Chapter 54: Let’s Learn Common Sense (3)

“Awakened Han Dayeon! Please calm down before you do something you’ll regret!”

The teachers grew alarmed at her actions, which looked like she was taking Gyeonwoo hostage.

They quietly led the other children away and pulled out their smartphones, ready to call authorities.

As the situation spiraled further out of control, Han Dayeon’s mind went blank.

Oh, oh no.

They’re treating me like a villain!

If they actually report this, how will I explain?

The Guild Master will be furious about causing trouble!

While the teachers were warily watching Han Dayeon.

“Mama? What’s wrong?”

Pureumi came running from the group of kindergarteners, and

“…Did I make a mistake?”

Startled by the tense atmosphere, Gyeonwoo reflexively grabbed Han Dayeon’s clothes.

“Children…”

Though Gyeonwoo had created this situation.

Their apparent trust in her over other adults gave her belated courage.

Okay, stay calm.

Our sweet Gyeonwoo wouldn’t have done this on purpose.

I can’t become a villain when Gyeonwoo trusts me!

“There’s been a misunderstanding. She really hates dressing up, so I made her wear clothes she doesn’t like for today’s field trip, and I felt bad so I promised to buy her snacks.”

The teachers flinched at Han Dayeon’s calm explanation.

Um… letting her do whatever, undressing, asking for favors instead of money.

How could those words possibly be twisted into that explanation?

Honestly, it sounded like an excuse to any third party.

They might be trying to gaslight a child who doesn’t know better.

“Is that true? Don’t worry, tell us honestly. The teachers will help you.”

The teachers turned their attention to Gyeonwoo.

She was certainly a noticeably beautiful child.

With her brilliant hair color nearly indistinguishable from the sky, her attire, and her composed expression unlike other children – she was clearly no ordinary child.

But a child was still a child.

There had to be a reason why a child who looked elementary school age at most would speak so maturely and bring up words suggesting crime.

“Ah…”

Sensitive to others’ thoughts and feelings, Gyeonwoo noticed the teachers’ concerns.

Unlike in the cult.

Unlike when everyone scolded and complained when she made mistakes without knowing better.

These gazes were full of goodwill and determination to help, ready to listen to anything she said.

Did I say something that could be misunderstood…?

Though she still didn’t realize what the problem was, she at least didn’t want Han Dayeon to get in trouble.

So despite her awkwardness, she looked straight at the teachers and answered.

“Yes… I wanted everyone else to eat together too… But since it’s not my money but sis-sister’s… Though I don’t like these clothes, I thought it would be okay if everyone could be happy…”

It was a surprisingly articulate answer for her age.

Children that age typically assert rather than explain, putting emotion before reason.

Like the children who hesitated and looked back even while being led away by teachers.

“Mmm? Mama sad? Should Pureumi scold them?”

Or like Pureumi, who didn’t understand the situation and just puffed up her cheeks.

Only then did the teachers acknowledge their misunderstanding.

A child who could speak so articulately would have spoken up if she needed help.

Moreover, if she were being oppressed, she wouldn’t cling trustingly to Han Dayeon, and it would show in her everyday behavior.

“I’ll explain the details separately later.”

The misunderstanding didn’t last long after Han Dayeon’s words.

“We’re sorry for the misunderstanding…”

“Phew… it’s okay… You’re all good people.”

Han Dayeon wiped away cold sweat, having nearly ruined not just her own image but also the Chungseong Guild and Guild Master’s.

As she’d noticed at home, Gyeonwoo had quite a talent for unintentionally causing trouble for others.

Even a child’s innocence isn’t good at times like this…

She was still drenched in cold sweat thinking how she’d nearly been socially ruined.

“Now then, Hanmaeum children! Let’s get moving!”

When the field trip resumed.

The children held tanghulu in one hand and lemonade in the other.

*

“I’m sorry… I didn’t think it would be misunderstood like that…”

Slurp-

Gyeonwoo sipped her lemonade through a straw as thick as her finger and carefully pulled on Han Dayeon’s finger.

“…Mm, it’s okay.”

Honestly, even she thought it was something that could be misunderstood.

She should have remembered how recently Gyeonwoo had called selling her time as prostitution.

Making so much money as an Awakened had led her to try solving everything with money.

That wouldn’t help Gyeonwoo’s education.

And it probably didn’t look good either.

“Haah…”

While it’s good to educate children, how could she teach when she was so lacking herself.

As she kept sighing with self-reproach, suddenly.

“Hm?”

A hard stick was pushed between her fingers.

Looking down.

“S-sister, eat this. Sweet things will make you feel better.”

Gyeonwoo awkwardly grinned “hehe” as she handed over a tanghulu stick.

What should I do with this sweet child?

Too moved to either eat or return the tanghulu.

“Then Mama eat with me!!”

Pureumi came running from among the kindergarteners.

“It’s okay. I’ve had plenty.”

“No! Not tasty eating alone. I’ll take care of Mama!”

“Pureumi will take care of me?”

“Yes!”

Then, as if refusing wouldn’t be accepted, she suddenly pushed the tanghulu against Gyeonwoo’s lips.

Poke- The sugar coating left a glossy mark on Gyeonwoo’s lips.

“Okay. But Pureumi gets to eat what’s left.”

“Yes!”

And so, one by one.

As they started feeding each other the few pieces of tanghulu.

“…Me too! I want to try different flavors too!”

“Anyone who wants to share, come here!”

The children, already like idols with their blue hair.

Seeing Gyeonwoo and Pureumi’s actions, the other kindergarteners started sharing tanghulu too.

“My, what’s this?”

“Our children are so kind?”

The teachers watching smiled warmly.

Not just the teachers.

“The children are so cute.”

The field trip location being the district office, there were quite a few people around even in the morning.

From office workers visiting for civil affairs to elderly people and housewives.

“Aren’t kids that age usually throwing tantrums?”

Even busy officials carrying documents stopped.

“…I want to have a child like that.”

“Oh my, they’re at the cutest age.”

People of all ages, genders, and occupations smiled happily without realizing it, as if enchanted by the children.

It was hard to imagine this scene was created by just two children.

Well, such sweet and cute children could even captivate our strict Guild Master.

Han Dayeon finally relaxed.

She’d worried Gyeonwoo might be truly disappointed.

Though she usually acted mature for her age, she hadn’t expected this level of maturity.

“My babies! Share with sister too!”

Han Dayeon jumped in between Gyeonwoo and Pureumi with her handed-over tanghulu!

“I-if we eat this we’ll be too full for lunch!”

“Mmm! Tongue hurts!”

“It’s okay! Lunch will be even more delicious, so you’ll want to eat even if you’re full! Eat more! I’ll buy more!”

This brief incident only ended when the children had completely finished their tanghulu.

Everyone was more energetic after their sugar boost, and closer after gathering together.

Though the teachers worried about how to manage the children.

“Alright, now we really need to go. Where did we say we’re going today?”

“The district office!”

They led the children out energetically.

“Does anyone know what the district office does?”

“The president is there!”

“Don’t know!”

Though later than planned, the field trip started with touring the district office.

As part of the district’s support program, they had arranged a brief tour of the office.

Befitting the wealthy neighborhood, the district office building was as stylish as a cafe or gallery.

With its ㄷ-shaped structure and irregularly placed floor-to-ceiling windows.

And the skybridge crossing between them, with trees rising from the rooftop garden.

While Gyeonwoo and Pureumi stood holding hands like sisters, blankly looking up at the building.

“Do our new friends know what the district office does?”

The teacher gently asked, trying to reduce the strange distance with the other children.

“Hmm…”

As Gyeonwoo tilted her head, pondering some vague memory.

“District office! They say you need lots of money!”

Pureumi raised one arm high and answered loudly.

It was the kind of imagination a child might have, given the tall, fancy building.

A male civil servant coming out to help with the tour laughed heartily at this.

“The district office isn’t just for rich people, it’s a place anyone in the neighborhood can visit. We work day and night to make life comfortable for residents.”

From now until lunch, the civil servant rather than the teachers would guide the children.

Though managing such young children who were foolish and willful wouldn’t be easy.

“What? What does working day and night mean?”

“It means working without rest, day or night.”

It was partly for networking in this wealthy neighborhood.

“Han Dayeon, please stay back with us. You said you had something to discuss?”

“Ah, yes. About the children’s family situation…”

The district office tour began promptly due to adult circumstances.

“Mmm… they said you need bribes…”

“Ah! Right! I came with money before, I wonder if they’re happy now?”

Because of this, no one heard Pureumi and Gyeonwoo’s whispers.