Prisoners

The dungeon atmosphere is still covered in piercing silence—Lemiel suddenly smiles as if to dilute the atmosphere after hearing Selena's question.

"Honestly, I prefer to be called a prisoner than a rebel."

Seeing the change in Lemiel's current attitude, Selena fell silent looking at him flatly. Whether it was just her feelings or not, he was pretty sure that Lemiel had a piercing gaze when he heard his question.

"I've heard that you are a rebel."

"It's just a rumor that they made up. Now I'm just a victim of a wrongful arrest who happens to be under arrest."

"But still, your murdering stare explains everything."

Lemiel fell silent, lowered his face. It's not clear what expression Lemiel showed from the dark of the prison cell.

"Stare kills huh?" murmured Lemiel. "... that's right, I'm often called that."

Hearing Lemiel's tone which sounded heavier than before, Selena hid her confusion with a flat gaze. Is he desperate to languish in this prison?

"But you're lucky," he continued. "Compared to me, you have beautiful eyes."

When she heard that compliment, Selena frowned as if she didn't expect to hear that from the mouth of a prisoner like him.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't get me wrong, I just love the color of your eyes. I don't know why it looks beautiful with the color of your hair."

"Are you teasing me right now?"

"Well, if you take it that way, I don't mind. But at least don't put up a flat look like that. I look like a friendly person right now."

"I don't understand what you mean at all. I'm starting to doubt if you are that bloodthirsty rebel."

"Hehe ... I'm glad to hear that."

"To be more precise, you are just a pathetic prisoner."

"It turns out that what you said was hurtful."

Their conversation finally ended. Neither Lemiel nor Selena had any hidden intentions from their chat. Except for Selena, who responded evenly to Lemiel's words.

Not long after that, several stomps broke the silence of the prison. Several Shirogami members came to the dungeon. From the sound of the footsteps, it was clear that they were walking towards their place.

Three officers entered the prison. One of them was wearing a slightly different uniform from the two behind him. His uniform had a silver badge on his right chest, inscribed with the captain. The distinctive sword of the Shirogami troops also clung to his waist gallantly while walking.

The captain then stopped in front of Lemiel's cell and stared at him. The light brown-haired man raised the corners of his lips, watching Lemiel who was handcuffed helplessly.

Meanwhile, the other two Shirogami members endure fear while in front of Lemiel's prison.

"Looks like you enjoyed your time in there."

Hearing the man's voice, a small smile emerged from Lemiel's lips.

"Oh, Captain of the 2nd Division, Arsen Kruger. You're getting even more manly in that shirogami uniform."

"C-captain Arsen, you better be careful with him!"

"Y-yes, he's a dangerous person!"

The two soldiers seemed to be trying to remind the Captain of the 2nd Division with a panicked face, but the man named Arsen ignored their words.

"Don't worry, he won't bite as long as he's in his cage."

"… do you think of me like a beast huh," said Lemiel.

"Maybe more like a demon."

"Ugh, how scary," Lemiel responds to his words with a mocking tone, making Arsen hold in a little annoyance.

Then, Arsen took out the key from his uniform then opened the door to Lemiel's cell. He entered the prison and put some food in front of Lemiel who saw him with a small smile.

"You are a strange person, Lemiel. Your face looks used to it in this prison." Arsen finished placing Lemiel's food rations.

"Aren't you the ones who often keep me here?" Lemiel glanced at a meat sandwich and a drink before him.

"Well, I represent all the Shirogami troops apologizing for that."

"If you wanted to apologize, you should have brought me alcohol or a bottle of sake."

"We don't provide that for prisoners like you, Lemiel."

"Too bad," he said with a sigh. "But I'm still wondering, why do you guys insist on suspecting me? I don't mind, but Shirogami's reputation will be questioned by Dracheal people."

"As for your case, I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"Hmph, maybe you have a point."

Squatting in front of Lemiel, Arsen then opened the two handcuffs that were holding him down. "Yes, but at least you can still be free for this time."

Lemiel moved his hands after nearly a month of being handcuffed with crucified hands.

"… Finally, I can eat using my hands. I have a hard time eating this food like a dog."

The two Shirogami soldiers outside looked even more terrified when their Captain freed Lemiel, thinking Lemiel could just attack them.

"C-Captain Arsen, are you sure to release him?!" asked one of the soldiers frantically.

Arsen sighed. "... It can't be helped, this is the Commander's order."

"B-but Captain ... he's a dangerous person."

"There's no need to worry, even though he's dangerous he won't attack you. This is also an order from the Commander, so I can't refuse it. Or ... do you object to his decision?"

"Captain, forgive us!" The two people then bowed their bodies as a sign of apology. "Starting today, we promise to continue following the captain!" they continued aloud.

Seeing the behavior of his two men now, Arsen sighed heavily.

"It's up to you."

Seeing their actions, Lemiel raised the corners of his lips. "You have interesting men."

"Even though sometimes they are stupid, they are still my men."

Then he walked out of his cell and looked back at him. "Oh, one more thing. I really don't know why the Commander released you, but I still hate you," he continued leaving Lemiel.

In response to those words, Lemiel glanced at him sharply with a small smile.

Then Arsen saw coming to Selena's cell and stopping in front of her. Two of his men who had been bowing respectfully stood up straight again following Arsen.

Selena, who had heard their conversation from the start, just stared at him dryly. The look on his face was clear.

"Your name is ... Selena Mystin, right?" Arsen asked, frowning.

"...."

"If I'm not mistaken the Mystin family is one of the strongest families in this kingdom," he continued.

Hearing Selena's identity from Arsen's mouth, Lemiel stopped eating for a moment and focused on the two of them. Meanwhile, the two Shirogami members nodded as if they knew that information.

Only Lemiel, who was in the area, didn't know the information. Indeed, Lemiel has a bit of suspicion towards Selena because she has a strong aura.

"Unfortunately, the Mystin family has lost its glory since the war 6 years ago," continued Arsen with a suspicious smile.

"Shut up!" Selena snapped sharply.

"It's a shame you put on a look like that. Even though, you have a beautiful face."

"Don't ever talk that out of your dirty mouth!"

"I actually don't understand, but I was also ordered to release you."

Ignoring Selena's gaze, Arsen opened Selena's cell door and entered inside. Not to forget Arsen also removed the handcuffs on Selena's hand.

"Oh yes, how about after this we can drink a cup of tea at my place?" Arsen curled a slightly seductive smile.

"What do you mean?!"

"Don't worry, I'm quite strong enough. If you marry me, I can restore the glory of the Mystin family. How, are you interested in Miss Selena?"

"You're just useless trash," she said dryly.

"Maybe I would be hurt if she said that to me," muttered Lemiel who overheard their conversation from behind bars.

Right after hearing Selena's curse, Arsen gripped his sword tightly.

"You're a very arrogant woman huh." Then she drew her sword which Selena quickly blocked with her black sword.

The meeting of the two blades was quite fierce. The swing of the sword from both Arsen and Selena creates a sound of friction and a slight spark from the darkness of the prison.

The two Shirogami members were speechless. Surely they didn't dare stop their Captain other than to watch the fight from outside the cell.

However, Arsen's sword swing was far superior, in terms of strength and physique. Arsen then slashed his sword powerfully which flew Selena's sword upwards which then pierced the stone floor of the prison.

Selena tried to take back her sword, but—Arsen immediately pointed her sword right in front of her face and—"What are you doing?!" he threatened suddenly.

There was a blade pointed right behind his neck right now.

"I should be the one asking that, Captain Arsen." With a flat face, Lemiel pointed his sword directly behind Arsen's neck.

Seeing that, Arsen's two men were shocked. They were so shocked that they even checked Lemiel's prison which was already empty.

"Since when is he?!"

They were completely unaware of Lemiel's rapid movements, causing their shoulders to tremble with fear.

Arsen silently hides his panic, sensing the thick murdering aura of both blood-red stares of the man behind him now.

Meanwhile, Lemiel enjoyed Arsen's panic with a small but sharp smile.