Chapter 94

“I’m home… Miku, are you here?”

Silence…

“Nn…?”

I noticed something strange as soon as I got home.

The place was unusually quiet.

Usually, the moment I walk in, Miku runs over to greet me right away.

But today that is not there.

“Is she sleeping…?”

I wondered if she was napping and looked around for her, but Miku was nowhere to be found.

She had disappeared without a trace.

“…!! Don’t tell me… kidnapping…!?”

Did someone come into the house while I was gone and take Miku…!?

The thought flashed through my mind.

Just then—

Brrrrring…

“…!?”

The landline started ringing suddenly.

Startled, I hesitantly reached for the receiver and answered the call.

“Hello… this is Ando.”

“I have your sister.”

“…!?”

As soon as I picked up, a low voice said those words.

A shock like electricity ran through my brain.

“What do you mean!? Who are you!?”

I couldn’t help and yelled into the receiver.

“Who I am doesn’t matter… you’re a mid-level explorer, aren’t you?”

“How do you know that…?”

“Give me money, and I’ll let your sister go.”

The person behind the voice ignored my question entirely, while speaking in an emotionless tone.

“M-Money…?”

“Yeah, a mid-level explorer like you should have plenty saved up, right? Give me all of it, do that and I’ll release your sister.”

“I-I understand! You can have as much money as you want… that is why, just let me hear her voice first. I need to know she’s okay…!”

Nothing matters more than Miku’s safety.

Trying to keep myself calm so that he wouldn’t hurt Miku, I asked him to confirm her well-being in a calm voice.

“Ahh Fine, I’ll let you hear her.”

After the voice said that, I could hear a sobbing sound from the receiver.

“Uuu… Onii-chan… onii-chan…”

“Miku!?”

What came through the receiver was unmistakably Miku’s voice.

Thank goodness.

She’s safe.

For now, at least, I felt a huge wave of relief knowing that Miku was alive.

If she’s alive… I can save her…!

“Onii-chan… I’m sorry… this person suddenly barged into the house and…”

“Hey! Stop saying unnecessary things!”

The kidnapper yelled at Miku on the other end.

“…”

I almost squeezed the receiver to pieces with my grip.

“O-Onii-chan… I’m sorry… you don’t have to come for me… you don’t have to give him the money… you worked so hard to earn that money, don’t waste it on me…”

“Kuahaha… oh, this is great…! Such a beautiful sibling bond…!”

The kidnapper sneered as he spoke.

“So she says? Onii-sama? Of course, you won’t abandon such a sweet little sister, will you? If you don’t bring the money, she’s as good as gone you know.”

“If it’s about money, I-I’ll pay…! That’s why, just don’t lay a finger on my sister…!”

“Okay. That’s what I want to hear. Now, I’ll give you the instructions… bring all the cash you’ve got to the place I’ll tell you… I mean all of it…! Don’t you dare hold back, or you’ll pay for it!!”

“I get it…! I’ll bring it all immediately!”

“Alright… well then, I’ll give you the location now… bring a bag full of cash to the designated spot in one hour… don’t be late. For every five minutes you’re late, I’ll start cutting off your sweet sister’s fingers, one by one.”

“…”

I almost lost myself in rage.

The receiver creaked under the pressure of my grip.

‘Fuu~ Fuu~’ Breathing deeply, I calmed myself down after several breaths.

After that, the kidnapper gave me the location where I had to bring the money…