Chapter 6

The festival in Harrington Village lasted late into the night.

Most of the villagers had gone to the plaza, so the inn run by Kanna’s parents was unusually quiet.

Kanna wanted to go to the plaza too, but since her parents left her in charge of the inn, she had no choice but to stay and watch over it alone.

Still, Kanna was satisfied.

Today’s festival was to celebrate Daisy’s recovery, and Daisy’s recovery was thanks to Ariel and Roo saving Patricia.

And the ones who guided Ariel and Roo to Harrington Village…

“That would be me.”

Kanna could also be considered to have made a significant contribution to today’s celebration. Though no one particularly acknowledged it, Kanna still felt proud.

Ding-dong.

The inn door opened, and someone entered. Kanna turned her head toward the door.

“Welcome… Oh.”

It was Ariel.

Ariel’s face was as expressionless as the first time Kanna saw her, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction in her demeanor.

“Ariel, why are you back so soon? Was the festival not fun?”

At Kanna’s question, Ariel nodded and quickly walked over to sit at the inn’s dining table.

Kanna approached Ariel.

“Want something to eat?”

“Cream bread.”

Ariel spoke with an oddly emphasized pronunciation.

Kanna chuckled.

“Didn’t you eat anything at the plaza? There must be tastier things there than cream bread.”

Ariel silently stared into the air. She had asked the village chief for cream bread but was ignored. Moreover, the villagers only thanked her but didn’t offer any food.

Unbeknownst to Ariel, the villagers had been sternly warned by the village chief. They were to express gratitude but never mention rewards or compensation. Doing so would insult the pure heart of the elf…

“Huh? Where’s Roo?”

When Kanna asked, Ariel rummaged through her pocket and placed something on the table.

It was Roo.

Roo’s face was flushed, and she was fast asleep, completely drunk after drinking fruit wine to her limit.

Kanna chuckled again and said to Ariel,

“Anyway, I’ll get you some cream bread. Just wait a bit.”

*

“Hum hum~”

Kanna hummed a tune as she prepared the cream bread.

She was a bit bored since she couldn’t go to the festival at the plaza, but being with Ariel at the inn was even better.

Since Roo was also drunk and asleep, maybe she could indulge a bit.

She thought she’d casually ask if she could touch Ariel’s ears when she was satisfied after eating the cream bread and milk. If not the ears, then maybe stroking her shiny silver hair wouldn’t be bad. If not that, then maybe her cheeks…

“Ooh, smells good.”

Just then, someone entered the kitchen and spoke. Kanna, startled, turned her gaze to see a familiar face.

“Jack?”

It was Jack, the blacksmith’s son.

Jack was about five years older than Kanna, making him a young man in the village.

Yet, Jack still seemed immature. He didn’t work diligently, always busy drinking or chasing women.

Jack often complained that he was sick of a backwater village like Harrington.

He dreamed of moving to the city and living a glamorous life, but Kanna thought it would be tough. Jack didn’t have many skills.

In short, Jack was the village troublemaker, always dreaming big.

“That bread, it’s for the elf, right?”

Jack pointed at the cream bread Kanna had prepared and asked. He had one hand in his pocket, swaying his body, looking very delinquent.

“Yeah, why?”

“Give it to me. I’ll take it to her.”

“Why you? No. And why are you here? The festival’s happening at the plaza.”

“So what? Who cares about that boring festival? Just give it to me. I’ll take it. I have business with that elf.”

For a moment, one corner of Jack’s mouth twitched upward. Seeing that, Kanna felt uneasy.

That twitch was a habit Jack had whenever he was about to cause trouble.

He had done the same before setting fire to the village palisade in a fit of anger or sneaking into the village chief’s house to steal valuables.

“Hi, Kanna.”

Someone else entered the kitchen.

This time, it was two people.

Tom and Susan.

Both were Jack’s lackeys.

Tom was a chubby, timid, and simple-minded guy, but he followed Jack around like a loyal dog.

He was like Jack’s dumb sidekick.

And Susan, she was also a troublemaker in the village. She always flirted with men and tried to stir up trouble.

Once, she went to the village chief’s house late at night, and though no one knew what she intended to do, she got scolded badly by the chief.

Susan was similar to Jack. She thought Harrington Village was a boring backwater and dreamed of moving to the city to live a glamorous life.

Susan always believed she could charm a nobleman if she went to the city, but Kanna thought it would be tough. Objectively, Susan wasn’t pretty.

Anyway, the village troublemakers, Jack’s gang, had gathered in the kitchen. They were clearly up to something.

Kanna turned to call for help. She planned to slip out the back door of the kitchen and go to the plaza to inform the adults.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But before she could, Jack grabbed her.

Kanna’s mouth was covered with cloth, and her hands and feet were tied with rope as she was shoved into the kitchen storage.

“Take a nap, Kanna. Be good.”

Jack chuckled as he closed the storage door. The sound of the latch being secured echoed outside.

And so, Kanna was completely trapped in the dark kitchen storage.

*

“Hi?”

Susan placed the cream bread and milk on Ariel’s table and sat down herself.

“You’re the one who saved Daisy’s life, right? Thank you so much.”

Though Susan said that, Ariel didn’t respond. She just reached out, took the cream bread, and looked at it with a slightly moved expression. Susan was completely ignored.

Susan was a bit annoyed but decided to endure it for the plan. The cream bread and milk were laced with a large dose of sleeping pills.

Not as strong as fairy sleeping powder, but enough to treat insomnia.

She had mixed it into the cream and poured it into the milk. Once consumed, Ariel probably wouldn’t wake up until tomorrow morning.

Ariel started eating the cream bread. She stuffed her small mouth full and ate with relish. Then, as if her throat was dry, she drank the milk.

Susan smiled quietly, and Jack, watching from the kitchen, also smiled.

It worked. Success. The elf would soon fall asleep. Then, they could proceed with the plan.

It was Jack’s plan.

To kidnap the elf and the fairy.

The villagers of Harrington didn’t seem to know, but elves and fairies were worth a fortune. Enough to buy a noble title.

Jack knew this. He had heard it from a mercenary who once visited the village.

That’s why he came up with this plan.

It was reckless, but if successful, it would change his life. No longer rotting in this backwater, he could live a glamorous life in the city.

Jack informed Susan and Tom of the plan.

Timid Tom hesitated, but he had no choice. If Jack said to do it, he would.

Susan was delighted. She shared Jack’s thoughts.

Jack’s plan was simple.

Somehow kidnap the elf and escape to the city. The preparations were rope, cloth, and Tom’s mother’s sleeping pills.

Jack thought it was best to do it today. With everyone distracted by the festival, it was the perfect opportunity.

While people were drinking and distracted, they would secretly kidnap the elf and fairy, steal the village’s communal carriage, and escape to the city.

With the plan set, Jack wandered the plaza, keeping an eye on Ariel.

And the opportunity came quickly.

Ariel put the fairy in her pocket and headed somewhere. She was going to the inn.

Jack thought the heavens were on his side. The village’s communal carriage was at the inn. They could escape immediately.

Moreover, all the villagers were at the plaza. Kanna was the only one at the inn.

Jack, along with Susan and Tom, entered the inn, leading to the current situation.

Jack stood at the kitchen entrance, waiting, and soon Susan walked over.

“That elf ate the cream bread and milk and fell asleep. And the fairy is completely passed out too.”

“Really?”

Jack’s mouth twitched upward again. His plan was too perfect. It was frustrating to have such a brilliant mind wasted in this backwater.

“Let’s start. Tom, bring the elf. Tie her up properly. She might struggle if she wakes up. And Susan, take care of the fairy. Put her in a glass bottle or something. Make sure to leave air holes so she doesn’t die.”

“Got it.”

After giving instructions, Jack opened the inn’s back door and went out.

While Tom and Susan handled the elf and fairy, Jack planned to steal the village’s communal carriage.

Though “stealing” was a strong word—it was more like taking it. There wasn’t even a lock.

He brought two horses from the inn’s stable and hitched them to the carriage.

It was the village’s communal carriage, a valuable asset, but Jack didn’t care.

He wasn’t planning to return to this village anyway.

Soon, Susan and Tom came out the inn’s back door.

Susan was carrying a large glass bottle, and Tom was holding the elf, tightly bound with rope.

“Get on.”

Jack climbed onto the driver’s seat. Susan and Tom also got into the carriage.

Jack pulled the reins, and the horses neighed as they set off.