IBDEML 12

Chapter 12

That day when the accident happened at the orphanage was very windy, just like today, even though it was summer.

The strong wind was enough to make a small spark grow into a big fire.

When the director found out that the fire started because Carrington threw away a still-lit cigarette, he became furious.

Carrington almost got fired.

Both Medina and Chester were top students even in Class 1.

The only problem was that in the novel, Chester hid in a corner while trying to avoid the fire, making it hard to find him.

If I tried to stop Medina from rushing into the fire, but was late in saving Chester, he could get seriously hurt.

But I knew where Chester would hide.

Because it was an important scene, that part was described very clearly.

Aftering my thoughts, I pulled the curtain that was covering the bed.

The chair where the infirmary teacher usually sat was empty.

No matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t see him.

‘Where did he go in such a hurry!’

I ran down to the classroom, but no one was there.

‘I need an adult to save Chester and Medina!’

Especially someone who could stop the fire from spreading.

“Is anyone here?!”

I shouted with all my strength, but there was no answer.

While I was tapping my feet anxiously, I saw a clock.

“Ah… it’s lunch time.”

The cafeteria was far away from this place.

It would take quite a while to go there and bring someone.

Then Medina might enter the fire before I returned…

If that happened, both of them might get badly hurt like in the novel.

I didn’t want things to follow the original story when I could save them safely.

I ran outside the building, holding my throbbing forehead.

Strong wind scattered my hair in the air.

I ran through the wind to the nearest well, scooped water, and poured it over my head.

Just in case, I also soaked about three handkerchiefs and ran toward the incinerator.

“Just as I thought!”

Around the incinerator, gray smoke was already thick.

The fire was spreading faster than I expected.

Before going inside, I quickly checked my surroundings.

I wanted to see if Medina was nearby, but she was nowhere to be seen.

‘Don’t tell me she already went in?’

An anxious feeling slowly rose.

Thinking about a child getting badly hurt in front of me like in the original story made me nervous.

“Chester! Medina!”

I shouted as loudly as I could and listened carefully.

“Cough….”

At that moment, Chester’s coughing sound came faintly from inside.

“Is, is there anyone…? Cough!”

Following the voice, I carefully entered the fire area, trying to avoid the flames as much as possible while recalling the novel.

In the novel, Chester hid in a very corner area to avoid the fire.

[Even in the hot flames, Medina did not stop.

She went straight into the incinerator, and in the left corner where two walls met, Chester was crouching.

On the wall, the words “No Smoking” were written in large letters.]

The place inside was filled with trash, so I couldn’t just walk straight.

‘Why is there so much trash.’

I walked zigzag deeper inside.

Wall… left side…

‘The words “No Smoking”.’

Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

While walking absentmindedly, I stopped when my face felt burning hot from the heat.

At this rate, the incinerator would soon be swallowed by fire.

Looking around, Medina seemed to be outside.

If she came in later, that was also a problem.

If I took both children out, unknown variables might happen on the way.

So this was a race against time.

I had to leave this place as fast as possible with Chester.

If Medina was already inside, I would take her too.

I gritted my teeth and pressed the handkerchief harder over my mouth while going deeper.

Soon I saw the wall with big writing just like in the novel.

I quickly looked around.

Then I saw Chester crouching in a corner.

“Found you!”

He was coughing repeatedly.

I hurried toward him. Feeling someone approaching, Chester raised his head.

His frowning eyes widened with surprise when he saw me.

“Cough… Lo, Lopez?”

“Are you okay?”

I quickly checked if he was injured.

Because the fire hadn’t spread deeper yet, he seemed to have no injuries except for inhaling some smoke.

Luckily, I was not too late.

I helped the confused Chester stand up.

“How… how did you….”

His body was covered in ash as he muttered in confusion.

Seeing him so scared made me feel sorry.

After all, even if he was the male lead, Chester was still a child.

It was normal that he couldn’t handle situations like this well.

Unlike some other novels where male leads showed overpowered abilities even in childhood, in this world the children had not awakened their power yet.

I covered his mouth and nose with the wet handkerchief again.

So he wouldn’t breathe more smoke.

Then I asked while looking around.

“Where is Medina?”

“…M-Medina? I came alone to throw away the trash… cough.”

“I just asked in case. You two are always together.”

Good.

It seemed Medina hadn’t arrived yet.

Pulling the trembling boy out of the corner, I sighed quietly.

Now we just had to leave.

Chester, who was obediently following me, suddenly reached out and touched my hair.

Looking at his wet hand and the water drops falling to the floor, he stammered.

“You… why is your body wet…?”

I stopped him from lowering the handkerchief and shook my head.

“Don’t breathe smoke. Be quiet now.”

When I moved my head, I felt dizzy because of the cold.

Staggering once, I forced strength into my legs and held on.

Then I took Chester’s hand.

Because I didn’t want to let go if we fell in the fire.

The hand we touched felt hot, probably because of the fire.

Chester, who had been quiet, soon gripped my hand tightly.

“Let’s go. Don’t look around. Only look at me, okay?”

If he got scared by looking around, he might make a wrong decision.

At my words, Chester nodded.

He even waved his hand as if saying let’s go quickly.

I slowly stepped forward.

If we left safely like this, it would be good, but according to the novel, trash piles on the right would collapse and sparks would fly.

That was why Medina and Chester got burned.

So…

‘Let’s avoid the right side as much as possible.’

Holding Chester’s hand, I carefully walked close to the left wall.

Thud, thud…!

Whoosh!

The stacked trash was about to collapse, and the fire was spreading bigger.

Just as I tried to walk faster, a small spark stuck to Chester’s sleeve.

Chester screamed briefly in shock.

“Ah!”

Startled, I quickly grabbed his sleeve with my hand and put out the spark.

Luckily it wasn’t a big flame, so it went out quickly.

My palm felt hot, but I didn’t show it and silently pulled Chester forward.

I couldn’t just think about the novel.

Right now, Medina was not beside Chester.

Since the situation was different from the original conditions, everything would not follow the novel exactly.

Especially the difference in arrival time between Medina and me was the biggest factor.

Then Chester whispered softly beside me.

“You’re sick… how did you come here…?”

I wanted to tell him not to talk so he wouldn’t inhale smoke, but seeing his frightened face, I held it in.

Instead, I pressed the handkerchief harder over his mouth and answered.

“Because there were no adults nearby, I came. I’m not that sick.”

“You’re red in the face.”

“…Maybe burned by the fire.”

“…Pfft.”

Luckily, maybe because of the small joke, Chester relaxed a little and held my hand again, sticking closer to me.

If I were an adult, I could escape quickly, but because I was a child’s body, it took quite a while to get out.

While I was being cautious and taking another step…

Tick.

Something made a wrong sound, and the high stack of trash started collapsing toward us.

“Lo, Lopez!”

Chester called my name with a pale white face.

Instinctively, I let go of his hand and pushed him.

The strong grip I had just moments ago was easily broken, and Chester fell forward.

At the same time, debris fell down over my head.

“No, Lopez—!”

With Chester’s desperate scream, I curled my body tightly.

Whoosh!

The flames swallowed me in an instant.