Chapter 2

At the word police, the expressions on both of their faces darkened instantly.

They whispered in low voices.

“W-What? Why are the police here?”

“Damn it. Looks like someone reported us again.”

As if this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, the man pushed the woman behind him.

“Move aside.”

He then cautiously opened the door and asked with a friendly expression,

“What seems to be the problem?”

The police officer answered his question.

“We received a report that there was a fight going on here. And it also sounded like we heard a child’s scream just now…….”

The officer sharply scanned the inside of the house from the doorway, clearly looking for signs of a child.

The man casually blocked the officer’s view with his body and answered smoothly.

“Ha-ha. I’m sorry about this. My wife and I were just having a little argument. Our daughter got startled by it and screamed. You know how these things sometimes happen when you’re raising a child, right? Anyway, we’re sorry for making so much noise. You can go back now……”

But the officer cut him off.

“According to procedure, we need to make sure the child is safe. Please open the door and let us in. We’ll check everything ourselves, and if there’s nothing wrong, we’ll leave.”

Normally, the police might have simply left, but now that they were being persistent, the man clicked his tongue inwardly in annoyance.

However, if he refused any further, it would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.

It would be better to clear up the misunderstanding quickly.

In the end, the man opened the door and let the officers inside.

“……Then, please come in.”

“Excuse us.”

The officers entered and looked around the house.

The woman nervously followed them with her eyes.

Before long, one of the officers spotted Ruri, who was nervously darting her eyes around in the corner of the living room.

The officer smiled and approached her.

“Hey, are you okay? It sounded like you screamed. Can you tell me why?”

“I-I…….”

Ruri glanced secretly at her stepmother and stepfather.

They were glaring at her as if warning her to be careful about what she said.

Under their threatening gazes, Ruri fidgeted with her fingers and let her voice trail off.

Only then did Ruri realize what she had done.

Her face turned pale.

‘Liar. They said Ruri would get a present.’

The police were people who caught bad people and took them away.

And Ruri had been told that bad people went to prison and were tortured there.

Before long, an image of herself being tortured formed in Ruri’s mind.

Her little body naturally began to tremble.

“Ruri didn’t do anything wrong…….”

She had only been hungry and hoped they might give her something to eat.

“Ruri was just hungry, so…….”

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

She was afraid she would be punished like this.

Ruri hadn’t done anything wrong, but if she said anything else, she might get hit again.

“Don’t…… hit Ruri.”

In the end, the tears that had filled her eyes spilled down her cheeks.

“……!”

The police officer froze when he saw the terrified child trembling before him.

Don’t hit me.

The child had only said a few words, but that was enough.

The officer immediately examined the child’s body.

“This is…….”

There were bruises in several places on her small body.

Unlike the couple who looked as though they had just returned from going out, the child was wearing old, shabby clothes.

She was filthy, as if she hadn’t been properly washed for several days, while various kinds of trash were scattered around the living room.

“…….”

Having grasped the situation, the police officer straightened up.

“I think we’re going to have to take the child with us.”

The man was startled by the officer’s words.

“What are you talking about?! Who gives you the right to take my child away?”

“Now that we’ve found signs of child abuse, we’re going to remove the child from the home as an emergency protective measure.”

“What?”

The woman pushed past the police officers and approached Ruri.

“Ruri, tell the police officers properly. This is all a misunderstanding. When have we ever abused you, huh? Don’t we treat you well, Ruri? Don’t we?”

“We’ll discuss the rest at the station.”

The officer tried to restrain the woman, but she had no intention of stopping.

“Just tell them! Everyone’s misunderstanding us! Are you really okay with being separated from your mom and dad like this? Huh?”

“Ru-Ruri…….”

Terrified, Ruri’s eyes darted around.

Her stepmother’s angry-looking eyes frightened her.

If the police left like this, she was certain she would be beaten.

As Ruri’s body trembled violently with fear, one of the officers stepped directly in front of her stepmother, blocking her.

“Do not pressure the child.”

The large police officer completely blocked Ruri’s view of her stepmother.

In that instant, all the sorrow and fear Ruri had been holding inside burst out.

Ruri tightly grabbed the police officer’s clothing, wrinkling the fabric, and sobbed.

“I don’t wanna live with my stepmom and stepdad…….”

“What?”

“Ruri gets scolded every day. Ruri was hungry, but there wasn’t any food to eat…….”

“W-What are you talking about? You didn’t have anything to eat? You ate all the things that were here…….”

“That’s enough.”

As though he could no longer bear to listen, the officer separated the woman from Ruri.

“There’s nothing more to hear. You are under emergency arrest on suspicion of child abuse.”

Click.

“You’ll come with us to the station.”

“What? Hey! Who the hell are you to put handcuffs on me?!”

At that exact moment, a cheerful chime rang out.

Ding!

[Mission Complete!]

[Details: You have successfully escaped from your demonic adoptive parents! At long last, the suffocating life you endured has finally given you room to breathe.]

[Reward: A Comfortable Haven Acquired!]

[A comfortable place to sleep and three delicious meals a day are guaranteed. After hardship comes happiness—that’s the golden rule! Enjoy it to your heart’s content. (ˊᵕˋ)੭]

Sky Orphanage

After that day, Ruri never returned to the home of her adoptive parents.

She never saw the two of them again.

She didn’t know why, but Ruri didn’t think that was a bad thing.

After spending an entire day at the police station, Ruri was taken to a new orphanage.

Although she was shy around strangers, her new friends and the teachers welcomed her warmly.

She could eat three warm meals a day, and she could wash herself properly every day.

On top of that, one of the police officers even gave her a cute teddy bear as a present.

‘Ruri really got a present!’

They had said she would get a present if she screamed.

And the cute teddy bear was so soft and warm.

Ruri hugged the teddy bear tightly as she sat in front of the television.

Suddenly, she remembered the conversation she’d overheard between the director and a teacher a little while ago.

“It seems she was a victim of child abuse. The termination of the adoption has already been initiated, and apparently they won’t be able to avoid criminal punishment.”

“Oh, the poor thing. It’s a relief that we found out even now.”

“More importantly, children who have already had an adoption terminated have difficulty being adopted again. I’m worried about her……”

In the end, Ruri, who had never been loved, was abandoned.

‘Now Ruri can’t find a mommy and daddy who will love her.’

Just as tears welled up in her eyes from the sadness—

Ding!

At the familiar notification sound, Ruri abruptly raised her head.

[System Notification]

[To you, who died righteously through a noble sacrifice, the Reincarnation Management Bureau offers its (reluctant) apologies.]

We’re sorry!

We’re really sorry~!

Due to a system error, the coordinates of your life were slightly misaligned. (Embarrassed laughter)

Yes. Just a little. Sob, sob. ( ɵ̷̥̥᷄﹏ɵ̷̥̥᷅ )

However, since your birth has already been processed, we regret to inform you that refunds, exchanges, and cancellations are not available.

(※Childbirth cannot be canceled due to a simple change of heart.)

Still, don’t be too disappointed!

They say hardships in childhood are something you can even buy for yourself, right? Hehe.

If you start at difficulty level ‘HARD,’ the system will switch to ‘EASY’ in the latter half. (⁎˃ᴗ˂⁎)

Therefore.

We will take responsibility for your future!

And to do that, first of all!

Find your biological father.]