“I like ‘Toshili’ because it sounds cute and chubby like a rabbit, but ‘Podongi’ is a bit annoying.”
Shocked, I stared at him, and Micard *oppa* scratched the back of his head.
“Ah, right, it was Toshili. But since you’re so plump, Podongi fits you well, too.”
“Nooo!”
“Alright, alright. Toshili it is.”
“Ung. That’s better.”
Having made my opinion perfectly clear, I held the cotton candy *oppa* had bought me and gave the tip a tiny lick.
I didn’t want to gobble it all up at once; it felt like a waste. I wanted to gaze at something so pretty for a long time!
“But, *oppa*.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you close with everyone? How come everyone recognizes you wherever we go?”
Earlier, and even with the man selling cotton candy—everyone who saw Micard *oppa* would chirp, “Oh, you’ve arrived!” or “Lord Micard!”
Elzen *oppa* had insisted that Awakeners were scary and people avoided them, but seeing it now, that didn’t seem true at all.
“Ah, I used to be in the Public Safety Division when I was younger. Dad said I had to start from the bottom and work my way up.”
“Safety Division?”
“Not the mansion, but this street. It’s a job that protects the place where people live and breathe. Pretty cool, right?”
*Yam.*
I tore off a piece of cotton candy with my lips and nodded while chewing.
“Since they’ve been watching me since I was little—back before there was even a Bijou—most of them know me.”
“Ooh.”
“Living mixed in with them like this, I naturally learned how to manage my energy. The people of the estate taught me a lot.”
A sense of pride filled Micard *oppa*’s face as he spoke. Watching him stand with his chest and shoulders puffed out and his back straight, I couldn’t help but imitate him.
I wanted to look that cool, too.
“Anyway, Toshili. Where do you want to go now?”
“Podongi became Toshili…”
*Kwoooong!*
I grabbed my squishy cheeks and pulled them outward. I knew they were a bit puffier than other kids’, but did I really have to go from ‘plump’ to ’round’?
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ begins to laugh while covering his mouth.]
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ argues that a child with a round tummy will save the country.]
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ points out that you are round not just in your tummy, but in your cheeks, too.]
That’s… that’s…
Because I’m a foodie! Though it remains a mystery why I don’t grow taller even though I eat so much.
*‘If I run a lot, will I grow tall like oppa?’*
Clutching the cotton candy tightly, I began to dash forward. After passing shops selling grilled chicken legs, steamed scallops, and fried shrimp, I saw a crowd gathered at the far end of the street.
“There’s another doll catcher!”
“They said they installed them everywhere. Shall we go?”
“Ung. But *oppa*, where did the dolls go?”
“I sent them home.”
Home? How?
But right then.
“Huh? Pig-potato?!”
* * *
It goes without saying, but there were ‘safety agents’ planted on this street by the Pashayen.
They were part of the Pashayen Navy, operating in plain clothes under Diegon’s orders. While the overall command came from the Admiral, they followed Micard’s instructions in the field. So, it wasn’t strange that one of them had taken the dolls from Micard.
〔There is a disturbance up ahead. It’s Ricardo Dunloos and other children of the Dunloos house. Shall we clear them out?〕
〔Leave them be for now. I heard that brat tore Shupetty’s name tag.〕
With his hands now free, Micard walked with a swagger, hands shoved deep into his pockets, not forgetting to respond to his subordinates via telepathy.
“You…!”
Meanwhile, Toshili-Podongi-Toshili had spotted Ricardo, and he had spotted us. Now that he was no longer part of the Pashayen, the ‘Dunloos’ Ricardo was surrounded by his own kin.
“Because of you, because of you, I-I-I-!”
Because he had dared to point a finger at Shupetty, Micard immediately bent that finger backward.
“Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m right here?”
“Kgh, L-Lord Micard. I, I’m just so frustrated…!”
“So? Does being frustrated mean you can point fingers? I’m starting to reflect on when I began to look so soft to you.”
Today, Micard was trying his hardest not to let a shred of his aura leak out. The reason was simple: in case Shupetty might get scared.
That didn’t mean he was going to let just anyone act cocky, though.
“*Oppa*, hold on.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Just a second. I have something to ask.”
The tiny thing tugged on his sleeve. Micard obediently let go of the finger he had been bending. He didn’t know what she was planning, but it didn’t matter as long as he was watching.
Then, from somewhere invisible down below, a small *kom-kom* sound was heard.
It seemed she was trying to clear her throat.
“Apologize. For tearing my name tag earlier!”
What followed was a very sharp, assertive statement.
* * *
Found you, my enemy!
When I spotted Ricardo, my heart began to hammer against my ribs. The forgotten rage was welling up inside me.
“Apologize.”
“Ick, w-why should I! I got kicked out of Pashayen because of you!”
“Apologize! You pushed me first! And you tore my name tag!”
I confess, my pronunciation had never been clearer. I glared at Ricardo with eyes burning like fire. He looked back and forth between me and Micard *oppa*, acting all huffy.
Infuriated even more, I stomped my foot with a *tang*.
“Look at me!!”
I knew… where that booming voice came from, even in my small body. My badge. Tensing my plump tummy, I shouted at Ricardo once again.
“You threatened me. That’s why the Water Spirit King appeared. Bullying someone smaller than you is wrong!”
“Exactly. And after seeing him get what was coming to him, the public agreed to call it ‘serves you right’.”
Micard *oppa* chimed in from behind. I whipped my head around at him.
“*Oppa*, don’t take sides. I’m the one talking right now.”
“Ouch, sorry. I’ll stay out of it.”
“Ung!”
I hated that Ricardo kept glancing at Micard *oppa*. I’m the one talking right now!
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ is pleased, thinking you are a child who doesn’t act cowardly.]
But Ricardo didn’t apologize. Instead, he shoved past the kids who were watching and tried to leave.
“Move!”
“Ouch!”
The children pushed aside by Ricardo and his group tripped, hitting their bottoms or knees. Seeing that, I truly, deeply got angry.
“Don’t you run away!!”
After shouting at the top of my lungs, I scurried over and helped the children stand up. At that moment, a quest appeared before my eyes.
A quest!
A child who does not tolerate injustice!
The Fire Spirit King has given you homework!
✔
Receive an apology from Ricardo Dunloos
Reward upon success
★Great Job★ Stamp 1
Penalty upon failure
All grilled food will only taste burnt! (3 days)
Deadline
Immediately
I was definitely going to get that apology. Including the part about being reckless with these kids.
If I didn’t, everything I grilled would taste burnt! I absolutely could not tolerate a situation as *ptui-ptui* miserable as that.
“Stand there, you coward! Are you running away because you’re scared of me?”
“Who, who’s scared of you? I’m only doing this because Lord Micard is behind you. Someone like you is nothing!”
“Is that so? Then *oppa*, don’t you dare interfere.”
At my words, Micard *oppa* gave a light shrug. Ricardo, who had stopped, glanced at Micard *oppa* once more before stomping toward me. Even though he was taller and bigger, I didn’t back down one bit.
He didn’t feel threatening at all, did he?
Standing tall with the kids who had fallen hidden behind me, I clenched both my fists tightly.
“I really won’t let you get away with this.”