Chapter 15

# Chapter 15: <Outside>

To reach the end of this journey, Kale had to choose to camp. There were no villages worth mentioning until they reached the town near the dragon's breeding grounds.

Meow.

The red cat-tribe child, Hong, who had followed Kale out of the carriage, seemed delighted as he twitched his nose and wagged his tail, due to the delicious smells filling the campsite.

The reward of the day comes from a delicious dinner, Kale thought. A warm meal to signal the end of a tiring and exhausting day and the beginning of a comfortable night.

Tonight's main dish was a soup made with rabbit meat.

“Damn.”

It wasn't something Ron had done. Kale turned his gaze to the side. The one who had caught several rabbits, Choi Han, was eating the soup with relish.

Meow.

Tap tap. The cat-tribe siblings, On and Hong, tapped Kale's leg as if asking for food. Hans approached them with a wide smile.

"Would our little cats like the jerky I prepared? It's a healthy food, with no salt or flavoring."

Naturally, On and Hong ignored Hans. The butler, who didn't know they were cat-tribe, thought their haughty demeanor was great and stood beside them, admiring them.

In contrast to the first battle, the scene was now relaxed and peaceful. However, the knights' atmosphere was strange. They glanced at Choi Han, who was eating soup next to Kale. The deputy captain seemed to be in deep thought.

"Tsk."

Kale clicked his tongue.

Today, Kale and his companions had to face dozens of bandits. Among them, Choi Han was the one who performed the best. He didn't kill the bandits, but he inflicted deep wounds or severed their limbs, all at a terrifying speed.

'Master, the battle is over.'

The deputy captain reported to Kale with a surprised look, amazed at how quickly the battle had ended.

The bandits were people who had been pushed out of a neighboring territory during a power struggle. They were desperate and outnumbered the knights and soldiers by about three to one, so they seemed to have attacked with confidence.

Unfortunately, the first target they chose was our carriage, which had Choi Han.

The deputy captain's face turned pale not because of the bandits' strength, but because of Choi Han, who stood next to him and added to Kale.

'It was a light battle. It was easy.'

At that moment, Kale saw the deputy captain's pupils waver. He also saw Choi Han's smirk as he looked at the deputy captain.

Indeed, he's not just a victim. The son of a baron who beats up others isn't a simple, good-natured fool.

"Do you have no appetite?"

Kale's expression turned sour when Ron approached with a kind smile. He alternated his gaze between Ron and the rabbit meat soup, confirming that this old man enjoyed teasing him.

"Yeah, I don't."

Choi Han reacted to this.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"Well, not really."

I would eat everything except the rabbits you caught. Kale waved his hand dismissively at Choi Han.

However, Choi Han looked at Kale with a serious expression.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"…Was this your first battle?"

Seeing Choi Han's serious face, Kale replied indifferently.

"What battle? You mean the bandits today?"

"Yes."

"First time. I've never seen so many bandits before."

"I see."

Choi Han nodded and added, almost to himself.

"…This must be your first time facing a life-or-death situation."

Ha. One of the soldiers sighed.

Ha! And Kale sighed in exasperation.

'First time facing a life-or-death situation, thanks to you. I've been on edge the whole time.'

Not just that. The sight of Ron laughing at the rabbits Choi Han caught, or Bicros sharpening his knife. Kale was always on edge. He recalled all the moments he had been on edge from the estate to now.

'My appetite is even worse now.'

His appetite disappeared. Clang. The spoon in Kale's hand fell onto the soup plate. He didn't notice the soldiers looking at him with understanding eyes or Choi Han lost in thought.

"Kale."

"What?"

Kale, who had been feeling proud of himself for not getting beaten up and gaining the power of the shield, looked at Choi Han when he called him. Why are you talking to me so much?

"First times are always tough."

"What are you talking about?"

Kale asked bluntly, but Choi Han smiled calmly and then asked with a serious expression. His eyes were sincere.

"Do you not practice martial arts, Kale?"

"I don't have to."

"Shouldn't you have the strength to protect yourself?"

There was concern in his seriousness. Kale, wondering why Choi Han suddenly became serious, answered.

"Many?"

Kale looked around. Fifteen soldiers stronger than him, five knights who never left his side, and although there were few, Ron and Bicros. Even the cat-tribe and butler Hans had more offensive power than him.

Kale met the eyes of his companions, who were looking at him, and finally asked Choi Han.

"Can't you see that?"

This is the level of protection for a rich baron's son. Kale's lips curled up. They will all protect me. Of course, he wasn't sure about Ron and Bicros, but they wouldn't let him die.

'And they're not the end.'

Kale decided to be a bit more honest with Choi Han, who was looking at him. He tapped his chest and answered.

"I trust my heart. I will live."

Of course. The unbreakable shield around his heart would protect him. Of course, the assumption was that he would avoid people like Choi Han.

Choi Han looked at Kale with wavered eyes.

Meow.

Meow.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

On and Hong approached and pressed their small paws on Kale's leg. The pressure from the cats' paws hurt, so Kale frowned, but the cat-tribe siblings rubbed their faces against him, ignoring their food.

Thud. Choi Han put down his empty soup bowl and stood up.

"…I need to go practice swordsmanship."

"Right after eating?"

"I need to get stronger."

…Scary guy. Get stronger to blow up this planet later? Kale turned his head in disgust. Bicros approached him with a new plate.

"Have more."

"Thanks."

Kale smiled as he placed the plate with the highest quality spices and steak on his personal table.

"Lemonade goes well with spicy food."

Ron handed him lemonade for the first time since the tea shop. Kale, captivated by the steak, ignored the lemonade.

"If everyone has finished eating, we will start evening training shortly."

The deputy captain's loud voice was heard. Kale thought,

'The deputy captain must have been influenced a lot by Choi Han.'

Watching the passionate knights and soldiers, Kale enjoyed not only the steak but also the rabbit meat soup. The soup was surprisingly delicious. Of course, he boldly refused the jerky offered by the cats. He wouldn't eat it even if they gave it to him.

* * *

'Three days.'

Kale calculated as they entered the village.

'The black dragon will cause a mana surge in three days.'

This was the territory of a viscount next to the Hennitus baron's estate. A few years ago, a peculiar villa appeared at the foot of a mountain to the right of this village.

Of course, it was nominally the viscount's villa, but in reality, it belonged to the Sten viscount, who created the black dragon. The viscount was practically a dog of the viscount.

'And in the cave behind that villa, our black dragon is there.'

The black dragon will cause a mana surge and blow up the mountain and the cave. Kale clicked his tongue as he looked at the mountain to the right of the mountain he had crossed.

Benyon of the Sten viscount. The viscount's second son came to mind. The mad psychopath who had made his brother a cripple and taken the successor position. That psychopath occasionally visited the villa and tortured the black dragon for fun.

"Tsk."

Hans, startled by the sound of Kale's tongue clicking, quickly brought Choi Han and spoke.

"Master, I will go with Choi Han to find an inn. Please wait a moment."

The carriage was currently stopped at the village entrance.

"Sure."

"I'll be back soon."

Kale nodded at Hans' words but observed Choi Han. His eyes were filled with nostalgia. Why did he fight a mana surge? Because he couldn't abandon this small, quiet village.

Harris Village. The village that had taught Choi Han about love and revenge. This village resembled it. That's why Choi Han moved to save the lives of the people in this village, whom he didn't know.

Kale frowned and called Choi Han.

"Choi Han."

"…Yes?"

"Hurry back."

Ah. A small exclamation escaped Choi Han's lips. A pure smile appeared on the face of Choi Han, who was still 17 despite living for decades, and he nodded.

"Yes, I'll be back."

Kale waved his hand dismissively, but Choi Han bowed and quickly walked into the village with Hans. Kale, who preferred his brisk movements to his dazed appearance, watched him with a frown.

A carriage was rapidly approaching from a distance.

'Something feels off.'

Kale felt as if someone was handing him a poisoned apple with a sweaty hand. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. And he could see the source of that feeling.

"Oh-"

Kale sighed.

An old man was knocked down by the carriage,