Chapter 59

# Chapter 59: <Just Turn Over>

As soon as Kai returned, the first people he encountered were his family.

Swish, swish. Kai's body was weakly turned left and right. Thud, thud. Two hands carefully examined his shoulders, arms, and face. Kai's face showed no expression.

"You don't seem to have any serious injuries."

Dert, the viscount, finally smiled after examining Kai for a long time, as if he was now relieved. Kai gave a soulless smile and straightened his disheveled clothes.

Dert, the viscount, was as strong as someone who practiced swordsmanship every morning.

"Are you feeling well? Any fatigue?"

"I'm fine."

This time, it was Viscountess Violan who approached Kai.

"I heard your group has grown."

That group referred to the wolf children and the whale siblings. The whale siblings had completely altered their appearance through the black dragon's magic.

"Yes, it happened that way."

"Is that so."

Kai could see the viscountess's eyes, always neat and tidy, turn cold.

"…I heard the terrorists haven't been caught yet."

"Yes, that's what I heard."

"Alright, I understand."

Violan's gaze turned to Dert, and Dert met her eyes. The couple exchanged a look. Kai found this quite unsettling but pretended not to notice. It was a look that promised trouble.

Dert, the viscount, smiled softly and said to Kai.

"Let's talk about the capital and your strength later. Rest for now."

"Yes."

With the viscount's dismissal, Kai was able to head to his room. However, someone stopped him. It was his second brother, Vassen, and his youngest sister, Lily.

"Brother, are you-"

"Oh, right."

Kai turned his gaze from the siblings to the butler, Hans, and gestured to him. Hans immediately approached.

"Here it is."

"Good."

Kai handed the two items he received from Hans to Vassen and Lily respectively.

"This is a fountain pen. This is a sword."

Kai remembered the items the siblings had asked for. After giving the gifts, he looked at them and asked.

"Why do you look like that?"

Vassen's expression was stiff.

"You must have been busy."

"Even if I'm busy, I still have to keep my promises."

Vassen stared at Kai, who replied indifferently, and then held the box containing the fountain pen with a solemn look.

"I will study hard. I will work for the administration and development of this manor."

"Good, good."

You should become the lord, so it's good that you're studying administration. It was a very good attitude. Kai smiled contentedly, and Vassen, seeing this, hesitated for a moment before saying.

"I won't cause any trouble for you, Brother."

"What do you mean?"

"Anyway, that's it."

After that, Vassen remained silent. Kai, puzzled by Vassen's vague response, turned his head. There was Lily Hennitus.

Seven years old. The young girl looked unusually determined. Why is she like this?

"Brother."

"Yes."

"Our manor, of course, and the knight order will be led by me when I become stronger. I will protect everything."

"Sure, I support you."

Vassen would handle administration, and Lily would handle military affairs. With the two of them, the manor would run smoothly. What a wonderful commitment. Kai smiled contentedly and patted Lily's head.

"You'll make a great knight."

"Yes, I'll make sure no one gets hurt."

"Good, good."

Kai moved his hand away and started to walk.

"I need to rest now."

"Rest well, Brother."

"Brother, you need to rest well! To recover!"

Kai waved his hand casually at the children's words and headed to his room. The siblings watched his back for a long time.

It had been a while since he returned to his room, but there was no way it would feel empty after being vacant for so long.

Meow.

Purr.

The two cats rolling around on the bed were having a great time. But Kai didn't even notice them. He frowned when he saw someone waiting at his door.

"…To serve me?"

It was the head chef, Vikros. Was he now going to take over Ron's duties and serve as the second chef? Ignoring Kai's questioning gaze, Vikros handed him a letter.

"It's from Father."

"Ah, Ron."

"He said to give it to you."

The letter was neatly sealed, never opened. Ron had sent a letter through Hans when he left last time, but this time he wanted his son to deliver the report.

"Alright, thank you."

"Yes."

"I sent Mace and the children to the kitchen as assistants and servers."

Vikros' shoulders twitched, and after a few seconds, he replied.

"…Yes."

His steps seemed weak, but regardless, Vikros was taking good care of the wolf children. Kai closed the door. Click. The black dragon appeared with the sound.

"I like this house. Very, quite, considerably."

The black dragon jumped onto the bed where On and Hong were playing, excited. Kai smiled slightly at the average 7-year-old behavior and calmly opened the letter. He almost dropped it.

<Are you still alive? Are you still alive?>

That was the entire report.

How could a report be so brutal? But that's why Kai was sure it was from Ron. Of course, the handwriting and the agreed-upon emblem also confirmed it.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Master, may I come in?"

Hans' voice came with the knock. The cats straightened their postures haughtily, and the black dragon turned transparent.

"Come in."

Hans entered, carrying a lot of snacks for the cats, and said to Kai.

"The mage says he's ready whenever you are."

"Then let's go now. You don't have to come with me."

Kai left Hans behind and headed out of the room toward the lord's castle.

-Where are you going? To meet the mage?

Kai nodded slightly to the black dragon, which had turned transparent and followed him, clearly intrigued by the word "mage."

"Master, I heard you've returned."

"Yes."

As he entered the lord's castle, many people greeted Kai.

"Good to see you, Master."

"Hey, it's been a while."

"You did something great. You're really amazing."

"Not really."

He found the greetings annoying and answered them casually while quickening his pace. The transparent black dragon observed everything. It flapped its wings a bit more strongly as it followed Kai. The more people greeted Kai, the more the dragon's ears perked up and its mouth curved upward.

Kai, unaware of this, opened the door to his destination. Of course, he knocked first.

"Master?"

"I haven't seen you before. Nice to meet you."

"It's an honor to meet you."

This was the mage responsible for the manor's magical image communication. Usually, image communication was handled by mages of intermediate to beginner level.

"Can we do the image communication right away?"

"Yes, but where to?"

The mage glanced at Kai while preparing the communication device. The manor had been buzzing with stories about Kai Hennitus lately. That's why Kai's immediate attempt to communicate via image piqued the mage's curiosity.

Kai, oblivious to the mage's curiosity, answered calmly.

"The royal palace."

"Ah, the royal palace—the royal palace?"

"Yes."

Kai specified the recipient.

"Please leave a message for His Highness the Crown Prince."

Kai, seeing the mage's hesitation, frowned slightly and asked.

"Why? Can't connect? Just leaving a voice message is fine."

"Ah, no, it's fine. It's fine."

When communicating with the royal palace, which received numerous image communications, it was possible to leave a voice or image message due to the high number of waiters.

'This world is quite convenient, except for the need for mages here and there.'

The mage, for some reason, fumbled and set the signal for the royal palace, then reported to Kai.

"It seems difficult to do image communication right now, but I can leave a voice message for His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Alright."

Kai watched the mage leave after setting up the device and then, alone, spoke to the communication device.

"Your Highness, it's Kai Hennitus."

The matter could be expressed simply.

"I'm buying the magic tower of the Wiper Kingdom."

First use of the golden token. Kai imagined the Crown Prince's reaction upon hearing this. He knew the Crown Prince would eventually accept it, even if he was initially shocked and annoyed. He would be curious too.

So Kai left one more message.

"By the way, image communication will be impossible for a week. I'm going on a short trip. I'll leave this message in advance."

After leaving the message, Kai pressed the button the mage had shown him. A blue light appeared in the communication device, signaling that the message had been recorded.

Kai called the mage, who had left, and the mage, seeing the blue light, reported to Kai.

"The voice message has been recorded normally."

"Alright."

The mage, seeing Kai's smile, said.

"You seem to have left a pretty good message?"

"Maybe."

The message would likely be heard by the Crown Prince the next day. Kai smiled happily, imagining the Crown Prince waiting for communication for a week after he left.

-…The Crown Prince is pitiful.

The black dragon somehow felt sorry for the Crown Prince. Kai dismissed the comment and left the magic communication room to find his father, Viscount Dert. He wanted to get everything done at once.

***

"You want to go to Harris Village?"

"Yes."

In response to Dert's question, Kai nodded. He mentioned both the ancient power and Harris Village. But Dert focused on Harris Village.

Dert looked at the report on the Harris Village incident in his son's hand and then at his son. Kai's eyes were calm, indicating sincerity.

Harris Village.

After sending the investigation team, Dert heard the news and went to the village. He felt both anger and sorrow.

The village was literally devastated. At the same time, there were no traces of the culprit. Therefore, he had requested cooperation from nearby manors and also commissioned the information guild for the investigation.

"…Is it because you're worried about that young man, Choi Han?"

But Dert had found traces of a fight there. That alone gave him an idea of Choi Han's strength. His son, who had lived with him, couldn't have missed it.

"Sort of."

Kai nodded casually at Dert's words. That was his only excuse.

For the wolf children's training and transformation. For the black dragon's growth. And to find a solution to the whale war, he was going to the Dark Forest. He couldn't say that, could he?

Kai spoke again to Dert, who seemed to be pondering.

"Even though the investigation team has already done their job, I want to see it with my own eyes. And there's no need to worry about monsters, right? It's not winter."

"That's true."

Dark Forest monsters. There was a massive stone wall built by people between Harris Village and the Dark Forest, prepared for the monsters.

Of course, there had been no monster invasion for nearly 150 years. The common belief was that entering the Dark Forest meant certain death, so it was rare for monsters to emerge.

'If they do emerge, it's because they're mutants and strong, which is the problem.'

The lord's castle had sent investigation teams several times over 150 years, finding the lack of monster activity strange, but they never dared to enter the Dark Forest, only surveying the surroundings.

Finally, Dert spoke.

"Since there are still soldiers in Harris Village, it should be relatively safe."

He nodded, as if agreeing with something, and said to Kai.

"What you've gained, you must take care of."

Kai slowly shook his head. It was a ridiculous misunderstanding.

"Choi Han is not my subordinate."

To take Choi Han in? Kai had never done that. Dert chuckled at his son's expression and nodded.

"Alright, I understand. You've grown up."

"Eighteen is old enough."

"That's true. Go ahead."

Kai bowed to Dert and headed for the office door. Then, Dert's voice came from behind.

"Kai."

Kai turned to Dert, who continued.

"The golden turtle was never a symbol of wealth. We are a family of warriors, a family that protects. Our duty is to protect, whether it's family or anything else."

Their eyes met.

"We protect everything with the strongest shell. But the most important thing is to protect yourself. That's why we are turtles."

A turtle with a strong shell to protect itself.

Dert Hennitus, the lord known for having no outstanding qualities, told his son.

"Always put yourself first."

Then, with a soft smile, he added.

"The power you've gained. It's impressive."

Kai smiled similarly and playfully replied.

"Isn't it? It's visually impressive. And I always prioritize my safety."

"Alright, that's enough."

Dert nodded and returned to his paperwork. Kai watched him for a moment and then left the lord's office. The black dragon asked him.

-Are you and that person family?

Kai nodded at the question.

The next day, as Kai got into the carriage, he said to the whale siblings.

"Wouldn't you be perfect as my new guards?"

Witti, with her appearance altered by the black dragon's magic, held a whip, and Paseton held a sword, both smiling slightly. Kai headed to Harris Village, precisely to the Dark Forest.