Prologue Part 7

Cale's* shout drew everyone's attention to him and he immediately regretted it. The reactions the new group of people had at the sight of him were both confusing and terrifying.

"Cale-nim."

"Son."

"Young Master-nim."

"Cale."

"Dongsaeng."

"Young Master Cale."

Those shouts and many others were accompanied by a mass rush in Cale's* direction.

Seeing Choi Han and quite a few others, some of which were familiar faces and others unknown, rushing toward him, Cale* panicked. The kind of panic that triggers one's fight or flight response.

Unfortunately, Cale* lacked either and instead froze in place with a rather stupid look on his face.

Fortunately, for Cale* anyway, the stampede heading in his direction was stopped by the barrier between the two sections.

Resounding thuds signified the groups abrupt stop, those in the front of the pack rubbing sore spots and poking at the barrier in front of them, while those behind wondered why they stopped.

"Pffft. Hahahaha."

A loud laugh broke the stunned silence at that moment. All heads turning in the direction of the sound to see a dark haired man practically doubled over on the couch he was sitting on.

Upon catching sight of the man Choi Han couldn't help but exclaim, "Rok Soo hyung!"

•••••

Kim Rok Soo really wants to facepalm at his younger self. The little shit has now TWICE made a spectacle of himself. This is why he is glad to be older and wiser. His impulse control is much better.

Truth be told, Kim Rok Soo is probably enjoying his younger self's misery a bit too much, but the little idiot has brought it on himself. He really needs to have a talk with the brat. There are much better ways to protect his step-mother and brother.

Still, the look on Cale's* face is hilarious. It went from confused terror to a blank petrified sort of panic before smoothing out to a look of relief as the barrier stopped the stampeding hoard.

"Pffft. Hahahaha."

He couldn't hold it in anymore. Between Cale's* face and the dumbfounded looks on the others' faces when they hit the barrier, it was just too funny.

"Rok Soo hyung!"

'What?'

The sound of Choi Han's voice saying his name is terrifying and all feelings of mirth are instantly gone.

•••••

One second Kim Rok Soo is enjoying a good laugh and the next, his face takes on the same look of confusion filled horror he was just laughing at Cale* for.

"Haaaa."

The antics of the two idiots make Kim Rok Soo sigh.

Is there something about the name Cale that makes people act like idiots? He knows or at least knows of four of them and they are all idiots.

Both Cale* and Kim Rok Soo have already proven they shouldn't be trusted to make smart decisions. He is sure the idiots trashed their own reputation for their family and there are so many other ways they could have handled that. Idiots. Both of them.

There is absolutely no way Cale Barrow can be considered anything but a fucking moron. A complete and utter fool. The idiot of idiots. White Radish. Enough said.

As for Cale, he is also an idiot. Although, he's not sure Cale can be considered an idiot because he is now Cale since he was an idiot even before then. You know what, it doesn't matter. He's Cale now and he's an idiot, so it counts.

That's four out of four. Hypothesis is officially supported. Never trust a Cale to not be an idiot.

Kim Rok Soo* continues his rant in his head while conveniently forgetting that he too can be considered an idiot.

•••••

It only takes Alberu and Choi Han a moment to realize that the Kim Rok Soo they are looking at isn't the one they know.

The baffled look on his face was a dead giveaway.

It took Alberu only a moment more to realize just who this Kim Rok Soo most likely is.

"That's not the Rok Soo we know, Choi Han."

That statement was all Choi Han needed to know who he was looking at as well.

The original Cale Henituse. The man most likely responsible for letting him meet Cale-nim and his family. For that he is thankful.

"Thank you Kim Rok Soo."

'Huh? Did I hear that right? Why would Choi Han thank me? How does he even know me?'

Kim Rok Soo's confusion only grew with those thoughts. Seeing the crown prince also nod in his direction only contributed to the chaos in his mind.

Although he was still confused, Kim Rok Soo managed to calm the chaotic mess of his mind somewhat and decided he didn't have to suffer this hell on his own.

'You know what, I'm not the only Kim Rok Soo here. Time to throw that little shit under the bus too. Misery loves company after all.'

"I think you perhaps have me confused with someone else. Did you mean to thank that young man over there?"

With those words, Kim Rok Soo pointed to his younger counterpart.

Having successfully sacrifi-ahem, shared the attention with Kim Rok Soo, he glances over to enjoy the look on the brat's face.

Sadly, he is disappointed.

A stoic look is all that greets Kim Rok Soo and everyone else as they all focus on the young man.

'Nothing? Really? How is he so good at keeping any emotions from showing on his face? Does it really not bother him that I tossed him to the sharks to save my own skin?'

Contrary to the calm look on Kim Rok Soo's* face, his mind is a mess.

'Why the hell did he drag me into this? That bastard probably just didn't want to suffer alone. That's fine. Two can play this game. I won't forget this and I'll definitely pay him back.'

With thoughts of revenge in mind Kim Rok Soo* calmed down and looked over at Alberu and Choi Han.

"Nice to see you both again, Choi Han and Alberu Crossman."

His words caused everyone to look back and forth between the mentioned two and the young man.

At that moment a gasp of realization broke the silence.

"Ah!"

Gazes moved from Rok Soo* to the tall youth that had cried out.

"They are the ones you met during the test the sealed god trapped young master Cale in."

"That's correct Lock."

Murmurs began throughout the room at that information.

"Sealed god?"

"Test? What test?"

"Who is Cale?"

"Gods can trap people in tests?"

"I have no idea what's going on anymore!"

"Wait, that's Alberu Crossman? You mean to tell me that he isn't actually a giant tiger monster?"

SCRITCH. SCRITCH.

The sound of writing again filled the room. This time it was significantly louder in order to cut through the chaos.

"Welcome. Now that everyone has arrived, we will go over the rules and the reason you have all been brought here.

The rules are simple. No violence is permitted. All aura, mana, ancient powers, and abilities that can be used to harm either oneself or others have been sealed. All weapons have been confiscated as well.

You needn't worry. Once you return to your respective worlds, everything will be returned to you and unsealed.

Time in your worlds will not pass while you are here and you will return to the moment you left.

The barriers between sections will remain for now as a safety measure.

You have all been brought here for various reasons. For convenience's sake, each group will be referred to by the number in which they arrived."

"Group 1 is here so that they may better get to know their team leaders."

All eyes in group 1, with the exception of one little girl, turned to Kim Rok Soo.

"What does that mean?" Bae Puh Rum asked.

"I'm actually more interested in the "s" at the end of team leader. It seems a bit unnecessary since we only have one team leader. Isn't that right, team leader?" Kim Min Ah questioned.

'Fuck. I was hoping no one would notice that. That damn fucker. Dragging me into this mess. One of these days I'm going to find a way to punch that bastard of a god. I did not sign up for this.'

"Haaaa."

With a sigh, Kim Rok Soo resigned himself to his fate.

"It's a long story and I'm sure it will come out at some point during all this. Let's just see what else the bastard has to say before we get into it."

To Kim Rok Soo, his teammates' silent stares seemed to bore holes into him. He felt as if they were trying to stare the truth out of him.

The nerve wracking moment came to an end after a couple seconds when Kim Min Ah let out a heavy sigh.

"Haaa. Fine. We'll let it go for now, team leader, but I'll be holding you to your word. You will explain everything when we get back if it doesn't happen here."

At her pointed look, Kim Rok Soo gave a nod.

Scritch. Scritch.

"Group 2 is here to learn the truth of their commanders and to truly understand the fate your world has avoided."

Again, all eyes in the mentioned group turned to a single individual, only this time it was Kim Rok Soo* the younger.

Kim Rok Soo* just calmly gazed back at them. He knew something like this was a possibility the second he opened his eyes here and with the previous message singling out Kim Rok Soo (and Cale in a way too), he knew he couldn't avoid the scrutiny that was bound to head his way next.

That was why he had taken the few moments that group 1 had been talking to organize his thoughts, but before he could open his mouth another voice beat him to it.

"But we already know what the future could have been like because of Kim Rok Soo's* ability of foresight," Lee Chul Min stated.

"That's right."

"Why do we have to be here to learn something we already know? Some of us are busy."

"We already know about our commander."

"You idiot. Didn't you properly read that? It says commanders. With an "s". As in more than one."

"What?"

That statement caused everyone to look back up at the screen and sure enough, there was an "s" at the end of the word commander.

"Rok Soo*?" Grandma Kim* questioned.

Before Kim Rok Soo* could respond, Lee Soo Hyuk* spoke.

"Like the other Rok Soo said, I'm sure the truth will come out while we are here, so let's just wait for now."

"It seems like you also know something about what that means," Heo Sook Ja* stated.

"You are correct. I do indeed know."

The two stared at each other for a moment before Heo Sook Ja* looked away.

"Very well. We will wait and trust in our commander once again."

"Yes. We must have faith," Joo Ho-Shik stated with his hands clasped firmly together.

Some individuals in group 5 shuddered at the similarities between that strange man and a certain person they know.

"Group 3 is here to hopefully find a way to avoid their world's tragic end after a very long struggle."

At that statement, pandemonium erupted in group 3.

"What the fuck?"

"Tragic end?"

"Why are we going to struggle?"

"What's going on?"

Shouted questions flew around the group as every individual there struggled to comprehend the reality of that statement.

Some of those quicker on the uptake realized that the terror incidents in the Roan Kingdom's capital and at the Empire's celebration were apparently only the beginning of a much worse nightmare.

SCREECH.

A piercing noise sounded and immediately shut everyone up.

Scritch. Scritch.

"All will be explained in time. I suggest you patiently wait until then, if you do not wish to lose your opportunity to change that future."

Group 3 remained absolutely silent. No one (not even Toonka*) wished to risk their opportunity to survive.

"Group 4 is here for different reasons. One to learn of the person to give him the confidence to live as himself. One to gain information about those they hunt. The others, to learn of the one to save them and bring hope to their lives."

The reactions of the three individuals of group 4 were much more mild.

Alberu immediately thought of a certain attendant's face again and smiled.

Zed thought about those bastards he was hunting and smiled viciously.

Both Choi Han and Dodam thought of the "terrible bastard" Cale and smiled. Maybe they could finally find him.

A voice interrupted the four's happy thoughts.

"Is there someone else with your group?" Kim Rok Soo* inquired.

Choi Han panicked.

"No. There. Is. No one. Else. Why. Would. You. Ask. That?"

"Pffft." "Hahaha." "Uugh."

Those sounds interrupted the brief silence after Choi Han finished speaking and drew everyone's attention in the direction they came from.

The sounds came from group 5.

They came from Alberu, Rosalyn, and Choi Han respectively.

Alberu really did try not to laugh, but he just couldn't help it.

'Seems like Choi Han can't act no matter the world.'

"…Pardon my interruption."

Rosalyn didn't even try to keep herself from laughing.

'Choi Han is Choi Han in any world it seems.'

"Ahem. Sorry, don't mind me."

Choi Han's ears are bright red, his head is down, and he has a hand over his face.

'Am I really that bad?'

"Nothing," he mumbled without looking up.

"I am asking because of the way it was written. There are only three of you and two of the statements mentioned one individual each. The last one said 'others' as if there was more than one of you left," Kim Rok Soo* replied to Choi Han.

-Choi Han, it's okay. The screen said it's safe here and no one can get hurt. Also, I am a great and mighty dragon, so it's fine if I show myself.

"Haaaa."

Choi Han sighed, but nodded his head anyway.

"Tada!"

With that exclamation, Dodam stopped his invisibility and appeared before the rather startled groups.

"A dragon!"