Chapter 6
Chapter 6: They Met (3)
When does a person get more angry?
Is it when they get hit by a strong straight or when they are hit five or six times by annoying jabs?
"Definitely the annoying jabs," Hilsman said.
"That's right. I'd beat anyone that threw a strong straight at me, but I'd enjoy painfully tearing apart anyone that threw annoying jabs," Rasheel* viciously stated.
It is, of course, the latter.
Cale threw five jabs before he was hit. Which means, one jab should be okay.
"Can you throw even one jab with those puny arms of yours?" Kim Rok Soo* teased Cale.
"Yours aren't exactly any better," Cale retorted.
"At least mine will get stronger, all yours have done lately is get weaker," Kim Rok Soo* bantered back.
"Just because my previous body has muscles doesn't mean yours will get them. You are technically different people even if you are similar," Cale pointed out.
"Unlike some I know, Cale, I'm not so lazy that I won't put the effort in to get the muscles," Kim Rok Soo* countered.
Before Cale could respond, another similar yet different voice cut in.
"Boys, boys you're both pretty. Or in this case pretty weak," Kim Rok Soo quipped. "Now be nice to each other or does your hyung need to separate the two of you?"
"Hyung? Since when are you my hyung?" Cale asked.
"Oh, come on now Cale, our parents already told you that they have four children. That makes me your hyung and if I'm your hyung, that makes me little Rok Soo's* hyung as well," Kim Rok Soo explained.
"I suppose that sort of makes sense," Kim Rok Soo* begrudgingly admitted.
"Ah, can't forget the youngest of our little bunch of troublemakers, can we? Oi, Cale, you got anything to say to your hyungs?" Kim Rok Soo called to Cale*.
"Hey, don't drag me into this. For once I am actually behaving myself," Cale* pointed out.
"Sibling squabbles are completely normal, so since you are done with your trash act, joining in with picking on your brothers is definitely something you should do," Lee Soo Hyuk* suggested.
"In that case, it seems like Cale and Rok Soo* are both wimpy and throwing even a single jab would probably break their twig-like arms," Cale* said with a cheeky grin.
"Hahaha, see that's the way to do it. Always listen to your hyung," Kim Rok Soo praised.
"Not sure I should be listening to a muscle brained old man either," came Cale's even cheekier retort.
"Gasp!! Cale* you wound me. I thought I was your favorite," Kim Rok Soo playfully said.
"Nah, my favorite brother is Basen," Cale* said with a smile.
Basen* felt warmth fill his chest at being included in the brotherly banter.
"Cale* hyung is my favorite too," Basen* said with pride.
"I agree with Cale*. Basen and Lily are way better siblings than you brats," Cale declared.
Basen and Lily practically glowed at that statement.
"Orabuni, we love you too. We love all of you," Lily said.
"Lily's right. We love you all," Basen repeated.
With that, both Kim Rok Soos and both Cales looked away with red ears and mumbled thanks.
Everyone watching smiled in amusement at the adorable sibling display. Their parents and other family members smile's were the widest.
"Are you heading out?"
"Yes."
There were not many people left in the tea shop.
It was past 9pm. This was the time when there were more people in the bars than tea shops. Since this was the time that the people mining in the pits went to drink, the bar should be full of people.
"I look forward to your next visit, young master."
Cale nodded his head at Billos's statement.
"The tea was great."
Cale shared his observations with Billos.
"And the book was good even though I only got through half of it. I especially liked the main character whose abilities are appreciated and the way he grows."
"I'm glad you enjoyed the novel I recommend, young master Cale," Billos interjected.
In that instant, the corner of Billos's eyebrows frowned for a moment before returning to normal. His eyes were cloudy as he observed Cale.
However, Cale did not notice, as he was trying to remember the contents of the book. He was too worried about Choi Han that he did not pay too much attention to it.
However, it was still fun to read while having this sense of urgency in his heart.
It might be an auto-setting from possessing the original Cale's body, but Cale was able to understand the language of this world, and had no issues reading and enjoying the book. A smile formed on Cale's face as he continued to speak to Billos, who was standing there with a blank expression on his face.
"More like a God of Death setting," Taylor joked.
"I think you mean an annoying bastard setting," Cage* tossed back at Taylor, enjoying being able to talk with him like this again.
"Don't let anyone else read that book, so that I can read it whenever I come."
This truly was the immature son of the Count, who was trying to monopolize someone else's property. Billos, the bastard son of a wealthy merchant guild might not like it, but what could he do? Cale was the son of the Count.
"Can that really be considered immature?" Grandma Kim* asked.
"I don't really think so," Jang Man Soo* answered.
"Yeah, isn't that just like checking a book out at the library?" Lee Jin Joo* added.
Most of those listening agreed.
"Yes! I will reserve this book only for young master Cale!"
However, Billos's response was different from what Cale expected. Billos smiled brightly as he urged Cale to come back soon.
"Asking to reserve the book for you was basically the same thing as you telling me you would be returning to my establishment as a patron and no business owner would be upset by that, young master," Billos explained to Cale.
"I see," Cale muttered.
"Please come again soon. I will be waiting for you."
"Sure, whatever."
Cale didn't want to go, but had to leave to go meet Choi Han. Ring. The bell rang once more and it suddenly felt like the tea shop became louder once Cale left.
However, it was even louder outside the tea shop than it was inside. Even though this territory was far from the capital, the fact that a lot of artists resided here and that they had a special product made it a popular location. These individuals, as well as the miners who were looking to relax after a long day in the mines, all were out late to drink.
Cale walked that street alone.
'If you think about it, he really is a unique person.'
Normally in fantasies or martial arts novels, the trash of the family tend to hang out with the gangsters or bad crowds. They drink, fool around with women, and cause a ruckus on the streets or stores.
The funny thing was that Cale Henituse actually hated gangsters and scammers. In fact, he despised them.
'He thought that they were all scumbags.'
"They are all scumbags. All they do is cause problems for others without contributing anything," Cale* said.
The worst of all scumbags. It was better to at least be the citizens who worked hard even though there was no hope for a better future.
That was why he never beat people up when he was drunk but had no issues throwing things at the gangsters he saw. Well, attempted to throw things, since his aim when drunk was terrible.
"You know, if anyone had really stopped to think about his behavior, they would have been able to see that he wasn't as bad as everyone thought," Witira pointed out.
"That's why rumors are so terrible. Even the smallest of actions can get blown out of proportion and the way someone gets treated after that changes depending on what the rumors said instead of the truth," Shickler told her.
Maybe that was the reason.
"Aigoo, young master, you're here?"
The owner of the bar was extremely afraid of Cale. It was because of that one day when Cale broke pretty much everything around where he was sitting to drink. In fact, Cale was probably number one on the blacklist for Rain City bars.
He did not respond to the owner's greeting and just threw a gold coin at him.
"He really likes to throw gold coins at people," Solena observed.
"My son does indeed seem to enjoy throwing his money around. Such a cute son I have," Fredo gushed.
"Who the hell is your son?" Cale's disgusted reply followed Fredo's statement along with glares from Deruth, Ron, and Eruhaben.
"Bring a bottle of my usual. Oh, and roasted chicken breast. Don't put salt on it."
"Excuse me? Y, you don't want to find a seat first?"
Cale started to frown. The owner immediately waved his hands and bowed his head.
"Immediately! I will bring it immediately!"
The owner was moving quickly, but it looked like he was smiling. It was because it looked like Cale was not planning on sitting down. Cale looked around the bar that became quiet once he walked in. Everyone was avoiding his gaze and turned their heads. It was like they were wondering why he had to choose this bar of all bars in the city. The gangsters and scammers in the bar were all extremely nervous right now.
"The scammers shouldn't have been nervous, they should have been ready to take notes," Bud commented under his breath, causing those who know Cale's scamming methods to chuckle.
"Tsk."
The sound of Cale clicking his tongue could be heard through the silence in the bar.
"Young master, here is the bottle you requested."
"Great."
Cale grabbed the bottle and bag of chicken. It was the alcohol he drank often. It was probably the most expensive alcohol in this bar. He accepted the bottle with no regret and left the bar.
Cale immediately opened the bottle and drank about half of it as soon as he stepped out of the bar.
"Oh."
The alcohol tasted pretty good. Since Cale had a high tolerance to alcohol, it did not affect him at all to drink half of the bottle at once. He just flushed easily, making people think he was a lightweight.
"Really? That's an awesome skill to have!" Bud* shouts and takes an elbow for his trouble (Bud secretly agrees, but is wary of his Glenn's elbow).
Cale quickly walked along with the bottle in his hand.
He walked back past the tea shop he stayed in all day until he saw the guards stiffen up after seeing him. Seeing them acting like that made him want to go out of the gate, but unfortunately, that was not his destination.
"Haha! Maybe there is some hope for him after all," Kim Rok Soo chuckled.
"There may possibly be just the tiniest flicker of hope for him, Cale* agreed.
"Ah, I'm starting to get hot."
Cale felt himself heating up as he continued to drink. He walked a bit further until he reached the city wall not too far away. The tall city wall that started at the gate seemed to defend against any potential intruders.
'Well it depends on the person.'
Cale recalled the information from the book.
'Approximately 100 steps from the city gate.'
That was the location where Choi Han jumped over the city wall. Cale clenched the bottle in his hand as he quickly ran toward the location. There were not many people on the streets because it was the residential area.
"Anyone else think this book is oddly detailed in the weirdest places?" Valentino asked.
"It really is, but I guess that was the point of it," John replied.
"Yeah, it was sort of made by a god for him so he could change things," Pen pointed out.
Cale took a deep breath once he arrived at the calculated location.
Exactly 100 steps away from the city gate. It was a corner of the residential area so there wasn't any other light other than the torch the guards put on top of the wall, as well as the lights coming out of the residential windows.
But that was enough light. Cale slowly approached his destination after letting his eyes adjust to the dark.
'Just as I expected.'
He could see something curled up underneath the city wall. Actually, there were multiple things.
Delicate looking things that were shaking because of the cold. Cale continued to walk toward the location. He could hear the voices of the curled up lifeforms.
Meow Meeeeeow.
"Yay!! It's us again!"
Two cats were meowing as they lay curled up underneath the city wall. Cale started to smile.
'It's right here.'
He found the right spot. The moment Choi Han jumps over the wall, a baby kitten is body slammed by the alpha cat of the neighborhood and gets sent tumbling to the city wall. Choi Han quickly twists his body to avoid landing on the kitten. This was a world where coincidences played a big role.
"Noona, the other Choi Han* met us the same way our Choi Han did!"
Everyone turned to look at Choi Han* and noticed a distinct lack of kittens in that group.
"Ah, I.i..it wasn't our Cale that was there, huh?" Hong stuttered.
"It's okay. The other On and Hong didn't get to meet our Cale, but he saved us and that's what counts," On comforted her brother.
"That's right. Our human is here with us and saved us. That's all that matters," Raon added.
"You are all correct and now Dodam knows where to find you in his world. I'm sure he wouldn't leave that world's versions of his hyung and noona all alone," Cale consoles.
"Of course, the terrible bastard is right. This great and mighty me will definitely save my hyung and noona," Dodam declared proudly with his chest puffed out.
Those of the various Elven persuasions swoon yet again while everyone else watched the adorable parent with his cute children and smiled.
'He really is a good guy.'
Choi Han* doesn't know how he feels about the transmigrator always thinking he is such a good person.
'Would a truly good person enjoy slaughtering the members of that secret organization as much as he does?'
Choi Han twists his ankle after unexpectedly twisting his body to avoid hurting the kitten. He had run like crazy to reach Rain City after killing tens of people for the first time and burying the corpses of the villagers. His body had reached its limit making him unable to land properly after making such a movement.
Meeeeow Meeeeeeow.
Cale gazed at the kitten that was curled up and shaking, as well as the other kitten that seemed to be its sibling licking the shaking kitten. He then turned his gaze.
He turned to look at one of the alleys that was close to where was standing. He could see him.
'I found him.'
The man who was wincing in pain while looking like one of the homeless that lived in the slums. Cale could see the shaggy black hair and the old and burnt clothes.
According to the novel, Cale and Choi Han would meet tomorrow. Tonight was the night Cale got drunk and got the scar on his side. Things were already different than in the novel, even though it was just minor details.
"Those minor details add up over time, teacher," Mila reminded.
Cale stood up as he had crouched down to look at the kittens. Choi Han must have felt his gaze from a few moments ago, as Choi Han slowly raised his head and his eyes focused on Cale through his shaggy black hair.
'Damn it, I'm shaking.'
"Tch," Toonka* still thinks the transmigrator is a wimp, but Harol* keeps telling him not to say it out loud and he is tired of hearing it, so he leaves it at that.
Toonka doesn't like the way his other self looks down on his friend. He may just have to give himself a good beating before this is over. He's sure he could smash his way over there if need be.
Cale could hear his heart going crazy.
Although it was too dark to see clearly, Choi Han's eyes that Cale could see through his hair were extremely cold.
Cale thought that it was a good idea that he chose to drink.
Cale congratulated himself for making such a smart decision and calmed himself down as much as possible. Jab. He needed to launch a jab and leave a good first impression.
Cale took a deep breath as he started to speak to Choi Han who was staring at him.
"You look like you are hungry."
Tsk tsk. Cale clicked his tongue and took the chicken breast out of the bag. Then with an extremely gentle movement, Cale offered the roasted chicken breast not to Choi Han, but to the kittens.
"Hahaha, nice." Kim Rok Soo laughed.
"You poor things. Go ahead and eat it."
Cale didn't know that the kittens would be this small. He hope that they could still eat the chicken breast. Tsk. He clicked his tongue as he ripped the chicken breast into pieces so that the kittens could eat it better.
"Awwww. You are such a good dad, young master Cale," Tasha cooed.
He was wondering what the hell he was doing crouching here feeding these kittens.
To be honest, Cale did not like cats. However, Choi Han treasured small animals.
"Hey!" At the affronted looks on both On and Hong's faces, Cale floundered.
"That's….I was just…I didn't mean..That, ahem, like Ron said. You can't believe everything you read."
Once he managed to recover, he reached out to pet the two and continued speaking.
"I like you two, so just ignore all the bullshit."
On and Hong preen at those words. Raon and Dodam let them have their moment, but begin plotting how to get some attention from their terrible bastard/human for themselves.
Grrooooowl. Groooooowl.
The injured kitten must have understood Cale's dislike for cats, as it showed its teeth and started to growl, but Cale started to pet the kitten's silver fur as he looked into its golden eyes. The kitten must not have liked it, as it did its best to avoid Cale's hand.
"It's not that I didn't like it, I was just wary since you were a stranger," On explained.
"It's always good to be wary of strangers," Cale praises On and pats her a few times.
"You poor things. Eat this and get better soon."
He didn't even look at Choi Han when he said that, however, he was thinking that Choi Han was definitely looking at him.
"Do you have somewhere to go?"
"I do now, Cale-nim."
He did not hear a response. However, Cale continued to speak. The guards would soon come to patrol this area, and he needed to make a move before Choi Han started to limp away to avoid the guards.
"Or a place to stay?"
Cale petted the growling silver furred kitten with golden eyes and pushed away the red kitten that was trying to attack him as he asked. The red kitten kept trying to hit Cale for some reason. It's golden eyes, that matched its sibling's eyes, shined brightly even in the darkness.
"I wasn't attacking. I just wanted some attention and pats too. It wasn't fair that noona got all of it," Hong complained.
Cale makes sure to pat Hong a few extra times.
But Cale needed to focus on Choi Han.
"Are you hungry?"
There still was no response. Cale had expected this.
Choi Han was probably observing him right now, but he also probably wanted to rest.
Both his body and mind had reached their limit. In addition, he had received a huge shock just the other day. For someone like Choi Han who had lived on his own without any human contact other than the villagers of that small village, Rain City was completely foreign to him. He may have lived for tens of years already, but he was still young.
"Are you not going to say anything?"
"…Why are you talking to me?"
Choi Han finally seemed to have decided that Cale was weak.
"Pfft. I mean, that's not wrong exactly. You are weak, but that's usually not why someone starts talking to you. Especially not when you asked them a question in the first place," Bud pointed out.
Cale was weak enough that he could easily kill him even though he was at his limits. That was why Choi Han felt that it would be okay to accept Cale's goodwill even though he had no idea why Cale was being nice to him.
"Cale-nim! I wasn't thinking about killing you! Why would I think that?" Choi Han asked.
Cale just shrugs and ignores Choi Han's question. He's rather enjoying someone else getting messed with by everyone else.
Rosalyn and Alberu just laugh at Choi Han's panic. Even Lock has a smile on his face.
"You can't really blame him, Choi Han. You are a dangerous dude after all," Bud laughs while making fun of Choi Han.
Choi Han doesn't think it's fair to be judged for the actions someone else committed in a whole other world and sits there pouting at his liege's inner thoughts.
Cale stood up and walked toward Choi Han. The guards would soon come patrolling through this location.
"Hey."
He could see Choi Han's situation better once he got closer. He was a mess. However, maybe it was because he was the main character, but his eyes were clear. The black hair and black pupils that showed that Choi Han was Korean were actually quite nice to see. That was why Cale smiled as he casually spoke to Choi Han.
"Ah. I suppose it's easy to forget while reading this with the way you act, that you are in a completely new world all alone, without any idea how or why. Seeing something familiar would be nice," Alberu mentioned.
"That would be comforting," Jack agreed.
"Follow me. I'll feed you."
"Yet again the young master is feeding strays," Rosalyn jokes.
The best first impression was to be the one who provides delicious food.
"I see. Teacher enjoys good food so much since he knows what it's like to not have it," Mila murmured quietly to herself.
"Why do you think that mom?" Dodori asked.
"For teacher to have come to the conclusion that those who provide food are to be seen in a positive light, means that he had to be in a situation where he didn't have food and the ones to provide it at the time were viewed positively after that."
"Oh. That's kind of sad," Dodori said.
"It is," his mother agreed.
Those near them that heard their conversation, looked sadly at Cale sitting on the bed, cleaning the children's faces and wondered what his life had been like before he came here.