I Was Just a Losing Jail Guard, but When I Was Kind to the Captured Heroines, the Game’s Story Fell Apart. - Chapter 07: The Losing Jail Guard Gets a Prison Break… Instantly?

Chapter 07: The Losing Jail Guard Gets a Prison Break… Instantly?

A few days later.

I was chatting with Katiana and my senior in the dungeon when a sudden commotion erupted upstairs.

“What’s going on? It’s getting noisy.”

“…It’s probably an enemy attack.”

“!? Shouldn’t you be doing something about it!?”

“Nah, we’re just jail guards. The soldiers will handle it. Probably.”

But there’s always a chance the enemy might make their way to the dungeon.

So, staying mildly alert, I kept busy with my work.

What was I doing, you ask?

I was making a weapon using some materials and wood.

But man, this is tough.

“Ah! It snapped again…”

“…What are you doing, exactly?”

“Trying to make a slingshot.”

It wasn’t because Lucifelle told me to get stronger —this was just a precaution for when a heroine inevitably tries to escape.

In a real fight, I know I don’t stand a chance. But if I’m backed into a corner with no way out, this might come in handy.

The problem is, making a slingshot is harder than it looks.

And using wood? Yeah, it doesn’t hold up well. It keeps breaking.

“…What’s that stretchy stuff you’re using?”

“Dried slime. Thought it might work as a substitute for rubber.”

“Rubber? What’s that?”

Slime is a super versatile material.

You can eat it, use it as a potion ingredient, or —in my opinion— use it as a substitute for rubber.

…Okay, that last one is just my idea.

When I realized that, I thought, Hey, I can totally make a slingshot! And that’s how I ended up here.

While I was chatting with Katiana and fiddling with the slingshot, it happened.

“Hey, jail guard!! Lock this intruder up!!”

One of the castle guards yelled as he shoved a girl toward me, her body wrapped tightly in rope.

I caught her and froze.

She had shoulder-length, sky-blue hair and sleepy, deep-blue eyes that glared up at me. She was… cute.

I recognized her immediately.

An elf who, oddly enough, loved crafting like a dwarf.

Her name was Elette.

She was one of the more unique heroines in Prison Heroine.

“Seriously, rough soldiers. Demons really need to learn how to treat a lady properly.”

“…Uh, should I escort you to your cell?”

“Hm, you seem promising. I’m Elette, just a humble elven craftswoman. And you are?”

“Lugus.”

“Lugus-suss, huh?”

“Uh, no, it’s just Lugus…”

“‘Just Lugus’…? You’ve got a weird name. But hey, it’s unique, and I like that.”

“…Yeah, sure, whatever works.”

I put Elette in the cell next to Katiana’s.

Katiana blinked in surprise.

“Wha—? Lady Elette!?”

“Oh, it’s you, Katia-something. Been a while. I thought you were dead, but I guess you got captured too.”

“W-Well, yeah… And it’s Katiana.”

“It’s-Katiana? When did you change your name?”

“…Never mind.”

Katiana sighed, defeated by Elette’s carefree attitude.

“But why are you here?”

“Oh, I was just testing a new magic tool, but I accidentally blew up one of the alliance’s bases.”

“!?”

“They told me if I wanted to run experiments, I should do it at the Demon Lord’s castle. So I came here. But then I destroyed part of the castle, and the Demon Lord herself showed up. She caught me pretty easily.”

Ah, right.

That was exactly the kind of heroine Elette was.

She was born without any talent for magic, but she had an incredible amount of magical power.

Because of that, the other elves mocked her, calling her a waste of potential.

To prove them wrong, Elette became an apprentice to a dwarven craftsman and learned how to create magic tools.

But at some point, she started enjoying the research itself and forgot about proving herself.

She got so into it that the alliance began calling her a “natural disaster.”

The reason she attacked the Demon Lord’s castle? She figured it was a place where she could experiment freely.

Yeah… she’s got a pretty mad scientist vibe going on.

“Lugus-suss, what’s that on the table over there? Are you making a crossbow? It’s awfully compact.”

“Uh, no, it’s a slingshot. It shoots small stones and stuff.”

“Oh, a weapon? Let me take a closer look.”

“Wait, it’s not finished ye—”

“Just show me. Actually, forget it. I’ll look myself.”

With that, Elette pulled out a piece of wire from who-knows-where and unlocked the cell door.

What!? She just escaped in seconds?!

I froze on the spot, but Elette, fascinated by the unfinished slingshot on the table, didn’t try to run away.

…Yeah, I should probably get sturdier locks.

“Hmmm, I see. So it uses the stretchy properties of dried slime to launch projectiles. The concept is similar to a crossbow, but the dried slime gives it extra power and speed.”

Elette analyzed the slingshot in an instant.

This heroine just casually broke out of a cell and figured out the slingshot’s mechanics like it was nothing. Seeing her in action is pretty wild.

“You’re impressive.”

“Huh?”

“I never thought dried slime could be used this way. It’s fascinating. There are so many potential applications. I’m good at taking things from 1 to 10 or even 100, but I struggle with going from 0 to 1. I really respect you.”

“Oh, uh… thanks. But, well, it’s not like I actually came up with this idea myself.”

As soon as I said that, I froze.

I got flustered by the praise and tried to downplay it, but it hit me a second later —that was a mistake.

If I want to survive as a low-ranking villain, I need the heroines to like me. Otherwise, they’ll kill me without hesitation when they break out.

If she says she respects me, I should just accept it and boost my standing.

I scrambled to think of an excuse.

But before I could say anything, Elette looked straight at me and said:

“Hm. And what’s so bad about that?”

“Huh?”

“Creators always borrow ideas from others. Skills, concepts —it’s the same thing. Taking someone else’s idea and actually making something out of it is incredibly hard. The fact that you’re trying to do that makes me respect you even more.”

“U-Uh…?”

“So, here’s a little gift from me. Please, take it.”

“Wait, what!?”

She handed me a fully completed slingshot.

Did she finish this while we were talking?!

“I see potential in you. It’s like you know a world I’ve never seen before. It’s fascinating. I think I’ll hang out in this cell for a while.”

“Uh, s-sure, go ahead?”

“Oh, and if you need anything, just ask me. If it sparks my curiosity and we have the materials, I’ll make it for you.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what just happened, but it seemed like Elette’s opinion of me was pretty high.

I mean, she broke out of the cell, sure… but she willingly walked back in.

So… no problem!!

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[Author’s Note]

A Random Tidbit

Author: “There’s just something exciting about laid-back characters getting into serious trouble.”

L: “Totally get it.”

If you thought, “This is hilarious,” or “She broke out in seconds, lol,” or “Officer, it’s this author right here,” please leave a comment, bookmark, give a ★ rating, or write a review! Thanks!