Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: In the Name of the Doll
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The child's face still looked detached from reality.
But her hand gripped mine tightly, as if clutching something she absolutely couldn't let go of.
"Doll play... Yeah."
I flashed a bright smile at her.
There wasn't a single doll or toy in the room, but it didn't matter.
We could get dolls from somewhere else.
"This one's Dail! Isn't he cute?"
"His name is Dail?"
"No, this is Dail! And this one's Tomato!"
I showed her the dolls I'd brought from my room, one by one.
The child, who had been a bit stiff at first, soon lit up with a bright expression as I pulled them out.
"Dail's opening his mouth super wide!"
"Whoa! Run away, Tomato!"
The child burst into laughter right away and played along with me, just like any kid her age.
But after a little while, the sound of the door opening came.
The one who entered was the child's father, back from buying cake.
As soon as he returned, the child's bright expression vanished, replaced by her huddled, tense form.
"Wow! Cake! Thanks, I'll eat it well!"
"Uh, yeah. Eat up."
"Yeah. Now go to your room."
"Okay."
But he just set down the cake he'd bought and headed straight to his room.
I spoke to the child, who still wore an anxious look.
"Don't worry! No more pain, no more sadness from now on."
"Really?"
"Of course! I've got your back."
I took out the cake and placed it on a small tray.
The cake from the neighborhood bakery wasn't anything compared to what I usually had, but the child's face brightened the moment she saw it.
Her expression was like the sunrise.
"I've never had cake like this before."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"You can have it often from now on! Just say the word whenever you want!"
I handed her a fork.
The child grabbed it and started devouring the cake.
I smiled, watching her, and nibbled at it bit by bit from the side.
"Can I have the strawberry?"
"Of course! This is all for us—we can eat the whole thing!"
"Really?"
"Obviously."
The child looked utterly happy.
We polished off the entire cake together, then played dolls for a good long while before going to bed.
A week passed.
The child's face grew brighter by the day.
Back when we first met, there was always a shadow over her features, but now it was completely different.
She beamed at me, and she looked truly happy when we played together.
Seeing her like that lifted my spirits.
"Happy?"
"Yeah! Really happy!"
"Good."
I stroked her head.
Time didn't hold much meaning for me here. But seeing her happy just felt good.
I even thought living like this, just watching her smile, wouldn't be so bad.
So I played with her every day and spent time together.
Another two weeks or so passed like that.
That's when the shadow started creeping back over the face of the child who'd been happy all along.
One day, she asked me,
"What about Dad...?"
"Huh? He's in the master bedroom, right?"
"He... um..."
The child hesitated, like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
I stroked her head and said,
"You don't have to watch out for me like you do others. I'm always on your side."
"Dad... feels weird. He just sits in his room all day."
I laughed at that.
She was right.
Dad came home from work and just sat in his room.
Normally, he'd come back drunk, cause a scene, or take it out on the child for no reason.
Drunk on booze when he was wasted.
Craving booze when he wasn't.
Always yelling at the child. Lamenting his life. Laying hands on her.
That must have been the "normal" version of her father.
"Isn't that better? He doesn't hit you anymore, doesn't get mad."
"Yeah..."
The child nodded. But moments later, she spoke up again.
"Still... he's Dad..."
I stroked her head at those words.
I had no idea what expression I was making.
To the child, her father yelling and hitting her was natural.
Because that was the father she'd known since she was little.
A father who didn't do that felt unnatural to her.
Of course, she didn't like it.
Who enjoys getting yelled at and hit?
It was just that her worry for her father outweighed it all.
He was her only family, after all.
"Yeah. Family... Alright, how about we try something different?"
I flicked my hand lightly.
Then the child's father came out of his room.
He smiled warmly and said,
"Kids, how about we grill some meat together tonight?"
It wasn't just words—he brought delicious pork belly, and we grilled and ate together.
Laughing and chatting, like any happy family having dinner.
The next day too.
The day after that. And the one after.
A few days passed like that, and I asked the child,
"How's it been lately?"
The child glanced around nervously, as usual.
I stroked her head and asked,
"You can be honest with me."
Only then did she say,
"I'm happy, but... he doesn't feel like my real dad."
It couldn't be helped.
Her real dad was the kind of scum human trash fit the term perfectly.
And yet, the child missed that father.
She must have sensed it instinctively.
That this father wasn't normal.
"I see."
I didn't know.
Would I have understood back then?
The child's feelings?
I asked myself inwardly, but no answer came.
Just that.
The child wasn't satisfied with mere doll theater.
"Got it."
Maybe.
This child might be stronger than me.
She wanted to face it head-on instead of avoiding the pain.
Still, I didn't want her suffering like before.
So during the time she was at school, I confronted her father.
"Aaaaaaah—!"
I showed him illusions.
Illusions more horrific than hell.
"Haaah! Please spare me! Spare me! Aaaah! Aaah!"
Illusions no ordinary human could endure.
And then I told him,
"If you ever lay a hand on that child or treat her badly again, I'll come back."
I deliberately left intact the memories of the past few weeks.
Being treated like a doll would be warning enough for him.
"I understand! I'll do my best! Please, just give me a chance...!"
I hesitated right up to the end.
Wouldn't it be better to just wipe him clean and replace him with a convincing doll?
But then.
The child's face came to mind.
Her smile, shadowed beyond her years.
"I'll be watching."
So I gave the child's father a faint smile and withdrew.
That afternoon.
The child came home from school.
Her father was home.
Unlike the past few weeks, he was in his right mind.
In his right mind, he looked at his daughter and spoke.
"I-I'm sorry. I was just... you know..."
I stared straight at the father.
The child couldn't see me.
Because I didn't want her to.
But the father could see me.
I mouthed to him,
'Do it right.'
His face paled, and for a long while, he confessed his sins to the child.
People can change?
They can atone for past sins?
I didn't believe such nonsense.
That father would see my shadow for the rest of his life.
He'd be tormented by nightmares.
If he repeated his past mistakes even then, he'd suffer worse than hell.
Even so, I felt it wasn't enough.
I thought maybe sticking to the doll play like before would be better.
"Yeah...!"
But the child smiled brightly upon hearing her father's earnest confession.
As if forgiving all his sins.
So I set aside my own desires.
Because that's what the child wanted.
I didn't know.
How she could do that.
Is that what family is? Would I have done the same for mine?
I didn't know.
Past memories were too faint.
I watched the scene for a long time, then blinked.
Before I knew it.
I was back in the isolation room.
"Ar...e you... okay...?"
Dasom approached me as I lay on the bed and asked.
I smiled at her and said,
"Yeah. I'm fine."
I really was fine.
I whispered it to myself inwardly as I sat up.
"What should we play?"
For some reason, one side of my heart throbbed.
A wistful ache welled up, but I ignored it.
I was fine, after all.
One morning.
Dasom suddenly came up to me and showed me something.
It was an elegantly designed invitation.
I read it.
Hello.
To commemorate the ■■■■th anniversary of Paradise Aquarium's opening, we are sending you this special invitation.
Very special guests and special ■■■ you won't see anywhere else have been prepared.
We hope you will join us and grace the event with your presence.
- This invitation allows you to bring up to 2 companions.
- Companions must be the 2 closest individuals.
- The nearest door will transform into the entrance for your convenience when visiting this aquarium.
It was truly, very, very intriguing.
The moment I read it, I pressed the call button to summon Yuna.
She came with Seyeon, but I ignored that and said to them,
"I got this invitation! Can we go?"
Seyeon read it and grinned like it was the funniest thing ever.
Yuna's face turned deathly pale.
Just from their reactions, it was already fun—I beamed and said,
"Let's go play together!"