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Elena placed more force into her limbs. She moved her arms and legs around, but it was useless. The rope was too tight for her to untangle just with her strength, and the mysterious person wasn’t sloppy enough to drop Elena because of her struggling.

“Umph! Ummp!” She tried screaming. However, the bind around her mouth muted her voice. Nothing seemed to work, and anyone would’ve fallen into despair in that situation. However, Elena didn’t give up. She was someone who continued to study magic by clutching onto the thread-like hope that she could possibly have mana inside her; her persistence and grit were beyond amazing. She continued to resist without getting tired. Even when blood dripped down from the areas where the rope scratched her arm, she didn’t stop.

As if her resistance had worked, the kidnapper stopped in the middle of jumping on top of buildings and stood straight.

“Ummmmph!” Hoping that someone might hear her groan, Elena cleared her throat. Then, she searched her surroundings. Since it was late in the day, it was dark. However, the moonlight was enough to reveal the scenery, and Elena felt a deeper level of dread. There was no one. There were only old buildings that didn’t look like they would house anyone.

Yet, she still did not give up. Hoping that maybe, just maybe that someone might be living in these buildings, she continued to let out muffled screams and shifted her body around. It was around this time that she noticed a shadow lingering on the other side of darkness. She was sure that shadow belonged to another person.

Elena’s complexion brightened up. She struggled harder and continued to cry out loud. However, it was too early for her to hope.

“Is the item here?”

Elena saw a person wearing the same robe that her kidnapper wore and dread filled her again.

“It’s here.” Her kidnapper pointed at Elena.

The other robed figure simply nodded once and turned around. Then, they began to move again. The new robed figure took the lead, but he wasn’t the only one who joined them. Soon, they were surrounded by figures wearing the same robes that the other two wore.

No matter how persistent Elena was, she couldn’t squeeze out any more strength in her body. She closed her eyes and trembled in front of the future she couldn’t see. As if they had made preparations beforehand, the group of robed figures passed through the slightly open doors of the palace walls and headed outside the city. Then, they ran faster than their pace inside the city. Elena thought even the last remaining sliver of hope inside her was disappearing.

“Kuh!”

Suddenly, the person holding Elena faltered, but he didn’t loosen his grip on Elena. He was someone with great tenacity, but that was all.

Crunch!

“Urgh!” With a pained grunt, the pressure gripping Elena disappeared. Her body fell forward.

“Umph!” Since her body was bound, she couldn’t even get into a defensive position. If she hit the ground like this face first, she would definitely receive a critical injury. Elena closed her eyes instinctively.

Sweep! Something soft caught her body. Elena carefully opened her eyes.

‘Sand?’ Extremely fine particles of sand caressed her body.

Sparkle!

Light shot out. Elena shut her eyes. Her eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, and they couldn’t handle the sudden beam of light.

“Kuh!”

“Ah!”

She heard screams. She didn’t know what was going on and blinked her eyes repeatedly to recover her sight.

“It’s better if you keep your eyes closed for some time.”

The binds around her mouth disappeared, and Elena heard a familiar voice. With her free mouth, Elena named the owner of the voice.

“…Snoc?” Since they had become quite familiar with each other, she was able to call out his name naturally without any honorifics.

“It doesn’t seem like you aren’t injured anywhere. Thank goodness.”

Koo!

She felt a soft, familiar touch in her hands. She knew he was Nowem by the cute cry he made the same time she felt him.

“Are you really Snoc?”

“Yeah.”

“How…?”

“Let’s talk later.” Snoc lifted her up and jumped up high.

Pierce! A dagger pierced through their previous location.

After some time, Elena recovered most of her sight back. While blinking her teary eyes, she looked around her surroundings. Beams of light shone in front of her, and she was sure that those lights were what had blinded her momentarily. Her kidnappers were now surrounded by this light and swayed under it like cornered beasts.

‘Mr. Hans?’

The flash of light revealed the face of the person who made the robed figures collapse. Since Elena had seen Hans a couple of times, it wasn’t difficult for her to recognize him. Light burst out of the sword that Hans was holding. With the night sky in the background, the light shone and literally trampled the robed figures.

“Ah!” Elena screamed. She saw a couple of robed figures penetrating the webbed stream of lights that shielded them and headed towards her and Snoc. It was obvious that their goal was Elena. However, Hans didn’t seem to show much interest in them. He bombarded only the enemies in front of him with light.

The enemies felt like they were within her arm’s reach now.

Tap!

Snoc placed Elena down next to him and tapped the ground with his feet.

Crassssh!

The ground in front of them exploded. The scattered sand and rocks struck the robed figures who rushed towards them. Their enemies were covered in holes, and they collapsed to the ground.

Elena was shocked by the sight in front of her and stared at Snoc. ‘Did Snoc really do this?’

Elena knew that he was a contractor of a magical beast, but she didn’t know that Snoc was able to do powerful attacks with such ease. At the same time, Hans cleanly cut off the robed figure’s necks.

“Kwaaaaaaah!” A loud scream suddenly erupted among the robed figures. One of the robed figures' states had turned strange. His spacious robe suddenly tightened around him, and as the robed figure’s body grew bigger, the robe ripped apart. His hood fell down, and the man’s face was revealed. However, it was no longer a human’s face. Elena gulped down a scream that threatened to come out; it really was a terrifying sight.

The figure in front of her was now much bigger than a human, and it was hard to even say that the enormous thing was still human. The enormous being rushed towards Hans.

Did he not need help? Elena turned around to look at Snoc, but she was shocked. Snoc had such an indifferent, almost bored expression on his face that it made her feel embarrassed for worrying about Hans.

Snoc said, “Really, those guys never change.”

‘He knows who they are?’

Crash!

Elena turned her head back again towards the loud collision. Hans’ shining sword was blocking the monster’s attack. Even though he was frowning and looked like he was having slight difficulties, Hans wasn’t being pushed back at all.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Hans and the monster collided. Elena was unable to close her mouth shut at the intense fight in front of her. Even though she had seen magic demonstrations from expert mages like her father and grandfather and had also seen magic duels a few times, this was her first time witnessing a fierce battle with people’s lives on the line.

“Nowem.”

Koo!

Snoc called Nowem, and Nowem answered. Soon after, the ground rose up all around them.

Crassssh!

The rest of the robed figures working with the monster to attack Hans received injuries or found themselves unable to move properly. The ones who fared worse were pierced by earth pillars and immediately died.

Elena gulped down her saliva. She knew how amazing Zich and Lyla were, but she didn’t think that Hans and Snoc were also this powerful.

Snoc said, “Oh wow, you’re planning to run away?”

The robed figures seemed to think that they had no chance of winning and were slowly trying to withdraw. Of course, Hans and Snoc had no intentions to let them go. Snoc moved his hand. The ground rose up in a large circle around the robed figures. The earth walls were tough and rose as high as three people tall.

The robed figures were taken aback. The walls were at a height that they could jump over, but if they did this, a huge gap would appear in their movements; and gaps like this determined one’s life or death.

Crunch!

“Kwaaah!”

Estellade pierced the monster’s chest. Light from Estellade burned all the blood that came out of the monster’s body and ripped the monster apart. Since the robed figures had lost their strongest power, there was no way they could possibly defeat Hans and Snoc. In the end, some of them tried to form a death squad to let the others escape. However, with Hans, Snoc, and Nowem’s masterful siege, no one was able to escape the earth walls. After making sure that each of the robed figures really were dead, Hans and Snoc walked back towards Elena. She looked at them coming closer in a daze.

Snoc asked, “…Are you ok?” Nowem sniffed Elena from Snoc’s shoulder.

“Ah, yeah. I’m ok.”

Hans said, “Ms. Dwayne, you seem to be very shocked. However, we don’t have the leisure to keep staying here. I’m very sorry, but we have to move immediately.”

It made sense that there could be more kidnappers nearby. Elena took in a big breath and after calming down her heart a bit, she nodded. “Yes, you’re right. Let’s go to my family’s mansion. Even though I might not look like it, I’m the granddaughter of the magical tower master, and my grandfather and father will not let this matter slide.”

“No, that’s not possible.”

At Hans’ firm refusal, Elena opened her eyes wide. “Uh…Ah! Yes, there could be more kidnappers hidden on the way to my family’s mansion. Moreover, I got kidnapped there, so I guess my family’s mansion is not a very safe option since my grandfather is not there right now. Then why don’t we go to the magical tower or my father’s mansion—”

“We can’t go to those places either.”

“Then why don’t we go to where my grandfather’s friend is? If we go there, I’m sure we can get some hel…”

Elena closed her mouth as she saw Hans shake his head. Then she said, “Then Mr. Hans, where are you suggesting for us to go?”

“Ms. Dwayne, we already have a place prepared. Let’s begin moving there.”

“…Mr. Hans, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not sure if the place you want me to go is safer than the places I mentioned.”

“Ms. Dwayne, I’m sorry, but it doesn’t matter how safe the places you mentioned are.”

The atmosphere turned strange. Elena stared at Snoc who pretended to be focused on something else, and Nowem also didn’t meet her gaze.

“Um, you guys didn’t come to save…me?”

Hans steadfastly relayed the order he was assigned, “Ms. Dwayne, we came here to kidnap you.”

In Hans’ hand, Estellade seemed to light up at his words.

*   *   *

After Zich played around with the interrogator, there were no more interrogations. It really seemed as if the interrogator was going to officially make his move after gaining permission to perform stronger interrogations. Of course, Zich was not worried about this matter at all. On the other hand, his biggest enemy right now was boredom. While Zich was letting out his mana and doing simple physical training to fight against boredom, he suddenly perked up his ears to what was happening outside.

Zich sensed a slight commotion outside his room’s windows which were blocked with iron bars.

‘It’s done.’ Zich grinned. Hans and Snoc seemed to have perfectly carried out his orders.

‘It’s about time for me to get out of here.’

Even though this place was comfortable, Zich liked being directly involved in his plans and actively running around. Zich focused his hearing and began eavesdropping on the people moving near him. It did not take long for him to find the conversation he wanted to hear.

-Have you heard? I heard that the master’s granddaughter has disappeared.

This was exactly what he wanted to hear, and fortunately, this conversation was passing between the guards in front of him. Zich knocked on the door.

“What!” From across the door, one of the guards shouted at Zich.

“It’s because I happened to hear the conversation that passed between you two. Did I hear it right? Elena Dwayne disappeared?” Zich asked with a solemn voice, but his face showed that he was brightly smiling.