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Chapter 27
Since the main estate was so large, the road to the restricted area personnel manager was long too.
It made me realize that anyone living here would need strong legs.
‘Which means Black Unit’s shameful moment is being stretched out that much longer.’
That thought brought me great satisfaction.
That bastard’s mother, my eldest aunt, abhorred anything that could tarnish her dignity.
Given how long we’ve delayed things now, the rumors should’ve already spread like wildfire.
And that’s not all.
Surely, it wouldn’t just be a single rumor.
“Aaaaargh!”
I looked down at the man who had collapsed to the floor upon seeing us. His face was filled with fear.
His gaze was fixed on Heukbiwon.
“Y-you lunatic…!”
“Sir Dowon, are you alright?!”
“W-why are you here?! You shouldn’t be here!”
This man was clearly different from the ones who had only whispered behind Heukbiwon’s back.
“Are you going to summon lightning here?! You’re not even cured of your madness! Why are you out here?! Who are you planning to kill, you murderer?!”
Just as I was about to frown at the escalating tone—
“Huh? But I came with permission, though?”
I looked up to see my eldest uncle grinning.
…This face is bad news.
“Hah, don’t make me laugh. You think someone under such a heavy restriction would be allowed outside?!”
The man screamed as if he had some deep-seated grudge.
My uncle nonchalantly scratched his nose and opened his mouth.
“Ah, I remember now.”
He handed me over to Dad. What the—why does that transition feel so natural?
In that time, my uncle leapt and landed right in front of the man.
“Eek! M-murder—!”
“Crazy person…!”
The people who had gathered quickly scattered.
Unfazed, my uncle bent toward the screaming man.
“Three years ago, wasn’t it? You’re that doctor who came to treat me. The moment you saw me, you jabbed me with needles, and when I went rawr, you ran away.”
“W-who ran away?! Your illness is just the madness of a lunatic. It’s incurable, so isolation is the only answer!”
“So you’re saying your lack of skill is my fault? Mmm, got it.”
“Who’s unskilled?! You almost killed me!”
The man trembled and suddenly turned to face me and Dad.
“…Bringing someone who should never be allowed outside because of their mental state? You two are ticking time bombs! Are you planning to bring ruin to the family?!”
“……”
The area went quiet.
I glanced at Dad. I studied Uncle’s back.
“What, do you think having sick people hang around each other licking their wounds will make them better?”
The ones abandoned in the east wing weren’t treated with the same respect, even though they were direct descendants.
I knew that, but it still irritated me.
‘Why is he talking like that?’
“Daddy… Can’t you do something to that spiky windbag?”
“Using powers to attack family is a crime, you know.”
Why is that the only rule you remember? Tsk! I clicked my tongue—
“But I’m not great at following the rules.”
Whoosh! With a gust of wind, the yelling doctor flew backward.
“Looks like someone got swept up by a sudden wind. Happens.”
Dad looked at me with barely a smirk on his lips.
“Did I do a good job flattering you?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yeah, not bad.”
Meanwhile, Uncle approached the fallen doctor and went rawr~ again to scare him.
Is he actually insane…?
“Ah, that was fun. Shall we go?”
When we resumed walking, no one else tried to start trouble like that doctor had.
“Uncle, you said we can just hand over Black Unit and those guys to the manager, right?”
“Yep. He’ll love it. Might just faint with joy~”
A little while later, we arrived at the place where the manager we were looking for was stationed.
The problem was that the guards at the building refused to open the doors.
“Oh, they said they’re not ready to receive guests?”
“Then let’s help them prepare.”
Dad used wind to blow the guards away—though he claimed it was a strong passing breeze—and Uncle kicked the door open with his foot. Done.
“…Welcome, Lord Heukbihu. Lord Heukbiwon. It’s truly been a while.”
And then, we were greeted by the manager, wearing an expression as if he’d just bitten into something sour.
“Lord Bihu, I don’t know if you remember, but I’m Gambarin, one of the restricted zone managers.”
“I remember.”
Dad’s response made the manager falter for a moment.
But then, thinking it ridiculous, he smirked mockingly.
Unlike those who had been whispering or trembling before, this guy openly glared at both Dad and Uncle.
“For patients to come all the way here… What a ruckus. And Lord Biwon, you’re not even supposed to be here today—what are you doing here?”
“Taking a walk~”
“A wa—! Ha, forget it. So, why have you called me, a busy man?”
The manager ground his teeth.
Dad pushed Uncle aside and took a step forward.
“A letter.”
“Ah yes, you mean the request for a pass to go outside?”
The manager scoffed and soon called for an attendant.
He scribbled something down on paper, stamped it, and handed it over.
“Here it is. Do whatever you want—go out or don’t. If you disappear forever, the Family Head would be delighted.”
I blinked.
‘So it wasn’t just me he treated like trash.’
I knew this man.
How could I not?
He was the one who had the authority to approve or report all actions of the restricted area members, and he utterly loathed us.
I could count the number of trials this foul-mouthed manager had put me through… but I’d run out of fingers.
Uncle just smiled like he was entertained.
Dad wore the same expression that said, “Say whatever you want, I don’t care.”
They both seemed utterly indifferent to the insult.
Maybe they were used to it.
“Tch, a broken man going out? Just hope you don’t become a public nuisance…”
The manager turned his head and muttered just loudly enough for everyone to hear.
I lightly tapped Dad’s chest with my tiny hand.
“Daddy. Daddy. Lemme whisper.”
I whispered something so softly even the manager couldn’t hear it.
“Lift me up real quick… got it?”
My body floated up.
Then, as if I’d been waiting for it, I opened the water bottle I’d brought and dumped it right over him.
SPLASH!
Soaked, the manager blinked rapidly. His face turned red.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?!”
“I should be asking you that.”
I tilted my head, looking innocent.
“Who do you think you are?”
Now that we had the pass, there was no need to drag this out. The drenched manager glared at me.
“…You.”
“Me? I’m the daughter of the ‘broken man’ you just insulted.”
I know you well. And for the record, I made you pay in full during my third life.
“You’re Gambarin, Grade 6 manager. Son of Gamtahae, right?”
But the intel I used back then is still stored in my brain.
I smirked.
“You’ve got about 300 gold in gambling debt, right?”
“W-what?”
“That’s not even the juicy part.”
I traced the shape of a house roof in the air with my tiny hands.
“You’ve been cheating, huh? Still not caught yet? With someone from the red house on Second Street.”
For a split second, his eyes widened like they might rip apart. Gambarin gaped.
He quickly tried to feign calm, but it was too late.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Sure, pretend you don’t. But.”
I smiled innocently.
“I can still write a letter, right?”
“……”
“To Miss Ranjin, maybe ask her to look into something?”
That was his wife’s name. This manager had married into the family and only held his position thanks to her connections.
Cheating on her? He’s absolute scum. Tsk tsk.
“Y-you… If you’re done here, just leave already! How unpleasant!”
I erased my smile and stared him down.
“Don’t insult my dad.”
“……”
“Or my uncle.”
