Grand Hate Prison – B4F
Lua unleashed Sonic Rain! She dealt an average of 1,760,091 damage to the Winged Guardians! Winged Guardians x400 defeated! HP 0/1400
They were reasonably quick, but they might as well have been standing still. Each machine tried to ensnare us, coordinating their movements to toy with us. When a few of them moved together, I was somewhat impressed. But having defeated swarms of bloodsucking insects numbering in the tens of thousands, this was far too easy.
Lua dealt an average of 1,627,555 damage to the Silver Wing Executors! Silver Wing Executors x40 defeated! HP 0/8122
This was even simpler. The targets were large, making them easier to hit than those smaller ones. When they fired lasers from their mouths, they paused for a moment, which was a weakness they should consider improving. A common trait among these machines was that while their armor was tough, the insides were fragile. Once a part was destroyed, their movement almost completely halted, which was something to think about.
Lua dealt an average of 2,020,914 damage to the Legion Gunners! Legion Gunners x120 defeated! HP 0/1370
This was ridiculous. They lined up, aiming, looking utterly foolish. If they were attacking from a distance, it might have made sense, but placing them within my line of sight was pointless. So, as they stood in a row, the sniper machines were obliterated along with their torsos.
Lua dealt an average of 2,012,400 damage to the Sword Legion! Sword Legion x150 defeated! HP 0/1850
These machines swung large blades attached to their arms. They needed to close the distance; otherwise, their attack range was limited. If only I had a skill like Sonic Ripper. But still, there was something unsettling about their movements. It was a motion I knew all too well.
“That’s it! That machine is definitely mimicking my moves!”
Lua’s attack! She dealt an average of 5,150,713 damage to the Crushing Vice Tanks! Crushing Vice Tanks x4 defeated! HP 0/9060
When I fought the prototype Legion at the Metal Tower, they must have used my movements as a reference. The moment I realized that, my earlobes felt hot with anger, and I charged in to slice through the large one. The sound of its strange rotating blades was deafening and even more irritating. I wished they would fight a little more quietly.
And in this vast prison floor, it took a considerable amount of time just to ascend one level. I was leaping from corridor to corridor, aiming upward, but Kurinka was carrying Terrace and Platiu, which slowed her down a bit. The enemies weren’t just machines. Lasers shot from the walls, and the walls themselves jutted out to obstruct our path. Sometimes, the corridor I aimed to jump to would retract swiftly. In those moments, I had no choice but to use Sonic Boost to stay airborne, which was infuriating.
“You must be Terrace, the director! Will you help me?!”
“There are a few others. Lua and Kurinka, your usual movements will be hindered, but survival is possible.”
“I-I will do my best!”
I had rescued the president who was said to have leaked information to the Matere Trading Company. Now, Kurinka had him, Platiu, and Terrace on her back. It seemed we also needed to rescue a reporter and a politician who had been with the Steel Five at the Metal Tower. Terrace insisted on saving these people, and it was clear that carrying this many was a stretch for Kurinka.
“There is a container for transporting prisoners in the eastern area. We will enter that, and you will grab it and carry it. If the Silver Wing Executors can do it, so can you.”
“I-I will do my best…”
Kurinka was clearly overwhelmed by Terrace’s relentless demands. Although she was under the effects of Enhancement Magic and felt no fatigue from the Power of Regeneration, it was still a daunting task. If we couldn’t manage this, escaping from here would be impossible. That was why Terrace was pushing us so hard.
“I know this is difficult, but if we can’t make the impossible possible, we won’t stand a chance against them.”
“But once we inject the Virus into Metallica’s mainland, everything will be resolved, right?”
“No, I told you the hard part begins there.”
“When you say ‘there,’ what do you mean?”
“First, think about escaping from here.”
What an arrogant old man, not even bothering to thank us. But it was true he was helping us, and now wasn’t the time to bicker.
“Is this the right container?!”
“At the end of the corridor! There are plenty, so take whichever you like!”
The corridor was wide, both vertically and horizontally, likely due to the presence of the Silver Wing Executors. Amid the blaring alarms, we arrived at the room Terrace mentioned, filled with dozens of stacked iron boxes, and there were plenty of machines here too.
Lua unleashed Sonic Rain! She dealt an average of 1,719,466 damage to the Winged Guardians! Winged Guardians x30 defeated! HP 0/1400
With so many of them, they began to resemble flies. The buzzing machines were shot down one after another by Sonic Rain, leaving not a single fragment behind. I felt my accuracy with Sonic Rain had improved. I hadn’t realized it before, but perhaps this was part of the leveling up effect.
“There are so many. How did they manage to produce this many machines…?”
“There are factories in the homeland where they are mass-produced. Instead of returning the blood tax to the citizens, this is the current state of Metallica.”
It felt reminiscent of Noibranz. There were plenty of convenient machines, but perhaps this country was the same. I would guard while Kurinka advanced. After grabbing the container, we wouldn’t linger. We quickly turned back to the next task. Following Terrace’s instructions, we freed the scheduled individuals one after another and had them board the container. None of them looked particularly bad, just ordinary people.
“When we survive, we will expose all the corruption of the politicians who colluded with the Steel Five! As a politician building this nation, that will be my final grand task!”
“They’ve been moving suspicious money around. Not only that, but those who engaged in activities or reports that were inconvenient for them have all met unnatural deaths. This is information the citizens deserve to know!”
“Director Genia… no, Genia consulted me. She asked if I would invest in a certain company. I won’t deny I was blinded by greed, but before I knew it, I was bearing all the sins…”
There were a few others in the container besides these three, each spilling their thoughts in a lively manner. I wished someone would worry about Kurinka, who was carrying them. It was astonishing that no one, including Terrace, seemed surprised by Kurinka’s presence.
“I’ve seen enough of the unreal. I wouldn’t be surprised if a girl transformed into a dragon appeared now.”
“Ah, yes.”
Indeed, there were incredible people in this world, and Metallica’s existence was surreal to us. Thinking about it that way made it understandable.
“Impressive! Those machines are no match for you! This might be easier than I thought!”
“When the Flash Strike Girl’s exploits were broadcast, many doubted it was edited… But wow, this is astonishing.”
“At this rate, the technology accumulated by Metallica seems trivial.”
I wished they wouldn’t watch my battles as if they were sipping tea. It was easy, but I was risking my life for these people. And I couldn’t let my guard down just yet. Just as we were about to ascend from the fourth underground level, cracks appeared in the wall. A sturdy wall that wouldn’t budge even at the bottom of the sea was now cracking. This was bad.
“The wall! The seawater!”
“Impossible! Is this prison going to flood?!”
The walls were breaking apart, and water gushed out like a waterfall. The same was happening above us, which meant we were in danger if we didn’t hurry.
“Could it be that Lua’s rampage caused this?!”
“Don’t blame me! I’m trying to help!”
“Ah, no. I’m sorry… But why?!”
“Ah, ah. Everyone, can you hear me?”
Jarmon’s unpleasant voice echoed again, but it lacked the usual inflection. The cheerful atmosphere from earlier seemed to have vanished.
“This prison is about to sink to the ocean floor. The estimated time until complete collapse is fifteen minutes, and you will all become seaweed!”
“Oh? Is that Genia’s order?”
“N-No, that’s not it! You old fool!”
“You lot were not imprisoned but demoted for this very reason. This way, we can dispose of the prisoners all at once when the time comes.”
Jarmon shouted in a fit of rage, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I thought he had lost his composure out of frustration.
“Then why don’t you escape too, Jarmon?!”
“I can’t believe that running away would just lead to being caught and killed for disobeying orders! I was living a comfortable life working in the research lab, and now look at this mess… Damn it! Damn it all!”
“This is all your fault! At the very least, I’ll get one last shot at you!”
I was once again the target of misplaced resentment. Despite the terrible things done to the woman, why do they blame others? It’s precisely because of that mindset that they end up in a place like this.
◆ Grand Hate Prison, B1F ◆
“Today, we will dismantle this facility. Time until collapse: 6 minutes.”
This wasn’t a chaotic space filled with aerial walkways, but rather a normal corridor. I had finally made it this far. The surface was just ahead, and from there, I would seize the airship that Jarmon and the others had arrived in. It wasn’t a particularly large airship, but according to Terrace, it would be more than enough for our numbers. However, I suddenly realized something.
“Terrace, what about the others who are captured?”
“Are you actually thinking of rescuing them?”
“Don’t worry. I took care of the scum with gas. That was the order I was given.”
Strangely, I wasn’t shocked by those words. I didn’t want to admit that I felt relieved knowing that those who had done wrong were dead. Surely, it was because they were unrelated to me. It was only now, after coming to this prison, that I began to understand my own feelings. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to like this side of me. I felt conflicted; I wasn’t particularly shocked, but I couldn’t reconcile it either. I felt incredibly cold inside.
“That idiot Genia gave the order for that.”
【Tentacle Riot (Tentacle Reach) Kuharasse has appeared! HP 4000】
From the depths of the corridor came a creature with several tentacle-like appendages sprouting from its arms and legs, as if they were bursting out of its armor. That voice belonged to Kuharasse; there was no doubt he was wearing something.
“Gross! This is worse than Belmund, Lua-chan!”
“Yeah… this is just unacceptable.”
“That’s right. You boast about your powered suit, but I bet you won’t use it for anything worthwhile!”
“Ugh… Do you want me to tell you how many female prisoners I’ve humiliated with this powered suit?! Look at this voluptuous shape!”
【Lua’s attack! Dealt 5863 damage to Tentacle Riot (Tentacle Reach) Kuharasse!】
Before I knew it, I had completely destroyed the powered suit along with the tentacles. It shattered into pieces, and Kuharasse fell forward, defeated.
“Wh-what… is happening…?”
【Tentacle Riot (Tentacle Reach) Kuharasse has been defeated! HP 0/4000】
“That was quick.”
“I just wanted it to be over…”
Even after his powered suit was destroyed and he was beaten to the point of having every bone broken, he still tried to speak. I had held back, but he should have been on the brink of death. Just a simple swing of my sword had shattered the suit and sent him flying; it was far too fragile. I hoped he would never rise again.
“We’re running out of time. Let’s break through the floor and head to the surface.”
“It’s tough to make Kurinka carry the containers while doing that. I’ll handle it.”
“With this old-fashioned powered suit, that’s impossible, Jarmon Warden!”
The commotion at the end of the corridor grew louder. A group of people clad in various powered suits was pushing forward. Behind them was a machine similar to the one on the fourth underground floor. Not only did it have a rotating blade at the front, but arms extended from the sides, wielding swords and axes. Additionally, missile launchers peeked out from below. It looked clumsy; even I thought so.
“If I can achieve something here, I might be able to return to my homeland!”
【Great Jarmon King Mark II Super Force Tank has appeared! HP 12000】
【Ground Combat Powered Suit II ×7 has appeared! HP 900】
Upon closer inspection, the blade at the front resembled a mouth. It was unmistakably a strange machine with a face like a beast, complete with fangs, piloted by Jarmon. The powered suit-wearing individuals in front of it were already on the defensive; if they didn’t want to fight, they could just run away.
“This is the strongest powered suit I’ve developed after countless iterations, the Great Jarmon King Mark II! It boasts several times the power of the Vice Tank below, with a variety of weapons, and a handsome face to boot!”
【Great Jarmon King Mark II Super Force Tank has launched a Spiked Missile!】
The machine rattled as it fired something strange, and I wondered where the “handsome face” was. That Vice Tank must be that noisy machine I defeated in an instant; it wouldn’t stand a chance against me. I had enough time to think about such things, which showed just how weak my opponent was.
“We don’t have time; I’ll finish this quickly.”
【Lua unleashed Sonic Rain! Dealt 1506302 damage to Great Jarmon King Mark II Super Force Tank!】
I held back a bit since there was a person inside, but even so, I had stripped away half of its structure, leaving Jarmon completely exposed. The little man with a scruffy beard sat in the driver’s seat, blinking in disbelief.
“Jamon?”
【Great Jarmon King Mark II Super Force Tank has been defeated! HP 0/12000】
Just after he toppled over in the driver’s seat, it exploded spectacularly, leaving the tank in ruins. The shockwave sent the other henchmen flying, crashing them against the walls.
“Guh!”
“Ugh!”
“Ahh!”
【Ground Combat Powered Suit II ×7 has been defeated! HP 0/900】
They let out strange cries and then fell silent. I never expected them to be this weak.
“…This is quite an outdated model of powered suit. It seems it hasn’t been maintained in a long time, and at this point, it’s just pathetic.”
Terrace explained that this prison was designed to keep people, including workers, locked up. Instead of simply imprisoning those who caused trouble within their ranks, they were given arbitrary roles to keep them occupied. In reality, the facility was fully automated, and there was hardly any work to do. It was so easy that it could ruin a person, and eventually, they would rot away while still alive. The Grand Hate Prison, touted as the most fortified in the world, was merely a large grave. And now, it was trying to kill us by collapsing and sinking us to the ocean floor. It was likely Genia behind this reckless plan, or perhaps Corin. Either way, at this point, I had no idea how to deal with those two.
“What scum.”
I realized this was the first time I had voiced such a thought. Kurinka was taken aback, clearly surprised. They had tormented and exploited Platiu, and now we were in this situation. I couldn’t even feel anger; instead, I found myself oddly calm.
“We’re running out of time. What about those lying around?”
“I can’t just leave them to die. We’ll carry them to the airship.”
I would at least try to save the Jarmons. I hadn’t decided what to do with them afterward, but I couldn’t just abandon them.
◆ Airship, Control Room ◆
After moving from the container to the airship, I felt a sense of relief alongside the others as we left the prison behind. As I watched the massive facility collapse from the sky, my heart was filled with mixed emotions. Locked away, killed by gas, and ultimately sunk to the ocean floor. It was a fitting end for the bad people, but I couldn’t find joy in it. There might be victims from the Kingdom of Metallica among them. They were created for this purpose, only to be destroyed. The swirling explosion that engulfed the round prison felt strangely sad to me.
“We can finally take a breather, Lua-chan.”
“Hey, Kurinka…”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Why did you decide to go along with what the Jarmons said?”
“Ah… that’s because we promised to explore the outside world together when we were little, remember?”
As I watched Terrace operate the control panel, we settled into a suitable spot. Platiu was currently keeping an eye on the Jarmons we had locked up. Since she was over Level 100, she could handle any attacks they might throw at her, so I had left it to her.
“I thought it wouldn’t be enough to just experience fun things and say, ‘Oh, that was nice.’ That would just be a trip. To truly explore the outside world, you have to see the dirty parts too. It’s not about studying, but… I want it to be something more meaningful.”
“Wow…”
That was all I could say. After all, while I had been mulling over everything and feeling uneasy, Kurinka had already moved ahead. She understood the ugly side of things and chose to follow the Jarmons to witness how the prisoners were treated. I had no idea she had been thinking that deeply since childhood. What had I been thinking, just vaguely wanting to go on an adventure?
“Don’t worry, it’s normal to feel troubled. In fact, we watched this to think about it. I feel the same way, Lua-chan. I have my thoughts, but I can’t find the answers. However, holding onto your core, or your will, is what it means. You observe, think, and come up with your own answers.”
“But what if that’s wrong?”
“We can never know what the right answer is. What’s important is to firmly hold onto your own will. There are all kinds of people in this world, including those hopeless like Jarmon. There are good people too. We’re just one of them.”
“I see… my own will, huh?”
“If I had to say, what you believe to be right is what is right.”
Indeed, until now, I had only thought in terms of right or wrong. What I believe to be right is what is right. It wasn’t anything complicated.
“After Meria-san talked about Madias, she seemed so nonchalant, right? I think she wanted us to listen to this story and come up with our own answers. I realized that recently.”
“Is that so? And yet, I thought she was a cold person…”
“She intentionally distanced herself to make you realize.”
The reason I helped Jarmon and the others was that I couldn’t just stand by and watch them die. That was enough. I had feared being criticized for helping a villain. If I said it was right, then it was right. It didn’t matter if someone else’s opinion included that.
“Meria-san… I have to thank her when I see her next. Oh, by the way, we were attacked by the Zodiac, right? I think those guys will be fine.”
With two elves, S-Rank Tiferia, and A-Rank top-tier Eeks, there’s no way we could lose. Lord Hast has regained his peak power too. Thinking that reassured me, I suddenly felt sleepy. Maybe just a little nap.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, in front of Hotel Maison ◆
“Ugh! That hurt…”
【Eeks took 402 damage! HP 5672/7200】
“Do you understand the power of the Zodiac now?”
The chameleon bastard completely vanished, while the swan bastard toyed with him in a strange manner. Oddly enough, there were no pedestrians on this wide street, as if the residents had completely disappeared.
“I’ve cleared the area of people. Go ahead and wreak havoc, shape-shifting recluse, Cygnus.”
“Hehehe! Even the best user in this country is like a baby in front of us! Branburm, no need to request reinforcements! We’ll finish this right here!”
“T-These guys… my illusion magic doesn’t work on them…”
It’s safe to assume their suits have some kind of biological identification function. They don’t care if their vision is blocked. With his specialty in illusion magic sealed, Rash could only do his best to protect Rutna. On top of that, his attack magic was being repelled, leaving Lord Hast with almost no options. The two elves were whispering to each other and weren’t fighting.
“Ugh, this is annoying… Hah…”
“The Zodiac’s powered suits, you know? They have the performance to bridge the gap even if the opponent’s level is high. Do you understand? In other words, you are outdated. What you’ve cultivated with just your bodies is nothing compared to the wisdom of science and technology. Do you get it?”
“Hah…”
“Even Tiferia-chan would have a hard time winning against these guys…”
Lord Hast stood there with his cane, and beside him was Maternya. It seemed she couldn’t care less about anyone but Seigel. They were still closely attached. Though Seigel had once fought back, it was utterly futile. Those suits didn’t budge at all. What kind of metal processing had they undergone?
“Hmph, without the Flash Strike Girl, this is all you are. This weak nation would have perished long ago without that little girl’s protection.”
“Hey, Branburm, isn’t that a bit too much? We’re supposed to be allies, after all.”
“The hero doesn’t hide his true self, does he? Hehehe.”
“I would have liked to fight the Flash Strike Girl, but the main dish will have to wait. You understand? Still, I’m a bit disappointed that A-Rank hero Eeks is this weak.”
They were saying whatever they wanted, treating me like a joke. The world doesn’t work that smoothly. At this rate, I might have to give up my title as a hero, just as that swan bastard suggested.
“Ugh, this is so disheartening. The world is vast.”
“Hah… is it okay now?”
“Isn’t it? I was already fed up with this.”
“Right?”
“Hehehe! Finally, I surrender! It’s too late to realize the terror of the Zodiac now!”
It seems my dream of achieving what I wanted was impossible. Tiferia felt the same way, her sigh even heavier.
“I knew it would be impossible. Winning without killing is tough.”
“Exactly. I don’t even know how to hold back. It would be easy against someone like Death God Argil.”
“Heeheehee! …Huh? What?”
Next to Tiferia, who had said something that would surely infuriate him, I changed my stance. The swan bastard and the chameleon bastard, enough already. I understood the situation.
“Hah… well then, don’t blame me if you die.”
“What do you mean? Do you understand?”
“They’ve gone mad!”
I couldn’t be like Lua. Once, I had admired her, but now I found myself admiring her. What a cruel irony. Of course, I couldn’t help but sigh.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Hoo, what a poorly designed mech.
What’s so great about the Great Jarmon King?
Why did the Vice Tank challenge us with such junk after watching Lua fight?
Hmm, it feels like I synced with Lua somehow.
Zzzz, has my thought level dropped that low?!
Pulling myself together, after all, that thing was probably made with a mix of junk.
It might be worse than the ones from this country.
What kind of brain do you have to create something like that?
It’s good to have your own will, but those guys should have been wiped out.
They had no value in being left alive.
Those who want to help others or do something for them tend to struggle.
They struggle because what they want to do depends on others.
In that regard, Shin is free.
I haven’t struggled even a bit.
I haven’t worried at all about eating the pudding buns from Krinka.
Hah, how should I infiltrate?
Monster Compendium
【Great Jarmon King Mark II Super Force Tank HP 12000】
A powered suit improved from the Vice Tank by Jarmon. Strictly speaking, it’s not a powered suit, but he insists it is. It has more horsepower than the Vice Tank and is equipped with a variety of weapons, including long-range ones. However, due to its excessive weight, it moves slowly and frequently malfunctions.
It requires frequent cooling, and after a certain amount of time, it must stop moving for that reason.
However, its firepower is no joke; with a single strike, it can take down a mid-level dragon like a Green Dragon. It’s a weapon that shows the designer’s shortsightedness, as it has no thoughts beyond attacking.
【Tentacle Reach Kuharasse HP 4000】
A powered suit specially developed by former Metallica Private Kuharasse. There is only one in the world, and its shape is something no one else can comprehend.
Its purpose is not so much for combat but rather for a peculiar fetish, and it seems he pays for it out of his own pocket. Nevertheless, its combat capability is fairly high, and its tentacle’s restraining power is well-regarded even within prisons. No one reprimands him for using it for unsavory purposes at night. On the contrary, it shows a level of corruption where others participate and enjoy.
【Ground Combat Type Powered Suit II HP 900】
A powered suit made during the early development stages. Its breathability, mobility, and armor are all poor, and production has long been discontinued in its home country. It has hardly seen any use, and it is believed that the ones that have remained were simply left over from long ago.