Cale had not been like this even when he met the God of Balance.

“His highness told us. He said your head, boom, boom……!”

Duke Deruth could not finish the sentence and clenched his eyes shut.

Cale saw this and clenched his eyes as well.

‘Fuck. That damn boom boom.’

It was all that damn Heavenly Demon bastard’s fault.

‘That bastard’s damn mouth is a disaster. How could someone who is usually gruff use an expression like boom boom?

I’m going to drag that bastard to Aipotu and put him to work.’

Cale peeked at Duke Deruth while having a thought that the Heavenly Demon would be happy to hear.

Duke Deruth let out a sigh.

He saw Cale flinch when they made eye contact and relaxed his shoulders.

“Cale, to be completely honest with you, I can’t help but wonder if you, Choi Han, and your people have to go around saving worlds when you suffer so much during each trip.”

There was no need to be recorded in history.

That was Duke Deruth’s thought.

It was also the thought of the Henituse household.

“I know this is just my own personal greed. I’m sure you and your people want to rest as well. But if you guys don’t resolve these issues, I’m sure this danger will one day reach us. You all are working so hard in order to prevent that from happening.”

Deruth was right.

Cale was not acting like this for justice.

“But don’t overdo it.”

That was why Deruth spoke honestly.

“There is no need for you and your people to carry everything. Let’s be honest. The world will not be destroyed right away if you guys were to fail. A method is bound to appear one way or another. So act with some flexibility.”

Someone else hearing what Deruth just said might wonder how someone who was a Duke of a nation was able to say something so irresponsible.

They might even talk ** about how he was saying something so stupid to a child who was trying to be a hero.

‘So?’

Who cared about something like that?

If Cale ended up losing his life or was hurt severely to the point where he could not recover…

Who would handle that?

Cale would have to deal with it in the end.

They wanted Deruth to just let that be?

Deruth absolutely could not do that.

Even if the whole world, no, people through multiple different dimensions were to talk badly about him, he was planning on stopping Cale with everything he had if he thought Cale was in danger.

‘The problem is that these punks still won’t listen even if I did everything I could to stop them.’

Why was it that each and every member of the House of Henituse was so stubborn?

“Cale. I’m sure you understand what I am trying to say?”

“Of course.”

Cale answered without any hesitation.

It was because his thoughts were the same as Deruth’s.

“Father, I have no desire to carry everything. I am making sure to be flexible so that I do not suffer as I do these things. I also took good care of my body so it is better than before. See, Father? Can’t you see that my body’s condition is better than before?”

Cale was answering casually before he flinched.

“Tsk, you sure are good at answering.”

It was because of what Deruth said.

He sighed again as he asked.

“When is the next time?”

‘I plan on giving myself some time to spare this time.”

“Really? Are you going with Choi Han and Raon-nim this time as well?”

“Yes, Father. Mm. This time, I probably-”

Cale did not finish speaking and contemplated some things before making up his mind.

Wouldn’t it be okay for him to be a bit honest with these two people who were so worried about him? It wasn’t like they would go around gossiping about it.

“I think I will go with the Dragons this time.”

Cale started to think.

‘Wouldn’t they be relieved to hear that?

I’m going with strong allies.’

However, he didn’t know that these two people knew him better than he thought they did.

Duchess Violan’s face stiffened as she interjected.

“You must be going somewhere very dangerous.”

“!”

Cale flinched.

“Since you are taking the Dragon-nims with you, are the enemies possibly Dragons?”

“!”

He was shocked once more by what Duke Deruth said.

‘How did they figure it out?’

However, it was extremely obvious in the two of their eyes.

Cale’s personality was one where he would try to prepare a group as strong as, if not stronger, than the enemies.

That meant that the enemies were at minimum Dragons.

“…….”

“…….”

Duchess Violan and Duke Deruth…

The two of their faces turned serious.

The Roan Kingdom was currently growing as a strong nation of the continent.

The Duke’s House of Henituse was considered to be the greatest family under the Roan Kingdom’s banner. No, the Henituse name was not just famous in the Roan Kingdom. They were becoming a famed household known everywhere in the Eastern and Western continents.

Other nobles were either envious or jealous because of this.

However, the thoughts on the minds of this family were a bit different.

They could never have a peaceful day because of their extremely talented eldest child.

“…….”

Cale felt these situations were awkward.

It felt even more like that since he accepted the House of Henituse and, despite it not being very often, building on the times he saw them face to face.

Kim Rok Soo was unable to handle this feeling and opened his mouth.

“Umm, the Dragons are one thing but… The Black Castle will go with us as well. Our fighting strength will be a minimum of 50 people, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Hold on.”

The Duchess stopped him.

“Cale. Did you just say the Black Castle?”

“Yes, I did?”

“The entire Black Castle will be moving?”

The Forest of Darkness. Since it was within the Henituse territory, Cale’s family at least knew a little bit about the Black Castle.

Since the Duke was in charge of the territory, the Duchess knew more accurately than others as she assisted the Duke.

“Yes, mother. We are moving the whole thing.”

Duke Deruth’s eyes clouded over as Cale answered Violan’s question. He looked at Violan.

“Honey.”

The Duchess slightly nodded her head.

‘What is going on?’

Duke Deruth’s demeanor changed as Cale wondered what was going on.

He leaned toward Cale and spoke with a serious look on his face.

“Cale. How is the condition of that castle?”

“Excuse me? Mm. It is a bit old, but… It is great?”

That castle gave off a cool antique vibe.

However, the Duke shook his head.

“I’m not talking about its outer appearance. I want to know its defensive strength.”

Cale flinched.

‘Perhaps?’

His eyes looked toward Duke Deruth with anticipation.

“Cale. Our Henituse territory sought out ways to increase the defensive strength of our buildings and the castle walls since our war against the Indomitable Alliance.”

Duke Deruth had not only focused on money-making activities.

He was fully devoted to using money as well.

He spent a ton of money to research it.

Cale was aware of this. It was something they had discussed in the past.

“You said it was a Dragon that protects that Black Castle?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Cale. Strong power is important but it is not unlimited. There is nothing better than using money to replace even a portion of that strength.”

“That is correct.”

Cale truly agreed with Duchess Violan’s comment.

“Honey.”

“I understand.”

Duchess Violan was in charge of the sculptures and arts of the Henituse territory. Her hands were extended into construction as well.

“We want to repair the Black Castle. What do you say?”

Cale thought to himself after hearing that question.

The Black Castle.

It was already protected by Dragon Lord Sheritt, a Dragon whose attribute was protection.

However, it was better to save Sheritt’s powers for any potential emergencies that arose.

That was why if the Black Castle itself became a fortress…

If it was able to have significant defensive strength…

As a light settled in Cale’s eyes… Duchess Violan said something in a quiet voice.

“The greatest defense is a preemptive strike.”

Cale answered without any hesitation.

“That sounds wonderful. I will inform Lord Sheritt about it. Shall we get started with the construction right away?”

Father and mother… And the son all smiled.

The parents were happy that they could do something for their child while the son was excited at the thought of having an extra weapon in his hand.

However, there was something the son did not know.

“Then I will make my leave now, Father and Mother. I will connect a video call through Raon later. Everything can be discussed with Sheritt-nim.”

No, the son did not have much expectations.

‘I’ll be leaving soon after coming back from the Academy.’

He would stay in Roan longer than his time in the Central Plains, but… He would still need to leave once the preparations were completed.

Before the enemies could learn about them.

That was why Cale thought that they didn’t have the time for any major constructions.

It made him not expect any big changes to the Black Castle.

The type of people that his parents were was something that the son had yet to fully figure out.

“Father and mother, I will see you both at dinner.”

Click.

The door closed and the Duchess spoke to her husband after their son had left.

“That is the only way to shorten the time.”

“Right?”

Violan looked at her husband.

“Let’s open the safe.”

“Let’s do that. All we have is money anyway.”

Their heart to do something was as big as their thoughts about how they had not been able to do much for their son until now.

And that heart to do something was enormous.

– That sounds great.

Lord Sheritt also had as enormous of a desire to help.

After the dinner feast, as Cale was having his conversation-disguised counseling with his siblings… Violan and Deruth were chatting with Sheritt through Raon’s help and they both smiled brightly.

The Duke spoke.

“Then we will install the newest model of the mana cannons, Lord Sheritt-nim.”

His wife followed.

“Instead of a moat, we can also turn the area around the castle to a sea of fire in order to prevent the enemies from approaching. As for the sky, we have ordered a shield and mana arrows to shoot down the enemies up there.”

Sheritt spoke in a serious voice.

– I would rather not do it at all than to half-ass it. Will this all be doable in time?

“Hoo hoo.”

A small smile appeared on Duchess Violan’s serious face.

“We don’t say empty words, Lord Sheritt-nim.”

Sheritt smiled back.

– I now see who Cale takes after. He takes after the two of you.

The parents’ other preparations started taking place while Cale was not there.

Cale still didn’t know how the Henituse people could be when it came to spending money.

The family that had been famous for their martial arts had not stopped there and developed more while Cale had been traveling to different worlds.

The combination of the newest magic devices that had never appeared in the Roan Kingdom, no, the entire Eastern and Western continents combined until now…

The castle that would be called the starting point of magic engineering and a role model for construction in the future slowly started to appear.

While that was going on, Cale spoke to Lock who was slowly entering the room.

“Sit.”

He pointed at the seat across from him and Lock quickly sat down. He then looked at Cale.

Cale instantly started speaking to Lock, who was at least able to look him in the eye now.

“You’ve grown quite a bit.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s nothing.”

He leaned against the back of the chair.

He then looked at Lock.

‘He grew well.’

Lock grew up as quite a bright boy despite his past.

The fact that he could overcome seeing his family and tribe being killed in front of his eyes and growing to this point was something so great that did not need any explanation.

The problem was that he himself did not know how great it was.

‘And-’

Cale knew what this little kid wanted to hear.

“Lock.”

“Yes, young master-nim?”

“I need you in this fight.”

“…Excuse me?”

Cale spoke as Lock’s eyes opened wide.

“Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“!”

His casual words made Lock’s mind go wild.

He even wondered if Cale was making fun of him right now. However, he calmed down after looking into Cale’s eyes.

Lock bit down on his lips after seeing Cale’s firm gaze that never seemed to change.

He then slowly opened his mouth.

“Yes, young master-nim. I wanted to hear those words.”

He thought that he was so insignificant to say such things but he still said it.

Cale smiled.

‘He’s grown.’

Lock would have fidgeted without being able to say something like that in the past.

Of course, he seemed embarrassed after having said that.

“Why are you embarrassed?”

“Excuse me?”

Lock could see the serious look on Cale’s face.

“The desire to feel validated by others is like your instincts.”

All people wanted to feel validated by others.

“And Lock. We’ve already validated your importance.”

Lock’s eyes opened wide.

“Did Choi Han show any concerns about you coming with us? Or did Miss Rosalyn call to say anything? Or maybe Gashan pulled you aside and shared his concerns with you?”

Lock slowly shook his head at Cale’s comments.

Now that he thought about it, Choi Han had not said anything.

“Lock.”

He looked at Cale after hearing his name.

“I guarantee it. There is no warrior the same age as you who can defeat you.”

Lock could not say anything at Cale’s extremely confident comment. He simply looked at Cale.

“Of course, I can’t be certain about those older than you since there are people like Choi Han. Either way, you are strong. Gashan seemed especially appreciative of your strength.”

Gashan. Lock flinched after hearing that name.

While Cale and Choi Han were gone… Lock had spent time with the Tiger tribe in Harris Village, learning about how to grow as a Beast person.

Cale saw how Lock reacted to Gashan’s name and recalled the conversation he had with Gashan.

‘Lock is still young but he has a tribe to take charge of, so against others of his age, he should be able to do his share.’

In fact, Gashan had said something else to Cale as well.

‘Cale-nim. Lock is not that young. He is almost an adult.’

‘This will be dangerous but it will be a good experience for him.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better to go up against anything and everything and grow while there are adults to protect him by his side?’

‘Tigers and Wolves are different. If he is to be the leader of the Wolves, Lock needs to know how to be a leader.’

Cale had yet to see the grown Lock fighting.

However, there were times that someone reliable by his side assessed a situation more accurately.

That was why he could say this.

“Lock.”

“…….”

“I think you need validation from yourself more than our validation.”

Lock could not say anything. The multitude of emotions on his face made it clear that Lock did not believe Cale.

Cale wondered what he should do with this little kid.

It was at that moment.

Baaaaang!

“Human!”

Raon slammed the door open and barged in.

He had the video communication device in his hand.

‘What is going on?’

He suddenly had an ominous feeling.

Raon urgently shouted as Cale had that thought.

“Human! The crown prince sent an urgent call but I couldn’t pick up because we were already on a call. He left a message!”

The young Dragon openly said the message.

“Apparently the Academy received a warning notice!”

‘Hmm?

What the heck is he talking about?’

Cale questioned his hearing.

“The notice said that they will blow up the Academy if they don’t cancel your speech!”

‘Fuck.’

Cale couldn’t help but sigh.

Nothing ever seemed to be easy.

“They left some nonsense about how even your shield won’t be able to stop it!”

Cale clenched his eyes shut.

Suddenly.

Truly suddenly, thinking about the speech and the shield made him recall the first time he used the shield.

That day, when he used the Indestructible Shield in front of the people of Roan Kingdom for the first time…

‘Let’s forget about it.’

Cale felt a mysterious chill as he quickly got rid of the past memory from his mind.

—

Translator’s Comments

Terrorists…

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