Ellie Golden and the Mischievous Transformation: Even an Ugly, Fat Girl Can Become a Handsome, Elite Guy

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

It's been five days since we were kidnapped.

Ariana and I were given only the bare minimum of food and water, with absolutely no freedom of movement. After passing through a checkpoint-like area that was oddly noisy, we were finally let out of the burlap sacks. Our hands were bound behind our backs, and our feet were shackled with iron restraints like handcuffs.

Strange patterns were etched into the restraints, and according to Ariana, the ones on both our hands and feet were magic tools designed for mana interference.

To use magic, both sets would have to be destroyed, which isn't possible with ordinary strength. That means we'd have to steal the key from the attackers and remove them, but we didn't know who had it. There's no way it doesn't exist—tools like these are expensive, so they'd definitely reuse them.

Destroying them every time would be ridiculously costly.

In fact, when I looked at the ankle restraints, I saw a keyhole.

Since then, I've tried using magic numerous times.

The result is always the same. At the very least, I wanted to use healing magic on Ariana. I yelled at the attackers to treat her, so they reluctantly tossed a bottle of healing potion at us.

After drinking it, Ariana's wounds seemed a little better, and her breathing stabilized. Even so, her stomach still hurt from being attacked with magic, and she sometimes made pained expressions and could barely eat. She had always been thin, but now she was even thinner and completely exhausted.

I reached behind me and pulled out a small nail that had been wedged between the planks of the carriage, and carefully stabbed it into the cloth covering the carriage so it wouldn't make noise.

I tossed the nail aside and peeked through the new hole.

Outside stretched an unremarkable plain, leading into a forest in the distance.

The road was paved with red bricks, suggesting that this was a major highway. The carriage was moving fast, and scenery flew past us one after another.

Even recalling the map, I didn't remember any red-brick highways. Had I studied more, I might've figured out roughly where we were. But it's too late now. I moved away from the hole and sat down, leaning against a barrel. There was nothing in the carriage that could be used to escape.

If I was caught wandering around the carriage, a "Sleep Mist" spell would immediately come flying at me.

There are three possible destinations I can think of.

One is the theocratic nation Seller to the east, which favors humans.

Another is the beastman-ruled Panta country to the southwest.

The last is the desert country Sandy, across the Free Border.

I remember someone saying that things were tense between Sandy and Panta, like war might break out. I really hope we're not headed there.

Still, their target is me, right? The other day they mentioned something about the client's "hobby," but no way—I'm not being taken to some pervert who's into fat guys, right? I seriously can't handle that. That'd be insane. I have to escape, or things are going to get real bad.

"Meal time."

A henchman-looking guy tossed a bottle of water and a paper bag into the carriage, then pulled his head back out. He seemed irritated. Maybe something was up ahead, or maybe he was just in a bad mood—I couldn't tell. Either way, I needed to eat or I wouldn't have any strength when the time came.

"Ariana."

"Nn..."

I woke her as she lay down.

Ariana leaned painfully against the wooden crate behind her. I wanted to support her, but my hands were bound behind my back, so I couldn't.

"Think you can eat?"

"Nn..."

Her body was rejecting the idea. But her rational mind knew she needed to eat to regain her strength. Forcing herself, Ariana nodded and opened the paper bag. Her hands were only tied with rope, and in front of her, so she could still manage. She awkwardly took out a sandwich and nibbled just the edge.

"Keh... keh..."

She looked to be in serious pain. At worst, her internal organs might be damaged. Her usually perky fox ears were now limp.

"Are you okay? You can at least drink water, right?"

"Nn..."

She gave up on the sandwich and put it back in the bag, then tried to open the bottle. It was sealed with a cork, and maybe because she had no strength, she couldn't pull it out. I turned around and offered my hands behind me. Ariana carefully aligned the cork with my right hand.

"Hold it steady, okay?"

"Nn..."

After confirming she was holding the bottle, I pulled out the cork. It had been sealed really tight. What a pain.

Once she drank some water and calmed down, she held the sandwich and fed it to me. We'd gotten used to this routine. If she didn't feed me, I'd have to crawl around like a dog to eat. Maybe the attackers had considered even that when they tied her hands in front.

About two hours later, the attackers started shouting to each other.

"We're almost there!"

"Got the pass, right? Get the money ready."

That sounded like the henchman and the boss. Almost there?

Where are we "there"?

I crawled over to the hole I made earlier and peeked outside. A guard horse was running right beside us, blocking the view. A wave of bad feelings washed over me.

The carriage kept stopping and starting. We might've been in a line. After about fifteen minutes, the boss talked to a man whose voice I hadn't heard before, and then the carriage started moving smoothly again. It was noisy outside. I could hear hawkers and people passing by.

○

Looks like we arrived in a town.

From the conversation between the guard and the boss, I learned the name of the place was "Toctol." The attackers seemed relieved to be allowed into the town and were chatting more. I strained my ears for any useful info, but the carriage came to a halt.

"Out."

"Like I can!"

I snapped back at the man. How was I supposed to move with my hands and feet restrained?

"Tch."

Clicking his tongue without hiding his annoyance, the toothless man climbed into the carriage and grabbed my arm. He yanked me out roughly, dragging me across the floor and dumping me outside.

"Hey, help me out."

"No way."

"I can't lift this fatass alone."

"What happened to your fancy body enhancement?"

"Don't got that kinda skill."

"Knew you were full of it."

"Damn right. If I had it, I'd be in the knight squad by now."

Griping back and forth, the two vulgar men lifted me and carried me into a stopped house. Ariana was hoisted like a sack of rice by another man.

Must be the attackers' hideout. A sword was casually stuck into a barrel near the entrance, ready for battle anytime. Down the hall, we came to a plain living room with two three-seater sofas and a single-seater placed haphazardly. There were few belongings and no sign of daily life. The air reeked of mold and dampness.

They threw me on the sofa, and the toothless man stood in front of a giant painting, about three meters square. The painting showed a creepy sunset lake. It looked like something that would make you wet yourself if you saw it alone at night. The man suddenly raised his right hand and placed it flat on the painting.

"Thou know what I desire, I know not what thou desire. Yet I seek thee, though thy form remains unseen."

The frame glowed, and the sunset lake in the painting was sucked into a whirlpool and turned pitch black. It writhed violently like a jellyfish, and a hole appeared where the painting had been.

"Let's go."

"Hey, switch with me. I'll take the skinny one."

"No way."

Refused, the toothless man clicked his tongue dramatically and lifted me with a look of disgust. The other guy reluctantly went to my feet, and together they carried me into the hole where the painting was. The man carrying Ariana followed behind, of course.

The tunnel led underground.

Ariana and I were dumped into an iron cell in an underground room. The toothless man tossed two blankets at us carelessly.

"Stay quiet and we won't do nothin'."

The snarling man's face was filthy. His unshaved beard held crumbs from this morning's bread, and his face was caked in grime. On top of that, he stank.

Get away. Don't put your face near mine. Gross.

Maybe satisfied that I turned my face away, the toothless man let out a crude laugh and locked the cell.

A loud clunk echoed through the cell as the heavy iron lock fell into place.

The men sneered at me and climbed the stairs, disappearing.

○

The cell was a thick iron cage. Destroying it without magic was impossible. I laid a blanket on the cold floor, helped Ariana lie down, and covered her with the other. She was severely weakened. She seemed half-conscious, muttering mine and her siblings' names.

"Ellie... Ellie..."

"It's okay, Ariana. I'm right here."

"Ellie... Ellie..."

I held her hand for a while. It had become so cold and thin.

Anger welled up inside me, but I reminded myself that fury wouldn't help us escape, and calmly examined the cell. I had to figure out a way to get out.

I mean, being calm in this situation? I'm a genius. Heart of steel.

I went through my usual self-hypnosis routine.

In tough times, I'd always tell myself "I can do this, I'm a genius," and it became a habit. I remembered even saying it at work. Well, it's true, so whatever.

I'm a genius! Yay me!

Still, just a few months ago I was a hotshot salesman, and now I'm a fat, ugly guy in a prison cell—who'd believe it?

I imagined my friends' shocked faces and cracked a grin.

You gotta laugh in times like this.

Anyway, there's gotta be some way to escape. In dramas or movies, someone fakes a stomachache or illness to call the guard and steal the key. That's the classic move. But now that I'm actually thrown in a jail cell, I realize—no way that'd work.

Besides, this is another world where life is cheap. You could be killed by monsters, attacked by bandits, or die in a magic duel. Death is way closer than in Japan. Even if I faked being sick, it wouldn't matter—they'd either ignore me or cast healing magic and leave me.

But if I give up, Ariana's finished too.

I swore to myself that I'd save Ariana no matter what.

That's all I've thought about since we were taken.

If Ellie had been alive and become friends with Ariana, she would've told Clarice all about it, introduced her to Amy, and they'd eat lunch together every day and go to all kinds of places. They'd study at school, train magic at the training ground, fight off bullies, and walk home talking about love.

Ellie was a wonderful lady who cared for others and treated people kindly. She treasured her first friend like family, and if they were ever hurt, she'd protect and defend them, even taking their place. That's the kind of girl she was.

I care about Ariana too. When we were attacked by the Bone Lizard, if she hadn't been there, we'd all have died. She treats me like family, comforts me when I'm down, laughs with me when I'm happy, and her shy, secret smile has lifted my spirits so many times.

There's no option where I don't save her. I like Ariana. She's like a cute little sister and a friend. If Ellie had met her, she definitely would've liked her too.

Ariana's situation is tragic. She shoulders her family's fate and singlehandedly supports her six younger siblings. Without running from that crushing pressure, she faces it head-on. I haven't been able to help this brave, hardworking girl at all. I can't let it end in such a half-hearted way. I want to save her and support her as a friend, even just a little.

Huh?

Thinking seriously about all this made me tear up......

I don't even know if it's me crying or if it's Ellie crying.

I pride myself on not being the kind of guy who cries over something like this.

But why......

Sitting with my knees up, I wiped my tears on the hem of my one-piece dress.

If I were alone, I'd probably be in total despair. Am I saving Ariana, or is she saving me...... maybe it's both. I turned around, rubbed Ariana's fox ears with my bound hands for comfort, and psyched myself up.

No matter what, I'm getting out of here.

I'm going back to Greifner, no matter what.