Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Snack Time is War Time
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Let’s Find Out What Kind of Place It Is (3)
How do I look to these children?
A small frame, similar to a child's.
They might see me as a child or someone of small stature, but the problem is I’m dressed in shabby clothes with my face completely hidden by a hood and mask.
I’m giving off a very suspicious vibe, so it wouldn’t be strange for them to mistake me for a suspicious person.
Naturally, encountering someone suspicious makes you feel uneasy or ominous, and such feelings subtly evoke fear.
Of course, the thugs on the street wouldn’t be scared to see someone like me. In their eyes, I’m an easy target, someone easy to shake down—a weakling, in other words.
They would have targeted me like a beast that’s found tasty-looking prey.
But children are different.
That’s because children are weak. Though there are exceptions, of course.
Anyway, they’re naturally wary of suspicious people. In some cases, they even get scared. Though there are exceptions, of course.
‘At least these kids don’t seem to be exceptions. Still, aren’t they being a little too cautious? Ah, come to think of it, didn’t she say something bad happened? Then this kind of attitude is probably natural.’
I’ve met the girl who was singing, Lena, before. But unlike then, my face is hidden now.
In this heavy silence, I have to convey that I’m harmless.
But how?
I can’t speak.
‘Should I try to show I’m not suspicious through my actions?’
As I pondered what to do and approached the children, they carefully stepped back.
I took one step forward.
The children took one step back.
‘The looks in their eyes are no joke. Are they trying to figure out if they should all attack me at once or how to escape?’
The simple solution is to take off my hood and mask to reveal my face. But I don’t want to do that.
Not wanting to show my face, I took another step while trying to think of a good way.
“Stop!”
A jolt.
…What was that just now?
For a moment, my body froze at Lena’s shout.
It was as if my body was forced to obey her words, regardless of my own will. Though she herself didn’t seem to realize it.
“Who are you?”
Starting with Lena, the other children began to ask questions like, “What are you?” and “Where did you come from?”
This is a problem.
“…”
As expected, my silence made the children even more wary.
This is difficult.
Just then, a good idea flashed in my mind.
I don’t know if it’ll work, but I can’t just not try.
I took out the notebook I had and quickly scribbled with a pen.
[Orphanage. Me. You. Friend. Not scary. No misunderstanding.]
Then I tore out the page and held it out.
This was probably much better than rashly approaching the scared children.
A brave boy at the front cautiously approached and quickly snatched the paper. Then he and the other children began to look at it.
The children tilted their heads.
They didn’t understand at all. In fact, it felt like I’d made the situation worse.
As I was internally screaming “crisis,” a timid blue-haired girl clutching a book looked at me and said quietly.
“Are you… the new family… that Sister brought…?”
Sister? What kind of nonsense is that?
At first, I didn’t understand what she meant, but I soon realized she was referring to Red.
I came here alone, but right now, easing the children’s wariness was the priority, so I nodded.
The look in the children’s eyes changed a little. But it still wasn’t enough.
“How can we believe that?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I needed something to prove I was telling the truth.
Just then, a girl’s eyes widened as she pointed at my pen.
“Ah, that! That’s Teacher’s pen!”
This? It was something I borrowed from Rene. So, were they calling Rene ‘Teacher’?
I held the pen forward.
A child quickly snatched it, and the others gathered around to look at it.
A moment later, the children’s wariness completely disappeared. The tense atmosphere that had been lingering just moments before completely dissipated.
Their eyes were full of curiosity. Some of them were sparkling.
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine, giving me goosebumps.
‘What’s with them? They were scared of me just a second ago.’
The children rushed toward me like arrows. Gathering closely out of curiosity, they showered me with all sorts of questions.
“What’s your name?”
“Why are you covering your face?”
“Why don’t you talk?”
Don’t touch my hood. Don’t take off my mask. Stop it, you brats!
Aaargh, save me. Help me—!
As I was surrounded by the children, feeling increasingly suffocated, I heard a strange sound.
*Beep, beep.* It sounded just like some kind of alarm.
But at the sound of the alarm, the children stopped for a moment.
Bright smiles appeared on their faces, and they all ran toward the entrance I came through.
I thought I faintly heard someone say, “It’s snack time.”
Anyway, phew.
‘I survived…’
I stared blankly at the ceiling, sprawled out on the floor.
As I was catching my breath, exhausted, a shadow fell over me.
“Um, are you okay?”
Lena, who had stayed behind, offered me her hand.
I took her hand and struggled to my feet.
‘Maybe I should have just waited inside.’
The thought suddenly occurred to me as I dusted myself off.
But it was all over now.
*
We returned to the main building.
In the room I followed Lena to, the children were gathered around a round table.
The sound of their laughter and chatter filled the room. They all seemed excited at the thought of having snacks.
‘I get that feeling.’
Eating something delicious makes you happy.
I think it’s one of the few happy times in this world.
I suddenly wondered what kind of snacks the orphanage served.
Considering the orphanage’s budget, it probably wouldn’t be the desserts I usually eat. The snacks I buy are expensive enough to break the bank.
Of course, the shop run by the canid boss is an exception.
‘Come to think of it, I think they said they make the snacks themselves.’
Homemade snacks…
That made me even more interested.
“Hey, you should come sit over here too.”
Lena gestured for me to come to her side.
I pointed a finger at myself.
*Me too?* That was the meaning behind the gesture.
Unlike before, Lena seemed to understand easily this time and nodded.
The other children chimed in, telling me to hurry and sit down.
‘I’m fine with just watching…’
I didn’t think I should join in since I wasn’t part of the orphanage.
But it didn’t seem polite to keep refusing, so I had no choice but to sit next to Lena.
‘As long as I don’t eat anything, it should be fine.’
Just then, the timid blue-haired girl looked at me and said.
“You’re… not going to take that off…?”
I nodded.
As expected, the children showered me with questions.
I was thinking of an excuse, but I suddenly felt too lazy, so I crossed my hands to make an ‘X’. It was a firm declaration that I wouldn’t take it off.
My intention must have been clearly conveyed, as the children didn’t ask anymore.
It felt like they were being considerate, figuring I must have my reasons.
Still, their curiosity about me remained, so they kept asking me questions.
I was at a loss for how to answer.
*Creeak.*
Just then, the door opened and Rene entered the room.
The children let out a cheer.
In Rene’s hands was a large plate. It was covered with a silver lid, so I couldn’t see what was inside.
Rene placed the plate on the table.
I wonder what kind of snack it is. This makes it even more exciting.
Just as I was thinking that, the air in the room changed.
‘What is it…? It suddenly got quiet.’
The once noisy room fell silent. A palpable tension filled the air.
The children were having a stare-down. Even Lena, who had been smiling just moments ago, had a serious look on her face.
Overwhelmed by the unusual atmosphere, I unknowingly swallowed dryly.
‘I’ve felt a similar sensation somewhere before.’
Ah, I remember now.
It was just like a meeting between organizations. A battle of wits where everyone keeps each other in check, trying to secure their own interests.
I can’t believe I’m feeling this way during snack time.
“It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Today’s snack is… drumroll please…”
Rene made the sound effects with her own mouth as she slowly lifted the silver lid.
Even I’m getting nervous for no reason.
And then, the snack was revealed.
‘Oh?’
They were cute little buns shaped like various animal faces.
Rabbit, tiger, turtle, sheep, dragon—there was a wide variety, and plenty to go around.
There were seven children in total.
‘With this many, there’s no need to fight…’
With the sound of something rushing past, I realized how naive my thought was.
The children’s bodies shot forward, and their tiny hands began to fight to claim what they wanted.
Their hands were fast and precise. Even when they got what they wanted, a moment of carelessness would get it snatched away, and they’d move to reclaim it.
“I called dibs on that one!”
“Finders keepers!”
“Not the tiger. Anything but the tiger!”
“This chocolate one is mine… No! Why’d you snatch it!?”
*Eek.*
Even the organizations don’t fight like this.
I had no intention of eating from the start, but I felt a sense of fear at the war unfolding before my eyes and had no choice but to flee.
My instincts were screaming that I’d die if I got caught up in this.
I have to survive.
To avoid getting swept up, I flattened my body and crawled to a corner that looked safe.
‘It’s safe here.’
As I shivered, silently praying for the war to end quickly.
*Thud.*
Something flew through the air in an arc and landed precisely on my hand.
A mouse-shaped bun.
‘*Gasp…!*’
My body trembled as if wrapped in a chill.
When I slightly raised my gaze, the children were glaring at me—or more precisely, at the bun resting on my hand.
They had the eyes of predators stalking their prey.
I was in incredible danger.
To save my life, I hurriedly tried to throw the bun in my hand far away, but the predators charged much faster.
‘*Aaargh, save me…!*’
It was truly a hellish time.
*
“Teacher, is that friend going to be our new family from now on?”
I was exhausted from being caught in the snack war and was resting when a boy pointed at me.
At the boy’s question, Rene’s expression became complicated.
“No, they’re just visiting to see what this place is like.”
The children were surprised by Rene’s words.
Naturally, they gathered around me.
“You told us you were new family.”
“Was what you said before a lie?”
The children, realizing I had lied, clung to me tenaciously.
I was already tired, and their questions made me even more so.
As I wondered how to calm them down, a good idea struck me.
[Red. Waiting.]
“For Sister?”
I nodded at the girl’s question.
It wasn’t exactly a lie.
Of course, the children asked why, and each time, I showed them the paper I’d written on.
The children looked at each other, their expressions turning subtle.
When I tilted my head as if to ask why, Lena spoke up.
“Sister is always late. You might have to wait a long time.”
Waiting a long time would be a bit of a problem.
Going back and forth between the base and here is a hassle.
Right. I’ve decided.
I’ll just wait. What’s the big deal?
It’s not like I’m short on time.
How long could it possibly take?
A week, maybe?
And so, contrary to my expectations, a month passed.