Chapter 2
Garlizard Pashayen.
Diegon’s father and the head of the Pashayen family.
He was, in every sense, the king of the sea.
In his younger days, he ruled the ocean with just his fists. Even now, he was strong enough to beat a whale to death with martial arts alone.
Though age had turned his hair and beard completely white, the muscles that tightly filled his body had not disappeared.
And so, even today, Garlizard’s shirt was fighting for its life.
“Then why not just take it off instead?”
The moment Diegon entered the family head’s office, he picked a fight.
Garlizard didn’t even bother responding to the rude remark.
He already knew why his youngest son had come.
Instead, he said only what he wanted.
“No. Stop. Go back. I have no intention of accepting it.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“The ancestral whale has chosen the child. If you don’t like it, go knock its jaw off yourself.”
Diegon frowned at his father’s irresponsible words.
“How could I commit such an act of disrespect?”
The Pashayen family of the horizon.
They were a ducal family that ruled the southern seas of the Barateum Empire.
When a member of the Pashayen bloodline died, they returned to the sea and became divine beasts.
Among them, the founder of the family—the first duke—was the ancestral whale.
So striking it was the ultimate act of disrespect.
And going against its will was something no Pashayen could ever do.
“What you’re doing right now is disrespect, you brat. Look at you, raising your fists at your father after being spoiled so much.”
Garlizard clicked his tongue.
Then he slowly stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked down beneath his desk.
There, instead of a turtle, was something more like a tiny barnacle.
The child didn’t cry when she saw him. She was bold.
“How strange. Even if I’m suppressing my presence, it should still be frightening. As an Awakened, she might endure a little, but…”
But the child’s legs didn’t tremble at all.
She truly wasn’t afraid.
Not of the situation.
Not of the adults.
At that moment—
“Roasted marshmallow……”
A small mumble was heard.
“Did you just call me that?”
“Ah!”
The child jumped in surprise and quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
But just before that, Garlizard had already seen it—
With eyesight sharp enough to see beyond the horizon—
A line of drool at the corner of her mouth.
* * *
W-what do I do…
I couldn’t fix this!
Panicking, my eyes spun around.
Actually, the distance from the handsome uncle’s room to the handsome grandpa’s room was really far.
And the handsome uncle didn’t wait for me.
Since my legs are short, I had to hurry after him like a little chick, and I got hungry really fast.
Even before the door opened, I was already thinking about marshmallows…
And then grandpa ended up looking like one.
So while grandpa and uncle were talking, my head was filled with only one thing—
Roasted marshmallows.
“This is the kind of child she is.”
“Well, that’s fine. I thought you looked like a barnacle, so let’s call it even.”
That’s tasty though.
I don’t mind being compared to something delicious.
So I generously nodded.
“You didn’t like it when I called you a sea squirt earlier.”
“That one not tasty.”
Yes. I like tasty things.
I’m hungry.
Actually, I was taken away right before lunchtime.
And I hadn’t eaten anything since then.
Naturally, I was starting to lose my senses.
I’m hungry…
I almost sucked my finger but stopped myself.
The Carrot Class teacher said that if I want to become five years old, I shouldn’t suck my fingers.
And I had a habit of biting my thumb when I was hungry.
I had to fix that.
Because I’m the class leader!
But… but I’m hungryyy.
Grandpa and uncle kept talking.
My vision was starting to turn white.
So I raised my hand high.
Because you have to raise your hand to speak.
“What is it, little one?”
Thankfully, the handsome uncle gave me permission to speak.
So I politely and clearly expressed my opinion.
“I… won’t be that ajjii’s daughter. I will bake snacks.”
(Please send me to the kitchen!)
* * *
But I didn’t go to the kitchen.
Instead, I ended up somewhere even better—
A room full of food.
“My eyes are spinning……”
“Oh my, how cute. Try this apple crumble pie too.”
“Mm! Thank you!”
There were many aunties wearing very pretty maid outfits.
And they brought me everything—
Bread, pie, cookies, macarons.
“Mm! It’s delicious!”
Apple jam and cream got on my mouth.
I wiped it carefully while reaching for another macaron.
Actually, I eat a lot for my size.
You could call me the official glutton of Public Bbeokkeum Bbeokkeum Daycare.
‘Oh my, baby. Why are you here?’
‘I’m hungry…’
My first memory was a snowy day.
I wandered around starving until I stopped in front of a place that smelled delicious.
There was a metal gate, so I couldn’t go in.
So I crouched there, sucking my finger.
It felt like smelling the food made me less hungry.
I couldn’t cry anymore.
I couldn’t walk.
And the person who found me, pale and alone—
Was my Carrot Class teacher.
‘Chuu, do you like Carrot Class or Cleaning Class?’
‘Carrot Class!’
That’s why I joined Carrot Class.
“Cleaning Class” didn’t sound very nice.
It sounded like I’d have to clean something dangerous.
And being a kitchen maid was better—you can eat things.
Anyway, because of that—
I was very happy right now.
“Huh.”
After a while, I suddenly came to my senses.
Five strawberry macarons had already disappeared from my hand.
They disappeared so fast!
It must be magic.
I shouldn’t eat everything myself. That’s greedy.
Reflecting, I slowly put the macarons down.
“Oh? Baby, you’re not eating more?”
“No. These are for my friends.”
How many are left?
“One, two, three… five… eight… huh, not enough…”
What should I do?
I immediately looked like I was about to cry.
Macarons were the most delicious thing here.
I wanted to give them to my friends!
After thinking hard, I stood up from the sofa.
Then I walked toward the aunties, who were shaking their shoulders while looking at me.
Even though my steps were tiny compared to adults, I walked as confidently as I could.
“Um…”
I wondered what to call them, but then I remembered—
Teacher said it’s okay to call adults “teacher.”
“Teachem, um…”
“Yes, baby—kh, so cute!”
“Can you give me just one more…?”
“W-why only one?”
The brown-haired aunty trembled.
I spread all ten fingers proudly and explained.
“There are nine in Carrot Class, but Chuu ate some.”
“So there are nine friends, but only eight macarons left?”
“Yes!”
“Then why are you showing ten fingers?”
Oh no, I got caught.
I wiggled my fingers, then just smiled.
“Chuu also wants to eat one more.”
“Ahhh, I can’t take it anymore!”
“Huh?!”
The brown-haired aunty suddenly lifted me up and hugged me tightly.
It was a bit suffocating, but I didn’t mind since she would give me more macarons.
I was full and sleepy anyway.
So I hugged her back with my tiny arms and rested my cheek on her shoulder.
“Thank you.”
I didn’t forget my manners.
I miss teacher. Hehe.
Now I can go home, right?
I said I won’t be a daughter!
Just then—
As I was dozing off—
BANG!
A loud sound rang out.
My eyes snapped open.
The door was broken.
And then—
The handsome uncle appeared, frowning.
“Let’s go, sea… no, crab. I’ll raise you.”
So… I can’t go home?
Tilting my head, I asked the maid aunty to put me down.
Inside the broken doorway, grandpa was sitting in a chair, facing away.
“Goodbye! Thank you for the food!”
I bowed deeply, my head almost touching the ground.
Because I didn’t forget who gave me all that delicious food.
“Why aren’t you coming?”
The handsome uncle leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow.
I tried copying his expression but gave up.
Instead, I put my hands on my waist.
“You have to greet grandpa.”
“Just go.”
“No.”
“Go.”
“No.”
“I’ll leave you behind.”
“Then… that’s good!”
I quickly grabbed the maid aunty’s skirt.
Then I whispered clearly—
“Adults who don’t greet are bad uncles…”
“You shouldn’t follow bad uncles.”
“…!”
From behind the large chair—
A suppressed laugh burst out.
And just like that—
Without even fighting,
Diegon suffered his second defeat.
