Became a stagnant person in a squalid prison cell

Chapter 25 —

Anyway, it had nothing to do with me.

The only thing that mattered was the warden’s order—that I would be released someday.

‘…I don’t feel bad, though.’

I stomped my foot—boom!—and the floor cracked beneath me.

Ged and Seth turned pale. Only Haila and Brett looked calm.

It was an easy way to scare off the weak ones.

“If you understand me, then get lost.”

“B-boss!”

“My name is Garet.”

“Huh?”

“That’s my name. Not ‘boss.’”

Ged looked hurt, his innocent face crumpled.

“I don’t even know what made you approach me in the first place. You saw how I deal with things that get in my way.”

I was talking about the bugs on the 22nd floor.

Ged’s face turned even paler.

Maybe it was because of the pressure I let out just a little.

“If you really want to find someone, go to the west side of the rest area. You might find someone decent there.”

“……”

“If you’re lucky, you might meet a good teacher.”

I only said this for Haila’s sake.

As their old leader, I felt a small bit of guilt for not helping her properly before.

“There’s nowhere that will accept us, though.”

It was Haila’s voice that stopped me from turning away.

When I looked back, even Brett looked slightly shaken—but Haila was still calm.

‘She really is just Ramona’s type.’

I was impressed again, but that was it. No more kindness, no more help.

“That’s not my problem.”

Some were surprised that I spoke politely to Haila, but that was all.

Eventually, Ged and the others left.

From a distance, Ged looked downcast and sad.

“…You look like a villain.”

Helios mumbled as he watched them walk away. I raised an eyebrow.

“Helios, do you think I can’t hear you if you mumble like that?”

“I wanted you to hear it.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

I expected him to complain that it wasn’t a compliment—but instead, he asked something unexpected.

“…Why didn’t you ask them why?”

“Ask what?”

“They said no one would accept them.”

“Oh.”

So our male lead was actually curious about that?

Now I understood—his frown wasn’t from annoyance this time. It was discomfort.

I blinked.

“Why would I ask?”

“…”

I smiled slightly.

“You forgot, didn’t you, student? This is a prison.”

A place full of criminals.

“So in here, being called a villain is a compliment. The worse you are, the longer you survive.”

* * *

Why no one would accept Ged’s group—

Mint hadn’t been curious.

But soon, she would find out in a way she didn’t want.

She and Helios had just finished dinner and were heading to the rest area.

Evening break was shorter than lunch, so she was pushing Helios to move fast.

They had taken a different route because the usual way was crowded.

And then—

‘Ugh.’

The sound they heard around the corner wasn’t unfamiliar.

Thud. Thud. Whack!

Mint had already guessed there was a fight happening by the time they entered the hallway. But she didn’t know who was involved.

“You filthy worms!”

Here’s something to know—

When you hit someone, the sound is similar to hitting a sack of flour filled halfway with air.

The people being beaten were Ged’s group.

Brett was already down on the floor.

Ged and Seth were taking the hits while trying to protect someone.

Mint was surprised—it was Haila they were protecting.

“Trying to act like real men, huh? Ptoo!”

“Just hand over the girl already. You’re worse than cockroaches.”

“Hey, let’s just kill ’em.”

“Nah, the guards in our ward are edgy these days. Killing a bug and getting dragged away? Not worth it.”

Mint locked eyes with Haila, who was crouched under the two men, looking up desperately.

“Help us, please!”

Her expression was nothing like her calm face earlier.

“….”

Was it just bad luck?

Did they just happen to run into thugs who target weaker prisoners?

The longer Mint stared blankly, the more desperate and intense Haila’s gaze became—filled with bitterness, like she would never forget if Mint ignored her.

“Mama always said—help those in trouble.”

For a moment, Mint remembered the person who used to protect her: “Mama.”

“I told you, I’m older than I look. Don’t call me Mama!”

“Are you really not going to help?”

That old memory overlapped with Helios’s voice.

She turned her head.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? She asked for help.”

Helios looked confused.

He had power. So why not use it to help?

They’d at least spoken a few times by now.

But Mint tilted her head with an unreadable expression.

“Responsibility? Or just pity?”

Helios frowned again.

Mint always found that frown amusing. If he kept this up, he’d have wrinkles before he got out.

“I’m not supposed to cause trouble.”

Thud. Another blow echoed. Prisoners nearby whistled and cheered.

“I’m a guard. Don’t forget that.”

“…”

“I’m your person.”

Helios felt a strange tingling in his fingertips.

Why did this person—his teacher and former guard—always stare at him so intensely?

Born into a noble duke’s family, Helios had never really received love or warmth. It was overwhelming.

In all the noise, only his teacher stood out. Only her voice reached him—soft and clear.

“I’m only focused on you.”

His lips felt dry.

“You’re the only one I want to care about.”

He wanted to grumble, as usual—say something snarky—but he couldn’t.

This strange nervousness in his chest didn’t feel good. Like his body wasn’t his to control.

A sharp scream snapped him out of it.

“Kyahhh!”

Even as they talked, Ged’s group was still getting beaten.

Helios turned his head quickly.

“So, you’re really not going to help?”

Mint found his anxious face fascinating.

She didn’t usually see that look—only during training or when facing danger in the Tower.

“Then you help them.”

“…”

“I didn’t raise you to be weak enough to get beaten by guys like that.”

“Who said you raised me?”

Without hesitation, Helios turned around.

“If my teacher won’t go, then I will.”

He said it with a sharp tone and started walking.

Mint, watching his back, had a sudden thought.

‘Oh yeah… I haven’t taught him how to fight multiple enemies yet.’

“Who the hell are you?!”

“…”

“Oh? Isn’t this guy kind of famous?”

“Yeah, I recognize that face!”

Helios’s first move was pretty good.

‘All that fighting with bugs really trained his instincts.’

He really had talent. He grew just by fighting to survive.

Bugs often moved in swarms, so his senses had become sharper.

‘The attackers are probably low-tier or mid-tier, Class 3…’

The memory sparked by Haila’s desperate face still lingered in one corner of Mint’s mind.

“No. I won’t help. Do you know how many people are in trouble here? Why should I?”

“Then how about this…”

Helios was doing better than expected.

But in Mint’s eyes, he was still just a rookie who had only reached the 20th floor.

“Newbie.”

She muttered the word with no emotion.

“Just help the people you can reach. The ones close enough to touch.”

“But everyone here is a criminal. Why should I?”

“Because you have to live here too.”

In Helios’s hand was a roughly summoned spear.

Even though he had a material-type ability, he wasn’t good at summoning or creating weapons yet.

‘Of course. He still doesn’t know which weapon suits him best.’

And because Helios had jumped into the fight, attention was all on him.

Ged’s group, barely free, leaned against the wall, catching their breath.

“I hope you don’t lose your humanity.”

Mint ignored the memory that floated up again.

She had promised herself long ago not to bother with painful thoughts.