Having stood still for a while longer, I made sure they really had left.
(And why was I still hiding?)
I grimaced and scratched the back of my head.
Catching them and sneering sarcastically would have suited me way better. And honestly, I regretted not doing just that...
Along with ending up in a completely unknown, bizarre new world, I got another problem on top of that.
I became totally illiterate.
I couldn't read. Though, to be fair, I'd never seen these letters before. And yet, I was still speaking the language.
Isn't that absurd?
"Reality strikes again. Isn't it a bit harsh?" — I whimpered.
I wiped away an imaginary tear. Besides these two unpleasant discoveries, I also found that crazy little duo again.
"Yeah, time was definitely wasted…"
Disappointed in life, I found myself back at the section where that loony pair had been not long ago.
(Is this the history section?)
I guessed so after glancing over some books, maps, and a couple of atlases.
"Even if I don't know this language, a world map could still be useful!"
Once I realized that, I started examining them carefully.
"But still... I can't read a single letter haha..."
Frustration hit me hard, but I didn't give up trying to read.
(Maybe I should start with the alphabet...) I put down one of the maps, and my eyes drifted to a shelf.
Look at that.
My blue eyes landed right on an unassuming scrap of paper.
Honestly, this little piece, sticking out in plain sight, gave me a weird feeling.
It was so dull and plain that it stood out against those huge thick books that apparently no one ever touched.
Instinctively, my hand reached out for it immediately.
"Huh?…"
"Th-this is…"
My eyes went as round as two perfect coins, blinking a few times.
"Isn't this... the prison plan?" I wasn't entirely sure, but my usually reliable intuition said yes.
(This layout, the number of floors...)
Comparing it to the real place, doubts almost vanished.
The escape plan was literally handed to me by fate on a silver platter with a blue napkin.
Because on the prison blueprint, hidden passages were drawn.
Definitely not like regular doors, these paths were tucked away in inconspicuous floors with dead ends.
(Am I really this lucky?)
The voice in my head was uncertain, but I quickly crumpled the paper and shoved it into my pocket.
Too many bad things had happened lately to believe in something good. Still... isn't it a bit suspicious?
Hearing the noise at the library entrance, I figured the librarian was back. (I'll think about that later...)
The day flew by quickly.
Before I knew it, I was lying in bed.
(Weird feeling. Like being at a school camp, on a trip...)
(No going out after nine, no alcohol, no fights, and staying within sight... Though it's not all perfect here. Still, some similarities, right?)
I looked at my cellmates who had seen the ninth hour.
No matter what, I still couldn't fall asleep.
And I still couldn't get the prison layout with secret exits out of my head.
It was useless... I'd completely lost faith in sleep and rolled onto my side.
(Maybe I should take a walk?)
Quietly slipping out of bed, I crept toward the door.
As expected, it was locked.
But who said that would stop me, right?
After fiddling with the lock for the past few days, I'd already done this a couple of times. Once, a guard caught me. Lucky for me, he knew me and, in return for advice about his wife, pretended I wasn't there haha...
(Even here, connections and friendliness bring perks.)
Finally, slipping silently through the now open door, I breathed a sigh of relief.
After covering a good distance from the cell, I relaxed and pulled out the crumpled plan.
"Can't see a damn thing..."
Squinting, I tried to decipher the blueprint.
"Go straight..."
"Then turn here..."
"Turn left?"
I followed every step carefully, listening for any sound so I wouldn't get caught by the knights.
Ten minutes later
"This should be the place... or not?"
I stared at the stone wall ahead.
The dungeon with forbidden entry for ordinary prisoners looked scary, but what scared me even more was that I was lost!
(Seems like since being reincarnated in this body, my brain's been going downhill. I looked at the plan in the dark, rushing to leave the library, so I didn't really memorize it...)
Realizing I'd hit a dead end, I carefully inspected the wall but was sure this wasn't the right spot.
(I was supposed to turn right. Or did I mess up from the start?)
My head ached from all the thoughts and the situation I was in.
"I'll just go back and try again."
Not wanting to run into the guards on patrol shift, I decided to leave quickly.
(Left here, right?)
I took a few steps.
"Right, noted — criminals in this dungeon blah blah..."
Wanting to hide quickly, I ran while glancing back at the approaching guards.
Boom.
"Huh?" — I looked up, searching for the obstacle, and saw my long-haired acquaintance.
Wham bam boom...!
Skillfully getting behind him, I pressed myself against the wall around the corner.
(You're staying with me, buddy!)