Chapter 7

Where my gaze landed, there was a man smirking crookedly at me.

“Why don’t you shut up in the cafeteria? Your whining voice is disgustingly annoying.”

Goodness. He certainly has a talent for being vulgar.

‘As expected, real criminals are just built different.’

Dominic.

He was one of the few genuine criminals in Bramchois.

His crimes were pickpocketing and fraud.

Rumor had it he made a living by fleecing the poor of their entire life savings.

In short, he was a vicious little lowlife who enjoyed tormenting the weak.

And the most likely target for his bullying in Bramchois was…

“Well, well. How dare you glare at an adult? You really act like the uneducated brat you are.”

…Me, of course.

‘…Truly pathetic. How does he live with himself?’

But contrary to my thoughts, my hands were trembling.

It must be due to the lingering instincts of this child’s body.

‘It’s so unfair.’

I really wasn’t afraid of Dominic.

Before my regression, I had been afraid of him.

Naturally. What four-year-old wouldn’t be scared of a fully grown adult constantly picking fights and barking at them?

But I had grown stronger, having endured the hellish days at the orphanage and the streets that were no different from the wild.

‘…Of course, my heart still pounds when I see a stranger or an angry adult.’

But I had reached a point where I could hold back that pounding heart and smile as if nothing was wrong.

Besides, this was Bramchois.

Sister Jeanne was by my side, and Ricky was right there in front of me.

And Mr. Oliver would be arriving soon.

‘Yeah. There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

As I just snorted without a hint of fear, Dominic’s face twisted in annoyance.

“Don’t just blink at me like that. Answer me! Are your ears clogged up?”

“Hey, are you done running your mouth?!”

At the raised voice, Ricky stepped in for me.

“What kind of childish act is this for an adult? Stop picking fights and get lost.”

“Well, well. Look at the knight in shining armor. So where did you leave your white horse, Ricky?”

“You really are… Ha, whatever. I shouldn’t lower myself to your level.”

“What did you say? Hey, are you done talking?”

“So what if I’m not?”

Hup. This isn’t good.

The atmosphere was quickly turning hostile.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a fight broke out at any moment.

Even the gazes of the other sisters and brothers watching us were unsettling.

Well, they were all good people, after all.

Grr.

‘If a riot breaks out because of this.’

This is bad. Very bad!

Honestly, at any other time, I wouldn’t have cared if a riot broke out.

And I would have cheered for Ricky.

But now was not the time for fights.

‘There’s an undercover investigator here!’

If we caused a pointless commotion right now, Ricky could end up in trouble too.

And the same went for the other sisters and brothers.

‘I have to stop this somehow.’

I stomped my feet and flailed my hands toward Ricky.

“Bwother, stop it. Don’t fight.”

“It’s fine, Melony. Don’t try to stop me.”

“Just calm down fiwst-.”

“Yeah. The little snot is right. Listen to her, Ricky. Don’t get yourself beaten up for nothing.”

Please just shut up, Dominic.

I suppressed the urge to glare at Dominic.

However.

“You morons. It’s obvious what the level is of grown adults hanging around a brat. Ah, and that sissy-looking guy who came in this time is the same, isn’t he? He looked like a total idiot at first glance.”

“What did you just say?!”

This was something I couldn’t tolerate.

I didn’t care what he said about me. I was used to it.

But I couldn’t stand him insulting Ricky or Mr. Oliver.

“Don’t insult Wicky and the new uncwe! They’re both good people! The uncwe who picks fights with a fowr-year-owd is the one with no wevel!”

Pfft.

Kek.

At my brutal honesty, laughter erupted from all around.

“Pfft. Melony has a point.”

“Haha. Hey, Dominic. Four-year-old Melony is brighter than you.”

“She sure is.”

As more voices chimed in, Dominic’s face flushed bright red.

He shot to his feet.

“You really want to die…!”

Standing up, Dominic menacingly clenched his fists.

…W-What’s his problem!

He started it first.

I subtly hid my face behind Sister Jeanne’s arm.

“Bawdhead…! Monstew…!”

Since it had come to this, I might as well say my piece.

But soon, I regretted calling him a baldhead.

Because the moment he heard the word ‘bald,’ Dominic’s eyes rolled back.

With his eyes rolled back, Dominic charged at me with a fierce momentum.

“You won’t get away with-!”

Crash.

His thunderous shout was buried under a loud thud.

Dominic, who had charged forward huffing and puffing, was sprawled flat on the floor.

‘Huh?’

But Dominic’s physical comedy didn’t end there.

“Ugh!”

Crash.

“Ack!”

Thud.

“Hup!”

Crash, bang.

With every repeated fall, Dominic’s face grew paler.

“W-What is this. Someone keeps pulling my ankles-, ugh!”

At his terrified scream, I tilted my head.

‘Pulling his ankles?’

That couldn’t be.

There was nothing around Dominic or near his feet.

Only dark shadows.

“What are you talking about. There’s nothing there.”

“There’s no way. Something definitely-!”

Crash, bang.

Denying Ricky’s indifferent words, Dominic fell flat on his face once more.

Ouch. That’s going to leave a mark.

Trembling with his face planted on the floor, Dominic scrambled to his feet and-.

“Aaaack!”

Let out a shriek and bolted out of the cafeteria.

On all fours, no less.

“…What was that. Why is he like that?”

“He’s finally lost it.”

Mm, he has a point.

‘Anyway, I wonder when Mr. Oliver will get here.’

Resting my chin on the table, I stared at the door.

I wish he would hurry up.

* * *

Huff, huff.

Having escaped the cafeteria, Dominic gasped for ragged breath.

His entire body was throbbing.

There wasn’t a single spot that didn’t hurt.

“Damn it…”

His face remained pale as he muttered quietly.

‘What on earth was that?’

What on earth had tripped him?

Everyone said it was impossible, but there was definitely something there.

With every step he took, something had tripped his feet.

Even if it was invisible!

‘But they’re treating me like I’m crazy?’

Recalling the laughter that had followed him, he gritted his teeth.

A bunch of idiots who got locked up in a place like this because they have no power or anything.

If they’re prisoners, they should act like prisoners, groveling and crying!

Especially that brat.

“Yeah. This is all because of that damn little brat.”

The problem was that cheeky little girl provoking him.

She should have just stayed quietly huddled up and read the room like usual.

Provoking me with useless words…

‘I’ll pay her back for today’s humiliation no matter what.’

By any means necessary.

It was then, as Dominic pathetically stoked his flames of revenge against four-year-old Melony.

“I thought I heard a dog barking.”

A soft voice drifted from somewhere.

“Turns out it wasn’t a dog, but a son of a bitch.”

Son of a bitch?

Dominic instantly realized the words were directed at him.

His face burning crimson, he looked toward the source of the voice.

“Did you just say that to me…!”

However, his words failed him.

Where his gaze landed stood Oliver, his face completely expressionless.

His blue gaze was tranquil.

So tranquil it was bone-chilling.

It was strange.

He had definitely thought of him as a sissy-looking guy who always wore a sly smile, a guy who wasn’t even worth a handful…

“What are you going to do?”

What on earth was this bizarre sense of intimidation?

Gulp.

Like a dog with its tail between its legs, Dominic swallowed dryly and asked back.

“…W-What do you mean?”

“I came running excitedly thinking there was a real dog, but you disappointed me. How are you going to compensate me for my tender heart being torn to shreds?”

Compensation?

‘Why should I compensate for that…?’

Besides, he didn’t look tender-hearted in the slightest.

To him, Oliver flashed a grin and said.

“Why don’t you try barking for me?”