A scream echoes.

"Block them!!"

In this place filled with villains, the sounds of flesh tearing and blood spilling begin to repeat.

"By what right do you..."

The sorrowful shouts of righteous people trying to stop the villains' invasion struggled to halt the steps of those marching forward.

"Don't we have the right to suppress freedom?"

Commonly known as the Black Sanctuary.

This was the worst prison in the Empire, where the most vile criminals were incarcerated, housing various types of offenders.

Sex offenders.

Fraud offenders.

Theft offenders.

Unlike other prisons, this place primarily managed individuals who should never be released back into society, containing inmates with various criminal charges.

[Iron Nail Staff Murderer - Gaylord]

[12 murders. 104 attempted murders]

"Hahaha!!! Hey, you ballsy bastard!! Free me too!!!"

[Poison-Spraying Madman - Poison]

[24 murders. 0 attempted murders]

"Hey... try some of my poison. It's amazing... I'll show you fantastic hallucinations. Of course, everyone who's seen those hallucinations has died."

[Sodomite - Gaylo]

[40 murders. 1 attempted murder]

"Darling~ If you have time, play with me. I'll treat you well."

This prison served the role of separating those who couldn't be tolerated from society.

Normally, execution would be the right course of action, but the Empire, with its numerous enemy states, kept these criminals imprisoned to use them as meat shields.

Even irredeemable trash could be worth more than their weight when thrown onto the battlefield.

[Merciful Slaughterer - Eric]

[45 murders. 6 attempted murders]

"If you let me out of here, I'll kill whoever you want."

"Haha..."

The man receiving numerous bribes and heated gazes from beyond the iron bars began to move forward with a pleased smile.

"Wait for now... brothers."

"Wooooo!!!"

"I'll free you all later."

"Waaaaaaaa!!!"

The man let out a hollow laugh at the cheers of the criminals banging on the bars as he silently approached the depths of the prison.

"Freedom!!!"

His purpose for coming here wasn't to rescue those pathetic individuals.

By now, news would have reached the Empire's Sword Master. That intruders had appeared at the Black Sanctuary.

It wouldn't be strange if elite forces arrived within 30 minutes. The Empire wasn't a group to be taken lightly.

Coveting is good.

Coveting the strong and scraping out their insides is truly thrilling and feels good. He had long known that craving greed while standing one step away from death was an enjoyable thing.

He would like to enjoy slaughter with those trying to stop the invasion, but unfortunately, many wouldn't allow it, so he had to restrain himself.

When they come chasing, if he throws those trapped behind bars into the scene of slaughter, it would surely be a joyful event that would grant them freedom and happiness.

So now, rather than focusing on such mediocre individuals, he needed to concentrate on those who could benefit society.

The cruel one.

The twisted artist who loves art.

The man in the black robe raised his eyes to look at the trembling guards.

"...T-this is where criminals who have defiled the Empire's order are imprisoned. If you come any closer, you'll be violating the Empire's laws..."

The man couldn't help but laugh at the frightened appearance of the guards holding spears and blocking the massive door.

"Why are you afraid?"

They were just diligently doing their jobs in their positions.

"Why are your shoulders trembling...?"

The man felt sorry for those who were faithfully doing their jobs but were scared.

"D-don't come any closer! If the criminals locked in here get out, you won't be safe either!!!"

The man took a step forward and said.

"Don't tremble. You strong ones who suppress freedom."

"...Don't come!"

"You're just accurately performing your duties in your position, so why are you trembling at the sight of me?"

"...I said don't come!"

"Hold your shoulders high."

"Everyone, prepare for battle...!"

"You are strong, so you're fully qualified to stand against me."

"Charge all at once."

"I'll do my job too."

Along with the man's sultry laugh, strange rupturing sounds began to be heard. The bizarre sound of 'crunch' was close to that of a beast tearing into its prey.

-Crunch...

"Yes."

-Crunch...

"That's what you should do."

As the man finished speaking, the thick iron door guarded by the jailers began to open with a bizarre sound.

-Creeeeak...

It was a place where not even a sliver of light could penetrate.

Whether criminal.

Or beast.

A cruel darkness where one could only go mad.

The man took a step into the sticky prison and let out a low sigh.

"...How boring."

-Clap!

The man clapped his hands and shouted to wake those inside. The man, who didn't want to become friendly with silence, hadn't come for such an uninteresting response.

Yes.

-Crack!!!

Like this.

"Shut up, it's noisy."

As a voice was heard from the darkness, a sharply honed pencil pierced through the man's palm and stopped before his eyes.

With blood dripping, the man burst into laughter and smiled with interest at the pencil that had stopped in front of his eyes.

"Are you the twisted artist?"

The man smiled and began to read the criminal's record attached to the wall.

[Adventurer Hunter - Pascal]

[130 murders. 2 attempted murders. 1 prison break]

[Characteristic: Resembles a praying mantis]

"Nice to meet you. I am a priest of the heretics."

The man bowed deeply in greeting.

"An apostle of greed."

*

A peaceful moonlit night.

Shartia frowned as she slammed her fist on the desk.

"Does this damn Empire never have a single peaceful day?!"

['Black Sanctuary' Prison Attack Occurred]

[According to survivor testimony, at 3 AM.

The incident occurred due to a sudden attack by about 40 heretics.

A total of 120 casualties were reported: 20 guards dead, 60 missing, 40 injured, and Warden Yuria severely injured. All inmates have escaped.]

As if the Ricardo problem wasn't giving her enough of a headache, Shartia's sighs were increasing due to unresolved issues.

There were too many problems to worry about.

The priest who became an apostle, seen in the Vision.

The issue with Ricardo.

Keeping the Crown Prince in check.

It was already not enough to focus on keeping the Crown Prince in check, but with incidents breaking out all over the Empire, all Shartia could do was sigh as her body reached its limit.

"As if I don't have enough headaches..."

She needed to confirm the priest's existence first. It was strange that he was a priest serving the goddess while also having a foot in heresy.

She needed to find out when he became a heretic, whether it was a future event or a past one.

The position of the Empire's High Priest was not something to be taken lightly.

Looking at the priest's current actions, he didn't seem to be siding with the heretics.

The priest, who showed a pessimistic attitude toward heretics, was generously supporting the Inquisition to eradicate them.

"...This is annoying."

Nothing seemed to be getting resolved.

She thought looking at the Vision would ease these feelings, but it seemed like her headache was only getting worse and there were more issues to solve.

I became a tyrant.

-You need to change.

She needed to change.

She wasn't sure what needed to change, but it seemed clear that she shouldn't let Ricardo die. If that wasn't the case, she wouldn't have been shown such a past.

"..."

Ricardo still didn't feel like a significant person to her.

They hadn't formed a deep relationship like the one she had in the Vision, nor were they bound by a lord-vassal relationship, so it might be difficult to feel strong emotions.

I am me.

You are you.

The feeling she currently had toward Ricardo was simply "a butler serving the villainess." Nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, she was grateful that he had helped her defeat the Crown Prince in the ranking competition and had told her that he considered her the next Emperor—debts she would have to repay someday—but it was still awkward to place emotional weight on these things, so she didn't dwell on them.

Besides, there were plenty of women who liked that guy.

He just didn't know it himself.

"Aaah... so annoying!!!"

She couldn't even rest during the vacation, and now this happens right before school starts...

"What is Theo even doing..."

Shartia, who was particularly annoyed with the Crown Prince neglecting his duties today, asked the Information Guild Master who was silently organizing documents.

"Guild Master."

"Yes, Princess."

"Is there any information about the escapees?"

"Ah... well."

The Guild Master, who had been reading documents with a stern expression, handed Shartia a stack of papers with an awkward smile.

"I think you should read this."

"..."

"The situation... is more serious than we thought... Haha!"

After reading the documents, Shartia let out a heavy sigh and shouted.

"This is... insane..."

[30% of escapees found dead at the scene.]

[40% of escapees found dead in Hamel territory.]

She had a feeling she knew who was responsible.

Just as she was about to feel relieved thanks to the disappeared Sword Master.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

Shartia's expression hardened as the door to her office opened with a neat knock.

It was the Emperor's man.

A man wearing the seal that signified he was the Emperor's representative.

The Empire's Chancellor bowed his head to Shartia and said with formal courtesy.

"Third Princess."

"..."

"His Majesty the Emperor commands your attendance at the Great Noble Council."