“Do you know about the history of Tartarus, Ms. Narin?”
– The history of this place?
70 years ago, before Tartarus was established.
It was a time when society was transitioning through the era of ability users.
‘Code 10! I may be an unaffiliated ability user, but I will dedicate my life to this country!’
‘What did I do to this company? Are you really not promoting me just because I’m an ability user?’
‘…I failed again? Because I’m an ability user, right?…’
It was a time when the first ability users were starting to rise to significant positions in society.
‘Ability users, step down!!’
‘I can’t entrust my life to monsters!!’
‘You should just stay tamed! Don’t pretend to be human!!’
Protests from non-ability users followed.
Discrimination, conflict, and terrorism against ability users were rampant.
‘What did we do wrong?! Is being born a crime?’
‘It hurts… I’m scared. I don’t want to be experimented on anymore… I don’t want it!’
‘Puhahaha! Puhit!… Yeah, you bastards! We’ll become the damn monsters you want us to be.’
And in response to such a world, villains also became more active.
Although a counter-system called “heroes” was emerging, the lack of numbers compared to villains often led to struggles.
‘…We’re supposed to catch them? Why?’
‘Sorry, but from my perspective, they and the society you created are the same. Both are equally disgusting.’
It’s only natural for ability users to feel resentment when they’re called monsters and ignored, only to be asked for help when needed.
A world of chaos.
Villains committing terrorism weren’t even called villains yet.
Heroes wore police uniforms instead of tight spandex and worked in a department called the “Special Ability Crime Suppression Unit.”
The opinions of anti-ability groups were the mainstream.
In such a world, the existence of traditional prisons faded.
Prisons became spaces where strong ability users could easily escape.
‘Catch me all you want, idiots~! I’ll just break out anyway~’
‘Hey, detectives, don’t waste your energy. We’ll just escape again.’
Criminals no longer feared prisons.
Ability users could break out with their powers, and non-ability users could slip out with them.
Criminals weren’t properly punished, and the law and justice were ignored even by mischievous kids.
– Then, why not just execute them?
“If executions solved everything, villains wouldn’t exist now.”
Some countries did carry out executions or immediate shootings.
‘Execute them on the spot! Criminals don’t deserve human rights!’
‘We don’t need beasts that bare their fangs at the nation!’
‘Show them what happens when you rebel against the country!’
It was seen as an easy way to suppress rebellion and handle the situation.
‘…How are we supposed to handle this?’
But seeing the aftermath of what ability users could do changed minds.
‘The entire city is in ruins, damn it…’
Eventually, those in power realized something.
Ability users were far more powerful resources than they thought.
And if other countries trained and used them in wars, the situation could become far more dangerous.
After realizing this, executions drastically decreased.
They understood that eliminating their own ability users was like cutting off their own flesh.
‘Then the problem is how to deal with those rampaging ability users…’
They couldn’t execute ability users anymore, and getting them to comply willingly was impossible.
So, they needed a space to train and control them.
– And that’s how…
“Exactly.”
The world’s first prison exclusively for ability users, Tartarus, was built.
To lock up the unusable and exploit those who could be reformed.
– But why are you suddenly telling me this?
“To easily explain the characteristics of the 6th floor, some background is necessary.”
– ?
I guess I need to explain further.
“Ms. Narin, what did you think when you saw the previous floors?”
– Me? Hmm… I thought it felt very stable. It was a bit different from what I expected.
“Hmm.”
– I thought the world’s worst prison would have more violent criminals. But it’s not like that, right?
“It’s hard to say the guards are particularly capable either.”
– Right!
Yeah, stability.
It’s too stable for the world’s worst prison.
No matter how much they’re beaten or pressured, the prisoners are obedient, and the guards seem… lackluster.
‘Even though Narin is exceptional, it was surprisingly easy to get here.’
Actually, the reason is simple.
“The prisoners on the upper floors aren’t that important.”
From Basement Floors 1 to 3, they’re just common criminals who don’t even know how they ended up here.
From Basement Floors 4 to 5, there are some serial killers or gang leaders.
At best, they’re B+ level villains, all trash.
“The real important ones are here, where the more powerful criminals are gathered.”
Thud! Clang! Thud! Clang!
As I mentioned before, the 6th floor is even more unusual than the previous floors.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
– …What’s that noise?
“……”
To define the 6th floor in one word…
Splat! Splash!!!!
– …A lump of meat…?
“It seems they’re aware of the outside situation… Quite a rough welcome.”
“Survival of the Fittest” would be the most appropriate term.
[Who are you?]
[You’re not a guard, are you?]
[New toy?]
Drip… drip.
A small food slot was forcibly shoved open, and out came a person… or rather, what used to be a person, now just a lump of meat.
Reading the engraved words, I chuckled.
“If you’re scared, you can turn off the camera, Ms. Narin.”
– …What? Older Brother, wait a second!
The solid iron door in front of me.
Touching it, I felt a strange resistance to using my abilities.
‘This is definitely the 6th floor.’
It was the effect of Mystic Trace.
A unique ability in Tartarus that weakens other abilities.
Well, with such an option, they can keep the ones here properly locked up.
– Older Brother, do we really have to go in? Those lunatics shoved a damn person into that tiny food slot!!
“It’s a bit late to turn back now, isn’t it?”
I placed my hand on the iron door several times, trying to get a feel for it.
Hmm, it weakens abilities by increasing the burden of using them?
At this level, it shouldn’t be a big problem.
– But still!
Before entering, I prepared a gun, magazines, and a few grenades just in case.
“Don’t worry too much, Ms. Narin.”
It’s not like I’ll die, right?
After finishing my preparations, I activated my ability to create a key for the iron door, inserted it, and turned it 180 degrees.
Click.
– Older Brotheeeer!!!!
It opened quite well.
I casually slung the bat over my shoulder and opened the door.
Thud! Rumble…
*
In a way, the 6th floor could be seen as the early days of Tartarus.
70 years ago.
When this place was first built, there were concerns.
Could they properly contain the criminals here? What if they joined forces and escaped?
To address this, the First Warden, a hero, proposed a simple plan.
‘Just make them kill each other, right?’
Today’s villains are all individualistic, but wasn’t it the same back then?
Some rebelled due to the oppression of ability users, while others committed terrorism for personal reasons like livelihood or fun.
‘A little misunderstanding is enough. These guys can’t mix with each other.’
Moreover, the Warden’s ability was hypnosis.
He specialized in manipulating people to create misunderstandings and distrust.
‘Don’t worry if misunderstandings don’t arise. I’ll make sure they do.’
The Warden gathered all the prisoners in one place.
Back then, there were no villain rankings or anything.
‘And if we throw in three clowns here?’
‘……’
‘See? We don’t have to do anything.’
The hell that unfolded afterward.
It was a hell created by manipulating just three people.
‘One in the top group, another in the bottom group, and the last one as a troublemaker causing issues between the two.’
The three manipulated individuals split the criminal group into three factions, making them fight each other.
Thus, the guards became bystanders who only provided food, and a separate floor was created to manage relatively less severe criminals, forming the 6th basement floor.
‘In this small society where they’re already killing each other, reconciliation or cooperation is impossible.’
And in such a small society, an outsider would stand out greatly.
So, it was clear they’d be hostile to me.
“What did I say about treating guests?”
“”Treat them with respect!””
“But using meat paper would scare the guest, wouldn’t it!!”
“”We’re sorry, Boss!!””
“Damn it! Speak louder!!!!”
“”We’re sooooorryyyyyy!!!!!!!!””
“……”
…What’s this?
I thought they’d be hostile for sure?
