The Babysitter Wants to Stop Dying

Chapter 20: If Your Dreams are Unsettling, It's Better to Stay Home That Day (4)

Dreams are indeed reliable.

The day had almost passed, so I had completely let my guard down, but to think a meeting like this was waiting for me.

"What's a bastard like this good for. Will you even graduate?"

"The saying that Remble is hard to get into is all bullshit. All sorts of dogs and cows crawl in here, what the fuck kind of prestigious school is this."

"It's amazing that he doesn't die. Where can you get something like this?"

"Uahaha! That's right! Since he doesn't die, he'd be perfect as my foot-wiper if I can't get a job later."

"You crazy bastard. With your weight, he'd die every time you wipe your feet."

"What does it matter if he regenerates infinitely? Right, Arsen?"

The jeering voices were still clear in my ears.

Even knowing I was immortal, they didn't have the guts to kill me themselves, so they just tormented me as if it were a meal.

Memories of Remble, which weren't long but were full of fatigue. There was never a moment when my whole body wasn't bruised.

Arsen Neroro was a prime target within Remble. In a place teeming with superhumans who were full of strength and had solid backgrounds, he was the weakest with only a bizarre ability.

A toy that they didn't have to worry about their careers being ruined even if they killed him while playing with him, by some chance.

‘Still, to think we'd run into each other like this in the vast Eastbourne.’

Especially, among them, the ones in front of me were unusually persistent.

I did think we would meet again someday, but isn't this a bit too soon?

Even so, it wasn't enough to break the mentality of a former military-serving, manual laborer and technician who had hit rock bottom, but it was unavoidable that it felt like crap.

In my past life, when I was teased for being in the "Tang Dynasty army". Assigned to a unit that was still full of harsh treatment and injustice, as if being pranked.

Endless punishments and rock-paper-scissors with the mirror were the basics. Not letting me sleep and feeding me ants were common occurrences.

But when I punched my senior in the jaw for trying to stuff a katydid into my mouth during my night shift and went to the guardhouse for a week, I almost ascended to heaven. It's a miracle I didn't desert, even thinking about it now.

Compared to that, these bastards were not creative.

They only knew how to run errands or beat me up, and didn't know how to shake my mentality.

For humans, mental torment is more painful than tolerable physical pain, so should I consider myself lucky? It wasn't that hard to endure.

If you ask why I didn't fight back, this was the biggest reason.

I was busy.

I was told the world would be destroyed if I didn't find the protagonist, so I didn't have the luxury to pay deep attention to kids' bullying.

Setting aside the matter of my mountain of debt, I was going crazy because I couldn't even get a hint of a clue.

But,

‘That doesn't mean I wanted to see them again.’

Right. They were people I never wanted to meet again.

"Uueu-."

As if sensing my turbulent emotions, Lottie whimpered softly. The kid's mood was so good just a moment ago, goodness gracious.

"Sorry, Lottie."

I thought as I gently stroked Lottie's head.

How do I get rid of these guys? I thought about mentioning Camila's name, but that seemed a bit rash.

"Wow. You don't even manage your expression now that you've graduated. Are you crazy?"

As I openly showed my annoyance, a flabbergasted reaction came back.

Moris Framsen.

The leader of the group that had persistently tormented me.

First, I had to think about why Moris was here.

A typical delinquent who reeked of trouble just from his appearance. His green hair, laden with wax, glistened in the streetlights. At a glance, it also had the feel of well-maintained weeds.

‘I heard his graduation scores were top-tier, so he was going straight to the Gate subjugation squad....’

Did he fail? With those scores?

The rank Moris received upon graduating from Remble was A.

His actions were so bad that he should have been expelled upon admission, but anyway, this was a place of strict meritocracy. Even the professors, who knew of his character, acknowledged his skills.

But a superhuman like that can't just be wandering the night streets of Eastbourne with nothing to do.

It's a fact that even a passing child knows that once you enter the subjugation squad, you're worked to the bone for a few years. And you build your reputation that way.

'Hmm.'

If he failed, it's a bit satisfying.

"Come to think of it, why is your arm like that? Did someone scorch it with a torch?"

Moris, who had strode closer, grabbed my left arm. The bag I was holding swayed.

Moris turned my arm this way and that, observing the lightning marks.

"Hey, hey. Look at this. Isn't this hilarious."

He even showed it to the guy next to him, snickering.

To denigrate the honorable scars like this. It certainly is a bit unsightly, but it wasn't something I should hear from these guys.

I scanned my surroundings without replying. I was hoping to see a security guard or someone from Camila's side watching us, but there was nothing.

It was when I was starting to think it was a slight accident, thinking someone would help soon.

"More importantly, who's that? Don't tell me it's your kid? Why are the kid's eyes so blue? Hey, what are you looking at?"

"You think this is his kid? He suddenly disappeared after graduation, so I was wondering what he was up to, and it seems he's playing nanny somewhere. Hello, little bug."

As Moris's expression crumpled as if he had found something disgusting, the other guy who had been snickering next to him chimed in.

Moris's loyal sidekick, Deric. Lottie, who had been glancing at them, grabs my collar. For a moment, it felt like something snapped in my head.

What? Kid? Bug?

"What did you just say."

"Ooh! That was a bit scary just now."

I barely suppressed the curse that was about to come out. At my reaction, the two guys' expressions became even more delighted.

‘I just want to beat them up, whether they die or not.’

Has there ever been a time I've felt such murderous intent?

I didn't mind what they did to me, but seeing their actions towards Lottie, an anger I had never felt before welled up.

Non-violence, peace, love?

I tried my best to teach Lottie only those things, but what's the use of all that.

‘If only I had power....’

I gritted my teeth. But soon after.

...How pathetic.

If I had power, would I kill the two guys in front of me?

At the anger that filled my mind for a moment, I slowly inhaled. I don't want Lottie to feel this emotion.

"I don't think we're on terms to acknowledge each other, so why don't you just go?"

I shook off the arm that was held in a deadpan manner. A flicker of bewilderment crossed the sneering face.

The desire to smash my fist into that face was still there. But not now. I'll probably become quite strong soon, so I can endure it until then.

Trash who, from the start, have a rotten personality and just crush anyone weaker than them.

I couldn't let Lottie get involved with such stinking things. And I couldn't show the kid me dying if we got into a fight here.

"I'm leaving first."

The better choice here is to ignore them. I turned my back without any lingering attachment.

It was the time when evening was just turning into night. There were many people on the street. No matter how much they wanted to torment me, as long as they were aiming to be Rankers, they wouldn't do anything that would stand out.

But,

"Where are you going."

I had overlooked the fact that they didn't have a decent amount of common sense. A heavy grip grabbed my shoulder as if to crush it.

"Keuk-."

Deric is a huge, bear-like Strength-type superhuman. A little more force and my collarbone would have been shattered.

The two who had turned me around closed the distance even more than before.

"I was so scared just now I almost wet myself. What, was this bastard always this gutsy?"

"On terms to acknowledge each other? What does that mean, of course we should acknowledge each other! It's been a long time since I found a lost toy, and instead of playing with it!"

Following Moris's sneer, Deric stretches both hands to the sky and laughs thickly. I glanced around, but there was no sign of anyone appearing.

The back of my neck is stiff.

I don't know about Mago and Renie, but why isn't Camila coming. She's the mother!

'You said you'd be watching from a distance. Don't tell me you're not coming because you've judged that they're not a threat?'

They're not the terrorists, is that it?

I was at a loss for words at her somewhat strict way of handling things, even if it was her own blood.

An incomprehensible standard. I quickly racked my brain.

Could it be that she wants a disturbance like this? A noticeable one? To become a delicious bait for the terrorists?

"Alright, let's ask this little kid."

Moris, no, the weed-haired bastard, dared to reach for Lottie. The moment the distance between them closed, before I could even stop him.

"Hey, kid. Can we play with your nanny for a bit...."

Jjaak-!

...Huh?

For a moment, I thought time had stopped.

Three men with their mouths agape, and a two-year-old blinking her eyes smartly.

A moment of silence passed.

"U-uh? What, just now."

Moris, who looked at his right hand that had been pushed aside, moves his lips. And it was the same for me.

It wasn't a great force, just a child's push, but it perfectly deflected Moris's approaching hand. Which means.

"Did this thing just hit me? This is funny...."

Jjaak!

"Eok?"

'I can see it! Moris's movements!'

This time, I couldn't stop the laughter that burst out as Lottie deflected Moris's left hand with her other hand.

My kid is using her ability. I thought she couldn't use it anymore since she had been quiet, but I couldn't be happier.

"Are you, are you smiling? What kind of way is this to raise a kid, ah, really!"

Once again, jjak!

Lottie's tiny hand forcefully slapped the weed-haired guy's hand. Moris's face, who had been hit three times, flushed red. In contrast, Lottie was, what should I say....

'What is this, this imposing aura.'

There was not even a trace of the slightly intimidated demeanor from before. Lottie, staring at Moris with her eyes wide open.

"This little brat is asking to die!"

Moris, who seemed to have gotten really angry, raised his hand high.

This time, Lottie didn't seem to be preparing for anything. It seemed there would be no next attack.

"Oh, oh, Moris! No! Not the kid!"

Just in case, I quickly shielded Lottie and stepped back, and Deric hugged Moris to restrain him.

It seemed Deric had a slightly higher intelligence than Moris.

The two fought for a long time, and then Deric released his arms that had been holding Moris.

"Right, what does a kid know. The generous me will endure it. Instead, Arsen, come out to the plaza in front tomorrow. The time is 8 in the morning!"

Moris, who had been released from Deric, shouted.

Suddenly?

"This body needs some training to pass the subjugation squad test, you know? As you know, my ability is more effective when I have an opponent, right? And it's perfect. To meet you like this."

Moris, gritting his teeth and glancing around. Whether he had come to his senses after being played by Lottie, he was now starting to be conscious of the passing people.

'Subjugation squad test, he says.'

Moris had already applied to the subjugation squad around graduation. But for him to say that means.

As expected, he failed.

Do they have a personality test for the subjugation squad these days? Why did he fail? He's a skilled guy, though.

But for now, well,

"I don't want to."

I maintained a poker face and replied immediately.

I've graduated, so why should I? I met them today because I was unlucky, but why would I go out of my way? It's obvious I'll get beaten up.

"Are you really crazy? You keep climbing up? Fine, just try not coming out. Let's see what happens to that little kid."

I naturally lowered my head and looked at the small, black head.

Should I just tell them whose son he is? Wouldn't they flip out if they knew he was Professor Ingram's son?

In the moment I was contemplating,

Ptooey!

Moris, who had accurately spit on my shoe, disappeared with Deric, huffing and puffing.

What a deficient bastard. Spitting disgustingly all over the place. The thought I had, as much as air, of maybe coming out tomorrow, completely disappeared.

"Uu!"

As if to say she had won, a small fist shot up. The anger that had been welling up was completely relieved thanks to Lottie's cute response.

"Good job. That was so cool. Lottie is better than Hyung."

"Cool!"

"Right, right. Since our Lottie did a good job, let's buy two vroom-vrooms."

"Uwa?"

As I held up two fingers, her few teeth were fully revealed.

What a cute kid.

***

"I was hoping for a bigger disturbance, so it's a shame."

The words I heard as soon as I returned to the lodging were a spectacle.

I was so flabbergasted my nose was blocked, so I couldn't say anything.

"If they're the ones who found out the Center's location, there should be plenty of members in Eastbourne, but why aren't they showing up."

Camila had her hand over her mouth and was deep in thought.

So she really didn't intervene because she wanted a disturbance.

Camila seemed to be a person who was far beyond the comprehension of a commoner like me. In the end, it's for Lottie, but do we have to use even a child as bait to catch a terrorist organization?

My head is dizzy.

"They'll all be gathered soon...."

Camila's expression, who was muttering inaudibly, became even more serious.

'I don't really know what she's mumbling to herself, but should I tell her this, or not.'

After a moment of conflict, I finally opened my mouth.

"I was told to meet those classmates tomorrow. They're probably planning to beat me to death, but that should be enough to draw attention, what do you think?"

Anyway, I have to tell the truth. Catching the terrorist organization was important for Lottie's and my safety at the moment.

"Tomorrow.... When?"

Camila's eyes, which had been gloomy until just a moment ago, sparkled. Does she not even hear the phrase 'beat me to death'?

"Eight o'clock, in the plaza in front."

"Not bad. Go ahead. With Lottie."

You are a really bad mother.

I swallowed my words inwardly.