Cale entered the palace once more, now receiving a completely different treatment than before. The most luxurious rooms in the palace, usually reserved for foreign crowned heads, were given to Cale.
"In the novel, this is where Choi Han's group stayed."
The sword master looked at it with surprise. He hadn't expected such a good attitude towards the hero. Not towards Cale, he was a nobleman after all, but towards himself. Although, at that moment, he most likely didn't care where he was placed. Knowing himself, he was too wound up by what had happened, too angry that he couldn't do more, couldn't help more, couldn't save more. Now he looked at it a little more simply. From the heights, so to speak, of the experience he had already gained, which in fact amounted to less than a day spent in the room. But he had realized a lot. And the explosion of that single bomb helped him accept some things to the end. Not everything depends on your actions. One of the very first lessons. It left more time for reflection, looking at what was happening from the outside, and not being so involved in the action itself. Since his double on the screen was small, he could just watch and think about what could have been done better in that situation. It turned out that nothing. The plan was simple, but effective. Everything was under control. As a team, they worked well. Cale had done everything he could. They had done everything they could. There had been no mistakes. But the Hand was ready to do anything. In the half minute it took for the situation to get out of control, nothing could have been done. And even then, the damage had been kept to a minimum. If the second suicide bomber had flown toward Cale, he would have been trapped by the shield as well. But neither Cale, nor Choi Han, nor Rosalyn, none of them could have done anything about it.
It still hurt. Not being able to stop it completely and save everyone. But he was impulsive, but he wasn't stupid. He'd seen it. They'd saved everyone they could. There was no arguing with that. And it was comforting. They'd have a chance to come up with a better plan. Cale had been able to come up with an effective plan with far less information. They knew more, and there were more of them.
In fact, the only thing that came to mind that could improve that plan was Ron. If they had planted the killer somewhere in the tower, the wizard could have been gotten rid of faster.
Cale lay down on the luxurious bed, which was softer than his own bed, and began to devour one grape after another.
At that moment, another invited person arrived at the palace.
- Young Master Cale.
It was Rosaleen, and as expected, she was not alone.
— Kale-nim.
- You came back quite quickly.
— The question is whether it is good or bad.
Choi Han was with her. Hong, On, and Lok stood behind Choi Han with pale faces. However, Cale began to frown as he looked at the last person standing behind them all.
- M... Young Mastereeeeeeeeer!
It was the deputy butler, Hans. He looked like he was about to cry. Hans, Choi Han, and Lock were able to enter the palace, serving as Cale's servants and guards. Cale extended his hand to Hans, who looked like he was about to rush towards him.
Locke wondered since when he was considered Cale's bodyguard. He didn't look very presentable. He didn't even look like a servant.
Vitira smiled slightly. She missed this guy. Eric was a sweetheart, but he was nowhere near Hans.
— Stop.
This caused Hans to stop moving, giving Cale time to get out of bed and speak to the others:
— Come in.
He was extremely relaxed, as if he was the owner of this palace.
The ancient dragon was amazed at the boy's ability to look relaxed everywhere. Where there was no butler, that is.
Cale had a conversation with Hans first. The deputy butler checked on Cale before reporting, with a tearful expression he hadn't seen before:
— I contacted the master, deciding that it would be better if we contacted the family ourselves before the crown did, so I hired a mage to open a communication port. In doing so, I was forced to spend a lot of money.
- Good job.
- And also...
Hans looked at Rosaleen.
"Of course he knows."
The corners of Cale's lips lifted slightly. Hans was the best candidate for a butler and knew more about nobles than Cale himself. There was no way such a person wouldn't have information on this matter as well.
Which made the swordsman wonder once again why the Count had shelled out a ton of money to buy a useless piece of paper. Half an hour with Hans, and Cale would have known everything about nobles. Starting from Ancient Times.
- Continue.
Hans spoke after receiving permission from Cale:
— I gave orders to everyone in the residence that no one should mention Rosalyn-nim.
- Thank you very much.
- You did the right thing.
Rosalyn and Cale praised Hans. Since they had no time to discuss it, Rosalyn and Cale thought it best to keep quiet about it from now on.
"Everyone should have such understanding servants," Rosalyn slightly curled her lips. On her way to the Kingdom of Viper, to the Magic Tower, she stopped in many places. And finally decided to stay away from places where anyone could recognize her. It did not save her.
- Sorry, Young Master.
- What's happened?
"Of course, I have already reported what happened myself, but I believe you will need to contact the house via the communication port in the near future. If you do not, I am afraid that the gentleman will personally come here.
His father, Count Derut, would certainly have done so.
Ron was wondering if Count Deruth would actually come to the capital. The chances were pretty high, but he couldn't say for sure if he was coming out of concern for his son's health or to control his behavior in the city. In fact, he hadn't understood the elder Hanites' actions for many years.
And while he was considering which option he was willing to put his money on, Hans took it upon himself to put some affairs in order in the palace and left.
Hans left the room, so the Black Dragon finally showed up. He then walked towards Cale's bed and started eating the fruits on the bedside table, while he gave a short report:
— There are no video or audio recording devices here.
"Or is he copying the redhead?" The ancient dragon looked at the other black child with undisguised curiosity. He was so strange. He was much colder to people than their own child, and acted rather arrogantly where he could be seen, but Eruhaben remembered the child's joy, which he had broadcast into the redhead's head in the square when he and Rosalyn launched bombs into the mountains.
He had actually done a good job of what Cale had told him to do, even if the Dragon had looked like he hadn't done anything. That was what Cale thought as he looked around the room he had been placed in.
This meant that those present in this room could say whatever they wanted. However, Rosalyn still cast a noise-canceling spell.
— It's better to protect yourself once again.
- Miss Rosalyn, this is the most wonderful side of you.
- Thank you, Young Master! - It's always nice to be praised. Especially when you know it's meant seriously.
Cale agreed with Rosalyn's decision and then looked at Choi Han. Ever since he entered the room, the black-haired youth had been standing with his head down. Cale had a pretty good idea of what had happened after seeing Choi Han's behavior.
He failed to kill Redika.
The swordsman also clenched his fists. From the behavior of his double and the state of the children who came with him, he also guessed that everything did not go according to plan.
- Tell me.
Choi Han raised his head.
He looked so guilty that everyone felt uneasy. It seemed like he had personally driven the mad magician an escape carriage and only then realized what he had done.
- This magician appeared in the very place where you told me. I tried to kill him, but the magician's subordinates rushed to intercept me.
"I'm sure they were ready to die.
- … Yes.
— Suicide bombers are a much bigger problem than one might imagine.
— To him.
For some reason, the secret organization was very protective of Redika.
- So they managed to escape?
- … Yes.
Choi Han lowered his head again, continuing to speak:
— I only managed to cut off his left hand.
- Hm?
Everyone looked at the swordsman, who looked slightly less guilty than his double, with strange looks. He lowered his gaze.
"Is that all I can do?"
"Then I burned it in case the mage decided to return for the arm to restore it. Ah, his left eye should also be injured.
"Good decision. Better to be safe than sorry," the sword master nodded, agreeing with his double.
The intensity of the glances increased.
Locke thought to himself that the reason the three children were so pale might not be because of the mad mage. Well, at least partly. Literally.
"Isn't this a death sentence for a mage? Mages need both hands to cast a spell, otherwise their mana will be unbalanced. Losing a hand will eventually affect it, even if it's just a little bit." Cale looked at Choi Han with a serious expression.
Choi Han listened to this information with interest. It was useful knowledge in the battle with the mages. If you don't have time to kill him, cut off his hand. And you can finish him off later.
He responded to the looks directed at him with his own puzzled ones. What's wrong?
The protagonist of the novel stood in front of him, his head down, his fists clenched.
- I should have killed him. I'm sorry.
- No need to regret. You did well.
Cale glanced at Lock, Hong, and On, who were sitting next to Choi Han. He and Hong did not approach the Black Dragon as usual. They chose to remain in Lock's embrace. Lock looked at Cale with despair in his eyes.
"He's not going to go berserk, is he?"
"Young Master, I'm afraid I'm about to fall into a state of panic!"
Cale looked at Choi Han and asked:
— What about his subordinates?
"I thought it would be best to kill them, so I took care of them all.
This caused the orange kitten, Hong, to hide his face in his sister's fur. Choi Han used his black aura to completely remove any traces. This was the first time Hong realized that a person could be melted with just aura.
Ron looked at the sword master, who seemed to be completely ignoring the state of the kids in Cale's room, with a raised eyebrow.
"Apparently three cute children are not enough to keep him in check."
- Better to be careful to prevent any future problems. You didn't break any buildings or anything, right?
Cale was worried that Choi Han might go berserk and start destroying other objects. Harris Village and the Blue Wolf Tribe Village incident had been quite traumatic for Choi Han's soul. Cale was worried that the boy might go crazy after seeing the people who had inflicted those injuries on him right before his eyes.
The sword master wanted to disagree, even opened his mouth, but changed his mind. He recalled his reactions and came to the conclusion that the professor was really telling the truth. He counted it as personal progress. Think first, then act. Everything turns out better.
"If he's done something wrong, I'll eventually have to clean up the mess he left behind."
Since Choi Han was staying with him, Cale had the responsibility of cleaning up his tracks. However, the boy was not at all willing to do that.
"Is that all that worries you, you miserable bastard?"
Although the fact that he was still going to do it if necessary added honor to the guy. It seems that he really knows the word "responsibility" well.
- Yes, of course. As Cale-nim mentioned, I tried not to damage anything around.
The kittens remembered what Choi Han had said to the bloodthirsty mage's subordinates when he killed them:
- All the important people in my life were killed or almost killed by you. Including today!
The sword master thought again about his differences with his double. He already had important people that he recognized as such. And let's be honest, the only one in real danger in the square was Cale. The others were hiding around the perimeter and were not harmed by the explosion.
Although, they were not so different. Strange people had gathered in this room. But they were no longer strangers. They were important to him, too. The girl in the black robe, it is true, raised many questions, but if things continued like this, they would get answers. Alberu had a good reason not to talk about himself. Perhaps she was in a similar situation.
And also Ron. I don't feel sorry for Ron, if anything happens.
He was so absorbed in thinking about it that he simply didn't notice the increasingly tense looks.
The buildings were not damaged, but Choi Han's gaze as he dissolved the secret organization members with his aura was quite frightening. However, he did not go crazy, which made him even more frightening. He and Hong finally moved towards the Black Dragon to get relief from him. The strongest, cutest, and most beautiful creature in this hall was naturally the Black Dragon.
The dragon puffed up at his own cuteness and turned sharply to the sword master, bringing his attention back to the room. His eyes blazed with triumph.
"Have you realized how great I am?" the kid asked, sticking his tongue out at the swordsman. As a symbol of his own superiority, no less.
Choi Han looked at the dragon with a strange look and couldn't understand what he had missed.
But there was laughter all around.
Cale turned his attention to the kittens heading towards the bed before saying to Choi Han,
- I understand, you did a great job.
Cale's words made Choi Han look at him. The boy looked at Choi Han and everyone else as he continued speaking.
- All of you have done something amazing today. It is because of you that all these people survived. Miss Rosalyn, you have done a great job too.
Choi Han's tightly clenched fists relaxed slightly. Rosalyn looked at Lock, Choi Han, and the kittens, who were wagging their tails, before finally looking intently at Cale. A strange feeling of unity washed over her.
"Actually, I have to admit that everyone involved in the plan did an exceptionally good job," Ron was forced to praise them, although Choi Han was reluctant. He had experience in covert operations, so he was better qualified to make such statements.
Eruhaben nodded his head in agreement. Then he tapped his chin thoughtfully. The guys were really great, especially for those who found out about it the day before the operation itself. Which were Rosalyn and Lock. Both were on the same neutralization team. I wonder if that was on purpose? And the girl's talent for magic was not an empty phrase. He was used to mages greatly embellishing their powers, but this was not the case.
At this moment, the Black Dragon began to speak:
- You did a good job too.
This made Cale smile, after which he nodded:
- Indeed. I have worked very well. That is why I will be rewarded.
And soon the time will come for the first conversation about his reward to take place.
For some reason, the Crown Prince felt a chill run through him. It seemed that his double was about to get a migraine.
* * *
- Now you can leave.
- Yes, Your Highness.
Crown Prince Alberu dismissed the priest, who simply sat there, killing time but not performing any actual healing on Cale.
— Are you sticking to the legend to the end?
— In the royal palace one must always be on guard.
- I understand you so well!
After that, the Crown Prince went to meet Cale. The young man had a look of awe on his face, caused by the fact that the Crown Prince had come to visit him. But it only lasted until the door to his bedroom closed and Alberu began to speak.
- This expression of yours gives me chills.
- Thank you very much.
"Bastard…" Alberu wiped his face with his palms and concentrated.
His double had already guessed that his interlocutor was not an easy one. It was good that he didn't know that Cale knew that he was always under disguise. In that case, the conversation would have been even more difficult. Also, from what he understood about Cale, Kim Rok Soo, he didn't like trouble. Which meant that he wouldn't hinder his double in terms of suppressing rumors. That was also good. And he himself had to be on guard. He had his own red-haired problems. He had to be prepared. He wouldn't let himself be caught off guard again.
Cale had returned to his usual relaxed expression. Albert seemed to find that he was more tolerant with the prince himself sitting on a chair next to the bed and Cale lying in the bed, pretending to be a patient.
- I told everyone that you are currently resting. I also said that your actions in the square, although difficult for you, were dictated by your sense of duty as a true nobleman.
- Your Highness?
- Miss Vitira? - Rosalyn apparently passed the baton.
— Aren't you embarrassed to talk to Young Master Cale when he's dressed in such loose clothing?
Both princesses smiled quite calmly and with dignity, he didn't think they could do that. If you didn't know them, you could say that they were sincerely interested in his moral state. But he knew them. The only question was, why was the former butler glaring at him? Wasn't he a bit too old for such jokes? Although his gaze burned no worse than the light of the Sun God.
- Miss Vitira! These shirts were created specifically for the needs of patients. They do not restrict movement, help to provide timely medical care of any kind. They are also simply divine to the touch. This is special cotton. The highest quality. I can endure any discomfort, as long as our hero is comfortable, - he did not remain in debt.
"But he's not sick," Vitira hadn't given up yet.
"As I have already said, in the royal palace one must always be on guard," the prince's noble smile did not waver even once.
Vitira had to retreat.
Tsk. And he learns quickly.
Alberu began to smile before adding:
— Since you showed that you possessed Ancient Power, back in the square, I played with words, saying that you had a defensive Ancient Power that wasn't very strong. That's what you wanted, right?
— M-m-m…
Cale pretended to think about what was said, leaning back against the pillows.
- A young nobleman, weak, but who took a step forward for the good of the kingdom. Nice.
- Indeed.
Cale preferred this to people thinking of him as "very strong." And it wasn't a lie, he really was a weakling.
- He still hasn't given up on the idea of a quiet life.
- You know, I wonder what exactly happened to make him change his mind? He became a commander, didn't he? The God of Death said so. It's the exact opposite of "stay away from the war."
- We'll see. But from what I can see, it's pretty hard to shake him.
Everyone agreed with this.
- By the way, they didn't show us where the magician was supposed to teleport.
- This is a problem, of course, but we will take it into account.
While the leisurely discussion was taking place, the discussion in the palace room took an unexpected turn.
- … By the way…
This extremely hesitant attitude showed that he was waiting for something. Cale only waited patiently, as this behavior was rarely seen from the Crown Prince.
While Cale waited, the Black Dragon, who had woken up from his sleep and was now lying under the bed, began to speak in Cale's head:
- Now I'm sure. He's not human.
The Crown Prince asked his question at the same time:
- …You are a human, right?
- Aigoo... Couldn't you be more obvious? - the prince looked at his other self in bewilderment. Well, maybe he overdid it, of course. He didn't know that Cale knew that the prince was hiding his true self. And the idea that a dragon could sleep under the bed in the guest quarters would never have occurred to him. Never. Most likely, he was asking because of the dragon. He must feel something near Cale. He forgot again that it was only in this room that any perception was blocked. That Alberu was not limited in any way.
In general, this phrase sounded idiotic, only for those who were in the room, judging by the laughter that rang out. He didn't even pay attention, he himself found it funny. Well, for Cale this phrase was the same.
What was happening? A straight punch and a hook landed on him at the same time. Cale suddenly wished he really was sick.
Prince Alberu noticed that Cale Hanitus suddenly looked at him with a puzzled expression before saying,
- … Am I a human?
His expression seemed to ask why the prince was asking such a stupid question. Albert subconsciously sighed.
- That's right, naturally, you are a human being.
Cale could see Alberu pointing alternately at himself and then at him before continuing.
- You and I are both people.