IRVB 02

Munch, munch.

Nom nom.

Ikhlis shook a black cloth pouch in front of Rodi—one you couldn’t see through.

“There’s something inside this.”

Rodi glanced up briefly, then focused back on her bread.

“Jewels.”

Munch, munch.

Every time she bit into the bread, it made a soft hap! sound.

“What kind of jewels?”

As he kept asking, Rodi’s brows furrowed slightly, as if annoyed at being interrupted while eating.

For someone so small, she seemed to have quite a temper.

Ikhlis raised an eyebrow impatiently, and Rodi swallowed her bite.

“I don’t know the name, but it’s red. That’s expensive, right?”

“The lady in the pink dress yesterday had it too. On her head and her wrist.”

She mumbled as she chewed.

Each time she bit down, her thin cheeks puffed out and sank again.

Ikhlis, who had been watching the whole process, finally spoke.

“This is a ruby.”

Rodi’s eyes widened.

They sparkled as if stars had been placed inside them.

“Ah, I know that! It’s really expensive, right?”

“Yeah.”

“But are both of them rubies? Or is one big and one small? They’re both red, but the colors are a little different. The small one is darker.”

Ikhlis paused.

He had come because of her clairvoyance, but he hadn’t expected her to distinguish quantity and size as well.

Even identifying differences in gemstone grades.

The tightly tied black pouch didn’t let in any light, making it even harder to tell colors apart.

He needed to test her more, but this child clearly had remarkable ability.

Right now, she was like an unpolished gem rolling in the dirt—plain and rough—but if properly refined, wouldn’t she shine even brighter?

He did know another with great ability.

But especially… he liked those sparkling black eyes.

“So you really can see.”

“I told you.”

The headmistress had told her to hide it, but Rodi knew.

There was no point lying to the “god” in front of her.

He already knew and had come looking for her.

And Rodi’s instincts were usually right.

While answering, she finished the entire loaf.

After stuffing the large bread into her small body, she stared at Ikhlis.

She clearly wanted more.

“What? Why?”

“Um… if you’re not going to eat the bread in your left inner pocket, can I have it?”

Her shamelessness made Ikhlis give her a dubious look.

“…Here. Eat.”

He pulled out a crumpled paper bag and handed it over.

Inside was another loaf just like the one she’d eaten.

He wasn’t quite what she imagined a god to be, but still—he gave her two loaves.

“Thank you!”

She pressed the bread lightly, smiled brightly when it sank softly, and began stuffing it into herself again.

Rodi’s stomach bulged after eating two loaves.

She felt a little uncomfortable from eating so quickly, but it was better than being hungry.

And this was the most delicious bread she had ever tasted.

It had no cream, yet it was sweet and soft enough to tear with just her lips.

If she got more bread, she could use her clairvoyance as much as needed.

But now that she was full… maybe she could leave?

Just as she was about to sneak away, the man’s voice stopped her.

“My name is Ikhlis.”

“Ikhlis? That’s your name?”

She asked blankly, and Ikhlis looked slightly displeased.

“…Yeah.”

So he wasn’t a god after all—he had a name.

Now that her hunger was gone, the illusion wore off.

His crouched posture even looked a bit rough and delinquent.

“I need your ability.”

“Mm.”

“Want to work for me?”

“…Huh?”

“If you succeed, I’ll pay you well. You can take it in food if you want.”

“Work…?”

Rodi thought carefully.

She had never received such an offer.

She thought only adults had conversations like this!

But it seemed better than begging, which she hated most.

Food and money just for using her ability?

That meant she wouldn’t have to wander the streets…

“How can I trust you?”

Ikhlis let out a dry laugh.

“…You really don’t know who I am?”

“No.”

“Ikhlis til Chaeles.”

“Okay.”

“Chaeles Lord.”

“Okay.”

Rodi nodded earnestly.

As she savored the fading taste of bread, her movements slowly stopped.

Then—

Her eyes widened dramatically.

“Chaeles!”

She didn’t know Ikhlis, but she knew Chaeles.

All the land here was called Chaeles Road.

It was said to be the richest area in the capital.

Chaeles was incredibly wealthy—the very person the headmistress envied most.

Someone who could do anything.

Someone amazing.

Rodi had once dreamed of becoming someone like Chaeles.

Then she would never go hungry!

But they also had a terrible reputation.

For a moment, she trembled.

“That land you’re sitting on? It’s all mine.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?!”

“Have you been fooled your whole life?”

“Wow! Then you’re the Chaeles boss?”

Ikhlis frowned.

“Why am I ‘mister’?”

“…Then what should I call you?”

Ikhlis smirked.

“Whatever. The point is, I’m not someone who would scam a kid like you.”

“Ahh!”

Rodi reached enlightenment.

Surely someone like him wouldn’t lie over bread and coins.

If he did, word would spread that the Chaeles Lord was stingy.

“But if you still don’t trust me? Don’t want to work?”

Ikhlis smiled like a devil.

“Then pay for the bread.”

Rodi flinched.

She could see hidden things—but not spit out what she had already eaten.

“I… don’t have money.”

She did have some coins hidden in an alley—but she would never reveal that.

She looked up at him with teary eyes.

Please let me go…

Ikhlis scoffed.

“Then experience being in debt. The youngest debtor. Chaeles is famous for collecting debts to the ends of hell.”

“…You gave it to me first!”

“And who told you to grab it?”

“……”

What kind of person is this?!

Maybe he wasn’t a god—but a devil.

But the bread was already in her stomach.

As she held her round belly, she imagined being dragged away and sold.

‘No, that’s bad!’

Then she had no choice.

“Is it dangerous?”

“You just answer what you see.”

Just that?

Rodi hesitated.

Spit out the bread…

Or work…

She stood up slowly.

Dusting off her worn dress, she looked up at Ikhlis.

Even crouching, he was tall—but standing, he looked like a giant.

Taller than the headmistress.

She had never seen someone so big.

As she stared, he met her gaze, and she quickly looked away.

She needed more time to decide.

Trying to change the subject, she pointed at his pocket.

“…But are you not going to eat the bread in there? Give it to me.”

Ikhlis froze.

“…Didn’t you just eat two?”

“I starved for three days. I want three.”

“…Fine. Eat. Where does it even go in that tiny body? It’s not even efficient.”

“Efficient?”

“Just eat.”

Rodi quickly grabbed the bread and took another big bite.

Delicious.

She could eat ten every day and never get tired of it.

She glanced at Ikhlis.

He was just wearing plain black clothes—but somehow had three loaves hidden.

Like magic clothes that produced bread when pressed.

It reminded her of a magical pot story a teacher once read.

The last page had been torn out, so she never heard the ending.

She stuffed the final piece into her mouth.

Her chewing looked almost determined—like battle.

‘He doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

Rodi was sure of it.

(Though her standard was the orphanage headmistress.)

After swallowing with a loud gulp, she ran up and stuck close to Ikhlis.

“Okay! I’ll do it.”