Chapter p2-201: TCF Part 2 - The trade has been established (7)

However, Cale could not be concerned about that for a long time.

Clopeh started speaking with a fire burning in his eyes.

"My lord, if you tell me what it is I have to do, I will-"

"Ah, hold on."

He covered Clopeh's mouth.

"Meeeeeow!"

He heard a meow and a red cat ran out through the open door of the black castle.

It was Hong.

Cale then felt a breeze brush past him at the same time.

It was Raon this time.

"I missed you, nya!"

"I missed you!"

The young Dragon and the young cat hugged each other.

They then started spinning around the grassy field.

On then showed up with Raon's mom, Sheritt.

Cale made eye contact with On and asked in a casual voice.

"Did you eat properly?"

"I ate well, nya."

Hong's red fur truly was glowing and On's complexion looked good as well. Cale was satisfied as On looked like she gained a bit of weight.

He spoke to On who was staring at him.

"Congratulations on turning thirteen."

Hong and Raon stopped spinning after hearing that.

Hong ran over and stuck himself to Cale's calf.

Cale looked at him and said what he needed to say.

"And congratulations to you for turning ten."

After returning from the Central Plains, the new year had passed and everybody had gotten a year older.

"And congratulations to you for turning seven."

He petted Raon's smooth back a few times as well.

On, Hong, and Raon were now children averaging ten years old.

'I guess On is now a teen and not a child?'

Cale thought about his youngest sister, Lily.

'Mmm.'

Honestly speaking, On and Hong had been extremely dirty and much smaller than other children their age when Cale first met them. It was probably because they grew up without eating properly.

However, potentially because they have been eating well and growing well the past few years, On grew significantly after getting the proper nutrients she needed.

'Should I be sending her to an academy?'

Until now, On had basically been homeschooled, learning a lot of things.

Eruhaben and Ron had paid close attention to On, Hong, and Raon's education until now. When they were busy, there were a lot of people, including Lord Sheritt, who followed up with the children, making Cale not have to worry about their education.

'...This is a difficult decision.'

However, the thing Cale was worried about was something that they could not learn from adults.

'Having friends their age is important for kids like them.'

The children averaging ten-years-old did not have many others their age.

Of course, there were Tiger and Wolf children in Harris Village just outside the Forest of Darkness, but... It wasn't as if they could frequently play with those kids.

'They need to experience a gamut of things.'

On seemed quite interested in the academy as well.

"Ron."

"Yes, young master-nim."

"Get me some information about the Academy."

"I already have that ready, young master-nim."

Cale flinched at Ron's answer before making eye contact with On.

On slightly smiled toward him.

'Hmm?'

Cale flinched once more.

'...Why?'

Why did that smile make him think of Ron?

He must have been mistaken.

'On and this vicious old man are different.

Yes, yes indeed.'

Cale urgently shook his head as he spoke.

"Does Lily have no interest in the academy?"

"I heard that she is looking into a transfer because she has not been going to one until now, young master-nim."

"Is it for her sword art?"

"No, young master-nim. The young lady wants to learn military science."

'Hmm?'

"...Military science?"

"Yes, young master-nim."

Cale thought to himself after seeing the proud gentle smile on Ron's face.

Cale realized that he had lacked conversation and interest in his younger siblings.

That was something that could be resolved during his stay at the Henituse Duchy this time.

"But greatsword arts and military science-

That's a decent combination.

But if it is military science, it is beyond the level of territory defense?'

Cale would not think much of it if Basen stayed in the Henituse territory as his dream was to develop and grow the territory.

Actually, Cale liked that because Basen's decision would set the minimum level of requirement for him to be a slacker.

'Lily talked about protecting the territory, but-

Has her dream become even more grand?'

If it was military science and she wanted to transfer to learn the higher level military science at the academy... It seemed to be for more than just the territory.

'Well, dreams are meant to be big.'

He had no idea how far Lily wanted to go, but he knew she would figure it out and do a good job.

'And if she doesn't do well, who cares?

She's still young.' Challenging the things she wanted to try would be a great experience for her even if she were to fail. There were many things in the world that people want to do but were unable to do.

"Human, human! What are you thinking about?"

Raon's voice snapped Cale out of his thoughts and he looked down.

Hong and Raon were looking up at him.

Cale pulled a spatial pocket bag out of his pocket.

"Here, take it."

He handed it to Hong.

"I'm curious to know what is inside, nya!"

Hong tilted his head as if he was curious and Cale answered in a nonchalant voice.

"The world we went to had a family famous for their poisons and hidden weapons."

On and Hong's eyes sparkled.

"There are nine kinds of poison that have been passed down in that family for generations."

The Martial Arts world's Orthodox faction.

The family with a long history that was one of the Five Great Clans...

The Sichuan Tang Clan.

The poison he received as a gift from that family, a family famous for their poison and hidden weapons despite being a member of the Orthodox faction.

"They call those poisons the Nine Kings and I received five of the nine."

Cale recalled the people from the Orthodox faction who came to see him before he met with the Emperor.

The Sichuan matriarch, Tang Yu, was one of the people in the group.

'...Young master-nim. Please don't forget us. The Tang Clan is always behind you, young master-nim.'

She then spoke in a somewhat solemn voice.

'We were originally planning on only giving you three, but we have prepared five of them as you are the benefactor of the Orthodox faction and our Tang Clan as well, young master-nim.'

Seeing Tang Yu's shaking hands made Cale understand that the Tang Clan had given him as much as they could.

Cale felt burdened by Hong's extremely sparkly gaze and looked away as he nonchalantly commented.

"You can have it."

"How exciting, nya! I love this so much, nya! Thank you very much, nya!"

Hong was so excited he couldn't control himself.

Cale nonchalantly looked away before taking something else out of his pocket and handing it to On.

"Here."

He then walked right past On and into the Black Castle.

Ron walked up to On who was holding the spatial pocket bag and handed her a rolled up piece of paper.

"There are about thirty different things in there. Daggers, clothes, elixirs, everything is there so read through it and let me know if you have any questions."

The paper Ron handed her had a list of everything that seemed to be a good fit for On from the precious treasures the Triumvirate had gifted Cale.

A smile appeared on On's face again.

She turned around after hearing Cale's voice behind her.

"It's not much, ma'am."

She could see Cale handing something to Lord Sheritt as well. Sheritt tried to say something but Cale did not give her a chance to speak and asked something else.

"Where are Mary and the Dragon half-blood?"

"The two of them are training together."

Sheritt answered and tried to say something else to Cale, but...

Raon fluttered his wings.

"I brought gifts as well!"

Everybody focused on Raon.

Cale used that moment to enter into the castle and motioned toward Choi Han and Clopeh with his eyes.

As the three of them walked into the castle, they heard Raon's excited voice.

"Tada! These are the most famous candied fruits from the Central Plains!"

A basket full of candied fruits came out of Raon's spatial pocket bag.

"And this is the best dumplings I have ever eaten! Meat dumplings!"

He pulled out a bunch of dumplings as well.

All of the dumplings were steaming hot.

Cale sniffed the scent of dumplings as he thought to himself.

'Is Raon's spatial dimension at the level of a kimchi refrigerator?

How can it maintain the state so well?

These are foods.

Are all spatial dimensions like that?'

For Cale, who never tried putting food into his spatial pocket bag, this was quite marvelous.

'Anyway, that's that.'

Cale placed his hand on Clopeh's shoulder.

"Clopeh Sekka."

A holy looking face looked back at Cale. Cale could see the reflection of his face in this person's green eyes.

If someone who didn't know that this was Clopeh's concerned look saw him, they would think that his gaze was so deep and held an interesting story.

"Hey."

But Cale did not think that at all.

Click.

Choi Han opened a door and walked into a room as Cale casually asked Clopeh a question.

"What can you do if you are able to use a sword again?"

Clopeh, who was full of fire and had an odd smile on his face, suddenly stiffened up.

He didn't follow Cale into the room and just froze there like a statue.

Cale sat on the couch and stared at the frozen Clopeh as he continued to speak.

"You are a knight."

A knight was someone who fought with a weapon.

Whether it was for attacking or defending... A knight needed to be able to fight.

Whether it was the Knight's Creed or loyalty... No matter what it was, the foundation of a knight was their strength.

As for Clopeh, he was just a shell who had that foundation taken away.

Until now.

Cale quietly looked at Clopeh, who had a completely blank expression on his face.

"I am the person who took the sword away from you."

It was only right to say that Cale was the one who turned Clopeh's body like this.

He had given the order for it.

Cale did not regret that at all.

This punk had attacked his precious home and his people.

At that time, Cale and Clopeh were simply enemies.

However, their relationship had changed with time.

They needed to clarify a new relationship now.

"If I am able to return the sword to you, what can you do?"

Cale asked once again and it was now time for Clopeh to answer.

Clopeh lowered his head.

He saw his two hands.

He clenched his two empty hands.

He was no longer in a wheelchair, but he had to use a cane from time to time and his body always felt heavy.

Of course, he could still swing a sword.

However, his sword was not complete.

'To be able to have my complete sword again-'

Clopeh Sekka closed his eyes.

The past brushed through his mind like pictures.

'I cannot become a legend.'

He already realized that fact.

That was why he chose to watch the person who will become a legend.

He was satisfied with playing even the smallest of roles in that story.

While that thought had not changed-

Boom. Boom.

His heart was beating fast.

'Ah, as expected-

I am someone who cannot throw away my greed.'

Clopeh Sekka realized it.

He realized that his true nature had not changed.

If he could hold a sword again-

If he could swing his sword as he has done in the past-

"......."

Clopeh opened his eyes.

He looked at Cale.

It was time to answer.

Clopeh knew that the man in front of him would not give him much time to answer.

He and Clopeh had started off on the wrong foot after all.

However, it did not matter.

Clopeh walked through the door.

He then knelt down on one knee.

He looked up at the man and started speaking.

He had thought the wrong answer was the right answer in the past, but things were different now.

"If I am able to hold a sword again-"

He said the right answer.

"I will offer that sword to you, Cale-nim."

He would offer that sword to Cale Henituse.

Clopeh could see Cale smiling at his answer.

"Choi Han."

"Yes, Cale-nim."

Clopeh looked at Choi Han who walked up to him.

He pulled a booklet out of his pocket.

"You'll need to train with me for a while starting today."

Clopeh looked at the sternly speaking Choi Han and a smile slowly started forming on his face.

He stood up from where he was kneeling.

He heard Cale's voice at that moment.

"You will become even stronger than before if you earn this power."

Not only would he be able to control his aura and return to his original position as a sword master...

He would learn a martial art of the Central Plains, allowing him to control the meridians in his body and use internal ki.

Sword master.

Clopeh Sekka, who was a genius and reached that level with the sword, would become even stronger.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Demon who had helped Cale with the purification... Clopeh would have to carry on that duty from here on.

If possible, it would be great if the Saint's younger sister, Hannah, another sword master, could join as well.

Cale spoke to Clopeh who was looking at him.

"I am saying this because you said that you would offer your sword to me."

His nonchalant tone reached Clopeh's ears.

Clopeh could see his reflection in those transparent eyes that held no ulterior motives at all.

The owner of those eyes gave the order.

"I plan on using your sword as a sword that saves."

Clopeh clenched his fists after hearing that order.

"Learn it properly."

Cale stopped paying any attention to Clopeh after that.

He waved for the two of them to leave.

He looked extremely insincere but the smile on Clopeh's face became even bigger.

He knew that Cale was acting like this but he was actually the opposite on the inside.

Clopeh was unable to control the emotions wanting to burst out of his chest and bit down on his lips.

He had a lot of things he wanted to say but he kept them to himself.

He would be able to show it with his actions instead.

'The greatest legend-'

One that no matter who in the world saw it...

Would think it was so amazing that they could only marvel at it-

I will definitely make it happen.'

Cale Henituse would be the only one to walk that path.

Clopeh did not notice Choi Han, who was looking at him without any visible emotions on his face, and started walking.

Cale touched the back of his head once the two of them left.

"...That's odd."

'Why does the back of my head feel so cold?

...Should I not have dragged Clopeh Sekka into this?'

Cale did not feel good anymore.

"Young master-nim."

However, he flinched after seeing Ron walk in.

There was quite a lot he had to talk about with Ron.

Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse.

Shouldn't he tell him about that?

'Mmm.'

Ron spoke just as Cale was about to scowl.

"His highness has called."

"Human!"

Raon came in as well and shouted.

"The crown prince said that Ahn Roh Man suddenly contacted him and needs to see you now!"

'Hmm?'

Cale frowned.

'The conversation with Ahn Roh Man was not supposed to be this urgent?'

Cale remembered Alberu telling him to let him know when he had time.

Raon pushed the video communication device screen toward him before Cale could think about it some more.

Alberu was there.

- Cale.

"Yes, your highness."

Alberu looked quite confused as well.

- What the hell is Bluey?

"...Why do you ask, your highness?"

Bluey.

That was the nickname the Blood Demon used in the < Raising my very own precious omnipotent god! > game and her ranking had been fourth.

First place was 'I'm going to fuck up the bastard who took Taerang,' whom Cale believed to be the third term president of Earth 3, Ahn Roh Man.

That was why Cale had slipped the term 'Bluey' to Alberu, in order to see Ahn Roh Man's reaction.

- Mm.

Alberu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

- What did he say again? It was something I did not understand.

He looked up at the hair as if he was going through his memories before slowly speaking word by word.

- This is what Ahn Roh Man said. Bluey that punk was supposed to come out for F2F PvP and never showed. That punk almost made his dark history be revealed or something. He said Bluey was someone who put him in quite a lot of danger or something? Mm. What is F2F PvP and what is a dark history?

Alberu's face was serious.

After hearing about the position of President, he learned that the fact someone could be a three-term president meant that they held significant influence.

However, to put such a person in significant danger...

Alberu couldn't help but be serious.

"Ha."

Cale brushed his face with both hands.

'Holy shit.

He said F2F PvP.

A three-term President is talking about F2F PvP?

And some dark history?'

"...Haaaaaaaaaa........"

Another deep sigh came out of Cale's mouth.

- ...Is it something serious?

"Human, what is F2F PvP and what is a dark history? Is Ahn Roh Man in danger?"

"Young master-nim, would you like some lemon tea?"

'Aigoo.'

Cale just clenched his eyes shut after hearing Alberu, Raon, and Ron talk one after the other.

Everything felt dark for the first time in a long while.

Author's Note

Hello.

Today, I am here to say hi to celebrate 1000 chapters.

My goodness, 1000 chapters?! A thousand?!

To be honest with you, I still can't believe it.

I clearly remember the emotion I felt when I first released the prologue and first chapter.

But to have already reached 1000 chapters...I have mixed feelings.

Most importantly, I truly feel thankful.

Thank you for being with me until here.

I will continue to do my best to write.

Mm...

Mm...

Mm...

2000 chapters... I probably won't get there, right? Hehe.

Once again, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart.

- Sincerely, Yu Ryeo Han -

Translator's Comments

1000 chapters... lady, maybe you should have just ended it and started Cale's life as KRS the prequel...