005. Negotiation

The distribution port is closed.

The power of US heavy oil forcibly pulls Kang Min-shik’s body.

“What is this!”

No matter how hard I struggled, nothing changed. He was in the center of the room before he knew it.

coo goo goo-

Front and rear, left and right, the walls in all directions began to narrow. It adhered closely to his body.

weird feeling. The wall was deformed like a custom frame. Black darkness covered his vision. I covered my mouth and ears.

And.

“…!”

─────!

Terrible pain began pouring out.

Indescribable pain, beyond what he expected.

However, the tightly packed body could neither move nor scream.

Do you have to endure this for ten days?

Why are prisoners afraid to speak when they hear the story of the punishment room?

Kang Min-shik realized that.

But hell was just beginning.

* * *

Punishment is divided into three stages.

The first punishment room that reduces the range of motion.

The second punishment room that gives physical pain.

And the third punishment room that gives physical and mental pain.

The second punishment room can be thought of as a kind of electrical stimulation using mana.

It covers the eyes to eliminate the sense of time, and blocks the entire body to even block movement.

And inject artificial pain. The pain created with mana was new. New sick and painful.

All I can do is pray and pray for this time to end in terrible pain.

If it continues for a long time, people become exhausted.

Even if you are a warrior.

Because of this, prisoners do not like entering the punishment cell. The first is a hundred days, a thousand days, and you can endure it, but it’s never easy beyond that.

“I heard that kid entered the punishment room?”

“yes.”

The story of the prisoner who naturally entered the punishment room circulated among the prisoners. Derkain nodded at Siena’s question.

“few days?”

“Ten days.”

“Aren’t you coming out sick?”

“Even a relatively weak-minded person is a hero. It won’t break that easily.”

“Well, it’s the second punishment room. If it’s 3, there’s no answer.”

Warriors are those who have fought against enemies that cannot be defeated unless they become warriors. Suffering, adversity, and pain are all familiar beings.

Physical pain was somewhat tolerable.

The strength of the punishment room was also made considering that it was a warrior, but it won’t completely collapse in just one, ten days.

“know? The other prisoners are making noise.”

Prisoners were perplexed by the fact that there was a prisoner who entered the punishment room after several years, and that the warden sent a warning message directly during the mental education class.

“I know.”

“A loach has come in and is messing around. The vigilance of the warden, which has been loose at best, is rising again.”

“Still fine. Because it is limited to Kang Min-shik.”

“There’s a clue that ‘yet’ is attached.”

Not perfect. And if you’re not perfect, everything can go wrong. Purgatory is such a place.

“Since you entered the 2nd punishment room, you must be alert. After you come out, at least you won’t be as ruthless as before.”

“That’s just what you wish for… the punishment room is a bit terrible to say.”

Sienna agreed. However, the anxiety did not completely disappear.

“But what if that doesn’t change?”

“Do you think that would be possible?”

“I did it and you did it. And he’s the first one. The future planned in Purgatory is too bleak for one’s will to break.”

“But he is human. He is also a human on Earth.”

It’s relative to the last, but the hero from Earth was mentally weaker than the other warriors.

“There are always exceptions.”

“That too.”

Even the smallest thing has the potential to ruin the plan.

“No small talk there!”

The conversation was interrupted for a moment by the shouting of the guards. However, when the prison guard’s gaze returned to another place, Sienna approached again.

“If Kang Min-sik, who came out of the punishment room, still refuses to give up his will, what are you going to do?”

“It must be one of three.”

“Are there three?”

“Before I can do anything, this time, I either get stuck in the 3rd punishment room and become a cripple, or bring it here and calm it down.”

“The last one?”

“If neither of these things work, I should throw it as bait.”

thud-

Derkhain’s ax went into power.

“Take good care of the prisoners. In the end, nothing changes.”

awesome-

The tree fell violently.

* * *

It wasn’t just Derkain and Siena who were thinking about Kang Min-shik.

The same was true of the person who directly put him in the 2nd punishment room.

“If you still don’t give up and want to break out, what are some ways?”

Kim Woo-jin savored the iced Americano. The bitterness and coolness unique to coffee were excellent.

“There will be several things. Either somehow opening the door at night and escaping, or hiding when leaving the station.”

“What is the most likely method for Kang Min-shik to choose?”

“I do not know.”

“Yeah, there’s no way I know unless it goes inside his head.”

I don’t know if it was other prisoners. Because he knows something about prison and knows how to distinguish between the possible and the impossible.

Their behavioral patterns are somewhat predictable. But Kang Min-shik doesn’t know. the guy is white I don’t know where to go because I don’t know anything.

“But do you really need to worry that much?”

Kim Woo-jin answered the prison guard’s question.

“What do you mean?”

“Escape from prison is impossible for any prisoner anyway. I don’t think there is a need to predict and prepare for the number of cases so far.”

It was not wrong. In fact, Kim Woo-jin did not prepare for it because he believed that he would overcome all odds and succeed in breaking out.

“Am I wasting my time needlessly?”

“Sorry if I’m off topic, but I think so.”

“No, it is not wrong. It’s honestly a waste of time.”

by the way.

“Time is what rots here. Have you ever thought about wasting it on purpose?”

20 years was a long time. And there must be a longer time in the future.

Kim Woo-jin wanted to waste time.

I hoped that something interesting would happen and relieve his boredom. But that’s not what he really wanted the prisoners to break out of.

Only within the limits he can tolerate.

It was the reason why I gave a warning in the mental education class.

smart-

“Chief, this is Werner.”

“come in.”

Read at noblemtl. com

Just then, Soji pushed the cart in. The prison guards are out.

“I brought you dinner. You will be quite satisfied.”

“I was waiting. What did you say?”

“This is steamed octopus made from Kraken’s leg. Add radish and other things and boil until soft. The seasoning is soy sauce-based.”

The octopus was sliced gently. I took it with a fork and put it in my mouth.

“It’s surprisingly fine.”

“Kraken actually tastes better than octopus. But it’s because people are afraid of it because of its appearance and poison, so they don’t know if they’ll eat it. It’s all prejudice, prejudice.”

“It’s not prejudice at the point of poisoning.”

“No. I eat the poisonous pufferfish, but why can’t I eat the Kraken? Is it because of the prejudice against monsters?”

Well, it’s more logical than you think. Kim Woo-jin couldn’t find anything to refute.

There is a difference between the kraken and the pufferfish poison like heaven and earth, but it is just the same extreme poison that brings death to ordinary humans.

“So what about poison?”

“I didn’t remove it. He is the one who will not die even if he eats it, so why do you get rid of it?”

“That’s the thing that tingles in the aftertaste.”

“If you use Dokdo well, it is part of your cooking. Doesn’t that clean up your mouth while getting rid of the Kraken’s unique greasiness at the end?”

“Well.”

Kim Woo-jin overturned the plate. Pieces of kraken, well-cooked to brown, clung to Soji’s face.

“get out.”

“No, this precious thing…!”

“If you experiment with the warden one more time, you will also be in the second punishment room.”

“Do you think I’m crazy and want to go into that horrible place? It’s not an experiment, it’s the way I try everything. I’m fine, but the warden can’t be wrong!”

“Attempt to assassinate the warden, 100,000 penalty points.”

“If you do it one more time, it’s a punishment room! Warden! Please, only 2 punishment rooms!”

“How is the mood of the prisoners?”

“I know the warden is angry, so I’m careful not to spark sparks on them!”

“Other than that?”

“There is nothing special. It’s real!”

“great. 10,000 points. 1Put it in the punishment room for ten days.”

“Thank you, Warden!”

Soji shook his head. Compared to Punishment Room 2, Punishment Room 1 was child’s play.

“And contact the barn and tell them that if this bastard gets poison one more time, it’s all a punishment room. The same goes for the gardening class.”

“Yes.”

“That’s it! Warden! sorry! Warden! Rather put them in the second punishment room!”

It would have been if it hadn’t been for the last words.

Soji screamed and disappeared. Kim Woo-jin, who was left alone, neatly burned the messy remnants.

No octopus, no condiments, no fragments of broken dishes. They all perished without leaving any ashes.

He leaned back on the sofa and smacked his lips.

“…it tastes good.”

The aftertaste was particularly fresh.

When I was full, my thoughts naturally flowed smoothly.

‘Succeeded in sending a warning message to the prisoners…’

Putting Kang Min-sik in the 2nd punishment room was to discipline him in the beginning, but it was also intended to warn other prisoners to be careful.

It’s the prisoners who plan to break out whenever the atmosphere gets sluggish.

smart-

“Chief.”

Then, another prison guard came in. Not alone. Julia Karsen. The main culprit who has been hurting his headache recently was together.

“I brought you.”

“yes.”

Originally, it was not a subject to have a personal interview. Since we have already had a conversation in the counseling room, there is no need to do it at this point.

However, if you have requested an interview first, the story will be different. How much more so if the target was a prisoner who had just entered and saw the prisoner in the next room locked in the second punishment room right in front of his eyes?

Kim Woo-jin asked with a glimmer of hope.

“Why did you ask for an interview? Do you want to get out of prison?”

“Nope.”

but it was cut off right away.

Kim Woo-jin’s expression hardened coldly.

“···sit down.”

“Yeah.”

“car?”

“it’s okay.”

“Then just eat me.”

Kim Woo-jin brought a cup of coffee himself.

“Is prison life worth it?”

“Nope. bad. Especially the part where I do logging with my own hands.”

To make an elf feel guilty by cutting down a tree. That was also what Kim Woo-jin was aiming for.

It actually worked. During his tenure, one elf could not stand it and was released. Although that was the first and last elf released from prison.

Looking at Siena and the other elves who had adapted well, I wondered if there would be any meaning to it, but judging from Yulia’s reaction, it didn’t seem like that at all.

“Then how about getting out?”

“Not to that extent.”

Also.

“Aren’t trees and forests friends for elves?”

“A friend.”

“But are you okay?”

“There are people among humans who regard pigs and cows as friends, right?”

“Well.”

I can’t resist Today, it feels exceptionally true with facts.

“Isn’t there something you want to achieve? If you listen to this, you will be released from prison.”

Occasionally there were such prisoners. Most of them were dismissed because they could not be heard, but at least one prisoner was released that way.

“I want to get out of prison without losing my strength.”

“Dismissed.”

“I want to plant a tree. It doesn’t mean that I want to get out of prison just because I listen.”

“tree?”

“I had no choice but to cut it, but it hurts my heart. I want to restore the forest even a little bit.”

“Wouldn’t it be more painful if I didn’t let that happen?”

“Ah, I said my own weakness. But how many elves are there, don’t you already know?”

hit. All the elves made the same proposal to Kim Woo-jin. Of course, I refused, and there was nothing different than I thought.

“Okay, let’s get to the point. Why did you ask for an interview?”

“I have a request. You can also express it as a request.”

“What?”

“Will you listen?”

“If you just want to get out.”

“It has nothing to do with it.”

“Then I’m in trouble too.”

“Please give me possession.”

“Didn’t you hear that it was difficult?”

Yulia didn’t particularly pay attention to his words.

“want to do.”

“Do you know what Soji is?”

“He is a prisoner who works in a prison while helping the guards.”

“I know quite well that you have been in prison for several days.”

“I am quick to learn.”

“To learn quickly and learn quickly to escape from prison?”

Tak-tak, Kim Woo-jin tapped the table with his fingers.

“Is it possible to escape from jail just by possessing it?”

“It’s not that kind of a place. But isn’t it a matter of whether you can achieve it or not?”

It’s a matter of whether you intend to do that or not.

“Then, on the other hand, I will ask the director. Do you think it makes sense to come here as a prisoner and not think about breaking out?”

“It makes no sense. That’s why he said he wouldn’t let me do it.”

“What if you really want to become a Soji?”

“It is my prerogative to appoint Soji.”

“So I’m asking you like this.”

“Ask the warden of the prison to help make the escape smoother?”

It feels like the common sense I knew is collapsing. Kim Woo-jin laughed in vain.

“I never said I was going to jailbreak. He said he couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

“That’s it. Since we are running parallel lines, there is no reason to talk anymore.”

Kim Woo-jin took one shot of the remaining coffee.

“Go back to your room. The interview is over.”

“I make a deal.”

“transaction? A trade is a word that is established only when there is something you want from each other.”

As a prisoner, there was no way that she could have anything that would satisfy Kim Woo-jin.

“I heard you are bored with your long prison life.”

“Does that mean I look like a prisoner?”

“I heard that you are always looking for freshness, so you overturn the forest.”

Didn’t answer. that was the answer

“I will give you a freshness that you have never experienced before.”

“how?”

“I have the seed of the mother tree.”

“…?”

Kim Woo-jin blinked at the unexpected subject.

…what did you just say?

“I will plant it here. how about it?”

Whether she knew what she had said or not, Yulia’s face was as bright as ever.

“…what nonsense.”

“High elves don’t lie. You wouldn’t know, would you?”

“I know you do.”

“Then I will swear by the mother tree.”

“…I’m sure all your belongings were taken before entering Purgatory?”

“Everyone has a hidden number, right?”

That carefreeness, Kim Woo-jin could not understand.

What is it?

The seed of the World Tree, and the World Tree. It’s a lie if you’re not interested. That’s why it’s more confusing. What the hell is Soji doing all this?

No, possession is not the problem. it’s a jailbreak

“I’m sure it’s impossible to break out of jail like that.”

“So, isn’t that the manager’s business? Or is this place so poor that you can break out just by taking possession of it?”

Gabulgi and appropriate provocation. and belief in purgatory.

And even a hypothesis that popped up in a corner of Kim Woo-jin’s mind.

“great.”

It was enough to light a fire in his heart.