Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 6

‘Be, Belinda-nim was watching me.’

Since when exactly?

Toma’s warning echoed ominously in Leo’s ears as his complexion turned pale.

“If that woman marks you, you’ll be watched all day long. And if you make even one mistake, you’re done for that very day.”

Everything, everything was over.

Leo trudged toward Belinda’s room with a dejected face, holding the ruined blanket in his arms.

‘Will I end up going back to the orphanage like this?’

But if he went there, he wouldn’t even have a name to be called by.

His steps naturally grew heavy.

He had thought that going to a new place would mean someone would need him, but in the end, he had ruined everything with his own hands.

Leo buried his face in the blanket and swallowed his tears before knocking on Belinda’s door.

“Belinda-nim?”

He knocked several times, but the room remained quiet.

Leo carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

The room without a single light was dyed crimson red by the sunset streaming through the window.

“Belinda-nim, I brought the blanket.”

Leo, who had been cautiously looking around, belatedly discovered Belinda sleeping on the bed.

After hesitating, the child approached the enormous bed with stealthy steps and was suddenly rendered speechless.

His master was so noble and beautiful that Toma’s words seemed unbelievable.

It was when he was unconsciously staring at Belinda in a daze.

The eyelashes that cast rich shadows trembled faintly, and soon amethyst-like purple eyes were revealed.

“….”

“….”

Blink blink. Their eyes met.

“The servant that Miss Belinda beat and drove out eventually died on the streets. It was for the reason of daring to look directly at a noble’s face, I think?”

“So don’t even think about making eye contact. You know? If you make a mistake, you’re dead, your neck will be chopped clean off.”

“Hic.”

A hiccup escaped from Leo’s mouth.

He tried to cover his mouth and suppress the hiccups, but both hands were trembling violently and the hiccups wouldn’t stop.

Belinda groggily raised her upper body. A gaze sharper than the north wind directed toward Leo.

“Jui-bam-tol.”

“Y-yes, yes, yess! Hic.”

Belinda’s expression grew increasingly fierce as she looked at the child hiccupping like a broken squeaky toy.

Soon, a chilling smile that made one’s hair stand on end appeared at the corner of her lips.

“It seems I’ll have to cut off your head.”

Thud. Leo’s thoughts stopped.

Beyond Belinda’s voice, Toma’s words echoed.

“Your neck will be chopped clean off.”

“Neck will….”

“Chopped clean….”

“M-m-my, hic, h-head, my head?”

Leo’s complexion turned not just pale but blue.

Belinda pointed to a chair with her perfectly manicured fingertips.

“Sit in that chair.”

Leo couldn’t even think of running away and staggered to sit in the chair.

Adults hate children who cry and throw tantrums.

So Leo bit his lips and clenched his fists to hold back tears, but it was no use.

The child’s large eyes, brimming with tears, turned toward Belinda reflected in the vanity mirror.

She was looking for something in the nightstand drawer.

Finally, when Belinda turned around, she held scissors with a sharp blue blade in her hand.

“I’ll cut your head with this.”

The corner of her mouth rose sharply once again, transforming into something demonic.

And when the scissors clicked together, making a menacing sound.

“P-pwease don’t, pwease don’t, Bewinda-nim. Wahhh, I, I won’t wook at Bewinda-nim again. Pwease don’t kiwl me, wahhhhh.”

Leo, so shocked that even his hiccups stopped, burst into tears.

* * *

A cool autumn breeze blew in through the open window.

I hurriedly closed the window and pulled the blanket up to Leo’s neck as he slept.

My heart burned black watching Leo only breathing heavily with fever.

It was this evening’s incident when Leo, who had suddenly started crying at my words about trimming his hair, collapsed.

“Ah, it seems stress has accumulated due to recent environmental changes. Also, it appears he hasn’t been sleeping properly….”

The doctor, who had been flustered by my fierce expression, placed several potions on the table saying they would help restore vitality, then hastily fled.

“Status window.”

As I muttered that, a faintly glowing status window appeared in the dark room without any light.

[Name: Jui-bam-tol]

[Age: 9 years old]

[Intelligence: 1/100]

[Stamina: 2/100]

[Divine Power: 1/100]

[Magic Power: 1/100]

Perhaps because I was a temporary guardian, the information I could check was pitifully little compared to Ophelia’s case, but it was sufficient to examine Leo’s health condition.

(!Warning!) Stress: 90/100

The Hero’s Star is under extreme stress.

Sufficient rest and nourishment are needed.

I quietly stared at it and then buried my face in my hands.

This is the worst. To think I didn’t know until the child reached this state.

It felt like everything was my fault.

No, it is my fault.

The cause of Leo’s stress is definitely me.

I should have been more careful with my actions.

I should have searched harder for ways to raise the synchronization rate.

I should have found other work for the child so Leo wouldn’t clash with me.

As I bit my lips and chewed on regrets.

“…yo.”

Leo, who hadn’t regained consciousness, mumbled something.

I hurriedly knelt on the floor and leaned toward the child.

“Leo! Are you awake?”

After asking that, I fumbled around my mouth with a strange sense of unease.

Didn’t I just speak normally?

I hurriedly checked the synchronization rate, but the number remained unchanged.

“Then why on earth…”

The cause was soon revealed.

“Sniff, I’m sorry, teacher.”

“…Leo?”

Leo hadn’t regained consciousness—he had been talking in his sleep.

Since the sleeping child couldn’t hear what I said, I was able to speak freely.

‘He might be startled to see me, but still…’

Just as I was about to reach out my hand to wake Leo.

Words that flowed softly from between the child’s pale lips echoed through the quiet room.

“…Mom.”

I snapped to attention as if cold water had been thrown on me.

In that moment, I realized something so obvious yet I had failed to notice.

The fact that Leo needed family, a guardian.

When playing the game, Leo didn’t need a mother figure.

From the start of the game, the child already had Ophelia as his guardian by his side.

But the Leo before my eyes now was just a nine-year-old child with no adult to trust and depend on except me.

‘How foolish. What have I been thinking all this time.’

I thought my role was to stay by the protagonist’s side for half a year to keep the main story on track, then send him to Ophelia.

No, the truth was I was scared.

I was afraid I might die like in the game if I got unnecessarily involved.

Anger surged at my own complacency.

I bit my lower lip hard and tightly grasped Leo’s small hand.

The child’s hand was small and fragile like a baby bird’s heart, but at the same time so hot and rough that it made my throat tighten.

“I’m sorry for being such a pathetic adult.”

Yes, this is no longer a game.

The child before me now wasn’t a child full of potential to become a hero, but just an ordinary nine-year-old who missed his parents’ embrace.

Just an ordinary child who called for his mom in his sleep.

How could I not understand that feeling.

Me, of all people.

I held the child’s hand tightly with both hands and whispered like a prayer.

“No matter what happens from now on, I will definitely protect you.”

Until you meet a real guardian who will raise you well.

I was certain that this was my role, having possessed Belinda’s body.

How much time passed like that.

The faint dawn light brightening the window dimly illuminated Leo’s face, which had become much more peaceful.

His sleeping face was both adorable and heartbreaking, so I kissed Leo’s round forehead and whispered.

“Sweet dreams, Leo.”

And I got up from my seat before the child woke up.

My body was heavy from not sleeping properly, but my mind was clear.

I quietly stood in front of the bell cord.

Thinking about it carefully, there was something strange.

On the first day, Leo was unfamiliar with the suddenly changed environment, but he wasn’t scared enough to avoid my gaze.

Although my way of speaking was harsh, I had been somewhat careful, yet he suddenly became afraid of me like this without any particular trigger.

‘Perhaps someone sowed discord.’

Even if that wasn’t the case, it didn’t matter.

This would be a good opportunity to let the people in the manor know how much I care for Leo.

Though it was the middle of the night, I pulled the bell cord frantically. The bell ringing madly in the distance was faint enough for even me to hear.

After a while, I heard someone shuffling down the corridor and stopping in front of the door.

“Yawn, Miss, what’s the matter— Eek!”

Inside the dark room without a single light.

The maid who entered with irritation still showing on her face gasped when she saw me sitting blankly in the darkness without a single candle lit.

“You.”

“Y-yes, yes.”

“Bring the butler.”

“B-but at this hour…”

“Do I.”

Tap.

The sound of my index fingernail sharply tapping the chair’s armrest echoed chillingly.

“Have to say the same thing twice?”

The maid’s face turned deathly pale.

My gaze right now was probably murderous enough to rival the real Belinda’s.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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