IDED | Chapter 115

Episode 115

“Yeah! I hit you! So what?”

“Levin. You really have no fear, do you?”

“Not as much as you, Hyung! Hey, Zed Hyung. Listen to me while I’m still being nice.”

Serena dusted herself off and stood up. Azaid looked up at her blankly, wondering what nonsense she was about to spout this time.

To someone who had always endured everything in silence, Levin, despite being somewhat arrogant, was an endearingly bold younger sibling.

Serena sternly warned him while brushing off the grass stuck to her clothes.

“I’ll make this clear. On the day of the Founding Festival, at 5 PM, right here.”

“No, I can’t…”

“I’ll wait until you come! If you don’t, I’ll call you a coward for the rest of your life. No, actually, I just won’t play with you anymore! We’re done!”

With those words, Serena turned and bolted away as fast as she could—just in case he shouted back that he wouldn’t go.

When she glanced back, Azaid was still smiling. And when their eyes met, he casually waved his hand. That annoyed her even more, so she quickly turned her head away.

“Did you hit your head and lose your mind? Why do you keep smiling? It’s irritating.”

Despite her cold words, a smile crept onto Serena’s lips.

‘He wouldn’t really not show up, would he?’

She had gone this far—there was no way Azaid wouldn’t come. Serena was certain that deep down, Azaid had been pleased when she suggested they ditch together.

If he had truly wanted to refuse, he would have flatly said no.

“Why does a handsome guy keep smiling like that? It’s annoying. There’s nothing good about him except his face.”

Serena snorted as she watched Azaid still waving his hand.

***

The day of the Founding Festival arrived, and Serena showed up early at the tree.

The agreed time had long passed, but there was no sign of Azaid.

She considered leaving, thinking he really wouldn’t come, but hesitated. He might still show up, she told herself, unable to take a step away.

She wavered for a long time, waiting for him. Only after dusk fell did she finally see Azaid running toward her, drenched in sweat.

He quickly climbed the hill, pushing his golden hair back with an annoyed expression.

“Haah, this idiot actually waited.”

“Oh, you came. If midnight had passed, I really would have cut ties with you.”

Serena grinned and handed him a handkerchief.

“Hyung, we don’t have time. We missed the parade, but the festival is just starting, so let’s hurry up and go have fun.”

She grabbed Azaid’s hand and took off running before he could get mad.

“Hey! Hey! I’m out of breath!”

She had to slow down quickly because her weak older brother kept groaning while chasing after her.

“What kind of guy is this weak?”

“I ran here because I was afraid you’d wait, and now you’re talking nonsense. Haah.”

“Ohhh, thank you, Hyungnim.”

“Shut up. I shouldn’t have come. I should’ve let you wait and go home.”

“You’re saying things you don’t mean.”

Serena scrunched up her face playfully to tease him. Now that she thought about it, maybe from waiting too long, she wasn’t feeling great.

Her side was starting to ache, but she kept quiet, afraid he’d suggest going back.

Just then, Azaid intertwined their fingers and spoke.

“There are a lot of people, so hold on tight.”

“Ohhh, now you’re acting like a real Hyung.”

“I am your Hyung.”

“Sure, Zed.”

“Forget it. I’m done talking to you.”

That was how they made their way toward the bustling festival.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

Serena and Azaid were kidnapped.

Her side hurt too much. Serena wanted to bend over because her side was burning, but her entire body was tightly bound with ropes, preventing her from doing so.

She twisted her body, trying to break free, when a familiar voice came from beside her.

“If you keep moving, your whole body will get scraped up.”

“Azaid? Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here, Levin.”

Serena, who had thought she was alone, finally let out a sigh of relief. Of course, the situation was dire since they had both been captured, but it was less terrifying than being tied up alone.

Unlike her trembling, fear-stricken voice, Azaid’s tone was calm, like a gentle wave. Almost as if he had experienced this kind of thing many times and had grown numb to it.

But there was no way Serena, who was too scared, could notice that.

After several deep breaths to steady herself, she finally spoke in a more composed voice.

“What happened?”

“Looks like we got kidnapped. Judging by their looks and speech, I think they’re slave traders from the kingdom.”

“That’s insane.”

If they were really slave traders from the kingdom, they were in serious trouble. Their main customers weren’t the empire, where slavery was abolished, but the neighboring kingdoms. If they didn’t escape soon, they would be sold off.

“We don’t have time to sit around. We have to get out of here.”

Growing anxious, Serena twisted her body again, and Azaid spoke.

“I’m sorry. You got caught up in this because of me. Actually, I… I’m the pri—”

“Does it matter whose fault it is right now? Just think of a way to escape!”

Serena snapped irritably as she searched for something to cut the ropes.

If the lantern had been fancier, the surroundings might have been brighter, but there was no way kidnappers would be that considerate.

Just as she was kicking around with her bound feet, something caught against them.

“It’s fine. Just wait a little longer, and my mother will come to rescue us.”

Serena, who had been desperately trying to break free, snapped in frustration. She was already irritated, but Azaid’s calmness made her even more upset.

“Are you a mama’s boy or what? Sitting around waiting for your mom? If she doesn’t show up, we’ll end up on a shrimp boat!”

“…If you just fixed that mouth of yours, you’d have a lot of friends. You’re a pretty with such a foul tongue.”

“I have plenty of friends! What’s your problem?”

“Really? I’ve never seen you introduce anyone else before.”

“T-That’s because I haven’t been here long! …You little—like you have any friends either!”

As Serena huffed in anger, the boy chuckled.

“Guess we’re two friendless kids who became friends.”

“I told you, I have friends!”

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Levin, are you feeling calmer now?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Serena realize that Azaid had been joking to calm her down.

The truth was, her hands and feet were already trembling. She had been pretending to be tough in the face of overwhelming fear.

She suddenly felt like she had lost to him.

Despite being normally timid and lazy, he was staying strong in a crisis, and for that, she was a little grateful.

“Still, bringing up your mom was a bit much. How would she even find us here?”

“She’s got a knack for tracking me down.”

Clang!

At that moment, the tightly shut door burst open.

A group of burly men, around five or six in number, entered the warehouse.

“Well, well, you’re awake.”

The leader smirked, throwing more oil onto the dying fire. The flames roared back to life, illuminating the surroundings.

“The kid’s too young. I don’t even know if they can work properly.”

The man glanced back and forth between Azaid and Serena, whispering something to the person next to him.

The words she caught were chilling, and Serena’s body trembled uncontrollably.

“Hurry up. The ship is leaving soon.”

At a nod from the leader, the men began untying Serena and Azaid from the pillar. The moment his hands and feet were freed, Azaid grabbed Serena’s hand and pulled her behind him.

“Let this kid go.”

“What the hell is he saying?”

“I’m the one you want, aren’t I?”

At Azaid’s bold demand, the leader let out a loud, mocking laugh. His laughter echoed through the quiet warehouse, sending chills down Serina’s spine.

The suffocating silence was shattered the moment the leader knocked Azaid to the ground.

“Ugh!”

“Azaid!”

Azaid tumbled onto the floor. As if that wasn’t enough, the leader loomed over him threateningly. Panicking, Serena rushed toward Azaid.

“Stop it!”

Caught off guard, Azsid struggled to get up. Seeing him like that, Serena couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

“Who do you think you are, hitting a kid like that?!”

“Hah, these brats…”

“Stop hitting him! Aren’t you ashamed, grown men acting like this?!”

Serena, sobbing, pounded her tiny fists against the leader’s legs.

Annoyed by her whining, the leader shoved her aside and shouted.

“You think I’m playing around with you? Get out of my way!”

“Ahh!”

Serena crashed into a pillar, groaning in pain. To make matters worse, there was a lantern hanging from the very pillar she had hit.

“Oh—”

Serena let out a startled gasp, but she couldn’t stop the lantern from reacting to the impact and swaying dangerously.

With a clatter, the lantern finally fell to the ground.

Instinctively, Serena raised her hands to shield herself from the splashing hot oil, but she couldn’t stop a single drop from landing on her forehead.

“Ah! It’s hot!”

She squeezed her eyes shut from the pain—only to open them at the sound of terrified screams.

“AAAAAHH!”

“Help! Someone help!”

Flames suddenly erupted across the warehouse, engulfing the men in an instant. It wasn’t just a small fire from spilled oil—massive flames roared through the space, consuming the men as if they were dancing embers.

The most shocking thing was that the fire never reached Serena. It was as if the flames had a will of their own, deliberately avoiding her.

“W-what is this…?”

Serena staggered backward, overwhelmed by the bizarre sight. Then, suddenly remembering Azaid, she turned around—only to be met with an unbelievable scene.

“Azaid!”