12 You Wouldn't Hurt a Child?! [4.1]

I followed my daily routine while trying to come up with an idea on how to make things better for Bea. It certainly is difficult trying to be a good person. Figuring out revenge schemes is easy. Figuring out how to make amends is not.

At this point, I feel like I need to find her an adoptive parent. This shouldn't be a problem since I have already given her a taste of her own medicine, so she should learn from this experience. However, I feel a bit guilty about ruining her future completely. She's a brat, but she's still just a child.

Vicky ran over to me shouting, "Reika! Guess what!"

I was taken back by her high energy, "What?"

She grinned, "I'm getting adopted!!"

I nodded with a slight smile, "Congratulations." I went to walk away but turned back quickly, "Wait? Who is adopting you?"

She grinned at me, "It is the bookstore owner!"

"The bookstore owner?..."

Was there really a guy like that?

"Yes! He wore a trenchcoat and was very friendly. I was nervous when I first met him, but he was really nice. We began to talk about our favorite books and it was comforting to know that we shared similar hobbies."

Trench coat… Trench coat… Ah! I remember now! That man also spoke to me. However, I remember sniffing him and feeling very uncomfortable at the sight of the dark red light around him. I'm not sure what the light means, but I feel like the man isn't trustworthy in the slightest.

I spoke quickly, "I don't think you should go with him."

Her eyes widened in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"He isn't trustworthy in the slightest."

"But… Miss Dean looked into him and approved of him."

I clicked my tongue, "Well Miss Dean also isn't trustworthy."

A dark expression clouded her face, "You… You just don't want me to get adopted."

I blinked in disbelief, "Huh?"

She glared at me, "You are still mad about when I made fun of you. You act like you don't care, but you definitely do. That's why you are trying to scare me. Is it because you are jealous?!"

"Haaah? Jealous?!"

What nonsense is she spouting!?

"Yes! You must be jealous! After all, no one in their right mind would adopt a freak like you!" She let out a humph and spun around in her tracks, "It was nice knowing you, Reika. Just know that I will be living happily while you are miserable."

I let out an irritated sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose as she ran away. Really. That girl may be talented in school, but she's definitely an idiot when it comes to common sense. I was just trying to help her, but she saw me as an enemy instead.

This is exactly why I prefer to be alone.

I walked past Miss Dean's office and noticed a strange blue light covering the door with a complicated array. I paused and hid to the side while carefully assessing it.

Ah! I recognize this! It is the array I made earlier. It is supposed to soundproof an area or a room.

But why does Miss Dean have this array on her door? What does she have to be so secretive about?

I tapped my finger as I looked at the array closely. Hm… I wonder if I made just a slight alteration...

I grabbed my chalk and looked around to make sure I was alone. Then, I added just a small dash to one of the ancient markings. I waited and slowly a voice became apparent.

"....Is the deal still on?" I recognized Miss Dean's voice, even if it was a bit difficult to make out.

A strange voice answered as if it was a voice on the other end of a telephone, "He was very pleased with your suggestions."

"Then will he take them both?"

"Yes. We have already procured the first package. We only need to procure the second."

"The second may be more difficult to procure."

"Difficulty isn't a problem. As long as it is worth the risk."

"It is well worth the risk, I assure you."

I took a step back thinking to myself. That sounds a bit ominous. Just what are they talking about?

He spoke, "Then we will receive the second two days from now."

Miss Dean spoke, "Very well. I will start preparing for the next pick-up."

I panicked hearing them end their conversation. I turned and ran off before Miss Dean could open the door. She frowned and looked around in confusion. She checked her array once more and didn't notice anything off. With a swoop of her hand, the array disappeared. She donned her characteristic smile and walked away.

...

Today was the day Vicky left the orphanage. Everyone waved goodbye as she hopped in the carriage with a bright smile. I continued to stare at the smiling man with a frown. Everything was just too suspicious.

But what can I do about it?

I waved her off and honestly wished her the best. Then, I went back to brainstorming ideas for Bea's future. I really wasn't good with planning unless it was to get even with someone….

Being nice is just too hard!

As I sat under the tree in the backyard, I noticed Miss Dean walking towards me. She grinned brightly, "Great news, Reika!"

Great news? Somehow I don't believe that.

I nearly choked on my own tongue, "What?"

She wasn't at all offended by my rude tone, "You are getting adopted!!!"

?!?!?!

"WHAT?! How?!"

"A nice couple recently came and they were so smitten by your amazing personality."

"Amazing personality?! What kind of amazing personality are you talking about!? I was purposely rude and weird so they would all leave me alone!!!"

Her face twitched, "Then they must have seen through your facade. You should feel lucky for being chosen considering your condition."

I crossed my arms, "I don't care. I'm not going."

She froze for a moment as if she had not anticipated this response, "...What?"

I spoke slower, "I'm not going. You can tell them to pick another kid."

Her grin twitched, "If you are so worried about their finances, you should know they are considered moderately wealthy. The father is a very successful merchant."

"I don't care about money. I'm not going."

She let out an irritated sigh, "You don't have a choice. The papers are signed. They are coming tomorrow to pick you up."

Eh? What am I? Some kind of object to be bought and sold? If you wouldn't know any better, you would think I am just a package being delivered by a mail carrier….

My face dropped at the sudden thought.

Wait… Didn't Miss Dean and that mystery man say something about delivering a package tomorrow? Just after they mentioned a package being delivered previously...

I felt myself turn pale.

Vicky was the package taken yesterday and I am the package being taken tomorrow. No one says "picking up a package" while talking about a human and meaning something that isn't nefarious.

I don't know what she's doing, but I know it isn't good. However, if I act oddly now, she will suspect something is wrong.

I swallowed hard and forced on a large smile, "Then I will make the best of it. Thank you so much, Miss Dean."

Her smile turned down slightly as she carefully looked at my face. She spoke slowly, "I'm glad you came around… Well… Go get ready to leave. They will be here in the morning."

I saluted her, "Yes ma'am. I can't wait until morning."

I ran off before I could allow her to get more suspicious. Like hell I will be here in the morning!

When everyone fell asleep, I put on my shoes quietly and waved my wand. Disguising my footsteps, I opened a window. I hopped out without hesitation and landed silently with the help of magic. I gave a determined nod and began to run away from the orphanage.

Goodbye orphanage! I will not miss you one bit! Sorry to leave, but I don't trust your obvious storyline that is progressing in such a suspicious way!

Suddenly, I noticed a bright red light on the ground. I jumped over it just barely managing to avoid it. Four men dressed in all black appeared out of the forest. One spoke in surprise, "How did she avoid it?"

"Just grab her! If we let her escape the boss will be angry."

I instantly noticed the hostile air and their glares as they steadied their wands. I stepped backward with my hands raised innocently. I grinned at them, "Now, now… You wouldn't hurt a child, would you?"

"Get her!"

I pulled out my wand with a frown seeing them rush towards me. I actually had no fighting experience. All I had was knowledge from another world. I suddenly recalled a certain fictional character's constructing steps of ice and copied it immediately. As I ran, ice began to appear at my feet helping me raise up into the air to avoid their grasp. It felt like an escalator made out of ice.

As I rejoiced in the feeling of being invincible, my foot slipped on the next ice step.

My face turned stale as I fell through the air. In a panic, I quickly waved my wand to stop myself from hitting the ground. A hovering piece of ice formed just in time for me to grab it. Holding onto the sudden chunk of ice that appeared right below me, I used my mana to raise it back into the air. I let out a sigh of relief and climbed up until I could sit down on top of it. I wiped the sweat from my brow, "Phew… I forgot that ice was slippery… How do you stop ice from being so slick? Physics?"

The men below had watched my fall and quick save with mouths agape. One shouted in disbelief, "What the hell!? She's even stronger than Dean said! She's not even giving a command!"

I shouted as I looked down, "Just let it go, okay?! Don't make me hurt you!"

Quick! Go away! I'm feeling a bit sore from that fall just now. I really want to take a long nap.

Another shouted, "Don't let her go!"

It's never easy, is it? I sent a barrage of icicles flying towards them while I ran away, constructing more and more ice steps to put even more distance between us.

"She's getting away!"

A man cursed, "D*mn! There's no other choice!" He shouted with a fierce expression, "Stupefaciunt!"

I couldn't dodge the electric light shooting out from his wand. It flew so quickly, I attempted to construct an ice barrier but wasn't quick enough. The electric light covered my body and caused my limbs to freeze up. The ice beneath my feet broke away and plummeted me down to the ground. As I watched the earth coming closer, I let out an internal sigh.

Ah. I guess they would hurt a child.

The last thing I felt was the ground hitting my face, knocking me unconscious.