Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Just by Taking Off a Mask
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All I did was take off my mask.
Some people, no matter how good-looking they are, intentionally or unintentionally diminish their own appearance.
Through glasses, hairstyles, or clothes.
But once they cast off all the unnecessary things obscuring their looks and properly dress up, their hidden true value is bound to be revealed.
And the gazes of those who never even spared them a glance before become focused on them.
The reason I'm telling you this is…
Ever since I took off the mask, I've felt more presences lingering around me, and the feeling of being watched has intensified.
When I’m eating, when I’m taking a short break, when I’m watering the flowerbeds, and especially when I’ve just come out of the bath.
Even now, I could feel a sticky gaze on my back.
The presence just wouldn't disappear. It followed me whenever I moved.
I let out a soft sigh and glanced toward the source of the stare. A group of boys, startled, quickly hid themselves.
I shook my head slowly.
These were the same mischievous little rascals who used to play pranks on me before I took off the mask.
The moment they saw my bare face, they turned into boys who had fallen head over heels in love.
They used to approach me so easily before, but now they’re too busy avoiding me if I try to get close.
‘Oh, dear…’
I had expected this to some extent.
But I never thought their attitudes would change so drastically.
I’m starting to regret taking off the mask.
“Lily~ Come play with us over there.”
Lena approached me with a smile.
I nodded and let her small hand lead me away.
At least the distance between me and the girls hadn't changed.
Of course, the number of times they glance at or stare at my face has increased exponentially. And sometimes they blush when I look back.
But at least they aren't awkward around me like the boys.
It was just like usual.
Lena sang and clapped her hands.
We played house with a script Bada had written.
And so on.
I joined in on their childish games.
The children laughed.
Even though we were just playing normally, their faces were full of joy.
Honestly, I can’t enjoy playing as much as they do.
No matter how young my body has become, and even if the mind follows the body…
My intelligence and psyche haven't become that of a child.
Even if the games are boring, seeing the children's bright smiles fills my heart with a sense of richness, and I can't help but smile myself.
Yes. That’s enough.
“Ah, Lily smiled!”
At Lena’s shout, I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand.
As if my covering my mouth was a problem, the girls looked at me with dissatisfied eyes.
“Aww, why are you covering it?”
“Don’t hide it with your hand.”
“Show us…”
I shook my head.
Even with their pleading, my mind wouldn't budge.
Puffing out your cheeks won't work either.
As I played with the girls, I could feel an intense gaze prickling my back from a short distance away.
A quick glance revealed the boys watching us with eyes full of envy.
Oh, my.
They really look pitiful.
I once asked Red and Rene for help.
About the boys’ sudden change in attitude.
Of course, I knew the reason, but I asked with a completely clueless expression, hoping I might get a useful solution from them.
I clearly remember their troubled faces.
They knew the answer but, after pondering how to explain it to a child, they were at a loss.
Like the adults they were…
They gave a vague explanation and comforted me, saying not to be sad because it wasn't that the boys disliked me.
I know that much.
In the end, I didn't get anything useful out of them.
But I'm not discouraged.
Because, in truth, I can solve this without their help.
There are plenty of ways to restore the distance between me and the boys to how it was before.
In other words, if I act wisely as an adult, this would be a simple matter to resolve, but…
‘It feels too boring to just solve it…’
Sometimes, I get that feeling.
For example, sometimes the children are so lovely that…
I get the urge to bite their cheeks, tickle them, or toss them in the air like an airplane.
The feeling of wanting to play a mischievous prank.
The devil of mischief, born from my imagination, whispers in my ear.
It tells me to play a prank.
Naturally, the angel personifying my conscience tries to persuade me not to.
As an adult, it's right to follow the angel's words, but…
Honestly, when else will I get to play pranks like this?
The small bit of childishness lingering in a corner of my heart sided with the devil.
The angel collapses in shock.
The devil approaches the despairing angel and whispers sweet nothings, and soon, the angel stands up again.
And so, my conscience was corrupted as well.
I chuckled inwardly, a truly wicked smile on my face.
The devil and the angel followed my lead, giggling with mischievous expressions.
Hehehe.
***
Everyone was playing in the yard.
I watched quietly from a distance.
They were in the middle of a ball game, and the boys were participating with far more passion than usual.
“Isn’t that a foul?”
“It’s not a foul. It’s skill.”
“Ugh, no way. You were worse than me just a week ago. It doesn’t make sense for you to suddenly be so good.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t make sense? This is my true skill.”
The boys’ skills had certainly improved overall.
Whenever the boys scored a high point, they would show off, and the girls would get annoyed at their attitude.
It wasn't exactly a team competition.
But like most games, competition was inevitable, and they had naturally split into boys' and girls' teams.
“This isn’t even the full extent of my skills.”
Amusingly, the boys would perform tricks with the ball during the game.
And they'd sneak glances my way as they did.
It was obvious they were trying to show off for me.
It's cute, like puppies wagging their tails.
As a reward for the trick, I gave a small wave.
Naturally, the boy blushed and rubbed his nose with his finger, looking triumphant.
The other boys, displeased by this, glared at him with menacing eyes.
“Move, it’s my turn now.”
It was the red-haired boy, Leon's, turn.
Leon was the most athletic kid at the orphanage. Unbelievably so for a child.
Hmm…
It wasn't just Leon.
The children here each had their own special traits.
In Lena’s case, it was verbal commands; for Bada, it was the materialization of her writing.
Come to think of it, back when I used to wander outside, I remember the children I met there also had some special powers.
I think I saw something on a channel about special powers being discovered in children, too.
Thump!
As I was lost in thought, Leon’s foot slipped, and he landed on his bottom.
“Oww…”
Leon let out a groan.
This is my chance!
Excited that an opportunity for a prank had finally arrived, I hurried over.
Leon froze as I approached.
I bent my knees to check on him.
Leon was a bit tense because of my proximity.
A glance at his face showed it was red, as if he had a fever.
It felt like I could hear his heart pounding.
No, I could actually hear it.
Leon eventually lowered his head.
Hmm.
I brought my face close to his from below, as if peeking at him.
And then.
Thump.
A look of shock and bewilderment washed over his face, and he fell flat on his back.
Heat radiated from Leon's face.
I helped him up and dusted the dirt off his back.
Immediately, a torrent of incredibly jealous stares fell upon Leon.
With a face full of both joy and distress, Leon didn't know what to do.
Watching this scene unfold…
I giggled, smiling wickedly to myself.
Whenever I got the chance, I’d play pranks like this.
The kids' reactions were all so entertaining that teasing them was more fun than I expected.
At first, I only planned to tease them a little.
But you know how hard it is to stop something fun.
But perhaps my pranks were too much.
“Here, Lily. You like this, right? I saved it for you.”
“What are you talking about? Lily likes this more.”
“Aren’t you the one who’s mistaken?”
Oh, dear…
Did I take it too far?
Is this what they call reaping what you sow?
The karma from my actions came back to hit me hard.
The boys, who had been keeping their distance out of shyness, started to approach me one day.
And they began trying to get on my good side.
I know exactly what they’re after.
But no way!
Sorry, but I have no intention of accepting their feelings.
Because, first of all, I'm mentally a man. Of course, even after living in a girl's body for decades, that fact hasn't changed.
Dating a boy, or anything more… ugh.
Just imagining it makes my stomach churn.
Naturally, I made my displeasure clear.
At my rejection, the boys’ heads and shoulders drooped, utterly dejected.
Phew.
I was relieved that it was settled, but the next day, they would be back to their cheerful selves, pestering me again.
‘Damn it.’
Just as a small spark can start a forest fire, I should have kept my pranks in moderation.
It was too late for regrets.
Maybe I should just wear the mask again.
***
A cathedral, left to ruin for a long time.
Since people no longer believed in the existence of God, it was a place naturally forgotten by all.
Surrounded by nothing but abandoned buildings, it exuded an eerie atmosphere.
A faint light seeped out from within the cathedral.
There was someone inside.
The person was kneeling before a statue, hands clasped in prayer.
Their posture, held for a long time, radiated reverence.
However, their attire was rather peculiar for a believer of God.
Black robes and a skull mask.
Moreover, the god they believed in was also extremely sinister.
It was a statue wearing dark blue armor and a helmet, with a skull mask.
In its hands, the statue held a massive, ominous, dark blue sword.
It was less like a benevolent god embracing humanity with love and more like an evil god of death.
“…”
This person had abandoned their former god to follow a new one: the Grim Reaper.
This was a cathedral for believers of the Grim Reaper.
The person was a follower of the Cult of the Grim Reaper.
The Cult of the Grim Reaper was currently in the midst of a raging storm.
Foolish members, unable to comprehend the god’s teachings, were harming their own families.
Above all, Isaac, the one who had lent his incredible wisdom to guide the Cult onto the right path, had fallen.
The one who could be called the compass for the wandering Cult of the Grim Reaper had fallen, so naturally, the cult began to teeter.
However.
This was not a crisis.
Just as the One with True Wisdom said.
The false wisdom has fallen to the fist of one who upholds justice.
Finally, a new beginning could be welcomed.
*Tap, tap.*
Footsteps echoed in the quiet cathedral.
“Praying here again today, I see.”
A voice spoke to the praying man.
The praying man relaxed his posture and slowly stood up.
He turned his body around.
“Everything went just as I said, didn't it?”
The One with True Wisdom smiled brightly.