“Kill everyone in the facility… Are you really okay with that?”
“Yes.”
I nodded without hesitation to Agito’s repeated question, as he widened his eyes in surprise.
“I’ve been thinking as well. About the escape methods after we liberate everyone. I think we can categorize them into two broad strategies.”
As I spoke, I raised my fingers one by one.
“The first is prioritizing speed over stealth, even if they notice the commotion as we cross the border. The second is relying on your strength, Agito, as an executive of the Demon Kingdom, to take control of the facility and secure a margin of safety before escaping.”
“Ah… yes. That aligns completely with my own thinking.”
“In this situation, I believe the second method has the highest chance of a successful escape.”
“Indeed. Given that the Kingdom’s army has already taken control of Elden, one of the territories of the Demon Kingdom, trying to flee while being pursued under the first option is too risky.”
It’s a straightforward situation.
With the Kingdom’s forces positioned in the direction of our escape, the first method risks us being caught in a pincer attack.
Therefore, it makes sense to deal with our pursuers beforehand.
… However, slaughtering all the pursuers would be a poor choice. There’s a way to increase our chances of success.
“I have a suggestion.”
“What is it?”
“Could we leave some of the defeated soldiers alive without finishing them off?”
Recently, the Kingdom has developed a weapon called “anti-personnel mines.” While they intentionally limit their lethality, do you know why?
The answer is to create severely injured soldiers among the enemy, thus slowing down their advance.
“If there are severely wounded soldiers, the Kingdom’s army would prioritize rescuing them over pursuing us. That would reduce the risk of being chased.”
It’s a ruthless plan.
And it’s Agito’s role to play the part of the mines in this scenario. Over the past week, I’ve examined his body multiple times, and his latent power is immeasurable. If he were to unleash his full strength, Kingdom soldiers would end up with injuries so severe that “death would be preferable.”
Yet, he would leave them alive.
They would be left to suffer in agony.
It’s an act that could hardly be called humane.
… But if it increases my chances of a successful defection, I don’t care if I’m called ruthless.
After all, there’s no room for sympathy for the Kingdom officials who ignored my human rights and stole ten years of my life at that hospital.
I’m willing to do whatever it takes for my future.
“… Hah, I see. So that’s your plan.”
Agito nodded in understanding after hearing me out, and then said:
“You truly are a dark healer at heart. You understand the weight of human and demon lives alike.”
“Yes. This heart of mine is already dedicated to the demonic.”
Agito’s words were likely meant as sarcasm.
I can understand why he might feel the urge to criticize me for being so cold toward my own kind.
“Understood. Leave it to me. To honor your efforts so far, I will spare as many of the Kingdom’s soldiers as I can.”
“Thank you for sincerely considering my suggestion.”
As I bowed my head, Agito responded:
“It’s fine, Kiwi. It’s likely that your ‘compassionate heart that couldn’t fully become heartless’ is what shaped you into such a capable dark healer.”
… Huh?
Somehow, I feel like he’s given me praise for having a “compassionate heart” that doesn’t quite match the reality.
“Well then, let’s proceed with taking over the facility. Kiwi, share with me the information you have about this place.”
… Well, I guess I don’t need to correct him now. What’s more important is sharing the current situation.
I told Agito about the scale of the detention facility and the approximate number of Kingdom soldiers stationed there—around fifty or so—that I had observed over the past week.
“From what you describe, it seems there’s no ‘Hero Squad’ in this facility. If that’s the case, it should be easy to capture.”
Agito twisted his lips into a smirk.
“Let’s start taking them down from the east wing. Where shall we rendezvous afterward?”
“The back exit of the west wing is the least visible from outside.”
“Got it. I’ll keep things lively on my end. You all should begin moving while I do. I’ll join you within five minutes.”
With those words, Agito left the torture room.
Immediately after, mixed with the sound of the alarm, the screams of the humans filled the air like a chorus.
The cries grew louder and then gradually faded into the distance.
… How pitiful, Kingdom soldiers.
By now, the facility must resemble a chaotic zoo where the lion’s cage has been broken open.
If you wish to voice complaints, direct them to “Colonel Schwizen of the Kingdom’s Intelligence Division,” not me.
If he hadn’t brought me to this place, none of this would have happened.
Well, it’s far too late for complaints now.
“Now then, shall we head to the back exit of the west wing?”
I led the two remaining demons along the pre-planned route.
