* * *

By the time Van and Lydon had been on the run for three harrowing days.

Cadel was also enduring a difficult time.

A prison, locked on all sides. The windowless space was cold, dark, lonely, and claustrophobic, and it was enough to bring out the worst in a person.

There was no one to talk to, of course, and one meal a day. A loaf of unidentified bread and a bowl of lukewarm vegetable soup were all.

After drinking Sorin’s potion and falling unconscious, he woke up here. He thought he’d at least get a chance to talk to the Emperor. At first, he was dumbfounded and stunned.

‘I can’t use my mana because of these weird bracelets. If you’re going to lock someone up, you should at least tell them why you’re locking them up, what they have to do to get out, and who’s coming if they wait.’

Mana explosion was impossible, as the silver bracelets on each arm, like shackles, interfered with the flow of mana. The iron door, the only way out of the prison, had a small opening at the top, but even then it was laced with bars, and the mere touch of the door sent an electric current through it, making it inaccessible.

This complete isolation lasted for three days. Cadel was at the point of insanity.

“An 87% chance of success means there’s a 13% chance of failure, and I just hit that 13% chance and failed?”

13 to beat 87? Never heard of it. This was why he hated odds. The word ‘odds’ had to disappear from every game.

‘Surely they don’t intend to throw me in prison and dry me to death? Or that the penalty of being unable to progress the story actually means imprisonment…….’

The success or failure of the quest was still unknown, but at this rate, it would be an easy ‘fail’. Cadel pressed his temples together as if they were aching.

No matter what happened. He wasn’t going to stay quietly in prison.

‘If the Emperor had been willing to talk to me in the first place, he would have sent someone or come to me, not left me here.’

Even if he was contemplating Cadel’s treatment, this neglect could not have been a positive sign. No matter how he looked at it, the conclusion was the same.

“I need to get out of here.”

But how?

There was no luggage, no useful items, and no mana. If he touched the only door, electricity would flow through his body and he would be grilled. No matter how much he thought about it, no plausible solution came to mind.

That was when Cadel was clutching his hungry stomach and racking his brain.

Thud. Thud.

Footsteps echoed across the silent prison. Reflexively squaring his shoulders, Cadel focused on the sound.

‘Who……? Today’s meal is already over.’

The footsteps, coming honestly, stopped in front of the cell where Cadel was held. A dark shadow loomed beneath the doorway.

Cadel’s eyes fluttered open, trying to discern the identity of the figure beyond the peephole. And after a moment, when he realized who it was, Cadel let out a surprised cry and jumped to his feet.

“Sir Dreyfe……?”

The guest was none other than Dreyfe.

Standing at the door, Dreyfe looked around cautiously, and only after a moment did he drag the lantern he was carrying to the opening in the iron door. The yellowish light illuminated the faces of Dreyfe and Cadel.

“Why is Sir Dreyfe here…….”

“Don’t ask me why. ……Are you really a Lytos? Cadel Lytos, illegitimate son of Carlo Lytos?”

Cadel’s father’s name was Carlo, which was probably correct since his name was Cadel.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cadel nodded, and Dreyfe ruffled his hair impatiently. Nervousness and hesitation mingled on his hard face.

“Why did Lytos come back to the Empire?”

“Excuse me, Sir Dreyfe. If you don’t have any more questions, I’d like to know what’s going on outside, because I’ve been left in the prison for three days after guarding the gate, and I’m starting to get a little upset.”

“……Sorry, you’ve been pushed to the back of the line. You’re not a priority.”

“Pardon……?”

What could be more important than the blood of the returned Lytos? Panicked, Cadel turned to approach Dreyfe, only realizing the presence of the electric current just before he reached the doorway, and stopped short.

“We’re getting reports of demonic activity all over the world, and even though the Empire is the only one with a summoning circle, there are demons popping up everywhere.”

“Is there something wrong with the seal of the Demon Realm?”

“We do not know yet. But because of that, His Majesty the Emperor requested dispatch to the six great countries. Ambassadors from each country are arriving one by one, so we’ll discuss the matter of the seal of the Demon Realm in earnest soon. That’s why you’re still stuck here without any action.”

Cadel’s face darkened as he listened to Dreyfe’s explanation.

When asked if this development was included in the story, the answer was ‘I don’t know’. He even knew that countries were joining forces to solve the sealing problem. But was Cadel Lytos locked up in an underground prison during the process?

‘I don’t think so…….’

Did the 13% chance really win? Cadel raised his head in a sudden sense of anxiety. With his head pulled out to the limit in front of the bars, he looked straight at Dreyfe and said.

“It sounds like you’re in the middle of a busy day. Sir Dreyfe, why did you come to see me?”

“…….”

“You’re trying to help, aren’t you?”

He’d been brash and cocky from the start, but he wasn’t a bad person at the root, at least not to the point where he’d crawled into a prison where no one would ever come and laughed at the plight of others, Cadel wanted to believe.

Dreyfe stared at Cadel, then slowly looked away. A deep sigh escaped his twisted lips.

“You won’t tell me you’re dreaming of assassinating His Majesty the Emperor, or that you’re back to avenge your family, will you?”

“I don’t know enough about the world to talk nonsense here.”

“It should be. If you had come to me with such aspirations, you would die at my hands before anyone else.”

After rambling on and on about something, Dreyf produced a key. He paused for a moment in front of the keyhole, then glared at Cadel, as if making a declaration.

“You don’t owe me anything for this.”

Time and time again on the battlefield, Dreyfe relied on Cadel to save his life, and he didn’t have the patience to watch his lifesaver dry up and die.

Even though he knew that if his actions were discovered, he would not only be expelled from the Knight Order but he would also be accused of being a conspirator. However, Dreyfe couldn’t stay still.

Cadel returned Dreyfe’s stare and replied.

“Debts always earn interest, Sir Dreyfe. If possible, please escort me safely outside the castle.”

“What……? Are you asking me to die with you? Run away alone!”

“There will be enemies on all sides, so how can I run away alone? Isn’t it too easy to pay off debt?”

Spitting out a laugh at his brazen demeanor, Dreyfe nervously jammed the key into the hole. With a click, the lock unlocked. Swinging the iron gate wide open, he jerked toward the towering Cadel.

“I’ll show you a shortcut, so go there. I’ll try to the best of my ability…… to draw attention.”

“Good.”