Story Chapter 37: Medieval prisoner escort

Haruka was escorted through the final stretch of the dungeon corridor, the sound of her restrained hands quietly rattling behind her. *Clink... clink...* Ahead stood an enormous pair of wooden doors reinforced with dark iron. Haruka slowed. “Those... are the exit doors, aren't they?” The knight gave a brief nod. Haruka's stomach tightened. The doors began to move. *Grrrrrrr...* A thin stream of daylight appeared between them. Haruka instinctively narrowed her eyes as the opening grew wider. Then she saw what waited outside. A crowd. Dozens of villagers had gathered beyond the dungeon entrance. Some carried burning torches despite the daylight, while others held farm tools such as wooden-handled hoes and pitchforks. Their expressions ranged from suspicion to anger as they stared toward the dungeon. Haruka froze. Her hands remained cuffed behind her back as she stood motionless in the doorway. “...What?” Her voice was barely audible. The knight continued guiding her forward, but Haruka could hardly move. She stared at the crowd in disbelief. *Why are all these people here?* The realization that she was being brought before an entire crowd made her heart sink. She had been hoping that leaving the dungeon meant she might finally get an opportunity to explain herself. Instead, there were even more people waiting outside. Haruka swallowed nervously. “This... can't be happening.” The knight's hand remained firmly on her arm as the dungeon doors opened completely. Cold air swept past her. Haruka stood frozen between the darkness of the dungeon behind her and the tense medieval crowd waiting outside. For the first time, the situation felt far more serious than she had imagined. She lowered her gaze, still unable to believe what was happening. “...What did I get myself into?” The chapter ends.