The Babysitter Wants to Stop Dying

Chapter 19: If Your Dreams are Unsettling, It's Better to Stay Home That Day (3)

"...Professor."

Camila, in a coat, enters the room in a hurry.

The distance between us rapidly closes. But my ears are focused solely on her voice.

Thump-thump, my heart begins to beat faster again.

My wide-open eyes stared at her without blinking even once.

I took in Camila's appearance and build with renewed attention. Concentrating my mind, I compared the blurry scene with the person in front of me.

"Mr. Neroro? What's the matter?"

That's it.

‘The small woman in the vision I saw from Lottie.’

The voices that had been ringing fiercely in my head pass by.

"The *** is an independent union of Rankers, not affiliated with the Association! The recruitment of members is the sole authority of the ***, and especially the **. Do you have anything more to say?"

"Professor!"

The sharp shout I heard at the end.

Right, Professor!

Someone had called the woman Professor.

'How did I miss this?'

Even though we've been talking and together all this time!

Setting aside the familiar voice, no matter how I twist it, the only person who could be the Professor is Camila Ingram.

Then the vision, that is, in the future, I'm with this woman. And at a very important moment.

So what is this woman trying to do with me? I think she said something about inducting Arsen Neroro somewhere, but what's her intention?

"Is there something you'd like to say? Mr. Neroro."

I stared too intently. It's only natural that she'd find it strange, as I was staring at her without blinking.

Camila, standing right in front of me, tilts her head and scans me with her cold eyes.

"...No. I was just a little surprised because you came in without knocking. Um, what if I had been undressing?"

"Ah."

It worked. Camila's gaze, which had been nothing but cool, wavered slightly.

As if it were a completely unexpected answer, she hesitated for a moment and then averted her eyes.

"I was in a hurry and forgot. I'm sorry."

"No, no. It's okay. I was just a little surprised."

From now on, she'll probably knock no matter where I am. Not a bad gain.

"But what's the matter? Coming in such a hurry."

"I heard from Mago. You were out for quite a long time."

"If it's about that, I really have no excuse. I met an acquaintance after a long time and the conversation went on.... I'll make sure this doesn't happen again,"

"I'm not trying to blame you."

Camila, who had cut me off, stared up at me with her characteristic brilliant eyes.

"When you were outside, were there any unpleasant gazes or suspicious people? Someone trying to talk to you, or pick a fight. Or trying to make contact for any reason. Including general soliciting."

It's a gaze that even feels like it's full of anticipation. It's as if she's hoping that happened.

But all that happened today was that I was crazily selling bread at Mr. Philemon's.

I did meet the person presumed to be the protagonist, but it was clear that this was a problem of a different nature from what Camila was asking about. Finding the protagonist is my business.

"There was nothing like that. I was at my acquaintance's shop for most of the time I was outside."

"...Is that so. That's a pity."

"Pardon?"

"This won't do. Soon they'll all gather...."

Before those selfish people come....

Camila, with her eyes lowered, mutters impatiently. The way she was clicking her nails was a bit scary, but I asked as if nothing was wrong.

"Is someone coming? Mr. Mago was also saying something about waiting for something."

"Mr. Neroro."

"Ah, yes."

"How about taking Lottie for an evening walk? She's lived only at the Center since she was a baby, so she'll like it. Show her around too."

My arm holding Lottie tightened. I stared blankly down at the woman who was two handspans shorter than me.

Suddenly? With the child?

I've already heard her inner thoughts about wanting to use us as bait, but the sun is about to set.

"Um.... Is it okay to go out? It'll be more dangerous when it gets dark, won't it? Not just the terrorist organization, but other crimes are frequent too."

"You speak as if you don't know Eastbourne. It's one of the top places in Astava for security. We just need to lure the little rats, so don't worry."

Camila's eyebrows arched slightly. But I couldn't agree with her words.

Professor, you seem to be the one who doesn't know Eastbourne.

How many things I went through while being here for only three months before. Once, I ran into a serial arsonist on my way home from my part-time job. I honestly wet myself a little on the spot then.

No, fire was coming out of his fingers, not a lighter, how could I not wet myself? Which iron-hearted person could have endured him aiming with his eyes wide open.

If the security guard hadn't appeared just in time, I would have burned to death. Just one more revival count.

"...You'll be covering us from behind, right?"

But whether I agree or not, if Camila says so, I have to do it.

"I'll be watching from a distance so they don't notice."

Camila nodded with a trustworthy expression.

'In the end, I'm just a bullet shield.'

Is she telling me to hold out with my personal skills while waiting for support?

"Then could you give me some expense money? I was thinking of buying a few things while I'm out, but I have almost nothing right now."

"...."

In the brief silence, Camila's and my gazes meet. This also seems to have been unexpected. Her expression seems to reek of pity, but it couldn't be helped.

Most of my salary goes directly to Remble, which you could call the creditor. And the few pennies I had were lost in the ruins.

If I'm going for a night stroll anyway, wouldn't it be better to buy an apron and other necessities rather than just wandering around meaninglessly?

Besides, Camila didn't seem to have much interest in my and Lottie's shabby appearance, so I had to take care of it myself.

The only things provided when we came to the lodging were very basic clothes and diapers. And the diapers didn't even fit well, and the fabric was too scratchy to put on a two-year-old.

I wonder if she's really a mother, but I guess it could be like that if they haven't seen each other for a long time.

"This is all I have, though."

Camila took out a small bundle from her pocket.

What was clipped together were none other than bluish papers.

Don't tell me? A check?

"You can have the rest."

Camila hands over the whole thing, not just one sheet. My lips twitch on their own against my will. This is the first time I'm touching a check in Astava.

Blank checks, all signed with Camila's name. To just give them all to me. What does she think I'm going to buy?

"...I'll see you later."

Wait for me, night market.

The rich bullet shield is coming.

***

"The baby is very gentle. Hey, you wanna try one of these?"

Lottie, who had blinked her eyes open and shut, looked back and forth between me and the cookie once.

"Receive it with both hands."

"Uu!"

At the same time as my permission, Lottie snatches the cookie the owner is waving. A rough hand pats Lottie's black head.

"Uahahaha! The little fellow has good manners. Want another one?"

Lottie, with another one in her hand, smiles as if she has the whole world. I was worried the child might not like the crowded streets, but it was a completely baseless fear.

She giggles at everything she sees. I would have been sad if I hadn't brought her out.

"The child looks good, maybe because he resembles his dad. Dad, you want to try one too?"

"No, I'm fine. More importantly, do you happen to have a watch strap like this?"

"Let's see.... Of course! We have plenty of those."

The general store I had occasionally visited before was quite large, so I could take care of almost everything at once.

I changed my tattered watch strap, bought four sets of clothes for Lottie and two for me, a bunch of diapers, a sturdy baby carrier like a car seat, and two aprons.

Unfortunately, only pink aprons were left, so I had no choice.

'At this rate, I wonder if the world is desperate to make me wear pink.'

It's plausible. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense that the white aprons were all sold out right in front of me.

While I was lost in useless thoughts, a large bag was in my hand before I knew it.

It was a good thing I put on the baby carrier right away. It would have been quite uncomfortable if I had to hold Lottie in my arms too.

"Please ring this up."

"A check? Uh... Association!? Wow, you're a high-ranking person, huh?"

The owner, with his eyes wide open, took a step back as if seeing me in a new light.

Was it an Association-issued check? I just smiled and nodded my head.

"Come again! Young dad!"

I responded with an awkward smile to the owner who was seeing me off with a loud voice and left the shop.

By the way, why do they keep calling me dad? I didn't correct them, but do I really look like a dad?

And at the next shop.

"The young dad takes good care of the child. It's nice to see."

"Ahaha.... Thank you."

And at the next shop after that.

"How old is the child?"

"She's turning two this year."

"You must have had the child early. The dad still looks young. You must be having a hard time."

"...Haha. Thank you."

After hearing that in succession,

"Lottie, do we look alike?"

I start to think we look very alike.

"Uu?"

"No. Our eye colors are different, and for one, Hyung is much more handsome."

"Uu-uu-."

This kid, she's squinting her eyes as if she understands.

"Let's see. I think I've bought everything I need to buy, shall we go buy a toy last? The ones earlier were all for older kids. Let's go get a new vroom-vroom."

"Vroom-vroom! Vroom-vroom!"

All those toys disappeared along with the Center. The only thing left was the pacifier Masimo had given her.

'I should buy her a few.'

At the word 'vroom-vroom', Lottie's already shining eyes became even brighter.

After wandering for a long time in search of a toy store. We entered a street full of restaurants.

Actually, it was a street closer to bars than restaurants. Even though it wasn't night yet, there were tipsy people here and there.

It's hard to see anything good in a place like this. It was when I was hurrying my steps.

"Arsen?"

Fuck?

Oops. I almost said it out loud.

'The day was tiring, but now I'm hearing things.'

My body almost lost its balance. There's no way. There's really no way.

A voice I was disgusted to have been with, a voice I hoped never to hear again.

She'd be busy after graduation too, would she meet me in a place like this?

I started moving my feet, which had stopped.

"It is you, right? I can tell it's you."

But at the voice coming from behind me in succession, I had no choice but to turn around.

"It is you! Hey, what's up? Why are you here?"

That's what I want to ask, but what am I supposed to do if you ask first.

What I saw in front of me were faces that made my stomach churn. I showed my crumpled expression without reservation and held Lottie again.