Chapter 54 (1/2)

Chapter 54 – Kidnapping (highlight)

「Now, what will you do?」

Right now, I’m being surrounded by ten hoodlum-like men with swords hanging from their hips.

Compared to them, my appearance is only a thin coat and shorts.

I’m in a slight pinch.

I woke up just as usual today as well, I did my usual unchanged morning preparations, then went to do my daily jogging.

Right, not any different from usual, was what this day should’ve been.

What was different from usual was, when I finished my jogging and returned back home, it happened after I entered the road leading to my house from the main street.

Six men appeared and blocked my way.

And then I immediately heard footsteps from behind.

When I took a fleeting glance at them, four men were standing behind me at a distance.

「Sakura Fujino I’m a.s.suming. Can I have you behave yourself?」1

The voice of the man with a good body build at the front sounded out.

The men were dressed in the standard clothing of the town’s inhabitants that were slightly torn.

They have an appearance of a hooligan. However, their body builds and movements are clearly not of a hooligan.

Why am I…?

A question sprang out, but at any rate, I must somehow get myself out of this situation.2

The men have swords hung on their hips.

I have no weapon on hand.

It’s a considerably severe situation.

「Aren’t you mistaking me for someone else?」

Although I understood it was desperate, I answered with that.」

「Sakura Fujino, adventurer. Has an appearance of a child of around 7 years old with long black hair. She has a shabby child-like body buildー「Who’s the child with a cliff!? Do you have knotholes for eyes!? I properly have them!」」 (note: cliff = flat chest/body(?))

Ah, I just…

「It seems it’s certainly the right person. If you behave obediently, you won’t have to go though any pain. I’ll have you come together with us.」

「I decline.」

I’m being taken captive? A kidnapping…… no, it’s not ne. Could this have been ordered by someone?

「We’re taking you with us, is what it means. It’s fine even if you don’t choose the method.」

A threat huh.

It’s currently 6:30am. There’s no one in the surroundings.

It seems I can’t expect help.

「……Even so, I decline.」

Six people in front and four people behind.

If I make a pre-emptive strike in the direction of the four people and immediately go out to the main street…

「Is that so. In that case, we’ll have no choice but to take a firm approach. ……Oi.」

When the man with the best body build raised his hand signalled, then another man appeared.

……A small boy was held in his arms.

「If you don’t behave yourself, you understand, right?」

A hostage huh.

Has the boy fainted? He hasn’t moved in a little while.

I can’t see his face but…… he’s probably a boy from the neighbourhood.

「Now, what will you do?」

The well built man asked for an answer.

「……I understand, so please let go that boy.」

I relaxed my body and said those words.

「I can’t do that. I’ve also heard you can do taijutsu. So first of all, you need to be constrained.」

When I made a small nod at what the well built man said, a man behind me approached me and tied up my body.

「Are you satisfied with

this? Please let that boy go.」

「Mm, let him go.」

When the man who was holding onto the boy casually separated his hands, the boy tumbled down and fell in place.

The moment the boy fell, the boy’s hair separated and fell to the ground.

Afterwards, what could be seen on his face was…… nothing. No eyes, no ears, no nose, no mouth.

「A doll!?」

As I unintentionally shouted, my head was struck with a strong impact.

「That’s how it is. To fall for this sort of trick na.」

My consciousness was swallowed up by darkness just like that.

My head, is throbbing…

Why, am I…

My consciousness slowly returned.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark room.

It seems I was laid on a bed.

Remembering the events before I lost consciousness, I hurriedly raised my body.

gachagacha

Although I tried raising my body, my hands made a sound without moving.

There was a cold sensation on my wrists.

It seems both my hands are bound behind my back.

And my feet as well.

When I somehow raised my body, what I was able to confirm was the room was approximately ten tatami mats. (note: 15.3m²)

The room had no windows, there was only the bed I was on and a table, as well as a chair.

It appears I’ve been taken captive by those men.

But what’s their goal…?

The only thing I can think of is that it’s connected to the Prince.

However, the only relation I have to the Prince is that he comes over to eat.

I can’t think of any benefits of abducting me either…

gacha

When I was thinking about the criminal’s goal, the only door in the room opened.

The ones that came through the door was a woman wearing a dress, and the well built man that abducted me. As well as a woman in a maid uniform.

I recognised the woman in the dress.

「How are you feeling?」

「Very exhilarated, thanks to you. Elina Isa Hertsmere, daughter of a duke.」

The Prince’s fiancée-sama that I met at the ball.

「That’s good wa. I invited you today to talk to you.」

Was that, an invitation?

「Aah, it’s useless to escape wa. This place is an isolated house in the corner of the Royal Capital. n.o.body will come even if you call for help you know. Besides, the shackles attached to you is a magic sealing magic tool. You, although you can’t use magic, you practise something similar to magic right?」

As she said that, I tried to refine ki, but it scatters and disappears midway.

Could it be interfering with the conversion of internal energy?

After investigating the magic seal, the ojou-sama spoke of why I was abducted.

「I’ll be frank wa. You, I want you to disappear from the Prince’s sight.」

Pardon? What is she saying? This ojou-sama.

「You, you’re an adventurer right? I’ve investigated your circ.u.mstances. That’s right wa ne, how about Serbatos Republic? Aah, of course, I’ll give you the funds for the journey wa.」

Really, what is this ojou-sama talking about ne?

Well, I intended to go on my journey sooner or later. However, it’s yet to reach that point, and if I have to say, I don’t want to go on my journey by being coerced by someone.3

Besides, to disappear from the Prince she says, I’m sure I’ve said that the Prince came to me on his own accord.

Well, the journey funds are quite attractive. But, I think that’s different from going on a journey ne.

And because of that, my answer was decided.

「Even though you went through the trouble, I decline.」

To the ojou-sama who was waiting for my reply, I replied while expressing a smile.

The ojou-sama had a ‘I don’t understand the meaning’ kind of expression, but then flew into rage with a red face.

「Y-You, with your social position as a commoner, did you not hear what I said!? Don’t get carried away just because His Highness likes you a little! That’s fine wa, I’ll make you regret being so determined wa! Celica, take that out.」