I Kidnapped the Hero’s Women

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 83 - Reunion

The North—an icy land perpetually blanketed in snow, surrounded by snow-capped mountains year-round.

In the valley that serves as the only passage between the Demonic Realm and the Empire lies the fortress city of Ester.

From a peak far in the distance, smoke began to rise.

“Monsters are approaching.”

Upon seeing this, the man dressed in fur standing atop the city wall widened his eyes.

A signal fire.

It was a sign that monsters were drawing near.

If they had just crossed that peak, it wouldn’t take them more than two weeks to reach Ester.

The man in fur—the Northern Grand Duke—stroked his thick beard, letting out a worried groan.

“Hmm… Where is Merilda now?”

“The Youngest Lady is taking an afternoon nap after her lunch.”

“Please, tell me you’ve convinced her. Don’t tell me she still insists on staying here?”

“Yes, she still refuses to leave Ester unless she has guards her own age…”

“Argh!!!”

At the dejected reply of his young butler, the Northern Grand Duke roared loudly.

His shout was a mix of frustration and rage.

As the echo of his mighty cry reverberated through the entire mountain range and eventually died down, the Grand Duke exhaled sharply as if he had calmed down.

“I’m going insane. Why is she acting like this? Last year, and the year before that, she agreed to evacuate to the capital without complaint! Why is she being like this now?”

“She may have been influenced by the academy she started attending this year…”

“Huh! What nonsense are they teaching at that academy! Get rid of it! Bring back the private tutors! Who’s the idiot at that place putting strange ideas in our Merilda’s head…!”

It was an utterly frustrating situation.

Ester is the only passage that connects the Demonic Realm and the Empire.

It is the Empire’s frontline fortress, preventing monsters from invading the mainland.

Every year, the natural mana in the Demonic Realm surges, causing a massive influx of monsters.

Especially during summer, the number of monsters is beyond imagination.

The phenomenon, where monsters surge like a tidal wave, is called the Monster Wave—a massive rampage.

Each time it happens, Ester becomes the stage for a life-and-death battle.

Everyone, regardless of status, takes up arms and fights at the front lines.

Not to protect this modest fortress city, but for the families they have back in the Empire.

Ester has held its ground for hundreds of years, but it hasn’t been without its crises.

So they can never be too cautious.

Every year during the Monster Wave season, the Northern Grand Duke’s heirs are evacuated to a safe place as a precautionary measure.

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“You must convince Merilda to evacuate of her own accord by the end of today! If not, I’ll feed you to the monsters!”

“Then throw me to them! How am I supposed to break the Young Lady’s stubbornness when it’s impossible! You know this!”

“You little…!”

The Northern Grand Duke’s youngest daughter, Merilda, was adamant about not leaving Ester.

And her reason was utterly absurd.

She was dissatisfied because there weren’t any guards her own age.

Merilda’s unyielding stance was that she wouldn’t leave Ester unless guards of her age came to escort her.

“She’s only thirteen! Where in the world would you find a guard that young! Even if there were one, there’s no way that child would have the skills to protect a member of the royal family!”

“It’s truly maddening…”

“She’s my precious, hard-won youngest daughter! If she stays in Ester, I’ll be so worried I won’t be able to focus on the battle!”

The Northern Grand Duke’s voice cracked with anguish.

He had been married three times and fathered nine children.

But all of them were boys. One son after another, and then another.

He had nine sons in this harsh, barren land, and not a single daughter.

Perhaps his yearning for a daughter had reached the heavens.

Late in his years, he was blessed with his youngest, and miraculously, it was a daughter.

Merilda was born and grew up as the apple of her father’s eye, loved by her parents and brothers, who were over twenty years her senior.

She became the lifeblood of Ester.

She brought smiles to the Northern Grand Duke’s face, a man who had rarely smiled in his life, and brought a positive energy to the entire city, becoming its treasure.

Merilda’s safety was of utmost importance; nothing else mattered.

Currently, convincing Merilda to evacuate took precedence over even preparing for the Monster Wave.

“Your Grace, perhaps it’s time to consider ‘that method’…”

“N-Now? You can’t be serious…”

The butler, glancing around, whispered quietly.

The Northern Grand Duke’s eyes twitched, the corners trembling.

“When the Young Lady falls asleep, she doesn’t wake up easily, right? So, why don’t we secretly put her in a carriage and send her to the capital while she’s sleeping…”

“N-No! That’s not an option! If we do that…”

Gulp.

The Northern Grand Duke closed his eyes tightly and swallowed hard.

If we do that, there will be a catastrophe.

Because…

“She’d definitely get mad at me… My daughter would be furious with me…”

“Oh.”

“She wouldn’t talk to me for a whole month if she got really angry. How could I endure that…?”

“No one could bear that, Your Grace…”

The atmosphere on the city wall turned somber.

Silence fell between the butler and the Northern Grand Duke, who stood side by side.

Although he had asked his niece in the Imperial Palace to find suitable guards for Merilda…

He wasn’t expecting much.

There’s no solution!

Is my only option to take the risk of being hated and forcibly evacuate Merilda?

Tears welled up in the Northern Grand Duke’s eyes but quickly froze.

It was time to make a difficult decision.

“I give my permission. My daughter… even if we have to use force, evacuate Merilda to the capital!”

“Yes, Your Grace, as you command.”

As the two men exchanged tearful yet resolute glances, the door suddenly burst open, and a soldier rushed in.

“Good news, Your Grace!”

“What is it!”

“Her Majesty has found guards for Lady Merilda! They are on their way here as we speak!”

“Wh-What…!?”

The Northern Grand Duke furrowed his brows.

What is this?

Guards her own age? There’s no way such guards exist!

What trick has that niece of mine pulled…?

“Did you hear the name of the mercenary group providing the guards?”

“It’s not a mercenary group. It’s a security firm established by a noble.”

“A security firm?”

“Yes. They’re called Vermont Security…”

“…”

The Northern Grand Duke’s eyes widened upon hearing the name Vermont Security.

The sound of his grinding teeth echoed clearly amidst the snowstorm.

“Vermont. So, my old rival is coming. Heh heh heh. That crafty Vanessa…”

At first, he hadn’t expected much.

But now he found himself looking forward to the arrival of these so-called guards.

For various reasons.

The Northern Grand Duke repeated the name Vermont several times, laughing like a madman.

***

“I have an important announcement.”

“An important announcement…!”

During dinner.

The moment I made the declaration, Charlotte dropped her bowl of food and stared straight at me.

With trembling lips, she asked the next moment,

“So, what’s the important announcement?”

“It means I have something important to tell you, Charlotte…”

“Ah, got it!”

“Just as Julia said. Her Majesty has given Vermont Security a request, and it seems perfectly suited for you two.”

“A request!? Does that mean I get to wield my Super Strong Sword and go on a mission again?”

“Does that mean we get paid for this? Is that what it is…?”

[The Evil God ‘Kali’ is restless, saying our dark knight and necromancer seem to have no interest in their meal.]

Thump.

Charlotte and Julia both jumped up from their seats, unable to contain their excitement.

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought this up during dinner.

“Yes. Each of you will receive 50 million Larks.”

“Wow…!”

Their faces immediately lit up.

Seeing their delighted expressions, I couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic.

Originally, I intended to let them go once they were mentally mature and financially independent.

But imagining the day we’d part, the memories we’ve shared so far began to flood back, making me feel a little sad.

‘I can’t keep protecting them forever.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean I can keep Charlotte and Julia under Vermont’s care indefinitely.

There’s a ticking time bomb named Yuri, who’s just waiting for the right moment.

Before he causes any trouble, I need to release Charlotte and Julia from my care.

This mission is the first step.

Someone like Yuri, the stereotypical upright protagonist, would likely have serious misunderstandings about me.

So, I’d consider this a preemptive move to clear up those misunderstandings.

“An employee from Vermont Security will be accompanying you on this mission. He’s around your age and attends the Imperial Magic Academy.”

“Wow. He’s our age but goes to university?”

“That’s amazing!”

Come, Yuri.

Come and have your heartwarming reunion.

I’ve set the stage for you.

“This is so…”

[The Evil God ‘Kali’ is scolding you harshly, saying the children can hear you!]

Damn it.

I’ve arranged for you to meet your long-lost friends. Shouldn’t you all be hugging and crying tears of joy right now?

So why the hell…

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuria.”

“Your voice sounds weird…”

“I’m Charlotte! But what’s with that mask?”

“...Don’t touch it.”

Why the hell did you come wearing a mask and changing your voice?

My blood pressure spiked as the urge to rip off that mask on the spot surged within me.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]