Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 4

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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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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 4

 

 

2. Rockies

 

 

Bright brown eyes resembling topaz.

This was a black hole that sucked in people’s gazes.

“You know Asian purchasing power is good, right?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. How many Asians could there possibly be in America!”

Only about 5 percent.

“This is driving me crazy. Do you know how many millions that 5 percent is?!”

5 percent of America’s total population of about 300-something million.

Roughly 15 million, and even if we estimate only 20 percent of them are children, that’s about 3 million.

“Even if only 10 percent of those 3 million make purchases, that generates sales of 300,000 units! Does Larry think this number is laughable?! Why is someone who’s supposed to be a boss so irresponsible!”

“If we debut this kid as a model, we won’t be able to register him as an adopted son!”

Johann nodded at Larry’s outcry.

He wasn’t agreeing. He was just remembering something he had briefly forgotten.

Johann recalled the portrait photos hanging throughout the house.

No, the portrait photos that were densely hung from the first floor entrance all the way to the second floor.

These were people who had passed through Larry’s company and those currently under contract.

‘Right. Larry was the president of a management company.’

A management company that contracts with models, actors, singers, etc., brings them work, manages their schedules, and takes a certain percentage as commission.

Larry was the president of a management company based in LA.

“And don’t say that kind of stuff in front of him! He understands everything!”

“…No way.”

They said he was a child who had lived with wolves until recently. It would be normal for him not to even know A, B, C, D.

“Larry. Am I a product? Models are products, right?”

“…See!”

“Oh, God.”

Larry’s colleague, whose face had contorted, hurriedly knelt down and grabbed Johann’s hands.

“I’m sorry, kid. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“That’s enough. Say any more and I’ll fire you.”

“A, Ada…”

The colleague turned pale at the appearance of Ada, who wore a stern expression.

Ada Wong, the management company’s second-largest shareholder, advisory lawyer, and strict witch.

“I wondered why I wanted to come here so quickly… Get lost, Johnny.”

“Whew… I really didn’t mean it that way. See you next time, little guy.”

“Next time, please call me Johann.”

“…Thank you.”

The colleague who had gotten up glared at Larry.

“You know the whole country is in chaos right now, right? Hurry back. There’s a lot of work waiting for your approval!”

“I got it.”

After the colleague who had been hesitating while looking at Johann left, Ada kicked Larry’s shin.

“Ow?!”

“You should at least say that kind of thing where Johann can’t hear!”

“S, sorry…”

Even with ten mouths, he had nothing to say.

“But you did well. I guess you’re really determined to be a guardian.”

“Huh?”

“Get lost.”

Ada, who had kicked Larry’s waist, closed the room door.

“Now, Johann. Will you look at this?”

Ada held out a document.

“It’s your birth certificate. It’s temporary for now.”

A birth certificate that was relatively easy to obtain thanks to the photo Larry took and the interview the protection agency conducted with Johann.

The real certificate would be issued in a few days.

“For now, your age is registered as 11. You shouldn’t have any problems keeping up with classes at this level, right?”

According to Larry, he was exceptionally bright, so even if it was difficult at first, he should be able to catch up soon.

“Classes?”

“Where you’ll have to go in a month… Oh, this is something Larry should discuss together too.”

When she opened the room door, Larry, who had been restless in front of the door, quickly came in.

Ada repeated the explanation she had just given Johann.

“Hmm. School…”

Honestly, he didn’t want to bring up school right now.

Johann had no experience mingling with any other people.

He thought it was too hasty for Johann, who still found this society very unfamiliar and difficult, to start attending school already.

But if you’re an American citizen, you must go to school. More precisely, if Johann wasn’t sent to school, it could be considered child abuse and cause problems with the adoption.

‘If he has to go anyway…’

“Is that really necessary? I think it would be better to enroll him directly in middle school?”

“What are you talking about? He can’t even speak English properly yet.”

“I don’t think so?”

“Huh?”

“Larry, school is an educational institution where you learn academics like history and language arts, right?”

“…Good Lord.”

Ada looked at Johann and Larry with eyes that wanted an explanation.

 

“A genius?”

He wasn’t just smart. He was speaking like an adult.

A genius. A much more amazing genius than Larry had described.

‘Is this possible?’

Johann’s father, presumed to have died about 4 years ago.

That meant Johann had been living alone since he was about 8 at most.

Yet they said he seemed to have learned more than 10 languages.

That wasn’t all.

After just a few months of not hearing or speaking, a person’s mind would collapse. Especially for a young child like Johann.

Yet he was speaking the language properly.

It meant he possessed mental strength beyond imagination.

‘Maybe… Larry brought an unimaginably brilliant genius out into the world?’

Ada’s body trembled.

“Ada?”

“Larry, I think it might be good to transfer him to 6th grade as you said.”

Most elementary school curricula in LA go up to 5th grade.

From 6th grade, it’s middle school.

“Right?”

“But no.”

“Why?”

Ada dragged Larry out of the room and lowered her voice.

“Why? He’s too small.”

Johann is Asian.

He has larger eyes than typical Asians, different eye and hair colors, and well-developed muscles, but still falls within the Asian category.

Asians who are discriminated against even by Black people who face discrimination in America.

“Even I, who am a quarter Asian and barely show Asian features, faced discrimination because of my surname Wong, so for Johann with Asian features and small stature, it goes without saying.”

Beyond bullying, he could face violence and harassment from the so-called popular kids. If he skips grades inappropriately for his age, the possibility becomes even higher.

“How many geniuses have collapsed under the envy and bullying of their peers after recklessly skipping grades?”

How many geniuses have disappeared like that in America.

“Pfft!”

“Laugh… huh?”

“Ada, it was Johann who saved me when I was about to be eaten by the puma.”

Even while falling from a high place, he accurately drove his spear into the puma’s nape.

Johann, who is accustomed to killing living creatures.

“We shouldn’t worry about Johann getting hurt, but whether he’ll cause an incident.”

Even when Larry attended school, there were kids like that. Children who bullied weaker kids because of their natural build and aggression.

But Johann is qualitatively different from them.

At most, they would swing fists or feet, but Johann could take lives.

“He’s a predator. We must not forget that.”

If the school contacts us, it would be about Johann nearly killing someone.

“W-wait. You were almost eaten by a puma?! When?!”

“Ah…?”

Larry rolls his eyes around.

“A-anyway! It means there’s no problem enrolling him in Middle School!”

Lacking knowledge can be taught.

Larry himself and Ada, who received proper higher education at private schools, could certainly become good teachers, and then he would safely pass the Middle School entrance exam.

“You and me together?”

“Don’t tell me you won’t help? Oh, Ada. Please…”

“Ahem. If you ask me like that…”

This afternoon’s activities were decided.

“Johann? Wake up.”

“Huh?”

“We have to go shopping now!”

There were so many things to buy: textbooks, toys, clothes, and more.

Johann felt an inexplicable chill as he looked at her sparkling eyes.

 

* * *

 

Murmur murmur.

Inside the department store bustling with people.

Two lifeless vegetables walk slowly.

“Johann, in life, people have mottos as life guidelines. Through what you see and feel, you establish your life philosophy…”

“You’re telling me to record ‘Never go shopping with women,’ right?”

“Exactly.”

Johann nods deeply.

It’s certainly a new experience, but somehow it’s draining.

After just two hours of moving around, he wants to sit and lie down.

Shopping is an activity that even Johann, who is confident in his stamina as a wolf that moves non-stop from evening awakening until sleep, finds exhausting.

‘Why do they agonize over clothes that look exactly the same?’

The formula ‘Ada = incomprehensible creature’ was forming in Johann’s mind.

“You two men over there, shut up.”

Though it was an unreasonable statement, Johann wisely erased his curiosity from his mind.

“Hmm. Is this enough clothes?”

“Really?! Johann!”

“Then next…”

“N-next?”

Johann and Larry, who high-fived, turn pale.

“Aren’t we going to buy toys for Johann to play with?”

“Toys?”

“Ah, toys are…”

“You mean the wooden boards with wheels and the fur bundles shaped like animals that were at Larry’s house?”

“Skateboard and dolls. For reference, the doll was a gift.”

“Hmm… okay!”

Honestly, he’s not interested. His mental age is too high to be interested in such things.

But this is also a new experience. It will help increase his capacity limit.

When Johann gave permission, Larry and Ada’s faces brightened as they looked at each other. They’re excited to see Johann acting his age for once.

“First let’s buy Lego and transforming robots… oh, let’s get a Nerf Gun too!”

“…Is it my imagination that you seem to be buying what you want?”

“Should we also buy a computer and laptop?”

“That’s good.”

Growl!

The two who were selecting their shopping list burst into laughter seeing Johann’s reddened face.

“Should we eat first?”

“Let’s do that. Johann, how about a hamburger?”

“Ham… burger?”

The hamburger from Larry’s and ‘The One Who Became a Star’s’ memories.

“Is it tastier than chicken soup?”

The chicken soup he ate after meeting the rescue team. How shocking were the rich umami taste of chicken coating his tongue and the sharp taste of ginger.

Plus the seasoned foods he ate at the hospital.

The taste was such a shock that he regretted not absorbing a chef’s life while in the forest. Of course, even if he had obtained a chef’s talent, he would have only been frustrated without access to seasonings.

“Hahaha! There’s no comparison! Let’s go! There’s an amazing hamburger place in the basement of this department store!”

The moment the three of them stepped vigorously into the department store food court.

“I’m telling you it wasn’t me!”

A cry that froze the food court.

Johann, Larry, and Ada look at a group causing a commotion.

A Black girl in her late teens wearing a jumper and bouncing around, and people in suits with troubled expressions.

And a white middle-aged man holding the hand of a girl about 10 years old glares angrily at the Black girl.

“You’re the only one who could have taken it!”

“What? Ha! So you’re saying I’m the criminal because I’m Black?”

Black people are criminals.

The eyes of the surrounding Black people change, and the eyes of other races change too.

The people in suits trying to mediate between them show even more difficulty. This is not good.

“N-now. So you just need to show what’s in your pockets. We’re asking you to prove your innocence.”

“Don’t touch my body! What you’re saying now is that once a criminal, always a criminal! Yeah, you white people have always been like this!”

Click!

The girl pulls out a box cutter from her pocket and brings it to her own neck.

“Kyaah!”

“My God!”

“W-wait!”

“I should just die here, right? That would solve it, right?!”

The Black girl’s suicide commotion makes people’s gazes even worse, and the white middle-aged man hugs what appears to be his daughter to block her view.

The girl trembles and sniffles, seemingly frightened by the surrounding hostile gazes and the series of disturbances.

The men in suits carefully speak up.

“Excuse me, sir. Since she’s insisting on her innocence this much…”

Maybe it would be better to just let it slide.

“This is ridiculous…”

That Black Girl definitely took the wallet. Given the timing, there’s no one else who could have taken the wallet besides that girl.

A wallet he never separates from his body because it contains precious family photos.

Since entering this department store, that Black Girl was the only person who bumped into him.

“Ah, Father…”

“Groan.”

An outing with his daughter after such a long time.

Should he give up on the wallet like this?

Should he turn away feeling wronged like this?

But if he doesn’t give up, it seems like he’ll only give his daughter terrible memories.

The White Middle-aged Man who was gritting his teeth had no choice but to nod his head in the end.

That’s when it happened.

“I saw it earlier… this girl taking a man’s wallet.”

“What?!”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Johann, who had approached at some point.

 

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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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