Father, I Won’t Do Anything - Chapter 16

‘What could it be?’

Michael isn’t a man whose wears his heart on the sleeve. Just take for instance the way he casually uses harsh words and his facial expressions.

Yeah, and just by looking at that weird facial expression, it’s…..

‘It’s definitely different than usual.’

His voice is slightly stiff and was trembling, and his facial muscle isn’t stiff but instead keeps on shifting.

Pretending to be sarcastic on purpose seemed to be an attempt on hiding something…

‘Am I overreacting?

“You must be wishing to see me struggle.”(Jayna)

“What?” (Michael)

Thinking about this and that, while sneaking glances at Hilvenzia who was next to him, the old lady who was good at managing her facial expression seemed different from her usual self too.

However, rather than sporting an unnatural look like Michael, her actions are more intuitive. And so far, Jayna’s intuition has never been wrong.

Jayna listened quietly to the conversation between the two, and soon opened her mouth.

“Do you happen to know about the wizard Moben?”

“……..”

“……..”

That was the answer.

At the mention of Moben’s name, Michael and Hilbenzia’s movement ceased.

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the question asked and a faint silence enveloped the room.

Jayna continued in a slightly exaggerated voice.

“I have some sort of relationship with the wizard, Moben, so I thought I’d have to see him.”

“No, I don’t think you need to see him again.”

Following Michael’s words, Hilvenzia added.

“Yes, you don’t have to worry about that wizard.”

Jayna stared at them.

“I’m not a member of the tower, so it would be difficult to punish him. Did you get permission from the Towerlord?”

After saying that, Jayna gazed at Michael. It was because, Michael, himself told her that,

-You’re not a full fledge member of the tower. For now, even if you were to suddenly disappear one day, I can’t officially find you.

Michael gently nods, recalling the warnings he said to Jayna.

Jayna narrowed her eyes.

But the words spilling his mouth were different from what Jayna had expected.

“Of course. I personally got permission from the Towerlord to handle it.”

“How?”

“It’s a long story. But believe me I did got permission so stop doubting my words.”

“It’s okay. We have plenty of time.”

“You’re too stupid to understand.”

“Is it really because I’m too stupid to understand?”

Jayna’s eyes shone bright blue.

“If Michael-nim can’t tell me, then I’ll directly ask the Towerlord.”

“Hey, you’ll only get hurt if you bother the Towerlord with personal matters!”

Hilvenzia stepped in.

“Yes, Jayna. You’re still aren’t recognized by the Towerlord as his daughter. It will be dangerous if you suddenly appear before the Towerlord.

“He didn’t recognize me as a daughter, but he still considered me as a member of the tower and granted Moben’s punishment, right? Then, what could be dangerous?”

Only then Michael and Hilbenzia understood Jayna’s words.

“From now on, I don’t have to avoid the Lord of the Tower anymore.” (Jayna)

But that wasn’t true.

Jayna’s misunderstanding can endanger her.

Michael, who sighed, clenched his teeth and said,

“Yes, we punished Moben without permission. Tell me if you have any complaints!”

Michael sounded embarrassed. Then, Jayna smiled softly, not surprised.

At that slight smile, Michael and Hilvenzia somehow couldn’t take their eyes off Jayna’s face.

“Michael-nim, Hilvenzia-nim thank you very much. But please don’t do that next time.”

A comfortable and calm expression appeared in Jayna’s face.

Did she really expect it?

Did she already know what we’ve done and what we’re going to say?

Michael turned his head because of the bubbling emotion swelling inside of him.

‘For a child who has nowhere to go she is too cheeky….’

But I’m repulsed by the way she says “I’m okay” and “don’t care.”

Being a little selfish is fine.

Michael will bet all his fortune, that the word she use the most would probably be “It’s okay”

‘Why does Jayna seem to have already given up on everything in the world?’

And Michael wasn’t the only one shaken by Jayna’s words. Hilvenzia also sports an unusual complex face.

Jayna now seemed to be comforting the people around her, as if she were about to die.

Hilvenzia had seen so many people while living for more than seventy years, but she had never met any child who feels so ascertain like her.

“I’m really fine. Don’t mind me.”

And then, when she seemed to push them away, they had  a premonition.

That their entanglement with Jayna won’t end shortly.

***

To Jayna, who has recovered to some extent, Michael’s first words were this

“When you’re all better, we’ll go outside.”

It was a remark spoken out of nowhere.

Jayna was fascinated with Michael, who spouted those words suddenly as if it was just a passing idea, but Michael seems to be sincere.

“You agreed last time, didn’t you?”

“Yes? We’re really going out?”

“Does it look like I’m lying?”

Suddenly, Jayna, who came out of a space movement magic, looked at Michael with an absurd face.

Then, Michael grumbled out his words.

“In order, for a person, to become strong. You need to go outside breathe some fresh air and do some light exercises. Okay?”

“Why should I be strong?”

“You, idiot. Then, do you want to be weak?”

Jayna giggled. Michael’s ears were as red as a tomato, realizing he said something he shouldn’t.

‘Do you want to comfort this little kid by doing something like this?’

Of course, contrary to Jayna’s guess, Michael realized he cared too much about Jayna.

‘Since something bad has happened, I want to take her out and let her have some fun.’

But he wasn’t confident.

It was because he had never been outside with anyone and he also knew he was far from ‘fun’.

‘Did other people also cared like this in their lives?’

-Hey. Come here.

-Yes, yes?

-What do you usually do to have fun?

He had been asking several passing tower wizards about it. But they all have ordinary ideas.

‘Should I have asked hundreds of wizards and told them to be honest?’

He regrets that he didn’t use another method to probe.

Michael shook his head and clenched his fist.

If Jayna won’t show interest, the wizards of the tower will have to dearly pay.

Whoo-woo-woong!

Soon Michael and Jayna were able to reach their destination using the gate and the same movement magic.

“Here….”

When she opened her tightly closed eyes, they are already in a noisy market.

Jayna eagerly looked around. Seeing this scenery for the first, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

“Here’s the food that melts right in your mouth!”

“Close business today! Last chance!”

“This is part of your practice. You have to learn the world. Hmmm, you’ve never seen a market in the human world, right?” (Michael)

Of course, it wasn’t the first time she came to the market because she hass Min Bo-bae’s memory.

However, for her, the market was just a place to stop by to buy side dishes, and this was the first time she had time to look around leisurely.

In addition, this world market was full of unique landscapes that were different from those in Korea.

When Jayna was still absent-minded, a voice came in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

Waking up from her reverie, Michael was looking at her and was already a few steps ahead of her.

It felt different seeing him under the clear deep blue sky, since Jayna normally saw him under the mana lamp of the tower.

Long eyelashes, slightly exposed forehead, and a face being exposed under a brighter light than usual.

Jayna shook her head and ran toward Michael.

“Go!”

Tadak, Tak.

The spring breeze, the pretty shoes that Michael bought her paired to a cute dress.

At Jayna’s cheerful step, Michael lightly raised his chin up.

“……Can’t you go a little slower, Michael-nim?”

Michael was already shortening his stride, but Jayna, who had short legs still had to work hard with her little feet to keep up with his speed.

Jayna unconsciously pouted her mouth.

Michael clapped his hands with a look of wonder.

“How can you walk so well with those short legs? That’s great. Wow. Bravo.”

Even after adjusting his stride, the distance between Jayna and him was still bigger than expected, that it made Michael to look back several times.

Whenever that happened, Michael’s lips went up smoothly. As if Jayna’s situation is funny.

‘I think he’s doing it on purpose…’

“There’s a saying ‘A frog forgets he was once a tadpole’.” (Jayna)

“What does that mean?” (Michael)

“I use it when I condemn someone for not thinking about the past*. Like Michael-nim now.” (Jayna)

T/L: *(Jayna used it with literal meaning. Thinking about the past =looking back. She condemned Michael for not looking back (being considerate about her being left behind).

Michael grimaced for a moment and soon snorted.

“What, so what can I do. No matter what you say, kid, you’re a tadpole now, while I’m a frog. “(Michael)

“Dog bone*.” (Jayna)

T/N: *(Not sure but maybe it was “like a dog with a bone” (simile) meaning: Stubborn and tenacious; persistent.)

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Michael’s body trembled. With a flushed face, he was furious with Jayna.

“You’re really, uh, having an outbreak like a puppy. Your legs are shor—”

“Dog bone.”

“Isn’t a tadpole worse than a frog? Frogs are—”

“Dog bone.”

“Hey!”

“Dog bone?”

Jayna, who tilted her head, looked innocent and pure. Like a new-born puppy.

Michael looked down at Jayna, choked up leaving him speechless.

‘This kid?’

Before, Jayna used to be unresponsive even in arguments…

Michael quickly raised his hands and pinched Jayna’s cheeks.

Jayna struggled desperately to escape, but it was useless.

“Let go~.”

“If you really want to be good at teasing, you still have a lot to learn from this brother.”

“Uh.”

Maybe it’s because she’s still young. The soft cheek that still has its baby fat was fun to touch.

‘By the way, what should I do with this tadpole?’

In fact, Michael was walking without knowing what to do.

Obviously, the tower wizards said there were many interesting things, but there seemed to be nothing for a child to do nearby.

“You can eat money with money (Gambling) Young master!”

But it’s only for a frog and you can’t take a tadpole to a gambling house.

And somehow… He doesn’t want to show his ‘clumsy’ side to Jayna.

Michael heaved a sigh.

But fortunately, there is something worth trying.

Michael raised the corners of his mouth.