Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Does Hope Come with a Guarantee?
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'God, why the hell am I stuck doing this...?'
Hotel Leviathan was the finest hotel around.
True to its reputation, it came equipped with the basics like a gym and training grounds, plus a sauna, interrogation room, tailor shop, conference room, firearms store, gallery, salon, and all sorts of other facilities.
And among that impressive array was a childcare center.
'Our place isn't some rundown orphanage.'
Of course, the childcare center didn't see much use. Leviathan's clientele was far removed from anything family-oriented.
But it was still part of Leviathan proper.
That's why Cheon Suran had managed it with pride—up until a few days ago, when twenty-three kids had been dumped on her out of nowhere.
'Why do I have to look after the brats that lunatic swordsman dragged in?'
Cheon Suran was the head of the facility, after all.
She'd mastered every bit of knowledge on childcare and education, with years of hands-on experience to boot. A few dozen kids were nothing to her.
Yet she felt frustrated for two reasons.
One was that these kids just happened to be the ones brought by the Sword Duke.
The other was one particularly docile little girl.
'And I have no clue how to even handle her.'
Sia.
The eldest among the twenty-three kids who had suddenly arrived, practically a big sister figure.
She helped out with everything from teaching the younger ones habits and preferences to handling small tasks.
Even kids older than her treated her like an older sister, so in many ways, she required minimal attention.
'I don't like her.'
Cheon Suran could tell at a glance.
Sia might look like an ordinary girl on the surface, but she was anything but normal.
Just look at what she did during downtime when no childcare was needed—it was obvious.
What did she do?
Nothing. That was the problem.
She didn't play.
She didn't rest.
She didn't sleep.
She just sat there, perfectly still. It wasn't merely odd—it was downright eerie.
Paired with her especially lifeless eyes, it gave off a chilling vibe, like staring at a dead battery... or a corpse.
'I'd love to just leave her be, but...'
After eyeing Sia with clear displeasure for a while, Cheon Suran finally swallowed her irritation, plastered on a smile, and approached her.
"Um, Sia?"
"What do you need help with?"
"It's not that I need help. I just want to help you out."
"I don't need any."
"Hear me out. We have someone at the hotel who's great at counseling. It might do you good to talk to them."
"I don't need therapy."
"No, it's not therapy..."
"Then I definitely don't need it."
"......"
A triple combo of flat-out refusals, no hesitation.
Cheon Suran could only curse inwardly.
'That's why I'm telling you to get some damn therapy, you little brat!'
If Sia were just a rebellious teen putting up walls, Cheon Suran would've patiently chipped away at them.
But Sia was different.
It wasn't an act of feigned disinterest—she truly had none.
She wasn't building walls around her heart—she had no heart to begin with.
A subtle distinction on the surface, but it gave even Cheon Suran, well-versed in child psychology, a throbbing headache.
The silver lining was that someone could handle Sia.
The downside was that the one exception wasn't Cheon Suran herself, or anyone from the childcare center—or even any Leviathan staff.
"What're you lookin' at with those rotten pollack eyes? Harassin' the teacher again?"
It was right then.
Sia, who hadn't twitched no matter what Cheon Suran said, turned her head on her own.
"......I've never harassed anyone."
"Like hell you haven't. I can tell she's miserable 'cause of you just by lookin'."
"That's not fair."
"If you don't want me callin' bullshit, then smile or somethin'. Your dead-fish eyes are scarin' the teacher off."
"I don't feel like smiling."
"Tsk tsk. You're gonna suck at social life, kid."
How long had he been there?
A white-haired man had slipped in unnoticed, piggybacking one of the kids and chuckling as he teased Sia.
Spotting Rimon, Cheon Suran hurriedly bowed her head.
"Welcome, Sword Duke."
"Hey, Teacher Cheon. Sorry for the hassle with our kids again today."
"N-No, not at all. If anything, I'm ashamed for burdening them due to my own shortcomings."
"Shortcomings? What shortcomings? Takin' care of these wild ones this well is impressive enough."
"Ah... yes......"
Rimon praised her so casually.
But Cheon Suran could only manage an awkward expression because the one praising her was none other than Rimon.
'Why did Her Highness pick this guy as a marriage candidate?'
Rimon Asfelder.
The Seven Dragon Society's greatest—and worst—enemy.
Even she, a mere underling in the Black Dragon Clan, knew his infamous reputation all too well.
No matter how much times had changed, just looking at him stirred fear and disgust.
Yet she had to treat him politely as a potential consort. It was absolute torture for her.
"Whoa, it's Grandpa Rimon!"
"Grampy, piggyback me too! Piggyback!"
"You little punks, I told ya to call me 'hyung'—not grandpa."
"Liar! Na-kyung sis said white hair and old means grandpa!"
"That Yuna Kyung... Fine, have a taste of grandpa's wrath!"
"Waaah! Grandpa's mad!"
The kids swarmed Rimon upon spotting him.
Cheon Suran watched him play along so naturally, her face a mask of unease—like witnessing a machine gun hung out to dry or a demon attending a psychology lecture.
Rimon scooped up a crying kid, changed their diaper, and held out a hand to Sia.
"Rotten pollack eyes, grab a fresh diaper."
"Here."
"Kid looks hungry—get a bottle too."
"Here."
"The rattle this one's into..."
"Here."
Like a seasoned assistant's demo.
Snap to it—Sia fetched exactly what was needed before Rimon even finished speaking, while he changed the diaper, fed the bottle, and shook the rattle.
They soothed a kid who normally wailed for an hour straight with perfect synergy.
Then Rimon smirked at Sia.
"Not bad?"
"It's what I always do."
"For someone who's always done it, you seemed pretty clueless a few days ago."
"I didn't know where anything was back then."
Sia's response was curt.
Dry as dust, emotions withered away.
But Rimon didn't dwell on it. He just played with the kids and asked around.
"Nothin' you're short on?"
"No."
"Don't bullshit me. I can see you're worried about school for these kids."
"......"
Sia fell silent for once, no quick retort.
And rightly so—the orphanage kids ranged from elementary to middle and high school age.
Having lost their homes through kidnapping and rescue, they'd been forced into indefinite leave. School was a real concern.
Rimon chuckled at her, then turned to Cheon Suran.
"Teacher Cheon, what about that thing I asked for?"
"Textbooks are ready. But assigning dedicated teachers per child will take a few more days."
"Huh? Did I ask for dedicated teachers?"
Rimon tilted his head.
She stated her case firmly, as a childcare specialist.
"Their ages mean big gaps in progress, so I decided on my own. Early education gaps widen over time."
"I see."
"......Yes."
Cheon Suran's shoulders slumped again.
She'd acted on principle, but dreaded him snapping about overstepping.
"Hmm... Alright, handle it that way. I ain't up on how kids learn these days anyway."
Luckily, Rimon didn't blame her.
He just nodded and delegated fully.
As Cheon Suran silently thanked the Ancestral Black Dragon God in relief, Rimon turned back to Sia.
"What do ya think? That should cover schooling for a while, right?"
"......"
Sia stayed quiet again.
No issues? Far from it.
Dedicated teachers for each kid?
Orphanage kids who'd never even seen a tutor, let alone a decent cram school—it was unimaginable luxury.
After staring at Rimon blankly, Sia finally spoke up.
"Brother Rimon."
"......What's with that?"
"You told the kids to call you 'hyung,' so 'oppa' seems right for me."
"Can't you pick somethin' else?"
"Should I go with 'orabeoni' then?"
"Just call me 'Uncle'......"
"Okay, Uncle Rimon."
Impudence wins the day.
Sia secured the title against Rimon, who massaged his temples.
She asked calmly,
"Why are you being so good to us, Uncle Rimon?"
Uncle or not, he was still a stranger. He could turn away anytime.
Most adults did.
Even Cheon Suran, the facility head, only cared for them out of duty—her disdain was obvious.
So why did he help?
Sia's question leaned more suspicion than curiosity. Rimon's answer was simple.
"'Cause that's what Na-kyung would've done."
At that name, Sia's dull, oyster-like eyes flickered with life for a moment.
But it faded fast.
Her gaze sank heavy again as she whispered to Rimon, out of the other kids' earshot.
"......You're not Na-kyung sis."
"Nope."
"Na-kyung sis is already dead."
"I know."
Rimon affirmed it plainly.
Yet recalling Yuna Kyung's brutal death felt all the crueler. Still, Sia didn't grieve.
She just continued softly.
"Then don't say useless stuff."
"Useless how?"
"You're giving us false hope."
To the Hanbit Orphanage kids, Yuna Kyung wasn't just a kind volunteer.
She was reliable family.
The future they could become.
Dreams worth keeping.
Hope incarnate.
That's why Sia understood.
What it meant for Rimon to "replace" her—and how much hope that would give the others.
She knew too well, so she rejected it. Rimon narrowed his eyes.
"That a problem?"
"Yes."
Sia stated flatly.
Staring straight into his golden eyes, she said in a sunken voice,
"Better not to give something you'll just take away."
Tasty meals and spacious beds.
Great education and ample free time.
A sturdy protector in Rimon.
Life at Leviathan was abundant.
Abundantly so—losing it would bring unimaginable despair.
Sia didn't care for herself. She expected nothing, so no disappointments.
But the other kids were different.
If Rimon's hope vanished...
They'd be shattered.
So if it was doomed to end, don't give it at all.
Rimon smirked at her cold logic.
"You got a lot of hang-ups... but lemme ask one thing."
"What?"
"Why're you so sure the hope I give will vanish someday?"
Rimon was confident.
Cheap pity fades fast? Or he'd die like Yuna Kyung someday?
He wasn't helping out of pity, and he sure as hell wasn't dying.
He was Rimon Asfelder, the strongest Sword Master, survivor of eons.
So when Sia spoke, his smile froze.
"'Cause Uncle Rimon's an unemployed bum."
"......"
"Oh, and a traitor and criminal too."
No income, poor as dirt, arrest looming any day—what was there to trust for hope?
She judged him like inspecting a suitor's face and fortune. After a long silence, Rimon muttered awkwardly.
"......Where'd you hear that?"
"The news."
"They advertise me bein' jobless now?"
"No, I figured that out seeing a grown man play with kids in broad daylight."
"Damn, you got sharp eyes."
"Na-kyung sis taught me orphans need quick wits to survive."
'She never said anything about needin' a mouth filter?'
Rimon swallowed the question rising to his throat.
Expect too much from her.
Yuna Kyung, who swam with her mouth open even when drowning, wouldn't teach restraint.
'Ugh, and I called that one my subordinate...'
Doubting his vow to avenge her blood for a moment, he sighed.
Scratching his cheek, he said,
"Yeah, I'm a jobless traitor right now, but I'll be cleared soon and land a job."
"Every criminal and bum says that."
"......You don't buy it?"
"No reason to."
"Hmm, no reason, huh."
Words falling on deaf ears.
Faced with her unyielding distrust, Rimon crossed his arms.
Then, as if struck by an idea, he grinned slyly.
"If my treason charge gets dropped, will you start hopin' then?"
Sia paused.
She couldn't read his intent.
Even she knew a presidential hostage crisis couldn't just vanish.
"If that happens, I might consider you replacing Na-kyung sis."
Soulless words. She clearly didn't believe it one bit.
"Don't forget you said that."
Satisfied with just that, Rimon flashed a meaningful smile.
He turned to Cheon Suran, who'd been listening with a complicated expression, and tossed out,
"Teacher Cheon, mind if we watch some TV?"
"TV, sir?"
"Yeah."
Cheon Suran blinked in confusion, while Sia didn't hide her suspicion.
To the pair, Rimon said playfully,
"Got some real entertainin' news on today."