LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14
The conversation would be held the next day.
It was already too late to talk, and Red was quite tired, wanting to have a clear head after a good sleep.
Since there was no particular rush, I followed her suggestion without any objections.
So, the next day, after finishing breakfast.
Red and I stepped into the office, sitting across from each other at the table.
Red rested her chin on her hand, looking at me with curiosity in her eyes.
“Is it really you?”
I nodded.
Red squinted, staring intently at me.
She must have heard from Rene, but now she seemed to be judging for herself, her sharp gaze assessing whether my words were true or false.
I felt nervous even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
I was worried that making eye contact with those red eyes would expose my identity, so I carefully avoided looking directly at her.
Maybe her stern appearance made her look even scarier.
Swallow.
Still, I understood Red’s demeanor.
When I first met her, I was completely disguised. I couldn’t speak, so she didn’t know my voice either.
It’s only natural to be skeptical about whether I am the same person.
“Well, it looks like it.”
Still, Red quickly seemed to trust my words.
Although my face was covered the same way, now my appearance must have looked unfamiliar to her, sparking her curiosity.
“Hm. Seeing you in a mask makes me wonder what you really look like inside. Can’t you take it off just once?”
I startled and tightly gripped the mask with both hands. My determination to never let it be taken off was strong.
Seeing my reaction, Red chuckled.
Waving her hand lightly.
“Just kidding. I wouldn’t dream of removing your mask as a joke, so don’t worry.”
Even though my expression wasn’t visible under the mask, her gaze was piercing with suspicion.
If she were to forcibly take it off, I would have no way to stop it.
But considering her nature, I quickly relaxed my expression, confident she wouldn’t go that far.
“Well, I don’t know about those kids.”
Red turned her head toward where her finger pointed.
Children were peeking at us through the slightly opened door.
Upon meeting my gaze, they hid their faces in shock.
‘I’ve already been caught.’
I sighed inwardly and reached for the jar full of candy on the table.
After unwrapping a piece of candy, I slightly opened the bottom of my mask to pop it into my mouth.
Grape flavor.
I was lucky.
I rolled the candy around with my tongue, and as the grape flavor spread, my mood improved.
“I heard everything from Rene. I wished you would come, but I never expected you actually would. And to think you’d stay for more than a month. You must really like it here?”
I neither agreed nor disagreed with Red’s statement.
Just like sometimes people don’t really know their own feelings, I too was unsure why I had waited over a month for Red in this place.
It just felt like “it happened.”
As if I had suddenly become close to someone I hardly knew after talking a few times.
“Cutting to the chase, let me be direct. Now that it’s come to this, why don’t you stay with us?”
‘!’
I had somewhat anticipated it, but hearing it made me so surprised that the candy almost went down the wrong pipe.
I could hear the kids swallowing their breaths.
Rene, who had been diligently working at her desk, also stopped.
The air shifted around us at Red’s suggestion.
Her expression was serious. She looked directly at me as she continued.
“If you’ve stayed here for over a month, it means you’re not as unhappy as you claim. So, I think staying here might not be a bad idea. The kids seem to want you around too. So, if you’re okay with it, you can stay here.”
I gently lowered my head and rested my arms on my knees.
I pondered her words carefully.
Other sounds faded away, and the sound of the candy rolling around my mouth became clear.
I closed my eyes.
If I thought rationally, turning her down was the right choice.
It wouldn’t be good for me to associate with Red.
Staying here would naturally increase my time spent with her, and if I wasn’t careful, the risk of my identity being exposed would rise.
Initially, I had rejected her offer for that very reason, and I had also avoided coming when I received the device.
Just a chance encounter to see each other’s faces briefly.
Even though I knew very well which choice would be best for me, I found myself in a dilemma.
If I had achieved my objective, I could just grab a handful of candy and leave.
What was it that I felt I would regret by struggling over this?
I truly felt pitiful for myself.
“…”
I could feel the kids’ heavy gazes on me.
They seemed eager, expecting me to say something.
I sensed Rene’s gaze from across the desk.
She seemed to be quietly waiting for my answer.
Red didn’t push me.
She simply sat calmly, waiting for my response.
I opened my eyes and lifted my head.
“What will you do? It’s your choice.”
Red extended her hand.
What expression was on my face right now? I was truly grateful my face was hidden by the mask.
I struggled to lift my hands from my knees, raising and lowering them more than ten times.
‘Have I ever pondered this long in my life?’
Looking back, it didn’t seem like it. Of course, in the beginning, I had been busy trying to survive, and later, when I became accustomed to using my strength, my only concerns were about what dessert to eat each day.
I was just about to let out a long sigh.
“Okay. From today on, you’re part of our family. Nice to meet you.”
What? When I came to my senses, I realized I was holding her hand.
I was flustered.
When did I grab her hand? I had no memory of it. Did I do it unconsciously?
Amidst the chaos in my head, the kids who had been watching us rushed in.
“Wowww! You made a great choice! Now we’re family!”
“I’m really glad.”
“Yay….”
Don’t cling to me. The mask might fall off.
Unlike the joyous expressions on the children’s faces, I internally protested strongly.
This was wrong. It needed to be redone.
Of course, the words wouldn’t come out; they just echoed within me.
In that whirlwind of confusion, Red clapped her hands to silence the children.
“Everyone, quiet!”
All the commotion subsided.
The children’s gazes turned toward Red.
Red looked at me.
“You said you don’t have a name. Now that you’re living with us, it would be inconvenient to go without a name, right? So, we’ll give you a name. Is that okay?”
Eh? Wait a minute? A name?
The children liked the idea. And naturally, names started pouring out.
Ah. My head hurts. Fine. Do as you please.
I quietly listened to the names.
Blue, Skull, Whitey, Eye, Izen, Evil, and more, it felt like they were just throwing names out there randomly.
If we’re going to do this, could they at least take it seriously?
“Lily….”
Huh?
The girl who was tightly hugging a book spoke again; it was the Sea.
“Your hair is white, so… Lily…”
The Sea glanced at the white flower and quietly looked at me. Ah, because it’s a lily, Lily. Simple and clear.
Other kids were looking at me, perhaps thinking that name seemed quite nice.
Curious glances.
Sure. That sounds the best.
It felt a bit like a girl’s name, but considering my physical form, it made sense as well.
After all, I had no name, and it was far better than being referred to as ‘that guy’ or ‘this guy.’
Since I couldn’t reveal my nickname, I nodded.
“You seem to like that name. Then it’s settled, right?”
Satisfaction spread across Red’s face.
“Welcome to our family, Lily.”
Thump.
For a brief moment, my heart seemed to flutter weakly. I placed my hand on my chest.
What is this? I pondered inwardly.
At least here, being called by a proper name felt strange and unusual.
*
As the other kids took their new family member, Lily, out, only Lena and Red were left in the room.
Red sat on the sofa, reaching for the jar of candy on the table.
She pulled out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.
While rolling the candy around, she asked.
“What do you think of Lily after spending over a month together?”
“You really ask that right off the bat.”
Lena spoke somewhat bluntly, recalling the past month.
She began to share her thoughts about Lily based on everything she had observed so far.
“When the other kids first came here, it was the same with her.”
“How so?”
“Even though she tries to hide it, Lily always looks at us in wonder. Whether we’re playing, eating together, snack time, or studying. She seems awkward about everything we do here.”
That wasn’t all.
There was also a hint of wariness and her inability to speak, which made Lena feel sympathy when imagining the kind of life Lily must have lived in this harsh world.
So, they should embrace her with love.
But.
“However, unlike the other kids, she seems to be hiding something.”
That was the reason Lena hadn’t completely lowered her guard against Lily.
Feeling sorry for her was one thing, but if Lily’s presence posed any threat to the orphanage, she would do anything to protect the kids.
“Really? Actually….”
Red shared with Lena the information she had gathered.
That Lily was listed as a person of interest by the Cult of the Grim Reaper.
“I see. That makes a bit more sense.”
Clack.
After organizing the paperwork, Lena looked at Red with concern.
“…Are you sure it’s okay?”
Red understood the meaning behind that question.
Being with someone who had a problem often means getting embroiled in that problem.
Could she handle whatever happened?
“It’s fine.”
Her voice was brimming with confidence.
Red maintained a calm expression.
If others had said that, it would be unsettling, but Lena knew Red well enough.
“Well, if you say so, Red, then it must be okay.”
“More than that, you can call me sister comfortably.”
“…I’m fine with this. It feels better.”
“Such modesty. Oh, right. I heard they are opening a new zoo in the outskirts city. I’m planning to take the kids, what do you think?”
“They’ll absolutely love it.”
“Of course!”
The two got busy preparing to head to the zoo.
*
Isaac was checking his phone in his room.
Seeing missed calls and unanswered texts, he smirked.
“Red’s too much. I told her to accept it, yet she ignores me….”
At first, everything between them was fine.
Isaac knew Red well enough that it was easy to boost his likability.
But then suddenly, one day, the distance started to grow.
He didn’t understand why. There was no issue.
He had followed the information precisely. The game’s data couldn’t be wrong.
‘At the very least, they need to meet again to start getting along again… What to do… wait a minute.’
Checking the date on his phone made Isaac smile.
“It’s about time for that event to happen. The timing is impeccable. I can use this event….”
If she refuses on that side, then he would create a situation here to force a meeting.
Isaac began to plan.