episode_0000

As I walk through the familiar faces between the tables, I see nothing but strangers, yet they greet me with wide smiles.

“Crow, do you remember me? Right?”

“Wow, running into you here.”

Wearing orange prison jumpsuits, they occupy the common area.

Several of them have cards laid out in front of them, while others are on the phone.

“…”

Since entering through the door, all eyes have been on me.

Looking around, I realize I’ve made quite a few acquaintances. Over the past five years, I’ve worked like a dog, putting away villains one by one, so it’s no wonder they recognize me.

“So, the great Crow has finally arrived~”

Clap-clap-clap—

Applause breaks out, and some even cheer loudly.

“This is gonna be fucking entertaining!”

“Come this way; I’ve already saved your bed.”

It’s as free as I imagined, and the guards intervene very little. It’s quite different from what I expected of prison life.

Instead, the guards leave the special management area without saying a word, as if washing their hands of all the events that are about to unfold.

Treated worse than the villains…

Perhaps it’s only natural for them to react this way.

If a person who claimed to be a heroic vigilante turned out to be a murderer who killed people in secret and devised heinous schemes, they would undoubtedly be filled with anger and betrayal.

They would hurl stones at him, bigger and harder stones than they would at ordinary criminals, and with greater speed…

“Damn it, you look pretty good. Let’s get along from now on. Neighbors should look out for each other.”

“Oppa, where are you going? This is your bed, right?”

I have no allies here.

Not a single person here cares about me.

I must suppress my emotions.

I must not show any signs of fear or nervousness.

“Your temper hasn’t changed a bit. You didn’t even bother to respond.”

“Why don’t you say something?”

They want to see me fall apart. I must never let them drag me around according to their wishes.

“Hey, just leave him be. He’ll eventually start crying and begging for mercy.”

“Pfft! That’s true.”

Even if everyone here turns their backs on me, I cannot give up on myself.

Justice shall never fall to evil.

I must hold firm to this belief.

——————————

I can endure it.

I’ll definitely clear my name and regain my freedom someday.

“Doesn’t it hurt? Our hero isn’t hurting, they say. We haven’t heard from them yet. Hit him properly.”

“He keeps twisting and holding out because you’re not holding him straight.”

As long as I can hold out until then, it’s fine.

It’s not that difficult. I just have to accept what’s given to me and kill time.

“But what if we really die from this?”

“That’s not going to happen. This guy recovers super fast. He’ll be up and about in a few hours.”

“Wow, you’re ruthless! This era’s greatest hero is certainly different. Right?”

Boredom is my biggest concern. According to the stories of the inmates, time moves incredibly slowly within the prison walls.

“It’ll get more interesting from now on. Aren’t you excited? Doesn’t it make you laugh?”

“Let’s have some fun too. Take it off.”

There is no entertainment at all,

A daily routine of doing nothing but sitting still and waiting for freedom.

“Yes, that’s the expression. Stay like that. You fucking asshole. You’re so fucking sexy…”

“Hey! Hold his arm properly. He’s moving.”

Even so, if things go well, I’ll certainly be able to get out soon.

Because I have colleagues.

I have colleagues who will help me.

———————————-

They will clear my unjust frame.

I just have to hold on until then.

“Why did you do that…?”

Although I failed to eradicate the corruption and evil within the association, my colleagues are different. They are strong and wise, and they would never repeat the mistakes I made.

“Why on earth did you do that? We all trusted you. How could you…?”

I put my trust in the friendship and camaraderie forged in the line of fire. Even if everyone else points fingers and insults me, they will surely clear my unjust name.

“… I didn’t do it.”

“Then what is this?”

I know. There is no evidence, and there is a sophisticated plot underway to frame me.

“There are traitors within the association. The director and I wanted to make the organization safe, and we were trying to prevent the situation from escalating further… but then…”

“Crow, listen carefully.”

However, I am confident that I can get through this.

I trust my colleagues more than myself.

“You were the only one who had those materials. You knew who the targets were.”

“… It was something only the director and I knew about.”

So, just relax.

Think of it as taking a vacation.

“But the director is dead. And he was even on the target list.”

“…”

I’ve worked hard during this time.

I do need a break now.

“And he was killed by the gun you usually used. Was that a coincidence, too?”

“I didn’t shoot him.”

Even so, if I were taking a vacation, it would have been better if I had gone with everyone to a secluded island instead of being alone.

“How much of it was a lie? Was it all a lie from the beginning? Were the conversations we had all false?”

“No, it wasn’t a lie.”

“But this doesn’t make sense. I want to believe you…”

“No, it’s not.”

“…”

“No, it’s not…!”

“…”

“Please! I didn’t do it! Please believe me. I didn’t do anything. Please…”

Then you will,

Take every opportunity to play foolish pranks on me.

“With all the evidence and circumstances pointing to you, how can you say you didn’t do it?”

“… There’s an plot to bury me. Since the director and I were purging the organization, they judged that killing just the two of us would be enough.”

“So, how am I supposed to believe you’re innocent?”

That’s fine.

We really worked hard.

“… Just find the real culprit.”

“Okay. I’ll investigate further.”

“…”

Let’s take a break for a moment.

Just a little.

“Crow, remember this. I also want to believe you.”

“…”

“I’ll be back later.”

Not too long, though.

By then, I might have become a completely different person.

So,

Don’t make me wait too long.