The Kidnapped Girl and the Abducted Girl (1)
In the quiet hours before dawn, when the world still slept, a tombstone for Helen was erected on the wooded hill near Lee Junwoo's house. The funeral was simple and modest. Yuriana Hare placed a bouquet of flowers before the grave.
"Ready to head home?"
"…Yes."
Yuriana Hare nodded. Having already endured one farewell, she silently promised herself she would return here again someday. She took Lee Junwoo's hand, and together they walked toward his house.
"We're here. This is where we live."
"Whoa…"
Was this really the place she would call home from now on? A tall fence. A yard covered in lush green grass. A two-story house. Yuriana Hare couldn't help but stare in awe.
"Uncle really is rich…"
"Come inside, Hare. I'll give you the tour."
"Y-yes…!"
She scampered after him eagerly. The moment the door opened, another breathtaking sight unfolded before her.
"W-wow, it's so clean! There's a study! A bathroom! So many rooms! But… why does the living room look like…"
"Trash gets cleaned up, but it keeps coming back."
"…Huh?"
"It means it's a pain in the ass."
Oh, I see. If Uncle says so, then that's how it must be! Yuriana Hare accepted his words without a second thought.
"My life belongs to you, Uncle."
"You don't have to go that far."
Lee Junwoo let out a small sigh and continued the tour—kitchen, study, living room, bedrooms.
"This will be your room, Hare."
"What…?! You're giving me this huge room? I-I don't need it! Just put a cushion in the corner of the living room and that'll be enough…!"
"The living room is my space. You stay here."
"…Okay."
She nodded again, accepting his decision without protest. Then, a question that had been weighing on her mind slipped out.
"Um… there's one thing I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
"What is the second floor used for? You never told me… If it's a place I'm not allowed to go, I won't even go near it!"
"…"
Should he tell her or not? Lee Junwoo pondered for a moment.
…Still, it would be better for her to see and judge for herself rather than just hearing it from me.
Since Yuriana Hare blindly trusted everything he said, if he wanted to truly educate her, he needed to let her witness things with her own eyes and make her own decisions. A thief's eyes had to be sharp enough to spot traps and find paths through danger. He would leave the judgment to her.
"What's on the second floor…?"
"Soon."
"Huh?"
"You'll find out soon enough. You must be exhausted since you haven't slept. Get some rest."
Lee Junwoo spoke in a gentle tone and stroked her hair. He guided her to the bed, laid her down, and tucked the blanket around her. For the first time in her life, Yuriana Hare experienced what it felt like to be truly comfortable.
"U-uncle…"
"What is it?"
"If it's not too much… could you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
Gulp. Yuriana Hare swallowed nervously, terrified he might refuse.
"I know it's a childish request, but still—"
"Sure. I'll stay right here."
"…Thank you."
Thank you for taking me in even though I stole your wallet. Thank you for helping me… She poured all that gratitude into her words, then closed her eyes. Her expression was peaceful.
"She's still just a child after all."
Though she looked like a child on the outside, her heart had been forced to grow up too soon. But right now, lying in that bed with her eyes closed, she was finally allowed to be a little girl.
After her exhausted body had healed through sleep, Yuriana Hare slowly opened her eyes.
"…Uncle?"
He wasn't there. A wave of fear washed over her—the terrifying thought that she had been abandoned, left all alone in the world. What if last night had all been a dream…?
She bolted upright in a panic.
"U-uncle…! Where are you…?!"
The cool towel that had been on her cheek slipped to the floor. Just as she was about to rush out of the room to find him, the door opened and Lee Junwoo stepped inside. In his hands was a steaming bowl of porridge on a plate.
"Ah…"
"Hare?"
"I-it's nothing. Never mind."
Overwhelmed by sudden embarrassment, she quickly lay back down. She could feel the swelling in her cheek had gone down, and once again, gratitude toward him swelled in her chest. Her eyes naturally drifted toward the plate.
"That's…"
"Porridge. I made it easy to eat. Go on."
"Th-thank you…"
Clink. Lee Junwoo set the plate on the desk.
Did he really make this himself…?
Words alone weren't enough to express her thanks. Yuriana Hare decided she would think of a way to repay this kindness.
Having left only the porridge behind, Lee Junwoo coolly exited the room. Staring at the door he had disappeared through, she muttered to herself.
"Just giving him my life might not be enough…"
If she truly wanted to repay him, she would have to do something more. With that thought in mind, she began to eat. Her spoon work was clumsy, but that didn't matter. The taste was all that counted.
"…It's delicious. It's the best thing I've ever eaten in my life."
Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. She hadn't wanted to cry anymore, but the warmth was too much to hold back.
"I have to repay Uncle someday. Hehe."
She made a firm promise in her heart that one day she would return this kindness, engraving it deep into her beliefs. And then…
"Wait, what is that noise upstairs? Is someone there?"
With her naturally sharp senses, she picked up the presence of the hero locked away on the second floor. This was the beginning of two girls who would one day become comrades.
It was lunchtime. The hero burst out into the yard, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Today, I'm going to win…!!"
Grrrr. Another day of the same relentless training. Her confidence was at maximum.
Runasia Runa raised her wooden sword and pointed it straight at Lee Junwoo.
"Alright! Uncle! Today I'm going to beat you! I'm going to escape this awful place!"
"Sure."
"Don't just give me one-word answers! Put some heart into it!"
"…"
Why does her voice have to be so loud? Lee Junwoo ignored her. Runasia Runa puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
"That kidnapper…! No, wait. Stay calm before a fight. Hoo—"
She took a deep breath and steadied her mind. Her head cleared, and her vision expanded.
"Good. Now, get into position…"
Get into position…
"What is that?"
Runasia Runa stared intently at something in the distance. No matter how she looked at it, it was a person. A girl who looked about the same age as her. No way…
"Don't tell me this guy kidnapped another—"
"Don't let your guard down."
"Kyaa!"
She took a wooden sword to the head and collapsed to the ground. Clutching her dizzy skull, Runasia Runa shouted at him.
"What are you doing?! We hadn't even started yet!"
"Do you think people ask their opponent for permission before a real fight? Not even worth answering."
"B-but—"
"We'll reduce sparring to once a week instead of every day. Use that time to focus on basic training. Sparring with such pathetic skills is just a waste of time."
"Th-that's not fair!"
"It is fair."
Lee Junwoo refused to yield even an inch. Runasia Runa trembled with frustration, but since she knew he wasn't wrong, she couldn't argue.
"…Uncle. More importantly, who's that? The girl sitting under the tree."
Lee Junwoo turned his gaze toward the large tree in the corner of the yard. Beneath it sat a girl with pink hair. Yuriana Hare. When their eyes met, she waved at him cheerfully.
The hero and the thief who would later join her party. It wouldn't hurt to at least tell her the name.
"Hare."
"Yes?"
"That girl's name is Hare. She's the same age as you. Since you'll be friends, get along well."
"…Excuse me?"
What on earth was this man saying? Was he seriously telling two kidnapped girls to become friends? He really was a psycho?!
I need to talk to her!
Thud, thud, thud. Runasia Runa marched over to Yuriana Hare, who was sitting on the green grass beneath the tree. Then, a bit shyly, she greeted her.
"U-um… hello?"
"Hello."
Yuriana Hare smiled brightly as she returned the greeting.
W-what? She's super cute!
Runasia Runa, the eldest of one girl and five boys, decided right then and there that even though Yuriana Hare had pink hair and red eyes, she would treat her like a little sister.
"I finally have a little sister… hehe."
"…Um, excuse me. I have a question."
"Yeah? O-okay! Ask me anything! Big sis will answer everything! My name is Luna! Nice to meet you!"
Incidentally, both girls were fourteen years old. Runasia Runa took Yuriana Hare's hands and smiled at her like a caring older sister.
Hiding her true feelings, Yuriana Hare forced a smile and thought,
Why is she acting so friendly…? More importantly, it looks like I'm not the only one in this house…
So Uncle wasn't only looking at me. She didn't like how overly familiar Runasia Runa was being, but she still asked the question burning in her mind.
"Were you the one staying on the second floor…?"
"That's right! I live on the second floor! Well… more like I'm being kept alive up there?"
"Being kept alive…? What does that mean?"
That was something you said about animals being raised for slaughter. Why would she phrase it like that? Yuriana Hare looked at her with suspicious eyes.
Completely unaware of what Yuriana Hare was thinking, Runasia Runa leaned in close to her ear as if sharing a great secret no one else knew.
"Here's the thing… You might not believe it, but I was kidnapped by that uncle too."
"…What?! Kidnapped…?!"
"Wait, you weren't kidnapped? I thought we were in the same boat."
"K-kidnapped…? By Uncle…? What are you…"
Yuriana Hare's mind was spinning. The kind uncle who had saved her was a kidnapper? No way. That couldn't be… But the girl in front of her had no reason to lie. Just to be sure, she asked,
"You said you were kidnapped… so why were you training swordsmanship with him?"
"That psycho made me. He says I'm the hero or something… and that if I can beat him, he'll let me go. He's totally insane! Though… he does seem a little bit nice sometimes… Wait, he didn't hear that, did he…?"
"…"
Yuriana Hare wasn't really listening anymore. Uncle was doing something like that? Kidnapping girls and forcing them to train? Her sharp instincts told her that the girl before her wasn't lying. Even so… even though he had kidnapped a girl… Yuriana Hare was still unconditionally on Lee Junwoo's side.
"…I'm sure Uncle had his reasons."
"Huh?"
"Take your hand off me."
Slap. Yuriana Hare coldly brushed Runasia Runa's hand away. How dare she call Uncle crazy, a psycho, a kidnapper? Unable to hold back, she stood up.
"Don't say such terrible things about Uncle. He's a good person."
"Eh…?"
Yuriana Hare's icy gaze pierced Runasia Runa. The hero froze, unable to say a word. When faced with something so absurd, people sometimes just shut down.
"You have no idea how wonderful Uncle is…"
"…"
With that, Yuriana Hare walked away. Runasia Runa was left standing there alone. She muttered to herself in disbelief.
"The world is turning upside down…"
"Luna. Break time is over. Start with thirty-five laps around the yard!"
"Haa…"
Runasia Runa sighed and immediately began running. Lee Junwoo ran beside her. Watching them through the window, Yuriana Hare clenched her fists.
"I could run like that too… I could be running with Uncle…"
Crack. Without even realizing the emotion surging through her was jealousy, she bit her nails and stared at their training.