Even so, using her feelings in that manner wasn’t exactly a commendable action for me to take. In fact, some might’ve accused me of tossing my morals by the wayside; nevertheless, it was something I had to do to keep the royal capital protected. As a squad sergeant of the Guard Corps, I was fully prepared to take the blame.
“Heh. I must admit, I’m surprised,” Eleanor began.
“About what?” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“You spoke of us as being equals just a moment ago.”
“Ah, well, I suppose you do outrank me, don’t you. Did that offend you?” I asked.
“No, not at all. It actually made me quite happy. Saying we would ‘join hands together as equals’ makes us sound like a husband and wife. I shall replay those words over and over in my head before bedtime.”
With her hands pressed against her cheeks, Eleanor seemed satisfied.
After that, we ended up visiting a certain infamous location.
I had asked Eleanor if she knew of anyone who might be a good fit for the guards, and she had told us about one place we could try if we were truly desperate. According to her, the men there were physically strong, had good combat skills, and some might even have had the desire to become guards.
So we decided to go ahead and visit the place, but, well...
“Oh, hey, so I hear you’re recruitin’ guards? Hell, let me do it! I’ll round up every last one of them monsters for ya!”
“No, I’m the one who’s gonna be a guard! I’m way stronger than that thin-armed chump! Pick me, I’ve got actual muscles!”
“Huh?! The hell kinda bullshit is that? You think you’re stronger than me? Fine, you and me, outside, now! I’ll show ya how outta your league you are...by using ya as a punchin’ bag!”
“Bring it on! You’re dead meat, buddy!”
“Shut your mouths, boys!”
A whip cracked against the stone floor in sharp rebuke at the two heated men, and instantly the room fell completely silent.
“I will have to ask you to never speak without my permission again, prisoner pigs! Also, in what world would you prisoners ever be allowed to leave this institution in the first place?”
Standing there, clad in black bondage gear, was the prison’s torturer—Miss Tiara.
And yes, we happened to be in the royal capital’s prison. It was situated on a lonely island, isolated from the outside world. I had even been imprisoned there myself once on false charges.
The two men who had been so vigorously extolling their own virtues in their bids to become guards were actually prisoners in their cells.
Eleanor had suggested we see what the prison had to offer. Some people had been incarcerated for lighter crimes around the city such as petty theft or assault, and the idea was that those types could be potential candidates for the Guard Corps. It made sense that people like that wouldn’t be hurting in the strength department; a lot of them probably used to be bandits or thieves, and they’d likely even be tough enough to take on monsters.
It would also be difficult for them to land proper jobs once they got out of prison, so some of them would no doubt end up turning into repeat offenders. In which case, why not train them up as guards?
The prisoners must’ve all assumed they’d be granted amnesty and get released from prison if they joined the Guard Corps, because they had all gathered in a group to offer themselves up for the position.
“I actually always wanted to be a guard back when I was a kid! Let me be your comrade and protect the capital with you!”
“I swear I’d bust my ass so hard working for the Guard Corps!”
Their sales pitches were so forceful I thought they were going to start chewing through the bars of their cells.
“Ugh, what a bunch o’ shameless lyin’ creeps,” Spinoza grumbled in exasperation. “None o’ these guys give a rat’s ass about any o’ that stuff.”
“Yeah, probably not,” I agreed, eyeing the prisoners as they kissed up to us from inside their cells. They talked big, but I could see a certain gleam in their eyes overshadowing that. They’d probably turn on us the instant we let our guard down.
Truth be told, I was confident I could handle any of the prisoners here without a problem if they pulled anything—but having to keep a constant watch on my supposed allies would’ve really worn down my nerves. We had enough enemy attacks already; I’d exhaust myself if I had to worry about enemies among my allies as well.
As we walked down a path lined on either side with rows of cells containing prisoners, there was one man whose silky voice stuck in my memory more than any other.
“Hi there, Sieg! It’s me—good old Lambda!”
It was a face I recognized immediately: my former supervisor, Lambda. He had previously served as my instructor when I had joined the Guard Corps, but he had been bringing in members of a bandit ring behind the scenes, using his position to line his pockets with a share of their profits. When I had seen it all happen, he had tried to have me eliminated, but he had failed and ended up in jail instead.
“I heard you were promoted to squad sergeant, weren’t you? That’s amazing! You’re such a go-getter, Sieg. Someone like me could never hope to compare.” Lambda rubbed his hands together as he sidled up to me. “So I hear the Guard Corps has a shortage of manpower?”
“Thanks in part to a certain someone failing to live up to their social obligations,” I said, staring him down.
“Hah hah. You sure don’t mince words,” he replied, putting a hand to his forehead in embarrassment. “But I’ve done some soul-searching here in prison. I’m a whole new man now. What do you think? Would you give me another chance?”
“Oh?” I mused.
“I’d like to try starting over as a guard. This time I’d be your subordinate, and I’d do whatever you tell me to—clean your sword, polish your shoes, anything!”
“You just said ‘anything,’ right?”
When he heard me ask that, Lambda’s expression lit up. A wide smile crept across his face; it was time for his clutch moment.
“Of course! I’ll do absolutely anything within my power. We’re old Guard Corps buddies—I’d gladly follow any order my superior gives me!”
“In that case, there is one order I can give you.”
“By all means!”
“Keep up your soul-searching until your prison term is over.”
When I told him that, Lambda could only stare blankly back at me.
“You said you’d gladly follow my orders, didn’t you?”
When he finally registered what I had said, the smile on his face stiffened instantly. His eyes shot open wide, exposing an expression of pure, unadulterated anger. “Forget it, I’ll tear you apart right here, right now!”
“Ugh! I’ll ask you to keep your incessant, vile howling out of my earshot! As punishment, you shall be given a thorough thrashing!” Miss Tiara roared.
“Huh? Wait, there are tons of other prisoners, aren’t there? Why single me out?” Lambda whined.
“Because you disgust me, why else? I just feel like it!”
“No faaair! Aaagh!”
Even though there were plenty of other prisoners making a ruckus, for some reason Lady Tiara had decided to zero in on Lambda, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and dragging him off to the torture chamber.
“Well, we gave it a shot because Eleanor suggested it, but I guess it was a wasted trip. We can’t let these prisoners into the Corps.”
As hard up for help as we were, I couldn’t fathom the idea of bringing in people who could switch sides on us at the drop of a hat. That kind of internal dysfunction would only hasten the demise of the whole organization.