Kidnapping?

“Clatter…”

“Splash…”

I could hear the sound of rain and tires rolling, and my body could clearly feel the rocking of the carriage.

…But my other senses were cut off.

My hands and feet were bound, unable to move.

A blindfold covered my eyes, leaving me in complete darkness.

A gag stuffed into my mouth kept me from making the slightest sound.

Even if I wanted to struggle—

“Oi, I’m warning you. Don’t move.”

A cold draft slid down my neck, carried by the boy’s voice.

Something hard pressed firmly against my back.

…This shape, this weight—I knew it all too well.

It was my own short dagger, the one I carried with me every day.

In other words, he had taken it from me during his search.

“If you keep struggling, I’ll really kill you.”

His voice was deliberately lowered, heavy with threat.

Even though I knew he wouldn’t actually do it, I didn’t dare act rashly.

I could only quiet down.

As for why I ended up like this—

Two hours earlier.

“Potatoes, check. Onions, check. Beef, check… Ah, still need coriander.”

Today was my turn to go grocery shopping again.

After running errands this many times, I had already become quite efficient.

“Hmm… Maybe I should grab some milk and eggs too.”

Since it was summer, I wanted to try making ice cream.

[Hey, did you hear? Lately there’ve been lots of kidnappings around here…]

This world’s culinary culture hadn’t developed far enough to invent ice cream yet.

If I managed to make some, I’d be the only one who could.

…Faced with a dessert she’d never seen before, My Lady would definitely be thrilled.

[Yeah, my cousin’s uncle’s nephew’s uncle’s niece was kidnapped. Still no news of her…]

What? You ask what I’d do if My Lady didn’t like it?

Please, who in this world doesn’t like ice cream!

It’s ice cream!

[Society’s really gone downhill… I don’t even dare let my kids go outside anymore.]

The biggest hassle would be mixing. Freezing I could solve with a bit of magic, but without a mixer, I’d have to stir it by hand.

If I had a machine, I could experiment with more flavors… Too bad.

Oh well. Even if it’s troublesome, it’ll be worth it if My Lady smiles.

“…Huh?”

When I came back to myself, I realized I had wandered into an unfamiliar place.

Or perhaps not unfamiliar—just somewhere I had never personally visited, though I’d heard of it.

The rundown buildings and oppressive atmosphere made its name obvious.

—The Slums.

Even in a game world, the gulf between rich and poor was stark.

Those who lived here were the displaced, the hopeless, the addicts.

…If I hadn’t secured this maid position, my fate might have been the same: either dead, or rotting away in this place.

And for girls here, life was worse than hell.

Forced into prostitution, exploited by those stronger, barely clothed, starving, homeless.

Honestly, I’d rather die.

What’s worse, the residents harbored deep resentment for outsiders—especially the wealthy.

…In short, the slums were no place for me.

I could already feel hostile stares pressing down on me from every direction.

It was probably my clothes.

Not flashy, but clearly fine quality to those who knew.

That alone made me a target.

…High wages aren’t always a blessing, it seems.

Still, they weren’t attacking me yet, only glaring from afar, radiating malice.

I’d heard that sometimes people were assaulted here, but with no witnesses, and this area being a gray zone of lawlessness, such cases usually vanished without resolution.

…Best to leave quickly.

But just as I turned to go, a shadow fell over me.

I looked up to see three men with ferocious expressions, knives gleaming in their hands.

Great.

Dangerous types.

“Oi, girly, come with us.”

“I suggest you don’t resist. Be a shame if that pretty face of yours got ruined.”

“…”

From their demeanor, they were clearly repeat offenders.

…If the law couldn’t deal with them, then perhaps I’d have to.

Feigning fear, I fell silent and let them herd me into a dark alley.

The area was deserted.

“Hand over everything valuable on you.”

These men had no concept of chivalry. One pressed his blade against my cheek without hesitation.

But now wasn’t the moment to act.

I played the obedient victim, fumbling at my clothes.

“Hurry it up!”

I handed over my wallet to the apparent leader.

The fool was so eager he forgot to hold his knife steady, immediately rifling through my coins.

“Oho? Quite a rich girl! Don’t tell me you’re some noble’s daughter?”

…Idiot. What kind of noble daughter would be out grocery shopping alone?

“Boss, this chick’s real fine… I’m getting hard just looking at her.”

“Tch… you and your loli fetish. Hurry up already.”

“Heh heh heh…”

The heavier man reached out a greasy hand toward me.

The third stayed behind, blade pressing into my back.

…They may be criminals, but they were sloppy.

Only one of them actually held a weapon, and he was far too close.

He’d have no time to react if I moved first.

Like so—

I twisted, stepping straight into the armed man’s chest, clamping his knife arm and hurling him forward with all my strength.

“Gwah!?”

He went flying, colliding headfirst into the pudgy man.

…Did they just kiss each other on the mouth?

Well, never mind that. Both were dazed, unable to fight.

“What the—!? Number Two! Number Three!”

The leader finally realized, fumbling for his own dagger.

…Seriously? Even now he wouldn’t drop my wallet?

“You idiot.”

Oops. I said that out loud.

“Y-you little—!”

But it worked. He came at me in a blind rage, dagger swinging.

Blinded by anger, he no longer saw anything else.

…What a fool.

I sighed inwardly and flicked a finger.

A small rock jutted up from the ground beneath his foot.

He tripped mid-lunge, losing balance.

I seized the chance and drove a kick between his legs.

“G-GUUAAAAHHH…!”

He collapsed, face contorted in agony, unable to rise.

Having once been male, I knew all too well the effectiveness of that strike.

Calmly, I strode forward, kicked him flat, and drove my dagger into the ground beside his head.

“Learned your lesson? Next time, remember not to target ordinary folk. Otherwise…”

I let my expression darken, deliberately vicious.

“…Next time, you might not walk away with your life.”

“Eeek…!”

Reclaiming my wallet, I left the alley coolly.

That should make them think twice about preying on others.

I checked my coins—none missing.

Satisfied, I turned to leave the slums—

When suddenly, a shadow surged from behind me.

A cloth, suspicious and damp, was pressed over my face.

A strange sweet scent rushed into my nose.

…When did he get behind me!?

I hadn’t sensed a thing!

I tried to struggle, but only inhaled more of the sweet gas.

And with that—

Consciousness slipped away.