[Nathan POV]
"Damn, I'm tired."
"You hardly contributed," Rowan said, looking at Nathan with an annoyed expression.
"Hey, emotional support."
"…"
Rowan just glanced at him before turning away and settling onto the stone floor, falling asleep and completely disregarding Nathan. Left alone, Nathan sat on the ground and assessed his body. Fatigue and muscle soreness were setting in, but it wasn't too severe.
'It's bad… really bad.' Nathan thought about the blood he had seen as he passed with the crowd towards the gold reserves.
No one was sure what would happen tomorrow, since today they didn't really keep them working for long, but probably everyone had already turned in for the night, since there wasn't anything to do besides sleep and work.
'I have to find a way out, but how?'
He was powerless for now; he knew the main powers of this world: aura, used by weapon users; mana, used by mages and summoners who could form contracts with spirits or magical beasts; while holy power wielded by god's followers also existed, and demons provided unholy powers through contracts. Some exceptions existed, but those were the main ways to become stronger in this world.
'The only way is maybe a revolt.'
Even if there weren't many guards around, Nathan was sure there would be more outside, since outside the cave was probably a camp. He knew that because the main character had raided a bandit camp once, and it looked quite similar to this one.
'Haah… f*ck my life.'
From reading novels all day to now being inside one and needing to lead people to fight against their kidnappers, it was no small change, but was Nathan really ready for something like this?
'…'
Leaving his mind blank, he just sat there for a while before drifting to sleep, as his body screamed at him to rest.
[Adrian POV]
Zzzz…
Beside him, Osfold was sleeping soundly after they got back to their cell. They had a small chat, and Osfold fell asleep almost instantly, but Adrian didn't mind. He needed some silence to take everything in.
'Well… muscle fever, welcome back.' He thought with a faint grin, remembering his football training.
He was quite used to muscle soreness, but he was still unsure about tomorrow, since it would surely be different.
'They will work us to the bone… maybe a test?'
Adrian thought that today might have just been a test to see how the prisoners would act and to build some kind of structure around it. Troublesome.
'So how do we get out?'
He had already made up his mind—he would escape and take Osfold with him, maybe even save everyone—but he didn't know what to do. He didn't know anything about this world.
But one idea came to mind… a revolt.
It was probably their only chance.
'I will talk with Osfold tomorrow.'
Osfold was the oldest guy he had seen today, so maybe people would rally behind someone with experience.
Looking at the sleeping old man, Adrian quickly reconsidered.
'Nah… we need a strong one.'
He remembered Rowan—the guy who seemed strong.
He needed to become more familiar with the people here, maybe find allies. Even if he was just a kid, he wasn't going to sit around and do nothing. He had a family to return to… and an old man who needed to return to his nephews.
'Osfold, you better be grateful.' He thought, glancing at the sleeping fossil.
After deciding to talk to Rowan tomorrow, Adrian lay down next to Osfold and went to sleep, knowing the next day would be worse.
[Adrian POV]
thud thud thud
Once again, Osfold and Adrian woke up to the sound of guards banging on every iron door. But this time it was different.
The doors were hit, but not opened.
Silence filled the place.
Then—a distant sound of a door opening.
"They are taking them one by one," Osfold said, staring at the door without any expression.
"But why?"
"Maybe assigning jobs."
"Jobs?"
"I saw a blacksmith down there."
It was true—Adrian had seen it too. There was also a smaller cave near the cells, equipped with cooking tools. Maybe some would cook… maybe the women.
"…"
More doors opened, one after another, until it was their turn.
"Get up."
A guard spoke coldly as the two followed him, unsure of what was next. They walked the same path toward the gold reserves.
Both Adrian and Osfold took a pickaxe, but a guard stopped Osfold.
"Old man, you will be in charge of the blacksmith."
"… Alright."
"Don't worry," Adrian said.
Osfold just nodded and followed the guard.
Adrian raised his pickaxe and began chipping at the rock, extracting golden fragments. Looking around, he noticed other prisoners—but not Nathan or Rowan.
Still, he kept working, planning to act once the cave filled.
"Get up, stupid!"
A voice made him turn.
The same guard returned—this time with Rowan and Nathan.
Nathan stumbled.
Rowan clicked his tongue.
"Come on, I don't have all day!"
thump
The guard kicked Nathan in the stomach.
Rowan's jaw tightened—but he said nothing.
He simply turned away.
"Come on," Rowan said, grabbing Nathan's arm and dragging him forward.
Then he looked at Adrian.
"Can you look after this brat?"
"Sure…," Adrian replied, while Rowan grabbed a pickaxe and started working.
Well… looks like I found the leader I need.
"Ah… f*ck," Nathan groaned, holding his stomach.
"You good?"
"Been better. I'm Nathan."
"Adrian."
They shook hands.
"Take your time," Adrian added.
Nathan nodded.
Leaving Nathan to recover, Adrian resumed working, occasionally glancing toward the blacksmith, where Osfold and some older men were hammering what looked like weapons.
Weapons…
But the guards.
Too many.
Adrian frowned.
If they had weapons, escape should be easy—but the security around the blacksmith was tight.
Too tight.
It was obvious.
They knew.
They feared a revolt.
Giving them weapons while watching them like that…
It was like saying—
Try it.
"F*ck this cursed novel."
"!!!"
thud
"Huh?" Nathan turned as Adrian dropped his pickaxe.
They locked eyes.
Adrian hesitated for a second…
Then—
"SUIIII!"
He shouted.
Of course.
His idol's celebration.
"…You are—"
"Yeah."
Everyone looked at him.
Adrian quickly picked up his pickaxe and resumed working.
Nathan followed.
Now beside him.
"Any plans?" Nathan whispered.
"See that guy at the blacksmith?"
"The white-haired one?"
"Yeah. My cellmate."
"So… we're fighting." Nathan muttered, clearly uneasy.
"Any better idea?"
"…No."
Then—
"You know about the novel?" Nathan asked.
"What?" Adrian frowned.
"This world… it's based on a novel."
Adrian stared at him.
He wasn't a novel guy.
Anime? Sure.
Manhwa? Sometimes.
But this…
Still—
It made sense.
Too much sense.
"Figured we're not in our world anymore."
"Anyway, we need to talk to Garion," Nathan said.
"Why?"
"He can lead the charge. I figured out who he is."
"Big shot?"
"Deadly Sin of Pride."
"… A villain?"
"Worst one. But we can change it."
"…"
Adrian thought back to Rowan's reaction when Nathan got kicked.
Yeah.
That fit.
"He's not evil yet," Nathan added.
nod
They kept working, hitting the rock again and again while talking quietly about their past lives. The work hours stretched longer this time.
"Hey Nath—"
"RATS! Line up!" a guard shouted.
The crowd gathered and started moving back.
Adrian watched Nathan walking beside Rowan.
Then—
Nathan froze.
Looking ahead.
Adrian followed his gaze.
A girl.
Pink hair.
"Hey, you good?"
"… Another deadly sin."
"The f*ck? Is this some kind of meetup?" Adrian muttered.
"Could be good for us…"
"What do you mean?"
"I just need to teach them how to awaken their power… and we're out."
"… Let's meet tomorrow. Same place."
They nodded.
Then separated.
Back to their cells.
Adrian talked with Osfold before sleeping, then decided—tomorrow, he would plan everything with Nathan, approach Rowan and the pink-haired girl, and ask Osfold for help with weapons.
'Please help us…'
He whispered quietly.
He didn't know if gods existed.
Still—
He pressed his hands together.
And prayed.
In the darkness—
A small light appeared.
Floating above him.
It moved slowly, tracing the bruise on his arm.
Warmth spread.
The pain faded.
Then—
It disappeared.
Leaving only silence.