The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 35
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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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A delinquent, a genius, and a tycoon’s daughter—they’re baby master detectives!
Chapter 35
“Anyone can do that much. Stop saying strange things and just make the tart, would you?”
Siu took a few steps back from Haru, tart in hand, and resumed his work. Haru didn’t give up, pressing close to him again and speaking in low tones.
“It’s fine. We’re on the same side, so there’s no need to hide. You must be frustrated too, right? Come on, let’s combine our powers! I’ll help you!”
Haru thrust out her hand clad in disposable gloves with a sharp gesture.
“Siu, join the Strength-Hiding Children’s Group.”
“No.”
Haru pushed her outstretched hand closer to him, trying to seal the handshake. Siu leaned back and spoke quickly.
“I said no. Don’t try to drag me into whatever strange thing this is.”
Hmm.
Haru took a step back, running the gloved hand across her chin as she considered. His refusal was more resolute than she’d expected.
‘Did I make Siu uncomfortable?’
Just as her mother had warned her to be careful about letting her ability show, perhaps Siu’s power also had to remain hidden.
‘But being alone is hard. I just want to help him.’
“I’m really good at keeping secrets too. My mouth is sealed tight.”
Haru placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest proudly, but Siu said nothing in response.
“Well, if you don’t want to, I can’t force you.”
Haru turned away and began arranging cherries on her tart
“I thought we were friends. I even gave you a sticker.”
“You didn’t give it to me—you threw it away.”
“But it’s like a gift garbage.”
Silence hung between them for a moment.
“Everyone who’s finished, bring your tarts to me! I’ll bake them in the oven for you.”
Haru placed the last cherry on top and stood up, tart in hand.
“Aren’t you going to bring yours? It looks like you’re done.”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Okay, I get it. But about that time at the Zoo…”
Haru, who had been fidgeting with her toes, seemed to steel herself and opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“Because of me, you got separated from your friends and didn’t get to see many animals.”
“Now you know.”
“And thank you.”
Haru laughed brightly.
“If you hadn’t been there, I might’ve gotten lost. I had fun playing with you. That’s why I want to keep playing together from now on.”
……
“But since you said no, I guess I have no choice.”
Haru shrugged and turned to leave.
“And you.”
Haru stopped in her light stride and turned back. Their eyes met immediately.
“Have you ever actually told me anything true?”
“Huh?”
“The seal on your hand, the allergy—it’s all lies. So how am I supposed to trust you and be your friend?”
Haru’s body flinched.
“H-how did you know?”
“It shows.”
“That can’t be… Is that your power? Detecting lies?”
Siu’s expression immediately turned bland.
“So that’s what you really want to know? What power I have?”
“Psh. I’m not interested at all. Besides, if I really wanted to, I could figure out anything like that!”
The words came out confidently enough, but Haru’s eyes darted away. When their bare hands had touched on the field trip day, she’d seen nothing. It seemed her power didn’t work on children.
‘S-still, I’m a master detective, so I’ll figure it out! Easy as pie!’
“But I’ll keep your secret. In return, don’t ask about mine.”
Haru thrust out her gloved hand again.
“We’re both liars anyway, so we’re even. Can we be friends now?”
Her large eyes gazed at Siu with genuine sincerity.
‘Liars not prying into each other’s secrets?’
It was a strange proposal. But Haru was thinking something altogether different beneath the surface.
‘Hehe. A master detective can see everything just by being nearby, even without asking!’
It wasn’t that she wouldn’t ask directly—she just wouldn’t investigate openly. Getting close to Siu would make the investigation so much easier!
Haru waited with a racing heart for Siu to take the bait.
“Even when you’re in elementary school, middle school, high school—you could still not be curious?”
“Of course! I’m confident I won’t be curious my whole life!”
Haru laughed with a perfectly straight face, a cheerful “ha-ha” escaping her lips.
Siu lowered his gaze, studying Haru’s white gloves intently.
Strange kid.
‘How much longer can you laugh like that?’
Siu spoke on impulse.
“Okay.”
“Yes! Haru made a friend!”
Haru sprang up with a grin spread wide across her face. Then, in the next instant, she closed the distance between them and whispered.
“Then you’re joining the Strength-Hiding Children’s Group too, right?”
‘Had I been too rash?’
Siu felt a twinge of regret.
“…What kind of group is that?”
Haru launched into her explanation as if she’d been waiting for exactly this question.
“It’s a group where children who hide their strength join forces to defeat villains.”
“…Villains?”
Haru nodded vigorously.
“Who all is in it?”
“Haru is the president, and Siu is vice president.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah. And Kim Ho-jun will join too.”
“…Three people total?”
“Great organizations start from nothing!”
“What kind of powers do you and Kim Ho-jun have?”
“That’s… that’s supposed to be a secret, remember?”
Haru spoke while glancing nervously at Siu.
“Kim Ho-jun has the power to eat a lot of rice.”
“That’s not a power—that’s just eating a lot.”
“Haru is a Master Detective.”
…
The two children stared blankly at each other.
“…I’m not doing this.”
“No way! You said it was good! No takebacks!”
Haru grabbed the tart and bounded away toward the teacher.
The three children gathered at the playground, cradling a box of Cherry Tart that wafted a sweet aroma.
“Now I shall introduce the members of the Strength-Hiding Children’s Group.”
Haru glanced between Siu, whose expression was deadpan, and Ho-jun, whose eyes sparkled with excitement.
Haru drew a deep breath, pressed her hands together, and thrust them forward like a palm strike.
“Haru has Love Power!”
“You said you were a Master Detective—where did Love Power suddenly come from?”
Siu narrowed his eyes.
“Isn’t that the scary power that could collapse a kindergarten?”
Ho-jun interjected seriously.
“That’s been sealed.”
Haru raised her gloved hand dramatically.
“Right now I’m in Master Detective mode, so Love Power will do. I’m a Master Detective of Love. I’ll solve cases with the power of love and defeat villains.”
Ho-jun nodded emphatically.
…
Siu pressed his lips together, his expression one of utter defeat.
“Then I have Rice Power!”
Haru nodded in approval.
“Kim Ho-jun eats a lot of rice and won first place in the Sprout Class arm-wrestling tournament. He’s really strong. Rice Power is perfect for him.”
The three children had recently learned from an English fairy tale their Sprout Class teacher read to them that “rice” meant rice.
Both children’s eyes turned toward the remaining member.
“I’m…”
Haru placed her hand on hesitant Siu’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Haru will make one for you. Siu is…”
Haru studied Siu carefully, looking him up and down.
“Siu’s always complaining about everything, so—Complaint Power!”
“I’m not.”
Haru’s face lit up with satisfaction at his grimace.
“See? He just complained again. I really am a Master Detective.”
“No, I genuinely dislike it.”
“Hmm, then—since Siu stays calm and peaceful no matter what, Peace Power!”
“I’m not thrilled about that either.”
“Then Complaint Power it is!”
“Fine. Peace. Just make it Peace.”
Siu spoke with a sullen air. Kim Ho-jun chimed in enthusiastically.
“Yes! Peace Power!”
“Perfect! Now let’s all shout it together.”
Haru raised her fist into the air.
“Love!”
Ho-jun immediately crossed his arm over hers.
“Rice!”
Both children’s eyes turned toward Siu.
After hesitating for a long moment, Siu reluctantly raised his arm and tapped sharply at the point where the other two children’s arms crossed.
“…Peace.”
Haru and Ho-jun’s faces brightened. Haru cleared her throat with an important-sounding hum.
“Members. We are gathered here with a grave mission at hand. I now present the first mission of the Strength-Hiding Children’s Group.”
Haru dropped her voice lower.
“In this world, there exist wicked villains who seek to capture children hiding their powers!”
“Gasp! That’s so scary!”
Ho-jun crossed his arms tightly and trembled.
“We shall vanquish that villain with Love, Rice, and Peace!”
Haru raised her small fist toward the sky.
“How are you supposed to stop anything with that?”
Siu cut in flatly.
“You don’t even know who the villain is.”
“That’s exactly why we investigate. Because I’m a Master Detective.”
Haru laughed, a confident sound.
“A detective’s job is turning what you don’t know into what you do.”
“That doesn’t tell you how to catch the villain.”
Siu looked at her with pity in his eyes.
“Love, Rice, Peace—none of it’s scary at all.”
Haru held up her index finger and waved it in front of Siu’s face.
“That’s the trap. It’s not scary.”
Haru lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“The villain watches out for scary things. But Love, Rice, and Peace aren’t scary at all, so when he lets his guard down—smack!”
……
Hehe—
Watching Siu rendered speechless, Haru’s lips twitched with barely suppressed laughter.
‘Haru’s so brilliant, I’ve got nothing to say.’
Ho-jun interjected with a delighted gasp.
“Haru, you’re actually a genius. So we just smack them, right?”
“Yeah, smack!”
“Smack!”
The two children bumped their fists together, facing each other.
Siu’s expression grew complicated.
‘…I want to go home.’
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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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