As the Saying Goes, Blonde Twintails Have No Manners
Age 5. I'd accepted the name Kim Manbung, but I still felt a pang of regret every time I failed to stop my two-years-younger sister from being named Mansoon.
"Manbung, time to wake up. It's time for kindergarten."
"I've already woken up, Mother."
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to resent the parents who'd granted me this second life. As always, I tidied my bedding and showed the utmost respect to my mother, who'd come to wake me.
"You work tirelessly to raise my sister and me day and night, Mother. I sincerely pray that today brings meaningful blessings to our family."
"Uh, um. Yes. My son is so exemplary again today."
I had no choice but to be sharp-minded. My body was five years old, but my mind was that of a full-fledged adult who'd devoured countless social novels.
Still, societal perceptions, along with the limitations of my physical body and status, meant I couldn't pursue any grand developments just yet. If I wanted to strive forward anyway, the best start was maintaining harmonious relationships with my family and those around me—the people I'd inevitably rely on.
And among them, my little sister, who was only just starting to speak haltingly, deserved the most special treatment.
"B-Bro? Where go?"
As I pondered this, my sister shuffled toward me, rubbing her eyes while I prepared for kindergarten. I stroked her head and explained with all the dignity of an older brother.
"My beloved little sister. From now on, your big brother will head to kindergarten—a place of learning—to pursue his own growth."
"Kin... kinna... garden?"
"Yes. After training there, this big brother will become an even greater being than he is now. Do you understand?"
"G-Gweat...?"
Her sleepy eyes blinked at my words, and after a moment of silence, she burst into a grin.
"Silly! Bro talk too hawd."
"...Yeah, mission accomplished if it's too hard."
Of course a three-year-old who only knew her mother's embrace couldn't grasp the lofty words of an adult mind like mine. Naturally, all she cared about was what fun she'd have today—and she just wanted her beloved big brother there with her.
"Wet’s pway, me too."
"Sorry, but big brother is aiming for perfect attendance, so I can't play with you. Here—take my best friend, the triple-combiner robot."
"Wobot!"
"Pretend this is big brother and have fun with it."
If this child's heart held love for me, I'd nurture it tenderly. With that hope, I slipped away from her. Soon enough, she was slamming the transforming robot on the floor, giggling wildly.
"Kyaa~ Heehee, thanksies!"
...Of course. Boundless innocence meant no restraint when it came to violence. I'll have to teach her morals and manners when she's older, I resolved, then headed to the entryway.
Before long, the kindergarten bus arrived to pick me up, along with the teacher aboard.
"Good morning, Manbung."
"Thank you for your hard work so early in the morning, Teacher."
"Heehee, such a polite greeting again today. Hop on."
As soon as I boarded, I faced a chaotic scene of kids chattering and playing noisily. But as I wove through them to find an empty seat, their attention suddenly locked onto me.
"Heehee, Manbung's here."
"How's your name Manbung?"
Oh no, these little ones were mocking my name again. Well, kids this age loved teasing names. I was used to it by now, so I sat without a fuss and pulled out my book to read, as usual.
"Manbung's reading again. Is it fun?"
"Eww, it's all words. No pictures—how's that fun?"
"No comics?"
"Ugh, too hard to read."
One by one, the kids lost interest in my book and looked away... Good. Better they ignore me.
I focused on self-improvement while waiting to arrive at kindergarten. But then—
"Whoa, guys, look over there!"
One chattering kid glanced out the window, drawing everyone's eyes to something passing by. Curious, I looked too. A luxury sedan was cruising alongside our bus.
It screamed money—the kind of car for someone seriously wealthy. No wonder it dazzled the kids.
"Whoa, looks super expensive."
"I saw that on NewTube. Push a button and it transforms!"
"I wanna ride it. Should I jump out and hop on?"
Heh, eyeing luxury at this age? These kids had promising futures. I felt a twinge of envy myself—material desires and all—but what really bugged me was that the car was heading the same way as us, to kindergarten. And through the tinted windows, I glimpsed a small child's silhouette...
Is that kid transferring in?
"Okay, everyone~ Great news at Sarang Village Kindergarten today~ A new friend is joining us!"
Our homeroom teacher confirmed my guess, gathering us to announce the transfer student. The kids buzzed with excitement and curiosity. On her cue, the classroom door slid open.
A girl stepped in lightly. Her blonde hair—rare in Korea—was tied in twintails, screaming she was worlds apart from us.
"P-Pretty..."
Even to my adult eyes, she was undeniably cute. She flashed a confident smile and introduced herself to the class.
"Nice to meet you, commoners. I'm Mary Christine, heir to Mary & Chris, slated to inherit the company after my father."
Mary & Chris. The toy manufacturing giant. My parents had gifted me plenty of their toys, so I knew it well. Any kid who'd played with toys would find the name familiar.
"Her dad's the toy company boss?"
"Yeah, her dad."
"Jealous! Toy company dad means endless toys."
"If I make friends, maybe I'll score some too?"
Of course—to play-loving kids, toys symbolized wealth and power. But her attitude rubbed some the wrong way, so the teacher gently cautioned the chaebol heiress.
"Um, Mary? Pride's fine, but could you introduce yourself more softly? Your tone might make the other kids feel distant..."
"Hmph, I expected that."
A sharp finger snap echoed. The door opened again, and suited, sunglassed bodyguards hauled in boxes of toys, dumping them before the kids: robots, dolls, play sets, premium soccer balls—something for every taste.
"These are welcome gifts for crashing your turf. Take them and grow reverence for me."
"Whoa, so many toys!"
"She's nice! Gotta befriend her."
Good grief—a five-year-old already bribing her way in. Impressive instincts, but a power-drunk kid like that wouldn't blend into normal kindergarten life.
"You, fetch water. You, massage my shoulders."
During free time, she treated kids like servants. And the materialistic little ones awakened their slave instincts early.
"Hey, Mary, wanna play house?"
"Sure. I'll be the master, you all servants."
"S-Servants? What's that?"
"Maids and butlers serving the master. I'm the master, so obey everything I say."
"B-But house isn't like that..."
"Oh right, house needs props. Here—latest premium play set from my company. This'll be fun, right?"
"Just give orders, Master!"
Within days, the chaebol kid ruled our Sunflower Class like a queen. Even teachers couldn't rein her in.
"Mary, you need to make friends, not boss them around. Play ball or role-play to build bonds..."
"Oh yeah, Dad sent premium Hanwoo sets for the teachers as a favor. Need any?"
"Ahem, thank your father for us."
...Teachers bowed to money too. Was I the only sane one here? Bitter, I turned away and buried myself in my book.
She noticed me about a week in.
"Hey, you—what's your name?"
"Kim Manbung."
"Pfft. Kim Manbung?"
Don't laugh. It's the precious name my parents gave me.
"Anyway, why don't you come to me like the others? Don't want toys?"
She dangled a fancy robot toy temptingly, but ironically, my adult mind ignored such childish things.
"Not really interested."
"W-What? You don't need them?"
"Prefer reading over toys. Got any literature?"
"Hmph! Books are boring—why read?"
"Yeah, figures a dummy like you wouldn't get it."
"Dummy!? You calling me a dummy!?"
That's right. A rich fool buying wisdom and social skills.
"Anyway, no interest in toys. Leave me alone and play with the others."
"Ugh...!"
Had no one ever rejected her? She fumed, then escalated: petty provocations, then group bullying via other kids.
"Kim Manbung's been annoying lately."
"Yeah, always reading, never plays."
"Thinks he's smart or something."
Sigh, gossiping at this age? Dark futures ahead. Boys, with their innate aggression, confronted me directly.
"Hey, Manbung. Dodgeball?"
"Pass."
"No choice. Come out."
"Scared? Chicken."
"Fitting for a Manbung."
So predictable. Fine, I'll bite.
"Okay, let's do it."
"Ooh, brave Manbung?"
"It's you versus all five of us. No complaints?"
"What if there are? Pathetic Manbung."
Future delinquents already rigging unfair fights. Annoyed, I faced the five circling me, dodging and countering their throws with full effort—proper form, real power.
"Kek!"
"W-What!? This is weird! How's one kid handling five...!?"
Nothing weird. I'd spent most of my post-elementary life in pepper fields. PE was second nature; kids' throws were child's play.
"S-Stop! We were wrong—please stop!"
"Waaah! Gonna tell Mom!"
After the thrashing and their surrender, I stopped and glanced around. Far off, the chaebol kid glared, sweating bullets.
"T-This isn't how it was supposed to go..."
Shed hoped I'd get wrecked via proxies, but the world doesn't bend to kids' whims. Keep provoking if you dare—I'd smack down every five-year-old attack.
About a month of fending off bullying like that, kids avoided touching me like the plague. Then she cornered me alone.
"Manbung, come here. Got something to say."
"...Don't wanna."
"Shut up and follow. It's good news for you too."
Oho, good news from a corporate heir? Worth hearing. I trailed her to the kindergarten backyard, where she pointed imperiously.
"Kim Manbung. Be my boyfriend from now on."
"What?"
"Mary & Chris's heir is specially accepting you as boyfriend. Thrilled, right?"
"Hell no?"
This damn brat. Now pulling rank for forced dating?