Sien, who seemed to be going to sleep, said she was heading to the back alleys, so the maids, knight, and that little one followed along.

Of course, Pat and Matt, who received orders from Matthias, also secretly followed behind Sien.

I thought she was just going to the back alleys. But Sien specified quite specific alleyways.

Ant Street, Pinea Street, Charlotte Street. These three places.

The peculiar thing was that all three were gypsy settlements, places where they ruled.

‘Since gypsies rule the back alleys anyway… It must be a coincidence.’

The villain’s instinct stabbed coldly in his chest, but no matter how he looked, Sien was only making cute expressions. As if she knew nothing.

Ted cautiously questioned the child’s innocent expression.

“Why do you want to go to the dirty streets of the capital, Lady Sien? The public safety is not good.”

Pat and Matt looked uncomfortably at the stiff-acting knight.

He seemed to have not even learned the first letter of loyalty.

Right now, Pat and Matt were acting as nannies behind a child on Lord Matthias’ orders. Yet his loyalty couldn’t even go to the gypsies’ back alleys.

If Sien Mirmode had become wicked, Ted should have been on his knees by now.

However, contrary to the villains’ unwanted expectations, Sien said nonchalantly and coolly while resting her chubby cheeks:

“Um, just because.”

“That place has many gypsies… It’s dangerous.”

“It’s okay. Ted and Acid will protect me!”

There was not a hint of distrust or negativity in her beaming expression. Anyone would fall for that pure smile.

In fact, the boy called Acid and the knight seemed to have fallen for Sien long ago, wearing proud fatherly smiles.

“Th-then, l-let’s go!”

…Especially that little one called Acid showed loyalty as if possessed by a ghost.

Pat and Matt watched them with strict and serious expressions.

‘She is cute.’

‘But we’re different from them. We won’t fall for a child’s aegyo.’

There must be a reason why Sien is going to the gypsies’ world.

Perhaps it could be connected to Lord Matthias’ order, “If there’s someone who has tainted Sien with evil, bring them.”

At that moment, a flash of realization swept through Pat and Matt’s minds.

‘The ones who tainted her might be those gypsy bastards.’

Everyone in the world condemns them as “dirty gypsy bastards,” but at least Pat and Matt knew. The gypsies had something special.

They often show sleight of hand tricks that could bewitch a child.

In fact, even ordinary alley boss kids don’t think of entering gypsy neighborhoods.

‘Anyway, he told us to leave her alone.’

They faithfully followed Matthias’ orders and headed towards the gypsy neighborhood, trailing behind Sien.

[This is the timeline separator]

I picked up a holy knight with sacred power to threaten Axel Mirmode.

With this sacred power, I could physically attack Axel.

But this is not enough.

The part where a person is most vulnerable to attack is the psychological element. In the original story, Melodia effectively attacked that part to defeat Axel.

I need to accurately grasp his psychology to gain the upper hand, and the one who can fill that part is a shaman.

‘I need to find a gypsy who is good at speaking and loyal to me, so they can bewitch Axel.’

After sleeping well and playing all day while thinking, I recalled some original story information that I couldn’t remember on the day I ate pine needles because I kept feeling drowsy.

The first shaman Melodia found was in the empire’s gypsy neighborhood.

That shaman was said to be “truly” mystical and “truly” great, able to read people’s minds as if drawing them.

Even though Melodia was so kind, the shaman turned her away. She visited the shaman three times but couldn’t win his heart. So she ended up barely managing to bring a shaman from the East.

Melodia regretted not being able to get the gypsy shaman for a long time.

So, if I can get a gypsy shaman, I would have a bit more of an advantage when dealing with Axel.

‘I’m only five years old, so I can’t go to the Eastern continent. I have to follow the route Melodia already failed but succeed.’

Since Melodia visits three times, there was a brief description in the novel of the shaman’s whereabouts or appearance.

A gypsy living in a gypsy settlement.

Someone with or without a black mole next to their lips, with brown hair.

Age roughly between 10 and 50 years old.

Someone with a somewhat rough and honest way of speaking.

Gender unknown.

It was very brief information.

‘What does it mean the black mole next to the lips is there or not there? If the age is between 10 and 50, that’s almost all ages!’

Finding the shaman with this hint was like finding a needle in a haystack, looking for Mr. Kim in Seoul.

But I couldn’t do nothing at all.

I steeled my resolve again, thinking of the people under me.

‘I feel like the head of a poor family…’

But that thought made me snap back to my senses as if doused with cold water.

I clenched my fists and pondered deeply about Axel again.

‘To catch Axel Mirmode who’s obsessed with magic and jinxes, I need to study magic myself.’

An orphanage came into view.

It seemed to be a place specializing in caring for gypsy children.

‘Right, let’s start searching there!’

I knocked on the orphanage door vigorously.

“Hello! I’d like to ask for direc-”

“Oh my…”

The orphanage director’s eyes widened.

I tilted my head in confusion.

“I’ve never seen such a filthy baby in my life!”

“Uh, uung…?”

They did dress me up to look filthy on purpose when I said I was going to the gypsy neighborhood… I looked down at my stained underwear and blotchy coat and sighed dejectedly.

“Oh my, you look like a tear-stained Maltese. You must have been abandoned, come here!”

I ended up being mistaken for a silly little urchin by this gypsy grandmother.

Moreover, she scooped up my tiny body and carried me into the orphanage.

I quickly signaled to Ted and Acid that it was okay, then sighed heavily as I was unceremoniously carried away.

Still, I managed to get inside the orphanage, so I should think of it as a good thing.

[This is the timeline separator]

“So… I’m looking for someone.”

Thanks to Ted, Acid, and the muscular maid sisters who hurriedly followed behind, it seems the misunderstanding that I’m a filthy Maltese has been cleared up.

But this orphanage director… doesn’t seem inclined to let me go.

“Well, first… you need to blow your nose!”

“Uuung!”

Still, this orphanage director seemed to be a seasoned professional.

She sat me on her knee, helped me blow my nose, and even washed my face. She was clearly a childcare pro.

I almost dozed off like a real Maltese under her care, but managed to snap out of it.

If I were an ordinary five-year-old, I would have fallen asleep exhausted, but luckily, I wasn’t an ordinary five-year-old.

“Uung…”

“The person you’re looking for is a gypsy?”

“Yes. Um… I want to get my fortune told. It’s important.”

I used the same excuse Melodia used in the original story.

“Fortune telling…”

The orphanage director’s expression, which had been full of affection, hardened as she looked down at me. She didn’t look like a curly-haired, red-eyed auntie anymore, but rather mysterious.

“You know, the ancients used to say gypsies were born under the star of prophecy.”

This director already seems mystical.

I blinked at her with a trusting gaze.

“People who can actually prophesize are rare. No, almost non-existent.”

“…”

“It won’t be easy to find one.”

If a gypsy herself says it’s “hard to find,” it must truly be difficult.

“But if I have these hints…”

I made my eyes sparkle pitifully, like a filthy Maltese.

Sure enough, the orphanage director gave me a hint as she wiped the soot remaining on my face.

“Well… hmm, since they’re ordinary gypsies too, they’ll be where gypsies gather.”

I nodded quietly.

Now, places where gypsies gather…

[This is the timeline separator]

I thought it would be easier to ask around inside the orphanage than to search for gypsies in the alleys for information.

I told the orphanage director, who was petting me like a filthy Maltese, that since I came to the orphanage, I wanted to do some volunteer work.

I’m originally an alley boss too, so I want to play with the children!

The orphanage director wiped the black grime off my chubby cheeks and nodded.

‘What do gypsies like?’

As I pondered, I tried to find someone who seemed to know the most about gypsies. Of course, by going inside the orphanage!

‘If you’re volunteering, our Maltese… I mean, baby can play with the children, the knight here can mow the lawn outside, and the maids can carry educational materials.’

Following the director’s excellent distribution, we were scattered into pieces.

When Ted said he couldn’t let me go alone, the muscular sister Deadly stepped up.

‘It’s good to have extra hands.’

I headed to room 201 of the orphanage as directed by the director, hearing her satisfied voice.

The orphanage was two stories tall, and room 201 housed children aged 10 to 15, she said. The director added not to be too surprised by whatever I saw in room 201. Gypsy children are naturally rough, she said.

I tiptoed down the hallway and ran with Deadly sister. It was fun, like playing hide-and-seek. I was about to enter room 201, giggling.

Gypsy children would probably listen to me well…

“Hey, you think what I said is funny?”

I stopped abruptly.

I couldn’t open the door and froze.

“Huh? I asked if it’s funny.”

But as I got closer to room 201, I heard crashing sounds along with fighting.

The atmosphere inside the orphanage was strange.

“Young lady? Why-”

“Shh. Stay back.”

I cautioned Deadly sister and pushed her away from the door. She was easily pushed by my tiny hands.

After seeing her move a bit farther, I carefully peeked through the gap. There were about 7 children in room 201.

Those children were surrounding a child in the center whose face I couldn’t see clearly.

“Say it again, huh?”

“…”

“I said, say it again with that open mouth of yours.”

It was a cocky, thug-like voice. He was even clenching his fist threateningly.

“B-boss. Calm down. The director might come-”

“Ah, f*ck. I don’t care. Whether that b*stard dies or I die, we need to settle this today.”

I widened my eyes. The boy called “boss” was putting strength into his toes.

‘That stance, he’s about to do a flying kick!’

The “boss” boy’s foot was already in position just before kicking.

I stared at the boss’s pointed foot and couldn’t hold back, flinging the door open.

Then one of the gypsy children with sharp ears saw me.

“B-boss. There’s some girl outside!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me.

Even the child in the center who was about to be beaten seemed to be looking at me.

I clenched my fists confidently and looked at them.

“Violence is bad!”

The cocky-looking boy who seemed to be the boss approached me.

“Who’s this fluffy little girl?”

Blue hair and golden eyes.

His dark blue eyebrows already had scratches, and there was a scar on his cheek.

He looked like a gangster to anyone.

But even that appearance seemed dreamlike and beautiful.

“Hey, if it’s not your business, get lost.”

I clenched my fists. I was planning to fix that guy’s way of speaking.

But then a very indignant, ominous voice echoed behind me.

“Did you just…”

The giant Deadly sister had appeared.

She was grinding her teeth with a very grim expression, even using the Peut regional dialect.

With everyone’s eyes on her, Deadly sister cracked her joints and said:

“What did you say to our young lady?”

Crack, crack.

The sound of joints cracking echoed in the quiet room.