TL: This is the average length of a chapter I would split let me know if they should be split or not.

Thankfully, I was able to plant the idea of escape to Diena.

In a way, this was also thanks to Mary and Emily's help.

Considering Diena's reaction in the dining hall, it would have been difficult to approach her easily.

Anyway, now that she's joining, we just have to escape from here.

'To be honest, I really don't want to stay here long.'

A prison is a place you don't want to stay.

It's a place where you live with people you don't want to be around, in a space you don't want to stay, under the guise of rehabilitation.

Of course, those who don't seem likely to rehabilitate are just kept indefinitely in this hellish place by society.

That is exactly what a prison is.

Although it's only been two days since I arrived, the environment is already harsh enough to make me long to return to the Academy.

"Mmm... Keen... Hehe."

Raphne, who was lying with me on the lower bunk, hugged my neck tightly, giggling.

It seems Raphne doesn't care much where she is, as long as I'm around.

Despite her grumbling, she's sleeping peacefully as if the world is at peace.

'Still, I don't want to leave Raphne in a place like this for long.'

Anyway, the goal is to escape as quickly as possible.

So, what would be the best method to escape?

The usual methods for prison escape.

The first things that come to mind are chopsticks or spoons.

A classic method, typically using a spoon or the like to dig out bricks behind the bed or a poster.

Then, a method where one digs like a mole through a tunnel toward the wall on the other side.

'But that’s impossible.'

I’ve heard that most prison facilities are equipped with special barriers that absorb physical damage.

In shared spaces like the shower room, such measures aren't implemented.

However, digging through the shower room wall would immediately get us caught.

“Hmmm…”

I couldn’t come up with any plausible ideas on my own.

“Digging through the wall to escape seems difficult.”

That's why the next morning during breakfast, I had a meeting with Diena in a corner of the dining hall.

Now she's also part of the escape plan.

Her knowledge from the longest time living here among us would surely be beneficial.

“Hmm... Why can't we just break everything?”

Raphne, who was listening nearby, murmured with a puzzled expression.

From her perspective as someone physically powerful, our attempt to escape quietly seemed incomprehensible.

“It’s not just about getting out, but also living peacefully after… If we stir up a commotion while escaping, the guards will chase us immediately, right?”

“Can’t that guy we know (Adrian) handle that somehow?”

“…Hmm.”

Indeed, as a prince, Adrian might be able to order them to release us.

But Diena is escaping with us.

She's a major criminal with at least 50 years left on her sentence for a significant crime.

If Adrian's command could stop the pursuit with her escaping, they wouldn’t have imprisoned us here in the first place.

For this reason, breaking everything isn't an option.

“Hmm, you want to escape quietly, right?”

Diena, listening to our discussion, asked with a bright smile.

“The best thing would be to steal the guard's keys... hmm.”

With that, she crossed her arms and fell into thought.

...Wait, keys?

“If we have the key, can we escape? What about the watchtower's surveillance?”

“Hehe, considering how long I've been here, if we have the key, we can unlock the doors and leave without getting caught.”

Diena, who answered confidently, soon sighed with disappointment.

“But is it easy to steal a guard’s key? Even if we manage to steal it, they’ll notice right away.”

“……”

Raphne and I exchanged blank looks at Diena's words.

“Huh?”

Only Diena, not noticing the meaning behind our glances, tilted her head in confusion.

I suddenly realized how much easier a prison break becomes when the guard is on our side.

In all the prison break movies I've seen, the guards are always enemies.

They are the obstacle that hinders the escape.

That's why they go through the trouble of digging tunnels and make the escape challenging.

‘Adrian, you really thought this through.’

I wondered why Adrian placed Emily as the guard, but it turned out to be a wise decision.

“The key?”

“Yeah, just give it for a moment.”

Later during cleaning time.

I discreetly whispered to Emily, who was supervising the cleaning.

During this time, both the prisoners and the guards are engrossed in their tasks, making it easy to slip out of sight.

“Here you go.”

Jingle.

Emily handed over a bunch of keys to me as if it was no big deal.

“Alright.”

I quickly snapped the key in half in my hand.

“Aaah!! What, what are you doing, Ken! If you do that, I'll get in trouble!”

“It's alright, Emily. I’ll repair it quickly.”

“...Huh?”

Then I immediately used magic to mend the broken key back together.

After checking the crafting skill category, I soon smiled.

"Emily, could I borrow all the keys related to the doors?”

“You're not planning to break and fix every single one, are you?”

Emily's incredulous look accompanied her words, which were spot on.

Repairs aren't limited to weapons, after all.

In everyday life, it's not just weapons that break down.

In fact, things like farming tools or kitchen utensils are more common in daily life than weapons.

And the crafting skill’s repair ability can actually fix such items.

Moreover, once I repair an item, I can replicate it.

Later, Emily and I moved to a secluded spot away from watchful eyes and I received all the keys leading to the exit.

Whirring.

After finishing the repair on the last broken key.

“Emily, is there any chance we could have a prisoner meeting right now?”

“Now?”

“Yes, with Raphne, Diena, and me—all three of us.”

Now that preparations are complete, what remains is choosing the timing to execute the plan and what's next after escaping the prison.

A discussion on this is needed.

Naturally, the time for escape was set for dawn, while all the prisoners were asleep.

In the first place, it's about unlocking the door and walking out directly.

If another prisoner sees it, there will be a commotion.

So, I lay in bed waiting until all the prisoners fell asleep.

“...Raphne, do you really have to cling to me like that?”

Even in such circumstances, Raphne clung to my neck with determination to not let go, looking at me with wide eyes.

“But thinking that this might be the last time makes me feel a bit sad.”

“When we return to the Academy, I'll give you plenty of hugs.”

“Tsk, then you won't be the soft Ken... though, of course, I like the firm Ken too.”

Her words could be easily misunderstood as referring to hard or soft things in various ways.

Anyway, Raphne felt sad about not being able to hug me, who is now a girl, anymore, so she hugged me tightly for the last time.

...Sometimes I consider staying as a female.

No, I have been accommodating the preferences of my fiancées too much lately.

I should refrain from things like SM or yuri as much as possible.

If they genuinely wish for it, I’m willing to do it, but there’s no need to act like I'm yearning for it.

“Snore…”

As time passed, the sound of snoring from the other prisoners filled the air.

Soon after, Mary approached the front of our cell and indicated that all the prisoners were asleep.

Creak...

After that, it was really simple.

Using the keys I duplicated with my skill, I opened the door to our cell and then opened the door to Diena's cell as well.

Of course, since her roommate couldn’t leave with us, Raphne knocked out the roommate, and I tied her up with the chains I made with Mary at the side watching.

“You're amazing, Kenna! I can't believe you duplicated the keys with your crafting ability and got the guards on your side! With this, we definitely won't get caught!"

"Uh, hey, don't praise me too much... Hehe."

"Kenn, your lips are twitching."

No one dislikes compliments, after all.

Of course, all of this was thanks to Emily and Mary infiltrating as guards and helping us.

If it weren’t for them, we would have had to escape using a much more complicated and difficult method.

Like in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1, where they caused all kinds of mayhem to escape.

We also wouldn't have been able to escape this quickly without causing that level of chaos.

After meeting Emily at the front entrance of the building, we followed Diena's guidance towards the main gate of the prison.

True to someone who planned the Royal Palace Terror, she had an excellent ability to interpret the layout of such facilities.

"Miss Diena. What are you planning to do once you get out?"

"W-what do you mean?"

Why is she blushing? It wasn't that strange of a question.

"Oh, I mean, you can live a normal life once you're out."

I asked this question hoping she wouldn't commit another act like terrorism again.

Even in a short time, she seemed to have a good personality despite her crimes.

Sorry to Adrian, but it’s probably that the handling by the Royal Palace left her quite dissatisfied.

Nations do handle things like that frequently.

"I’m curious about what work you plan to do once you’re out."

I cautiously asked this while heading towards the main gate.

The path we were walking on was a Hidden Route, conveniently beyond the sight of the guards atop the tower.

The atmosphere was relaxed enough for small talk.

Upon my question, Diena turned slightly and blushed again.

"What about being a Wise Mother and Good Wife?"

"Oh, so you have someone like that, Miss Diena?"

"Oh, no, nothing's decided yet, but I’m thinking of trying... Hehe..."

Diena twirled her orange ponytail like a tail and laughed shyly.

Hmm, I don't know who he is, but it seems she has someone in mind outside.

'If you get married and live peacefully, that's fortunate.'

I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

After escaping together, it would be problematic for me if she engaged in terrorism again.

"I can be a Wise Mother and Good Wife too."

"Me too."

At that moment, Raphne and Emily, seemingly competitive, chimed in warmly.

It seems Diena's future goals have inspired these two women as well.

Lastly, Mary clung to my arm and smiled brightly.

"In that case, I'll go out and earn money. Together with Kenna."

"Ahh! Mary, that's sneaky!"

"T-then I'll work too! One housekeeper is enough, right?"

Raphne and Emily, caught off guard by Mary's surprise proposal to tackle a niche market, quickly changed their tune.

Hmm, although the idea of having my woman work bothers me a bit.

I admit I'm quite an old-fashioned guy.

Ideally, I don't want my wife to have to work.

Diena tilted her head in curiosity as she watched the three women playfully bickering.

"You four seem quite close. I figured as much, given that you're cooperating with each other."

Raphne, who's clinging to my back, answered her question.

"Yeah, that's because the three of us are Kenna's fiancées."

"...What?"

Both Emily and Mary nodded at Raphne's statement, leaving Diena looking shocked.

"S-so all three of you are the ones you mentioned before..."

Why doesn't she question the fact that I'm with women?

Come to think of it, she's quite an open-minded person.

While Diena looked at us in disbelief, we arrived at a hole in the prison's outer wall.

It's a part that collapsed during a heavy rainstorm, and it's still awaiting repairs.

We each went through the small opening and managed to escape the prison. After walking for quite a while, we reached a nearby forest, sighing in relief at the complete success of our escape as we smiled together.

"Ah~, being a warden was fun. We should have stayed a few more days."

"I think it's a relief it ended quickly."

Everyone's tense faces relaxed, and they laughed comfortably as they chatted.

Diena hesitated a bit, glancing at me.

It seemed like she had something to say to me.

But there was something I needed to say to Diena.

Specifically, it was about information on the Demon Sword.

Now that the escape was successful, it was time to proceed with the original plan.

Just as I was about to ask Diena, who clearly seemed to be focused on me, a question...

"I'm a bit sad, though. Ken being a woman is now over, right?"

Raphne suddenly hugged me tightly, making that statement.

"…Huh?"

At those words, Diena flinched, tilting her head in confusion.

Emily nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, yeah. Ken as a woman was really cute. It wouldn’t be so bad if it happened sometimes."

"Dating with four women doesn’t sound bad to me."

Finally, Mary shyly agreed, her cheeks reddening slightly.

Hmm, I didn't realize they'd like me as a woman this much…

I found myself wondering once again about occasionally turning into a woman.

But then.

“Wha? Uh? Wh-what are you all talking about?”

Diena looked at us in confusion, her gaze finally settling on me. Her eyes trembled.

“Oh, now that I think about it, you don’t know yet.”

Raphne, responding to Diena’s confusion, smiled and took off the pendant from her neck.

“Here, let me show you.”

She promptly placed the pendant around my neck.

As a result, a faint light emanated from me, and thanks to the pendant's effect, the curse that had transformed me into a woman was lifted, returning me to my male form.

“Good thing the prisoner’s outfit fits you well,” Emily remarked.

If the size had been different, it would have been quite troublesome, but fortunately, the loose prisoner outfit fit me perfectly even as a man.

“Uh, uh, uh…”

Watching this transformation, Diena was so shocked she was clattering her teeth, looking at me as if she’d just seen a Dragon.

“Oh, I forgot to explain. I’m Ken Feinstein. Due to certain circumstances, I was temporarily a woman… Huh?”

I understood it might have been shocking, so I attempted to explain slowly.

“No, no…”

“What do you mean, no?”

Diena seemed more shocked than I'd anticipated. She hung her head low and shook it.

When I, bewildered, tried to gently reach out my hand, she suddenly cried out.

“This is a lieeeeee!!!”

She quickly turned and ran off.

Huh? This feels eerily familiar somehow.

“…Ken, did you do something again? She seems very shocked.”

At that moment, Emily, who had experienced something similar before, sidled up and asked.

"No, I have no idea."

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