# The Birth of a Hero? (3)
Cale received the robe from Ron and just put it over his pajamas.
"Choi Han, Ron. The two of you stay here."
Cale was currently in critical condition. Choi Han needed to stand guard and Ron needed to remain here in order to continue that act.
"Yes, young master-nim."
Ron answered without any complaints, but his face did not look good. He seemed to be concerned about the ancient Dragon.
"...I understand, Cale-nim."
Choi Han responded a beat later, but Cale could not pay any attention to that right now.
"Young master Cale. Hurry!"
"Let's go right away, Miss Rosalyn."
Ooooooooong-
Rosalyn was already creating a teleportation magic circle.
She seemed to have chosen teleportation over invisibility or flight magic because every second mattered.
Cale moved to the teleportation magic circle Rosalyn just finished as she called for him.
Rosalyn activated the spell right away.
Paat-
The two of them soon disappeared with a bright light and the comment Cale made before he left remained like an afterimage.
"Eruhaben-nim will be fine."
His stern voice filled the quiet room.
Ron looked at the spot from where Cale disappeared before nonchalantly commenting.
"And what the hell is your problem?"
His slowly moving gaze reached Choi Han. Choi Han was not looking at Ron but at the teleportation magic circle that remained.
"Tsk."
The moment Ron clicked his tongue...
Knock knock knock-
Choi Han moved immediately after hearing the knocks.
His quick movement let Ron know that Choi Han was not thinking about something else. He just did not want to answer and chose to ignore Ron.
'His old habits are coming out.'
It reminded Ron of when Choi Han used to be a cheeky little punk.
However, a gentle smile soon appeared on his face.
Click.
Choi Han opened the door slightly to see King Zed Crossman's personal Chief of Staff.
"Ahem."
The Chief of Staff moved his head to look inside.
"Hello, Chief of Staff-nim."
Unfortunately, Ron used clever movements to block his view and closed the bedroom door once he walked out.
Click.
The Chief of Staff looked at the firmly closed door as if he was disappointed but quickly got rid of that look and started speaking.
"Do you remember that his Majesty wishes to speak with young master Cale?"
'King Zed was looking for Cale. But why had he not responded? Did you even tell young master Cale about it?'
These things were what the Chief of Staff was basically asking. Ron looked around the hallway.
Only people Alberu allowed were allowed into this City Hall Annex. Of course, they believed that Alberu, Cale, and Mary were in critical conditions.
Alberu was the type to trick his allies first.
People like this Chief of Staff were exceptions to Alberu's selection who were still allowed to move about the Annex.
Ron lowered his head at the Chief of Staff's comment.
"My apologies, Chief of Staff-nim. The young master-nim is currently... not in a state in which he can oblige to his Majesty's will."
The Chief of Staff's face stiffened as he cautiously asked.
"...How bad is it?"
Information regarding the patients in this annex was currently top secret. Nobody other than an extremely select few knew about Cale's condition.
Ron took a step toward the Chief of Staff and spoke quietly, as if he was whispering in his ear. Of course, it was loud enough for the guards stationed in the hallway to hear.
"The young master-nim is currently unable to come outside."
It was obvious. Cale was already outside, so he couldn't come out.
"Furthermore, it is difficult to chat with him."
That was right. Cale wasn't here, so chatting with him was difficult unless Ron used a video communication device.
"Hoooo... Is that so?"
The Chief of Staff barely held back a sigh and observed Ron's face. His face showed no signs of lying.
'Hmm. He's not the type to lie about something like this.'
Although the Chief of Staff was speaking casually to Ron right now, he was aware of the things Ron had done in Puzzle City. Despite not knowing Ron's true identity, he knew that Ron was no ordinary attendant.
"I understand. I will inform his Majesty exactly as you told me."
"My apologies once again, Chief of Staff-nim."
"Not at all."
The Chief of Staff stopped walking and turned back to speak to Ron.
The Chief of Staff was someone who needed to put all their attention on information, power, and politics, but he was also a person with emotions and tact.
"I hope that Commander Cale recovers fully very quickly. I have faith that he will."
"Thank you very much."
The Chief of Staff smiled at Ron, who thanked him in a more respectful manner than before, and started walking.
Ron entered the bedroom again after seeing the Chief of Staff depart.
Choi Han headed outside the door instead of Ron. It was so that he could stand guard outside. Choi Han heard Ron open the bedroom window and say something at that moment.
"Go find out about the Chief of Staff."
He could not see anything outside the window. However, Choi Han observed faint movements on the ceiling above the window. The movement was so stealthy that only someone at the sword master level would notice.
"Pffft."
Choi Han chuckled and closed the door.
"Still the same."
Ron was still just as wily.
Of course, Choi Han thought that he himself had not changed either. He strolled through the hallway and made eye contact with people who peeked toward the door.
Nobody would be able to get past him.
He then quietly prayed.
"...Please."
'Please let Eruhaben-nim heal.'
Choi Han firmed his resolve while waiting for Cale to return.
"...Stronger......"
He needed to get stronger.
He could not share that whisper with anybody.
* * *
"Human!"
"Meeeeeow!"
"Meeow!"
Raon, Hong, and On jumped into Cale's arms.
"Eek!"
"Oh!"
"...He's fine?"
They were all shocked.
Cale, who usually staggered when all three of them jumped on him when his condition was not good, only took one step back and was standing firm.
It meant that he was in the best possible condition.
"Move over for now."
Cale nonchalantly pushed the children to the side and approached the bed. Cale motioned to On with his eyes and she nodded her head before taking the children out of the room.
This was one of the bedrooms in the Black Castle.
"...You're...here?"
Eruhaben, who was lying on the bed, greeted him in a weak voice.
"You don't seem in that serious of a condition, Eruhaben-nim."
Eruhaben chuckled at Cale's calm comment. Even that looked weak, but Eruhaben's gaze was firm.
Mila, who was sitting next to the bed, started speaking.
"He is dying."
"...Old...age......"
Eruhaben restored before Rosalyn raised her voice, unable to maintain her usual calm.
"It's not from old age, it's because you pushed yourself too much!"
Eruhaben's face was pale as he lay on the bed. He did not have any injuries nor broken bones.
However, his usually radiant gold hair had lost its light and was turning dull and shabby. The radiant gold light was slowly fading away from the tip.
'...No.'
Rosalyn bit down on her lips and looked toward Cale and Mila.
"Mila-nim! Young master Cale is here, so please, the artifact-!"
Rosalyn's fingertips were touching the small jar on the table next to the bed. The jar was about the size of an alcohol bottle. The item that had been full of cracks was now completely fine.
"What should we do, young master Cale?"
Mila looked toward the owner of the artifact.
"I got rid of all the cracks with my Connect Together."
Mila's attribute, 'Connect Together.'
"However, it is an item with a limited amount of life force, so connecting it together will not bring out more than it is capable of holding."
Cale had earned this jar artifact from the eastern continent's Wind Island.
This jar had the life force of the numerous people who had to die as sacrifices there.
It would break once all of the life force ran out.
"I cannot fill life force. However, I was able to maximize the effect of the life force in it."
She had made it so that the life force could be fifty to a hundred percent more effective.
She wasn't able to change it much, but she was able to increase the quality.
"Young master Cale."
Mila quietly called out to Cale once again.
Cale was looking down at Eruhaben as he spoke.
"Are you not going to drink it?"
Eruhaben closed his eyes after hearing Cale calmly ask that question.
Cale sat down on an empty chair next to Mila.
"The way of using this jar is simple. You just need to drink the water that fills inside when you are holding it."
He continued in a calm voice.
"The water will fill to the user's desired amount of life force."
Only about a gulp had filled into the artifact when Eruhaben first used it.
"One year. That was the amount of time you wanted, Eruhaben-nim. You said that that was enough."
The White Star. He just needed enough time until that bastard was caught.
"That is why you said that the jar would not fill with water even if you held it again."
"...I did."
Eruhaben responded with his eyes closed.
Eruhaben had given a reason to Cale when asked why he did not want any more of the jar's power. Cale clearly recalled that information.
The battles against the White Star and his numerous subordinates...
'I'm sure there might be people who get hurt during battle.'
'I decided it is better to preserve the artifact for any potential issues.'
'Using this entire artifact would be giving me an extra life.'
'But all of you have not even lived the lives you were given.'
Eruhaben had refused to use the jar in case any potential allies get injured.
"Please open your eyes."
Eruhaben kept his eyes closed despite Cale's stern voice. However, he opened his eyes after hearing what Cale said next.
"Miss Rosalyn, try picking up the jar."
Cale then continued speaking.
"Eruhaben-nim, please take a look."
The ancient Dragon opened his eyes.
The pale Rosalyn was smiling at him. There wasn't even a single drop of water in the jar as she held it.
"Mila-nim."
"Is it my turn?"
The still tired-looking Mila gently received the jar.
It did not fill up with water once again.
Cale reached his hand out.
"Eruhaben-nim, do you need to see more?"
The jar did not fill with water in his hand either.
"I'm sure it will be the same for the others as well. This jar will not fill with water right now no matter which of our friends holds it."
None of them wanted the life force.
Why?
This question was quite a useless question for the ancient Dragon. He could figure out the answer based on how Rosalyn, Mila, the children, and other Dragons outside the door were looking at him.
"Eruhaben-nim, there was something I told you back then."
When the ancient Dragon had said that he didn't need the jar...
Cale had said the following while putting the jar away.
'I presume that the day will come when I give this jar back to you, Eruhaben-nim.'
Cale put the jar in Eruhaben's hand.
'I'm pretty sure that the jar will be full at that time.'
Cale was certain.
Once they captured the White Star... Once all of the battles were over... Once he knew that everybody had survived...
If it was someone who wanted to be with the people he cared for...
No matter who it was...
"I was right, wasn't I?"
They would want to live longer.
"...I feel so shameless."
The jar was filling with water.
"There is no shame to this at all. You wish to live longer, don't you? Then live."
– Cale, I think that you are going to live a long life too.
Cale ignored the comment from the glutton priestess in his mind.
Cale smiled at Eruhaben, who seemed to be unable to control himself from all sorts of emotions building up inside him, and nonchalantly commented.
"You should receive an equivalent bonus if you worked hard. Don't you think so, Eruhaben-nim?"
Eruhaben chuckled.
'Using this entire artifact would be giving me an extra life.'
It reminded him of what he had said.
"Please drink it, Eruhaben-nim."
Eruhaben flinched after looking up from the jar and at Cale.
"Otherwise, I will force your mouth open and pour it all in there."
Eruhaben's jaw dropped.
'This punk, that gaze...'
"I'm someone who does what I say, Eruhaben-nim."
'He's serious. He's very serious.'
Cale's gaze slightly reminded him of Clopeh Sekka right now.
It was the first time Eruhaben got chills while looking at Cale.
Author's Note
Hello, it is Yu Ryeo Han.
I am leaving this note with the end of Part 1 coming up soon.
November 29th. (TL: May 6th)
After that, I will probably pause for a moment.
I have many things to say so I will return at the end of part 1.
Let's roll until the end of part 1!
– Sincerely, Yu Ryeo Han