Chapter 19: IBTML

Chapter 19

“This is a very serious matter, you know. If these children taking a shower will somehow contaminate the shower room, then we need to identify and analyze exactly what kind of contamination it is. Otherwise, how are we supposed to cure Rodney, Miles, and Arden?”

“W-Well, uh…”

“We can't just leave something that dangerous untreated. Go on, tell me. What kind of contamination is it?”

There was no way the shower room would actually become contaminated.

It was obvious Darwin and Champ had simply said it to bully the Class 3 children.

From behind, Chester and Klein quietly watched the scene unfold.

Normally, Lopez would have been screaming and lashing out irritably.

But now she was attacking in a completely different way.

She was changing.

And it was a change for the better.

Every time Chester and Klein saw this side of her, they found their eyes drawn to her without realizing it.

Lopez suddenly cried out in alarm.

“If it's really contamination, then this is terrible! You two might already be infected!”

Darwin and Champ immediately turned pale.

Darwin hurriedly shook his head.

“N-No! That's not what we meant by contamination! We just—ugh! We only said that because they're dirty!”

“What? So you called them contaminated just because they're dirty? Why would you say something so mean?”

The boys were left speechless.

Lopez continued without missing a beat.

“The shower room exists so dirty people can wash themselves. Then why are you trying to stop them?”

Embarrassed that he'd been completely overwhelmed, Champ suddenly raised his voice.

“B-Because it won't make a difference even if they wash!”

“Why? Could you explain according to the six Ws?”

“Th-That…”

There was no reason.

Simply because they were Class 3.

Because everyone—from the director to the teachers—looked down on Class 3.

Because the children of Class 3 were considered stupid and talentless.

Because everyone bullied them.

Darwin and Champ had merely joined in.

How could they possibly come up with a logical explanation?

“So you're bullying them for no reason?”

Lopez struck directly at the heart of the matter.

As if trying to deny it, Darwin suddenly shouted.

“T-They're Class 3!”

“Really? And you're Class 1, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Oh. Suddenly I feel terrible. I think I'd feel much better if I ripped out all your hair, Darwin.”

Lopez raised a hand as if she were about to lunge at him.

Darwin instantly stumbled backward and clutched his head.

The look in her eyes turned frighteningly cold.

“W-Why me?!”

“No reason. Just because you're in Class 1.”

“...!”

Darwin and Champ's eyes widened.

Lopez lowered her hand and spoke calmly.

“I'm not telling you that you have to like each other.”

“...”

“But let's not say things that hurt people, okay?”

Neither boy answered.

“If someone called you dirty and contaminated and acted disgusted every time they saw you, would you like that?”

The moment they imagined it, tears immediately welled up in their eyes.

Only after seeing them shake their heads did Lopez's voice soften.

“We don't like it either. So don't do it.”

Her tone was firm.

“Now, would you please move aside?”

Darwin and Champ hesitated awkwardly before finally stepping out of the way.

Lopez felt a surge of satisfaction.

See? They're good kids after all. They listen when you explain things properly!

“You really attract trouble wherever you go, don't you?”

Klein's comment instantly deflated her mood.

Shoulders drooping, Lopez trudged into the shower room.

The moment he saw her reaction, Klein's pupils shook violently.

Th-That's not what I meant...

His chest ached as though someone were repeatedly pricking it with a needle.

“Klein!”

Medina's sharp glare made him flinch.

“N-No, I just—”

“You should reflect on your behavior too!”

“Medina!”

With that, Medina spun around and stormed off.

Klein hurried after her in panic.

Left behind alone, Chester jerked his chin toward the twins and the shaggy-haired boy.

“Go on. Nobody's inside.”

The three boys quietly entered the shower room.

And when they emerged clean a short while later, their eyes sparkled.

“Lopez…”

“Amazing…”

The two twins whispered in admiration.

Behind them, Mr. Don't-Talk-To-Me followed silently.

* * *

The children of Class 3 seemed deeply grateful for what had happened at the shower room.

Now they insisted on sleeping with me in the middle at the dormitory.

And in the classroom, they even moved their desks closer to mine.

If that had been all, it would've been fine.

But Rodney and Miles dragged their desks directly in front of us and positioned them so they faced ours.

Yes.

They had boldly turned their backs on the teacher's desk entirely.

The way they stared at me was so bright and enthusiastic that it was almost blinding.

“If you sit like that, can you even see the blackboard?”

Rodney puffed out his chest proudly.

“With the eyes of the heart!”

Was that childhood innocence?

Should I shatter it?

Or leave it alone?

There was no such thing as the eyes of the heart.

If I told him the truth, he'd probably be devastated.

At that moment, the shaggy-haired boy suddenly spoke.

“Do you know my name?”

“Yep.”

“H-How...?”

“The teacher said, ‘Arden, wake up.’”

“Then why... why did you keep calling me that?”

“Because it seemed like you didn't want to tell me your name.”

“...”

Arden didn't say another word after that.

Since the quiet boy had fallen silent again, I naturally turned my attention toward gathering information from Rodney and Miles.

“Rodney, Miles. Is there a temple nearby?”

“There is!”

“It's not huge, but it's not small either!”

“Have either of you been there?”

“Nope. But we saw it when we first came here!”

Then it wasn't far away.

As long as I could get out of the orphanage safely, finding it shouldn't be difficult.

“Is it in the village?”

“Yep!”

“Do you know which direction to go?”

“I forgot…”

“Me too!”

The twins shook their heads simultaneously.

Arden remained silent.

“Do we have any time when we're allowed to leave the orphanage?”

“Nope.”

“Class 3 is too embarrassing, so they never let us go outside!”

Why did they sound so cheerful saying that?

Perhaps because they'd already been hurt so many times, they accepted such treatment as completely normal.

“Class 3 isn't embarrassing. The adults who divide children by rankings are the ones who should be ashamed.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

The twins still looked unconvinced.

But I didn't bother explaining further.

My job wasn't to provide therapy.

It was to gather information so I could return to my original world.

“So Classes 1 and 2 can go outside?”

In the novel, even the protagonists hadn't left the orphanage very often, so I needed to confirm.

“Class 1 gets to once in a great while.”

“But I haven't seen anyone leave lately!”

Then sneaking out was really my only option.

Until I've saved enough money, staying here is probably safest.

Even if there was a risk of being adopted, wandering around outside in this young and pretty body could easily get me kidnapped.

“There's really no other way to leave?”

“Nope!”

“The director treasures Classes 1 and 2 way too much to let them go outside!”

“Has anyone ever run away from the orphanage before?”

“No…”

“But why are you asking?”

“Just curious.”

I answered lightly and fell silent.

* * *

Night arrived.

The orphanage fell into complete silence as everyone drifted off to sleep.

After confirming that all the children were asleep, I quietly got out of bed and slipped outside.

Tonight, I'll at least scout out the road leading to the village.

It would be useful when I eventually escaped.

Carefully looking around, I wandered through the area surrounding the orphanage.

No guards. All the lights are out.

This seems like the perfect time.

Next, I needed to find a way through the forest.

Roads people frequently used usually left obvious traces, so even without knowing the area, I should be able to find them.

Sure enough, it didn't take long before I discovered a fork in the road.

“Hmmm... Which way should I check first?”

The two paths stretched in completely opposite directions.

I stood there, debating.

Then suddenly—

Someone grabbed my wrist.

“Wh—!”

A hand covered my mouth before I could scream.

The person standing there was Arden.

“Y-You're trying to escape, aren't you? Take me with you.”

“...Huh?”

“...You only need to help me get out of here.”

Arden spoke anxiously, digging his fingernails into the back of his hand over and over.

His skin split open.

Tiny beads of blood appeared.

I immediately grabbed his hand.

“Stop that. You're hurting yourself.”

“...It doesn't hurt.”

“That?”

He nodded as if it were nothing.

Then he pulled his hand free.

“That direction…”

He pointed toward one of the roads.

“...Leads to the reservoir.”

“How do you know?”

“...”

Arden pressed his lips together and refused to answer.

“If you don't believe me…”

“No. I believe you.”

For some reason, I felt like I shouldn't press him any further.

So instead, I took hold of the hand he kept tearing at and turned toward the road opposite the reservoir.