Chapter 78

# Chapter 78: <The Good Person>

A strange silence settled in the cave. Ritana turned her gaze from Kale to her subordinates, wondering if she had heard correctly.

Her subordinates wore similar expressions.

"Mr. Kale, could you please clarify what you just said?"

Ritana, who had been leaning against the cave wall, straightened up. Her leather armor, now dried by the campfire, highlighted her warrior appearance.

"I am from the Louen Kingdom."

"From the northeast, I see. We were jungle warriors."

"Is that so? I come from a small fief in a corner of the Louen Kingdom, um."

Kale, slightly uncomfortable with Ritana's attempt to hide her identity as a 'warrior,' scratched his cheek and spoke cautiously.

"I come from a small noble family. Thanks to that, I have enough money to travel. I have a group with me."

"A group?"

"Yes. Although I entered the forest with On and Du, there are people who trust me and follow me."

The eyes of Ritana and her subordinates, who valued the concept of a leader and their followers, softened even more.

"Anyway, during my travels, I was fortunate enough to encounter a special opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

A bitter smile appeared on Kale's lips. His eyes crinkled as if recalling a painful memory.

"Yes. After being caught in a whirlpool and barely escaping, I found this opportunity in a cave. At that time, I discovered and saved someone who was injured. It seemed that being caught in the whirlpool was the reason, and I was so relieved, ah."

He paused and gave an awkward smile.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't what I intended to say."

"Mr. Kale, you seem to have saved many people."

Ritana looked at the well-mannered Murian child, On, and then at Kale. This courteous and polite noble did not act arrogantly just because he was a noble.

"No, I just couldn't pass by."

He was truly humble and good.

"Anyway, I have a power I gained at that time."

"What kind of power?"

Ritana realized the main topic was about to be revealed and focused on Kale's words.

"The power to suppress fire with water. It can suppress any kind of fire."

Her and her subordinates' eyes sparkled. It certainly seemed different from ordinary powers.

And that judgment was correct.

This water was different from ordinary water.

Whether it was alchemy or anything else, as long as it was 'fire,' it could be suppressed.

Originally, it was a special opportunity discovered by Tunka. By drinking this water, he obtained a robust body that could withstand fire.

However, Kale, who had 'Heart Vitality,' was not afraid of burns. Although it would hurt a bit, he would recover immediately, so there was no need to use it.

Instead, he bestowed the water's properties to the ancient power 'Infiltrating Necklace' that Lak had obtained.

Kale added cautiously.

"But the total amount of power I can use is limited, so I'm not sure how much I can use."

"Ah."

Ritana sighed. She moved her lips a few times before asking.

"It's a precious power. Are you sure you can use it on us?"

Kale pressed his lips together to prevent them from curling up.

There was indeed a limit to the total amount of power.

'Enough to suppress a sea of fire across the entire Western Continent?'

If Kale didn't have to suppress the fires across the entire Western Continent himself, the total amount would last him a lifetime.

Wasn't he just telling the truth?

"What should I call you?"

"...Please call me Lina."

One of her subordinates hesitated slightly. Kale pretended not to notice and called Ritana by her nickname.

"Lina."

"Yes."

"There is no distinction between precious and humble powers. What matters is where you use that power."

Ritana and her subordinates could see the clear determination in Kale's eyes.

"If I can use my power to protect nature, animals, plants, and people's lives and homes, I believe I should use it."

Ritana unconsciously clenched her fist. Her grip tightened, and her heart throbbed.

"Of course, since it's a power I recognize as my own, I need to go there to use it, so it might take some time and be a bit troublesome."

"...Do you have to enter the flames to use it?"

"Entering the flames might be difficult. I think I need to get close."

Kale could see Ritana's face contorting. Gratitude and embarrassment swirled in her eyes, and the same was true for her subordinates. Of course, a couple of them were still wary of Kale, but even that wariness contained gratitude.

Kale delivered the final blow.

"If my power can be of help, I would be truly happy. I want to save and help everyone."

-He's not the weak human I knew. No, he is kind. But this is still wrong. Anyway, saving people is a great deed!

The four-year-old's confusion intensified before reaching a conclusion. On yawned and turned away from Kale.

"Really, really thank you."

Kale smiled softly at her grateful face. However, his eyes were coldly observing Ritana and her subordinates.

Two weeks. Ritana must have come to the jungle, leaving behind the people she needed to take care of, with only a single hope. But she must have wandered aimlessly and reached her limits.

To them, Kale was like a dragon.

"How can I repay this favor?"

"No, no favor. I haven't done anything yet. I just feel like I came to this forest to do this."

Ritana was moved by Kale's appearance, which showed no greed and was filled with only kindness. She had a belief she had held since childhood.

Revenge tenfold, and repay favors to the best of your ability.

"Mr. Kale, I still want to repay this favor somehow. Just guiding us and going into the flames is enough to be grateful. And using a power with limits, I can't just accept it."

"Oh, it's fine."

Kale made a troubled expression. He seemed to ponder for a moment before clapping his hands together as if an idea had struck him.

"Ah!"

He spoke to Ritana and her subordinates, looking a bit embarrassed.

"I read about the first district in a book about the jungle. It's said to be a beautiful place where a lush jungle meets the coast. Especially, the sunset is beautiful. When I read that book, I thought it would be nice to have a villa there."

The first district, which was now on fire.

At the eastern end of that district, there was a place where a substance as valuable as gold was buried.

A month later, the flames were barely extinguished by a shaman who crossed over from the Eastern Continent. While drawing seawater to the coast, the shaman accidentally discovered a gold nugget.

That gold nugget was a 'Magic Crystal Hill.'

It wasn't a real mine but a place where top-grade magic crystals were buried in large quantities. The shaman, knowing this secretly, dug them all up and fled.

"Once the fire is completely extinguished, can I go see the sunset there?"

Ritana was momentarily speechless. The beautiful coast of the first district. But it was also on fire. The man in front of her must know that the scene would be gruesome. Yet, he said he just wanted to see the place, not for land or money. She was amazed.

So she spoke first.

"It might not be enough just to see it."

"Huh?"

"I'll build you a villa. If you don't like the first district, I'll build it somewhere else."

"No, no! That's too much! It's fine."

Kale tried to control his smile from spreading.

"No, I'll build you a villa."

"Ah, if you insist."

With a troubled expression, as if he had no choice, Kale said,

"If my help in extinguishing the fire is useful, can I have a small plot of land to build a villa, instead of a large villa?"

Ritana knew that despite Kale saying he was from a small noble family, he clearly wasn't. From the quality of his clothes, the appearance of his magic bag, and his demeanor, he was someone who could easily buy a villa or land.

"Yes, of course. You can choose as much land as you want, Mr. Kale. I would really appreciate it. It would make me feel better."

Done.

Kale suppressed the cheer inside him and nodded with a sigh.

"Yes, I will."

Although he had no interest in material desires, he pretended to agree. Seeing this, Ritana resolved to repay him even more if everything went well, to give him more than he asked for.

Kale knew this about Ritana very well. As he stroked On, their eyes met.

'The goal is the land, right?'

On's eyes were full of questions, but Kale pretended not to notice and opened his magic bag.

"Would anyone like something to eat? Everyone looks quite thin."

"Ah, that's right."

Kale took out food he had made with Bicross's help from his magic bag. He knew the most basic way to win people over.

The one who gives food is the good one.

Didn't Chohand also get entangled this way? Kale smoothed out the blanket given by Ritana's subordinate and spoke softly.

"This is the value of the blanket. Let's share and move tomorrow."

The atmosphere became warm, even cozy.

"Let's go back to the village where my group is first, and then cross the forest to the jungle. Please eat."

Kale further warmed up Ritana and her subordinates.