When I conveyed Ms. Fuyu’s desire to meet with the royal envoy, Warden Blackberry had a look on his face that seemed to struggle to grasp the situation.
“What does this mean, Barton? Is Prisoner Number 0 seeking better treatment or something?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but Number 0 mentioned that she is willing to accept the conditions from the royal family, or at least that’s what she conveyed to me.”
“What?!”
Excitement surged through the Warden’s hefty frame, causing him to lift his substantial backside off the chair.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. She informed me of this when I delivered breakfast. It seemed like something important, so I put off my cleaning duties to come here. Was that not the right choice?”
I feigned innocence as I spoke.
“No, no, that’s perfectly fine, Barton! You’ve done well. So, she let me know, huh? Thank you for informing me!”
The Warden rang the bell to summon Mrs. Abbott.
Soon, the door opened, and the calm-faced secretary peered out.
“Mrs. Abbott, I have to go to the palace. Get ready immediately!”
At this rate, the envoy would arrive before long.
“I want to confirm Prisoner No. 0’s intentions with my own ears. Come along with me.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Having made his way to the underground cell and confirmed Ms. Fuyu’s intentions, Warden Blackberry hurriedly set off for the palace.
“It seems like we didn’t get caught,” Ms. Fuyu remarked as the Warden’s presence faded.
With the Warden gone, Ms. Fuyu lifted the handcuffs, and they jiggled.
These were replicas of the magic seal restraints made from ordinary iron.
After we acquired the Tangle-tan file, I had them hastily crafted by a local blacksmith.
The texture of the metal was completely different, but even Warden Blackberry, who must have seen them many times, didn’t seem to notice.
However, even though they were replicas, they were well-crafted.
For an ordinary person, removing them with their own strength was simply impossible.
“Are you really going to be okay? Leaving those on?”
“Once we pass through the region where the Ship Stone is embedded, my powers as a hero should return. Once that happens, there’s no need to worry about removing restraints like these.”
Still, I couldn’t shake off my worries.
If her powers didn’t return, Ms. Fuyu might be thrown back into the cell.
And for my attempt to aid in her escape, I could face the death penalty or, in the best-case scenario, be thrown into prison.
In that case, I would never be able to see Ms. Fuyu again.
“It’s going to be okay, Mr. Wolf. Even if my powers as a hero don’t fully return, I can still fight.”
“Yes, I’ll fight with all my might too.”
In other words, that meant both of us facing death.
The elite royal guards that would be dispatched after us would undoubtedly be formidable.
If Ms. Fuyu’s powers didn’t return, everything would be over. But in a world without her, I had no attachments.
“Hey, hey, you two shouldn’t be wearing such gloomy expressions. It’s going to be fine. I’m sure things will work out!” Kimberley exclaimed, flying around us and cheerfully lifting our spirits.
“Yeah, Kimberley is right.”
The presence of the tiny Kimberley, who was not even ten centimeters tall, provided us with more support than anything else.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
On that day, 2,000 royal guards had assembled in front of Alban Prison.
Formally, it was labeled as a drill, but in reality, such a large gathering was brought together for Ms. Fuyu’s escort.
I had heard that the movement would commence after dusk to avoid drawing attention.
Given the deep winter, darkness would set in rapidly as the sun dipped below the horizon.
It was clear that action would unfold shortly.
Restlessness consumed me as I paced back and forth between the cells.
The last time I saw Ms. Fuyu’s face was when I delivered breakfast.
Even then, Warden Blackberry was present, so we couldn’t speak freely.
My task had concluded there, and afterward, I was no longer allowed near Ms. Fuyu.
The bell announcing the change of shift rang out.
Normally, I would head to the break room, but I returned to my room and secured a sword to my waist.
Then, I proceeded through the main gate and out into the open.
“Well, well, Wolf. Setting out at this hour?”
A familiar gatekeeper approached and spoke.
“Well, you know…”
“You’re looking quite pale, are you alright?”
“Yeah, I feel like I’ll go mad if I don’t get some fresh air. Just going to stretch my wings a bit.”
“No doubt. There’s a new place on Cavant Street I recommend. There’s this dancer named Lisa, she’s the best; moves with this alluring grace.”
“Hahaha, can’t go there, my girlfriend would hate it.”
“Come on, you’re really living up to your reputation as the Prison Wolf, aren’t you? You got a lady, huh?”
“Well, you know, she’s the best girlfriend. I searched all over the world, and couldn’t find anyone better than her.”
“Hah, yeah, right! Get lost!”
The gatekeeper laughed with a hint of sarcasm and opened the gate.
I took the step of departure.
With this, I won’t be returning to Alban Prison ever again.
Yet, I didn’t feel a single hint of regret about leaving it behind.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
The moon rose, and light snow began to dance in the air.
The outside air plunged dramatically in temperature, and with each gust of wind, a biting pain attacked my cheeks.
“Barton.”
Kimberly’s voice came from beneath my collar.
“Ah, it’s time.”
The main gate of Alban Prison swung open, revealing a single carriage.
The black body of the carriage bore the royal emblem, made of gold.
Likely, Ms. Fuyu was in there.
She must have successfully escaped from the special confinement cell.
The carriage, guarded by royal guards, started moving westward along Binzer Street, which meant it was headed in the direction of the palace.
“Huh…?”
I stood there, taken aback, and followed the course of the carriage.
According to the plan, as soon as Ms. Fuyu left Alban Prison, she was supposed to unleash her powers.
She had said that once her abilities as the hero were restored, she could escape regardless of how many enemies were present.
However, unexpectedly, the carriage smoothly began to move.
I dashed down the narrow back alleys to get ahead of the carriage.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Seated inside the carriage, Sagara Fuyu had turned pale, her entire body drenched in sweat.
Almost no strength has remained in her body for quite some time now.
That was due to the fist-sized stone held by the person seated in front of her.
In front of Fuyu sat Count Morris, the Chief Court Mage, and the stone he possessed was the ship stone that was sealing Fuyu’s powers.
“I apologize, esteemed Hero. However, I must take all precautions,” Count Morris said.
He clutched the stone with both hands, as though enveloping it.
Each time his hand approached by even a millimeter, Fuyu was assaulted by agonizing pain, almost causing her to lose consciousness.
“It appears to be more effective than I anticipated.”
Perhaps sensing Fuyu’s suffering, Count Morris withdrew the stone slightly.
“…”
“Well, I can’t keep tormenting you for too long. After all, you must bear a healthy child for me.”
Originally, the plan was to tear apart the replica of the magic-seal cuffs and escape once she left Alban Prison.
However, when Count Morris, who had come to escort her from her cell, had the ship stone in his possession, the execution of the plan became impossible.
At this rate, she would likely be taken to the royal palace.
There was a possibility that the Crown Prince might even attempt to spend his wedding night with Fuyu while keeping the ship stone by his side.
A sense of impending doom washed over Fuyu.
“Mr. Wolf, help me…”
Fuyu, who had lived a life of giving, found herself asking for help for the first time in her life.
With a loud noise, something landed on the roof of the carriage.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
There was an apartment building with an external staircase, so I hurriedly ascended it to observe the carriage Ms. Fuyu was riding on, starting from the second floor.
Using my Body-enhancing magic also improved my vision, allowing me to just barely make out the interior of the carriage from the window.
Ms. Fuyu had a pale expression on her face as she sat in her seat.
Since she had come out of Alban, then at least that was a relief.
However, a man sitting in front of her was holding a large stone.
Was that the shipstone she said was embedded all around the special underground cell area?
If that’s the case, then Ms. Fuyu probably hasn’t regained her powers yet.
In that case, there was no choice but to do something about it.
There was no time to leisurely formulate a plan.
I dashed through the hallway leading to the external staircase.
With the body-enhancing magic scroll in effect, I should be able to jump all the way there.
“Hold on, Ms. Fuyu, just wait for me.”
Stepping over the handrail, my body glided through the moonlit night.
Just the thought of Ms. Fuyu being in front of me erased any fear.
The landing was botched due to the wet snow, but I somehow managed to land on top of the carriage.
Gripping the edge of the roof, I spun around and smashed the carriage window with my foot.
“Flames that shall incinerate all, heed my wish and deny…?”
The man, trying to eliminate the sudden intruder, began an incantation, but Kimberly swiftly restrained his mouth with both hands.
With Kimberly, empowered by body enhancement magic, acting like a small giant, disrupting the incantation was no challenge.
I seized the shipstone, tossed the man out of the carriage, and then hurled the shipstone into the darkness.
“Ms. Fuyu!”
Though Ms. Fuyu’s complexion remained pallid, a renewed vitality gleamed in her eyes.
“I believed you’d come.”
We embraced tightly.
“Don’t relax just yet. We’re still surrounded by the Royal Guards, about two thousand of them!”
Kimberly’s voice carried a hint of urgency, but Ms. Fuyu responded with a serene smile.
“Both of you, come closer.”
As Ms. Fuyu touched me and Kimberly, she began to chant, and the clamor from outside ceased.
A profound stillness enveloped the world.
“What is this…?”
“What’s happening? Am I dreaming…?”
Time had come to a standstill.
The Royal Guards remained fixed in their place, unmoving and staring at us.
Even the snow drifting through the air, gleaming with a faint silver light, was frozen in place.
“Now, shall we go?”
Magic flowed from our connected hands before Ms. Fuyu and I gently floated into the air.
“Um… are you scared of me with this kind of power?”
Ms. Fuyu inquired with a hint of apprehension.
So, I embraced her and kissed her then and there.
The northern wind was chilly, but if we surrendered to the current, it seemed it would carry us all the way to Bazingdon.
So, I wished for just a bit more of this.
Ms. Fuyu seemed to share the same sentiment.
Her passionate lips remained pressed against mine, and her hands, which had wrapped around my back, stayed intertwined.
“Things are turning out quite well for these two.”
The cheerful voice of a fairy resonated in the freezing midwinter sky.
The end
********************
TN: this is the end of this novel; I really wish the novel was bit longer especially the last prison break arc but it’s still good…
Buy me a coffee if you if you liked the translations!
Leave a Reply