Chapter 41

# Chapter 41: <I Don't Know, I Don't Know>

However, Lark nodded to himself and hesitantly opened his mouth.

"Do you want me to explain if you don't know?"

It was clearly a hesitant attitude, but he seemed determined to say what he needed to say. Kale shook his head indifferently.

"It's not necessary."

"Still."

Kale stared intently at Lark.

To bring ten blue wolf children and include Lark to form a knight order? Lark, who was afraid of the whale people on his own, was the one who would charge at the whale people's leader for the sake of his comrades. To make such blindly devoted children his subordinates?

"Stop talking nonsense."

Kale's cold voice made Lark's shoulders droop. Kale, who paid no attention to Lark's dejected appearance, said what he had to say.

"Children forming a knight order? You asked me to protect them, but the conditions you proposed seem contradictory."

If the children were made to form a knight order from a young age, given the nature of the wolf people, they might end up forming a group more extreme than a cult, one that would risk their lives. It was too terrifying.

And most importantly.

"What about the children's wishes? Why are you making the decision?"

Kale sighed at Lark, who asked again, looking crumpled. When Lark shrank even more, Kale asked him.

"Don't ask such obvious questions. There's no way I don't need them."

Ah. Lark let out a gasp and then nodded his head.

"Yes. If you tell me what you want, I'll do it right away, no matter what."

"Alright."

Kale said this while taking out a small money pouch from his coat and tossing it to Lark. Lark, who caught it, was told by Kale.

"Your siblings will come to see you today. Take a tour of the capital with them."

"…A tour?"

"Right. It's your first time in a city like the capital, isn't it? Have some good food and enjoy."

Kale had to get rid of the children to have a proper conversation.

"Owen and Hong will go with you, so you won't get lost."

Meow.

Meow.

Only then did Owen and Hong, who had been quietly sitting in the corner of the carriage, reveal their presence and approached Lark, tapping his legs with their paws.

"Stop it, Owen, Hong. It tickles."

Lark, who petted Owen and Hong as if they were cute, but to Kale, the cats were seriously attacking with their paws. Seeing this, Kale thought.

'I should hand the wolf children over to Hans. Or maybe hire a nanny.'

Someone who cooks well and is tidy would be nice. Suddenly, Kale thought of Vikros, the second chef and Ron's son, except for Hans. Kale's face then turned slightly grim.

He cooks well, is tidy, and is known for his good manners within the family. But what's the point, he's a pervert who loves torture. He can't corrupt the pure nature of the wolf children.

'And I should send Chuihan with them.'

It wasn't a necessary task, but Vikros, who had to go to the Kingdom of Breck with Chuihan and Rosalyn to serve as the Duke's torturer, was in mind. Kale, pondering who would be suitable to take responsibility for the wolf children, got off the carriage as it arrived at the destination.

"Follow me."

Kale tapped Lark's shoulder, who was standing tensely, and Lark, holding Owen and Hong, entered the inn.

"Welcome! A place filled with the scent of grapes! Do you have a party with you?"

Kale nodded at the young clerk's greeting and immediately headed for the opposite door. The people Chuihan had brought were staying in a separate building behind the inn.

The clerk tried to follow, but Kale stopped him and headed straight for the separate building. As soon as he stood in front of the entrance door, he gestured to Lark.

"Open the door first, since they're your siblings."

"Yes, yes!"

Lark, hesitantly approaching, put down the cats and grabbed the doorknob. It would be the first time seeing his siblings since he lost consciousness due to the berserk transformation. Kale stepped back slightly, not wanting to see the scene inside.

Click. Lark turned the doorknob, and the door opened. The scene inside the separate building was finally revealed. The living room was visible as soon as the door opened. It was a cozy space.

"Phew."

But Kale took two more steps back. It was an instinctive movement.

"Brother."

"Big brother."

"Big brother."

"Big brother Lark."

Ten children ran to Lark, and Lark also ran to them, hugging each other. It was a touching reunion, but Kale turned his head away, overwhelmed by the actual number of ten.

Meanwhile, a familiar person approached Kale.

"…Young Master."

"It's been a while, Villos."

Villos, who was told to come to this separate building by Kale, had a slightly tense face despite his smile. Kale's gaze shifted to the man approaching behind Villos.

"Nice to meet you. Young Master Kale."

"Are you the merchant who came with him?"

A man in his 60s. With a kind face and a sturdy build, this man was the one who had commissioned the blue wolf people to Chuihan.

"Yes. I've heard a lot about you from Chuihan. It's an honor to meet you, Young Master."

"An honor? What's so great about seeing a troublemaker's face?"

Kale extended his hand, and the man, taking it, introduced himself.

"I am Odeus Phlin."

Kale's lips curled slightly.

Odeus Phlin. A powerful heir to the Phlin merchant guild who gave up his position to run a small merchant guild.

Villos' uncle.

The person who connected Chuihan and Villos and awakened Villos' hidden greed.

'A more sinister figure than Ron.'

He pretended to run a small merchant guild but was actually living under a new mask in the underworld. Kind to some, but infinitely evil to others. That was Odeus.

And Kale was the only one who knew both sides of him.

Kale pretended to know nothing and greeted Odeus.

"Phlin. You're related to Villos. Nice to meet you."

"Me too. I'm surprised to find out that you know Villos. I haven't seen him since he was a child, but I'm so glad. It seems I've had a lot of good connections lately."

Villos couldn't hide his complicated feelings as he looked at Odeus. The person who left the Phlin merchant guild to live a simple life. And the uncle known for his kindness. The only adult Villos remembered fondly from his childhood.

'Well, he is a good person to Villos.'

Kale patted Villos' shoulder, who was standing with a complicated expression, and gestured for Lark to go out. Then he headed upstairs. Despite ignoring them, Kale could hear the wolf children's voices of gratitude from behind, making the back of his neck feel cold.

Villos asked as soon as they entered the second-floor room.

"Young Master, what exactly are you doing?"

Kale answered without hesitation.

"Working for my comfortable retirement, of course."

Villos, with a look of disbelief, took out a bottle of wine and glasses from the cabinet. He sat opposite Kale and drank a glass.

"…Can't you see me?"

"…I'm just frustrated. I'm sorry, Young Master."

Villos almost drank half a bottle in one go, then looked straight at Kale. He didn't expect to see his uncle when he came to meet the person who had changed his life.

Kale stopped Villos from refilling his glass. He took the bottle and filled Villos' glass.

"Whatever you're frustrated about, drinking alone won't help, will it?"

"…Young Master."

Kale, filling Villos' glass, answered his question.

"Right."

"Odeus is my uncle by blood."

Odeus. The name Phlin was not allowed for Villos, so he couldn't even call his uncle by his proper name. But he was the only warm adult in Villos' childhood.

In 'The Birth of a Hero,' Odeus told Villos.

'You are my nephew, my family. You are qualified.'

This statement became a turning point and a catalyst for Villos. Through Odeus, he met Chuihan. Enchanted by Chuihan's power, Villos followed him and entered the competition for the merchant guild's successor.

"Are you not curious why Odeus, who has the Phlin name, runs a small merchant guild?"

Of course, he was curious. But Kale already knew. Odeus had a tight grip on the underworld in the northwest and central regions. Kale filled his glass and answered indifferently.

"Do I need to be curious about the name Phlin?"

And as he drank the filled glass, Kale saw Villos' smiling face.

"Right. The name Phlin isn't that prestigious."

"Not really. You and Odeus. You're also a Phlin."

"…I'm a bastard, though."

Kale chuckled and replied to Villos.

"Just because you're a bastard doesn't mean you're not a Phlin. Everyone thinks you're a Phlin."

Although the family didn't give Villos the Phlin name, everyone outside thought of him as a Phlin. That's why no one outside ignored him. The name Phlin was quite powerful. It was the truth.

Villos, who stared at Kale, took the bottle and filled Kale's glass.

"Young Master."

"Why?"

"You seem to say the right things."

"I guess I do."

"So, may I ask—"

"Hmm?"

"What did you steal with the equipment you borrowed?"

At that moment, Villos saw the smile on Kale's lips. Kale, holding the filled glass, said calmly.

"I stole one. I'll steal the rest soon."

He had already saved the dragon. The rest would be tomorrow.

Villos' lips twitched. No noble would talk about stealing, but here he was.

"Can I help?"

Kale shook his head.

"Sorry, but—"

Thud. Putting the glass on the table, Kale answered.

"The spots are already filled."

The list of humans and races to use was already full in Kale's mind.

"Haha."

Villos laughed for a while, then drank the glass full of wine in one go and put it down on the table.

"Then I'll have to steal something else."

Villos had already decided what to steal. The successor position of the Phlin merchant guild. It had to be his because his greed was the greatest and deepest. Kale said to him.

"Go ahead."

At this, Villos finally burst out laughing again.

Kale, thinking that the purpose of today's meeting was over since Villos had met Odeus, enjoyed his wine leisurely.

Of course, because of tomorrow's task, Kale only enjoyed a little and returned to the mansion alone. He wanted to take a short nap in the early evening since he had to move at night. But he couldn't.

"Ron?"

Ron bowed to Kale.

"Master. I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?"

Ron looked up and said to Kale.

"Please take care of my son."

"Your son? Vikros?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

For the first time, Kale saw the kindness on Ron's face disappear, revealing his true face. With the assassin's expression, Ron said.

"I have to go fox hunting."

Even as an old man, he was still an assassin. Straightening his back, Ron said to Kale. His face was expressionless, but his lips curled slightly, creating a strange expression.

"You know I'm a killer, right, Master?"

Kale felt a surge of something like alcohol, even though he wasn't drunk. The back of his neck felt cold.