Chapter Text
When Cale opened his eyes again, it was almost lunchtime. His stomach growled in protest, and only then did he remember that he had skipped breakfast.
No wonder it was so upset.
He patted his flat stomach, where a faint outline of muscle could still be seen. Thanks to the constant training he had done since his teenage years, he had managed to stay in decent shape. Even so, he somehow could never build much muscle, and he kept losing weight no matter how much he ate.
Eventually, he had given up on achieving his dream physique.
It wasn't as though he had any other choice.
Shaking his head helplessly, Cale got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom to take a shower. He had forgotten to bathe that morning as well.
Well... he could only blame his eagerness to become a Beyonder.
The cool tiles beneath his feet interrupted his wandering thoughts. Cale removed his pajamas, revealing smooth, fair skin. His slightly long crimson hair draped over his back, creating a striking contrast against his pale complexion. The bathroom was nowhere near as spacious as the one he had in his previous life, but it was still large enough for two or three people to bathe comfortably. A large bathtub sat in the center, already filled with warm water and scattered flower petals.
Without wasting any time, Cale stepped into the bath and slowly submerged himself.
Warm water embraced his body, and he let out a satisfied groan as every tense muscle gradually relaxed.
He scooped up a handful of water and poured it over his head, soaking his crimson hair. Several flower petals drifted onto the wet strands and clung there.
Roses and tulips.
They had always been his favorite flowers.
Picking up a single petal, Cale suddenly remembered a famous figure from history.
Rumor had it that scented soap had been invented by Emperor Roselle of Intis. Not only that, but countless technologies, poems, styles of clothing, and books had also originated from him.
Cale had to admit that Emperor Roselle was truly an extraordinary person.
If someone told him that Emperor Roselle was the protagonist of this world, he would probably believe it.
He would also like to meet such a remarkable figure if the opportunity ever arose.
Unfortunately, according to the rumors, Emperor Roselle had already died after being assassinated in his own mausoleum.
Cale wasn't convinced.
Perhaps he would have believed it before learning about the Beyonder world.
But now?
He found it difficult to accept.
To be honest, it was hard to believe that someone like Emperor Roselle could be killed so easily. From everything Cale had learned, Roselle must have been a high-ranking Beyonder. Otherwise, how could anyone explain the mysterious invitation he had left behind?
Maybe...
He was a transmigrator, just like me.
Perhaps he came from another world altogether.
It was certainly possible.
Then again...
Maybe I'm overthinking it.
What if he wasn't a transmigrator at all?
What if he was simply a once-in-a-generation genius?
Anyway, Roselle was no longer here, so there was no point dwelling on the past. It was better to focus on the present.
As Cale's train of thought came to an end, he finished bathing as well.
He stepped out of the bathtub and took the neatly folded towels from the cabinet beside the door. Wrapping one around his hips, he used the other to dry his damp hair. A droplet of water slid down from his cheekbone to his chin before falling onto his pale collarbone. It continued its slow journey across his chest and abdomen before disappearing beneath the towel around his waist.
As Cale opened the door to his bedroom, a row of neatly dressed maids was already waiting outside.
Without needing a single command, they quietly stepped forward and began helping him get dressed. One maid fastened a corset around his waist while another carefully dried and combed his long hair, making sure not to damage it.
After a round of bustling preparations, Cale finally looked at his reflection in the mirror.
Half of his crimson hair was tied into a high ponytail while the rest flowed freely down to his waist. A delicate bird-shaped hair ornament decorated with blue gemstones rested above the tied portion, while several fine pearl chains were woven through his hair.
A matching earring adorned his right ear. It carried the same bird motif with a sapphire-blue gemstone that shimmered whenever sunlight touched its surface.
He wore a fashionable dark-blue outfit with a tailored double-breasted coat specially designed for him. He had never been able to refuse his personal designer once the man looked at him as though he were a priceless masterpiece. From that day onward, his entire wardrobe had been replaced with the latest noble fashions, each decorated with elegant embroidery and exquisite ornaments.
The outfit perfectly accentuated his already delicate features.
His face alone was a weapon.
Cale accepted the cane a maid handed him before giving his reflection one final glance.
With a satisfied nod, he smiled.
Perfect.
As expected of Mother's genes.
Perhaps Audrey and I will become the brightest stars of Backlund's noble society once she officially comes of age.
After generously complimenting his own appearance, Cale finally left his bedroom.
His valet, who had already been waiting outside the door, bowed respectfully before leading him toward the dining room. Several documents rested neatly in Felix's hand.
"My Lord, are you truly going to reject Lady Laira Ceishy's salon invitation? This is already the tenth invitation she has sent. Rejecting her again would be rather impolite. Perhaps you should at least take a look..."
Cale interrupted Felix before he could continue.
"Felix, you know better than anyone why I keep refusing. Do you remember the time she followed me all the way home? She even had the courage to climb up to my bedroom window just to get my attention."
He let out a mocking laugh.
To be honest, Cale was almost impressed by her sheer recklessness. If Erlina hadn't been secretly watching over him that night, he doubted he would have remained as calm after seeing the madness burning in Lady Laira's eyes.
Felix paused for a brief moment before continuing to walk.
How could he possibly forget that incident?
It had been terrifying beyond words.
His young master had almost lost what little innocence he still possessed.
Fortunately, Erlina had stepped in at the perfect moment and knocked the young lady unconscious. Killing the daughter of a noble family was far too troublesome, even if they had wanted to.
So, after a rather "civilized" discussion, they reached a compromise.
They threw her into the river and let a passing pedestrian rescue her.
In embarrassment, Felix rubbed the tip of his nose and cleared his throat.
"In that case... why did you reject Lord Glaint's invitation?"
"Audrey won't be there. I only attend those gatherings because my younger sister does. I'm not letting any creepy guy get too close to her."
Hearing his master's reasoning, Felix couldn't stop the corner of his lips from twitching.
What is this...? A brother complex?
Then again, considering how beautiful Lady Audrey was...
No one could really blame him.
But, sir... have you forgotten that you're just as beautiful? Aren't you worried that someone might try to take advantage of you instead?
Muttering inwardly, Felix failed to notice the dangerous look Cale had quietly directed at him.
Cale suddenly had a bad feeling.
He was certain Felix had started thinking about something completely unnecessary again.
Without another word, he quickened his pace.
Felix snapped out of his thoughts and hurried after his master. Tilting his head in confusion, he looked utterly bewildered.
If someone could see his thoughts, there would probably be five enormous question marks floating above his head.
Felix: ?????
No, sir... why are you suddenly walking so fast?
Realizing there was no chance of changing his master's mind, Felix wisely chose to remain silent.
After all, arranging appointments and managing Lord Cale's daily schedule was his responsibility as a valet.
Whether his master actually attended those events...
That decision belonged solely to Lord Cale.
Lowering his eyes to the schedule in his hands, Felix couldn't help but sigh.
I've never seen anyone as idle as Lord Cale...
Felix knew his master behaved this way because he wanted to keep a low profile.
However, as the eldest son of Earl Hall, it was inevitable that he would have to face the complicated politics and endless social gatherings of the aristocracy.
Both he and Erlina knew that Lord Cale was far from foolish.
On the contrary.
He was frighteningly intelligent.
Yet his lazy demeanor often fooled people into believing he was nothing more than a pretty face without a brain. Many nobles had already begun entertaining the idea of manipulating the seemingly harmless young master for their own benefit.
Unfortunately for them...
They had misunderstood him completely.
From the moment they set their sights on Lord Cale, they had already become pieces on his chessboard.
If they proved useful, he would make use of them.
If they no longer served a purpose, he would discard them without hesitation.
Cruel?
Perhaps.
But that was simply how noble society worked.
As someone born into a minor noble family with little influence, Felix had neither the position nor the qualifications to comment on it.
Never mind.
If Lord Cale thinks it's fine... then it's fine.
Upon reaching the door, Cale stopped Felix from opening it.
He wanted to test his new ability.
Placing his fair hand against the wooden surface, Cale directed his spirituality into his palm. To his eyes, the solid door rippled like the surface of water. His hand slowly passed through it without encountering the slightest resistance.
Seeing that his attempt had succeeded, Cale didn't hesitate any longer.
He calmly stepped forward and walked straight through the door.
Behind him, Felix stood frozen in disbelief.
He instinctively glanced around before letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Fortunately, no one had witnessed Lord Cale casually passing through a solid wooden door as though it were nothing more than a transparent curtain.
Felix quickly opened the door in the normal way and entered the dining room, only to find his master already seated at the table.
The maids had finished arranging lunch along with a glass of wine.
Cale calmly picked up the glass and took a small sip.
The wine in this world still couldn't compare to the wine produced in Henituse County.
He had thought about recreating it countless times, but without the proper knowledge or equipment, there was little he could do.
Feeling somewhat helpless, he could only savor the unfamiliar wine while a trace of nostalgia surfaced in his eyes.
Setting the glass back down, he picked up his knife and fork before elegantly cutting into the steak on his plate.
The lunch passed in peaceful silence.
Only the soft clinking of cutlery echoed through the dining room.
….
After lunch, Cale headed to his study.
It was the room where he handled his duties as a baron... or took naps whenever he grew bored.
As a young man of twenty-six, Cale still wanted to explore the world, but his title as a baron kept him tied to Backlund. Sooner or later, he was going to demand a vacation from his father.
No one could survive this mountain of paperwork!
Dump it all on Hibbert.
He'll gladly accept it!
If you find conversations with nobles troublesome, send Hibbert. Your burden disappears.
If some arrogant noble tries to look down on the Hall family, send Hibbert. They'll tuck their tails between their legs and run away.
No matter what kind of noble problem appears...
Just call Hibbert!
On the other side of Backlund, Hibbert Hall had just finished another conversation with the son of a duke when he suddenly sneezed.
He looked up at the clear sky in confusion.
Did I catch a cold?
"Are you alright, Hibbert?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Hibbert immediately put on his usual polite smile and nodded.
"It's nothing. A bit of dust got into my nose."
The other young noble simply nodded, only half believing the explanation.
Back on Cale's side, Hibbert was simply too important to someone who wanted nothing to do with noble society.
The way Hibbert effortlessly won the favor of people above his station without the slightest embarrassment reminded Cale of someone from his previous life.
The king.
Both possessed brilliant blond hair.
Both had clear sky-blue eyes.
If Cale didn't already know that Alberu was a Dark Elf, after the disguise he discarded during the later stages of the war, he would have accused Hibbert of being Alberu's reincarnation.
Regardless...
They were both remarkable people.
Now that lunch was over and his stomach was satisfied, Cale found himself in an excellent mood.
As expected. Good food always made everything better.
Looking at the tightly closed door before him, Cale remembered that he hadn't called for the servants to clean the study yet.
Shrugging, he simply placed a hand against the door once again.
The surface rippled. Then he silently slipped through it like a ghost.
"...They said this room was dusty... What dust? I can't even see a single speck."
Cale helplessly shook his head.
"Now I'm convinced whoever called this room dusty is just a clean freak."
Recalling the stern-faced servant, Cale curled his lips into a faint smile.
Then the smile slowly faded. A cold glint flashed through his eyes.
Why does everyone around me remind me of someone from my previous life? Is it really just a coincidence?
For some reason, Cale felt as though someone was deliberately playing with him.
Yet no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't identify who.
Who is it? Who keeps placing people like this around me? Are they trying to provoke my emotions? And... what exactly is their goal?
The more he dwelled on those questions, the more uneasy he became.
Eventually, Cale forced himself to stop thinking. He walked over to the sofa in the study and dropped onto it.
Leaning back, he stared quietly at the ceiling above before letting out a long, emotional sigh.
Regardless of what the other person was thinking, Cale truly didn't like it. He would be more than happy if they stopped this ridiculous game. Who would want to be constantly reminded of people who had long since passed away? Let the dead rest peacefully in the deepest corners of his memory.
First, there was Hibbert, who reminded him of Alberu. Then Cain, who reminded him of Hans. Then that stern-looking butler. Fortunately, he still hadn't met anyone who reminded him of that depressed punk.
Perhaps only Erlina and Felix felt like a breath of fresh air. Even back at the camp in his previous life, he hadn't had many friends. Thanks to the reputation he earned before Henituse County fell, he received far too much "care." A little too much. It couldn't be helped when he had such an attractive face. After his violent struggle, which left two of the five men dead, no one dared stay close to him anymore. Instead, they avoided him like the plague. Thanks to that, he no longer had to endure those disgusting touches.
Recalling those unpleasant memories immediately ruined his mood. Cale abruptly stood up and found a wooden box. Rather than dwelling on those memories, he decided to test his ability once more.
Cale placed a book inside the box before closing the lid. Then he rested his hand against the surface. Just as before, his hand passed through the wood as though it were water. He grabbed the book, but the moment he tried to pull it back out, his hand became stuck. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
Thoughtfully, he let go of the book. Only then was his hand able to withdraw from the box.
"It looks like I can't take anything that didn't originally belong there out through a solid object... or maybe my mastery of the potion is still too low."
After thinking it over, Cale could only accept the result before flopping back onto the sofa.
"But how am I supposed to master this potion? Erlina said an ordinary Beyonder usually needs at least two or three years to master a Sequence 9 potion completely. That's far too long. So I asked her if there was a shortcut. Instead of answering, that girl just smiled."
Cale let out a soft laugh. It could be said he had felt a little irritated at the time, but silence was an answer in itself.
"There really is a way to master it. Erlina just can't tell me. Maybe when she was still with her former teacher, she swore some kind of oath, so she can't casually reveal it."
That was simply how every secret organization and cult operated.
But if a method existed, it was only a matter of time before Cale figured it out himself.
After that, Cale continued practicing and carefully wrote down every result. He suddenly paused when he felt a surge of spirituality flow through his body. At the same time, he distinctly sensed that nearly half of the potion had already been digested. He couldn't help but gasp.
"Is this the feedback Erlina mentioned before? So my actions really do align with the correct way to master the potion? But all I've been doing is..."
Cale lowered his gaze toward the desk, now covered with papers filled with observations and records of his experiments with the Door Opening ability. A puzzled expression slowly appeared on his face.
"...Why is it so easy?"
Cale curled his lips into a smug smile, feeling both surprised and a little proud.
If another Beyonder heard those words, they would probably exclaim, "What a monster!" before grinding their teeth in envy and frustration.
Looking at the results, Cale somehow felt that something was still missing. It was as though the puzzle in his mind was almost complete, yet he was still missing that final piece. The frustrating feeling lingered no matter how much he thought about it.
Feeling a little tired from the depletion of his spirituality, Cale decided to take a break. Just then, the door clicked open.
Felix's ashen face came into view. The moment his frantic eyes landed on Cale, the panic that had gripped him instantly turned into relief.
Then that relief turned into anger.
Ignoring the boxes and locks scattered across the marble floor, Felix strode straight toward the exhausted Cale. Stopping in front of him, he crossed his arms over his chest. His handsome face was twisted with displeasure.
"Lord Cale, what is this? Do you have any idea how panicked I was when you suddenly disappeared? You could have at least told one of the servants you were coming to the study. Instead, you ignored everyone and pulled a stunt like this while the servants were away fetching cleaning supplies. Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you caused?"
His voice was merciless as he complained without pause. Yet Cale merely stared blankly at him, showing no intention of listening to the lecture.
Seeing that only made Felix even angrier.
I'm so angry I want to punch that face!
If Cale weren't his master, Felix would have already thrown a fist.
The culprit himself simply smiled sheepishly. He did feel a little guilty about it.
Still… No one could blame his curiosity, right? Not wanting to hear another word of Felix's lecture, Cale casually waved a hand.
"I have a question."
The seriousness in Cale's eyes immediately caused Felix to stop talking.
Felix let out an exasperated huff before taking a few steps back and flopping onto the sofa without the slightest regard for etiquette. Cale couldn't care less.
"What is it? Make it quick. You still have Audrey's tea party to attend."
Hearing that, Cale's eyes lit up. He immediately thought of his younger sister.
...And her fluffy dog.
Anyway... where's my fluffy child?
Cale quickly shook the distracting thought from his mind before asking the question that had been bothering him.
"You're a Beyonder, right? I want to ask... does the key to mastering a potion lie within the potion itself?"
It was a question that had been nagging at him for quite some time. He had only realized it after unconsciously acting like a true Apprentice, repeatedly practicing his abilities, recording the results, then repeating the process again to observe the changes.
Felix immediately stiffened.
He stared at Cale with wide eyes, his tightly pressed lips slowly parting in disbelief.
How is this possible?
How did this guy discover the shortcut after becoming a Beyonder for only a few hours? Isn't this cheating? Can the difference between people really be this great?
Felix smiled bitterly.
It had taken him two whole years to realize that truth.
Meanwhile, the person sitting beside him had figured it out after only a handful of experiments.
What a genius? This was simply outrageous!
Before Felix could answer, a soft laugh echoed through the room. The two of them turned toward the sound.
There, hidden within the shadows, Erlina was crouching on the floor with one hand clutching her stomach. She was clearly trying to hold back her laughter, but after seeing Felix's bewildered expression, she simply couldn't.
Cale's eyes immediately lit up.
I knew it.
Erlina coughed lightly before a smile spread across her face. She walked over and casually flopped onto the sofa beside Cale. The seating arrangement was now Felix, Cale, and Erlina.
Her eyes curved with amusement as she gave a slight nod before looking at Felix.
It was a silent agreement.
Felix let out a long sigh before reluctantly answering. His handsome face was filled with mixed emotions.
"Yes. What you said is absolutely right. It's just... I never expected our Lord to figure it out after only a few hours. I thought it would take you at least a few weeks, or even months. This is simply outrageous."
Felix didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry. He wanted to laugh because he was proud of his master, yet he also wanted to cry out of pity for himself.
Cale fell into thought for a moment before voicing another question.
"Wouldn't it have been better to tell me directly? Why keep something like this a secret?"
Erlina leaned back against the sofa and calmly explained what she knew.
"This piece of information alone is worth thousands of gold pounds. The reason we didn't tell you isn't because we didn't want to. It's because we couldn't. We both swore binding oaths. I took mine when I was still a member of the Demoness Sect. As for Felix, I believe he swore his oath before a sealed artifact while serving in MI9."
Hearing that, another question surfaced in Cale's mind.
"I understand why a secret organization or a cult would hide this information. But Felix, isn't your organization a legal one? Why would they keep it secret as well?"
Felix looked up at the ceiling, recalling what one of his former superiors had once told him.
"They hide it because they're afraid the number of Beyonders in this world would explode. My Lord, you know that every Beyonder leaves something behind after they die, don't you?"
Seeing Cale nod, Felix continued.
"That thing is called a Beyonder characteristic. It can be used as the main ingredient for a potion. If you don't have the original main ingredient... then a Beyonder characteristic can replace it."
Hearing those words, Cale's pupils contracted.
With a slightly shaky voice, he murmured,
"Doesn't that mean... we're all just... Beyonder characteristics waiting to be passed on? Does that mean..."
He wanted to say the word cannibalism.
But the word caught in his throat before he could force it out.
Felix knew exactly what Cale was thinking, so he gave a solemn nod. Beside Cale, Erlina let out a quiet sigh, her expression becoming somewhat nostalgic. She had known this truth for a long time. It was also the reason the Demoness Sect relentlessly hunted down members who tried to escape. Whenever they claimed they were simply "bringing the naughty children home," what they truly meant was taking their lives and reclaiming their Beyonder characteristics to nurture new members.
Erlina then continued answering Cale's earlier question.
"If everyone knew about the Acting Method, there would be far more High-Sequence Beyonders than Low-Sequence ones. The purpose of the Acting Method is to erase the imprint within the potion. Every potion carries an imprint, and that imprint originates from its creator. Every living being possesses a tiny trace of divinity, and what you need to do is gradually erase that imprint until the potion recognizes you as its true master. Otherwise, the potion will assimilate you instead. That's how loss of control begins."
She paused briefly before offering an analogy.
"Think of it as conquering a castle. If you want to claim it, you must first imprison its lord. Acting works the same way. You have to constantly remind yourself that you're only acting. The moment you forget that distinction, you'll slowly be driven toward madness."
After noticing the thoughtful look on Cale's face, Erlina continued.
"Now imagine if every Low-Sequence Beyonder knew this method. Picture a tree with a massive trunk but only tiny roots supporting it. What do you think would happen? The entire tree would collapse. There would be chaos among the High Sequences, and far more cases of loss of control. Even Low-Sequence Beyonders already cause countless disasters when they lose control. Now imagine if a Demigod lost control instead."
She shook her head.
"That's why they keep it secret. In their eyes, it's far easier to sacrifice the weak than risk fighting a powerful Beyonder who has already lost their mind."
Cale fell into deep thought.
It made sense. It was a reasonable explanation.
Looking at it again, this power system was completely messed up. Who in their right mind would sacrifice their sanity for power?
...Oh wait. Me.
People always said there was no such thing as a free lunch. They needed power to fight, yet this was the only path left to them. Wasn't that miserable? They had to fight against madness, only to risk falling into that very same madness. Cale lowered his head as a surge of complicated emotions welled up inside him.
There was no other choice.
Humanity had been forced onto this path, sacrificing their lives for others without those people ever knowing of their sacrifice. Wasn't that the greatest irony? They faced madness with a smile and embraced death as though they were finally returning home. Among all Beyonders, those who died peacefully of old age were the truly fortunate ones.
Now that Cale understood all of this, he couldn't help but feel a deep respect for those Guardians.
Yes.
Guardians.
The title suited the official organizations perfectly.
Seeing her master sitting there in silence, Erlina hesitated for a moment before gently patting his head.
Cale looked up at her in confusion.
What he didn't realize was that his eyes were already glistening with unshed tears.
"Do you regret it?" Erlina's gentle voice broke the silence. "Now that you know all this... do you regret walking this path?"
Beside them, Felix remained immersed in his own thoughts, as though he had been pulled back into distant memories.
Cale closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.
The hesitation in his eyes was gone.
He looked straight at Erlina, his expression resolute.
"No. I don't regret it. I'm afraid of death, but so what? Everyone is afraid. All you can do is fight to survive. As long as I still have a family I need to protect, I won't give up just because I've learned half of this world's truth."
He had already died once.
So what if he died a second time?
If that day ever came, then he would make sure he had no regrets.
The determination in her master's eyes brought a faint smile to Erlina's face before her usual indifferent expression returned. She looked past Cale and saw Felix still lost in thought.
Her eyebrow twitched.
Without another word, she reached over and smacked him on the head.
Smack!
"OUCH!!"
Felix vigorously rubbed the back of his head before snapping toward Erlina with a resentful glare. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, his voice filled with unconcealed anger, "What's wrong with you?!"
Erlina simply withdrew her hand and lifted her chin arrogantly, looking down at him as though he were nothing more than an ant that had somehow managed to provoke her.
Caught between the two of them, Cale couldn't help but be dragged into their bickering. Before long, the pair had started chasing each other around the study, their occasional laughter filling the once-quiet room.
The heavy feeling weighing on Cale's heart gradually faded because of their playful banter.
A genuine smile bloomed across his face, making his already handsome features even more captivating.
Really...
I have amazing companions.