Chap 1-The End of the Horrible Imprisonment Life

 

The happy prison life I had anticipated was nothing like this.

The prison was still dark, and coldness seeped in, but the soft bed I was leaning against offset such discomfort.

Instead of the smell of mold, a subtle herbal scent lingered in the clean, smooth-textured walls.

Instead of iron chains, something like a soft silk ribbon was tied around my wrist.

‘If only this damn ribbon wasn’t here…’

This ribbon, which didn’t cause any discomfort to my body and clung perfectly to my arm, had two enchantments on it.

A location-tracking spell and a behavior modification spell used to force actions on slaves or heinous criminals.

Kindly, unlike other slaves or criminals, the restrictions placed on me from above were basic things like ‘no self-harm’ and ‘no attacking.’

Clearly, criminals suffering in other rooms would be furious at this discrimination.

‘Lucky bastards.’

I, who had expected a life of being locked in a prison, bound in chains, and miserably abused by guards, was actually envious of them.

“It’s mealtime.”

A cold voice pierces my ear.

A guard in a drab uniform approaches and hands food through the prison bars.

‘Wow… huge.’

Even in that awful uniform, what a fit…

The second biggest I’ve seen since being transmigrated into this world.

‘Is she a new recruit?’

“Hmm… too bad. I was so looking forward to being locked up. I don’t know if I should be this comfortable.”

I gave a slightly cocky smile, lay on the plush bed, and looked up at her.

“Hehe, I’m too lazy to eat. Won’t you feed me? Since you’re already being so accommodating, how about a little more generosity!”

Our new recruit’s face twisted slightly, but that was it. She placed the meal down without any reaction.

For the past two months, ever since I was thrown in here right before my golden vacation started, I’ve been provoking the guards to attack me, but they haven’t even acknowledged me.

‘I thought I could enjoy some hobbies if I was locked up in prison.’

To make matters worse, her appearance was my type, so the disappointment was even greater.

I pushed aside my slightly disappointed feelings and began to eat.

Warm bread and soup, quite delicious for prison food, but…

‘Wow, is this a reward?’

The guard’s duties included monitoring whether I was eating properly.

Thanks to that, the new guard was looking down at me with eyes full of contempt and disgust until I finished my meal.

Considering that only guards with stiff and bland expressions had come so far, this was truly a ray of light!

Is she the type with a strong sense of justice?

Seeing how much she hates it…

‘Should I provoke her a little more?’

Two years ago, I transmigrated into the body of the villainess in a game I used to enjoy.

The ‘Yeon Bennett’ princess, who wreaked havoc on those around her with only her status as a princess, without properly learning martial arts or magic.

Before the transmigration, I thought she was just an incompetent third-rate villain, but surprisingly, she was one of the few unique ability users in this world.

I could feel my breathing getting heavier.

My senses sharpened, and my whole body was filled with energy.

This isn’t enough…

I need stronger stimulation.

[SYSTEM]

Unique ability ‘Masochist’ is activated.

It’s a bit perverted, but…

…

I had no choice but to immediately dispel the unique ability that I had barely activated after two months.

Because our nameless new guard brought shocking news.

“What?”

“You need to prepare after you finish eating, as the release procedures are being processed.”

She answered in a testy tone and showed me the signature on the document in charge of paperwork, but I had no time to pay attention to that.

Release…

The things that Princess Yeon Bennett did were intentionally spread throughout the world, and my notoriety is now even stronger.

Of course, it was actually a false accusation, but only the academy chairman and Duke Bennett, along with a few others, knew that fact.

In the current situation, I am being released from prison without any punishment after living comfortably.

If so, it can only be suspected that the Bennett family intervened.

This will be a critical blow not only to my image but also to the reputation of the ducal family.

I expected it when they told me to take a break, but I didn’t think they would release me so recklessly…

“So, my position has been reinstated?”

From afar, I could hear the murmuring of other guards who had learned of my release.

“Is this even possible? They’re just letting that bitch go?”

“I heard the ducal family moved? The higher-ups intervened directly.”

“Even so, she hasn’t been here long, and she’s getting out after living comfortably. Isn’t that too lenient?”

I made an effort to ignore their chatter and checked the documents.

‘Bella Staren.’

It was a name I had heard before.

But I couldn’t immediately recall where I had seen it.

I rummaged through my mind and finally remembered.

Beautiful appearance, decent background, and overwhelming power compared to her age.

A promising figure who gained fame as a person who would be responsible for the future of humanity, but who died on the battlefield early in the story, leading to a funeral episode for the main characters.

A tragic MacGuffin that shows the cruelty of the battlefield.

She, who should have already died by now, was still alive.

I chuckled and muttered.

“Bella Staren? How did our proud senior, who was active on the front lines, end up rotting in a shabby place like this…?”

Her eyes, which had been watching me, twitched.

“You’d better worry about your own situation than mine.”

“Hmm? What situation am I in? I’m about to be released, right? But you’ll have to stay here and roll around with criminals.”

Bella stared at me with cold eyes before turning her head away.

An attitude as if I wasn’t even worth responding to.

I laughed even more at her lack of reaction, as if it was amusing.

‘Still, it’s a relief…’

The fact that she was alive was proof that what I had done was not in vain.

…

Bella still couldn’t believe that she was alive and moving.

‘If nothing goes wrong, I should be able to rest and heal my wounds for about a year.’

Just two months ago, she was fighting monsters on the front lines.

In the middle of a war where someone died every day.

And finally, it was her turn, which was nothing special.

Her mana core was cracked, making it difficult to even move a fingertip.

The monsters were approaching to finish her off.

And then, a miracle.

In front of her eyes, the mid- to low-level monsters that had been dominating the battlefield until just a few seconds ago suddenly died en masse.

Without any warning.

From that moment on, the battlefield was completely reversed.

Humanity was able to gain an overwhelming advantage, but because it was an incomprehensible situation, they did not recklessly step forward and carefully examined the situation.

The results of the investigation were hopeful.

The high-level monsters were still alive, but

They felt the disadvantage of their power and retreated deep into the contaminated area.

At least, once it was confirmed that the current situation was not their own doing, humanity immediately recovered the lost fortress and narrowed the front lines.

And…

A small ‘leeway’ was created on the front lines.

In order to manage morale, the council ordered troops who were injured or had served for a long time to rest in the rear.

Bella was assigned to the rear in that way.

The place she was assigned to was Bastille Prison.

A place where evil god worshippers, those corrupted by contamination, or those equivalent to them were imprisoned.

A place called ‘hell’ by criminals.

One inmate was sprawled out comfortably in such a place.

Bella’s mood sank as she recalled her face.

Lady Yeon Bennett, who picked meaningless fights and deliberately provoked others.

She knew that she was a notorious troublemaking noble lady, but it was beyond imagination.

Was her displeasure revealed?

Warden Mortana, the countess, looked at her and opened her mouth.

“I heard the news. I’m sorry that a hero like you had to go through such a thing.”

Bella shook her head.

“You don’t have to say that, Warden.”

Warden Mortana, who had worked as a warden in Bastille Prison and had seen countless criminals.

She knew better than anyone how much tragedy human greed had brought about.

Therefore, she no longer wanted to see Bella, who had fought on the front lines for humanity, being insulted by a mere criminal.

“Why don’t you try doing something more rewarding somewhere else?”

“Pardon?”

Bella didn’t understand for a moment.

“I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. It’ll be more rewarding than taking care of these criminals.”

‘Rewarding work…’

The countess’s words echoed in her heart.

Bella naturally looked at her hands.

The rough palms had traces of holding a sword countless times.

The traces were proof of the blood and sweat she had shed on the battlefield, and a stark contrast to her current job of taking care of criminals.

“Rewarding work… What exactly are you talking about?”

When she asked cautiously, Warden Mortana smiled and said.

“Go back to the academy you graduated from.”

“The academy…?”

Bella’s eyes trembled slightly.

“If you, with your rich practical experience, become an instructor, the future of humanity will be better.”

She was lost in thought for a moment.

The countess’s offer was attractive.

But at the same time, there was fear.

She, who was injured on the battlefield and retreated…

Did she really have the qualifications to teach someone?

Could her experience be helpful to others?

“Could you give me some time to think about it?”

When she asked cautiously, the countess nodded.

“Of course.”

However, she already knew.

Bella had made up her mind.

“But there’s one condition.”

Warden Mortana said with a slightly reluctant expression.

“Take that troublemaker to the academy with you.”

…

I was now running, savoring the refreshing outside air that I hadn’t felt in two months.

“Sigh, I was expecting the world’s worst prison…”

I expected it when the chairman told me to take a break.

Perhaps he didn’t want me to be treated like other criminals…

But that was a consideration I didn’t need at all.

So…

After being transmigrated into this body with this perverted ability, I developed a slightly strange taste.

It’s definitely not my fault…

I just trained a little harder to increase my strength, and I was slightly consumed by an ability with a strange name called ‘Masochist.’

Hmm…

Yeah…

Actually…

I was a little curious about the tortures that other criminals received.

Of course, for the sake of ability training.

There’s no other meaning.

‘No, seriously, isn’t it normal for a guard to slap a criminal who’s locked up in prison and acting so cocky a few times, restrain their whole body and lock them in a solitary cell with no light, torture them, or at least insult them by calling them trash?’

They just succumbed to the pressure from above and treated a criminal like me with such care…

Compared to the reputation of a heinous prison, the guards were too timid.

They should have at least not used that terrible behavior modification magic if they were going to be so accommodating.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t pursue my hobbies… I mean, develop my abilities for two months.

After running for about an hour, I was able to reach my destination.

The guards must be busy looking for me by now, right?

I’m a little sorry, but…

Since I’m being released anyway, I had a place to stop by, so I came out a little early.

‘They shouldn’t have released the behavior modification magic if they didn’t want this.’

In a state where I can’t manifest my abilities, I’m just an incompetent villainous young lady, Yeon Bennett.

But…

If I activate ‘Masochist,’ I can easily outwit guards.

‘Hehe, by the way, how long has it been since I’ve indulged in my hobbies?’

I smiled contentedly as I looked at my broken left pinky finger.

The powerful force that was coursing through my body was incomparable to the power I had gained from Bella’s contemptuous gaze a little while ago.

This warm feeling that fills my starving soul!

It’s no wonder, since I’ve been suffering from frustration for two months.

I used to lightly break my fingers as a warm-up, but today I felt much better than usual.

‘But I can’t meet Annie in this state…’

I pushed aside my regretful feelings and focused my mana on my back, activating the regeneration magic circle drawn there.

[SYSTEM]

Unique ability ‘Masochist’ is deactivated.

Author’s Note

This is my first time writing a novel, so there are many shortcomings, but please take care of me!