After confirming that there were guards stationed in the hallway, I decided to step out onto the balcony.

Since this was the fourth floor, jumping would almost certainly mean death. Not that I had a rope long enough to reach the ground anyway.

Even if I did, it would still be dangerous. I wasn’t a mountain ranger, so rappelling with nothing but an ordinary rope, no carabiners or climbing gear, didn’t inspire confidence.

“Oh, locking it like you’re being all clever, huh.”

The balcony’s glass door was locked, but it was just a simple latch. Not meant for security or imprisonment—just to keep it from swinging open in strong winds.

Naturally, there was no key.

But this kind of thing could be opened with a table knife wedged into the gap. Well—maybe not that easily. It took me some effort. It was dark, and something kept snagging.