Let's Kidnap The Male Lead! - Chapter 36

My plan was very simple.

After deceiving the person tailing me into thinking that Vivian Schmidt was living a peaceful daily life rather than committing crimes, I would kidnap a handsome man in the meantime.

Being followed was actually advantageous for creating an alibi.

If Vivian Schmidt was not at the scene where the kidnapping occurred, I could be removed from the list of suspects.

In other words, if I could just deceive the person following me, I would be free.

However, putting this into practice was not easy.

Because I needed someone to pretend to be Vivian Schmidt.

‘At first I thought about putting a purple wig on Ren, but that would be discovered quickly.’

While I was worrying about what to do, the face that suddenly came to mind was Melphis.

If I could borrow his ability to transform flawlessly into any appearance, this plan would definitely succeed.

After asking Melphis to transform into my appearance, I just needed to kidnap a handsome man.

But the problem was…

Whether Melphis would willingly participate in this plan.

Because he had no obligation to do so.

“As you can see, your role is really important in this plan. So… could you possibly help? I’ll pay you as much as you want for your trouble.”

Melphis closed his eyes and seemed to be thinking deeply.

As he remained silent longer than expected, I became anxious for no reason.

‘Please, please! Cooperate for the sake of all the free meals you’ve had at the hideout so far!’

Of course, it was ambiguous to call it free meals since I had kidnapped him arbitrarily, but anyway, time was of the essence now.

I desperately needed his help.

With my hands clasped together, I waited for his answer. After a few minutes, he finally opened his mouth.

“…Alright, Vivian. I’ll do as you wish.”

“Really? Wow, thank you so much. I’m saved, I’m saved.”

“But, there’s a condition. Instead of payment.”

His statement poured cold water on me for a moment, but I soon recovered. This much was within the expected range.

“What is it?”

“When the situation is settled later, give me one day of your time. There’s somewhere I want to go together.”

If I could borrow his power for just one date, it was really a cheap price to pay.

He was a high-level resource who could easily perform transformation magic that even great magicians couldn’t do.

I quickly nodded, lest Melphis change his mind.

“Okay, let’s do that!”

Now that I had secured the most important Melphis, all that was left was to wait for a handsome man suitable for kidnapping to appear.

“While I’m being watched, I won’t go to the hideout and will just stay at home. Can you give me one more of those leaves from earlier? When a handsome man appears, I’ll call you here.”

He clenched and opened his fist in the air.

Then, on his palm where there should have been nothing, a thin leaf appeared.

It looked exactly the same as the one used earlier, with an odd shape mixing black and green.

“Here you go. By the way, Vivian, does this leaf remind you of anything?”

“Huh? What should I be remembering?”

As I just kept tilting my head, not understanding what he meant, Melphis made a somewhat disappointed face.

“No, it’s fine if you don’t remember. You can recall it later.”

Just saying incomprehensible things. But Melphis didn’t seem like he would answer if I pressed further.

“Anyway, I’ll be going now, Vivian.”

“Okay, next time you come, at least wear clothes.”

“Haha, that depends on Vivian, not me. If you tear the leaf, I’ll be summoned in whatever state I’m in.”

“Oh no, isn’t there some way…”

“The only option is for Vivian to call me at the right timing. I’ll cheer you on from afar so you can call me at the right time!”

Wow… That’s really encouraging and helpful.

Melphis slightly raised the corners of his mouth and then disappeared again.

‘To be able to teleport so easily like that. No wonder he leisurely escaped from the room even though I had imprisoned him.’

According to the books I had looked up before, the number of magicians who succeeded in teleportation could be counted on one hand.

Even then, unlike Melphis, they couldn’t do it freely, but had to draw a huge magic circle and sprinkle magic stones around it to supplement the lacking magic power for it to activate.

‘Since Melphis didn’t need any magic circle or magic stones, he must have an enormous amount of magic power, right? Is he really human? Could he be a dragon or something?’

I became curious anew about why such a high-level resource was leisurely trying to get kidnapped by me, but I pushed my curiosity aside.

First, I had to relay the situation to Ren.

I pressed firmly on the black stone earring-shaped communication device I was wearing on my right ear. As the power turned on, I connected with Ren.

When I revealed my plan and the fact that Melphis had agreed to cooperate, Ren responded reluctantly but said he understood for now.

“So, Ren, stay at the hideout for the time being and absolutely don’t come to our house. If the person following me notices your existence, it’s all over. I’ll never go to the hideout either. We might not be able to see each other for a while.”

– …Alright.

The answer that finally came out after hesitation seemed to be tinged with some kind of sadness for some reason.

Yeah, it’s understandable to feel upset. It’s no different from ordering him to stay cooped up in the hideout.

Still, this was a better choice for both Ren and me than getting caught because my identity as a serial handsome man kidnapper was discovered.

“Anyway, let me know right away when you spot a handsome man! I’ll rush out to kidnap him immediately.”

– Yes, I’ll do that.

After ending the connection on the communication device, I changed clothes and opened the window again. It was in case opening and closing the window might look suspicious.

‘From now on, I have to do my best to look innocent. For that… showing a sleeping appearance would be best.’

It’s absolutely not because I stayed up all night yesterday and want to sleep more.

I opened the window wide once again and threw myself onto the bed. Just a few seconds later, I fell asleep as if I had fainted.

The handsome man appeared faster than expected.

Three days after being followed, when I was lazing around at home, I received a contact from Ren.

– Lady Vivian, a handsome man has appeared. It’s time to execute the plan.

I quickly closed the window and prepared to receive Melphis.

I took out the leaf that I had preciously kept in the drawer and tore it in half.

‘He should be wearing clothes this time!’

Fortunately, my wish came true.

Melphis greeted me while fully clothed in both top and bottom.

“A handsome man has appeared, I take it?”

“Yes, yes. Can you transform into my appearance right away?”

“Alright, but Vivian. To change into someone else’s appearance, the other person needs to chant a spell.”

“A spell? What is it? Tell me quickly.”

Melphis smiled his characteristic playful smile.

“Since I’m borrowing someone else’s appearance, the other person needs to prove that they deeply trust me.”

Without telling me what the spell was, his attitude of beating around the bush made me impatient. I grabbed his sleeve and urged him.

“Okay, I get it, so tell me the spell quickly. I’ll say whatever it is.”

“I love you, Melphis.”

“Huh? What?”

“That’s the spell. Vivian needs to chant that for me to be able to transform.”

It was then. No sooner had Melphis finished speaking than Ren’s voice came through the communication device.

– Lady Vivian, it must surely be a lie. Do not fall for that wicked one’s devilish whispers!

I thought I had turned off the power to the communication device, but it seems it was still on.

Uncharacteristically sounding a bit excited, Ren hurriedly tried to stop me. But there was no other way.

“Whether that’s a lie or not, I have to do it. We have no one else to help us but Melphis.”

– …

There was no answer, but I could tell even through the communication device. Somehow, his expression probably wasn’t good.

“Sigh, you’re worried I might feel bad, aren’t you. It’s just saying it briefly, what’s the big deal. I love you, Melphis. There, is that enough now?”

I chanted the spell as if it was no big deal. However, Melphis did not transform.

“Vivian, if you just say it like that, I can’t feel your trust in me, so I can’t transform. Please say it with a bit more sincerity.”

I grabbed the back of my head at Melphis confidently spouting what anyone could see was an obvious lie.

Ren must have overheard Melphis’s voice too, as he continued to remain silent.

But what could I do? Melphis was the one helping. If he says to do it, I have to do it.

“Sigh, alright, alright. Here, I love you, Melphis!”

“It’s still not enough!”

“I… love you, Melphis!”

“Hmm, I’m on the verge of being able to transform.”

Ugh, it’s still not enough! If only I could hit him just once, I would have no other wishes.

I tried to summon whatever affection for Melphis might exist somewhere deep in my core.

Then I spoke softly.

“I love you, Melphis.”

“Hahaha, this is fun.”

He burst out laughing, apparently finding my predicament amusing.

Just as I was about to say something in anger, his appearance changed.

It was so identical to me that I felt as if I was looking in a mirror.

The only difference from the me in the mirror was that I could touch the real entity if I reached out.

“I’ll go out like this and lure the surveillance person to another direction. Vivian, you kidnap the handsome man on your own. I’ll stay in this form until the tail is shaken off, so finish everything perfectly in the meantime.”

I nodded strongly towards Melphis.

The only thing left was to kidnap the newly appeared target.

Kidnapping handsome men was my specialty, so I had nothing to fear.

After confirming Melphis’s leisurely departing figure after he went outside, I immediately ran towards the hideout.