Chapter 8 "Healing and Getting Prepared."

Adrian's POV

After the reunion with Choi Han I was left in my room my vision blurred as I blinked the sleep from my eyes, my body still aching from the battle. I lay in bed, scrolling through the system's shop, searching for anything that could aid in my recovery and future plans. My fingers paused over a few items, weighing their potential.

Last night's memories replayed in my mind: Choi Han's frantic rush, the burning village, Choi Han's devastated expression as he recounted the horrors he had witnessed.

"Exactly what you said was going to happen. Arm attacked the village when I was out collecting plants for medicine and when I got back they were burning the house." Choi Han had looked down, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.

Adrian's heart ached at the thought. Despite the six days of recovery, his injuries still throbbed, a constant reminder of their struggles. But the pain was nothing compared to the anguish he felt for the loss and suffering of the villagers.

As i scanned through the system shop, a healing potion caught his eye. I  clicked on it, reading the description carefully. It promised rapid recovery, something i desperately needed.

I selected the healing potion and a few other supplies, confirming the purchase. The screen flashed, confirming my order. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment, gathering my strength. I take the healing potion and drink it won't work instantly but gradually by I can already feel it taking affect and could feel my body getting heavier and more tired and I finally feel asleep. I will look at the things I got in the morning.

Adrian woke up to the sound of a knock on the door. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as the door slowly opened. Ron entered, carrying a tray of food, his expression as neutral and unreadable as always.

"Good morning, Adrian," Ron greeted, placing the tray on the small table beside the bed.

"Morning, Ron," Adrian replied, his voice still thick with sleep. "What's for breakfast?"

"Today's breakfast includes freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, and a side of fruits. There's also a pot of herbal tea," Ron explained, removing the cover from the tray to reveal the meal.

Adrian nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Ron. This looks great."

Ron stood back, his eyes scanning Adrian's face. "How are you feeling today? Any improvement?"

Adrian stretched slightly, feeling the lingering soreness in his muscles. "Better, I think. The rest helped, and the healing potions that the healers gave my are working."

Ron nodded. "That's good to hear. You need to be at your best, especially with everything that's happening."

Adrian took a bite of the bread, savoring its warmth. "How's Raven doing? Is he being taken care of?"

"Raven is well," Ron replied. "We've made sure he has ample space and the best feed. He's a remarkable creature."

Adrian smiled, relieved. "I'm glad to hear that. He's been through a lot with me. I owe him."

Ron gave a rare, small smile. "He's in good hands. You don't need to worry about him. Focus on your recovery."

Adrian nodded. "I appreciate it, Ron. And thank you for the breakfast. It really does help."

"It's my pleasure," Ron said. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be nearby."

Adrian returned to his meal, feeling a bit more at ease knowing Raven was being well taken care of. Ron quietly left the room, leaving Adrian to gather his strength for the day ahead.

I go back to the bed to look at the items I had bought :

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Items:

Communication Crystals: Small, enchanted stones that allowed for instant, clear communication between holders, no matter the distance. Essential for coordinating their efforts and staying in touch with allies. X4

Barrier Talisman: A protective charm that, when activated, would create a temporary shield around the user. This could be crucial in defending against surprise attacks. X1

Advanced Healing Potion: A vial filled with shimmering liquid that promised rapid recovery from physical injuries. This would help them recover from their wounds faster, restoring their strength and vitality. X3 -1

Enhanced Rations: Packs of nutrient-dense food that provided all the necessary sustenance for prolonged periods. These would ensure they stayed nourished without needing to spend time on foraging or hunting. X8

Eclipsing Blade: A powerful sword forged from a rare, dark metal that absorbed light, giving it a shadowy appearance. The blade was enchanted to be incredibly sharp and durable, capable of slicing through even the toughest materials with ease. It also had the unique ability to siphon energy from those it struck, transferring a portion of their strength to the wielder. X1

Spatial Bag: A seemingly ordinary leather pouch, but enchanted to hold a pocket dimension inside. It could store a vast number of items, regardless of their size or weight, making it an invaluable tool for carrying supplies, weapons, and other essential gear. The bag responded to its owner's thoughts, allowing Adrian to retrieve anything stored within it instantly. X9

Phoenix Feather Elixir: A rare potion brewed from the feathers of a phoenix. It had potent healing properties, capable of mending severe wounds and revitalizing the drinker almost instantly. A few drops could save a life in critical situations. X2

Grimoire of Ancient Spells: An old, leather-bound book containing powerful and forgotten spells. The grimoire was enchanted to be readable only by its owner, preventing others from accessing its secrets. Adrian had already started studying some of the spells, finding them to be incredibly potent and versatile. X1

Elemental Stones: A set of five stones, each imbued with the power of a different element – fire, water, earth, air, and lightning. These stones could be used to cast elemental spells or enhance weapons and armor with elemental properties. X1

Ring of Vitality: A silver ring engraved with intricate runes. When worn, it increased the wearer's stamina and speeded up natural healing processes. It also provided a constant, low-level regeneration effect, helping to keep minor injuries from becoming major problems. X1

Mystic Compass: A device that pointed the way to the user's desired location, even if they had never been there before. It was particularly useful for navigating through unfamiliar territories or finding hidden places. X2

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Adrian felt a sense of satisfaction as he looked over the items. Each one had the potential to be a game-changer in the challenges ahead. He knew he needed to be prepared for anything, especially with the threats looming on the horizon.

As he finished his meal and packed up his new gear, he put the Ring of Vitality and Barrier Talisman on and I hear a knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Ron entered, ready to brief him on the day's plans.

"Adrian," Ron said, "Cale asked me to come get you and your friend he needs to talk to you about something."

Adrian nodded, securing the Eclipsing Blade at my side and attaching the Spatial Bags on to my belt. "Yes, let's get started."

Cale POV

"Late at night.

  Deputy butler Hans had to stand in front of Count Deruth. He started to make his report while Deruth quietly listened until he was finished.

  "He is currently sleeping in his room."

  Hans finally finished his report and Deruth started to speak.

  "The driver reported that he went to the Flynn Merchant Guild's illegitimate son's tea shop. Today, he brought a young man whose identity we cannot verify. In terms of drinking, he only drank a little bit and kept a clear head."

  Hans's report was short, but Deruth found that short report interesting.

  "Should we put a tail on him?"

"He waved his hand to oppose Hans's question. He didn't want to know what his son was doing on the outside to the point he would put a tail on him.

  "No need. As long as he is in the city, anything he does is under my authority to handle."

  Deruth cherished Hans the most out of all the young deputy butlers. It was because he fulfilled orders well and was a good person.

  "Do what you have been doing in terms of observing Cale inside the house and reporting what you see."

  "I understand."

  Hans did not say anything else as he bowed his head.

  Deruth. He was someone who did not have any special abilities nor any solid networks. However, just like the previous Count, he was able to rule over the Henituse territory and grow his wealth by selling marble and wine. He was someone who was able to protect his territory properly.

  'Cale has changed.'

  Cale felt different than normal. It wasn't that he suddenly got smarter or stronger,"

" but that his actions were clearly different from before.

  "Ah, Hans."

  "Yes, Count-nim?"

  "Bring me some information about the Flynn Merchant Guild."

  Tea shop owner, Billos. Deruth knew about this bastard son of the Flynn Merchant Guild. This was because the Henituse's largest trading partner for wine was the Flynn Merchant Guild.

  "I will get right on it."

  "Great."

  Deruth watched Hans walk out of his office as he started to think. There was a lot of things for him to think about other than the change in Cale's demeanor.

  The atmosphere around the continent was dangerous. It was like a volcano right before it erupts. Deruth could clearly feel the dangerous atmosphere despite the fact that he was in the corner of the kingdom. It was because he was always receiving an endless amount of information about it. But the message from the Imperial Court that he received today made Deruth even more certain about the current atmosphere of the continent."

"The former Counts of the Henituse territory always passed on a single piece of advice to the next in power.

  'There is no need to be recorded in history. Just live for peace and happiness.'

  "I guess I need to reinforce the city walls."

  He may not be a good fighter, but Deruth was always thinking about ways to protect himself and his family.

  There are times when the body is stronger than the mind.

  "Young master, you were sleeping so soundly that I did not wake you up."

  Cale had slept in. The fact that Ron brought lemonade instead of cold water again made things even worse. However, Cale could not say anything about it.

  It was because there was a bandage around Ron's neck.

  "Are you hurt?"

"...Are you worrying about me?"

"No. It's just annoying to look at."

"It is nothing much. I was just scratched by a cat's claw."

  Is a, 'cat,' another reference to an innocent person?

Cale was sure that someone would have"

"had their fated meeting last night. He avoided the gaze of Ron, who was smiling, and headed toward the chamber's window. He needed to move faster because he slept in.'

  "Will you be heading out right away?"

"Yes. I'll take care of everything on my own outside."

"I understand. Oh, young master."

  Cale let go of the door handle and turned to look at Ron. Ron had an odd smile on his face.

  "What do you think about the lemonade?"

"Great. It's delicious."

  Ron's voice became an octave lower.

  "...Is that so?"

"Yes."

  'What kind of question was that?'

  Since Ron was someone he could not ignore, Cale just answered the question as nicely as possible while opening the door.

  Slam. He then quickly closed it right back.

  "...Ron."

  Ron approached Cale at his calling and whispered with a smile on his face.

  "Young master, were you surprised? Your guest from yesterday is waiting for you outside."

  Cale was surprised. Cale had seen Choi Han staring at him as soon as he opened the door, which caused him to close the door in shock. His hand headed to the inner pocket of his shirt. The 10 million gallons in his pocket calmed him down.

  Ron gazed toward Cale as he continued to speak.

  "I didn't have a chance to tell you because you opened the door right away. I told him to wait comfortably in his room, but he insisted that he needed to see you and waited outside the door."

  'Didn't have a chance to tell me my ass.'

  Cale could not say anything to this terrible old man who definitely had the chance but chose not to tell him. Cale moved a step away from Ron as he opened the door again.

  "What's going on?"

  Cale pretended like he never slammed the door as he started to chat with Choi Han. He was paying attention to Choi Han's appearance as he asked.

"After taking a shower, fixing his hair, and wearing new clothes, a pure and clean feeling was coming from Choi Han. However, it was difficult to think like that after seeing his eyes.

Choi Han was still in a twisted state. That was why looking at his eyes made Cale feel a bit scared. Choi Han was also staring back at Cale before finally starting to speak.

"Pay you back."

"Huh?"

"I will pay you back for the meal."

Choi Han was speaking formally unlike yesterday. More importantly, Cale started to frown at the words, 'pay you back.'

'Pay me back? Is he trying to make me have a heart attack?'

Who in their right mind would use Choi Han for manual labor? Cale just wanted Choi Han to get out of this city as soon as possible.

Of course, Choi Han would agree to help Cale out if he said it was to pay him back. He was that kind of person. However, Cale didn't have anything he needed from Choi Han.

"No need. Is there anything else you need?"

"He quickly rejected Choi Han's offer and asked if there was anything else he needed. Choi Han started to observe Cale even more closely. That gaze made Cale think about how Cale got beaten to a pulp in the novel, and his arms started to develop goosebumps. Choi Han started to speak at that point.

"There is something I would like to request for your help."

Cale closed his eyes at the word, 'help.' He did not want to get involved with Choi Han. The, 'help,' that Choi Han would ask about could be nothing other than something regarding Harris Village.

The Cale in the novel called the villagers of Harris Village useless and ended up getting beaten up because of it. Cale thought about that as he opened his mouth.

"Tell Hans your request. He will take care of everything."

After opening his eyes again, Cale made eye contact with Choi Han, who was standing there as still as a statue.

"He is a talented deputy butler. He will be able to help you out with almost any normal request."

Cale then put a hand on Ron' shoulder. He could feel Ron flinch, but Cale decided to"

"get both of them out of his sight at the same time.

  "Ron here is pretty useful as well. He will also be able to help you out. Ron, he is my guest. Make sure to take proper care of whatever he needs."

  Cale also gave Ron an order before moving his hand off of Ron's shoulder. He then heard Choi Han calling out to him.

  "But you don't even know who I am."

  Cale turned around to look. He could see Choi Han still observing him. The scary feeling emitting from him had disappeared, and Cale could only feel an unexplainable purity coming from Choi Han.

  "Why do I need to know who you are? Is there a reason to help someone who does not have as much as I have?"

  Choi Han started to frown a bit at Cale's words. It was very faint, but Cale, who had been closely observing Choi Han, definitely saw it.

  'Is he annoyed that I said someone who does not have as much as I do?'

  Cale quickly continued on.

  "Based on your situation, I doubt you'll ask for something difficult. Well, if it is"

"something difficult, I'm sure Hans will know where to draw the line."

  He pushed Ron toward Choi Han as he turned away from the two of them.

  "Then goodbye. I have a lot of things to do."

  Cale quickly headed toward his father Deruth's office. He needed to get a large amount of allowance today. He could hear Ron's voice coming from his behind him.

  "Young master, I will do as you commanded."

  'I don't care whether you do or do not.'

  Frying and stirring was for them to do as the main characters, not Cale. Wouldn't they get closer to each other faster since they met four days earlier thanks to him?

  Ron looked toward Cale, who was moving away from both of them, before looking down at the empty cup in his hands.

  "Interesting."

  That fearless puppy did not like sour things. He still did not like it. However, he now drank it.

  Ron touched his neck. He had been hurt for the first time in a long time, but some"

"thing more interesting than the injury kept nagging at him.

  The fearless puppy was scared of him.

Does he know something?

  "Lead the way."

  Ron turned his gaze toward the source of the voice. He could see Choi Han looking at him with disgust. This punk seemed to have figured out that he was someone who has killed after their short spar last night.

  "Sure."

  This punk, who also gave off a similar scent of blood, was pretending to be clean. Ron found it funny that such a twisted punk was acting that way.

  This punk, that they met last night, gave off the violent, disgusting, and murderous aura of the Forest of Darkness. It was an aura that Ron and Beacrox could instantly tell apart from other auras.

  Of course, that murderous aura was not Choi Han's own. Choi Han had gotten that aura from the assassins he had killed, and now that he had showered and cleaned up, the murderous aura was no longer surrounding him.

  "I guess there is no way those people would cross over.'

  Ron thought about the events of last night as he started to talk to the boy who seemed to have gone through a lot in the past few days.

  "Follow me."

  Ron started to walk in order to follow his puppy young master's order, and Choi Han followed behind him. Choi Han's gaze momentarily headed toward Cale's direction before turning back to Ron."

"Cale held a bag that was twice the size of yesterday's bag as he headed back up to the top of the slums. The two siblings were there to greet him once again.

  The children kept their mouth shut as they looked toward Cale. Cale smiled as he took out two small bags and pushed them toward the children.

  "Take it."

  The young girl slowly approached him. Cale frowned as he watched the girl with coarse grey hair approach him. She had a hand on her side as she limped over to him.

  "Hey."

  Cale pushed the two bags toward the young boy.

  "You come here and take it."

"The young boy quickly rushed over and snatched the bags before quickly running back. Compared to Cale's bright red hair, the boy had coarse dark red hair that shook as he ran.

  Cale then turned around and headed toward the man-eating tree.

  "Wow."

"It's not bread. It's meat and cake."

  He could hear the siblings talking about the food, but he did not care. He continued to walk toward the man-eating tree's territory.

  Oooooooooooooong-

  "...It's a bit scary."

  The black tree without any leaves seemed to be moving its branches to welcome Cale. This eerie feeling made Cale nervous, but he still poured the contents of the bag into the hole underneath the tree.

  The bread quickly disappeared.

  It was at that moment.

  "...More, give me more."

  '...It's driving me crazy."

"The response he read about in the novel showed up. It was the voice of a weak girl. Yes, the person who starved to death was a priestess who served a god. However, unlike the present day priestesses of the temples or churches, the ancient priestesses were shamans. The majority of the ancient shamans could be considered people who had superpowers or natural forces under their command.

Cale quickly grabbed the bag and started to move.

  'Cale, come to my study tonight.'

  That was what his father, Deruth, had said to Cale when he went to get some allowance. That was why he had to leave here before evening at the latest.

'Half.'

  He came here with the intention of taking care of half of the gluttony of the tree today. He went back down the hill to get more bread. He could see the two siblings looking at him with cake on their lips.

  "Tsk."

  Cale frowned and clicked his tongue as he walked past the two siblings.

  Cale then walked to the street where there were a lot of bakeries. He had already swept the stock of the bakery he went to "yesterday this morning, so it would take them some time to restock. That was why he needed to look for another bakery. It was at that moment.

  "Y, young master."

  A woman's voice made Cale turn his head. A middle-aged woman smiled awkwardly as she pointed to her shop. Her hand was shaking and she was full of fear, but she still had some confidence.

  "We have a lot of bread."

  Cale started to smile. Now this was a woman who knew how to do business. The other vendors were peeking their way while looking at what was going on.

  Cale threw her a gold coin and the woman quickly picked it up.

  "Give me everything you have. Pack it quickly."

  In that instant, the smile on the middle-aged woman's face grew wider. She instantly went into the store and immediately came back out with a large bag full of bread. She had already packed it all up in advance.

  "Here it is, young master."

  'Wow. She really is a good merchant.'

  "This was someone who knew how to make money.

  "I can also prepare some more."

  Cale liked this woman even more. However, at that instant...

  "Young master! We can make even more bread than that!"

  An old man across the street raised his hand as he rushed over. He was wearing a baker's uniform. Cale liked his fitting outfit and threw a gold coin to him as well.

  "I will head to your shop next. Have a bag ready."

"Thank you very much!"

  Cale was amazed by these vendors. They were still afraid of him because of his identity as the trash of the Count's family, but they had no issues coming up to him to make some easy money. It was probably because they knew that Cale did not hit anybody who was not a gangster, but he still could see why the Henituse territory was doing so well.

  The fact that Cale had spent a gold coin to buy a bag of bread yesterday had already spread like wildfire. 1 million gallons. The others gasped at the week's worth of profit while their eyes started to sparkle.

"I can go around to those three places tomorrow to get bread.'

  Since he gave each of them a gold coin, he should be able to get another bag from them tomorrow. Cale was happy that things were going so smoothly.

However, there was someone who was watching him from afar.

  "Hmm."

  It was the chef, Beacrox. Just like his father, he had a bandage around his neck, and he was watching Cale from behind a corner. He just watched Cale buy the bag of bread and some medicinal herbs before heading back to the slums.

  "...Did he go crazy?"

  Cale seemed like he had gone crazy since yesterday.

  Beacrox had never cared about Cale, even when his father had said that Cale was an interesting kid, but, the more he saw, the more he started to agree. It felt like it would be just as fun to watch Cale as it was to watch the black-haired punk. Beacrox's eyes started to sparkle.

  Billos, the owner of the tea shop with the highest view, took a sip of his tea as he received his subordinate's report."

  "Young master Cale is going in and out of the slums?"

"Yes, Billos-nim."

"I see."

"We also received communication from the capital."

"Is that so?"

  Billos's round eyes, that were hard to see because of his fat, opened widely. The subordinate flinched for a moment before continuing his report.

"Yes. It mentioned that the crown will soon gather people. That is why they wish for Billos-nim to return and get to work."

  Clank.

  Billos put the teacup on the table as he motioned with his chin.

  "You can head out now."

  The subordinate quickly moved into the shadows and disappeared. Billos stared at the spot his subordinate was standing in as one corner of his lips twisted upward.

  "Do they think I will be their dog and watch the house again?"

  His gaze headed out of the window. It felt like his gaze could reach the far away capital.

  "This, this isn't bread. Isn't bread."

"And?"

  Seeing the young girl who was mumbling, 'isn't bread,' over and over as she held the medicinal herbs in her hand, Cale just snorted as he headed back to the man-eating tree. However, the young boy got in his way.

  "You cannot die."

  It was the young boy saying he cannot die now. Cale did not even frown as he just walked past the young boy.

  Cale, no, Kim Rok Soo.

  He was an orphan and didn't have anything to his name. That was why there were a lot of people who showed the poor Kim Rok Soo a lot of sympathy.

  'Is there a reason to show sympathy for the needy?'

  That was something he heard all the time when he was younger.

  'Young beggar.'

'Poor orphan.'

'You don't need a reason to show sympathy.'

  There was a time he just took that at face value, but he started to understand the "real meaning of it as he got older.

There wasn't a logical reason for the things your heart draws you to do. You didn't need a reason.

  "So annoying."

  Cale hated to see young children being hurt. However, he didn't have any thoughts about nursing the young girl nor thoughts of consoling her. He frowned toward the young girl who was limping toward him and the young boy next to her as he answered them.

  "I won't die."

  The siblings finally stopped following him once he said that. Cale was unhappy at the thought that he did something he hated the most. He hated people who got involved in other people's business without being asked, but he had done just that by giving the young girl the medicinal herbs.

  Oooooooooooong.

  -More, give me more.

  "Yes. Eat it all."

  Cale dumped the whole bag into the man-eating tree without caring about how it landed. He was not afraid. The bread instantly disappeared into the darkness"

"that was now too light to be called darkness. Cale could now see a new grey light. However, it would only seem grey to him.

  'I guess it is paying off for the money I spent.'

  Cale poured the other bag of bread into the hole as he headed back home. He didn't see the siblings anymore, but that was better for Cale.

  However, he saw the two struggling cats on his way back home and flinched.

  'It's the cats from yesterday. They shouldn't remember me, right?'

  Silver fur and golden eyes, dark red fur and golden eyes. The two cats did not even meow as they stared at Cale. Cale did not want to cause a scene, and just looked away as he headed back home.

  He then heard something from his father that almost made him faint.

  "... Could you please say that one more time."

"Yes. Cale."

  Basen was standing next to Cale as well. The story of the Henituse family that was not mentioned in the novel was happening in front of Cale's eyes.

  "You shall go to the capital as our family's representative."

  Cale could feel a headache coming.

  "Originally, Basen was supposed to go. However, you are the first born of our family."

  Cale just opened and closed his mouth repeatedly as he watched Count Deruth sitting there with a gentle smile. Going to visit the crown at such a time. Cale was quickly thinking about the contents of 'The Birth of a Hero' as Deruth continued to speak.

  "The crown is hosting a big event, and the noble families of each territory have been invited to gather. It will be your first time to go visit the crown, but Basen has been going to similar functions for the last two years. However, I am hoping for you to go this time."

  Big event hosted by the crown. That made Cale think about a single incident.

  The Plaza Terror Incident.

A secret organization commits a terrorist act when many of the citizens of the capital are gathered in one place. Our hero Choi Han is the one who manages to block about half of their plot. That would be the fourth time that Choi Han and the "secret organization would come into contact with each other.

As a result, Choi Han is able to save a lot of the citizens at the plaza and becomes connected with the crown prince. They then quickly develop a friendship with each other.

Cale suddenly got the chills.

Since the novel described the event from Choi Han's point of view, it did not talk much about the gathering of the nobles. All it mentioned was that Choi Han gains some party members before and after the incident, as well as the strong backing of the crown prince.

But he had to go to the scene of that terrorist attack?

Of course, he did not know whether the nobles would gather in the plaza as well. Cale started to recall the information in 'The Birth of a Hero.

[Tons of people were gathered in the plaza. The platform was still empty. It was for the royal family that would soon arrive. Choi Han could see some other people who looked like they held important positions. However, more important to Choi Han, was the fact that a lot of citizens, young, old, male, female, were gathered here. Choi Han's heart started to beat "faster.

He did not want to see a group of innocent people dying ever again.]

  Would people who looked like they held important positions include the nobles?

Cale turned to look at Basen even as his father was continuing to speak. Basen stood there stoically, looking at his father without giving Cale a single glance.

  'Deruth said Basen normally goes to events like this. Should I tell him to go?'

  Cale's mouth continued to repeatedly open and close. He did not want to go to a dangerous area. However, he could not bring himself to say Basen's name.

  A relationship that was neither good nor bad. That was the relationship between the original Cale and Basen. Basen found Cale to be difficult, but that was it.

  Cale's mind started to get complicated. Would Cale have gone in the story? There was no way Deruth would send the trash to the capital. Just why was he trying to send him then? Cale was wondering if he had done something wrong to have caused this to happen.

  "You will leave in five days."

  Five days later. Hearing Deruth say that, Cale knew that the Cale in the novel had "not gone to the capital.

In the novel, he was beaten to a pulp by Choi Han four days later and carried into the Count's estate. There was no way he could go to the capital in that condition.

  "Cale. Before Basen started to do it, you had participated in all of these ceremonies. Think back on those times and have a relaxed journey."

  "Father."

  Deruth looked toward Cale at his calling. Basen slowly turned to look at his older brother as well.

  "I am a bit anxious because of this sudden development. I have not gone to any of these since two years ago. I don't understand why I would suddenly have to go. Please let me think about it."

  Deruth agreed and told his two sons that they could leave. The siblings quickly left the study. Cale was busy thinking about all sorts of things. If Cale threw a fit and caused a scene, Deruth would probably send Basen, but that would leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

  It was at that moment.

  "Hyung-nim."

  "Cale could hear his young brother, Basen's voice. Cale turned his head. He could see Basen still stoically walking without looking at him. The 15 year old Basen always talked like this without ever making eye contact.

"Hyung-nim, there is no reason you cannot go."

  Sigh. Cale let out a sigh.

  Basen did not even look at Cale as he left the study and headed to his own room. Cale stared at Basen for a long time.

  "...It's not supposed to go like this."

  Cale had been pushed out of the successor spot. Cale could not stop acting like trash even when his younger brother flat out acted like he was the family's successor since two years ago. He was the joke of the family.

That was why there were a lot of reasons he should not go as the family representative to the crown's summon. However, Basen was saying that there were no reasons not to go to the event.

  Basen was saying that there were enough reasons for Cale to go as the family representative.

  'Things will become complicated like this.'

"Cale stated to frown. He did not like how things were going.

But the other problem was...

  'It's worth a shot.'

  He thought it was worth going through the events that were about to come up.

  The reason was that the chances of Cale coming back without dying or getting hurt were pretty high.

  'It will also make it difficult for me if Basen dies without being able to take the Count position.'

  In order for Cale to live a peaceful life, Basen needed to survive. There was still their youngest sister, Lily, but she was too young. Furthermore, Cale needed to head out of Western City after taking the ancient power located at the man-eating tree in order to take some other ancient powers located outside the Henituse territory.

  The scale inside Cale's mind started to tilt.

  He started to stare at deputy butler Hans who was heading his way. Hans's expression was intense, but not dark. He seemed to be a bit bitter, but his eyes were clear.

  "Young master, the request that your guest has asked for "Hans."

  Cale cut him off as he said something else.

  "Bring the guests here."

"Excuse me?"

  Cale was not going to be pushed around. If he was going to have to move, he might as well do it in a way that was most comfortable for him and in a way that was most beneficial for him.

  "Ah, if they don't want to come, just tell them this."

  Based on Hans's expression, Cale was certain that Choi Han's issue was settled properly. In the novel, Count Deruth gave a proper funeral for the villagers and took care of everything even after Choi Han beat Cale to a pulp. That shouldn't have changed at all.

  "Payment."

"Pardon?"

"Tell him to come because a way for him to pay me back has come up."

Adrian POV

I had followed Ron to Cales room and meet Choi Han and Han at Cales door

Adrian cleared his throat, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

Choi Han's gaze flickered briefly to Adrian before returning to Hans. "Cale asked for you to be brought to his room to discuss a matter of some urgency with Cale," he replied, his tone measured but firm.

Ron nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it concerns a request from a guest," he added, his expression inscrutable.

Adrian furrowed his brow, trying to piece together the puzzle. "What kind of request?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Choi Han glanced at Hans before turning back to Adrian. "It's regarding payment," he explained cryptically, his words laden with significance.

Adrian's confusion deepened. "Payment for what?" he pressed, unable to shake the feeling that there was more to this conversation than met the eye.

Adrian shifted uneasily, feeling the weight of the moment. "I feel like I'm missing something," he said, looking directly at Choi Han for clarity. "Did you and Cale have a conversation without me?"

Choi Han's eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his calm demeanor. "We did discuss some matters, yes. It was about how I could repay Cale for his hospitality and the food," he admitted.

Hans opened his mouth to say something as he looked at Cale's nonchalant expression, but a different noise filled the study.

Knock Knock Knock

Choi Han had arrived, and Adrian followed closely behind. Hans opened the door, and Cale could see Choi Han and Adrian standing outside. Cale waved his hand to send Hans away, and Hans bowed his head as he quietly exited the study. Only Cale, Choi Han, and Adrian were left in the room.

Cale kept the desk between them as he pointed at the chairs across from him.

"Come sit down."

Choi Han and Adrian slowly looked around the study as they sat down on the chairs. Cale gave them enough time to look around the study.

Like a typical pure and smart hero, Choi Han liked books. That was why the first thing he did after coming out of the Forest of Darkness and arriving in Harris Village was to learn how to read from the Chief. After looking around for a long time, Choi Han's gaze finally landed on Cale.

"What is the payment?"

'Getting right to the point.' Cale smiled, looking at how Choi Han didn't beat around the bush. Adrian, meanwhile, kept his expression neutral, hiding his inner amusement at the unfolding scene.

Payment. Choi Han was thorough when it came to debts he owed. Cale, Kim Rok Soo, realized that he had changed the contents of the beginning of 'The Birth of a Hero.' He could see that even more things would change because of it. That was why he was trying his best to not change too many things, but...

He had to go to the capital. Then even more things would change.

Cale put a piece of paper on the desk as he looked toward Choi Han and Adrian.

"There is a way for you to pay back for the meal, but I need to first determine whether you will be capable of doing it. In simple terms, this is an interview."

"Please go ahead," Choi Han immediately agreed, his tone serious. Adrian nodded, adding, "Yes, let's hear it."

Cale started to ask. "Do you know how to protect people?"

"... What do you mean?" Choi Han flinched for the first time and asked after a moment. Adrian watched intently, masking his knowledge of the answer behind a curious facade. Cale's gaze started to turn sharp. He was looking at the piece of paper on the desk and not at Choi Han.

Although he had to quickly change the plan, it might bring him more gains than before. He could prevent Choi Han's party from getting the ancient powers while taking the ones that he needed for himself.

Those powers were useless to them anyway.

Cale kept his gaze on the paper as he continued to speak. "Simple. Are you capable of protecting people instead of killing people?"

Silence filled the room. Choi Han did not have an answer. Cale removed his gaze from the paper and looked at the two sitting on the chairs. Choi Han was sitting there with his head down but eventually answered.

"I am not sure."

Tsk. Cale clicked his tongue. This was why it was dangerous to provoke Choi Han right now. Adrian kept his expression supportive, ready to step in if needed.

"But you can kill someone?"

The answer came easily this time. "Absolutely."

"Then you should be able to protect people as well."

Choi Han's eyes shook for a moment. Adrian leaned forward slightly, his face showing a mix of concern and encouragement.

"That is difficult."

"But difficult does not mean impossible," Adrian added, echoing Cale's sentiment.

Adrian took a step forward, his expression thoughtful. "I understand the gravity of the situation now," he said, his voice steady. "Choi Han, protecting people is indeed challenging, but it's a skill you can learn. We're all here to support each other."

Choi Han looked at Adrian, surprised by his words. "You're right," he said slowly. "I will do my best to learn."

Cale nodded, satisfied with the turn of events. "Good. We'll need all the strength and resolve we can muster for the tasks ahead. Let's make sure we're prepared for anything."

Adrian, still maintaining his act, gave a determined nod. "We'll be ready."

Adrian then reached to his belt, wincing slightly from his injuries, and took off two small spatial bags. He handed one to Cale and the other to Choi Han. "These should help with the preparations," he said, his voice steady despite his discomfort. "They're spatial bags. Use them wisely."

Cale then turned to Adrian, his expression softening slightly. "Adrian, I appreciate your support. Your presence here is crucial."

Adrian nodded, a small smile playing on his lips despite his injuries. "I'm glad to be of help. Let's ensure that everything goes according to plan."

Cale leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "We need to make sure everyone's roles are clear. Adrian, you'll assist in organizing the preparations. Choi Han, ensure our defenses are solid."

Adrian nodded, maintaining his facade of uncertainty while inwardly confident in his knowledge of the plot. "Understood. Let's make sure everything goes smoothly."

Choi Han glanced at Adrian, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Agreed. We can't afford any mistakes."

As they dispersed to their tasks, Adrian couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. He was playing his part perfectly, and soon, everything would unfold just as he knew it would.