Hello! Were You Kidnapped Too? (1)
The morning air crackled with energy and strength.
“Huaaam… I’m so tired…”
The hero Runasia Runa opened her eyes in bed. Training was always hellish, so she never felt refreshed no matter how long she slept. Still, she was sending money to her family. That alone meant she had to keep pushing.
“Let’s do our best today too! You can do it, Luna! Fighting!”
Runa pumped her fist with a cheer and immediately dashed to the bathroom. She washed her face thoroughly, brushed her teeth with care, then checked herself in the mirror.
“Whoa, have I actually put on some muscle?”
Biceps were forming, her shoulders looked broader, and faint abs were starting to show. At this rate she might end up a total musclehead.
“Hehe, I’ll be able to take that uncle down soon! The age of Luna is finally here!”
Apparently forgetting the countless times she had been brutally crushed, Runa greeted the morning with solo optimism. She was so hyped up that she failed to notice the bathroom door standing wide open.
“Luna, come eat.”
“Hieek…! U-Uncle!? When did you even get here…!? And you’re supposed to knock!”
“…I knocked more than five times. You didn’t hear any of it? Talking about beating me with senses like that proves you have no conscience, Luna.”
“I-I get it already… A person can’t stay focused all the time, you know… Tsk. Would it kill you to give me a compliment?”
He praised Hare so much. But never her. Runa pouted and plopped down on the bed.
Today’s breakfast was toast and sunny-side-up eggs. The moment the delicious food appeared before her, every grievance vanished.
“Finish everything and come down in thirty minutes. We’re training again today.”
“Hehe, looks yummy… Ah, yessir. Understood.”
“And… try not to be too surprised.”
“…?”
What was that supposed to mean? Don’t be too surprised? Was it a surprise gift? Runa couldn’t make sense of his final words. Not until she stepped into the yard.
She tied her hair with the large red ribbon Uncle had given her, grabbed her wooden sword, and headed down. There, sitting on a chair and reading a book, was a black-haired girl. Her sanpaku eyes gave her a sharp, intimidating air. Runa had never seen her before.
Did this uncle kidnap someone again!? What the hell kind of person is he!?
For what possible reason? How far was he planning to take this kidnapping spree? Runa’s head spun.
…Hare came here on her own two feet. But how did this one end up here? Still, we’re fellow victims. I should at least say hello.
Runa put on her brightest smile and approached Sicilia Saten. The girl’s face was completely blank. Runa flinched for a second but quickly recovered, beaming as she spoke.
“Um, hello! I’m Runasia Runa! What’s your name?”
“Saten.”
“…?”
That was it? Nothing else? The bewildered Runa asked carefully.
“Is that… all?”
“…What more is required?”
“Ah, never mind…”
When someone greets you, aren’t you supposed to say hello back? She had asked for a name and received only the name. Runa thought to herself that her new friend was clearly not normal either.
Saten spoke to the girl who refused to leave.
“If you have no business with me, please go away. You’re disturbing me.”
“Ah, wait. I have one more question. Why did you come here? Were you kidnapped like me?”
“No. I asked to be kidnapped.”
“Eh…?”
“Do you require further answers? If not, please leave.”
Saten waved her hand dismissively, shooing Runa away. The girl was chased off with a completely dazed expression. She simply couldn’t understand it.
“Do people normally ask to be kidnapped…?”
Normally you’d scream Please don’t kidnap me! right? That was the sane reaction. Whether it was a child who walked in willingly or one who begged to be taken, common sense had clearly died the moment you entered this house.
“Why do all the kids here come because they want to…?”
Was she the weird one for wanting to escape after being kidnapped? Runa clutched her head and groaned.
“Am I the strange one…?”
Wondering if she really was the odd one out, Runa glanced at Hare, who was staring out the window. The girl’s gaze was locked onto Uncle with pinpoint accuracy. Those red eyes held not a single flicker of doubt.
Runa shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Th-this is wrong! The world has gone completely insane!!”
“What exactly is wrong, Luna?”
“Uncle! Something’s broken! Common sense isn’t common sense anymore!”
“The only thing that’s abandoned common sense is your skill level, Luna. Go run laps in the yard.”
“Gaaaaah—!”
Lunchtime.
After fainting from another brutal training session, Runa woke up and immediately began sniffing the air like a golden retriever that had caught the scent of snacks in its sleep.
“Ugh, what is that smell…?”
It was the aroma of delicious soup. Runa climbed out of bed and checked the desk. There sat a single bowl of rich, fragrant soup packed with vegetables and generous chunks of meat. It looked expensive.
“Uncle’s cooking really is on another level… Where did he even learn to cook like this?”
Regardless, Runa drooled as she approached the bowl.
“Huh?”
Beside the soup was something far more important.
A letter. A reply from her family. It had already been opened—probably inspected by Lee Junwoo first.
“Tsk, it’s a letter from my family… How can you read it before me!”
Runa turned away from the soup and opened the letter. The handwriting belonged to her mother. It was filled with light, warm stories—how everyone was doing, that they were using the money well, and that her younger brothers were growing up healthy and strong.
Our dear Luna,
Everyone is doing well. The money you sent has been a tremendous help. We were able to repair the roof and buy new clothes for your brothers. They’re growing so fast these days, always asking when their big sister is coming home. Today we had a good harvest, and the whole family ate until we were full. Please take care of yourself and don’t push yourself too hard. We love you.
— Mom
Maybe it was because she hadn’t heard from them in so long, but Runa’s eyes grew misty.
“Hic… I’m so glad they’re all doing okay…”
The exhaustion weighing on her heart from the brutal training melted away like snow. Being able to feel her family’s warmth even from so far away filled Runa with genuine relief.
Still… I hate Uncle. He kidnapped me and locked me up.
No matter how much money he sent, this was still a crime. Gratitude and resentment existed side by side inside Runa’s heart.
“If you’re going to be evil, just be completely evil! Why are you kind sometimes!? I can’t even hate you properly! Argh! Whatever! I hate you! I’m just going to eat!”
Nom.
Her words said one thing, but her body was honest. The bowl of soup Junwoo had prepared sparkled so cleanly it didn’t even need to be washed.
“The test is tomorrow.”
“Y-Yes! Uncle…! I won’t disappoint you…! I’ll study extra today too! I’ll figure out every single thing about you…!”
“No, you really don’t have to go that far…”
What does she mean by figuring out everything about me…?
Hare’s eyes sparkled as she studied the language of this world. After finishing her basic knowledge lesson, Junwoo headed to Saten’s room.
Knock knock—
“May I come in, Saten?”
—Yes.
At her cool reply, he entered. She was sitting at the desk, absorbed in a book. It was a royal-road novel about a hero defeating the Demon King.
“Is it any good?” he asked the girl who refused to lift her eyes from the page.
“No.”
Extremely decisive. Saten seemed to have many complaints; she slammed the book shut with a loud thud and began venting.
“Why does the hero save people? Sacrificing his own body for worthless insects. The protagonist of this book seems incredibly stupid. He could simply live for himself. All this unnecessary meddling is pointless.”
“…”
He had no response. How exactly was he supposed to rehabilitate this personality? The fact that Saten was destined to become the mage of the hero party suddenly felt terrifying.
She then turned her questions on him.
“Did you send my letter to my family? And please explain why you came to me while you’re at it.”
“…I sent it. The reason I came here is to teach you magic. That’s why I kidnapped you.”
“I’m relieved you didn’t come here to spout nonsense.”
Saten spoke as if she was glad it wasn’t something bothersome. Then she leaned in until their noses were nearly touching.
“So, about that magic you used before. How exactly did you cast it?”
“…Your face is too close. Step back a little. I’ll teach you the magic afterward.”
“Understood.”
Saten obeyed without complaint. She genuinely seemed desperate to learn the magic he had used. The very magic she had once created and that he had later inherited.
“Ahem. First, I’ll tell you the name of the magic you will be learning.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“The one that turned people into dust and erased their very existence. That magic is called Void Magic.”
“Liar. The world is composed of the four major elements. There is no such thing as a void attribute.”
You lied to me.
Saten glared at him with an icy expression. However, contrary to her beliefs, Void Magic was very real.
“I’m not lying. The word ‘void’ itself exists, doesn’t it? If there truly were no void attribute, the word would not exist either.”
“What kind of wordplay is that?”
“The world is originally built on wordplay. If you cannot understand this, you will never be able to use the magic.”
It had taken him four full years to grasp it, after all.
The definition of Void Magic was roughly this: If one claims the ‘void attribute’ ‘does not exist,’ then the ‘word’ itself for ‘void attribute’ comes into ‘existence.’ However, if one claims a void attribute ‘exists,’ it ‘acknowledges’ that there is no void attribute, causing the void to disappear. It was an attribute magic steeped in its own peculiar philosophy.
“To put it simply, when using the magic, you must think as if the void attribute does not exist.”
“…It’s difficult. This is the first time I’ve heard anything like it. It’s nonsense that defies all logic.”
“I told you. The person who created this magic was a genius far greater than you. If you cannot understand it, then that is simply the limit of your talent.”
“…”
Saten frowned at the remark that wounded her pride. Unusually, she remained silent. Though clearly displeased, she seemed to acknowledge that she truly did not understand.
“…Then how do you use that Void Magic?”
“Read this book. It was written by that person. If you understand it, you should be able to use the magic naturally. Ask me about anything you don’t understand.”
“Yes, I will read it. However, I have one question.”
A question. Naturally, the book would raise many. He nodded.
“Why is there only the first volume? This book is extremely thin. It doesn’t even reach a hundred pages. How can it contain such tremendous magic?”
“That’s because it was made that way on purpose.”
“Pardon?”
“It was created like this to mean you should learn slowly.”
“…”
Saten tilted her head in confusion. Back then, he hadn’t understood the true meaning behind “learn slowly” either. Only now did he finally realize it.
Because this way I can keep you by my side for a long time.
If he had given her one thick book, their relationship would have ended there. Once she learned all the magic, the bond between master and disciple would be over. His own mentor had probably given him the books one by one because she hadn’t wanted their relationship to end.
The same applied to Saten. No matter how much magic she studied, as long as he did not permit it, the master-disciple relationship would never break.
Saten asked in a tone that suggested it was all a hassle.
“Where is the next volume?”
“I will give you the second volume once you achieve your goal.”
“Hmm. What is the goal?”
The goal. One directly tied to Saten’s very life. He gently stroked her hair and spoke.
“Every time you realize one of your emotions, I will give you one volume. Learning to understand your own emotions—that is your goal.”
“…You’re making this unnecessarily bothersome.”
“If you have complaints, you may give up on learning magic.”
It’s not me who loses out. It’s you.
Saten remained expressionless, quietly organizing her thoughts. Soon she nodded as if she had reached a conclusion.
“…I will try learning emotions.”
“A wise choice, Saten.”
He stroked her hair once more. She tilted her head, unable to understand the action. She even seemed slightly uncomfortable with it.
In time, you’ll come to understand what this means too.
Because your emotions have not been completely extinguished.
Saten’s emotions remained, faint as a whisper, so delicate they could barely be caught between two fingers. Only he—who had personally witnessed her past—knew this truth.
And so, the first lesson for the mage Saten began. Not a lesson in magic, but a lesson in emotion.
After the lesson ended, Saten stood alone before the mirror. She stared directly at her reflection and began muttering to herself.
“Emotions.”
I may have lost my emotions, but how can I regain them? What did those feelings I once had actually feel like?
Saten could not grasp it at all.
“…Is this how it’s done?”
Joy. The expressionless Saten used her fingers to lift the corners of her mouth. Paired with her dry, emotionless eyes, the sight of only her lips forced upward was utterly bizarre. There was no soul in that smile.
“Realizing emotions is incredibly difficult.”
Though called a genius when it came to magic, Saten realized that in the realm of emotions she was no different from a newborn. The expressionless girl in the mirror forcibly twisted her lips into a smile once more.
“…”
Unlike anyone else’s smile, Saten’s expression looked unbearably lonely.