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Episode 29: Level Zero
Jay asked quietly from the other side.
[Send the child for adoption. Who wants that?]
“Isn’t Annette’s awakening more important than Jay’s possessiveness?”
Dalcrack– For a moment, the sound of a glass of ice being shaken came from beyond the communication port.
Then there was the sound of liquid being swallowed deeply, followed by a firm voice.
[That ‘thing’ is mine, Madam Mimosa.]
“……”
Suddenly, Madam Mimosa’s shoulders moved. It was because Jay’s voice was so cold that it felt like it was piercing through her bones.
[I am always the one who decides the arrangements regarding Annette’s. You are mistaken if you think you have ownership of the child after I left her to you for a while.]
“…… ”
[Livestock that cannot understand the subject is bound to be on the dinner table in the evening.]
“……!”
Livestock unable to grasp the subject.
She felt a gentle sense of humiliation and fear at the naked expression referring to herself.
Jay had always used a respectful tone and treated Madam Mimosa equally, but whenever an unpleasant situation came up, he would threaten and crush her in an instant.
As if trying to make her vividly remember the disparity between their positions.
“……”
Originally, Jay was like this.
Although he was usually smiling and kind on the outside, at some point, he would strangle his opponent; and while it seemed like he was treating a child like a human being, he was actually treating him as a dog or tool.
A dangerous person… If he thought he didn’t need this forest, he would set fire to it and leave.
Would the screams of children reach his ears?
Madam Mimosa quietly closed her eyes and then reopened it. There was only one attitude she could take at this time.
“Jay, you’ve certainly delegated me full authority over the child.”
[……]
It was to reveal the dignity of the Forest manager.
“So please respect my opinion as the Forest manager. All of this is for a Tree with the best talent and potential.”
In her unwavering tone, a low breath could be heard over the communication zone, [Hmm…]
The long sound of exhalation followed at the same time as the sound of an igniting match.
It looked like he was smoking a cigarette.
The opponent, who seemed to be in conflict for a moment, started speaking, albeit a tempo slower.
[No one wants that child.]
“There is.”
[…There is?]
“He has already donated 2 billion gold to the Forest for Annette.”
[How hilarious. Is there any idiot who pays that kind of money for garbage that hasn’t even awakened? It seems like he noticed her talent and is trying to use it.]
“No.”
Slowly, Madam Mimosa’s voice continued.
“The man said he wouldn’t adopt if Annette doesn’t want it. He just donated it to the child’s future. If he had known her talent, he would have adopted her somehow right away.”
[If it’s not because of talent, then why the hell…?]
“I do not know…”
Madam Mimosa whispered softly, “That’s what I’m curious about too.”
The anonymous sponsor seemed uninterested in owning Annette.
Sometimes, the Trees meet such a strong supporter.
Of course, there were very few donors who donated 2 billion gold at once. For a child they had never even met once.
After the brief but intense call, the communication channel was cut off.
“A livestock that doesn’t understand the subject…”
Madam Mimosa picked up the green box on the table.
Maybe she was. But–
“No livestock owns its own kingdom, Jay.”
This was the small kingdom of Madam Mimosa.
A paradise with Trees.
And Annette was her favorite Tree in that paradise. At the very least, it was entirely up to her on how to cultivate the Tree.
Madam Mimosa sat on the moonlit sofa, holding the green box.
She had prepared a gift for Annette when she awakened.
“……”
The brooch she took out of the box shone beautifully.
The brooch had these words engraved on it.
《Level Zero》
Exceeding level 1 special.
That is, it was a level that was not present in the history of the Forest, and was created exclusively for Annette.
There had never been a zero-level child on the market.
“It will be fun.”
Although she had not yet awakened, she was a child of infinite value. What would Annette’s future look like?
“…You always make me look forward to it, Annette.”
***
The next day.
At the sudden call from Madam Mimosa, Sislin, Heinrich and I went to the office early.
“Did you call us, Madam?”
“Yes. It’s good that everyone came.”
Madam Mimosa, as usual, called us with a strict and cold face that seemed unlikely to crack even if pierced by a needle.
“Annette, Heinrich, Sislin.”
Then she made a tremendous bomb-like remark.
“Your ‘socialization training’ is scheduled to start today.”
“……!”
For a moment, Heinrich spat out a short swear word as if it was bothersome. Sislin was as quiet as usual, while I was startled.
Ah. Me too?
Originally, socialization training was given to children who were looking for ‘active adoption’. So usually, there might be a lot of requests from nobles.
It was only then that one could receive an invitation to an aristocratic gathering.
The children who were invited were more likely to be Ability Awakeners, so socialization training for the unawakened was extremely rare.
Oh my God, special level 1 (Heinrich) and special level 1 (Sislin). And a level 5 for socialization training!
‘Dragon, phoenix… combined with a crow-tit.’
‘I just don’t like it!’
‘If I go to socialization training together with them like this, I’m going to be left in a cold oatmeal state.’
When I imagined myself standing next to the handsome first-class level 1’s that were like a dragon and a phoenix, I shrieked inwardly and swallowed my tears.
‘Heuk-heuk, it must feel like the least popular idol member on the team. No, I’m just the manager.’
“Excuse me, Madam.”
As I started carefully, she replied, staring at me with her raptor-gold eyes.
“Tell me, Annette.”
“…Really, really, is it right for me to go with them?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“That’s because usually only awakened children can go for adoption.”
An awkward smile crept across my lips.
I wasn’t very sure, but it was said that the children who did not awaken would go to places like a monastery later.
Instead of going to a monastery, I planned to become a great baker.
“I never thought I would have a family.”
I couldn’t keep my fingers still. I couldn’t stop even though I could see the front of my skirt crumpling badly.
My head bowed slightly, and my voice gradually decreased.
“There is no way anyone will want me.”
Even though I was telling the truth, my heart ached.
‘I can’t have a family.’
I was well aware that this was a dream I couldn’t dream of while living at level 5.
“Annette.”
Madam Mimosa called me softly.
“Not long ago, I gave new profiles of the Trees to the noble families. Among them, who received the most ‘Golden Roses’?”
After giving the profiles of the Trees of the Forest, it was a tradition for nobles to send a ‘golden rose’ to a child they actually wanted to meet.
It was a kind of ‘parent proposal’.
It meant, ‘I want you to be our child.’
‘I’m so envious…’
Of course it’s Sislin, right? Because he was a new face, and special level 1 Awakened. Besides, Sislin was proper and handsome, and in my eyes, he was too pretty.
“It’s you. Annette.”
“…Huh?”
Upon hearing these unexpected words, I raised my head and blinked my eyes.
‘I beg your pardon? Me?!’
Surprised, my answer sounded a little silly.
…Perhaps I heard it wrong?
“To begin with, smart and docile girls are popular. Besides, aren’t you the best student in the Forest? And is that all? Look in the mirror.”
Madam Mimosa said while pointing her index finger at me.
“You are remarkably cute. When you grow up, you will definitely become a beautiful girl.”
“……!!!”
It was the first time I heard such outright compliments from Madam Mimosa, thus, my face went red.
“So, will there be a noble family who doesn’t want you?”
‘…I’m definitely not that bad.’
‘But Madam Mimosa? Why are you like that, like Heinrich!’
I waved my hands with a face as red as a ripe tomato.
“No, Madam.”
“Sister, what do you mean ‘no’? If there is a mirror, even Sister has to know. Of course, Sister is the most lovable and pretty.”
“I think so too. You’re the only one who’s so kind and sweet, Annette.”
Sislin, who was looking at me and speaking seriously, added.
“It’s only natural to give Annette the most golden roses.”
Beneath his black hair, his red eyes gleamed silently, then the boy muttered quietly to himself.
“…If they don’t do that and let you down, they deserve to be killed, the nobles and the like.”
“……!”
It was when I was trying to think that I had mistakenly heard those cruel murmurings as much as possible.
Madam Mimosa said with her sharp eyes raised.
“Among the nobles who gave you the golden rose, there are some who said they really wanted to meet you.”
“…Do I have a sponsor?”
“Yes.”
The more I heard it, the more surprising it was.
I never dared to dream. My heart was pounding. Maybe he really wanted me to be his daughter.
“Can you tell me his name?”
“It is difficult. He requested anonymity.”
“Ah…”
“But I’m sure he will come to see you when you participate in socialization training. Take a good look. He will be one of the people who says hello to you.”
“Yes, Madam!”
Somehow, I thought I could recognize my sponsor if I met him.
Would there be some sort of feeling?
“The official attendance starts tomorrow, but the training starts today. So, from today onwards, keep your body and mind clean.”
The children and I said goodbye to Madam Mimosa and left the room. Still, the pounding in my heart was growing bigger and bigger.
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
‘Let my ideal parents fall from the sky.’
‘A strong mother and, ummm, a father, his face is important.’
‘…I hope he will be a gentle and handsome man. I hope he smells nice.’
I prayed all night to the moon for my ideal parents.
***
Finally, the day of socialization training.
“First, when a noble asks a question, answer it kindly and with a smile.”
In the carriage heading to a banquet hall, Julius explained to us the rules of ‘socialization training’.
His dark blue eyes shone covertly.
“As you can see, adults love the ‘innocence’ of children.”
“…So?”
In response to my question, Julius said scary things with a calm face.
“So, calculate your answers to a standard two years younger than you are now. Like a nine-year-old and ten-year-old Tree in the Forest.”
“……!”
‘No, you’re an adult telling children to cheat by acting!’
‘How can you tell children such a thing, what a hack!’
Julius shifted his glasses up with his index finger and spoke calmly.
“But you should never look stupid.”
‘It’s so hard to have to look smart and innocent! Heuk-heuk.’
Strict rules, which I had never heard of before, didn’t even end here.
Julius opened his mouth again.