I’m Just a Counselor

The boy, who looked to be about seven or eight years old, had fair skin and lustrous black hair.

 

His beady black eyes, the tear dot under his left eye, and the sweet smile he just gave me reminded me of someone I knew, so I couldn’t help but ask him.

 “Um, I’m sorry, but… is your mom’s name Sherry…?” “What? Phew!” 

The child burst out laughing in disbelief, but soon covered his mouth when he realized that there were tears all around him.

 

Still giggling in amusement, he shifted his hips and sat down next to me. I felt a strange sensation as I realized that even his body scent was vaguely similar to Sherry’s.

 

‘Sherry, did you ever have a boyfriend with a kid like this at home? A husband and a girlfriend?!’

 “My name is Shane.” “Huh?” “And my mom’s name isn’t Sherry.” “Oh, I see! I’m sorry, you look so much like someone I know…” 

I apologized to the child and took another look at his appearance.

 

He does look just like the Sherry I know. But the kid… ah, he said Shane. He didn’t seem to know Sherry at all.

 

Hmm, they say there are three or four people in the world who look exactly alike. Is that true?

 “What’s Sister’s name?” “Oh, I’m Vanessa.” “Vanessa. I don’t want to say it right now, but it’s nice to meet you.” 

Shane smiled at me, a pretty little smile that I couldn’t help but notice.

 

I almost forgot for a moment that I’d been kidnapped while talking to him.

 

‘He’s just like Sherry to make me feel so comfortable.’

 

Shane’s nonchalant demeanor seemed to have rubbed off on me.

 

I subconsciously compared him to the child in front of me.

 

There was a sparkle of curiosity in Shane’s eyes that I couldn’t quite place, and I couldn’t resist the innocence of it, so I focused more and more on the child.

 

In the meantime, the carriage had come to a stop somewhere.

 

A thumping sound grew closer and closer, and someone lifted the tent. It was one of the big man’s men.

 

He looked at the women still crying and scowled at them.

 “Stop crying and come out here!”

he shouted, his face screwed up.

 

The people scrambled to comply. Suddenly realizing my situation, I covered Shane with my body and whispered quietly.

 “Don’t be so scared. Someone will come to save us soon.” “Who?” “The Duke of Oppenheim.” 

Shane laughed softly, as if he thought my words were a joke. I smiled back at him and carefully stepped out of the carriage.

 

I looked up and saw that the sky had darkened. I could see a ramshackle warehouse-like building beneath the full moon. It was probably used to hold the people they had kidnapped.

 “Get inside!” 

The man bellowed again, pointing inside the building. I followed the frightened and trembling people inside, examining the layout of the building.

 

There were several rooms in the building, and presumably different people were being held in each room.

 

The man shoved me and the others into an empty room, then untied the ropes that bound our ankles and began shackling us instead. He was treating us like slaves.

 

Looking out the grated window, I stiffened. And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like the situation.

 “This is more disgusting than I thought.” “……?” 

‘Did Shane just say that?’

 

 

I looked at him questioningly.

 

Shane, who had been frowning down at the shackles on his ankles, smirked again as our eyes met. He pursed his lips.

 “Don’t be so scared, sis.” 

I couldn’t help but laugh at Shane’s cheerful behavior. I quickly covered my mouth in case the trafficker saw.

 “The harvest is smaller than I had hoped, but I have something worthy of a higher grade…” 

The big man in the room muttered as I was shackled. I looked at him and frowned at his use of the word

“higher grade”

.

 

The big man smirked, showing his yellowed teeth. Then he looked at Shane, muttered something vulgar about how the ladies would like him, and left the room.

 

With a loud thud, the iron door slammed shut, and it seemed like it would never open again.

 “We’re going to be sold!” 

Someone shouted, and people started sobbing again. The room quickly filled with sobs.

 

Now we have to let these people know that someone is coming to save us.

 

With a wary glance, I took my cue and spoke calmly to them.

 “Everyone calm down, someone is coming to save us.” “Uh, how?” “Actually, I’m an attendant of the Princess of Oppenheim, and I think they kidnapped me thinking I was her… If the Princess has called the police, the Duke should be looking for me by now.” 

At my explanation, someone shouted.

 “Who cares about an entourage, she’s not going to report you or anything!” “Exactly, do you really think the Duke would be moved by a mere entourage?” 

Well, that’s true, but Estella would certainly not take my disappearance lying down.

 

I tried to calm those who were shooting me with suspicion. But given my high anxiety level, it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

 

Then, someone interrupted me.

 “Duke or no duke, why is everyone so pessimistic?” 

Shane muttered, the shackles binding his ankles shattered.

 

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Shane. He looked at me, one eye crinkling mischievously.

 “They’ll come to your rescue anyway, right? People don’t trust you but trust him. The North is becoming a tough place to live.” 

With that laid-back comment, Shane kicked the iron gate, which, to his surprise, opened effortlessly with one small kick. A closer look revealed that the lock had shattered like a shackle.

 

The others stared at him, wide-eyed, as if they too had realized what had happened. Shane took in the stares and naturally backed away, then looked back at me and smirked.

 “Sis, I told you not to be scared, didn’t I?” 

At the same time, a commotion started outside.

 

* * *

 “Shit, what the hell!” 

Apparently, there were traffickers in the other room as well.

 

Someone yanked open the closed door and punched the man in the back of the head as he screamed. With a thud, the trafficker collapsed, and behind him was a masked man.

 

He quickly went to another room and opened the door. The iron door crunched like paper under his kicks.

 

More masked men burst out, one after the other, and began beating the traffickers.

 “What the hell are you doing? Protect the goods!” “My, my money! Ow!” “Help me…!” 

There was a lot of shouting here and there.

 

Shane waved his hands in the air, trying to block them out. Then the shackles on everyone’s legs snapped simultaneously with a sharp pop.

 

While I stood there dumbfounded, someone muttered idly.

 “Ma-magic…?” 

‘What? So Shane is a wizard?’

 

Realizing who it was, Shane spoke up.

 “Come on, guys, let’s go home, the kids can wait outside and I’ll take you home.” 

His tone was uncharacteristically exaggerated and smug, and before I had a chance to question it, they were out of the room like women freed from shackles, screaming and running.

 

It was time for me to go home, too, but… was it really okay to go?

 

I don’t know what the disappointment in my heart is.

 

‘Is it because it wasn’t Jeremiah who saved me… and that’s where the disappointment comes from?’

 “No, it could have been anyone.” 

I rubbed the back of my neck and turned to Shane.

 “May I ask what you’re going to do with those… traffickers?” “Well, we’re going to turn them over to law enforcement, and they’ll probably be transported to the Islands and punished, since that’s where they’re probably based. Well, I’m hoping for more evidence.” “What about the victims?” “I can’t help the ones who’ve already been sold, but I’ve rescued everyone here. That’s more important to Vanessa, isn’t it?” “……?” 

I stared at Shane, who spoke as if he knew me well.

 

His tone had suddenly changed to something that didn’t sound like a child at all. My eyes narrowed as I looked at him.

 

‘If Shane really is a wizard…’

 

The more I thought about it, the more I suspected that Shane was using magic to lie about his age and appearance.

 

I looked at him suspiciously, then spoke up.

 “Sherry…?” 

Shane burst out laughing and stepped in front of me.

 

Ta-da-da-da. His footsteps were light and he reached out his hand. I reflexively bent down to meet it.

 

Shane’s small palm rested on my eyelid.

 “Sis, close your eyes and count to five in your head.” 

Shane’s voice echoed dreamily in my darkened vision. I closed my eyes, half-heartedly.