Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 32
“I see.”
I nodded in admiration at Brayden’s excellent idea. I’d only spared him by chance, but I hadn’t expected he’d be this helpful.
“Um… I think this is as far as I can help you.”
With his helmet now on, Brayden spoke cautiously. I hadn’t planned to keep him with me any longer anyway.
“Thank you for your help. I won’t forget this favor.”
“No, it’s nothing. I’ll keep what I witnessed a secret. Actually…”
Brayden fidgeted with his hands, which he had timidly clasped together, then gave an awkward smile.
“Those guys deserved to die like that. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen them do such things. I’ve never had the courage to tell anyone until now.”
Although my actions hadn’t been done out of a particularly righteous intent, thinking that at least to someone, I had delivered justice, made my uneasy conscience feel a bit lighter.
“Whatever it is, I hope things go well for you. Then, I’ll be off.”
Brayden gave a quick bow and was the first to leave the storage room. I adjusted my helmet and then carefully stepped outside as well.
***
Just as Brayden had advised, when I told the soldiers guarding the prison tower that I was there for an internal patrol, they readily let me in.
Having passed through without issue, I picked up a lantern and climbed the old, dark stairs.
Though the prison was dark, the layout wasn’t complicated, so I soon reached a quiet cell. Maybe because it was late at night, the inside was as silent as the grave.
“What are you all doing in there?”
I tapped on the bars and asked quietly. Kyle immediately stood up from his seat.
“Lysian? What’s with the armor?”
Kyle, who had recognized my voice and greeted me, asked in confusion when he saw how I was dressed.
“Shh, keep it down. I only snuck in.”
In case any commotion drew other soldiers’ attention, I hushed him first. Kyle closed his mouth and pressed up against the bars.
“What happened? You were gone so long, I thought you’d left for good.”
“That’s not what’s important. Crown Prince Reynold said he has no intention of letting you go. The trial’s already been decided. Tomorrow, you’ll all be found guilty and executed.”
“Is that true?”
Startled, Elonen blurted out, then quickly covered his mouth.
“If that’s true, what’s the point of holding a trial?”
“It’s just for show. The Crown Prince will make sure you’re found guilty. The Emperor trusts his words without a single doubt…”
I answered Kyle’s question with what I knew. Now that I’d told them this much, I figured the hero’s party would start thinking about how to save themselves.
“But why did they let you go?”
In the midst of this, Gerard asked sharply. Honestly, it was frustrating to be doubted even though I had come to help.
“They didn’t let me go. They ordered me killed.”
“Reynold did?”
Kyle, truly shocked this time, raised his voice. Both he and I looked toward the stairs, startled. Thankfully, it didn’t seem anyone had heard.
“Why did he want to kill you?”
“Um, probably because I found out his secret. Anyway, the soldiers took me to the northern forest, but they got into a fight among themselves and I escaped.”
I had to come up with a lie on the spot. I’m getting better at lying these days.
“Anyway, Crown Prince Reynold said he’s going to personally go after the Black Flame Dragon with the legendary weapons and gear you obtained. Maybe that was his plan from the start.”
At my words, the hero’s party stirred.
“So what now, Kyle? Your father and brother want to kill us all.”
As expected, Gerard was the first to complain.
“I’m sorry, Kyle, but Crown Prince Reynold never liked us anyway. He really could kill us.”
Even gentle Elonen took Gerard’s side, and Kyle rubbed his forehead.
“So what are we supposed to do? Run away? If we escape now, it’ll look like we’re admitting we let the Black Flame Dragon escape.”
Kyle let out a sigh and covered his face with both hands.
“If they want to believe that, let them.”
Gerard grumbled in a biting tone. Honestly, I agreed with Gerard. There was no need to help people who believed such lies, nor any reason to clear up the misunderstanding.
But Kyle was the leader of the hero’s party. When people thought of the party, they thought of Kyle, and he had the most to lose.
And thinking about it, from the Black Flame Dragon’s perspective, it would be best if Kyle just gave up everything and stayed quietly in his cell.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
So, having said everything I needed to say, I turned to leave. I had done all I could for the hero’s party, so there was nothing more for me to do here.
“Wait, Lysian.”
