From the hallway, the prison looked even more terrible. There were puddles of stagnant, rotten water here and there, making the air not just humid, but sticky and unpleasant. The lantern connecting the pitch-dark prison and the hallway looked as if it would go out at any moment, and in the other cells, decaying corpses or skeletons were scattered about.
It was by no means a place that noble children could endure. Naturally, the children who wanted to get out even a second sooner pleaded with me.
"A-Answer the question! How did you get out!"
"If you're curious, be quiet for a moment."
"Why..."
"Shh."
Instead of answering, I quietly glared at Hyuins. At the same time, a grotesque cry came from the side.
"Grrrrk..."
"Hiiik-" Hyuins, who had been shouting, went pale and clamped his hand over his mouth.
Seeing his legs tremble, it seemed the memory of being kidnapped by the mummy had turned into trauma. …That aside, didn't this kid see me once before? I was going to deny it if he recognized me, but he hasn't even noticed. Then again, he probably wouldn't imagine a commoner wearing noble's clothes and acting so confidently.
While the other children were similarly huddled, barely able to to breathe- "Eh..." Only Elysia stared at me, her mouth agape in shock. Her expression clearly said, 'What are you doing here?' so I sent her a signal with a wink.
I needed to take control of the situation from now on, and it would be a bother if Elysia needlessly revealed that I was a janitor. Seeming to understand, she nodded eagerly and made a gesture of sealing her lips.
Cute.
"Grrrk?"
Before long, the mummy appeared. I met the mummy's gaze. I was confident it wouldn't have much interest in me anyway.
The result came quickly. Even though an obvious inmate was outside, the mummy didn't run or scream, but simply trudged along. This meant it hadn't been ordered to capture escaped children.
It seems they never considered the possibility that children who can't even use magic could get out. An unexpected success. As I stood still, not provoking it, the children were even more surprised and gestured at me.
"You, you hurry… hurry and run! Anywhere!"
"C-Can't you get back inside?? You'll die!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why? That's… an enemy!"
"Don't think so simply. It's just a doll."
The mummy slowly passed by me. On its way, its hand brushed against my head. A hand that could kill even a knight.
It could probably crush a child's skull in an instant. Of course, I didn't waver in the slightest.
"... Huh?"
The children stared at me with expressions of utter shock.
"See? I'm fine."
"H-How did you know…?"
"I observed. These things are like machines that only carry out the orders they're given. You don't need to be so scared."
Once I was sure I had everyone's attention, I explained the plan to the now-quiet children.
"By now, you've all probably figured it out, but we've been kidnapped by an unknown organization. Does anyone here have any idea why?"
"... I'm not sure."
"If you can think of anything at all, tell me. Identifying the enemy is really important."
"Ah! Maybe..."
One of the nobles raised his hand with an anxious look.
"My dad… once forcefully took over a small mill..."
"Hmm, I don't think a mill owner would be foolish enough to kidnap all the noble children over something like that."
"My dad took a bribe to decide on a mercenary contract...!"
"... No, I mean something bigger than that."
"My mom is having an affair with Marquis Darpan!"
"Right, that is big, but..."
"What? With my dad??"
It suddenly turned into some kind of confession session. But none of these were motives big enough to warrant kidnapping all the noble children. …Well, it was an unexpected harvest. I'd learned most of the secret affairs that only the direct lines of the noble families would know.
It might come in handy later. I cleared my throat and calmed the children who were spilling their secrets one by one.
"I get the gist. There must be some other reason."
Then the only information left is what I heard myself.
Red Lotus.
A name I've heard twice recently. Those bastards with the strange name must have done something. I'm not particularly curious.
Seeing as they kidnap nobles, and children at that, I can't evaluate them as anything other than deranged, crazy bastards. What's important is escaping. If they're the type to commit such acts of madness, their goal isn't likely to be something as simple as ransom.
Of course, I didn't tell them the truth. It would only result in mass panic. I calmly explained to the children.
"First, let's get out of here. That guy named Pars is probably still fighting with the teachers, so he won't be back yet. We have to use that chance to leave. If he returns, we have little hope."
"We know that! First, do something about these bars!"
"But I can't take all of you."
"...?"
I explained step-by-step to the children, who were gaping at me.
"Right now, you're wearing these sealing spheres that seal your magic. I don't know what they're called, but while wearing them, you're no different from regular kids. You're no help."
"You're wearing a shackle on your neck too! Are you any different?"
"Yes."
Swoosh~!
I used the currents to lift the child who spoke and set him down again. The reaction was explosive. The children looked at me, so shocked they were about to faint.
"Telekinesis…? You, what are you??"
"How did you learn telekinesis at your age?? Even my dad can't do it!"
"Do you understand now? To be honest, I'd rather just leave all of you and go by myself. So, I'm only going to take those who meet my conditions."
As soon as I finished speaking, the children's eyes darted around. No matter how young, they were nobles who knew what they needed to know. A desperate situation of being kidnapped, traveling with a mage who has learned telekinesis.
And a selection. In an instant, the now-docile children began to show off, one by one.
"My father has the rights to a mine."
"My mother has the rights to a river!"
"I-I don't know who you are. But if you take me, I'll definitely reward you!"
"Not that kind of thing."
I shook my head.
"There are still a lot of mummies wandering around outside. I don't know the layout in detail either. No matter what happens, you will listen to my commands. That's the first condition."
"I'll listen unconditionally!"
"And whatever happens here, you won't question it once we're outside. Is that possible?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Good. Now, those who don't want to follow these conditions and want to stay in this damp prison to be eaten by mummies, step back."
No one stepped back. Naturally, I never intended to pick and choose from the start. If I was going to save them, it was right to save them all.
I maintained a strict expression and secured their pledge.
"Then it's settled, you'll all listen to me. Got it?"
"Yes!!"
"Good."
Clank!
I opened the bars I had pulled out earlier.
"Come out one by one."
The children scrambled out and gathered in front of me. I was a bit flustered as they suddenly started looking at me as if I were a teacher, but I understood. This is a hellish place, completely unfamiliar.
They must be in a state where they need someone to rely on.
"Then let's go. Don't worry, I can find the way with my magic."
"O-okay. But..."
On the way, a child raised his hand. It was Hyuins. Gone was his earlier troublemaker-like behavior; his tone was now impeccably polite.
"Something you're curious about?"
"Th-that is. Who are you, and from which family?"
Of course, I couldn't answer. At that question, the other children also nodded slowly, as if they were curious too.
"I've never even heard of someone our age progressing beyond elemental spells. Is that even possible?"
"It's impossible. If it were, there's no way we wouldn't know..."
"Which family are you from?"
"Hmm, I guess I haven't told you."
As I gave a hint that I would tell them, all eyes gathered on me. I raised a finger and gave a light smile.
"Not asking that is the third condition."
It's a good thing I'm the one in charge right now.
The underground prison was literally a dungeon. '... How did the guards even live here?' I walked down the dark, damp corridor with a stunned expression.
The children followed closely a few steps behind me, desperately trying not to fall behind. I couldn't let my guard down for a moment. There were traps everywhere.
And they were vicious traps, the kind where one wrong step meant death.
"Oh, a fork in the road."
"There's a breeze from this way. The exit must be where the wind is blowing… Let's go this way!"
"No. It's left."
"B-but there's blood painted here! It means it's a dangerous place!"
"You haven't forgotten the condition, have you?"
I easily shut him down and headed for the left path. If we had gone right, a sudden cliff would have appeared in a pitch-dark area where the lanterns were out. Whoever was in the lead would have definitely fallen.
It was that kind of place. 'What would I have done without Tide Sense…' I sighed, but I was also relieved.
In other words, as long as I have my Tide Sense, I'm practically invincible.
"Don't step on that floor tile. There's some kind of switch inside."
"How do you know that…? You, you're not in league with the people who kidnapped us, are you?!"
Because of that, I was met with some absurd suspicions.
"Hmm, how about you hold up a number of fingers inside your robe?"
"...?"
"Seven. Now four. And you changed it to two."
"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! H-how did you know? Clairvoyance? It's clairvoyance!"
"Try it with your hands behind your back. Five, six, zero."
Whoa.
However, once I showed them Tide Sense, all suspicion vanished completely. Along the way, there was also a collapsed bridge we had to cross. Beneath the bridge, in the pitch-black darkness, a gurgling sound could be heard from time to time, but I didn't bother sending my Tide Sense down there.
I didn't want to know. In the desperate situation, the children huddled together and brainstormed ideas.
"How about I grab your feet, you grab his feet to make a human ladder, and then we throw someone across?"
"I'm definitely not flying over!"
Not that I expected anything.
"No need for that, so come here."
"Huh?"
I grabbed the bewildered children- And threw them.
"Kyaaaaaaaaa!!!!"
The first one I threw was Elysia. My own strength was insufficient to throw a child over 10 meters to the other side of the room. But I could place them on the currents.
Elysia shot across like a bullet and landed like a feather. As soon as she confirmed she was safe, she stomped her feet excitedly.
"Wow! Can we do that one more time?"
"No." As I navigated the prison in this manner, searching for the way to the upper floor, I overheard some gossiping that wasn't exactly gossiping.
"So this is what a real mage is like..."
"We're the same age, how can there be such a huge difference?"
"Who could he be?"
The back of my head was burning from their warm gazes, filled with awe. They thought they were whispering, but the prison was so quiet I could hear everything. No need to stop them, I suppose.
As I was thinking that, Hyuins, who seemed to have realized something, muttered with a gaze full of respect.
"You idiots, you still don't get it?"
"Hyuins? You think you know who he is?"
"Him? Hey, watch your mouth. That person is definitely the Crown Prince."
"...?"
What in the world is this crazy talk? Hyuins carefully laid out his insane bullshit.
"Look, he doesn't take classes at the academy that provides the best education… what do you think that means? It means he's being taught by a personal royal court mage, who is even better than the academy."
"Isn't that a stretch? I've never heard that the Crown Prince even exists."
"He's been hidden all this time. He must have been trying to experiment with a Regeneration Stone and got unlucky, getting captured along with us."
"... Is that so?"
"Look at that magic. How could anyone be that overwhelming while wearing a sealing sphere? That level of talent is impossible for anyone but the Imperial Family, specifically the Crown Prince."
After saying that, Hyuins kept looking my way with a passionate gaze, like he was looking at his favorite singer.
"That unique yet stylish fashion and handsome face… he's definitely the Crown Prince." …Should I just casually toss this bastard into a pit and leave?
I wondered why he was bullying Elysia, and it seems he just likes the idea of pure-blooded nobles. I need to get out of here quickly. Fortunately, my Tide Sense began to pick up the ground surface.
It was the only piece of good news I could deliver in this pit, so I told the children.
"We should be able to get out soon. I'm sure knights have surrounded the area by now, so as soon as we get out, scream for help."
"Really?! Phew… I thought I was going to die in here."
"What a relief..."
"And, as I said before, what happened in here—" I stopped mid-sentence.
Because a red mist began to cloud my vision. …It's blood. Thick blood, slowly spreading through the sea. It was clear whose it was.
"…What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Just thought this was too easy."
"Ah, true… we escaped almost as soon as we got in."
"It's all thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince being so amazing!"
Seeing the children's gazes turn anxious, I quickly smiled to reassure them. Right now, I am these kids' guardian. If I show any sign of distress, it will only create unnecessary chaos.
"Now, let's hurry up and get out."
"Okay!!"
Contrary to my words, I sighed inwardly. It seemed—we weren't going to get out so easily after all.