# 8. Abducting the Hero Party's Second Companion (4)
Some people exist without growth over time, remaining in place.
In contrast, the Hero was someone who moved with time.
No, she might even be ahead of time.
Clang!
The Hero's sword clashed with mine.
"So it wasn't just bragging that you got scouted by the knights."
"I told you! I can easily beat someone like you, mister!"
Her growth rate was fast.
Unlike before, the Hero's stance had stabilized.
She used her legs to support her entire body, and her sloppy swordsmanship was gradually finding its form.
Still, she was far from sufficient.
I swept her legs.
The Hero rolled across the ground.
"Kyah!"
"I told you not to be overconfident. Today's sparring is over. From now on, follow my training regimen."
"Th-that's cheating...! We're fighting with swords but you keep using your feet—"
"Using your feet is also part of swordsmanship. Don't make excuses, Hero."
"Grrrrr..."
The Hero growled like a fierce golden retriever.
Once a day.
I'd been sparring with her, but it seemed the sparring didn't mean much.
*I should change it to once a week.*
With that thought, I lifted the fallen girl up.
I placed my hand on the collar and naturally unfastened it.
The Hero's eyes widened as she asked.
"Huh? Are you letting me go?"
"As if."
Why would I carelessly remove your collar when you might run away?
I removed the collar that interfered with training.
And introduced a new method of control to the Hero.
It was a very effective way to eliminate the cumbersome collar.
"Look at the top of that fence, Hero."
"...? I'm looking but there's nothing there?"
"Barbed wire. Look at it carefully."
"Hmm...?"
The Hero opened her eyes wide and stared at the fence.
Though her eyes twitched as if they hurt,
it seemed like she detected something.
"There seems to be something on that barbed wire... something, like, wriggling?"
"So you can sense mana basically. That's electric magic."
"...What?"
"Electric current flows through the barbed wire via magic. If you touch it, you'll be fried."
The Hero looked at the fence with hollow eyes.
Perhaps imagining herself getting electrocuted, she flinched once.
Then she withdrew her gaze.
She looked like she wouldn't dream of escaping.
"I don't want to die roasted by electricity. I'll just... train in swordsmanship."
"An excellent choice."
I clapped my hands toward the Hero.
It seemed I'd always enjoy hearing that she was getting stronger.
Between my applause, the Hero asked a question.
Her eyes looked curious.
"But what exactly are you, mister? You use swordsmanship and magic too. You're totally all-purpose."
"...Curious?"
"Yes! I'm curious!"
The Hero answered energetically.
Eating delicious food every morning, lunch, and evening, and having her depression resolved through conversation,
she seemed to have adapted to her captive life.
To the Hero waiting for an answer, I replied in a light tone.
"I'll tell you my identity if you beat me."
"What kind of answer is that!"
"Now then, training begins! Put the wooden sword on your head and run 30 laps around the yard!"
"What?!"
The Hero protested as if it made no sense, but it was useless.
Time flows and the Hero must move.
I pushed her back and ran around the yard with her.
At first, the Hero seemed flustered, but gradually began to pick up speed.
"You said you wouldn't do anything to me—"
"Faster! If you want to beat me, run faster! Build up your stamina before you talk!"
"Aaaaaah—!"
The wooden sword accompanied her through this process too.
"Why, why is the wooden sword with me..."
"Think of that sword as the Holy Sword."
"How can a wooden sword be the Holy Sword..."
"It becomes so if you think it does."
"What are you even saying..."
Again, with the wooden sword.
Luna made a voice like she was dying.
"Huff... I'm, I'm dying..."
"People don't die easily."
"You, you psycho... kidnapping and torturing psycho..."
"Speak properly. It's training."
Training to build basic stamina and muscles to beat me.
The Hero was exhausted from the intense training that followed.
After training ended,
she slumped down and crawled into her room like a caterpillar.
"Tomorrow... I'll definitely beat you..."
"Yes, try your best. Hero."
Though drained of strength, the Hero's competitive spirit to beat me remained alive.
Seeing that, I felt strangely satisfied.
"Is this what it feels like to raise a disciple..."
After finishing the grueling training.
Lunch.
To maintain regular meal times, 5 hours after breakfast, at 12:30, kidnapper Lee Jun-woo knocked on the Hero's door.
Knock knock—
"I'm coming in."
—W-wait a moment! Just give me one minute!
The Hero cried out urgently.
It seemed she needed some time.
Lee Jun-woo leaned against the door for a moment.
1
2
...
60
After counting 60 seconds in his mind, he opened the door without hesitation.
"One minute's up. Eat."
"Oh, food. Yes, thank you..."
The Hero shook out her wet hair and received the plate.
It seemed she'd showered in the bathroom inside.
Lee Jun-woo hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
"...About that letter I mentioned before."
"Oh, yes! Did you send it? To Aden Village! Luna's farm!"
"...I haven't sent it yet."
"What?! Why, why not...!? If you don't send it quickly, my parents will worry...! I, I came to the capital so I wouldn't worry them..."
Luna paced anxiously in place.
Lee Jun-woo scratched his head while watching the anxious Luna.
He should tell her the truth.
"The thing is, I didn't know how much to send..."
"What?! You just need to send a little!"
Wait, he didn't send it because he was worrying about that?
Luna could see Lee Jun-woo in a new light at his seemingly considerate nature.
He's not just a psychopath, but someone who thinks carefully too...
Unaware of Luna's thoughts, Lee Jun-woo asked directly.
"How much money would be enough? 2.5 million Peri? 3 million Peri?"
"Th-that much?! Maybe 1.5 million would be enough, less than that..."
"1.5 million Peri would barely let a rural family of four survive for a month. Didn't you say your family has no money? How many people are in your family?"
"Five siblings plus my parents, grandmother, and grandfather—including me, 10 people total..."
The Hero lowered her head as if embarrassed.
No matter how close a friend, talking about one's family circumstances is difficult.
But talking about such family matters to the kidnapper who abducted you?
Even more.
Much more difficult.
"Is your family very short on money?"
"...Yes. We're short. The village is on the capital's outskirts so prices aren't expensive, but... we have too many family members, too many mouths to feed."
"Then what about your parents? Don't they work?"
"...No, they do work, but they're caring for my grandparents, so they can't work long..."
"I see."
"...Yes."
The Hero shut her mouth tightly.
The feeling of having all her weaknesses exposed.
The feeling of thorns pricking her.
Just when she wondered when this uncomfortable situation would end,
the kidnapper spoke quite easily.
"While you're here, I'll send 3 million Peri to your family."
"What?! That's close to an apprentice knight's starting monthly salary!"
"It's fine. This much is possible. You won't be able to see your family while imprisoned. Compared to that, this is easy. You just focus on building your skills."
Lee Jun-woo knew better than anyone the sadness of not seeing family.
He'd resented them, hated them even.
But family is family.
Having fallen into this other world, he always wanted to see his family.
"But, but 3 million Peri is too much..."
"Quiet. I'll send 3 million. Just eat."
"No, you're lowering your voice and ordering me again..."
"Be quiet."
Bang—!
The kidnapper closed the door and left the room.
What remained was lunch on the plate.
Omurice.
Luna ate it spoonful by spoonful.
As always, it was delicious.
"Sniff... If tears get on it, it won't taste good..."
Is this person kind even though he's a kidnapper?
Do kind kidnappers exist in this world?
Luna was confused, unable to grasp that man's intentions at all.
Whether to be grateful or resentful.
So much so that she couldn't even confirm what her heart was judging...
Still, one thing was certain.
"Thank you..."
The Hero's small, tearful voice echoed through the room.
A day passed.
Two days passed.
Three days passed.
Hare stood in that spot without missing a single day.
"Buy matches...! Selling matches...!"
For grandmother's medicine money and while waiting for that man,
Hare was selling matches today too.
"Will he... come today...?"
Hah— Hah—
Hare exhaled cold breath into the chilly night air.
Unlike the warm matches she was selling, her body was cold.
"...Have I been overdoing it lately? I shouldn't be like this..."
Grandmother is critically ill...
I need to earn money...
Hare pulled herself together and began calling out to people again.
Her gaze always looked around.
In case that man might appear.
In case she could talk to him again.
Hare wanted to meet him again and apologize.
She wanted to ask for forgiveness.
"But it seems he won't forgive me..."
She'd waited for him at this location for many late hours, but he hadn't appeared even once.
As if he was disgusted. As if he didn't want to meet again.
Even though he was the first person to show interest in her,
Hare was deeply hurt by the connection she'd severed with her own hands.
"Buy matches. Matches... warm matches available..."
Nevertheless, she called out about warm matches to melt hearts.
Not forgetting happiness, living kindly as her parents' will instructed.
Hare tried not to give up.
At that moment, Hare felt weight on her shoulder.
Surprised, Hare turned around with anticipation.
"M-mister...!?"
"Who are you calling mister?"
"...Ness."
But that person wasn't the man.
Alley thug Ness.
Wrapped in bandages all over his body, he looked at Hare and muttered lowly.
"The boss wants to see you. About your 'debt.' And about that man too. My medical bills were quite high."
"..."
Medical bills.
Money.
It's always about money.
With that thought, Hare looked around.
The man still wasn't there.
"...I'll go to the boss. But mister won't come."
"W-well, if he won't come, it can't be helped! Follow me, Hare."
Hare followed Ness.
*Perhaps the only way I can atone to mister is that.*
Medical bills.
I'll pay back mister's medical bills in his place.
By any means necessary.
The alley.
Hare's blood-red eyes glowed eerily.
And...
"What? Where'd she go?"
When Lee Jun-woo arrived to kidnap Hare,
Hare had already disappeared.
Time limit: 4 hours.
Lee Jun-woo began running to find Hare.