Chapter 13: Code of Hammurabi!

“Is it a computer?”

“Yes.”

At the question from the puzzled bear, I nodded firmly.

The computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers.

No matter how much I searched, even though I had been reborn as a female elementary school student, I couldn’t bear to be without those items with the mind of a strong young man.

But I had not had them at home until now. Why?

Because there’s nothing I can do with them.

Whether signing up on some site before transferring a game account or any other site, all kinds of verifications.

“Go away if you’re under 14,” the one-sided rejection.

Why is this damn world so realistic only in such places?

‘I should at least be able to watch videos.’

In this subject, every website is equally obsessed with money, so it’s a real comedy that even non-members can make payments.

Whether it’s something to be called fortunate or laughable.

Since videos can be watched on smartphones without much verification, the situation would be similar even if I bought a computer.

Once the decision was made, the payment was completed in an instant.

A huge amount of money, enough to order a hundred rolls of kimbap, disappeared in one go, along with the internet cable, monitor, and cables to connect the computer.

After proceeding with the payments one by one, I looked at the stack of payment completion screens and solemnly steadied my mind.

The loud noise, too, was considered a melody that sweetened the revenge.

Let us look forward to the day of retaliation, for their laughter will soon turn into screams.

“Hmm-hmm-”

On that day, I naturally hummed a tune.

“Hey, Kimbap!”

“Yeah, yeah, it’ll be tasty if you dip it in tteokbokki.”

On a day when I could even laugh at the teasing with my usual name at school.

“Mari, there’s a monster…”

Even hearing the monster alarm ringing during the vague break after the third period.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s deal with it quickly.”

Even hearing during the fourth period that a monster had appeared, within less than an hour.

On this day, I could accept everything with a broad smile.

The numerous payment screens marked as delivered made me happier than resenting the world.

“Hehe….”

‘What music should I play for the neighbors upstairs?’

With a wicked laugh that could not be imagined from a magical girl, I filled my mind with thoughts brimming with malice.

Music with offensive lyrics and intense rock?

Metal with loud, booming vibrations?

A malicious video with hours of incessant drill sounds?

In fact, it didn’t matter which.

Sounds from the upper floor at unwanted times are just that.

Even if it’s soothing piano music or majestic orchestras, it’s just a mere noise.

“Wow, what is all this?”

Siyeon, who had come home holding hands with me, was the first to be astonished at the piled-up boxes.

Monitors, speakers, keyboards, mice, various cables, and components.

It was only natural that the front door was filled with deliveries since everything had been completed.

Carrying all those items into the house with her small body was quite a hassle.

If I were an adult, I would have finished it with just four round trips, but with Siyeon, it felt like we went back and forth at least seven times.

Still, I didn’t think the process was painful or pointless in the slightest.

After somehow completing the assembly, the computer turned on, the sound came through the speakers properly, the internet was connected correctly, and the monitor lit up brightly.

“It’s done!”

“Can we use the computer like the teacher now?”

“Yes, we can.”

After answering Siyeon, who looked somewhat excited, I immediately opened the internet browser.

I typed in a familiar link in the address bar, opening the page filled with videos. As soon as I typed the word “noise between floors” into the search bar, there was no need to look further as “revenge for noise between floors” was auto-completed as the top suggestion.

Hammering sounds, the clanging of gongs, the simple sound of a hammer driving in nails.

Looking at these videos, which were like a feast laid out before me, I couldn’t help but salivate.

Of course, I had purchased speakers that could be attached to the ceiling. Since no one would see us inside the house anyway, I used magical girl powers to attach an extension cord and fix the speakers to face upward.

“Siyeon.”

Before playing the video, I stared at the speaker attached to the ceiling and quietly called Siyeon’s name, recalling a certain excellent law from a distant country.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know the Code of Hammurabi?”

The Code of Hammurabi. I let the magnificent name roll off my tongue.

“No…?”

“If someone kills a person, they shall be put to death. If someone breaks another’s arm, their arm shall be broken. If someone blinds another, their eyes shall be gouged out.”

What a beautiful resonance these words have.

Those who torment others with noise between floors shall suffer the same pain.

With a click to start the video, the revenge began.

Oh, and I eliminated any ads with a two-month free premium trial.

“It’s time for them to pay the price of their sins.”

“Mari is using difficult words again…”

I planned to play some daily noise videos for just an hour, from the point when I heard the sound of running above. Maybe just for 20 minutes or so?

But then, after about 20 minutes, I heard a knock on the apartment door!

The response was immediate.

‘Looks like it’s working perfectly.’

The first lesson from our ancestors: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

The wisdom of the ancients never fails.

“Excuse me! Please open the door!”

The tone was sharp, clearly filled with anger.

The chain lock was higher than the door handle. To stop the angry lady from barging in, I used a stick to compensate for my short height and slid the chain lock into place.

I stretched my hand out towards the door.

“Who is it?”

A voice, innocent and carefree, opened the door. The wrinkled face that had been staring straight ahead now tilted downward.

Before they could say anything in an irritated tone, I preemptively greeted them.

“Hello!”

“Oh, hello… Are your parents home?”

The wisdom passed down from our ancestors, lesson number two: You can’t be mean to a smiling face. Especially if it’s an innocent child’s.

No matter how rude someone might be, they’d likely think twice compared to dealing with someone their own age.

“Nope! They went out for something important!”

“I see… Well, may I come inside for a moment?”

“Um…”

I groaned slightly, adding the final touch, preparing to send the lady away with something all children are supposed to say.

“Dad told me not to open the door for strangers!”

“Sigh.”

The lady let out a short, exasperated sigh. What’s the point of talking to a lower elementary school student at length? In the end, she seemed frustrated, stomping her feet in place, unable to release her pent-up anger, and finally left a few words.

“If your parents come back, tell them I came from upstairs because it’s too noisy.”

“Okay, got it!”

The sound of the door closing with a click – could it feel any more satisfying?

I closed the door, aimed at the invisible space beyond it, raised my right arm firmly, flipped my middle finger, and smacked my right arm with my left hand, making a loud *clap*.

“Take that.”

From the slightly open door crack, the layout of the room didn’t show the computer against the wall or the ceiling-mounted speakers.

After completing my perfect protest as the downstairs neighbor, I pressed pause on the video screen and enjoyed the refreshing sensation of downing a can of soda.

“It should be quiet for a while now.”

“Really?”

The prospect of fewer footsteps made Siyeon’s face brighten as well. While you might not notice it while sleeping, the constant thudding from above during the day was really stressful.

Even a kid hates noise from the neighbors…

‘Let’s see.’

I glanced at the boxes scattered around the house and thought for a moment. The computer, monitor, speakers, and everything else that I’d barely managed to set up based on instinct.

I gathered up all the manuals that had been strewn inside the boxes. Then, by chance, I came across the instructions for the speakers…

[Play your favorite music. No matter how good the music is, if someone else is playing it, it’s just noise.] Conveniently.

[To avoid appearing intentional, use sounds that could come from any household.]

‘…Huh?’

There, written in a way that shouldn’t be in any ordinary speaker manual, was a detailed method for retaliating against noise from upstairs.

[How to Respond] for Disputes.

[If someone comes to visit, you can talk through the intercom or speak through a small gap with the door latch on.]

[If security comes]

[If the upstairs neighbor’s noise is too loud, you can play music loudly to drown it out. When they are quiet, you won’t need to do that. You can tell them to quiet the upstairs neighbor first.]

[If the police come]

[Sometimes the upstairs neighbor may call the police. In that case, you can respond as follows.]

[Do not rudely turn the police away. There’s no need to make the police your enemy.]

[If they ask to come in, you can say no.]

[Without the landlord’s permission, the police cannot enter.]

[There’s no legal issue with letting them in, but you don’t have to show them inside if you don’t want to.]

[The police know better than anyone that there’s nothing they can do legally.]

[If the upstairs neighbor calls the Noise Complaints Center]

[There is no legal binding power. You don’t have to comply if you don’t want to.]

“Oh…”

In an unexpected place, I came across some surprisingly useful information.

So that’s how it is.