Fated to Die in an Academy Novel – Chapter 116

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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The little girl continued talking while eating her cream bun.

“You know, I wanted to wear a red dress today, but Mommy said it was too flashy and made me wear a white one instead.”

“I see. You must have been looking forward to the party. You should be able to wear what you want.”

Saying “You should let kids wear what they want” was the right move here. Kids like this hated being treated like kids.

“Right? So I whined, but Mommy and Daddy said they had important business with other adults and ignored me.”

The way she gulped down her strawberry milk and exhaled, as if imitating an adult, was cute.

“Really? It wasn’t right for you to whine, but they were a bit harsh.”

“So I just… sniff… I was just going to come out for a bit, but…”

“You got lost?”

“Yeah. I was angry and yelled at Mommy that I didn’t care anymore, but what if Mommy and Daddy don’t come looking for me because they hate me…?”

The little girl, who had finally calmed down, started tearing up again.

She was so cute. What a thought. It was so cute that it made me want to laugh.

Or not? I shouldn’t be laughing, considering I was abandoned myself, but I didn’t think her parents would abandon her.

They would probably start looking for her the moment they realized she was gone.

The dress the child was wearing was obviously expensive.

Children’s dresses like this were just as expensive as adult ones. Not just the dress, but also the shoes and hair accessories were all high-end. And on top of that, she was wearing a child-tracking necklace. Why would they abandon her?

I wanted to contact them using the necklace, but I didn’t have my smartphone.

“Hmm, wait a minute. I’ll let you join our expedition. Let’s look for your mom and dad while we explore.”

The girl’s gloomy face instantly brightened.

“An expedition!? Other boys never let me join!”

“Haha, I’m not like other boys. So I can let you join.”

“Really! Ah, but what if Mommy and Daddy don’t want to see me anymore…? They’ll be angry.”

“That will never happen. If they’re angry, I’ll apologize with you.”

“…How do you know? What if they don’t accept your apology?”

“Then how about we make a bet?”

“…A bet?”

“Yeah, if your mom and dad rush over and hug you or cry and worry about you, I win. If they say they don’t want to see you or act indifferent, you win. How about it?”

“What are the stakes? I don’t have anything to offer…”

“I’m not going to take anything from you, so don’t worry. If I win, just listen to your parents from now on~”

“…What if I win?”

…Oh, she was thinking about what to ask for if she won? Not bad.

“I wonder? Is there anything you want?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Then ask me for something when we meet again.”

“…Will you do anything?”

“Anything within my power.”

“Then can we meet again?”

“Well~? Little one, things don’t always go as planned. That’s what makes life interesting, isn’t it~?”

So-hyun, how did you even know that line?

“…I don’t know.”

“Anyway, just trust me~ I’ll find your parents!”

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“I don’t want to. This is absurd.”

Wow, our little Yoo-hak had a sharp way of refusing.

“…Why should I do this? I’ve already been generous enough in waiting for you.”

“Leader, I’m not saying we should stop the expedition, just that we should accept a new member. Why are you being like this~?”

“She’s not worthy.”

Oh, our Yoo-hak was smart, using the word “worthy.”

“…Scary.”

But he seemed scary to other kids because of his fierce attitude.

Judging by the way she was holding my hand tightly, she seemed anxious.

“Leader, please~”

“…Do you think I’ll do anything just because you call me leader?”

…Huh? He was really smart. He noticed after only three times?

“Of course not! Ha, really. I just thought the leader would be like Leader’s father, embracing and caring for his subordinates with a broad mind!”

“…Hmm, I see. Father might act that way in this situation.”

Haha, you’re still a kid.

Little Yoo-hak, pleased by the compliment, looked at the girl behind me.

“…I’ll let you join the expedition until we find your parents. Don’t be a nuisance.”

“…Okay, sorry.”

“Hmph, I’m glad you’re sorry. But that hand.”

“Yes?”

“He’s my subordinate, so let go.”

“…No.”

“…I said let go.”

“…No way.”

“…Guys, stop. I have two hands, so I can hold both of you. Don’t fight.”

“…Tsk. She was annoying me. Also, who said I wanted to hold your hand?”

“…Hmph.”

Our little guys were quite possessive. But it was normal for kids this age to say “He’s my friend, why is he playing with you?!”

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The expedition was fun.

Cheon Yoo-hak showed off his knowledge by finding edible plants and herbs in the garden, and the little girl, after finishing her cream bun and strawberry milk, seemed to have regained her energy and was looking at the flowers.

Yes, a child should always be smiling.

As we were about to head back after letting the kids have their fun, we saw a broadcast about a missing child and two young adults running around, as expected.

“See?”

“…Yeah.”

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

“Yes!”

Of course, I won the bet, but there was no point in bringing it up now.

“Huh?! Honey!”

“There, there she is!”

The adults rushed over and hugged the little girl.

“Where were you…?! We were so worried…!”

“Sorry, sorry…! Mommy’s sorry! I should have paid more attention to you!”

-Jealous?

Bullshit. I wasn’t jealous. It was good that her parents were worried. That was how it should be.

I approached the couple, presumably the girl’s parents, and their gazes turned to me.

“She was crying alone. I had a hard time comforting her, so don’t make her cry anymore!”

“Ah, um, thank you, little one. Did you play with our daughter?”

Oh, he didn’t hit me while asking if I took his daughter. I was a bit worried there for a moment.

He was a reasonable person.

“Ga-eul, you should thank the oppas.”

“They’re not oppas! They said they were five!”

…Huh? Wait, who?

“What? You seemed so calm and composed that I thought you were older than our daughter. Thank you so much…”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you. I didn’t have a phone.”

Well, our Ga-eul wasn’t the only Ga-eul in the world. It was a coincidence, right…?

“Don’t mention it. We’ll definitely repay you later.”

“Come on, Ga-eul, say goodbye to your friends.”

The little girl in her mother’s arms hesitated, then cautiously spoke.

“…Hey, can we meet again?”

“Hmm, I wonder…?”

“…Sniff.”

A slightly timid demeanor, reddish-brown hair, and slightly sharp eyes for a child.

…Huh? Come to think of it, she looked familiar from the beginning.

It wasn’t just vaguely familiar, she looked very similar.

It wasn’t as obvious as mini Yoo-hak, but now that I thought of her as mini Ga-eul, it was a perfect match.

“…Well, maybe if fate allows it.”

The child’s parents thanked us profusely and disappeared into the crowd with little Ga-eul.

No way, how did this happen?

I wasn’t even acting on my own. I was just following Cheon Yoo-hak’s dream, so why did things turn out like this?

I suddenly remembered the golden wig on my head.

…Nah, it couldn’t be, right? No one used that kind of setting in novels these days. Or even if they did, they wouldn’t kill both of them off without using it, right?

The first love trope was so outdated!

“Ha, the baggage is finally gone.”

Little Yoo-hak, oblivious to my thoughts, muttered in relief.

“Even the leader was getting along with her, though.”

“…Hmph, you’re mistaken. I was just playing with her because she was annoying me with her crying.”

Well, whatever.

“Anyway, now that there are no more distractions, let’s head towards our final destination.”

“…Hmm?”

“I told you, it was too difficult for us before.”

Ah, he was talking about the tall staircase in the center.

“We’ve familiarized ourselves with the surroundings and packed our supplies, so we’re ready.”

The supplies were apparently the herbs and mushrooms we gathered while playing.

“Let’s go. I’ll lead the way.”

“Oh, can I trust you, leader?”

“Hmph, of course. I’m confident I can protect you no matter what, so don’t worry.”

Little Yoo-hak started climbing the stairs with a confident demeanor.

Little Yoo-hak was super strong. He could win against anything.

“…Were you thinking something strange?”

“No, not at all~?”

“…Then it’s fine.”

We climbed the stairs and arrived on the second floor.

“Hmm, so this is the layout of the second floor.”

“…Strange.”

“Hmm? What is?”

“There are too few people here.”

“…Well, the party is going on downstairs, so… No, wait. You’re right. There should at least be some staff members.”

We were not just calm, but cold. We were both acting too mature for children.

“Let’s go downstairs and get the adults.”

“No, it’s too late.”

“What?”

“They’ve already found us.”

The moment little Yoo-hak jumped, something like a metal spike embedded itself where he was standing.

“…What? How did that little kid dodge that?”

“Ah, you idiot, what are you doing? They’re just kids, let them go.”

“Ah, they’re obviously rich kids. It doesn’t matter since we’re going to bury them here anyway.”

“Who said anything about killing them? I’m saying what if someone finds out they’re missing and searches the place while we’re here?”

Villains.

They were a bit… amateur.

They used crossbows and daggers, but they didn’t use magical power or any talents.

The fact that they used an attack a five-year-old could dodge meant that they were unawakened.

Yet, they were acting nonchalant and confident even after attacking first.

It wasn’t strange.

No one in their right mind would feel threatened by two five-year-olds and fight seriously.

It was common sense, a natural reaction.

Well, whether unawakened terrorists were considered normal was another matter, but their attitude wasn’t strange.

That is, if the ones here were just ordinary five-year-olds.

“…Pathetic.”

The boy smiled.

He looked excited, like someone who had just finished the tutorial in an RPG and encountered their first monster.

There was no sense of danger.

Superhumans were called superhumans because they defied the common sense of ordinary people.

He was still growing, but what stood before us were clearly monsters.

They should have run away. Or at least fought with all their might so they wouldn’t have any regrets.

But they made a foolish choice, and now it was time to pay the price.

The terrorists, not even worthy of being called villains, were sent flying by the child’s punches.

“…Huh?”

“Haha, since they wouldn’t let me do anything but train after awakening my talent, this is my first real fight, and it feels surprisingly good.”

Peerless Warrior.

His talent, which grew stronger the more enemies he faced, recognized the numerous ‘ordinary people’ surrounding us as ‘enemies’ and amplified his power.

“Haha…!”

Weapons? He didn’t need such things.

The moment he awakened his talent and could channel magical power, every part of his body was a weapon as long as his opponents weren’t fellow superhumans or monsters.

“What the?! A monster!”

“A monster? That’s offensive. You guys who are scheming in the shadows are more monstrous!”

Cheon Yoo-hak grabbed one of the men’s arms as if he were handling a doll and threw him.

It wasn’t even a fight, just a massacre, a child’s play. No different from a child breaking a doll they didn’t like.

The only difference was the blood and gore.

“Aim for the other one!”

“Haha, no way…!”

Some tried to take me hostage, but even I could tell they were too slow.

There was no way they could be faster than little Yoo-hak, and the situation was quickly resolved.

“Hey, stop.”

“Stop? Why should I stop!? Do you still think these bastards need saving after seeing this!? These ungrateful animals!?”

Dangerous.

He was clearly agitated, losing control.

His talent, which he couldn’t control yet because he was still young, was starting to consume him.

“I said stop.”

“Haha…! Ha? Hee…”

Surprisingly, none of the villains were dead yet.

It was proof that he was still controlling himself, but it wouldn’t last long.

The light in his eyes was almost gone.

“Hee…”

The little devil, grinning like a beast, stomped on the arm of the man lying at his feet.

“Aaaaaaaaagh!?”

The sickening crunching sound mixed with the man’s screams. Annoyed by the screams, he raised his foot.

His target was clearly the man’s neck.

“Ah, shit. Don’t cross the line.”

And my body, which had been watching and trying to persuade him with words, finally moved.

To stop him before he made a mistake.

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T/N – Hey guys! Just a heads up that the paid chapters mass release this coming Saturday is a go! So do keep an eye for it.

Wow! So basically, Ga-eul met the MC and Yoo-hak when they were kids, but since the latter two were wearing wigs, she mistook the MC as Yoo-hak and developed a crush for him instead. And the trash author friend just killed the two off in the novel without ever resolving the misunderstanding. Really, what kind of shit writing is that?!

Also, so this was how the original So-hyun beat up Yoo-hak… This is feeling more and more like the original So-hyun was a transmigrator. I’m quite convinced of my theory now.

If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.