Little Lamb Observation Journal — Yumina
Munch munch, The utterly adorable little lamb beauty, child Kim Mijeong, is happily devouring her pasta, her tiny mouth working away... But there's something off about that child Mijeong's words and actions. She even told a lie midway through, didn't she? Little Mijeong... you're totally guilty. ...What the hell am I even saying? Yumina, get a grip.
Munch munch, The kid has a small mouth, and she has this habit of chewing her food really thoroughly, so I've got some time to spare. In that case, while she's eating, maybe I should organize my thoughts a bit. Sorting by timeline would be too messy... Yeah, let's break it down by topic.
1. Presence of a guardian. The biggest question mark. Who the heck does this child live with? One thing's for sure—she doesn't live with her parents. Just a moment ago, I asked at what I thought was a good timing.
"So, are you living with your parents right now?"
"No, uh, yeah-yang!"
...Little Mijeong. Did you really think just saying "yeah-yang!" with your mouth would fool me? That soft, squishy little hand gripping mine was trembling like crazy. No need for Golden Eye (S) to know it was a lie.
So, first off, not living with parents. But she doesn't lack a guardian entirely. For starters, she has a phone and a card. No way an 8-year-old opened those herself, and the same goes for her home. Yesterday, after leaving the Hunter Management Agency, I confirmed her getting on a bus at the nearby stop. Meaning, she definitely has a home... or something equivalent to go back to, and she knows how to get there on her own. Her clothes were clean and new, so she's not homeless and roughing it outside. Which means there must be someone taking care of her.
But that raises more weirdness in her words and actions. Why didn't the guardian come to the agency with her? Her claim about "both parents working" was obviously another lie. But no guardian would have zero income, right? Legally speaking, even a crawling baby could toddle into the agency alone to register as an awakener. Not that it's possible. So an 8-year-old coming solo for registration and hunter rank evaluation isn't that strange.
...But legally, if a minor under 14 awakens, one guardian can immediately apply for paid leave from work for that reason. It's national law, so companies that refuse get in serious trouble, from what I hear. Of course, the guardian could be a massive workaholic, or maybe they had a critical project and skipped the leave. Or some other reason I can't even imagine. ...If they took the leave but still sent an 8-year-old alone to the agency, I'd kill the bastard.
"Eek!"
"...Hm? Little Mijeong, did you choke?"
"N-no, nothing-yang!!"
Munch munch! The kid's eating speed suddenly picked up.
...Anyway, let's keep organizing. This isn't the only oddity. Yesterday at the agency, what Little Mijeong said.
"Sniff... I-I can't be a hunter today, then I can't go into gates-yang... then no food, then..."
"Wah... then... food..."
If she had normal guardians, a kid who just awakened wouldn't say she'd starve if she couldn't go into gates herself. She has a home, cards, a phone—yet she thinks she'll go hungry without earning money herself...? What kind of circumstances lead to that?
...And this is something even I didn't catch at the time, but realized later talking with the chief.
"You're going into a gate with that kid tomorrow?"
"Yes, Chief. Some of the child's statements felt a bit off, so."
"And the kid accepted right there on the spot?"
"Pardon? Yes, that's right."
"...Not a normal family situation. Because today is Thursday. You can skip one day of school for registration. But the next day? Young awakeners skipping school for gates isn't unheard of, but it's not something a kid decides alone."
...I started hunting at 10 myself, so I slipped up. I got heated scolding her for planning to enter a gate alone. If she'd mentioned it right there, I'd have caught my mistake. But Little Mijeong never brought up school, or needing permission from parents... or any adult. I glossed over it yelling about solo gate runs. ...Forgivable for guardian permission, but zero mention of school is weird. She didn't lie about this either. This kid doesn't even realize kids her age go to school on weekdays. Because she wasn't going to school even before awakening...?
At this point, child abuse comes to mind naturally. The problem... is that doesn't fit either. We've only spent a short time together, but I feel like we've bonded a bit. Her emotional state didn't seem unstable. She laughs easily, talks well, full of energy... I'm no psychologist, so not certain, but physically, the Heavenly Mirror Jade scan showed no major injuries or illnesses. Besides, a family like that wouldn't send her alone to the agency. Who knows what she'd say outside.
...Same reason rules out being trapped in some horrific crime. That's why I just swapped numbers and made plans to meet today before sending her off.
...She has cards, new clothes, home, phone—but no money for tomorrow's food. Doesn't go to school, but no abuse. Travels alone. And she hides her situation with lies.
2. Strange statements. Calling B-rank stats "weirdly low" or saying she shouldn't stand out because she's pretty while keeping hair down to her knees... let's skip that. With the above, everything seems suspicious, but accounting for her being 8, it's understandable. Kids think S-rank is the absolute best. She might not grasp B is elite in reality. Not wanting attention but not cutting or hiding knee-length hair... ...Shungtongtong or whatever, she has her reasons. The truly weird part is yesterday's talk.
"If you entered a gate today, who were you planning to go with?"
"Mijeong's going alone-yang!"
...Thinking about it pisses me off again, so I glance at Little Mijeong still eating her pasta. Little Mijeong, what gives you the confidence to say that? Ever been in a gate? Seen a monster up close? Yesterday fighting me felt like your first time sprinting at full speed post-awakening—how strong do you think you are to spout that? And it wasn't just talk—if I hadn't stopped you, you'd have gone solo. Without proper armor, no potions, just a beat-up low-grade weapon?
What even is that rusty axe? Back then, some weird protective instinct kicked in, and I was set on failing her, so I didn't notice. Why does a freshly awakened kid call a junk hunter weapon "Partner" and treasure it? Father's gift? Little Mijeong, that was a lie. Which gate were you headed to? Gotta be Hwaseong's only stable E-rank, Goblin Den, but you weren't thinking of hitting a D-rank right after I gave you D-rank hunter status, right? ...Nah, she totally would. It's only been two days, but I get her mindset now. Damn, shoulda stuck to E-rank, but her talent's too good.
"Haa..."
"S-sorry-yang! I'll eat faster-yang!"
Slurp slurp! Little Mijeong. Solo gate runs happen, but basics are party play. Par-ty-play. Level ups need repeating job actions, so balanced parties where everyone does their growth stuff while hunting monsters—that's standard. Where'd a kid pick up this mindset? MijeongTube? TV? Did hearing her dad got C-rank on first eval make her think she's already a top hunter? Or that mystery current guardian? Even if solo was standard, she's 8. What adult cheers on an 8-year-old solo gate run? Be grateful I'm just thinking it. Yesterday, you should've gotten way more scolded!
"......Haa."
Slurrrp—cough cough!
"!? Little Mijeong! You okay!?"
"Guh... s-sorry-yang... I'll, eat, faster-yang."
"Huh? No. No need at all. Here, calm down and drink some water first."
I hurriedly hand a glass to the choking little lamb. Why the sudden rush? She was cutely munching away happily just before.
...My fault?
"...Little Mijeong. Did my sighing midway make you rush?"
"Yumina sis, sorry-yang. My eating... is... slow... so..."
"No. I'm the one who should apologize. Truly sorry. Little Mijeong, it's absolutely not because you're slow."
"...R-really-yang?"
"Yes. Of course. Eat at your own pace, slowly."
"O-okay-yang."
Back to munch munch. Really sorry, Little Mijeong.
...Not good. Once I get emotional, my tendency to go overboard slips out. I tried holding it in, but a sigh escaped anyway. Still some questions left, but let's wrap with clean conclusions.
Conclusions. My take from observing her words and actions:
1. Lived with parents until recently. The dad gifting the axe was a lie, but him getting C-rank on first eval wasn't. An 8-year-old remembering family stories means... at least until age 6, she was with them?
2. For some reason, another guardian took her in. That reason? Probably death. Parents'. If dad was a hunter, mom might've been too. So a relative or family friend raised the orphaned kid. ...Was raising.
3. That guardian vanished. Weird one who didn't send her to school, but no abuse. Some reason, but suddenly... stopped coming home.
...Maybe that rusty axe was the guardian's. Kid carries it for self-protection?
4. Mijeong awakened. Left truly alone. Scraped by on leftover cards/cash at home, but money running low—awakens successfully. Finds info online, comes to agency alone to register.
...Called it conclusions, but mostly my speculation. Tons of questions remain. Like, why didn't alone Mijeong ask others for help? No school why? Where'd guardian go? Really just awakened recently?
...Best is to ask the little lamb herself. But she won't tell. Hiding with bad lies. I get it. We've known each other barely a day. To her, I'm still a scary adult.
...One who scares her with just a sigh.
...Then just get closer. Planned to hit a gate after she finishes eating. Doesn't seem to hate fighting, so battling together might open her up.
... .. .
Munch munch— But Little Mijeong, it really... does take a bit. Your eating speed.