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- Next test, indignity.
– Determining the target of indignity.
‘Dertermining Target? Am I not the target?’
– Target determined.
– Beep, beep.
– Error detected in target determination. Error detected.
The purple light swept over Alberu as the voice continued to speak.
– Completed determination of the source of error.
– Target Cale Henituse is lacking to be the target.
'Cale?'
– Using challenger’s memories to determine a new target.
– Target’s true nature determined.
– Target, Kim Rok Soo.
The purple light faded.
Alberu seemed to be in a small bakery and he was wearing a apron. He walks out of the bakery, he appears to be in a city doesn't recognize from the sealed god test.
“Haaa.“
'How am I going to find that bastard.'
Alberu notices he can't use magic in this test.
Alberu closes the bakery so he can look for Cale.
Alberu doesn't have any luck.
Alberu didn't have anything but pastries, bread,cookies, etc in the bakery so he buys food at another shop not far from the bakery. While getting food he overheard some other customers talking.
“Wow, really?”
It was at that moment.
2 women were talking behind him in the checkout line.
“No, Mr. Kim really fell deep into gambling?”
The name Kim caught Alberu's attention.
“Exactly! He’s asking anybody he knows if he could borrow some money from them! Apparently his eyes look hollow and he reeks of alcohol!”
“My goodness. Unnie, then is Mr. Kim Seung Jong not working?”
“How can he work when he’s like that?”
“But isn’t there a kid in his house?”
“Ah! I, I heard that he brought his distant relative, I think his name was Kim Rok Soo!”
“My goodness… then-”
“Ah. That is a bit concerning.”
The next day Alberu found a kid near the bakery. His clothes looked old and worn out, he looked to skinny.
It was also early spring.
This kid was wearing a light worn out jacket.
Alberu didn't have a good feeling. He smiles to talk to the kid.
“What's your name?“
“Kim Rok Soo.“
“Come inside.“
Alberu was sure he was cold outside, and the bakery is very warm.
Alberu has him sit at a table in the bakery.
'He's way to skinny.'
He gets some chicken he's going to give him that he brought. When he comes back Kim Rok Soo is starting as some chocolate chip cookies.
'Of course even as a kid.'
He smiles at Kim Rok Soo and puts the chicken on the table.
Kim Rok Soo looks at him with a expressionless face.
“Is it free?“
Alberu let's his surprise show on his face.
'He thinks about that even at this age, would he even believe me if I said yes?'
“Yes.“
“Thank you mister.“
Kim Rok Soo starts eating the chicken with no emotion on his face.
'He learned to hid his emotions at this age?Maybe even more than as Cale Henituse. Just what the hell has he been through at this age?'
Alberu walks over to where the cookies are and gets one.
Kim Rok Soo again shows no emotion when taking and eating the cookie he was staring at before.
'I can't believe I actually want to go back to him taking my cookies without even asking.'
– You have discovered the clue, food, to cover up target Kim Rok Soo’s indignity.
– You have discovered the clue, abundance of food for dinner, to cover up target Kim Rok Soo’s indignity.
'.......get me out of here, and when I do I will make sure that bastard stops skipping meals. I can probably get Raon to carry some actual food around along with those apple pies.'
“I have more food at home.“
“Ok.“
Kim Rok Soo was already full, and he couldn't take food home cause his uncle would just take it from him. He only agreed because he didn't want to go home.
But Alberu had no way of knowing this.
“Don't follow adults just because they offered you food.“
Kim Rok Soo gave him a slightly baffled look.
“Ok.“
'Even though he said ok.....I can't tell what's going though his head. I can't tell if he's lying or if he really won't follow strangers to their house just for food. But i guess it makes sense he'd do anything for food he clearly isn't eating enough, and the house he already lives in is.......when I find that bastard I will kill him.'
Alberu looks again at Kim Rok Soo's clothes.
'I wonder if there's another jacket around here?'
Alberu couldn't find any extra jacket in the bakery, unsurprisingly it's not exactly cold in there. So Alberu let's Kim Rok Soo borrow his jacket that's way to big for a little kid.
'But unlike him I have a long sleeve shirt underneath, he also doesn't have enough meat on his bones to keep him warm.'
Kim Rok Soo looks at the jacket Alberu is holding out to him hesitantly.
Kim Rok Soo is confused why this person is giving him his jacket. He wants it but he's gotten used to the cold, and what if this person get mad at him because their cold when he has their jacket. His uncle never gave him a jacket, actually the last people to give him a jacket was his parents. So he was scared and confused by this situation.
But saying no could make this person mad and then he might have to go back to his uncle again, so he slowly took the jacket.
Alberu was also confused by his dongseang acting this way.
'He looks like he wants to say something, the Cale I know wouldn't hesitate to say the most disrespectful thing to anyone. Does he want to thank me or tell me to keep it. This bastard always worries about others before himself, but I have no idea since he seems so different yet similar to the Cale I know.
Kim Rok Soo puts the jacket on.
It was at that moment.
– You have discovered the clue, clean clothes, to cover up target Kim Rok Soo’s indignity.
'...Unsurprising I guess.'
'......hey wait could this have to do with why this bastard prefers simple clothes. Or could it be most people on Earth both in this test and the test on Earth 2 people wear simple clothes.'
On the way to his house Alberu starts thinking.
'If the clues are food and clothes will i finish this test just by giving him clothes and food for a few days. The Cale I know wouldn't definitely want revenge on his uncle, but does this kid have the ability to think about revenge? Either way I'm still killing the bastard.'
Alberu sees a shop selling children's clothes.
“Rok Soo you can pick out some clothes from that shop.“
Kim Rok Soo looks at him confused again. But he again doesn't want this person to get mad so he goes along with it.
They get to the jacket section.
Alberu looks at Kim Rok Soo. He looks completely emotionless, like he isn't interested in the idea of a warm jacket in this cold weather at all.
“Pick anything out.“
“I...don't care what I get.“
'Well I guess most boys this age wouldn't care anyway.'
Alberu picks out a warm soft red jacket, that's got a details that make it look expensive.
Kim rok soo looks at it confused, but didn't say anything.
Alberu also went and picked out pants, shoes, and shirts. Alberu spent quite a bit of money but he was sure he had enough to finish this test.
When they got to Alberu's home in this test he had Kim Rok Soo take a bath while he made something for both of them to eat.
Kim Rok Soo got out of the bath without wearing his jacket. Alberu could see bruises on his arms.
Alberu had to stop himself from glaring cause he knew it would only scare the kid.
Alberu smiled.
“Where do you wanna eat?“
“The couch.“
“Ok.“
Alberu handed him a plate and sat with him to eat together. Alberu saw Kim Rok Soo looking at a black box in the living room. Alberu didn't know what it was but figured Kim Rok Soo would and if he was looking at it probably wanted to do something with it.
“Do you want to use that?“
Kim rok soo gave him a confused look.
'What's with that wording?'
“....Yes.“
Then Kim Rok Soo picked up a object that turned the black box on. It started showing a video of moving drawings.
Alberu was confused but it seemed to make Kim Rok Soo relax, so he decided to just accept it.
After eating and whatever was on the black box ends.
“Rok Soo.“
Kim Rok Soo turns to Alberu.
Alberu smiled gently at Kim Rok Soo.
“Do you want to sleep here tonight?“
Kim Rok Soo hesitantly nodded.
While Kim Rok Soo went to sleep on the couch Alberu put away the leftovers, the cold box with food in it was interesting.
He was walking to the bedroom to go to sleep.
It was at that moment.
He saw Kim Rok Soo he was curled up and it looked like he was having a nightmare.
Alberu walked over to him crouched down and started shaking his shoulder.
“Rok Soo Rok Soo wake up.“
“Ha.“
Kim Rok Soo woke up gasping.
“Do you want to sleep with me.“
Kim Rok Soo wasn't sure how to respond. This stranger was oddly nice to him, but he was still a stranger that he only followed because he wanted food and he didn't want to go home. The only people to treat him like this was his parents.
“That's fine, good nig-“
”Ok.“
Kim Rok Soo's eyes had a hint of desperatness.
Alberu smiled gently at him again.
At this moment after this person was being so nice so warm to him and then smiled so gently it made him feel something he hasn't in awhile.
Alberu picked him up off the couch.
Kim Rok Soo’s eyes opened wide.
'Why's he carrying me? I can walk?'
But after a moment he snuggles against Alberu's chest.
'This is actually really comfortable though.'
'He’s being quite cute now. I wonder if my dongseang as a adult can be this cute.'
Alberu lays him on the bed and and after laying down he lets Kim Rok Soo continue to cuddle with him.
Kim Rok Soo couldn't see him but he had a small smile.
'Who knew my dongseang could be so clingy, he isn't even like this with the kids. I wish he still had this side to him.'
Alberu held back a sigh, and started glaring at the wall.
'I'm never complaining about him acting like my room is his home again. But cuddling like this is surprisingly nice.'