Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: As Naive as That Pretty Face
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Excluding the boy dubbed the boss, the other kids blinked in confusion. The smallest one among them spoke up.
“That, th-that, so...”
“So what?”
At my retort, the boss shot me a sharp glare. He hadn’t even flinched or made a sound when Dedri twisted his arm. Instead, the boy next to the boss muttered.
“Hey, anyway, what, what are you guys! Our boss didn’t do anything wrong! It’s all this guy’s—”
Dedri whispered ominously.
“That’s got nothin’ to do with me. Don’t need any of that. Just apologize to our baby master.”
“No...”
The scrawny boy pouted. Dedri’s expression grew even more sinister.
“Kid, you gonna listen only after a beatin’?”
The boss glared at us before opening his mouth.
“Red. Stand down.”
He spoke calmly, as if he hadn’t just been about to throw punches.
“I’m too pissed off right now, so sorry. But my stance hasn’t changed. This isn’t your business, so leave.”
I replied boldly to the boss.
“Nuh-uh, it is my business.”
“What?”
I beamed at the boss, who looked uncharacteristically flustered.
“I came to play wif you today! No, I came to play wif all you guys!”
As his face flushed with bewilderment, I flung the door wide open.
I strode into the midst of the clustered boys and reached out straight for the one in the center.
“C’mon! Hand!”
The boy on the floor grabbed my hand tight without even brushing off the dirt. I hadn’t noticed during the lynching, but his grip was surprisingly strong—leaving a red mark on my hand.
I forced a smile through the pain, trying not to show it.
“......”
The brown-haired boy stood without so much as a thank-you, just holding my hand.
“You okay?”
“...Yeah, sure.”
I straightened up after helping the boy who eyed me—and the room—like he was gauging the atmosphere.
Room 201 had somehow split into two camps.
On the left: me, the brown-permed victim, and Dedri. On the right: the boss and his five or six tormentors.
I stood stiffly and whispered cautiously to Dedri.
“Sis, but...”
Dedri was glaring at the kids, worried I might get hurt.
“Hey. What’s goin’ on here.”
I muttered while staring at her tensed muscles.
“...Why you talkin’ like that...?”
Dedri suddenly realized her speech and widened her eyes.
“Oops.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth, cheeks flushing red as she stomped her feet.
Her Ptuh territory dialect had slipped out from sheer anger.
***
Ten minutes later, Gypsy Orphanage Room 201 was locked in an awkward atmosphere.
The brown-haired boy who’d been getting mobbed started off standoffish, but once he sensed I was someone important, he kept bowing and scraping to me. It bordered on bootlicking.
“You’re a noble, right?”
“Huh?”
“You’re disguised weird, but I can tell. Street kids know. Your face has a bit of soot, but you smell nice and...”
His eyes gleamed oddly.
“Oh, sorry.”
“Uh, yeah...”
I nodded awkwardly and clutched Dedri’s sleeve.
‘He’s kinda weird...’
I’d saved him from violence, but unlike with Acid, it didn’t feel good. Something rubbed me the wrong way.
‘Violence is bad, so saving him was right.’
My plain five-year-old brain and adult brain were at war.
But instincts honed by years kicked in easily.
‘Still, my gut says somethin’s fishy. Maybe hear the bullies’ side first?’
I was just a regular volunteer, but these Room 201 kids weren’t.
I figured I’d go ask the boss for the reason.
“Wait here a sec!”
“Huh...?”
“Baby Master!”
Before the brown-haired boy or Dedri could stop me, I bolted up and scurried like a squirrel toward the boss. He glared at me as I reached him, muttering through gritted teeth.
“Whatever. If you’re just gonna say violence is bad, then get lost.”
“Huh? Nope.”
I wanted to say I was a violence fan too, but instead, I declared solemnly.
“Let’s play a game!”
“You hate me.”
“Uh...”
I asked him gravely.
“Don’t hate ya yet! Why’d ya bully my fwiend?”
The boss didn’t seem keen to explain. He sneered mockingly.
“You think outsiders like you would even get why I did it?”
“Yeah!”
I nodded vigorously, but he just scoffed, unwilling to talk.
“Liar. You think I’d spill my sob story to someone I just met?”
“Uh...”
“You’re as naive as that pretty face.”
I tilted my head inwardly at the distrustful boss.
Come to think of it, the kid who grabbed my hand had a strong grip, no bruises visible, no scars either.
‘Atmosphere’s suspicious.’
I stared at the sullen, head-tilted boss boy and blinked.
Sunlight made his bluish hair flicker between brown and not.
‘For now... let’s open these kids’ hearts and set my real goal straight.’
I backed away briskly and beckoned my maid sister. Then I whispered my devious inner plan into her ear as she leaned in.
Dedri’s eyes went wide.
“How’d you think of somethin’ like that?”
“Yeah!”
Tears welled in Dedri’s eyes. She wiped them hastily with her hand—probably worrying about muscle loss—but I saw.
“So...”
“This lil’ soft mochi ball is just so clever...”
No need to cry, right? I found it odd. But Dedri nodded vigorously, face brimming with emotion.
***
Mirmod family patissiers appeared in the orphanage kitchen.
They marched in grandly, hauling sacks of flour and butter, and bowed 90 degrees to me.
‘We greet Lady Sien!’
My cheeks burned as I blushed shyly, and they chuckled heartily.
But true pros, they cooed over me while tidying the kitchen and stocking bread and butter—fascinating to watch.
The orphanage kids saw it all, of course, whispering and staring at me.
I grinned, recalling today’s plan.
Sien’s One-Day Bakery!
I remembered my chat with the director.
‘Lady of House Mirmod...?’
She knelt hurriedly. I waved it off.
‘You’ll run a one-day bakery for the gypsies here? Make bread with the kids and give it out free... such a brilliant idea?’
“Yeah! Sien’ll pay for ingredients!”
‘You’ll need patissiers...’
I smiled brightly.
‘I’ll bring ’em from home!’
‘...Sigh, hope this brings the kids closer.’
“Right? They’ll be good!”
The director nodded with a wry smile, like she hid some secret.
She wouldn’t tell me, so I pretended not to notice and focused on my plan details.
Precisely: In prisons, they make inmates bake bread for reform.
Baking and eating it builds achievement, lifts moods, reduces aggression—studies show.
Word was, gypsy orphanage kids roamed alleys, knew lots of info.
Bond via this plan, turn them into my info network—great long-term.
Free bread rumor spreads, high chance the sorcerer visits too.
Per original Melodya, this sorcerer’s a starving back-alley type.
Thus, my plan gathered Acid, Ted, director, maids in the kitchen.
As patissiers hauled ingredients, they—my personal hype machines—were ready to cheer.
I shrank back hesitantly.
“To think such a soft lil’ thing came up with this gem.”
“And so young too...”
“Must’ve been bothered seein’ the kids fight earlier.”
“No need to go this far; makes me rethink as director. Thought you were just a child...”
In their talk, I got embellished as ‘saint who, distressed by violence, started one-day bakery for kids’ rehab and reform.’
Especially Acid...
“I lived on streets too, but Lady Sien picked me up.”
Her voice boomed loud enough for the boss’s crew peeking from outside to hear.
I tousled my woolly hair to hide my flushed face—over-the-top praise embarrassed me.
***
No one paid mind, but some here were deeply, excessively impressed.
Pat and Matt, assigned by Mathias to watch Sien.
They saw and heard everything Sien did.
Eavesdropped every word greedily.
They’d been shocked all day.
How could this be?
That tiny kid, daughter of ultimate villain Mathias Mirmod of the villain house!
Saving an orphanage kid and giving free bread?
As villains, this purifying sight was new.
But they swallowed hard. They weren’t chumps to melt over a child’s good deeds.
As Pat and Matt bit their inner cheeks to refocus—
Sien toddled over and snatched the boss boy’s hand.
Pat and Matt watched, eyes bulging.
Wondering if Sien would mock and humiliate the gypsy brat who’d insulted her—just like that.
Daughter of ‘that’ Lord Mathias could verbally eviscerate. He killed with words or blade.
They recalled Mathias slicing magic beasts at the gate—heads cooled.
But... Sien was different.
“Boss!”
She beamed innocently, offering her hand first.
Was she reconciling with that boss kid?
She really is a baby angel.
Unaware they thought the same, Pat and Matt coughed hastily.
But subconscious thoughts and spoken words differ.
“Y-yeah, I hate kids.”
Pat muttered, oblivious to his stutter.
“...Y-yeah... same here.”
Matt followed, unaware of his own awkward speech.
Their villain-tainted hearts coldly ignored it. Pat and Matt forced tough-guy faces, muttering through clenched teeth.
They didn’t know yet: Consciously hating Sien was their last bastion.
Once it fell... who knew what’d happen.
They fixed eyes on Sien.
Then, something they hadn’t noticed while staring hit them.
“That boss kid.”
“Huh?”
“Doesn’t he seem familiar?”
They eyed each other, brows furrowing. As wanderers nationwide, they should know. But couldn’t place it.
Familiar face... like it reflected someone.
As if someone painted their minds black with tar.