The president, with a self-assured air, revealed there was a place they needed to visit before fixing the Holy Sword, and then initiated Teleportation Magic.
With no reason to refuse, Himik and I were easily released from the highly guarded zone, the Dungeon Core, which was a top-class restricted area.
Even though it should have been set up so that only I, the Dungeon Master, could easily use Teleportation Magic to enter or leave, the president managed it with surprising ease.
With that in mind, and the thought of strengthening our teleportation countermeasures, we left Valse-san in the Dungeon Core room and moved to a different location.
“Is this a prison?”
What was at the destination the president teleported to was a building with a peculiar, imposing atmosphere.
Furthermore, given that the night sky was illuminated and the magic energy was dense, this was clearly on the continent.
The president, without using a dedicated gate, effortlessly crossed the world’s boundaries. It seems his claim of being the strongest on the continent was no mere boast.
This structure, which we were made to construct at the president’s destination, was built to be excessively sturdy.
Even from my perspective, I could sense the presence of over a hundred guards who seemed to possess considerable skill.
For a moment, I thought it was a military base, but it seemed too focused on internal security for that.
Working backward from the atmosphere, a realization struck me.
“That’s correct. This is one of the detention facilities under my direct command. Of course, it’s a secret known only to a select few executives, so it’s not to be spoken of,” the president said with a smile.
The president, who was greeted with salutes instead of suspicion despite his sudden appearance, began to walk.
Was this gate a registered Teleportation Circle specifically for the president?
As I walked, I felt the unique atmosphere of a detention facility, devoid of any intent to attack, despite being under the gaze of the surroundings.
“…It’s surprisingly clean inside,” Himik’s first words upon entering the building were of surprise.
I agreed with her opinion.
The impression of detention facilities in a Fantasy world is usually one of filth.
Surrounded by stone walls, divided by iron bars, and unhygienic from a lack of cleaning.
I knew from when I went to pick up Minami before that detention facilities within the company were clean due to modern standards, but this was my first time experiencing a detention facility in another world.
Therefore, despite the construction method leaning towards the otherworld, I was surprised by the interior of this building, which was no less clean than modern detention facilities.
“Well, it’s just more convenient to keep things clean. We enforce thorough hygiene management. If it’s unhygienic, it can quickly turn into a facility that spreads disease.”
“Convenient to be clean.” Neither Himik nor I questioned why. I had no right to criticize the president’s actions by modern ethics.
If we applied that logic, my own hands would be stained with blood as a murderer. Even if I were to talk about justice or ethics with the president, it would lack persuasiveness.
My only wish was that innocent civilians weren’t caught up in this, not falling victim to false accusations.
“Himik, do you dislike this facility?”
Unlike me, who was suppressing any ill feelings and maintaining a poker face, Himik’s emotions were clearly visible on her face.
“…I’ve seen similar facilities in Isal. It brought back unpleasant memories from that time. That’s all.”
“Well, it’s the kind of facility you’d imagine. It’s only natural to feel revulsion. If there’s anyone here who can call this facility decent, I’d question their sanity. What happens here is undoubtedly the work of villains. It exists as a necessary evil, sacrificing those who have strayed from the path under the guise of development and the protection of the people. Jin’ō, you don’t have to force yourself to suppress your emotions. I’ve managed this facility for a long time, so I can detach myself from it. Therefore, I don’t feel any ill feelings and acknowledge its necessity. However, if you ask if I have a good impression of it, the answer is no.”
This facility was likely the experimental ground the president mentioned earlier. Was it the researchers, whose presences felt less powerful than the guards, I sensed?
The fact that these presences could move freely within the detention facility allowed me to infer the nature of this place.
“Demon Lord, may I ask one thing?”
“I swear, there are no innocent civilians here. I swear by God, the Demon Lord, and the people!”
Himik, who knew and had seen this facility, glared at the president, who called it a necessary evil, with sharp eyes filled with killing intent. She was about to ask a question.
However, the president, who seemed to have sensed what she intended to say, stopped walking and turned to face her, his gaze unwavering. He cut off her words before she could speak them.
His gaze also served as a warning that her next words would tarnish the pride of a Demon Lord.
“This facility houses criminals who have committed the gravest sins, those facing the heaviest penalties among death sentences. This includes perpetrators of rape and murder, arson and murder, robbery and murder, as well as nobles who plotted to overthrow the state, top assassins from guilds, drug traffickers, and researchers of illegal magic. Of course, I have entrusted trusted subordinates with strict interrogations. It is explicitly stated that anyone overseeing them will be sent to this facility. Furthermore, the guards here are also thoroughly trained.”
The president declared that false accusations were rigorously excluded and that no one would be imprisoned unjustly.
“In addition, most of those sent here have actually committed offenses in other detention facilities. They are criminals with no room for remorse, no oddities, and are guaranteed to cause harm if released, thus they are the only ones who have the right to be brought here.”
With that, the president stated he had established the necessary legal framework and resumed walking.
“However, President, in that case, are there any decent individuals here who could assist in the rescue of the instructor?”
We had come to this facility to recruit someone who could help rescue the instructor using the Holy Sword. I couldn’t imagine such virtuous individuals existing among criminals, especially those destined for experimentation.
“Normally, no. However, it’s not that there isn’t anyone.”
The president’s bringing us here implied his existence, yet my doubts persisted. I voiced my honest feelings to the president, who acknowledged my point, stating there were exceptions, and continued deeper into the detention facility.
The deeper we went, the more imposing the security became, and the presence of stronger individuals increased. Their equipment was all top-notch. Moreover, the guards’ eyes were filled with a sense of purpose.
This wasn’t a mere show of enthusiasm because the president had arrived. Their way of walking, posture, weight distribution, and the condition of their weapons were all honed to a degree that couldn’t be achieved overnight. It was evident that they took pride in their role as guards.
It made me wonder how badly they wanted to prevent anyone from escaping this place. Anyone considering escape would be at a loss here. My preconceived notion of a Fantasy world’s detention facility was one of lazy guards, a corrupt warden accepting bribes, and criminals acting as they pleased within their cells. I had imagined a dystopian world where the strong preyed on the weak. This experience completely shattered that image. I felt both admiration and a sense of unease at witnessing such dedication. The sight of a properly ordered prison dispelled another of my prejudices about the Fantasy world. Or rather, considering Himik’s revulsion, such detention facilities probably did exist. But this showed it wasn’t the only kind.
“Allow us to pass.”
“Yes, sir!”
After twenty minutes of walking, past numerous iron grates, we stepped into an area different from a normal prison. I immediately recognized this place had a different character.
“Is this the experimental area?”
“Yes, it’s rather obvious, isn’t it?”
“It was rather cramped until now. With this much openness, it’s certainly clear.”
The repeated descent down stairs indicated we were moving underground. I understood that underground facilities comparable to modern architecture could be built using magic. I estimate we went down about a hundred meters. For a moment, the vast space seemed out of place in this detention facility, but signs of repair, undoubtedly from combat, were evident. Finding these, I grasped what was happening here and became certain that this floor and below were the experimental areas.
“It also serves as a research area, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, is it quite clear?”
“Not close by, but I can perceive people gathered at a considerable distance.”
“Hmm, as expected, someone of your caliber would understand. Perhaps if there are any more dangerous individuals in the future, I should reinforce the partition walls further.”
“Are there?”
“Not at the moment. If there were, we’d assign them to a more specialized detention facility.”
Indeed, using such powerful criminals as test subjects would be too risky. The guards here were also quite strong. However, their strength was only at the level of Suella or Keiri, as far as I could sense. There were no instructors here. Well, if there were, they wouldn’t be guarding this place. While I could say the guards were well-matched in strength, they felt somewhat insufficient to manage prisoners who were exceedingly powerful. But that only increased my unease.
“President, please forgive my forwardness, but are the individuals here capable of being thrown into chaos?”
“Oh, does Jin’ō doubt me?”
“I know you sometimes think of mischief and get lectured by Evia, but I don’t believe you’d joke around in a serious situation like this. However, I do have my doubts.”
“What kind of doubts do you have?”
“…Do you intend to make me act in a way that assumes sacrifice?”
“I see, I see. So that’s your line of thinking. My apologies, but if that’s your suspicion, I understand. Your doubt is valid, Jin’ō.”
I didn’t doubt the president’s judgment. The possibility existed, it was a fact that suitable candidates were present. That was undeniable. However, I hadn’t heard about how they would be used. I had assumed we would be working together in a cooperative relationship, but the place we were brought to was a detention facility. And it also served as an experimental facility for heinous criminals. In other words, it was likely a place where lives were valued the least, as is common in other worlds. If one were to predict based on that, the answer would naturally follow. A kamikaze charge. Sacrificing lives to survive. They had secured enough Holy Swords to be used in research. For the president, it wouldn’t be unthinkable to consider the instructor’s life a small price to pay if it could be recovered in exchange for the Holy Swords and the lives of the prisoners. If he acted purely on a cost-benefit calculation, it would be the most logical solution.
“However, your concern is unfounded, Jin’ō.”
“…Is that so?”
However, that concern was easily dismissed by the president.
“Certainly, I considered that method, and making them slaves with enslavement magic would allow for various applications. But if it were to worsen your impression, it would cause problems in future governance. I choose opponents who won’t leave grudges.”
I felt a little relieved that he said he didn’t want to worsen my impression, but a new question arose.
“Then, who are we here to meet?”
This wasn’t a suicide squad of zombies prepared to sacrifice themselves for a kamikaze attack. Then who?
“Someone whose abilities are moderate, but whose Holy attribute power is, in a way, exceptionally high within the Demon Lord’s Army. Considering that they are in a detention facility, perhaps you can imagine who it is?”
No way.
With the hint from the president, only one person came to mind. The busyness of recent events had made me forget, but there was only one person who fit that description from my memories. Someone too powerful to be held in this detention facility. Therefore, they would be the prime candidate, possessing both ability and the potential to cooperate.
“Is it Eshlee?”
She was called a Saintess, and one of the individuals who had attacked the company before. The president nodded in confirmation.
Today’s Word: With backing, negotiations tend to go smoothly.
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I am currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. The Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But I’m Fighting Back With a Secret Base and Various Other Things!! Please give it a read as well!!
