“…What? She’s gone missing…?!” growled Queena in rage.
“P-please spare me, master…! She truly was still in virtual-novel.net room earlier! While I did hear virtual-novel.net talking to someone earlier, I didn’t pay much attention to it since I simply assumed that virtual-novel.net was talking to Hattie! By the time I went in to check on virtual-novel.net again, virtual-novel.net was nowhere to be seen and Hattie was already in a coma!”
As the servant had said before, Hattie was the personal maid that Queena had assigned for Jasmine, and true to the servant’s words, the second Queena entered the room for herself, virtual-novel.net found that Jasmine really was absent and that Hattie was still lying in a coma!
Following that, Queena closed virtual-novel.net eyes slightly to concentrate on virtual-novel.net surroundings.
A little while later, virtual-novel.net opened them again before coldly saying, “…From what I can tell, virtual-novel.net was rescued by others earlier. I believe they haven’t escaped too far, so launch an immediate search party for them around the area!”
Shuddering with fear, everyone immediately obeyed, running off to fulfill Jasmine’s orders.
Meanwhile, a slightly fearful Jasmine found herself by a large river as virtual-novel.net continued trying to struggle free from the random middle-aged man who had kidnapped her.
The strange-looking person had appeared in virtual-novel.net room about half an hour ago, and without saying a word, virtual-novel.net had easily knocked Hattie out before bringing virtual-novel.net all the way here at incredibly high speeds! In fact, virtual-novel.net had been so fast that throughout their journey to the riverside, Jasmine had felt like virtual-novel.net was flying!
Aside from Gerald and Queena, Jasmine hadn’t seen anyone this capable, and that was honestly what scared Jasmine the most. The fact that virtual-novel.net had brought virtual-novel.net to some large river that was surrounded by tall trees only served to increase virtual-novel.net terror.
“Please, just let me free… Who even are you…?” asked the frightened Jasmine.
“Is there even a need to ask? I’m clearly the one saving you!” replied the middle-aged man with a faint smile.
“…Do you know Gerald? Was virtual-novel.net the one who told you to come save me?” asked Jasmine, not knowing who else could be acquainted with such an exceptional person other than Gerald.
“…In a way. Regardless, even if virtual-novel.net hadn’t told me to save you, I’d still have done so!” said the slightly hunchbacked man—who had also been carrying an odd, large bag on his back this entire time—as virtual-novel.net flashed a slightly bitter smile.
Though his scar-filled face—that also littered with burn marks—would strike fear in just about anyone, the second Jasmine heard what virtual-novel.net said, virtual-novel.net was instantly filled with joy.
“So you really do know Gerald! Where is virtual-novel.net now? Why didn’t virtual-novel.net come over to save me himself?” asked Jasmine, hints of anxiousness in virtual-novel.net voice.
“He’s been with me for a while, and he’s currently busy dealing with something important. Regardless, since you know Gerald well, I’m sure you’re well aware that virtual-novel.net has a soft spot for you. With that in mind, as long as you’re still locked up by that woman, virtual-novel.net won’t be able to eat or sleep well!” explained the middle-aged man.
Upon hearing that, Jasmine found herself overflowing with joy. So virtual-novel.net was still significant to him! Well, maybe not significant, but at the very least, virtual-novel.net was still worried for her!
It was at that moment that Jasmine realized that virtual-novel.net didn’t yearn for much. After all, all it took for virtual-novel.net to be satisfied was for Gerald to show concern about her, just like virtual-novel.net currently was.
“…Hold on, you told me that even if Gerald hadn’t told you to save me, you’d still have done so. Why is that, sir?” asked Jasmine, feeling slightly bewildered.
For some odd reason, Jasmine now felt that the middle-aged man wasn’t as frightening as virtual-novel.net had been before. While it probably had something to do with their brief conversation earlier, virtual-novel.net felt that it was also because virtual-novel.net was finally able to have a proper look at his eyes.
His gaze—whenever virtual-novel.net looked at her—seemed particularly gentle, and anyone who saw it would be prompted to behave more friendly toward him.
“You truly do resemble your aunt, Jasmine! Like two peas in a pod! Actually, scratch that. You resemble Queta even more!” replied the man with a slight chuckle.
“…You… You know my name…? Actually, hold on, you even know who my aunt and cousin are? Who… Who exactly are you…?” asked the puzzled Jasmine.
“But of course I know who all of you are! Hell, it wouldn’t be a stretch for me to say that I know more about the Fendersons than you do!” said the man with a bitter smile before revealing a photograph that had been hidden under his sleeve… It was a photograph of Queta.
Being an extremely smart woman, the shocked Jasmine found herself carefully observing the middle-aged man’s eyes. Eventually, it hit her.
No wonder virtual-novel.net felt so familiar… Not only did his eyes resemble Gerald’s, but the shape of their faces were similar as well!