Ivan decided to shift his attention back to Jin rather than dwelling on matters concerning her parents or older brother.

 

After all, the life of the living was far more important.

 

“How’s her health condition?”

 

Jin had undergone a thorough essential check-up that girls her age should receive at Morivel’s dedicated hospital, and she had also received all the immediate treatments deemed necessary.

 

“She’s suffering from severe malnutrition, which likely slowed her growth significantly. They also believe she experienced considerable psychological trauma, so they recommend a long-term approach for that aspect. However…”

 

“Why?”

 

“The child… says there’s something she really wants to ask of you, Representative….”

 

“Me? Directly?”

 

“Yes. She said it was fine to tell me, but it seems she felt she needed someone with more authority.”

 

As he spoke, Simon gave a rather pleased smile.

 

Ivan looked at Simon—who already seemed quite attached to Jin—with slight curiosity, then nodded.

 

“Bring her here.”

 

He needed to hear what she wanted to say.

 

🦋

 

Jin, dressed in a neat navy-colored dress that reached her knees and white sneakers, still didn’t look fourteen, no matter how much one rubbed their eyes and looked again.

 

Compared to other children her age who were unusually developed and looked like adults, Jin’s actual age felt even more unbelievable.

 

If she had been wearing a T-shirt and shorts printed with rabbits or cats, she would have looked so much like a little kid that it would have felt awkward to even call her a girl.

 

Ivan forcefully swallowed his shock and carefully observed the child’s condition.

 

Unlike when he saw her in District 4, the soot, dust, and traces of blood had been cleaned from Jin’s face. 

 

In their place was a strange kind of detachment — the kind that might appear on someone who had already lived an entire lifetime.

 

Her extremely pale, almost white skin contrasted sharply with her large black eyes, making her face oddly captivating.

 

The fleeting spark that had once stimulated his possessiveness was no longer visible in Jin’s eyes.

 

But Ivan didn’t believe that spark had completely disappeared from the child.

 

The fuel for that flame had been a fierce will to live and hope — things that could no longer be found in him either.

 

Perhaps that was exactly why he had wanted it so badly.

 

“…”

 

Jin spent a long time curiously looking around Ivan’s office, taking everything in with wonder. Then her eyes met Ivan’s intense gaze, and she flinched, her body trembling slightly.

 

But she quickly steadied herself and walked calmly right up to the desk where Ivan was sitting.

 

All the while, she kept her eyes fixed only on his beautiful red ones.

 

“The Mister over there… the good-looking guy with glasses… you’re higher-ranking than him… right?”

 

“Mis—”

 

Ivan waited quietly, wondering what she was about to say.

 

What came out of that small mouth was so ridiculous that he was momentarily speechless.

 

The age difference between him and this child was only six years.

 

Between Simon and him, it was eleven.

 

It was only natural for Simon to be called “Mister,” but why him too…?

 

Still, Ivan quickly understood.

 

Standing next to this little kid, anyone would see him as the “Mister.” When he glanced at Simon, the man seemed perfectly content — completely ignoring the “Mister” part and focusing only on the “good-looking” compliment.

 

“…Yeah. You said you had something you wanted to ask me directly?”

 

Even though it had been an impulsive decision, she was still the child he had personally brought back, yet he had left every single matter concerning her entirely in Simon’s hands.

 

Now that Jin was standing right in front of him, Ivan finally felt that fact scratching at his throat like a small, prickly thorn.

 

But Jin seemed completely uninterested in whatever thoughts were running through Ivan’s mind. She took a deep breath, then spoke with difficulty.

 

“Um… could you possibly let me take the Resonator aptitude test? Please?”

 

“…”

 

Even Simon looked completely bewildered, clearly not expecting that kind of request at all.

 

“I really want to take it, but I still don’t have any identification yet. So…”

 

It seemed she thought someone of Ivan’s status could easily arrange something like that for her.

 

The realization that she apparently found him more reliable and trustworthy than Simon made Ivan feel a fleeting surge of smug satisfaction—only for him to immediately feel childish and ridiculous for it. 

 

His expression hardened instantly.

 

The irritation that remained on Ivan’s face quickly twisted into something frightening. 

 

Even the beautiful red eyes she had once found pretty now gleamed eerily, only heightening the sense of dread. 

 

Jin’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily the moment she noticed the change.

 

It really had been too bold and rude of her. She should have waited longer, approached it more slowly and carefully… 

 

Regret washed over her.

 

Ahem. A-Ahem, Representative… Sir. Hm.

 

Simon’s awkward cough echoed through the room.

 

Only then did Ivan notice how rigidly tense Jin had become and let out a small sigh.

 

She had probably been dying to bring this up even while receiving her luxurious hospital check-up.

 

But while the medical exam was one thing, the Resonator aptitude test must have seemed like something far more difficult to arrange in her eyes.

 

That was likely why she had been so nervous about making such a “difficult” request.

 

Ivan didn’t even consider that his own expression might have been the reason she looked so scared.

 

Even though Simon was desperately signaling at him to please soften his face.

 

“Jin.”

 

“Y-Yes, yes.”

 

“The Resonator test isn’t difficult at all. So there’s no need to be so nervous or careful around me.”

 

“Yes. I’m sor—”

 

“You don’t have anything to apologize for. Just relax.”

 

Normally, telling someone not to be scared only makes them more frightened, and telling them not to look back only makes them want to turn around even more.

 

That was just human nature.

 

The words Ivan spoke so generously ended up, contrary to his intention, making Jin’s small back even more rigid with tension.

 

The Resonator aptitude test was a mandatory examination.

 

Anyone living in Districts 1 through 3 had to take the Resonator aptitude test every three years from birth until the age of fifty.

 

Failing to complete it three or more times resulted in an enormous fine—it was the most mandatory of mandatory examinations. 

 

And it was even free.

 

In a world where no one knew when or where a gate might open and claim their life, discovering even one more Resonator was a source of joy and hope for everyone. 

 

It was only natural.

 

Yet Jin was requesting that very test as if it were something incredibly difficult, watching Ivan’s reaction with nervous caution.

 

Ivan wasn’t unaware of the reason.

 

She was from District 4. She had no identification.

 

In Jin’s short life, obtaining an official identity was the single hardest and most impossible thing in the world.

 

She also knew all too well how desperately her parents had worked just to let her live in District 3 someday.

 

They had refused easy, quick ways to make money.

 

They had hidden their precious daughter with fierce determination from the thugs who preyed on young children and teenagers.

 

They had avoided criminals as much as possible while tirelessly cleaning, doing laundry, and scavenging edible scraps from the food waste discarded behind bars.

 

Ivan quickly recalled the information Simon had gathered and looked at the small, rigid girl who was clearly trying to hide her anxiety.

 

“I’ll arrange for you to take it as soon as possible. Naturally, we’ll also register your identity.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Jin bowed her head deeply in gratitude. She had never been able to freely walk outside or have proper conversations with others, but whenever her parents had a spare moment, they taught her to read and write and made her read books.

 

The worn-out books—some pages torn—contained topics on ethics, morality, and social norms that felt completely out of place in District 4.

 

The reason was simple: one day, when they finally saved enough money to move to District 3, she needed to live as an honest and diligent member of proper society.

 

As Jin grew older, she gradually came to sense that her parents didn’t really belong in District 4 at all.

 

For some reason, they had ended up drifting there.

 

With bodies that were already frail and unwell. She had once believed that when she became an adult, she would finally hear the answers from them.

 

For just a brief moment, Jin remembered the rough yet warm touch of her parents’ hands gently stroking her cheek and forehead. Then she quickly pulled herself together.

 

“Is there anything else you want?”

 

Ivan stared intently at Jin’s pitch-black pupils, almost obsessively.

 

And then, with a tiny flick, he finally caught sight of it—a very small spark igniting.

 

“Um…”

 

Jin hesitated for a moment.

 

The two of them had already done so much for her—things that felt enormous. 

 

Was it really okay to keep asking for more?

 

Reading her hesitation, Simon stepped closer, crouched down on one knee to meet her eye level, and spoke gently.

 

“You can speak freely. The Representative will listen to whatever it is.”

 

“Representative… sir.”

 

“That’s right. I’m his secretary. My name is Simon Gordon.”

 

“And the Representative’s name?”

 

At Jin’s unexpectedly bold question, both Simon’s and Ivan’s mouths curved into soft, loosened smiles.

 

“Ivan. Ivan Freud.”

 

Ivan answered for himself this time.

 

Jin quietly repeated their names to herself—Ivan and Simon—as if determined never to forget them.

 

Ivan found the sight of her small lips moving, murmuring his name over and over, unexpectedly pleasing.

 

“Even if… I take the test, and it turns out I’m not a Resonator…”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Could you still… save my teacher?”

 

When she said she had a request, Ivan had half-expected something ordinary—asking for a safe place to live, pretty clothes, delicious food, things like that.

 

But a teacher?

 

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Ivan and Simon quickly exchanged glances.

 

“Once your identity is registered, you’ll be able to attend school. You’ll make lots of friends, too.”

 

Simon gently wrapped his warm hand around Jin’s small, tense shoulders as he explained.

 

But Jin gave a tiny shake of her head.

 

“I don’t need friends.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because I’d have to tell them I came from District 4.”

 

“You don’t have to tell anyone.”

 

“Even if I don’t say anything… they’ll find out eventually.”

 

This remarkably perceptive girl already seemed to anticipate the ugly, contemptuous looks she would receive from her peers—and even from teachers—simply because of where she came from.

 

“That’s…”

 

Simon couldn’t confidently say such a thing would never happen, so he gave an awkward smile while searching for the right words to continue.

 

All the while, Ivan simply watched the two of them in silence.