Cale made eye contact with Imperial Prince Adin and started to speak .
“I am okay, your highness . ”
Cale did not look hurt as he was currently standing tall .
However, everybody could see the bloodied handkerchief in his hands, as well as the slightly shaking hands holding onto it .
There was also the weak smile on his face .
He did not look okay at all .
Cale started to speak at that moment .
“Is everyone else okay?”
“Ah . ”
One of the administrators who came with the Imperial Prince let out a gasp .
Adin observed Cale for a quick moment . His eyes had a cold gaze that did not seem to show any care or warmth .
Adin’s face suddenly showed both gratitude and concern as he quickly made eye contact with Cale again .
“Yes, everybody is okay thanks to you . There are some who have minor injuries, but it does not seem to be too serious . ”
“I see . ”
Cale slightly frowned after hearing the words, ‘minor injuries . ’ His gaze then looked past the Imperial Prince and toward the mages and Alchemists .
He started to speak after observing them continuing to support the tower .
“It should be okay, right?”
‘This tower should be fine now, right?’
Adin energetically responded to Cale, who continued to show his concern until the end .
“It will be fine . ”
That made Cale respectfully bow his head before looking back up . He pushed back his slightly messed up hair . The tips of his fingers were shaking .
The Imperial Prince thoroughly observed Cale's shaking hands . The crown prince interjected himself into their conversation at that moment .
“Your hand is shaking so much . It is worse than last time . ”
“No, your highness . I am okay . ”
Cale shook his head while smiling at Alberu . Alberu started to frown .
“Okay?! The last time you did this you had to rest for a couple of months! The reason you coughed up blood is because your body is breaking down on the inside!”
‘…An internal breakdown? Isn’t that a bit too much?’
Cale was debating whether he should do something about Alberu’s choice of words when someone suddenly grabbed his arms . It was Daltaro .
He quietly whispered as they were in front of the Imperial Prince . However, it was still loud enough for others to hear .
“You do not need to force yourself to stand up like this . Young master Cale, it is okay to rest now . ”
Daltaro's eyes were sparkling with both concern and a sense of pride . Cale felt iffy after seeing such a gaze, but he decided to play along for now .
“…But . ”
Imperial Prince Adin, who had been quietly observing him, started to speak as Cale tried to say something .
“It will be fine . We will take care of everything from here, so you can go get some rest . ”
It was as if he was giving a stern command .
This was something that happened in the Empire, and the Royal Palace at that . He was sternly telling Cale that the Empire would take care of the rest and that Cale should stop concerning himself with it .
Cale opened and closed his mouth a few times, but did not say anything as Alberu started to speak .
“I am included in that, ‘we,’ you speak of, right?”
Alberu was trying to tell Adin that the Roan Kingdom's envoy was involved as well . The Imperial Prince looked toward Alberu for a bit before putting on his uniquely warm smile .
“Of course . ”
However, Alberu could not help but scoff at him internally .
Adin was looking at Cale and Alberu with a concerned expression, but had never apologized for this incident .
‘He'll only say something like it was a pity that something like this happened in the official declaration as well . ’
The Imperial Prince did not lower his head in front of the Roan Kingdom’s side .
That was that the way the Mogoru Empire, the only Empire in the Western continent, treated the Roan Kingdom that was known as being below average .
Crown prince Alberu accepted that demeanor for now . He then reached out and patted today’s hero on the shoulder .
“Go . I will call my personal physician to check you out . ”
“Thank you very much . ”
Cale thanked Alberu for taking the lead in preventing a doctor from the Empire being stuck to him as he accepted the support from one of Alberu’s knights and started to walk away from the Sun Palace .
Many people watched Cale slowly walking away while being supported by the knight before quickly returning to their tasks .
It was a chaotic night .
This was the same for Cale .
A couple of different people surrounded him as soon as the Dark Elf, who was the crown prince’s personal physician, left the room .
“…What is it?”
Cale could see the Gold Dragon, Eruhaben, looking at him with an odd expression . Eruhaben had thoroughly inspected Cale's body before clicking his tongue .
“Tsk, tsk, what an unlucky human . ”
Cale turned his head away as he was at a loss for words . Raon was sitting on the bed looking at him as if they were the only ones in the room .
Raon's gaze made Cale feel weird, so he turned his head once again . He could see Choi Han this time .
‘Why does he have such an expression?’
Choi Han was touching the hilt of his sword and seemed to be thinking about something .
Clank . Clank .
The sword came a bit out of the scabbard before going back in . This process continued to repeat itself multiple times .
Cale suddenly felt chilly and started to speak .
“Where are they?”
Hilsman and the Cat Knight .
Cale was asking about their location .
Choi Han walked over to the bathroom that was attached to Cale's bedroom . He then opened the door .
Screeeech-
Cale could see Hilsman inside as the door opened .
“What the hell did you do on your way back?”
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Cale frowned while looking at Hilsman, who was covered in leaves and dirt . The Cat and two empty potion bottles were in Hilsman's arms .
“Bring him here . ”
Cale flicked his finger and Hilsman approached with the Cat . The Cat Knight was observing Cale with a piercing gaze .
Cale started to speak as soon as he saw the Cat .
“Sir Rex . ” [1]
The Cat flinched . Hilsman put Rex on the chair next to Cale's bed . Rex had to sit there and listen to Cale speak .
“The Palace did not fall . ”
The Cat revealed his fangs before they quickly disappeared .
“Your friend lit himself on fire, but he survived . And then he was caught . ”
Rex started to frown . Cale did not care as he leaned back on the head of the bed and continued to speak .
He did not have much time .
“Do you know the alcoholic Alchemist?”
The Cat flinched .
Of course, he knew about that Alchemist . He was known as a decent guy and Rex had purchased some bombs from him as well .
‘Is that person working for him?’
Cale looked toward Rex’s questioning gaze and continued to speak .
“Sir Rex, that Alchemist is someone who gives food to the children of your neighborhood, the slums . Choi Han will take you to him . Your family and the rest of your organization are already in hiding, right?”
Cale was pretty sure that they would have hidden themselves before this incident started .
“However, the Imperial Prince will find them within a day knowing your level of doing things . Hide everyone properly with Choi Han’s help . ”
Rex hesitated without being able to respond to Cale right away . He heard Cale's voice once again at that moment .
“What is it? Are you thinking that you can't escape on your own when your friends might get tortured and killed?”
“…That-”
“Do it right . ”
Rex shut up after hearing Cale cut him off .
An unknown sense of pressure could be felt from Cale .
“I plan to destroy the Alchemists’ Bell Tower . I also will not let the next Emperor of the Empire have the name of Adin . ”
These were the thoughts he had after hearing the Holy Maiden’s story . Cale observed Rex, who was one of the key players for his plan .
Rei Stecker would be the new leader of the Alchemists .
Rex would be the center of the citizens .
He would be the hero of the rebellion that would save the people .
“There’s no way such a thing would be possible . ”
Rex shook his head . Cale laughed and started to speak .
“Can’t you see that Dragon over here?”
Rex was suddenly at a loss for words . He had not noticed the Black Dragon until now . Cale then continued to speak .
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“Choi Han, who will take you to the slums, is a sword master . ”
Rex slowly peeked toward Choi Han . Choi Han slowly raised his aura .
“Furthermore, the new hero that will appear in the Empire will help you out . ”
“… A new hero?”
Rex looked toward Cale . Cale raised his finger up .
“Me . ”
He then pointed to himself .
Rex was confused .
However, Cale did not say anything wrong .
The Empire would not be able to hide this incident with the falling tower . Too many people had seen it .
They also needed to hide the fact that someone tried to assassinate the Vice Tower Master of the Alchemists’ Bell Tower . They needed something else to draw the citizens’ attention away .
Anybody who was there would know that Cale was the one who prevented the tower from falling down . Cale was planning on happily being a part of that diversion .
“I will probably be a hero by tomorrow morning . The citizens of the Empire will also probably like me quite a bit . ”
Eruhaben looked at Cale in a questioning manner, but he did not say anything . Raon vigorously nodded his head .
Rex was looking at everyone before he jerked his head back toward Cale after hearing Cale’s next statement .
“This is because I saved everyone . ”
Cale was not planning on hiding his involvement this time . He spoke to the Cat .
“Sir Rex, nobody died . ”
“Ah . ”
Rex let out a gasp . His face started to frown, but Cale could not tell whether he was relieved or disappointed .
“Sir Rex, we do not have much time . ”
Cale then turned his gaze away from Rex in order to look at Choi Han . Choi Han nodded his head and picked up the still injured Cat .
Rex continued to quietly observe Cale .
“Rex, take the opportunity when it is in front of you . ”
Opportunity .
That word made Rex open his mouth to speak . However, Cale’s next words made him close his mouth without saying anything .
“And watch your mouth about what happened today . ”
Cale focused the, ‘Dominating Aura,’ on Rex as he said that . He then turned his gaze toward Choi Han after seeing that Rex was unable to say anything .
“For Billos . ”
Cale handed a memo to Choi Han who put it away in his pocket .
“I will be back soon . ”
“Good . Be back before morning . ”
Choi Han did not say anything as he left through the window . Cale quietly watched Choi Han disappear in the distance .
Tap . Tap .
There was a front paw tapping on his arm .
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“What?”
Cale did not think much of it as he started to speak . The Black Dragon responded back .
“Lay down . ”
Cale laid down .
Raon pulled the blanket up to Cale’s neck . Eruhaben continued to sigh in disbelief . Raon made sure Cale was tucked in as he started to speak .
“Goldie gramps will nurse you . I will go follow Choi Han . It will be even better if I go with him . ”
Raon puffed up his chest as if he was saying, ‘just leave it to me . ’ Cale started to speak .
“Just stay by my side . ”
He had a bad feeling that things would become more complicated if Raon went as well . The combination of Choi Han and Billos was good enough . Billos was talented when it came to stealthy things .
Raon frowned for a moment before opening his eyes wide and asking .
“…Would you like it if I stayed by your side?”
“Yes . ”
Cale gave a short response because he was feeling lazy and Raon’s lips started to twitch before he rolled up in a ball next to Cale .
Cale then slowly fell asleep .
It was loud outside his bedroom, but that was none of his business .
Cale flinched as soon as he woke up the next morning .
The Black Dragon Raon was no longer visible . Eruhaben, Hilsman, and Choi Han were standing there looking cleaned up from last night .
“Why are you so shocked? Our dear young master Cale . ”
Crown prince Alberu was sitting on the chair right next to the bed .
“Your highness, you are indeed the Kingdom's star, even when you are the first thing I see when I open my eyes . ”
“Enough . ”
Alberu cut him off and Cale shut up before lifting his body up . He then heard Alberu's voice again .
“Looks like you'll need to get a medal . ”
Alberu could see Cale flinching after hearing his words . Alberu recalled how Cale had not wanted any medals nor power after the Roan Kingdom’s Plaza Terror Incident as well .
That was why he quickly added on .
“Of course, there are also rewards like money in addition to the medal . The Empire currently needs a way to divert attention from what happened last night- . ”
Alberu stopped talking and looked toward Cale .
“You seem to be happy?”
Cale welcome the morning with happiness as he started to speak .
“Your highness, why don't we make it big and do a medal ceremony?”
“What?”
“The just noble . ”
Cale slowly lifted his fingers up one by one as he continued to speak .
“The just noble who is weak but has a strong sense of justice and is willing to sacrifice himself to save the weak . He does not care about identity nor nationality and has a strong and beautiful ancient power . ”
Alberu could see the refreshed look in Cale’s eyes .
Cale slowly continued to speak .
“Your highness, I wish to be the hero of the Empire’s people . ”
1 . Rex is a knight so I’m using Sir as in the British fashion .