You Kidnapper!

Feeling that her head got hit by something, Aria finally opened her eyes and found the sunlight was already high above her head. Maybe that's also why there are birds that are pecking her hair now…

"Huh…? HUH?!"

Realizing that she was in an unfamiliar place, Aria panicked and looked around only to find out that she was surrounded by woods everywhere. From the wooden boxes containing all kinds of things to the pillars and the entire floor also.

"Is this… A ship?" She muttered and then hurriedly stood up to check the edge of the ship. And as she had feared, the ship had already sailed in the middle of the sea.

"Oh? Are you awake?" Someone suddenly appeared, which turned out to be an old man with a thick beard. "Hey, young man, your friend is awake!" Called him then.

But since Aria didn't recognize the man, she could only back away in fear. Especially when looking at the dagger hanging from his waist, her suspicion that she was kidnapped by some pirates becomes even more obvious!

That's why without even thinking about it, Aria was about to jump over the ship's railing…

Though luckily before she actually jumped into the sea, she finally heard a more familiar voice. "Please don't jump yet." Someone said.

"Y-You…!" Seeing Rei's face, for a moment her jumping intent subsided. Though of course her panicked feelings returned immediately and she decided to stick to the side of the ship. "Mister… You! How can you kidnap me?!" She asked in disbelief.

Even though instead of answering Aria's question, Rei seemed to be scanning Aria's body from top to bottom. "You seem fine now even though your face was really pale yesterday. Hm, it looks like you really--"

"Return me to the town, you kidnapper! T-Turn the ship back!" She asked the bearded man too, although the man just remained confused.

"When we left, the sun was there, you know. Meanwhile now, right there." Rei replied while pointing at the sky. "If you have enough magic to fly back alone, I might want to take a look."

Silent, Aria could only fold her lips while holding back her panic. "I can't believe you just kidnapped me. You said you'd wait until Monday!" She protested.

"Well, because of last night's incident, it looks like I should return early." Rei replied. "But the one who kidnapped you wasn't me, you know. But your own friends brought you to me."

"..." Not believing what she was hearing, Aria froze for a moment. "...What?"

"Here, a letter from them."

=====================================

A few hours before…

Planning to board the earliest ship, Rei had come to the port when the sun had just risen. But because the cruise ships that go to the capital only come on weekends, Rei ended up having to board one of the merchant's ships that are there. The lousy one is one of the ugliest ships out there.

A bearded man seemed to know that Rei had no other choice but to board his ship. The problem is that even though there were several other ships there, the only ones planning to return to the capital that morning was only his ship. That's why after confirming that he was a noble, that man deliberately asked a high price.

Rei himself seemed to return his gaze sharply as if he wanted to protest. But whether out of laziness or what, he immediately agreed. "I'll give you half more when we get there." He said while giving a gurgling little bag.

"Aye! Then you want to leave now?" Asked the man.

"...Wait a moment. I'm still waiting for someone."

"Are you sure she will come?" Hiki chimed in then. "It's not too late if you want to kidnap her, you know. I can ask my guards."

"...I'll think about it when my patience runs out." Rei replied. But just as he was worried about, the nose of the woman he was waiting for still didn't appear even though the sun was getting high.

But when he really was about to tell Hiki to send people there, a crowd of people were seen running towards them. "Wait! Don't go yet!" They shouted.

Even Rei and Hiki couldn't believe the sight they saw, where Arran and the others were seen holding Aria who was still unconscious.

Although before Rei could ask anything about it, Leyna went straight to the point. "You should bring Aria too." She said. "Aria may not want to admit it, but the truth is that she also wants to go to the capital. She has family there, maybe."

"...Fair enough. Bring her up to the ship before she wakes up then."

"Oi, wait a minute!" Interrupted the ship owner who suddenly expanded his hands to block them. "If you want to kidnap a girl, find another ship! I also have a daughter, you know." He grumbled as he threw back the money bag he got from Rei.

"Wait, no, mm…" Not knowing how to reply, Rei and everyone present couldn't help but remain silent. Because no matter how you see it, they did look like they were kidnapping Aria.

"She's my sister!" Rei shouted at last.

Casting a suspicious look, the old man crossed his arms instead. "You guys don't look alike at all."

"She's my father's mistress's daughter."

The man was still silent and didn't look like he believed it, but suddenly a red-haired girl on the shabby ship screamed. "Dad, he's still lying." She said.

"Hmph, if Feny says that, then it's the truth."

"Ah, wait!" Leyna finally had to intervene. "S-She's my friend, her name is Aria. She was attacked by some crazy cats last night, so she's still sick. But she needed to go to the capital to find her family. And, unfortunately only this guy can help her, so…"

Such a long and detailed story certainly makes people doubt not to believe it. But the old man still looked at his daughter first to make sure, and she nodded though with a surprised look too.

"...That crazy story is actually true?"