Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 715: Prison (2)

It had been a very long time since I’d been locked up.
Well, calling it a prison might not be quite right.
The royal underground prison was full of all kinds of rumors—terrible monsters locked inside, huge criminals thought dead in the labyrinth being tortured.
‘...The hot water comes on faster than at my own place?’
The facilities were far too luxurious for a prison.
Like staying in a five-star hotel suite.
There were three rooms, and the bed was so big I could roll over twice sideways and still have space.
There was even a large bathtub in the bathroom...
“...Not bad at all.”
Of course, not all underground prison cells were like this.
I was in a special cell set apart in a corner of the first basement floor.
A place where even though they were criminals, those who received the royal family’s respect were imprisoned.
Well, the imprisonment was probably more for show than real punishment.
Anyway.
“Baron Yandel, may I have a moment to talk?”
Just a few hours into my incarceration, the first visitor came—the very same King’s Knight I had met earlier...
He expressed surprise at my patriotism.
Asked if I was uncomfortable with prison life.
Said to tell him anytime if I needed help.
He said the Noarque were being interrogated by intelligence agents on the fifth basement floor, and it was revealed that the deputy chief survived thanks to an ‘essence.’
He treated me favorably, made small talk, then left with a somewhat meaningful final remark.
“...I’ll take my leave now. As I said before, rest without distractions for two days. The Marquis’s lack of action toward you might have another meaning.”
“...Huh? What do you mean?”
“Perhaps he’s hoping you’ll escape. Even if the period is just two days, escaping is still a crime.”
The King’s Knight left, leaving me deep in thought.
‘He does have a point.’
After all, the Marquis treated me surprisingly well in prison.
Knowing my personality, he °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° could have put far more restrictions to prevent me from escaping.
They put me in a special cell and didn’t even shackled me.
Honestly, if I wanted, I could rip off the door right now and walk out...
“...Hello?”
Not long after the King’s Knight left, a second visitor came.
What kind of place is this where anyone who wants can just visit?
It was a bit funny, but then I thought...
‘Well, not just anyone.’
Only those with access to the royal underground prison could come in.
Like the second visitor who had just arrived.
“Ragna...”
“Long time no see... Are you comfortable? I heard it’s different from what you expected, but you can’t see much inside here...”
“Probably just like you heard. I’m not really uncomfortable. The meals seem good.”
“Oh... that’s a relief.”
“So what brings you here?”
When I asked her purpose, Ragna hesitated and slipped a wrapped box through the slot for meals.
‘What’s this?’
Secret documents? A discreet letter?
I silently unwrapped it to check.
But what was it?
“...Cookies?”
The small box was filled with cookies and nothing else.
Ah, maybe a note was hidden inside one?
Thinking that, I quickly grabbed one and bit into it.
“I heard dessert isn’t served with meals here... so I baked these myself. How... do you like them?”
“Uh... uh? They’re delicious!”
“Hehe, no need to shout. I can hear you well.”
“...”
I wondered if the Marquis had sent something, but it seemed he just wanted to provide some food and see my face.
So we chatted briefly through the door, and I thought to ask about something since she was here.
The painting of the woman presumed to be Ragna’s biological mother from the secret library.
Did she know about that woman?
I considered asking but decided against it. The Marquis probably had listening devices everywhere...
“No, wait.”
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck my mind.
“...Why do you ask?”
Come to think of it, had the Marquis ever said anything to me?
Feeling a bit guilty, I ignored Ragna’s question and recalled my conversation with the Marquis.
‘He didn’t.’
Looking back carefully, it was clear.
The Marquis never mentioned it.
[So... you really found them while searching our family estate?]
He must have heard everything about what happened inside the family.
[You’ll be disciplined for just two days.]
But he never even hinted or mentioned the secret library I had gone into without permission.
Not a single word.
You’d expect at least a passing mention.
‘...Was it not such an important secret?’
Maybe it wasn’t something worth hiding seriously, so the Marquis showed little reaction.
Not impossible, but my past life taught me otherwise.
‘No, that can’t be.’
It’s the opposite.
The Marquis’s silence meant that ‘secret’ was extremely important.
And if that’s true...
‘...I might be the biggest danger.’
Maybe now isn’t the time to worry about comrades in Sector 7.
“...What on earth is going on?”
Of course, I couldn’t be honest with Ragna, who was also the Marquis’s daughter.
So...
“...My stomach hurts!”
“...Huh?”
“I have to go to the bathroom! And thanks for the cookies! I appreciate it!”
“Eh? Oh... okay...”
Using barbarian-style evasion, I ended the conversation with Ragna there.
After she left, my stomach really did hurt a bit, so I went to the bathroom and sat down.
After some time...
Clatter.
Something rolled in through the food slot—like a grenade.
Flash!
It exploded, emitting a strong light.
‘A flashbang...?’
At first I thought so, but the light wasn’t blinding, and my skin where the light touched felt no damage.
‘Who could it be...?’
It didn’t seem like an attack.
Still, just in case, I grabbed my hammer and approached the door.
Then a voice came from the other side.
“Is someone there?”
Jerome Saintred, Commander of the First Royal Knights.
Or rather, the ancient undead occupying his body.
“The chief has something urgent to tell you.”
The village elder.
The royal prison isn’t a playground.
I don’t know how many visitors they expect daily, but the third visitor was the village elder.
“What now? What was that earlier?”
“That’s a magical tool used by the royal intelligence. It emits a powerful magical pulse to disable communication devices briefly.”
Hmm, basically an EMP grenade?
“It’s a precaution, in case there are ears listening. I hope you understand.”
I thought the Marquis might have bugged the place, so it didn’t bother me.
“Enough, what is the urgent matter?”
Getting to the point, the village elder truly spoke only what was necessary.
“It’s about to start.”
...That was too brief, wasn’t it?
“Start what?”
“The day everything will burn.”
“No, what do you mean—”
Trying to calm my racing heart, I asked again.
Kraaaaaaang-!!
The vibrations from above lasted for tens of seconds.
Drdrdrdrdrdr-!!
Finally, the entire prison began to shake.
Cracks appeared in the ceiling, the walls supporting it started to collapse, dropping debris.
Startled, I grabbed the iron door and tried to ask the village elder what was happening.
He spoke first.
“Get out of here quickly. This place is no longer safe.”
“No, explain—!”
“All I can say now is survive. After that, I will have something to tell you.”
“Tell me? I need to know at least something about what’s happening—!”
“It’s time. You’ll hear the rest from those who follow.”
With that, the village elder left, and I heard his footsteps fade beyond the iron door.
Then...
Tatatatat-!
Urgent footsteps approached quickly.
It wasn’t the village elder or King’s Knight.
It was obviously an ordinary person, not trained in martial arts.
‘Ragna...?’
That was my first thought, but surprisingly, the visitor was a fourth new visitor.
Bang bang bang!
“Mr. Yandel!! Mr. Yandel!!”
“Raven...?”
“Oh, you’re here! Thank goodness! I’ll open it now—”
“No need.”
I tore off the meaningless door and went outside.
“Huh...?”
“Cut to the chase. What’s going on upstairs?”
“Ah, ah...!”
Hearing my voice, Raven quickly regained composure and started briefing.
“Ure! Ure has fallen on the Palace of Glory!”
‘Ure’ is one of three ‘magical weapons’ the royal family possesses.
“I heard on the way here through communication that the Palace of Glory has collapsed, and the Supreme Commander and Prime Minister’s status is unknown! Everyone’s panicking and evacuating...!”
I grabbed Raven’s shoulder as if trying to hold her up.
Whatever she saw upstairs, her body was trembling violently.
“We can’t just stay here! If it falls again, this place won’t be safe—!”
“Calm down, Raven.”
“But...!”
“I said calm down.”
“...”
I spoke firmly, and Raven shut her mouth.
Though the trembling didn’t stop, it was better than her previous panic.
“What about Sector 7? Any news?”
“I-I don’t know. I heard the Bifron purge operation was to start before Ure fell...”
Hmm, I see.
Lastly, I asked one more thing.
“Any info on what happened to the Prime Minister?”
“No! We don’t even know if he’s alive or dead. But according to communications, he was definitely at the Palace of Glory when Ure fell!”
“I see.”
I said that but felt sure.
The Marquis was still alive.
Maybe the Marquis even triggered Ure.
He’s the type who could conspire with the Noarque.
“Wait, give me some time.”
“Time? We need to get out now—!”
“Just a moment. Only a moment.”
I shut my mouth despite Raven’s protests and continued thinking.
Every second counted in wartime.
I didn’t need much time to finish my thoughts and make a decision.
‘No matter how I think about it...’
Running away now would be the worst move.
Escaping immediately, or joining the comrades in Sector 7 outside, both might be possible in this chaotic situation.
Logically, those would be safer choices.
Thunk.
There’s always a ‘golden time’ for everything.
The results differ wildly depending on how the initial response is handled.
Yeah, so...
“Go first, Raven.”
“...What? Are you crazy? You don’t know what’s happening upstairs... Where are you going?!”
Raven was shocked as I began walking away.
Understandable.
The hallway I took led to stairs going further down.
And...
“Basement level 5, right...?”
“Level 5...? Why are you going there?!”
According to the King’s Knight, that’s where the Noarque special forces were imprisoned.
Captured alongside the surrendered Maan.
Shackled and sealed of all powers.