OMI 11

It Can’t Be Anyone Else

I was shaken in the transport vehicle and changed vehicles several times along the way. 

I followed their instructions without much resistance. 

They clearly said they wouldn’t hurt me if I did. 

Even when I hesitated, they only flashed something like a knife, but didn’t actually cut me. 

“It would be a waste to harm an Omega. But we can involve some Beta women here. Even in this country, Betas have value.”

When I heard that near the rural area of the Eastern District, I completely lost the will to resist. I didn’t want anyone to get involved because of me. Besides, I could see four others besides myself. There could be more. I didn’t think I could get away. 

“Why the women of this country?”

“An ignorant Omega would not know. First, their appearance is popular. Also, this ethnic group is known to be strong and healthy, which makes them desirable to have children. They are popular in the countries we do business with. 

I had heard that the world was struggling with declining birth rates, but this country seemed better off than others. 

It seems I wasn’t wrong in thinking that people here are generally big and powerful. 

The men talked about their past kidnappings as if they were telling heroic tales. 

In foreign countries where human trafficking isn’t regulated, Omegas and women from this country, essentially those capable of bearing children, are particularly valuable. 

In recent years, however, security and control of entry and exit have become more stringent, making business more difficult.

“These days, it’s hard to actively grab Omegas. Especially lately, the security for Omegas leaving the Central District is tremendous.” 

Kidnapping within the Central District is almost impossible. There used to be a lot of them, but most of them have been wiped out in recent years. 

“We got a car that looks like the ones used by security, made uniforms that look similar, and waited for an Omega to fall for it.”

Their organization mainly targeted promising Betas, occasionally targeting Omegas who ventured outside the central district. 

And the foolish Omega who fell for it was me. 

My initial caution was too weak. 

Omegas living in this country are all raised with constant warnings. 

They are taught that kidnapping is a terrifying reality that could happen to them at any time. This awareness is ingrained in them from a young age, which makes their foundation different from mine. 

In contrast, in the place where I grew up, Mauve, you could find Omegas working in shady back alley shops, and they walked the streets as if it were normal. 

There were kidnappings, just like in this country, but the targets were always the Omega children of the upper class. I never thought I would be a target. Somewhere in my heart I had that feeling. 

My sense of personal involvement was low. 

“What will happen to me now?”

A worried voice slipped out. 

“Do you know the land called Alromarte?” 

It was an unknown country. I had barely managed to learn about Padilla, and I didn’t know much about other countries. 

When I shook my head, the man replied. 

“You don’t know? Well, it’s not a neighboring country. Even by land, you’d have to go through two or three countries to get there. In that country, the gap between rich and poor is much wider than here. It’s a country where the powerful Alphas are absolute.”

The country is run by Alphas, and important roles in the government are basically held by Alphas. It sounds similar to the country I was in… 

“In that country, having an Omega wife is a status symbol for Alphas. So they’ll do anything to get an Omega. The number of Omegas is decreasing, just like in other countries.” 

Everything… even buying an Omega sold by a criminal organization… 

“In reality, you’ll pass through several countries and organizations. Eventually, you’ll end up in a shelter for Omegas who have lost their families to crime. From there you’ll be connected to Alromarte.” 

Caught up in crime… I was indeed caught, but isn’t that different? 

I was perfectly happy as I was, but they’re the ones who take me away by force. 

“You look unhappy. Well, just give up.” 

Even when he saw my displeased face, the man was unperturbed. 

“Don’t worry, the Alpha who will buy you is a wealthy person and is eagerly waiting for an Omega. You’ll be treated well.” 

Well treated… If that’s the case, then it’s okay. I never thought that even for a moment.

Sure, at first it was just a coincidence. 

I didn’t know why I came to this world, or why it was Lumière. 

But the few months I spent with him were pleasant. 

That’s right. I liked that life. 

What they want from me at the place I’m being taken to is just me as an Omega.

It doesn’t matter who it is, right?

It’s different from the guy who said he liked me because I was me. 

Of course, they will want me to have children there.

I don’t know if I can bear one. I don’t even know my body. 

Should I just say that I’m a half-baked Omega?

Even if I say that, they won’t let me go back. 

Well, that’s okay. I’ve dealt with a lot of Alphas… 

No. I don’t want that. I never wanted to be touched by anyone but Lumière. 

I wanted to be his Omega. 

I see. So that’s how it was. 

It wasn’t that anyone would do it. It wasn’t that I didn’t care where I was, as long as I was treated well. 

I was so free because I was at Lumière’s side. 

Ah, well. Because I’m a fool, I only realize it after I’ve lost it. 

But you know, I never received it before, so it’s not my fault, right? 

I didn’t know such pure love and feelings. 

If I was taken away for someone else’s convenience, I would have preferred to remain ignorant. 

The old me would have just drifted along in this situation. 

“We’ve arrived. From here, we’ll go down the river.” 

It seems they won’t be crossing the border by land. They plan to go down the river to a port. 

From there, we’ll cross the sea. Although the land route is safer and faster, they proudly mentioned that choosing the sea route gives them an advantage. 

“Change into the clothes we’ve prepared. Take everything off.” 

As I was about to change into the clothes handed to me, the man watching me noticed the bracelet on my wrist. 

“Huh? Hey! Show me that properly.” 

When the man saw the bracelet, he quickly and forcefully took it off and threw it into the river. 

“This is the worst! This guy is a government-affiliated Omega.” 

His voice caused the other men around him to get turmoil. 

“Huh? Why is someone like that outside the central district?” 

“I don’t know! Damn it. Hey, didn’t you notice when you brought him in?” 

The man who had come dressed as a guard was cornered. 

“It was hidden by the clothes, so I couldn’t have known. Besides, no one told me to check.” 

“Either way, our actions will be exposed. Every second counts. Let’s get to the harbor fast.” 

I had forgotten about it because I was always wearing it, but now that I think about it, that bracelet had various high-tech features. 

Maybe I can hope for some help. 

The previously relaxed atmosphere changed completely. 

The men started running around and I was being pulled and dragged. 

They seemed pretty panicked. 

The boat we used to go down the river was small. I wondered if such a boat was really safe. 

The men’s steering was rough. I was afraid of being thrown off and felt nauseous from the motion. 

I curled up into a small ball and crouched down the whole time. 

The sun had completely set and it was dark all around. It felt like the boat was about to be swallowed by a great darkness. 

“We are almost there. We’ll soon reach the city with the harbor. Once we set sail for the neighboring country, we’ll be in control.” 

“Hey, someone carry this guy. He’s too slow.” 

“Tie his hands and feet and put him in a sack. Make him look like cargo in this darkness.” 

The men said this as they bound my hands. The rope was rough and a little painful. 

And then, just as they were about to tie my feet… 

“Stop that small boat! Bring it alongside and let us inspect it.” 

There seemed to be a lot of people gathered at the dock downstream. 

“Damn it. They’re too fast.” 

“When we reach the dock, it’s over. Everyone, jump in! Gather at the harbor. Anyone late will be left behind. I’ll take this one.” 

The man, probably the leader, yelled and grabbed me. 

“Éclair! Are you there? If you are, answer me!” 

From the direction of the dock I heard Lumière’s voice, the one I most wanted to hear. 

He had come for me. He came for me! 

“I’m here! I’m right here!” 

I shouted louder than I had ever shouted in my life.

The men were surprised by my sudden outburst, as I had been very quiet until then.

“Idiot, be quiet!” 

They covered my mouth with a cloth to keep me quiet. 

Then the man tied my arm to his with a rope and jumped into the river with me. 

In my country, there were no rivers or seas nearby. Of course, I never bothered to visit them. We had swimming lessons, but just going through the motions was enough to pass. 

So I have very little swimming experience. 

The river looked calm from the outside, but once in, the current was swift. 

My hands were tied, and though my feet could move, they weren’t free. 

I swam as best I could while being pulled, but I couldn’t hold my breath. 

I was being pulled along, half-drowning, when suddenly the force pulling me stopped. 

It seemed as if the rope connecting me to the man had come undone. 

I was swept away! Desperately, I raised my face to catch my breath. 

“Help, someone…” 

My voice barely came out. I was carried along by the dark, murky current.

“Lumière…”

Even though I knew it wouldn’t work, I called out that name. 

“Éclair! Éclair!” 

The voice sounded very close. There was a loud splash as something large entered the water. 

My head was almost completely underwater. 

In my fading consciousness, I thought I saw a familiar golden color in the river. 

I desperately reached for it. 

Even if it was just an illusion, it didn’t matter. 

The hand I thought would never reach me was firmly grasped. 

“Éclair! Breathe, take a deep breath!”

I was forcefully pulled up and lightly slapped in the face. 

“Haah! Haah, haah…”

My head was still fuzzy, but the voice brought me back. 

“Do you hear me? Just hang on a little longer, we’re almost at the shore.” 

It was Lumière. It was Lumière’s voice. 

He held me tightly and swam to the shore. 

“Why…?” 

“I heard your voice. I heard it clearly.” 

He sniffled, sounding like he was half crying. 

“I thought I would never see you again.” 

That’s right. If I had been taken away on that boat, I would never have seen him again. 

“I would never let that happen. But I’m glad. I will never let you go again.”

Lumière said firmly. 

It seems that the man was indeed swimming toward the shore, and I was separated from him quite close to the shore. 

Lumière, who quickly spotted me struggling, jumped into the river and caught me. 

When we got to the shore, we were surrounded by people. 

“Quick, get a blanket, his body temperature is dropping.” 

“Looks like he drank some water. There don’t seem to be any major injuries.” 

Lumière wrapped me in a blanket and showed me to someone who appeared to be a medic. 

“Water? Any other pain?”

“No, just some abrasions on my hands.” 

When I showed my bound hands, the rope was immediately cut.

Because I was dragged in the water, the abrasions left clear marks. 

“Multiple abrasions. Hurry to the transport vehicle, we’ve contacted the nearby hospital.” 

I was put in the car with Lumière and we drove to the hospital. 

Feeling relieved and exhausted, I began to doze off. 

“It’s okay to sleep. Everything is fine now.”

He kept talking to me the whole time. 

I couldn’t give a proper answer, but I never let go of Lumière’s hand.