~Chapter 6~
“Yeah.”
He answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“……”
I peeked out from under the crinkly blanket with only my eyes, and the man sighed deeply when he looked at me.
“Your eyes and the back of your head must have a problem.”
“I don’t get what you mean.”
“Me neither.”
He sounded resigned, his voice dragging.
Even though I had a fever and my body felt hot, I couldn’t stop smiling. It just made me happy to hear that he had come to find me.
I grabbed a bunch of blanket and pulled it up to hide my mouth.
“Stop smiling and go to sleep. You’ve got a fever.”
His cool hand brushed over my forehead.
> “You’re a total troublemaker kid. I picked up the wrong one.”
> “Think of it as karma.”
“You’re such an old soul.”
Hot. So now you’re trying to get rid of me?
> “Even if you talk cutely, it won’t work. I meant your word choice was the problem.”
Ah, I see how it is.
“I wanted to get a cute youngest child, but I guess that dream is over.”
That sentence cleared my foggy mind in an instant.
> “Are you taking me with you? To the North?!”
I sat up without thinking. My vision went white for a moment, but that didn’t matter anymore!
“If you get up suddenly—! Ha, come on. You’re gonna make my heart explode.”
“You can’t die! But… why? Why did you suddenly change your mind? You hated the idea before…!”
He sighed again and gently laid me back down. His awkward patting calmed me quickly.
> “I didn’t hate you.”
Another deep sigh.
> “I just… wanted you to live well.”
“……”
> “The world is finally quiet.”
I stayed silent.
The face of the war hero who returned in triumph looked kind of… small and sad in this moment. Maybe it was just my imagination.
Where his sword had swung, ruins remained.
Maybe Leviathan Jebert was the one who understood that emptiness best.
Maybe he didn’t want to take me with him not just because raising a kid was hard…
‘Maybe he just didn’t want more people staying beside him…’
Because he thought being near him would be like standing in ruins.
“Hey, Mister.”
As my eyelids grew heavier, I whispered softly. I couldn’t fight the sleep washing over me anymore.
> “It feels quietest when I’m next to you.”
Leviathan went silent for a moment.
“Is that so.”
His big warm hand covered my eyes.
A few days passed.
I had fully recovered.
I still had a little fever, so I was stuck in bed, but… I’d probably be fine by the end of today!
“Hehehe…”
I lay in bed, grinning darkly.
The Jebert Knights building in the capital was just as huge and grand as its reputation.
I had taken over one of the nice rooms and was waving my arms and legs like a butterfly.
“You look cheerful today.”
There was a knock, and a familiar face appeared.
“Oh, blondie?”
What’s he doing here?
“Hi.”
His eyes peeked through the doorway and curved gently.
“Can I come in for a bit?”
He asked politely. I sat up in bed and straightened myself for no reason.
“How did you get here?”
“Hmm, I walked.”
“……”
Did he think I was asking if he flew?
“Looks like what you were worried about got solved. That’s good.”
“Yeah… kind of.”
I answered vaguely and looked him over. He wasn’t wearing the clothes they gave out at the shelter anymore.
I had a feeling since the first time I saw him, but this guy…
“I heard you’re going to the Jebert family?”
“Huh? Yeah. That’s right.”
“Then are you being adopted by Jebert?”
“Maybe…?”
“Haha. Why do you sound so unsure?”
Well, the paperwork isn’t stamped yet.
Who knows how that grumpy man might change his mind again.
Suddenly, the blond boy stared at me and bent forward.
“What, what are you doing?!”
His bright mint-colored eyes filled my vision.
“…I knew it.”
Too close! Way too close!
“What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing. I’m sure the Duke has his reasons.”
He mumbled something and straightened up.
“Sorry to bother you while you’re resting. I’ll get going.”
“Uh…”
“See you again.”
It didn’t seem like he ever planned to stay long. He walked away without hesitation. Even the way he walked was elegant, probably from all that noble training.
‘What did he even come for?’
I stared at the spot he’d left with a frown.
‘He’s definitely the 4th prince, right?’
The 4th prince of the Babylon Empire.
> Licht Babylon.
> “The next crown prince.”
In the original story, Licht defeats his rivals one by one and becomes the crown prince.
No one imagined the ambition hidden beneath his soft and gentle face.
> ‘Why was that prince in the shelter in the first place…?’
The more I thought about it, the more confusing it got.
“I don’t get it.”
I flopped back onto the bed.
The fight for the throne had nothing to do with me anyway.
“Whatever. I’ll just enjoy this peace!”
Another few days passed, and finally—it was time to leave!
The man had been gone since morning. I heard he stormed through the palace like a hurricane.
> “So you really plan to open a daycare!”
I only found out later that the emperor grabbed the back of his neck in shock.
Because of the duke’s sudden decision to return to the North, the topic of magic inspection was dropped entirely.
Plus, none of the runaway mage’s traits matched mine anyway.
“How’s your head?”
“It’s fine.”
“Throwing up?”
“Nope.”
“Coughing—”
“Ugh, stop fussing already!”
I smacked his solid shoulder. It felt like punching a stone wall.
We had just stopped by the central church in the capital.
“Who’s fussing?”
He glared at me with sharp eyes.
In front of us was a document with the imperial seal.
The contents were simple: Leviathan Jebert would certify my identity and take care of me until I became an adult.
In short, he’d be my guardian.
> ‘I figured as much.’
Well, of course.
Letting a noble duke adopt some random kid with no background wasn’t easy.
> ‘Doesn’t matter.’
What mattered was that I could stay by his side!
Since I planned to leave once I completed my goal anyway, this might actually be a cleaner way.
> ‘Just like when I was in the orphanage…’
In my past life, I grew up in an orphanage.
When I became an adult, I had to become independent, but honestly, it felt overwhelming.
The world was harsh, and I had nothing. Maybe getting hit by the reincarnation truck was a blessing.
> ‘This time, I’ll prepare thoroughly and become independent!’
After I stop the bad ending first.
I clenched my fists, determined.
He signed the paper with elegant handwriting while holding me with one arm. My butt kept squirming.
I wanted to sign too! I wanted to finish that document quickly!
“Impatient little thing.”
He chuckled and put me down. I quickly grabbed a pen and rushed to the paper.
> Ru. Bi. An.
I carefully wrote my name in messy letters and even added a little mark.
“…A worm? Is that Eosian script?”
“It’s Imperial, okay?!”
He stared at the paper like it was a secret code. I didn’t care—I handed the document to the waiting priest.
Once the church’s stamp thudded onto the paper—
> “It’s official now!”
I jumped with joy, holding the paper.
“You say the weirdest stuff.”
“Hehe.”
“Arms.”
I opened my arms wide, and he smoothly picked me up.
He gave the document to the priest, and we left the church.
As if reminding me one more time, he said:
> “Like I said before, Ruby. The choice is yours.”
I remembered our earlier conversation before coming to the church.
> “See if you can live with me in the North. That’s why I’m not adopting you right away.”
He meant, if I didn’t like his home, I could say no anytime. He gave me the choice.
> “Even so… I want to stay by your side.”
As I hugged his neck and mumbled, he let out a low laugh.
“Yeah. I don’t get why you’re so attached to me though.”
Like some baby bird who imprinted on me. He mumbled as he patted the back of my head. That warmth had become familiar.
> “Anyway…”
“……”
> “For now, you’re the youngest in our house.”
It felt like a little fire lit in my heart.
“Hehe.”
I couldn’t help but smile. He tapped my nose.
> “Let’s go. To Jebert territory.”
Finally, we’re leaving the capital. With the hero!
> “Okay!”
Mister, I’ll definitely save you. So please—save this world too!
