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“So, what exactly did you do?”

“I negotiated with the Tower Master. I don’t think the Clock Tower can be free of responsibility in this incident. I asked for some compensation. Since we’re overflowing with money, I requested it in a different form.”

“…!”

Baek Kang-woo, who’s obsessed with money, actually turned down cash and got compensation? This is definitely something to look forward to.

“They said it’s hard to send an instructor, but they’ll relay the class content through Lin Hazel.”

“Wow!”

“They said they’ll figure out whether to participate in classes via video call, send Lin Hazel to Korea every quarter for tutoring, or have me learn from Lin Hazel every night through video calls. But at least I’ll be able to attend classes even after going back to Korea. Gyeoul is the first one, apparently.”

“Wow!”

Baek Kang-woo! What a cool manager!

I knew I could count on him!

Uncle Baek Kang-woo, who’s usually jobless, looks so cool today.

He actually did something impressive for once.

“You’re amazing! So cool, oppa!”

“Ahem!”

I called him oppa because he did something cooler than expected, but I really don’t like the way he’s coughing and shrugging his shoulders.

Honestly, aren’t you all just uncles and aunties? I’m only 9, and you’re all adults.

“Let’s do this: every time you do something amazing, I’ll call you oppa.”

“If the standard is this incident, isn’t that almost impossible? You made me the first student to attend remote classes from the Clock Tower…”

“…You can’t even do that? You’re the Demon King’s manager…”

“…”

“Can’t you even do that much for me?”

“…”

“Is this for me? It’s all for you, Manager-nim, since you want to be called oppa.”

“I’ll work hard, stop now…”

I heard laughter and glanced to the side. Eun-chae, Ha-yul, and even Jo Se-hee were laughing.

“Pfft. Is Kang-woo oppa being gaslit right now?”

“Gyeoul is going to make many men cry when she grows up… She’s better than me.”

“Eun-chae unnie, I’m starting to get a little scared.”

“She’s your sister, tough it out.”

“Why is she only my sister when things like this happen?”

“…I’m scared too.”

Ignoring the girls’ chatter, which was half-joking and half-serious, I lay down with Kang-woo’s help.

My bones still ache, I feel like I’m going to die.

“Adults can figure out the details and come to me for confirmation. I need to focus on recovering.”

“…Yes, Representative-nim!”

“Representative Jeong! Rest well! We’ll move to the next room!”

Forget about going to Korea or the Clock Tower. I need to recover first.

Being a kid is awesome.

Being 9 is awesome.

Wah, I’m baby Jeong Gyeoul.

***

“Meow!”

“You worked hard, Loki. Thank you.”

As soon as lunchtime arrived, the lunch box was delivered right on time.

Ever since Butler Grundael visited a few days ago, I’ve been eating lunch boxes every day.

The hospital food was so bad that I could only eat two servings, so the butler, feeling sorry for me, started packing lunch boxes for me every day.

Our cute Loki was in charge of delivery.

“Meow!”

I gave Loki some treats for his hard work, and now it’s time for me to eat.

“Hmm hmm~”

Humming, I opened the lunch box and spread everything out on the patient’s bed table.

As usual, every compartment except the rice is filled with meat.

Meat is blood and flesh.

Thanks to Butler Grundael and the mansion’s chef, my body seems to be recovering faster.

‘Now then… let’s eat!’

After stealing Xiao Lin’s magic control, my telekinesis has become much more precise.

I can use chopsticks perfectly and move five objects at the same time.

I could do more if I pushed myself, but there’s no need.

Having broken bones doesn’t hinder my life at all.

I can do everything even while lying down.

That’s why there’s no one in my hospital room right now.

I kicked them out.

This is my third hospitalization since possessing Jeong Gyeoul’s body.

All three times, my bones were shattered, and I had to endure many embarrassing things from Jeong Ha-yul and Eun-chae.

Now that I can manage everything on my own, there’s no reason to go through that again.

Sob.

Thinking about it, it’s too much.

I’ve been hospitalized three times in a 9-year-old’s body.

All three times, I was injured by others.

And each time, my bones were shattered.

Life… is this for real?

Life… is too exhausting.

I shook my head and was about to lift my chopsticks when…

“Gyeoul! We’re here!”

“Ahem, it’s natural to get closer when visiting someone in the hospital, right?”

“I bought a fruit basket for this occasion.”

Lin Hazel.

Romeo Atwood.

Kundal Bet.

The Clock Tower’s villain trio came to visit me.

What terrible timing.

They show up right as I open my lunch box?

They must have been watching me from somewhere.

I floated the knife and two forks from the table in front of the sofa and aimed them at them.

“…Why are you here?”

“Calm down! Why are you making a scene again!”

“It’s suspicious that you showed up right as I opened my lunch box.”

“We’re not here to eat!”

“We already ate, and we brought gifts for you. Put that down.”

“…Gifts?”

Lin, Romeo, and Kundal each showed me something.

In order: a lunch box, a lunch box, and a fruit basket.

“Hospital food is tasteless, so we packed lunch boxes for you. We didn’t know you already had one.”

…Look at these guys?

Have they finally repented?

They’ve turned from villains into humans!

“Thank you!”

“Enjoy it. We just came to check on you, so we’ll be going now.”

“You’re leaving right after coming?”

“Well… the Clock Tower is in chaos right now.”

“I see, then be careful on your way back.”

“…You’re not even a little sad?”

“I prefer being alone.”

Just because you’ve repented doesn’t mean I’ll forget the incident where you tried to steal my lunch box.

They said they were in a hurry, but it was all a lie.

“Rest well. We’ll go now.”

They dragged it out for 20 minutes before finally leaving.

They even moved slowly, as if hoping I’d stop them.

“Get out already!”

I used telekinesis to push them out and closed the door.

‘My food’s gone cold…’

After the repentant villain trio left, I opened the lunch box they brought.

There was no space on the bed table, so I placed it on the table in front of the sofa and pulled it closer to the bed.

The lunch box looked decent.

They put effort into it, so I took a bite before eating the butler’s lunch box…

“Yuck—”

What the hell.

I’ve never gagged while eating cafeteria food.

How can meat taste like this?

You devils.

Repentance my ass.

They definitely came to mess with me.

No doubt about it.

***

After the lunch box terror incident by the villain trio, I hung a “No Visitors” sign on my hospital room door and enjoyed a peaceful life.

Of course, Kang-woo, Eun-chae, Ha-yul, and Jo Se-hee still come and go as they please.

Creak—

I thought it was one of them again, but…

“Teacher!”

William?

Behind William, who rushed in, was the Queen.

‘…!’

I ignored William’s greeting.

I quickly raised the head of the bed and used telekinesis to pull myself up into a sitting position.

“You’re pushing yourself. It’s fine to stay lying down.”

“No, this is fine. But what brings you here…”

“Of course I had to come when I heard Gyeoul was injured. I also wanted to see Ha-yul.”

As if hearing the Queen’s voice, wild Jeong Ha-yul appeared.

“Your wording is a bit off? Am I a bonus? A two-for-one deal?”

“You’re not injured, just tired. Looking at your condition, you can be discharged.”

“…That’s true.”

Even the fearless Jeong Ha-yul can’t mess with the Queen.

She immediately lowered her tail.

Maybe I should tattle to the Queen when Ha-yul bullies me.

“I’m not sure if this will comfort you, but we’ve declared war on China. The Crime Pub cleanup operation is also underway.”

“…Is that okay? The Triads are just a criminal organization with little to do with China.”

“That’s how it looks from the outside, but China is behind them. Of course, we don’t plan to escalate things. China will offer a few high-ranking members as sacrifices to wrap up the incident.”

“I see…”

Whenever I hear things like this, I think of the Illuminati and the Freemasons.

What if they’re real and not just conspiracy theories?

But I’m too scared to ask outright.

I’m too weak to face the truths of this world.

-You’ve learned too many secrets, *snip*.

The more you know, the more dangerous it gets.

While Ha-yul and the Queen were talking, all sorts of conspiracy theories bloomed in my head.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Unfortunately, I have a meeting with the U.S. ambassador, so I’ll have to go now.”

“No! Just your visit is enough, thank you.”

“Gyeoul, you speak so beautifully. William has a lot to learn from you. Even if you leave England, can you keep in touch with William?”

Even the Queen of England, who has surpassed humanity by piercing 365 magic circuits, is still just a mother to her child.

Every time I meet her, it always comes back to William.

“Of course, I’m the Crown Prince’s teacher.”

“Thank you.”

The Queen smiled a smile that made my mind go blank.

Now that I think about it…

How did she know we’re thinking of going to Korea?

She also naturally accepted that William and I are teacher and student.

Surely… she doesn’t know about the time I hit him, right?

….

I trust you, my disciple.

We must take that incident to the grave.

If she finds out, I might end up in the grave myself.

 

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