Episode 2: A Certain Prison Camp (1)

At first, there was a stinging sensation, then a feeling of heat spreading through his body, and finally, his head began to spin.

He repeatedly pressed his forehead and tried to catch his breath, suffering from an intense headache.

Slowly opening his eyes, he was soon struck by an unbelievable sight.

"What...?"

In a space as wide as a training field, people were running around chaotically like zombies.

Rain poured down as if the sky had been torn open, blurring his vision, and the shouts they were screaming made his ears ring.

Until just a moment ago, he was clearly at home, so where was this?

'Could it be a dream...?'

Was it because he'd been playing the game for too long?

Well, he had been very immersed. He finished the game and ran all the way home without even resting. Maybe that's why he lost consciousness for a moment...

Thud thud thud!

'The raindrops... No, wait a minute. Why is it cold if it's a dream?'

He raised his head to look at the dark sky, but couldn't bear the heavy raindrops and lowered his head again.

"...?"

His clothes were soaked, and he could hear the sound of rainwater sloshing inside his shoes.

When he moved his toes, he could clearly feel the unpleasant sensation. At the same time, the shouts he had been hearing from before gradually became clearer.

"Break through! Let's all get out of here!"

"Waaaaah-!"

It seemed as if the sensations in his body were returning one by one, starting with his sense of touch. For a moment, he thought it might be a dream, but the sensations throughout his body denied that hypothesis.

He turned his head in the direction of the sound.

A swarm of people wearing orange uniforms were running somewhere like a cloud.

Come to think of it, he was wearing the same uniform as them.

"Hey! Number 218! What are you spacing out for?! Aren't you going to leave?"

While he was bewildered and confused, a boy with a youthful face shook his shoulder and shouted.

Did he know him? But what was with the number 218?

"Ugh! Are you going to keep doing that?! Do you want to rot here for the rest of your life?"

The boy urged him once more. A number '172' was written on his chest.

When he checked himself, the number '218' was boldly marked on his chest.

"Do you know me? Where is this?"

"What are you talking about! There's no time to dawdle like this!"

Instead of answering his question, the boy grabbed his arm with an urgent look on his face. He forcibly shook off his grasp and looked around carefully.

What on earth was going on?

Had he been kidnapped in the meantime? Did he lose consciousness for that long?

Everything was full of questions. The most puzzling thing was that even though it was definitely his first time here, it didn't feel unfamiliar.

Because of that strange feeling, he examined everything even more carefully, and his gaze was fixed on something far away.

A black hawk figure on a yellow background.

Above the main gate that the orange-clad group was trying to break through, a large flag was fluttering in the wind and rain.

'Where have I seen that before?'

The sense of déjà vu grew stronger. He had definitely seen that emblem before.

That emblem was probably...

Suddenly, his mind flashed.

"Ah! Could it be Kerion Prison Camp?!"

"Are you still half-asleep? Get a grip, please! This kind of opportunity won't come again!"

"Is this really Kerion Prison Camp? Is it really that place?"

"Why are you being so frustrating today! Yes, that's right! That Kerion, known as the graveyard of prisoners! If you don't leave now, you'll either die of old age or be executed, one of the two!"

What? Really?

For a moment, a hollow laugh escaped his lips.

He knew it felt strange yet familiar.

That place, called the graveyard of prisoners.

Wait a minute. Does that mean... This is inside the game, and I'm a prisoner?

"It's almost breached! Everyone, cheer up! We'll be free soon!"

"Let's go-!"

It was absurd.

He may have been obsessed with the game, but he never thought he'd actually enter it.

Even as he laughed in dismay, the prisoners were desperately trying to break through the main gate.

As expected of the largest prison camp in the empire, there seemed to be over thousands of prisoners.

Amidst the prisoners' shouts of longing for freedom that overwhelmed even the decibel level of the heavy rain, the boy stamped his feet with an excited voice.

"We have to help too! We're almost there!"

The main gate, which had seemed so solid, had a slight gap, and there were few guards trying to stop them.

He reluctantly followed the boy a few steps, but then stopped in his tracks.

"Wait a minute. Something's not right."

"You're the one who's the strangest! You've always been a bit slow, but not this much, right?"

"Are you sure this is Kerion Prison Camp?"

"Ha, seriously. Did you eat something wrong? No, you didn't eat anything today, did you?"

Something was wrong. The Kerion Prison Camp he knew wasn't such a flimsy place. Why else would it be called the graveyard of prisoners?

"Just stay still for a second."

"We have to help them! They're about to break through!"

"No, wait a minute."

He carefully observed the movements of the guards.

Once he started to suspect, there were many things that seemed strange. First of all, the guards' attitude wasn't proactive, and above all, their numbers were significantly low.

Let's think about it logically.

If a place holds a total of 3,000 people, how many guards and wardens would be needed?

"Isn't it strange? Their numbers are clearly insufficient."

"That's probably because Warden Clarke is absent."

"The prison camp warden is gone?"

"Yeah. I confirmed beforehand that he was away on business. So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There will never be a better chance than this, right?"

If what the boy said was true, it made sense.

In any case, there were far more prisoners than guards.

Since the warden wasn't there, they wouldn't want to step forward and die in vain.

Even so, the suspicion didn't go away.

"It's almost done! Just a little more! Just a little!"

"Hehehe! We're free soon!"

The gap in the main gate had widened enough to put an arm through.

Everything was hopeful. As the boy said, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He didn't know the exact reason, but he had somehow entered the game and was currently a prisoner.

If he couldn't escape now, he would have to rot here for the rest of his life. Above all, he knew Kerion's notoriety well, so the temptation was sweet.

But he decided not to go.

"Let's go quickly!" "No. You'll die if you go."

"What's wrong with you, seriously!"

Kwakwakwang!

At that moment, a loud noise erupted from the main gate.

Along with a sharp sound that tore his eardrums, the main gate swung open.

Had the gate really been breached? He thought for a moment.

The prisoners' shouts of freedom were quickly turning into screams for help.

"Khehehe! You worm-like bastards! Kill them all!"

Among the fleeing prisoners, he saw a face laughing grotesquely.

Kerion Prison Camp's warden, Clarke.

"H, huh...?! Why is that guy...?"

"You guys have been properly tricked."

"What...?"

"Let's get out of here first."

He forcibly grabbed the boy's arm and ran aimlessly in the opposite direction of the main gate.

Since they hadn't gone near it in the first place, it wasn't a problem to get out of range, but they had to get even further away.

They ran with all their might, and the merciless slaughter continued during that time.

"Keuheok...!"

"P, please save me just once-!"

The sound of bodies being torn apart, the sound of screams as they ran away.

And even the sound of the guards laughing derisively.

He could only infer the terrible scene behind him from those sounds melting into the heavy rain.

"We're safe now."

"Hah...! Hah!"

They ran all the way inside the prison camp building.

He thought all the prisoners had participated in the escape attempt, but quite a few people were inside the building.

Prisoners looking outside, trembling with fear.

He didn't know if they were quick-witted or just lacked courage.

The important thing was that they had survived. Just like him and this boy.

"No way! How could this happen...!"

The boy shook his shoulders and burst out in shock. He repeated to himself that he couldn't believe it, that it couldn't be happening.

He knew.

To accommodate more prisoners in a limited space, this kind of operation was essential.

"Line up the remaining ones."

"Yes, Warden!"

"Bring all the prisoners outside!"

Soldiers who had been waiting in hiding lined up the remaining prisoners in the training field.

He too was led by their rough and coercive hands and stood blankly near the center of the training field.

"Don't move! Stand straight!"

The slaughter party ended only after the blood mixed with the rainwater and filled the drainage ditches, and the bodies of those who had been human were scattered messily throughout the training field.

"U, ugh-!"

"Didn't I tell you not to move?!"

If those with weak stomachs bent over to vomit, they were beaten without exception.

Because of this, the prisoners had to face the hellish scene in a stiff, unmoving posture.

Nothing was allowed. A place where human rights couldn't be found even if you washed your eyes and looked.

That's what Kerion Prison Camp was like.

"You're worse than bugs. From now on, just cut down anyone who moves even a hair."

"Understood!"

Sreung!

Guards with swords slowly walked around between the lines. In the face of overwhelming fear, the prisoners could only close their eyes, clench their fists, and try to endure.

But he didn't close his eyes or shake his shoulders.

If he closed his eyes, he couldn't avoid the opponent's attack, and if his body stiffened, his reaction speed would slow down.

'There are about 500 guards. Is the only way out the main gate?'

What was the reason for lining up the remaining prisoners?

If they were thinking of killing more, he would have to change his mindset.

His mind was still confused because he hadn't sorted out his thoughts yet, but he was certain that this was a boundary between life and death.

"Warden, we have lined them all up."

"Conduct a headcount."

Fortunately, it seemed that the purpose was to count the numbers.

Perhaps thinking that he had killed enough, the warden sheathed his sword.

Soon, the warden looked around from side to side as if looking for someone.

Eventually, he stood in front of him.

"..."

A displeased gaze was fixed on him.

He stared back at that gaze and focused his senses.

If the warden drew his sword, he would immediately counterattack.

"You're lucky, Arahan. Or rather, did you not even have the courage to run away?"

"?!"

What did he just say? Arahan?!

"Well, all you wizards are cowards. Losers without honor or pride. It's a disgrace that you're even considered rivals."

The warden poured out all sorts of insulting words, but he didn't actually hear anything.

His attention was completely stolen by only one word.

"You'll regret today. You'll think it would have been better to die."

Clarke revealed his blatant emotions and returned to his position.

He quietly stared at the puddle of water in the place where Clarke had stood.

His true self, though blurred, was reflected in it.

'I'm Arahan...?'

A face that looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a small build.

And the red eyes, known as the symbol of Arahan, were looking back at him.

"S, Senior! Something terrible has happened!"

"Aren't you the new recruit who came today? Why are you making such a fuss from your first day?"

"T, there's an Arahan here! I just saw him! His eyes were red!"

The clueless new recruit was making a fuss. On the other hand, the senior guards' reactions were indifferent.

"Really? So you saw him too?"

"I, I made eye contact with him... Am I going to die soon...?" "Puhahaha!"

The guards burst into laughter at the new recruit's words.

Yeah, there was definitely a rumor like that.

That you would surely die if you made eye contact with Arahan.

Rumors that his red eyes were cursed because he had killed too many people.

"Keuheuk-! What are you going to do? You're so unlucky on your first day?"

"Are you laughing right now? There's an Arahan here! Seniors will also be in danger soon..."

"Puhahaha-!"

He looked confused at the sight of the seniors holding their stomachs and laughing.

Soon, one of the seniors grabbed his shoulder and pointed in his direction.

"In our Kerion Prison Camp, there are three mysteries."

"Mysteries...?"

"The first is why Arahan ended up here. The second is why Arahan can't use magic. And the last is..."

"Wait a minute! He can't use magic? Arahan?"

"So don't worry. Nothing will happen even if you make eye contact with that guy all day long."

"Why are you joking like that...? Arahan can't use magic?! That family is said to learn how to manipulate mana before they even learn to walk..."

"Hahaha-! Well, that's what the rumors say. But rumors are usually exaggerated, right? If you look at that guy, it's clear that it's a false rumor, right?"

They were not only talking behind his back, but also sneering at him right in front of his face.

He tried to ignore the ridicule.

"T, then what's the third mystery?"

"The last one is a mystery that has recently arisen. Why is that guy working so hard?"

"Excuse me...?"

At the same time as those words, he put down the stone he was holding.

It was the last stone to complete the stone tower.

Soon, the guard managing the site shouted in a loud voice.

"Now move it to the other side!"

Building a tower by stacking large stones.

Once it was completed, moving the stone tower back to the other side.

That was all there was to the daily routine of Kerion Prison Camp.

Torturing the prisoners with unproductive and meaningless work.

"Hoo."

Today marked his seventh day of prison life.

At first, his mind was blown and he couldn't come to his senses, but he soon adapted.

Whether it was because of the champion's mentality or because it was a familiar space, it didn't take him long to accept the reality he was facing.

'Damn it.'

To be honest, he had been constantly trying and trying to adapt.

Wasn't it said that humans are animals of adaptation? More precisely, only the adapted individuals survived.

'But I can't just die in vain.'

Right now, he was in a new ecosystem.

An existence like a microorganism at the bottom of the food chain.

It was a foregone conclusion that he would die if he didn't adapt.

'Maybe it's a good thing.'

What's important to adapt well?

That's right, it's a positive mindset. Therefore, he tried to see all situations in a positive light.

'I don't have any regrets left in my past life anyway.'

He had even defeated the Demon King, who was his only goal. If he went back, he would only repeat the same boring routines.

Wouldn't this place be better... What a load of crap.

'Damn it! Why did I have to end up in a prisoner's body!'

Negative thoughts kept popping up.

He took a deep breath, barely suppressed them, and turned on the hope circuit again.

'Hoo. Still, I like being at the bottom of the food chain.'

That meant there were many opponents to overcome.

Wasn't he willing to spend 10 years on a shitty game like 'Last Savior' because he wanted to live as a challenger?

Sometimes he even imagined fighting the Demon King in real life.

How great is it that that imagination has become a reality?

'It's not just the Demon King. The guards over there will be my opponents too.'

This is a world overflowing with strong people.

Maybe he could live as a challenger for the rest of his life, so he couldn't be happier than this.

... Thinking like that, the status of 'prisoner' didn't make him feel so angry.

"Hey, why don't you take it easy?"

At that moment, a huge man blocked his path.

He knew this guy.

The guy who was acting as the leader among the prisoners.

He had so many hangers-on following him around.

"The amount of work has doubled because of you! The guards keep nagging us because they're comparing us to you!"

"What does it matter if I want to do it?"

"Damn...! Isn't it normal to just try to kill time? Why are you working so hard at this dog-like job?"

"I'm just doing it as exercise. There's no other way right now."

"Exercise?! Hahaha! You're such a half-wit since you can't even use magic. Is this exercise to you?"

"What? Get out of my way. Unless you want to get beat up."

"Oh, really?"

He knew that the prisoners' antipathy towards him was growing day by day. It was also true that the amount of work had increased because of him.

He was moving five stones when others were moving about two.

Anyone who saw it would think he was crazy or foolish, but he didn't want to waste time meaninglessly.

Those small habits had made him strong and made him the strongest champion on earth.

"If you think of it as labor, it's painful, but if you think of it as exercise, it's bearable."

"What...?"

"Before complaining to me, why don't you try changing your mindset? How great would it be to live positively?"

"Yeah, I need to change my mindset before it's too late. You're the kind of guy who won't listen to words. Look forward to it. I'll kill you silently and without a trace."

"Well, live that way for the rest of your life."

He passed by the huge man and picked up the stone again.

The prisoners looked at him with dumbfounded expressions, but so what?

"Why are you all so slow?! Move faster!"

The gazes that had been glaring at him scattered as the guard yelled.

Whether they did or not, he wiped away the beads of sweat and moved another stone.

"Hoo..."

After living here for a week, he learned a few things about this body.

First of all, it was too weak. Apparently, because he was a wizard, he hadn't done any physical training at all.

He should be doing hundreds of bench presses, but he was panting just from picking up and moving one stone.

And the use of magic.

He had secretly tried to manipulate mana, but as expected, there were no results.

Since he hadn't learned how to manipulate mana in the first place, it might be natural. Or maybe there was another reason.

'It's so strange. Arahan can't use magic.'

Arahan was also the name of a family of wizard characters.

In the world of Last Savior, the strongest person was also Arahan, and his descendants had inherited that blood and had consistently established themselves as the strongest family.

The mystery that the guards laughed and joked about was also a question he had.

Why did the heir of that great family come to the prison camp, and why couldn't he use magic?

Perhaps the two reasons were connected.

For now, the most reasonable explanation was that he was abandoned in the prison camp because he couldn't use magic.

The Arahan he knew was a family that was capable of doing that.

'By the way, that screen probably means that the game system is being applied.'

On the evening of the day the rebellion broke out.

The blue screen above his head had been there ever since.

He didn't know how many times a day he looked at that screen.

Why?

Because that was the only thing he could trust right now.

[Synchronization in progress.]

[Synchronization is delayed due to too much data.]

[Progress 78%]