Chapter 20
Johann, watching from afar with a scowl, caught my eye. Yes, that bastard would surely make them suffer.
“Damn, what’s with the homeless stench?”
Right, I had been doused in sh*t water earlier.
Damian seemed unfazed by the odor, but why was that man acting like that?
And why tie your bangs with a rubber band?
“Nice hair tie. Apple hair* looks good on you.”
(T/N: Apple hair refers to a hairstyle where short hair is tied up at the top of one’s head, resembling an apple stem. More often than not, it refers to the bangs, since it’s often the shortest part, and is often what is tied up.)
My soulless compliment was met with Johann tightening his scarf and tilting his head back.
“Got it for participating in a survey. Handy for washing up.”
“Yes, thank you for the useful info.”
“If it’s so useful, so get lost and wash up. Your stench might make me bleed from the nose.”
Johann’s prickly response was accompanied by a dismissive wave of his hand.
So, he’s sensitive to smells.
***
A miserably standard morning routine begins.
Inmates here are not only conscripted for construction work but also “vocational training” under the guise of mining, farming, and military supplies production.
Efficiently utilized, indeed.
Given we’re ability users and considering there’s no concern over injuries or deaths, nor any workers’ compensation to deal with, to the Order, we’re essentially disposable as any other consumable.
“Prisoner number 49, while others fill and haul full carts, why is your effort so sh*tty?”
While I was moving ore mined from the quarry, one of the guards chided me.
He glared at the single piece of ore in my hand. Why? Isn’t it just about moving them?
“Why are you being like this to someone too frail to even carry a single piece of ore?”
“Use your abilities, your abilities! Look, prisoner number 7 is doing five men’s worth of work!”
The guard shouted, pointing at Clara nearby as a proper example.
She was dragging a mountain of ore like some kind of heavy machinery. I made a regretful face.
“I don’t have that kind of brute strength.”
“Do you think you can survive the survival training like that? Do it properly.”
Survival training isn’t the issue when I feel like I’m about to die right now.
Seeing the guard’s fierce face as he tightly gripped the whip with both hands, I hurried towards the cart.
Trying to pull a cart that was slightly less filled with ore, my feeble strength from never having exercised was clearly insufficient.
“Being an ability user and you can’t even pull that? You’re a useless piece of trash.”
The prisoners ranked in the 40s, who usually made my life miserable, kicked my cart and laughed.
Thanks to their kick, it seemed to move about 30cm. I looked back at them with an expressionless face.
“Guys. Shouldn’t we help each other out, especially in tough times? Who knows what the future holds?”
“Talking about the future? As if a sickly thing like you wouldn’t drop dead any moment.”
Seeing them cackle at the weak, it was clear that expecting warm kindness or selflessness was futile. The world is rotten.
“Stop loafing around and move! Prisoner number 49!”
I saw a guard threateningly swinging his whip from afar.
Why is it that both guards and prisoners are all giving me a hard time?
I took a step forward, feeling as if I was going to vomit blood.
As cold sweat trickled down and my vision started spinning, I heard something crashing down above me.
“Huh?”
The moment I reflexively looked up, my head went blank, and my body froze.
Planks that had been piled up high in the tunnel were falling towards me.
Did someone deliberately drop this to kill me?
This was the first thought that flashed through my mind.
Sensing my end was near, I desperately cried out in my mind.
Status window!
Or maybe transfer me to a world of villainess with a refreshing twist!
But could that even be possible?
Having caused plenty of grudge-worthy actions outside, I wondered if praying for forgiveness and living with a righteous heart might spare my life.
Or maybe I could be sent back to the past.
To all those I have wronged, I’m truly so, so…
“You crazy bastards! You were the ones who did wrong first!”
I was someone who wouldn’t do anything unless provoked first!
Boom―!
With a scream, large planks crashed down upon my head.
And then, something floated up before my eyes.
Each ∵ condition, new birth. ÷°
(T/N: I tried my best to include all the symbols in the translation ( TuT ) b )
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