Chapter 60: Just Destroy It (2)
Translator: miraclerifle
Editor: Borderline Masochist
Cale got off the carriage once they got to Harris Village, the village closest to the Forest of Darkness. His thoughtss once he got there were simple.
“It’s black.”
It had been a little longer than two months, but Harris Village was still dark. Cale looked down toward his feet to see that there were still black ashes on the ground.
He then looked back forward and heard the Vice Captain’s bitter voice.
“Everything burned down.”
Cale turned around to look at Vice Captain Hilsman.
“Where did they say the graves were?”
“I will go find out.”
It had been a while since Cale had seen Vice Captain Hilsman being so calm, but it wasn't Hilsman’s fault.
A large stone wall. Harris Village, The village located outside of that wall heading into the Forest of Darkness, was no more. All that was left was the crumbling ruins of houses and dark ashes that served as signs that something once existed in this location.
“I feel a strong sensation of fire here.”
“You can feel something like that?”
“I am from a tribe of the sea after all.”
Witira lightly smiled and responded, but then she seemed to get emotional. However, Cale did not have time to pay attention to her. He headed over to the Wolf children who did not seem to be able to get off the carriage.
“Maes.”
“Young master-nim.”
The eldest Wolf, Maes, was stiff after seeing the remains of the village in front of him. Cale was pretty sure that they were currently thinking of their hometown.
“Do you know why I brought all of you here?”
Maes could not answer Cale's question. Cale had not told him why he brought all of them here. It was a small group such that even deputy butler Hans and Beacrox were not here, but they were included.
Maes looked toward Cale with uncertainty. The young master that Lock told them to serve leisurely started to speak with his arms crossed.
“A lot of money is about to fall into my hands.”
“Excuse me?”
The sudden talk about money confused Maes and the Wolf children. Cale just continued to speak without care. The Magic Tower and the Queen of the Jungle. He would have a ton of money after these two interactions. He was also going to bring the rights to a peaceful sea route to his territory.
“And I plan on using some of that money to rebuild this village.”
The term, ‘village,’ caught the children’s attention.
“I also plan on building a villa here for all of you, me, and the rest of the group to play together.”
“...I heard the Forest of Darkness is dangerous.”
“Are you being serious?”
Cale questioned Maes and looked around. On and Hong were getting off the carriage and the Black Dragon was probably flying around somewhere. The Whale siblings were approaching a well that was covered in ashes.
“Will they be stronger than all of you when you grow up?”
The blunt question reached the Wolf children's ears.
“I promised Lock that I would take good care of all of you. That means I also have to provide a place for you to live like the Wolves you are.”
The moment a smile that seemed to say that it was not hard to accomplish at all appeared on Cale's face, a cold wind passed by them. Once some of the black ashes flew away with the wind, Cale's voice once again filled the void.
“I will create that place for you. I will help you grow and develop into great Wolves before Lock gets back.”
Cale looked toward Maes and the Wolf children and started to frown.
“No response?”
“...Y, yes!”
“Yes!”
Cale was not satisfied with the children’s answer and started to walk away. Maes looked toward Cale, who was walking toward the wall, before turning around. His younger siblings were all looking at him.
Maes started to speak.
“...Let’s all grow strong.”
Maes then looked around the village. He was thinking about how this black village would one day become a warm place like the hometown in his mind. Maes could feel that his siblings were feeling the same way, even though they did not say anything.
“Yes, young master.”
So all Cale did was what he needed to do as a member of the Henituse family.
“Tell them to give them proper graves in the future. This is too shabby.”
“...Yes sir!”
Cale patted Hilsman, who responded more energetically than usual, on the shoulder before looking toward the soldiers. The soldiers slowly moved back and Cale kept his hand on Hilsman's shoulder and whispered.
“You know what to do?”
All sorts of emotions appeared on Hilsman's face as he recalled what had happened two nights ago. They were camping out in the when Cale called him over to his tent.
‘I will be going into the Forest of Darkness.’
‘What? Why would someone in recovery go somewhere so dangerous? The perpetrators will not be in there. Do you have to do so much for Choi Han-.’
The small Black Dragon appeared while Hilsman was talking. He was extremely surprised when it had happened. But that was not the end.
Meeeeeow.
The kittens meowed before turning into people. They were Beast people. Furthermore, the Vice Captain felt chills for the first time in his life after seeing the woman pull out a long water whip and the man holding a sword with a whirlpool at its end.
‘Don't worry.’
At the center of all of these strong monsters was Cale, who had a relaxed smile on his face. The fact that Cale seemed so normal around them made Hilsman even more shocked.
Hilsman had made up his mind in the last two days. Although he was someone whose only goal was to become captain, he still wasn't an idiot.
“Yes, I got it, young master-nim.”
“Good.”
Cale turned away without any other issues from Hilsman. Hilsman followed right behind Cale, who continued to speak.
“I trust you.”
That made Hilsman clench his fists. He had thought that it would be enough if he could make it to the Captain position in the Henituse Knights’ brigade. However, his mentality had changes in the last two days. He shared his thoughts with Cale.
“Young master-nim, I will get stronger.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Cale answered disinterestedly, only feeling relieved that it sounded like Hilsman would take care of the headaches.
That was why there were no guards by where Cale was standing in the middle of the night. The Vice-Captain had changed the patrol areas. Cale touched his magic bag while standing in front of the Stone Wall and started to speak.
“There are two swamps in the Forest of Darkness.”
This large forest only had two swamps. Cale leisurely continued to speak after making eye contact with Paseton.
“One is where monsters live and the other is where nothing can live.”
He then asked Paseton.
“Paseton, you said it looked like the mermaids’ poison got stronger. So then which one do you think it will be?”
Paseton nervously answered.
“I think it is the one where nothing can live.”
“Correct. There is a high chance it will be that one. That is why we will be heading there first.”
They could head for the one with the monsters if the first one was not correct. That was actually easier location-wise as well.
At that moment, Witira, who had been quietly standing there, looked to Cale’s sides with concern. She then hesitated for a bit before finally asking the question.
“Won’t it be dangerous for the children?”
On and Hong were dangling on Cale’s sides.
“Young master Cale, you said that the Forest of Darkness is dangerous. And if it is a swamp where nothing can live, it is definitely either that there is poison everywhere or that the swamp itself is dangerous.”
Witira felt something was odd as she continued to speak. The Cat Tribe’s silver kitten On’s tail was happily wagging.
“A dangerous place like that is our specialty. But more importantly, he said we will not get hurt.”
The Cat Tribe was cautious and talented in searches. Witira looked up at Cale because On’s response was not what she had expected. Her eyes then turned wide.
It was because Cale was smirking and the other Cat Tribe child, the red kitten, was also smiling. Both of their smiles seemed villainous. Hong seemed to be very excited as he started to speak.
“I’m going to get stronger today. It’ll be fine!”
It was time to improve the poisonous fog.
A safe encounter for the children, who wanted to get stronger, and Cale, who wanted safety and peace, had arrived. Cale started to speak to Witira.
“It is a great opportunity.”
A poison fog strong enough to impact even the Whale tribe might be completed here if they were lucky.