Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams of a Hero ~ Chapter 390.2: Code's Prison

Since Jean-san even prepared a vehicle, I had no choice but to head to the prison. It is outrageous to choose the Royal Guards from among criminals, but as the saying goes, when in Ro, do as the Romans do. I should see the positive side, I still have the choice to pick the people I want.

The prison is a huge black building. Surrounded by high walls and equipped with a huge, imposing gate that resembled the entrance to hell, giving it a clearly different feel from the surrounding buildings. Countless silver bird-like things are flying around in the sky, maybe for security purposes.

The Spider stops in front of the gate. Even though this vehicle boasts incredible jumping ability and can climb buildings freely, it seems it cannot climb the outer wall.

chanized soldiers are lined up around the wall. They never tire, so they are ideal for guard duty. This ti I have a proper appointnt, so I boldly enter through the main gate.

I walk along the long paved road. There are fewer guards inside the gate than outside, but it is probably not all the security it has. I should assu that there are more sinister gimmicks than Treasure Shrines.

After walking for a while within the compound, I arrive at a building. The door slides open automatically. I enter and am greeted by the first human being since I entered the compound. The female staff mber is wearing a neat white uniform. And the card on her chest has four stars on it.

The female staff mber glances at the terminal she is holding, then says expressionlessly without a frown.

“I have been expecting you. Jean-sama has inford that, per the city regulations, you would like to find so human resources from among the inmates.” (Prison Staff mber)

“Yeah, yeah. After all, isn’t that too reckless?” (Cry)

“That is up to the city system. I will show you around. This way.” (Prison Staff mber)

With the female staff mber in the lead, I walk through the building. There seem to be more chanized soldiers than human staff in the building. Most of the work is probably automated. I spoke to a staff mber when I entered the city, so it seems there are people here after all. I confirm sothing with her just in case.

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“Don’t you need a physical inspection or sothing?” (Cry)

“That was already done when you passed through the gate.” (Prison Staff mber)

The staff mber continues quickly.

“I should explain just in case, but inside this Great Prison of Code, the city rules are different from the outside. For example――The weapons stationed within this prison may execute violators or those of a similar nature at its own discretion. Please keep this in mind when taking any action.” (Prison Staff mber)

“!? Ex…… Execution!? That’s another scary thing.” (Cry)

“Everything is all up to the city system. We, the prison staff, are not involved with its functioning. The prison reports directly to the King of Code, and all decision-making authority rests solely with the King of Code. And currently, in order to interfere with the rules of this prison, one needs the authority of Class 8 or above. Anyone with less authority――Even a noble cannot go against the rules of this prison.” (Prison Staff mber)

If I rember correctly Class 8 is…… Royalty. If you are royalty you can change the rules of the prison, huh. A truly frightening story indeed.

The inside of the building is complicated like a maze, but the staff mber’s steps are steady. A thick door opens, revealing a staircase to the basent. There is no sign of the door being unlocked, nor is there a lock in the first place, but it is probably the city system that controls everything.

“The incarcerated criminals are divided into different places based on the evaluation system unique to the city. The main criteria are ability and the cri they committed, but I will be taking you to the upper levels of the prison, where those with relatively minor cris are incarcerated. Only those in the upper levels can be temporarily released at the request of a Class 3.” (Prison Staff mber)

What she says makes feel a little relieved. It may not be difficult to find well-behaved people in an area where people with minor cris are incarcerated.

“Thank you. For now, the upper level is enough.” (Cry)

“That’s perfect. It seems that there has been a shortage of manpower recently, so many people are coming to visit mid level and lower level criminals, but to be honest, the upper level criminals are lacking in power, so there are still a fair number of them left. If they are criminals from the upper level, an explosive collar would likely be effective.” (Prison Staff mber)

“………… What is an explosive collar?” (Cry)

“It is a device placed around the criminal’s neck that can be detonated remotely if the criminal disobeys an order. According to the city regulations, it is allowed to be used for criminals with special release. It is not that powerful, but it should be able to at least partially kill an upper level criminal.” (Prison Staff mber)

Casually explain the staff mber. The image of Advanced Physical Civilization in my mind is starting to crumble…… They are way too scary.

If possible, I would like to do this without using such frightening things………… Co to think of it, Sytry also put similar collars on Shiro and the others during our vacation. That one used electric current, though.

We go down one flight of stairs and pass through a thick tal gate. After passing through a large room where five chanized soldiers are waiting, a door with iron bars opens and what lies ahead is a long corridor. There are countless rooms lined up on both sides.

There are no doors between each room and the corridor. No――It is not that there aren’t any. They are glass doors. Doors with an extrely high degree of transparency, like the window door in Ohii-sama’s room.

The inside of the room is completely visible from the outside. As I instinctively frown, the staff mber says to .

“It is a prison. There are no prison terms in Code, so criminals are imprisoned forever. The doors are basically transparent. Well, it is to make it easier to see the quality of the inmate, I guess.” (Prison Staff mber)

“What about privacy?” (Cry)

“Privacy? In this country, criminals have no human rights. In particular, the upper level criminals have weak egos and little power. That is why the city system doesn’t consider them important. The only way they can be saved is…… By counting on their luck.” (Prison Staff mber)

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“Hh!?” (Cry)

I hurriedly follow the staff mber who resus walking without hesitation.

Each room is small and simple, but clean. They are cleaned and apparently, they are also fed. Their clothing is simple, but it seems that is sothing provided. And it doesn’t look like they are not chained or anything.

However, the look on the inmates’ faces is horrible.

I don’t know if they are alive or dead, just silent agony and despair. So people are lying limp as if they are dead.

In front of each room, there is a na written as if they are the na of a product. It is like they are not being treated like human beings. This is horrible. It is worse than Zebrudia’s prison, which has a reputation for being harsh.

“Their health is maintained by the system. They hardly lose any athletic ability. It is because they are precious resources. They are not even allowed to die.” (Prison Staff mber)

Upon seeing , the inmates’ eyes *kirari* light up for a mont. So people are *butsubutsu* muttering sothing, but I cannot hear anything. It must have been blocked out.

“The energy they generate is extracted and used to run the city. It is eco-friendly. Even if you take into account the food they consu, it seems to be a net benefit.” (Prison Staff mber)

………… I have never heard of sothing like that being eco-friendly.

I am shocked, but I haven’t co here to play, so I have no choice but to look around each room fearfully. The inmates are of various ages and genders, but they all have one thing in common, they are all lifeless. Would they beco violent if I let them out?

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“You can check each individual’s information on the terminal. If there is anyone you want to use it, please let know. I received Jean-sama’s good word, and you et the Class requirents. So if they are criminals from around here, I am sure their release application will be approved.” (Prison Staff mber)

“………… Is it possible that my application will not be approved?”

“Ultimately, it is not who does the judging. It is the city system.” (Prison Staff mber)

That is so random. Now, who should it be? We need 27 people, right……? If I suddenly add 27 people, I would never be able to manage them, so I should release people who can manage other people first.

Preferably soone who hasn’t committed a violent cri.

I walk along, thinking about such things. And there, I stop in front of a room. The staff mber who is accompanying frowns.

“I see, so this criminal caught your eye. I have nothing to say with her abilities and she looks pretty good, but I think it would be best to leave her alone. There is a reason for this.” (Prison Staff mber)

“No…… It is just that she looks a bit like a friend.” (Cry)

Sitting in the room, holding her knees is――Eliza Beck, a mber of 《Strange Grief (Nageki no Borei)》.

No, to be precise, it is definitely not Eliza. Unlike Eliza, her hair is black and her eyes are green. She is also a little shorter, and most importantly, Eliza is a Spirit People, but this person isn’t a Spirit People.

But she still looks just like Eliza. If you make her hair white, her eyes red, her skin brown, and her height taller, and make her a Spirit People, you would have Eliza. If she was a Spirit People, I would have thought she was Eliza’s sister.

The Eliza look-alike raises her head and stares back at with an emotionless gaze. I think she looks just like Eliza in that respect too. In Eliza’s case, rather than being emotionless, she just looks sleepy, I guess.

Then I check my device and my eyes widen.

“Elise Peck…………!?” (Cry)

Even their nas are…… Look-alike?

………… They say there are three look-alikes in the world, but I can’t believe she is a random stranger.

The staff mber explains sothing to as I am frozen in shock at the encounter.

“She is a mber of a Party of Hunters that foolishly decided to attack Code the other day for the first ti in a hundred years. That alone should tell you how dangerous they are. The Leader was sent to the lowest level, but the other mbers were weak and of little use in combat, so the city system sentenced them to imprisonnt on the higher levels. But even so, they are a bunch of people you will never know what they will do next.” (Prison Staff mber)

Thanks for reading! No way!? A Party of Hunter with a Eliza look-alike! A Leader who is very strong but not their rest! Who can they be!? Will Cry finally find the Royal Guards he need!?

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