Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Chapter Twenty Nine

The corridor stretched on, dimly lit by flickering torches mounted unevenly on the walls. Kirara couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose at the musty stench of the prison, a mix of damp stone, unwashed bodies, and the faint metallic tang of blood. Her footsteps were light, barely audible against the rough stone floor, but her senses remained on high alert.

The cells came into view as she rounded the corner, a series of over thirty iron-barred doors lined up on either side of the hallway. The prisoners inside were huddled in the shadows, their faces pale and gaunt. Some glanced up as Kirara approached, their expressions flickering between hope and mistrust.

“Shh,” Kirara whispered, raising a finger to her lips. “We’re getting you out of here. Stay quiet, and follow my lead.”

She moved to the first cell, her hand hovering over the lock. Kaede’s devices hummed faintly with energy as she activated one, the runes etched into its surface glowing a soft blue. With a faint click, the lock disintegrated, the iron crumbling into harmless shards that dissolved into the air.

“Come on,” Kirara urged, stepping back to let the prisoners out. They hesitated for a moment before stumbling forward, their movements sluggish and cautious.

“What’s going on?” one of them, a wiry man with sunken eyes, asked in a hoarse whisper.

“No time to explain,” Kirara said, already moving to the next cell. “Just stay close and don’t make a sound.”

The process repeated, each lock succumbing to the carefully designed MMPs. Kirara worked quickly but methodically, her focus unwavering as she freed more and more prisoners.

When she reached the ninth cell, the occupants screamed in terror, shuffling back to the walls behind them. "Go away, you witch." One of them screamed.

Kirara raised an eyebrow. "Ah." A look of realization dawned on her face. The man who had screamed looked awfully familiar.

It was the bandit leader of the first camp falmuth had raided. Back then, he was also given a first row seat to the horrors that was her unique skill [Bewilder] almost swallowing the special he had personally concocted.

Once the door to his cell opened, he curled into himself, lying in the floor, trembling. "Please don't make me kill myself." He whispered with tears in his eyes. Around him, in the same cell, some of the prisoners were doing the same thing.

When she reached the final cell, she hesitated. The figure inside was different from the others—tall and broad-shouldered, with an air of calm authority that set him apart. He was seated on the floor, his back resting against the wall, and his piercing eyes watched her every move.

“You’re not a guard,” he said, his voice deep and steady.

“And you're not a bandit,” Kirara replied, activating the final MMP. The lock disintegrated with a faint hum, and she stepped back. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

The man didn’t move right away. He tilted his head, studying her with a curious expression. “Why are you doing this?”

Kirara exhaled sharply. “Because someone I trust asked me to. That’s all you need to know.”

He considered her for another moment before standing, his movements fluid despite the chains that had clearly weighed on him for days. As he stepped out of the cell, he offered her a small nod. “Thank you.”

Kirara waved him toward the others, her voice brisk. “Save it for later. We’re not out of this yet.”

She turned back toward the corridor, her eyes scanning the map on her wristband. A faint beep alerted her to movement, a patrol heading toward the lower levels. Her jaw tightened.

“Like, everyone,” she said, her voice low but firm. “Listen up. We’ve got guards closing in. Stick together and move fast. If anyone falls behind, I’m not coming back for you.”

The prisoners murmured nervously, but they obeyed, shuffling after her as she led them back toward the staircase. The tension in the air was palpable, every creak of the floor and flicker of torchlight setting Kirara’s nerves on edge.

As they ascended the stairs, she caught sight of a faint glow ahead—the telltale shimmer of a magical barrier. Her fingers brushed over the last EMP device on her belt, and she felt a flicker of satisfaction. “One more, and we’re clear,” she muttered.

But before she could move, the entire prison trembled as multiple explosions echoed in the distance. "Guess that's the signal."