“Human, are we following that hawk?”
“That’s no ordinary hawk!”
At Raon and Hong’s words, Cale kept his eyes on the sky and spoke.
“Yeah. For now, we follow that hawk.”
If they did that, they would be able to find the place where Sui Khan had left the blood-written letter and the mark he had left behind.
“There’s no telling how many days it’ll take to catch up to Mr. Sui Khan.”
Clopeh was right.
The mont Cale held up the blood-written letter, the hawk flew toward him.
Just in case, Cale had opened a map and shown it to the hawk, but the hawk had not recognized it.
Which ans we have no choice but to follow wherever it goes.
Traveling by teleportation would probably be difficult.
“Tsk.”
A click of the tongue escaped Cale without him realizing it.
I need to hurry.
Between Choi Jung Gun’s purification ritual and their conversation, an entire day had already been spent.
He had to move as quickly as possible and find Lee Soo Hyuk.
Does that man think he’s still in his pri or sothing?
Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk.
He really had been an iron man in his pri.
Until the day he died, no one had been able to beat him in stamina. Not even Choi Jung Soo.
But what did that matter?
He’s a kid right now, isn’t he?
Well, closer to a teenager.
And a Beast Person, on top of that.
Still, his build had not fully grown yet.
And that kind of person thinks he can run an operation all by himself?
Irritation was beginning to rise on Cale’s face.
“...I’m really... not going to let this slide...”
At the vicious tone, Clopeh Sekka flinched.
But that did not work on the average ten-year-olds.
“Human, let’s go already!”
“We have to leave!”
Raon and Hong urged Cale on.
And On—
“I’m worried whether you can manage it.”
—looked at Cale with pity.
“Huh?”
When Cale stared blankly, wondering what that was supposed to an, Raon answered imdiately.
“It’s fine! I can use flight magic and carry you comfortably!”
...Huh?
A look of disbelief spread across Cale’s face.
They were worried about his stamina because they thought he might not be able to keep up with the hawk?
“Don’t worry, On. I can carry him on my back if I have to.”
Clopeh Sekka answered On gently.
“Ha!”
Cale was dumbfounded and speechless, but the others were serious.
And the group was also conversing smoothly with the other team.
“Choi Han, you all have to be careful and co back safe too!”
“Don’t worry.”
“Then again, I’m not worried about Choi Han! But Heavenly Demon, Choi Han is so bad at acting it’s practically tragic, so you handle talking to people!”
“......”
Choi Han was left speechless.
“Do not worry.”
The Heavenly Demon failed to suppress a smile.
But he quickly lost it when he saw the video communication orb Aurora, the leader of the diator group, approached and handed over.
“This is the video communication orb that last received contact from Mr. Choi Jung Soo. I’ve placed tracking magic on it, so it will guide you to the spot where Mr. Choi Jung Soo sent that communication.”
The Heavenly Demon took the video communication orb from Aurora and handed it to Choi Han.
“...North.”
The video communication orb pointed north.
Choi Han’s gaze sank deeply as he looked at it in silence.
I inherited his power, and I also received Choi Jung Soo’s power.
Choi Jung Gun.
His eting with him ca to mind.
The eting between the two had been drier than expected.
Choi Jung Gun.
The first Dragon Slayer, Nelan Barrow.
Choi Han had inherited the first Dragon Slayer’s power, and at the sa ti inherited Choi Jung Soo’s White Dragon and made it his own.
Choi Han.
Choi Jung Gun’s smiling voice lodged itself in his ears.
I am your ancestor, and Choi Jung Soo is your descendant.
Though they appeared to be around the sa age on the outside, a vast stretch of ti lay between them.
And then the words Choi Jung Gun had added:
Of the three of us, you’re the only one who’s still alive as a human.
The instant he heard that, Choi Han felt his breath catch.
Both Choi Jung Gun and Choi Jung Soo had looked at him as if they were seeing soone alive.
We already died and beca Wanderers.
In a flat voice, Choi Jung Gun had told Choi Han that neither he nor Choi Jung Soo was human anymore.
You’re a living human and a Single-Born.
And a Single-Born.
One qualified, upon death, to beco either a Wanderer or the successor to a god’s place.
The hunters had been killing Single-Borns to steal that power.
You’re probably the only living Single-Born left in our Choi clan.
Choi Jung Gun, Choi Jung Soo, and Choi Han.
All three ca from the sa Earth, the sa Korea, the sa Choi clan.
On the Earth where Kim Rok Soo had lived, the Choi clan had been all but exterminated by the monsters that appeared during the Cataclysm, with the exception of Choi Jung Soo.
We Single-Borns live a very long ti. Unless we’re killed.
Unless they were killed, like Choi Jung Gun had been, they lived a long, long ti.
So long it beca exhausting.
So long it beca numbing.
Choi Han. As your elder, let tell you just one thing.
Choi Jung Gun had not spoken to Choi Han about the divine realm, the hunters, or the Absolute God.
In a cold tone, he had only said this:
Live like a human.
Choi Jung Gun looked more like Choi Jung Soo than Choi Han did.
Beneath light brown hair, with eyes whose depth could not be read, he told Choi Han:
Live however you want. At the very least—
Choi Han had not felt a trace of warmth in the eyes fixed on him.
At the very least, I hope you alone get to live the way you want.
And yet, warmth had been there all the sa.
Maybe that was why Choi Han’s true feelings had slipped out without warning.
I’m already living that way.
Choi Han was already living exactly as he wanted.
Lifting his gaze from the video communication orb, Choi Han looked to the side.
He saw Cale, shaking his head at empty air with a look of utter disbelief.
Right.
Choi Han had taken sothing from Choi Jung Gun’s words.
For so reason, Choi Jung Gun seed to want Choi Han to live like a human, or as sothing other than a Single-Born.
It felt as though he did not want him to beco a Wanderer.
As though he wanted him to remain human for as long as possible.
Choi Jung Gun had not actually said that, but that was the feeling Choi Han got.
Forget it.
But Choi Han did not want to dwell on even that.
Human, Single-Born, Wanderer—
Whatever.
No matter what he was—
I’ll just live the way I want.
As long as he did not harm others, he could live doing what he wanted.
That was what Choi Han had learned while staying by Cale’s side.
Of course, everything Cale-nim does ends up saving others.
Beyond others, it had beco a matter of saving the world, saving dinsions.
And yet Cale still had a side of him that simply did what he wanted.
Even though he’s gone beyond being human.
In truth, Cale possessed power far beyond the category of an ordinary person.
And yet, to anyone who actually knew him, he was undeniably human.
Of course, those who did not know him—or only knew fragnts—called him a legend, or a god, or things like that.
That’s different.
If one looked into the life he actually lived, no one was more simply human—or rather, more unmistakably Cale—than he was.
Watching him from the side, Choi Han had learned how to live while keeping that kind of center.
So he intended to live that way too.
Mm.
Still, Choi Han could not hide his displeasure as he looked at Clopeh Sekka beside Cale.
That bastard only ever looks at his own convictions.
To Clopeh Sekka, Cale stood above even a god.
Choi Han could say that with certainty.
Because Clopeh had staked his life on him.
...He won’t do anything «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» unnecessary, will he?
If Cale ever ended up losing his life because of Clopeh Sekka, Choi Han had no intention of letting him live.
“That’s a sharp look.”
At that mont, the Heavenly Demon’s voice rang out.
“What?”
“I said your eyes are very sharp.”
The Heavenly Demon let out a faint laugh as he looked at Choi Han.
Choi Han’s expression was not a pleasant one, and the Heavenly Demon said to him:
“To my eyes, you and that fellow are the sa.”
“...What?”
What kind of nonsense was that—
“Aren’t you following that man’s back too?”
“......”
The mont the Heavenly Demon’s hand pointed toward Cale, Choi Han could not say a word.
“As long as Clopeh Sekka and those children are with him, Cale Henituse will not lose himself.”
Tap.
The Heavenly Demon patted Choi Han on the shoulder.
“So make sure that you, too, do not lose yourself.”
Hoo.
After letting out a breath, Choi Han nodded.
“Right. You’re right.”
He turned his gaze away from Cale’s group and began examining the map together with the direction indicated by the video communication orb.
“......”
The Heavenly Demon watched him quietly for a mont, then turned his head.
Mm.
His eyes t Cale’s.
That one’s sharp too.
When the Heavenly Demon bared his teeth in a grin, Cale nodded once and looked away.
The night before, while Choi Han and Choi Jung Gun had been deep in conversation, the Heavenly Demon had briefly needed to speak with Cale.
Hey. Keep a close eye on Choi Han.
Why? Because of Choi Jung Soo?
With the whereabouts of Choi Jung Soo—his blood relative—still unknown, the Heavenly Demon had thought Cale was worried about how Choi Han might react.
Yeah. He’s a gentle guy, but when he gets angry, he has a tendency not to think things through, so take care of him.
A gentle guy.
The mont that phrase ca to mind, the Heavenly Demon nearly snorted again, but restrained himself.
They really are an amusing bunch.
He was the Heavenly Demon, the god of the Demonic Cult. And this body, of all things, had been asked to make sure soone else did not lose his temper.
Not a single soul in the Demonic Cult or the Central Plains would have dared ask such a thing of him.
Which is exactly why it’s amusing.
The Heavenly Demon found this journey with them thoroughly entertaining.
Soday, this too will co to an end.
He could not remain with them forever.
He had the Demonic Cult, after all.
But since the Central Plains had agreed to aid Cale’s group, for the ti being the Heavenly Demon could travel freely with them a little longer.
Clap.
Cale gave a light clap and said:
“Let’s move!”
In the early dawn.
Before the sun had fully risen.
Cale’s group split into two teams and moved north and west respectively.
Choi Han’s team headed north, while Cale headed west after the hawk.
“......”
Aurora remained in the village, watching them disappear into the distance.
She recalled the task Cale had left her with.
Gray sickness. I have a feeling it’s corruption of chaos, so gather so information on it, please.
Gray sickness was spreading quietly throughout the Demon World.
If the Order of the God of Chaos is spreading this sickness through the Demon World, we need to stop it imdiately.
Aurora strongly agreed with Cale’s words.
“No matter how much I may be—”
Even if she was in opposition to the current Demon King.
Her desire to protect this Demon World was genuine.
Corruption of chaos spreading among ordinary demons throughout the Demon World was sothing that absolutely could not be allowed to happen.
“......”
Just as Aurora’s expression was hardening—
Ah. And one more thing.
Cale had made one more request.
Still no contact with my maternal uncle?
He had said it with a smile.
Please let him know he owes money.
Cale rembered very clearly, and with absolute precision, that his maternal uncle from his mother’s Thas family had stolen his money and run off.
He had even written it down so he would not forget.
“Mm.”
Aurora had already been trying to locate him ever since Cale had co back into her orbit.
But I still can’t reach him.
For so reason, there was no contact.
She had even passed along the ssage that Cale had reestablished contact.
But after that ssage, all communication had abruptly ceased.
“Should I investigate further—”
Aurora was murmuring that to herself when she turned.
“What is it?”
“Village chief.”
She had sensed soone approaching and looked at them.
An old man was walking toward her.
It was Tedric, the forr chief.
“Has he left?”
“By ‘he,’ ah, you an Mr. Cale?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him silently for a mont before answering.
“Yes. He left.”
“May I ask a question about him?”
Much was contained in the old man’s question.
Aurora answered him.
“He is a wise man. I believe you will choose not to ask further.”
“Mm. Understood.”
The old man did not speak to Aurora again after that and withdrew.
He headed back toward the village, toward his ho, and looked up at the sky.
The darkness was retreating, and morning was breaking.
Who is that man—
The red-haired man who had created a wondrous sight, who had brought forth a miracle.
The old man wanted to see him again.
“Father, that man—”
“He has gone.”
No.
It was the villagers.
That warm gray aura.
The miracle that aura had created.
All of it had shaken the hearts of the demons who had fled their hos just to survive.
“Mm. Gray sickness...”
And Aurora failed to notice it.
Satisfied simply with having warned the forr chief to keep his mouth shut, she continued her train of thought.
“If gray sickness really is corruption of chaos, then perhaps Young Master Cale can purify it.”
Gray sickness was spreading more and more.
If, like an epidemic, an entire village or city were swallowed by that corruption of chaos—
“Would he be able to save so many?”
Sighing, Aurora started walking.
For now, she had to fulfill the task she had been given.
*****
“Human, the hawk stopped!”
Raon pointed at the tree where the hawk had folded its wings and co down.
“Mm.”
Wearing a dubious expression, Cale whispered softly:
“Put down.”
“Yes, Cale-nim.”
Still wearing a sacred smile, Clopeh lightly set Cale down from his back.
Cale had been riding on Clopeh’s back the entire way.
Tap!
Tap tap!
Then On and Hong, who had nimbly raced across the trees, landed beneath the tree at the sa ti. On tilted her head.
“I don’t see any mark.”
If On said that, it ant Hong and Raon had found nothing as well.
Clopeh had not found anything either.
“Human, can you see it?”
But after spending the long journey riding quietly on Clopeh’s back, Cale examined the tree where the hawk had landed.
Back when he had been Kim Rok Soo, working under Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk, there had not been much left intact in Korea.
Trees, buildings—everything had been broken and collapsed.
Leaving and finding marks in the middle of that?
There was always a way.
“It’s here.”
Cale found a small gap at the base of the tree.
Inside it was a square stone with a crack in it.
Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk, who could cut through anything, always left his marks on bits of cent and chunks of stone.
“North.”
The direction the mark indicated was north.
They had co far west, and now it was north again.
Choi Han headed north.
For so reason, Cale had a feeling.
We’re going to et up.
That after circling around like this, they would run into each other.
“The map.”
Fwoosh.
Clopeh unfolded the map.
“Let’s move faster.”
This ti, Cale took the lead.
Wheee—
With the sound of wind trailing behind him, Cale shot forward.
To the west lay a plain covered in forest.
Moving swiftly along the flat ground, Cale stopped at regular intervals.
Whenever he did, he found a tree carved with slashes, and among the trees within a two-ter radius of it, he found a square-shaped stone.
The slashes looked like the mark, but the stone was the real one.
“Northwest.”
Wheee—
“Eleven o’clock.”
Wheee—
Cale stopped walking.
He pointed to a spot on the map.
“I think it’s here.”
Cale’s gaze halted on one point on the map.
“Dioriel.”
Clopeh Sekka spoke calmly.
“Count Lupe’s territory.”
The territory of Count Lupe, who was said to have vanished but was living on in the New World ga as Dark Ghost Lupe.
A comrcial city and territory that had been left frozen in place, ownerless.
Cale stared at it.
Then his gaze dropped to the hand holding the stone.
“The blood’s dried.”
There was blood on this stone.
Not a blood-written letter.
“He’s injured.”
Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk was injured.
“Cale-nim, I believe it really is Dioriel.”
The last ti Cale held a mark in his hand was atop a hill overlooking Dioriel, the central city of Count Lupe’s territory.
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