Chapter Text
"Are they all your ancient powers, young master Cale?" Cage asked, she knew that Cale got multiple ancient powers but to have this many ancient powers that they got they got a name.
Weird names too. But she digresses, it's young master Cale.
"He has multiple ancient powers?" Her counterpart had asked them which Taylor answered for her, "Yes, he does."
"How did that trash get those ancient powers?" one noble asked after hearing Taylor speak up.
As the air felt heavy after the noble words, the black dragon yelled out, "Who dares to call my Human trash?"
"Who was that lowly child?" they asked as they couldn't see the invisible black dragon napping in Cale's lap, they didn't see any kids in the front, except for two cats. They all just hear a kid's voice.
"You don't need to know," Cale spat out while scanning around to find the person who spoke rudely to Raon. The noble was about to complain when he was just hit by Cale's domaining aura that is steadily creeping into him like a snake wrapping around him.
No one comments on it as Cale turns to the two priestess, "Yes, they are all my ancient powers. We can get back to the question, do answer it, Cage and Cage*."
Cage looks at Cale, "They ask us, who was once a priestess of a god of that damn god's church."
"So, the answer must be priestess," Cage* reasoned, looking at her counterpart, "The system did say that it's easy to guess the answer; we aren't arsonists."
Cale coughs.
"We aren't crybaby."
Both Pens cough.
"We aren't thieves either."
Cale crew coughs.
"So, B is the answer." They both answered together as they both stared back at the records.
< B was the correct answer >
< You both will be given a viewing of your chose after this. >
Both Cage smiled, they knew what they want to ask for, mostly Cage*, she wants to knew how Taylor gets the chance to walk. Cage knew that, she knows what her counterpart was wishing for.
They watch the records glow.
< Second Records : Gluttony Priestess >
"Gluttony?" Cage blinked.
[ He needed to set the foundation to earn that Indestructible Shield today.
The Indestructible Shield. ]
"You know how to obtain that silver shield of yours?" Bud turns to Cale who tiredly nomming the cookie in his mouth. Cale tiredly nods, "It wasn't hard to obtain."
"Only you can say that," Bud scoffs, playing with the hems of the table cloth, "Others would take months or years to obtain a single ancient power that they deem useless."
Nameless 1 agreed, Rosalyn sighs, "Powerful as they are. They come with a price." She looks at the worried states of their young master.
"Powerful?" Rosalyn* turns to her counterpart.
Rosalyn chuckled darkly, looking at the tired posture of their young master, "Young master Cale's ancient powers are force to be reckoned with. It's like nature resides in his body."
Nameless 2 heroes had many questions, so they looks back at the records.
Eruhaben* glance at the redhead with multiple ancient powers and a power that belongs to a dragon slayer family. He did want to ask them more but it seems like the System wants to conceal it from them.
[ It is not talking about a physical item. The best comparison might be a mage's mana shield. Something that does not actually have a physical form. However, it was very different from a mana shield, as it was closer to superpower than magic.
The funny thing was that the human who created the power, but ended up dying, was someone who served a god but ended up being excommunicated. ]
"We were right," Cage chime, she looks at her counterpart and back to the redhead, "Who did they worship?"
"Was it the God of Death?" Her counterpart added.
"No," Cale answered before tilted his head to the side, "Ah, I can answer that."
Cage* turns to Cale, "Then you know who they worship?"
The redhead sighs, he looks at both Nameless worlds, "Yes, I know."
"The System won't let you answer it?" Eruhaben asked, the redhead nods, "It's what they would call it as a spoiler."
"It is someone or something we know?" Ableru asked.
Cale nods.
There are many mysteries between the Cale and his ancient powers as to why they are too powerful or how Cale knows who they are, as if he knows them personally.
[ 'All sorts of weird things are in this novel.'
As with the history of any fantasy world, this world also had its ancient history. During that ancient time, neither magic nor weaponry was developed. ]
"What do you mean by novel, young master Cale?" Alberu* asked.
"___________, your highness," Cale answered before sighing, "The System won't let me answer." It's a spoiler and it something that would make them hate him for it but he was ready for all pointless accusations to him—Cale shakes his head as he pats on the little dragon head in his lap.
He smiled knowing that all the decision he made had let him to meet the kids and the others, so, if they hate him… He doesn't know how to feel about that.
Alberu noticed that Cale was looking down at the invisible dragon with mixed emotions, he took Cale hand, and interwined it, "Something in your mind?"
Cale shook his head, "Nothing, your hig-"
"Hyung."
"Hyung." Cale answered, Alberu shared a smile that made Cale do the same.
[ Instead, it was a society where your own innate talent or talents gathered from supernatural occurrences played a pivotal role. The strongest powers in that society were superpowers, divine powers, and natural forces. It was a very primitive time.
Some of those powers have lasted all the way until now, staying hidden in certain locations or items. It was possible to take those powers for yourself if you meet the right conditions.
Ancient powers.
The heroes would find these powers, however, these powers were all supporting powers, not strong enough to be used as a hero's mainstay.
These were the powers that Cale was looking to find. ]
"You search for them, unlucky bastard." Eruhaben placed a hand in the face to cover his face, "You were lucky that the second ancient power you took is a regeneratived power. Or you could have died."
"He what-" The scarred man look back at the golden elf with horror.
"He could have died," Eruhaben emphasised, mading sure Rok Soo knew what Cale did to his body.
"Crazy bastard," Alberu can't help cussing out while holding into Cale's hand to soothe himself. He was reminded of the day when Cale told him that he had 3 days to live. The Henituse couldn't believe it as they hear Rok Soo yelling at Cale, "I didn't give you that body to die."
Cale glared at him, mirroring the same face that Rok Soo, "Hey, no one told me I would have died having more than one ancient power."
[ 'Everything but the divine powers.'
Whether it be god or angels or devils, Cale did not want to get involved with any of them. ]
"You failed, young master Cale," Cage sniggered at Cale's misfortune, raising her cup in the air, "God of Death adores you so much that he asks you to be his saint."
Cale* shook his head, he rather not think what his other other* counterpart think being a saint of a god, even question his rationalty.
"The trash being a saint."
"How did he become a saint with his reputation?"
All three Cale chuckled at the nobles' reactions, they liked that their trash reputation was still popular which made Rok Soo* sigh and mumbled, "Those guys really like their trash reputation."
"You won't be like them right, Rok Soo*." Soo Hyuk* informed. Rok Soo* shakes his head, "I am not them, don't compare us."
Soo Hyuk* pats on Rok Soo* back, "I know."
"But saint?" Cage* murmureds. Cage looks at her, "He really like to bother young master that he usually cries in our dream."
"Crazy."
"When he is not crazy," her counterpart informs.
[ That was why Cale was looking for the powers that people naturally developed or came from nature.
'That is the way to make sure I don't need to put in any effort.'
Those were the types of powers he was looking for. Something like sword art or magic would require him to put in effort to practice. He didn't want to do something like that.
Unlike other books, the ancient civilization in the novel, [The Birth of a Hero], was not that strong. ]
'The Birth of a Hero'
Aberu* noted it down. He will ask this later.
"Not strong," Bud cried, pointing look at Cale, "Your ancient powers are powerful. Mine would be considered weaker against yours. It's like they were heroes from ancient times."
The tired Cale gives him a thumbs up but Bud does not get it.
[ As civilization developed, the magic and summoning skills that were developed outshined the natural powers left behind by the ancient civilization. Superpowers were the same way. Most subtle superpowers would be blown away by a single hit from the, 'Aura,' that was used in present day.
It wasn't like the heroes just used these powers sparingly for no reason.
'And my goal is to collect these subtle superpowers to become decently strong.' ]
"Decently strong is understatment," Rosalyn sighs.
"…?"
[ It was a satisfying goal. Especially because he also knew the ancient power that could strengthen these subtle super powers. ]
Eruhaben* asked his counterpart, "You can strengthen them?"
Eruhaben shrugged tiredly, he had seen a golden shower and shivered as he turns to his counterpart, "Apparently you can."
The golden dragon* can see that his counterpart was holding his head, he saw something he wished he never seen before. The nameless 2 dragon asked, "You have seen him strengthen it?"
"I did and I don't think I will never see another sight like that ever in my long life."
It interest him as a another ancient dragon*.
[ In order to take the first step in his plan, Cale started to look for the ancient power that was hidden in Western City. He knew the requirement to earn that power.
"Youn, young master. Welcome."
Cale just nodded his head at the baker, who bowed so low that it looked like his head might touch the ground, to respond. Gasp. He could hear the baker gasping, but Cale pretended not to hear it. He felt bad about how his trash reputation was making this baker so fearful.
"Give me some bread." ]
"That's how to get an ancient power."
"That's easy."
Some noble in Nameless 2 take a mental note to remember what they need to get one ancient power. Alberu* saw how the nobles wanted it before he can say something. A stern voice came from the Henituse* table, "Try taking it in our territory, we dare you."
Countess Violan* voiced out to warn the nobles that wanted to take it. The nobles tried to disagree but they can't.
Something blocking them to say something againts her.
[ "Excuse me?"
Cale pointed at all of the bread in the bakery and sternly responded.
"Everything from here to there." ]
"I wish I was rich enough to say that."
"Well, he did transmigrate to the wealthiest noble family in the Roan Kingdom ," Rok Soo replied back, "The first son of the wealthiest noble family."
"He's the richest person without the help of Hetinuse family," Alberu informed, sighing in his hand, "He has more money than the Royal family."
Cale give the prince a smile, a scheming smile, "Thank you my generous hyung. I still need a replacement for my broken golden plague."
'Golden plague'
Alberu* wants to clench his head to cry, and he hasn't been here for long, what was his counterpart thinking giving a one of a kind access to the his private funds or the royal treasury.
[ Clang. The gold coin that Cale took out started to spin on the counter.
"Pack it all up."
The baker seemed to be frozen in place as Cale continued to speak.
"Two or three more gold coins should be enough for a week's worth of bread, right?"
The baker's gaze, which had been on the gold coin, moved to Cale. It was too much money to pay for the bread. Cale just stoically responded to the baker's shaking eyes.
"I can go somewhere else if you don't want it."
"No, it is nothing like that! Young master! I will pack it as fast as possible!"
The baker was extremely respectful for a different reason than before as he moved around quickly. After a few minutes, Cale left the bakery with a bag full of bread over his shoulder.
Even though it was just bread, it weighed quite a bit. The weight made Cale start to frown, and he ignored the baker who was watching him leave as he stepped into the street. ]
"I wasn't that weak." Rok Soo pointed out which Cale* remarks out, he look at Cale, "Same, I can carry Lily."
"Can you do it?" Lily asked as she walks over to Cale*side, the redheaded* wanted to ignore her but Lily put on the sweetest smile she could muster, "Can you?"
Cale* can't help but carry her. Lily giggled as he lifted her up, he claimed, "You got heavier."
"Hyung, you should never talk about a lady's weight." Basen informed which Lily shooked her head.
"Oh..." Cale* placed Lily down, He never thought he would be openly scolded by Basen who is shy.
Rok Soo was watching the interaction, he saw how Lily* got jealous over her conterpart. He walks over the Henituse* table, patting on Cale* shoulder, "Unlike the two of you, I can lift both Lily," he looks at Lily*, "Come here."
The brown headed looks at her mother so gave a nod, embrassed, Lily* walks over to them and without effort, Rok Soo carried both of them and spun them around.
Lily was laughing which made Lily* follows her suit, they were happy having a short time with their older brother. Cale scoffed, giving the girls in Rok Soo' arms that soft smile that reaches to his eyes before turning to Rok Soo and scowled, "That was my body, so undeniably I can carry them before."
"Then please exercise Cale-nim."
"No." The redheaded answers without thinking hard about it, Choi Han lowered his head, he tried, he really really tried his best. While his traitorous friends, Rosalyn and Alberu silently laughed at him.
He shot them a look but they ignored it.
[ Cale leisurely walked down the street, noticing that anybody who made eye contact with him would quickly turn and walk away. The majority of the people even ran away to avoid eye contact with him.
'It really is different than Korea. It is truly a fantasy world.'
Cale looked around as he wandered around this market that gave off the typical fantasy feel. ]
"True but our world itself has a fantasy feel too." The Earthlings agreed, as So Hoon added, "If you consider the apocalypse a fantasy genre."
Agent Cha nods, sighing, "We did gain ablities to survive against those monsters."
[ "Mm."
"Mmph."
Any time he made eye contact with a merchant, they became shocked and avoided his gaze. Tsk tsk. Cale really must have lived up to his title of trash in the past. Cale was talking shit about himself as he walked past the market and toward the western part of Western City.
The slum is located to the west. No matter how wealthy a territory may be, there are always going to be poor people. In a situation like this, most people would probably expect something along these lines to happen.
'Ah, it is a fateful encounter that you can earn by sharing food with the poor.' ]
"Well, no." Cale* laughed, "Why would I share it, its mine."
Both Rok Soo and Cale nods to the supposed trash's words.
"That trash." A noble pointed out, Cale* cleaned his ear as to mocked the noble.
Cage* chuckled, looking at her world and their second personality, "You're getting less creative by always calling him trash. That's all you nobles can come up?"
The noble tried to agrue but one look on crazy priest had him shut up.
Cage added oil into the fire, laughing, "They can't as creative as the young masters of Henituse families."
"Oh." Cage* looks interest it her words.
[ Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Cale could feel people peeking at him as soon as he entered the slums. This was the place where both the idlest and the most vicious people lived together.
Although the poor may not know the face of their liege, the count, they knew Cale's face. These people who had nothing needed to pay even closer attention to the type of person that would cause a ruckus in the market, pub, plaza, well, you name it, and Cale has probably caused a ruckus there too. ]
"That's how to make a trash reputation, Cale." Rok Soo annoyed him, he was now seating beisde Cale*. The redhead* added to blow, "You can't be trash if you can't act like one."
Rok Soo nods, looking at Cale, "We shall teach you how to become trash." The redhead tilts his head, not understanding why he needs to learn to be a trash when he was trash.
Violan sighed, looking tired, "Don't teach him how to act like trash. He will get caught in troublesome situations that don't include him acting like trash."
"Then we shall try to teach him to act as trash to scare others," Cale* reasoned with a smirk which led the Henituse family sighed.
'It's still the same thing.'
[ "Tsk."
Even though they knew all these stories about Cale, they couldn't resist the sweet smell of the bread in Cale's bag. Cale just ignored all these gazes as he continued to walk.
The tip of his expensive leather shoe started to become dirty from the dirty water. An unknown stench also filled Cale's nose, making him naturally start to frown.
This made him start to walk even faster. The slums were on one side of a small hill and constituted of old houses. Cale was heading toward the top of that hill. As he got closer, the gazes and steps of the people following him started to lessen as well. Cale's sharp glare probably played a role in this as well.
'It's better here.'
After being freed from the stench, Cale stood at the top of the hill and turned around to look down at Western City. Of course, this hill was not as high as the count's estate. There was no way that they would allow the lord of the territory to live somewhere that was lower than that slums. ]
"It's hard to eliminate the slum," Violan replied solemnly, putting more tea in her cup, " We tried to throw away money to them but the slum came back somewhere else."
Bud stared back at her. 'They did what.'
She looks at Cale's back, "Though we are implementing Cale's ideas on reducing the number slowly."
"You did them yourself, mother. I just suggested," Cale answered back. Rok Soo and Cale* didn't know that it was that easy to call Violan as 'Mother' like how Cale does.
He had accepted Violan as his mother. He had integrated into this family in his own way.
Alberu looks back at the duchess, "Duchess Violan, let's talk about what Cale's suggestions were, I want to know them too."
"Duchess?"
Violan* and Deruth* gaped at their counterparts who smiled back at them with the slyest smile they thought they didn't have. They had guess that wars had made them devous or it's their new child.
"They became duchy after the war." Alberu glances as Cale, and Alberu* get the message his counterpart is giving.
"How a small count family became a duchy that stayed neutral for decades."
"They could have be an Earl or a Maquis but a Duke, what made them get that title?"
"Had they forgotten that Former Leader is the kingdom's commander," Sejong informed, his team shook their heads, So Hoon whispered, "They only take in the bad comments in their pea brain."
Min Ah hits his head, not it would hurt So Hoon, "Watch what you are talking, we don't want to hurt their ego."
Team One chuckled.
[ Cale came back to his senses as he headed toward a tree that was fenced off in all directions. The fence, that was made of planks the width of Cale's body, had an entrance that had rotted. It was easily broken once Cale pushed at the fence.
This large tree seemed to have lasted for hundreds of years. Trees in the slums were usually chopped into firewood or had its layers peeled off to make it useless, but this tree was not like that. ]
"Oh, wasn't that the tree that became beautiful." Lily spoke to her counterpart who sat beside her, after getting carried by Rok Soo, "So that's the ancient power in our territory."
— Strong Lily, that's not the only ancient power in our territory
Lily liked that Raon called Henituse territory his home too, even if she can't see Raon, she asked, "Really? "
— Human got 2 in the Forest of Darkness. And one in _________.
Lily looks at her big brother, "Oraboni, you got 4 ancient powers in our territory?"
Cale nods.
Both Alberu looks at Cale in shock. Alberu* noted, he will try to convince the Henituse family to let him or the hero get it. These powers would help them win againts the war based on the words of the crown princess of Brek.
On the hand, Cale* looks at Rok Soo who also shook his head indicating that he didn't know them too, so he looks back at Cale, "Why are ancient powers gathered in our territory?"
"________________________________," Cale tried to answer but no words fell out, so he opted for the next response, he look back at Cale*, "I found all except one of my ancient powers in Roan Kingdom."
"Huh? You mean you got more than 4 of them and they are all found in Roan Kingdom," Cale* blinked.
The nobles took notes where to search for them. Alberu* will go to records in the Royal Library and search for them after this.
"I don't know if the former Leader knows what he was saying or the System is making them more confused."
"Perhaps both."
[ The reason was simple. The reason could be heard in Cale's ear. These two were the only two who had followed him until the end from the slums.
"You can't approach that t-tree!"
Cale ignored that warning. He heard another worried voice as well.
"You can't go there! It's a man-eating tree!" ]
Hong hides his face on Cale's lap. He was embarrassed with his action. Cale took Hong into his lap and pats hims, "Don't worry, you went there to warn me." He then turns to others too and gave them their shared headpats, they like his headpats.
Ron* took notice of the cats with Cale, a young beastmen for the cat tribe. What luck did the transmigrator have.
Was it even luck or coincidence?
[ A man-eating tree. Anyone who hung themselves on this tree became mummies overnight. Furthermore, any blood that lands on this tree instantly disappeared.
Finally, there was only dirt around this tree. Grass, and even weeds, were nowhere to be found.
This was the tree that Cale was looking for.
A long time ago, during ancient times, there was a person who loved food so much that their gluttony in the place of worship got them kicked out. That person ended up starving to death. ]
"There's more to the story, ain't it young master Cale," Cage asked, "It wasn't gluttony that kicked them out."
Cale silently agreed. Cage took notice of that, it meant she was right, "If not gluttony, she must have done something against the temple that she worship."
"Killing someone. Disagreed with their woships or how they opperate," Cage* murmured out, it's how she was excommunicated from the Church of Death yet their god loves her too much. She cringes.
— she had it right
Glutton answered before Super Rock answered back,
— almost everything.
Cale nods. There's many things that led to Glutton's actions that led to her to get away from that place.
"But how do young master know more about his ancient power," Taylor titls his head. Cage shrugged her shoulders, "We ask him later."
[ This tree is said to have grown on top of their body, and that person's grudge and strength were both in this tree. The Indestructible Shield that Cale was looking for was here.
How primitive, mysterious and strange was this! The majority of the ancient powers were mysterious like this. ]
"Grudges, pfttt, everyone have that," Bud* informed, "You must be an saint if you have no grudges."
"Well, you can ask the person who almost became a saint," Bud points to Cale, who was still patting the children in his lap, "But we all know that he have own grudges too."
To a certain wannabe god, was left out of his mouth.
[ Cale took a bread out of the bag and carefully observed a hole that was the size of an adult's head. He needed to first send away the owner of that voice before starting his work. However, before Cale could even say anything, the voice was even louder this time as they could no longer see Cale from outside the fence because he crouched down. The voice was shaking quite a bit.
"You're going to die! Don't do it!"
Cale pressed his temples with his fingers.
"Sigh."
The number of people following him decreased the closer he got to the man-eating tree at the top of the hill, however, the owner of that voice continued to follow him.
'There are always nosy punks no matter where you go.' ]
"We were warning you, Cale, nya~" Ohn informed which Cale nods as he continued to pat on their heads, "I know."
Ron and Beacrox notice both Hong and Ohn's faces and how dirty they are which leads them to place more cookies in front of Cale to feed them.
[ Cale frowned as he turned his head around. When he did, he noticed a girl who seemed to be around 10 years old, holding her younger brother's hand while looking at him. Her eyes were full of concern.
Seeing that Cale was frowning and staring at her, the young girl stumbled on her words and started to mumble.
"It's a man-eating tree. You're going to d, die."
"I won't die."
Cale took two breads out of the bag and threw it toward the little girl. It didn't matter if it rolled on the ground because they were all individually wrapped.
"Take that and get lost." ]
"Look at you," Cale* teased, shaking his head, "You tried to act trash."
It made Lily chuckled silently.
Litina* can't help thinking he was bad, why he didn't bother to give them into their hand. What was that for.
She doesn't get it. Is it because he doesn't want to touch them but that can't be.
She closed her eyes, she rather not think about it.
[ The young boy instantly grabbed the bread, but the young girl was still hesitating. In the end, Cale needed to use his identity. He stood up and pushed his head outside of the fence.
"You two don't know about Cale the trash?"
The young girl's face turned pale. Her younger brother just looked toward Cale before picking up the other bread for his sister and started to tug on her arm. ]
"If I were back then I would have ignored your silly threats, nya~" Ohn answer, Cale had a strange expression as he looked at her in distaste, "What?"
Rok Soo and Cale* laugh at him, "Your eldest daughter is nagging you."
"My daughter—" Cale patted her, Ohn covered her head on Cale's lap to cover her embarrassment, "If thats what you want."
[ "Noona."
"Uh huh."
The young girl looked back and forth at the tree and Cale even as she was being pulled.
"You can't die."
Cale clicked his tongue at the young girl who continued to say that, before making sure nobody else was around as he sat down underneath the tree. Nobody would be able to see what he was doing unless they came right up to the fence.
"Let's get started."
He started by taking a loaf of bread out of the bag and putting it into that hole. His hand soon disappeared into the darkness underneath the tree, and Cale could feel a cold sensation as the bread in his hand disappeared.
He felt like his whole hand might be sucked in, and quickly took it out. ]
"Thank goodness, you didn't touch the tree, young master Cale." Mary voiced out with her GPS voice, and Choi Han asked her, "Why do you say so, Mary?"
"That tree carried the remains of dead mana."
The room temperature dropped so quickly but it died down after The System took care of it.
< Please lower down your auras, there are people who can't handle them. >
"Unlucky bastard."
"Cale-nim."
"Young master Cale."
"I'm fine, I didn't touch it." Cale to appease them, sighing. He had known the properties of dead mana using the novel, "I made sure of that. I can't trust everything the novel says."
"It doesn't seem like a large amount of dead mana but it's still poisionous," Mary informed them.
"You're telling me that he could die." Rok Soo complained, he wanted to strangle the bastard that he left his body with, "Cale, I didn't give my body so you can die on your first days living there."
He hears an scowl, so thats what you are asking for. He looks at Ron, he didn't think he would call him again.
"Ron, give him your bitterest lemon tea." Rok Soo asked, Cale couldn't believe him while the other redheaded* laughed.
Cale thanked Ron, chucked down the tea in one go and ate a cookie to make his tastebuds better.
[ The darkness in the hole underneath the tree was still the same.
"If you die with a grudge, you have to resolve that grudge."
This man-eating tree wasn't actually a man-eating tree. It was a tree that would eat anything. It was the side effect of the power that was left behind by the person who starved to death. But for such a thing to be related to an ancient strength...it was comical, but made it seem more realistic.
'I remember it said I need to feed it until the darkness disappears.' ]
"It's an easy feat to do but you need a lot of money for it."
"How much do you think it cost to get that ancient power."
"More than you own, I reckon."
"Hey, I get paid a lot as a member of Team One."
"We all do."
[ The darkness in the hole underneath the tree was not the result of shade. It was darkness formed by the grudge.
This could not be done with other people. One person had to continue to provide a large amount of food until the darkness disappeared. Once the darkness finally disappears, the light that was hiding underneath would appear.
Once he eats that light, the, 'Indestructible Shield,' will become Cale's.
"Eat all you want." ]
— it was tasty, you should go eat more Cale.
Cale turns to the table where the cookies where and took one to eat. To satisfies the glutton in his head.
[ Cale put the opening of the bag into the hole and emptied all of the bread into it. In a normal situation, that small hole should have become filled with bread, however, only the darkness continued to remain once Cale removed the bag.
"I guess I'll need about ten more large bags."
The darkness in the hole was slightly fainter than before.
Ten bags. Only someone like Cale, with 3 million gallons as allowance, could casually say such a thing. ]
"What was your allowance, Former Leader?" So Hoon asked. Cale peeks at him and answered back, "10 million a day."
"WHAT!" Team One looks horrified, they all look at Rok Soo and Cale, So Hoon yell out, pointing fingers at his team leader, "We knew that you were born in the most richest family but this…"
Alberu stood up and looked at Deruth, "I blame you, Duke Deruth for indulging him with money. My funds and the royal treasury are at stake."
Deruth laughed, shaking his head, "So that's why he rarely asks for money from us when he has the royal treasury for himself to indulge."
Rok Soo and Cale* gaped at their father's words. The Royal family wanted to protest against Deruth's words but decided to let go for now. They will have their victory later.
Alberu* wants to hit his counterpart , he wants to ask why is he pampering the Cale Henituse.
[ Rumble-
An odd cry seemed to resonate from the tree. It seemed to be saying that it was hungry and asking for more food. Cale felt like the darkness might suddenly reach out and grab him.
"...It is a bit scary."
Cale quickly got up. He felt like he should not be here for a long time.
"Just what can a stupid grudge do?"
Gluttony was a scary thing. ]
"Why did he answer it like that?" Mila tilts her head making her son look looked back at her, "What do you mean by that mom?"
Mila pats Dodori head as she tried to find words. She answered, "It's like he knows how it felt to not have food for days. That he had starved himself on purpose or not."
Violan hears the conversation from behind her.
'Did he?'
[ "I'll come back tomorrow."
Cale said goodbye to the rumbling tree as if it was a person and exited the fenced area. Cale noticed the siblings eating the bread as soon as he entered the slums.
For someone who was claiming that he should not go there because it was a man-eating tree, they seemed to be enjoying the breads. They must be liking the flavor, because both of them seemed very happy. ]
"It's our first proper food for weeks," the silver cat pats on the red fur that was sitting beside her, "So it was delicious."
The red kitten nods, "It was."
Alberu and Cale place more cookies in their table, Cale pats on their head, he asked, "There more in the table. Do you want more?"
The three nods.
Cale smiles, patting again in their head, 'There will be no shortage on food for the rest of your lives.'
[ "My my."
Cale snorted at the siblings before ignoring their gazes. However, their gazes were not on him, but on the bag that was filled with bread earlier but was now empty. They were probably curious.
But what could they do? They couldn't do anything.
These children were probably too scared to even go near the man-eating tree. However, it is always good to be on the safe side. It would be bad if they went up to the tree and put their head into the hole and got eaten.
[The children of the slums have no fear. It was because they treasured a single grain of rice more than a blade coming their way. Death is always around them, so they do not fear death. They fear being hungry more than death.]
It was something that was written in [The Birth of a Hero]. ]
There is it again, those words.
Alberu* reinformed himself in his head. This time, it had a paragraph added together with it. It doesn't seem like a tabloid titles or journal or a journal company name. It can be book name, perhaps a novel title.
But how.
[ That was why Cale decided to speak to the pair of siblings.
"If you want to eat bread again tomorrow, don't say a thing."
The two siblings did not say anything. They were immediately following Cale's order. The young girl, who seemed hesitant earlier, put her hand on her brother's mouth and pretended to not see Cale. Cale smiled and thought that she was pretty smart, as he quickly left the slums. ]
"You're smart," Rok Soo compliment her, the silver cat preens in over the compliment.
"Of course, she learns from the best," Cale boasted.
Ohn sighs which made Hong pat her fur, chirp out, "She's our noona, she knows everything."
[ The people in the slums who knew Cale had gone to the top of the hill were looking at him wondering what crazy thing he was doing now, but Cale liked that kind of gaze.
The people outside the slums looked at Cale weirdly as well, but Cale didn't care about these gazes. ]
"You look way familiar to weird glances thrown into you," Cale* informed, no one get used to many glares or dirty looks from crowd, "As if you had seen people weirdly looking at you daily."
Cale lazy answered, "You get to used to the stares, you get less bored by it the early on you ignored it."
Cale* turns to Rok Soo who shook his head which he had guess that it wasn't as their or possibly more.
[ 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." ]
"What happened?" Cale* asked.
"I got injured when I tried to push Hong away from bumping another cat, nya~" Ohn answered. Cale pats on her head as she hears the crown prince replied, "You are a kind noona to your younger brothers."
[ 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." ]
"What's next, you adopt them?" Cage* asked, she learned that silence Cale means yes, and he didn't oppose it.
"They aren't the only one that got adopted by the young master," Cage whisper to her counterpart, making Taylor who sat between them shook his head at their secretly.
[ 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." ]
Min Ah* looks at the screen, "With the sound effects and all, it is a bit sppoky. Like a horror movie."
Her brother chuckled, "Jumpscares are best type of horror." Min Ah* scakes her head.
Puh Rum* looks at the siblings, blinking his eyes, "We live in a monster apocalypse, jumpscares nothing less scary than running from a monster."
Both siblings agreed to his comment.
[ 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. ]
Both Jopis look at the screen, they do want to ask the young master about this but one wasn't from the same world as the young master while the other one knew that whatever the young master will say will be cut off by the system.
While both Gashan stay silent knowing that the records will eventually answer they questions.
[ 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.' ]
"Why did father call you?" Rok Soo asked Cale, the redheaded answered back, "About the plaza celebration."
"Wait, you are the one who went instead of Basen."
Cale nods while Basen bitterly pouts at it.
Cale* might not hate Cale but was thankful that it wasn't Basen who had gone to the celebration.
Those who heard them, remembered the attack in the plaza. Choi Han* looked at his hands, hoping their counterparts would take care of the situation better than them with the transmigrator.
He couldn't save them all, Rosalyn* placed her hand on Choi Han* shoulder, giving a small squeeze, "They might have been able to do better than us. Let's learn how they handle it."
[ 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. ]
Cage chukled, she had seen how Cale would clean the childrens faces during and after eating their food, she did not think it had starts from the first time he meet them.
[ 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. ]
Cale* laughed at the records at the woman who was sweating, "She took the change to profit even do she is scared of the reputation of the trash for cash. I applaud for her courage."
Rok Soo nods, "Not easy to get over their fear over the trash son."
[ "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. ]
"Hearing it again makes my wallet go broke," So Hoon laughed. Agent Cha chuckles, "We do get paid a lot as the Team One."
"But 1 million is way over our monthly salary while our former team leader is using it as a daily expenses."
Team One nods.
[ 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.
"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 did adopt them. Considering they are on your lap." Cale* teased, the redheaded that took over his counterpart was so fun to pick fun of.
"Shut up."
[ "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. ]
"You were an orphan," Violan stated. "How old were you when your parents died?"
"Five," Cale glanced at Rok Soo who answered back, "You knew about it."
"Of course, though after that their death, I don't have any memory." Rok Soo answered as he looked at Choi Han who sat beside Cale as he went rigid at his words, "You know something, Choi Han?"
"No. I. Don't."
Cale now looking back at Choi Han, titls his head. Choi Han who felt the redhead presence beside him. He asked, "Do you need anything, Cale-nim?"
"I don't."
Rosalyn and Alberu stared at Choi Han.
'Is he acting?'
'He isn't'
'So he is being sincere?'
'He avoided the question, that's terrifying.'
Hong looks at Cale before looking down to Cale lap, "I did not mean to say that, Cale-nya." He didn't mean to trigger a memory that his human didn't want to remember. He can feel a hand in his head, "I know that you didn't mean to."
[ 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. ]
"Did that tree talk?"
Bud turns to Cale, head tilting, he knew that Cale mention that he can hear voices, "During the test, you can hear the previous owner of ancient power voice."
Cale nods but there was more that hearing their voices while in test, he can hear them in his mind but that's another conversation.
[ "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.' ]
"That barely made a dent to hyung daily expenses," Basen shook his head, "He could have asked more so he could have finished giving bread to the tree in one day."
Lily looks at the records, "Or even asked the kitchens to bake breads."
Rok Soo shook his head, "It takes time for the bakeries to bake the amount of breads that Cale needs and even thought they have the amount he needed, he can't carry it all."
Before Cale can complain, Cale* added, "If he goes to the kitchens and ask for breads, what will the kitchen think about the trash asking for mountain of breads. They would think he was throwing breads to the poor to laugh at them."
Cale had his mouth open but then closed. Cage chuckled, "You made him speechless."
Alberu looks at Cale, "Unless he was thinking how he would not have paid the bakeries and lost money but he did help grow business with the bakeries in the city with his money."
[ 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.
***
Cale walked through the foggy Western City as he thought about the people he would take with him to the capital. The story was progressing a little differently than the novel, but it wasn't like he could give up on gaining some benefits for himself.
"Young master, you are here early today."
The baker seemed to be pretty relaxed around Cale after seeing him a couple of times. Cale just stoically asked the baker.
"The bread?"
The baker smiled as he handed Cale a bag full of bread.
"Of course, I have it all ready. But is today really the last day?"
"Why? Greedy for more money?"
"Yes, I definitely am." ]
"With a rich noble like former team leader who wouldn't try to make good business with him." So Hoon exclaimed, "I would."
[ Cale started to smile. He liked honest answers like this. Cale patted the shoulder of the baker, who seemed to be a bit more relaxed around him, and headed for the slums.
"I'll come back when I want to eat it again."
The baker longingly watched as Cale disappeared into the fog and then started to pray. He was praying for Cale to come back and spend a ton of money.
Cale naturally did not know about the baker's prayer as he walked over to the slums. He then saw the siblings waiting for him.
'Do these kids not have a home?' ]
"We do have a home now." Ohn smiled, her tail gently pats on her younger siblings.
"And a younger brother too," Hong added Raon so that he wouldn't be lonely, he can feel the smooth scales rubbing his fur.
[ Cale had come much earlier than usual. However, the siblings were curled up together and waiting for him, as if they had been waiting at the top of the hill all night. The younger brother seemed to be leaning into his older sister's embrace.
The siblings were quietly looking up at Cale. Their hair and clothes seemed damp, probably because they stayed here through the foggy morning.
Of course, Cale pretended not to notice.
"Here, take it."
The young boy took both of their shares from Cale. Cale waited until the boy picked it up before turning around and heading for the man-eating tree.
'I'm glad it is foggy.'
The fog made it difficult to see. Since this hill was the highest point in Western City, other than the Count's estate, the fog was even thicker up here. Nobody else would be able to see what Cale is doing, or more importantly, what Cale receives from the tree.
- More, give me more. Please.
Cale poured a bag of bread into the hole while listening to the eerie voice of the grudge-filled soul as usual. The darkness inside the hole was slowly turning from grey to white. Cale started to smile, thinking that all his efforts were not for naught. It was at that moment.
- More, more, more!
'What?'
Cale flinched and stepped backwards at the voice that now turned into a shriek.
'The novel didn't mention something like this.' ]
Alberu* had finally collected all the evidence that he needed from how Rok Soo knew the novel that Cale know about and how common for Cale to make comments about the novel. He waits until the records end before he can ask the young master.
[ - More, more! I will give you a present if you bring me more. A present.
Present. That word made Cale's eyes start to sparkle. ]
Rosalyn shook her head, chuckling, "Honestly, its so easy to please young master. All you have to do is give him something that he like and he will help you for life."
Cale turns to Rosalyn, "…"
Rosalyn smiled making Cale look away.
[ Although he didn't expect the soul to go crazy like this, the end was near.
"Just wait."
The black branch started to sway, as if nodding at him. It felt like a scene out of a horror movie. Cale shivered as he started to move back through the fog. It was the middle of the morning now, but the sun was not out, and the fog continued to get thicker. ]
"What's a horror movie?" One of the wolf pups asked as one of the team one member answered, "A movie is like a recording device like the one we are seeing right now. Horror movies are scary things that are shown in the recording. Just like that."
"But it wasn't scary."
"Some people gets scared out loud noise or something horrible. Like them." So Hoon points at the Nameless 2 nobles.
[ It looked like it would start to rain soon.
The siblings must have gone somewhere, as he did not see them, but Cale just thought they went to dodge the rain and put the third bag of bread in front of the man-eating tree.
'This should be the last bunch.'
The light inside the hole was now as white as the fog surrounding Cale.
'It should become transparent after I put this last bag of bread in.'
Cale was full of anticipation as he poured the last bag into the tree.
And finally.
Ooooooooooong-
A rumbling that was worlds different than the past rumblings poured out from the tree toward Cale. This rumbling, that was only aimed at Cale, did not catch his attention because of the hole that was starting to turn transparent. It should be dark inside the hole because of the shadow of the tree, but such a realistic situation did not occur.
That was the Ancient Power.
The moment Cale saw the Ancient Power, he could hear the voice that had been asking him for more food until now.
- It was so, so good!
That voice was ... obnoxious. ]
They can't believe that the voice of an ancient power is like this. They thought they would hear something profound and wise but not this.
"That was something." Rosalyn* exclaimed.
What can they say to this scenario but to have their mouths open.
[ - That soft texture of bread! I especially liked the third bag of bread you brought. I guess even food develops as time goes by. There was no such thing as bread back in my days! The wheat itself must grow on a really fertile land Yes, not all wheat is the same. ]
"It makes me wonder if she was straved from the church she was on," Cage sighs, "Or punished to eating."
— she's not off from her guess
Cale nods.
[ ...The voice was evaluating the taste of the bread.
A storm caused by the voice started to rush toward Cale.
'This wasn't in the novel!'
The spirit that was tied down to the earth because of its grudge was resolving that grudge by evaluating the taste of the bread. Cale started to frown further. He was only thinking about the Ancient Power in 'The Birth of a Hero.'
This Indestructible Shield was the only Ancient Power that was written about in the novel but never claimed by anyone. ]
Alberu* and Cale* looks at the records. There's many unsovled mysteries around this called novel. For the crown prince*, he had wondered how much was being told in that novel about their world.
But for Cale*, he tilts his head, he had known the novel as the two Cale and Rok Soo told him about this but what he gathered it was following that peseant footsteps. So why would an ancient power that the peasant had never got was mentioned.
[ 'No wonder nobody ended up taking control of it. But then why would the author mention something that could be useful but was never actually taken by anybody?' ]
"Wait a minute, you're telling me that trash took other people's ancient power."
"That trash."
"Look at them, trying to find faults, when they also were trying take those for themselves."
"I know." The two members of the team one chuckled.
"Who said that?" One of the nobles asked. Kim Min Ah raised her hand. "Me."
"You lowly commoner," the noble cursed out, Min Ah shook her head as she look back the the noble, "Hah, do you want the same treatment I give to him" as she at unconscious Toonka*.
The noble didn't voice out his response.
"Wouldn't the original owner try to come after you?" Cale* asked, Cale shrugged his shoulders, "First come, first serve."
"Agreed."
[ That was the thought in Cale's head, however, the obnoxious voice continued to chatter away, making him unable to focus.
- That's why I am so full! It was delicious!
Chatter chatter. It felt like the grudge was from not being able to speak instead of not being able to eat. ]
- Cale, how dare you.
"Sorry." Cale whispered.
- HAHAHAHHAHA, I can't wait for my turn.
- I bet yours is even worse than mine.
Gutton answered.
- I'm scared of my meeting with Cale, sob.. sob..
- My will be the **** best one ***
- Like you say that when you hurt Cale with your trial. We didn't hurt him.
Cale hears the crown prince calling him, "Are you okay, Cale?"
Cale nods.
[ After hearing the spirit chat on and on for a couple of minutes, evaluating all of the different types of breads that Cale had brought, Cale nodded his head and tried to cut the voice off.
Things like this were not available in ancient times. The people of the Forest of Darkness claimed to be servants of a god yet only gave me tasteless things. ]
"Forest of Darkness? Servants of a god?" Cage repeated as she mumbled, "It can't be the forbidden place that we now known as Forest of Darkness...There's more on this."
"We can get more information as we go through young master Cale's memories. Though, it's taking information from young master Cale's private thoughts. We are invading his personal privacy." Taylor answered, Cage nods, "True. We are taking advantages of his thoughts for this."
Cage* felts guilty but because of that young master, she was able to see Taylor again, so all she can do is cursed out that bastard for him.
[ However, Cale decided to wait a little longer after hearing the spirit mention the ancient times.
- I was, naturally, banished from that place. They said I was a glutton. A glutton my ass. Of course, I left with my friends. We were planning on putting the world back on the right track. ]
"Putting the world back on track, do you know it, young master Cale?" Alberu* asked, too many mysteries, no answers.
Cale informed, "Our sun of the kingdom, I do but I believe the system won't let me answer."
Alberu* got chills after Cale answer, he looked back at his counterpart asking for help but the man shrugged it off.
'Not my problem.'
[ For someone like him who needed Ancient Powers, it was important to listen to stories about the ancient times. However, the story soon ended, and the spirit went back to talking about food and other useless things. Cale quickly cut it off.
- I don't think I could give up this taste even if I got fat. It's so unfair that I had to eat dirt and ended up dying! ]
"Did they starve her to the point that she had to eat dirt?" Cage asked, she wasn't starved at the Church of Death but those rules where they can eat in certain times was making her go crazy.
Cale knew that the dirt the glutton called dirt was death mana. He didn't answer, it's a story for next time.
[ "Yes, it was an amazing and professional evaluation. You're a bit lou-"
The spirit cut Cale off.
- You understand my evaluation. You are a really good guy! Thanks!
...Cale couldn't tell whether he could really communicate with the spirit or not. ]
- Cale, how dare you...
To appease the glutton, Cale took a few cookies and ate them. Alberu has been laughing since the viewing started, he enjoyed seeing Cale sufferings that aren't stressful to him or Cale.
[ Cale really could not figure out the situation at hand. At least the voice stopped after telling him thanks. Called looked toward the tree in front of him.
"How interesting."
The man-eating tree, the originally black man-eating tree, was starting to turn white. It then started to slowly grow some green leaves. The scene looked even more mystical because he was surrounded by fog right now. ]
"It is," both Lily answered, Lily* added, "Pretty tree on our territory."
"There's another pretty tree in our territory." Lily whispered to her counterpart, "It's in _______."
"Oh, they would not let you answer. I guess we will see it later." Lily* whispered back.
[ Ooooooooong-
The noise held some heaviness compared to before. Cale kneeled on one side and sat down underneath the trunk of the tree. A bright white light was pouring out from the hole.
Cale put his hand into the light. He then closed his eyes.
'This must be hit.'
A warm and strong power that wrapped around his hand. He started to smile before hearing the voice one more time. It was a pure and warm voice.
It will protect you.
Shiiiiiine.
For a very short moment, a bright light wrapped around Cale. The light was silver in color, and the light started to become absorbed by his body. The absorbed light all gathered at Cale's heart.
"Huuuuuuuh."
Cale let out a long sigh as he opened his eyes. It did not hurt. It was warm, and the pure power was making him feel happy.
Cale quickly lifted up the shirt that he was wearing.
'I did it.'
There was a small silver shield inscribed over his heart. It was different from a tattoo. Such a beautiful and fancy shield left its mark over Cale's heart.
The shield will prioritize its owner's safety above anything else. The location of that promise was at the heart. This shield will be with Cale until his heart stops beating. ]
The family was happy that his ancient power would defend him. Even when he is alone.
"But the owner prioritizes others before himself," Rosalyn mentioned. She was right, they needed to be stronger so that Cale didn't need to protect them.
["How nice."
Cale could feel the strength wrapping around his heart. It was not causing any issues. In fact, it felt like the shield had surrounded his heart, and was doing its best to protect him.
Ancient Powers like this left their unique mark when they are activated. ]
"They do?" Bud asked, "Why mine doesn't have one."
"You don't deserve a cool tattoo, Bud, " the purple mage laughed as he took a shot of his beer.
"I hate you."
[ Cale quickly used the method that was written in the novel to trigger the Ancient Power.
Paaaaaat.
The 'Indestructible Shield' appeared in front of Cale's eyes.
It was a silver shield that was just large enough to cover Cale's upper body. There were two silver wings on both sides of the shield, which allowed the shield to move within a certain radius from Cale. The size of the shield was also controllable.
Cale started to control the size of this shield that already felt like it was a part of his body. This immediate familiarity was one of the special traits of Ancient Powers. That was why heroes used it, even if it was just as a support. ]
The nobles tried to remember where to get it but were reminded of by the state of unconscious Toonka*. Well, it's not they will be in their world later on.
"So that was your shield," Cale nodded to Jang Man Soo, "It's so pretty, something coming from a fairy tale."
Cale grumbled.
[Cale started to smile.
'A maximum of two times.'
Cale was thinking in terms of Choi Han, the strongest person around him right now. The shield should be able to block two of Choi Han's attacks. ]
"Why are you thinking that I would hurt you, Cale-nim." Choi Han turns to Cale as he hears the countpart of his liege answered his question, "He must be talking about the beatings I got from your counterpart."
"Well, he did deserve that beating."
With no spared moment, Choi Han flings his counterpart to the ground. They haven't seen Choi Han move until they hear a crash. Choi Han hated his counterpart for punching a person who was to be liege.
< Cale, please. >
"Choi Han, go back to your seat," Choi Han hears his liege called him back, so he returned back to his seat beside Cale.
< He didn't even use his aura, so we didn't notice him flung Choi Han*. >
Well, that's another reminder to all rooms. They remember that warning that the System told them before the viewing started. No one can control Cale's family except the person himself. They dependent on Cale if they didn't want to start something in this domain from his people.
"Former Leader people are more alarmingly dangerous than we initially expected." Jung So Hoon affirmed his decision not to mess with them. Team 1 nodded on that.
"Jung Soo*, don't be like your uncle," Rok Soo* whispered, he didn't want to part of the Chois brutal fights.
"I'm not that savage, Rok Soo*."
[ 'The strength of this shield is stronger than I expected. Why would the heroes not use it all the time?' ]
"Perhaps they don't know how to use it and they had they own abilities to work with." So Hoon tried to guess as his assitant team leader added to his opinion, "Or they focus in attacking than defending people."
The heroes team in Nameless 2 agreed to Team One conclusions, both were right. They had their own skills or magic to polish and they only had to attack their enemies before they can get to them.
[ The Indestructible Shield, unlike its name, actually is capable of breaking. However, it does not disappear upon breaking. If the shield receives an attack stronger than its abilities, it will store as much of its strength as possible to protect the owner's heart before it breaks. After a while, the shield will recover its strength and can be used again. The strength of the shield comes from the owner's heart.
The beating heart. That heart becomes the strength of the shield. The heart strengthens the shield while the shield protects the heart. So, what would happen if the heart gets stronger?
'It will get even stronger.' ]
Eruhaben sighs, Cale heart wasn't fragile but with amount of ancient power his body can hold, his heart was barely keeping it up because of the regeneration power.
[ There were many ways to strengthen Ancient Powers. Cale will be strengthening this shield on the way to the capital.
Once that happens, he should be able to make a shield that can last 10, no, at least 5 minutes when someone of Choi Han's caliber tries to kill him with all of their strength. ]
Choi Han drooped. Rosalyn and Alberu laughed at his misery, the red mage looks over to her other redhead friend, "Your strength measuring is Choi Han?"
Cale stayed silent, only for them to hear a chuckle, "HAHAHAHAHAHA, instructor-nim is used as a strength measure by my dongsaeng."
"Student-nim, I will add more training to your schedule."
"You wouldn't dare."
Choi Han stayed silent. Alberu regrets making fun of him which made Rosalyn laugh.
[ Ancient Powers, as seen with this man-eating tree, are difficult to earn unless you, 'coincidentally run into them.' The person who knows the most about these 'coincidences' in the first five volumes is probably Cale Henituse, well, the current Cale Henituse.
Cale started to smile. He reached out and touched the shield. It felt nice. However, there was one thing he didn't like about it.
"...It seems too divine." ]
"Speaking of divine, Clopeh isn't here?" the crown prince looks at the crowd.
Rok Soo, who heard the white swordsman name looks at the front, "What wait, who?"
"Clopeh Sekka." Alberu repeated, he can see hatred in Rok Soo's eyes. The man want that man dead, he asked "Why is he still alive?"
"He is useful," Alberu asnwered, even he doesn't like how Clopeh talks to Cale but he was useful.
Rok Soo wants to deny it, he didn't want to see that bastard that killed his family. Cale who can see Rok Soo wasn't feeling better, "I don't want to call him out."
Rok Soo tilts his head after hearing Cale's tone after saying it, "What did you do to him?" Cale's face scrunched at the thought of Clopeh, Rok Soo blinks as the redhead asnwered, "I didn't do anything to him."
Alberu and Choi Han shook their heads, "My dongsaeng made him crazy enough to call him _____."
Alberu just laughs after hearing his words were considered spoilers, Rok Soo wonders why the crown prince is laughing.
Cale scowled, holding his head, "Our wonderful highness, please spare me from that lunatic."
"Our beloved commander, that was your responsibility, I informed you."
"But the light of my life, sun of Roan kingdom, you promised me, my retired life."
"Our young master of the Henituse Duchary, you did that yourself."
Cale* and Alberu* gawked at their counterparts and how they act together, they shudder. It was terrifying.
With a sigh, Cale called, "Clopeh."
"Yes, Cale-nim." They hear in Clopeh answered to Cale's call. Cale asked again, "Where were you?"
"With Joo Ho-Shik-nim."
Cale whips his head so fast to look at Clopeh who was with Ho Shik, he yelled, "WHAT!"
Choi Han appeased Cale by patting his back, "They probably are just talking."
"We were just talking most of our talks are being covered," Clopeh answered, adding, "We had to guess what the other person was talking about."
< Don't worry he has no paper, ink or recording device on him. >
"I'll settle on that." Cale sighed of a relief. Rok Soo and Cale* didn't want to know about that.
[ At full strength, it looked like a Holy Shield that the Knights of God carry with their swords in myths.
Of course, the former owner of this shield was a priestess who was tired of the term god, and the current owner, Cale, just didn't like gods.
'It's not like there will be many reasons for me to use this.' ]
"He used it often, didn't he?" Rok Soo asked, Bud answered back, "Why question when you know the answer."
[ He was planning on leaving the fighting to everyone else. The terror attack at the capital. ]
Rosalyn sighs, he wasn't wrong, he did left it to the others.
[ He may have to use it if something dangerous happens there. ]
Which he did.
[ But he will make sure it is small and faint so that other people will not notice it. ]
Which was wrong , Rosalyn chuckle silently, shaking her head. He got everyone right except the last part. He got the most attention after the bombing terror.
[ Cale returned the shield to his heart and patted the now white tree as he started to walk away. The misty rain inside the fog started to wet Cale's shoulders.
Cale liked the fog, but did not like rain. He started to walk faster toward home. He needed a carriage.
It was at that moment.
Meeoooooow.
Meow.
Cale suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. It was the alley right outside the Count's Estate. He could see two pairs of round, golden eyes. Cale started to frown.
There were two kittens who looked extremely pitiful and drenched in the rain. They continued to meow as they approached Cale. They then started to rub their cheeks on Cale's legs.
"Sigh."
Cale let out a sigh and started to walk. The two little kittens followed behind them. The tiny things somehow managed to keep up with Cale, even with their short legs. ]
"That's because you walk very slowly, are you blind?" Cale* commented. Rok Soo chuckled and responded, "Ignorance is bliss, Cale is blind."
"I am not blind." Cale replied back, "I have good eyesight."
"Sure, we have the same eyesight." Cale* informed.
[ "Young master, what is going on?"
The person who greeted Cale at home was deputy butler Hans. Hans had a confused expression as his eyes opened wide. He seemed to be shocked. Cale clicked his tongue and handed Hans the things in his hands.
"Don't ask stupid questions and just take them."
Hans's eyes started to shake.
"W, what cute and lovely kittens!"
This deputy butler really did seem to be butler material. Cale carefully put the two kittens in the hands of the extremely excited Hans. ]
Unbashed laughter rings the room, rather waiting for the siblings to follow Cale, he carried the the siblings back home.
Cale looks down at the three in his lap, he sighs but still gave them headpats.
[ The two kittens, that were dangling in Hans's hands, continued to look at Cale, even when they were in Hans's arms.
"Young master, may I take care of these two lovely kitten-nims?"
"Whatever you want."
Hans started to smile in joy. Cale started to walk past the excited Hans as he added on.
"Ah, for your information, they become quiet if you give them food. The two of them are also siblings."
The two kittens flinched and started to shake. Their golden eyes opened widely as they looked toward Cale. ]
"We can't believe we were found out earlier on." Hong answered, "We thought we could surprise you but it turned out you already knew."
Ohn nods. She didn't expect to be caught early on.
— Human is quite clever but not as clever as me.
[ "Excuse me?"
The moment Hans asked in confusion, Cale moved back toward Hans. He then lowered his head and caressed the two kittens.
He had wondered about it for the last few days, but how could he not know by now?
The silver kitten had a faint smell of the medicinal herbs he had given to the girl. When he picked the two kittens up earlier, he could also smell the beef steak and bacon cream pasta that he had given them this morning as well. ]
The two kittens held their breath for a second before exhaling, they had not think about that.
[ That made Cale certain. The events of the last few days were finally resolved in Cale's head.
"Did you think I wouldn't know?"
The two kitten's golden eyes continued to shake. Cale looked at the siblings he had been feeding the last few days and started to smile. ]
"Your analyst skills still scare us shitless," Bud replied when a dagger was thrown toward him. "No cussing."
"But Cale and Cale* does," Bud tried to throw them under the bus.
"Young masters, you will not cuss in front of the kids?"
All three didn't want to make Ron give them more bitter lemon tea, slightly shaken they answered, "Yes Ron."
"I want to learn from former Leader servant. He is menacing cool, we might learn how to control our Team Leader from going to the front lines." Kim Min Ah stated, "I will ask him later."
"Aren't you scared of what he is gonna do to you though?" her husband asked, she replied with a smile, "If I tell him that I want to learn how to handle his young master from sacrificing himself, he will answer."
There's no doubt in her assessment. Those people wil have something that would make their young master stay still.
< End of 'Gluttony Priestess' >
Alberu* looks at the records, "Mister System, can I ask a bit for your time."
< What do you need, Crown Prince Alberu* >
"Was 'Birth of a Hero' about our world? In a form of a novel."
Cale turns to look at the prince, "Well done, your highness."
< Yes. >
"Do we get to see the day that young master Cale transmigrated to their world?" Alberu* believes that they will learn something from the first days that the transmigrater wake.
< If you give us who was the main character and what he did in the novel. We might give it to you. >
He tried to guess it. Based on the title there's one hero he knew of, Hero Choi Han*. He had read a few fantasy novels, his aunt gave him during the time he was alone in the cold palace. No doubt that Choi Han* would fit the bill, he looks at the records, "Hero Choi Han* and his adventures in our world."
< Bingo.>
Choi Han* hated that the book was based on him. He can't refute the crown prince. Choi Han didn't care much, it's history for him. His life was ruined and dulled with problems and broken promises.
< We shall show you the days that lead up to him meeting Choi Han. >
"I want to see the difference between our and their meetings." Choi Han* answered. His counterpart added, "I too, want to see what Cale-nim thinks of me, other than being a dangerous person."
Bud laughed, "Choi Han, I bet your Cale-nim still considers you dangerous."
Choi Han, who threw a fork in front of Bud, asked, "What did you say?"
Glenn wanted to slap Bud's mouth for talking.
< Cage and Cage* your viewing have to wait, is that alright? >
"Yes." Cage* answered. They had all the time they needed with Taylor besides her.
< This will be a long viewing. >
< Cale. >
Cale who got the memo stood up and placed the kids in the table.
"Choi Han and Choi Han*, I sincerely apologize for my thoughts," he apologized, "I still thought I was in a fantasy novel, if you had problems with it, you can tell me."
"Cale-nim, whatever happens I believe you." Choi Han had no remorse, Cale saved him. If Cale got problems with him, it was the book him and not him.
Choi Han* sighs but he doesn't to be angry anymore, "I'll try my best to understand it."
Cale nod as was trying not to fall asleep, Alberu noticed it, picks up the sleepy Cale whose eyes are trying to not close. Alberu sighs, looking at the room, "System do you have a bed or sofa for Cale to sleep on? He is getting restless.He didn't get enough sleep before we came here."
"No, not now, let me down first hyung." Cale tried to get away from Alberu who was carrying him. "After this viewing, I will sleep."
Rok Soo knew why Cale wanted to stay awake, it was for Cale* and perhaps for him too, he looks at Cale* as he informs, "Just sleep, I will take care of it."
"Are you sure?" Cale got the message. Rok Soo smiled, "Trust me."
"I don't trust you but fine," Cale sighs as he look at the table, "Ah, I trust you to take care of them."
Cale meant both Rok Soo and Cale*, Ohn gets it as she walked over to Cale* lap as Hong followed her as he jumps into Rok Soo arms. "You know what to do."
The kittens purred in response.
< Here's a bed. >
Alberu placed Cale in the bed and covered him with a blanket and stayed beside Cale to watch over him.
< Third Records : The first time Cale woke up and Cale and Choi Han first meeting >