Man, whoever that was, they sure were kind.
I watched the red spider depart, took a deep breath, and looked toward the prison.
It had been about a week since I'd last come here. Confirming it once more, this really was an enormous facility.
I passed through the gate, crossed the courtyard lined with numerous giant mechanized soldiers, and entered the building. Waiting to greet me was the same female staff member who'd guided me last time.
The moment she saw me, she furrowed her brows and opened with: "It seems my warning was meaningless. With the clash of Class 8 authorities over the Thunder Emperor, the prison is in more chaos than ever before."
"It looks pretty quiet to me."
As always, there was nobody around, and there was hardly any noise.
"The prison's system is in disarray. A small change to one rule can have a major impact on other rules. To think someone would actually distort the rules set by the City System—"
Looking more carefully, her face had gone a little pale. Things must have been pretty rough.
I cleared my throat and presented my card.
"See? I'm Class 6 now."
The staff member, who had looked exhausted, widened her eyes at the card bearing the large star.
"!? How did you—in such a short time—wait, did you provoke Prince Angus!?"
"??" I didn't recognize the name Angus, but the fact that the staff member was here meant I'd made it in time. If Krahi had already been released, she would've said so right away.
"Can I file a release application for Krahi with a Class 6 card? Oh, and Princess Nora hasn't arrived yet, has she?"
At my question, the staff member's shaken expression calmed slightly.
"...A release application requires a meeting with the prisoner, so that comes after. Princess Nora hasn't arrived yet. The prison regulations were temporarily changed to reject release applications, but... it appears Prince Angus has been removed. There's a cooldown period on regulation changes, so for the next five minutes there's no risk of them being rewritten again. If we go now, I can guide you."
So that's what it meant for those in power to change rules however they pleased. Must be hell for the people actually working under them.
As I sighed, a sharp voice pierced my ears.
"Hah, hah—wait right there!! Don't you dare go without me!!"
I turned around. The voice belonged to—a glamorous woman in a stunning red dress. Golden curls, violet eyes. Her gaze was somewhat sharp and severe, but her features were refined, and her eyes blazed with a burning energy.
Behind her stood a row of soldiers bearing a slight resemblance to mechanized soldiers.
The staff member called her name with a strained expression.
"P-Princess Nora..."
Princess Nora marched toward me with heavy strides. Up close, her eyes gleamed like those of a predatory beast.
She fixed me with a glare and barked imperiously: "The release application hasn't been filed yet, has it? Guide me first. That idiot Angus wasted my time. Spare guards—know your place and get lost. I'll deal with your insolence later. This is—an—order."
Her voice, her expression—she was thoroughly accustomed to commanding people. The sheer dominance she exuded made Lusha, who had been silent until now, let out a small yelp.
But it wasn't quite enough to intimidate me. I'm used to being yelled at.
Now then, how should I respond... But before I could say anything, the staff member spoke up cautiously.
"Princess Nora... I'm sorry, but... even though no release application has been filed, a guide request has already been made. When multiple people are present, the guide follows the order of arrival."
"What did you say?"
A low voice. The staff member, struck with a murderous gaze, tried and failed to produce a smile.
"Th-This is a prison regulation. I personally would love to prioritize you, Princess Nora, but there's nothing I can do. Or...are you planning to defy the City System?"
"…………"
Princess Nora said nothing. But her face turned crimson in an instant.
A drop of red fell from her lip, staining the floor. She had bitten through it.
Her expression showed violent emotions surging beneath the surface.
A storm of fury. Princess Nora stamped her feet.
Her hair whipped upward. A scream laced with murder echoed through the prison building.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! You bastards!! I'll absolutely kill you!! Angus, Tony, the spares, and you guards—all of you!! When I become Queen, I'll exterminate every last one of you who dared stand in my way!! You dare take him from me!! I'm the one who loves him the most!! Damn it! Damn it!! DAMN IT!!"
"...Lord Krahi, I'll guide you now."
The staff member, who had been watching Princess Nora's outburst with a pale face, turned back to me.
She probably wanted to get out of here as fast as possible. Princess Nora was like a wrathful dragon. I wanted to bolt too, but that wasn't really an option.
After all, I had come here to—protect a member of the royal family.
Princess Nora didn't seem like the type to become a puppet of the nobles, but regardless, she was someone I was supposed to protect. I could leave it to Kaiser and the others, but there was no harm in making things go a little more smoothly before they got fully involved.
I approached Princess Nora, who was pounding the floor with all her might, and said: "Hey, Miss Nora...if you're up for it...want to come with me?"
"...What?"
"Krahi!?"
Cool and the others stared at me in shock. The staff member was speechless. But the most surprised one was probably Princess Nora herself.
She looked up at me as though staring at some incomprehensible creature, her voice trembling: "W-What...what are you talking about?"
"You can negotiate first. But there's one condition. No brainwashing. That's not really what you want, is it? I wouldn't do that either. The Thunder Emperor isn't someone you should brainwash."
I had come to release Krahi. But whether the release application would actually be approved was anyone's guess. After all, Princess Nora had submitted release applications countless times without success, and the decision to release ultimately rested with the City System—so I should try to keep things as smooth as possible. Playing it safe, basically.
I extended my hand. Miss Nora stared at it for a while, then slapped it aside and stood up under her own power.
"You'll...regret this. Showing mercy to me—to Nora Code!"
"One more regret won't hurt at this point. My regret collection could always use another entry."
"????"
Well, Miss Nora's fury seemed to have settled down.
Cool and the others were stunned by my sudden about-face, but they didn't say anything. Well, let's just keep things civil.
Miss Nora turned to the soldiers standing perfectly still behind her—who hadn't moved an inch during her entire tantrum—and said: "Wait here. I'll be back shortly."
Now then—what kind of state was the Thousand Sky Myriad Blossoms in after all this time?