Chapter Text
Chapter 3: The Flynn Merchant Guild and their Poor Defenses (book 2 ch 3)
While Choi Han displayed his excellent door-removing skills, the rest of the room, this time both sides facing the unknown together, were agitated.
One plot twist after another turned an already difficult mood sour rather quickly.
Just the last few moments alone could topple an Empire with the level of stress the various situations generated. Somehow, the calm and collected way Choi Han went on his merry way to disassemble the door had a rather soothing effect on the worried people on Side B.
Side A was generally overwhelmed and seeing situations that were promised didn’t involve them, either because they were not important enough or because they’d be dead if they didn’t get their shit together. They just watched blankly, feeling detached from the whole situation.
Raon was ready to help Choi Han causing havoc, something that surprised absolutely no one.
- This mighty dragon will aid you!
He promised even though he was just a spectator. Choi Han thanked him anyway with a small smile and a pat on the head.
Naturally, the calm Choi Han displayed wasn’t the norm as shown by the startled building workers who had their home entrance professionally knocked down.
“What the hell is going on?!”
“I think the sound came from the door!”
“I think one hadn’t realized yet that their door is gone,” Bud said, his words dripping with sarcasm. “He’ll be shocked soon.”
Glenn didn’t deign him with an answer since he had to use his functioning brain cells to analyze the magic defenses Choi Han cut through like cheese. Just what was that sword made of? Or was it his aura that cleaved through spells like butter? The alarms still went off, obviously, however, the soft sparks surrounding the door showed how Choi Han didn’t just trip the spells but annihilated them at the same time.
His aura was evolving, wasn’t it? They witnessed how an aura of pure, incomplete darkness regained specks of light, yet remained the abyss in its core. Most assumed that Choi Han had found his true aura and was finished. Quite foolish, now that Glenn thought about it.
This was great though. Not just great, this was insanely convenient considering the enemies they’d face in the future were a collection of all races, ages, and skills. Their definition of exceptional could be utterly mundane for them.
Glenn hoped Bud stayed out of most of it or at least had the Young Master nearby to stop him from causing a mess. Bud was many things but patience wasn’t in his dictionary.
…all the food references made him realize he was hungry. Grabbing a nearby sandwich, Glenn bit into it with relish.
The building beyond the door became rowdy.
The guard at the door recognized Cale and Choi Han but had to complete his duties despite his mind being a chaotic mess.
Alber complimented the guard silently for his dedication since he seemed innocent and just got caught in the brute of it.
He didn’t want to imagine the mental struggle someone had to experience, having heard about Cale and his shenanigans only to have him and his trusty swordmaster bash down the door.
Some poor fellows probably suffered through dozens of nightmares after this event.
Alberu was just glad that the whole guild didn’t seem to be behind the betrayal, only a select few, which didn’t lessen the worry he felt by a lot.
He wondered how his father would react if he was here and found out about his kidnapping and supposed death.
Billos arrived at Cale’s place already before they were kidnapped by the gods. The next actions should happen in a week or less. Watching the screen, knowing that as soon as they would leave this room, not even a week would pass until hell would reign, Alberu was angry.
“I, intruders!”
“There are intruders! They are-”
One of the guards clenched his eyes shut and shouted.
“Com-”
Plop.
The eyes of the man who was about to shout, Commander, opened wide.
Choi Han, the youngest sword master and the pride of the Roan Kingdom, the person who had destroyed the door, had placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Quiet.”
Choi Han was looking at the guard with a sunken gaze. The guard had no choice but to close his mouth. Choi Han resembled a sword right now.
He felt as if he would be cut in two if he went against Choi Han’s words.
Even though the situation was quite serious, some couldn’t help but laugh upon gazing at Choi Han’s menacing focus and the poor lad, who had the sole attention of the situationally homicidal swordmaster.
Beacrox sharpened his collection of knives systematically, feeling the repetitive action as something that calmed him down. Turning the blade and catching a glimpse of his darkened eyes in the reflection, Beacrox felt like he was close to losing it.
Everywhere they go some vermin crawled out of their hiding places and annoyed them like the bugs that they were. Wanting nothing more than to cut them down, Beacrox had to hold himself back.
Instead, he looked around. His father was outwardly calm, yet the close distance he had to Cale, practically hovering protectively over the young master, spoke of his displeasure. Young Master Cale looked openly anxious. Well, as open as his expressions normally were.
To others, Cale was wooden. To Beacrox, the slight widening of his eyes and the slack grip he had on the cookie was enough of a sign of his worried state.
With a sigh, Beacrox packed his knives and closed the case with a soft click. He grabbed them and went to the back without another word. As much as he wanted to watch, his father would fill him in later on if he truly missed important news.
Now, he had to do his job as the chef of Cale’s manor. Various recipes filtered through his mind with the focus on comfort food at the forefront. Cale loves steaks. How about he makes some with side vegetables and a creamy sauce?
He left the others, knowing his family was safe and the best way he could help was by creating some tasty dishes.
Ron waved in his direction.
Swooooooosh-
The guard then saw Commander Cale with whirlwinds by his feet.
Cale made a face at the title.
He was the ex-commander with the focus on ‘ex’. Why did everybody insist on him keeping the title? Even Alberu, someone who loved to keep all chess pieces close and most of the power in his own hands, didn’t protest when people continued calling Cale disgusting titles like “Hero” and “Commander”.
He was no hero.
“Choi Han, you start from the bottom and come up.”
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
“Raon, you stay alert and immediately head to the location if mana changes somewhere in the middle of the building.”
– Human, what about you?
Cale lightly kicked off the ground.
Swoooooooosh-
Cale shot up to the sky with a strand of wind behind him.
“I’ll start from the top.”
Cale then sent the whirlwind in his hand out like an arrow.
Toonka watched Cale control the wind as if it were a second limb. He belatedly recalled that he had the same power.
Feeling slightly foolish, he tried communicating with the ancient power as Cale did.
‘Hello? You there? What’s your name again? Cheapskate? No, that was the fire thingy. Eh, eh, you woosh, come out!’
His mind remained glaringly empty.
Maybe he truly absorbed it the wrong way, forever sealing the true potential of the power and the voice of its original owner. He looked enviously at the screen, seeing Cale scale the large tower with ease. That would have been a convenient power, especially against the Empire bastards and their annoying tower-building skills.
Bang!
The top floor of the building… The central terrace window on the fifth floor was destroyed.
“I will start from the top and head down.”
– I understand, human! I will keep an eye on the mana to make sure nobody teleports away!
Cale quickly nodded his head and moved efficiently through the broken terrace window.
The spectators watched Cale as he was showered in a rain of glimmering broken glass shards. They passed him without reaching his body, being reflected by an invisible shield.
Cale’s entrance into the building was met with gasps and swoons.
Even Venion , half-mad from envy and hatred as well as recalling the scene he previously watched of his counterpart being punished, had to admit that Cale made a striking form. His red hair, an uncommon color, was like a beacon in the sky.
Angrily scoffing, Venion bit his tongue to stop himself from commenting. Neo Tolz and their various henchmen, most of which he didn’t even know the names of, were equally mesmerized yet envious. Gritted teeth, angry scowls, and one or two were muttering insults beneath their breaths.
Venion was sure that Cale wouldn’t be able to catch the culprits. They looked prepared, which was the exact opposite situation Cale found himself in. Unprepared and without the precious knowledge of the future.
A grin formed on his face.
He looked deranged, making even Clopeh seem sane next to him.
Smile.
“Huh?”
“Why is he smiling?”
“Did he find loot?”
“…that makes sense.”
He then smiled.
“What the? Did you know that I was going to come?”
The fifth floor was quiet unlike the rest of the building, which was as chaotic as the first floor.
Instead, there were people who looked like knights pointing their swords at Cale.
He could see a luxurious door decorated in gold behind this wall of people.
Alberu blinked, slightly aghast at the obnoxiously golden door behind the sparkling soldiers. Their armors shone brightly with neither a dent nor a blemish on the metal. It was obvious that those knights were private ones and not ones that served the country as a whole.
They were no match against Cale, who could sweep them off the tower with a wave of his hands or even cook them inside their metal armor without a second thought.
Cale knew that as well which was the reason why he was smiling amusedly. His legs were still standing on the destroyed window sill, yet his face morphed into pure amusement.
Naturally, Alberu wasn’t fooled. He had watched enough of Cale’s actions to know that he took everything seriously and wouldn’t endanger himself so carelessly. Blinking to shove the bubbling envy down his gut, Alberu continued watching the show, worrying for the safety of his counterpart’s kingdom and father.
“Mm. I guess it doesn’t look like they knew I was coming.”
All of the swordsmen except for the person standing at the center of the group were unable to hide their anxiety.
Swooooooosh-
A whirlwind started to roar as it gathered in Cale’s hand once again.
“…We cannot allow such intrusion even if you are the Commander.”
The person standing at the center spoke extremely calmly.
“We will have no choice but to attack you if you attack us first.”
“…”
Paseton deadpanned.
Did the knight see the shattered window surrounding the room? Just behind him were two open holes that would mean certain death should Cale push them through. Their armor would make a possible cushioned fall a certain death since it would become their steely grave.
Yet they still had the gall to stand against Cale? How loyal could someone be? This didn’t make any sense.
Paseton played with the hem of his long tunic. His sister looked equally surprised at the stupidity of the humans while their father had the mind to keep his expressions locked behind a wooden façade.
Their counterparts were less surprised and looked rather like that was how they expected humans to react. The gaping hole of his counterpart’s missing existence also created a permanently sad mood that carried over to them whenever Witira or Shickler would glance at him.
Paseton avoided their eyes, having no idea how to comfort them.
Cale responded to him.
Swoooooooosh-
He responded with his whirlwind.
Chhhhhh–!
The swordsman who seemed to be the leader sliced through the whirlwind with his sword. There was a faint trace of aura in his attack.
“Attack!”
The swordsman charged toward Cale after receiving that order.
“Ugh!”
“Shit!”
However, Cale had used the whirlwind by his feet to jump up into the air when he launched the other whirlwind, allowing his body to easily pass over the wall of swordsmen.
Clopeh prostrated himself on the floor, having had the chance to watch not just past events but even future happenings of his legend. Oh, what glory!
“If I could join those adventures,” he feverishly muttered with a crazed look in his eyes, “I would be able to make not just a side note in the bible of my legend but even create a small corner for myself. I could become a legend that supports the legend!”
He held his trembling hands sky-high, praying to an unknown god that his wish would be fulfilled.
Luckily (?!?), nobody answered and Clopeh continued staring at the screen as if it was prey and he was the biggest predator in the room.
Rock Sekka, Clopeh’s father and half of the reason why he turned out the way he was, sipped his tea with a dead look in his eyes. Freesia, the artist slash assassin, patted his shoulder. He didn’t know whether it was out of pity or sympathy.
“There’s no need to fight.”
“He says that all the time yet he always ends up at the vanguard, coughing up blood left and right,” Eruhaben grumbled, annoyed.
The Dragon Half-Blood shyly chimed in, valiantly trying to defend his benefactor, Cale.
“He tries his best!”
Eruhaben was not impressed.
“His best would be doing what he knows would be best and let us do our jobs as well.”
For the record, the dragon wasn’t pouting. He was just expressing his anger without drowning the humans in the room with his aura. Seeing the crestfallen look on the Dragen Half-blood’s face, Eruhaben switched the topic with a sigh.
“You should also take more care of yourself.”
Not knowing how to deal with the sudden care, the Dragon Half-Blood just nodded mechanically. Eruhaben sighed a second time, this time more for the effect and not to express his internal suffering, and patted the half-dragon’s head.
Once again, he was quite glad that the magic in the room allowed his shy companion to leave the bone dragon form behind, even if it was just temporarily.
A small blessing amid the various curse-worthy instances.
The older dragon pushed over a tray filled to the brim with healthy snacks, urging the Dragon Half-Blood to take some.
“Mages!”
A swordsman shouted and the mages standing at the end of the hallway launched their attacks.
‘The Flynn Merchant Guild really did get much larger.’
Cale had that thought as he leisurely reached a hand out.
The mages were obviously not of Roan quality – which was a thing now, Alberu recalled giddily – as he grinned entertained. Watching Cale, as long as he wasn’t involved in fatal combat, soothed his stressed nerves. Naturally, it did the opposite as soon as Cale headed into serious combat and ignored every single normal thought that anybody, much less a commander, should have.
Alberu sometimes felt like he was graying early thanks to Cale and his actions. He once voiced this to his aunt, who rolled her eyes and dryly pointed out, “You run around with magically dyed hair anyways, dear nephew, if you gray, nobody would know nor care.”
Which wasn’t the clear no he was hoping for.
“This is driving me nuts,” he complained to no one in particular.
(Not that anyone listening could save him from this madness in the first place.)
Paaaat.
Silver wings appeared as a half-transparent silver shield surrounded Cale.
Cale’s shield and the magnificent holy aura surrounding him made many hearts beat faster.
Hilsman, having stayed quiet and unnoticeable till now, beamed joyfully at the sign of hope and strength that their duchy now was known for. The knights and mages facing Cale knew that as well, judging by their crestfallen faces.
The shield will not break.
This sentence strengthened the spirit of the Roan Kingdom, turning a simple statement into a promise etched deeply into their souls. They left behind mediocrity and embraced a leading position, all thanks to the wise mind and overwhelming powers the young master possessed.
Hilsman would rather die than be on the opposite side of the young master. Then again, he couldn’t imagine an instance where he would be an enemy in the first place.
(Cale sneezed, suddenly recalling a certain lousy thief running around with one of his family’s subordinate faces and taking Cale’s hard-earned money.
Gritting his teeth, Cale was annoyed.)
Baaaaaaaaaang—!
All of the spells touched the shield and exploded without any results. Cale then believed in the momentum of the wind and the sturdiness of the shield to…
“H, he’s going to crash!”
“Dodge, dodge it!”
He just flew toward the door.
The people standing in front of the door naturally dodged him.
“It’s okay! We used magic to securely lock the door! Don’t miss this opening and bind the Commander!”
The audacity and self-confidence of those knights and mages got on a lot of nerves.
Rosalyn would applaud them for their bravery if their delusions weren’t so extreme. She could easily spot the difference in strength, be it mental, magical, or physical, and had to swallow a sigh.
This scenario reminded her of a time when Choi Han, Ron, Beacrox, Lock , and her were traveling after having lost Pendrick in an attack. Some random bandits tried to rob them of their stuff. She recalled their smug faces as they descended down from their hiding places.
The biggest of the group swaggered toward them, demanding all their money and Rosalyn as a prize.
She didn’t even have the time to properly be offended when Choi Han cleaved them in half. Some mages in the back tried to bind him with less success than their leader. They too were quickly turned into meat chunks by the time Ron got his knives out and Lock got in position to shift.
The homicidal rage in Choi Han’s wild eyes will always remain in her memory.
Whereas Choi Han was fueled by anger, Cale just looked bored. Gliding over their heads and their pitiful attempts at halting him, Young Master Cale just went past them as if they were less than ants attempting to climb his shoes. Not even worth squashing.
Roslyn was impressed.
A swordsman shouted from the back and Cale let out a sigh.
“…I’m a bit strong now.”
‘I fought against the White Star. I fought against a damn god.’
“…”
Side A, who knew just the bare minimum and was still mostly in the dark except knowing some faces and names, had to blink furiously to connect those sentences in their frail minds without overheating.
Choi Han , predictably, snarled out of reflex when the White Star’s name was dropped. It became an automatic reaction, having suffered so much at his henchman’s hands yet never even knowing about the man until they watched Cale’s adventures.
Ron and Beacrox weren’t behind by a lot. The smile slid off Ron’s face as blankness covered his normally grandfatherly façade. The knife in his hand gleamed dangerously. Beacrox went for a more direct approach and stabbed the cake on his plate with his fork, breaking not just the pastry but also the plate in half. A large indent appeared on the table’s surface.
The White Star played with them all. Was still playing with them since they only learned about his existence thanks to the other world.
And yet, this insane, cruel, and mastermind villain was the lesser evil in the narrative. Cale practically venomously spat the name “damn god” yet he casually mentioned the White Star.
It was as infuriating as it was exciting.
Unless this barrier spell was cast by a Dragon or someone as skilled as Rosalyn…
Baaaaaaaaaang-!
He was strong enough to break it with a force greater than what the barrier could handle.
“The door-”
“The door is destroyed!”
As the knight-like swordsmen and mages could not hide their shock…
“I am not the only one who saw the door remains suddenly disappear, right?”
“I hoped I was wrong but considering it was covered in gems, gold, and other valuable materials, I am not that surprised that either the Young Master or the small dragon pocketed it.”
“Damn, not even doors are safe.”
“Nothing is safe. Nothing.”
“I will bet my son’s secret books stash that he hid in the gardener’s shed and my daughter’s suspicious-looking ‘cookbook’ that the Young Master will go all out in the future. Everything he takes a fancy to will be stolen. I mean, liberated or borrowed without the intention of giving it back.”
“That’s a fool’s bet. Also, why don’t you bet your own stuff?”
“Why should I?”
“…”
“…”
“Name a specific situation. I won’t bet with you if it’s just generally about the Young Master and his looting tendencies.”
“Hm, let me think. There will be a specific situation where they couldn’t take the loot out of the room so they would simply take the room, walls and all included.”
“…how would that even work? But sure, let’s bet.”
Cale, who was still covered by the obviously completely intact shield, quickly observed the area behind the door.
“Obviously,” Alberu repeated because obviously that needed to be mentioned.
In all fairness, those mages never stood a chance. Cale’s shield blocked the attack of a literal god, standing strong when even the shields of dragons failed. How could some third-rate mages and some wannabe-knights ever hope to make a crack in his shield?
‘It’s the guild leader’s room.’
It was splendid and luxurious.
This luxurious area seemed to use about two-thirds of the fifth floor.
The sudden shift from anxious-looking mages and knights that got – literally in some cases – the rug pulled out beneath them to shiny bling temporarily blinded some of the spectators.
“It would use many words but not splendid,” Fredo said. He had to swallow down some more comments, biting out through gritted teeth, “Gaudy, maybe. My cute Naru really needs help in decorating his manor.”
Cale’s group was also quite glad that the Super Rock Villa came fully equipped and any other furniture choice was left to Ron, giving Cale no chance of interfering.
The only one who found the room relatively pleasant was Rock Sekka. It was missing some pretty statues but otherwise looked fine.
Cale’s expression stiffened up.
“Eek-!”
“…What the.”
Some of the swordsmen following behind Cale plopped down on the ground.
Many others had already stopped walking.
“Cowards,” Toonka sneered.
His counterpart agreed with an inelegant roll of his eyes.
Cale immediately turned around.
“He’s dead.”
On the shabby-looking desk and chair located at the center of this otherwise luxurious room…
An aged man had bled to death on that chair.
His blood was already dry and there was no life in his eyes. He didn’t need to go close to see that this man was dead.
The shabby chair and dead man were a stark contrast to the otherwise blindingly luxurious room.
Immediately, Alberu noticed how the man’s placement had been done intentionally. Why else would a rich man, sure of his power and privileges judging by the way he flaunted his money, sit voluntarily on such a demoting chair?
The only logical conclusion was that he had met someone more important.
A Hunter for example.
“Pests are everywhere.” Alberu sighed.
“T, the guild leader-nim has passed-”
Cale immediately shot forward like an arrow as he heard one of the swordsmen mumble.
He then reached his hand toward the back of a bastard who was running away.
“Ugh, ugh!”
The swordsman who looked like the leader…
Cale asked the bastard a question.
It became obvious that Cale was getting angry. Not only did his use of the word ‘bastard’ increase but also the twitching of his eyebrow, a clear sign that should the knight not talk any second now, Cale would happily annihilate him.
Bud gulped.
Cale was furious yet…with the focus on yet. Seeing the normally far too nonchalant man suddenly become serious always made him anxious. Maybe it had partially to do with the fact that Bud himself liked to step on toes with his words, accidentally or not, and seeing Cale be more than snoozy, well, maybe Bud should keep his mouth shut in the near future.
…or, if he couldn’t, plan ahead for escape routes.
…
Hm.
Option two made more sense.
“The second. Where is the second son of the guild leader?”
“I, I don’t know!”
Someone climbed the stairs up to the fifth floor and revealed himself in front of Cale as the swordsman shouted.
It was Choi Han.
Choi Han had walked up the stairs while holding the guard from the door dangling on his side.
“He looks really comfortable holding people like they were sacks of potatoes.”
“No wonder, just think back to the various looting, impersonating, and covert operation situations they had. If the Hero didn’t know how to disable and dismantle people at this point, he failed as a companion.”
The two were scabbling pretty loudly, gaining Choi Han’s attention. Somehow this comment irked him, a lot.
His counterpart was being insulted yet he felt more attacked than his slightly older parallel self, who was busy keeping Cale from throwing his tea into Choi Jung Soo’s face. The latter was laughing merrily while the fourth of their group, the ex-team leader turned child, just sat there sipping his tea like the chaos next to him didn’t exist.
Should Choi Han practice knocking out people? Was that a skill that could be needed in the future? He normally just killed them.
“Is knocking out people a good skill to have?” he muttered more to himself than to his companions. Lock , the loyal soul, didn’t question his thoughts much and answered honestly.
“I think so? Sometimes hostages are more valuable than dead bodies.”
He had a point.
Choi Han nodded. He would learn from his counterpart.
Meanwhile, the squabbling noble duo was still discussing their points of view with various creative insults sprinkled in. Somehow, they arrived on the same topic as Choi Han .
“I will call it! Hero Choi Han’s skill of knocking people out will not just traumatize us! There will be a poor, unfortunate soul somewhere in the future who will be not just traumatized by repeatedly getting knocked out by him but also carry a lifelong fear of black-haired swordsmen thanks to his actions.”
“That is oddly specific, but sure, the bet is on.”
“They said that the second son of the guild leader has gone away for business today.”
“Haaa.”
Cale let out a short laugh-like sigh.
However, his expression soon changed.
Chhhhh-
A strand of water gathered in Cale’s hand before he shoved his hand into the mouth of the swordsman he was holding.
“Ugh!”
Pen screamed, shocked and utterly disgusted.
Even with the water coating his hand, Cale still shoved it into a person’s mouth without a second thought. The fingers vanished inside the open crevice, pulling the lips wide apart. The man looked shocked.
However, the shock was soon replaced by anger when Cale’s next words explained his actions and the resulting cut off of his escape route.
“Like hell I’d let you die.”
Cale pulled out a small pill from inside the swordsman’s mouth.
“How did he know?” Litana asked while marveling at Cale’s fast and decisive actions.
Gashan and the magic users such as Rosalyn and Tasha were also surprised by Cale’s skill level. The precision needed for him to coat his hand and extract the pill without breaking the feeble layer that separated the poison from the air was unimaginable to them.
Even more shocking, Cale hadn’t looked at the man while shoving his hand in. He directly knew which tooth to check by the subtle moving of the man’s tongue in his mouth before attempting suicide.
Once more, they were reminded that Cale never lived a peaceful life. Even as Kim Rok Soo, he had to learn the brutal art of battle and war to survive. To survive, not thrive, nor live.
Litana and many others, having faced war and battles for years, couldn’t imagine what kind of hellscape he lived in to learn such a skill and utilize it as if it were nothing.
With wide eyes, they watched as Cale dropped the pill casually onto the floor.
“Cough, ugh!”
The swordsman could not close his mouth because of the water Cale shoved in there.
“You can’t bite your tongue either so just-”
Cale’s eyes opened wide.
The swordsman started to hold his breath. It was as if he was trying to kill himself that way.
‘This crazy bastard!’
Cale became shocked and threw the swordsman at Choi Han. Of course, he was not using his own strength but the Sound of the Wind.
“Make him faint!”
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
Choi Han put the guard down and received the guard before efficiently hitting the back of the man’s neck to knock him out.
“…”
“I suddenly regret the bet I took with you,” one of the nobles said as he gazed at Choi Han’s undisturbed expression and the way he hit the neck of the knight without looking.
A different kind of scary compared to the young master.
Choi Han smiled innocently at the various gazes he started getting from the people surrounding him. Even Choi Jung Soo took a second to spot his laughter to stare weirdly at Choi Han. The other was half expecting his younger relative to shame him, yet his next words surprised Choi Han immensely.
“Hey, that’s my job! Cale always sent me various human enemies to knock them out since he hadn’t looted them dry yet.”
Sui Khan held himself back for a second before also admitting softly, “I sometimes had to do it too. Cale would just point at them in the distance and brattily tell me to knock them out.”
The three of them turned their gazes to Cale who valiantly looked ahead, trying to not meet a single pair of their eyes. He succeeded halfway till Jung Soo pettily stood in front of him, staring down at him with a grin.
“It was the easiest way.” He defended himself.
“Of course,” Sui Khan agreed softly.
“Naturally.” Choi Jung Soo nodded.
“Cale-nim is right,” Choi Han said without changing his expression.
The three of them then started comparing knock-out techniques that Cale quickly tuned out.
All the other spectators in the room paled various shades, too cowardly to chime in or even object. The more the three talked the more faces lost their last blood, turning paler than a ghost’s face.
“Ugh. This-”
The swordsman mumbled something to protest but he was already losing consciousness.
“…Wow.”
Cale was amazed at Choi Han’s ability to cleanly and efficiently knock the man out.
The side-eye Choi Han gave Cale was ignored.
‘Whose fault is it? Hm? ’ he thought viciously. Seeing his counterpart’s skills, he decided that learning them was a wise idea. Previously, Choi Han didn’t know that knocking someone out could look this threatening.
He was impressed.
It was at that moment.
Baaaaaang—!
There was a loud explosion and the entire building started to shake.
“Eek!”
“Mm!”
The people who had been feeling shock and chaos at the merchant guild leader’s death as well as Cale and the one swordsman’s actions curled their bodies in fear.
People were getting anxious. Another attack? Maybe the attacker who demolished the central palace came back?
While the earth and the building were rumbling and various knights and mages on the screen were seen panicking, Cale and his group just looked calm. Choi Han even had the time to look heavenward as if he wanted to pray but caught himself after recalling which selection of gods was available.
“They’ll be fine?” Someone in the crowd whispered anxiously.
– Human! Someone tried to teleport away so I just destroyed the magic circle on the ground!
– The bastard who was trying to run away is the merchant guild leader’s first son!
– I used magic to tie him up despite remaining invisible and he started telling me everything while shaking in fear!
Cale quietly nodded his head after hearing the culprit of this rumbling, Raon, speaking to him in an excited voice.
“Ah,” more than a few spectators said, not knowing whether to be glad or horrified.
Raon praised his future self earnestly.
- I am great and mighty!
‘…Scary bastards.’
Choi Han and Raon truly were vicious individuals.
‘It’s a good thing they are on my side.’
Cale had that thought internally as he calmly commented to the individuals looking at him and gently smiled.
Even Tasha was now eyeing Cale for his nonsense thoughts.
How oblivious could someone be?
How utterly smart and genius yet so, so stupid could Cale be?
Tasha shook her head, too tired for words.
“Don’t be shocked too much as none of you will get hurt.”
They all avoided Cale’s gaze without saying anything.
Cale was at the center of all these things.
“People from the palace will be here soon. You will all need to remain quietly in place until then. Only then will there be no misunderstanding between us.”
Cale didn’t think that there seemed to be any problematic people except for this leader swordsman or the first son who was trying to run away. However, he had to prepare for the unexpected and spoke as gently as possible in order to prevent any innocent people from trying to run away because they were scared.
“Ah, by the way, I memorized all of your faces so there is no point in running away. There is someone who will make sure each and every one of you is caught.”
“Where was the gentle part?” Eric Wheelsman , an old friend of the original Cale Henituse , asked.
Cale looked and acted everything but gently. The calm way he spoke could be mistaken for care if he wasn’t threatening people explicitly.
Gilbert and Amiru had helpless looks on their faces, equally flabbergasted with Cale’s thoughts as well.
Getting told that escape wouldn’t matter since their faces and actions were permanently memorized was worse than just directly threatening them with bodily harm. The mentioning of the royal family taking actions, something not anybody could carelessly mention, was another nail in their coffin.
Nobody envied the merchant coworkers.
That extremely thorough crown prince would not let even one person get away.
Both Alberu took that as a compliment.
Cale’s Alberu smiled with more teeth, resembling a handsome shark, while his counterpart still played more of the princely act, smiling gently and with a noble aura.
Cale spoke as if he was giving them advice and turned toward Choi Han.
Clang.
Cale didn’t care about the sound of one of the swordsmen dropping their swords. Instead, he had a slightly confused look on his face while looking at Choi Han.
“Choi Han-”
“…Yes, Cale-nim?”
‘What the?’
Choi Han, who was looking out the destroyed terrace, urgently looked toward Cale.
“What is it?”
Choi Han looked around before shaking his head.
“It’s nothing, Cale-nim.”
“Okay.”
Choi Han looked suspicious but Cale didn’t care as he knew that Choi Han did not hide anything if there was something he needed to say.
Archie scoffed.
Why was this duo acting shyer in their disgustingly deep understanding of each other than a newlywed couple? Did they even need words?
Archie seriously contemplated that thought.
Meanwhile, neither Cale nor Choi Han answered the various questioning glances, inquiring about the content of their silent conversation.
“You guard this place. I am going to go to Roan and contact the palace. Of course, I’m sure that his highness already sent some reinforcements.”
“Of course, I would,” Alberu said with an affronted expression after seeing the doubting faces of some nobles. Scoffing at their sheepish expressions, Alberu worried for his counterpart, who unlike him didn’t have to spend the majority of his time cleaning up after Cale and reaping the rewards, instead having to battle the nobles for recognition and support.
Somehow both jobs sounded like a chore, yet Alberu would never exchange his willingly.
Talking about reaping the rewards, Alberu recalled the various annoying flies that started visiting him. They even had the gall to demand his presence when he was still wheelchair-bound after the battle in Puzzle City. Parading around like they did nothing other than hiding in secret and only coming out when it was safe and glittering rewards were too delicious to avoid.
The princess of Norland and the delegates of Askosan were especially unpleasant.
Even Alberu, who was used to buttering up people and keeping his disgust hidden behind a mask of pleasantries, had to double-take at their sheer audacity. There will be a cold day in hell before he would allow those cowards to take anything of the earned rewards Cale and the others fought for.
Tilting his head back, Alberu thought that it would be nice if they could get some leverage over the other countries. Something to hang over their heads as a threat should they continue poking Alberu’s thin layer of ‘I am nice, so I won’t fuck you up’.
Maybe Cale will have the answer in the future.
Laughing to himself, Alberu continued watching.
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
Cale then headed down to Raon on the fourth floor.
Choi Han watched Cale disappear before turning his head to look past the terrace window again.
“…That should have been a crow, right?”
A black figure had landed on the terrace ledge for a moment before disappearing just now. It had been so short and he had not paid much attention to it because he did not sense any mana, aura, or any other sensation.
However, there was one thing that was on his mind.
It was such a short moment that he did not see properly, but…
“…A bat? A hawk?”
“Where do I look like a bat?” Sui Khan grumbled jokingly.
Nonetheless, he was impressed with Choi Han’s perception. Cale really got a good companion out of this whole ordeal.
Cale’s eyes were gleaming.
He also realized that Sui Khan, his ex-team leader, was the little spy. It was one thing hearing the gods mention they would meet soon in their world and another to see it actually happen. A part of Cale was always worried that those promises were just empty words and that he would never get to see Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo again.
His nightmares loved to repeat that particular scenario like a blockbuster movie. Always giving him hope and he was always pathetic enough to believe the lies, even if it was just one, short moment, only to see everything crumbling down again when he woke up as lonely as the previous day.
Cale wanted to believe, he wanted to hope, however, he couldn’t. What if it was just a bird and he desperately and foolishly believed it to be something else? What if the team leader wasn’t planning on meeting Cale, living a new and better life without him?
What if…
“You will never get rid of us.” Sui Khan interrupted Cale’s spiraling thoughts. The small hand he laid on Cale’s shoulder felt larger and rougher than it looked like. His small hand gripped Cale’s shoulder without enough strength to ground him.
Not being able to say a word, Cale listened attentively to his next sentences. His frail sanity recovered with every word of care and love.
“Cale, nobody will separate us from you. I have lived in your world for a few years, before that running errands for a certain, annoying god. If I wasn’t banned from meeting you before the Sealed God was dealt with, I would have flown in a straight line to get to you.”
Cale didn’t know how to deal with the care. His first reflex was to avoid those oh-so-honest eyes.
I am not worth it.
Don’t get hurt because of me.
Don’t leave me.
His mind was a mess or maybe Cale was always a mess but knew how to cover it up.
“Jung Soo as well,” Sui Khan said soothingly, “The God of Death had to employ him in other worlds because he wouldn’t follow orders if he had the chance to meet you. There was one situation when you first arrived in this world and Jung Soo was sent to look if you adjusted well. The God of Death had to make an emergency teleportation to get Jung Soo back after he saw some nobles mock you. After that, he was banned from this world.”
Choi Jung Soo grinned from ear to ear, recalling the scolding he received as if it had been worth it.
“The ban will be lifted after my current mission. Nobody will be able to keep me away from my family.” He added with determination as if it wasn’t just empty words but a fact he would make sure would come true.
Sui Khan wasn’t finished yet.
“And Little Han as well. You only found him here but I am sure no god, demon, king, or world would be able to keep him away from you.”
Choi Han nodded. His resolve relied on Cale. He became a protector and guardian after Cale made him see the light in his darkness-drenched life, giving him the chance to live and experience joy once more. He lost his home once and he will make sure that never happens again.
Another voice chimed in. Young and innocent sounding yet utterly convinced in his ability to protect his family.
- Human, me too! I will destroy the world if you aren’t with me!
Cale couldn’t cry. His face was blank, utterly void of any emotion, be it positive or negative. Raon settled in his arms, not commenting upon feeling the shaking arms of Cale as they hugged him tightly. Quivering fingers traced his scales as he nuzzled his head into Cale’s stomach.
No more words were said. All individuals who saw Cale’s state vowed to show him their dedication. To show him their care and love and make sure he will never be alone again.
‘It’s the middle of the day and we are in the capital. Why would there be a bat?
Isn’t a hawk not fitting for a city like this?’
The confused Choi Han shook his head.
‘A hawk, a bat, none of them should be a problem.’
Raon would have noticed it if it had contained any weird force.
Choi Han thought that he would either pull out his sword, report to Cale, or do something if he saw that black figure again as he addressed the people on the fifth floor.
“Please listen to me. I do not wish to fight. If possible.”
He meant it.
“Did he, though?” Bud asked skeptically.
He recalled the level of expertise his co-swordmaster had in knocking out people left and right, feeling like Choi Han only wanted to avoid fighting since it would waste valuable time.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt like he was on the right trail.
Jopis could not help but smile amused at the shivering and whimpering mess the mages and knights turned into after Choi Han glanced at them, lost in thoughts and preoccupied by more important matters.
The fourth floor was quiet as well.
Everybody was breathing quietly while looking at one person.
Tap. Tap.
Cale walked down the silent hallway at a leisurely pace before opening the door.
“C, Commander-nim-!”
– Human, I’m glad you are here!
Some people in the room were bound up with black rope. Anybody would be able to tell that these ropes were made of mana.
Not only did the shimmering give it away but Raon hovering viciously and proudly next to the bound people was also a large hint. The ropes tightening and turning as some members struggled was the final nail in the coffin.
Rosalyn and other mages noted down the creative use of magic.
Meanwhile, Eruhaben gazed impressed at the multiple threads of mana, spun into something tangible. The little dragon was skilled. He envied his counterpart, who got such a dedicated student as well as other people to accompany him in his final years.
After Pendrick’s death, Eruhaben avoided contact with humans and elves, only meeting them if it was necessary.
‘That guy must be the first son.’
The man who was tightly bound compared to the others could not hide his chaotic mind once he saw Cale. This seemed too realistic to be an act.
‘Hold on, was the first son of the Flynn Merchant Guild the type to reveal his emotions like this?
In that case, it makes sense why the second son and Billos were being considered to be the heir.’
Billos blinked at the hidden compliment he got, not having expected to be praised in such a scenario. His uncle was equally surprised, only his experience and age allowed him to keep a straight face.
The first son wasn’t stupid nor was he exceptionally unkind, he simply was less business-savvy than the second son and Billos , something their father knew. Billos recalled small acts of kindness from the first son, his first brother, who didn’t outright bully him and permanently brand him as an illegitimate waste like the second son did.
A part of Billos hoped that the first son never joined the Hunters. That he was innocent.
With a complicated mind, he watched on as his first brother paled various shades once Cale walked into his view.
Cale stood in front of the first son and calmly spoke.
“The merchant guild leader is dead.”
“…….”
The eldest son was silent.
“You knew.”
Cale asked.
“Where did the second child go?”
Flinch. The first son’s shoulders started shaking. He was finally looking at Cale properly. He then warily looked around before speaking.
“What relationship with the second-, no.”
The eldest son shook his head. Cale could feel a sparkle returning to the eldest son’s eyes.
“I’m not sure where the second went. I just, I just-”
He clenched his eyes shut and continued to speak.
“I was worried that the second would try to kill me, Commander-nim.”
“…Why?”
The eldest son looked into Cale’s eyes that had been calm since the beginning.
His eyes seemed deep but transparent. He also could not feel any emotions through them.
Lily couldn’t relate to the second son. Fearing her brothers was never a thought she had. All three of her brothers showed they cared in their own ways, always making sure she understood that no matter what, they were family.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared into the fearful face of the second son.
She pitied him.
(Meanwhile, Alberu was just glad his family didn’t try to kill each other and just spent their time doing petty pranks to lessen the other’s influence.
Valentino just stared at the screen, recalling having had a brother who ended up dead after trying to kill their father in a coup. Well, at least you are still alive? He thought without much compassion or care.
Jopis grinned, remembering the exquisite rage on her sister’s face as she died disgraced and alone.)
‘My eldest son. Immediately look for Billos, no, go to the Commander if something ever happens to me. I’m sure that Billos would have gone to look for him.’
Billos felt complicated emotions rise. For one, his father was always distant, staring down at him with clear prejudice even though he openly gave him chances to succeed, on the other hand, his father, who died – which was a heavy pill to swallow and would be dealt with later -, knew him well enough to predict his actions.
Cale was just bothered by the fact that people trusted him far too much.
The eldest son recalled what happened this morning.
He had a stealthy conversation with his father.
“My father stealthily visited my residence late last night. He then told me… He said that he was going to remove our second brother from the successor position.”
“And?”
“He seemed quite concerned that second brother would find out about it. If he found out- and if-”
The eldest son lowered his head.
“He said to run away without even looking behind if something happened to the Flynn Merchant Guild. He said that he could already be dead if that was the case.”
His voice was shaking so much.
Even the dumbest member of the spectators realized who was the one who allied with the Hunters.
Alberu felt relief knowing it wasn’t the whole guild who betrayed the country. Considering their world was even more remote than their parallel world, and if the gods were to be believed, Hunters wouldn’t be a problem for them, the easy knowledge of the distrustful nature of the second son was a small deal.
If he showcased bad manners and habits, switching his target from other dimensional allies to another kingdom, and openly being hostile to the Roan Kingdom, Alberu wouldn’t find it hard to make him understand the gravity of the situation.
After all, the guild wouldn’t fall since there were still a lot of children who could lead the merchant business. Alberu could support Billos openly, gaining a valuable ally as well as securing a possible hole in their kingdom’s defense.
If Raon could see his face now, he would loudly declare his expression as a familiar scammer smile he and Cale were known to use from time to time.
Cale calmly responded to him.
“Raise your head.”
Cale needed to see the look on this person’s face.
He felt the sadness of a son who had lost his father, but Cale also thought about Billos’s terrible appearance and the people who did not consider him a part of the family.
The woes of an illegitimate son , Billos thought sarcastically.
They do care somewhat. It would never be enough to be considered close family or family at all, placing him more in the ‘distant relative somewhere on the family tree but far enough to ignore’ area.
While they would never actively help him or even save him should he face danger, at least the first son and father wouldn’t try to kill him.
It was something, right?
Cale only focused on the task at hand.
“Then did you try to run away as soon as the chaos started?”
“Yes, Commander-nim. I was certain that I would be next after Billos and my father.”
“Why?”
The eldest son observed Cale. Although he did not have his name in line as successor as the second son and Billos, he was skilled enough and had enough tact to maintain his position as the eldest son.
“…It looks like you don’t have a good relationship with second brother, Commander-nim.”
“And?”
“Will you protect me from him?”
The eldest son lowered his head and pointed at his pocket.
“I have a map of the secret location where the official stamp of the Flynn Merchant Guild Leader is hidden. No business can take place without this stamp.”
“I will protect you.”
The deal took place in an instant.
Mary could spot the second after Cale affirmed the deal and the first son’s tough manners shattered like glass. All the bravery amid the fear left him as he succumbed to the sadness.
She pitied him for the losses he suffered while being hunted by his own flesh and blood.
Mary, who had no relatives left or memories to base possible living relatives on, could still sympathize with him.
The eldest son sighed. His head was down and his shoulders slightly moved up and down before his whole body started to shake.
“…F…ather……”
This cry that sounded almost like a full sob made Cale look at him for a moment before motioning to the air.
“Please connect the video communication device to his highness.”
– I got it, human! But can I be nice when I tie the eldest son up? I promise it’ll be enough so that he can’t run away!
“No.”
Raon’s care gained some smiles before Cale’s harsh rejection earned him some frowns.
They didn’t know how bloodied and malnourished Billos was when he arrived on his doorstep. How his desperation was the only fuel that kept him going and how utterly broken Billos looked, having lost the sly gleam that always accompanied a demure expression.
Billos looked lost, which Cale was offended by since he was a part of the people Cale considered his.
The first son and father may not have directly caused this but their stupidity and past treatment carried a large part in the whole story. Cale may be petty, he would even be the first one to agree that he wasn’t acting reasonably, yet he would still do it.
Billos realized that as well, throwing a small yet thankful smile in the young master’s direction. He wasn’t proud of many things, however, the day he decided to follow the young master will always be one of his greatest accomplishments.
Cale shook his head and asked the eldest son a question.
“Will you go up to the fifth floor?”
The fifth floor was where the merchant guild leader was located.
“…Please.”
Cale spoke in a low voice after seeing the eldest son, who was kneeling on the ground while tied up, basically bowing to the point of falling over.
“I guess you have a pretty good idea as to what the second child has done.”
“…I believe that he did something that does not bode well for the Roan Kingdom.”
Cale’s close relationship with Billos was one factor, but this was the main reason why this guy did not resist and bowed so respectfully right now despite Cale’s sudden intrusion.
“He didn’t know about the terror attack,” someone in the crowd said, gasping loudly. Others came to the same conclusion.
The position of the first son was complicated. He knew something was up and didn’t report it to the crown, making him an accomplice by the law of the kingdom.
It made more sense to a lot of the spectators why Cale, only partially driven by emotions, was so cold and harsh to the first son. If he reported the suspicious activities, the attack could have been prevented. Billos was busy being hunted and the father was in the same category as the first son, only he died and couldn’t be held accountable.
How and if the attack could have been prevented was another story, but the crown could have prepared something. Every death counted. Every person who lost their life in the heart of Roan, a place that should have been one of the safest, had been unjustly and indirectly killed by the first son.
– Human, I’ll come after moving him there! Here’s the video communication device!
A video communication device that had just started to connect appeared in the air and Cale grabbed it in his hand.
Raon used magic to move the tied people up to the fifth floor.
Cale watched this for a bit and turned to look at the video communication device now that he was alone.
The crown prince’s face should appear soon.
Cale subconsciously commented in that short instant.
“…Many have died.”
Too many had died in such a short period of time.
The people at the King’s Palace, the Flynn Merchant guild leader, there were probably a lot of people dead at the Orsena Estate as well since it was on fire. Most of them would have no relation to this incident.
The sadness was clear in Cale’s voice. Alberu’s silence was also heavy.
All those deaths laid on their minds like blocks of granite, turning the already suffocating air into something unbearable.
The spectators didn’t dare to comment. All prejudice and arrogance were lost the second Cale and Alberu’s faces were openly shown displaying sorrow. Two of the most powerful men, if not the two most powerful humans in their world, were being beaten down by a loss.
The struggles and wars before could all be predicted by Cale. Both the information in the books as well as the vast time they had to collect more information allowed them to be prepared. They never suffered true losses. Not like this.
No culprit, no solution, only deaths.
Even their king, their technical leader, was missing. His guards were killed in action or also kidnapped.
Bad wasn’t enough to describe the situation.
Tasha was worried. She couldn’t read Alberu’s expression. His hands were folded carefully in front of him, gently lying on the table. A mask of sheer indifference painted his face with a false emotion.
This was basically the first time Cale faced such a situation in this world aside from during the wars.
‘The Hunters.
What the fuck are these sons of bitches thinking?
Then there is young lady Orsena and the second son of the Flynn Merchant Guild. And what of the king?’
The king definitely showed a lot of hatred for the Hunters.
As a result, it was extremely unlikely for him to have sided with the Hunters.
Karin would also like to know what her counterpart was up to. Was she kidnapped? Did she leave voluntarily? What about her family? The fire mentioned at their estate sounded menacing.
Her father, the duke, was equally if not even more worried about their family. He hoped the young master would shed some light on their situation soon.
Numerous theories popped into Cale’s mind.
‘Did the second son and young lady Orsena really side with the Hunters and try to abduct the king?
Is that why the king was either abducted or ran away?’
Zed doubted his counterpart ran away.
Especially with a lot already dead, he couldn’t imagine leaving much less running away. Dead would make more sense since he made a bother out of himself, attempting to hunt the Hunters.
Obviously, he failed if his current disappearance was anything to judge.
Zed Crossman was intrigued by the Hunters. Watching Cale Henituse’s adventures, no doubt encountering a lot of Hunters, he wondered if he could understand them better. Naturally, he also hoped to watch their utter destruction at the hands of Cale.
“Hmm?”
Cale flinched mid-thought and pulled a black book out of his inner pocket.
It was the God of Death’s divine item.
< Endable >
It was the book where the word, Endable, had been written.
That book suddenly started to react.
It heated up and started gently shaking.
“Mm.”
Cale got chills on his back for some reason. He placed the video communication device on a table and quickly opened the book.
Chhh.
Once Cale touched the book, the pages moved on their own and stopped on a page.
“…Huh?”
It wasn’t there.
< Endable >
The word describing where Lee Soo Hyuk was had disappeared from the book.
Something else was written there instead. It was not in Korean but in the language of this world.
< Puzzle City >
But those words were slowly disappearing as well.
New words took their spot.
“…Hu……”
< Huiss City >
“The capital?”
Cale jerked his head up.
“Here?”
‘He’s at the Roan Kingdom’s capital?
The reincarnated team leader is here?
How?’
“…I thought that he would be a baby.”
‘Is he much older than I thought?’
Cale had thought that the team leader had reincarnated not too long ago.
However, would a baby be able to go from Endable and come to the Roan Kingdom’s capital?
‘Maybe?
If it is the team leader, something like that does sound possible.
No, either way-’
“Here?”
‘He came here?’
– What’s here?
The tired face of the crown prince appeared on the screen of the video communication device at that moment.
Cale was happy.
The team leader was really there. They would meet soon.
“See, I told you, you wouldn’t be able to get rid of me.” The teasing tone of Sui Khan’s voice made Cale even more happy.
“As for Jung Soo, you know that rascal. We first need to drag him by the collar home like a dog to make him stay.”
The affronted “Hey!” by Choi Jung Soo and Choi Han’s affirmative “Seems right,” were both acknowledged but answered by Cale. He was busy staring at the screen, dozens of thoughts cursing through his mind.
How will their meeting go?
Will the team leader be disappointed?
Will he be happy?
Will he have missed me as much as I missed him?
For the first time, Cale was glad to be able to see the thoughts of people in this weird reaction scenario. He trusted his friends and family, however, a part of him - the part that grew up under the hand of his uncle and the harsh conditions of South Korea before and after the apocalypse – didn’t want to believe that he had been truly missed.