Chapter 23

# Chapter 23: <Repaying a Debt>

Of course, I plan to secretly give them a new hope. It was a lesson I learned from the dragon.

'Unless God decides to tell them who I am, they won't recognize me.'

It means it's impossible for them to know my identity.

What a comfortable situation. I should have done this long ago. With a light step and a cheerful mood, Kale entered the ruins.

Everywhere, people were praying.

At that moment, Hans approached quietly and whispered in Kale's ear.

"I just saw the eldest son of the von Sten family."

"...How do you know him?"

Kale was genuinely surprised. Hans smiled and covered his eyes.

"I have all the information about the children of major nobles in my head. I saw a man in a wheelchair. Since he was accompanied by only one person, it was strange, but the red snake emblem on the wheelchair confirmed it."

"Hans."

"Yes."

"You seem incompetent but are actually quite capable."

"I guess so."

Hans shrugged and finished his report with a proud expression. Then he asked,

"What do you plan to do?"

Kale's left cheek flushed, and he turned his gaze. Choi Han was looking at him. Kale shook his head and said to the two of them,

"Ignore him."

Without a word, the two nodded. Only then did the real sightseeing begin. Kale was amazed by the scale of the stone towers.

"More than I expected—"

Kale's expression turned grim.

"There are so many bizarre shapes."

Kale couldn't understand the ancient sense of beauty. He had expected the stone towers to be piled up like mountains, but they came in all sorts of shapes.

They were somewhat strange and didn't look beautiful. Kale glanced sideways at the cats in Hans' arms, his expression quite disappointed.

But there was someone who was more serious than expected. Choi Han bowed his head and prayed, unlike the others.

'He must be wishing to return home.'

Choi Han had grown up in a happy family. He was different from Kale and Kim Roksu. A person who grew up with good influences in a happy home. That's why he survived and remained good even in a desperate situation.

Kale looked at Choi Han with a blank expression. Then Choi Han lifted his head and looked at Kale.

"Sir Kale."

"Yes."

"I have a question and something to report."

Kale felt uneasy.

"First, ask your question."

Choi Han looked at the stone towers scattered across the wide plain and asked,

"Sir Kale, don't you make wishes?"

What is he asking? Kale answered casually,

"I don't make wishes."

"Why not?"

"Because it creates expectations."

Choi Han, Hans, and the cats all looked at Kale. Kale stared at the stone towers, just like Choi Han had.

"Living without expectations is more comfortable."

If you expect to win 100 won and get 500 won, you feel good. But if you expect to win the grand prize and get 500 won, you feel disappointed and frustrated.

Thump. Kale turned his gaze when he felt someone nudge his arm. Butler Hans smiled and said,

"Sir, you know. The world is a place without dreams or hopes."

"...Just enjoy the tour."

"Yes!"

Hans answered firmly and led the cats, who looked somewhat dejected, forward. Kale followed slowly behind. Then Choi Han caught up and spoke in a low voice so Hans couldn't hear.

Choi Han hadn't finished his report yet.

"Actually, the dragon entered the castle."

"Pretend you don't know."

"Yes."

Kale glanced around. The dragon was invisible. All he could see were people praying at the strange stone towers. Despite the stone tower festival being far away, there were quite a few people. Kale's gaze turned to the opposite direction of the stone towers, toward the wealthy district of Pusel City. Behind the wealthy district was a small mountain. Somewhere on that mountain was the grave of someone who lived to 150 years old.

* * *

The next day, Kale planned to go to that grave. Of course, he had to shake off all the humans and other races who wanted to tag along, so he pointed to the one person who wouldn't say anything.

"I'm only taking Choi Han."

The strongest and most upright-looking Choi Han. The deputy captain and Hans didn't say anything when he was assigned as a bodyguard.

The deputy captain, however, frowned and urged the knights to train. Kale watched them head to the training ground with a tired expression, and Hans left with a word.

"I'll take care of the cats."

Ignoring the excited back of Hans, Kale headed out of the inn. Choi Han followed.

"What are you doing today?"

"Today? If someone saw me, they'd think I do something every day."

Choi Han didn't answer. Kale continued walking toward the mountain behind the wealthy district, saying,

"I have to go to the mountain you see ahead. You just wait at the entrance."

"Understood."

Choi Han answered without any further words. Kale found this convenient. Choi Han didn't show much curiosity about Kale. He followed but didn't seem to be curious about the person he was following.

Choi Han probably thought that if he wanted to, he could find out everything, and that no matter what Kale did, he wouldn't be in danger.

Passing through the wealthy district, which could be seen in any city, Kale arrived at the small mountain and stopped at the entrance when Choi Han called out.

"Sir Kale."

"Yes."

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"I know. Didn't I tell you to go then?"

Choi Han met Kale's gaze, who was standing casually at the mountain entrance. The one who said he was enough as a bodyguard. Choi Han had been thinking a lot about what he was protecting lately.

"Before I leave, there's something I need to tell you."

The dragon report from yesterday wasn't what he truly wanted to report. He hesitated for a moment, then looked directly at Kale and spoke. Choi Han's gaze was on a tree at the entrance of the mountain, beyond Kale's shoulder.

"Mr. Ron is a dangerous person."

Kale was momentarily taken aback by the sudden direct statement. Should he pretend to know or not know? He quickly decided. Kale hadn't expected such a question but reacted calmly.

"Really?"

"Aren't you surprised? I can smell the dangerous blood from him. He's a strong person who has shed a lot of blood. At first, I thought you knew and kept Mr. Ron by your side."

But if Kale had known, he would have taken the strong Ron to save the dragon. However, Kale didn't.

This meant either Kale didn't know Ron's strength or didn't trust him. After 18 years of being together and always by his side, it was impossible not to trust him.

The only conclusion was that Kale didn't know Ron's strength.

"But it seemed like you and the others didn't know about Mr. Ron."

Choi Han had thought a lot about this. In fact, he hadn't mentioned Ron yesterday when Kale said he didn't expect anything. But today, seeing Kale choose him as a bodyguard, Choi Han felt guilty.

"That's why I thought I should tell you, Sir Kale."

"Really? I didn't know Ron was strong."

Choi Han asked, puzzled by Kale's indifferent reaction.

"Will you keep him around? He has a sinister power."

Kale snorted at Choi Han's words. He planned to send Choi Han away as soon as they reached the capital.

"You and Ron."

"Yes?"

"You say he has a dangerous power, but why do you keep him around?"

"That's obviously—"

Choi Han was momentarily speechless.

"Because he hasn't done anything to you."

Kale's words left Choi Han speechless. There had been a brief misunderstanding and a short confrontation at the beginning, but Ron had helped retrieve the sword and assisted with the Harris village incident.

Kale looked at the silent Choi Han.

Ron hadn't done anything to anyone, not just Choi Han. He occasionally gave Kale lemonade and played with rabbit meat, but that was it.

"Ron has been my attendant for 18 years."

Ron had been loyal in his role as an attendant. The deputy captain, who had a strong sense of authority, didn't get angry when the attendant Ron walked beside him with his shoulders back. Butler Hans didn't get angry when Ron did his job.

It was because Ron was capable and dedicated to the family.

"Do you dislike Ron?"

After a moment of thought, Choi Han shook his head.

"No."

"Then?"

"I just thought it would be good to know that he's a dangerous person and wanted to report it."

"You and Ron."

Hearing the same words again, Choi Han looked at Kale.

"To me, you're the same. If we're talking about danger, you're dangerous too."

Kale looked at Choi Han with a blank expression.

"You're strong too."

"Ah."

Choi Han sighed. Kale continued, though he didn't know the reason for the sigh.

"To me, everyone