Chapter 67

# Chapter 67: <This Isn't Right>

That subtle tension carried on into the dinner table that evening. Kale had merely thrown out a casual remark.

“I’ll be going to the Wiper Kingdom for a while.”

Clang. The spoon in his youngest sister, 7-year-old Lily’s hand, fell to the floor. Kale looked at Lily at the sound. Lily’s face had turned pale, and her lips were trembling.

“The teacher said so.”

Lily muttered, not even thinking about picking up the spoon.

“The Wiper Kingdom is scary, and people die every day. The nobles have to hide, and it’s hard to eat anything delicious! The teacher said so!”

Her voice gradually rose as her emotions became more intense. Then, Lily stared at Kale and her face contorted.

“No, you can’t go.”

At that moment, Lord Dert interrupted Lily’s words and spoke firmly. Kale looked at him with a puzzled expression. The trip to the Wiper Kingdom. The crown prince had promised to support Kale’s safe and secret arrival.

‘We’ll say you’re carrying out my secret orders. There’s no need to mention the magic tower or the mages, right?’

‘Right. I prefer it to be a secret. I only want to inform my family and Lord Ubbar.’

‘Of course. I’ll make the necessary preparations.’

The crown prince Albert had informed Lord Dert of the secret mission, but without revealing the details.

“Father, it’s the crown prince’s order.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Lord Dert’s face, usually kind and ordinary, was now crumpled. Kale turned to look at his siblings, who were the only ones with calm expressions.

Their eyes met, and she asked calmly.

“Is this your wish?”

“Yes. I want to go.”

“Kale.”

“Yes.”

Violan put down her spoon and spoke again.

“You know it’s a dangerous place, right?”

“Yes.”

Kale nodded lightly. But with Choi Han, the black dragon, Rosaline, and Rakman, and the ten wolf children who were determined to follow, it didn’t seem dangerous at all.

“Kale, remember one thing. I always worry about my son. We all worry about you. But.”

Suddenly, Violan’s eyes turned fierce.

“I don’t care about this kingdom.”

“Ahem. Lady, if the kingdom is safe, our family will be safe too, won’t they?”

Lord Dert, who had been frowning, relaxed his expression and cleared his throat. But Violan ignored this and continued speaking to Kale.

“Is this your wish?”

Violan asked the same question again. Kale answered immediately.

“I am a golden turtle.”

Of course. Kale’s safety was the most important. He only engaged in battles when he had to, and only when he was sure to win, and when there was a strong ally on his side.

“Don’t worry.”

His voice was full of confidence, and his eyes showed determination. A smile appeared at the corner of Lady Violan’s mouth.

“Alright, I understand. But I will always worry. That’s what parents do.”

There’s no need to worry. Kale nodded at Violan’s words. Lord Dert, without saying a word, continued his meal. It seemed he had reluctantly accepted the situation.

“Just standing there, thinking you’ll do everything as you’re told.”

Occasionally, he muttered to himself while roughly chewing his meat. Kale, seeing no further objections, focused on his meal again.

He didn’t notice.

The exchange of glances between Lord Dert and Lady Violan was far from ordinary. And the fact that Lord Dert had instructed the butler to gather all the information about the Wiper Kingdom and the crown prince, regardless of cost, in secret. Kale was unaware of all this.

He finished his satisfying meal and left the dining room as usual. He heard hurried footsteps chasing after him. It was a rare sight to see a noble in such a hurry.

“Bassen?”

The ones chasing after Kale were Bassen and Lily.

“...Brother, do you really have to go?”

“Pretty much.”

It wasn’t absolutely necessary, but he preferred a future where he could live comfortably for ten years over one where he could only live comfortably for one year. Kale told his silent siblings.

“Both of you, study and train hard. I can travel comfortably because of you.”

Of course. Thinking of Bassen becoming the lord and Lily taking charge of the military always made him feel at ease. At least, there wouldn’t be any drama like a family feud over succession or a conflict between the eldest and a capable second son.

Kale turned his back on his siblings, who were looking at him silently. He had a lot to prepare. As he walked away, he said to his siblings.

“I’ll bring back souvenirs from the Wiper Kingdom.”

Kale, seeing that Amira didn’t try to stop him, climbed aboard the ship with a sense of relief. The village, viewed from the deck of the large ship, was bustling with construction.

Additionally, several whirlpools had disappeared, clearing a path for the ship to travel.

‘Of course, the other whirlpools remain.’

Anyone watching would think he was going to destroy a country.

- The sea smell is good.

Especially with the black dragon following, what could he possibly fear?

Kale ordered his companions, who were looking at him.

“Set sail.”

Horn sounds announcing the departure echoed across the sea in front of the Ubbar territory. The ship was disguised as a merchant vessel. In fact, it was a merchant vessel.

‘Well, it’s a trade ship, after all.’

Of course, it would be an unfair trade. Fair to Kale, but unfair to others.

- Human, don’t smile like that. It looks like you’re planning something.

The black dragon’s voice rang out, but Kale ignored it and welcomed the cool sea breeze. The ship set sail for the smallest port in the Wiper Kingdom.

That night.

Kale was on the deck, unable to sleep. It was close to midnight, and the deck was quite bright with the soft lighting and the full moon.

He planned to welcome his guests here today.

Kale leaned on the ship’s railing and enjoyed the calm night sea. Then, the black dragon appeared.

“Human.”

The black dragon approached, realizing no one else was around.

“Why?”

“Just in case.”

The black dragon looked uncertain, scanning Kale from head to toe.

“...Is it because of your name, human?”

“What do you mean?”

The dragon seemed to be in deep thought.

“Somehow, it feels like you’ll be wielding a sword or something.”

“Oh, your name?”

Kale realized the dragon was talking about its name and adopted a serious expression.

“...Do you not like it? That name?”

Kale’s expression was serious. The black dragon hadn’t seen such a serious look on Kale’s face recently. The dragon’s pupils dilated. It answered hastily.

“No! I like anything! Human, whatever you give me is fine! Don’t worry!”

Its wings flapped wildly, and its tail swung back and forth, emphasizing its point. Kale’s expression quickly returned to its usual calm.

“That’s a relief.”

He said indifferently.

“Raeon, if I had given you that name, On and Hong would have been jealous.”

Silence followed.

“...Human, what did you just say?”

Kale, contrary to the dragon’s expectations, had been quite thoughtful. A name is the only thing given to a person. Kim Roksu. The only thing he had been given completely and solely by his parents, who he had to live without.

“Your name is Raeon.”

Raeon. In pure Korean, it means ‘joyful.’

“And your surname is Mir.”

Mir. In pure Korean, it means ‘dragon.’

Joyful Dragon. It was a funny name, but Kale had given it with genuine sincerity. It was a pure Korean name, so Choi Han might have a problem, but he could easily make up an excuse.

The indifferent voice reached the dragon’s ears. But the dragon saw a new expression on Kale’s face. A gentle smile played on Kale’s lips.

“I named you with the hope that you would live happily and joyfully.”

“...What do you mean?”

The black dragon asked Kale about the meaning of the name. Kale pointed at the dragon.

“You.”

Raeon. And Mir. These were words that didn’t exist in this world. In this world, these words pointed to only one thing.

“You. These characters and words are for you alone.”

“...For me alone?”

“Yes.”

Kale smiled and stroked the dragon’s head.

“You are a great dragon.”

“...For me alone...”

After muttering for a while, the black dragon, now Raeon, pushed away Kale’s hand that was stroking its head and spread its wings and shoulders. Its wings flapped violently, and its tail swayed like On and Hong’s.

“It’s good. I’ll use it specially.”

“Alright, Raeon.”

The dragon snorted. Its lips curled up slightly.

“I am the great Raeon Mir.”

“Right, Raeon.”

“That’s right. I am Raeon.”

The dragon had a name after four years. It also had a surname. It had something that was solely its own, beyond its body. The dragon raised its head.

It saw the darkness of the night sky, different from the darkness of the cave. The first time it came out of the cave, it was also at night. The dragon, Raeon, wouldn’t forget that moment, nor this one.

Kale also raised his head. The night sky was always the same, no matter where he went. As he stared at it indifferently, he heard the dragon’s, Raeon’s, voice.

“Thank you, Kale.”

“...What?”

Kale looked at Raeon in surprise. The dragon had returned to its usual expression.

“Human, how can you not understand immediately?”

“Can you say it again?”

Kale chuckled and reached out to stroke the dragon’s head. The dragon, however, strongly rejected it by headbutting his palm.

“No. Very, extremely, quite unwilling! Weak human, you’ll catch a cold. Go inside and sleep!”

Despite its words, the dragon’s wings were flapping, and its tail was swaying like On and Hong’s.

Kale laughed softly. His low laughter and smile were clearly visible even in the night, on the sea.

“I can’t go inside.”

“Why can’t you-”

Raeon’s voice, which had been sharp, suddenly stopped. It looked at the sea. Far away from the ship.

Whoosh.

The sea parted, and a massive presence slowly emerged.

It was a whale.

Then,

“Lord Kale!”

Someone rushed out of the ship and ran towards Kale at a very fast speed. It was Choi Han. Choi Han, with a worried expression, scanned the distant, slowly emerging presence. He quickly turned his gaze back to Kale and approached him.

“Hmm?”

Only then did Choi Han notice.

Kale was waving his hand, signaling him to go inside, with a very annoyed expression. And Raeon, looking at Choi Han, said mockingly.

“It’s not an enemy.”

“What?”

Choi Han turned his head back to the sea at the words. At the same time, Kale stood up from leaning against the railing and bowed his head towards the sea.

The whale was not alone. There were three in total.

A guest had arrived.

One was a humpback whale, Witira. Another was a killer whale. And the last one.

“I greet the Whale King.”

Kale bowed to the largest humpback whale, the Whale King.