“So annoying.” Naturally, Cale Henituse had spread this rumor himself. Inside his bedroom in the castle, which currently doubled as his office, he reclined on a comfortable couch. “Lord Eric Whilsman should be doing well, right?”
“I’m sure he is.”
Confronted with Ron’s smile, Cale was frightened of the elderly man all over again. Not that Cale was an angel himself. As the military commander, he’d only been dishing out orders. Eric and Countess Uvar had obediently produced detailed guidelines to send to the territories. Ron had performed the first check of those guidelines, while Albert handled the second.
Ron had once led one of the Eastern Continent’s top five assassin households, and he had more experience in military matters than Cale. Albert, meanwhile, was focusing his full attention on the northeast, which was the most likely invasion entry point.
It really is nice when other people do things for you, Cale thought, feeling perfectly at ease.
As soon as Cale’s gaze drifted away from Ron, the assassin’s smile turned cold. His eyes remained riveted to Cale, who practically drowned in documents as he thoroughly read the guidelines and gave appropriate instructions with the big picture in mind.
Ron could see how pale Cale’s face was. This had been going on for three days now.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
In a corner of the room, Raon’s tail smacked the floor. The black dragon was bubbling over with complaints. “You stupidly good human!”
Ohn and Hong lashed their own tails in agreement.
“He’s right. You’re stupid.”
“This is so frustrating!”
While the kittens griped away, Raon’s stare burned a hole in Cale’s back. When the dragon had offered to step up and wipe out their enemies, Cale’s response had been “No. You could be in danger if you show yourself.” He’d sounded quite stern.
“Who or what could possibly threaten a great and mighty dragon?!” Raon had shot back.
Yet Cale wouldn’t dare to expose Raon without knowing more about the crown that drank dragon blood. He hadn’t had any time to meet with Erhaven to discuss it.
Also, he had to create heroes in the present to set everyone up for a peaceful future. That would make Rowoon stronger too.
A dark elf. A necromancer. The Tiger Tribe. And finally, Henituse territory itself. Those were the heroes Cale planned to develop. He wanted to rattle the hearts of the kingdom and the continent. To do that, he needed an emotional story.
Cale skimmed the final document before sagging back against the couch. The Unbreakable Shield had definitely gotten stronger since he’d last deployed it. Simply holding it up like he was now wasn’t particularly taxing, perhaps because it didn’t need to block anything at the moment. That was all thanks to the Energy of the Heart. He felt fine these days even with minimal sleep; just one or two hours was enough for him to feel refreshed.
He looked out the window, satisfied by the sight of the cloudy sky and the faint shield.
“Isn’t it tiring, Mr. Cale?”
Upon hearing Choi Han’s abrupt question, Cale glanced sidelong at him. Why doesn’t this punk ever age? Though he wondered how Choi Han still looked like a high school student, he brushed the thought aside, deciding it was too annoying to contemplate.
“It’s not that bad,” Cale replied. “I’m writing a new history of the kingdom right now.”
And so he was. The course of the original novel had been completely altered, hence the need for a new history. Taking up this task would be cumbersome, but it wasn’t that hard on his body.
Having said his piece, Cale turned back to the window. Choi Han watched the way Cale sprawled out on the couch, his face gaunt as he stared outside. Nose wrinkling, Choi Han thought, How can someone be like this? He didn’t understand it. Reflecting on the concept of this “new history,” he idly ran a hand over his scabbard.
Cale paid him no mind, lifting the warm cup of tea Ron had brought him to his lips. Hmm? Judging by the aroma, it was a sweet tea—one he actually liked. Cale snuck a peek at Ron, but the assassin was wearing his usual benign smile.
I guess the old man must be tired too.
For once, he hadn’t brought Cale bitter tea.
A touch concerned, Cale peeled his gaze away to drink his tea. Since it was sweet, he took a large gulp…
“Pffft!”
…and promptly spat it back out.
A black dot had appeared in the sky. With a stomp of one stubby paw, Raon sprang into the air, ready for action. Seconds later, a deafening impact shook the heavens.
Boom!
Cale leapt to his feet, scrubbing the tea from his face. Almost instantaneously, another black dot flew over and crashed into the shield. Then more and more, a whole flock hurtling at the barrier around Weston.
Boom, boom!
The wyverns had come. The enemy was here. This casual afternoon would mark the beginning of the war.
Weston’s emergency siren rang out. Wee-ooo! Wee-ooo!
“Everybody remain calm! Move according to the soldiers’ instructions!” a Henituse knight shouted as he shepherded the terrified citizens to safety. The soldiers helped the people take shelter in their homes, just as they had practiced.
House doors slammed shut. Armored knights and armed soldiers marched across the walls and all throughout the city. Yet no one heard the clicking of locks, the pounding of boots on stone. It was all drowned out by the din of the wyverns ramming into the shield. That, and the bellows of the beasts themselves.
Boom!
“Roooar!”
Weston’s citizens were pale-faced; this was their first time seeing wyverns with their own eyes. Even the smallest ones were at least five meters long. Though Faern’s mounted knights in their snow-white armor were mere specks from afar, they seemed accustomed to steering the ferocious monsters. The troops in Weston gulped nervously at the sight.
The citizens peeked out their windows, peering fearfully at the walls. Would the shield break? If it did, would they all perish?
Before she could think better of it, a woman watching from home shouted, “It’s Lord Cale!”
Cale had appeared on the wall, a bright silver light radiating from both hands. He walked to the center and stretched his arms skyward. The knights and soldiers, thrust so suddenly into their first war, had the closest vantage point to watch him.