n

n

nCale, who was coming out of the bedroom and heading to the back door, ran into Odeus.

n“Odeus, very satisfactory performance.”

nOdeus didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Cale’s comment. However, based on the results of everything, he had only happiness on his mind.

n“No, the pleasure was mine. I am very happy about the overflowing benefit I gained.”

n“I’m sure.”

nCale didn’t even play along to say that the fee Odeus received was small.

nThe deal was for Cale to get rid of Venion from the Southern Underworld after all.

n“I’ll contact you next time.”

nOdeus did not want to see Cale ever again. His instincts that he had built up through his long life were telling him that it was dangerous and that he would suffer greatly. However, his vast experience was also telling him that it was unavoidable. He will have no choice but to see him again.

n“Of course. I will let you know where I am every so often.”

n“Good.”

nCale got on the carriage with Beacrox in the driver’s seat. The driver who had brought the carriage to the Stan territory had already returned.

n“Odeus”

n“Yes sir?”

n“You know what to do with the basement, right?”

n

nOdeus’s eyes slightly shook. He looked toward where the entrance to the basement near the back door used to be. Now it was just a pile of rubble.

n“…I will take care of everything properly.”

n“Good.”

nOdeus had seen the remains of the feast as well as the broken torture devices in the basement before it was destroyed.

n‘Total bull** about him being a good person.’

nThere were no good nobles with a strong sense of self-sacrifice. There were all vicious and sly.

n“And I don’t want you to tell Billos about what happened.”

n“Secrets are the life of such commissions.”

n“Yes, I know. It definitely is the main part.”

nBoth of them started to gently smile at each other. However, neither of them was smiling internally.

n“Then, off I go.”

n“Please have a safe journey.”

nOdeus’s goodbye was very sincere like he wanted to never see Cale again. Cale smirked at Odeus’s goodbye and closed the carriage door.

n

nBeacrox started to drive as soon as the door closed.

nThe carriage left the Stan territory and headed toward the Kingdom’s western region. They continued to quickly travel other than resting during the night.

n“Bored?”

nCale, who had been looking out the window, turned his head after hearing Choi Han’s gentle voice. Choi Han’s unique pure smile was on his face as he was handing On and Hong some snacks.

n

"No. Not bored!”

n“I enjoy rolling around doing nothing the most”

nChoi Han laughed and responded back.

n“You guys really are similar to Cale-nim.”

n‘…Is he talking ** about me?’

nCale focused on Choi Han after hearing what could be both a compliment or a dig and then turned his gaze to On and Hong.

n

nThe carriage was currently between the Roan Kingdom’s Northwest and Southwest region. Basically, they were currently in the Western region of the Kingdom. If the Northeastern region where the Henituse territory lies was famous for its marble, the Northwest to the West region was famous for their granite.

nThat was why there were a lot of stone mountains in this region.

nChoi Han continued to speak.

n“I came here last time too but there really is nothing other than stone mountains.”

n‘Choi Han passed through here before?’

nCale questioned that fact in his mind before quickly figuring it out.

nRosalyn. He probably passed through here when he went to the Breck Kingdom with Lock to help Rosalyn out.

n“Did you pass by when you went to the Breck Kingdom?”

nCale had an odd feeling after seeing Choi Han’s reaction to his question. Seeing Choi Han hesitating to answer gave him a bitter feeling. Cale continued to speak like nothing was wrong.

n“Did you cause a mess in the Breck Kingdom?”

n“…It wasn’t like that.”

nCale did not ask anything else. He did not want to know. It was enough that he heard the results of it from crown prince Alberu.

nHowever, there was something else he needed to ask.

n

n“Did you pass by the Ten Finger Mountain when you went through the West?”

n“Hmm? Is there a mountain with such a name? I have never heard it before.”

nOn, Hong, and Raon seemed interested in the unique name as well. Their sparkling gazes asking Cale to explain made Cale scowl.

nTap.

nRaon put his paw on Cale’s knee.

n“Human, explain! I am curious!”

nIn the end, Cale had to explain.

n“There are many strong rocks called granite in the West. However, not everything is made of such rocks. Still, at the border of the West and Southwest region are ten granite peaks next to each other.”

nThese granite peaks were located at the border of the West and Southwest and had a unique shape that looked like ten fingers.

n“Mm, I don’t think we saw it last time because we cut through the Northwest and not the Southwest region. It was the same when we came back. I’m sure I would have remembered seeing such a mountain.”

n“Really? I was curious because they said it was a unique view from there.”

n

nRaon responded to Cale’s answer about being curious. Raon remembered how Cale told Litana that he enjoyed traveling.

nRaon opened his mouth to say, ‘let’s go there right now!’

nHowever, Cale was faster.

n“I thought about going there in about a year. That was why I asked.”

n“A year later?”

n“Yes.”

nCale definitely had to go to the Ten Finger Mountains in one year.

n‘The last Ancient Power will reveal itself there.’

nCale needed to get this final ancient power, an attacking fire ancient power that was similar to lightning.

n“I thought it’d be great if we all traveled together.”

nCale nonchalantly mumbled that line, but his words made the fatigue on On, Hong, and Raon’s face all disappear. Choi Han also had a small smile on his face.

n

n“Yes, that sounds good. But there probably aren’t any villages near there.”

n“Why wouldn’t ther-, no, there aren’t any.”

nCale looked toward Choi Han and the children and sternly repeated himself.

n“There are none. Based on my knowledge, there are no villages around there.”

n‘None at all.’

nAt least when it came to human villages.

nThe problem was that there was a village of Elves who passionately loved nature and almost worshiped dragons.

nElves.

nThey were a magical race that used illusion magic to hide their village and lived away from humans. They were the race that was closest to nature after the dragons.

nThat was why they were able to handle elementals and had a beauty that was admired by all humans.

nThey were different than the Dark Elves who were just as beautiful but had the darkness element instead.

nIn the novel, Choi Han passes through the Ten Finger Mountains with Lock on their way back from dealing with the issues in the Breck Kingdom.

n

nThey coincidentally happen to find the Elf Village and get involved with one elf.

nPendrick the Healer.

nUnlike Cale’s restoration abilities, the Elf Pendrick had the ability to heal others. He joins Choi Han’s group and starts to travel with them.

nFantasy worlds always seem to have at least one elf in the main character’s party. That was Pendrick in this novel.

n‘The problem is that he ends up dying.’

nThe original point of Lock’s berserk transformation was Pendrick’s death. He died while Lock was protecting him and that results in Lock going berserk for the first time. It also changes Lock’s personality as well.

nThat meant that Pendrick should not die if he does not meet Lock or travel with Choi Han’s party.

n‘They already missed the moment to run into each other.’

nPendrick had not had any interactions with Cale, Choi Han or Lock until now. If one year passes like this, Pendrick would have lived longer than he had lived in the novel.

n

nIt could be considered the biggest change in the flow of the original novel.

n“…Yes, there are no villages.”

nCale mumbled once more and made up his mind.

nHe told himself that he would avoid the Elf Village when he went to the Ten Finger Mountains next year.

nHe had taken on too much baggage by not thinking things through and just doing whatever he thought was the easiest for him. Cale was not going to let the same thing happen again next year.

n“I want it to be next year already. I do not care if there are no villages.”

nCale looked toward Raon who seemed to be excited.

nHe definitely could not take a dragon to the Elf Village. He would be treated like a god. Thinking about that was already giving Cale the chills.

nCale quickly turned away from Raon. He strongly reminded himself that he would not even take a step into the Western region until he returns a year later with the crown prince’s golden plaque to find the last ancient power.

nCale opened the small window toward the driver’s seat and spoke to Beacrox.

n

n“Let’s speed it up a bit.”

n“Yes, sir.”

nThe carriage quickly drove through the Western region and arrived at the capital.

n“It has been too long, your highness.”

nThe gently smiling Cale, who was wearing a simple yet stylish outfit, would catch anybody’s attention.

n“Yes. I am glad to see you again. How was your recovery?”

nBlonde hair and blue eyes. Alberu, who was just as handsome as Cale, smiled brightly as he hugged Cale.

nThey were currently in front of the Crown Prince's palace. Crown prince Alberu was warmly welcoming the hero of the now faint Plaza Terror Incident.

nAlthough people didn’t talk about it much anymore, the Plaza was still being rebuilt and had knights patrolling around it. There were also many who were upset with the palace for not revealing the identity of the terrorists.

n“I was able to rest well and recover thanks to your highness’s concerns and the royal family’s generosity.”

n

nCale, who was smiling like he was telling the truth, definitely looked healthy. Crown prince Alberu looked at him like he was happy that Cale had recovered and then pointed to the inside of the palace.

n“Come on in. I should at least give you some tea since you’ve come to visit after such a long time.”

n“Yes, your highness. I’m sure you are busy with work, so I will only take a bit of your time.”

nCale had the same thoughts but there was nothing he could do.

nClick.

nThe moment they entered Alberu’s office and closed the door, both Cale and Alberu who had been walking close to each other quickly moved away.

n“Your highness, you must be tired.”

n“I’m sure you feel the same way.”

nAlberu sighed before pointing to a table on one side of the office. However, he noticed that Cale had always walked over there and sat down on what seemed to be the most comfortable couch.

n“People will think you’ve been here a couple of times.”

n“It is my first time here, but I feel like it is very welcoming.”

nCale had no problem using that glib tongue of his. Alberu looked toward Cale who sat on the couch of his choice while keeping the seat at the head of the table open for him and sat down.

n

n“I thought I told you to come as quickly as possible.”

n“That is why I cut into my sleeping time to rush here, your highness.”

nAlberu snorted at Cale’s response. He didn’t know what Cale had been up to, but the person who was supposed to be in the Northeastern Henituse territory had come in from the West.

nAnd he knew exactly what had happened in the West, no, the Northwest region right now.

n“You are a very suspicious person.”

nAlberu took a sip of the tea that his servant brought over and just quietly observed Cale until the servant left the room. There was quite a lot for him to discuss with Cale today. He also had a lot of requests for Cale as well.

nCale agreed with Raon’s assessment and pretended not to notice Alberu’s gaze. The gaze was one that seemed to want to take a lot from him today, however, that thought and their relationship will go the opposite way.

nClick.

nThe servant left the office with a small click of the door. Alberu was about to speak but there was someone who started to speak even faster.

n“Your highness.”

n

n‘Huh?’

nCale made eye contact with Alberu who seemed confused. Raon was speaking in his mind as he did that.

nCale took a magic bag out of his pocket.

n“I have prepared a present for you.”

n“…For me?”

n“Yes, for the star on the minds of our Kingdom’s-.”

n“Enough.”

nAlberu was not happy at hearing that Cale had a present for him. In fact, he looked toward Cale with even more suspicion. It was because of the things that had happened with Cale up to this point. However, he could not lie and say that there was no anticipation in his mind at hearing about a present. A few weeks ago, Alberu had already received one of Cale’s so-called presents under one of the Flynn Merchant Guild’s people.

n“Let’s first take a look at this present.”

nCale slowly opened the magic bag with Alberu’s permission. Raon’s voice rang in Cale’s mind as he took a small glass bottle out of the bag.

nTap.

nThe glass bottle was placed on the table.

n

n“… What is this?”

nCale showed with his actions instead of answering.

nSqueak, squeak. The lid of the glass bottle slowly opened.

nThis small glass bottle was full of black water.

nThe lid opened completely, and an invisible substance slowly started to come out of the bottle.

nThe scent of the dead mana slowly started to fill the room.

nThis was one of the items he received from the Whale King on their way to the Whipper Kingdom.

nUnlike Cale’s other bottle, this bottle only had dead mana with no poison in it.

n⅓ of what he received from the Whale King was in this small bottle.

n“…You-.”

n

nCale slowly closed the lid back while seeing that Alberu could not continue to speak.

n“Your highness, of course, this present is not free.”

nThere was no way Cale would give something so precious for free.

nIt was poison for humans and not precious at all.

nHowever, Cale remembered what Raon had said about Alberu the last time they were here.

n‘Why did this puny human called the crown prince dye his hair with magic? It is at a level that only a great dragon like me can notice. Did another dragon dye it for him? No, is it a different type of power?’

nA different type of power. Raon was able to tell that it was different than natural mana because he was a dragon, but he was not sure of exactly what it was.

nIt made sense because Raon had never experienced it before.

nHowever, he had experienced it now.

nDead mana.

nCale mumbled like he was talking to himself.

n“Probably not a demon, black magic, or a necromancer.”

n

nDead mana.

nIt was used by those with the darkness attribute to use magic. Of course, it was very different than regular mana. Magic Devices that were made to detect mana could not detect dead mana. Especially if the dead mana was used by a high-tiered race.

n“I heard that the late Queen was an average person, but that people thought she was part Southerner because her skin was a bit dark.”

nRaon mentioned that the crown prince had regular brown hair.

nHis hair and eyes were regular but Alberu was known for his looks. People also said that the crown prince’s mother was a beauty as well.

n“Dark Elves have dark skin, but I heard that a mixed child of a Dark Elf has skin similar to the Southerners.”

nCale looked toward Alberu and finished his deduction.

n“So then, the child of a half-blooded Dark Elf?”

nThe crown prince answered more confidently than Cale expected.

n“You’re driving me crazy.”

n“I guess I was right.”

nTeaser

n