At night, inside a warehouse.
"It's getting late. Once we've finished installing the goods, let's head out and grab something to eat."
"Also, leave two people behind to watch the merchandise. We'll bring food back after we're done."
After Ryuu's previous, less-than-successful attempt to call for help, the criminals had gradually grown more vigilant. Unlike before, when they barely watched her at all, they now rotated shifts frequently, completely depriving Ryuu of any opportunity.
"To prevent any accidents, give her some anesthetic. Keep her quiet, or we'll end up attracting unrelated people again like last time."
"Got it!"
Once the leader finished arranging the follow-up matters, his subordinates began to move. Those who were going to eat left, while the ones staying behind picked up a packet of unidentified powder and walked toward the girl inside the cage.
"Mmph!"
Seeing the two men approaching her, the golden-haired elf shook her head frantically, trying to scream. But with her mouth stuffed, not a single sound could escape.
It's over...
At that moment, Ryuu fell into complete despair.
She had never imagined they would buy anesthetics. They hadn't had any before!
Was it because the noise she made last time had attracted people nearby, so they had prepared this in advance?
The cloth in her mouth was yanked out roughly. A surge of nausea rose in her throat, and Ryuu began coughing uncontrollably. But this group showed no mercy toward their "merchandise."
Something was poured into her mouth. Ryuu struggled desperately to spit it all out, but unfortunately, she simply couldn't.
Thud!
Without hesitation, the man punched her in the stomach. Pain exploded through her body, forcing her mouth wide open.
In that instant, the cloth was stuffed back into her mouth again, sealing her lips.
This is really bad...
If I had known this would happen, I never should have left the village...
No matter how much she regretted it now, it was too late.
As time passed, the drug she had swallowed began to take effect. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, drowsiness flooding her senses.
I can't sleep...
If I fall asleep, when I wake up, I might be lying in someone's bed...!
I can't...
Sleep...
But the overwhelming drowsiness was impossible to resist. Even if she wanted to bite her tongue to use pain to stay awake, she couldn't manage it.
In the final moment before her consciousness faded, all she saw was the ceiling of the cage.
"Goodbye, Father... Mother..."
"And my purity..."
As the golden-haired elf finally collapsed onto the ground, the two men were at last relieved.
"Hey, couldn't you have gone a little easier? What if you damaged her by accident? What if we can't sell her for a good price?"
"She was struggling so hard. I didn't have a choice. Otherwise I couldn't have pinned her down."
The two men sat inside the warehouse and began chatting. After all, their boss had gone out to eat with the others, and they had nothing else to do.
"Do you remember that beauty we saw during the day?"
"You mean the blonde? She was unbelievably gorgeous. Just thinking about her, I can barely control myself!"
"If I could have her once, I'd give up a year of my life!"
"Give it a rest. Boss said a woman that beautiful is dangerous. We shouldn't provoke her. Besides, the elf we caught this time isn't bad either."
One of them revealed a look of indulgence. The other wore a lewd grin as well. An unnatural bulge rose in both their trousers.
As they talked, one of them suddenly brightened.
"Hey, should we try her out in advance?"
The other froze, then immediately understood what he meant.
"You mean the elf? Boss specifically warned us not to touch her. If we do, the price will be affected!"
"Of course I know that. What I mean is, as long as that place stays intact, it'll be fine, right?" A wicked smile spread across the man's face. "We just need to take care of our physical needs a little. It doesn't matter which part we use."
"Boss isn't here anyway. If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, is there going to be a third person who knows?"
"...That does sound good."
At the thought of galloping over such a beautiful elf, a surge of excitement rose from deep within him.
The two men stood up, ready to act.
"We have to be quick. Boss and the others don't eat fast, but they might come back early."
"I know. Let's finish it quickly!"
Tap!Tap!Tap!
Just as they were about to undo their belts, strange sounds echoed from not far away. Startled, they hurriedly tightened their trousers again.
"Who's there?!"
Their boss had left together with the others. If it were them returning, the footsteps wouldn't sound this distinct.
Only one person was approaching!
Experience honed over years made that judgment instantly. The two men subconsciously drew the daggers at their waists and stared warily at the corner where the sound had come from.
Who would come here at a time like this?
If it were just some ordinary passerby who wandered in by accident, they could simply drive them away. This was Melen, after all, relatively close to Orario. No one knew when some adventurer with strange and unusual abilities might appear.
Even if they killed someone and disposed of the body, there was a possibility it would be discovered immediately. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to kill in Melen.
Tap!Tap!
The sound drew closer and closer, just beyond the corner. The two men focused their attention, eyes locked on that spot.
But when they saw who emerged, they froze.
So beautiful!
Golden hair. Pure white clothing. That transcendent aura...
There was no mistake.
This was the very woman they had encountered during the day—and had just been discussing moments ago. Even their little brothers had stood at attention earlier, which was why they had turned their thoughts toward Ryuu in the first place.
"Why is she here?"
Their first reaction was beauty. Their second was confusion. Appearing at this place at this hour—she couldn't possibly be normal, could she?
And...
Why was this woman glowing?
It was already night. Aside from firelight and lamps, nothing should have stood out so clearly in this pitch-black land.
Yet precisely because it was so dark, the anomaly surrounding her was all the more obvious.
She was glowing?!
And it wasn't ordinary light. Even from such a distance, the two of them could feel the warmth radiating from that glow.
"Ah, found you!"
The golden-haired girl cried out in delight, as if she had just discovered something.
"Good evening!"
In that instant, the same feeling they had sensed from her during the day seemed to return.
Their eyes began to grow unfocused, while the golden-haired girl slowly walked toward them.