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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Minerva’s library.
In that place, Lee Jun-woo’s lament continued.
“Hey, Minerva. Put your hand on your chest and think. Is this normal?”
“What is it, don’t bother me. I’m reading a book.”
“No, the kidnapped person is greeting me, wanting to talk, thinking positively. Do you think that’s right?”
“Be quiet. I can’t concentrate.”
“On top of that, she even asked me to tell her my name. Anyway, since I’m active as Jun in this world, it doesn’t matter much. Well, wanting to get close to her kidnapper, that kind of strange taste-”
“Ah, seriously-!! I told you to stop-!!”
Having her concentration broken was the thing Minerva hated most in the world.
She closed the book she was reading in anger.
And shouted at Lee Jun-woo, who was drunk on alcohol.
“So-! What do you want to say!”
“See if things are flowing normally.”
“…I didn’t create the problem. What if I can’t see?”
“It means things are going well.”
“You already know-!!”
In fact, Lee Jun-woo was doing well with the whole confinement thing.
He avoided making the hero uncomfortable.
He was providing her with meals on time and giving her comfort.
And he was mixing in appropriate commands to give her a sense of intimidation.
He gave the Hero comfort, the illusion of freedom, and still maintained control.
He adhered to the basics to a T.
“But it’s definitely strange.”
“No, it’s not strange at all. It’s going well.”
“No, it’s abnormal. The Hero is active and kind. But I’m a bit doubtful.”
“Doubtful?”
“How should I put it? She’s mentally fierce, but a bit calm. And she abnormally takes care of others. Aren’t family members others? Anyway.”
If someone was kidnapped, their own safety would be their number one priority to worry about.
Yet, the Hero was different.
She boldly requested to send a letter to a family, even though an average kidnapper might have harmed her then and there.
And she even requested for her kidnapper to put money in the letter.
The Hero selflessly put herself in danger in situations where people would normally be screaming to spare their life.
Her priorities were completely different from an ordinary person.
“So I don’t know if that’s why she’s a Hero, but it felt like family is 1st priority and herself is 2nd.”
“Hmm, isn’t that just a difference in people?”
“No. Even people who prioritize family change in crisis situations.”
Humans were self-centered animals.
When faced with an urgent situation, they may forget their family for a moment.
Just like he did.
After falling into this world, he, who forgot his family after 4 years, perfectly fit that example.
“The goddess who appoints Heroes is none other than you, Minerva. Do you know anything about Heroes?”
“I’m a bookworm, so I don’t know anything. But Jun-woo knows well. On the outside, she pretends to be strong, but on the inside, she’s more fragile than anyone else. If I’m a worm, you’re a hedgehog?”
“..So what? Get to the point.”
Lee Jun-woo seemed a bit angry.
Minerva’s skin filled with goosebumps at the thought of Lee Jun-woo snapping, so she hurriedly shut her mouth.
Although, she still decided to give Lee Jun-woo some simple advice.
Minerva asked in a light tone.
“I can’t just tell you someone else’s information. Instead, I’ll tell you something else. Jun-woo. Are you worried about the Hero?”
“…No, I’m not.”
“Believe what you want. If you want to let the Hero out quickly and don’t want to confine her, can’t you bring that period forward?”
“Explain so I can understand.”
“..You’re really insensitive. What do you think the Hero is good at?”
Lee Jun-woo pondered for a moment.
The answer was obvious, so he didn’t need to contemplate that long.
“Helping people and swordsmanship.”
“Right, swordsmanship. You can teach her that. Until the Hero can protect herself alone. That’s the reason for confinement, right?”
All he had to do to free the Hero sooner was teach her swordsmanship.
Lee Jun-woo abruptly stood up from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“The weapon shop. I need to buy a sword.”
“Okay, have a safe trip~”
Late evening.
Lee Jun-woo’s figure quickly disappeared.
Minerva waved her hand until he disappeared from her sight.
When he was actually gone and the library became quiet, a sense of loneliness rushed in.
“..Then, shall I finish reading the book?”
The title of the book was “Lee Jun-woo’s Hero Party Journal.”
Reading that book and the future it contained,
Minerva had begun to come up with new trials for Lee Jun-woo like she always did.
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Several days and nights passed.
As Hero Luna was spending boring time confined in her room as usual, something amazing happened.
“Luna. Come out.”
“What? You’re suddenly telling me to come out?”
“It’s a walk.”
“What?”
A walk.
People needed to bask in the sun regularly.
The sun gave vitality to the body and secreted energy that was good for the body.
This energy was called ‘mana.’
Therefore, sunlight was also said to be essential for growing children.
“For now, I’ll release the iron chains on your legs for a bit.”
“That won’t come off though?”
“…Did you try? How do you know?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it..! It just seemed like it wouldn’t come off..!”
The Hero waved her hands dismissively.
Her blue eyes swayed back and forth.
It was a lie.
Lee Jun-woo easily removed the iron chains and put outdoor chains on the Hero.
“…Excuse me.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Um, the leash kind of makes me feel like I’m not human. It’s too much like livestock. It’s a different story.”
“…Bear with it today. I’ll change it next time.”
Clank-
Luna was dragged by Lee Jun-woo on a leash.
Seeing that the part touching the skin was made of leather, he seemed to have put some thought into it.
Like that, Luna had left the studio apartment for the first time.
‘It’s quite spacious?’
The house had two floors,
And one room on the side.
Judging by its appearance, it was a storage room.
Luna realized that she was confined on the second floor.
And when she went down the stairs, she saw a kitchen and a study on the first floor.
‘I should ask to borrow a book next time. Time passes slowly too. What book should I ask to borrow?’
It felt like a drop of honey had sweetened up her boring daily life.
They passed through the clean kitchen and headed towards a door that led to the outside.
At that moment, something strange caught Luna’s eye.
“What’s that over there?”
“The living room.”
“..That’s not what I was asking.”
The study and kitchen were clean.
To the point where there wasn’t a speck of dust.
But why was only the living room dirty like a garbage dump?
Empty liquor bottles rolling on the floor. Messy bedding, torn newspaper bundles, carelessly disposed food.
“Why do you live like that?”
“…What?”
“No, that’s not what I meant… I’m asking why the living room is like that when other places are clean.”
Why did the living room, where he mainly resided, end up like that?
Luna, who was always in charge of cleaning at home, couldn’t understand Lee Jun-woo’s mental state.
People usually kept the space they mainly used in a clean state.
They didn’t leave the space where they ate and slept in such a dirty state.
“If you’re doing that because you’re sick somewhere. I can help-”
“Stop talking nonsense. Just follow me.”
“Ah! That hurts!”
Lee Jun-woo pulled the iron chain and headed towards the door.
Luna’s gaze, which showed an ounce of pain, was solely on the living room.
It contained that dysfunctional living room.
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He brought the Hero out to the yard.
There was a spacious yard in front of the house, and since it was a residence located on the outskirts of the capital, there were no passersby.
In particular, the fence was quite high, so even if someone passed by, they wouldn’t be seen.
It could be seen as an optimal location for confinement.
“Somehow, I feel like a dog…”
“That’s an illusion.”
“It.. is an illusion, right..? Haha..”
The Hero gave a dry laugh.
However, maybe because it was fresh air she was tasting after a long time, she let out a refreshing deep breath.
Her long golden hair swayed in the wind in sync with her breath.
‘Is that the light a Hero possesses?’
An appearance that drew people’s attention.
Although she hadn’t grown up yet, it was certain that she would become a beauty in the future.
Her face contained a tall nose and lively eyes.
And she radiated an atmosphere that made it hard for an ordinary person to casually approach her.
‘Of course, I’m not an ordinary person.’
From now on, he intended to treat her casually.
He threw an object at her, who was blankly proceeding with photosynthesis, and said.
“Hero. Catch. It’s a gift.”
“What? A gift..? Uh, uwaahh..!”
The Hero caught the wooden sword that suddenly flew at her, and made a strange sound.
“Your reaction speed isn’t bad.”
“What, what are you doing all of a sudden! You surprised me!”
“I’ll have to test whether it’s dynamic visual acuity or instinct…”
“What?”
The Hero held the wooden sword with both hands, and looked puzzled.
‘What am I supposed to do with this?’
That was her expression.
He held the other wooden sword in his hand and shouted.
“When I confined you, do you remember what I said?”
“That you won’t do anything…”
“Half correct and half wrong. I won’t do anything. There was a slight error in those words.”
“A, are you saying you’re going to break your word?! You perverted kidnapper..!! You’re going to make a mess of me..?! Revealing your true colors..?!”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
What did she mean by perverted kidnapper?
Sigh…
He couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of what the future Hero was thinking.
“I won’t do anything, but I’m going to give you a choice.”
“Huh..? A choice..? Your plan to make a mess of me is…”
“There’s no such thing. Don’t misunderstand as you please.”
Luna let out a sigh of relief at those words.
Just how did she view me to have to make such a misunderstanding?
There were only two possibilities.
Either he was strange, or the Hero’s brain was strange.
He stabbed the wooden sword into the ground.
Bang-!
“Then, I’ll consider the explanation over. Choose, Hero.”
“…I’m not a Hero.”
“Will you stay still while being confined and time passes?”
If not that.
“Or will you train in swordsmanship, cultivate your skills, defeat me, and escape from here?”
Choose, Hero.
His voice echoed through the yard.
The Hero seemed to ponder for a moment at that voice.
“Would it be faster to sit still and wait for rescue… Or would it be faster to defeat that person… This would probably be faster… Staying still isn’t my style…”
The Hero, who was muttering something to herself.
Stepped forward without hesitation.
And she held up the sword in a clumsy stance.
“I, I will fight!”
As if trying to intimidate me, her blue eyes radiated seriousness.
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Fight! Good choice