IMRELM 09

Chapter 9

“…Yeah, right!”

What kind of insane brat is this…?

Sys rubbed his throbbing temples.

“You do realize you’ve just added another crime to your record, don’t you?”

“I know.”

“You’ll receive additional punishment.”

“Yes!”

…Why does she sound even happier?

The thought crossed his mind, but he continued anyway.

“You could be thrown into solitary confinement because of this. While you’re in solitary, you won’t be allowed outside for walks. You’ll eat every meal alone in your cell.”

“Yes!”

“There won’t be any snack time, either.”

“…Yes!”

I can put up with that much, Karin thought confidently.

Seeing how fearless she looked, Sys let out another sigh.

He hadn’t actually intended to send her to solitary.

He’d only wanted to scare her into behaving.

Unfortunately, the threat wasn’t working at all.

“…One last question.”

At least now he more or less understood why she’d done it.

“How did you make the bomb?”

“I had the materials.”

“The materials?”

“The black ore scattered across the prison floor.”

Sys frowned.

Isn’t that the ore used to stabilize magical power?

“I happen to know one of its weaknesses.”

“What weakness?”

“I’ll tell you… if you grant me one wish.”

“What?”

Sys openly scowled.

“Do you not realize the severity of the crime you’ve committed?”

“I committed arson against Imperial property.”

“…”

She knew exactly what she’d done.

And she’s still trying to negotiate?

This child is terrifying.

“Fine. As long as you don’t ask for immediate release or a reduced sentence, I’ll grant your request.”

“You can’t take it back later!”

“…Fine.”

She’s ridiculously meticulous over the strangest things.

Sys clicked his tongue.

“The control stones suppress magical energy, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So what happens if they’re subjected to an impact?”

“?”

“Impact?”

Sys narrowed his eyes.

Karin nodded.

“The buffering stones are replaced regularly.”

“So they won’t store too much power and suddenly go boom.”

“…”

“But what if…”

“…they could explode not only from pressure inside…”

“…but also from an external stimulus?”

“You…!”

“Wouldn’t causing an explosion become pretty easy?”

While Sys stood speechless, Karin calmly explained the bomb’s construction step by step.

Her explanation was concise, logical, and incredibly easy to understand.

It was so clear that Sys almost felt embarrassed for never having considered such a possibility.

“And that’s basically how you make it explode.”

Leaving out only the fact that she herself could create magical gems, Karin shrugged.

“If you don’t believe me, you can test it right away.”

“But other people might misuse this, so it’d probably be better if you secretly tested it under the excuse of weapon research.”

The gem she’d created with her tears had merely acted as a powerful catalyst.

The actual explosion mechanism had already been fully explained.

“So… can I tell you what I want now?”

“…”

Since he’d already given his word, Sys could only nod reluctantly.

“Please send me to solitary confinement.”

“Well, that’s eas—”

…

What?!

Did I hear that correctly?

What kind of lunatic request was that?

“Where did you say you wanted to go?”

“Solitary confinement!”

Karin declared proudly.

“I really want to be put in solitary! Starting today, if possible!”

…Is something seriously wrong with this child?

For the first time, Sys genuinely became worried.

And so…

The crazy little girl who had spectacularly blown up an entire building…

Yes!

…was thrown into solitary confinement.

* * *

“So that crazy kid really blew up the building to openly oppose His Majesty the Emperor?”

“I was willing to overlook it because she was cute, but…”

“At first I wondered why a child like that had ended up in Izetail.”

“Now I get it.”

Karin had already been the youngest inmate in the prison.

After the explosion, she became famous overnight.

The guards had seen every kind of troublemaker imaginable.

Violence.

Rebellious prisoners.

Riots.

But—

BOOOOOM!!

Making a bomb…

And using it to obliterate an entire building?

There were plenty of lunatics in the world.

But Karin had just made prison history.

Quietly eavesdropping on the guards’ conversation was a man.

Prisoner No. 392.

His name was Nick.

A loyal subordinate of the Emperor, he was currently carrying out a secret mission.

His assignment:

Keep watch over the imprisoned Duke of Vancadium and the Duke’s younger sister.

Watching the Duke was obvious—he had committed a crime.

But his younger sister was another matter.

Why had she infiltrated this prison?

Was she planning an escape?

Nick had spent the last two months imprisoned undercover to monitor them both.

However…

Recently, someone had begun interfering with his mission.

Prisoner No. 100.

Her name was Karin.

Her list of crimes ranged from insulting the Imperial Family to hiring assassins.

They were crimes far too serious for a four-year-old.

He had already been keeping a close eye on her.

Then she’d gone and blown up a building.

There was no doubt about it.

She was completely abnormal.

Which made her even more dangerous.

Especially since the Vancadium lady had become extremely protective of her.

At first, Nick had assumed the girl was her accomplice.

Yet strangely…

The little brat didn’t even seem to know who her own cellmate actually was.

“She got sent to solitary? Is that really okay? That monster is in there too.”

“Well, she already blew up a building. She’ll probably be fine.”

“Even so, there are only two prisoners in the solitary block right now. It’s a completely sealed area. The guards stay outside. If those two start fighting—”

“Come on. Have you ever seen a fight break out in solitary? They can’t even use magic in there.”

“Damn it. Did you think someone would blow up a building inside this prison? It’s the what if that worries me. Starting tomorrow, I’m assigned to guard that section.”

“Hah. You’re scared.”

Listening to the conversation, Nick quietly walked away.

After a short distance, someone extended a hand from around a corner.

Recognizing the signal, Nick headed toward them.

* * *

“Hehe.”

I was unbelievably excited on the way to solitary confinement.

Big Sis told me not to go…

She had even shouted that if I went, she’d destroy another building and follow me.

The guards had quickly stopped her.

I’ll only have one week there…

This might be my first and last chance.

I absolutely have to persuade the Duke.

If I immediately ask him to become my ally, he’ll definitely refuse.

I have to win him over.

Quickly… but patiently.

Slowly… but surely.

“This door leads to the solitary block.”

The guard stopped before a massive iron door and looked down at me.

“Once you enter, you won’t come out for a week.”

“No one except the guards is allowed inside.”

The guard, clearly displeased with me, unlocked the heavy door.

Grinning from ear to ear, I trotted after him.

Just as you’d expect from solitary confinement…

Every room was a single-person cell.

Like the regular prison, each door was made of iron bars.

Which meant I could clearly see who occupied the cell across from mine…

And exactly what they were doing.

“…?”

The Duke, who had been sitting quietly inside, frowned the instant he saw me.

His eyes practically shouted:

Why are you here?

I hugged my bundle of belongings and bowed politely.

“Hello, Your Grace!”

“…”

“I got into a little bit of trouble…!”

They say making a good first impression is half the battle!

“I look forward to being in your care for the next week!”

This should earn me a few points… right?