TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 188
Mikhail knew nothing about the world.
“What’s that?”
“What. That statue?”
“Yeah. That one.”
“It’s the Emperor. The First Emperor.”
Although he could read, he lacked basic knowledge, to the extent that he believed the Demon King lived in the Magic Tower.
Watching Mikhail call the statue of the First Emperor an ugly old Father, I thought to myself.
‘It would be quite a sight if he met Olivia.’
At that time, I had briefly considered introducing Mikhail to Olivia.
I thought it might be a way to repay the Villainess who had generously given me money by setting up a decent Blind Date Spot for her.
Olivia might be able to let go of her feelings, and it could reduce the stress she faced later at the Academy.
But seeing Mikhail disregard Social Status and attempt Royalty Insult, I decided to abandon the plan cleanly.
Because I felt Mikhail and the Young Lady would fight like cats and dogs if they met.
-You look really mean.
-Eeeek…? Do you want to fight? I’m really good at fighting!
-No. If I fight with you, I feel like I’d become a Bad Person too.
-Eeeek!
The Future was obvious even without seeing it.
Anyway, Mikhail knew nothing and often showed amazement at trivial things. Unlike the strong image he displayed in the Novel, Mikhail was a delicate and easily frightened child.
At first, he was as wary as a wet Cat, but as we spent more Time together, Mikhail gradually brightened up.
Was it after the day when heavy rain suddenly poured down, and I saved Mikhail from being swept away by the overflowing River Water? Mikhail began to slowly expand his world.
He didn’t reject the helping hand extended to him and started speaking to me gradually.
Sitting lonely Underneath the Bridge, when he saw me, he’d open his eyes wide and try to hide his twitching Smile.
Today, after finishing my begging, I went Underneath the Bridge to find Mikhail.
“I’m here. The most handsome Beggar in the world has come again today.”
“Why are you here! Don’t come!”
“Why are you sulking like this? Are you upset because I came later than usual?”
“I’m not upset.”
“Lie.”
I smiled faintly as I observed Mikhail’s reaction.
Scanning Mikhail’s body, I checked if he was hurt or if he had been harmed while I was away, smiling as I did so.
‘It seems he’s fine today.’
After confirming Mikhail’s safety, I sat comfortably next to him and began to unfold the Box I had brought.
“I picked up a New Box today. How is it? The cushioning is amazing, right? It could even be used as a Bed.”
“A Box is just a Box. You can’t call it a Bed.”
“Says the person who hoards so many Boxes.”
“Uh… Don’t look!”
I laughed as I looked at the Pile of Boxes hidden like treasure in the Corner of the Pillar. It was amusing that someone who denied that “a Box is just a Box” had stashed so many Boxes.
Mikhail hastily covered my eyes and said.
“…Don’t look!”
“I’ve already seen everything.”
“Don’t look! Forget it, forget it, you Fool!”
A blush began to spread across Mikhail’s cheeks. After boldly declaring that “Boxes are useless things,” he had been caught secretly hoarding them. If it were me, I would also be too embarrassed to lift my head.
Mikhail, pretending to be nonchalant, said to me.
“I gathered them because you like collecting Boxes!”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes!”
“Then, can I take them all when I leave?”
“Uh…?”
“Isn’t that right?”
Mikhail clenched his Fist and looked at the Boxes he had collected with a wistful gaze.
He wanted to protect the Boxes.
But he didn’t want to abandon his Pride either. With a face that seemed on the verge of tears, Mikhail nodded reluctantly.
“Yeah…”
“Puhaha! I’m kidding, I won’t take them.”
Waving my hand, I laughed at Mikhail’s dejected expression.
Mikhail was fun to tease.
Contrary to the image he showed in the Novel, I enjoyed seeing his flustered reactions and felt even more joy in his refusal to bend his Pride.
And I liked seeing how Mikhail had grown to the point where he could go around collecting Boxes on his own.
Even though he still hadn’t ventured beyond the Bridge, I liked seeing Mikhail slowly expand his boundaries, so I smiled faintly as I began placing the chocolate and bread from my Pocket onto the Box.
Looking at Mikhail, who had his eyes wide open, I smiled.
“What are you doing standing there?”
“Huh?”
“You should eat too.”
Mikhail, flustered, stood there blankly.
We had eaten together more than once or twice, so I couldn’t understand why he was surprised every time. Having never done anything bad, I couldn’t understand why Mikhail was so wary of me.
Perhaps it was because of the time I ate in front of Mikhail, who had said, “I won’t eat what you give me.” I smiled faintly and tapped the Box beside me.
“Come quickly.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s lonely eating alone.”
Approaching hesitantly, Mikhail cautiously reached out and took a Cream Bun.
Noticing Mikhail’s blatant gaze, I smiled faintly and nodded.
“Eat.”
-Nom. Nom.
Though it wasn’t a long Time, there was one thing I had come to know about Mikhail.
It was the fact that Mikhail liked Cream Buns.
Not the ones with a little cream, but the ones filled to the brim with cream.
“Eat slowly. It’s not like anyone’s going to steal it. You’ll choke.”
I opened the lid of the Milk and handed it to Mikhail.
Mikhail, his mouth stuffed with bread, mumbled.
“Mmhm mmhm mmhm!”
“What?”
“Mmmhmhm!”
“What are you saying? Swallow everything in your mouth before speaking. I can’t understand a word.”
“Gulp… Cough cough. You should eat too.”
“Me?”
Rubbing my empty stomach, I told Mikhail.
“I already ate, so I’m full.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Even I thought I said it quite impressively.
Cautiously, I began to speak to Mikhail, gauging his reaction. I told him that living where I did would be more comfortable than staying in such a harsh place.
Despite how I looked, I was a fairly successful Flower Beggar. Handsome, kind-hearted, and with a reliable patron.
Though there were days like today when I had to go hungry because there were no people on the Street, most days, I lived a plentiful life as a Beggar.
Unlike the Orphans who starved to death.
I offered Mikhail a piece of Chocolate and spoke cautiously.
“If you come to where I live, you can eat until you’re full.”
“No.”
Mikhail answered firmly. Even considering my feelings, he could have at least pretended to think about it, but Mikhail answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“I don’t want to follow you.”
“Oh, come on. Why don’t you want to?”
Mikhail hugged the Teddy Bear tightly and spoke in a sullen Voice.
“What if Mother comes?”
“She won’t co—.”
I almost made a Slip of the tongue for a moment.
I almost crushed Mikhail’s expectations. Just because I knew the Future, I nearly made a mistake. I didn’t want to impose meaningless Hardships with answers that were already known.
As a Possessor who knew the Future, I almost made a mistake I shouldn’t have, so I spoke with a Bitter Smile.
“It would be unfortunate if that were the case.”
“…”
“Just kidding… Here, take this.”
I pulled out a crumpled piece of Paper and Pen from my Pocket.
Though Mikhail looked at the Paper in my hand with a Question Mark on his face, I smiled faintly and began planting Hope in Mikhail.
“Draw on this.”
“Draw what?”
“What else? Your Mother.”
“My Mother?”
At the word “Mother,” Mikhail’s eyes grew moist, as if he was about to cry.
“Don’t cry, just draw!”
“Sniff…”
“No!”
Mikhail seemed to cry a lot.
After calming Mikhail down for a while, he drew on the Paper I handed him and then handed it back to me with a faint Smile.
On the Paper, there was a drawing of a Beauty who resembled Mikhail.
Perhaps because of good genes, the person in the drawing had an outstanding Appearance. Smiling faintly, I spoke to Mikhail.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Yeah. My Mother is really beautiful.”
“Indeed, she is very beautiful.”
At the Praise for his Mother, a Smile began to form on Mikhail’s lips.
Placing the drawing Mikhail had made into my Pocket, I said.
“If I see someone who looks like your Mother, I’ll tell the others right away. So don’t worry and come out to the Streets with me.”
Since I, who knew the Future of the novel, needed to take Mikhail out of this place to plant more debts in him.
And this place wasn’t suitable for a child to live alone.
Mikhail raised his head and looked at me.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
After contemplating for a long time, Mikhail shook his head.
“But I still don’t want to.”
“Oh, why not!”
“Just… I want to be the first to see Mother.”
“Ugh… Seriously.”
It took quite a long Time.
It took a lot of Time to open the closed door to Mikhail’s heart and to bring him out from Underneath the Bridge.
Of course, it wasn’t completely possible to leave Underneath the Bridge, but Mikhail slowly began to hold my hand and wander through the Slum Streets.
“Wowww…”
“How is it? This is my turf.”
“It’s amazing.”
“Looks different, right?”
“No.”
“…”
Mikhail even tried begging on his own, saying he didn’t like being given things.
“Do it like me. Say, ‘Ohhh, pretty sister.'”
“That sounds so pathetic.”
“You have to do that to earn money. You’re not handsome enough to steal the hearts of sisters like me, but you’re passable, so…”
Looking at Mikhail’s Begging Tin, which had twice as much money as what I earned in five hours of begging, I felt the unfairness of the world.
-Damn it?
In many ways, he was truly an extraordinary child.
Both mentally.
And physically.
He was an exceptional child.
Thus, we began to develop a relationship that could be called Friends.
Yes, Friends.