It would be bad to run into monsters or the Demon Race, so for now, I’ll listen carefully before entering the Prison. Since there have been no events regarding King and the others’ movements since Eina escaped, I need to proceed by grasping the situation step by step from here on.

Then, I heard the clang of an iron gate closing. After that, I heard what sounded like a conversation… and eventually, heavy footsteps.

It seems they’ve just been imprisoned… I thought, and decided to wait a little longer. At the same time, I considered my next move. The exit of the Secret Passage is located in a blind spot from the entrance of the Underground prison, and it won’t be exposed unless a guard approaches. However, if I’m found, I’ll have to defeat the Demon Race members and monsters present. With my skill, it would be a single blow, but the fact that I defeated them would remain, so the Demon Race would understand that someone had infiltrated. Since that carries the risk of changing the scenario… I want to avoid being discovered.

While wondering if I was being too paranoid… I decided I should be extremely careful, so I listened again to make sure it was clear, and slowly opened the door to the Prison.

There was a faint sound — but there was no sign of a guard coming this way.

Relieved, I entered the Prison through the secret door. Rags, as if used for cleaning, were scattered on the floor. I walked carefully, avoiding stepping on them and making any noise, until I reached a corner. Coming to a T-junction, I took out a Hand Mirror from my pocket.

Thinking it less likely to be discovered than sticking my face out, I used the Hand Mirror to look around the corner. The result was a black, human-like Demon in the passageway… a Lesser Demon.

Lesser Demons change body color depending on their level, with five types in order from bottom to top: blue, black, green, red, and copper. Black is the second from the bottom… yet their abilities are much higher compared to monsters that appear in the early stages.

Of course, I could defeat it in one blow, but… there was only one demon guard visible. Even after thoroughly searching for other presences, the result was the same. I thought I could do it, but I meticulously searched for anything else. Although it doesn’t exist in the game, like a device that acts as a surveillance camera or something… However, I couldn’t perceive anything like that by peeking with the Hand Mirror.

“…It can’t be helped.”

In any case, there’s no absolute guarantee of safety anywhere… I quietly took a deep breath and prepared my Magic.

To use Magic, one must first follow procedures such as chanting the appropriate incantation. This is absolute, unless wearing specific accessories.

However, this can be shortened with repeated practice. I, too, can use some Magic almost without incantation because I used them so much during my training… though it took a considerable amount of time to reach that point, and even for me, who has been fighting since childhood, only a few were the limit. To master Magic, further diligence is required.

Eventually, the magic was complete. I used Sleep Magic on the monster. All types of Lesser Demons were supposed to be susceptible to status ailment magic, so using magic should put them to sleep.

Indeed—when I activated the magic and peered through the Hand Mirror… the Lesser Demon’s body suddenly tilted. Then it collapsed to its knees. If there were any surveillance devices, it wouldn’t be strange for more Demon Race members or monsters to appear if they noticed the anomaly, but… there was no change.

After waiting for about three minutes—by the way, I had already verified how long sleep-inducing magic lasts, confirming that it would remain asleep for about half a day if not attacked. Since there was no change after five minutes, I quietly muttered “Good” and started walking towards the Prison.

There were no other guards. And no other prisoners in the cells… Making as little noise as possible, I came to stand next to the fallen Demon, and

“…Who are you?”

An elderly man’s voice. I looked into the Prison, and there—

“Hello… My name is Ruon Madin.”

I introduced myself, a little nervous… There were two people in the cell. One was an elderly man with white hair and corresponding wrinkles. His beard was also white, and he wore a priestly robe primarily in red, giving him a certain dignity even within the prison.

And the other was a woman. Silver hair reaching to her waist, and deep blue eyes almost black. Her pale skin and delicate features created an immeasurable fragility, giving her an aura as if she could disappear at any moment… a beauty for whom the word ‘peerless’ naturally came to mind.

Her age was probably about the same as mine. However, she wasn’t wearing a dress, but rather a white cloak, as if she had been out. Underneath, she must have been wearing somewhat thick, outdoor clothes. I believe she was out hunting with Eina when the Castle was attacked. She must have been imprisoned in that attire.

And the man—he is Claudius, the King of this Nation. And the other is his daughter, Princess Sophilia. These two are the ones I was looking for.

“Was it you who put the Demons to sleep?”

The King asked. I nodded slightly and… conveyed the words I had prepared beforehand to him.

“I have come to help you at the request of a certain person.”

I managed to say it… My body was quite tense in the strained situation, but perhaps that made me calmer. It felt like I was sweating from my back, but my mind was quite clear. This is a good sign.

In response to my statement, the King tilted his head.

“Us…? At whose request?”

“It’s a request from someone who used to be a Knight of this Nation.”

It was a complete lie, but I was confident that the King would be more convinced if I said it this way.

In the past, there was an old Knight Captain in this Nation who feared this would happen. He was less than a supporting character, only mentioned by name in the game, but he advised the King to prepare because a threat from the Demon Race was approaching. However, the King and others dismissed it as unnecessary, and the Knight retired. The setting was that he died of illness.

In hindsight, an event in Eina’s story exists where if they had followed his words… So I thought I’d use that. If asked for a reason, I’d say that just before he died of illness, he asked me to help the King if the Nation fell into crisis.

And my plan succeeded. The King seemed to imagine that Knight based on my words and his eyes widened.

“I see… Now that I think about it, his words were correct, weren’t they?”

“Even if we had prepared, the outcome might not have changed. In any case, escaping and regrouping is the priority now.”

“….But.”

The King hesitated. If I remember correctly, the setting was that the Demon Race had promised not to attack the people any further if they captured the King.

However, that was a lie, and in reality, the Demon Race continued their attacks even after capturing the King. Furthermore, the King and his people starved to death… It’s too tragic.

Well, I also thought it would be bad to just let them escape here. So, I made a suggestion.

“I will create dummies of you with Magic.”

“…What?”

“The dummies will be extremely elaborate and will deceive the Demon Race. You will escape by making it seem as though those dummies committed suicide.”

I had an idea for that Magic. In a certain event for another Protagonist, one of the allied mages is killed by a Demon Race Executive. But he was alive using Dummy Magic… Such an event exists in the scenario.

The name of the Magic was also mentioned, so I had researched it and learned how to use it. Since it was Magic that even deceived an Executive, it wouldn’t be exposed here.

“You are still necessary for this Nation… Please.”

“….I see.”

The King looked down once,

“Very well… I will follow your words.”

The King agreed. Then he looked at the Princess, and she also showed a gesture of agreement.

Perhaps, the two of them had prepared for death here. It was an extremely sad decision, but it must have been the result of thinking there was no other way to save their people.

Anyway, for now, I had made contact with the King and arranged for their escape… But the operation isn’t over yet. I mentally braced myself and began chanting Lock-Opening Magic to open the King’s cell.