# 10. The Kidnapped Girl and the Abducted Girl (1)
In the early dawn hours when people were asleep, a gravestone for Helen was erected on a hill near Lee Jun-woo's house. The funeral proceeded modestly, and Hare placed flowers on the gravestone.
"Grandmother must have passed peacefully. I'm okay now..."
"Will you go home now?"
"...Yes."
Hare nodded her head. Having experienced one farewell, Hare promised to return here again. Hare took Lee Jun-woo's hand and headed toward his house.
"We're here. This is our home."
"Wow..."
*Is this really the house I'm going to live in?*
A tall fence. A yard with green grass. A two-story house. Hare couldn't help but be amazed.
"You really are rich, mister..."
"Come in, Hare. Let me show you around the house."
"Y-yes...!"
*Wadada—*
Hare followed behind Lee Jun-woo as he led the way. When he opened the door and entered the house, another spectacular sight unfolded.
"Wow, it's so clean! There's even a study! And a bathroom! And lots of rooms! But why is the living room..."
"Even if I clean up the trash, it keeps piling up."
"...Huh?"
"I'm saying it's bothersome."
*I see. If mister says so, then it must be true!*
Hare agreed with his words without a second thought.
"My life belongs to you, mister."
"You don't need to go that far."
Lee Jun-woo sighed and continued guiding Hare. The kitchen, study, living room, and bedrooms.
"This is your room, Hare."
"Huh?! You're giving me such a spacious room...? I-I don't need it! Just lay down a cushion for me in a corner of the living room...!"
"The living room is my room, so no. Just live here."
"...Okay."
*Nod.*
Hare once again agreed with Lee Jun-woo's words. Then she brought up something that had been bothering her.
"Um, but. I have one question."
"What?"
"What's the second floor for? You didn't tell me... If it's somewhere I shouldn't go, I won't even go near it!"
"..."
*Should I tell her or not?*
Lee Jun-woo pondered for a moment.
*...Still, it would be better for her to judge for herself rather than just taking my word for it.*
Since Hare blindly believed everything he said... to educate this child, he had to show her and let her judge for herself. A Thief's eyes needed to be sharp enough to avoid traps and find paths. He would leave the judgment to Hare.
"What's on the second floor...?"
"Soon."
"Huh?"
"You'll find out soon enough. You must be tired from not sleeping, so get some rest."
Lee Jun-woo stroked Hare's head with a caring tone. He held her shoulders, laid her down on the bed, and covered her with a blanket. For the first time in her life, Hare felt something called comfort.
"M-mister..."
"Speak."
"Could you possibly stay by my side until I fall asleep?"
*Gulp.*
Hare was nervous about this situation, afraid of being rejected.
"It's a childish request, but still—"
"Alright. I'll stay by your side."
"...Thank you."
*Thank you for taking me in even though I stole your wallet. Thank you for helping me...*
Expressing her gratitude with those meanings, Hare closed her eyes on the bed. She looked peaceful.
"She really is still just a child."
A child who looked young on the outside but seemed like an adult on the inside. Hare, who had lived with adult-like responsibilities forced upon her by life. As she closed her eyes on the bed, she was just a child, at least for now.
After healing her exhausted body and sleeping, Hare slowly opened her eyes.
"...Mister?"
When she woke up, he wasn't there. For a moment, Hare felt fear from the anxiety of being left alone in the world. *What if last night was a dream...?*
Hare hurriedly got up from the bed.
"M-mister...! Where are you...!?"
The cold towel that had been on her cheek fell to the floor. Just as Hare was about to leave the room to find Lee Jun-woo, the door opened and Lee Jun-woo entered. In his hands was a plate with hot porridge.
"Ah..."
"Hare?"
"N-no, it's nothing."
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, Hare lay back down on the bed. Feeling the swelling in her cheek had gone down, she once again felt grateful to Lee Jun-woo. And her gaze automatically turned to the plate.
"That's..."
"It's porridge. I made it easy to eat. Eat up."
"Th-thank you..."
*Clatter.*
Lee Jun-woo placed the plate on the desk.
*Did he make that himself for me...?*
Words weren't enough to express her gratitude. Hare decided to think about how she could repay this kindness. With that, Lee Jun-woo coolly left the room, leaving only the porridge behind. Looking at the door he had disappeared through, Hare muttered to herself.
"Just my life might not be enough..."
*I need to do something more to repay him.*
With that thought, Hare began eating the porridge. Her spoon handling was clumsy, but it didn't matter for tasting the food.
"...It's delicious. I think it's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life."
*Drip.*
Tears leaked from her eyes. She didn't want to cry anymore, but she couldn't help it in the face of such warmth.
"I'll definitely repay mister later. Hehe."
Resolving to repay his kindness someday, Hare placed those words into her beliefs. And then...
"But what's that sound upstairs? Is someone there?"
With her characteristically keen senses, she detected the presence of the imprisoned Hero upstairs. It was the beginning of two girls who would become comrades in the future.
When lunchtime came, the Hero burst out into the yard, filled with fighting spirit.
"Today I'm going to win...!!"
*Grrr.*
The daily repeated training. Confidence at MAX. Luna raised her wooden sword and aimed it at Lee Jun-woo.
"Come on! Mister! Today I'm going to win! I'm going to escape this awful place!"
"Alright."
"Don't just give one-word answers! Put more sincerity into it!"
"..."
*Why is her voice so loud?*
Lee Jun-woo ignored Luna's words. At that, Luna puffed out her cheeks.
"That, that kidnapper...! No, wait. Stay calm before fighting. Phew—"
Luna exhaled deeply, controlling her mind. Her head cleared and her vision broadened.
"Good. Now for my stance..."
*My stance... I need to take my stance...*
"What's that?"
Luna stared intently at something visible in the distance. No matter how she looked at it, it was a person. A girl who seemed to be the same age. *Could it be?*
"Don't tell me this guy kidnapped another—"
"Don't let your guard down."
"Kyeng!"
Luna was hit on the head with a wooden sword and fell to the ground. Clutching her dizzy head, Luna shouted at Lee Jun-woo.
"Wh-what are you doing! We didn't even start!"
"In a fight, do you ask for the opponent's consent by saying 'shall we start?' Not worth answering."
"Wh-what—"
"Sparring will be once a week instead of once a day. Focus on basic training during that time. Sparring with such pathetic skills is a waste of time."
"Th-that's ridiculous!"
"It makes sense."
Lee Jun-woo, who wouldn't concede a single word. Luna trembled at that sight. However, knowing there was nothing wrong with what he said, she couldn't say anything.
"...Mister. More importantly, what's that? That kid sitting under the tree."
Lee Jun-woo turned his gaze to look at the large tree in the corner of the yard. Beneath it was a girl with pink hair. Hare. When she made eye contact with Lee Jun-woo, she waved her hand as if happy to see him. The Hero and the Thief who would later form a party together. It should be fine to at least tell her the name.
"Hare."
"Yes?"
"That child's name is Hare. You're the same age, so get along as friends."
"...What?"
*What did this person just say? Is he telling kidnapped kids to get along with each other? He really is a psycho?!*
*I need to talk to her!*
*Ododo—*
Luna approached Hare, who was sitting on the green grass under the tree. Then she greeted her shyly.
"Um, h-hello?"
"Hello."
The girl Hare greeted her with a bright smile.
*Wh-what? She's totally cute!*
Lunacia Luna, the eldest daughter of one girl and five boys. Although Hare had pink hair and red eyes... she decided to think of Hare as her younger sister right now.
"I-I have a younger sister too... Hihi."
"...Excuse me. I have a question."
"Huh? Y-yeah! Ask me anything! This big sister will answer everything! My name is Luna! Nice to meet you!"
By the way, both of them were the same age, 14 years old.
Luna clasped Hare's hands and smiled as if looking at a younger sister. Hare hid her true feelings and forced a smile while thinking.
*Why is she acting so friendly... More importantly, I'm not the only one in this house...*
*Mister doesn't just look after me.*
Hare didn't like Luna acting friendly, but she opened her mouth to ask her question.
"Were you perhaps the person on the second floor...?"
"That's right! I'm living on the second floor! Well, rather than living, I should say I'm being kept alive?"
"Being kept alive...? What do you mean by that?"
*Aren't animals being raised the ones who are 'kept alive'? Why is she saying that?*
Hare looked at Luna with suspicious eyes.
Luna, completely unaware of Hare's thoughts, brought her mouth to Hare's ear as if telling a secret no one knew.
"You see... You're probably the same, but I was also kidnapped by that mister."
"...What?! Kidnapped?!"
"What, you weren't kidnapped? I thought you were the same as me."
"K-kidnapped...? Mister did...? What do you..."
Hare's mind was in chaos. *That kind mister who helped me kidnapped someone? That can't be. That can't be...* But there was no reason for the girl in front of her to lie either. Just in case, Hare asked.
"...You said you were kidnapped, but why were you training in swordsmanship with mister?"
"That psycho made me. He said I'm the Hero or something... He said if I beat him, he'll let me go. Totally cra—zy! person. Though he seems a little kind... Wait, he, he didn't hear that, did he...?"
"..."
Luna's words didn't register with Hare. *Mister did such a thing? Kidnapping a woman and training her?*
With her characteristic senses, Hare knew that what the woman in front of her was saying wasn't a lie. Nevertheless... even though he had kidnapped a girl... Hare was always on Lee Jun-woo's side.
"...Mister must have had some meaning behind it."
"Huh?"
"Take your hands off me."
*Thwack.*
Hare coldly swatted Luna's hand away. *How dare she call mister a crazy person, a psycho, a kidnapper?*
Hare didn't hold back and stood up.
"Don't say such bad things about mister. Mister is a good person."
"Huh...?"
Hare's cold gaze glared at Luna. At that sight, Luna froze and couldn't say anything. When faced with something too absurd, people freeze up.
"Mister is such a good person..."
"..."
With that, Hare left, and Luna remained alone, standing still. Then she muttered to herself in disbelief.
"The world is turning strangely..."
"Luna. Break time is over. Start running 35 laps around the yard!"
"Haah..."
Luna sighed and immediately began running around the yard. Lee Jun-woo also ran alongside her. Hare, watching them through the window...
"I can run like that too, I can run with mister too..."
*Kaduk.*
Without realizing the emotion called jealousy, she bit her nails while watching their training.