I hear a scream.
"Stop it!!"
In this place full of evildoers, the sound of blood and skin being torn begins to be heard repeatedly.
"What right do you have to..."
The mournful cries of the righteous, who were trying to stop the invasion of the wicked, struggled to stop the marchers.
"Don't you have the right to suppress freedom?"
Commonly known as the Black Sanctuary.
This was the worst prison in the empire, where various criminals were imprisoned.
Criminals related to 'sex'.
Criminals involved in 'fraud'.
A criminal involved in 'theft'.
Unlike other prisons, this one houses criminals with various crimes, and mainly manages people who should not be released into society.
[Steel Nail Cane Murderer - Guild]
[12 murders, 104 attempted murders]
-Hahaha!!! Hey you big punk!! Let me go too!!!
[The Madman Who Sprays Poison - Poison]
[24 murders, 0 attempted murders]
-Hey... Try some of the poison I made. I told you it'll kill you...?! I'll show you some incredible illusions. Of course, everyone who saw those illusions died.
[The one who does sodomites - Gaylo]
[40 murders, 1 attempted murder]
-Brother~ If you have time, come play with me. I'll do my best.
This prison served the purpose of separating those who could not be tolerated from the world.
Originally, it would have been right to execute them, but the empire, which had numerous enemies, imprisoned them to use them as meat shields.
Even if it was irretrievable trash, it was worth more than one person's worth if thrown into the battlefield.
[Merciful Slayer – Eric]
[45 murders, 6 attempted murders]
-If you just let me out of here, I'll kill whoever you want.
"haha..."
The man, who was receiving numerous cheers and heated stares through the iron bars, began to move forward with a cheerful smile.
“Just wait a minute…brothers.”
-Wowwoww!!!
"I'll let you go later."
-Waaa ...
The man silently approached the depths of the prison, chuckling at the cheers of the criminals banging on the bars.
-Freedom!!!
The purpose of coming here wasn't to save those worthless people.
By now, word has reached the Empire's Sword Masters that an intruder has appeared in the Black Sanctuary.
It wasn't unusual for an elite force to storm in within 30 minutes. The Empire wasn't a group to be taken lightly.
It's good to be greedy.
There's something truly thrilling and exhilarating about coveting the powerful and exploiting their innermost beings. I've long known that it's enjoyable to yearn for greed when facing death.
I would have loved to enjoy the slaughter of those who stopped the invasion, but unfortunately, there were many who would not allow it, so I had no choice but to endure.
Even those locked in iron bars would surely be happy to be thrown into the scene of slaughter when they were chasing them, giving them freedom and happiness.
So, now we need to focus on those who are helpful to society rather than those who are just average.
Cruel.
A twisted artist who loves art.
The man in the black robe looked up at the trembling guards.
"...This...this is where criminals who have defiled the order of the empire are imprisoned. To come any closer is to violate the laws of the empire..."
The man couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the terrified guards blocking the huge door with spears in their hands.
"Why are you scared?"
Right now, they are just working hard in their positions.
"Why are your shoulders shaking...?"
The man felt sorry for those who worked faithfully in their positions and were afraid.
"Don't...come any closer! If the criminals trapped inside come out, you won't be safe either!!!"
The man took a step closer and said.
"Do not tremble, you powerful who oppress freedom."
"...Don't come!"
"You are just doing your job correctly in your position, so why are you trembling when you see me?"
"...don't come!"
"Stand up straight."
"Everyone, prepare for battle...!"
"You are strong, and worthy of stopping me."
"Charge at once."
"I'll do my job too."
A man's sly laughter was followed by a strange, cracking sound. The eerie, rumbling sound was akin to a beast tearing apart its prey.
-Rain...
"okay."
-Rain...
"That's what you have to do."
As soon as the man finished speaking, the thick iron door guarded by the guards began to open with a strange sound.
-Kikigi ...
It was a place where not even a single ray of light could penetrate.
Whether you are a sinner or not.
Whether it's a beast or not.
A space of cruel darkness that can only drive you mad.
The man took a step closer to the sticky prison and let out a soft sigh.
"...It's boring."
-match!
The man clapped and shouted, trying to wake up those inside. He didn't want to befriend silence, so he hadn't come looking for such a dull reaction.
okay.
-Crack!!!
It's like this.
"It's noisy, so shut up."
As a voice was heard from the darkness, a sharp pencil pierced through the man's palm and stopped before his eyes.
The man who saw the pencil stopped in front of his eyes with dripping blood burst into laughter and a curious smile.
"Are you a twisted artist?"
The man smiled wryly and read the list of criminals posted on the wall.
[Adventurer Hunter – Pascal.]
130 murders, 2 attempted murders, 1 prison escape
[Characteristics: Resembles a locust.]
"Nice to meet you. I am a pagan priest."
The man bowed his head in greeting.
"He is the apostle of greed."
*
A peaceful moonlit night.
Shalltear frowned and slammed her fist on the desk.
"This empire never has a single quiet day?!"
['Black Sanctuary' prison raid occurs.]
According to survivors' testimony, it was 3:00 AM.
The incident was reported to have occurred as a result of a sudden attack by about 40 pagans.
Casualties totaled approximately 120, including approximately 20 guards killed, 60 missing, 40 injured, and warden Julia seriously injured, indicating that all prisoners had escaped.
Even though she was already having a headache because of the Ricardo problem, Shalltear's sighs were growing more and more because of the unresolved issues.
There were too many issues to worry about.
The priest who became an apostle, as seen in the reading.
Ricardo and the problem.
The work of keeping the crown prince in check.
Even though she was focused on keeping the crown prince in check, things were happening all over the empire, so all Shalltear could do was sigh at her limited capacity.
"I already have a headache..."
I had to first confirm the existence of the priest. It was strange that a priestess serving a goddess would set foot in a pagan religion.
I had to find out at what point he became a pagan, and whether it was in the future or in the past.
Because the position of High Priest of the Empire was not something to be taken lightly.
Looking at the priest's actions now, I don't get the feeling that he is turning his back on the pagans.
The priests, who showed a pessimistic attitude toward pagans, were generously supporting the heretical newspapers to suppress them.
"...It's annoying."
There was nothing that seemed to be going well.
I thought reading it would relieve these feelings, but my head hurt even more and I felt like I had more things to deal with.
That's what happened to me, who became a tyrant.
-You have to change.
That it needs to change.
I don't know what needs to change, but one thing I'm sure of is that Ricardo shouldn't have been left to die. Otherwise, he wouldn't have told me about his past.
"..."
Ricardo still doesn't seem like a big deal to me.
It may have been difficult for him to feel any great emotions because he had not developed a sincere relationship with me like the one I was reading, and he was not entangled with the relationship of vassal and lord.
I am me.
Because you are you.
The feeling I have now when looking at Ricardo is that he is a 'butler serving a wicked woman.' Nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, I was grateful that he had helped me defeat the crown prince in the ranking match, and that he had told me that he thought of me as the next emperor. It was a debt I would have to repay someday, but there were still many things that were awkward to weigh on my emotions, so I didn't think about it.
Because there were plenty of women who liked that guy in the first place.
It's just that I don't know it.
"Ahhhh... so annoying!!!"
I couldn't even rest during the vacation, and now that school is about to start, something like this happened...
"What is Tae-oh doing..."
Shalltear, who hated the Crown Prince for neglecting his duties today, asked for the information guild leader's opinion while he was silently organizing documents.
"Guild leader."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Have you heard any information about the escapee?"
"Ah... that's it."
The guild leader, who had been reading the documents with a stern expression, smiled awkwardly and handed a bundle of documents to Shalltear.
"I think you should read it."
"..."
“Things are… more serious than I thought… haha!”
After reading the document, Shalltear sighed deeply and shouted.
"Crazy...crazy..."
[30% of escapees die at the scene.]
[40% of escaped prisoners found dead in Hamel's manor.]
I thought I knew who it was.
Just when I was about to let go of my worries thanks to the Sword Master who had gone into hiding.
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
As the office door opened with a clean knock, Shalltear's expression hardened.
He was the emperor's man.
A man wearing a seal signifying that he is the Emperor's man.
The Imperial Chancellor bowed his head and spoke to Shalltear with a formal expression.
"3 Princesses."
"..."
"His Majesty the Emperor has requested that you attend the meeting of the great nobles."