Chapter 113
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Kidnapping (4)
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Chun-sik made for one hell of a ride.
How good was it?
'Gotta make him my personal ride later.'
It was so good that I figured it might even make the news, but I was already itching to hop on again someday.
Anyway, after riding Chun-sik at top speed for a bit...
"Chun-sik, you can drop me off over there."
"Kuheung!"
Thanks to Chun-sik's blistering pace, I made it safely to the villain's hideout.
"Chun-sik. Later, if a girl climbs on your back, can you carry her to the mountain entrance?"
I hopped off his back, handed him another snack, and made the request.
Chun-sik let out a "Ku-eung" and nodded eagerly. I gave him a good pat, then scanned our surroundings.
'Looks just like it did in the game.'
The villain's lair was exactly as depicted.
It oozed a grim, foreboding vibe, but up close, you could tell someone had shelled out serious cash in spots.
'The backstory's vague, but no way in hell a kidnapper like that built this place.'
In that sense, it sure didn't scream Tsutomu.
The game never delved deep into his background, but he sure didn't come off as loaded.
If anything, he looked like a total loser.
Not that I'm a physiognomist or anything, and faces don't tell the whole story, but no way this guy had the chops to build something like this.
While thinking about Tsutomu, I slipped inside and slowly searched around until memories of that strategy guide from the game community surfaced—the game itself was gone, but the guidebook still lived on in infamy..
That helped me pinpoint the entrance quick enough.
And just like that...
-Rrrrk.
"Found it."
I'd located the door leading underground.
Takuya eyed the long staircase illuminated by a single bulb and started gearing up.
Gear, you ask?
"Prepared for a moment just like this."
Last time I'd scrapped with that PE teacher to rescue Haruna, I'd barely scraped by. No way was I going in half-cocked this time.
It was a full survival kit: iron plate for the gut, plus a bunch of auxiliary tools.
Shame I couldn't snag military-grade stuff—Japan's gun laws are a nightmare, and I don't run with the yakuza anyway.
Thus fully armed, Takuya descended into the depths.
The path underground.
The entrance was a cramped submarine corridor, but it widened as we went down until it was easily wide enough for five abreast on the stairs.
Made descending a breeze.
Along the way, I discovered a new trick with the villain detector watch, too.
'Zoom in, and you get a detailed map.'
Impressed by the specs, I pressed on deeper.
First impression upon hitting bottom?
'Not familiar, but I can roughly map it out.'
I had a decent sense of the layout.
Credit to those strategy guides I'd skimmed for kicks back in the community forums—detailed guides for this game popped up now and then.
With the map in hand, it almost felt like exploring a dungeon.
Just a vibe, though—my body was already primed for action.
'Gotta subdue him on sight.'
Not out of some law-abiding moral high ground.
I'm all for vigilante justice if it fits; not exactly opposed.
Deep down, yeah, I wanted to rip his limbs off the second I saw him.
But if my memory served, Tsutomu had likely offed a few more folks already.
Makes sense to suspect, given his inspirations.
'Gonna interrogate him first.'
With that in mind, Takuya quickly swept through the underground area and soon arrived at the room where Mitama had first awakened, according to the memories from the strategy guide.
He checked the door.
It had a padlock with a combination. I cracked it...
-Click.
-Clack.
Effortlessly.
How? Straight out of anime—lockpicking, or hair clip trick, basically.
'Back before possession, basic training from my army days.'
Learned it from a squadmate who was a whiz at popping locks.
Anyway, door open. Inside: a lone desk, what looked like a dining table, a small bed. And atop it...
"Momiji!"
Momiji lay there.
She heard my voice, eyes widening as tears spilled, and she bolted straight to me.
"Takuya! Takuyaaaa!! It was so scary!!"
"It's okay. You're safe now."
I held her close, soothing her for a moment before speaking.
"Let's head up first. I prepped a ride outside."
"Really?!"
Momiji beamed at my words and urged me to hurry.
Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly.
Until...
"Y-You! Y-Y-Youuuu!!"
A voice echoed from behind.
And that someone...
"Finally decided to show."
"How dare you touch my Mi-tama!!"
Was none other than the mastermind, the villain himself.
"Tsutomu-san?"
"I won't forgive you!!"
Tsutomu.
Seeing me embrace Momiji must've snapped him—he charged like a rabid dog, losing all reason. I yanked Momiji behind me and dodged his lunge.
Then, to Momiji in my arms:
'Head up top—there's a bear waiting. Climb on his back and go.'
Momiji's eyes went wide.
'A bear?! Wait, what about you, Takuya?!'
Me? Obviously...
"Grrraaaah!!"
Takuya whipped around to face the frothing madman.
"Gotta deal with this freak."
I shoved Momiji away, slapped the watch into her hand, and barked.
"Take this and run! Ride the bear to the mountain entrance—someone I called will be there. Don't worry!"
She hesitated a beat, read my face, nodded, and bolted.
"You better come back safe, Takuya!"
I nodded. And right then...
-Whoosh!
Tsutomu, who'd been biding his time during our chat, lunged.
Swung wild like some beast, but I slipped it easy.
Not that I'm in peak shape—stamina and strength are shot—but you think I'd lose to some amateur?
'What was army life for, then?'
Takuya danced around Tsutomu's swings, waiting for the perfect opening to drop him.
After dodging a bit...
Takuya frowned mid-evade.
Because...
'So many openings, but instinct screams "don't go in," like it'll screw me over.'
Every time I eyed a gap, my gut yelled no.
Don't get close.
What the hell did that mean?
Takuya had zero interest testing it firsthand, so he waited for Tsutomu to tire.
But weirdly, the guy's stamina wasn't flagging—instead, he sped up.
Like he was overflowing with energy. Takuya sensed something off and kept dodging.
'What kinda freak stamina is that?'
Still, evasion was simple enough. Takuya was impressed despite himself.
After parrying a few more...
"My Mi-tama! You dare steal her from me?!"
Tsutomu snarled, furious.
I shot back, utterly baffled.
"Momiji ain't yours, you psycho."
That lit him up more. He screamed.
"Of course Mi-tama's mine! I bought her straight from her parents!"
My brain flatlined.
What? Bought her? From who?
Tsutomu smirked triumphantly and spilled the details.
"Haha! Didn't know that, huh?! Her parents sold Mi-tama to me!"
"Momiji's not a damn object."
"What're you on about? Useless kids who just need feeding get sold—so now Mi-tama's mine!"
The sheer absurdity had me chuckling in disbelief.
"Haha. Wow. Words fail me."
What kinda monster is this? Thinks we're in the Middle Ages?
Nah, the parents selling their own daughter were the real crazies.
I figured maybe an offer too good to refuse, so I probed.
"Hey. How much you pay for Momiji?"
"Two million yen!"
He boasted proudly. My boiling rage cooled to ice.
Head went frigid.
"Just two million yen?"
"Two million yen."
Momiji's life, decided for less than twenty million won.
By the people who should've loved her most.
They shattered her life for pocket change.
That truth birthed pure loathing...
"Guh, guhk!"
And genuine killing intent.
I unleashed it all, charging Tsutomu.
No time to waste. Too much trash left to take out.
'Way too much garbage in this world.'