The Sword Maiden Descends Beside Me

"Death Maniac Sword Princess completed a Swordsmanship Training session. Sword Art Faction experience greatly increased."

"Death Maniac Sword Princess completed a Swordsmanship Training session. Sword Art Faction experience greatly increased."

"Death Maniac Sword Princess completed a battle. Sword Art Faction experience greatly increased. Talent triggered, granting an additional 10000% experience. During battle, she invoked Void Realm Resonance and summoned the Spell Spirit 'Ripple Sword.'"

"Ripple Sword"

"One-Winged Art Spirit"

"Restriction: Must wield a sword."

"Basic Effect: Releases a Sword Qi Ripple."

"Passive Effect: Ordinary sword attacks are more likely to throw the target off balance."

"A sword isn't trembling. It's just thirsty."

Perhaps for the first time since entering university, Ash had adopted a healthy routine—he crawled out of bed at six in the morning, checked on the Death Maniac Sword Princess's development in the Sorcerer's Manual, then waited with hope in his heart.

The game had not disappointed him. In just one day, the Death Maniac Sword Princess had achieved a stage of growth!

"Death Maniac Sword Princess"

"Human Race · Female · 20 years old"

"Bond Level: 0 (30% experience sharing)"

"Class: One-Winged Swordsman"

"Class Trait: Reduces stamina consumption by 10% when using Sword Art Spell Spirits."

"Items Held: None"

"Spell Spirits Mastered: Ripple Sword"

"Sword Art Faction: Silver Rank"

"Void Realm Exploration: 0.000%"

"Water Art Faction: Uninitiated"

Although he had no idea what a One-Winged Swordsman was, Ash recalled that the Bloodfury Hunter who had blown him apart with a single sword strike seemed to possess Three-Winged power. In other words, having wings meant one had become extraordinary.

Since Sword Maiden had already become extraordinary, then as the outstanding player who had painstakingly raised her through early mornings and late nights, shouldn't he receive the return from that 30% shared experience?

Yet Ash waited and waited, constantly refreshing the game's information panel, but never received the enlightenment, experience infusion, or knowledge transmission he had imagined. The Doomsday Watcher's Operator Interface did not change at all.

At that moment, Ash felt like an immature primary school student who had paid some shady online seller to boost his QQ membership permanently, only to be blocked. The hope born of greed was swallowed by crushing disappointment.

But after thinking seriously about it, he suddenly realized he might have missed a step. "Could it be because I didn't pay?"

Games made by his family's company were famous for being unplayable without spending money, though spending money did not necessarily make them playable either. If part of the gameplay had been cut simply because he had not paid, that would have been perfectly normal.

If it was merely a matter of not paying, that was manageable. At least he had a chance to make up for it.

But if the various modules had been lost during his transmigration and the functions had failed as a result, then the Game System Ash relied on could truly only be played as a beautiful-girl-raising simulator...

"Dear Mr. Ash Hiss, Broken Lake Prison has completed your life verification. You may now move freely within designated areas. Please see the attached Broken Lake Prison Life Manual for details. Note: Meal delivery service will no longer be provided. Please go to the Dining Hall yourself."

At the same time, the green light above the fist-thick door lit up, displaying a little walking-man icon marked "Access Granted." A melodious song drifted in from outside.

"If you've been hurt enough, then use both hands, and gladly carve apart yesterday's curse. Night falls, waiting for dawn, leaving only scars..."

Amazing. What kind of song was that? Was it meant to mock prisoners?

Ash froze for a moment, unable to make sense of it. He opened the Broken Lake Prison Life Manual, and every entry made him wonder whether it was some April Fools' message designed specifically to mess with new inmates:

"① Free activity hours are from 7:00 AM to 22:00 PM. Accessible areas include: Central Hall, Reading Room, Gymnasium, Audio-Visual Room, Sea-Viewing Terrace, Couple's Room (supplies provided), Workshop, Dining Hall..."

"② Dining Hall hours are: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM, and 5:00 PM–8:00 PM. If you wish to eat outside operating hours, please use the ordering service."

"③ Reading Room: Please register missing books with the administrator. They will be replenished within three working days at the latest."

"④ Audio-Visual Room: Currently, only audiovisual programs available through legitimate channels are provided. Films still in theaters can only be offered after they finish their theatrical run."

"⑤ Couple's Room: Please place used items in the recycling bin. Do not wash them yourself and return them to their original places."

"⑥..."

There were all sorts of notices, nearly all of them explaining how to use the prison's various facilities. Ash was starting to feel as though he was a temporary prisoner here for a one-day prison tourism experience.

What shocked Ash most was that the manual described the rights prisoners possessed, yet did not mention a single prohibition they needed to obey.

It was as though there were no taboos at all, and they could do anything.

Something was clearly wrong, but now that meals were no longer delivered, Ash could not stay in his cell and starve to death. Besides, he was also curious about what exactly this prison was.

When he approached the door, it slid open automatically. Outside was a quiet, clean corridor, and unbelievably, there was not a single Prison Guard in sight. A conspicuous sign hung on the wall:

"Central Hall ← · → Equipment Gym, Steam Room"

Just looking at the sign, Ash could imagine that the cells beside his were surely filled with muscle-bound men who worked out, bathed, and steamed themselves every day... Then he thought of the Couple's Room, and his sphincter tightened. He decided he should hurry up, eat, and return to his cell.

Following the long, narrow corridor to the Central Hall, the space suddenly opened up before him. The Central Hall was extremely spacious, with a glass ceiling through which the morning sunlight spilled freely over the benches. Potted plants lined both sides, and several people sat on the benches—some chatting, some reading, some even sleeping there... If they had not all been wearing prison uniforms, Ash would have thought he had entered a park.

Even more delightfully, a uniformed Prison Guard stood nearby.

Though he seemed to be slacking off at work and playing with a Light Screen, his mere presence made Ash breathe easier—at least there was someone he could call for help.

Although Ash was thinking about how to escape, he was currently a genuine piece of useless scrap with no fighting ability whatsoever. He also had every psychological weakness of an overworked office drone. Without a law enforcer's protection, he did not even know whether he could protect his chastity—this body of Hiss's was rather sexy.

A Light Screen on the wall at the front of the hall was playing the news. It appeared to show a discussion in some Parliament, and merely hearing a few words made it feel unbearably dull.

Ash could not understand what was being discussed on the Light Screen, because the conversation between the two people seated on the foremost Bench attracted his attention more:

"I never expected Lorenzo to become a Councilor. Looks like he joined the Elixir of Immortality Club too. Andraiyer's faction has completely eclipsed the mayor now. The mayor will probably have to get lost once he finishes this Year's term..."

"I don't think so. Mayor Financier has Enlai Ke Bishop backing him. Just wait—Lorenzo becoming a Councilor isn't a sign that Andraiyer is taking the Upper Position. It's Andraiyer's death notice. At best, three days. At worst, a month. An important figure in Andraiyer's faction will definitely die."

"Andraiyer has been rooted in Kaimeng for decades. To preserve stability, the Church can't possibly make a move."

"Have you forgotten the Railway Department Police Chief's suicide case fifteen years ago?..."

Listening to two prisoners discuss shifts among the political elite inside a prison was already a bizarre experience. Even more bizarrely, one of them was a two-meter-tall Green Orc, while the other was a Short-Legged Goblin barely 1.3 meters tall.

"If you're interested in politics, I suggest you go chat with Old Man Rein in the Reading Room. Before coming in, Godol and Ludodo were just a Government Affairs Department secretary and a Development Department Police Chief. Their status was neither high nor low, and they only half-understood the political situation. Everything they talk about is worthless nonsense."

"But would the illustrious Ash Hiss, leader of the Four Pillar God Heresy, also care about Kaimeng City's political situation?"

Ash turned around and looked at the Blond Man beside him. "You know me?"

"Of course. You were on the seven o'clock news. You were the headline the day before yesterday and yesterday—news is the fastest way for us to get to know new companions." The Blond Man smiled. "Nice to meet you. Perhaps you've seen me in the news as well—I am Igula Bojin."

"Ash." Ash took two steps back. "Are people here all this friendly?"

"Yes." Igula said frankly, "We're rather friendly toward newcomers, since we are companions with the same aspirations."

"The same aspirations?"

"Yes." Igula glanced at the Prison Guard on duty, extended a hand toward Ash, and said quietly, "Would you be interested in joining our Escape Research Group and becoming friends who support one another?"

Ash was delighted. This was exactly what he needed—he had been looking for a way to escape prison, and there was already an organization here that he could join. Naturally, he happily reached out his hand. "Of course..."

"If I were you, I'd punch him."

Suddenly, a cold female voice came from beside him.

Ash glanced over and was stunned to see a... young girl? She wore a fur coat, an ultra-short skirt, stockings and boots, and had an ornamental sword at her waist that looked more like something meant to spice things up. Her outfit was extremely mature.

But the next second, he recognized her. Her skin had changed, but wasn't that face the Death Maniac Sword Princess's!?

The Death Maniac Sword Princess had descended beside him?

Ash barely hesitated before turning around and throwing a punch at Igula!