episode_0011

“It was an experiment… How many times was it?”

I rolled my eyes to the top right, groping for memories.

“Your body is already healed… Did you undergo a separate experiment?”

“Um, I don’t know. I’ve been in this state since I was young.”

I did experience it. In the world of comedy. But after being possessed by this body, I hadn’t experienced any particular experiments.

The problem is whether the original owner of the body before I was possessed had undergone an experiment. Since I couldn’t know that, I shrugged my shoulders and said I didn’t know.

“The wounds are already healed. Hmm, then let’s make a light wound.”

She picked up a knife from the trolley next to the experimental table and held my hand, lightly cutting the palm. It stung.

“Does it hurt?”

“A little sting?”

“…Do you feel pain differently?”

Mia murmured softly as she agitated the bleeding wound. As a result, the flowing blood decreased.

“…??”

Mia looked wide-eyed at the scene that turned all common sense in this world upside down, staring at the wound. The blood gradually stopped, revealing the section of the wound.

“W-what is this..”

Excited, Mia blushed and brought her face close to her palm. As her body approached mine, something warm, cozy, and… soft… was placed on my knee.

“Ugh..”

My body tried to melt away like an evil spirit being exorcised.

“How is this possible?”

Desperately, she let go of my hand and threw the knife onto the trolley. Then, she forcefully unbuttoned my shirt, buttons flying into the air and falling to the ground.

“Eek!”

I cowered, covering my chest like a high school girl screaming at a man who entered the women’s dressing room.

“Stay still!”

As she banged, a round hole appeared on the experimental table, and suddenly, tentacles sprang out and subdued me.

Thud!

The upper body fell back and lay on the operating table. Bound to the table, I trembled like a delicate girl. Mia, with her eyes wide open, raised a new knife.

In an instant, the knife sliced my stomach. Blood spurted for a moment, then stopped.

“Unbelievable…”

She looked down at my body in astonishment.

“If you look so clearly… I can’t get married.”

Sniffling, as tears welled up, Mia, belatedly, cleared her throat lightly.

“You got too excited.”

Mia neatly stitched up my torn stomach. The next day, the wound had healed cleanly, but a scar remained.

The wound needed to be sewn up in time, but it healed too quickly, leaving a mark.

“After a few more experiments, there were a few scars left. Well, it doesn’t matter.”

Thinking this, I nodded my head, then felt my clothes being tugged and looked at Jess again.

Jess’s eyes were now moist, as if she could shed tears at any moment.

“Well, it wasn’t that painful.”

As I answered, I heard the sound of someone swallowing their breath nearby. I immediately began to make excuses.

“Look. You look really healthy! Unlike Odile, Miss Mia is so kind that she would never do such a painful experiment! Most of the time, the experiments are just – well, occasionally difficult, and mostly just chores.”

But Jess’s expression showed no sign of easing. Over the next few days, tear drops began to flow down her swollen cheeks.

“Gosh…!”

Startled by Jess’s tears, I picked up the child and sat her on my lap. Then I waved my arms around, showing off my biceps.

“Look, I’m really healthy, right? I can even swing my fists like this…!”

Due to exaggerated movements, the sleeve was pushed up, revealing a long scar from the wrist to the elbow, with a slight remaining redness.

“Ugh…!”

“…!”

“Ahh!”

“Eeek!”

Jess eventually showed tears, burying her face in my chest, and soon children of Jess’s age began crying like falling dominoes.

Quickly pulling down my sleeve to cover the scar, I said, “S-sorry, did it gross you out? I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to show that I’m okay…”

Did you know? In the comedy world, the one often labeled as ‘evil’ is usually the one who made a woman cry. Especially if it’s a ‘pretty woman’ or a child, they can’t avoid going to jail.

It’s an inevitable instinct to put on a show to comfort the children!

“Hey, it’s okay. Shh.”

“Don’t cry…”

I tried to comfort the children who were not crying by showing them to those who were. Before long, the children could barely stop their tears.

I sighed with relief and comforted Jess in my arms. Jess let out a choked breath and shrugged her shoulders. Before long, even the restless shoulders found peace.

Just as I thought she had finally calmed down and was about to let go of Jess…

Groping around, Jess started feeling my body. Laughter threatened to burst out from the ticklish sensation.

“Jess, stop it…”

Before I could finish speaking,

Suddenly, Jess lifted my upper body and then stuck her face inside. I blinked rapidly with a bewildered expression.

“Is Jess like animals, enjoying confined spaces…?”

That thought vanished due to Jess’s trembling body.

“Ugh…! Jess, what are you doing…!”

I hastily took out a handkerchief from inside my shirt. Jess’s face was now red with tears streaming down. I wiped Jess’s face with my sleeve and hugged her again.

“Jess, it hurts… sniff, it hurts…”

“No, no. I’m not in pain. Let’s calm down.”

Even when I tried to comfort her, Jess couldn’t stop crying. When Jess cried so sadly, the children looked at me with puzzled faces.

“No, what should we do? Jess keeps crying.”

“..”

Noah, who had been biting his lower lip until it turned pale, sighed and approached me. Then he spoke to the tearful Jess.

“If you keep crying like this, it’ll be difficult for this guy. Is that what you want?”

“No, there’s no need to say it like that-”

“Sob..”

Goodness, Noah!

As soon as Noah finished speaking, Jess stopped crying abruptly and sniffled. I looked at Noah as if I were seeing a “parenting genius.” Can you feel my respect?

“Lian also needs to finish eating. Stop clinging.”

Noah said in a colder voice than usual. Shouldn’t he speak more affectionately? Just as I was about to say that, Jess mumbled and left my embrace.

“Pfft..”

Her puffy eyes and cheeks were so cute that I almost burst into laughter. I swallowed my dry saliva and barely held back my laughter.

“Sigh, thank you, I’ll… protect you…”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I replied in a cooing tone, finding it adorable how she clung to my clothes with hands like bracken. Jess let go of my clothes and got off my lap.

Thud.

After watching Jess return to her place, I looked at Noah and said,

“Thank you. It went well because of you. If you want something later, tell me.”

“…Anything?”

“As long as it’s within what I can do, I’ll listen to anything!”

“Really? Then… after we eat, come with me.”

“…?”

What’s this? What is he trying to ask me to do?

Though anxiety crept in, I reassured myself that it was probably nothing and finished the remaining meal.

Because the children were causing a commotion by insisting on doing the dishes and cleaning up that day, I left the restaurant faster than usual.

Thud.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Right now?”

Noah grabbed my arm fearfully and dragged me along. When I turned back, thinking it would be okay to leave Nero alone, I saw Nero, who was of the same age as Noah, helping other kids clean up the restaurant.

Seeing that peaceful scene, a contented smile spread across my face.

“I’m relieved. He’s adapting well.”

As Nero disappeared from my sight, I turned my head to look at Noah. Without once turning towards me, Noah continued walking briskly.

Matching Noah’s pace, we quickly passed through the corridor and arrived at our lodging. There were several rooms where four people could rest.

Noah led me into the room we shared with him and Nero. Since the number of children was odd, the three of us ended up sharing a room.

Clack, thud!

As soon as we opened the door and entered, Noah roughly closed the door with his hand.

Thud!

Simultaneously, my body was pushed backward and hit the door. Noah glared fiercely and grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“U-um, Noah?”

Noah lightly chewed on my words and forcefully lifted my shirt.