I Thought I Tamed The Villain

[Iris]: Come on, come on! We're all together, right?

 

A few days later, I called all the kids I knew.
I was famous in the nursery, so there were quite a few kids on the playground.

 

[Iris]: Ahem.
I called you because I had someone to introduce.

 

As I gathered people together and spoke like a drug dealer selling medicine, the children's eyes were drawn to me.
Each one had a curious face.

 

[Iris]: I probably have a lot of friends who don't know much about him.
After all, he's an inconspicuous kid.

[Random Child]: Who?

 

One of the children urged.
But it's not enough.
I raised my index finger to maximize their curiosity.

 

[Iris]: I can't tell you yet.
Come on, listen.

 

As I set the tone, the children held their breath and began to focus on me.
I held back the burst of laughter at the sight of them.
Perhaps one of my past lives was a medicine man?

 

Watching the little children pay attention to me with their eyes shining filled me with indescribable joy.

 

[Iris]: Actually….
We had a friend in the nursery who was subjected to outrageous insults and obscenities.

[Random Child]: Hmmmm?? What's that?

[Iris]: Hmm?

 

Oh dear.
I was so absorbed in the role that I forgot who I was talking to.
I cleared my throat and corrected my words again.

 

[Iris]: That's not it! I mean, I had a friend who was unfortunately misunderstood.
Ignored every day, bullied by mean children!

[Children]: It's a pity…

[Iris]: We can't even play ball! We don't even play childhood games together!

[Children]: Oh my God! It's too much!

 

The mood began to rise.
Children reacted more violently to ball games or childhood games than to casual stories.

 

[Iris]: Right? Even you good guys should accept him as a good friend, right?

[Children]: Of course!

 

The innocent children nodded proudly.
With a smile, I distributed snacks to them.

 

[Iris]: I knew you guys would.
This is a small token of my gratitude.

[Children]: This is…Chelle de Merridge's chocolate, which you can only eat when you go out!

 

The children quickly hid the chocolate in their pockets.
This led to a secret deal that was insidious to be.

 

[Iris]: Good.
I think we've done enough of it, so I'm really going to introduce you to him.
Some of you may have heard the name.
Theo!

 

When I called Theo's name, I saw the faces of some of the assembled children turning blue.
But it didn't matter.
For now, I'm going to focus on imprinting Theo's good image on a lot of kids.

 

Theo, who had been hiding in the back the whole time, appeared.
As a result of rigorous practice, a pleasant gentle smile was draped over his lips.
I watched Theo with a smile.

 

Very good! Who would look at that face and think it's a demon?

 

[Theo]: Hi.

 

Theo greeted them in a low voice, and the children watching him looked at each other in confusion.
I clapped my hands as they drew their gaze to me.

 

[Iris]: His name is Theo.
He's the same age as me.
As you can see, he's a very kind and wonderful fellow.

[Random Child]: But he has black hair and red eyes!

 

As expected, a point was made about Theo's appearance.
It was really just as I and Theo expected.

 

[Iris]: Van, but in your opinion, is Theo really demonic?

 

I asked him, his round eyes wide.
Van then looked at Theo, who was smiling good-naturedly, with wavering eyes.

 

[Iris]: Theo had dark hair and red eyes.
But just because they have black hair and red eyes, are they all demons? What if Van happened to have black hair?

 

At my words, Van couldn't say anything and pursed his lips.
Children are brutally simple.
So much so that I was shaken by the appearance that made me look good.
And so much so that many friends get carried away by the simple persuasion of a popular kid they like.

 

[Iris]: That's the misunderstanding that bothered Theo.
Let me tell you exactly.
Theo is not a

demon.

[Random Girl]: But there's no proof that it's really not a demon!

 

Then I heard the voice of a girl with her own firm wick.
That made sense.
I replied with a nod to her.

 

[Iris]: Good.
I'll show you the proof.

 

Then all the children's eyes widened.
Then, holding my breath, I focused on the evidence I was presenting.
It was time to show what we had prepared.

 

There was tension in the playground, as quiet as a dead rat.
Some children were so focused that they swallowed so hard that they could not make a noise.
I turned to Theo with a sullen face.
He nodded.

 

'Are you ready?'

 

At my signal, Theo winked lightly.
The answer was affirmative.
I held out a hand to Theo.
I said in a firm voice.

 

[Iris]: Theo, hands!

 

With a light sound, Theo's left hand landed on top of mine.
I smiled and moved on to the next step.

 

[Iris]: Good.
Now, this hand!

 

Once again, Theo calmly raised his hand.
I patted Theo on the head and praised him.

 

[Iris]: Well done!

 

I turned my head towards the children and smiled triumphantly.

 

How's that?! There are no demons in the world who do this, right?

 

[Children]: …

 

A strange silence flowed through the air.
The children were all watching us as if they were

stones.
I tilted my head and looked at Theo again.

 

'What? Why is there no response?'

 

Then someone shouted.

 

[Random Child]: Iris tamed the devil!

 

As if the sound had signaled a signal, the voices of children screaming for the playground to leave broke out.

 

“It's great!”

“How did you do it?”

“Oh my God! Iris must really be an angel!”

 

What the heck is this? Why is the reaction like this? This isn't it?

 

I looked back at Theo with my eyes wide open.
But Theo just looked at me with a puzzled face.

 

He sighed and furrowed his forehead.

 

 

'Iris tamed the devil.'

'A demon named Theo became Iris' pet.'

'Iris made the devil good.
She even changed his face.'

 

But….

 

What the hell, everyone refused to listen to me.
It was all a rumor that arose after I showed off Theo in front of the children in the nursery.
At first, it was absurd.
They were childish rumors that could only appear in a fantasy novel.

 

Therefore, I tried several times to correct the rumors.
No matter how much I say he's not tamed, they know that's the mindset of a zookeeper!

 

“Iris, there was a reason you read that! I'm sorry.
I don't even know the subject!”

“Evelyn….”

“I'm going to tell this beautiful story!”

 

Moreover, due to Evelyn's spontaneous actions in the library, rumors were spreading like wildfire.

 

[Ms.
Hailey]: He got hurt like that.
In the end, you did something big, didn't you? Great job.
Iris.

[Iris]: Even Mrs.
Haley….

 

Even Ms.
Haley was making fun of me, so I guess this is a bad thing.
Surely.

 

[Iris]: I'm sorry Theo.
I didn't mean to do this…

 

I hung on to Theo and apologized.
I didn't even have any desire to look at Theo, who had officially become a demon.

 

[Theo]: I'm fine.

 

But Theo maintained a calm face for several days.
I was scared of Theo like that.

 

Why, isn't it said that quiet anger is more frightening?

 

Later, I wondered if Theo would assassinate me for demonizing him.

 

[Iris]: Nope! I'd rather that you be mad at me now! Please, please.

 

I don't want to die cruelly!

 

[Theo]: I'm not angry, how can I be angry?

 

Theo looked at me eagerly and made a puzzled face.
He said with that characteristic look in his eyes that looked pathetic to me.

 

[Theo]: I knew it was going to fail from the time I heard about it anyway.

[Iris]: What? Then you should have told me!

[Theo]: It didn't matter if I failed.

 

Theo looked very relaxed, unlike me, who was stomping his feet.
He said that calmly whilst sitting cross-legged.

 

[Theo]: They wouldn't have believed anything anyway.
And I….I told you.
You're good enough for a friend.

 

Is it because the soft voice sounds friendly at first glance? I felt like my heart was pounding in my chest for some reason.

 

[Theo]: And your plan, maybe it worked.

[Iris]: Huh?

[Theo]: No one is scared of me anymore.

 

Having said that, Theo smiled.
It wasn't a fake laugh we practiced day and night.
It was a friendly smile that he sometimes gave me.