I saw how the child’s eyes sparkled. I felt an oddly wretched feeling as I looked into her eyes and asked quietly,

[…How many times have you met him, this child who is called your husband?]

“Um… I met him once two years ago… And once more afterwards?”

As I watched her fingers move about before she held up her index finger, my eyes grew cold.

[What kind of bastard is he even? No matter how busy he is, shouldn’t he at least visit his wife? What type of weirdo is he!? Although he’s only a child right now, I could feel that when he grows up, he’ll become an exceptionally crappy ride.]

“Don’t curse my Ian. Pasha!”

Punch!

Before I knew it, the child had stopped crying and became bold enough to send a punch towards my knee as I cursed her husband in front of her.

It didn’t hurt, although it felt rather unusual. No, I needed to calm down again. I wasn’t a complete trash of an adult who would do their best to win against a child.

[But why ‘Pasha’? How antiquated.]

“I learned about it. Jake told me!”

Jake, that bastard… Seemed like he would become a sight to behold as well. For me to hold such animosity towards children I’ve never met before—Ian and Jake—would this make me a shitty excuse of an adult? I sincerely considered it as I looked at the child.

“Hmph. In any case, it seems that you’re unable to bring Ian to me? That’s fine. Just go.”

You little…

I dumbfoundedly stared at the child, who had her arms crossed, and let out a sigh before my lips spread into a smile.

[Even so, you’re not crying anymore.]

The child flinched and looked up at me.

[You’re a child who won’t cry even if Ian isn’t here.]

The child put on a pitiful act of crying by rubbing her hands with her small fists, but I merely smiled.

“…I still like Ian.”

At the child’s words, I nodded.

[Okay.]

“I want to grow closer to Jake.”

[Okay.]

“I like dogs and I want to raise one. Wolves are scary though.”

[Okay.]

“I want to be loved.”

[Okay.]

“That’s what I want. But how about you?”

Before the child’s words finished, I heard a voice calling from somewhere faraway. I unconsciously turned my head to the direction of the voice and lent an ear to it. The sweet voice seemed to echo. They were definitely repeating this:

Melissa.

“You’re different, Melissa.”

The child who snuck glances at me looked straight at me. She smiled brilliantly.

“You’re different from the original me. However, both you and I are Melissa Fordebrandt.”

Only then did the truth of my transmigration along with the memories of the incidents occurring after the transmigration flow into my head, all within a single breath. It also came with the realization of who the child in front of me was as well. My confusion lasted for a short moment, and everything soon became peaceful.

Within that short period of time, the voice calling for Melissa grew increasingly louder, soon becoming impossible to ignore.

“…Now the person they’re calling for is not me, but you.”

The child softly pushed me forward.

“You’re a person who doesn’t beg for someone else’s meaningless love, doesn’t hold her anger when treated unjustly, and can continue forward without another’s hand.”

I hurriedly turned my head. I had a lot to say to her, this body’s original owner.

However, she didn’t wait for me. Till the end, she only said what she wanted to, sending me ahead.

“From now on, all of my life will become yours, so…”

Ruin those bastards without a single moment of hesitation? I finally smirked, and she probably did as well.

I’m sure our smirks looked exactly the same.

***

I opened my eyes.

“Miss Melissa!”

“Oh, milady!”

“Doctor! Doctor!”

… Dang, how chaotic. Please just let me be, I pleaded, for I’ve only now come back from conversing with a very noisy child.

I squinted as I looked around at my surroundings.

However, before I was able to properly comprehend the situation, my vision was engulfed by a single person with ruffled blue eyes and near-distorted pink eyes?