Sleeping Beast - Chapter 5.1

He was full of energy.

And he…

No matter how young his mental age was, it was like living with a mirror. Wasn’t his hair pretty? It was like the shining moonlight.

Or was it his first time seeing a blonde?

Creek.

Rafi shook his head as he picked up the fragrant pancake and moved it to a plate.

I should cut my hair tonight.

* * *

He fed the child, washed him, reapplied his ointment, fixed his clothes, and made them big, before finally laying down next to him.

“Go to sleep now.”

The bed was full. Though it was not completely spacious, it was very comfortable when lying alone. However, with two people, it felt like they were in a cage for animals. The child was so tall that the tips of his toes were hanging off the bed.

… But he’s not a real beast. He went to the bathroom by himself. Let’s think positively–it’s only for a short time anyway.

He tried to comfort himself with those thoughts, but the child opened his mouth.

“I can’t sleep yet.”

Under his silver hair, the child’s blue eyes shone in the moonlight, reflecting their colors more clearly. Rafi clicked his tongue internally before raising his hand and closing the kid’s bright eyes.

Isn’t the moonlight making him too beautiful? Even though he’s already pretty.

“It’s time for you to sleep, kid.”

“… Kid?”

His eyes were blinking under Rafi’s palm, as if asking what he was talking about.

“Yeah, kid.”

It was funny that he didn’t know that he was a child even while acting like one.

“Go to sleep.”

When he finally fell asleep, Rafi thought about cutting his hair.

I won’t throw away the cut hair. I’ll just give it to the kid instead, since we don’t have any toys in the house.

Rafi would have to clean it since the child kept putting it in his mouth. Just thinking about it made him feel more annoyed, so Rafi smiled and removed his hands from the child’s eyes.

“You.”

The child stared, still fully awake, before suddenly stretching out his hands. He wanted to grab his hair, but instead he stretched out his index finger and poked Rafi’s mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“Smile again.”

“…Hmm?”

His tone did not sound like a seven-year-old’s at all. When Rafi unconsciously wrinkled his forehead, the man childishly hassled him.

“Come on.”

“… ”

When he was like this, he seemed even more like a child.

But Rafi was confused and wondered what the child was doing. Sooner or later, people would come to find him, and then he would go back home.

He’s a kid, so he’ll forget that he was sick quickly. His back will get better soon.

Rafi hoped it wouldn’t leave scars. It was a pity for him to naively think that scars would remain on his beautiful skin.

“What’s wrong with you?” Rafi asked, but couldn’t help smiling again.

The child who went to bed calmly was cute. The word cute didn’t suit his size, but his expression looking up was like an innocent child’s.

“… As expected, you’re pretty. So you’re my opponent,” he murmured softly. A low, deep voice that was not at all child-like entered Rafi’s ears.

At the unexpected words, Rafi craned his neck to look at him.

Did he hear wrong…? He must have said something.

“In the forest.”

“Huh?”

The child started talking.

“When I first saw you, I wanted to kill you. I don’t know what it is, but you’re dangerous.”

“Wait. What?”

His seven-year-old aura disappeared once more.

“But after tearing off your cape, something pretty came out.”

“What came out?”

“This.”

He grabbed Rafi’s hair with a gesture that didn’t look childlike at all.

“You were pretty. That’s why I didn’t kill you.”

Despite the eerie words, the eyes that stared at Rafi were clear and naive. It was like a high-quality jewel lacking impurities..

“You’re prettier now. I’m glad I didn’t kill you. I’m not going to try to kill you anymore.”

“…”

He didn’t know what to say. Rafi closed his mouth and looked at his innocent face.

“It’s pretty and delicious. Good.”

The child closed his eyes.

“Now… I’m sleepy.”

Rafi wanted to slow down a little, but soon he heard a low breathing sound.

“…I’m going crazy.”

Rafi spoke inwardly to his sleeping face.

Who exactly did he pick up?

Suddenly he figured he couldn’t send the boy back easily. It wasn’t quite a thought, more like a hunch.

* * *

Two days had passed.

For Rafi, it was the busiest two days in his life.

He had to cook as soon as he woke up in the morning. He had to prepare three or four times his usual portions, since the child had to eat so much. Though he was fully grown, he was young mentally, so he had a large appetite.

Time flew just by feeding and washing the child along with organizing three meals a day. In the meantime, the shamelessly immature child had been eating pancakes for two days, so he demanded for something else to eat, which stressed Rafi out.