Chapter 17

"Alright, it's fine, isn't it?"

Redgard quickly cut the ropes on his wrists, then proceeded to cut the ropes binding my hands and feet. After that, he freed his own legs.

"Damn, they really did a number on us, locking us up in a place like this..."

"What should we do to escape?"

Redgard and I examined the cell together.

However, all we could determine was that the floor, walls, and ceiling were made of gray stone. The iron bars... had a layer of red rust, but that was all. Of course, there was no way we could bend or break them with our bare hands.

...Or so I thought, but Redgard placed his foot on the iron bars and started to bend them.

"Hmm... Ah, this won't work."

I thought it wouldn't, but I didn't say anything. I could tell from his muscle movements that he was really trying his best to bend the iron bars, and I didn't want to mock him.

"Hmm... The lock doesn't seem like it can be broken. It's not even in a shape that can be pried open with a knife..."

The door of the iron bars had a lock similar to a padlock. It might be easier to break than the iron bars, but still... well, it's metal. It would be difficult, I thought.

"If we had the key to this, we could escape. ...Tougo, can you make one?"

"I can't. I don't know what the key looks like, and I don't have any drawing materials."

And as for me, I couldn't be of any help either.

The key, being a key, wouldn't work if the shape wasn't correct, even if it materialized. And most importantly, there were no drawing materials in this place. I tried drawing with my finger on the dusty floor, but it didn't work.

"Ah... So, you need that kind of thing, huh... Damn, I'm sorry. I don't carry any writing tools or anything."

"Yeah."

Somehow, he seemed like the type who wouldn't carry such things. Somehow.

"Um, what do you need to draw those pictures? Do you use something like powdered magic stones?"

"Eh?"

I was taken aback by the sudden question. What was powdered magic stones?

"Well, most mages use magic stones to cast spells, right? I use a stone too."

Ah, right, Redgard's 'summoned beast' came out of a red stone, didn't it? So, that's a magic stone.

...But, I don't think I use that. The materials I use for drawing are pencils I brought from my original world, and things I found here like soil, fruit juice, and plant sap... and the paint I materialized from my drawings.

"No, I think it's just regular paint... or juice from berries."

"Juice from berries? Is that a special kind?"

"I don't know. Oh, and I also made green peas with leaves."

"Leaves?"

Hmm... Maybe the things in that forest are all strange, so I don't know.

"So, so... I thought you used something special. Like a unicorn's horn or a pegasus's feather, or something with a lot of magic power, or maybe you crushed magic stones to make paint..."

"Probably not related to that."

"Then... what is your magic, exactly?"

I don't know. Yeah, I want to know too...

So, for now, our escape plan has only progressed to cutting the ropes binding our hands and feet. Well, it can't be helped. Normally, if people are locked in a stone and iron-barred cell, they can't move. If they could, there would be no point in having a cell. Yeah.

"Hmm... So, the only option left is the magic I can use? Hey, can you use any magic other than drawing?"

"I don't know. I've never tried."

"Eh...?"

And once again, I'm not being helpful. Yeah, sorry. But I still don't really understand what magic is.

If I had known this would happen, I should have investigated more thoroughly. I'm regretting it.

"Using such strange magic and not trying anything else? Not even basic magic? Have you ever done a magic power test?"

"...I don't know."

In the forest, such things never appeared. Birds and horses never mentioned such things. I don't know what I don't know.

"So, so... You really are a strange one, aren't you..."

"Yeah."

I'm a strange one, as recognized by myself and others. But there are many people stranger than me, and I think most of the people around me are pretty strange too. Like you, for example.

"Well, it's fine. There's nothing we can do. I'll try to do something with my power, but you should try too. I'm not that strong, you know."

As he said that, Redgard... produced a fireball about the size of a fist from his hand.

...This might be the first time I've seen magic in this world.

No, I've seen paintings materialize, horses fly, and snakes made of water attack, but this is different.

The flame burning on Redgard's hand was incredibly beautiful.

Fire is incredibly beautiful. It can be red, orange, and yellow. It flickers and changes shape. Sometimes, sparks float up and disappear mid-air. It's mesmerizing.

And most importantly, the light is wonderful. In a dark place like this, the orange light spreads throughout the room, and the shadows dance with the flickering of the flame. It's warm, soothing, and invigorating. It's really wonderful.

"...Hey, don't stare so much. It's embarrassing."

"Eh, ah, sorry."

Maybe I was staring too much, and Redgard looked a bit uncomfortable. But, yeah, I want to keep looking. It would be difficult to draw this... but I want to draw it properly someday.

The fireball Redgard produced floated up and gently approached the door... where it started to heat the lock.

"...What are you doing?"

"Trying to melt it. If I were a bit stronger, I could have broken through the stone wall, but realistically, it's impossible."

Yeah. Even if the fireball hit the stone wall, it probably wouldn't break it.

"So, I'm going to attack the most likely spot."

That makes sense.

...But, the melting point of iron is over 1000 degrees, right? Is this fire enough?

"Besides... this is like counting the unicorn's horn before you catch it, but I do have some ideas."

But Redgard seems to have some ideas. Yeah, then I'll do what I can.

However, without drawing materials, I can't come up with a brilliant plan to change the situation, so I decided to thoroughly examine the floor and walls. ...I thought there might be a way out or a loose part somewhere.

I carefully swept away the dust on the floor and examined the gaps between the stones one by one. But I only found a corner of a stone that was chipped, and nothing else. Well, no one would lock people in a cell with an escape route...

If the stones on the floor or walls could be removed or pulled out, it would have been helpful. But the stones here are too large, and I probably don't have the strength to move them.

Still, I kept looking at the floor and walls, thinking there might be something. Redgard continued to apply the fireball to the lock of the cell.

...Then, at that moment.

A creaking sound, like a wooden door, was heard. ...And.

"...Huh? What's that? There's light."

"Hey, I hope they didn't wake up... "

I heard people talking.

Then, footsteps followed.

...What should we do? Someone is coming.

I thought about what to do. Should we pretend to be bound? Or should we be straightforward?

While I was hesitating, Redgard probably had the same thoughts. And... he acted faster.

He withdrew the fireball that was burning the lock and sent it to the rope on the floor, burning it. The point is, the ropes binding our hands and feet looked like they had been burned, not cut with a knife.

"Hide it."

Then, Redgard whispered and pulled the hem of my shirt, hiding the knife between my back and the belt of my pants. I felt a chill down my spine, but there was no time to think about it.

"Hey, what are you doing!"

...In front of the cell, two people had arrived.

At that moment, Redgard moved.

He slowly approached the iron bars and spread his hands, waving them.

"Troublesome... Did you escape from the ropes?"

"Yeah. Sorry. I appreciate the effort you put into tying us up, but I burned the ropes. If you wanted to keep us tied, you should have used proper handcuffs. Or do you guys have no money?"

While provocatively speaking, Redgard glared at the people on the other side of the iron bars.

"So? What do you want? Are you finally going to let us out?"

"Yeah, that's right. We need to get some information from you before we kill you. The preparations upstairs are already done."

...One of the people on the other side of the iron bars showed something in their hand.

It was... like pliers. Some kind of tool.

...What is that tool for? What are they planning to do? They said the preparations upstairs are done, and they want to get information before killing us. ...The more I think about it, the more unpleasant scenarios come to mind.

Maybe I was too naive. I didn't think about what would happen if we couldn't escape.

"Hmm, I see. Well, if you're going to let us out, I appreciate it. While we're at it, can you let us out in one piece?"

"You're scared, aren't you? Pathetic. As expected from an incompetent noble."

Laughter echoed from the other side of the iron bars. Redgard smiled (not his usual smirk) and... calmly waited for the lock to be opened.

Then, one of the people outside the cell bent down, holding the key in one hand and touching the lock with the other.

Squish.

"Hot!?"

A moment later, a scream. ...I see. They touched the lock that had been heated for a long time, and got burned.

The key fell from the burned hand onto the floor. At the same time, the other two people became hostile.

"What are you doing... Ugh!?"

But immediately, two fireballs flew towards each of them. ...Directly at their faces.

Being hit in the face with fire, they couldn't just stand there. Both of them pressed their eyes and screamed.

"...You bastard!"

Then, the person who got burned on the lock attacked through the iron bars.

...But before their arm could reach Redgard, Redgard skillfully kicked the person's solar plexus through the bars with his long legs.

"Alright! The key!"

In front of the three people outside the cell who were crouching, Redgard reached through the bars and picked up the key.

"Wait, Tougo. I'll open it soon!"

"Eh, ah, the burn."

"That's not a problem."

Redgard smiled and... without any issue, touched the lock, inserted the key, and unlocked it.

...The cell door opened.

"Sure, I'm called incompetent, but I'm somewhat resistant to fire. ...So, let's go, Tougo! We're escaping!"

Redgard turned to me and smiled.

...At that moment.

Something transparent flew towards us.

That transparent something... slashed Redgard's side as he was just leaving the cell.

Blood splattered. What came to my mind was the scene when a Pegasus's wings were cut off. It was red then too. Blood dripped, splattered, and was red.

"Damn you...!"

Redgard threw a fireball in retaliation, but then a transparent giant snake attacked and bit Redgard.

"Redgard!"

There was no response to my sudden cry. Bitten by the giant snake, Redgard was just hanging limply, lifted near the ceiling