CH 284

Chapter 284 – Abduction

There were two beings floating in the air.

I had never met them in person. I had only seen them through the monitor.

“…..Vodara and… the Curseweaver…?” (Bouchi)

It was definitely them. I was suspicious about why they were here, but it wasn’t looking good.

I knew that they were dangerous. They took first place when it came to people I didn’t want to get involved with in the future if at all possible. I never thought that I would run into them like this…

“Hmm… That appearance, could this be Duarte? Then I can understand this level of power… Why have you become like this?” (Vodara)

Vodara seemed to know Duarte. He cast a glance at me.

“…Was it you who made Duarte like this? No, that doesn’t seem to be the case. He appears to have turned into a spirit demon, so he must have a desire that he needs fulfilled, huh? …Just as well.” (Vodara)

The robed figure floating next to Vodara—the Curseweaver, slowly landed in front of Duarte.

Then, Vodara pulled out a familiar-looking cube from his pocket.

…?! That’s…!

It looked just like the Gear that I had found in the ruins under the imperial capital—the ancient city of Lagunia.

“I don’t mind if you use a bit of power. Capture him.” (Vodara)

The cube that Vodara was holding lit up, and the Curseweaver, which had just been floating there, started to walk towards Duarte.

But naturally, Duarte saw the Curseweaver as an enemy and started to attack it with thunderbolts and ice, just like he had with me and Shiki.

I thought the Curseweaver would get blown away just like we did, but it raised its right hand and somehow absorbed Duarte’s attacks, causing them to disappear altogether.

Duarte didn’t stop unleashing attacks, but the Curseweaver kept walking forward with its right hand raised and absorbed all of his attacks.

Then, the Curseweaver touched Duarte, instantly petrifying his entire body.

Oi, oi, he dealt with that guy we were struggling with so easily?

“C-Captain! Hey, what did you do to the Captain?!” (Oz)

“H-Hey, wait, Oz!” (Bouchi)

Oz rushed past us and ran towards Duarte.

But then the Curseweaver turned to look at us and held up its right hand, this time towards Oz.

Don’t tell me it’s going to petrify Oz too…?!

I immediately threw the [Kuro-ichimonji] at the Curseweaver to get it to turn its attention towards me, but it dodged the incoming katana.

Then, it floated up into the air, bringing along the petrified Duarte with it.

“Hey, give the Captain back to us!” (Oz)

Oz hopped up and down with both of her hands outstretched, but Duarte had already been carried to a height beyond her reach.

“Looks like I’ve gotten my hands on yet another great pawn… Huh…?” (Vodara)

A satisfied smile rose to Vodara’s face, but right at that moment, the cube he was holding cracked and shattered.

“Tch… So this replica will only allow for a temporary manipulation, huh?” (Vodara)

Replica…? That’s what he said just now, right…? Does that mean that it’s an imitation of the Gear that I have? And manipulation…

Then… does that mean he’s using the Gear to control the Curseweaver?

The Gear didn’t exist in the <Shop>, and when I tried to put it in the <Box>, the description would become all scrambled up and I couldn’t figure anything out. I had no idea what it was.

This Gear was something that Vodara was going to such lengths to find. It made sense now. If it was for controlling the Curseweaver, then it would definitely be something valuable to seek out.

But rather than that, right now…

“Captain! Captain Duarte! Can you hear me?!! Answer me, Captaaaaiin!” (Oz)

I immediately ran up to Oz and grabbed her arm.

“…! Bouchi! Captain… Captain is…!” (Oz)

“I know! But don’t carelessly get too close! …We don’t know what these guys would do to you. Shiki…!” (Bouchi)

When I called his name, he instantly appeared beside me. It seemed that the paralysis effects from the lightning were gone.

“We’re getting out of here, now. Tell Yofel and the others.” (Bouchi)

“As you wish, milord.” (Shiki)

Shiki disappeared from the space where he was standing. But Oz began to question me in a panicked tone.

“Why?! I told you that I wanted you to help the Captain, didn’t I?!” (Oz)

“Listen here, Oz. As i just said, we can’t fight these guys without any information whatsoever. Besides, you saw it just now, didn’t you? How they petrified Duarte in an instant, when we had to struggle with him for so long?” (Bouchi)

“T-That…!” (Oz)

“Petrified or not, they took him with them. In other words, they don’t have any intentions of killing Duarte.” (Bouchi)

Well, he was already technically dead, but that didn’t really matter at this point.

“I understand that you want to get the Captain back, but there’s no point in going in without a plan. If we aren’t careful, we’ll all die. Is that what you want?” (Bouchi)

“……Sorry.” (Oz)

All that was left was to get out of here.

“Hoh, you’re not like those fools from the Empire who kept charging in recklessly, huh? …Cowardly, or just cautious? Either way, people like that tend to live longer lives.” (Vodara)

“I appreciate your opinion. By the way, what are you planning to do with the petrified guy?” (Bouchi)

“I have no obligation to tell you that.” (Vodara)

Well, of course he’d say that…

“But I do feel a bit interested in your existence. It is very rare to have elves and monsters following you. While being a human of this world, too.” (Vodara)

Vodara narrowed his eyes at me.

Not good… I caught his attention, huh? Damn it, I didn’t foresee this…

I didn’t know what he would try to do if I stayed here any longer.

“I will allow you to tell me your name. Come, speak your name.” (Vodara)

“…Hah, who gave you the right to talk like some self-important prick?” (Bouchi)

As soon as I said that, Shiki appeared by my side with Yofel and the others.

I immediately activated the [Teleportation Crystal] and disappeared from that spot.