Chapter 97

# Chapter 97: <Inspiration Struck>

One month.

During that exact period, Kale played. To him, it was playing, but to others, it looked a bit different.

"Are you bored now?"

Raon observed Kale. He was staring blankly out the window, eating summer fruits. The black dragon's face was serious.

It couldn't be helped.

For the past two hours, Kale had been leaning back in a rocking chair, endlessly staring out the window and eating fruit. He didn't speak, and he didn't frown.

Tap. Tap. After picking and eating a grape, he stopped and just stared blankly.

"This is strange. Very strange."

Now, a slightly larger kitten, Hong, also sat beside Raon, wagging its tail as it observed Kale.

Unfortunately, the two were lying on the bed, so they couldn't hear their voices from where Kale sat by the window.

"He's waking up later and later. Eating less and less. Going to bed earlier and earlier. Moving less and less."

Raon muttered seriously, his expression becoming even more distorted.

"He's sleeping again!"

Thud. A grape fell from his hand. Kale leaned back in the rocking chair and fell asleep again.

Raon looked at the clock. It was 6 PM. He had been sleeping more than he was awake all day.

The black dragon's pupils trembled.

More sleep, less eating, not moving! This is!

"…Is he sick!"

Hong's expression also became serious. The cat's ears perked up.

"He can't be sick!"

To Raon and Hong, Kale seemed paler than before over the past month. Of course, in summer, his face didn't tan like others because he didn't go out in the sun, making him look relatively paler.

"…I don't think so."

The silver cat, On, shook her head and listened to the brothers' discussion indifferently. To her, Kale just seemed to find everything bothersome.

"No! I read a book given by the mage Rosalyn a while ago!"

Raon, who understood all the languages of the continent, was now reading the fairy tales Rosalyn brought.

"There was a story about a prince who fell under a curse and slept all day!"

"Good grief!"

Hong was shocked. Raon continued urgently, though his voice wasn't loud to avoid waking Kale.

"Of course, I checked if he was under a curse or poisoned yesterday. Fortunately, he wasn't. So, it's likely he's sick."

Good grief. On was amazed that Raon had actually investigated this. Regardless, Raon continued.

"And since we came to Harris Village and the Dark Forest, he's been even more like this. This could be some inexplicable effect from the Dark Forest."

Currently, Kale and his group were in Harris Village.

Of course, Kale only started enjoying his idle life after arriving in Harris Village, where he didn't have to worry about the scrutiny of the Earl and the estate managers.

There were other people in Harris Village besides Kale's group. However, most of them were technicians who had finished the simple restoration work after clearing the graves and damaged buildings.

Kale rarely encountered them, staying mostly inside the house.

The house Kale was in was a small two-story mansion they had been building since their last visit to the Dark Forest.

'Father. I've told you about the Harris Village project, so I want to see the process myself.'

'…Kale, the villa you mentioned is still far from completion.'

'There are many houses where the technicians stay. One two-story mansion would be enough. And it would be better for Ron's convalescence to be as quiet as possible in the countryside.'

'Alright, I understand your heart.'

Kale had sought permission from Earl Dert and flown to Harris Village with excitement.

The black dragon Raon, completely unaware of this, was pondering. Then, a knock came from the door of Kale's second-floor room.

Knock knock.

"Master!"

It was the butler, Hans.

On hearing his voice, On and Hong, the kittens, stretched. The black dragon spread and then folded his wings.

Click.

"Phew."

The door opened with Hans' sigh. Then, the butler paused.

"Hello, Hans."

"Hello, butler."

"Butler, I'm hungry."

Hans' face crumpled as he heard the words spoken one after another by the black dragon, Hong, and On. His cheeks twitched, and his nostrils flared.

"…My heart might stop."

Hans clutched his chest, expressing his pain.

He had learned about On, Hong, and Raon as soon as they arrived in Harris Village. Though initially shocked, he quickly overcame it.

"Hmm."

Kale, who had just woken up from a brief nap, sighed at the scene. Hans looked at him with a face that seemed about to cry.

"To think such loving and gracious people exist! I'm glad to serve Master!"

What are you talking about? Kale ignored his nonsense. Hans seemed to take care of those average 7-year-olds more than Kale. He seemed to visit Kale's room at every meal for their sake, not Kale's.

"Butler! What's for dinner?"

"Ah, Master Raon. It's the tender beef steak you like, and the sweet vanilla ice cream made by Rosalyn and Vikros."

Oh.

These were things the average 7-year-olds liked.

Kale, seeing this, slowly got up from his chair.

"Ugh."

A groan escaped Kale's lips.

'Should I have done some stretching?'

He had been in the rocking chair for too long, making his body stiff. But Kale was willing to endure this discomfort for his idle life.

He looked at the serious Raon and Hong without much thought and then spoke to Hans.

"Are they all here?"

"Yes, it seems their training ended early today."

Kale nodded and went downstairs.

In the dining room on one side of the first floor, a long dining table was set.

"Master."

"Ron, you look much better now?"

"Yes, here's some lemonade."

Hmm. Kale made a strange expression as he saw the lemonade placed at his seat again. Ron had adapted well with just his right arm.

Kale took a sip of the lemonade, which he had gotten used to but forgotten about for a while.

At that moment,

Clang! A plate was roughly placed on the table. Vikros spoke with a fierce look.

"Can't you at least wash up first?"

Kale flinched. Then, he realized he had already showered and looked around the table from his seat.

It's quite serious.

The 11 wolf children, including Rak, and the deputy captain, Hilsman, didn't look good. They were all dirty and drenched in sweat.

"Haha, Chef, understand a bit! We're tired from training and just want to eat."

Hilsman laughed heartily, making an excuse and looking at Kale. Kale nodded at his gaze.

"Don't worry about me, just eat."

As soon as he said that, Hilsman and the wolf children started eating. Chihan watched them with satisfaction.

Seeing this, Kale asked something he had always been curious about.

"Remember when I told you not to overdo it?"

The wolf children and Hilsman were currently going into the Dark Forest every day for training. They flinched at Kale's words and looked at Chihan.

The deputy captain's fork, held in his usual elegant posture, was trembling.

"Yes, we're not overdoing it, and we're taking it step by step."

Chihan replied softly, his kind smile making Kale naturally agree. And he didn't want to know more.

The wolf children looked at Chihan as if he were a hellish training instructor, but they went to him voluntarily every morning.

'Actually, now more than the children-'

It felt more like a frontline attack team than a knight squad. Kale sipped his lemonade and dismissed the unnecessary thoughts.

"Prince Kale, are you going to stay here until winter?"

Kale nodded at Rosalyn's question.

"Probably. I plan to return to the estate in spring. If you need anything for your research, feel free to move around. Let me know if you need any materials."

"Yes, thank you, Master."

"You're welcome."

Rosalyn was conducting magic research and experiments in a newly built basement of the two-story mansion. Since she had the potential to become the next head of the magic tower, Kale supported her as much as possible.

'The more people I can ask for help later, the better.'

Networking was a great rule.

Kale, after finishing his meal and entering his room, immediately sat in the rocking chair as if lying down.

"Phew."

A sigh filled with joy escaped his lips. Watching the setting sun, Kale wished to live like this for 70 years.

Seeing this, Raon and Hong whispered to each other.

"Is he sighing out of boredom?"

"It seems so. He might want to travel."

On shook her head and then noticed something sparkling in the corner of the room.

"The video communicator is flashing!"

Hmm?

Kale was puzzled. Video communicator? From the estate?

On's voice continued.

"It's red!"

Kale's face twisted.

If it was a call from someone who would likely bring trouble, he had set it to red. And there was only one such person.

Albert Crossman, the Crown Prince.

"Ah! It's the Crown Prince! I'll connect the video call quickly!"

Raon suddenly became very active and flew toward the video communicator.

There's no need to do that.

Kale sighed at Raon's sudden activity and turned the rocking chair, which was by the window, toward the video communicator.

"Connecting."

As Raon finished speaking, a blue light enveloped the video communicator, and a small screen appeared.

The Crown Prince's face was visible. Crown Prince Albert was smiling brightly.

-Our kingdom's treasure, Master Kale.

Why is he like this?

-Did you have a good day today?

"Why are you like this?"

-Why am I like this, between us.

What 'between us'? Kale finally understood the Crown Prince Albert's feelings when he had recited 'His Highness, the Star of the Kingdom.'

"Well, we're kind of good friends, right?"

Despite his words, Kale's expression clearly showed his reluctance. But Albert still had a gentle smile.

-That's right. Since we're such good friends.

This is strange.

Kale felt an inexplicable sense of unease. The happy month of sleeping and eating, which had been repeated daily, flashed before his eyes like a movie.

…It can't be, right?

-I have a favor to ask.

"I can't. I'm in a very difficult state right now."

Of course, Albert easily dismissed this obvious lie. He said what he had to say.

-If not, I'll be deposed and die as Crown Prince.

Kale paused.

The conclusion was a bit, quite extreme.

The Crown Prince was steadily attracting mages and strengthening himself. He was growing into a good talent to protect the Loon Kingdom.

And Kale was helping him for the sake of a safe kingdom and his sweet home.

Kale observed the Crown Prince's face. Only then did he see the worried eyes behind the bright smile. It wasn't the same look he had when his true identity was revealed.

Kale straightened his back, leaning away from the rocking chair.

"Let's hear it. What is it?"

Kale's scalp tingled. It was the first time in a long while he felt the aura of an incident. The black dragon Raon and the red cat Hong were huddled together, watching with sparkling eyes from outside the video communicator's view.

The Crown Prince spoke.

-Dark Elf.

Indeed.

Kale had expected this word.

Kale closed his eyes. As he did, his idle life waved goodbye and moved away.

The Crown Prince, who had a Dark Elf quarter, continued.

-Can you go to the Dark Elf village?