Chapter – 07
Where our eyes met, there was a man looking at me with a crooked smile.
“Weren’t you keeping quiet in the cafeteria? Your whiny voice is damn annoying.”
Oh my god. You have a real talent for vulgar speech.
‘As expected, a real criminal is just different.’
Dominic.
He was one of the few real convicts in Bramshua.
His charges were pickpocketing and fraud.
It’s said he typically swindled poor people out of all their possessions.
In short, he was a nasty piece of work who enjoyed bullying the weak.
And within Bramshua, the likely target for his bullying—.
“Well, well. How dare you glare at an adult? See, you just show you have no upbringing.”
—was me.
‘…How utterly pathetic. Why does he live like that?’
But contrary to that feeling, my hands were trembling uncontrollably.
It seemed to be due to an instinct left in this child’s body.
‘It’s unfair.’
I’m really not scared of Dominic.
Before the regression, I was afraid of him.
Of course I was. What four-year-old wouldn’t be scared of a full-grown adult constantly picking fights and intimidating them?
But after going through the hellish orphanage days and the street life that was no different from the wild, I became stronger.
‘…Although, my heart does pound when I see an adult for the first time or an angry adult.’
I had become strong enough to hold onto my pounding heart and act unfazed.
Moreover, wasn’t this Bramshua?
I had Jeanne unni next to me, and Ricky oppa was in front of me too.
Soon, Oliver ajusshi would be here as well.
‘Yeah. There’s nothing to be afraid of.’
When I showed no sign of fear and just snorted nonchalantly, Dominic’s face scrunched up.
“Stop blinking those annoying eyes and answer me, you little brat. Are your ears clogged or something!”
“Hey, are you done talking?!”
Responding to the raised voice in my place was Ricky oppa.
“What are you, an adult, doing acting so childish? Stop picking fights and get lost.”
“Well, well. Look who we have here, a prince on a white horse. So where did you leave your white horse, Ricky?”
“You’re really… Ha, whatever. I shouldn’t stoop to your level.”
“What did you say? Hey, are you done talking?”
“And if I’m not, what are you going to do about it?”
Hup. This is no good.
Somehow the atmosphere was getting increasingly hostile.
It wouldn’t be strange if a fight broke out soon.
Even the looks from the other unnies and oppas watching us were unusual.
Well, they’re all good people after all.
Ggeueung.
‘If a commotion breaks out because of this.’
It would be troublesome. Extremely troublesome!
Frankly, if it were any other time, I wouldn’t care if a fight broke out or not.
And I would have cheered for Ricky oppa’s side.
But now was not the time for a fight to break out.
‘The investigator is undercover here!’
If we cause an unnecessary disturbance during this time, even Ricky oppa could end up in an awkward position.
The same goes for the other unnies and oppas.
‘I have to stop them somehow.’
I stomped my feet and flailed my hands towards oppa.
“Oppa, stop it. Don’t fight.”
“It’s fine, Melony. Don’t try to stop it.”
“Just calm down for now—”
“Yeah. Listen to that pip-squeak trying to stop you. Just listen to her, Ricky. Don’t get beaten up for nothing.”
Please be quiet, Dominic.
I strongly resisted the urge to glare at Dominic.
But.
“You stupid bastards. It’s obvious just looking at you grown-ups hanging out with a little kid, what your level is. Ah, that new guy who came in, the one who looks like a gentleman, is the same, isn’t he? He looked like a fool at first glance too.”
“What did you shay?!”
This much, I couldn’t stand.
I didn’t care what he said about me. I was used to it.
But I couldn’t stand him insulting Ricky oppa or Oliver ajusshi.
“Don’t inshult Nikky Oppa and the new ajusshi! Both are good people! An ajusshi who picks on a four-year-old ish more shameful!”
Poop.
Keuk.
Laughter burst out here and there at my fact-based violence.
“Ahem. Melony has a point.”
“Haha. Hey, Dominic. Four-year-old Melony is more clever than you.”
“That’s right.”
With the comments piling on one by one, Dominic’s face began to turn bright red.
Veurddeuk.
“You’re really asking for death…!”
Dominic, who had risen from his seat, clenched his fist threateningly.
…W-what, so what!
He started it first.
I subtly hid my face behind Jeanne unni’s arm.
“Baldy…! Ugly…!”
Well, since it’s come to this, I have to say what I have to say.
But soon, I regretted calling him a baldy.
It was because as soon as he heard ‘baldy’, Dominic’s eyes rolled back.
Dominic, with his eyes rolled back, charged at me with a fierce momentum.
“I won’t let you—!”
Kwa-dang.
The loud shout was drowned out by a crashing sound.
Dominic, who had been charging forward huffing and puffing, was now sprawled flat on the floor.
‘Huh?’
Dominic’s physical comedy didn’t end there.
“Euk!”
Kwa-dang.
“Eeek!”
Ku-dang-tang.
“Heup!”
Ku-dang-tang-tang.
The more he kept falling, the paler Dominic’s face became.
“Wh-what? Who keeps tripping me—, eueok!”
At his terrified cry, I tilted my head.
‘Tripping you?’
Impossible.
There was nothing near Dominic or under his feet.
There was only a black shadow.
“What nonsense. There’s nothing there.”
“That can’t be! There’s definitely something—!”
Ku-dang-tang-tang.
Dominic, who was refuting Ricky oppa’s nonchalant remark, fell flat on his face again.
Ouch. That one must have really hurt.
Dominic, who had been trembling after face-planting the floor, suddenly jerked his body up—.
“Kyaaak!”
Letting out a scream, he fled the cafeteria.
On all fours, no less.
“…What’s with him? Why is he like that?”
“He’s finally gone crazy, I guess.”
Hmm, that makes sense.
‘By the way, when will Oliver ajusshi arrive?’
I rested my chin on the table and looked towards the door.
I hoped he would come quickly.
* * *
Huff, huff.
Dominic, who had rushed out of the cafeteria, was breathing heavily.
His whole body ached.
There wasn’t a spot that didn’t hurt.
“Damn it…”
His face, as he muttered softly, was still pale.
‘What the hell was that?’
What on earth was tripping him?
Everyone said it was impossible, but there was definitely something.
Something was tripping him with every step he took!
Even if it was invisible!
‘And they treat me like I’m crazy?’
He gritted his teeth, remembering the laughter that had followed him.
Those idiots, trapped in this place with no strength or anything.
If they’re trapped, they should act like it, cowering and crying!
Especially that little brat.
“Yeah. It’s all because of that damn little kid.”
The problem was that cheeky little girl provoked him.
She should have just shrunk back quietly like usual and watched her tone.
She had to go and provoke him with unnecessary words…
‘I’ll pay back today’s humiliation somehow.’
By any means necessary.
Just as Dominic was burning with a petty desire for revenge against a four-year-old Melony.
“I thought I heard a dog barking somewhere.”
A soft, deliberate voice came from somewhere.
“Turns out it wasn’t a dog, but a son of a bitch.”
Son of a bitch?
Dominic immediately realized that remark was directed at him.
His face flushed red as he looked in the direction of the voice.
“Just now, what you said to me…!”
However, his words couldn’t continue.
Where his gaze landed was Oliver, with an expressionless face.
His blue gaze was calm.
So calm it was eerie.
It was strange.
He had always thought of him as a guy who looked like a gentleman, always smiling slyly, not worth a single punch…
“What do you intend to do?”
What was this strange sense of pressure?
Gulp.
Dominic, who had his tail between his legs, swallowed dryly and asked back.
“…Wh-what do you mean?”
“I came running excitedly, thinking there was a real dog, but you disappointed me. How are you going to compensate for my tender heart, torn to shreds?”
Compensate?
‘Why should I compensate for that…?’
Besides, his heart didn’t look particularly tender in the first place.
To him, Oliver smiled thinly and said.
“Want to try barking for me once?”
