Chapter 15: Heading Out (2)

Chapter 15: Heading Out (2) Translator: miraclerifle Editor: Borderline Masochist In order to achieve the results he wanted, Cale had to choose to camp outside. There were no villages along the way until the village near the hidden cave of the Black Dragon. Meeeeeow. The red Cat Tribe kitten Hong meowed and wagged his tail, as if he was excited. It was because of the delicious smell filling the area. ‘The joy of the day comes from eating a delicious dinner.’ That was what Cale was thinking. A warm dinner was the signal to end the long and tiring day and the start of a relaxing night. Tonight’s main course was a soup with rabbit meat. “Damn it.” It was not Ron’s doing. Cale turned his gaze to the side. Choi Han, the person who had caught the rabbits, was happily eating his soup. Meeeeow. Tap. Tap. On and Hong were tapping on his leg, asking him to give it to them if he didn’t want it. Hans had a wide smile on his face as he cautiously approached the two children. “Would our precious kitten-nims like to eat the jerky that I prepared for you? It is very healthy, without any salt or preservatives.” Naturally, On and Hong ignored Hans. Hans, who did not know they were part of the Cat Tribe, found that sass to be cute as well and continued to linger around them. Contrary to the fact that they had their first battle, it was a very relaxed and peaceful environment. However, the atmosphere around the knights seemed to be a bit odd. They kept peeking toward Choi Han, who was eating his soup next to Cale. The Vice Captain seemed to be full of agony. “Tsk.” Cale clicked his tongue. Cale’s party had to fight off tens of bandits today. The one to handle most of those bandits was naturally Choi Han. He did not kill the bandits. However, he had no issues cutting off a limb or leaving them a deep scar. Not only that, he did it in an unbelievable speed too. ‘Young master, the battle is over.’ The Vice Captain had reported this to Cale with a shocked expression on his face. He had not expected it to end so quickly. The bandits were ones who were pushed out of power in a different area nearby. The bandits they had thought were stupid were at their limits and felt that they could handle five knights because of their numbers. Unfortunately, their first target ended up being Cale’s carriage with Choi Han. The reason the Vice Captain’s face was completely pale was not because of the strength of the bandits. Choi Han approached next to the Vice Captain and added on. ‘It was a light battle. Not even enough for a warm-up.’ Cale could see the Vice Captain slightly flinch after hearing Choi Han’s words. He could also see Choi Han smirking while looking at the Vice Captain flinch. ‘He really isn’t the type to let people do as they please with him.’ There was no way that someone like Choi Han, who had no issues beating up the Count’s son, would be nice and let people just continue to mess with him. “Do you have no appetite?” Cale seemed to be frustrated, as Ron approached him with his usual benign smile. He looked back and forth between the rabbit soup and Ron, before suddenly realizing something. This old man enjoyed making fun of him. “Yes. None at all.” Choi Han responded to that statement. “Are you feeling unwell?” “No, nothing like that.” ‘I would have no issues if you caught anything other than rabbits.’ Cale looked toward Choi Han and waved his hand to tell Choi Han to not mind him. However, Choi Han continued to look toward Cale with a serious gaze. “What are you looking at?” “...Was that your first time experiencing a battle?” Cale just casually responded back to Choi Han who asked with a serious expression. “What battle? You mean with the bandits earlier?” “Yes.” “Of course. I’ve never seen so many bandits before.” “I see.” Choi Han nodded his head and quietly mumbled to himself. “...Must have been your first time facing potential death.” Ha. One of the soldiers let out a gasp. Ha! Cale let out a loud gasp as if he was completely shocked. ‘First time facing potential death my ***. Do you know how nervous I’ve been the last few days because of you?’ That wasn’t even it. Ron’s smile as Choi Han brought back the rabbits, the sight of Beacrox sharpening his cooking knife, Cale was also nervous because of them. Cale started to think about all of the nervous moments he has had since they left the Henituse territory. ‘Now I really have no appetite.’ He had lost all of his appetite. Clang. The spoon in Cale’s hand just fell onto the soup bowl. That was why he didn’t realize that the soldiers were looking at him with an understanding gaze, or that Choi Han had stopped paying attention to everyone around him as he nostalgically thought about the past. “Cale-nim.” “What?” Cale was thinking about how he didn’t need to be so nervous anymore because he managed to avoid getting beaten up and also got the Indestructible Shield, when Choi Han’s voice snapped him back to reality. ‘Why does he keep talking to me?’ “The first time is always difficult to handle.” “What are you talking about?” As Cale stoically asked back, Choi Han had a slight smile on his face before he asked in a stoic expression. The gaze in his eyes was extremely serious. “Cale-nim, do you not study any martial arts?” “No need.” “Shouldn’t you at least have the strength to protect yourself?” There was concern in that seriousness. Cale wondered why Choi Han was suddenly becoming so serious, but decided to answer the question anyway. “I have plenty of ways already.” Cale took his gaze off of Choi Han and looked around. 15 soldiers who were stronger than him, and 5 knights who would do well no matter where they went. There were only a few servants aside from them, but Ron, Beacrox, the two kittens, and even deputy butler Hans were much stronger than himself.