Bargaining With A Child (1)

The tavern was still alive with the echoes of drunken laughter and clinking mugs, even as the moon hung high in the sky.

It seemed like the men were determined to drink themselves into oblivion, and since her family was close to the tavern owner, Lyrasia remained in the tiny room upstairs. She lay on the bed with her small clothes, staring at the wooden ceiling above her, her tiny arms spread out as if she were trying to claim the entire bed for herself.

Honestly, she couldn't believe she'd been reborn. The sheer absurdity of it was almost laughable. Everything had happened so fast.

Happiness, a loving family, a supportive but broke environment. It all felt like a dream.

But if she had to admit something…

'God, it's so boring.'

Sure, she hadn't even properly started her new life, but come on? Unlimited money right from the start? That was like skipping to the last chapter of a book and missing all the juicy middle parts.

Not that she wasn't grateful. She was. In her old life, she had dreamed of this exact scenario. A ticket out of poverty, the ability to help her family, and the luxury of never having to worry about bills or food again.

But after years of struggle, of clawing her way through life only to hit walls at every turn, the idea of endless wealth felt... hollow.

She was so used to overthinking, hardship, and endless work that it felt unnatural to sit idle. Her mind was an overactive machine, spinning gears even when there was nothing to process.

Right now, she was overwhelmed in a completely different way.

With unlimited money, the sheer scope of possibilities loomed over her like a giant, taunting her. What couldn't she do?

That was the problem.

Whenever she achieved something or gained what she wanted, it was like her sense of purpose evaporated.

She'd worked so hard for so long that she didn't know how to exist without a struggle.

Technically, she could start a business. Live the dream, as they say.

Maybe even open a store or start trading goods, something she couldn't even dream of in her previous life. She could chase the dreams she'd given up on, like going to the dream school she had to sacrifice because it was too expensive.

Although, if there was something she hadn't quite achieved yet, it was leaving behind a secured legacy. But honestly, glory and all that jazz felt like a scam society sold to overworked people. Who cared about being remembered when you had unlimited money? The real question was, what did she actually want to do with it?

'Maybe I still haven't fully moved on…'

She'd forgotten that she was technically still depressed.

After all, her old life didn't exactly end with rainbows and a happy soundtrack. She'd lost everything, sunk into the darkest pit, and even gotten an official diagnosis for severe depression. It was almost funny how she'd managed to momentarily forget something so monumental.

'Well, duh, of course, I'd be affected by it,' she scolded herself. 'I lost my whole life, after all. It's not like a reset button magically fixes mental health.'

Her deep introspection was suddenly interrupted by a far more pressing realization.

'I have to pee…'

Not wanting to bother anyone, Lyrasia casually rolled off the bed with her tiny baby body. 

She waddled over to a chair in front of the desk, her determined little face set on a mission. With a few grunts and some awkward baby strength, she dragged the chair to the door. It took a bit of wrangling, but soon enough, she was on top of it, twisting the doorknob like a pro.

'Who needs opposable thumbs when you're resourceful?'

Once the door creaked open, she made her way to the stairs. She didn't even try to be careful. Being a baby had its perks. Her weight was practically nonexistent, and she moved like a feather drifting on a breeze.

Room by room, she explored the second floor, checking each door until she finally stumbled upon the bathroom at the end of the hall.

Victory.

Stepping inside, she immediately assessed her next challenge: the toilet. Naturally, it towered over her like Mount Everest. Did she let that stop her? Absolutely not. She scrambled up, climbing it like it was her destiny.

"I probably look so ridiculous right now..." she muttered, her tiny voice echoing softly in the bathroom. If anyone saw her, she might actually die of witch accusations.

Once her mission was complete, she hopped down with as much dignity as a baby could muster. She pushed the door open, only to find someone standing directly in front of her.

"W-Wha?!"

"I knew it! You're a demon!" the kid from earlier screamed, pointing an accusatory finger at her like she'd just stolen their candy.

Lyrasia blinked. 'Not this brat again.'

"Tsk. Just because I'm a talking baby doesn't mean I'm a demon."

"Talking like an adult too! You must be a demon in disguise!"

Lyrasia rolled her eyes. If there was one thing she was thankful for in her previous life, it was that she never had to deal with children. At least, not in the way she was dealing with this one.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

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Name: Meila Krasius

Occupation: None

Financial Status: Poor

Personality: Diligent, Responsible, Obedient

Favor Points: -50

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'No wonder I hated her...'

Lyrasia wasn't particularly fond of obedient people. It reminded her too much of the past where "goodness" was just an excuse for people to blindly follow orders and never think for themselves.

"Look, kid..." Lyrasia started, hoping for some kind of peaceful resolution.

"I'm going to cleanse you!" 

'Say what?!' Lyrasia thought, eyes widening as she saw a swirling black energy gather in Meila's palms. It was ominous, and definitely not something she wanted to be a part of.

Before she could even dodge, the air seemed to thicken, and with a shout, the kid hurled the dark energy toward Lyrasia. Without a second thought, Lyrasia dove to the side. The unexplainable phenomenon struck the wall, disintegrating it as if it had never existed.

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[THIRD MISSION: Bargain for Your Life!]

[Objective: Convince Meila Krasius to stop her cleansing attempt.]

[Reward: Unlock Charisma Boost & Negotiation Perk.]

[Time Limit: 3 Minutes]

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