The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Solike was born as a crow beastman in an ordinary family.

Although his family were commoners, their circumstances were relatively decent. Their home was filled with harmony, and laughter was a constant presence.

As he transitioned from a happy childhood to adolescence, his younger sister, Hailey, was born.

Hailey, born with a chronic illness, brought concerns to the family, but she was more lovable than anyone in the world.

Solike had a deep affection for his much younger sister, to the extent that he would give his own life for her.

As Solike approached adulthood and was about to become independent, news arrived unexpectedly.

“Solike! Your parents…!”

It was the news of his parents’ deaths.

Suddenly thrust into the role of the family head without any preparation, he didn’t know what to do, like a child who had lost his way.

The path ahead seemed daunting, but he had his younger sister to protect.

“I’ll never leave you, Hailey.”

Solike pledged as he hugged her.

From that day onwards, Solike took on the responsibility of running the household and tirelessly searched for any work that came his way.

He put his best effort into everything, but the void left by his parents was too vast.

Particularly challenging was the cost of Hailey’s medicine, which was not a small expense. 

Their savings had long run dry, and their financial situation had become dire.

Desperate to find a way to earn more money, Solike was fortunate to receive an offer through the information market. He had briefly worked as a messenger for the information market before, and the manager had recognized Solike’s skill in gathering information.

Without hesitation, Solike accepted the proposal.

Thankfully, since joining the information market, his income had significantly improved compared to before.

However, even with the increased earnings, Solike couldn’t be satisfied. He needed to save as much money as possible, in case Hailey’s health took a turn for the worse.

Eventually, Solike established his own information store and developed an obsession with money like never before.

“Big brother, when are you coming back?”

Holding a teddy bear, Hailey asked with a forlorn expression.

Solike gently stroked Hailey’s head.

“I’m sorry. It looks like I’ll be late today.”

“…”

“Soon, Aunt Meldy will come. Make sure to take your medicine.”

Although Hailey looked disappointed, Solike had to earn money. Their business was finally gaining ground, but it was still far from enough, and they had no idea when Hailey might fall ill again.

Arriving at the information store building one day, Solike noticed someone waiting at the door.

“You’re here again today?”

This person was a mysterious practitioner, wearing a robe and a hood that concealed their identity. They occasionally came to sell elixirs, and their secrecy made Solike uneasy.

‘Well, their elixirs are certainly effective.’

The elixirs they made sold for a high price, so Solike decided to turn a blind eye to their unknown identity. He feared that if he investigated too deeply, the deal might be terminated.

“Here’s your payment. I look forward to the next elixir.”

The practitioner simply nodded without responding and left.

‘Can’t even tell if they’re a man or a woman.’

They seemed to use elixirs that altered their voice, but Solike had a vague sense that they were a woman.

He didn’t have a clear preference for either gender; as long as the elixirs were effective, it was fine.

As he went about his busy days, Solike received some good news. It was about a new medicine that could treat Hailey’s condition. After enduring so much suffering, it seemed that the sun was finally shining on Solike’s life.

Solike immediately took Hailey to the doctor’s office. They arrived at a newly opened clinic, where a young doctor welcomed them warmly.

The doctor was kind, but Solike couldn’t shake an odd feeling.

“We can cure her.”

However, this was the first time Solike had received such a definitive answer, so he ignored his instincts and entrusted Hailey’s treatment to the doctor.

Indeed, with each visit, Hailey’s complexion improved noticeably. However, after leaving the clinic, she would emit a faint smell of blood.

“It seems that we need to start focused treatment now. How about hospitalization for four days?”

The doctor’s suggestion made Solike hesitate for a moment.

Four days… The doctor’s skills were undeniable, but there was still a lingering unease.

Above all, why was this young man the only one able to treat Hailey?

Solike had no way of bringing Hailey to any other skilled doctor, so he reluctantly agreed.

With the help of a neighbor, Solike arranged for Hailey’s care while he spent his frantic days. 

Then, one late night, a neighbor came to visit.

“Yes? Aunt Meldy hasn’t been back since yesterday?”

“That’s right. She went to take care of Hailey and hasn’t returned.”

“…I’ll go to the clinic once. Sir, please look somewhere else.”

Solike headed straight for the clinic.

It was probably late at night, and the business hours must have ended, but he wanted to check just in case.

Despite thinking that everything would be fine, his footsteps gradually quickened.

Upon arriving at the clinic, as expected, the door was tightly shut. It seemed like everyone had gone home, judging by the lights being off.

About to turn back, crows perched on the building above cawed.

The smell of blood. The smell of blood.

The crows cried out. It was a clinic, so it was natural for there to be a smell of blood, right…?

Under normal circumstances, he would have ignored it.

However, in life, there were moments when one couldn’t ignore their instincts.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Solike broke into the clinic.

The inside of the clinic, with the lights off, felt chillingly cold. The atmosphere had changed significantly compared to when he had visited a few days ago.

Solike picked up the lamp placed on a table and entered the hospital room directly. The beds were empty.

‘Where could Hailey have gone?’

Even Solike’s nose caught a faint scent of blood.

While he was looking around, he noticed a hidden door behind the hospital beds. Opening it, an unpleasant odor, almost nauseating, hit him.

After smell came sight.

In the center of the not-so-large room lay a bed, and the floor around it was entirely covered in red. Solike was shocked by the horrifying scene and dropped the lamp.

Clang!

At the loud noise, the doctor, who had been standing in front of the bed, slowly raised his head.

“Ah, it was noisy outside.”

The doctor, upon confirming Solike, muttered nonchalantly to himself. Then, he lifted a dagger high above the bed.

On the bed lay Hailey.

“Hailey!!”

Solike shouted, rushing towards the doctor.

However, before he could reach him, Solike was thrown back.

Solike hit the wall with force, coughing violently. It wasn’t a regular clinic; the doctor had cast an offensive spell.

“No… Hailey… You can’t…”

“It’s perfect timing. To complete my curse, I need one more body.”

The doctor’s eyes, previously calm, now gleamed with madness. He picked up the dagger he had thrown carelessly earlier and approached Solike.

An ominous and fiery aura swirled around the doctor’s feet, growing even larger. Suddenly, the released magic struck one of Solike’s eyes.

“Aaah!”

Feeling excruciating pain, Solike clutched his eye, writhing in agony. He would have preferred being cut with a knife rather than this suffering.

The doctor checked his swaying magical power and smirked.

Eventually, a laughter full of ecstasy burst out.

“Ha, hahaha. Hahaha! Finally, with this…!”

The doctor, barely holding back his laughter, glanced at Solike, who was writhing on the floor in pain.

“Remember this as an honor. I’ll use you as the first experiment.”

A much larger and more ominous aura surrounded the doctor than before.

Unintelligible words poured out from his mouth.

As the doctor continued his incantation, Solike’s heart tightened.

Finally, at the moment when the curse was complete, Solike, who had been crouching the whole time, lunged at him. The doctor’s unbalanced body fell into a pool of blood.

Solike, who picked up the dagger thrown by the doctor earlier, decisively plunged it into his heart.

In the midst of the sudden stillness, only Solike’s breath echoed.

“Phew… huff…”

Despite the excruciating pain, Solike couldn’t even examine himself. Stumbling several times, he finally managed to approach Hailey’s bed.

“Hailey… Your big brother is here.”

Hailey?

Even when he called her name, there was no answer.

Solike, who was shaking Hailey’s arm, gasped, ‘Ah.’

“I don’t want to open my eyes…”

It’s too terrifying here.

“Let’s go home. I’ll make your favorite stew. From tomorrow on, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay with you…”

There was no reply, but he couldn’t stop talking.

Holding Hailey in his arms, Solike left the building. Instead of going home, he headed for the information store.

Because it was the closest and safest place.

Solike, with Hailey in his arms, spotted someone standing in front of the information store building. It was the suspicious sorcerer who occasionally came to sell elixirs.

Under normal circumstances, he might have exchanged greetings, but he couldn’t focus on anything right now.

Solike tried to pass them and enter the building.

At that moment, the sorcerer grabbed Solike’s shoulder.

“Are you under a curse?”