In the capital.
"The atmosphere here is quite lively."
Clopeh just watching everyone carrying out normal activities as if there is no war.
"That must be because the ones facing war right now are the Jungle and Whipper Kingdom. Because the Roan Kingdom is not publicly involved, they can carry out their activities normally."
Cale sighed seeing that. Well, it's better than wandering around in the silent capital.
- Human, let's try the cake at that shop! That looks delicious!
"I want to try that crepe, nya!"
"The fruit juice there also looks delicious."
On, Hong, and Raon immediately pulled Cale and Clopeh to where they wanted to go.
They spent the day quite happily.
"We just need to find the craftsman who made Choi Han's sword. The materials for your sword alone cost 500 gold coins. The manufacturing price should be equivalent to that too."
Cale smiled as he spent quite a bit of money on Clopeh.
Clopeh just nodded looking happy about that. If it was money, Cale was sure Clopeh would not hesitate to refuse it.
"Let's go skating nya!"
- Right! It's been a long time since I saw white snake Clopeh doing skate!
"Nya~"
Clopeh smiled when he heard that and hugged them.
"Yeah, let's do that."
.
.
.
Arriving at the frozen lake near the super rock villa, Clopeh put on his skating shoes properly and started skating.
Cale and the children just sat on the rocks that were made to be the chairs there.
"White snake Clopeh is really good at skating that it looks so beautiful!"
Raon praised as he got excited seeing Clopeh's movements.
"That's right nya! If we have to fight on the ice, he's definitely good at it nya!"
Hong wagged his tail excitedly.
"........"
On just looked at Clopeh without commenting.
Clopeh's movements are truly enchanting for On.
Cale smiled seeing the three children enjoying the view then looked back at Clopeh.
"......."
Cale could see him gliding across the ice, looking free with his movements. His face was also very relaxed and he really looked like he was having fun.
'Did I never give him any freedom before?'
Cale thought that, seeing Clopeh's happy expression as he skated on the ice.
Cale believed that, as Kim Rok Soo, he was only strict with himself.
He only made attack-type ability users train hard.
Even though Kim Rok Soo gave Han Yong In a lot of work, Kim Rok Soo never forced him to prepare all of these things immediately.
He also gave Han Yong In freedom whether he wanted to take part in a mission or not.
But Cale had never seen such freedom-filled emotions as long as he had known Han Yong In.
Even though Han Yong In was friendly to him, Kim Rok Soo could see the invisible wall that Han Yong In had built as if he had confined himself there.
Even after becoming Clopeh.
Only when Clopeh slid down did the wall disappear.
Allowing Cale to clearly see Clopeh feeling free as he glided.
.
.
.
After some time, Cale and Clopeh had dinner together at the villa with Cale cooking.
The children were fast asleep when they arrived at Cale's room.
"......."
Clopeh just looking at the portion of food that Cale cooked made him feel full already.
"You know I don't eat much, right..."
Who wants to eat all that food? The kids are sleeping too!
?
Clopeh was confused when Cale looked at him with a sharp gaze.
Cale knew he always ate small portions, why was he looking at him as if he was angry?
"If you were still Han Yong In, I believe you ate less, Clopeh. But you are now a sword master."
That's because Han Yong In is not an ability user.
!
Clopeh flinched when Cale said he was a sword master.
"What do you mean...?"
Clopeh looked confused because Cale's sharp gaze didn't stop.
"Choi Han ate almost as much as Raon. He said that having an aura in your body makes you have a big appetite."
!
Clopeh flinched at that and looked elsewhere. Cale knew that posture.
Clopeh only did that if he was hiding something from him.
"Clopeh, I don't know what you're going through, but when it comes to eating, eat properly."
Clopeh remained silent, unable to reply to Cale's words.
"Don't you trust me?"
!
Clopeh flinched when Cale said that.
"Of course I trust you. If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't even eat with you..."
Clopeh stole a glance at Cale's face from the corner of his eye.
"......."
However, Clopeh saw Cale who was making a face as if he was going to cry.
"Does it hurt to be by my side?"
After stopping sliding, Cale could see Clopeh making that self-invisible wall again.
Why did Clopeh have to do that when there was only him and the kids?
"No. It's nice to be next to you..."
Clopeh answered calmly as he looked at the food in front of him.
Clopeh couldn't hide anything after seeing Cale's red eyes.
"But before I met you, I met all kinds of bastards in this world."
Clopeh lowered his head. Before he met Kim Rok Soo, he was surrounded by toxic people.
"I'm weak and can't fight, they say that I should give them my portion of food. Sometimes even with force."
Clopeh looked uncomfortable saying such an unimportant memory.
"I just, don't want to get used to eating until I'm full so that if I were in that situation again, I wouldn't have any trouble holding back my hunger."
Clopeh looked embarrassed by his thoughts. He was now a sword master, there was no way he would be in that kind of situation again.
But habits will not be easily changed.
"So you've been eating small portions all this time because..."
Cale's tone was weak when he learned that.
Clopeh just nodded without being able to reply or look at Cale.
Cale got up from his chair and hugged Clopeh tightly.
His eyes are red.
"You've been through a lot, Clopeh. It's fine for you to eat as much as you want now."
Cale was sincere in saying that. Why was he never aware of that? He felt stupid.
"........"
Receiving a warm hug, Clopeh could only remain silent.
'To say I've been through a lot...'
Clopeh knew that Kim Rok Soo's life was much worse than his.
At least Han Yong In had a good life in the hospital before the world got into the apocalypse.
"Now, I want to see you eat properly. If I find out you don't eat properly, I will make you unable to even walk. Understand?"
Cale was serious about it, making Clopeh flinch with a red face.
"Okay..."
Clopeh only complied when he started eating.
Cale sighed internally. Such punishment was better than corporal punishment because he believed Clopeh had no problem with it.
All the punishments he might face if he disobeyed orders, never made Han Yong In obey.
Even though the order he gave him was only to report if he was injured.
That made Kim Rok Soo give up thinking about punishing Han Yong In.
'Who would have thought he would obey just because of night exercise.'
The reason Clopeh never went against Cale order all this time was because Clopeh knew he wouldn't be able to accept the punishment.
Cale smiled when he saw Clopeh who still looked nervous about eating more than he usually did.
Well, it would take quite a lot of time to change Clopeh's diet if he had been used to eating like that for more than 10 years.
'I will make sure Hans looks at his portion every time he eats.'
The atmosphere in the villa was very calm with only them there.
.
.
.
"What is this!?"
Clopeh looked surprised to see around 100 pieces of men's hanfu like in murim films with many different designs in his wardrobe.
Cale smiled seeing Clopeh's shocked face.
"You liked it, so I made it as a gift."
Cale smiled when the children looked curious about the clothes Clopeh had. Cale had made special Hanfu clothes for them too.
Cale just smiled watching Clopeh help the children put on their Hanfu.
Seeing them wearing matching clothes, a warm feeling appeared in Cale's heart.
It was truly a beautiful sight.
"Clopeh, you're handsome, so whatever clothes you wear, it will look beautiful. It's no problem wearing them in public."
"That's true, nya!"
- What humans say is true! You are handsome, white snake Clopeh!
Clopeh blushed when Cale, Hong, and Raon praised him.
Meanwhile, On was looking at herself in the mirror with an amazed look as if she couldn't take her eyes off the mirror.
"This is really beautiful nya!"
The color of Hanfu is green and there is quite a lot of embroidery too.
On really couldn't believe that it was herself in the reflection of the mirror.
Cale smiled seeing that. On is still a young girl who likes beautiful things.
Clopeh chuckled softly and handed On a fan shaped like a butterfly that matched On's clothes.
"You're so beautiful, On. You will make many men fall in love with you."
Clopeh joked as Cale's face became gloomy imagining the scenario after hearing that.
But On smiled brightly when he heard that and hugged Clopeh.
Clopeh and On's similar silver hair makes On really look like Clopeh's daughter.
Raon, who saw Hong who was similar to Cale, and On who was similar to Clopeh, saw the black color of his scales.
Even if he turned into a human, he would have black hair and blue eyes...
Cale looked at Raon who suddenly looked sad, stroking his head.
"What's wrong, Raon?"
Raon looked toward Cale's gentle eyes.
"There nothing."
Raon turned his face away which was similar to Clopeh's movement when he was hiding something from Cale.
Cale scratched his head thinking about what might be bothering Raon's little head.
Clopeh snorted softly seeing Cale who was having difficulty with his youngest child's attitude.
Clopeh who lifted On approached Raon.
“Raon, you are still one of us no matter how you look. Wouldn't Cale also be the only one with red hair in his family?”
!
Hearing Clopeh's words, Cale saw On and Hong's hair.
'Ahh, Raon must be feeling left out...'
However, Clopeh could see that as soon as Raon tried to hide something...
'He really understands the feelings of those around him.'
Unlike Cale who is less emotional, Clopeh understands the feelings of the people he cares about sometimes more than his own.
Raon's eyes also shone when he remembered that.
"You're right, white snake Clopeh! Humans have red hair! And I have beautiful black scales!"
Raon flew around Clopeh excitedly.
"That's true! You have super beautiful scales, our youngest!"
"Yes, nya!"
On got off Clopeh and surrounded Clopeh with Raon and Hong.
It was a cheerful atmosphere.
Yes, a cheerful situation, before they would counterattack the empire.
*
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*
*
To be continued.
Ciel: Those kids were so cute!
Ellen: But On and Hong indeed look like Cale and Clopeh's children.
Leon: Clopeh didn't need to get pregnant then.
Kind Clopeh: For real, how did the man in your world get pregnant? I understand Ellen, but what about Leon Cale?
Leon Cale: Don't ask logic when it comes to those things. Just say, it's a miracle.
Preggo Cale: I didn't understand either.
Bern: I just wish you good luck in your battle.
Ghost Basen: Why being so boring? Don't you find those kids cute?
Bern: They are cute, even so, they are still in wartime.
Kim Seung Jong: Yeah. You need to be cautious every time.
Lady Venion: Anyway, that hanfu looks nice too. It makes me want to wear one too.
Leon Cale: Yeah, I would like to wear one too.
Preggo Cale: You're right...
Naru Cale: ....... Is no one gonna talk about how unhealthy his portion size is?
All: *Who had eating time problem* ........
Ciel: We cannot judge him anyway.
Ellen: Yeah...
Okay, hope you enjoy this chapter!
See ya!