Chapter 22

# Chapter 22: <Repaying a Debt>

The golden turtle carriage of Hennitus, having passed through the gates of Persel City with ease, was heading towards the accommodation under the guidance of the butler, Hans.

"It's smaller than Western City."

"Yeah, it is."

In response to On and Hong's comments, Kale nodded and looked outside the carriage.

'He won't follow us all the way to the castle, right?'

According to Choi Han, the black dragon followed from a considerable distance and fled at dawn after leaving some food.

'Isn't that cute? It's like a cute child who hasn't lost its purity despite the hardships of life.'

'...Damn.'

Choi Han said this with a pleased expression, but it was not a pleasant story for Kale. He wouldn't make that sound unless he saw the dragon destroy a mountain.

Why does he dislike humans so much? Kale found it very burdensome. This was an unexpected turn of events.

For now, since it's still young, it knows to avoid the duke's family and create its own lair to grow stronger. Kale hoped that once it grew stronger, it would destroy the duke's family in one go when the war broke out, so that this kingdom could be a bit more peaceful.

"Tsk."

Kale clicked his tongue, and the cats, who were excitedly looking out the window, flinched and approached him. They seemed curious as they looked out the carriage window.

"Every house has a stone tower."

"That's strange."

Kale replied indifferently.

"It's the City of Stone Towers."

Persel City was famous for its ruins filled with stone towers, but what made this city well-known was the small stone towers piled up in front of every house.

The people of this city build small shelves outside their windows and stack small stone towers on them. Although a tower of less than ten stones is hard to call a stone tower, the shapes of the stone towers varied according to the personalities of the people in each household.

The high-end inn where Kale arrived also had a stone tower.

"Are we staying here?"

As they followed the innkeeper's guidance, Kale asked, and Hans quickly replied. He was holding the cat siblings and seemed excited.

"Yes. Mr. Choi Han reserved for two days, and the rest will be paid later based on the time."

Behind Hans, Ron hesitated for a moment at his words but then followed with the magic box in hand. Hans continued talking to Kale.

"Perhaps because we came during the off-season just before the Stone Tower Festival, the room rates are not yet expensive."

Stone Tower Festival. Persel City was preparing for the Stone Tower Festival next week. Kale casually mentioned what came to mind.

"There aren't many stones in this area, yet the stone towers are quite amazing. It's strange."

"I know the reason."

What? Kale glanced at Hans, who reacted to his casual mutter.

"There's a very sad but instructive story that has been passed down since ancient times."

"If it's a long story, just don't tell it."

I don't want to hear it. Kale said this, but Hans seemed to think it wasn't long and continued. The group, now in Kale's room, had to listen to Hans as they watched the departing inn staff.

"This story, or rather, this legend, is from ancient times."

"Ancient times?"

Click. The staff left, and the room was left with the group. The word "ancient" caught Kale's attention.

"Yes, ancient times."

"Try it once."

The cat siblings in Hans's arms wagged their tails excitedly and looked up at him. Ron silently poured lemonade from the bottle he brought with the magic box and handed it to Kale.

Kale, holding the lemonade in one hand, crossed his legs on the sofa and nodded at Hans, signaling him to speak.

"Cough. It is said that this city was once abandoned by the gods."

Abandoned by the gods? Kale had never heard this story.

"I've never heard of it."

"You didn't study history, my lord."

"...Do you keep getting hit? Do you keep going like this? Huh?"

Hans subtly turned his head away from Kale.

"Of course, it's one of the excellent attitudes of a butler to inform the master of what he doesn't know."

Hans began the ancient story.

"I don't know why this city was abandoned by the gods. But it is said that the people of this city started to build several stone towers in groups. It was said to be a prayer act that carried a certain wind."

"So, did that wind come true?"

In response to Kale's question, Hans answered firmly.

"No."

The gods did not listen to the wind.

"The prayers didn't work at all. That's why there are no temples in Persel City."

"Since the gods abandoned them, there's no reason for me to worship them. Is that it?"

"Correct. As expected, my lord is smart and doesn't need to study."

"...Do you want to say something useless?"

Hans turned his gaze away from Kale and continued, looking at the distant mountains.

"Cough. Anyway, instead of temples, there are stone towers. This stone tower later became a promise. It was a promise between people and also a promise to oneself."

"What kind of promise?"

Hans talked about a strange rule that has been passed down in Persel City.

"A person who fulfills their wish destroys their stone tower."

Kale's lips curled up.

"What an interesting city."

"Right. Since they were abandoned by the gods, they had to fulfill their wishes on their own. Destroying the stone tower symbolizes 'overcoming.'"

Kale liked the act of destroying the stone tower. He thought of the small stone towers in front of every house, the countless stone towers.

"The stone towers weren't built relying on the gods."

"Yes. It's a commitment to oneself."

Even if they couldn't destroy them, the stone towers had sufficient value.

"Ultimately, the gods didn't grant their wishes."

"Yes, that's right. Although being abandoned by the gods is sad, it's also a very hopeful story."

In response to Hans's agreement, Kale casually said,

"Bow your head."

"Huh?"

To the bewildered Hans, Kale pointed to his arms.

"The cats seem angry."

"Huh?"

Hans, who bowed his head, gasped and opened his eyes wide. The cats were baring their teeth and showing anger. The golden eyes glaring at Hans were quite fierce.

"Oh, why are our cats angry? Should I bring some dried meat?"

Hans, still unaware that they were miao people, thought they were just hungry. But the cats were not angry because of that. Kale recalled what the siblings had said.

'Hans told me.'

'Hans said.'

'If you go to the stone tower and make a wish, it will come true.'

'The stone tower is pretty.'

Thump. Thump. On pounded the floor with his front paws, and Hong thumped the floor with her tail. It was an expression of anger at Hans for lying about the stone towers, but Hans misinterpreted the signal.

"Oh, our cats. I'll bring some delicious snacks! Lord, can I go and come back?"

"You can stay out."

"I'll be back quickly!"

Hans, saying he would return quickly, first neatly organized the luggage he brought, and once that was done, he left Kale's room very quickly.

"Ron, you should go and rest too."

Ron was still in the room. He looked at Kale with a very kind smile.

It's ominous. Kale really disliked the old man's smile. He was more unsettling when he smiled. Ron approached the sofa where Kale was sitting and spoke.

"Is Mr. Choi Han leaving in two days?"

"That's right."

Kale, who had been answering indifferently, suddenly smiled and asked.

"Why? Don't you want to see him off? Do you want to go with him?"

Ron's kind smile deepened.

"How could I leave you, my lord? I prefer to be by your side."

It was creepy.

"However, I would have been happier if I could go with Mr. Choi Han. I need to have more conversations before that. Vicross will be very disappointed."

But Kale's expression brightened a bit at Ron's next words. He had been ignoring them because they were annoying, but it seemed that some affection had developed between Ron, Vicross, and Choi Han.

Choi Han was reluctant, but he wouldn't even talk to someone he truly disliked. Kale, thinking of his plan, smiled slyly and said casually,

"Well, we can see each other often from the capital. We'll be traveling together."

We'll leave this kingdom and go to Rosaline's kingdom together. How about that? Isn't that good? Swallowing the rest of his words, Kale smiled wickedly, and Ron smiled even more kindly in response.

"I look forward to the time we'll spend together from the capital to Mr. Choi Han. My hope is that everyone arrives safely in the capital."

Kale didn't believe his words. Looking forward to it, hoping for their safe arrival. That wasn't the kind of old man.

The cats also seemed to think so, as they snorted at Ron. Ron, who tried to teach them assassination techniques whenever he had a chance, was annoying to On and Hong.

"...Go out."

Kale weakly sent out the kindly smiling Ron.

"Hans, liar!"

"I trusted the butler!"

Ignoring the cat siblings, who finally burst out in anger, Kale looked out the window.

'Vitality of the Heart'—the unfinished stone tower, the cave on the outskirts of Persel City where it was located. There would be a small house in that cave.

'Did he live to 150