have passed. They live with the feeling of an eternal chase much longer.
She was distracted from her further thoughts by the voice of Young Master Taylor.
— ... Young Master Cale. This incident...
"Bikros!" Cale called to the chef.
Marquis Stan's second son, Venion, was probably very busy right now. Why would someone like him pay attention to his disabled older brother? It wouldn't be like that if Venion knew that the Healing Star was in the capital.
- Yes, Young Master?
Bikros, who was standing there with a kitchen knife at the ready, responded with excitement on his face.
— Looks like we'll be having steak for breakfast.
- Young Master, it looks like we'll get top quality steak again.
The Black Dragon finally decided that he understood the actions of his other self.
A strange man fed Choi Han, and he pays for the food.
A strange man feeds cats, and they do different things for him.
His double feeds the Strange Man so that he too will repay for the food.
"I'm really smart!"
He liked this way of thinking. It would be really great if he fed him bread, but it was not available in the wild. Too bad.
Taylor, who was looking at Cale with a devastated expression, suddenly began to speak:
- ... Again?
Cale nodded and replied:
— We have someone in the party who supplies us with food.
- Who is this?
Cale snorted before answering,
- He is surprisingly shy, so you won't be able to see him.
Cale saw the leaves on a tree near the camp moving up and down and shook his head. Cale shook his head and Taylor and Cage turned red in embarrassment.
While the Sword Master was once again amazed by his fellow countryman's observation skills, Eruhaben and Ron began to suspect that this was not normal.
It might have been possible to spot an invisible dragon by the swaying leaves, but they were in a forest. Not only could the leaves move from any breeze, but to observe it like that, they had to know the dragon's location, at least approximately.
It was a suspicious observation. Especially considering what the cats had said about what they had already "learned from Cale."
- Ah, I see... It seems we have fallen victim to the wrong idea...
- It's not your fault. Bikros is a great cook, so before you go, please try his steaks.
The child wondered if Taylor had been part of his double's evil plan to domesticate a human, but decided that Taylor was a good guy and could be fed without consequences.
Bikros stopped stroking the boar's carcass and looked at Cale. The boy couldn't see it, so Taylor said the following:
"Young Master Cale, I heard that you are heading to the capital. If it is not too burdensome for you, can we follow you?"
"I knew it would happen."
This is exactly what Cale expected.
- Please don't hesitate to do whatever is best for you.
There was no way to know he had written that letter, and traveling together certainly wouldn't help. Besides, this was a great opportunity to make sure they reached the capital safely and put them in his debt.
Choi Han didn't quite understand the logic of making everyone around him a debtor. As a selfless person, he even found it unpleasant.
But on the other hand, Taylor is now out of danger.
The swordsman began to get confused in his thoughts and feelings.
These two could be very useful in the future if he can use them correctly.
- Thank you. We will be under your care until we are close to the capital!
Cale smiled slightly at Taylor's words.
"At least he's not completely unreasonable."
Not far from the capital. Taylor only asked for help to reach his destination, which should not complicate the relationship between Cale or Count Hanithuse with Venion or Marquis Stan because the Count's eldest son had become involved with the disabled Taylor. All sorts of complications could arise if they entered the capital together.
— Young Master Taylor still thinks about the comfort of others.
- Such a good person.
It seems that thoughts about its future "use" were deliberately ignored.
- We'll figure this out later.
Naturally, Cale had a different opinion. There were many more items in the magic box waiting for Cale to use.
— Does he have items for all occasions in this box?
- It looks like it.
And while everyone was trying to figure out what else could be in this box, besides the mana suppression ball, the magic cutter, and the secret organization's form of road design, Cale had already turned around and walked towards his carriage.
At that moment someone called out to him.
- Young Master Cale.
It was Kage. She seemed to have a headache as she frowned and walked up to Cale. The boy had a bitter taste in his mouth as the priestess walked towards him.
- What can I do for you, priestess-nim?
— Do you really not believe in any God?
"What the hell does she want?"
- Yes, none of them.
The fog began to get agitated again, but did nothing. For now.
- ... I understand…
Cale quickly walked towards the carriage after hearing Cage's response. Taylor rode up to it, watching as the Hanityuz son walked away.
- What's the matter?
Cage rarely showed any interest in people other than temple members or close friends. That's why it was strange for Taylor to see her friend frown and reach for Cale. She shook her head and said with a bitter expression,
- Strange.
- What exactly?
- Well... It looks like...
Cage touched the back of her head.
— I have that bitter feeling again, as if the God of Death with his perverted sympathy is stroking the back of my head.
- ...What is this feeling? Did you sleep badly?
- May be…
Locke, a kind soul, could not stand the priestess's poor health and asked the God of Death directly:
— Were you worried that the priestess-nim was sleeping poorly?
The fog suddenly froze, and then part of it descended and stroked the boy, who quickly turned red, on his gray, shaggy head.
The rest decided that it was probably really safe here.
Cage continued to feel this way every time she looked at Cale. The only time she had ever felt this way in the past was when the temple had forced her to do heavy manual labor to build a new temple. She had felt this way when she collapsed from exhaustion and the Death God looked at her with concern.
"Young Master Cale can't possibly be equal to that damned temple."
Some observers concluded that the priestess would have a difficult time with Cale.
"Does this have anything to do with him intending to use them in some way?"
Every time Cale got tired of sitting in the carriage and left his "shelter", Taylor looked at him carefully, but no conversations arose between the young men.
They continued to travel in this manner until they found themselves at an inn about a day's journey from the capital.
- Young Master Cale, you like drinking, right?
Taylor and Cage came to talk to Cale.
- What can I do for you?
— Straight to the point, huh?
— What if they just want to thank us?
- Doubtful.
Cale wanted to know why they had come to visit him so late at night, but his expression didn't show it. Taylor smiled at the boy's behavior.
"Cale Hanitus. A worthless piece of shit who can't go a day without alcohol."
Even when Taylor was a potential heir to the Marquis, he also received all the information about the nobles. The information about Kayla was so unique that it was quite difficult to forget.
"But I don't think that's where it ends."
However, Cale was very different from that information.
He stayed in the carriage all day to make them feel at ease and generously offered them the best treatment Taylor and Cage could hope for. His subordinates trusted and followed their master without fail.
The most important thing is that he treated this couple like normal people.
- You are different from what I heard.
- In general, he settled in quite comfortably...
Eruhaben thoughtfully propped his graceful chin on his hand.
- What do you mean, Eruhaben-nim?
- He behaves in a way that is comfortable for him, but at the same time he is disrespectful enough to those around him so that they don't pester him with questions.
The observers thought about it and agreed that it was quite convenient.
Choi Han thought for a moment and then added:
- Perhaps he could have behaved even more rudely...
Everyone turned towards him with curiosity.
— It's just that in our world, especially in the Asian culture in which we grew up, the concept of politeness is hammered into us from childhood. It becomes something subconscious.
Eruhaben was very interested in learning about this "Asian culture", but put it off for later.
- May be…
The two had been following Cale Hanitus for over a week, and the man was now on the minds of Taylor and Cage.
- Young Master Cale. You wouldn't mind having a drink with us before we go our separate ways, would you?
— Come in.
Cale gestured for them to enter the room, and Cage pushed Taylor's wheelchair in. Once the three of them were seated at the table, Cale didn't even look at the drinks until he asked,
- What do you want?
Cale's voice was extremely cold and hard, unlike usual. However, this only confirmed Taylor's thoughts, who believed that this man in front of him was not a nobody at all. In fact, he was much smarter than many people thought.
- He is observant...
- Let's write it down like that.
— What kind of person do you think I am, Young Master Cale?
Cale watched the other man quietly. When he heard the question, but before he could answer, he walked over to the bed and picked up his bag. He returned and threw the purse on the table.
*Clang*
A metallic sound filled the room as the pouch opened slightly. Inside the pouch were many gold, silver, and bronze coins. Cale's confident voice rang in the air.
"I don't know why you're heading to the capital right now when every noble person in the country has their attention focused on the capital, but I'm sure there's only one thing that a rabbit like you would enter the den of a lion like me for."
- Hohohoo... Young Master, this servant is very touched.
"Tired of feeling like a rabbit and have you turned the blame onto others?"
Cale had been waiting for this moment ever since they had asked to follow him to the capital. He thought about it every time he felt their eyes on him during the trip.
- The rich Hanityuz family. You want money, right?
— But he himself was in no hurry to offer...
— Young Master Anonymous Help.
- Ah! Right! I forgot, sorry.
*Sigh*
Priestess Cage let out a sigh that was almost like a sigh of admiration. Taylor was the one who always played at the top before falling off the cliff, but Cage was the one who was always at the bottom. For someone like her, Kale was a unique person.
Alberu wanted to be indignant, but he remembered that this time Cale was not buying bread, and in general, it was for the benefit of the safety of a very important person and himself.
"Well done! I approve this time."
And while His Highness was thinking about great things, Cage, recalling all the details of their journey together, had already come to the conclusion that Cale was not such a nonentity as she had heard.
However, this man was definitely not a nobody.
Her friend, Taylor, understood this even better than the priestess.
- So you already knew.
- It's as easy as eating a piece of pie.
Cale answered as if it was no big deal.
— Based on the way you travel, it seems that you are short of money. In order to stay in the capital, especially unnoticed, you need money more than anything else. I am sure that was not your original plan, but it would be natural to ask such a question when the Golden Turtle is traveling with you.
- How convenient it is to come up with excuses when you know everything in advance...
Taylor couldn't deny what Cale had just said. It was true. Cale Hanitus was someone who didn't try to avoid him, the eldest son who had been abandoned even by his family. Asking Cale for money was the best way to get it.
Even if Cale said no, it didn't look like Cale would tell Venion about Taylor's request. The son of the Haniteuz family seemed to hate complicated things.
— Taylor was really lucky to end up with Cale as a traveling companion.
— Interesting. Hypothetically. If Young Master Taylor were to ask Second Young Master Haniteuz for help, what would he do?
- Are you talking about Basen Hanitus?
- Exactly. He seemed like a nice young man. And Cale praised his character.
"Young Master Fable is a very responsible person. I have watched him grow and learn. But as the new heir to the family, he would likely stay away from Taylor, just like most people would. He would not take any chances. Master Taylor is lucky that our Young Master, firstly, benefits from his safe travels. And secondly, does not care about social order. I suspect that if he met the real Master Cale, he would help as well."
- Purely out of spite?
- Exactly.
While they were discussing hypothetical options for interactions between Taylor and other representatives of the Hanityuz family, the guests managed to share their plan of action with Cale, and Cale managed to have objections.
— Are you planning to visit the temple?
Just as Taylor's expression showed shock at how Cale knew, Cage intervened:
- Yes, we plan to enter through the temple.
They planned to disguise Taylor as a member of the temple and infiltrate it. However, the Temple of the Death God's revenge on Kage should have been kept in mind, but she was willing to put herself in such danger for Taylor.
— The cover isn't the best. There aren't many people in wheelchairs, especially those associated with the Temple of the Death God. It's like painting yourself a target for those in the know.
— Especially when "those who are in the know" just happen to gather in one place.
However, even entering such a place would not guarantee stealth entry. And Cale pointed out this problem:
"Even if you enter the temple, Venion and the Marquis will know about it within three days. They most likely have informants even in the Temple of Death."
- You are really well informed.
Cage began to smile. She suddenly understood what Cale meant.
- Young Master Cale. I'm sure you have a reason why you're so curious about what we're going to do?
*Clap-clap*
Cale's index finger tapped the table.
"Are you banging on the table again?"
- Take this money and tell the innkeeper that you and your people will stay here for one more day.
Then Cale raised his finger and pointed at his interlocutors.
- As for the two of you, you will ride in my carriage. The rest of your party will leave for the capital the next day.
— And they won't find Taylor in his carriage?
— They will find it.
— Now, apparently, the "magic box for all occasions" will come into play.
- Interesting…
- This is a magical tool that will make any life forms in the selected area invisible for five minutes.
This was the second item he had to rent on behalf of Bylos.
* * *
- Young Master, are you planning to steal something?
- Stealing? No. I'm planning to break something.
— ... Break something?
* * *
The Crown Prince began to frown very deeply.
- If they manage to do this, then the capital's security situation will be very sad. Even if it is to our advantage now, the fact that it is so easy to get a person into Hewiss is not normal.
Rosalyn, as a member of the royal family, fully agreed with him.
The Crown Prince turned to the Sword Master.
- Choi Han-nim.
- Yes, Your Highness?
- When Bilos finds you in the capital, try to establish the best possible relationship with him. This man is as useful as an ally as we did not even expect.
The word "useful" made him a little nervous, but he had to admit that it was true.
He had planned to use this item during the terrorist attack incident in the square, but he had a reason to use it early. Cale was thankful that it wasn't a one-time use item.
- Why would he need an invisibility device during a terrorist incident? A crowd could knock him down, right?
— I can't imagine why yet.
— Didn't he tell Bilos that he wanted to break something?
-…
-…
-…
— More and more questions.
Meanwhile, Taylor was trying to figure something out for himself.
- For what…?Young Master Taylor, who had been silent for a while, slowly began to speak:
- Why are you doing this for us? You won't gain anything from this.
"Why? I have to help you out a little since I started this whole mess. It doesn't look like it's going to hurt me."
- A little? So far it looks like you're doing everything for them.
- Should I answer this?
- Yes, I want to hear what your reason is.
Taylor wanted to hear Cale's answer. The young man calmly answered the question of the eldest son of the Stan family. The answer was both cruel and cold:
- That's because you're so pathetic. I want to know why someone like you, a cripple who doesn't know when he'll die, is doing all this. For the eldest son of a marquis to ask a worthless count's family for money is just pathetic.
- T-that was ve-very harsh...
Locke was a little taken aback by what he heard.
Choi Han and Rosalyn also felt uneasy. The father-son duo simply looked on in amazement.
And only Eruhaben admitted that perhaps these were exactly the words needed by the crippled nobleman, half a step away from defeating his illness.
"Idle curiosity is still better than insincere pity."
Taylor's mouth opened and closed slowly before he began to laugh softly. The Marquis's son slapped his hands on his knees. When he did this, he felt nothing at all.
Choi Han couldn't quite understand how exactly what had happened had happened. If he were Cale, he would have supported Taylor and promised to help in any way he could, because he was a kind guy with a very compassionate soul. But then Cale, who actually does more for them than they think, with the most arrogant expression ever shown, simply declares that Taylor is pathetic. Who says such things to a disabled person, whom you yourself are taking to treatment? And Taylor laughs. Laughs!
"Professor, can you slow down? I don't understand!"
However, Taylor's eyes, nose, mouth, hands and the rest of him were still alive. Taylor began to smile brightly:
- Thank you for your sympathy. I needed such sympathy.
- However, there is one condition.
Cale ignored Taylor's words of gratitude.
- What is this?
- Forget about everything.
- So he wants to remain anonymous until the end.
- Not only that. If they fail, then not only Cale himself will be at risk, but the entire Hanitus family as well.
Cale repeated the words again, pushing the bag of money towards Taylor:
- Forget about every single thing that happened.
Cale was showing that he was willing to help them, but he didn't want these people to be associated with him in any way. Cage stepped forward. That's why she came with Taylor.
"Young Master Taylor and I will make a vow in front of the Death God that we will not tell anyone. I am sure you are aware that anyone who breaks the vow made before the Death God will die?"
- Yes, I understand. Please take your vow.
- Why so radical?
— Safety first.
- So he doesn't believe in God, but he does believe in the vow, right?
— The Death Vow is an effective remedy, the effect of which is known to everyone.
- Aaaah, well, if that's the case...
Cale smiled at her words. A vow made to the God of Death. It was because Cale believed in the famous vow that he willingly agreed to help them.
Priestess Kage couldn't help but laugh when she saw Cale smile at their decision to make a vow to the God of Death.
— I assume that Young Master Cale will not take the vow?
- Right. If this makes things worse, I plan to tell you everything.
- To Venion.
- Yes.
- He will never tell Venion anything in his life, right?
Even Locke realized this.
- That's right, well done, kid.
- But he plays the role of a donkey masterfully!
- Ahahahahaha, Miss Rosalyn, come on, this is a serious moment!
- Cage, let's do this.
- Fine.
Taylor and Cage. The two of them no longer paid attention to Cale. It was their signal to each other that they would reveal almost everything to Cale.
- We'll start now.
*Ooooh!*
A slight vibration filled the air. At the same time, black smoke appeared from Cage's fingertips, surrounding all three of them.
"Is this holy power?"
The observers, out of pure curiosity, looked up, where the fog was not as calm as usual, but it was not doing anything. It just seemed agitated. The fog in this room and the smoke coming from the priestess's fingers were very similar, but the fog was clearly thicker, denser, and blacker. Which was probably logical, considering that it took more energy to maintain such a space than a simple oath.
Cale was filled with a strange feeling that was felt around him. It was definitely different from the Ancient Powers, but it was still warm, although it was still black.
— I, Cage, daughter of the eternal night, wish to take the name of the night to make a vow with Taylor Stan. Our lives will be the pledge, anyone who breaks this vow will fall into eternal darkness.
Cage opened her eyes and looked at Cale and Taylor before continuing to speak.
- I, Cage, and Taylor Stan promise to keep everything that has happened to this day a secret, and we will take Cale Hanitus as a witness. We will not discuss this with anyone else.
- With someone else.
Taylor repeated the final words. Cage closed her eyes at the sound of Taylor's voice. Black smoke surrounded the three of them again. And then...
*Ooooh!*
With another burst of vibration, the smoke disappeared. The vow was complete.
- Quite simple.
Since no one present had ever taken a death oath, and the ritual itself was a sacrament of the Church of Eternal Peace, it was as exciting to watch as the acquisition of the Ancient Power. The first. A very important clarification.
Cale felt a strange sensation in his hand that interrupted his thoughts. It was like an Ancient Power. He could sense that it was something related to the vow he had made.
While Alberu was trying to imagine the feeling of the Death Vow based on the feeling of his Ancient Power, a full bottle of alcohol had already appeared on Cale's table.
*Clap*
The bottle now stood alone in the center of the table.
- Young Master Cale, would you like a drink?
— Have a drink?
- Yes. Drink. Drink is necessary for a good day.
Taylor wanted to have a drink with Cale, who he couldn't quite trust. Cage seemed to understand something in his actions and began to smile before reaching into the wide sleeves of her priestess costume.
- Tada!
Three glasses were pulled out of the sleeve.
— Does she carry them with her?
— Like, all the time?
- Ho...
Cale rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then looked from his drink to the priestess. He simply couldn't believe that she was holding glasses in her sleeves.
- Priestess-nim...
- Yes?
- You are simply amazing.
She was a real alcoholic. Cale pushed the glasses together and Taylor filled them. When all three glasses were full, Cage asked Cale a question :
- Young Master Cale. Isn't it strange that a priestess drinks?
Cale tilted his head to the side and asked,
- Is this any of my business?
Kayla didn't care at all whether she drank or not.
- Wow. I like you.
Rosalyn, who had already realized that it was safe to ask the Death God questions, at least general ones, asked:
— God of Death-nim?
- Mmm?
— Are you really not at all concerned about your priestess's habits?
As a person of rather strict upbringing, she categorically did not understand this. This is a direct insult to her Deity, isn't it?
Should we?
-…What?
Ten strange but extremely interested glances rose up. Nobody paid any attention to Taylor and Cage, who were trying to become Cale's relatives.
- You, people, come up with your own rules, some customs, and then attribute them to us. Such funny creatures .
Actually, this remark made sense.
— What do I care whether she drinks or not? In fact, the more she drinks, the closer she is to sleep. And the closer she is to sleep, the closer she is to me. It's always nice to chat with a nice person. Heh…
"That's exactly why you don't mind, right?"
No one asked this out loud. Then the thoughts turned to the topics of these "conversations." What were they chatting about that Cage would admit out loud was "dog shit"?
But since impudence has its limits, Rosalyn simply thanked:
- Thank you very much, Mr. God.
- It's a trifle.
Time flew by during this extremely interesting conversation.
On the other side of the screen, morning had already arrived, the procession had set off, and there were only two hours left to the capital.