The night was deep and there was barely any noise left to be heard from the busy day. It was silent, serene, and dark, with only the lights from houses and the street mps giving sight to the patrolling guards.

  Although the whole town was resting, the guards and soldiers weren't. They must keep the popuce safe during their most vulnerable state. It was a tedious job with a heavy responsibility but the guards didn't pin because it is their duty.

  One of the pces the guards never leave unattended was the prison. Filled with tough and dangerous criminals, the prison ce which the guards have the heaviest responsibility to oversee, because if ever there rison break, not only the guards' life but also the citizens' will be put in danger.

  And on this particur day, one of these prison breaks will occur, making one of the most dangerous criminal escapes. An escape which will cause havoc throughout the whole town.

  "Hey, I heard that your wife is pregnant, gratutions!" ［Guard 1］

  "Ah, yeah..." ［Guard 2］

  "Hm...? You don't sound happy." ［Guard 1］

  "I'm just worried about the expenses. I don't really have enough money for my wife's birthing expenses, and there's still the child raising after that. Haah... I might o switch to adventuring one of these days." ［Guard 2］

  The guard sighed with his eyes looking distantly. One could easily tell the burden he was carrying just by looking at how haggard and exhausted his face was. Eye bags could even be seen on it.

  While soldiers, especially prison guards, have higher saries than normal people and could earn an amount for a stable life, the guard couldn't help but worry about the expenses of saving a child. He was seriously sidering how he should approach parenthood.

  "You've got it rough, huh... Then how about I let you borroart of my savings? I'm not really in dire need of it right now, and I also don't have a family to take care of like you." ［Guard 1］

  "Ah, you don't have to. It's not really your responsibilityー." ［Guard 2］

  "Hahaha! What kind of responsibility are you talking about? It's only normal to help a friend in need." ［Guard 1］

  "No, that's still kind ofー" ［Guard 2］

  "Then you think of it as a gratutift from me. And if you're still feeling guilty from borrowing mohen you pay it bace you ." ［Guard 1］

  "Ah... Thank you, really..." ［Guard 2］

  The sed guard tried to refuse his friend's offer at first, but hearing how serious and siderate his friend was, he soon gave up and just accepted his help. He was thankful to have such a kind friend.

  "Hahaha! You make it sound like we're just strangers! Anyway, we should probably che the prisoners. Our superiors will scold us if we just stay here." ［Guard 1］

  "Right..." ［Guard 2］

  After their idle chat, the guards patrolled the prison once again. Cell after cell, the two of them made sure that everything was fine and there was nothing suspicious or dangerous brewing.

  Little did they know, the cell o them while they were talking tained a criminal with dangerous capabilities. It was Gabal whom Fritz had arrested along with his master, Algerio.

  A few mier, the guards returned back to where they inally were and tiheir idle chat. As they patrolled, there was nothing which caught their eye. It was just another day at their jobs.

  "Hey, I leave you alone for a while?" ［Guard 1］

  "Huh? Where are you going?" ［Guard 2］

  "I'll just use the restroom. Don't worry I'll be quick!" ［Guard 1］

  "Alright. But only this time, okay? sider it as thanks for your help." ［Guard 2］

  "Hahaha! Sure, sure." ［Guard 1］

  One of the guards left towards the restroom as he whistled pyfully, leaving the other to guard the cells alone.

  But the guard wasn't a little bit worried. After all, the prisoners were bound by magic cuffs which restricts the flow of mana. Even kers will have a hard time if they were bound by such.

  Seeing one of the guards leave, a dangerous light glinted in Gabal's eyes. He saw the opportunity to strike and started his pn for his escape, making sure that the guard didn't notice him.

  Inside of Gabal's mouth was a set of magied which could be activated by blood. The moment it activates, any magic tool within 5 meters from him would be rendered useless. They were runes specifically created to escape such situations.

  There was only one downfall to the runes. Even if it rehe magic tools useless, some of their effects would still remain iivator's body. It was the reason why Gabal never activated it since his power will be limited. He didn't want to fight two soldiers while he was still weakened.

  Gabal didn't waste any more time and quickly bit his lips the moment one of the guards had disappeared from sight, and as blood came in tact with the runes, a dim light shone ihe prison cells, catg the guard's attention.

  "Huh?" ［Guard 2］

  Unfortunately for the guard, it was already too te. The momeurned around to look, Gabal's viper-like hand reached out to his chest, bsting him towards the walls, unscious.

  Thankfully, the guard didn't lose his life and only suffered some external injuries. It artly because of the leftover and temporary effects of the magic cuffs. Gabal, whose strength was at the higher end of E-rank, was now barely as powerful as F-rankers.

  "Now that's taken care of..." ［Gabal］

  Gabal twisted his wrist up and down as he relived the stiffness from being cuffed for a couple of days. Soon after, he fixed his eyes towards the iron bars and with all his might, he opened up a dent rge enough for him to pass through.

  Hnngggggg

  A metallic sound echoed throughout the prison corridors as the bars of iron were slowly bei with sheer strength. Heavy panti Gabal's mouth as soon as he mao force his way out.

  Nontly, Gabal walked up towards the unscious guard and picked up the ring of keys he had near his belt. Just as he was doing so, the sounds of footsteps echoed throughout the corridors, alerting him.

  "I'm backー" ［Guard 1］

  "Hm?" ［Gabal］

  "Hey, what are you doinー" ［Guard 1］

  The guard uhed his sword from his scabbard, but before he could brandish it, Gabal already took the first step and bsted him towards the iron bars, knog him unscious just like his colleague.

  "Now, time to find Master Algerio." ［Gabal］

  After grabbing the keys from the guards, Gabal walked around the prison leisurely, whistling while cheg each of the cells ferio.

  He didn't bother killing the two guards, not because he was merciful, but because he was not in the dition to do so. Other than being weakened, finding Algerio was his top priority.

  Well, even if he was weakened and he already had Algerio, he still wouldn't be able to kill the guards. It was because the prison itself was covered with runes which detected if anyone had died inside of it. Arming the guards of their ongoing escape would just be a hassle.

  On another cell, Algerio was staring bnkly at the wall, cursing Fritz every moment on the back of his mind. The more time passed the more he desired to kill Fritz. He was losing his mind.

  "Curse you, Fritz! Curse you!" ［Algerio］

  This thought has been cirg inside his mind ead every sed ever since he was arrested. And every sed, he found more and more reason to hate and despise Fritz.

  But just as he had bee crazy enough to bash his head against the solid walls of the prison, the doors opened and a familiar figure appeared before him. It was his butler, Gabal.

  "Sorry for the dey Master Algerio. I believe it is now the time to escape this horrid pce." ［Gabal］

  When Gabal appeared, the intense desire to get revenge from Fritz had surfaced on Algerio's mind. He could not have been much happier at the thought of the cause for his misery to suffer.

  "Hehe... Hehehe... Hahahahahaha!" ［Algerio］

  A loud almost maniacal ugh echoed throughout the quiet corridors. The only oo hear that ughter were Algerio, Gabal, and the other prisoners as the prison guards have all been knocked out by Gabal.

  "Say, Gabal. The prisoners here... you vihem to wreak havo this godforsaken town?" ［Algerio］

  "That would be a simple task." ［Gabal］

  "Just what I wao hear from you. Well the's not waste time any further. Let's free all of them!" ［Algerio］

  "As you wish." ［Gabal］

  Cell after cell, Gabal and Algerio maniputed the prisoo join their side, and sihey wanted nothing more than their freedom, it became a simple task for the two of them to vihem.

  Although there were guards along the way, they made sure to knock each of them unscious and prevehe town from notig the undergoing prison break. As time passed, more and more vicious criminals have bee free.

  Thankfully, because of the prison's emergency funs, none of the guards were killed. The prisoners were dissatisfied but there was nothing they could do about it.

  "This should be the st one." ［Algerio］

  After freeing most of the prisoners, they finally arrived at the deepest part of the prisohe most dangerous prisoners were kept. All of the prisoners taihere were at least of D-rank.

  "Hm... Looks like it's the Crimson Skull bandits... They're supposed to be executed tomorrow. How lucky of us." ［Gabal］

  "Do you think you vihem?" ［Algerio］

  "It would be tougher sihey're all strohahey'll most likely try to gain trol over the other prisoners, but I could still pull it off. After all, there's nothing more tempting to prisohan a taste of freedom." ［Gabal］

  "Well then, you do your job. I'll make sure that no oerferes." ［Algerio］

  "Uood." ［Gabal］

  After leaving Gabal to do his job, Algerio ordered the other prisoo keep watd make sure to knock all guards unscious, which the prisoners happily did so without mupint.

  It wasn't that Algerio had bee their leader nor they are doing it because of gratitude, but they are doing it because they are despicable bastards that find pleasure in the pain of others.

  "What do you want?" ［???］

  A man tightly ed to the prison walls asked as he saw Gabal enter his cell. He knew full well that Gabal risoner just by looking at his outfit, making him even more cautious.

  "Hmm... I just want to have a chat with you." ［Gabal］

  "Don't waste my time araight to the point." ［???］

  "Haah... How serious... Then, Merzin of the Crimson Skull, do you want to escape this pce?" ［Gabal］

  The man's attention was caught as soon as Gabal stated his proposition, but evehe man didn't let his guard down. Only a fool would blindly take a prisoner's offer without much thought.

  "And what's the catch? I'm sure you won't be doing this for free." ［Merzin］

  "It's just a simple task, nothing big... We just want you to kill the town lord... Fritz von Landevar." ［Gabal］

  As Fritz's name was mentiohe glow in Merzin's eyes sharpened like daggers as if he was ready to kill a certain someone. One could easily tell how much he loathes Fritz.

  "I'm listening." ［Merzin］

  While the town was sleeping soundly, an evil pn was brewing ihe prison. But rather than striking directly, the prisoners awaited daybreak so that they could blend in easily with the crowd.

  ...

  Knooock

  "Hey, open up." ［Guard 3］

  A loud metallic sound echoed throughout the prison as a guard knocked on the prison doors. It was already daybreak, and so, it was already time to switch shifts amongst the prison guards.

  "Something wrong?" ［Guard 4］

  "Yeah, they're not responding." ［Guard 3］

  "Maybe they slept on the job." ［Guard 4］

  "Haah... Just what are they doing?... They're going to get punished when our superiors find out." ［Guard 5］

  "Anyway, we should probably wake them up. We're going to get scolded too if they're found out." ［Guard 4］

  "Haah... Tell me about it..." ［Guard 5］

  Knooock

  The guard tried knog once again, but there was still no response. He tried again and again but it was the same every time. Finally, sensing that something was off, the guard uhed his sword and opehe door forcefully.

  Crasshhhh

  A loud crashing sound echoed in the air as the door was broken in a single swing, and when the prison was finally opehe absence of the guards gave them both a shod a bad feeling.

  Quickly, the guards checked the prison cells and just as they feared, there were no prisoners in any of them. No, rather, the ones ihe cells were their colleagues who were all unscious.

  "Quickly, sound the arms! The prisoners have escaped!" ［Guard 6］

  Panisued amongst the prison guards the moment they realized what just happened. Some ran t the arms, some stayed to heal their colleagues, and some iigated further iheless, it was a chaotic time.

  ...

  Another m has arrived yet again in the Landevar household, and as Grey awoke, he didn't stretch his nor did he yawn like he usually does. He couldn't get what happened with Yuna the day before off his mind that even his habits have gotten promised.

  As he tio dabble on such thoughts, he prepared himself for the day and fixed the bed. The moment he left the room, tally, Yuna also went out of hers.

  "Ah, good m." ［Grey］

  "Un, good m." ［Yuna］

  When Grey greeted Yuna, she replied to him like how she usually does. It was such a short iioweehat somehow, Grey felt awkwardness brewing inside his heart.

  Seeing Yuna on her usual self made Grey think that he was a fool for being too scious of it. He also became more embarrassed when he remembered him thinking Yuna was also scious of him.

  Unbeknownst to Grey, Yuna was even more scious of it thaually thought. It's just that Yuna had fallen frey for almost 3 years already and she is now able to dismiss her embarrassment after a good night's sleep.

  "Are you heading to the kit now?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I o help Mister Rhodes out... Because if I don't I'm afraid that he will not be leaving me alone." ［Grey］

  "That seems likely. He's really passionate about cooking, after all... Hmm... do you wao help out too, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "That would be great, but are you sure?" ［Grey］

  "Un! I'm free anyway." ［Yuna］

  The more they talked, the more embarrassed Grey became of his previous thoughts. No matter how he looked at it, Yuna seemed like she wasn't affected by what happehe day before.

  "Then... You have my deep gratitude, Midy." ［Grey］

  "Fufu... You're wele, Sir Grey." ［Yuna］

  Desperate to calm himself, Grey replied to Yuna's proposal in a jokingly formal way. It was a simple solution which made his heart calm down a little, though after seeing Yuna's destructive smile, it started to rae again.

  With Yuna and Grey's help, Rhodes and the chefs were able to quickly prepare a delicious breakfast. During the whole time, Rhodes kept b the two to teach him new recipes.

  Grey and Yuna tried to aodate Rhode with the best of their abilities, but the tter's passion for cooking was too much for them to hahe other chefs wao help them out, but they were just too scared of Rhodes-san.

  Upon finishing their dishes, Yuna and Grey headed out of the kit. Both of them headed to their respective baths to themselves.

  Grey was the st to arrive at the dining hall, and when he did arrive there, he met two ued figures...

  "Oh, Grey!" ［Kris］

  ... it was Aria and Kris who were both fortably seating themselves in the dining table. The three dies, Yuna, Eliza, and Aria were even having a lovely chat amongst themselves.

  Grey looked at Yuna with eyes full of questions , but when he looked at her, she just simply shook her head. She also had no idea why the two of them were there.

  "They said they have something important to tell you, so I let them in." ［Fritz］

  "We actually wao tell you in the guild, but sihere's the possibility that you won't be going there, we took the initiative to tell you while you're still at the lord's mansion." ［Kris］

  "I see... So, what did you want to tell us?" ［Grey］

  "It's about the opening of the byrinth, the positions have been decided." ［Kris］

  Hearing Kris' words, Grey immediately uood what he meant. The only ones who didn't have a shred of clue was Yuna, and Eliza as both of them weren't well-versed with Labyrinths.

  Positions are where people will be starting from when the byrinth opens. With the presenonsters, it was usually the high-rankers who would dive in first, followed by the mid-rahen the low-rankers.

  The reason for it was so that if an unreasonably strong monster appeared, the high-rankers would be able to take care of them easily before they could even cause harm towards the other partits.

  Other than redug the casualty rate, it also allows the activation of Labyrinth Torchstones so that the others will know what is ahead of them. While it bes the ones behind, the ones in front also gain from it sihey access treasures before anyone else . It's a win-win for both sides.

  "During the opening, parties are allowed to coordih each other in order to make things more effit." ［Kris］

  "If Yuna and Grey want to coordih us, we travel together." ［Aria］

  Kris and Aria revealed their iion of corporations to everyohout leaving a siail behind. It roposal which is beneficial for everyone sihey head to lower floors faster with it.

  "I appreciate the , but Yuna and I would be traveling just by ourselves. We want to see how far we go by ourselves." ［Grey］

  "Thank you for the offer." ［Yuna］

  Unfortunately, Grey and Yuna had long decided that they would only be traveling by themselves. It wasn't that they hated traveling with others, but rather because they wao test out their limits.

  There was also the fact that they ot fully let loose if there were other eyes around. It was best for them to move on their own without the presence of others.

  "That's too bad..." ［Kris］

  "Hahaha! Don't let yourselves get down by it. There's plenty of food to eat, so cheer up!" ［Gustav］

  "That's right. Also, the food is getting cold, we shoー" ［Fritz］

  "Your Lordship! There's an emergency!" ［Sebastian］

  Fritz was about to initiate breakfast when suddenly, Sebastian opehe doors and announced an emergency. His breathing was rugged, clearly from running with all his might.

  Seeiian in such a hurried state, a bad premonition befell amongst everyone in the dining hall. None of them were able to take even a sie with the amount of tension in the room.

  "What is it?" ［Fritz］

  "All the prisoners have escaped!!" ［Sebastian］

  CHAPTER 52 END