Do You Want to Escape...? Shall I Help You...? (1)
Hare had a fragile heart. So the question was whether she had been born that way or become that way later. The answer lay in the latter. Hare was the type whose heart had grown weak over time.
‘Tsk, that Hare girl always acts so stuck-up. Thinks she’s some kind of princess.’
‘She should act according to her station. Trash should stick with trash. Acting like she’s not garbage herself.’
Back-alley gossip from the women who worked in the red-light district. Even from far away, Hare could hear every word. Thanks to her innate superior senses, her hearing was unnaturally sharp, forcing her to catch conversations she was never meant to hear.
‘Warm bread for sale! Would you like some?’
‘Tsk, this looks hard to eat.’
The woman’s face had clearly said she didn’t even want to speak to her. Hare could read whether people hated her or liked her just from their expressions. And since no one in the world liked beggars, she had long since realized that everyone hated her.
The innate ability granted to Hare had slowly killed her heart.
And now, the moment had come to use that ability properly.
“Do you want to escape from here…? Shall I help you…?”
-Uh, uhh…? You’ll help me?
“Yes. I’m Hare. I’ll help you get out.”
I can avoid getting caught by Uncle. If I use every piece of information my senses have gathered and wait for the moment he leaves his seat, escape is possible.
And if one person disappears…
Reducing the number of rivals by one would make Uncle’s attention turn even more toward her. If it was an easy opponent, it made sense to send that child first.
That Saten girl has no intention of leaving anyway, so I can slowly coax her out later. Luna is an idiot, so leaving her alone is fine.
She didn’t like how often Luna clung to Uncle, but… still, Luna wasn’t the worst choice.
I want to send her away if I can, but…
Hare had already finished organizing her thoughts. All that remained was waiting for the person in question to answer.
The person in question—Estia—had fallen silent before finally asking with suspicion.
-…You’ll really let me out? How?
“I-I know Uncle very well.”
-…How well?
“Uncle wakes up at 6:30 in the morning and goes straight to the bathroom. It takes about thirteen minutes. Then he washes his face lightly and heads to the kitchen. There he prepares breakfast while trimming vegetables—”
-Ah, okay. That’s enough. I get it. I understand.
Estia had never seen the face of the girl speaking through the door. Yet for some reason she felt afraid, and goosebumps rose across her skin.
-Who memorizes someone’s daily routine in such a creepy way…?
“…What did you say?”
-Ah, nothing. When I get out, I definitely shouldn’t make eye contact.
Estia had instinctively sensed the danger. However, her questions were not yet fully answered.
-Fine. Let’s say you know that oppa well. What then? Knowing isn’t the end, right? You said electricity runs through the fence. There’s no way out. Oh, did I just sound pretty smart?
After speaking, Estia felt strangely satisfied with herself.
Hare found the term “oppa” unpleasant, but decided to answer for now. She had to end the conversation before Uncle noticed.
“…There is a way out.”
-What is it?
“The front gate is tightly locked so we can’t leave that way. Instead, we climb over the fence.”
-But the fence has electricity—
“There’s a button that turns it off… If we press that, it’s possible…”
When the button was pressed, the chain at the very top stopped carrying current. Since she had seen Uncle press it, if she stole the switch and opened Estia’s door…
“You can escape.”
-Ooh… If I escape, I’ll give you a whole box of holy water! You’re so nice!
Hare’s confident declaration made Estia sense hope in her voice.
***
Hmm. This should be enough.
“You won’t need to study letters anymore, Hare.”
“Already…?”
Of course. Hare had already mastered every letter; there wasn’t a single character she couldn’t read. If I kept making her study letters like this…
I might end up with ten more question rights and she’ll learn everything about me.
The six rights she had gained at once had been completely unexpected. To prevent it from happening again, it seemed better to start teaching her dagger techniques next week.
In that sense…
I approached Hare, who was holding a book, and asked.
“Is there anything you want to ask me?”
“D-does that mean I can use my question rights…?”
“…If you don’t want to use them, you don’t have to.”
“N-no! I’ve prepared them, so we can do it now…!”
Preparation. Rustling—
Hare pulled a single sheet of paper from beneath her desk. It contained exactly five questions.
…How many times did she rewrite it?
Only five questions were written, yet the paper was densely packed with tiny, careful handwriting. Hare clutched the question sheet tightly and began.
“What is Uncle’s favorite food?”
“Food? If alcohol counts, then alcohol.”
“Hmm… alcohol. I don’t like it when you drink…”
Hare’s expression showed clear displeasure. She lowered her gaze and moved to the next question.
“Have you ever been in a relationship, Uncle…?”
“…A relationship? That’s what you’re curious about?”
“Yes… I’m curious…”
Hare hid her face behind the question sheet, looking embarrassed.
…I did date before falling into this world.
When I was young. Back in high school. I wondered whether that counted as a proper relationship, but if I had to answer—
“I have.”
“…I see.”
…The reaction was not good. Hare’s voice had grown subdued. Yet the gloom lasted only a moment before she continued.
“Then… among the four of us, who do you like the most…?”
“…”
I couldn’t answer that question lightly. Saying who you liked most was never wise. No matter what criteria you used, it was still ranking them. And since Hare already held feelings for me, it was better not to answer at all.
The safest choice was to dodge.
“I like all of you.”
“…Moving to the next question. Do you have any plans for dinner tonight…?”
“I do have plans. I’ll be out for about an hour.”
She could have asked about my plans normally. Why use a precious question right on something so trivial? It was slightly disappointing coming from sharp-witted Hare.
And then came the final question.
With only one question right remaining, Hare asked at last.
“The woman in that frame. The one who looks close to you—who is she…?”
“…”
Her. My mentor. The one who had treated me specially. She was no longer in this world, but if I were to answer honestly…
“Naeldia Aina. My comrade, my mentor, and my friend.”
And.
“The person I loved.”
Hare kept her face hidden behind the paper, so I couldn’t read her expression. But I didn’t need to see it to know.
She was hurting.
“Was that answer enough?”
“…Yes. It’s enough, Uncle. It’s enough now…”
To keep an appropriate distance, I had wounded Hare.
***
-Hare. I’m stepping out for a bit. Rest comfortably.
“…”
For the first time, Hare did not answer. The front door slammed shut with a heavy bang.
Hare now had to move if she was going to free Estia. But she didn’t want to move at all.
“I feel bad…”
I don’t feel good. It feels terrible. My chest keeps stinging.
After hearing that Uncle had once loved someone, there was no way Hare could feel good. It felt like…
It feels like something was taken from me…
She had been taught that love was beautiful. So why did hearing about Uncle’s love feel so painful? No matter how quick-witted Hare was, she still couldn’t identify the true nature of her own emotions. She was young and had received almost no proper education.
She lay on the bed for a while, lost in emptiness, until she suddenly realized.
“Ah, that’s right. Uncle left…? Th-there’s no time…”
N-now I really have to move. I need to send the other girls out of the house quickly. The other girls aren’t needed. They aren’t needed in this house.
Hare opened the door and headed to the living room. She already knew where the key to Luna’s room was and where the fence’s electric switch was kept.
Uncle always went to Luna’s room and then made the sound of lifting the sofa… It’s under the sofa…
It should be here. Hare crouched down and looked beneath the sofa.
Found it.
She discovered a key and a square switch with a button. Clutching them, she headed for Luna’s room.
The problem came after that.
“The security is the issue…”
There was a door. It needed a key. It needed magic. The latch holding it shut needed to be removed.
“…It’s easy but difficult.”
Using the key to open the door was simple enough. The real problem was the magic—the barrier fixing the door in place.
…I can’t use magic. To solve this…
I don’t like it, but there’s no choice. She had to ask her for help.
“…Saten. Help me.”
“Why should I? It’s bothersome.”
Cooperating with her was truly the last thing she wanted… but there was no other way. For Uncle’s sake, she had to do it. With this offer, even Saten would cooperate.
Hare called out confidently.
“…I’m going to help the other girls escape. I need your help.”
“Why should I? You’re disturbing my reading. Go away.”
“…Don’t you want to learn magic from Uncle? Then sending two of them away would be more efficient.”
“Hmm. Not bad for a bug. Efficient, you say. Explain further.”
If two were sent away, their attention would naturally shift toward the two who remained. That would give Saten more time to learn magic.
To such a rational proposal, Saten thought for only a moment.
“The benefits of doing it outweigh the benefits of not doing it.”
Ever calculating, Saten rose from her seat without further hesitation and walked to Luna’s room. After carefully observing the door, she sliced her wrist and scattered her blood across it.
“Using blood as nourishment, release the barrier.”
With a sharp cracking sound, the barrier holding the door vanished. The door swung open, revealing both Luna and Estia.
Estia shouted in celebration of her freedom.
“Haha—!! Thank you, Goddess—!! I will go offer my prayers—! Glory to the heavens—!!”
But unlike the excited Estia, Luna did not look happy. She seemed troubled instead. Luna spoke to Hare carefully.
“…Hare. I-I don’t want to go. This feels wrong.”
“What feels wrong, Luna…? You’ve wanted to leave this whole time…”
Saten was already cutting the chains on their legs with blood magic. Yet Luna showed no intention of leaving the room. The reason wasn’t that she liked the room—it was far more practical.
“I-I can’t leave! The financial support to my family will be cut off!”
It was a realistic concern. If the support sent to her family stopped, it meant her family in the countryside—her younger siblings—would starve.
I have to protect my family… and my little siblings… Because I am the eldest daughter…
Her sense of responsibility as the eldest daughter kept Luna rooted in place. Time was passing, and Uncle would return soon.
…Luna will be fine. Yes, it’s okay not to force her out…
Later, after the others were gone and only three remained, she could try again. In the end, Hare decided to give up for now.
Saten and Luna returned to their rooms. The only one left was Estia, trembling with anxiety. Hare ordered her to follow.
“…Follow me. I’ll help you escape.”
“Uh, yeah…! But you look less scary than I thought? With that pink hair, you actually seem kind of cu—”
“…What did you say?”
Icy cold—Hare’s red eyes flashed as she glared at Estia. Between learning Uncle’s truth and watching her plan fall apart, her mental state was already fracturing. Her glass-like mentality was beginning to crack.
Estia flinched and quickly looked away.
“Ah, never mind~ It’s nothing~ Sh-shall we escape~?”
Whistling awkwardly, Estia followed behind Hare. They descended the stairs, crossed the living room, and reached the front door. They stepped out into the yard.
A tall iron fence stood there, topped with barbed wire that pulsed with magical energy. Hare stared at it and pressed the button.
Beep—
The current died. Only the sharp barbs remained.
“…Climb over there and you can escape.”
“Why did this oppa build the fence so high! My athletic ability is completely zero!”
“…I’ll lift you.”
Hare’s mood grew even worse. She lifted Estia’s body high enough for her to grab the top of the fence. The effort was excruciating.
H-heavy…
Hare had almost no physical strength. Still, she had to do it. She squeezed out every ounce of power she possessed and raised Estia to the required height—just within reach.
“E-escape…!!”
Estia gripped the top of the fence and began climbing toward the barbed wire. The sharp barbs cut into her, but it didn’t matter.
Once I’m out, I’m definitely drinking holy water…!!
Because her desire was so clear, she was able to exert almost superhuman strength. Eventually she reached the top of the barbed wire and regained her freedom. Then she shouted triumphantly.
“Haha—!! I escaped! I escaped! Apostle oppa is finished now~ How many paladins do we have? All eight hundred church paladins are mobilizing! Haha—!!”
“…Huh?”
What did she just say…? Paladins…? They’re going to kill Uncle…?
Hare asked, hoping she had misheard.
“Wh-what did you just say…? What are you going to do to Uncle…?”
“Of course we have to punish him! No matter if he’s the Goddess’s apostle, kidnapping is a crime. He must receive judgment! Our paladins will take care of that! You’re Hare, right? Don’t worry too much! We’ll come rescue you too! Hehe—!!”
Estia shouted with pure joy. But her voice no longer reached Hare.
I-I made a mistake… If I send her outside… I didn’t realize a report would be filed…
Stupid. Idiot. I shouldn’t have made such a mistake…
Hare tapped her own head. The situation hadn’t changed, so she desperately tried to think of a way to fix it. Ironically, the solution was right beside her.
…If no information leaks outside, it isn’t a crime.
A crime only becomes a crime when people know about it.
If there are no witnesses, a crime isn’t a crime.
The button. If she let the current flow, Uncle wouldn’t have to die. That child would die instead, but…
It’s okay. This is better than Uncle dying…
It’s okay even if a person dies… For Uncle’s sake, Hare could become a bad child anytime…
Hare placed her finger on the button. With just a little pressure, that child would die. No—it was an opportunity to save Uncle. It wasn’t killing Estia; it was saving Uncle.
Uncle is more precious to me. If Uncle disappears from the world, I have no reason to live.
My savior, Uncle. No one else is allowed to hurt him.
Hare, who had already finished rationalizing everything to herself, began to press down on the button.
At that exact moment, a cold male voice spoke from behind her.
“Hare, what exactly is going on here?”
“Ah, Uncle…? Wh-why are you here…?”
Uncle’s voice sounded exhausted, as if he had run the whole way. He was scanning the situation, his gaze finally landing on Hare’s hand—her finger hovering over the button that would send electricity surging through the fence.
“Ah, aah… Uncle, it’s not what you think… I-I didn’t mean—!!”
“…It seems you need to explain yourself, Hare.”
“…”
Right in front of Uncle, Hare had become a bad child. She felt like she wanted to die on the spot.