Chapter Text
"In three, two, one! Now!"
"It's opening!"
The crown princess of the Breck Kingdom used all of her mana, trying to pry open a hole in the barrier. It was by far the toughest barrier she had ever encountered, but she was determined to be the one destroying it.
Alberu and the heroes waited by a side, knowing that once the barrier was broken, they'd be able to see what was inside the well all along. They were curious as well, and would have jumped in if it hadn't been for that stupid barrier.
Once Beacrox reported to them, they had already prepared all of the necessary supplies for the mission, particularly the highest grade mana stones sponsored by the crown prince. The wolf boy was then sent to keep watch near the area to prevent the eyes of people from reaching them.
As the "ghost" was too quiet, they had to check multiple times to make sure that there are signs of life in the well. They had even thought that he had escaped while they were gone. Ron said that the ghost was awake but for some reason he did not want to respond.
"I've opened a gap, Choi Han now!", Rosalyn wiped her sweat off her face while stepping back.
Though reluctant, the black-haired swordsman still came to help out. Choi Han was not an ungrateful bastard, he knew if it weren't for Cale many people would have died. The jungle might not be saved, and the mages from the Whipper Kingdom might be homeless. However, he had mixed feelings about this firstborn of the Henituse county.
Oftentimes, Choi Han and Ron had bicker and fought whenever there was the mention of Cale Henituse. Choi Han did not believe it was that trash, he wanted to prove that such a carrying and wise person could never be lumped together with a disgrace.
His sword cut through the small gap Rosalyn had created, and the barrier shattered.
"Am I late for the show?"
A short brown-haired woman could be seen coming out of the teleportation circle. Cage was feeling refreshed as her lord had stopped his yapping when she promised to help.
"No, priestess-nim. You are right on time.", said Alberu with his signature smile.
The first thing they did was to put a rope down the well, Choi Han was holding the other end of the rope. He felt the rope touching the bottom of the well and urged, "Hurry up.".
But they have waited for too long and their patience was tested. Ron was the first to move closer to the well and the rest follow suit.
The well was deep, but the sun was bright enough to serve as their light source. If Choi Han put a little of his strength into the rocks that built the well, they would have been crushed. The well that they had wanted to know about was dirty and old. It was dry but there was something occupying the bottom of the well.
Two corpses, no, one of them had already turned into white skeletons.
The excommunicated priestess who was here to laugh at the young nobleman's misery stopped her track. The scene she witnessed was not what she had expected.
There was always a terrible stench coming from the well but they brushed it off thinking it was nothing unusual coming from the slums. Without waiting longer, Rosalyn lifted the bodies out of the well by using floating magic.
"T-This... no this... this isn't what...", Cage soon became a stuttering mess. This wasn't what she had hoped for.
The awful condition of the bodies were telling a tragic story and there was nothing they could do to help.
"This one has faint mana on him, it is the same mana from the barrier.", Rosalyn explained.
"Does this mean that he had trapped himself in the barrier?"
"Look, there's a hole in his chest area. In my opinion, he must have been murdered after creating the barrier."
Alberu and Choi Han took turns inspecting the mage's body. What Rosalyn said was true, this person was murdered and tossed down the well.
Unbeknownst to them, a small ball of light slowly sneaked out of the well and hid itself behind a rock.
"Does that mean... the man we have been speaking to was really a ghost?", Choi Han chimed in.
Ron and Beacrox were not paying attention to the mage's corpse. They stood there unmoving while looking at the other corpse with shaky eyes. The striking red hair of the corpse brought back memories but those memories now gave them a pang in their hearts.
That puppy young master of him was not lying. He did not run away due to shame, instead he had died silently without anyone knowing.
Choi Han stared at the red hair of the other corpse. The person who he had beaten up not long ago lay lifeless on the ground. He had his hopes up and now he felt like shit.
The clothes on him were of commoners, the rough cloth had bloodstains on them even though it was faded. The size did not fit him as it slides down easily together with a clean knife. His legs were chained but the structure of the bones seems to be forced from their normal positions. The long bone has been bent and there was a break in between.
"Ha... Haa.. "
Beacrox certainly did not like that redhead, but he lowered his head to hide his face. The tears welling up in his eyes did not help him calm down as he kneeled on the floor, dirtying his pants. This time, his father was here for him as he cried silently in Ron's arms.
He felt so stupid for saying such hurtful things to someone who lost his life.
"Urgk...", Cage backed away as she could not handle the rotting smell emitting from the corpses. When the God of Death told her the identity of the ghost, she questioned how it became a ghost but she woke up from her sleep and her lord was no longer there with her.
Ron's palms have been pierced by his dagger as he griped it a little too tightly, a line of blood is slowly dripping down. His emotions were visible, this time, he couldn't hide his expression. While trying to comfort his son, the assassin tried to keep his breath stable. He was surprised when Beacrox cried, but even dislike creates affection.
"Young master-nim... is it them?"
Ron's eyes were sharp, he could only think of that damn organisation that could have done such horrible deeds.
Sensing a gaze from behind, Ron threw a dagger at the target and it hit a rock.
"Eck!!", the lump of light jumped from its spot. The light shivers at their intense gaze and hid futher behind the rock. When the air was getting awkward, it sighed and slowly floated out.
"I do not have much time, so I'll make it quick." , was what it says. "It does not matter whether or not I am here to help you. You have all the information needed so there's nothing more I could do."
The ball of light twirled around the crying Beacrox, his ex-chef tried to hold him but it passed through his body. The panic in his eyes was real as he tried to speak albeit trying to hold back his tears, "Y-Young master, you... w-why?".
Cale knew what he wanted to say. But if he had told them sooner it would affect their mental state and they would not focus in battle.
"If you had told us! You wouldn't have! You... wouldn't have...", Choi Han filled in the words Beacrox wanted to ask. The swordsman's eyes were blurred by a mist, his words became softer as if to apologize.
Thinking back, the redhead's body was swaying while he walked and his face was flushed when he met him. A drunk man has no limits, therefore it wasn't that bad of a fault for him to start talking nonsense and insult a few people here and there.
Choi Han had nowhere to release his emotions, and so the poor nobleman took his anger. Choi Han had put the blame on someone innocent.
"Our deal, remember? I asked for two favours in exchange for every information you need. Can I request for the last favour now?"
"Ho, healing Basen Henituse's leg was not counted as a favour?"
"You benefited from healing him, of course it was not a favour, your highness."
Cale had a sly smirk on his face, it was a pity it was not visible to their eyes. As expected of the future sun of the Roan Kingdom, he did not forget any details.
"I want you to cut off my head and send it to the count.", Cale slowly float towards Alberu.
Their eyes widen as they could not comprehend what that ball of light had said. This ghost was peculiar indeed, if it wasn't for Cage, would he have stayed down there, in the dark and shabby well?
"You really are a crazy bastard as the lord had said.", muttered the excommunicated priestess. She wanted to punch the ball of light but it would only waste her energy sending her fist into the air.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Why-"
"Choi Han, calm down."
The future master of the mage tower put her hands on the swordsman's shoulder, she had heard of rumours of the Henituse's lout but she knew that this person was not one to make rash decisions.
"I understand, young master-nim.", surprisingly, the old assassin was the only one who accepted his request.
"May I know the reason as to why?"
Cale Henituse was a headache to the blondie, and he still is. This redhead never ceases to amaze him with how to create more chaos without moving one foot out of the well.
"I think the young master-nim does not want them to see the condition of his body. Is this Ron correct?"
"Young master-nim..."
Beacrox's eyes were still red, but he had stopped crying. He did not know what to do to get his young master back. If he had not persuaded his father to leave the county, maybe they could have saved him.
It was his fault.
"I'm sorry."
However, the person who was apologizing was not them, but the redhead.
Cale eyed them one by one, having enjoyed toying with them for the previous few months. His light was dimming, and he realised his time was up.
"W-Wait! Hey!", Choi Han screamed. He tried to catch the light again and again but failed. The rest of them were also trying their best to get a hold of him.
He must not go, or they will never forgive themselves.
The light then dimmed out, leaving the cold wind behind. Choi Han staggered and fall to his knees. Cale Henituse was gone, and he will never be back. The melancholy reflections of that day will haunt him forever.
Since they had promised to fulfil the redhead's wish. They proceeded to inspect his body, it was rude to the dead but they had a feeling they had to be the ones to know what happened.
But Ron shut his eyes. He did not want to know.
Not long after, there was shocking news that the count hung himself on the man-eating tree and had passed away, leaving behind the rest of his family. The guilt ate him up and he was no longer sane.
Poor countess Violan, the maids and servants were loyal to the countess but there was an internal feud among the vassals to claim the empty seat of the count. Thankfully, the crown prince stepped in and pushed for Basen to be the count.
Without the support of the vassals, the newly appointed young count was unable to handle the workload and mistakes tend to happen while managing the territory.
The young lady similarly, was not very lucky. The heavy news of her close ones' death took a toll on her body and she fell ill. Even after she recovered from her illness, the child was never seen with her usual smile. Although it was a good thing for her to become more determined during her swordsmanship classes, other than that, Lily would confine herself in her room all day.
Isn't this what her orabuni would do? Cale always confines himself in his room if he's not out drinking.
With that being said, gossip does spread like wildfire and the people of the county could not help but worry. It will not be long for the famous golden turtle to fall.
"I wonder if Orabuni would come back if I wish for it.", the youngest family member was said to have hallucinations whenever she sees the colour red. Sometimes, she could see the redhead throwing his usual tantrum, other times the redhead would compliment her for her improvement in swordsmanship.
However, Lily knew those were not real. Whenever she touches her brother, he would fade away.
She waited everyday while looking out at her window, expecting for someone who will not return. She could only hope that Cale would be happy with his father and mother, somewhere far away.
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"Cal... nim... C... nim!!"
Cale felt as if he was underwater, he could hear familiar voices but they were muffled. His head felt heavy and his shoulders were tensed. The voice was getting clearer and clearer.
"Cale-nim!!"
He then blinked. He squinted his eyes a little as the setting sun was shinning directly into his eyes. The smell of lemon tea wafted faintly through the room, slowly drawing his attention.
Cale was staring at Choi Han, the latter had a worried expression on his face as he called for him. How long has he been out cold?
"Cale-nim, you're running a fever. It has been two days since you went unconscious after sealing the Sealed God.", Cale swore he could see the droopy ears and tails of the swordsman. He tried to get up from bed but to no avail, his body was too sluggish to move and he could feel his body burning.
"I'm fine. It wasn't that bad of a-"
"Cale-nim."
The solemn look of Choi Han hint the seriousness in his words. A person who stabbed himself in the heart will never be fine, but he knew how stubborn this young master could be. Just look at his reddish face and all those sweat.
"Where are the children? And Ron?", Cale questioned, touching the empty sides of the bed. He felt as if he was separated from the children for a very long time. All kinds of silly things have been flooding his head since just now, wanting to hug someone and so on.
"They were having their snacks at the moment."
Choi Han sighed and sat on the chair by the bed. He took the towel from Cale's head and handed him the lemon tea Ron prepared beforehand. Cale grimaced and pushed it away, luckily the vicious swordsman did not force it down his throat.
His head was throbbing, it wasn't painful but it was annoying him.
Putting down the teacup, Choi Han took out a cup from his spacial bag and poured water in it. Cale took it with shaky hands while sipping slowly. "So, what happened?", he asked.
"Well, after your talk with the king. We've successfully saved Billos and we are currently hiding him in one of the rooms as you've requested."
"That was fast. Alright, help me change."
"Now? You should rest more, Cale-nim!"
The longer he stalled, the more anxious he gets. There's this itching in his heart that he could not get rid of until he finished his work. Ah yes, for the sake of slacker life.
"I will, after this."
Who was Cale to be stopped? Choi Han could only comply and he shook his head as this redhead never change. He was always worrying about others more than his own health.
After changing into more comfortable clothes, Choi Han supported his liege as they walked out of his room. "Cale-nim, this is a bad idea...", he muttered, yet the redhead did not stop walking.
'Strange, this feels like deja vu...'
Something is missing, as if pieces of puzzles were disappearing from his memories. Perhaps, the fever was messing with his records that's why he was heating up.
Shrugging his shoulders, he entered the room where Billos was in to have a talk with him.
'It was probably nothing.' ,He thought.
"Young master! You're here!"
"Mn."
Emotions swelled up in his head. He didn't know why but his body was telling him "danger!". Cale paid more attention towards the piggybank that was lying on the bed.
"...Billos, are you a hunter?"
And so it begins.