension, bandit subjugation… Missing person notice? Since when do we handle this stuff here? You all, think I don’t see what shady things you’ve been doing behind the scenes?!”
“Ca-Captain, what’s wrong?”
“…Oh, I’m really… cough… Missing person notice, girl, 13 years old, height 140 to 150 cm… Deep blue hair, golden eyes, wearing a blue sweater… Why is the name smudged? Always fails at the critical moment.”
“Captain, doesn’t this portrait look familiar? It seems…”
“Huh? Portrait? Who has time to appreciate art now… Eh? This… resembles, really resembles… Could it be that little one from earlier?”
Unidentified noise
“(Prisoner battle cry)”
“(Mercenary battle cry)”
“What, what’s going on?! Everyone! Grab your weapons and follow me! Charles, go rally the others! Prisoners have escaped!”
“Captain, how did you know—”
“Don’t ask, just go!!”
…
“Tch! Brothers, seal all the exits. They won’t be leaving through that door today! Even if they do, they’ll have to step over my corpse first!! No one runs! Otherwise, I’ll deal with you right now!”
…..
…
After using [Orange · Courage] to destroy the various cell doors, prisoners came pouring out one after another, with more sounds of bending iron bars echoing—
Of course, I was still “locked” inside. Releasing those prisoners was only to attract the mercenaries’ attention… Based on their soul traits and current state, they couldn’t possibly defeat well-equipped, battle-hardened mercenaries.
But hey, at least it would give the mercenaries some trouble, having to recapture the prisoners.
“If it weren’t for wanting to escape ‘without a trace,’ who would create such chaos?”
It seemed the last prisoner had already left. Only then did I stand up, pat my skirt and the dusty leggings, and finally slice open the cell door with an azure blade, walking out openly and unashamedly.
A few prisoners hadn’t escaped. Even with the door open, they didn’t move—I didn’t want to explain this situation, as the other prisoners and mercenaries probably understood.
Outside, the sounds of prisoners and mercenaries clashing continued, even the clashing of swords. For a moment, I regretted letting them out…
But now, everything here had nothing to do with me anymore. I just had to ignore them, calmly and peacefully walk out of the prison, and go find Elfu and Alec—
I, I, this—it’s not my fault… I thought to myself, passing by a mercenary who had died a gruesome death.
I, I just, wanted to leave… Looking at that mercenary whose lower jaw was separated from his upper jaw, piled with a few dead prisoners, my pupils trembled.
No, it shouldn’t be… I, just like this… The escaped prisoners had no weapons, how could they fight evenly with the mercenaries.
Am I tired? Why do I feel dizzy…
“Ugh! Cough!” Just at the corridor corner leading to the main gate, I saw that mercenary captain flash before me, then slam heavily into the wall.
Covered in wounds, a large gash on his left side, clear signs of magical damage.
“I… I…” Just as I thought about leaving, I noticed he still had a breath left, so I tremblingly approached.
Just a bit of my blood… he could survive, only I can…
It’s all my fault, it shouldn’t be! He’s about to die… He, he could have just left immediately with the other mercenaries, ignoring this place… If a mercenary’s nature is to work for pay—it shouldn’t be! I acted rashly without even understanding their true nature!
“Quick, go… someone, is waiting, for you…”
“But, but! It’s all my fault! My fault!”
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“Cough! Gurgle…”
“Well, well, looks like there’s something fresh here after all.”
“Boss! It’s a woman!”
“To be precise, a girl who hasn’t grown up yet.”
