Author's note : I am not dead yet.

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I am standing at the gates of Birnmin mansion surrounded by guards. They also have their swords at my neck so they can kill me any time. When guards saw me coming towards mansion, they panicked. One of them ran inside to alert Rodrik while rest of them stayed here to keep an eye on me. They also have taken my weapons from me, so i am defenseless. After a while, they take me inside. A guard is still pointing his sword at my back. I was back in the room where we talked before. Rodrik comes in smashing the door and Gena following behind him.

“You..You street dog. How dare you take my daughter away from me? I will kill you...Fredrik, BRING MY SWORD!”

“Calm down Rodrik, i have something important to tell you.” I said.

“Yes you do..you will tell me where you hide my daughter and then you DIEEEE…...Fredrik, why haven’t you brought my sword yet.”

“Yes there is a serious problem with Lisa. So please sit down and listen to me.” I said while being calm and composed.

Gena calmed Rodrik, and they both sat down on the couch.

“well actually……”

Telling parents that their daughter got kidnapped by her ex fiance is never easy. There expression turned from curiosity to anger and fear for their daughter. I already know how big the guy Nestor is and so do they. By the end Rodrik’s head is already red like volcano ready to burst any time.

“YOUUUUUU...IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT….I TOLD YOU GENA WE SHOULDN’T LET HER GO…..I WAS RIGHT...I WAS ALWAYS RIGHT….NOOOOOO..LISAAAAAA………”

Rodrik was shouting and venting up his anger at the wall. Gena who showed a tense expression at the beginning recomposed herself before speaking out.

“Rodrik…..Rodrik….RODRIK..LISTEN TO ME…”

“WHAT…”

“Calm down, there is no gain in shouting and screaming. Right now we should think about our daughter’s safety first.”

“guuuuu.. alright, so what am i supposed to do now?”

“Let’s ask Mr. Den. He must have come here not just to inform us right.”

“Yes, i am here because i want to save Lisa.”

“Save..you think a street dog like you can do anything. It’s your fault in the first place that this happened.”

“but…”

“SHUT UP...go back before i change my mind and kill you right here.” The later part was in low cold voice showing the seriousness of his speech.

“No..i am not going back until i have your cooperation. I am here to save Lisa. She is my friend and i am not going back until i get her back.”

Rodrik punches me before i could say anymore.

“Go back i said, you street dog.”

I look back at him with half opened eyes almost as if glaring at him.

“No, i said, Rodrik.”

He clenches his fist and walks out of the room. Gena motions the guard to go away. Once the guard left, she comes close and touches my cheek.

“I am sorry. Did that hurt?”

“No i can understand and it’s fine.”

“Give him a little time to process all this and then talk to him. Even though he is like that, for his daughter he won’t back down for any kind of help.”

“Yes i know thank you and i am sorry that i couldn't protect Lisa.”

“You don’t have to be. It was my decision to let Lisa go with you.”

I waited for more than three hours until Rodrik calmed down. Gena told me it was good time to talk to him now. So i go to the Lisa’s room where Rodrik is right now. He is standing in the balcony. Room has a lot of pink colored furniture and stuffed toys. It totally suits Lisa. Rodrik was gazing at the sky thinking about something. I started the talk.

“Hey Rodrik..” This is all i could come up with. I may need to raise my speaking skills later.

“....”

“I am here to talk Rodrik. If you say nothing this will go nowhere.”

“What is there to talk now? Just leave already, i will think of a way to save Lisa...:”

“No Rodrik, i am not leaving, not this time. WE will save Lisa together.”

Rodrik looked at me as if thinking about something and looked back at sky.

“I...I was always restrained by my parents into doing anything they wanted. My life is not something that i chose but something that is made for me. But still i was grateful because of Lisa.”

“Gena already told me about that.”

“I see..she did. You know i never opposed my parents even when they didn’t let me marry the woman i loved. My father always thought of Birnmin family and how to raise our reputation and authority. When Lisa was born they engaged her to Bristol’s son. That…just that was the only time when i opposed them and their decision. Lisa was my everything and i knew that Bristol family is not a place where i will give my daughter to.”

“Then you broke off the engagement.”

“Although it was hard but i tried my best for my daughter. Bristol family still hold grudge against me and my family for that. I also knew that i was doing same with my daughter as my parents did to me but there is difference. My parents cared about Birnmin family but i care about Lisa. So Den..”

He looked at me and grabbed my shoulders.

“I still don’t like you but if it is to save my daughter then i will do anything.”

“I am also prepared to do anything to save Lisa.”

He showed me a grin.

“Very well, follow me Den..”

So i guess i am not a street dog anymore.

He led me somewhere in the underground floor of this mansion. He stopped at a bookshelf and pulled a book out slightly tilting it. The bookshelf moved out of the way and a path leading to somewhere appeared. Well i guess there may be at least two or three secret pathways like this in this mansion.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow me. Before that i want to tell you something. Even though we hold a great position among the nobles, all we can do is to report this incident to the majesty. He will make an investigation about this. Nestor can easily hide Lisa during the investigation and fool the inspectors. So we have to do this without involving kingdom. This means directly attacking Bristol Castle at southern mountains.”

“I am already prepared for that. But there is problem of manpower.”

“hmmm..i see. Buying mercenaries won’t be enough. We need to get allies.”

While he thought about that we reached to a door. The door is tightly sealed and has many carvings on it. Rodrik place his hand on the door and with a golden light door opens slowly.

“what..is this..”

I couldn't speak well because of the sudden pressure i felt from inside the room. But Rodrik showed no unnatural signs and moved inside. Slowly i moved inside behind him.

The room has a strange atmosphere to it. It is hard to breath, stand or even talk. It’s like someone has increased gravity and took off all the air from this room. At the corner of the room there is a strange crystal glowing with different colors. Rodrik who was still unfazed moved towards the crystal.

“This is a family heirloom. My family is not related to army. We work for management related issues for the kingdom. But, we do have something to protect ourselves. This crystal emits a high amount of mana unsustainable for normal human. First time i came into this room, i passed out in a second. Maybe because your status is good that you are still standing.”

“What….are...we..doing..here?”

“You can't defeat Nestor because of your bad swordsmanship and his poison sword. Today we will fix that. After a lot of practice i can freely move around this room. I am used to the amount of mana in this room. I will not teach you magic but to control the mana. Prepare yourself Den, I will show no mercy.”

He said as he takes his sword out. I also take my sword out.

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At the Bristol castle in the southern mountains of kingdom…..

“..ugh..Wh-where am i?”

Lisa who opened her eyes slowly looked around. She found herself on a bed with her body covered under white sheets. The bed was huge enough for three people to sleep on it. The room she was in is even more luxurious. Then her eyes shifted towards a man staring outside the window. The man noticed her gaze and looked at her face before speaking.

“So you woke up? Lisa..”

“Nestor, where am i? Let me go back..”

“You are at my home, Lisa. Don’t worry you are safe here.”

“What happened to Den and Aria.”

“of course, i killed them.”

“no way, that can’t be possible..Den is..”

“a monster that can’t be killed..but you know what can i do right?..He is dead, Lisa”

Lisa clutches the sheets with fingers and glares at Nestor.

“What do you plan to do with me?”

Nestor who looked at Lisa’s expression moved towards the table beside the bed. He lifts a jar and pours water into a glass. He sits on the bed beside Lisa and offers her the glass.

“Here, Let’s calm down first. Why don’t you join me at the breakfast? We can talk about our future plans there.”

Lisa felt disgusted from Nestor’s attitude throws away the glass.

“Who do you think you are? I would rather die than being with you.”

“huh..that will be a problem.”

Nestor puts his hand on Lisa cheeks. Lisa pushes it away with force.

“Lisa, i love you and i will marry you. I won’t force you to anything but i won’t let you go until you choose to be with me. You will like me. I will make that happen.”

Nestor walked towards the door and before exiting he said one more thing to Lisa.

“Remember this Lisa, If i can’t have you than i will make sure that nobody else can’t have you either.”

Lisa never showed up for breakfast. When one of the maid came in the room while taking breakfast, she found Lisa crying while she buried her face into pillow. She was crying not over the fact that she is now kidnapped by Nestor but how she involved Den and Aria into this.