IPBD CHAPTER 9
by Scarlet“Then… I can really stay here?”
Kir’s string of questions felt like he was trying to confirm that he truly belonged.
Emily smiled helplessly.
“As long as you want to, of course.”
Kir was silent for a moment before asking in a quiet voice,
“Even if I bring misfortune?”
“That won’t happen. And even if it did, it would be the result of my choice—not your fault.”
To reassure him, Emily gently patted Kir’s head.
“So, you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Kir’s clear gaze fixed on Emily, his expression one of shock.
Why was he looking at her like that? Just as Emily was about to ask, she noticed something glistening in his fiery golden eyes.
They were welling with tears.
Emily could only close her mouth and remain silent.
****
Was she pitying me?
The words had slipped out impulsively. He was so tired of being abandoned.
The strange, judgmental stares that always followed him, the cold words drawing lines because he made people uncomfortable.
Even when he occasionally received acts of kindness tinged with pity, it always ended with avoidance and rejection.
But Emily acted as though it didn’t matter.
Why?
Why could she be so unaffected?
To Kir, her response was utterly unfamiliar. He couldn’t understand Emily’s attitude.
What had driven him to suppress himself all this time?
Why had he worked so hard to protect the fragile peace in his life?
It was because everyone avoided him, labeled him as a black beast.
He didn’t want her, the one person showing him kindness, to discover the truth.
But more than that, he was terrified of seeing the look of horror and disgust in her eyes.
Yet Emily remained kind.
Even after seeing his strange, otherworldly traits, she treated him no differently.
Her warm touch felt genuine, without a hint of deceit.
“Kir, one day, there will be people who understand and accept you just the way you are.”
It was what his mother had once said—a sentiment he had never been able to agree with.
Kir had always thought there was no such person.
He was certain no one like that could ever exist.
And yet—
Plop.
Drip.
For the first time, Kir thought his mother’s words might actually be true.
He allowed himself to feel comforted—something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Not being rejected, not being pushed away, was not just a relief; it felt like solace.
Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t fully reveal my name.
Kirzen Ditrio.
That was his real name, but he harbored a small, selfish desire to simply appear as an ordinary boy to Emilina.
****
In the end, Emilina didn’t get any sleep until the sun began to rise.
She had spent the night comforting Kir, who had burst into tears, and before she knew it, hours had flown by.
Though her curiosity bubbled with questions, she decided not to pry.
Kir seemed like a boy with many secrets.
Unless he chose to speak first, she didn’t feel the need to dig into his life.
She’d rather avoid opening Pandora’s box and getting caught up in unnecessary trouble.
Still, she couldn’t not ask a few basic questions, like where he lived or how old he was.
“Y-you’re ten?”
“Yeah.”
“No way!”
Emilina looked utterly shocked, her disbelief written all over her face.
Kir responded awkwardly, “I really am ten…”
“Huh—”
How could someone so small and frail be ten years old? It was hard to wrap her head around.
Now that I think about it, wasn’t Kirzen around this age too?
No, no, stop comparing them.
Shaking her head to banish the thoughts, Emilina sighed.
She had assumed Kir couldn’t be older than eight. The idea that he was ten made her frown.
His growth seemed so stunted that worrisome ideas began creeping into her mind.
Could he have been mistreated?
“What about your parents?” she asked cautiously.
“They passed away two years ago, in an accident,” Kir replied softly.
Dear Kir’s parents, I’m so sorry for jumping to conclusions.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Emilina cleared her throat awkwardly, like someone caught in a mistake.
“Then… have you been staying in an orphanage?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I… lived alone.”
Emilina’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Alone? With no guardian?
“What about food?” she asked.
“What?”
“Did you manage to eat properly?”
Kir stared at her, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and disbelief.
Food?
It was such an unexpected question.
“F-food…?”
“Yes, food. You haven’t been eating properly, have you?”
Even as Emilina asked, she was already halfway certain of the answer.
His small, frail frame was proof enough.
“I guess… I ate about as much as anyone else does.”
Liar. Emilina didn’t believe him for a second.
The world was harsh—how could a child living alone manage to feed himself regularly?
She was sure he must have gone hungry more often than not.
It seemed to her that Kir was lying to keep her from worrying.
Feeling a sudden pang of sympathy, Emilina pulled him into a gentle hug.
I’ll take care of him now.
From now on, she’d make sure he ate well, rested plenty, and grew strong and healthy.
She’d ensure he no longer thought of himself as a monster—she’d help him become someone no one could dare look down on.
Someone impressive and dignified.
Of course, Kir had no idea what was going through Emilina’s mind.
He was only bewildered.
He had dodged her question because he couldn’t tell her the full truth, but now it seemed like she’d misunderstood completely.
Is food really that big of a deal?
When Kir glanced at Emilina, her expression looked deadly serious, as if it was a life-or-death matter.
A strange feeling washed over him.
He wasn’t used to someone being so worried about him.
But…
It’s not bad.
No, actually—it felt nice.
Maybe even comforting.
For the first time, he found himself wishing Emilina’s concern would never fade.
“Even if it’s just sympathy born out of misunderstanding…”
At that moment, Emilina let out a small sigh.
“Ah!”
She gently released Kir from her embrace.
Kir felt a flicker of disappointment but didn’t let it show.
Emilina took a serious tone as she began to speak.
“Kir, there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes, and it’s very serious.”
Kir swallowed nervously.
The way Emilina’s demeanor changed made it clear that this wasn’t just a minor issue.
What could it be? He looked at her with a tense expression, waiting for her explanation.
Emilina, wearing a determined look, finally spoke.
“So, uh…”
“Yes?”
“Well, you see—”
“Go on.”
“Seriously, what is it?”
“Could you just say it already?!” Kir blurted, unable to hide his impatience any longer.