In the southeastern part of the Kingdom of Garlist, there is a prison that has been given two names, meaning burial. The name is Bella, the Burial Jail.

　Literally, those imprisoned there cannot return alive, or even as a corpse. It is said that once inside, they will die as bones and ashes.

　The original role of the prison was not to be a vindictive prison, but a prisoner of war camp. It is said to have been a transit fort between the front line and the capital by the previous king, who was called the King Builder.

　It was not until the reign of the present king that it was rebuilt in its present form, as it was far from the capital and the front lines, and the water moat that covered it was suitable for a prison.

　This prison is surrounded by watchtowers to keep the prisoners inside. Surprisingly, it is not bandit leaders or backstreet powerhouses who are held in such places. Rather, many of them are people who have never killed a single person. At any rate, criminals like murderers and thieves are sent to do unspeakable manual labor.

　What is done here is not easy physical labor, but the ripping of fingers and tearing of limbs. The torture is to make them spit out information. In other words, the prisoners are thought criminals, heretics, and the like.

　Traitors who want to overthrow the country. Fools who believe in the supremacy of paganism. Magicians who mislead people. The trouble with these people is that no matter how hard you try to destroy them, someone else will inherit their ideas. They inherit the ideas as if they were their own property.

　That's why we need a mechanism to break it, the rulers say. There will be no peace in the nation unless we get the names of their friends out of their mouths and eradicate them all, as if we were pulling a potato out of the ground, says the wise man.

　Burying Jail Vera. That's what this place exists for. To make thought criminals and heretics talk, so they will never set foot on the land of the outside again.

　Today, someone is burning their throat and spitting out blood instead of a voice in Jail Bella. It's a daily occurrence here.

　Even in that prison, there are people who work, the guards, of course. While eating his meager meal in the cafeteria, one of the guards spoke in a very irritated tone. The cold stone walls reflected the sound dully.

The cold stone walls reflected the dull sound. "What the hell is that woman doing?

　The tone of voice could not hide the roughness and coarseness.

　There are two types of guards that gather in this burial jail. One is a devotee of the state who has developed a kind of fanaticism, who is so loyal to the state that he wants to cut off the heads of those who are avenging the state.

　And then there are the roughnecks, the ones who are just bragging about their strength and wear the guard's uniform. Those who became guards but were thrust into this prison as if to get rid of troublemakers because their violent and unserious attitude made it impossible for them to work in a normal prison.

　And apparently, the man who is spewing out his frustration is the latter.

　Around the man, a group of similar guards gathered and listened to what he had to say. In a place like this, where entertainment is scarce, the only thing they enjoy doing is hugging women or complaining about others and their misfortunes. People will come to those stories even if you leave them alone. It's like a leech sucking on a wound.

　The man vents his exasperation while accepting the stares of the people around him comfortably.

It's 2066. How can that woman be allowed such freedom?

　The man said, as if it was unreasonable. Some of the guards around him nodded their heads in agreement, and those who didn't understood asked what he was talking about.

　He said that the prisoner who was called by the number 2066 was, strangely enough, a prisoner but was allowed to be free in this burial prison, Vera. They are placed in a private room that looks like a guest room, and are under house arrest rather than confinement. He is even allowed to go out to some extent within the grounds. Moreover, even the chief guard did not say anything and kept his mouth shut. As it turns out, he even has someone who looks like a guard.

　The man asks if such freedom should be granted to prisoners. The people who are imprisoned here are undesirables who have tried to shake the nation and injure the King's person. Such people should not even be allowed the freedom to breathe, he says grandly.

　The guards around him somehow began to understand why this man had suddenly started complaining like that.

　In short, this man must have tried to touch the female prisoner's body and was rebuffed. He couldn't find a way to vent his frustration, so here he was, complaining about trivial things.

　However, the guards could not help but understand the man's feelings. After all, here in Vera, the prisoners are almost like tools that the guards can use at will.

　Of course, there are certain rules, and even prisoners are punished if they are killed. Still, I have never heard of anyone being punished for doing what they want with their bodies. Especially for the heraldists who are often imprisoned these days, they are treated as if they were left alone.

　It's easy to imagine the frustration that would swell in the heart of an overzealous guard if a prisoner suddenly showed up who was not as he expected.

　Moreover, the rumored 2066 has an oddly sharp, yet attractive appearance that makes touching it perplexing. So you can understand the man's indignation.

　Why don't we all sneak into the room together tonight? And then, just as they were starting to talk about it, someone said.

"Don't you guys know? If we mess with that woman, we'll end up as prisoners.

　Everyone around me listened to the voice, their eyes twitching. Everyone turned to look at the guard who had spoken, wondering what he was talking about. The guard's lips twisted in a bitter smile as he said in a hushed voice.

　--The woman is the nurturer of Lugis the great sinner and Alueno the saint.


　I'm sorry.


　This is the name of the master of the orphanage, Nines, in prison Bella.

　I've never felt bad about that name. In fact, I've been called by many names, so it's not so bad if you consider it one of them.

　What was rather creepy was the way I was treated.

　When Nines sat down on the nearest bed, it was so soft that it was hard to believe that it was prepared for a prisoner. The private rooms are not cramped, but much larger than those of an ordinary inn. In addition, the door is unlocked, and although it will not be easy to leave the premises, it will be possible to walk around a little freely.



　That's incredibly generous treatment for a place called the Burial Penitentiary. It was as if they were treating a noble prisoner.

　Nines had a vague understanding of what this was all about. Still, the creepy is creepy.

　Alueno, whom he had nurtured and sent to the cathedral.

　I suppose I'm being treated this way because she's on her way to becoming a saint of the Great Church. If she had executed Nines as a heretic, and the saint had blamed her for it, the person responsible would have been excommunicated. This is what those who belong to the Daishonin Church fear more than anything else: falling short of God's salvation. Therefore, it is no wonder that he was treated this way.

　And also the fact that you are imprisoned in the prison Bella is probably due to the existence of the child you raised, Nines lightly curled his purple hair with his fingertips.

　--Rougis, that little bastard. You're too big for your own good.

　Great sinner. A man of vices. And gold. These were two names that came to mind, two names that a poor child could not possibly imagine. But that was the undeniable truth, the warden carefully told me.

　The parents of the great sinner Lugis. That's why the Nines were imprisoned in Bela, the Burial Prison.

　Nines moistens his lips, perhaps still unaware that he himself is a heraldic figure. He's probably suspected, but he's still not sure.

　If it were to come to light, even the saint's foster parents would not be able to treat her as well as they have. They would have been tortured like nobles, or their food would have been poisoned.

　The reason why you are allowed to be free even though you are in prison now is because you are still under suspicion. It is only because the two children, the High Priestess and the Great Sinner, are shaking the scales.

　Yes, it is a fragile balance that could easily collapse if one more thing were to be added to it. This balance has created a distorted situation in which you are treated well in prison.

　--It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but still, it's not good.

　It's not as bad as I thought, but it's still not good. It's no use being captured. I don't regret it, but I should have done so in order to save others. Given the circumstances, it would have been worse to disappear without a second thought.

　But still, the loss was great.

　In the event that you are not able to find the best way to get the most out of your business, you will be able to get the most out of it. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　Nines' brow wrinkled for a moment, but he quickly adjusted his expression.

　He could not act too conspicuously in this prison. It would not be easy to send even a single letter. It is said that the heraldry has sent out an army, but we have no information after that. All I can do is what I can't do, what I don't know. A cold frustration licked at Nines' chest.

　I don't know what to do.

　His eyes, which exude cleverness, waver and change shape. A few thoughts come into his mind, and each time they disappear. All of them are not likely to be realized easily. If Anne were here, things would be a little different.

　As he continued to ponder these thoughts, Nines' cheeks suddenly fell. A laugh escaped his lips, as if he couldn't stand the thought of it.

　It's a stupid idea. I'm not sure what to make of this.

　--But that's okay. I can't force you to move right now. Then at least let the heroes have a little hope.

　In the back of Nines' eyelids, the image of the child he had once picked up on a back street was clearly visible.