Chapter 96 Escape Plan
According to Thea's mother, Ms. Lena, the Blue Wolf clan here is only about half of the total.
The other half, as I heard, has already been taken by other countries.
Thea's father is one of them.
'They said Thea also has potential, so they bought her... I can't help but worry about how she's doing now. Just hearing that she's alive and was able to return to the country, I'm... really, thank you so much...!'
"That's the result of Thea's hard work. I just supported her a little bit."
Then, I slightly changed my tone and continued in a serious voice.
"Thea is still blaming herself for her family being torn apart because of me. To bring back Thea's true smile, the presence of Ms. Lena and the others is absolutely essential."
I could sense Ms. Lena holding her breath at my words.
I could tell without her having to say it out loud.
She must want to shout that it's not true.
But the person she should say that to is not here right now.
So.
"So... let's escape together from here and return to Thea!!"
'... I and everyone from the Blue Wolf clan here feel the same way. But, there's no way to escape from here.'
"Leave that to me."
'Leave it to you... Do you have a plan?'
"There isn't one. I'm going to find out."
I sensed a sense of confusion over the string telephone.
To be honest, I'm not sure if it will work.
But for now, I'm going to believe in Lisa's nickname, "The Beautiful Girl Who Can Make a Nation Fall."
"I'll entice the guards here and arrange for an escape!!"
* * *
Well, I told Ms. Lena that I would make arrangements for our escape, but I don't think there's anyone who would actually betray their organization to let me and the Blue Wolf clan escape.
But──like this string telephone, if there are people who are willing to break the rules a little and work for me, surely there are a few out there who I can get to know a little better?
So, what I started with first was actively interacting with the guards who came to deliver meals and kept watch.
"Good morning! It must be tough working from early in the morning, thank you for your hard work"
"Huh? Ah... what's with you? You're in here yet you're smiling and greeting, that's a weird girl."
"My mother taught me to smile brightly, especially in tough times. 'Your smile can surely make everyone, and yourself, happy. I was one of those people too'"
"But even so, is it normal to laugh in a place like this? It's creepy."
"Ehh~"
Well, at first, I was completely regarded as creepy like this.
But, if I kept that kind of interaction for 2 days, some of the guards began to open their hearts.
"The food here is usually not that good, but the stew is exceptional, right? Is there a secret to it?"
"Do you get it!? Seriously, in a place like this, we can't buy materials from town, so we brainstormed together on how to make something delicious using ingredients from the nearby forest."
I started gathering bits of information about this place from the guards I became somewhat friendly with.
If I tried to gather too much from one person at once, it would raise suspicion, so it was really just little by little.
The number of people in this detention center.
The patrol routes.
The escape routes.
The changeover times.
Among these, the most important was the timing of when the most troublesome guard, Coras, would leave.
Because I thought that guy would probably never be swayed no matter what I did.
Then, I asked a prison guard for a favor and he brought me a metal fork.
I said that I have a disability in my arms and that it is difficult to eat without a fork.
I then put the fork in my pocket, pretending to be a favor to the guard who was going to deliver food to the Blue Wolf clan.
What may be just a fork to me, to the Blue Wolf clan, who have strong bodies, it will become a substitute for a "wire" to remove the shackles.
Then, if the Blue Wolf people could pickpocket it, it would be perfect.
"...So, the operation will take place tomorrow night, when the guards are changed. Get out of here and ask for help from the nearby beastman village."
'No, um... what? Already?'
After I had finished all the preparations and was doing some final checks with Ms. Lena, she asked me that.
Already?
Honestly, I'm more surprised by that reaction than anything else.
"Is there something we still need to do here?"
'No, it's not like there's anything in particular... well, we've been stuck here for about 6 months... and you just got here 2 days ago... uh...'
I got the feeling that she was saying it with some reluctance, but to be honest, I didn't think it would go this smoothly either.
After all, I suppose a lazy criminal like this has never had the experience of being fond of a cute child, and that's probably why it's easy for them to fall.
'I definitely don't think that's the only reason... but anyway. Now, about the escape route for the day of...'
"Yes, what is it?"
'Why was there no way for you to help yourself among the instructions you gave me?'
Ah, I see, that's what she's talking about.
"It's because I have no intention of running away. I'll just be a burden, so please leave me behind."
I've recovered enough to walk on my own after nearly 2 months of rehabilitation... but running through the forest is still impossible for me.
To ensure a successful escape, it's better if I'm not there.
'What are you saying?! After all this, there's no way we can just leave you behind!'
"But, my 'special prison' can only be unlocked using a specific magic tool from the outside, and most importantly, it's on the opposite side from the exit. It would be impossible to suddenly rescue me."
'Even so...!'
"I'm not asking you to abandon me. Please make sure you escape and call for help."
The only people here are non-combatants among the Blue Wolf clan.
Just because they're free don't mean they can take control of this place right away.
But when they escapes they finds the knights of the Belmont family and the warriors of this country led by Mr. Lygar.
They should be able to attack here and win head-on.
The time to help me is now.
"Don't worry, I'm good with the people here, so I'll just wait until I can get help."
...to be honest, this is a lie.
No matter how much I engage, it's just a matter of having chatted for 2 days and being somewhat liked.
In such a situation, if an incident like the great escape of the Blue Wolf clan occurs, even the dimwitted and naive ones would start to suspect I had a hand in it.
If that happens, there will be nothing more I can do.
At worst, I might even be killed out of anger.
Still── for everyone here to be saved, this is the only way.
I just have to get Ms. Lena to understand.
'If that's the case, then I should stay too.'
At that moment, an old man's hoarse voice interrupted my conversation with Ms. Lena.
I wondered what he was talking about, and the old man calmly explained his reasoning.
'I'm old now, and I don't have the strength to escape to the village nearby. I would only be a burden, so it would be better to hold off the others while they escape.'
"N-No! That's not okay! If you do that, you might end up getting killed!?"
'That would be the same for you. Am I wrong?'
It seemed the old man had a clear understanding of the risks I was facing.
He spoke firmly to me, who was left speechless and could say nothing in return.
'No matter how old I get, I'm still a beastman. I can't just turn my back on my "friends" and run away without bearing any risk. Staying with us would probably lessen the chances of the threat turning towards you.'
'I think the same. If even one of us can escape, our plan will be successful. In that case, we should split into 2 groups, one to escape and the other to remain and cause trouble.'
'Foo-fuo-fuo, it's been a while since I've had my blood boil! Even so, when I was young, I was a proud member of a group of warriors!'
Following the first old man, more and more people began to announce their intention to join the war.
Ms. Lena spoke up, as if to summarise their thoughts.
'"My soul is for my compatriots, My power is for my friends. Yummy, you are now a great member of our Blue Wolf clan. Stop thinking about sacrificing yourself. We will all survive together.'
"...Yes!! Thank you for your help!! "
I've already done everything I can.
Now, all I can do is pray.
I'm waiting here, believing in the people of the Blue Wolf clan who recognized me as a comrade and everyone who is surely still looking for me.
That was the resolve I made, 2 days later.
Finally, the great escape plan of the Blue Wolf clan has begun to unfold.
"Hey!! What the hell is going on!?"
"The Blue Wolf clan has all fled at once!! While the old men are left behind causing a ruckus, the women and children have scattered and gone off somewhere!!"
"Damn it, how did it come to this!! Sir Coras isn't even here... if he comes back, we're in big trouble!!"
In the sudden chaos, the men of the Golden Fox clan are in a panic.
Voices completely devoid of calm can be heard through the door.
I felt relieved, thinking that there should be plenty of people who can make it out safely....
"Well, there's no helping it now... let's stick to the plan."
"Yeah. We're taking the remaining goods and vacating this place. We'll move quickly as per Sir Coras's earlier instructions!!"
I grimaced at the judgment of cutting losses so quickly.
This... might be bad?
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