Chapter 9

# Chapter 9. <Picked Up>

Kael was greeted by the two siblings he had met yesterday, carrying a bread bag twice as large as the one from the previous day, as he arrived at the top of the slum. The children stared at Kael with their mouths tightly shut. Kael chuckled and took out two small envelopes, waving them in front of the children.

"Take it."

At this, the girl slowly approached. Kael's brows furrowed as he saw the child with dull, grayish hair limping, her hand on her side.

"Hey."

He extended the two envelopes to the boy.

"You come and take it."

The boy quickly approached, hugged the envelopes to his chest, and moved away. Unlike Kael's bright red hair, the boy's hair was a dull red, swaying with his movements.

Kael turned without hesitation and approached the man-eating tree.

"Come."

"It's not bread. It's meat and cake."

Kael heard the siblings' voices, but he paid no attention. He had reached the territory of the man-eating tree.

Rumble—

"...It's a bit scary."

The leafless, pitch-black tree seemed to welcome Kael, moving its branches. Feeling uneasy, Kael grimaced and pushed the bread bag into the base of the tree.

The bread disappeared without a trace.

At that moment,

- More, give me more.

...I'm going crazy.

The reaction he had read about in a book came out. It was the voice of a delicate girl. Yes, the one who died of hunger was a priestess who served a god. She was an ancient shaman, different from the current saints and holy women. Ancient shamans were generally considered to be psychics or those who inherited the power of nature.

Kael quickly picked up the bag and moved.

'Kael. Come to my study tonight.'

It was what his father, Dert, had said when Kael went to get his allowance. Because of this, he had to leave here before evening.

'Half.'

He had come today with the intention of finishing half. He went back down to the top to get more bread. He saw the two siblings, their faces smeared with cake, staring blankly.

"Tsk."

He scowled and clicked his tongue as he passed by the siblings.

Kael entered the market street where bakeries were concentrated. Since he had already cleaned out the places he visited yesterday, he needed to find a new spot, which would take time. Just then,

"Y-Young Master."

A woman's voice caught Kael's attention. A middle-aged woman awkwardly smiled and pointed to her shop with both hands. Her fingers trembled, and she was filled with fear, but she was also bold.

"I have a lot of bread."

A smile formed on Kael's lips. This woman knew how to do business. The market people glanced at the scene.

Kael threw a gold coin, and the woman nimbly caught it.

"Give me everything you have. Pack it quickly."

At that moment, the corners of the middle-aged woman's mouth curved into a wider smile. She immediately went inside and came out with a large bag, already packed.

"Here it is."

Wow, she really knows how to do business. She knew how to make a profit.

"I can prepare more."

Kael liked this woman even more. Just then,

"Young Master! We can prepare more."

An old man from the opposite block raised his hand and approached. He was wearing a baker's outfit. Moved by his earnestness, Kael threw a gold coin to the old man.

"Next time, at your shop. Prepare one bag."

"Thank you!"

Kael was impressed. When he was to be avoided as a troublemaker, they stayed away, but when it came to making money, they approached without hesitation. It seemed he understood why the Hentus estate was wealthy.

The rumor of Kael buying a bag of bread for a gold coin had spread throughout the bakery street. One million kelons. An amount equivalent to a week's sales, people were shocked and their eyes lit up at this unusual behavior.

'Tomorrow, I can get bread from three places in rotation.'

Since he had thrown a gold coin each, he would get one more bag from each place tomorrow. Kael felt good that things were going smoothly.

But someone was watching him.

"Hmm."

The chef, Vikros, was watching Kael from a corner, his neck wrapped in bandages like Kael's father. He watched Kael buy a few herbs along with the bread bag and head to the slum.

"...Is he crazy?"

Since yesterday, Kael seemed to be acting crazy.

When his father said he was interesting, he didn't pay much attention, but the more he watched, the more interesting he seemed. Watching him might be as entertaining as watching the black-haired boy. Vikros' eyes sparkled.

At that moment, Birose, who ran the highest-story teahouse, sipped his tea while listening to a report from his subordinate.

"Young Master Kael is going to and from the slum?"

"Yes, Master Birose."

"I see."

"And we received a message from the capital."

"Is that so?"

His round eyes, buried in his face, flickered. The subordinate hesitated for a moment but continued.

"Yes. The royal family will soon gather people. They are asking Master Birose to return quickly and take charge of the duties."

Clack. Birose put down his teacup and nodded to his subordinate.

"Go out."

The subordinate silently melted into the shadows and disappeared from the room. Birose stared at the spot where his subordinate had been and twisted the corner of his mouth.

"Am I supposed to be a guard dog again?"

His gaze turned to the window, looking far into the distance, as if it could reach the capital.

* * *

"This, this isn't bread. It's not."

"So what?"

Kael chuckled and headed towards the man-eating tree, holding the herbs in his hand. But the boy blocked his path.

"You can't die."

This time, it was the younger sibling. Kael passed by the boy without frowning.

Kael, or Kim Roksu.

An orphan with nothing special about him. Many people pitied him for his sad situation.

Do you need a reason to pity someone?

It was something he had heard when he was very young. A young beggar. A pitiful orphan. Pity doesn't need a reason. He had once accepted this with a skewed view, but as he grew older, he understood its true meaning.

There's no rational reason for matters of the heart. It's not needed.

"I'm annoyed."

Kael hated seeing children in pain. He had no intention of nursing or comforting them. He scowled at the girl limping and the boy following her.

"You won't die."

Only then did the siblings stop following. Kael felt bad for doing something he hated the most. He hated meddling, but today he had meddled.

Rumble—

- More, give me more.

"Sure. Eat a lot."

Kael roughly poured the bread into the man-eating tree. He wasn't scared. The bread disappeared into the darkness. It was no longer just darkness; a gray space appeared before his eyes. Only he could see it in gray.

'As expected, it's worth the money.'

Kael poured the bread one more time and headed to the viscount's house. The third time, the siblings were not there, which made him feel better.

But on his way to the viscount's house, he was startled to see two meowing cats.

'Those cats from yesterday. Could they remember me?'

Silver eyes, red eyes. The two cats didn't meow but stared at Kael intently. Not wanting to cause any trouble, Kael ignored the cats and quickly headed to the viscount's house.

There, he had to listen to a shocking story from his father, Dert.

"...Could you repeat that one more time?"

"Sure. Kael."

Bassen was also by Kael's side. The story of the Hentus viscount's family, not mentioned in the book, unfolded before Kael.

"Go to the royal family as the representative of our family."

His head throbbed.

"Originally, Bassen was supposed to go, but you are the eldest son of our family, aren't you?"

Seeing the viscount Dert's gentle smile, Kael opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.

At this time, the royal family? Kael hastily recalled the content of 'The Birth of a Hero.' Meanwhile, Dert continued.

"The royal family is hosting a major event, and among the schedule, they are inviting the children of the noble families who manage each estate. Although it's the first time for the royal family, Bassen has been going to similar events since the year before last. But this time, I want you to go."

A major event at the royal family. Kael could think of one incident.

The square terror attack.

A place where many citizens of the capital gathered. There, the secret organization carried out a terror attack. At that moment, our hero, Jai Han, stopped it halfway. It was the fourth time Jai Han and the secret organization were involved.

As a result, Jai Han saved many citizens and became involved with the royal family, meeting the crown prince and forming a friendship.

It sent shivers down his spine.

Since the story centered around Jai Han, the gathering of noble children was not mentioned in the book. Only the appearance of Jai Han's comrades and the solid power background he gained were described.

He had to go to the terror attack site.

Of course, he didn't know if the noble children would gather at the square. Kael recalled the content of 'The Birth of a Hero.'

[Many people gathered in the square. The upper seats were empty, reserved for the royal family. Jai Han also noticed some high-ranking individuals. But more importantly, countless citizens of all ages were present. Jai Han's heart raced with tension.]

[He didn't want to see innocent people die in a group again.]

Would the high-ranking individuals include the children of noble families?

Kael glanced at Bassen while his father was speaking. Bassen, with a stern expression, didn't look at his brother and only stared at his father.

'Since this kind of event is usually attended by this guy, should I ask him to go?'

Kael's mouth opened and closed repeatedly. He didn't want to go to a dangerous place, but he couldn't bring himself to say Bassen's name.

A neutral relationship. That's what Kael and Bassen had. Bassen respected Kael, but that was it.

Kael's mind became complicated. Would he have gone originally? There was no way a troublemaker would be sent to the capital. Why was he being sent now? Did he do something wrong?

"You can leave five days from now."

Five days later. From Dert's words, Kael was certain that he wouldn't have gone to the capital originally.

Exactly four days later, Kael would be carried to the viscount's house after being beaten by Jai Han. He couldn't go to the capital in that state.

"Kael. You attended such events before Bassen. Think back to those times and go with ease."

"Father."

Dert looked at Kael in response to his call. Bassen also slightly turned his gaze to his older brother.

"I'm taken aback by this sudden request. I haven't gone since the year before last, and I don't understand why I have to go now. I'll think about it."

Dert nodded and told them they could leave. The brothers left the study.

Kael's thoughts wandered in various directions, considering many possibilities. If he caused a fuss and refused, Bassen would probably be sent. But that felt wrong.

Just then,

"Brother."

Kael turned his head. Bassen, still not looking at him, spoke with his usual stern expression.

"There's no reason why Brother can't go."

Ha. A sigh escaped Kael's lips.

Bassen left the study and headed to his room without giving him a glance. Kael watched him for a while.

"...This won't do."

Kael, who had been pushed out of the family's successor position, was a laughingstock. Even though his younger brother Bassen had been acting as the successor since the year before last, Kael couldn't stop his troublemaking.

There were many reasons why he shouldn't go to the royal family as the family's representative. But Bassen said there were none.

Bassen believed Kael had sufficient reasons to represent the family.

'If this happens, it will be really troublesome.'

Kael's brows furrowed. He didn't like this situation.

But there was another problem.

'It's worth a try.'

The upcoming event was also worth a try.

There were countless reasons and possibilities for Kael to return unharmed, without dying or getting injured.

'And if Bassen dies and doesn't become the lord, I'll be in trouble.'

For Kael's comfortable life, Bassen had a clear reason to stay alive. Although the youngest, Lily, was also there, she was still very young. Additionally, after obtaining the ancient power in Western City, Kael would need to go out to find more ancient power.

His heart felt heavy.

He stared at the butler, Hans, who was approaching him. Hans' expression was serious but not dark. He looked bitter, but his eyes were clear.

"Young Master, regarding the request from your guest today—"

"Hans."

Kael interrupted him and said something else.

"Bring that guest here."

"Huh?"

He didn't want to be a pushover. If he had to move, he would do it in the most comfortable way possible, and it had to benefit him.

"Ah, if he doesn't come, tell him this."

Kael was confident that Jai Han's matter had been resolved well, judging from Hans' expression. And in the book, even though the viscount Dert had Jai Han beat Kael, he still handled the funeral and aftermath in Harris Village as the lord. This would be the same now.

"Meal expenses."

"Huh?"

"Tell him to come because there's a meal expense to be paid."