For Now, a Guardian (1)
I brought all the kids back to our base.
We decided to temporarily call them "No. 1" through "No. 10."
I wanted to use their real names if they had them, but not a single one remembered theirs.
They were soulless names, but for someone like me with zero naming sense, it was the best I could do. Honestly, even I thought they sounded lame as hell, so I asked if they wanted different ones, but they said it didn't matter.
These were just placeholders anyway.
The four kids Han Seohyun rescued were sent to different orphanages as much as possible.
Unlike the ones from the lab, they were normal. It was better if they never got tangled up with us. Parting ways early like this was for their own good.
Drugged out of their minds, the kids didn't wake up the whole time we moved them.
What if info leaks through those kids?
Ray was worried about that, but I shook my head. All they saw was Han Seohyun's face anyway...
Eh, they're just kids. Whatever.
That didn't mean I could just wipe them out.
Anyway, suddenly stuck with ten kids meant a ton of stuff to handle.
After dropping them at the base, I headed straight to a nearby mart. To avoid tracking, I'd been hopping regions and switching fake IDs constantly, which made it way more exhausting than usual.
The kids needed a lot.
First up: clothes. They were still in those white lab outfits. Clothing, food, shelter. After clothes, it was food. I grabbed everything labeled "kids love this."
Our supplies were running low anyway, so two birds with one stone. I also picked up toys they'd like and a few game consoles to kill time.
Loaded down with bags from the market, the sight that greeted me back at base was...
Empty as hell.
"Where are the kids?"
Our base was bare-bones to begin with, so it was always kinda empty, but all ten kids vanishing was definitely weird.
At my question, Han Seohyun pointed to one room.
It was an unoccupied spare room.
"In there?"
"Yeah. They settled in and haven't come out since."
Hm.
I nodded and cautiously opened the door.
Not properly set up yet, it looked more like a storage room, but the kids were all huddled inside.
"Eek!"
The moment I peeked in, they plastered themselves against the far wall.
Yeah, that's the trauma talking.
One kid stepped forward protectively, though—the biggest one I'd seen back then.
No. 1.
"Why'd you come?"
"What do you mean? Can't just leave you like this."
Something in my words sharpened No. 1's glare.
"Don't get the wrong idea. That's not what I meant."
My excuse only made the vibe weirder. I scratched my nape awkwardly. Dealing with little kids was definitely not my wheelhouse.
"Hungry, right?"
A few kids glanced my way.
"Got tons of stuff for you. Come out or whatever."
I left the door wide open and headed to the living room. Better to let them come on their own.
Han Seohyun, who'd been eyeing the bags, looked shocked.
"What'd you buy all this for? You said we had no money."
"It's fine. Got enough for this."
I'd said we were broke when we raided the place, but labs like that don't have cash lying around. Still, we scored a bunch of mana stones and artifacts on-site. Sell 'em on the black market, and we'd be set for a bit.
Enough to scrape by, anyway.
I sorted bags with Han Seohyun while waiting. When the kids finally crept out, I spoke up.
"Bought clothes for you guys. Pick what you like."
I pointed at their white outfits.
"Unless you like that color."
They stared at the colorful clothes like they'd never seen any. But soon they inched over, grabbing ones they liked.
"Hmm, guess I'll make food then. Anything you want?"
Han Seohyun shot his hand up. "I want spicy pork!"
"I want pork cutlet!"
Hm, varied tastes.
"Egg fried rice it is."
"Hey, if you're just gonna pick anyway, why ask?!"
Truth was, my cooking sucked. I could heat instant stuff or slap together a meal kit at best.
Spicy pork or cutlets? Too advanced for me. But egg fried rice? I had that down.
No clue how much they'd eat, but as awakeners, they'd pack it away. I cracked a whole carton of eggs. Heated a mountain of instant rice. Quantity over quality egg fried rice, done.
While I cooked, the kids changed.
"Looking good."
In bright clothes, their faces seemed brighter already. My compliment felt awkward to them; they just fidgeted.
I heaped fried rice onto disposable plates and handed them out. Plopping down on the floor, I nodded at the kids.
"Dig in."
"Thanks for the food."
Following Han Seohyun's lead, they mumbled something similar and started chowing down.
Nom nom nom.
Kim Jaeho, who'd appeared outta nowhere, buried his face in a massive plate. As they ate, I told the kids,
"Brush after. Got toothbrushes in different colors. Oh, bathrooms are next to the living room and in the big room. Bought games and toys too—play if you're bored."
Point was: eat, wash up, then do whatever.
Holding spoons, their eyes went wide. Clumped together like that, they were kinda cute.
After eating, I bolted, saying,
"Suck at kid-watching. Figure it out."
"Wha—hey?!"
Han Seohyun realized too late he'd been dumped with them and made a weird noise, but I was already out the door.
"Whew."
Tension finally easing. Those tiny stares were heavy. Strolling casually, Ray spoke up.
One thing I've been wondering—can I ask?
"Shoot."
Why'd you report it yourself?
"Oh, that."
Ray had nagged at the scene too, but too many people around to explain.
"Gotta let people know somehow."
Without that report, the site's managers would've cleaned up traces. Buried the kids' horrific experiments—and the perps. Not what I wanted.
For the kids? Fine, reporting makes sense. But why leave your traces? Wasn't the report enough?
"If I hadn't left the Beltsmets mark, eyes would've gone straight to the kids."
Simple reason for planting the Beltsmets sign: diversion.
I wanted this out, but without hurting the kids. Problem was the keywords. Kids under ten, kidnapped, modded, force-awakened.
Any description was media catnip.
If it leaked, headlines would scream sensationalism.
And no one exploits media better than Seol Rokjin.
He might obsess over "rescuing" these kids for show.
But toss in Beltsmets?
"Even if it leaks, folks'll fixate on 'Beltsmets' as the culprits. Especially after that auction mess. 'Beltsmets took the kids!' 'Who the hell are they?' That's the play."
Kids slip away safe. Beltsmets as their shield.
Damn, you thought that far?
"Only tricks I picked up under that bastard."
True. Spreading the Beltsmets name fits too.
Beltsmets needed to be a proper villain shadow. One people shrug at: Eh, sounds like their style. Untouchable heavyweight image, even if our actual power sucked.
Image is key.
"That way, even if the kids suddenly 'go missing,' no one bats an eye."
Missing?
"Can't keep 'em like that forever."
Few days? Fine. Maybe weeks. Beyond that? No.
Couldn't raise them.
I planned to do plenty of dirty deeds to "save the world."
People I'd already killed? Countless. Kim Jaeho, maybe even Han Seohyun—they'd kill too eventually.
Dragging in two minors already (hell, Kim Jaeho was a kid too) made me scum enough. Those little ones?
"We can only stick with them briefly. Briefly."
So no bonding. Ever.
I snapped awake.
"Hee hee hee!"
A kid's giggle outside woke me. Thought we'd soundproofed. Puzzled, I looked up.
A kid sneaking through my door met my eyes.
"You..."
"Waaah!"
Screaming, he bolted. No. 3? Yawning, I headed out.
It was chaos.
Toys everywhere, kids turning the living room into a playground.
"Stop right there!"
"No way!"
What a mess.
Ray tsked at the sight.
The "testing phase" lasted two days. They eyed toys while watching me at first. Now? Nonstop mischief day and night.
"Booooss!"
A wail turned my head. Han Seohyun, stickers plastered on his head, zombie-shambled toward me.
"Ugh! No sanity left."
"Looks like it."
"Save me!"
"Having fun, huh."
I ignored him with that.
A kid tailing him slapped on more stickers.
I chuckled.
Trauma or not, kids are kids. Base full of laughter.
Even Kim Jaeho, usually on the fringes, joined in actively.
Problem: kids terrified of his bulk.
"Huuung!"
"Save us!"
He chased them to play; they screamed in terror.
Kim Jaeho scratched his head sheepishly.
Who'd guess this guy bashed heads before?
I shook my head.
"Time to eat."
"Food!"
Kids swarmed. I said gravely,
"Egg fried rice again today."
"Ewww!"
"Nooo!"
Their groans made me laugh despite myself.
Fun to tease.