BSS 62

Chapter 62

“Really? When will they come?”

“I don’t know, but it seems like our group or the patrol is not far from here.”

It was hard to sense the passage of time, but it didn’t seem like long had passed since Undine left the room.

At most, 10 or 15 minutes, maybe.

“I see… but…”

By now, my eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness, so I could clearly make out Iruje’s silhouette.

I could even tell that Iruje was tilting his head in curiosity. There was a bit of light near the door.

“By the way, where is this place?”

“…You were acting so carefree without even knowing that?”

“I was carefree because I didn’t know.”

“We’ve been kidnapped!”

“Oh, this is my first time being kidnapped! My brothers have experienced it, though.”

As expected, Iruje was a little unusual. His way of thinking was impossible to follow.

“So they kidnapped us for ransom?”

“I don’t think so. They just grabbed us off the street. How would they even know you’re from the Feiru family?”

“Huh? Then why?”

“To sell us, I guess…”

“Sell us where?”

“Exactly. Where are they selling us?”

I commented on their recklessness, but it was clear that neither of them had really thought about it.

They were like delicate greenhouse flowers—simply unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Especially Esh seemed to have no idea what slavery really meant.

The way they rolled their eyes around was so innocent.

“You two are really naïve. You know… there are perverts in this world who like children.”

“Ehh?”

“Hah, but I’m a man.”

“There are perverts who like young boys too.”

“Y-you… don’t have it wrong?”

And now they were trembling like leaves.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t been here?”

“…We’d have been sold to a pervert, I guess?”

“Would you have used dad’s name?”

The two clueless little ‘puppies’ blinked their eyes.

I found myself sighing more than usual today.

“Enough, Esh. Come over here and untie the straps on my wrist.”

“Uh? Oh… okay.”

The reason I specifically asked Esh to do it was that Iruje’s hands were tied, but Esh seemed free.

Watching Esh follow my instructions smoothly, I became convinced that he, too, couldn’t be a prince.

He was too much like a subordinate to be considered royalty.

“You’re Jini, right?”

“Jini Crowell.”

“Thanks, Jini. If I get out of here, it’ll all be thanks to you.”

Sure, call me Jini or Jiny—whatever you like.

“My mother always said that one should recognize gratitude.”

“…She must have been a good person.”

“Yes.”

Because it was so dark around us, Esh fumbled while trying to untie the strap, touching my fingers in the process. Under normal circumstances, it would have felt slightly embarrassing.

I felt Esh’s hair brushing under my chin and muttered softly.

“Esh, once we get out of here, go home.”

“I’ll… go to the house in the forest.”

“The house in the forest? There are a lot of forests, you know.”

“No, I can find it!”

“You seem to have come out without a plan. That’s really foolish.”

Esh kept touching my hand without responding. He was only doing it to untie the straps.

“You said your mother passed away too. What do you intend to do alone in the forest? There’s nothing left now.”

“There is…! I have memories with my mother…”

“What your mother probably wanted was for you to live with your father without starving. To receive a proper education, and not be alone.”

At that moment, the strap came loose, and my wrist was freed.

I rotated my aching wrist and continued speaking.

“The reason she took you to that wealthy-looking father, even knowing it would be tough for you, was because she didn’t want you to be left alone. Above all, she believed you could endure it. Isn’t that right?”

“Maybe…”

“In my opinion…”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know your mother’s heart, but… that’s what parents are like. They want their children to become strong. To live a better life.”

In my past life, in a former life that has now faded into nothingness, I thought that was the reason I had to study so relentlessly.

It was the best parents could do.

Even if I didn’t want it, even if I hated it, enduring it then would give me strength later.

If I had known I’d grow distant from that day, I might have rebelled a little less.

“I know too. The places you can’t return to are the ones you miss the most.”

“…Yeah.”

“But now is now. The house in the forest can’t be undone.”

“But I don’t know what to do at my father’s house.”

As I untied Iruje’s wrists, I shrugged.

“You said you have many siblings, right? Watch how the most pampered one behaves. Then do even better. If your goal is to get your father’s attention.”

“Then will my father look at me?”

“He will. The fact that he accepted you home is already hope, isn’t it?”

“…If I go back, I think I’ll get scolded. I ran away, got kidnapped…”

This kid really was a coward.

I patted Esh’s slumped shoulders and tried to teach him.

“Think about it. If someone hits you, who’s at fault?”

“The person who hit me…?”

“If you get kidnapped?”

“The kidnapper.”

“Exactly! The bad guy is the bad one! It’s simple!”

“But Jini, I ran away on my own?”

That part I couldn’t help with. Even though I’m a master of mental victories, there are limits.

Bang!

“Come out, noisy kids!”

Suddenly, the sound of someone kicking the iron door harshly echoed.

A large man, evidently imposing, opened the thick iron door and stepped into the cell.

He was so big the cell felt cramped.

We froze in shock, and it was only in the light pouring through the open door that I could clearly see Esh’s face.

No wonder I couldn’t tell his hair color before—it was pitch black.

In contrast, his golden eyes, like the sun, revealed why he had been captured.

It was a rare color in this world.

Even if not in my past life, here it was the first time I had seen such rare black hair.

And black hair was a symbol of the Elan royal family.

‘Could it be… he really is…’

Perhaps the slavers grabbed him simply because his hair color was rare.

If they thought he was a prince, they wouldn’t have dared to touch him.

“Hmm, not coming out?”

The man tried to intimidate, but the kids didn’t move. They didn’t know where they’d be taken if they stepped out.

I could only hope desperately.

Undine, please come back quickly!

“It’s better if you come out willingly.”

“N-no!”

Esh shouted loudly.

I thought it was unexpected, considering he seemed cowardly.

“Hey, drag them out.”

The large man who came in first seemed like a leader, giving orders without moving.

Behind him, two other rough-looking men entered the cell.

The cell was now fully crowded, and the three of us were naturally cornered.

“Back off! Don’t touch us!”

Esh stepped back, clearly terrified.

I grabbed Esh’s collar.

Instead of provoking them too much, pretending to comply and buying time was safer.

“Esh!”

“It’s okay. I, I’ll protect you.”

“…Stay still, just!”

This kid was trembling—what was he doing? Not what I meant! Who asked for protection? I was quite flustered.

“Oh my! You think we’ll leave if you tell us not to come, huh?”

“Pfft, acting like a man.”

“Enough, forget him and drag the girl out.”

“Who’s the pink-haired one? The blonde?”

“Both.”

At that moment, Iruje clutched me tightly, clearly out of overwhelming fear.