I Was Kidnapped By The Strongest Guild
Chapter 288: Kidnapping Modification

We had to stay in this world for at least a week.

That's what Yeoreum said as she gathered us together.

"King, the flowers here are just like the ones where we live," Levinas said.

"Yeah, there's a lot of things that are the same here."

The children and I sat huddled together on the grass, swinging our outstretched legs back and forth.

When we started talking about flowers, Gaeul buried her nose in the petals.

"Alright, kids, pay attention."

Tap tap, Yeoreum tapped the ground with a stick she'd found somewhere.

At the word 'attention', we all reflexively repeated it together.

"We're going to explore this world for a week and then return home."

"Can't we fix it right away?" I asked.

"No. Looking at the usage time, it seems we'll need to go back and forth a few times."

"Ah..."

So we can't solve it in one exploration.

As I nodded in understanding, Levinas, who was sitting next to me, shot her hand up.

"Where are we gonna sleep?! Are we camping?!"

"Yeah, something like that. We don't have anything in this world, so... we'll probably have to sleep rough..."

Yeoreum looked at me.

It seemed like she was asking for help from me, the outdoor living expert.

"Don't worry about the living arrangements. I'll make an awesome tent."

"Really? Can you do it?"

"Yeah. I'll make a great tent for us."

Thump thump.

I pounded my chest proudly.

There was no reason to be shy, at least in this area.

"Okay. Then the kids will be the tent team. I'll go into the city to find information."

"By yourself?"

"Yeah. You said there are no beast-kin in Gyeoul's world, right?"

"Ah..."

That's right.

We could hide it, but there was no reason to go into the busy city with ears and a tail.

It would be better if only Yeoreum went into the city.

"We should set up the tent near the portal here. There's no trace of people coming and going."

"Okay. I'll do that."

"Alright. But Gyeoul..."

Yeoreum's expression darkened a bit.

There was an inexplicable worry in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Um... don't you miss your family and friends?"

"Ah..."

So that's what she was worried about.

I shook my head at Yeoreum, telling her I was fine.

"It wouldn't be good to meet my family looking like this."

"W-well..."

"But it's okay. I'm just happy knowing my family is safe."

It wasn't just something I said to reassure Yeoreum.

I was truly relieved that my world had returned to normal.

Yeoreum seemed to realize there was no lie in my words or actions, and she gave an awkward smile.

"Okay. But let's make sure to meet your family someday. Got it?"

"Yes."

My tail swayed gently.

I knew it wasn't just something she was saying to comfort me.

Yeoreum would really make sure I met my family someday.

"Well then, I'm off to investigate. Kids, you know what to do, right? Be careful of strangers. And..."

Yeoreum told us what to be careful about.

We had to listen to over a dozen precautions.

"Okay, I'm really going now. I might be back late, so don't worry too much. Got it?"

"Yes."

"Come back safely!"

"Bye-bye."

Yeoreum started climbing down the mountain.

Even though the path wasn't paved, she managed to descend without any problems.

We watched her back as she left, then turned to look at each other.

"Let's work hard on making the tent."

"Yeah... but where do we get the materials?"

Saebyeok looked around.

Being in the middle of the mountains with nothing around, it was hard to find materials.

Of course, this wasn't a problem for me.

As a resident of this world, I knew where everything was.

"If we go over there, we'll find plenty."

I led the children down the mountain.

My wagging tail accompanied the first step towards saving my world.

**

After coming down the mountain, Yeoreum headed straight for the city center.

To learn anything, she needed to go where there were lots of people.

'...But I don't have any money.'

A bar or a cafe.

She could hear people's conversations in such places.

Unfortunately, she didn't have a single coin of this world's currency.

'This is bad.'

Even if she wanted to do a short-term part-time job, she had no ID.

Even with money, she couldn't rent a house without the necessary documents.

Yeoreum let out a hollow laugh at the strangely familiar situation.

'How can I get money?'

The peaceful city center.

They must clean frequently, as there wasn't a single empty bottle in sight.

Yeoreum naturally started wandering around the city looking for bottles.

'Even without mana, the living standards seem similar to ours.'

Everything was similar except for the mana, so why couldn't she find any empty bottles?

Our kids usually find them easily all over the place.

The children's meals were her immediate concern.

She needed to figure out how to handle food, clothing, and shelter.

While searching for empty bottles, Yeoreum eavesdropped on conversations around her.

"Is Mr. Jang's son doing well?"

She overheard the conversation of some elders playing janggi while looking for bottles.

"Jiu-ya, don't go too far, okay? Stay where mommy can see you."

She also caught snippets of mothers' conversations sitting on playground benches.

She listened in on various people's conversations, but there wasn't any particularly useful information.

'This method might not work.'

She had made various preparations for Gyeoul, but hadn't prepared for living as a homeless person.

Just as Yeoreum's shoulders slumped in defeat, she heard the voices of two girls from a nearby alley.

"Hey, have you heard that rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"They say there's an organization in our country that kidnaps people and modifies them."

It was a common urban legend that could be heard anywhere. But somehow, this legend felt familiar.

'Kidnapping and modifying...?'

In our world, this actually happened.

Because of that, Saebyeok...

It could just be playful chatter between kids, but it was a conversation Yeoreum couldn't help but listen to.

"What do they modify them into?"

"I don't know that either."

"Hehe... Cat-eared pretty girls?"

"...Is that all you can think about?"

"What? I think it'd be awesome if cat-eared pretty girls actually existed."

"Even if it's because they were kidnapped and forcibly modified?"

Step step, the two girls walked away.

Intrigued by the oddly familiar conversation, Yeoreum followed them.

She was a bit far and her hearing was weakened without mana, but thanks to her training, she could still hear their conversation.

"Hmm... I guess forced modification is a bit much?"

"Yeah, it is. But I think the most shocking thing would be how people treat you after you've changed, rather than the change itself."

"...I guess that could be true."

Yeoreum felt a twinge in her chest at the girls' conversation.

She had forcibly changed Gyeoul's appearance before, and even changed how she treated her.

Although it was for the better, force was still force.

"Ahem..."

Maybe it's time to stop listening to this conversation.

Just as Yeoreum was about to stop, the two students stood at a fork in the road.

"I'm off."

"Okay. Get home safe."

I guess they're parting ways here anyway.

Yeoreum touched her lips, then turned and walked away.

She decided to look into something else.

**

Yoon Da-in.

After parting with her friend, she walked faster than usual.

There had been rumors going around recently about an increasing number of disappearances.

'Are people really getting kidnapped?'

It was creepy.

Yoon Da-in rubbed her arms and tried to think of something better.

'It'd be nice if it was a group that kidnaps people to give them cat ears.'

If it was that kind of organization, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I got caught?

No, I prefer comforting others rather than being the one comforted.

Yoon Da-in indulged in fantasies mixed with her preferences as she got on the bus.

'...Nah, it can't be kidnapping.'

Yoon Da-in looked out the window, lost in various thoughts.

After several stops like this.

As the bus passed by a mountain, Yoon Da-in caught sight of something.

The backs of four young girls.

They were carrying plastic bags on their heads, filled with who-knows-what junk.

It was cute how they quickly climbed up the mountain, as if running away.

Their shabby clothes added to their cuteness.

'Are they making a secret base or something?'

Kids get scolded if adults catch them making bases up in the mountains.

Yoon Da-in could understand why the children were moving so secretly and quickly.

'They must be having fun play-'

"Huh?"

Yoon Da-in, who had been watching the children with a warm gaze, couldn't help but be startled.

She saw a golden tail swiftly wagging behind one of the children.

'A tail?'

Yoon Da-in had exceptionally good eyesight.

That's why she could see how realistic the tail on the child's back was.

That tail was still wagging in real-time.

"D-driver! Please let me off here!"

"Student, you need to get off at the bus stop."

"Just this once, please! It's really urgent!"

"Haaa."

Whoosh-

The bus door opened, and Yoon Da-in quickly jumped out.

Confident in her physical abilities, she chased after the children.

"Huff."

Halfway up the mountain.

In a secluded spot where no one comes, there were four children.

Having reached a flat area of the mountain, the children lowered the plastic bags from their heads.

Their hidden heads were now revealed.

'Ah...!'

Two children with rare white hair.

And above that, animal ears.

These were real ears, incomparable to any cosplay props.

Yoon Da-in remembered what her friend had said.

That there might be an organization that kidnaps people and modifies them.

"Let's set up the tent over here. There's a stream nearby, so we can catch fish to eat too."

"Yeah! But are there no carrots?!"

Children hiding from people's eyes, living in secret.

All sorts of fantasies started popping up in Yoon Da-in's mind.

Are these children hiding here after escaping from an organization's experiments?

While hiding their changed appearances?

Yoon Da-in's heart started pounding.

This was a meeting brought about by the portal.

---

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