I Level Up With In-app Purchases

EP.105 Enhancement is Gambling (2)

“They must be illegal Awakened ones.”

“I suppose so. No one else would do such a thing.”

“Those bastards…! What did the children do wrong?”

The Academy teachers were worried sick about the three kidnapped children.

It was difficult enough dealing with the complaints from the families of the abducted children, but as each day passed, they grew more concerned about the children’s safety.

“What on earth do the culprits want? If it’s for criminal purposes, there’s honestly no reason to kidnap Academy students.”

In this world, there are places where even Awakened ones don’t receive proper protection.

Namely, the orphanages that shelter the illegitimate children of nobles.

If criminals wanted to use Awakened children for crimes, they should have targeted the illegitimate children in orphanages rather than Academy students.

Messing with Academy students would cause the state to mobilize to find the culprits.

“All of the kidnapped children are students with promising talents.”

“!!!”

“So, teacher, you think they didn’t kidnap the children just to use them once for a crime, but to raise them?”

Kidnapping children to raise them as illegal Awakened ones?

It was unbelievable.

This wasn’t something that could be done with ordinary guts.

“Or maybe they targeted children with specific abilities that these criminals need.”

“It’s one problem after another.”

If it was the latter, it would mean that information about Academy students had leaked to the criminals, implying there might be an accomplice of the criminal organization within the Academy.

They weren’t sure whether to inform the dispatched knights about this or to start an internal investigation.

“Let’s inform the department heads first.”

The teachers reported their speculations to the department heads.

“We can’t keep the students under a travel ban forever, Department Head.”

“Some students will surely disobey.”

“Hmm… This is a big problem. We can’t just stand by and let the Academy be pushed around by these criminals.”

After getting a detailed report from the teachers, the department heads held a meeting and came to a decision.

“It would be best to lift the travel ban after the exams are over.”

“And we’ll impose a lockdown on the city for the time being.”

“!!!!”

A lockdown.

No one would be able to enter or leave the city.

It was a decision that would affect the lives of everyone in the city, so it couldn’t be made lightly.

But the department heads were acting more decisively than expected.

“It would have been better if the principal were here, but after discussing among ourselves, we concluded that taking firm action is the right course.”

They discussed and re-discussed what would be the best way to keep the children safe.

The principal was currently away, taking a break due to business at the Ashe General Store.

Right now, only the department heads could solve this difficult situation.

“This might expose the children to crime. Is that okay?”

“The culprits are currently hiding like rats. The students who could be kidnapped are safely hidden in the Academy, so there’s no reason for them to come out.”

But what if the travel ban is lifted?

“They’ll have to come out of their rat holes, even if just to find prey.”

“From now on, the teachers will take turns patrolling every corner of the city. And we will secretly roam the dark corners of the city.”

While the culprits are distracted by the teachers’ patrols.

The department heads planned to move personally to rescue the children.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Smack!

Haeshi, who had been rolling a lollipop in his mouth, made a smacking sound as he sucked and spat it out, then said:

“You know what? It’s been ages since I came here.”

“That’s because of the exams, isn’t it?”

“It’s not because of the exams! There’s a really serious crime happening outside right now.”

“You mean the lockdown that’s been imposed?”

A lockdown had been imposed on the entire city by order of the Academy.

You might wonder how an Academy can impose a city-wide lockdown, but it’s possible here.

This city was built because of the Academy’s presence, and its economy revolves around the students studying at the Academy, so that’s why.

“Yes. They say young nobles are being kidnapped!! Isn’t it scary? Isn’t it scary?”

“Yeah, that’s a big problem.”

“Ugh! Why are you talking so stiffly? Children just like me are becoming targets of crime!”

What am I supposed to do about it?

It’s not like I’m going to be a target of crime.

“If it’s that dangerous, shouldn’t you of all people have stayed away? What kind of guts do you have to be wandering around?”

“The knights and teachers are patrolling and managing security. And if the culprits show up, that’s great! I’ll catch them!”

Wow.

Typical troublemaking kid.

“Do you want to get scolded by your parents that badly?”

“Hmph! If not me, who else could save my friend?”

Haeshi is revving up to cause trouble.

When he’s in this state, as far as I know, there’s only one person who can stop him.

“Where’s your best friend?”

“Nairel had to go home for a bit.”

“Home during the semester? Wasn’t that not allowed? What about the lockdown?”

“She’s an exception to the lockdown, they say. Apparently, there was a request from the military, and she had to do it. They said it was really urgent.”

“A child already receiving requests from the military?”

“The knights came to escort her, so there shouldn’t be any danger.”

Haeshi shrugged and continued:

“We might be young, but we’re confident in our abilities. Especially Nairel, she’s in the plant domain, so she’s often called to various places. They say she can tell what effects even unfamiliar plants have.”

“That’s impressive.”

It’s an amazing ability.

Alchemists would go crazy if they had Nairel’s ability.

Haeshi’s nose seems to have grown higher, pleased that his friend’s competence was acknowledged.

“Why are you feeling proud? Hey, your nose is going to get longer at this rate.”

“Hehe, it’s always fun to brag about a friend!”

“This doesn’t seem like the time to be bragging about friends. Until Nairel comes back, listen to your teachers and don’t cause any trouble. Don’t go wandering around alone and get kidnapped.”

“I told you! If those criminal bastards show up, I’ll freeze them on the spot!”

He clenches his fist and punches the air, but it’s not threatening at all.

Seeing him act like this, it seems he really thinks he can take on a criminal organization by himself.

‘In movies, it’s always kids like him who get caught up with criminal organizations and get kidnapped.’

This won’t do.

I’ll have to make sure he gets into the Academy today.

It would be more troublesome if I just let him go and things escalate.

“I’ll take you there, so get up when you’re done with your candy.”

“Huh? You’re telling me to go already? I just got here!”

“You’ve eaten everything already. I said I’ll take you, so get up.”

The only things this kid did when he came here with Nairel were to chat with me and eat delicious food.

His belly was already plump, so I thought it would be better to take him back early.

“Why do you keep trying to send me away?”

Haeshi asks with his bright eyes full of puzzlement.

“In this situation, something bad could happen if you stay out late. Go back early.”

“There’s no need for that at all! Do you think I’m a baby?”

“You are a child. And if you disappear, it’ll be trouble for me, you know? Think about it. If you went missing after meeting me, who do you think the teachers would suspect?”

“Why would I disappear! I won’t disappear! And they won’t suspect you because you’re a commoner, you know?”

Crunch— Crunch—

He crunches on the lollipop he had been sucking on with his teeth.

As if to show he won’t listen to me, he puffs out his plump belly, but it’s not threatening at all.

“And if I’m going, I’m going. Why do you have to take me?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

“Ahahahaha!!”

Suddenly, Haeshi starts laughing while clutching his stomach.

My fist clenched tightly.

It was obvious why that kid was laughing.

‘I’d like to give him a knock on the head.’

Since it’s telekinesis anyway, it wouldn’t even be visible. Should I hit him just once?

While I was conflicted, Haeshi spoke with tears in his eyes.

“I’m a noble, you know? If criminals attack us, I’m the one who should save you, mister. But what nonsense are you spouting?”

“I know that, but still, moving with an adult reduces the chances of danger. That’s why I’m saying I’ll take you.”

Since I had no intention of telling Haeshi about being an Awakened, I ignored the mocking kid and went outside the general store.

The store owner is leaving, so there’s no way he wouldn’t follow, right?

“Ah! Wait for me!”

Sure enough, the kid follows right behind me.

When unexpected situations arise, there’s a big difference between having an adult nearby and not.

Whether or not I have the power to fight against them.

“The sun hasn’t even set yet!”

“…..”

“I was planning to play more before going back.”

“No. For a while, don’t come out. Play inside the Academy.”

No matter what kind of criminal organization it is, the fact that they kidnapped noble children means it’s not an ordinary group.

At the very least, it means all those criminals have the ability to kidnap Awakened ones, doesn’t it?

‘It’s probably a criminal organization created by illegal Awakened.’

In the main scenario, there is a story about a criminal organization formed by illegal Awakened.

If the criminal organization I know is involved in this kidnapping incident, it was certainly not a trivial matter.

‘At least they weren’t just one-time extras. They kept appearing and causing trouble.’

Aren’t humans truly foolish?

Even while contaminated areas threaten humanity, there are those who can’t control their selfish desires and commit crimes for personal gain.

As we leave the alley of the general store and walk a bit, I see students scattered here and there.

Usually, there should be many more students walking around.

“See? Everyone must have gone back early. There aren’t many students around, right?”

“You’re right. I thought there would be a lot of people since the teachers said they’re going around catching suspicious individuals…”

“Especially young kids like you are almost nowhere to be seen. Your guts are too big.”

Even Haeshi, who had been grumbling about going back too early, seemed to feel a bit uneasy seeing the quiet streets, looking a bit nervous.

Instead of taking the less populated shortcuts, we moved towards the Academy using the main roads.

In deserted alleys, the probability of crime occurring is higher, so we needed to be cautious.