Leona's Secret Hobby # 2
Leona's Secret Hobby # 2
Genuinely overwhelmed, I couldn't stop the tears.
Is this what real nobility looks like? I've never seen noblesse oblige practiced this thoroughly before, but thanks to Leona, now I have.
"Kim Geun-cheol, do you carry around a tear pouch or something? Stop creating a flood and cut it out. Quit it. Volunteering is supposed to be done with a cheerful heart."
"Yeah... You're right, Leona!"
Good!
"Now that we're here, we can't half-ass it! I'll give it everything I've got!"
"Heh, this Kim Geun-cheol sure is noisy, but his character is rock-solid. Brimming with enthusiasm. A fine sight to behold. I, Archangel Leona, shall grant you my praise."
"My enthusiasm's overflowing!!!"
Right now, I'm Super Saiyan Kim Geun-cheol!
"But I mean, I do owe you for those meal tickets. I'll help with all I've got and call it payback."
"Alright."
Leona really is kind.
That must be why she treats me well too. Her nature is fundamentally good. She genuinely seems to enjoy helping others.
"Let's go then."
"Yeah! Si-hoo! Today, we volunteer with full force!"
"Heh-heh-heh, well. Looks like we're doing a good thing today. Let's go. We have to help those in need."
"Exactly!"
Si-hoo's mindset is pure hero, too.
"Hey, Geun-cheol. Did you always like volunteering?"
"Hmm... Not sure. I've been so busy I never actually went and did it myself."
I said.
"K-Kim Geun-cheol, you...!"
Leona murmured something.
"Leona?"
"No! Never mind! Let me explain a bit first. This place is an orphanage, a welfare center for runaway teens, and a rehabilitation center for the poor. It's a comprehensive facility that also houses the homeless and drug addicts."
"Wow."
In extreme terms, it's a place where people whose lives are hell gather.
"And a foreign noble family runs something like that?"
"That's the Kainus Family for you. But they do also receive support from the Korean government."
A foreign noble family and the Korean government, holding hands.
"You may have noticed, but even when the powerful seem at odds with each other, they actually get along very well. Our Mister Dominators maintain an especially long and tight relationship with the Korean government, which is comparatively easy to talk to."
"Wow, Leona. When you talk like this, I actually feel like I'm talking to a noble."
"Because you are."
"Heh-heh-heh, I guess so. But Korea's the easy one to talk to?"
Si-hoo answered.
"Geun-cheol. We learned this in class. China and Russia are wrecked, and Japan is ruled by oppressive Neo Daimyos. The Korean government and Mister Dominators are forced to get along."
"Well, I guess."
So that's why Leona enrolled in a Korean academy.
"But there's also the fact that my mother is Korean. I heard it was my mother who first suggested establishing a charity here."
"Man! What a fine mother! That can't be easy to do... Wait, hold on. Does that mean being an angel is hereditary?"
"Pfft, 'hereditary' my ass. Anyway, let's go."
Looks like Leona's mother is an angel too. A mother-daughter angel duo. Just how blessed is Leona's dad?
Is he some kind of national salvation hero from Europe?
Ah, since she said they were part of the high-ranking Awakened ruling class, that's probably it. He must be a first-generation hero from the Dimension War. Good lord. So you have to achieve that level just to get a wife like that and a daughter like this... Way too hard.
"So I'm planning to lend a hand at the orphanage today, Kim Geun-cheol. You?"
"Yeah. Leave it to me. Orphanages are my specialty."
"Ugh... Hoo, huff. Of course. Let's go."
"Yep."
No idea why she keeps avoiding my eyes.
"This is it."
And so we entered the sprawling orphanage. Just looking at it, it was vast and well-managed. The green pastures almost reminded me of an eco-friendly, animal-welfare farm.
"Leona. This place is incredible. Looks like a luxury resort."
Si-hoo marveled.
"Heh, isn't it? This is the Kainus Family's noblesse oblige."
"I'd call it angel oblige. Anyway, Leona. What sort of work here—"
The moment I said that.
"Ah! Miss Leona!"
"M-Miss Leona is here-ere-ere!"
"It's Miss Leona!"
"Muster the kids, now!"
The boys and girls who were playing over there suddenly shouted that and came swarming over.
"Wh-what?"
And did these kids just call her Miss Leona?
That wasn't the only surprise.
—Click-click-click!
—Click-click-click!
—Click-click-click!
In an instant, every kid in the orphanage had assembled into four neat columns! Their movements were practically military!
"Miss Leona! We missed you!"
"Miss Leona! Miss Leona!"
The children, eyes shining like soldiers, chanted Leona's name in unison...! Could it be that they worship Leona!
"What the hell! You've turned these kids into little fascist soldiers! Leona! What is this!"
I'm absolutely stunned!
"Fa-fascist what?! No! They lined up like this playing soldier because they like me, okay?! Why are you giving me crap about fascist soldiers! Am I Hitler?!!"
"These are child soldiers! What is this, Leona-Jugend?!"
"Will you stop making those bizarre jokes! Kim Geun-cheol, why the hell is your trivia knowledge so abundant! Hmph! Just watch!"
Beyond my joke-laced shock, Leona had apparently completely captivated the orphanage children with her charisma.
"Have you all been well while I, Miss Leona, was away?"
"Yeees!"
"Were there any bad kids who bullied their friends?"
"Nooo!"
The moment the kids answered brightly.
"The investigation will reveal all! Bad kids who bully their friends had better prepare to taste bitterness!"
Leona raised her fist and roared like a tiger...!
"There are none, Miss Leona!"
The children still answered joyfully.
"Hoo-hoo-hoo! That's good then!"
I was sure of it. Leona had completely captured the kids with her angel charisma. This is a true angel descended upon the earth.
"Wow. Leona, the kids totally adore you."
"Because they're all good kids."
"They say kids like pretty people too. Guess that's it."
"Ha. You really just say that kind of thing so shamelessly, Kim Geun-cheol. You."
Leona said to me, arms crossed.
"Pretty is a fact."
"I won't accept that!"
"Huh? Why not?"
"You've got to add beautiful to it!"
"Whoops! My mistake!"
Is this woman talking about herself?
"Hey. Si-hoo. Ah."
When I turned to Si-hoo for solidarity, Si-hoo was already the center of attention among the orphans. Boys and girls were clinging, bombarding him with questions.
"Ha, hahaha. This is tough. Yeah. I'm a hero cadet too. I'm learning to become a hero."
"Whoooaaa!"
The orphans were in awe of Si-hoo's exemplary, straightforward answer.
Well, Si-hoo does have decent visuals.
"Lee Si-hoo is popular with the kids too."
"Yeah, no kidding. So, Leona. What are we doing here today?"
"Well... Since it's a holiday, let's play with the kids a bit. There's one important note. Kim Geun-cheol, you are a hero cadet. You know that, right?"
Of course I know.
"So, you have to show a kind, heroic, and exemplary image. A cadet is an idol to children. We need to help them see a cool hero so they can cultivate upright hearts. Orphans... without parents, they can easily go astray. We have to be mentors for them."
Wow!
I was genuinely impressed!
"Leona. You think about all that when you volunteer?"
"Of course."
To put it simply, it's this.
These orphans here will look at the cool, kind, and pretty Miss Leona, and they will naturally internalize respect for heroes and a sense of justice.
That lowers the chance of them going astray.
They'll grow up right.
"Leona. Please, turn off your halo. You're about to ascend to nirvana."
"Heh, 'nirvana' my ass. Kim Geun-cheol, the way you talk is absolutely killing me."
"Anyway, great! Then I'll go have some delightful playtime with these children! I'm off to play with the kids! Leona!"
"You... do that."
Just as I was about to approach the kids.
—Click-click-click.
Suddenly, the boys and girls started marching toward me.
Hey, what's this? They're coming to me first?
This is nice.
"Nice to meet you, kids!"
"Who are you, mister?"
"Who are you, mister?"
"Me?"
If I were to say.
"Ah! Miss Leona's subordinate! You're a subordinate, right!"
What?
"She said the other guy was a friend! This one looks like a subordinate!"
"It's a personal guard! Miss Leona's direct personal guard!"
"Is it a classmate strike force?!"
Wha- what are these kids saying.
"Hey! Personal guard, my ass! I'm Leona's friend too!"
"Eeeh! Liar!"
"I'm serious, man!"
"Then are you a hero cadet too, mister?!"
A girl asked with sparkling eyes.
"Yeah."
The moment I answered, dropping my voice and putting on a little air.
"Fake! Fake! Liar!"
"Wee-woo wee-woo! Liar detected! Liar detected!"
"Aaaaack! We have to arrest the liar and hand him over to Miss Leona!"
The kids started going berserk!
"Wha- what the hell is wrong with you brats...! Hey! I said I'm a real cadet! What do you mean liar! Why the hell would I lie!"
"Then show us your ability!"
"Abilityyyyy!"
They want me to show my superhuman power? It's kind of ridiculous to do this in front of kids, but even if they're just children, I can't stand being underestimated.
"Fine! I'll show you! Hey! One of you, come forward! I'll show you my ability!"
—Step.
"Show us!"
A mischievous-looking boy stepped forward. At the same time, the other kids looked at me with anticipation.
"I'll show you my power. You little sprouts."
"Hm?"
I immediately slipped my hands under the boy's armpits.
"Ability! Uruk-High Jump!"
—Boing!
I cast High Jump to demonstrate the power of my ability! As mana discharged and a strange floating sensation took hold, my body lifted as if I were pole vaulting.
"Whoooa!"
A jump that transcends an ordinary jump.
—Tap.
And a light landing.
"Whooooa! It's a roller coasterrrr!"
The boy went wild.
Little brat. You're fun to play with.
"Whoaaaa! Mister! Do me next!"
"Mister, me too! I want to try!"
"It's a hero! He really was a cadet!"
"Overwhelming ability!"
And the other kids' eyes lit up as they demanded I give them a jump too. These adorable little bastards.
"Heh-heh-heh, you little brats! Fine! I'll do it for all of you! Come here!"
It's fun.
Didn't Leona treat me with pure goodwill to begin with? Yeah... Is this a chain of goodwill? Hatred can chain, but goodwill can chain too.
I never knew playing with kids could be this fun.
"Hyaaap!"
"Kya-ha-ha!"
Today, I'll play my heart out!
* * *
"Ugh...!"
She couldn't hold back the tears bursting forth.
"Sniffle!"
Hidden behind a tree, Leona watched Kim Geun-cheol playing with the orphans, sniffled, and wiped her tears.
"You're far too kind to orphans, Kim Geun-cheol...!"
A painful resonance filled her chest, sadness welling up.
"Ugh! You like children, don't you! It must remind you of your days living at the orphanage...! Huuuhk!"
Leona leaned against the tree and pressed her forearm to her eyes to wipe away the tears.
It felt like she couldn't breathe.
Her chest was tight.
"That's why you can't help but be good to them...!"
The sight of Kim Geun-cheol playing happily with those orphans was heartbreaking. Though they hadn't spent long together, Leona knew.
Kim Geun-cheol. He lived more cheerfully than anyone, but he was a person with just as many scars.
At first, she'd just thought of him as a cowardly guy who whined a lot and had an insane over-the-top reaction to everything. But still, a cheerful classmate.
But that wasn't it.
Kim Geun-cheol was an orphan.
"Sniffle!"
She'd been curious and done a simple background check. On Kim Geun-cheol. But compared to the simplicity of the check, the result was surprisingly tragic.
________________________
[Enrolled: Hanbit Orphanage Elementary School]
[Enrolled: Dream Village Orphanage Elementary School]
[Enrolled: Dr. Chaplain Orphanage Elementary Division]
[Graduated: Areumdaun Orphanage Elementary School]
[Enrolled: Kind Heart Orphanage Middle School]
[Enrolled: Ancient Batista Orphanage Middle Division]
[Graduated: Bright Courtyard Orphanage Middle School]
_______________________
An overwhelming record of being bounced between orphanages.
She hadn't checked the reasons, but Kim Geun-cheol had lived being shuffled through countless orphanages. It was, literally, a game of hot potato. Guessing the reason wasn't hard.
A problem child.
"You carry that much sadness...!"
He carried so much sadness that he became a problem child and was shuffled around orphanages. He must have had rough edges to his personality. Children who lose their parents young are usually like that. Even more so if they lacked a proper mentor.
In hindsight, there had been glimpses of it.
According to her investigation, Ryu Cheon-hwi wasn't his first conflict. He'd also verbally lashed out with incredible force at some nasty older students.
And that same Kim Geun-cheol.
"Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! This is the ultimate sword aura, you little shits!"
"Whoaaaaaack!"
"Somebody save me! Somebody save meeeee!"
"From his sword! Light is coming from his swordddd!!!"
"Overwhelming fantasyyyy!!"
He was playing with the orphans that kindly.
And so cheerfully and happily too.
"Huuuh, huwaaaaaah!"
Tears poured out.
Leona cried out loud.
Because her personality wouldn't allow her to hold this in.
"Huuuh, sniffle!"
Both parents dead.
They died 15 years ago when the Void Princess appeared in Seongnam. Many heroes, hunters, and civilians died back then. Kim Geun-cheol's father wasn't a hero; he was a hunter.
He was killed in action, and his mother got caught up in the incident and never returned. From then on, young Kim Geun-cheol was left in an orphanage.
"Kim Geun-cheol! Why do you make me so sad!"
I can't stop the tears!