Ch.98Chapter 98. Only I Can Do the Kidnapping (2)

“Damn it.”

“Eli! We don’t have time for this right now!”

“I know! Since I know, just calm down first, Milia.”

“…Ugh.”

I had let my guard down too much.

I was so focused on finding traces that I hadn’t considered something might happen.

I also had confidence that I could prevent anything bad from happening.

But as you can see, I failed.

As soon as I saw the quest details in the forest, I returned to the clearing, but it was already too late.

When I got back, Elaine was already gone, with only her sword left on the ground.

Additionally, Elizar and Professor Amillion were standing there with dejected expressions.

‘At least she’s not dead.’

Anger welled up inside me, but I tried to stay calm.

She may have been kidnapped by the Nameless Organization, but Elaine’s life shouldn’t be in danger.

If her life were truly at risk, the quest failure penalty wouldn’t be “Elaine’s death.”

‘I just need to rescue her, that’s all.’

“Grand Commander Ordin will be here soon. Let’s talk when he arrives.”

“…Sigh.”

Professor Amillion nodded at Elizar’s words while exhaling a trembling breath.

From what Elizar and Professor Amillion said, the person who kidnapped Elaine told them to come prepared.

As if the O’Neil Kingdom already knew where this person was.

If that’s the case, things would be simpler.

If we know the kidnapper’s location, we just need to go there, rescue Elaine, and crush the culprit.

“For now, you all should return to your rooms. Go and try to calm down…”

“No. I want to hear this too.”

“…No. I understand you’re upset that your friend is in danger, but this isn’t something students should get involved in.”

Elizar responded to my words with a firm voice.

It was the complete opposite of the relaxed demeanor she had shown until now.

But I had no intention of backing down either.

“No, this seems like a national issue before it’s a student issue.”

“…That’s why it’s a problem. To prevent this from developing into an even bigger national issue, you all need to be kept safe.”

“I still want to hear the discussion. Just being present at the meeting won’t put us in danger.”

“Hmm.”

Elizar slightly frowned and looked at Professor Amillion.

Receiving Elizar’s gaze, Professor Amillion looked back at me, and I nodded.

“Let’s let them hear the discussion for now, Eli. The kids need to understand the situation too.”

“Sigh, then…”

Thud-

While we were talking, the conference room door suddenly opened without warning.

It was Commander Ordin entering with a serious expression.

Several knights followed behind Commander Ordin.

“Elizar, report the situation.”

“…Yes, as I mentioned, Elaine Sinclair, a student visiting from Crescen Academy, has been kidnapped. The kidnapper is probably…”

“That guy?”

“Yes, that’s what we believe. He also left a message saying, ‘If you want to save this child, come properly prepared.'”

“Hmph.”

Commander Ordin immediately engaged in conversation, completely ignoring the presence of students including myself.

Commander Ordin’s expression twisted after hearing Elizar’s report, and Professor Amillion continued.

“As you all know, the kidnapped student is Sinclair’s third daughter. She’s one of the children from Crescen’s six major families.”

“…”

No one responded to Professor Amillion’s words.

A heavy silence descended upon the conference room.

“No matter what, we must rescue her safely. Otherwise, who knows what might happen.”

“I know. I know very well. I also know that Sinclair won’t sit still.”

“…Yes.”

Professor Amillion responded as if relieved by Commander Ordin’s words.

Commander Ordin soon continued, letting out a sigh.

“Sigh. We need to rescue Miss Sinclair as soon as possible.”

“That’s right.”

“Where is he?”

“Huh?”

“You seem to know where the person who kidnapped Elaine is.”

“You are…”

When I suddenly interrupted, Ordin looked at me directly with a bewildered expression.

I met his gaze without avoiding his eyes.

If I just knew where the kidnapper was, it might be easier for me to go alone and handle it.

“Hey, hey! I apologize, Commander. It seems he’s having trouble controlling his emotions because a fellow student was kidnapped. Milia, perhaps the kids should really…”

“We already know where he is.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Commander Ordin at his words.

Commander Ordin continued with a stern expression.

“I was planning to strike at him soon anyway, if only to appease the Silver Eagles.”

“Then we should go.”

“However, this is a matter we need to handle. Especially, we cannot allow Crescen Academy students to be put in further danger.”

“No, I want to come too…”

“Enough. I understand your feelings, but that’s not possible. Students, please leave now.”

“…”

Commander Ordin stared sternly at me, Cynthia, Emily, and Agnes and Marie who were standing behind, speaking firmly.

It was the most dignified he had ever appeared.

Seeing Commander Ordin’s resolute demeanor, I instinctively realized we couldn’t stay any longer.

I made eye contact with Professor Amillion before leaving the conference room.

Thud-

After all the students including myself had left, the conference room door closed.

Only then did voices inside begin to murmur again.

Although I had left for now, I could still learn about the plan through Professor Amillion.

What I needed to do now was wait.

‘Was that Addy I saw in the forest earlier trying to separate me from Elaine?’

“Damn it.”

Frustration welled up at the thought of being deceived.

Above all, what annoyed me most was that all I could do right now was wait.

If I knew where that bastard was, I’d go after him alone right away.

“Ryu.”

As soon as we left the conference room, Cynthia called me with a worried voice.

“Will she be okay? Elaine.”

“Yeah. Her life shouldn’t be in danger for now.”

Though I said this, I was just as worried.

The system messages and quests had never lied before, so Elaine shouldn’t be dead.

But the phrase “not dead” was too abstract.

Frankly speaking, even if she lost an arm, she’d still be alive.

In other words, the kidnapper might have done something to Elaine as long as it didn’t endanger her life.

“Sigh. For something like this to happen suddenly.”

“…Did you see anything? When Elaine was kidnapped.”

“Hmm. When I saw it, there was almost no mana movement, but suddenly two people disappeared. It definitely wasn’t an ordinary teleportation spell.”

“Hmm.”

Emily explained while rolling her eyes upward.

A teleportation spell that made people suddenly disappear with almost no mana movement.

It was similar yet different from the teleportation I used.

It was also a technique used by Landgar and his subordinates.

“And Elaine couldn’t move and dropped her sword.”

Cynthia added as if to supplement.

Cynthia and Emily were staring at me from both sides.

“Um, we’ll go back to our room…!”

“Ah, okay.”

Agnes and Marie carefully spoke up before leaving.

That worked out well.

“Shall we go?”

“Huh? Where?”

“To where Elaine was kidnapped.”

Nod, nod-

After Agnes and Marie disappeared, Cynthia spoke to me in a serious voice.

Emily beside her also nodded.

Come to think of it, these two knew that I worked under Yuria.

Not just as a student.

‘I was planning to go alone.’

I thought for a moment after hearing their implicit request.

Even if Cynthia hadn’t mentioned it, I was planning to revisit that place.

But alone, not with Cynthia and Emily.

With Elaine already kidnapped, I couldn’t take others to a potentially dangerous place.

“It’s too dangerous for you to go…”

“It’ll definitely be more helpful than searching alone.”

“That’s right! If it’s related to Black Magic, I could use my artifact. I got something from Aunt Yuria.”

“…Oh.”

After hearing Emily’s words, my thinking changed a bit.

Taking the kids outside the knights’ headquarters again was certainly risky.

But if I stayed alert, I could protect them.

Earlier, I was distracted and not paying attention to Elaine, that’s why it happened.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

At my words, Cynthia and Emily both nodded simultaneously.

Looking around, I extended my hands toward both of them.

As I felt Cynthia and Emily each take my hand, I opened a spatial portal.

Woong-

With the sound of space distorting, we arrived at the exact spot where Elaine had disappeared.

“The enemy can instantly move with others like I can. Never stray from my side.”

“Okay!”

Cynthia answered while sitting down to examine the ground, and Emily responded while pulling something out from inside her clothes.

It would be good if we could find something, even just among ourselves.

Wheeee-

Unlike the hot and humid breeze of daytime, a slightly cool wind blew as the sun was setting.