Chapter 4: A child is best handled by a child.
“I’m not saying this because she’s my daughter, but the way she cares for her father…”
“…”
I let the Young Master’s daughter-praising ramble slip through one ear with unfocused eyes.
Of course, on the surface, I kept nodding and saying, “Yes, yes,” to show I was listening.
It’s not that I’m some rude brat who ignores adults.
This guy has been boasting about his daughter for half an hour straight.
At first, when he suddenly told me to be his daughter’s friend, I was confused about what he meant.
But thanks to the explanation he gave before diving into this spiel, I could roughly piece together the situation.
‘That girl from earlier must be Baek Yeon.’
No wonder her complexion was so pale and she was all bundled up… She has the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
If you’ve read any martial arts novels, you’d know about the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
It’s supposed to be a rare disease, yet why do so many people around martial arts protagonists end up with it? Heroines with this condition pop up all the time.
…Anyway.
Even if it’s familiar, I knew it was not a disease to take lightly.
Most people with severed meridians die young.
And with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, the most severe form where all meridians are blocked, she probably won’t live past her twenties.
Knowing she’s afflicted with that, her paranoid behavior from earlier made sense.
If I knew I’d die around twenty, I’d probably think the whole world was shtty too.
But.
“So, our Yeon is…”
“Um, Young Master.”
“Hm?”
“…Why are you so set on making me her friend?”
There are countless people in the world.
And with the Baek Clan’s resources, they must have plenty of people to choose from… So why entrust a role like “friend” to some random commoner picked up from a human trafficking den?
At my question, the Young Master paused, then started coughing awkwardly.
“Ahem, well, my daughter has a very, very slightly sensitive personality, so getting along with her peers isn’t easy.”
“…I see.”
So, her personality is a total mess.
I nodded inwardly, understanding.
For a doting father of this level, who could praise his daughter non-stop for half an hour, to say that, her personality must be something else.
But, that’s weird.
‘She didn’t seem that bad?’
Recalling our earlier conversation, I tilted my head.
She was a bit paranoid, sure, but that hardly qualified as terrible.
In my previous life, I worked in customer service.
Having dealt with all sorts of people—MZ types, or rather, entitled jerks—her behavior didn’t seem like a big deal.
Plus, she’s just a thirteen-year-old girl, right?
‘How cute can she be?’
I know it’s ironic for me, a current eleven-year-old, to say this, but even if she acts bratty, I feel like I could just treat her like a little sister and let it slide…
I was seriously thinking that when.
“Right, I haven’t mentioned the compensation yet.”
“Huh?”
Had my expression stiffened without me noticing? The Young Master stopped his ramble and hurriedly added.
“Room and board will be provided here, and you’ll receive a monthly salary of one gold coin.”
What?
Bang!
The moment I heard “one gold coin,” I slammed my head into the floor.
“Please take care of me, Master!”
Looks like I’ve found my true calling.
After my “Master” comment, with a very subtle expression, he told me not to call him that but to use “Young Master” instead, and our conversation with the great and merciful Young Master of the Baek Clan concluded.
He added, in a typical higher-up fashion, that others would explain the details.
As I stepped out of the Young Master’s quarters, Song Hwa, who seemed to have been waiting for me, quickly approached.
“So, did the conversation go well?”
“Yes, please take care of me from now on.”
“Oh… so that’s how it turned out…”
At my words, her face momentarily darkened, as if she understood everything.
It was the kind of look you’d give someone utterly pitiful.
‘Why?’
Is there a sweeter gig in the world than this?
Just cater to a kid’s whims, and I’d get one gold coin a month.
Unlike martial artists, I have no pride or honor to uphold as a mere extra… what number was I again?
Anyway, for one gold coin a month, I’d be willing to act like a dog.
Not metaphorically—I’m ready to literally bark like one.
Unaware of my thoughts, Song Hwa gave me a bittersweet look before snapping to attention and gesturing.
“Then I’ll take you to Baekryu Hall. Follow me.”
“Baekryu Hall?”
“Oh, that’s where Young Lady Yeon stays. The room you were in earlier is also in Baekryu Hall.”
Ah, so that’s why Baek Yeon asked who I was.
It makes sense she’d glare suspiciously at a strange girl wandering around her building.
‘But, does she use that huge building all by herself?’
Man, money really is nice.
To think I get to serve such a prestigious young lady…
‘Since I flattered her well earlier, she probably doesn’t have a bad impression of me.’
I started to feel hopeful that my thorny life was finally turning around.
And so, as I followed Song Hwa to what would be my workplace, Baekryu Hall, and stepped through its main gate.
“Aaah-!”
“!”
Ouch, my ears.
A deafening roar, like a lion’s, shook the air, making my eyes widen instinctively.
Crash! Bang!
It didn’t stop there—chaotic sounds, like someone was smashing things, kept coming.
‘What… is this right?’
It was unmistakably the sound of a fight breaking out inside.
Stunned, I glanced at Song Hwa.
“Oh no, she’s at it again…”
But Song Hwa, as if used to this, sighed once and quickly ran inside.
“Wait here! I’ll go calm her down.”
Left awkwardly at the gate, unable to go anywhere, I tuned into the sounds.
Bang! Crash!
“Aaah!”
Even after Song Hwa went in, the commotion didn’t die down—it only got louder.
‘At this point… I’m kinda curious.’
The screams weren’t ordinary; they sounded practiced, not just a one-time outburst.
As they say, the most entertaining things in the world are watching fires, floods, and fights.
It sounded like an epic brawl was happening inside, and I couldn’t miss such a rare opportunity.
Moving my short legs quickly, I headed toward the source of the noise.
Baekryu Hall was vast, but the commotion was so loud I found it easily.
And there, I saw her.
“I said I don’t want it!”
Baek Yeon, the young lady of the Baek Clan, was throwing a tantrum, smashing all sorts of household items.
‘…It’s not a fight.’
I felt a bit deflated.
The maids near Baek Yeon, holding a teapot, were sweating nervously, watching her carefully.
“M-Miss, you have to take it today. Otherwise, you’ll really get sick later.”
“No, I said I don’t want it! It makes me want to puke!”
Crash!
Her voice hoarse from shouting, Baek Yeon’s eyes were red as she sobbed and screamed, swinging her arms and breaking everything in sight.
‘Wow, how much is all that worth?’
If she’s going to break stuff, she could at least give me one.
“I hate it, all of it! Get out, now—”
…Oh, we made eye contact.
I was just peeking, but she caught me.
Feeling awkward for getting caught spying, I put on my most harmless smile.
In that moment, Baek Yeon’s movements stopped.
Then, raising her small hand, she pointed straight at me.
“Everyone except her, get out.”
“…Huh?”
At her sudden words, all eyes in the room turned to me.
Getting all this attention is kinda embarrassing…
“…Ran, I told you to wait outside.”
As I scratched my cheek, feeling awkward, Song Hwa, who had approached at some point, whispered softly so only I could hear.
Her voice sounded almost scolding.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said everyone except her, get out!”
Baek Yeon shrieked again.
“Miss, this girl…”
Song Hwa, trying to shield me, stepped slightly in front of me with a distressed look.
But.
“…Ran?”
I gently tugged at Song Hwa’s sleeve, stopping her.
I roughly understood the situation.
“I’ll try calming her down. Everyone, please step out for now.”
“But…”
“It’s fine, really.”
Kids are best handled by kids.
Sure, I’m only ten in appearance, and inside is a grown man who’s seen it all… but that’s something no one else needs to know.
Seeing my confident expression, Song Hwa frowned as if conflicted, then sighed deeply and gestured to the maids awkwardly standing near Baek Yeon.
Click.
The door closed, leaving just me and Baek Yeon in the vast room.
Baek Yeon, still fuming, glared at me with a face full of anger and tears.
Alright, let’s see…
“May I come closer, Young Lady?”
Time to charm her a bit.