Chapter Text
Cale woke up because he was thirsty. He opened his eyes in a daze and sat up.
Then he stared blankly, at the thing that was his pillow...
...Can Dorph's stomach be used as soft pillow? This... this is amazing...
Cale looked at the soft stomach, while thinking about sleeping on it again later. It was as soft as the back of dark tiger.
"Are you hungry, my nephew?"
Cale turned his head after hearing Barrow's voice. There, he handed me a plate of beef steak, which he got from who knows where. The aroma is delicious and the color is perfect. Cale's stomach immediately growled...
-Let's eat... 🛡️
Cale nodded and took steak.
By the way...
why are these people looking at me like that?
Cale tilted his head in confusion, while cutting his steak. The group continued to stare at him intensely, after he woke up.
oh... very delicious... has Barrow's cooking skills leveled up? I guess I'll have to get Beacrox and Barrow to elaborate when I get back.
"...but I miss palace banquets... even though I end up starving... but still..."
Cale sighed sadly, he had never been able to eat at palace banquets because of the many nobles crowding around. It made him hungry, to the point where his beloved hyung-nim had to give him a separate room. But still. Palace banquets can make children happy. And he gets sad when he remembers that he can't clean the children's mouths anymore. He misses the kids.
Cale sighed sadly again while looking at his plate of steak.
"Sniff... guoh... hu.."
Cale curiously looked up after hearing a strange sound. All the members of his group were also eating and among them he saw the old man, Gong Pildu, wiping his tears with his clothes while keeping a forcedly flat face. And Hyunsung who covered his face with both hands while making that strange sound.
hah? Did they eat something wrong and have a stomach ache to the point of crying??
Cale decided to ignore the strange people and continue eating. But he didn't know that the group heard Cale's muttering and thought that Cale was locked up in Isla's palace during a banquet and left to starve. They were sad to imagine that such a small child would look out the window and stare at the crowd blankly while starving.
And Cale of course, wouldn't know how these people thought.
Cale finished his meal and Dorph, who had just woken up, immediately carried his dirty plates in his sleepy state to wash them.
When Cale had finished eating and was imagining palace desserts and cookies made by his hyung-nim, he felt a tug.
"..that.. Cale..."
Gilyoung, who Cale didn't know since when he had been sitting next to him, looked at him hesitantly as if he wanted to say something. So Cale once again remembered the shy wolf boy Lock and said.
"Say, don't hesitate like that."
"I-I, I want to ask... is it... is it true that you were locked in the basement..."
The record plays the incident at that time, he remembers the basement. Except for the lighting being too dim, to be honest, Cale really liked the place.
How could he not? He could sleep and not have to move an inch. That space is also connected to this body's bastard father's room. So that person often brought him food that couldn't be more complete. He even fed Cale which made Cale even happier. He just needs to lie down, sitting slumped with his back and eating with bites.
That guy also even provided a lot of interesting mobile games. Well... even though Cale had to play it in front of that strange person, and if that person left, he would take all the things with him, with the excuse that it was not good to sleep too late and be addicted to games.
Still, if it were real children... maybe they would be scared. So Cale really hated that crazy attitude, but... how could Cale, who was already old and even had trouble lazing around, hate that? Impossible!!
So Cale with a straight face and trying to stop his smile, which instead made his face stiff, nodded at Gilyoung's question.
That kid's eyes trembled.
Speaking of which, Cale remembered something and play record again. Oh right, Cale remembered when he was lazing around in that room, replaying memories with children.
Endros suddenly barged in, which made Cale flinch and almost fall off his bed. Instead of anything, that young man was sobbing, apologizing and saying a lot of nonsense, which Cale couldn't follow at all.
Then after all the words that Cale didn't understand, Endros carried him out of there.
Unbeknownst to them, that bastard's father had intercepted them at the end of the hall while bringing his hired bodyguards.
Endros put Cale down and carried him behind his body, to protect the little kid. However, Cale, who was still daydreaming because he didn't understand the meaning of all of Endros' words, almost cursed when he saw that madman take the decorative sword on the wall and was about to hit Endros.
With reflexes, Cale ran forward and tried to use his body as a shield. What Cale meant was, he had a crybaby that even though it was sealed was still functional and he wouldn't be seriously injured, but how could he let Endros, who was just an ordinary human, receive that attack??
That crazy father stopped his sword suddenly at the tip of his neck, which made Cale almost have a heart attack. It would hurt, wouldn't it, if it really hit him? After all, if his neck was cut and he lost blood, he suddenly woke up without going into a coma. Cale suddenly thought, would he be scared as if he were a zombie?
Anyway, Cale had to persuade the person afterward, wholeheartedly acting spoiled cute to not hurt Endros. And in conclusion, Cale was taken back to his room while listening to Endros' hysterical cries in the abandoned hallway...
"U-uwaaah... sniff srooot... ugh..."
Yes, like tha- hm?
Cale, who had regained consciousness, looked at the crowd, which looked more like attending a funeral, especially at Gong Pildu, whose clothes were covered in snot.
"???"
what??
Then, Cale heard Gilyoung ask again while choking on his tears.
"T-then... sniff... were you also locked up in your room after that and undergoing counseling?"
"Gilyoung!"
Kim Dokja frantically carried Gilyoung and walked away, so that that kid wouldn't ask curious questions again. But that words came out first.
Kim Dokja cursed in his heart, that incident was too traumatic, they shouldn't make that kid remember again.
However, Cale, who was confused about why they knew, just answered carefree.
"? Of course?"
So what?
Cale, who was confused, finally played record at that time. Hm, that's right, more like remembering the second lazy session, which he got again. Cale, who thought he was losing his slacker life, ended up getting it again for a month, with the addition of being able to look out through the window while sunbathing until he finally fell asleep.
Eat fed and sleep again. Perfect...
He just thought, there will be an apocalypse, so after that he won't be able to be slacker anymore, right? So why waste it? Enjoy it first as long as it doesn't hurt other people.
But after a month and he was free to roam again, Cale realized...
my body hurts all over after lying down and sitting lazily...
So Cale's body was always shaking and his face was pale because of the aches and pain. Cale was even spacing out while thinking that when he could come back and slacker later. He would go for a walk in his garden once in a while, rarely, only briefly, only 5 minutes, basically, not for long, so that his body wouldn't get stiff and sore...
hm.. yeah.. that's a good idea... a little walking and slacker around more... I'll tell hyung-nim to help me make it happen.
By the way, one thing that made Cale confused was Barrow's call and Endros' sadness, they were both like a dog that had been abandoned by its owner in the rain.
Endros even stubbornly said to bring in a psychologist, which Cale had not yet had time to agree to, but the door was already open with a row of psychology doctors, who were trying to ask lots of questions, Cale answered in a daze, because he was stunned by the strange sequence of events.
yeah... basically, at that time there were so many people coming in and out that I had a headache, plus I had to persuade Endros and Barrow who always cried when they saw them.
Cale shuddered and groaned after remembering he had to coax two big boys.
But others heard groans and thought Cale was traumatized again. So in panic, Sangah approached Cale and Heewon carried Cale and patted his back.
"It's all over, don't worry about it anymore, Cale."
"R-right!! Let's be happy!!"
Heewon said and Sangah which made Cale stunned nodded blankly.
what are they talking about? And why is the atmosphere even sadder??? What happens while I'm gone?? Did any of the existing members die when they were attacked?
Cale felt sad and he felt that he should deal with the group that came to Chungmuro first. He didn't know that people here would fail and be this sad.
Cale sighed.
Which made people even sadder, thinking they were opening little red's past wounds.
Kim Dokja even thought, for Cale to not be affected in Welcome Prison, it was a miracle. He didn't know how Cale could overcome his trauma until that prison didn't consider it a trauma anymore.
Kim Dokja sighed and would do his best to take good care of the red-haired child. He must be able to teach that kid to appreciate life. And if life is beautiful.
So, Cale, who had been dropped off again, went and sat with his uncles in confusion, Cale also ignored the faces of the three of them who were looking at the crowd as if they were proud (of course they were happy because this way, there would be a lot of people watching Cale).
"Oh, I see!!"
"SSShttt, don't speak so loudly!!"
Cale was still thinking about how fragile these people were because of the death of his partner. Hearing Namwoon and Jihye's voices. They came down from above carrying empty dirty plates.
"Thank you for the food, uncle!! It's delicious!!"
Jihye said enthusiastically. Namwoon also gave a thumbs up happily.
Cale looked at Jihye and asked.
"What about Joonghyuk?"
"Hm? Oh!! Master is fine!! Don't worry, Cale!! I will definitely take care of master very well!!"
Cale nodded and ignored the two of them, who were clenching their fists with strange faces. He stared at the indirect message.
Since earlier, constellation was very noisy but Cale ignored it, only now did he see it, but why was the content...
[Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' clenches his staff and spreads a murderous aura]
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is very sad and hopes to protect you]
[Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' spits out flames furiously]
[Constellation 'Demonic Judge of Fire' crying hysterically again. ]
[Constellation 'Scribe of Heaven' goes to persuade someone again.]
[Constellation Absolute Good curses evil people]
[Constellation Absolute Evil says that incarnation is a devil]
[Constellation 'Devil of Lust and Wrath' says, if you go with him, he will protect you well and give you what you want]
[Constellation Absolute Good glares at the 'Devil of Lust and Wrath' ]
[Constellation 'Devil of Lust and Wrath' raises an eyebrow and asks, what?]
[Constellation Absolute Good gritted they teeth and growled, don't you dare!! ]
[Constellation 'Devil of Lust and Wrath' grins, heh]
[Cnstellation 'Queen of the Darkest Spring' sighs sadly and wants to hug you]
[Constellation 'Father of the Rich Night' organizes the troops]
[Nebula <Underworld> is hysterical]
[Many constellations hold back tears sadly]
[10,000 coins have been sponsored for snacks]
??? really.. what is this???
And as usual, Cale still couldn't follow normal people's thinking.
Ahem, I mean other people's thoughts.
It's already 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Kim Dokja looked at his cellphone and looked at prophet beside him.
The two of them had shared information about the night of prophets, so Kim Dokja made Sangah a representative and would go there with Hyunsung and Heewon.
Actually, he also wanted to take Cale, but Cale put on a cruel face and refused, saying that he didn't want to be separated from Dorph's soft stomach. Kim Dokja didn't understand what that red head meant, but he still nodded confusedly after remembering that Cale had brought a lot of souvenirs (Information and flags and even poles) for him.
He really needs rest.
Anyway, Barrow and Sayeru went out with Namwoon, under the pretext of looking for beef because they ran out of ingredients. Kim Dokja suggested using monster meat, but Barrow said that if you just eat that, you'll get bored and need variety
What made Kim Dokja want to remind those people... that we were still in scenario instead of picnic... But kept his mouth shut when Namwoon also enthusiastically asked for chicken meat.
Sighing after remembering that strange thing earlier, Kim Dokja looked at Jung Minseob.
"...please keep me alive."
"Me too, me too. Sob! I don't want to be with Donghoon anymore!"
Kim Dokja remembered when Donghoon brought a broom and glared at two prophets when Kim Dokja asked for information.
Donghoon traumatized two prophets. Well... that boy still doesn't talk much, he even communicates with Donghoon on a cell phone. Only to Cale Donghoon spoke freely.
Also, after getting lots of souvenirs from Cale, Kim Dokja now had a 'Chocolate' flag. So he put both of them in Chungmuro's group.
[You have exercised the right of representation.]
[Group members Lee Sungkook and Jung Minseob have restrictions on their behavior.]
Lee Sungkook and Jung Minseob's expressions changed at system message that appeared.
"One, from now on, you cannot tell others about my identity."
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Two, you must unconditionally submit to my orders and you are not permitted to act individually without my permission."
"...Of course. After all we also have that vow..."
[Group members Lee Sungkook and Jung Minseob are willing to accept their limitations.]
[This limitation is a 'life' limitation.]
[If they violate the restrictions, group members Lee Sungkook and Jung Minseob will die.]
Kim Dokja nodded, he seemed to hear a murmur about an vow but maybe he heard it wrong. Staring at the two, Kim Dokja said.
"Yeah... okay. I don't know when my heart will change, but because Cale has worked hard to bring you in, I decided to keep an eye on you."
They both gulped and made funny faces.
“By the way, Representative-nim. What should we call you in the future…?”
“Call me like you do now. But call me Yoo Joonghyuk in front of the other prophets. Ah, Jung Minseob.”
"Yes."
"Give me Fugitive's Mask"
Jung Minseob was annoyed but finally gave it to Kim Dokja. By the way, Kim Dokja thought that he should pretend to be Yoo Joonghyuk if he wanted to go to Night of Prophets. And this 'Mask' would be a precautionary measure for situations he didn't know about.
After a while, the muscles on Kim Dokja's face moved strangely as his appearance began to change. It felt a bit strange but Kim Dokja soon got used to it.
“Huh, this is Yoo Joonghyuk's real appearance.”
"So handsome... the revelation wasn't wrong."
This bastard...
Kim Dokja wanted to shut this guy's mouth, but calmed his anger. He didn't need to get angry over something like this... be patient.. be patient... damn these people!!
Forget it. Right, that also reminded Kim Dokja, it would be better to know the details of these people just in case. He couldn't see their attributes before because they were both not characters.
"Jung Minseob, what are your attributes..."
At this moment, a system message appeared in his head.
[This person's history has been updated.]
...What?
Kim Dokja tried using the Character List once again as a test.
[Character Information]
Name: Jung Minseob
Age: 25 years old.
Constellation Support: Cursed Gladiator
Personal Attributes: Light Projection (Rare), 1089th Person to Get Off (Common)
Exclusive Skill: Sword Training Lv. 2, Strong Punch Lv. 2, Berserk Lv. 3, Memory Enhancement Lv. 5] ...
Stigma: Revenge Lv. 1
Overall Stats: Physical Lv. 18, Strength Lv. 16, Agility Lv. 12, Magic Power Lv. 10.
Overall Evaluation: An incarnation that has good comprehensive skills and attributes. His sponsors are somewhat lacking but his abilities as a fighter are considerable. He would have been one of the 12 apostles if he had been a little more patient. He was very sorry.
... What does it mean that Character List is updated?
A person he couldn't see in the attribute window yesterday suddenly became a character.
He is a prophet. In other words, characters outside the novel. Why did he suddenly change into character?
"Oh, my attribute is..."
"Not needed."
"Yes."
Kim Dokja also confirmed Lee Sungkook's attributes.
Luckily, the attributes were the same as Cale and Sayeru said. Hypnotist and 9th Person to Get Off... The last attribute is rubbish but the first one is a pretty good attribute.
"Give me your cell phone."
"Yeah! Here it is."
Kim Dokja received a smartphone from one of them and connected to chat room.
Ah... The internet isn't working. Where's Han Donghoon...
Kim Dokja was about to call Donghoon who was sitting next to Cale, that kid sat down and rubbed his eyes while staring at constellations message that kept scrolling. Hmm.. he seems to be getting a lot of coins again.
[Character 'Han Donghoon' uses 'Wide-area Internet Lv. 5' on your smartphone.]
[Device internet is now available.]
Kim Dokja glanced at Donghoon who was also looking at him. There is a vibration from the smartphone, indicating that message has arrived.
– Cale asked me to trust you so I will trust you just once.
Kim Dokja also heard what happened to that boy from Namwoon, although he was worried, Kim Dokja was also happy because that boy was not that depressed.
He sent a reply to Han Donghoon.
- Thank You.
Sooner or later, Kim Dokja would like to have opportunity to talk to him. He once again opened Lee Sungkook's smartphone to Prophets' chat room.
[Chat room]
[List of participants: No. 9, 15 I Feel Like Dead, 124th Person to Get Off.., No. 763, 887th Person to Get Off.., No. 645... 36 people in total.]
Kim Dokja looked at the numbers in their names and knew who they were. But there's something strange.
"...36 people?"
Jung Minseob answered his question.
"All the prophets in that room stopped reading early. There were no apostles."
So...
“By the way, Representative-nim. Didn't you say it yesterday? 'You should read until the end'… then do you know all of the Book of Revelation?”
Kim Dokja recalled when he interrogated the two of them yesterday. He said that they should read to the end if they didn't want to get stuck.
So Kim Dokja laughed.
"For sure, you won't regret taking my sentence, not Yoo Joonghyuk. I know better than him."
With that, Kim Dokja left with Yoo Joonghyuk's face, along with the person who would accompany him, when Cale waved his hand in a shooing motion that gave Kim Dokja a headache. Even so... Kim Dokja is once again grateful that kid can grow normally.
Well... It's time for them to head to Angguk Station. The place where the prophets gathered.
Let's see what weapons they mean.