Chapter 233
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: It's Only Natural.
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After the banquet ended.
Until Barbara, following Maya's orders, guided them to their lodgings, and Hermann retreated to his room with a weary expression.
Yuna Kyung, who hadn't been able to hide her dazed look, finally parted her beak hesitantly after a long while.
"Th-there's a lot I'm curious about, but let me ask this first."
Yuna Kyung closed her beak.
Then, after catching her breath for a moment, she cried out in shock.
"Team Leader, you know how to use polite speech?!"
In response to Yuna Kyung's astonishment, which erupted after such a grand time lag, Rimon's reply was to snap his fingers.
Snap!
"Ow! Why'd you hit me!"
"Why? Because I'm annoyed that you're treating your sky-like Team Leader as some rude beastly chick who doesn't know manners."
"But you've never done it before!"
Yuna Kyung pointed out sharply.
Even for her, who had spent years with Rimon from before and after his lifetime, this was the first time she'd heard him use polite speech.
But Rimon's attitude was nonchalant.
"That's because there was no reason to."
"No reason? You were casual even with Syr sis or the Countess sis!"
"The situations back then and now are different."
"What's different about them?"
"Just what it sounds like—the difference between whether there's a need or not."
Hearing Rimon's answer, Yuna Kyung only grew more confused.
It was understandable for Rimon to speak bluntly to ordinary people, considering his age.
But he'd been casual even with Syr, who was much older, and he hadn't properly used polite speech even when infiltrating the Cis-Serpent Countess's family.
She couldn't understand why this time was different.
"Ah, fine. Let's set aside the polite speech issue for now... Then what about that deal?"
"What deal?"
"That ridiculous deal where you agreed to serve as that scary sister's slave for ten days! What on earth were you thinking accepting that?"
"What thinking? I did it because that's what it takes for the Green Dragon Princess to heal the sculptor guy."
"Th-that's true, but..."
Yuna Kyung stammered despite herself.
In that situation where Li Chingwei's offer had been rejected outright, Rimon had no choice but to accept her proposal to receive Maya's treatment.
"Does that even make sense to begin with? Who in the world demands a life in exchange for treatment!"
In the end, she changed tack.
Rather than argue verbally with this old man, she'd complain about Maya, who wasn't present.
It was the perfect example of how even the king gets cursed when he's absent.
The problem was Rimon's reaction.
"What's so strange about it? That's pretty common."
"Huh?"
Yuna Kyung froze at the unexpected response.
To her, Rimon said indifferently,
"Haven't you heard stories of families committing suicide over hospital bills?"
"That's different from this."
"Is it? What about borrowing from loan sharks to pay medical bills, ending up a lifelong debtor, or dying without treatment because they couldn't afford it?"
"Well..."
Yuna Kyung was at a loss for words.
She was an orphanage graduate, after all.
She'd seen the director agonizing over medical bills whenever a child got seriously ill.
"Rather than demanding exorbitant treatment fees, letting someone become a slave and work it off with their body can actually be mercy for ordinary folk."
Rimon added quietly.
Those who sought out the Green Dragon Clan for illness fell into two categories.
Either they had incurable diseases that couldn't be treated, or they could be treated but couldn't afford the costs.
The latter was one thing, but the former's treatment fees were usually beyond what ordinary people could bear.
Much less, if becoming a slave granted a chance at direct treatment from Maya, one of the world's richest?
That could even be considered exceedingly fair.
Whether filthy rich or dirt poor without money for medicine.
Everyone had only one life.
"Besides, you're thinking of slavery too narrowly. The Green Dragon Clan's version of slavery is akin to a kind of profession."
"...A profession?"
"Yeah."
Rimon said matter-of-factly.
Having lived a long life, he'd seen many cultures' slave systems.
And surprisingly, many didn't view becoming a slave as a big deal.
No matter how hard life was, slaves were guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter.
Of course, there were war slaves, criminal slaves, or American plantation slaves living worse than death.
But in well-regulated systems, slaves received wages, and could buy their freedom anytime by saving up.
Slaves with special skills or expertise even negotiated their own pay, amassing fortunes and retiring.
And the Green Dragon Clan's system was relatively humane.
"In short, their slaves are like lifetime-employed professionals?"
"Something like that. The difference is, modern service workers sell smiles and courtesy to customers, while Green Dragon slaves sell freedom and loyalty."
"Even so, I think service work and slavery are worlds apart..."
"Eh. From what I've seen, they're much the same."
Become a slave to money and a company.
Or a slave to a person.
Aside from that distinction, he'd seen plenty of office workers treated worse than historical slaves—or even more harshly.
Rimon said indifferently.
Watching Yuna Kyung's subtle expression as she recalled her PAB days of constant overtime, he chuckled.
"Well, if you can't accept it, that's fine. The point is simple."
"The point?"
"Only those willing to sacrifice their freedom or risk their lives to get treatment for someone they care about come to the Green Dragon Princess."
"...And you accepted because you agree with that?"
"No reason not to. It's just playing slave for ten days."
Rimon snorted.
He'd solved everything with his sword, but no matter what anyone said, he was from the brutal martial world.
He could cast aside petty pride anytime necessity demanded, using ambushes or deception without hesitation—a sly old fox.
If he couldn't do that much, he'd have died long ago fighting the Seven Dragon Society or other Sword Masters.
Compared to that, ten days as a slave was nothing—just think of it as a part-time gig.
"Actually, what I can't accept is something else."
"Huh?"
Leaving Yuna Kyung puzzled by the cryptic words, Rimon slowly turned forward.
And bluntly spoke.
"Princess, what on earth were you thinking saying that?"
The black-haired girl, Li Chingwei, who had been silently quiet until now, tilted her head at Rimon's question.
"What words do you mean?"
"The offer to pay the treatment fee with your body."
"Why, the same reason you accepted Maya's proposal, of course."
Li Chingwei smiled faintly in reply.
But seeing her with that usual serene smile, Rimon narrowed his eyes.
"To heal the sculptor guy? You're saying you made that absurd proposal just for that?"
"Yes, because it was the best way."
"The best..."
He mulled over the answer for a moment.
Then Rimon nodded.
"Alright, if that's what you think, then it was the best."
Well-versed in Seven Dragon Society relations, he could infer much.
Even Li Chingwei's initial intent: proposing an unacceptable price deliberately, then gradually easing clinical trial terms through negotiation.
Even without his intervention, Maya would have accepted Li Chingwei's proposal eventually.
She was the Black Dragon Princess.
Among a clan specializing in schemes and plots, the cleverest and most profound girl.
Thus, Rimon gazed straight at Li Chingwei with deep-set eyes.
"On that note, I have a question... Princess, what are you hiding?"
"Huh?"
Yuna Kyung was baffled.
What, was he some jealous husband?
She couldn't fathom why Rimon was suddenly asking Li Chingwei this.
But Li Chingwei neither startled nor panicked.
She simply countered calmly.
"Why do you think I'm hiding something?"
"Plenty of reasons."
Rimon answered flatly.
He'd sensed something off since she insisted on coming along to persuade the Green Dragon Princess.
The Black Dragon Clan was already busy cleaning up after the Liberation Brigade's attack.
Especially now, amid the London incident's aftermath, her absence was a huge strain.
"Calling that absurd proposal to the Green Dragon Princess the 'best way' was suspicious too."
If solely for treating Hermann, her method wasn't bad.
But considering other clans' relations or the Black Dragon Clan's reaction upon learning of it?
It was hard to call it the best.
For the Black Dragon Princess to volunteer as a test subject was humiliating enough to be recorded as a disgrace for generations.
Yet if Li Chingwei called it the best, there was only one conclusion.
There was a reason Rimon didn't know.
A circumstance requiring her to end the deal with the Green Dragon Princess on her own terms, bearing great burdens.
"Above all, the weirdest was dodging the Green Dragon kid's question earlier about whether I was your attendant."
"...You noticed, huh?"
"How could I not? Not denying it outright screams intent to let the Green Dragon Clan misunderstand."
Firm denial can sometimes convince more than affirmation.
But neither affirming nor denying?
It sows confusion.
And Rimon vaguely guessed the confusion Li Chingwei intended.
"Like, maybe I'm from the Black Dragon Clan."
"Black Dragon Clan? You, Team Leader?"
Yuna Kyung was incredulous.
No matter that Rimon in disguise had black hair, she couldn't imagine such a ridiculous misunderstanding.
Yet Li Chingwei didn't deny Rimon's speculation.
She simply nodded slowly, as if it finally made sense.
"...So that's why you played along with the act."
"Can't have them fixating on my fiancée's business."
Rimon said indifferently.
If not to fit her intent, he wouldn't have bothered with such a lame performance, no matter how urgent the treatment.
That's why he'd quietly grilled her.
"The issue is, I can't figure out why you'd want that misunderstanding."
"..."
"So explain. What you're hiding from me, and why."
Rimon stated calmly that if there was a reason he'd accept, he'd keep playing along in this farce.
Looking at him, Li Chingwei felt a complex emotion.
Normally, hiding secrets and scheming would earn anger first.
But asking for reasons upfront?
For the Black Dragon Princess, used to deceiving and being wary of everyone, this trust felt alien.
Especially from Rimon of all people.
Thus, Li Chingwei smiled faintly.
"I can't tell you."
"...Whether your purpose in following me, the secret you're keeping, or why you wanted them to mistake me for Black Dragon Clan. Nothing?"
"Yes, not a single one."
Perhaps because it was so unexpected.
Seeing Rimon slightly raise an eyebrow, Li Chingwei smiled bitterly inwardly.
It all tied to Dragon Saiyonics—a secret she could never tell Rimon.
Even if it cost his trust.
Thus, steeling herself with a smile against harsh interrogation or icy distrust.
"Well, if that's how it is, fine."
"...Pardon?"
But the next moment brought an answer far beyond her expectations.
"You say you can't tell? What can I do—I'll just accept it."
Anyone else, maybe not.
But if she said she couldn't, there must be a reason.
So even if he didn't fully get it, he'd go along for now—Rimon said so oh-so-casually.
Blinking at him momentarily.
Li Chingwei unwittingly asked,
"You don't think I'm deceiving the Sword Duke to plot something bad in secret?"
"I'm your fiancé, aren't I?"
As if it were an odd question.
Rimon replied indifferently.
And looking at wide-eyed Li Chingwei, he continued calmly.
"Even if it's just provisional, what kind of husband doesn't trust his wife?"