Chapter 7

# Chapter 7: <Encounter>

Choi Han, who had been leaning against the wall, slowly got up. Although his right ankle seemed to be bothering him, his body was slightly tilted, but Kale did not offer any assistance or comment on it. There was no need to show any more kindness to him.

Kale told Choi Han to follow and set off in the direction of the viscount’s residence. However, his steps were interrupted by something.

Meow.

A red-furred, golden-eyed cat leaped at Kale and rubbed its cheek against his shoe. Kale’s brow furrowed. He disliked cats, but this one was quite cute. However, he soon felt a sudden chill run down his spine and turned his head. Choi Han was staring at him intently.

‘Damn it.’

Kale awkwardly stroked the cat.

“Do you like me? But I have to go. See you next time.”

Kale, who had never understood talking to animals, quickly got up and moved away from the cat.

Purr.

A silver-furred, golden-eyed cat growled at Kale, as if urging the red-furred cat to come over. The red-furred cat, with a lingering look, turned back to Kale several times as it approached the silver cat, but Kale deliberately ignored it.

Meow, meow.

The sad meows of the cats faded away. He glanced back. Choi Han was limping but following closely.

Their eyes met again. Kale felt a shiver and quickly turned his head. His pace was slow, matching Choi Han’s.

They passed through the residential area. He took another sip of alcohol.

The tavern district, the market, the square, and the wealthy residential area. Finally, Kale’s steps headed towards the viscount’s residence behind the castle.

“What are you doing?”

Kale looked at Choi Han, who had stopped walking. Choi Han must have seen the castle guards salute Kale and the townspeople avoid him as they passed by the castle.

Choi Han was probably reconsidering whether Kale was an easy target.

Kale asked again.

“Aren’t you coming?”

As expected, Choi Han followed. He must have come to learn about the funeral and information from Harris Village.

“Y-Young Master?”

As soon as Kale stood at the main gate, the guards and knights greeted him, stammering.

‘Damn. I wish they wouldn’t call me ‘Young Master’ so much.’

Hearing them stammer every time was awkward. Since he was in the body of a troublemaker, he tried not to deviate from that image. Being a troublemaker was more comfortable than being a proper young master. He frowned, and the stammering knight quickly opened the gate.

“Please come in.”

Kale turned his gaze back to Choi Han. The others were also looking at him, curious about the ragged figure following the young master. The knights observed him with wary eyes.

“Follow me.”

Choi Han must have realized Kale’s position by now. He limped over to Kale. Kale, seeing Choi Han standing right behind him, turned around and entered the gate without a care.

But his heart was pounding.

‘He’s probably thinking of taking me hostage if anything dangerous happens. That’s why he’s standing right behind me.’

Of course, Choi Han wouldn’t kill him. But the psychological pain of being a hostage was significant, so Kale glared at the two knights following them.

‘Don’t follow.’

The knights hesitated at the clear meaning in his eyes. They alternated their gaze between Kale and Choi Han, and one of them approached with a stern expression.

Knights valued principles above all. They were worthy of Dert’s trust.

‘Well, at least they’re acting like proper knights.’

Despite Choi Han’s ragged appearance, the knights’ response to an outsider was quite satisfactory to Kale, so he let one of them follow. He led Choi Han to the main hall of the viscount’s residence.

“Have you arrived?”

“...Yes, Ron.”

This scary old man. He was waiting for Kale at the entrance of the main hall. Kale was scared but thought it was a good thing.

Ron’s gaze turned to Choi Han, and his kind smile froze.

‘Ron can probably gauge Choi Han’s skills.’

Choi Han also stared at Ron. Kale ignored whatever silent exchange was happening between them and focused on his task. His job wasn’t over yet.

“Follow me.”

Kale called to Choi Han again and moved. Ron quickly followed.

“Young Master, what’s going on? If you tell me, I can take care of this person.”

“Never mind.”

Another person approached as Kale was walking.

“Young Master, you came home after drinking today.”

It was the butler, Hans.

‘Ah, he’s my handler.’

Kale clicked his tongue and completely ignored Hans. Instead, he raised his bottle and pointed it at Hans. That’s when it happened.

“Ouch!”

Hans covered his face with his arms and crouched. The surroundings fell silent.

“Tsk.”

Kale clicked his tongue, and Hans, with a red face, stared blankly at Kale.

“Get rid of it.”

“Yes.”

Hans took the bottle from Kale in a daze.

“I won’t throw it next time.”

Hans’s face turned pale at Kale’s words. Kale, not caring at all, continued walking. The group following him, including Hans, now numbered four.

Kale occasionally glanced back to make sure they were following and finally arrived at his destination.

The Second Kitchen. As soon as he saw the sign, Kale forcefully pushed open the door.

“Young Master?”

Hans’s puzzled voice came from behind, but a deep smile formed on Kale’s lips. The end was near.

Vikros and Choi Han were about to meet. His heart pounded. The door opened without resistance. However, the scene that greeted him made Kale’s face stiffen.

Scrape, scrape.

The Second Chef, Vikros, was sharpening a knife with a grin. He looked happy, standing alone in the Second Kitchen, sharpening his knife. But the moment he saw Kale, his smile vanished.

So Kale was scared. It’s always scary to provoke a madman. You never know when a madman will snap.

Before Vikros could react, Kale moved first. He placed his hand on Choi Han’s shoulder and pointed at him.

“Give this guy some food.”

“Pardon?”

Vikros, with a stiff face, repeated the question. The sharp kitchen knife in his hand glinted in the light. Kale calmed his trembling heart and repeated himself.

“Give him food. He’s hungry.”

Huh. A sigh escaped from one of the knights behind him, but Kale had no time to pay attention. He waited, trembling, for Vikros’s response. Finally, Vikros answered with a stiff face.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Done.

Vikros and Choi Han, and even Ron, were now involved.

A bright smile spread across Kale’s face. He finally relaxed and, with a slightly higher-pitched voice, gave another order to Vikros.

“Prepare some for me too. I’m hungry.”

Choi Han looked at Kale. But Kale, not noticing the gaze, added more orders to Vikros.

“Of course, the best quality.”

Kale recalled the steak he had eaten last night.

“The steak you made last night was the best. You’re an excellent chef.”

Vikros’s knife blade trembled slightly.

“That steak will make a delicious meal. Prepare it quickly.”

Without waiting for Vikros’s response, Kale turned around and left the kitchen, heading for his bedroom. The knight and Hans followed, and Hans asked,

“What should we do with that person?”

“For now, he’s my guest. Handle it.”

Since he had set things in motion, he didn’t want to be bothered anymore.

Vikros and Ron would be able to gauge Choi Han’s skills. If Vikros was impressed by Choi Han’s abilities, he would swear his loyalty. If not, there were other plans. For example, if Choi Han could ‘defeat’ something or someone, and Vikros saw it, that would do the job.

Kale had thought through various scenarios, even if they were a bit loose.

“Hans, bring the food to my bedroom when it’s ready. It’s a hassle.”

As expected, Ron did not follow. Satisfied, Kale left the knight and Hans outside the door, closed the bedroom door, and lay down on the bed. Tired and tipsy, he fell asleep before the food arrived.

Thus, he was unaware that Vikros’s kitchen knife had been aimed at Choi Han’s neck, and Ron’s sharp dagger had flown towards Choi Han’s heart, only to fail.

Of course, it was a minor incident that no one, except the three involved, knew about.