episode_0002

It’s a quiet morning. Sundays at the childcare center are monotonous. Except for the designated meal times when we have to come to the dining hall, the rest of the time is free. The kids can choose to go outside and play with a ball in the yard or read books in the study room.

I’m reading a novel in the study room. I don’t feel like sweating unnecessarily today because it’s hot. I briefly considered studying for my future, but the most complicated thing available at the childcare center for that purpose was a middle school math self-study book. I quickly lost interest after solving a few problems.

“In the end, there’s nothing to do except read novels.”

They say reading a lot of books from a young age is important for the Korean college entrance exam, so I thought I might as well start working hard from now on, considering this is my second life.

Just as I was about to concentrate, I heard someone plop down next to me. The sparkling sunlight coming in through the window made her blonde hair shine brightly, almost blinding me.

Sitting quietly next to me with a book open was Alice. We were sitting so close that our forearms lightly touched.

“Aren’t you going out to play?”

I asked her while looking at the girls playing with a ball outside through the window. In response, she glanced at me and shook her head.

“You’re an Indian too.”

“….”

It’s been about a week since she became my helper, yet she still hadn’t spoken. Even I, who was closest to her, had never heard her voice, so the other kids probably didn’t know what Alice’s voice sounded like either.

Alice peered at the cover of the novel I was reading. There were four numbers written simply on the book cover.

“It’s 1984. It was stuck in the middle school section.”

Even though I’m still a little kid who hasn’t even gone to school, I’m over twenty in mental age, so I can’t read children’s books like “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” Besides, this “1984” was not an adapted book, but rather a nearly direct translation of the original, which made it even more interesting.

Perhaps finding it odd that I was reading a novel not suitable for my age, Alice looked at me meaningfully. I also glanced at the book she was holding.

“It’s a math problem book.”

Alice was looking at a math workbook. However, the strange thing was that she had been staring at it without moving her pen, just using her eyes.

“Where’s my writing tool? You told me where it was a few days ago.”

Pat pat.

She shook her head.

I tried to interpret her intentions for a moment and came to a conclusion.

“You don’t need a writing tool?”

Nod.

She conveyed her answer with a simple nod of her head.

‘…Unbelievable.’

Even though it’s meant for elementary school students, it includes three-digit multiplication and division, and even extends to involve rational numbers, making mental calculation difficult even for high school students.

No matter how exceptional the original character Alex is supposed to be…

‘I don’t recall anything about exceptional mental calculation abilities.’

To confirm, I took a writing tool and took the workbook from her. She obediently let me take it.

I discreetly calculated 439*364 on the paper, out of her sight.

‘The answer is 159,796.’

I hid the paper with the answer behind me and pressed the problem in front of her face.

“Try solving this.”

Alice blinked her blue eyes and blankly stared at the problem. Frankly, at first glance, it just looked like she was spacing out.

“…Did you solve it?”

Nod.

She took the writing tool from me and wrote a six-digit number in the margin of the workbook. The number was as follows:

159,796.

“No way…”

Surprised, my voice burst out. It’s almost as if there’s a human calculator in front of me, so it’s no wonder I’m astonished.

Just in case, I even asked her to do a fraction calculation, and she breezed through that too. She looked at me as if she had some kind of intention.

“…Impressive. Honestly, you seem like a genius.”

It’s not just seeming like a genius; she is a genius. Given the setting, she was a child prodigy. In this world, she’s an orphan, so the nickname is contradictory.

After hearing my praise, Alice turned her attention back to the math workbook, seeming deeply engrossed in her calculations, so I decided not to disturb her.

How much time had passed? After thoroughly reading the novel translator’s afterword section, I stretched and got up from my seat.

The sunlight outside the window was illuminating the room quite deeply. It was lunchtime.

It’s lunchtime. Friends, come to the restaurant and have your meal.

The familiar voice of the head nurse echoed from the ceiling speakers. Outside, the sound of girls rushing into the daycare center could be heard.

“What’s for lunch today!”

As one dirt-covered girl shouted, a teacher immediately called for attention.

“At least wash your hands before coming in. The same goes for everyone else. If you come into the restaurant in that state, you’ll be causing trouble for the other kids.”

“Yes~.”

Listening to their conversation, I also made my way to the restaurant. Just behind me, I could hear Alice’s footsteps following.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Alice talking to other kids.”

She only seemed to hover around me, never interacting with the other children. When I studied, she studied next to me; when I brushed my teeth, she did the same; even during meals, she only ate by my side.

“Do you have any friends?”

I asked Alice as I spooned the chicken porridge for lunch. She closed her mouth, which had been open to eat the porridge, and shook her head.

“…Try doing something on your own instead of just being next to me all the time. You don’t have to follow me.”

Shake, shake, shake.

A clear expression of denial! She shook her head almost three times. Her emotions were unexpectedly laid bare.

“Is she really that averse…”

I started to doubt whether Alice’s MBTI was “I” (Introverted) or not. But in the webtoon, she, or he, seemed perfect even in social relationships. Perhaps it was all an act.

Discovering this side of Alice that I didn’t know… honestly, it’s enjoyable. Without realizing it, I’ve found myself observing Alice as she observes me.

When she thinks no one is looking, she bites her nails, or her lips gently curl up when she eats a steamed potato…

“Oh, look, she’s eating with a boy again!”

Just as I was immersed in pleasant thoughts, a voice interrupted the atmosphere. Turning towards the source of the sound, I saw three lively girls looking at us.

“Hey, Alice. We asked you to come play soccer today, why didn’t you come out?”

“Yeah! Did you find what we said funny?”

“If you’re a girl, you should kick the ball.”

The young ones, or rather, the girls have already formed their own clique and are making a fuss. I wonder what lies ahead for them.

Despite the mocking remarks from those girls, Alice quietly continued eating. This time, it was one of the girls from the clique who directed her attention towards me.

“Alice, are you not coming out because of Kim Maru? What’s a girl doing hanging out with a guy!”

Ridiculous. Alice received a soccer proposal. It seems like the kids were trying to accept Alice in their own way.

From the start, she was someone who could only attract people wherever she went.

Despite being a villain, many students were captivated by her overwhelming performance and charisma.

“Kim Maru, I’ll have one of your sausages.”

One of the girls from the clique snatched my sausage.

“Hey, I saved that to eat later.”

But as a 20-year-old, it just seemed like a young cousin’s tantrum to me.

I tried to befriend Alice, but it failed, and she ended up taking it out on me. It was typical behavior for her age group.

I tried to brush it off, but the girl next to me wasn’t going to let that happen.

When the target of her mockery shifted to me, Alice, who had been silently eating, suddenly stopped and stared daggers at the girl from the clique.

“W-what’s wrong?”

The girl from the clique seemed taken aback by Alice’s unexpected reaction and stumbled over her words. The girls beside her swallowed hard.

“….”

Alice continued to stare at them without blinking. Her expression slightly furrowed.

“Alice, forget it. Just eat quickly.”

I’m too mature to get angry alongside Alice here. But staying silent would only prolong this uncomfortable atmosphere.

In the end, my choice was clear: I had to stop Alice.

“Ugh, but the sausage is a bit of a waste.”

After hearing me, Alice bowed her head and resumed eating.

“…They’re strange. Let’s go.”

The girls from the clique led the way out of the restaurant. They’ll probably come back to cause trouble until lunchtime ends.

After lunch, I went back to the bookstore and picked up a book. I planned to concentrate on reading until dinnertime.

Alice wouldn’t return soon since she had gone to the restroom earlier.

As I was about to immerse myself in reading, I noticed a group of troublemakers entering from the entrance.

“Why are they coming here?”

Unless they were forced to read during reading time, they never came here.

They settled in a corner and started chatting loudly about anime.

“…”

I tried to focus on my book, not wanting to cause unnecessary friction. However, just having such thoughts meant my concentration was already broken. Their voices began to grate on my nerves.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I spoke up.

“Could you please be quiet?”

“Wow, the gangster husband is mad.”

“…What?”

Gangster’s wife, really?

“Oh, gender reversal….”

It’s astonishing that I’ve become a participant in this ancient tradition. The ancient tradition of teasing boys by calling violent girls gangster’s wives crossed my mind.

“They came to pick a fight with me.”

I sighed and glanced towards the entrance, only to find Alice there. She quietly approached and sat next to me, opening her own book.

At that, the troublemakers, as if ghosts, shut their mouths and left the bookstore.

“This might get a bit annoying….”

There’s no point in getting genuinely angry at these kids, and telling the teachers won’t make this subtle form of harassment disappear. Instead, there’s a high chance they’ll twist it into something cowardly, saying something like “men are always this and that.”

…I didn’t feel like reading anymore. I just lay down and closed my eyes.

When I opened them slightly, Alice was looking at me after my sudden action.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“…”

Surprisingly, Alice didn’t lie down next to me but redirected her gaze back to her book.

Young Kim Maru’s body must still be too young to resist the overwhelming urge to sleep. I had already fallen into a deep slumber.

*

*

*

Alice observed the sleeping Kim Maru closely and then gently touched his nose with her finger.

Faint breathing could be felt rhythmically. Having observed Kim Maru’s sleeping patterns for the past week, she was confident that he was deeply asleep at the moment.

Her body rose gently and stealthily ascended the stairs. Then, like a cat, she quietly slipped out of the bookstore.

Having waited until he was completely asleep, quite some time had passed.

As Alice headed towards the yard, the girls, showing signs of exhaustion after finishing their soccer game, were making their way to the entrance of the orphanage.

Among them, Nuna was still in the yard. Two ruffians approached her.

“Nuna, aren’t you coming in?”

“I’ll stay a bit longer.”

“Wow, you’re still not tired?”

They clicked their tongues and left the yard. Now, only Nuna remained in the yard.

Alice approached Nuna. She no longer walked like a cat.

Confidently, as if it didn’t matter if she was noticed, she strode forward with the dignified gait of a tiger.

Sensing someone approaching from behind, Nuna stopped her shooting posture and turned her head.

There stood Alice, approaching her.

“Oh, playing soccer? Then let’s go and I’ll be the keeper…”

Thwack!

A dry sound echoed through the yard. It took Nuna a moment to realize what had happened to her.

“Huh?”

Rubbing her stinging cheek, she looked at the blonde girl who had struck her.

Alice’s right arm was extended toward her left side. She had struck herself.

“What’s gotten into you suddenly…!”

Without a response from Alice, Nuna, now angry, raised her fist.

Among the girls at the orphanage, there was no one larger in stature than her. That’s why she was the leader of the ruffians, and in soccer, she was always the ace.

So, Nuna thought that the delicate doll-like girl in front of her wouldn’t be able to withstand her blows.

Her large fist reached out towards Alice’s face.

At that moment, when she was certain of victory…

“……”

“……”

The anticipated sound of impact did not come. Nuna’s fist lost its strength and stopped right in front of Alice’s face.

It fell short.

Alice stretched out her leg and firmly pressed her left knee, which served as the leverage, with her foot. Then, once more. Thwack! The lady’s cheeks turned a pale red. The pain and helplessness she was experiencing for the first time in her life quickly shattered her spirit.

“W-why are you doing this…?” She stuttered through her tears. Alice did not stop her arms even when she saw her opponent submit.

“O-okay! I won’t bother you anymore! I won’t even nag you to play soccer!” Still, with Alice’s expression remaining stern, the lady’s head began to spin rapidly. Finally, she reached a conclusion.

“Because of Kim Maru…? I won’t bother him either… So, so don’t hit me….”

“……”

Only after hearing what she wanted did Alice turn and walk back into the orphanage. For a while, the sound of a girl crying and rubbing her cheek could be heard from the yard.