# Side Story (1)
At first, I thought I'd die as the eldest daughter of five siblings in a rural village, cleaning up after my younger brothers.
My occupation would be a farmer. If not that, I'd have married a man from the same village.
But the Goddess gave me a chance to escape the countryside, as if telling me not to do that.
'You have talent. Are you interested in joining our Sylvester Knights?'
When I heard those words, my heart pounded.
'Could I become incredibly strong like the heroes in books?! I'll become a cool female knight and defeat dragons!! I can send lots of money home too!'
The beginning was good.
I escaped the tiresome countryside, chose work that suited my talents, and could help my family.
However, that good start didn't last long.
'You've been kidnapped.'
'Wh-why?!'
'Because you're the Hero.'
The man who kidnapped me only said I was the Hero whenever I asked why.
And I actually was the Hero. Looking back now, that man was really terrible back then.
He suddenly locked me in a room because I was the Hero, made me train, and slowly started bringing other kids too.
Still, I was satisfied with that life.
Though it was hard, I liked being praised for my talent by him, and I felt myself getting stronger each day.
'Am I really the Hero? I'll be able to beat him soon!'
Like that, one day, one week, one month, one year.
I trained with him, went through many difficult experiences, ate meals, and spent time together.
It wasn't love at first sight, but before I knew it, I had fallen for him.
As I grew, he had unknowingly come to occupy a part of my psyche.
But he left us. Very suddenly at that.
'...Why?'
At first, it didn't feel real even when I entered the empty house and ate meals.
It seemed like he would always be by our side, and I'd never thought about him disappearing. But in the end, he left us.
Why? Why did he leave us?
'Because I did something wrong...? Because he couldn't forget the painful things...?'
It's my fault. It's my fault for not being able to save the person I love, even though I'm the Hero.
It's all my fault.
Such luxurious time wasn't permitted to the Hero. Perhaps because of that, I could realize how happy the time spent with him had been.
Experiencing death multiple times at the hands of Demon Kings, dealing with people trying to kill us during our rest.
I could fully realize how deeply he had entered into me.
'...So, I'll kill all the Demon Kings, make a wish, and when I meet him, I'll ask.'
Why he abandoned us.
No, why he chose death and abandoned me.
Why he couldn't embrace my wounds enough to throw away his own life.
I wanted to ask while looking directly at his face.
But he was the one who spoke first.
"I was always watching... And I'm sorry..."
Him with his hands and feet tied to a chair. They said he'd lose his memories but his wounds would disappear and new flesh would grow. But somehow, he spoke to us. And in that moment, I knew what I wanted from him.
'That question is okay now.'
On the way here, I was killed by Demon Kings, and my party members suffered and committed many misguided actions. But now, if I hear a different answer, it feels like everything will end.
With tears flowing, I spoke not the words I'd kept inside, but a new question facing him now.
"Mister, you kidnapped us. So... take responsibility. Don't run away this time."
We will.
No, I will make you happy so you won't choose death again.
This time not as master and Hero, but as Lee Jun-woo and Luna.
Though he had confused eyes now, he carefully opened his mouth and answered.
"Okay."
Not in my world but in his. Both of us wounded.
That's how I started a new meeting again.
"So, you understand, right? Mister?"
"...No, no matter how many times I hear it, I don't understand."
"I have no choice but to explain one more time. Listen carefully, Mister!"
The yellow-haired girl.
The woman named Luna with blue eyes faced me and shouted again.
"Mister, you kidnapped us in the past! We were kidnapped by you and our lives were completely turned upside down! So, Mister, you have to take responsibility for us! Got it?!"
"No, even if you say it like that, I don't understand..."
"Then what was that answer you just gave me!"
"That was..."
I'm not sure.
It was an answer that came out automatically without my knowledge, so I don't know why I answered like that.
But like it's natural to pick up trash from the floor and put it in the trash can, I moved my mouth and answered naturally and obviously.
Just...
"I answered like that because it felt like the right thing to do."
"Hmm..."
At my answer, the girl named Luna seemed troubled and bit her lip as if pondering.
"Could some memories remain? That would be troublesome..."
"That's right. If Mister remembers everything from before, the same thing might repeat."
The black-haired girl.
The girl named Saten with a doll-like appearance agreed with Luna's words.
Even after hearing the explanation, I still couldn't understand the current situation.
'Let's say I actually did kidnap that Hero Party. But why am I tied up in a place like this warehouse?'
And.
"That won't do, how can we... when we finally found Mister again... we can't lose him again... Wh-what if we just keep him tied up like this forever, then even if Mister regains his memories, he won't die...?"
"I agree with that too! Let's eliminate all possibilities!"
"No. If we do that, Mister will be hurt again. We have to handle Mister carefully so he doesn't break again. Even if it costs our lives."
"Hmm, Luna's words seem more correct. I agree."
Why are they starting a debate while keeping me tied up?
Just as the discussion atmosphere among the four was starting to heat up, I carefully opened my mouth and said.
"Wait, talking is fine, but can you untie my hands and feet first? My muscles are starting to hurt."
"Ah, it hurts?! Th-then I'll untie you right away!"
Hurriedly—
Luna immediately untied the rope when I said it hurt. Though it was untied so quickly I couldn't see it, there wasn't a single wound on my hands and feet.
Now free, I stood up from the chair and faced the girls at eye level.
I was the tallest.
'Should I run away now?'
I understood these four wouldn't harm me. Even though they had strange thoughts about confining me, looking at their eyes, I felt they were sufficiently considerate of me.
Still, the reason I was choosing to run away now was one thing.
'Even after hearing the explanation properly... I don't understand.'
Suddenly appearing and saying I kidnapped the Hero Party in the past. From another world, even. How could I readily believe that? Even someone with the most open mind would find it hard to believe easily.
While the four were talking, I shifted my gaze toward the door and moved my steps little by little.
As carefully as possible so I wouldn't be caught—
Grab—
"Mister. Are you thinking of running away now...?"
"..."
"If you run away again after running away once... I don't know what will happen to me either...? While Mister was gone... I had such a hard time..."
The girl named Hare approached with a sad voice and hugged me. She smelled nice, making me feel good. But that moment was brief. When I met Hare's eyes, goosebumps rose all over my body.
"M-Mister, you can never run away for life... I-I'm also full of wounds... so Mister has to embrace them too... You can't suddenly disappear while treating me... right, Mister...?"
Her eyes weren't normal. A blind gaze desiring something. Eyes that seemed like they'd do anything to get what they wanted. She had such dangerous eyes.
Clearly, if I removed her from my embrace, she'd go crazy and cause a scene.
I had no choice but to leave Hare in my arms.
Seeing this, Luna sighed and approached me, pulling Hare away.
"Hare, move aside. You're making Mister uncomfortable."
"...Mister is staying still, so who are you to give orders?"
"He had no choice but to stay still. More importantly, didn't you sense the presence outside? Someone's coming."
"...You're right."
Did they communicate?
Hare left my embrace and listened to the presence outside. As if Luna's words were true, Hare raised her voice and said.
"...They broke down the door and came in, so they must have noticed us."
"I told you. This is someone else's warehouse. Our time here seems to be over."
Did they forcibly break in by destroying the door? As the presence outside grew closer, Luna lifted my body to move locations.
Then she asked casually as if it were natural.
"Mister."
"Huh?"
"Where's your house?"
"That's hard to tell you."
"I understand what you mean. It must still be hard to understand what I'm saying. It's disappointing but... anyway, when we get home, I'll explain more accurately."
I can't tell you everything though.
Luna said while carrying me on her shoulder.
"What happened to us. How much effort we made to meet Mister. The things Mister is curious about. We'll explain. Got it?"
Certainly, there are many parts that are hard to believe as she said.
However.
"...Okay."
I couldn't refuse Luna's words. Though she was trying to speak normally, sadness and desperation were embedded in her tone.
To properly hear what exactly happened to this girl in the past and what responsibility she wanted from me, I told her my home address.
'Come to think of it, my parents will be home today...'
Thinking about it gave me a headache, so I stopped thinking.