Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Kidnapping (3)
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Actually, bears aren't all that dangerous of animals.
No, let me correct that.
[When their bellies are full], they aren't all that dangerous.
What do I mean by that?
Bears that have finished preparing for winter aren't much of a threat. Why would they waste calories hunting something like you when their stomachs are already stuffed?
They just go, "Oh, a human," and that's it.
Of course, if you mess with their cubs or piss all over their territory, they'll stop seeing you as a [hu/man] real quick.
That's why most of the bears you see in photos are the ones with thick, fluffy fur.
And in that sense, I was pretty damn screwed.
The bear in front of me right now was the most dangerous kind to humans.
'A bear that's starved half to death after losing out on food competition.'
In short, a bear primed and ready to chomp down on a person.
-Grrrrrr.
See? Doesn't that growl just scream "I'm gonna kill you—no, eat you alive"?
Thanks to that, I was mustering my own fighting spirit in my own way.
As I quietly let my killing intent rise, the bear—despite me being much smaller—seemed incredibly cautious.
Its instincts were probably screaming that catching this guy would be risky.
That's why momentum is key in fights against animals.
Lose even a little ground, and it'll turn into a beast itself and charge right at you.
And so, Takuya slowly engaged in a battle of wills with the bear, trying to wear it down.
Right at that moment, the watch on his wrist beeped.
-Beep! Beep!
It was an alert that the villain's position was moving farther away.
'Damn it, no time.'
Hearing that, Takuya judged they were running out of time.
The farther the distance grew, the higher the chance Momiji would suffer something awful.
Didn't the game say Momiji escapes on her own?
True, but it was also a maze puzzle game, and even in the game, failures led to rape events galore—so better to hurry.
'What to do?'
Takuya's dilemma deepened.
The bear was already slowing him down, and now the villain was pulling away... nothing was going right.
As he pondered briefly, Takuya glanced at the bear.
'Wait a sec. Aren't bears pretty fast in the mountains?'
Then, a brilliant idea struck him.
'Don't I have a taming skill?'
Well, technically hypnosis, but still—with that, couldn't he tame this bear right now?
As Takuya's brain rapidly spun happy circuits, a plan formed.
'First, gotta feed it something. Try hypnosis like this, and it'll eat me before I finish.'
Thinking that, Takuya immediately pulled 500g of stolen meat from his home fridge out of his subspace pouch and tossed it over.
For the record, that was just the start—countless other foods... or rather, raw ingredients poured out after.
The bear tensed at the food Takuya threw, wary at first.
But Takuya made no moves, just emptying his pouch of provisions.
'Hmm, chicken, beef, pork... oh, fish too.'
A flood of ingredients tumbled from Takuya's subspace pouch.
If anyone saw, they'd think it was enough for one person to eat for a month.
Staring at the mountain of food, the bear glared at Takuya.
Like, "You think you can buy me off with mere food?!"
But a starving bear had no such luxuries.
It started devouring the food with a resentful look, and Takuya cast hypnosis as it ate.
The hypnosis Takuya used was simple.
Just act as a personal ride to where he wanted.
He figured even without full taming, just getting a lift would suffice.
Luckily, it worked like a charm.
It even got fully tamed.
Feeding it must've helped a ton.
Or maybe the hypnosis was just that effective. Either way.
By the time the bear had eaten through the pile (human standards), exposing the ground beneath...
Takuya, who'd been watching the live mukbang, checked the villain's position.
'This the warehouse where they're holding Momiji?'
The villain was using a suspiciously massive bunker-warehouse—god knows how he afforded it.
Big enough that without knowing the way, you could wander lost inside.
'But seriously, who built this? A mega-bunker in the mountains.'
As Takuya mused, the sated bear grunted.
-Kuheong.
It nodded toward its back like "Hop on," and Takuya nodded back before climbing aboard.
Thus, Takuya acquired a mount (bear) with a plush, comfy ride.
No. This wasn't just any bear.
"From now on, your name is Chun-sik."
"Kuheong!"
Now you're Chun-sik.
Meanwhile, as Takuya raced through the mountains atop Chun-sik...
"Hah! Hah! Finally made it!"
Tsutomu, who'd hauled the bag with Momiji up the pre-planned route, set it down and wiped his sweat.
He surveyed the surroundings.
With proper upkeep, the building would've felt warm and cozy—but neglected as it was, it oozed eerie desolation that would terrify any normal person.
But this vibe was perfect for Tsutomu.
'Keeps the crowds away.'
Occasional occult nuts hunting "haunted spots" might poke around outside, but they'd never breach the interior.
Inside lay an underground bunker fit for hundreds.
Tsutomu hadn't built it, obviously—no resources or cash for that.
Rumor had it some rich guy did.
'No one's using it.'
Seemed abandoned, so Tsutomu had snuck in, renovated bits, and made it his hideout.
Owner never shows?
No signs of visitors in years.
That's why he used it for kidnappings without worry.
After a brief rest scanning the area, Tsutomu shouldered the bag with Momiji and headed inside.
—Thud, thud.
Each step down echoed with his heavy footfalls.
And that noise...
'Ugh... where am I...?'
...woke Momiji.
'I can't see a thing!'
Momiji startled at the pitch black but quickly realized her plight.
'I've been kidnapped!'
That she was kidnapped.
And 'That guy from home earlier...'
By whom.
'W-what do I do? Did the text to Takuya go through? Ugh, no idea...'
Yet Momiji's mind was a chaotic mess.
Why her? Where was this? Would Takuya come save her? And on.
Emotions swirled.
But Momiji didn't cry. Or rather, she wanted to but couldn't—Takuya's words stopped her.
Surprisingly, while bodyguard duty, Takuya had given Momiji all sorts of advice.
Or precisely, survival tips for worst-case scenarios.
"Momiji, if you're ever kidnapped, just obey meekly."
"Wouldn't fighting back be better?"
"Maybe for adults, but kids like you? Survival odds are higher playing along with the kidnapper."
Takuya had shared various pointers like that.
"If drugs knock you out and you wake up, pretend to still be asleep. Don't move a muscle."
"Why?"
"Depends on the creep, but most—especially criminals—prefer victims awake to savor reactions over unconscious ones."
The vivid details had Momiji nodding unconsciously back then.
Thanks to that, she followed Takuya's advice to the letter—feigning sleep, stock-still.
And it paid off.
By the time Tsutomu reached the underground room for Momiji...
He roughly dumped her on the bed and left for other business.
Normally he'd do something first, but hauling his bulk up the mountain had drained him—he headed to rest in another room before touching her.
Once Tsutomu was gone, Momiji sobbed quietly, oh-so quietly, to avoid echoes.
For a young girl like her, this was far too cruel.