Chapter 12: [Bad News] Rouge is Kidnapped
After soothing the sulking Rouge and purchasing a few outfits, I decided to browse the accessory section while she changed back into her original clothes.
“Oh?”
What caught my eye was a compact hand mirror. It had a simple folding design, but the price was quite steep. It was a bold price, to say the least. While I might find cheaper options in other shops, I wanted to acquire this as quickly as possible.
I still had some travel money that my father had given me. I could buy it if I spent the fare for the return carriage, but… hmm…
If I could look in a mirror anytime and anywhere, I wouldn’t have to worry about being seen. With the Brainwashing Skill, I could switch my skills as I pleased. The benefits of that would easily outweigh the cost of the carriage fare.
With the Brainwashing Skill at my disposal, I could earn back the carriage fare easily… Of course, I wouldn’t misuse it; for instance, I could register at the Adventurers’ Guild and complete a few requests. By switching my skills in battle, I should be able to handle dangerous monsters without much trouble.
Besides, I didn’t need the return carriage fare just yet. Once I was accepted into the Royal Academy, I wouldn’t need to worry about it for the time being. I was anxious about how I would perform on the entrance exam, but Rouge had assured me that there was no doubt I would pass, so I decided to trust her words.
I picked up the hand mirror and called over a shop attendant to settle the payment.
After that, I waited for Rouge to come out of the fitting room…
“What’s taking so long…?”
It seemed Rouge was taking quite a while to change. I couldn’t hear any sounds of movement or fabric rustling from behind the curtain; it was eerily silent.
“Rouge, is something wrong?”
There was no response, and a sense of unease washed over me as I reached for the fitting room curtain.
“Rouge, I’m opening it, okay?”
After confirming again and receiving no answer, I pulled the curtain aside.
What I found was an empty fitting room.
The space was devoid of anyone, and the only reflection in the mirror was my own, with the words “Under Brainwashing” displayed above my head. The clothes she had been trying on were left behind, but Rouge was nowhere to be seen.
What the hell is going on…?
“If your companion is missing, she hurriedly left while you were paying,” a voice came from behind me.
She left? Rouge went outside without saying anything to me…?
We had only met a few hours ago. I didn’t know much about Rouge, but I couldn’t believe she would just disappear without a word.
There must have been a serious reason… Perhaps it was related to the circumstances of her disguising herself as a man.
Regardless, I had to find Rouge. As I thought this, I opened the door to leave the shop, and the rusty hinges creaked, “Creeeak.”
…Wait, I didn’t hear that sound while I was paying.
If Rouge had gone outside, I would have definitely noticed the sound of the door opening and closing.
When I turned around, the shop attendant was tilting her head, still wearing a business smile.
“Aren’t you going to look for your companion?”
Her tone made it sound like she wanted me to leave quickly. Was I being paranoid, or was there something more to it…?
I glanced at the hand mirror I had just purchased. The words “Under Brainwashing” still hovered above my head. I whispered “Brainwash Release,” and the words vanished. I decided to use my skill in front of the attendant, who was looking at me with suspicion.
“Skill: Brainwashing.”
I felt my brain register the activation of the skill. The attendant’s eyes glazed over, and she stood there, motionless.
“Tell me everything you know about where Rouge has gone.”
“Yes, sir.”
The attendant began to speak fluidly.
This shop was being used as a kidnapping location by a Human Trafficking Organization.
The fitting room Rouge had entered had a removable mirror, and behind it was a small room connected to a back exit. The Human Trafficking Organization was hiding there, abducting children and women who entered as customers.
The attendant had conspired with the organization, ensuring that if a customer was alone, they would not notice anything amiss, and if there were two, she would distract one while the other was abducted, then lie about the other leaving.
If I fell for that lie and went outside to search, it would be over. The Human Trafficking Organization would have already escaped through the back exit, and I wouldn’t find anything on the main street.
What a ridiculous trick…!
“Hey, where is Rouge?!”
“She has likely been taken to the Human Trafficking Organization’s hideout.”
“Where is that?!”
“I don’t know.”
“…Tch!”
I couldn’t believe she could lie while under Brainwashing.
It seemed this attendant had received a hefty reward for cooperating with the Human Trafficking Organization, but she was merely a collaborator. It appeared she hadn’t been given any crucial information that would tie her to the organization, allowing her to cut ties at any moment.
“Once I release your brainwashing, you will sleep for a while. Brainwash Release.”
As soon as I released her from the brainwashing, the attendant collapsed to the ground. I had no leads on where Rouge had been taken. I checked the small room and back exit she had mentioned, but there was no trace left behind.
Was this a dead end…? No, this is where the Brainwashing Skill comes into play.
Hang in there, Rouge! I will definitely save you…!