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Crystal chandeliers spiraled down from the arching dazzling golden ceiling, illuminating the glimmering walls.
Different people from different territories have gathered to attend the coronation night of the new and possibly the wisest King in the history of the Roan Kingdom.
Of course, the King's sworn brother is attending too.
"Human! You need to eat a lot!" Raon Miru's existence got revealed just lately that made the Western Continent shaken after hearing such unbelievable facts.
"Yes…" Cale on his glittering black suit that really compliments the crimson hair of his that is above his shoulder and doesn't have the will to cut it.
Let's change the topic since I have been having a nosebleed here after imagining the legend on a suit.
⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
Cale has his usual stoic face and nobles can't approach someone like him who has a dragon on his side, all that they can do is just stare at the hero and the black dragon with amazement and fear.
"Where is On and Hong?" Cale put the slice of apple pie on his mouth and quietly munched it while patting the head of the black dragon.
"Noona and On is with Grandpa Ron and Beacrox!" Raon replies playfully while munching his lovely apple pie.
Cale nodded and sigh, He doesn't really want fame and attention since he found it bothersome and annoying, his Hyung promised to him that he will grant his slacker life.
'But why don't they want me to leave the grand hall?'
The redhead just sighs, Choi Han is probably with his Hyung-nim since they have instructor-student relationship, Mary is with the Dark Elves and Rosalyn is probably with the Dragons. And the cat's sibling is with Ron and Beacrox.
That's why he was left in the grand hall with Raon and trying his best not to mind those stares from the people.
"Raon… search for Hyung-nim and Choi Han, tell them that if they do not hurry what they are doing, tell them that I will drink alcohol." Cale glances at Raon that seems like minding his own business with him.
"Yes! I will also ask for cookies too! Stay here Human!" Raon flaps his wings and looks back at Cale before flying towards the crowd.
Sigh.
Of course, Cale has a different plan.
After Cale sensed that Raon shadow was not seen anymore, Cale took his chance to sneak out in the hall to breathe some fresh air.
And now he's wandering around the Palace.
Cale looked so relaxed that he was smiling generously while wandering around.
And he reached the peaceful garden.
Sitting there with an easy mind and closed his eyes and decided to humm the song that he clearly remembered back on earth, he was bored after all.
"Talk to me
Spill the secrets you've been keeping~"
He humm while feeling at peace.
Not knowing a certain person was recording it.
A certain lady who was the aunt of the new King, Tasha.
'I should be in the comfort room but… Cale Henituse singing? That should be recorded!'
Tasha should be in the comfort room but after seeing Cale Henituse, the hero going to the garden, she suddenly forgot what her real purpose was and stealthyness followed him, and witnessed an unexpected sight.
"Let me help pick up the pieces
You're not alone, I'm by your side
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire"
Cale doesn't really care if the song is fitted to describe his life, he just feels like singing for some reason. He took off the tuxedo since he's been feeling uncomfortable since he's not really used to elegant clothing.
That made Tasha trying hard not to make any noises due to oversimping.
"No matter what, I'll make it right
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire"
Realization sank on Tasha's mind after relaxing her mind due to oversimping. The song that the hero's singing is like describing his journey and adventures and what he is thorough with.
The harmony and melody was not familiar to Tasha so she assumed that Cale was the one who sang it.
'As expected of Cale Henituse!'
"I'm not an angel, I'm not a saint
I've been a closed book full of mistakes
But when you're broken, when you're in pain"
Cale recalled the lyrics of his memories that were quite vivid since when the apocalypse had not started in his former world, the song he's currently singing is always playing on his song playlist.
On the other hand, Tasha is slowly becoming an emotional Dark Elf, since the lyrics were literally something else, it could describe the adventure and journey that they've been through.
"Ooh, ooh
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire"
Cale finally got up and finished the song after singing the chorus part, well he just sang it cause he just felt wanted to…
Tasha on the other side watches Cale get away before letting out a simping noise before she finally realizes what her purpose is.
And then… an anthem had been made on the Western Continent.
____
"Choi Han… what do you think about this?" Alberu Crossman has been playing like a hundred times the record that he's aunt forwarded to him.
"Western Continent anthem..?" Choi Han is taking back off not because of the song that Cale sang, it's because he doesn't know that Cale has a siren voice.
"Hmm… that unlucky bastard… no one knew that he could make and sang a song.." Eruhaben is shocked due to the fact that the unlucky bastard knows how to sing well, he doesn't complain, he even asks for a copy.
All the people in the room have their own copy.
"As a future magic tower master, I approve of it! It completely describes all the things that happened on the Continent." Rosalyn approves it while eyes are sparkling while holding her own copy.
"It's magnificent, Teacher is really the best." Mila exclaimed while holding her own copy as well.
"Cale did not only know about looting! He could make a song that can be an anthem nya!" Hong is holding his own copy as well, well he promised to the others that he won't get caught by Cale.
"It's not that bad."
"As expected of young master."
Everyone agreed as they held their own copy of the song.
"...I have something to suggest…" Choi Han smiles innocently and stops midway before continuing.
"When we are singing our anthem… it's a good thing to do this." Choi Han knew something, something that would make Cale faint.
"What for?"
"As. A. Sign. Of. Respect."
On the other hand, On, just sighs, feeling pity towards her father.
____
Two months has passed since the day that Cale visited the Capital, he was forced to accept the invitation of his sworn-brother by threatening him that he will make Cale as the prime minister.
'How could there be an evil Hyung!?'
Cale is silently complaining in his head while leaning on the carriage window.
"Human! Today is exciting!?"
"Youngest is right! Today is exciting!"
"Right, It is 'really' exciting."
The children have been telling Cale that the event today was something big, and Cale doesn't want to know what kind of big event it is.
"Where is the assassin duo and Choi Han?" Cale found it strange that the people who were around him lately, just disappeared in a snap. But it's not like he's worried, in fact, he likes it.
Entering the Castle wall, Cale found it strange where all the citizens are since all houses are closed and no clue of the person that Is staying there.
'...What happened?'
Cale finds it suspicious that there's no single citizen that is wandering in the Roan.
Not until he arrived at the plaza.
"My Dongsaeng! You're finally here!" Alberu Crossman is the first to welcome Cale.
However, Cale is having a strange feeling about it. A literal prediction that something big is going to happen.
Citizens including all the soldiers wearing their own uniform were gathered in the big plaza and their eyes were shining towards their hero.
All the nobles on different territories are also there, including Antonio and his grandmother. All eyes were on Cale.
Many magic projectors were floating in the plaza that you would suspect as a big barrier around the plaza. Meaning that there will be use of those projectors and Cale has a bad feeling about this.
Choi Han, the assassin-duo are in the staguem as well, All the dragons were responsible for the floating magic projectors. And Mary who was greeted by Raon.
"Little good Mary! It's happening!" Raon flapped his wings aggressively due to the excitement.
"What is happening….?" Cale is clueless shit so he asks Hyung.
"My Dongsaeng, you will find it out later, come with me…" Alberu smiles is dazzling as ever. But of course, Alberu doesn't want for Cale to faint to early when the excited part was still not happening.
Cale has some kind of suspicions but still goes with it. He followed Alberu to the stage and Alberu's eyes seem telling that Cale needed to stand still and not to sit on any chair.
All the projections were connected to different places and the Kingdom.
Whipper Kingdom warriors and citizens were visible and was gather on a one place leading by Toonka and Chief Harol, Breck Kingdom Royalties and citizens where present as well, Caro Kingdom citizens and Valentino is leading the crowd and nobles, the former Empire that was now being constructed as a free city was there, Rosalyn, Knight Rex and Billios, Hannah and Jack was visible and all the mages and alchemies were flying thanks to the help of mages, Citizens was also gathered there. The end village where the World Tree stayed is visible too, Adite was leading the Elves. Dark Elves is also connected on the projector and the lead was none other than the Mayor and Tasha, Whale tribes, The jungle and lastly.
The Paerun Kingdom, citizens and knights were gathered, led by Clopeh who's been clasping his hands.
"Thank you to all people for participating in a special event. This King is touched that he didn't expect that many people would be likely to witness our first ever Anthem ceremony!" Alberu exclaimed and followed by the many claps from the crowd including all the nobles and Cale on the other hand, was shocked and really having a bad feeling about it.
"The person, the greatest treasure of the Western Continent, is the person who made our national anthem, As expected of my sworn brother!" Alberu looks at Cale teasingly, leaving the confused and scared Cale.
'When? How? Where? When again?'
"Human! The song you made for the continent's anthem was beautiful and has a deep meaning! You should be proud of this type of achievement!" Raon was sharing his comment that made Cale uneasy.
'Fvck… why?'
Loud claps of all the people, as well the people in the projection, were clapping intensely while staring at the hero. Cale Henituse.
"Let's resume… for all the people… raise your arm and pay respect to our anthem, the anthem that symbolizes our victory, our Western Continent." Alberu declared and many people raised their hands and…
Cale was deeply shocked by what they did.
They raised their right hand and entered it on their cheeks.
It was okay…
But the thing that got more weird is that…
Their fingers…
The manner that means 'pay respect to the anthem' was something else for Cale.
The thumb and index finger of one hand are crossed to form a heart shape.
Their finger was formed into a finger heart.
Finger heart with a serious and amusing expression…
"What the…" Cale is in deeply shock, he knew that hands gesture was popular on Korea. Cale looked at Choi Han direction who's currently avoiding eye contact.
Piano started to play. As the newly made anthem has been made, the harmony and melody that Cale is familiar with. It resembled the song that he once sang on the coronation night.
"Talk to me
Spill the secrets you've been keeping
Life cuts deep
Let me help pick up the pieces
You're not alone, I'm by your side
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
No matter what, I'll make it right
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire"
All the people, including all the dragons and all the people in different projections were using the 'finger heart gesture' while singing the anthem.
Cale doesn't know whether to laugh or not.
But Cale just played along with it. He also gestures his hands and looks down at the ground regretting all his life decisions.
All the people's eyes are on him.
Still in their serious and amusing state while their hands are still in the air forming 'finger heart'.
"I'm not an angel, I'm not a saint
I've been a closed book full of mistakes
But when you're broken, when you're in pain
Ooh, ooh
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire"
Cale closed his eyes, wanted to cry and faint.
The children also have their finger heart gesture and staring at their father with playful expression, except On.
"You know I
Don't pretend to be a saviour
But let me in, yeah
I promise nobody can break us
You're not alone, I'm by your side
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
No matter what, I'll make it right
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'm not an angel, I'm not a saint
I've been a closed book full of mistakes
But when you're broken, when you're in pain
"Ooh, ooh
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire with you"
They continue, they really memorize their anthem since it was made of the greatest hero who's currently preventing his laugh of regrets.
"You're not alone, I'm by your side
Don't you know, don't you know
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'm not an angel, I'm not a saint
I've been a closed book full of mistakes
But when you're broken, when you're in pain
Ooh, ooh
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire
I'll walk through fire with you
I'll walk through fire with you"
The song ended.
The anthem's first ever ceremony is finished.
The children were staring at him proudly.
Dragons have their majestic presence as well their different kind of expression towards the anthem, Eruhaben is the unique one, pitying the unlucky bastard.
Choi Han feels a mixture of guilty and happy while looking at Cale.
Alberu Crossman smiling and looking at his dongsaeng and extremely proud.
Mary wonders why Cale looks like gonna faint.
Rosalyn has a proud and respectful gaze while looking at his sponsor of magic stones.
The father-son duo is smiling viciously, so proud of themselves that they really change the diapers of Cale back then.
And Cale is there. Regretting all his life decisions.
All the living beings that are present on such an event were all staring at the Western Continent's greatest hero, and they raised their hands and formed finger hearts.
Cale went through to hero to an idol. Real quick.
He looked at Choi Han for the last time before the floods of Holy Scriptures of Clopeh through the projection.
Now he knows who to blame for this mess.
AND THAT'S HOW THE ANTHEM HAS BEEN MADE.