Chapter 30

# Chapter 30. <What Exactly Are You>

Choi Han and Rak. And Rosalind, who was behind Choi Han. The three of them entered Kale's room.

"Han. Get some drinks."

"Excuse me? Ah, yes!"

Kale didn't let the butler Hans into the room and closed the door. He pointed to the bed where Choi Han was standing.

"Lie the kid down."

"Yes."

Choi Han carefully laid Rak on the bed. Kale slowly approached Rak. Clearly a pureblood among purebloods, he had a delicate human appearance. However, his height was quite tall for a boy.

"Huff, huff, huff."

Rak was panting from a high fever, struggling to open his eyes. His face was scrunched up, and his body seemed to be limp from the lack of strength. The berserk transformation was inevitable.

Kale spoke to the boy, who was trying to open his eyes and looked as tall as an adult.

"Just close your eyes. Don't struggle."

His firm tone didn't carry any pressure, but it had the power to make Rak comply. Rak slowly closed his eyes. To him, an unfamiliar voice echoed.

"Everything will be alright."

Rak, breathing heavily from the fever, silently called out to someone. Uncle. The leader of the blue wolf clan, who was one step away from becoming the great wolf king, had died protecting the clan, hiding Rak from the invaders.

'Everything will be alright.'

Uncle had said that. Rak's face, distorted by the fever, looked pitiful. Kale, who had observed this dispassionately, turned his head.

"Kale-sama. Why is Rak like this?"

Choi Han looked anxious and flustered. In the book, at this stage, he gradually opened his heart, but he didn't completely open it to Rak.

'What happened?'

Kale knew that Choi Han's state had changed a bit because of him, as he wasn't a fool. That's why he tried even harder to distance himself. He swallowed his doubts and looked at Choi Han.

"Calm down."

If this continues, you'll awaken. That would be as terrifying as the black dragon awakening in that corner. Perhaps because he had lived alone for decades, or despite living alone for decades, Choi Han was weak for affection and very kind.

"Kale-sama."

"First, trust me and leave it to me."

"...I trust you."

"Good."

After confirming that Choi Han had calmed down, Kale turned his gaze to Rosalind.

Rosalind, the first in line to the throne of the Breck Kingdom. But she was a genius mage preparing to give up that position. She was a person who evoked the image of a red rose, with hair as bright red as Kale's and a peculiarly upturned red mouth. However, her nature suited the sun more than a rose.

Rosalind was frozen, staring at a corner of the room.

"...This aura, this immense mana power!"

Rosalind was looking exactly at the dining table chair where the dragon had used transparency, clenching her fists with trembling hands.

"Hah."

A sigh escaped Kale's lips. It seemed the dragon had piqued the mage's curiosity.

The black dragon must be showing Rosalind a mana technique that only she could imagine, sending its mana to her. Dragons generally liked mages among humans.

It's doing this because it likes her.

Kale looked at the area near the dining table where no living creature was visible and spoke softly.

"Stay still."

At that moment, "Huff," Rosalind took a deep breath and quickly regained her composure. It seemed the dragon had withdrawn its mana. Rosalind couldn't hide her shaking pupils as she looked at Kale.

"What is this-"

Kale cut her off and pointed to Rak.

"This one comes first."

"Oh."

Rosalind's expression quickly regained its composure. She looked at the limp Rak with his eyes closed and asked Kale.

"What's happening to Rak now?"

Kale looked at the small staff in her hand. They must have arrived in the capital in just three days because Rosalind used a teleportation spell. Unlike Kale's expectations, Rosalind had already revealed her magical prowess.

"Are you a mage?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have you heard about berserk transformations?"

Ah. A sigh escaped Rosalind's lips. But soon, she revealed her confusion.

"I've read about the berserk transformations of the wolf clan in books. But this is the first time I've seen one accompanied by such a high fever and pain."

"It's because it's his first time."

"Huh?"

Kale explained to those in the room.

"During their first berserk transformation, werewolves suffer from the intense physical changes and lose their sanity. Once they go through this, they can use the berserk transformation as a weapon."

A werewolf is strongest when berserk.

Kale continued, examining Rak's condition.

"The berserk transformation is almost upon him."

He then looked at Rosalind. She nodded firmly, understanding the situation.

"I don't know what kind of person you are, but I can read the situation."

Despite her firm tone, her eyes were pleading.

"He's just a child."

"I know."

She pleaded, and Kale responded to her request.

Meow. At that moment, two kittens appeared and leaped onto the bed. On and Hong stared intently at Rak. Suddenly,

"Grunt."

Rak bared his teeth and growled at the kittens On and Hong. Instinct overrode reason, and as a wolf, he reacted to other beasts. The scene was quite intense, and Choi Han swallowed hard.

Meow.

Thump. Hong slapped Rak's growling mouth with her paw, a sharp and precise attack that seemed to say, "Stop being a brat." She then looked at Kale, her eyes saying, "Hurry up and help."

"He's fine."

Kale gave a short answer to her gaze. Knock, knock, knock. He immediately opened the door when he heard the knock. Hans stood there with drinks and a wet towel. Kale gave him instructions.

"Hans."

"Yes."

"Get a stretcher."

"Huh?"

Kale pointed to Rak on the bed.

"Put him on the stretcher and take him to the basement training ground of the mansion. Clear out all the knights and don't leave anyone there."

To the training ground with a sick child? Hans's expression clearly showed his concern, but Kale ignored it.

"Hurry up."

"...Yes."

Hans, though full of questions and looking at Kale strangely, listened well. He left to get the stretcher, and Kale turned to the two confused people.

"Choi Han. And you."

"Rosalind."

"Right. Rosalind."

The two turned their bodies from Rak's bed to Kale.

"Yes, Kale-sama."

"Why are you doing this?"

Concern, worry, urgency, and seriousness. Their faces, filled with all these emotions, made them look more like kind people than heroes. Kale spoke to them dispassionately.

"Both of you, take care of him."

"...What?"

After a few seconds of silence, Rosalind revealed her confusion, while Choi Han waited silently for Kale to continue.

"Usually, when werewolves, tigers, or bears—beasts with fierce blood—undergo their first berserk transformation, their parents or siblings handle it. They endure the attacks of the berserk child and protect them from getting hurt. That's how they protect the child."

Choi Han and Rosalind's expressions darkened. Rak had no parents or siblings. Kale glanced at Rak and continued.

"From what I can see, it's going to be tough for this kid."

Clap. Kale clapped once and pointed to Choi Han and Rosalind in turn.

"Alright, pretend to be his parents. If you don't like that, just pretend to be his older brother and sister. Take care of him yourselves."

Kale had the 'Unbreakable Shield' but didn't want to handle Rak's berserk transformation himself. Why should he, when there were stronger people around?

Rosalind and Choi Han looked at each other.

"Eventually, the kid will tire himself out, and the berserk transformation will weaken, bringing back his sanity. It's crucial that he regains his sanity at the end of his first berserk transformation. That way, he won't lose it in the next one."

Ultimately, the point where reason overcomes instinct is important. That's when it comes to werewolves.

Choi Han pondered for a moment and then asked Kale.

"Kale-sama, how long does the berserk transformation last?"

"He's a pureblood among purebloods."

"...It will take a long time, then."

"Yeah. A couple of hours?"

Kale approached Rak's bed and patted Choi Han's shoulder, who was standing beside it.

"It might be tough for others, but for you, Choi Han, it will be simple. I believe in you."

"...I'll do it. I'm Rak's older brother."

Rosalind looked at Choi Han with a peculiar expression. Choi Han, who had survived by mercilessly cutting down assassins and protecting others, was always on edge, constantly scanning his surroundings. Yet, in this urgent situation, he now looked calm.

As she watched Choi Han, Kale's relaxed voice reached her ears.

"Right. After it's over, let's have a good meal."

Kale was thinking about the meal and wine he hadn't had yet.

The door opened, and Hans entered with Ron, carrying the stretcher.

"Master, the training ground is clear."

"Fast."

Kale instructed Choi Han to move the now heavily breathing and growling Rak onto the stretcher.

"Let's go."