Chapter 58

# Chapter 58. <In Thought>

"We are in the north, the merfolk in the south. We have been staying at the extremes of the continent and have been engaged in battles, big and small, for decades."

Paseton spoke and looked at Kale. Kale, leaning against the sofa, nodded his chin as if to say, "Go on." On and Hong glanced at Kale, then quietly removed their heads from his lap and went to the corner of the room, where the black dragon was.

"The conflict was between the merfolk, who sought to establish a kingdom, and us, who tried to curb them. However, six months ago—"

Paseton's eyes darkened.

"From then on, the merfolk's behavior became strange."

Strange? Kale recalled the contents of the books about the merfolk.

"They began to cross the tacitly agreed-upon boundary and provoke us."

That's right. Kale was aware of this part. From that time, the merfolk gradually began to build a sea kingdom and try to dominate. As this well-known information surfaced, Kale felt a bit more at ease. Then Paseton said,

"I have discovered the exact reason."

It must be about building a kingdom. The whale people in volumes 4 and 5 knew this, and Che Han had also moved to prevent it.

"Their goal was to occupy the maritime route connecting the Eastern and Western continents."

"What?"

Kale leaned back from the sofa and looked at Paseton. He asked without realizing it.

"Isn't the maritime route a human affair?"

There were a few maritime routes connecting the Eastern and Western continents, and these routes were discovered by humans. However, even these routes were long and treacherous, so the exchange between the two continents was not yet active.

Moreover, there was an implicit agreement between the intelligent beings of the sea and those on land regarding the maritime route.

The sea would not interfere with the maritime route. In return, the land-dwelling intelligent beings would not meddle in the affairs of the sea. This is why Che Han faced many obstacles when he openly interfered in the sea.

But the merfolk are breaking this agreement?

Witra spoke up.

"At first, we thought it was the new king of the merfolk leading the movement to build a kingdom. But the information Paseton gathered was different."

Sigh. A sigh escaped Kale's lips. He took a sip of the lukewarm tea.

'Again, I found out something unnecessary.'

The problem was bigger than what he had known so far. Bigger than the issue with Prince Albert.

"And there was another strange thing."

"Hold on."

Kale stopped Witra from continuing. He said,

"Why did the Dark Forest come up? Just tell me that."

He felt that if he heard more, something big would happen. He was getting increasingly uneasy. Kale could see Witra smiling slightly.

Why do these beautiful whale people's smiles look so terrifying to Kale?

"Yes, now to the matter at hand!"

Witra replied brightly. Kale's mood darkened.

"As I mentioned, the merfolk have become stronger in the past one or two months. And we have discovered the 'material' that made them stronger."

Kale closed his eyes. With a troubled mind, he slowly opened his eyes and asked the two whale people,

"Is that material in the Dark Forest?"

"Yes! You caught on quickly!"

What kind of absurd logic is this? The material that strengthens sea creatures is in the Dark Forest on the continent? Kale was baffled.

Most importantly, how could the merfolk reach the Dark Forest? Kale felt a bit uneasy.

Paseton said with a determined look,

"I clearly heard that it's a swamp in the Dark Forest. That's why I had to flee. We need to go to the swamp and find out what the material is."

There was no need to hear more.

The Dark Forest.

Che Han's Harris Village.

Kale thought of the ten wolf children outside the door. Then he looked at the corner of the room. On and Hong were awkwardly apart. There must be the transparent black dragon in that space.

-What are you looking at, human?

I was thinking of building a cottage for you.

-So, you think I'm the most amazing, right? I'll allow you to keep staring.

Kale said bluntly,

"That's a problem."

"Huh?"

The eyes of the whale siblings widened. But Kale, without looking at them, thought,

What would be the benefit?

To find out what would be beneficial, there was something he needed to know first.

"Humans should not interfere in sea matters."

Witra immediately replied,

"Of course, we understand that line. We will ensure that no harm comes to you, Lord Kale, and everything we do is unauthorized and secret."

She then mentioned the part Kale was curious about.

"Besides, the merfolk started it. They need help from the land to reach the Dark Forest."

"Still, the risk is high. You know that, right?"

"Yes."

He asked the second thing he needed to know.

"So, what's the compensation?"

Kale informed them of the risk and asked for compensation. A deep smile appeared on Witra's lips. Slowly, her mouth opened.

Kale knew what she was going to say.

It must be the condition the whale king offered to Che Han.

"The maritime route."

Kale's lips slowly curled up.

"There is a maritime route that the merfolk are trying to occupy, which they consider the top priority. It's a place humans haven't discovered yet. The safest maritime route."

Kale asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Where is it?"

Unaware, Witra confidently said,

"Our sea."

The northern sea of the Western continent.

"It's the territory of the whale people."

Kale chuckled and asked,

"Isn't the territory of the whale people the most dangerous? It's where the strongest beings of the sea reside."

"But for you, it's now a safe place. You will have the right to use it."

Kale, looking at the confident whale princess, said bluntly,

"I don't need it."

"…What?"

Just a maritime route. It was a place Kale had no need for. It wasn't even giving him the maritime route, just the right to use it. For Kale, who wanted to live comfortably, it was unnecessary.

But.

"Add one more condition."

The family would become wealthy and powerful through the maritime route. Of course, his brother Vassen, who would become a lord, would have to work hard. Kale, with a curious look, said to the next whale king,

"Borrow your strength when I need it."

"Strength?"

"Yes, strength. Twice."

When the northern knights move south to a warm and fertile place. If this northeastern region could be safe, Kale wouldn't mind. The whirlpool in front of the Ubar territory, the naval base. Why would he get involved in all of that? With the content of the book quite distorted, Kale needed to prepare.

"Interfering in human affairs is a bit—"

Kale, seeing Witra's hesitation, chuckled.

"You're asking me to take the risk, but you won't?"

"…We are a peaceful species."

"Doesn't seem like it, considering you're constantly fighting the merfolk."

The whale people feel threatened by the strengthened merfolk. It's the first time they've felt this sense of crisis. They want to eliminate this crisis quickly to protect their peace.

To the silent Witra, Kale said,

"The Dark Forest is a mysterious domain. It's not a safe place just because it's strong, especially for you who don't know the land."

Kale was planning to go to Harris Village anyway.

"I'll help you."

The Dark Forest where Che Han has lived for decades. Even so, Che Han doesn't know everything about the Dark Forest. He only knows parts of it.

And the human who knows the Dark Forest best after Che Han is Kale.

"I think I know which swamp it is."

Witra could see Kale speaking softly and gently.

"Whale people want to live as the strongest in peace, right?"

Kale could see Witra's posture change. She slowly shifted from a pleading stance to a negotiating one.

"You're right, Lord Kale."

The whale people, who protect peace, can only do so because they are strong. When the merfolk became stronger, the whale people, who had been fighting across the entire sea, were not wrong.

"I, Witra, as the successor of the whale people, accept your conditions."

Even after revealing her identity, Witra could still see the calm Kale.

"You're the successor? That's good. We can finalize the contract here, right?"

He seemed pleased that the contract could be finalized immediately. He extended his hand and said to her,

"Do I need to speak more formally now?"

Witra, taking his hand, replied,

"No need, Lord Kale. I need to keep my identity hidden."

"Only I know your identity?"

"Yes."

Kale shook hands with Witra. That was enough. After the whale siblings left, Kale leaned back into the sofa. He looked at the air and said,

"Hey."

The black dragon appeared and gruffly replied,

"Don't call me 'hey.'"

"Then what should I call you?"

Kale could see the black dragon sit on the opposite sofa and wrinkle its nose.

"Think about it. Human."

"First, shouldn't you call me Kale instead of human?"

The black dragon, blowing a raspberry to avoid answering, was looked at with a peculiar gaze by Kale. But he first brought up the matter.

"Do you want your own place?"

Kale had been thinking about this. If he was going to live with the black dragon, wouldn't it be nice to give this being, known as the strongest in nature, a very nice home?

"Home?"