Chapter 50 : Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Apple and Kagobin were moved to a secluded mountain cabin.
After searching Apple and finding no big money, the scouts planned to negotiate with the salon staff.
Nondisclosure penalties, extra protection fees.
Realizing they were students, silence was critical. The academy might not care, but a sponsoring guild could complicate things.
“Haha! Been a while since something like this~!”
“Argh! Nooo! This is the worst, how’s this happening to me!!”
“Senior Apple, don’t cry. It’s a rare life event—enjoy it!”
Crying, Apple glanced over.
Kagobin, bruised eyes and a bloody split lip, grinned.
“S-Sorry, you got dragged in because of me.”
“Nah, it’s fine! Helping out~”
His toothy grin was bloodstained.
He didn’t help at all…
Guilt hit Apple for dragging an innocent kid into this mess.
Swallowing words, she asked worriedly,
“You, you okay?”
“Tastes metallic! Blood flavor.”
“Ugh… No way you’re okay. Sorry… I should’ve brought more money. They’d have let us go, right?”
“Nah~ I’ve done some shakedowns—more money would’ve excited them! You did great!”
“…Thanks?”
Barely knowing him, Apple could tell his brain was wired oddly.
“Miss Sigrin… Will she come save us? She won’t abandon me for being pathetic, right…?”
“No way, if it’s Sigrin Sis, she’ll definitely come! …Hm, hope she doesn’t die on the way. She’s frail.”
“What… Our Miss is stronger than anyone.”
“Pfft!”
Kagobin laughed hard, head down.
“Hey, you two. Here for fun? Shut up unless you wanna die.”
A scout guarding outside opened the door, shouting.
“Eek, s-sorry!”
“Understood!!”
Apple looked at Kagobin.
She was grateful, but a nagging unease lingered.
His attitude, belittling Sigrin, grated most.
Hoping she doesn’t die on the way? It sounded sarcastic.
The cabin door opened again.
Not the broad-faced scout this time.
“Miss!!”
“Whoa~!”
It was Sigrin, robe off, face clear.
“Miss, you came to save us!”
“Hm.”
Sigrin smiled awkwardly, stepping inside.
“Technically, I got kidnapped too.”
She showed her bound hands.
“Hey, pretty face. Get inside before we sell you off.”
Pushed, Sigrin stumbled toward Apple and Kagobin.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Sis, you okay? Back didn’t break?”
Kagobin checked Sigrin with concern.
“Yup, fine.”
“Knees? You tripped earlier.”
“Bit scraped, but fine.”
“Phew~!!”
As Kagobin leaned to rub his face on Sigrin’s shoulder, she dodged.
“Apple, you okay? No injuries?”
“Ugh… Kagobin took the beating, so I’m fine. They got tired hitting him.”
“…”
Sigrin frowned at Kagobin.
Grinning despite his battered face, he met her gaze.
Sigrin looked away.
“…Luca’ll draw attention soon. We escape then.”
Sigrin had baited herself to get here.
She had Bilha and Luca, skilled fighters, on standby while she loudly searched for Apple alone.
Sure enough, someone approached.
[You the head of that new salon shop?]
[Uh… no? Who are you?]
[None of your business. Come with us. More people make negotiations easier.]
The man left a note with the cabin’s location and hostage names at the salon, then took Sigrin to Apple.
That’s how she got here.
The plan: Luca distracts outside, they teleport short-range, and Bilha cuts their ropes.
“Sob… Miss, I’m sorry. Why am I such a burden? I hate myself. Can’t even buy snacks right, just causing trouble…”
“Hey, that talk doesn’t help right now.”
“S-Sorry… Even now, all I do is say useless stuff… I need to stay calm.”
In full panic, Apple’s self-loathing deepened.
Sigrin rested her head on Apple’s, soothing her.
“Being kidnapped isn’t your fault. As someone who’s been kidnapped a lot, I get your frustration.”
“Miss…”
Watching Sigrin comfort Apple, Kagobin slipped into a memory.
“Man, so nostalgic. I helped plan Sigrin Sis’s kidnapping!”
“…?”
“…You did.”
“You love night drives, so I told the grunts to set thorn traps on the route. Remember? If Eden hadn’t saved you, we’d have taken you to HQ.”
Damn it, that was you!!!
Sigrin’s head throbbed.
Too honest.
So honest, she didn’t know whether to believe him.
He knew more about her than expected, which was awkward.
Crash!
“Where’re my staff?!”
Luca’s voice came from outside, lowered to hide his identity.
Sigrin quickly spoke to Apple and Kagobin.
“Stick close to me. We’re moving.”
“Okay!”
“Whoa!”
Apple leaned her head on Sigrin’s shoulder, and Kagobin, already free of ropes, hugged Sigrin tightly.
“…”
✦ ✦ ✦
Bilha waited outside.
Sword in hand, he cut the ropes binding Sigrin and Apple.
If things went well, they’d shoot a small flare skyward.
Sigrin fired a flare immediately.
Then, approaching Kagobin, she pushed his shoulder.
“What’s your goal?”
“Goal? Just saw Apple Senior in danger at the market and took the hit for her.”
“…Why not use force? You could’ve escaped.”
“Since I got beat up unfairly, I wanted to see Sis’s face again!”
Sigrin sighed.
“Thanks this time, but I don’t need help in the future.”
“Really?”
“I don’t dine with the group that killed my mother.”
His slanted eyes widened, purple pupils visible.
Sadness flickered, then vanished. He grinned again.
“Hehe, I risked my life to leave that group, you know?”
“…”
Sigrin felt Bilha and Apple’s gazes fixed on her.
“Let’s head back to the library. We’re meeting Luca there.”