The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 6
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 6
I handed Sisrain the wand and offered him a gentle smile.
“Here, take this for now. I’m not quite ready yet.”
I retrieved an adorable pink bear-shaped basin and began filling it with water.
Splash, splash—
‘It’s not a full bath, so a basin should be manageable, right?’
Let’s start with washing his hands.
And if that goes well, we can gradually work up to bathing in the tub.
‘The ultimate goal is a proper bath!’
So this could be called a momentous first step.
I dissolved soap into the basin water to minimize the duration of this ordeal—the shorter the suffering, the better. There, it’s ready!
“Sisrain! Let’s wash our hands first—”
When I turned around with a bright smile.
…I encountered it for the first time. Eyes gripped by profound terror.
It was unmistakable.
What the boy saw in that basin was not merely water, but crude, brutal hands forcing his face beneath the surface.
Monstrous strength pressing down on the back of his head….
The sensation of soapy water flooding his nose and mouth.
The tightening of his lungs and the anguish of nearly drowning.
“…Sisrain.”
“….”
The boy trembled, his eyes clenching shut.
Watching him, my chest suddenly ached as though struck.
‘His trauma is far worse than I thought…’
“I’m sorry.”
Eyes still closed, the boy barely managed to apologize—to me, no less.
“If I act like this, Anette will be punished too….”
Even before his instinctive fear, the boy thought of me first. The beauty of that heart only deepened my sorrow.
My eyes grew wet with despair, and I quickly wiped away the tears while Sisrain wasn’t looking.
Then I gently placed the wand I’d brought into the basin and stirred the water softly.
Whoosh—
As I exhaled into the pink circle, delicate soap bubbles drifted gracefully through the air.
A bubble floated toward the boy, brushed his cheek, and popped with a soft sound.
“….”
Only then did Sisrain cautiously open his eyes, sensing something different.
“Look here, Sis.”
I smiled and placed my hand back in the basin, stirring with a whoosh before blowing gently.
Floating, drifting.
Before long, Sisrain was utterly captivated by the soap bubbles.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
Warm spring sunlight streamed through the open window, casting a gentle glow across the room.
Among the brilliant cascade of light, soap bubbles shimmered with iridescent brilliance.
The boy’s innocent eyes followed the bubbles with unhurried fascination, and soon he moistened his dry lips, whispering softly.
“Yeah. Pretty.”
He reached toward the bubbles slowly with the wand, speaking as he did.
“Like flowers made of breath.”
“….”
The beauty of his expression made my heart swell tenderly.
I dipped the wand in soap solution and held it out to Sisrain.
“You try too.”
The boy hesitated slightly, unfamiliar with the activity, then carefully blew into the circle at the end of the wand.
Pretty soap bubbles bloomed into the air like flowers, drifting lazily across the sky.
‘He’s enjoying it. Look at that expression.’
Oh my, my little one….
It seemed he’d never done this sort of thing before.
Touched by his endearing wonder and genuine delight, I gazed at Sisrain and smiled.
Just then, the door opened and small footsteps came pattering in.
“Anette~ play with me too!”
It was Shasha. A cute little thing with enormous pink eyes and cotton-candy-pink twin tails that bounced with every movement.
“Shasha, how did you know I was here?”
“Julian told me you went this way.”
Shasha, who was naturally unafraid of strangers, paid no mind to Sisrain and settled beside me in a crouch with natural ease.
“I want bubbles too!”
“Here.”
I was grateful I’d prepared several wands.
The three of us sat in a row and began blowing bubbles.
It was a peaceful and joyful time, something I hadn’t experienced in ages.
The soap bubbles, carrying the breath of three children, drifted dreamily through the air.
Before long, the soap solution in the bear-shaped basin had nearly disappeared.
I pointed gently at Sisrain’s hand and spoke softly.
“Sis, your hands are all clean now?”
“…Huh?”
The boy looked up at his hands in surprise.
Indeed, while dipping his hands into the basin to coat the wand with the remaining soap solution, his hands had been thoroughly washed clean.
Without him even realizing it.
I smiled warmly.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“…Yeah.”
Sisrain nodded his small head with wonder.
I found myself hoping that only good things would happen to this boy from now on. …I truly hoped that.
* * *
The next day.
During class, I found myself doodling in my textbook—sketching Sisrain’s soft, fluffy hands.
Ever since the soap bubble incident, Sisrain had been practicing on his own little by little, and now he could wash both his hands without any difficulty.
When I praised him for it, he washed his hands even more enthusiastically to show me.
‘Hehe, how adorable.’
But regardless of how cute Sisrain was, anger simmered beneath the surface.
‘Ugh… what was his name again? Furallara, I think. That human who inflicted trauma on Sisrain.’
Of course, it was unlikely that anyone’s actual name was Furallara.
In any case, he was a slave merchant—a despicable human who saw people only as money.
So naturally, he would have inflicted such trauma on the child.
‘It’s in the past, but it still infuriates me.’
“Bastard.”
I cursed him quietly to myself. Of course, there was no way to seek revenge now…
Regardless of my burning anger, the class proceeded peacefully.
Since this was the Summoning Theory Course, Shasha beside me was diligently casting summoning spells with a “Hiyah!” sound.
Finally, with a soft pop, a tiny chick materialized.
“Ah! I did it!”
‘How trivial.’
“Anette! Look at this!”
“Wow, that’s really impressive.”
It truly was impressive—after all, I couldn’t even summon something that trivial.
‘…How fitting for an extra’s stats.’
Chirp chirp—peep peep—
I gazed at the yellow chick with a hint of envy, but the moment the teacher approached, I pretended to be diligently practicing.
“Hyah! Hyah!”
Of course, there was nothing on my desk but air.
Still, no teacher dislikes a diligent student, hehe.
Sure enough, the teacher patted my head approvingly and moved on.
After class ended, I officially announced the beginning of my “grand operation.”
“Wait! Everyone, pay attention!”
At the dignified voice of a twelve-year-old, the little ones blinked and turned their attention to me in unison.
“Who wants to come play an incredibly fun game with me? Raise your hands!”
Small, chubby fists shot up with a whoosh.
“Me, me!”
“Me too, me too!”
Good. I had enough members.
* * *
In front of the Mansion’s Garden stood a fountain where angel statues blew trumpets while spouting water.
Little ones resembling those angelic sculptures gathered together in clusters.
I clapped my hands together sharply and announced.
“Alright, everyone ready for water play?”
The children responded enthusiastically.
“Yes!”
“The Raspberry Team gets red scarves, the Peanut Team gets peanut-colored scarves!”
‘I deliberately divided them into two teams.’
There was nothing random about splitting them this way. Every detail had been carefully calculated.
‘Hehe, since they’re on the same team, they’ll have to hold hands and work together, won’t they?’
I gazed at Sisrain and Heinrich with satisfaction.
Both boys had red scarves tied around their necks.
Heinrich looked thoroughly displeased with the situation, while Sisrain seemed somewhat bewildered—like a young predator tossed into a chicken coop.
‘Hmm, Sisrain must be unfamiliar with games like this.’
Playing with friends was new to him, let alone water games.
‘…Either this will work out perfectly, or it’ll be a complete disaster.’
If it went well, his water trauma would improve significantly.
What once terrified him would transform into something enjoyable and playful.
‘But if it goes wrong….’
His fear of water would only deepen in this unfamiliar environment.
With more time, I would have chosen a gentler approach. But with only two days left, we had to move quickly.
‘Please, just this once, help me out. You two.’
So my friend can overcome his fear of water.
And just this once, give it your all.
‘…Sisrain.’
I steeled myself internally and raised my arm decisively.
“Begin!”
“Woohoo!”
The children giggled and began splashing water at each other, playing merrily.
“….”
Sisrain stood looking around with an unfamiliar expression.
‘Oh no, was I too hasty?’
He looked like a lost child, and I watched anxiously, hoping someone would splash him gently.
That’s when Heinrich filled a bucket with water and dumped it over Sisrain with a tremendous splash.
“…!!!”
‘Ugh! Heinrich!’
That reckless little troublemaker was on the same team!
“Hehehehe, idiot. Serves you right!”
“…Heinrich!”
What if Sisrain gets frightened?
I rushed to stop Heinrich, who was laughing while clutching his stomach.
Sisrain stood motionless, completely drenched, silent and still.
‘He was startled. Is he very frightened?’
Sisrain certainly appeared shocked, flustered, and terrified. However, it lasted only a moment.
In an instant, he fixed a glare of fury upon Heinrich.
‘Oh, the little beast is angry!’
Sisrain immediately filled the largest bucket with water and promptly took his revenge on Heinrich.
Splooooosh!
“Ack!”
Heinrich tumbled backward onto the grass, blinking his eyes.
His expression was as vacant as a cat that had accidentally fallen into water. Then, slowly, a look of intense fury kindled in Heinrich’s eyes as well.
From that moment, war erupted between the two boys.
Splash, splash!
Splash! Splash!
The younger children ceased their play at the sheer ferocity of the water battle, standing with gaping mouths in awe.
Moments later.
Heinrich, exhausted first, collapsed onto the grass and gasped for breath.
“Huff, huff, that infuriating wretch….”
“….”
Sisrain too was utterly spent, breathing heavily. Both boys looked like drowned rats.
Watching them, I burst out laughing. “Pfft.”
Julian, with his large azure eyes beside me, laughed along.
“Ahahaha!”
That sparked the other children to burst into delighted laughter. Their joyful voices shattered brightly from the Fountain, which now bore a rainbow.
‘The plan succeeded after all.’
I’d heard that one method to overcome trauma is to confront the source of fear directly.
This success was achieved through a similar approach. Of course, Heinrich’s help was invaluable—though he certainly didn’t intend it.
Heh heh, these clever little ones.
‘At this rate, I’ll be able to keep my promise with Mimosa tomorrow!’
I felt utterly satisfied with that certainty.
That is, until an uninvited guest appeared ten minutes later.
Life truly was full of reversals.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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