Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Choi Han stopped leaning against the wall and pushed his body up.
His body was leaning to his left probably because his right ankle was uncomfortable, but Cale did not help him or say anything about him. There was no reason to be any nicer to him than he had already been.
Cale told Choi Han to follow him as he headed toward the Count's estate. However, an existence blocked his path.
Meeeeeeeeow.
The red-furred golden-eyed kitten ran toward Cale and rubbed its cheeks on Cale's shoes. Cale started to frown. He didn't like cats, but this one seemed pretty cute. "Edwin."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Take them to my estate." Cale gestured towards the kittens.
Edwin smiled and nodded. "Understood, sir." He walked toward them and kneeled. Maintaining a safe distance that allows them to abstain if they wish.
"Hello, little ones. I'm Edwin Peregrine. My employer wishes to take you to his residence, may you permit it?" He asks them gently.
The red-furred feline lowers his guard when he senses that Edwin does not hold ill intent towards them while watching the silver feline jump into the human's arms.
It hesitantly walks towards Edwin and leaps in his arms.
Edwin stably carries them both and starts healing them with his mana.
The kittens look at him vigilantly and hence relax their guards when they see their wounds disappear.
Cale felt a shiver down his spine. Choi Han was staring at them.
Edwin walks over to Cale and holds them to him.
Cale awkwardly pets the kittens and began to smile when he saw them rub their heads on his hands.
He gestured for Edwin to hand them over to him.
Cale awkwardly supports the felines before letting Edwin correct his posture. The cats began to purr in satisfaction when he kneads their head with his free hand.
"Hmm, you are quite cute after all."
Cale never understood why people talked to animals. However, Cale had now become that person that was speaking to animals.
Edwin wiped a stray tear that left his eyes with a cloth. 'Is this what it feels like when you watch your child grow up?'
Cale coughs before walking away with Edwin. "Ahem, let's go."
Cale took a peek backward. Choi Han was limping but keeping up with him. They were walking slowly to make it easier for Choi Han to keep up.
They passed the residential area and Cale took another sip of the alcohol.
The bars. Market. Plaza. They then passed the residences of the wealthy and finally arrived at the Count's estate located in the rear of the city.
"What are you doing?"
Cale looked toward Choi Han, who had stopped moving. Choi Han must have seen how the soldiers greeted Cale, as well as how the citizens avoided him, on their way here.
Choi Han was probably questioning whether it really would be easy to kill them both.
"Are you not going to come?"
As expected, Choi Han resumed walking. His reason for following Cale now was probably to get some information as well as to host the funeral for the villagers of Harris Village.
"Y, young master?"
As soon as Cale stood at the main entrance of the estate, the guards and knights stumbled over their words as they greeted him.
'Sigh. I wish they would stop with that y, young master business.'
It was odd hearing them stumbling over their words every time. Since he possessed the body of trash, he was trying his best to act like one. It was easier to be a trash young master than a noble young master. He was trying to make his life as easy as possible. Cale frowned at the guards' stumbling words while the guards quickly opened the gate.
"Please head on in."
Cale turned back to look at Choi Han. The rest of them looked at Choi Han and Edwin as well. They were probably curious about the people that followed their young master back. The knights observed the two with suspicion in their eyes.
"Follow me."
Choi Han should know of Cale's status by now. He continued to limp as he approached Cale.
"Don't follow me."
The knights flinched at Cale's clear order. They looked back and forth between Cale and Choi Han before one of the knights approached Choi Han and Cale with a stiff expression on his face.
The knights cared about their creed more than anything else. It was fitting of the knights that Deruth treasured.
'Well, I guess they have to act like this to be good knights.'
Cale was satisfied with the knight's response. He just led Choi Han and Edwin to the entrance of the Count's residence.
"Young Master, you're back."
"...Yes, Ron."
This scary old man. He had been waiting for Cale outside the door. Cale didn't expect him to be waiting. Cale was scared but thought that it was actually for the better.
Ron's gaze turned toward Choi Han and Edwin, and his benign smile suddenly stiffened.
'Ron should be at a level where he can estimate their strength.'
Choi Han also stared back at Ron. While Edwin smiled brightly at the old man.
Cale didn't care what kind of attacks they were sending each other through their eyes and did what he needed to do. He was not done just yet.
"Follow me."
Cale called out to Choi Han and Edwin once more and started to walk. The servant, Ron, quickly followed Cale.
"Young master, what is going on? I will take care of these guests if you tell me what is needed."
"No need."
Someone else approached Cale as Ron was speaking.
"Young master. You returned after drinking today."
It was the deputy butler Hans.
'Ah, he was responsible for me.'
Cale clicked his tongue and commanded.
"Prepare a bath for them." He gestured at the felines in his arms.
Hans's eyes started to shake.
"W, what cute and lovely kittens!"
This deputy butler did seem to be butler material. Cale carefully put the two kittens in the hands of the extremely excited Hans.
The two kittens, that were dangling in Hans's hands, continued to look at Cale, even when they were in Hans's arms.
"Young master, may I take care of these two lovely kitten-nims?"
"Whatever you want."
Hans started to smile in joy. Cale started to walk past the excited Hans as he added on.
"Ah, for your information, they become quiet if you give them food. The two of them are also siblings."
The two kittens flinched and started to shake. Their golden eyes opened widely as they looked toward Cale.
"Excuse me?"
The moment Hans asked in confusion, Cale moved back toward Hans. He then lowered his head and caressed the two kittens.
The silver kitten had a faint smell of the medicinal herbs he had asked Edwin to give to the girl. When he picked them up, he could also smell the bread.
"Did you think I wouldn't know?"
The two kitten's golden eyes continued to shake.
Cale thought about the moment when he first met Choi Han. The injured silver kitten was growling while the red kitten was whining next to it.
'The silver kitten should be the older sister with grey hair and the younger brother must be the red kitten.'
Cale had a bright smile on his face. He looked toward the kittens and started to speak.
"We'll talk later."
The siblings who seemed to be beast people avoided his gaze and Hans confusingly replied.
"...Are you talking to me?"
"Not you."
"Go, tidy them up."
Hans's eyes twinkle. He bows to Cale and hurries the kittens to the bathroom.
Cale walks towards his destination while motioning to the two guests to follow him.
Cale peeked every so often to make sure they were following him properly and arrived at his destination.
Kitchen #2. Cale pushed the door open as soon as he saw the sign.
Now, Beacrox and Choi Han will meet. Cale's heart was beating fast. The door easily opened. Cale's expression stiffened at the scene in front of him inside the door.
Clang. Clang.
Second Chef Beacrox was smiling while sharpening his blade. He seemed to be enjoying himself while sharpening his blade all alone in kitchen #2. However, that smile disappeared as soon as he saw Cale.
That was why Cale was scared. It was always scary to deal with lunatics. You never knew what crazy things a lunatic would do.
Cale made a move before Beacrox could respond. He put a hand on Choi Han's shoulder and pointed at him.
"Give him something to eat."
"Excuse me?"
Beacrox asked with a stiff expression on his face. The sharp blade in his hand was shining as it reflected the light. Cale calmed his shaking heart as he said it once more.
"Give him something to eat. He's hungry."
Ho. The knight let out a shocked noise from the back, but Cale did not have the time to pay attention to that right now. He waited for Beacrox's response with anxiety. Finally, Beacrox answered with a stiff expression still on his face.
"I will do as you instructed, young master."
It was done.
Beacrox and Choi Han. And even Ron, someone that he did not expect. The three of them were connected now.
A bright smile formed on Cale's face. He could finally relax as he gave Beacrox another order with a slightly higher tone.
"Also prepare something for me and Edwin."
Cale thought about the steak from last night's dinner.
"Your steak last night was the best. You are a great chef."
The tip of Beacrox's knife slightly shook. "Edwin?"
"Oh right, this is Edwin Peregrine. I have appointed him as my attendant."
Ron and Beacrox's eyes slightly widen.
"Something like that steak would be a wonderful meal. Prepare it quickly."
Cale turned around without waiting for Beacrox's response. He then left the kitchen and headed towards his chamber with his attendant and knight.
Since he connected the three of them, he didn't want to deal with anything else for today.
Beacrox and Ron should be able to tell Choi Han's strengths. In the novel, Beacrox originally swears his loyalty to Choi Han because of his strength, so he should pledge his loyalty after figuring out Choi Han's strength this time too. Of course, Cale had some other plans in the case that Beacrox was unable to determine Choi Han's strength.
All Cale had to do was make Choi Han beat someone or something up, without it being him. Oh, and Beacrox had to be there to watch.
"Ah, tell Hans to prepare a bedroom for the cats, the guest, and Edwin." He waved his hands in front of the knight.
"Understood."
As expected, Ron did not follow him. Cale left the knight and Edwin outside his chamber door as he closed the door and laid down on the bed. He was happy. His exhaustion and the alcohol made him fall asleep before the food ever showed up.
That was why he did not know that Beacrox's cooking knife slashed toward Choi Han's and Edwin's neck and that Ron's sharp dagger was flung toward their heart. Of course, both of their attacks had failed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone