My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros' Obsession-Chapter 24Vol 2.

The sound of people approaching the entrance of the temporary detention center reached me. I grabbed Karon’s arm in a panic and quickly started thinking.

‘There’s only one way out.’

But since people are heading that way, we can't escape through there.

Just then, the Dark Sorcerer behind me took a sharp breath.

"Hey! Here...!"

"Shut up!"

Damn, if he opens his mouth, we're finished!

I made a quick decision and used my hairpin to unlock the door to the cell where the Dark Sorcerer was kept. Then, I took Karon inside with me.

"Stay quiet. I’ll get you out when we leave."

"Really? If I just keep quiet..."

"Yeah! I’ll get you out!"

It was humiliating to be unlocking a criminal’s cell, but...

‘I can’t get caught.’

If we get caught attempting to escape, it’ll result in a harsher punishment. That would ruin my reputation as a female lead.

I crouched down on the straw, holding the Dark Sorcerer tightly with one hand. It was a small threat to keep him quiet.

Earlier, I cursed this uncomfortable straw, but now, it was actually useful.

"Where are they?!"

"It seems they’ve already left!"

"Quickly, search outside! Some stay behind and search the end of the corridor!"

"Yes!"

I heard the voices of the guards outside, and I held my breath, becoming even more tense. They’d likely come in to check on us soon.

"Hehe..."

"Quiet!"

The Dark Sorcerer chuckled in amusement, and I had to grip him even harder to keep him quiet.

Finally, I felt the footsteps drawing closer to our hiding spot...

"Ugh!"

When I noticed that the straw beneath where Karon and I were crouching had clearly formed a suspicious lump, I had no choice but to urge the Dark Sorcerer.

"Do something!"

"What can I do?"

"Do anything to draw their attention! Anything that will make them look at you instead of the floor we’re hiding in! I’ll get you out if you do!"

"Hmm..."

But instead of drawing their attention, he just dragged his feet, and I became frustrated. If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve treated him better earlier!

"Ah, hurry!"

"Alright, alright, I’ll do something."

Finally, the Dark Sorcerer sprang to his feet, as if making up his mind.

"Dark Sorcery Triple Rotation Technique! Let me show you now!"

He began making a loud spectacle, his voice sounding like an infomercial host.

I tilted my head in confusion but stayed hidden. Do all Dark Sorcerers mimic scammers this well?

"Now, now! The Dark Sorcery Triple Rotation Technique, available at an unbeatable price! Hurry and buy before my passion cools down, and it’s sold out!"

"What the hell is this?"

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"Is he a Dark Sorcerer? He must be crazy if he's going to be transported to prison tomorrow."

"What? A Dark Sorcerer? That’s ominous!"

"Ah, yes! The mini Triple Rotation Technique! I just cooled off, so it's sold out! But we still have the Medium and Large Triple Rotation Techniques available!"

Fortunately, the guards seemed to treat the Dark Sorcerer like a madman. Thanks to his crazy antics, they didn’t even look at the floor where we were hiding.

After the guards finally left, the Dark Sorcerer slumped to the ground, his face pale.

"Good job, Dark Sorcerer..."

"Dark Sorcerer? Please, call me by my name."

"Name?"

"Chaiki."

"Alright, Chaiki."

"And what’s your name?"

"...I’m Salvia, and this is Karon."

I couldn’t believe it. I was exchanging names with a criminal I had locked up. It was humiliating. If we escape together, I’ll make sure to lock him up again later.

Anyway, once the guards were completely gone, Chaiki looked at me with hopeful eyes and asked.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"So, can we escape now? What do we do?"

"Just wait a bit. Because..."

I glanced at the bars.

"I think there are still guards outside."

With my keen sense, I could still feel the presence of guards nearby.

There were fewer than before, but it seemed they were still around, discussing where we might have gone. We couldn’t leave yet.

"Let’s wait until they leave and only one guard remains."

"But it feels like they’ll never leave."

Chaiki muttered in a disgruntled voice.

‘If we leave them alone, they might call the guards back.’

Just as I started to feel uneasy that he might try to report us again...

"Haah, haah... Found them!"

A guard appeared out of nowhere, his head suddenly peeking in front of the bars.

"Ahh!"

I gasped and almost screamed, but as soon as I saw his face in a guard’s uniform, I quickly clamped my mouth shut.

"Ah, Altair?"

"Yep, Salvia! I’ve come to save you!"

"I knew it, I trusted you! ...You’re here!"

***

A moment later, disguised Altair began his performance. He limped naturally and suggested to the guards that he would take over ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the area.

"I’ll check here, and the rest of you should search around the prison. I doubt they could have gone far."

"Why do you want to stay here?"

"Well, as you can see, I injured my leg last time... but, you know, if I take sick leave, they won’t pay me, so I had no choice but to come out and do this."

"I see. Can't afford to lose a penny. Alright, you stay here. We’ll go check around."

"Those higher-ups are always scheming to avoid giving us a single coin."

While Altair rambled on about his grievances with the Adolph Empire, the guards, distracted, left. This was the perfect opportunity for Karon and me to unlock the prison door with the hairpin and escape. Of course, we had no choice but to take Chaiki with us.

However, we couldn't leave the detention center just yet. We still had something we needed to take with us.

"So, there’s a communication tunnel around here?"

"Yes, it's a translucent purple orb!"

‘A crystal orb, huh.’

Fortunately, we were able to find the storage room at the entrance of the detention center. Before I could tell Chaiki to search for it, he was already frantically rummaging through the storage.

"Haah, haah! This is some great medicine from the East! I heard it knocks people out instantly! Oh! And this is a venomous dart that can even knock out a cobra!"

Though a bit unsettling, I let him search freely for his communication device. I saw him stuff something into his pockets, but since we had agreed to cooperate, what could I do?

Besides, there was still something else I needed to do.

"Altair..."

"Huh?"

I growled and approached him, and he stepped back in surprise.

"So, you locked me up... without a hairpin?"

"U-uh..."

Altair stammered, unable to continue, avoiding my gaze.

"Salvia, by the way, where did you and Aquila have your wedding? It seems like it was in a quiet place. Share the details."

Clearly trying to change the subject, he fumbled for a new topic. Though it was ridiculous, I decided to humor his feeble attempt. After all, I couldn’t hit a senior.

"...We haven't gotten married yet."

"What?! You’re not married yet?!"

Altair exclaimed loudly, then quickly clamped his mouth shut, startled by his own voice.

"Ah, no. Then why are you living together?"

"Well, we plan to get married eventually! After 'that thing we can't name' is over."

In truth, Aquila and I had agreed to postpone our wedding until after the revolution.

At that time, Aquila had tried to end things with some romantic lines, but I quickly covered his mouth to prevent it.

"Salvia, after this is over, we..."

"Don’t walk into a dead flag!!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Now that I understand what you’re trying to say, just keep your mouth shut! Alright, let’s go with that, but don’t mention exactly what we’re doing!"

With that, I was able to avoid walking into a "dead flag."

Anyway, we had planned to get married after the revolution. So, technically, we weren’t married yet.

"So, you're not getting married but living together while just dating?"

"Huh? Actually, we’re not even dating."

"What?!"

"I don’t remember us ever saying we were dating!"

At that, Altair immediately grabbed the back of his neck in exasperation.

"Damn, now I understand why Ishina acts like that. I’d better not get involved in their little world..."

While I was pondering how to respond to that, Chaiki raised one hand triumphantly. In his hand, he held something like a crystal orb.

"I found it!"

"Great! Let’s get out of here quickly!"

Finally, we had successfully escaped from the dreaded detention center!

***

Back at the headquarters, I sat happily, savoring the thrill of the escape.

Normally, the seniors would make comments about why I was slacking off, but after hearing our pitiful prison story, they didn't say a word.

"Karon, let’s never get locked up again..."

"Yes, Salvia! But didn’t you tell me that if we’re caught doing a revolution, we’d end up in prison, so we should be careful?"

"...This is really the last time I’m getting involved in this."

After delivering that dramatic line like a mafia boss, I waved at Altair, who was approaching me.

"Altair, long time no see?"

"Salvia."

Without adding anything else, he immediately sat down in the chair in front of me and leaned in closer.

"I heard from Altair. You got caught and ended up in prison?"

"Yeah, but luckily I managed to escape."

For some reason, just having him near me made me want to act a little more childish, so I added, almost whining.

"It was such a struggle. The straw on the floor was so painful... I barely unlocked the lock with a hairpin, sneaking around to avoid the guards..."

"Yeah, yeah."

"The place with the Dark Sorcerer was the scariest, the one at the very end... I was so exhausted."

"You must’ve had a hard time."

Altair stretched his arm and pulled me into a hug. I smiled as the warmth of his body reached me.

"Good job, Salvia."

"Ugh, I really missed you..."

"Salvia?"

Just then, we heard someone’s voice behind us, and Altair and I quickly jumped apart, standing up right away.

"Yes, April. What’s going on?"

"Ah, thought you were finally free from going to the dungeon? Ho ho."

"I-I’ll correct myself..."

"I wasn’t being sarcastic. It’s honestly a good sight."

Saying that, April passed by us and headed to the corner where the other members were gathered. Altair and I followed behind, watching her closely.

The members of the squad were huddled together, scrutinizing Chaiki and his communication device, as if interrogating him.

"Heh, so this is the communication device?"

"Seems useful, heh..."

"It’s so small."

"Will it break if I squeeze it?"

Sadly for Chaiki, he was surrounded by Blair, Topio, Leon, and Brave, and had no choice but to tremble in fear between them.

"Heh, looks like I’m not the only one getting victimized..."

...Although, the Big Team, which had been working as the Dark Sorcery Special Forces, was also involved.

When April, who appeared the most docile, joined in, Chaiki briefly looked at her with hopeful eyes. But soon, he looked between me and April, shaking his head.

"Tch, they’re just like each other," I thought I heard him say, but... hmm, maybe I misheard. Who’s like who?

Anyway, while Chaiki was trembling in fear, thankfully, Taro intervened and mediated the situation.

"Hey, don’t scare him too much..."

Taro’s voice sounded weak, and he didn’t have the energy he usually did.

Taro, who once had a healthy glow, seemed to have lost his vitality as he got more involved in preparing for the revolution. Sadly, his once signature dark circles were now etched deeper under his eyes.

Now, with his worn-out appearance, Taro stood in front of Chaiki, and the latter, clearly intimidated by his grim demeanor, straightened up nervously.

"Hey."

Taro called Chaiki in a tired voice.

"So, have you managed to contact your leader?"

"We’re still in contact!"

Chaiki’s communication device was sending out a request to connect with Count Schwid.

Count Schwid, the leader of the Second Prince’s faction, now a wanted noble by the emperor.

Our plan was to use the Second Prince’s faction to establish a republic.

However, we couldn’t realistically join the leadership of the republic. After all, the deep-rooted prejudice against Arkons in the empire would make that difficult.

Instead, we’d focus on promoting nobles who were once part of the Second Prince’s faction into key positions of power, forging strong ties with them. They would help us establish favorable policies.

[Aaah... Can you hear me?]

"It’s connected!"

A woman’s voice came through the communication device.

[This is Lily. I’m receiving your transmission.]

"This is Chaiki. Please connect me with Count Schwid."

[What’s going on? I heard you were caught. Did you defect?]

"No, no. I escaped."

Chaiki glanced at us, speaking in a low voice.

"I’m with the Dark Sorcery Special Forces now. We’re willing to cooperate."

[The army that imprisoned Dark Sorcerers wants to cooperate? What are you talking about?]

"The Dark Sorcery Special Forces is mostly composed of hetero sapiens. They’re just as eager to overturn this country as we are."

[.......]

For a moment, there was no response, and Chaiki’s face began to show signs of nervousness.

Finally, a voice returned.

[You want to break the magical contract, then.]

"It seems there’s more to it than just that... You want to change the emperor, right?"

Chaiki cautiously asked, and Taro nodded.

"Yes. Tell them we’re trying to change the current regime."

"...Got it. I’ll relay the message."

[Understood. I’ll pass it on to the higher-ups. Wait for further instructions.]

We stood there, waiting to hear back from Count Schwid.

A little while later, a new voice came through.

[Can you hear me?]

"Count Schwid!"

Chaiki shouted with desperation, as if he had found his savior.

"Count Schwid! Please save me..."

But before he could finish, April swiftly placed her hand over his mouth and pulled him back.

Chaiki, now sitting on the floor with his rear end on the ground, was replaced by April, who stood in front of the communication device.