I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison

“I have a question. What kind of training is this, why do I need to block the attacks…?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you after it’s done.”

“….”

“So just hold on.”

…Could he just deliver one punch in return? Although Helios thought so, but if he didn’t learn from this d*mned guard, he wouldn’t survive in this prison. However, every time he saw that guard, his anger surged!

Light glimmered in the guard’s hand, and flames quickly ignited from his fist.

“Attribute Type, the ability to bestow attributes to Kia. Fire, water, lightning, earth… even psychic power is included. Since it doesn’t require using the body, those who are agile tend to have this ability.”

“…I know at least that much,” Helios said.

“You know that? You’re smart.”

Was he mocking him?

However, Helios couldn’t afford to be relaxed anymore.

The fiery punch came flying, and once again, Helios had to rely on his basic Kia to protect his abdomen.
If he didn’t want to die, he had to hold on!

“This crazy human!”

Once again, Helios blocked the attack and took a breath. Coughing, he gathered the Kia as best he could, and his head throbbed.

“Next is Material Type.”

The attacks continued afterward.

“It’s the ability to use Kia on existing objects or create entirely new objects with Kia.”
Mint held a spear made of Kia in her hand.

“Since it also has some relation to physical abilities, most people who have this ability are in good physical condition even if they have a slightly smaller build. Generally, there are many people with good imagination or excellent implementation skills.”

When Helios’s gaze sharpened…

Thunk!

He was pushed by that weapon, but managed to hold on.

“Alright. Shall we end it here?”

“Huff, huff.”

Helios breathed heavily and lay down, staring at the sky. The brown hair of the guard filled in his field of vision, and his innocent face smirked.

It seemed like the first time Helios had seen a proper smile from him, and he couldn’t seem to look away.

‘…Isn’t he too delicate for a man?’

Lost in strange thoughts, he suddenly snapped back to reality.

“Hey, why end it? There are still two types of abilities left.”

That’s right. There are a total of five types of Kia abilities. He had only experienced attacks corresponding to three of them.

“Oh?”

“….”

“Well, what’s left is the ‘Mental Type’ and ‘Other Type,’ but you absolutely can’t defend against the Mental Type.”

It was strange. Helios knew that humans could only use up to two out of the total five types of power once they awakened their Kia.

“The Mental type uses Kia to manipulate others’ minds, control their thoughts and emotions. It’s a power that I don’t particularly like.”

“….”

“Those born with this ability are usually dangerous or crazy b*stards.”

A human couldn’t possess multiple powers at once. This law was absolute.

“…What about you?”

“What about me?”

However… hadn’t this guard already used three types?

“…Before that, what’s left is the Other Type.”

Mint smiled, placing her hand on her back.

“It includes abilities that don’t fall under the previous categories.”

She happily observed the fallen man from her seating position. Ah, he was indeed quite beautiful.

“Are you curious about my ability?”

“…”

“I guess you don’t have any intention of hiding it. You’re quite stubborn.”

Helios had thought that even though Mint seemed indifferent, he could distinguish between truth and lies.

“I am the Other Type. I can use all powers, even if it’s just a little bit of each.”

It was a lie. Mint could use all powers freely.

With that power alone, she had become the woman who had reached the top in this hellish prison.

“It’s not very useful, but it’s perfect for teaching useless beginners like you. You’re quite likely to die soon.”

“Who… will… die…?”

Helios brushed his hair back as he lay down.

He indeed seemed completely powerless as if he could die at any moment.

Thud.

He flinched. He felt the hand touching his hair.

When he slowly opened his eyes, he saw Mint sitting cross-legged, extending her hand toward him as she caressed his hair.

“…Hey?”

“It’s not ‘hey,’ it’s ‘Garrett’.”

“….”

“It seems like you have no intention of remembering. You’re quite stubborn.”

Helios tried to get angry, but for some reason, he couldn’t even move.

The hand touching his head was incredibly soft.

He had an ordinary appearance, yet why did Helios feel this way?

He couldn’t help but hold his breath.

The eyes that looked down at him were kinder and softer than those of anyone he had ever seen.

Unintentionally, Helios couldn’t speak for a while.

If he said even a word, it seemed like this feeling would disappear.

“Just speak while lying down. I’ll answer your questions.”

“….”

He said he was his assigned guard.

However, even Helios, who knew nothing about this prison, could see that this guard’s behavior was unusual.

He was a criminal who had committed a crime.

Moreover, Helios’ crime was heinous.

Despite that, he protected him.

Not only that, but he also took the time to teach him?

…Who is he?

Who is he, really?

Suddenly, he remembered his father. A man who treated his young self as if he would kill him but also enforced the strength to him befitting a duke’s successor.

“Among the three attacks you just blocked, which one was the easiest to block? Or maybe felt easier?”

“….”

Helios pondered deeply.

He had finally awakened Kia, who had remained dormant despite his lifelong efforts. However, even after awakening, there was still much he didn’t know. It wasn’t wrong to say that he had grown weaker in the face of it. Now was the time to wholeheartedly embrace the teachings of this guard that were beneficial to him.
He didn’t know anything, so this was an opportunity.

“‘Material Type’, that was the easiest.”

“….”

“When you attacked with the spear, it was slightly easier to breathe than with other attacks.”

Mint tilted his head slightly, his voice sounding a bit softer.

Mint tried to recall the past, which was now dimly remembered but required diligent effort to bring to mind.

“Usually, attacks from other ability users have lower attack power because you have a similar type of power.”

Why did the memory of the neighborhood cat that approached Mint and ate the food she gave come to mind when seeing him? Perhaps some forgotten memories and emotions inside her remained faintly.

“Ah, so….”

“Yes. Prisoner Helios, you’re a Material Type user.”

Meanwhile, Helios sighed in frustration after finally understanding why Mint had beaten him without a word.

“This crazy guy… If you were going to tell me, there were easier ways….”

“Hmm?”

Mint tilted her head.

“It’s faster to learn through experience. Thanks to that, you figured it out quickly, didn’t you?”

“…Do the guards have a concept of common sense?”

“Maybe, besides the warden, other guards might have it.”

“What about you?”

“I’m still learning.”

…Where did he come from and what kind of common sense was he learning?

Helios thought that Mint was just spouting nonsense, so he showed his usual displeasure.
As usual, Mint didn’t care at all.

“Congratulations. you found out about your ability.”

Of course, Mint had known what kind of ability the male lead had from the beginning. But if she said so from the start, Helios would be overwhelmed by that realization. If he had known, he would have gone on a rampage right away.
“…Do you often hear people calling you crazy?”

Helios stared at Mint and burst into laughter.

It was a laughter that burst out of absurdity of the situation.

“You’re the craziest person I’ve ever seen. Sir Garrett.”

As his long eyes crinkled, the three dots under his eyes stood out.