Academy Pure Love Prison Guard

12 – Abyss Prison

Dim moonlight settled in the dimly lit infirmary room.

Perhaps it was the unique atmosphere of the infirmary.

Or maybe it’s because I’m alone in this spacious place.

The chilling air grazes my neck.

“I never imagined that the day would come when I would see a fingerbone.”

How long has it been since I’ve been this angry?

Maybe since I was fifteen years old.

At that time, the village chief had a son.

Unlike the reputed honorable personality of the village chief,

his son was nothing short of a troublemaker.

He committed all kinds of misdeeds so famous within the village.

But just because he was the village chief’s son, people couldn’t utter a word against him.

However, that bastard crossed a line that shouldn’t have been crossed.

He interfered between a couple who had promised their future together and said this.

“All the maidens in this village belong to me! Such a woman is wasted on someone like you!”

Yes.

That jerk dared to brazenly commit N*TR (stealing someone else’s partner) in front of me.

As a result, I got angry and beat him up until he was on the verge of dying,

and the village chief apologized and promised to properly educate his child to the villagers.

After careful consideration, I realized that I have never been this angry ever since.

By the way, at that time, rather than blaming me, Riley cheered me on from behind, saying I did well.

“It’s really amazing.”

I marveled at the fact that there was no pain as I moved my hand.

Although I hadn’t unwrapped the bandage, it had already been a long time since the injury was treated.

Just to be prepared for any unexpected situation, I would spend tonight in this state.

“Oh, right!”

As I tossed and turned on the bed, trying to alleviate boredom, I suddenly remembered the existence of an app I hadn’t checked yesterday.

I couldn’t check it earlier due to the sudden commotion caused by Cerrion entering, but now that I was alone, it was possible at any time.

I immediately took out the tablet I had placed in my backpack and turned it on.

Then, familiar screens appeared along with two apps.

One was my personal status window using the UI of the “Academy Series,”

And the other was the app I was about to check.

“Well then, open Sesame!”

With this strange slogan, I pressed the app, and something extraordinary happened.

***

In an instant, I couldn’t grasp what was happening,

I didn’t realize what changes had occurred.

I just found myself standing up at some point,

And the surroundings looked far from a hospital room, no matter how I looked at them.

“…This is peculiar.”

Muttering with unease,

I sighed as I saw a pair of chairs and a table under flickering lights.

Since I had already been here before, it wasn’t that surprising.

It was the place where I mistook it for an interview room the previous day.

Still, nothing could be seen beyond the lights,

And an eerie atmosphere filled the air.

“Oh, damn!”

I was genuinely startled, and my heartbeat raced.

Just like a scene from a horror movie, without any warning, a fake interviewer appeared.

The face is covered as usual, but I felt that the gaze was directed towards me.

“You called me?”

“No, you called me.”

It felt as if my question was wrong, and he responded with a soft tone.

I couldn’t understand the meaning of his words right away, but I faintly understood as the gaze towards my face shifted towards the tablet I was holding.

The tablet was originally one of the items I received from him.

It wasn’t strange that it contained a function to call him.

I regained my composure and sat down.

As if waiting for me to sit, his tightly closed lips slowly opened.

“So, which story would you like to hear first? My identity? Or the way to become stronger through unique methods?”

A cold sweat broke out at the options he presented.

As if he knew all my information, he sighed deeply at the choice that seemed to probe the gaps in my mind.

“Let’s start with the former.”

I decided to first hear about the identity of the person in front of me.

Who exactly is this person, and how did he call me while time was stopped?

And with a pile of questions I wanted to ask about how he had my tablet.

Upon hearing my decision, he replied in a casual tone.

“I am…”

After a moment, he suddenly snapped his fingers.

As the mystical atmosphere intensified, the surrounding scenery changed once again.

Countless doors filled the space, each door seeming simple at first glance, but the malice overflowing from them was definitely not human.

“Right here, I am the warden of the Abyss Prison.”

“The Abyss Prison?”

When asked about the concerning words, he nodded and continued his story.

“It’s a prison that accommodates monsters beyond the realm of humanity, defying the laws of time and space.”

There was no reaction to such a fantastical statement.

It’s said that when humans go beyond their limits, they can’t think of anything.

Was that what he meant?

However, a more shocking story remained.

“Regarding the interview results, fortunately, you passed.”

“…What?”

An ominous feeling brushed past, but I ignored it and asked.

“You will be appointed as the warden who will succeed me in managing the Abyss Penitentiary.”

“……”

The cold sweat trickling down was definitely not because of my mood.

It was currently difficult to believe that I had been appointed as the warden of the Abyss Penitentiary, where malevolence overflowed even when standing still.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds for you.”

“From what perspective…”

I replied with a suffocating feeling, and he interrupted, shaking my mind with just one sentence.

“Don’t you need power?”

If demons existed, he would undoubtedly be the one standing before me.

His words were as sweet as whispers from a demon, to the point where I thought that way.

However, a question continued to swirl in my mind.

What does becoming a warden have to do with gaining power?

Although the two seemed completely unrelated, I furrowed my brow,

He seemed to have understood my question and nodded, answering.

“It’s natural to have doubts. However, becoming a warden of the Abyss Penitentiary means there is a corresponding reward.”

As I reached out my hand, the tablet I was holding flew as if attracted by a magnet.

After catching the tablet in that manner and putting it on the table, I waved my hand in the air,

And the tablet’s screen floated in mid-air.

It was a sight that felt like directly watching a hologram from a movie, surprising yet,

On the other hand, I honestly thought it was cool.

“As a warden of the abyss, you temporarily gain the authority to release prisoners.”

“Release prisoners?”

As I tried to comprehend the incongruous story,

Without giving me time to question, the story continued.

“As I mentioned earlier, the prisoners here are monsters that surpass the realm of humanity. Each one can be considered a biological weapon capable of destroying the world.”

“……”

Biological weapons capable of destroying the world.

Only now could I understand what he meant by power.

If he could freely summon such prisoners,

That would be a power in itself.

Yet, with an unsettling feeling, I pondered if something was amiss.

“Of course, you cannot release prisoners as you please.”

“You appointed me forcefully, and now I have to step up?”

Complaining and grumbling, he justified it as an unavoidable task.

“Do you see the screen here?”

“Ah!”

As I focused on the screen that had appeared in the air a moment ago,

I couldn’t help but let out a gasp.

Familiar names filled the screen.

The worst quests that were always advised against in the ‘Academy Series.’

Names I hadn’t seen in a long time made my head ache.

Yet, is it fortunate or unfortunate?

Quests to obtain the Line’s Magic Sword were also included.

“Well, if it’s not just for the magic sword, there’s no reason to bother.”

“When the points you obtain from completing quests exceed a certain value…”

Interrupting for a moment, something black resembling a ticket fell down.

One of them landed in his hand,

Waving the ticket, he continued to explain.

“A ticket that allows temporary release of prisoners. Let’s call it a release ticket for convenience. Anyway, if you complete a certain number of quests, you will automatically receive this ticket.”

It’s not an easy task in the world, but…

Here, I felt a sense of doubt as to why it had to be so difficult.

Nevertheless, at present, I couldn’t refuse since it wasn’t a matter of choosing between hot or cold rice.

“Well, that concludes the basic explanation. If you have any further questions.”

“…Then what should I call you?”

Suddenly, I wondered how to address the person in front of me.

I decided to refer to him as a prison warden, an abyssal prison guard who had entered before me.

So, would it be right to call him “senior”?

That’s what I thought, but I responded with a laugh tinged with regret.

“There won’t be any need for that. Our encounter ends here.”

“What? Where is that coming from?”

I hurriedly reached out my hand, but it was already too late.

Before I knew it, I had returned from the dark space to the infirmary where sunlight poured in.

For a moment, everything seemed like a dream,

But when I checked the tablet, which was still powered on, and saw the quest list, I realized it was reality.

***

“What on earth is this….”

After leaving the infirmary in the morning,

I headed towards the notice board that announces class assignments.

Yet, I couldn’t find my name anywhere.

I checked from Class S to E, but strangely, my name was nowhere to be found.

Even though Buster was in Class E, so, surely, I should be there too.

Could it be that they dropped me?

At that unsettling thought, my pupils trembled.

Just then, someone tapped my shoulder and called me.

“Ron, can I have a moment?”

“Oh, it’s that professor again.”

It was the professor who subdued me when I caused a commotion yesterday.

Since I had something to ask anyway, I answered and followed him.

We arrived at the professor’s private space.

Here, I could share stories that I couldn’t tell others without hesitation.

“Then let me tell you the unfortunate news first.”

“It can’t be expulsion….”

Begging silently, you asked cautiously,

The professor shook his head and denied it, saying “No.”

“Well then….”

“You are in a special class that is not listed on the bulletin. You are assigned to Class F.”

I don’t understand why people in this world randomly determine my affiliation.