An orphan from the shantytown with no parents or relatives.

Living alone in this scary world full of villains and monsters won’t be easy.

In the end, a life where you have no choice but to cling to someone.

But… I never thought the person I’d cling to would be called the Demon King.

Silence filled the car.

The manager was focused on driving, and Jeong Ha-yul seemed tired, closing her eyes.

I also kept my mouth shut and quietly stared out the window.

After a while, we arrived at a place that truly lived up to the name “Demon King’s house.”

Infinity Cheongdam. An apartment designed by a Spanish architectural master.

Even though I’ve been transported to a strange world, this place remains the same.

It’s the building where the nation’s younger sister, singer Lee Ji-ah, resides.

We entered the parking lot and stopped at the entrance.

It seems they’ll drop us off first and then park the car.

“Let’s go, kid.”

Jeong Ha-yul reached out her hand to me.

Is she telling me to hold it?

Now that I think about it, I’m really dirty right now.

I wiped my pants, but the dirt just smeared more.

I can’t hold Jeong Ha-yul’s hand with this filth.

She might throw me away for being dirty.

“It’s fine, just hold it. You can wash up when we get home.”

“…”

As I hesitated, Jeong Ha-yul forcefully grabbed my hand.

“I said it’s fine.”

I was dragged along, my feet barely touching the ground.

My shoulders feel like they’re about to dislocate.

As expected of the Demon King.

There’s no consideration for a kid.

If I scream in pain, she might kick me out.

I endured it somehow.

Even after getting on the elevator, she didn’t let go of my hand.

After enduring the pain for a while, we arrived at…

“21st floor?”

The penthouse at the top of Infinity Cheongdam.

I heard it costs over 30 billion won.

Is this how a cat feels when it succeeds in being adopted by a butler?

Whether it’s the Demon King or a witch, whether my shoulders dislocate or not, who cares?

I’ll pledge my loyalty.

***

Cancel.

I regret my reckless words…

Loyalty? The Demon King has descended before my eyes.

“I-I’ll do it…”

“You said you’d do anything I asked, right?”

Even so, this is too much.

“B-but not this…”

“Were all your earlier words lies?”

“…Ugh… It’s not that…”

Is it because I’m in a girl’s body now?

My emotions keep running wild on their own.

Even now, tears are about to flow against my will.

“Hey! Why are you making the kid cry? She said she’ll wash herself! Leave her alone!”

“…You’re unusually angry today?”

…I’m not crying!

I have my pride as a man. I don’t cry so easily.

This is… sweat. Sweat.

Jeong Ha-yul, who got scolded by the manager, clicked her tongue in disappointment.

“I’ll go wash up in my room, so wash up comfortably and come out.”

The Demon King gave up on me and left.

If the manager hadn’t stopped her, she would’ve dragged me into the bathroom.

‘Whew. I survived.’

If I used my child status to wash up with Jeong Ha-yul… Of course, it would be nice.

But just imagining it makes me feel guilty.

Moreover, I couldn’t even predict how much she’d torment me inside.

But manager… Is it okay to yell like that?

I wondered if she might get fired because of me, but she seemed restless.

Misinterpreting my gaze, the manager looked flustered.

“…Can you wash yourself? Big bro… I mean, uncle, didn’t overstep, right?”

“Yes, I can wash myself. Thank you.”

I reassured the manager, who was muttering about whether I could wash alone after chasing Jeong Ha-yul away.

“That’s a relief. I asked for children’s clothes, so let’s change into new ones after washing.”

“Yes!”

Perhaps because I’m in a child’s body, my emotions flip instantly.

Before I knew it, I was in a good mood, and my tone went up.

And I felt extremely embarrassed.

My body must’ve felt it too, as my face and ears turned red.

Before I felt more ashamed, I went into the bathroom.

Now I have to wash… but a big problem arose.

I can’t reach the high showerhead.

After all that fuss in front of the bathroom, I can’t call Jeong Ha-yul or the manager now.

And if I call them for something like this, they might get annoyed and kick me out.

If I want to stay in this house, I have to solve it on my own.

I stepped on the bathtub and reached for the showerhead.

At that moment.

I lost my balance, wobbled, and fell into the bathtub.

“Ugh!”

A shiver ran down my tailbone.

I lay down, tightly holding the showerhead.

I… I think I’m going to die.

“Are you okay?!”

“Ugh… I’m f-fine…”

“Uh… The sister who went to buy clothes just got on the elevator! She’ll be here soon! I’ll ask her to help!”

“No!”

The sister who went to buy clothes?

Is she Jeong Ha-yul’s older sister?

Or Jeong Ha-yul’s stylist?

Whoever it is… don’t come in!

I barely managed to shake off Jeong Ha-yul; I can’t let another woman come in.

Luckily, the manager seemed to understand.

Holding my waist, I struggled to adjust the water temperature and started washing.

Living in the shantytown, I never washed properly, so I scrubbed hard.

Every time the water touched my body, dirt flowed, but strangely, no grime came off.

Is this how kids are?

Luckily, I didn’t have to scrub too hard.

On the shelf in the corner of the bathtub, there were all sorts of products.

Body wash, shampoo, treatments, and bottles I couldn’t even identify.

I didn’t feel like reading each product to figure out what to use.

I grabbed the soap next to them and solved everything with it.

‘This is how men shower.’

I finished showering with just soap and washed the clothes and underwear I was wearing.

They were really worn out… but I have to wear something.

I stepped on the toilet lid to reach for a towel.

With my earlier experience, I moved very cautiously this time and managed not to get hurt.

After drying off, I slightly opened the bathroom door and saw no one.

I opened it a bit more boldly and saw clothes and underwear laid out on the floor.

Looking at the neatly arranged clothes, it seems the person who bought them has good fashion sense.

They could’ve just prepared a T-shirt and pants, but they bought a lot.

Is this… a test?

To figure out my preferences based on what I choose to wear?

If so, it’s better to avoid flashy clothes.

A kid who can’t even earn a penny shouldn’t be extravagant.

Keep it simple and clean.

I’ll go with a white T-shirt and jeans.

‘Damn… life is so hard.’

The title of Demon King wasn’t given lightly.

It seems like every action after I decided to cling to her is a test.

If I had been even slightly less perceptive, I would’ve been kicked out already.

***

The kid Jeong Ha-yul picked up on the street.

Since it was near the shantytown… she must’ve lived around there.

Jeong Ha-yul, who acts cold and indifferent on the outside but is warmer than anyone inside.

She couldn’t leave the kid alone there.

And now… the kid went into the bathroom alone to wash.

‘…Will she be okay?’

While I was worrying, I heard a clattering sound from inside.

I almost opened the door, but no matter how young she is, she’s still a girl.

Me going in might hurt her.

Of course, if it’s an emergency, I’d prioritize saving her life.

So, assessing the situation was the priority.

“Are you okay?!”

“Ugh… I’m f-fine…”

Luckily, I heard a response. It seems she wasn’t seriously hurt.

I couldn’t bring myself to go in, so I tried to reassure her from outside.

I trusted her because she seemed unusually mature… but she’s still just a kid.

I should’ve taken care of her.

Maybe I should’ve left Ha-yul alone…

That might’ve caused problems too.

She has a warm heart, but she’s not good at expressing it.

Earlier, she almost made the kid cry in front of the bathroom.

I should’ve waited until the stylist Eun-chae came back with the clothes and had her help the kid wash.

No, it’s not too late. She’s coming up from the basement now, so I’ll ask her to help the kid.

“Uh… The sister who went to buy clothes just got on the elevator! She’ll be here soon! I’ll ask her to help!”

But…

“No!”

The kid strongly refused.

It was the most forceful voice I’ve heard from her so far.

Is she not used to receiving help from others?

Come to think of it, she’s been wary of her surroundings since we first met.

Even while forcing a smile to greet us, her cheeks were trembling pitifully.

She must’ve been trying hard to make a good impression.

At an age where she should be noisy and playful, she stayed silent and kept an eye on us.

Remembering how she looked in the car made my heart ache.

Just then, Eun-chae arrived.

“Oppa, I’m here… Phew… It’s exhausting…”

“Thanks for your hard work. Thank you.”

“I bought them as quickly as possible… but why children’s clothes all of a sudden?”

“That’s what I’m saying… Can you lay out the clothes in front of the bathroom? So she can choose what to wear.”

“…?”

Eun-chae looked puzzled but did as told and laid out the clothes.

If someone’s there when she comes out, it might be uncomfortable.

I took Eun-chae to the kitchen and made coffee.

“It’s a kid Ha-yul picked up near the shantytown.”

“…Ha-yul picked her up? So a kid is raising a kid?”

“That kid might be raising Ha-yul… She’s very mature. That’s why I feel even more sorry for her.”

“Hey, no matter how mature she is… Ha-yul would get upset if she heard that.”

“Really? Did I go too far?”

Just then, I heard the bathroom door open.

“She’s out. Let’s go!”

“Wait a bit, give her time to choose and put on clothes. You might not know, but I’m a guy.”

“…You’re right, I almost made a mistake.”

After waiting a bit longer, the rustling sound of her choosing clothes disappeared.

‘Did she finish dressing…?’

Just in case, I sent Eun-chae out first.

“Kyaaah!”

“Eeek!”

What, what’s going on!

Eun-chae suddenly screamed. Did the kid collapse?

Without thinking, I ran to the bathroom.

“What’s going on!”

“Kang-woo oppa…”

“The kid!”

Eun-chae was slightly blocking the view, but luckily, the kid didn’t seem to have collapsed.

“What is it! What happened!”

“She’s crazy. Really crazy…”

“I thought the kid got hurt and got scared. Why are you making a fuss?”

“She’s so… cute… She looks like Ha-yul but even cuter…”

Eun-chae, who was making a fuss, moved aside, and the kid’s face came into view.

“Ugh…”

Jeong Ha-yul… are you sure this kid isn’t yours?