"..."/'...' - People speak/thought
"..." /'...'- Haitham speak/thought
[...]/{...} - Dietrich and Dion speak/thought
|...| - Cannot be seen/blur
Note : Enjoy the song above as a sweetener
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While waiting for the guests to clear their minds, Haitham, Dietrich, Dion, and Cale were chatting on their thrones, rather it was the three of them who invited Cale to chat. Dietrich and Dion didn't say much because they had chatted with Cale before. But it was different from Haitham who hadn't chatted directly with Cale, he was very excited while chatting with Cale.
Once everyone had calmed down and cleared their minds, they looked at the four people who were chatting and jokingly laughing. Alberu decided to speak on behalf of everyone to say that they were ready to react to whatever Haitham had to show.
"Haitham-nim, we have all calmed down and cleared our minds. I think we are all ready" said Alberu to Haitham.
"It seems that what Crown Prince Alberu said is true. You all look ready to see this," said Haitham while observing all the guests in the theater.
'Even though Young Master Cale is known as trash, it will still be bad if the outcome of his decision is harmful to the Roan Kingdom' thought several nobles.
'Why should that trash?' thought Choi Han who chose to remain silent.
'Why are they all still unaware of the glorious impact of Cale's decision? This makes me quite frustrated' thought Haitham before he opened his mouth.
Before Haitham opened his mouth, Dietrich had already opened his mouth.
[For starters, should we see the beginning of it all? Or the reason Cale did all that? What do you think, Dion?] said Dietrich who asked for Dion's opinion.
[I've seen the contents of all these Chapters because I'm the one who supervises His Highness the Prince in carrying out his duties. Haitham-sama, please show Chapter 656. I think it's a good start] Dion replied thoughtfully.
"Okay," said Haitham shortly.
The large black screen in front started to turn white and showed writing along with a picture of two men back to back in the background. The first man was Cale Henituse but with long hair and the second man was a man with black hair with a scar on his neck.
| Chapter 656 : Everything Can Be Connected (6) |
"Everything... Can be connected?" said the Henituse Family in confusion.
| Kim Rok Soo who was in Cale Henituse's body...
And Cale Henituse who was in Kim Rok Soo's body... |
"WHAT?!" said everyone in the theater.
"How can someone be in my son's body?!" said Count Henituse with a panicked expression.
"Korean name..." Choi Han muttered in shock.
| The two of them could not take their eyes off of each other for a while.
"Cale Henituse."
The first to speak was Kim Rok Soo, who was currently using Cale Henituse's body. |
"Looks like they both know each other" said Ron who still couldn't believe that his former Young Master would do something like a body swap.
"Why did you do that, Cale?" Count Deruth muttered with an expression of disbelief at his eldest son's decision.
| "How am I able to meet with you?"
"I'm not sure. I was working the night shift and fell asleep for a moment to see that you were in this bed. But you see..."
The real Cale Henituse, who was making a kind of smile the original Kim Rok Soo would never make, mischievously asked.
"Aren't you planning on living in that body?" |
"Looks like the two of them agreed to swap bodies," said Beacrox with a look of disbelief.
'Did Hyung decide to leave us?' thought Basen with concern.
"I think this person named Kim Rok Soo is an commoner because Young Master Cale who was in his body said that he was 'working'" said Rosalyn.
| The sudden question that was asked mischievously felt quite heavy. The real Cale Henituse shrugged his shoulders and added on.
"I plan on living the rest of my life in this body. That's why I plan on throwing away the name of Cale Henituse and living as Kim Rok Soo."
The real Cale Henituse's eyes were calm. They weren't shaking at all. |
"Cale?!" said Count Deruth and Countess Violan in surprise at Cale's words on the screen.
'Cale Henituse doesn't hesitate to throw away his noble life and give it to someone else, then live as a commoner?!' thought some of the nobles with disbelieving eyes.
"Why did you do that, Cale?!" asked Eric who couldn't believe Cale's words.
"I don't know, maybe that will be my future decision," Cale replied while shrugging his shoulders.
| The real Kim Rok Soo quietly looked at the person who was in his real body before opening his mouth.
"...So you want me to call you Kim Rok Soo?"
"That's right. Why? You don't want to? Don't you plan on finishing your life as Cale Henituse as well? Then you should throw away the name of Kim Rok Soo now."
"Pffft." |
"It seems that person is also planning to live as Cale Henituse" Alberu said while slightly frowning.
Everyone in the theater couldn't believe that Young Master Cale would so easily throw away the noble life he was leading and prefer to live as a commoner. He swapped bodies with a commoner he knew. Or at least that's what they thought.
People usually always pursued power, especially a noble. Normally, nobles wouldn't even hesitate to harm their own brothers for the sake of a noble position. Now they are shown that a Young Master gives his noble life to someone and prefers to live as a commoner. Of course they didn't believe that.
| Kim Rok Soo inside Cale Henituse's body... No, the person who had made up his mind to become Cale Henituse nodded his head and continued speaking.
"Sure. We'll do as you said, Kim Rok Soo."
"Good, Cale Henituse. Now our outer appearances match our names."
Cale looked at Kim Rok Soo, who was laughing and making gestures that he would never have made, and nonchalantly added on.
"I guess you've really been happy." |
Everyone in the theater fell silent. He's happy with the life of the common people? A Young Master happy with the life of a commoner? They couldn't say anything. They do not believe what is shown to them.
| He recalled the moment he met with Lee Soo Hyuk and got the 'Embrace' ability.
Lee Soo Hyuk had handed Cale the ability and told him about the real Cale Henituse as he disappeared.
'Oh, by the way, the original owner of your body is living well too. He's happy. That is why Jung Soo, I, and everybody is happy.
'Kim Rok Soo had a bright smile that suited a twenty-year-old person and not someone in his mid-thirties.
"Yeah. I met someone I wanted to see for a long time." |
'Another Korean name.... Did the trash accidentally meet some Korean people who were transported to this world and befriend them?' thought Choi Han.
"Someone Cale wanted to meet for a long time...?" asked Count Deruth.
'Someone I want to meet...? Could it be...?!' Cale thought while looking at Dietrich, Dion and Haitham.
Dietrich, Dion, and Haitham who noticed Cale's gaze that was filled with hope, only replied by nodding their heads. There was only one person Cale really wanted to meet and that was....
| Cale felt quite odd facing Kim Rok Soo, who was smiling in a way he had never smiled when he had been Kim Rok Soo.
"Who was the person you wanted to see?"
"My mother." |
The theater room fell into silence when the word "my mother" appeared on the screen. The Henituse family wore shocked expressions and widened their eyes. As for Cale, he had an expression like he wanted to cry with teary eyes. Cale did not expect that it would turn out that he would be able to reunite with the mother he had missed.
Dietrich stroked Cale's back, Dion patted Cale's shoulder, and Haitham stroked Cale's hair. Dietrich and Dion know very well what it's like to lose someone they love. Dietrich and Dion also lost their parents for some reason. In that abyss of despair, they felt helpless. However, the God of Calamity and Haitham saved them both from the abyss of despair. The God of Calamity also raised the two of them as if he were raising his own child.
Therefore, when they saw Cale who had lost the mother he loved and had no one to depend on, they felt that the two of them and Cale were somewhat similar. Dietrich and Dion were amazed that Cale was able to endure all the sadness he was feeling and he always put the happiness of his father's new family ahead of his own happiness.
'Cale is reunited with Jour? No way... Cale can't possibly die in the future, can he?' thought Count Deruth anxiously.
| Cale was at a loss for words.
It was someone who had felt distant to Cale because she was not mentioned much in < The Birth of a Hero >. Duchess Violan felt more like a mother to him.
Now that he thought about it, Cale had never heard anything about Cale Henituse's birth mother during his time at the Henituse Estate.
It was pretty much taboo to talk about Cale's birth mother in that house.
Kim Rok Soo shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking after seeing the confused look on Cale's face.
"Cale Henituse, my mother reincarnated in the world you used to live in, the world I live in now." |
"Reincarnated?! So, Cale really died in the future?!" said Count Deruth with a shocked expression.
"Well, that's how it is. Cale died at the age of around forty" Haitham replied calmly.
| "...She reincarnated on Earth?"
"Yeah. Earth 1. That's the world Team Leader Kim Rok Soo in his thirties is in." |
"Team leader? Cale became the Team Leader in the body of the man named Kim Rok Soo?" said Countess Violan.
"I just realized, this man named Kim Rok Soo is already in his thirties?" said Rosalyn.
[Yes, Kim Rok Soo was 36 years old when he first switched bodies with Cale] Dietrich replied while drinking the tea that appeared out of nowhere.
[However, Cale who is already around 40 years old gave his 18 year old body to Kim Rok Soo, while he got Kim Rok Soo's body who is still 36 years old] Dion said while eating the cake which again appeared out of nowhere.
"Where did you two get that cake and tea?" asked Cale who was curious because the person beside him suddenly ate something even though there was no food near them.
"Oh my, I haven't told you yet? If you all want to eat something while watching, you just have to imagine the food you want to eat" replied Haitham who immediately told how to get food at the theater. Haitham forgot to tell them.
| Cale learned that his original world was Earth 1. He also recalled that Alberu's Unbreakable Spear Taerang came from Earth 3.
'Does that mean that the sealed god's test was on Earth 2?'
Cale pushed that potentially true but unverified thought to the side to focus on Kim Rok Soo's words.
"My reincarnated mother lost her parents when she was very young because of an unranked monster's attack and was left all alone. I'm trying hard to become her family."
A bitter yet proud smile was on Kim Rok Soo's face. Cale thought for a moment before asking.
"If she reincarnated, she should be younger than you, no?"
"Ha. She currently calls me uncle." |
"Pfft...!" some people tried to hold back their laughter.
"To be called uncle by your own mother is a bit..." said Cage while holding back her laughter.
Cale just stared at the screen with a funny expression on his face. Dietrich and Dion covered their mouths to keep their laughter from escaping and Haitham turned his face away with his shoulders shaking slightly from holding back laughter.
| Kim Rok Soo shook his head as if he still couldn't believe it.
But the fact that he did not seem lonely made Cale understand why the real Cale Henituse made up his mind to live as Kim Rok Soo. Kim Rok Soo sat up and looked toward Cale, who was leaning on the head of the bed.
"I want to tell you the details, but I don't know how much time we have so I'll stop this story there."
"Okay."
Cale shared his honest sentiments.
"I want to hear the details, but I'm kind of in a rush right now."
He was worried about what might have happened in Puzzle City and how his friends would be fighting while he was unconscious. |
"What's going on in Puzzle City?!" asked Crown Prince Alberu with a panicked expression.
Some of the people in the theater had worried faces especially the hero party. However, they did not get any response from the son of the God of Calamity. They decided to keep watching. They may find the information they need.
| "But I've been here a few times to know that I can't get out of here whenever I please."
Cale could never leave this place on his own accord the few times he had been here.
"Really? I didn't know. I still have a lot of work to do."
Kim Rok Soo nodded his head as if he got some good information before hesitating for a moment and then adding on. |
"Ha! I still can't believe a trash like him can work so well" said Neo Tolz.
'I don't remember putting him in this theater. It's rare for me to forget something so quickly. This bastard looks like he deserves to be forgotten' thought Haitham as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, he must be very busy, considering that he is a Team Leader. I'm glad that Cale has become so responsible" said Countess Violan who was showing a proud expression.
| "...The family is all well?"
"Of course."
Kim Rok Soo smiled differently after hearing Cale's nonchalant but firm response. His sorrowful smile made Cale a bit emotional. That was why he added on.
"Everybody is doing well. Father and mother are healthy. Lily is learning to use the sword. I want to make Basen be the territory Lord. But for now, he is just helping out with the administration of the territory."
"Hmm." |
The Henituse family was touched and happy. Even though Cale chose to leave them in the future instead of staying with them, Cale still cared about them even though they were already different worlds.
| Kim Rok Soo scratched his forehead with his index finger.
"Cale, don't you think that Basen should be the next territory lord?"
"I'm not going to do it. Lily or Basen can do it if they want. Basen seemed almost willing to do it when I saw him last time."
Cale looked disgusted at the thought of becoming the territory lord, and Kim Rok Soo looked at Cale Henituse's expression that he would have never made if he was still in his body and started to speak again.
"His personality is a perfect fit for the territory lord. I guess he still doesn't think that the position should be his though."
Cale stared at Kim Rok Soo when he heard that. Kim Rok Soo flinched before realizing something and quietly laughing.
"Basen... Yes, you're curious about Basen, right? You've probably been thinking about his age. We're only three years apart. You probably thought it was weird. It wasn't mentioned in The Birth of a Hero after all."
"The Birth of a Hero? You know about the book?" |
"The Birth of a Hero? Why are they even talking about novels now?" asked Rosalyn, holding her chin.
"Well, for Kim Rok Soo's world, your world is a novel. A novel that tells about the journey of a high school boy named Choi Han who was suddenly transported to another world. I also read that novel" Haitham replied while drinking his tea.
| "Of course. I was in your room when I opened my eyes and the book was there."
Kim Rok Soo answered as if it was nothing before debating for a moment and looking at Cale.
"When I first spoke to Basen..."
It had been less than one month since Basen came to the Henituse County with Countess Violan.
"I said these things to that kid at that time."
Kim Rok Soo recalled that moment and repeated the words he said to Basen to Cale.
"Basen. You are part of the Henituse household. Remember that. No matter where you go, your family name is Henituse. Got it? Don't you remember what father said? Listen to me unless you are an idiot. Tell people that the Henituse blood flows through you. Tell them that no matter what."
Basen had responded back saying he couldn't do that, and the young Cale had responded like this.
"Shut the hell up. Do as I said. Otherwise, you won't be able to live in this house. Do you think that the cousins and the collateral family will leave you alone? Are you going to be dumb?"
"Hmm." |
"Hyung..." Basen muttered with a sad expression.
Those who do not know about the truth of this quarrel can only be silent embarrassed because they are too consumed by the rumors circulating (not necessarily true, I am not a reader of the novel). At that time, they thought that Cale just wanted to make a fuss.
| Cale made a noise as he quietly listened.
"Cale."
Kim Rok Soo gently grabbed Cale's shoulder.
"I don't know whose blood flows through Basen Henituse's body, but that kid is my younger brother, Lily's older brother, Count Deruth's son, and Countess Violan's son. He's definitely someone with the mindset of Count Henituse's family."
Cale looked at the emotions flowing through Kim Rok Soo's eyes before closing his eyes for a moment and then opening them back. He recalled Basen's face in his mind when he closed his eyes. Even if their hair color was different... He could see the weak yet stubborn face that resembled the pale Cale's face than Deruth's or Violan's.
"Basen is my dongsaeng as well."
"......He is. What else do you need other than that?"
Kim Rok Soo removed his hand from Cale's shoulder while looking at Cale's expression that seemed to be saying that there was no need to respond to him. He then added on.
"You can ask Countess Violan about the details. You'll probably need to chat with her if you want Basen to be the territory lord." |
"He is different from the rumors circulating..." Crown Prince Alberu muttered. Alberu felt that this Cale Henituse that was in Kim Rok Soo's body wasn't a piece of trash like the rumors said.
"Huh... Rumors are always unbelievable," muttered the crown prince again as he leaned back in his chair.
| Kim Rok Soo shook his head with nostalgic eyes, as if he was thinking about the past.
"...Haaaa. No matter how much I acted as trash and the cousins wanted to kick me out, the Countess and Basen wouldn't budge. You'll need to convince Countess Violan if you don't want to be the territory lord."
"Ah."
Cale let out a small gasp. Kim Rok Soo looked at him with confusion as Cale sternly corrected him.
"It's the Henituse Duchy now. It's no longer a County."
"Wow. That's amazing."
"Yeah. It is. We're quite an amazing household." |
"Eh? The Henituse Family is the Duke's Household... in the future?" asked Basen with slightly widened eyes.
"Well, it was thanks to Kim Rok Soo's great achievements while in Cale's body" Haitham replied.
| Kim Rok Soo had a bright smile on his face as he watched Cale nod his head. Cale frowned.
"...Hey."
"What's wrong?"
"... You... Don't the others say anything when you smile like that in my body?"
Kim Rok Soo touched the corners of his lips as if he was wondering what the issue was.
"What's wrong with my smile? They were all happy that their team leader-nim let them go home early."
"...Are you doing your job properly?" |
"This person named Kim Rok Soo seems to be a hard person to his subordinates," said Lock while eating the cookie he got after imagining the food.
| "Of course. I'm going to make sure to save this world I'm living in right now. I'll make it so that the people around me can live in peace."
Cale closed his mouth after hearing Kim Rok Soo's response. He had the same desires as the real Cale Henituse. This world where he was living as Cale right now... He wanted to protect this place. He would definitely protect this place.
"Ah, but is my smile really weird?"
Kim Rok Soo was still touching the corners of his lips.
"I think it gives off a mature feel and makes me look charming."
Cale almost scoffed in disbelief.
"Ho. You're talking about a mature feel with my face-"
He felt as if he would get a headache for a different reason. He had never imagined meeting the real Cale Henituse, but he definitely did not expect to hear such bullshit now that he somehow did meet him. Kim Rok Soo responded as if there was no problem.
"Of course. I'm over forty years old after all."
'What?' |
"It seems that Kim Rok Soo doesn't know that Young Master Cale is over 40 years old. I mean, Kim Rok Soo was transferred to Young Master Cale's body who is still 18 years old," said Queen Litana.
Almost everyone agreed with Queen Litana's words.
| Cale's gaze turned sharp as he looked toward Kim Rok Soo.
"...Why are you forty?"
Cale had opened his eyes inside the 18 years old Cale Henituse's body. Kim Rok Soo looked right into Cale's confused eyes and opened his mouth.
"The moment Choi Jung Soo died, the God of Death offered him a deal."
He was asked whether he wanted to stay alive and be transported to a different world or to save Kim Rok Soo. The God of Death told Choi Jung Soo to make the decision, and Choi Jung Soo chose his death. |
"This person named Choi Jung Soo is really a good person. He chose his own death to save Kim Rok Soo," said Saint Jack.
Queen Litana and Rosalyn agreed with Saint Jack. It was rare for people to choose their own death to save someone in their world.
| "The God of Death offers you a deal at the moment of your death or if you are in extreme danger that could potentially lead to your death. When I was forty... Umm, basically, the God of Death offered me a deal when I was about to die and I accepted it."
Kim Rok Soo. The real Cale Henituse had accepted the deal with the God of Death.
"The conditions the God of Death offered me were simple."
Cale could finally see the remorse deep inside Kim Rok Soo's eyes that was clearly different from Kim Rok Soo's bright smile. That emotion was similar to Cale's own emotions. Kim Rok Soo continued speaking to the one person he could share the conditions of his deal with.
"As soon as I returned to the moment I met Choi Han, the starting point that could change the fate of our world, I would go into the body of a person named Kim Rok Soo in a different world. That was the condition of the deal." |
"So time repetition and body swapping are conditions offered by the God of Death" said Ron with his trademark smile.
| The God of Death had also told him that his mother had reincarnated into this Kim Rok Soo person's world and was living a lonely life.
"Do you know why I accepted that deal?"
Kim Rok Soo put his hand against his forehead as if he had a headache. He closed his eyes. The eyes that were full of remorse could no longer be seen.
"Where should I start... Hmm..."
He was silent for a bit before finally starting to speak again.
"I hate Harris Village." |
"Why?!" said Choi Han with a little shout.
Rosalyn and Lock held Choi Han's hand and tried to calm him down. Rosalyn told Choi Han to sit back and watch, maybe he could find the reason.
| 'Harris Village?'
Cale recalled the information about Harris Village after unexpectedly hearing about it. The Forest of Darkness was one of the Forbidden Regions. Harris Village was the village separated from the forest by a single wall. It was where Choi Han first met people of this world after finding his way out of the Forest of Darkness and where the Tigers, Wolves, and Cale's friends resided right now.
Choi Han left Harris Village and headed for the Henituse Lord's Estate after the people of the village were massacred by Arm. Kim Rok Soo's eyes were still closed as he continued to speak.
"My mother said that she was going to visit Harris Village. There was something she needed to bury there. I found it odd that my mother needed to go to a village she had no connections with, a village that was just one of many in our territory."
His voice was calm, but the things he was saying were quite shocking.
"My mother left for Harris Village even though it was pouring rain and the wind was strong. I was quite worried because her body had always been weak. And then..."
Kim Rok Soo stopped for a moment as if it was difficult to say before continuing with a stoic expression on his face.
"She ended up seriously injured because the carriage tipped over on her way back due to the storm. She received treatment back home after that but unfortunately, she passed away." |
Choi Han who already knew the reason behind Cale hating Harris village, felt a little guilty for beating Cale until he was badly injured. Remember, Choi Han only felt a LITTLE amount of guilt towards Cale.
| Cale felt as if he could hear the roaring wind from that day despite never having heard it. Kim Rok Soo was calm.
"But the carriage accident was not the reason my mother passed away. It wasn't that bad of an accident. Nobody other than my mother got hurt either. But everybody thinks that my mother passed away because of the injuries from the accident."
He sighed while keeping his eyes closed.
"I only learned about the real reason for her death after meeting the God of Death. My mother..."
He stopped for a moment and opened his eyes to look at Cale.
"I think that my mother expected things would end up like this."
As if he was opening a chest that had sunk deep down inside a lake... Kim Rok Soo started to share these old stories with the person who was living as Cale Henituse in his place.
"Cale."
Kim Rok Soo spoke with sorrow visible on his face.
"My mother possessed an ancient power."
'...What?' |
"What?" just like on the screen, the Henituse Family responded with a shocked expression.
Everyone including the Henituse family never knew that Cale's birth mother possessed ancient powers. Count Deruth himself also didn't know that his late first wife possessed ancient powers. So, this information came as a bit of a shock to those in the theater.
| Cale couldn't hide his shock this time. Cale Henituse's birth mother possessed an ancient power. He had never expected that.
The Birth of a Hero...
The story of someone who was neither the main character nor a supporting character, the story of an extra in the story was being shared. However, it was also the story of someone who just lived her life, even if it wasn't mentioned in the story. |
After the last text appears on the screen, the screen goes black again. Haitham who realized that Chapter 656 was over, immediately got up from his seat and opened his mouth.
"Alright, distinguished guests. That is the content of chapter 656 which is about the meeting between Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse who have switched bodies. In order to process the information, I will give you 1 hour to rest. If you are looking for a room to relax , you can use the left door. There is a room that fits your number, a kitchen, a meeting room, and others. Have a good rest" said Haitham who came out of the theater room through the right door.
Cale who was initially worried that he would be bombarded with questions when he saw Haitham exit the theater, was relieved that Dietrich and Dion pulled his hand to accompany them out of the theater through the door on the right. It seemed like the door on the right was a special room for Haitham, Dietrich, Dion, and Cale only because when they tried to open the door on the right, it couldn't open even though they hadn't seen it locked before.
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To Be Continue
OK, hello readers. My name is Doumei. This is my first reaction fanfic on wattpad. There may also be some English mistakes in this story because English is not my native language. However, I hope you enjoy this story. Nice to meet you all.