Surviving a Hot Air Balloon-08（熱気球からの生還）

This work is a fiction designated R-18G and contains brutal language, but does not promote criminal acts.

The names of all characters and places in this work are fictitious and have no relation to any real person or place.

All characters are adults.

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After confirming that all preparations were complete, the staff began to fill the tank with water by turning the water supply valve.

At the same time, the timer was switched on, and the hands of the clock began to move.

Mai immediately began working on removing the handcuffs behind her back.

It would take a considerable amount of time to unlock all the locks, so by the time she escaped from the tank, it would be completely full of water.

If she had trouble unlocking the padlocks, she might have to hold her breath underwater to finish the job.

She needed to unlock as many padlocks as possible while she could still breathe.

The water was rising slowly but surely, and the water level inside the tank could be seen gradually rising behind the tempered glass.

Mai manipulated the handcuffs that were securing her arms, groping for the keyholes.

Because her arms were restrained, she had to use a wire with only one hand to unlock the locks, and because she was working behind her back, she had to rely on intuition and experience.

She tried to unlock the handcuffs using her fingertips and the wire, but it didn't seem to be an easy task.

But still, there was no sign of impatience on her face; rather, she seemed to have a sense of composure.

The water level inside the tank gradually rose, reaching a height that surpassed her knees and buttocks.

The unpleasant sound of metal chains rubbing together echoed every time she twisted her body.

"Is Mai alright? It doesn't look like she's even managed to remove the handcuffs yet," the host asked the staff member with concern.

"She'll be fine! I'm sure she can escape," the staff member replied.

"But the water level in the tank is increasing as time goes by, isn't it? Won't she drown if this continues?"

"Well, that may be true. But she's survived dangerous situations many times before."

"R-really?"

"Yes, so I'm sure she'll succeed this time too!"

However, even during their conversation, Mai continued to move her hands diligently, but the situation remained unchanged, and only time passed mercilessly.

すべての準備が整った事を確認するとスタッフが給水用のバルブを廻して水槽に水を注ぎ始める。

それと同時にタイマーのスイッチが入り時間の針が回り始める。

舞は早速背後の手錠を外しに取り掛かった。

全ての鍵を外すにはそれなりの時間が必要なので水槽から脱出する頃には水槽が水で満杯に満たされてしまう。

南京錠の解除に手間取った場合、最後は水中で息を止めての作業になる可能性も有る。

呼吸が出来る今のうちに少しでも多くの南京錠を外しておく必要が有るのだ。

水の勢いはユックリ・ユックリではあるが強化ガラス越しに水槽内の水面がジワリジワリと上昇しているのが見える。

舞は両腕を固定している手錠を弄ると鍵穴の位置を手探りで探した。

両腕を固定されているため方手だけで針金を使って鍵を解除する必要があり、また背面での作業であるため勘と経験が頼りだった。

両手の指先と針金を使い手錠の鍵を外そうと試みるが簡単な作業ではないようだ。

だが依然として彼女の表情に焦燥の色は無い、むしろ余裕さえ感じられる。

水槽内を満たしていた水位は徐々に上がり彼女の膝や尻を越すほどの高さまで上がり始めていた。

彼女が躰を捩るたびにガチャガチャと金属製の鎖が擦れる嫌な音だけが響く。

「舞さん大丈夫でしょうか？まだ手錠すら外せてないようですが」司会者の男が心配そうにスタッフの男に聞いた。

「大丈夫ですよ！彼女ならきっと脱出できるはずです」

「しかし時間が経つにつれて水槽の水かさが増えていますよね？このままだと彼女は溺れてしまうんじゃないですか？」

「まあ確かにそうかもしれませんね。でも彼女は此れまで何度も危険な状況から生還していますから」

「そっ、そうなんですか？」

「えぇ、だから今回も絶対に成功すると思いますよ！」

しかし、2人の会話の間も舞は懸命に手を動かし続けるていたが状況は一向に変わらずただ無情にも時間だけが流れていった。