Maria Gets Kidnapped Again

I shouldn’t have tried to bring my tableware back.

“Sacred Maiden, may I speak with you for a bit?”

It all began when an aproned man approached me in the hall, after I’d gone to give my tray back to an inn worker. He had red hair like Eri-kun, and amber eyes. This twenty-something-year-old guy seemed kind of troubled as he looked at me from the shadows. Thinking back, I should’ve just ignored him. He was obviously sketchy. But I just waltzed up to him without a care. I blame it on him reminding me of Eri-kun, and being hot.

“What do you want?” When I got closer, he had this pained, but also still kind of happy, look on his face. After another step he blurted out, “I’m sorry!”

Immediately I felt like something slammed into my gut. What the hell. Do you not know who I am!? But my complaints never left my mouth as my vision blacked out. The next thing I remembered was being somewhere I’d never seen before. After being kidnapped to a different world, it looked like I’d been kidnapped again. Did kidnappings really happen this much!?

“Oh, you’re awake.” A man spoke up, as I opened my eyes. He wasn’t the hottie though, but some gross old man. His extravagant clothing was, surprisingly, not gaudy. Must be because the colors were subdued. But he himself, with his plump body nearly ripping through the seams — or maybe it was his fat face — looked gross and vulgar.

“Who are you? Do you really think you can get away with this!? I’m not saving this world for you!”

“Heh, despite that delicate face, you’re a strong-willed lady.” It didn’t look like the old man was gonna listen. After laughing at me, he started talking to someone on the other side of the room. Who were these people? “But really, Ronnie, I might have told you to bring me a girl that was prettier than Gisella, but I never told you to bring me the Sacred Maiden. I can’t sell her.”

“But the only one who fit your order was the Sacred Maiden...!” The person arguing was the hottie who’d kidnapped me.

“I’m not giving Gisella back,” the old man snorted.

“What!? That’s not what you said before!”

“I can’t sell something this eye-catching.”

“I hid myself before I took her! No one will think it was me. So if I take Gisella and leave, no one will connect the two missing persons cases!”

“That’s not the problem here!”

My kidnappers were, apparently, at odds. I thought I’d try to escape while they were distracted, but I very belatedly realized I was tied up. That sure took me a while to notice. Humans couldn’t take in that much information so quickly. This is stupid. Maybe I should give ’em a shot of my magic. I’ll take my revenge! It’s too late for regrets!

“You’re both so dumb! You’ll regret kidnapping me! Light Arrow!”

But the arrow of light I was supposed to have conjured didn’t appear. Instead, a crystal on the desk broke with a loud shatter. The old man looked like he almost fell out of his seat in surprise, before his stupid smirk came right back. I bit my lip in frustration. I’ll hit him next time!

“It’s a good thing I put out a defensive barrier crystal as a precaution. Heh, Sacred Maiden, you’re having a bit too much fun, so have a little nap.” With a sarcastic grin, the old man picked up a goblet and stood up. Grabbing my jaw, he forced the goblet’s contents into my mouth. I tried to spit it out quickly, but couldn’t get all of it.

“Wha...!?” I tried to scream at him, but suddenly my tongue wouldn’t move, like it wasn’t mine anymore. This is like that kind of anesthetic you get at the dentist! Just stronger!

“Heh, you’re such a feisty young lady. Once it takes effect, I should give you a little more.” The old man shook the goblet in his hands, his smile wider than ever before. He looked like he was having fun tormenting me. “No... Maybe it’ll take using some Dehorning Knife to make you listen to me. Tch, that stuff sells just as well as the Dreaming Lamp that I just gave you. Ah, but unlike Dreaming Lamp, the effect strengthens with use. Ain’t it wonderful? People will want it so bad that they’ll do anything to get more.”

Isn’t that like a narcotic? This guy is a drug dealer!? I wanted answers, but my body refused to listen to me. Actually, I’m getting really sleepy... Wait, no, am I fully paralyzed? Don’t use such dangerous drugs, you evil merchant!

As if the old man knew how I felt, he said, “Heh, aren’t you getting sleepy right about now? That Dreaming Lamp drug is a wonderful one that makes anyone feel like they’re floating in the clouds. Now, good night, Sacred Maiden.”

He pisses me off! Unable to fight off the drowsiness overcoming me, I lost consciousness.

◆ ◆ ◆

“...It’s over now. You don’t have to be scared anymore. It’s safe to wake up,” came a distant voice. It was like a soft, gentle whisper overflowing with worry for me. No one worried about me in this world, but just one person stayed by my side. My important...

Next, I heard a disgusting gravelly voice, completely different from the gentle one. “...I decided ya were goin’ to be the next one from the minute I saw ya.”

Then, I heard the sound of something hard dropping. Next, the sound of cloth rubbing together, and another thump as something fell. What? Wait, something bad is happening! I struggled around trying to catch my breath.

“Stop resistin’. C’mon, let’s ’ave some fun,” the gross voice said again. He began to laugh, which pissed me off. Wait, what are you talking about? Have fun? The person laughing started to come closer. No, stop. Stay away!

“Ah, yer finally awake? Now the fun can begin.”

The sound of something ripping apart woke me up completely.

“What the hell are you doing!?”

My fear and anger at the owner of the laughing voice made me search for him immediately, and I was relieved to find he wasn’t right in front of me. I looked around in surprise to see he was on the bed nearby, but that surprise soon gave way to a burning anger. There was someone else lying on that bed, and that man was straddling her while holding her down.

“Lucia!” I screamed, suddenly in a rage. I mean, it was bad enough some weirdo snuck into our room. But I couldn’t forgive that pervert for attacking my precious friend! “GET. OFF. HER! Light Spear!”

The magic I cast in an eruption of anger grazed the pervert and pierced the wall, exploding with a blast.

“Arrrrgh!” the man screamed.

“Lucia!”

He must have been terrified, because he fell off the bed, bleeding. But right now, I was worried about my friend, who wasn’t moving. Her blouse was ripped open, but she didn’t move an inch. She didn’t even react when I broke the wall with my magic. This is too weird! But then I remembered what that shady merchant said. They might have used the same kind of dangerous drugs on her! I began to reach towards her, and at the same time, the door was blown off.