Chapter 33: You (8)

Chapter 33: You (8) Translator: miraclerifle Editor: Borderline Masochist Nobody seemed to find it odd that Cale suddenly wanted to head out. Ron seemed to have gone somewhere as well, as he was nowhere to be found. The only question Hans had for Cale was about where Cale was going. ‘Young master, where are you going?’ ‘Don’t worry about it.’ ‘Yes, sir! But since this is your first day in the capital, can you please return without breaking any alcohol bottles today?’ ‘...Are you really going to keep getting out of line like this?’ ‘Not at all. Please be safe, young master.’ Cale got on the carriage and started to think about how to deal with Hans, who kept stepping out of line. The carriage arrived at the temple while he was thinking. “Let’s get off.” “Got it.” Cale got up to step out of the carriage. Choi Han had been quiet ever since they got on the carriage, no, since they stepped out of Cale’s room. He seemed to have a lot of complicated emotions storming through his head right now. Cale only knew about Choi Han’s personality until the fifth volume of, ‘The Birth of a Hero.’ However, there was one thing that Cale was sure about. Although Choi Han was a good person, he was not gullible. He was very smart. ‘If I tried to give an unbelievable excuse, he may believe me at first, but will definitely doubt me later.’ Choi Han may have been very lonely after living in solitude for tens of years, but that experience taught him how to survive on his own, and how to stubbornly persevere. Choi Han may look at him favorably right now and follow him, but, as seen around volume 5 of, ‘The Birth of a Hero,’ he is someone who eventually wishes to be the leader. Choi Han is someone who will live to make his personal view of justice a reality. “...It is too white.” The Temple of the God of Death that Cale saw once he alighted was completely white, without a speck of dirt to be seen. The believers of the God of Death considered white to be the color of death, and cleaned everything over and over again every single day to make sure there was not a speck of dust anywhere on the building. ‘What an interesting place.’ The Temple of the God of Death looked like it wanted to show that people had nothing to fear about the night with their actions. They opened the temple to both believers and non-believers once the sun started to set. ‘Apparently, the priests are all sleeping if you come during the day.’ It really was an interesting place in Cale’s opinion. They were greeted by two priests at the temple entrance. “May you be blessed with a peaceful rest!” “May you be blessed with a peaceful rest!” The priests of the God of Death were generally extremely bubbly. Although people may consider death to be the end, the philosophy of the Church of the God of Death believed that it was important to enjoy life as they headed toward the peaceful rest. “Priest-nim.” Cale slowly approached the priest. The priest inspected Cale with a curious expression. Cale looked like he was either an extremely affluent noble or a wealthy merchant based on his outfit. But the man behind him looked like a beggar, although the sword on his waist made him look somewhat strong. “What can I do for you?” “Is there an open Room of Death?” The two priests’ expressions stiffened. The priest who asked the question looked back and forth between Cale and Choi Han before asking. “Whose death will you be putting on the line?” The priest peeked toward Choi Han as he said that. Choi Han currently looked like he had been rolling on a mountain and been suffering for a while. He also looked like he had not eaten anything for about two days, and seemed to be the type that would be easily scammed. The priest had a bitter feeling about this. The priest turned his gaze over to the affluent noble. Beautiful red hair and a handsome face. He was not very handsome, but it was enough to catch attention wherever he went. In addition, this man was currently smiling. Cale smiled as he slightly raised his hand. “Mine.” “Huh?” Cale smiled once more at the confused priest. “I will be putting my life on the line.” Choi Han put his hand on Cale’s shoulder at that time. “Cale-nim.” “What?” Cale turned around to see Choi Han with a stiff, yet anxious expression. “I will believe you even if you don’t do this.” Cale started to smirk and slowly responded. “I don’t think you will.” Choi Han will have no choice but to not believe him. How could he believe Cale when Cale was not planning to tell him anything? That was why they were at the temple. ‘Why would I tell him everything? That’ll just make me get involved in the mess.’ There was no reason for him to get involved with Choi Han that much. Cale wouldn’t be able to live a peaceful life if Choi Han was around. It’s already visible. Didn’t Choi Han bring him more trouble to him by bringing all of the wolf children? ‘He rides on the whales with the Whale Tribe to fight against mermaids in the future.’ In this human-centric world, Choi Han’s position to embrace both humans and non-humans makes him start to change. The start of that is the Whale Tribe. The Whale Tribe that appeared at the beginning of volume 5 was, to be honest, quite scary. ‘They were the deadliest predators.’ The Whale Tribe was the strongest of the Beast people. They were also the most beautiful Beast people. The Whale Tribe had different colors of black, grey, or pink, but they were all extremely beautiful. In comparison, the mermaids of this world had two legs and fins, looking like a human covered in scales. ‘But they are so stubborn that they won’t even be humble in front of a dragon.’ The Whale Tribe was extremely scary. Although they were small in number, their casual punch could easily blow up a human’s head. Even Lock could not lift a finger to the Whale Tribe. ‘Their temper is ruthless.’ Choi Han gets involved with all sorts of people and trouble as well. Cale had no desire to continue being involved with him. “Priest-nim. The room?” “Yes, we have one. I will prepare it for you right away. Please head to the basement.” “Thank you.” Cale started to walk behind the priest. Choi Han followed behind Cale with an iffy expression. Cale noticed Choi Han’s movement, and leisurely walked toward the innermost area of the temple. After walking for a long time, they could see numerous doors on one side of the wall. The priest opened one of those doors to reveal a staircase leading down into the basement. “Death awaits you at the bottom.” “Great. Let’s go.” The priest watched Cale walking down the stairs without any hesitation with interest. The, ‘death,’ that is mentioned in the Temple of Death also meant, ‘vow.’ Death was something that was guaranteed to visit you at some point. It was not something you could avoid, and your responsibility was to accept your role in the world while you are here. That was why the officials of the Temple of the God of Death brought the end known as death for those who go against their vow. Because of this, people who headed to this Room of Death, or sometimes called the Room of Vows, tended to be humble and serious. In contrast, this relaxed and confident person was really unique in the priest’s eyes. ‘It makes me think about priestess Cage.’ She was someone who cursed the temple extremely frequently, but she was still loved by the lord. Cage. The priest suddenly thought about her, but quickly erased it from her thoughts. At the same time, Cage was becoming frustrated while hearing the lord’s voice again. After getting rid of the thoughts about Cage, the priest headed down the stairs behind Cale. Once they got to the bottom, the priest opened the door and informed Cale and Choi Han. “Please wait a moment. I will get it ready.” The priest then entered into the room alone. Cale looked toward the closed door and started to speak. “If you really don’t think we need to do this, I will let you know one of the truths in advance. What do you think?” Choi Han immediately responded. “Yes, please tell me. I trust you.” “Is that so?” Cale rubbed his chin with one hand before casually spitting the truth out. “The first of the two truths.” His gaze turned toward Choi Han. “I do not know the secret organization’s identity nor their goal.” “...What the-” Choi Han’s pupils started to shake. At that moment, they heard a click and the priest came back out of the room. “You can enter now. The person putting their life on the line just needs to raise their hand once inside the room for the priest-nim.” “Thank you. We understand.” Compared to the relaxed Cale, Choi Han seemed extremely confused and anxious. The priest tilted his head in confusion at this, but quietly left the area. It was none of his business. Cale grabbed the doorknob as he turned to look back at Choi Han. “Hard to believe?” “That, you see.” Cale could see Choi Han struggling to answer. Choi Han had said he trusted Cale, but he could not trust Cale’s words. How could Cale not know? Did that make any sense? Choi Han then heard Cale’s voice in his ear. “I understand.” Choi Han looked toward Cale. Cale’s relaxed expression made him seem very mature. Cale then started to speak. “Let’s go in.” Choi Han followed Cale into the Room of Death that was behind the white door. As expected, the room was completely white, with a white table, white chair, and white walls. The only non-white thing in the room was the priest who was standing there with his mouth and ears covered. The deaf priest. Cale did not really look favorably upon that title, but these priests were pretty well respected in this world. Nobles and royalty, anybody who needed to have a secret conversation or stealthily sign a contract came to see these priests. Cale silently bowed his head to greet the priest before raising his hand. The priest nodded at Cale’s action and pointed to the two chairs by the table. Cale sat down on the right side while Choi Han sat across from him on the left. The priest moved to the head of the table before pushing a piece of paper toward them. [For the person who is putting their life on the line. The hand of the God of Death will touch the one who came with you. Once that happens, you can say your vow. Should you break your vow, death awaits you.] What a vicious set of directions. Cale pushed the paper back to the priest after verifying that Choi Han had finished reading. The priest then lifted both of his hands up like Cage had done before. At that moment. Ooooooooong- oooooooong- The white room started to shake. Maybe it was because this was a place that served the lord, but a black smoke started to form around the priest once the room started to shake. The black smoke then surrounded both Choi Han and Cale before creating a connection between the two of them. “...Is this the power of the God of Death?” “Yes.” Cale responded to Choi Han’s question before trying to feel the black smoke thread surrounding him. It happened when Cage made the vow as well, but the power of the God of Death reminded him of the stakes of this vow. ‘I will die if I break this vow.’ Cale was sure Choi Han felt it as well. That must be why his face stiffened up. Cale could feel the touch of the God of Death and started his vow. “The priest in front of me guarantees that he cannot hear, and, if that is not the truth, he will pay the price with his life.” This was the general phrase stated first whenever a vow was made with a deaf priest. “Furthermore, I, Cale Henituse, vow to speak the truth to Choi Han in front of the God of Eternal Rest, and, if what I say is even slightly a lie, I will immediately die in this spot to pay the price.”