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 assuming. 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. Nobody 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 circumstances. 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.」
When the ojou-sama instructed the maid-san (Celica-san?), the maid-san took out a small bottle from her breast pocket and handed it over to the ojou-sama.
「I wonder if you know what this is? fufu. It’s your fault for not obediently doing what I say, you know?」
The ojou-sama laughed while displaying the small bottle containing a pink coloured liquid between my eyes.
She opened the lid with a ‘kyupo‘ sound.
「Hold her down and open her mouth.」
According to the ojou-sama‘s orders, the well built man grasped my head, and forcefully opened my mouth.
The small bottle slowly approached my mouth, then the liquid within the bottle was poured into my mouth.
I tried to spit it out, but my mouth was immediately held down and I was forcefully made to swallow it.
「Cough cough. ……What did, you make me drink?」
I choked a little since I was forced to swallow it, but I’m worried about what I was made to drink.
「fufu, you’ll know soon enough wa.」
Just as she said those words, I immediately sensed the effects.
My strength suddenly left my body, and collapsed onto the bed with a ‘plop‘.
Even when I tried moving my body, I couldn’t move as if I’m numbed.
「Anesthetic…?」
Although I could somewhat talk, it uses a considerable amount of strength just to talk a little.
「It’s not only that you know? fufufu. I said it, right? I’ll make you regret it wa. So that you won’t be able to appear in front of His Majesty…」
A chill went down my spine when the ojou-sama made that smile.
「What…」
The moment I was about to ask what she planned to do, I felt an abnormality in my body.
Although it’s difficult to describe what it is, I could feel a heat gradually spreading.
As if it’s spreading from the centre of my body, it gradually spread out through my whole body.
「It seems to be working ne. Right now, your body is very hot right?」
My whole body sort of feels like it’s been possessed by heat.
Hot, painful…
As if to free the heat from my body, I realized my breathing has become rough.
「What you drank was, anesthetic and…… aphrodisiac wa.」
Aphrodisiac…?
As if I was delirious with a fever, I couldn’t collect my thoughts.
「These are items are from a noble purveyor, so the effects are guaranteed wa. Since I’ve gone through the trouble, I’ll make you feel good, take it as consideration from me wa. A woman that has been defiled by another man, won’t be able face His Highness either right? o~hohohohoho.」
Another man, defile, Highness…?
What could she be saying…?
Leaving that side, hot……painful…
「Oh? You don’t understand what I’m saying anymore? You don’t have to worry wa. Because I’ll properly have His Highness help you. But of course, after everything has finished.」
What did the ojou-sama say, I can’t think anymore.
The only thing that comes to mind is how to free myself from this suffering.
「It seems you’ve already hit your limit wa ne. Celica, please call the men.」
After a short while, it seems several men entered the room.
「I’ll leave the rest to you wa. Do as you please.」
Leaving behind those words, the ojou-sama, the well built man, and the maid-san left the room.
The ones left behind were the men, and me.
「Even if she said do as we please, our partner is a kid like this?」
「It can’t be helped since it’s an order right? But this fella, even though she’s like this, I’ve heard she’s 15 years old ya know? Besides, it’s also said the Prince-sama frequents her.」 Could she actually be in a terrible condition?4」
「If you guys aren’t willing, then just watch. I’ll do it even if it’s a kid ya know.」
「You, you sure have a large range of interests na. Well, I’m also going to do it though.」
The men look down on me while talking about something.
「Oi, we’re going to play with you from now. We’ll have you forget about the Prince-sama okay.」
While one of the men said those words with a vulgar tone, he grasped my arm and lifted me up.
The moment the man grasped my arm, electricity ran through my body.
「fua.」
My voice leaked out from my mouth.
And at the same time, I realized the heat inside my body was gathering even more.
「Oi, did ya feel it just from being touched? The noble-sama’s drugs are incredible na.」
The man got excited and started touching my body.
Each time he does it, my voice leaks out from my mouth as if I’m releasing the confined heat, the remaining heat accumulated inside my body.5
「Though she looks like a child, she has a body of a woman huh.」
No matter what the man said or did, I could only breath roughly as if I’m being tossed around by the heat confined within my body.
It seems I’ll go mad at this rate.
「It’s ’bout time I touch you directly huh.」
Simultaneously with that voice, the sound of my clothes being teared resounded.
Along with that sound, I understood what was going on.
Although it was an instant, I felt a chill in my body.
「N……no, noo…」
I somehow squeezed out a voice, and slightly shook my head to show my refusal.
After understanding what was being done to me, my tears involuntarily flowed out.
However, my body that’s been numbed with anesthetic couldn’t move, in addition, my head doesn’t function well because of the aphrodisiac.
「He he he, even if you say no, we’ve only been ordered after all. If you want to blame, then blame that ojou-sama okay?」
The men didn’t plan on stopping, and it wasn’t possible to escape with my own power. When I understood that, my heart was painted over with fear.
「No, stop it…」
My words of refusal weren’t effective, the man’s hand reached out towards me.
「No…… NOOOOOO!」
The moment I thought I was about to be touched, a heat different from the heat up until now overflowed from within me.
「What is that!?」
‘That heat’ turned into power, and the man who tried touching me was blown away.
The man who was blown away, collided against the wall with a large sound, then stopped moving.
「This kid! What the hell did you do!?」
The remaining men stirred up.
「NO, NO, NO, NO…」
In order to pin me down, one of them leaped at me.
「NO, NO , NO, NO…」
The man who leaped at me also, just like the man earlier, was blown away and stopped moving.
My body’s heat became even stronger.
「Stay away… STAY AWAAAY!」
I myself didn’t understand what was happening either.
By the time I noticed, the men had collapsed on the floor, and a wind violently blew within the room like a storm.
「SAKURA! ARE YOU OKAY!?」
I heard the Prince’s voice.
「SAKURA!」
A second time.
When I looked in the direction of the voice, the Prince was stretching his hand while being blocked by the wind.
「Don’t do that, Your Highness! It’s dangerous!」
The one who stopped the Prince was, Len-san…?
「But Sakura is…!」
What could they be saying?
What’s, happening to me?
「Her sorcery is running wild! It’s dangerous to approach!」
Sorcery? Running wild? I don’t understand the meaning.
The Prince and Len-san said something again.
However, as if my batteries ran out, I lost consciousness.
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 assuming. 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. Nobody 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 circumstances. 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.」
When the ojou-sama instructed the maid-san (Celica-san?), the maid-san took out a small bottle from her breast pocket and handed it over to the ojou-sama.
「I wonder if you know what this is? fufu. It’s your fault for not obediently doing what I say, you know?」
The ojou-sama laughed while displaying the small bottle containing a pink coloured liquid between my eyes.
She opened the lid with a ‘kyupo‘ sound.
「Hold her down and open her mouth.」
According to the ojou-sama‘s orders, the well built man grasped my head, and forcefully opened my mouth.
The small bottle slowly approached my mouth, then the liquid within the bottle was poured into my mouth.
I tried to spit it out, but my mouth was immediately held down and I was forcefully made to swallow it.
「Cough cough. ……What did, you make me drink?」
I choked a little since I was forced to swallow it, but I’m worried about what I was made to drink.
「fufu, you’ll know soon enough wa.」
Just as she said those words, I immediately sensed the effects.
My strength suddenly left my body, and collapsed onto the bed with a ‘plop‘.
Even when I tried moving my body, I couldn’t move as if I’m numbed.
「Anesthetic…?」
Although I could somewhat talk, it uses a considerable amount of strength just to talk a little.
「It’s not only that you know? fufufu. I said it, right? I’ll make you regret it wa. So that you won’t be able to appear in front of His Majesty…」
A chill went down my spine when the ojou-sama made that smile.
「What…」
The moment I was about to ask what she planned to do, I felt an abnormality in my body.
Although it’s difficult to describe what it is, I could feel a heat gradually spreading.
As if it’s spreading from the centre of my body, it gradually spread out through my whole body.
「It seems to be working ne. Right now, your body is very hot right?」
My whole body sort of feels like it’s been possessed by heat.
Hot, painful…
As if to free the heat from my body, I realized my breathing has become rough.
「What you drank was, anesthetic and…… aphrodisiac wa.」
Aphrodisiac…?
As if I was delirious with a fever, I couldn’t collect my thoughts.
「These are items are from a noble purveyor, so the effects are guaranteed wa. Since I’ve gone through the trouble, I’ll make you feel good, take it as consideration from me wa. A woman that has been defiled by another man, won’t be able face His Highness either right? o~hohohohoho.」
Another man, defile, Highness…?
What could she be saying…?
Leaving that side, hot……painful…
「Oh? You don’t understand what I’m saying anymore? You don’t have to worry wa. Because I’ll properly have His Highness help you. But of course, after everything has finished.」
What did the ojou-sama say, I can’t think anymore.
The only thing that comes to mind is how to free myself from this suffering.
「It seems you’ve already hit your limit wa ne. Celica, please call the men.」
After a short while, it seems several men entered the room.
「I’ll leave the rest to you wa. Do as you please.」
Leaving behind those words, the ojou-sama, the well built man, and the maid-san left the room.
The ones left behind were the men, and me.
「Even if she said do as we please, our partner is a kid like this?」
「It can’t be helped since it’s an order right? But this fella, even though she’s like this, I’ve heard she’s 15 years old ya know? Besides, it’s also said the Prince-sama frequents her.」 Could she actually be in a terrible condition?4」
「If you guys aren’t willing, then just watch. I’ll do it even if it’s a kid ya know.」
「You, you sure have a large range of interests na. Well, I’m also going to do it though.」
The men look down on me while talking about something.
「Oi, we’re going to play with you from now. We’ll have you forget about the Prince-sama okay.」
While one of the men said those words with a vulgar tone, he grasped my arm and lifted me up.
The moment the man grasped my arm, electricity ran through my body.
「fua.」
My voice leaked out from my mouth.
And at the same time, I realized the heat inside my body was gathering even more.
「Oi, did ya feel it just from being touched? The noble-sama’s drugs are incredible na.」
The man got excited and started touching my body.
Each time he does it, my voice leaks out from my mouth as if I’m releasing the confined heat, the remaining heat accumulated inside my body.5
「Though she looks like a child, she has a body of a woman huh.」
No matter what the man said or did, I could only breath roughly as if I’m being tossed around by the heat confined within my body.
It seems I’ll go mad at this rate.
「It’s ’bout time I touch you directly huh.」
Simultaneously with that voice, the sound of my clothes being teared resounded.
Along with that sound, I understood what was going on.
Although it was an instant, I felt a chill in my body.
「N……no, noo…」
I somehow squeezed out a voice, and slightly shook my head to show my refusal.
After understanding what was being done to me, my tears involuntarily flowed out.
However, my body that’s been numbed with anesthetic couldn’t move, in addition, my head doesn’t function well because of the aphrodisiac.
「He he he, even if you say no, we’ve only been ordered after all. If you want to blame, then blame that ojou-sama okay?」
The men didn’t plan on stopping, and it wasn’t possible to escape with my own power. When I understood that, my heart was painted over with fear.
「No, stop it…」
My words of refusal weren’t effective, the man’s hand reached out towards me.
「No…… NOOOOOO!」
The moment I thought I was about to be touched, a heat different from the heat up until now overflowed from within me.
「What is that!?」
‘That heat’ turned into power, and the man who tried touching me was blown away.
The man who was blown away, collided against the wall with a large sound, then stopped moving.
「This kid! What the hell did you do!?」
The remaining men stirred up.
「NO, NO, NO, NO…」
In order to pin me down, one of them leaped at me.
「NO, NO , NO, NO…」
The man who leaped at me also, just like the man earlier, was blown away and stopped moving.
My body’s heat became even stronger.
「Stay away… STAY AWAAAY!」
I myself didn’t understand what was happening either.
By the time I noticed, the men had collapsed on the floor, and a wind violently blew within the room like a storm.
「SAKURA! ARE YOU OKAY!?」
I heard the Prince’s voice.
「SAKURA!」
A second time.
When I looked in the direction of the voice, the Prince was stretching his hand while being blocked by the wind.
「Don’t do that, Your Highness! It’s dangerous!」
The one who stopped the Prince was, Len-san…?
「But Sakura is…!」
What could they be saying?
What’s, happening to me?
「Her sorcery is running wild! It’s dangerous to approach!」
Sorcery? Running wild? I don’t understand the meaning.
The Prince and Len-san said something again.
However, as if my batteries ran out, I lost consciousness.
