Translator: miraclerifle

Editor: Borderline Masochist

Amiru, incapable of knowing Cale’s thoughts, assumed the serious expression on his face stemmed from his caring nature. She continued speaking.

“Based on his attire and physique, he seems to be someone from the Whipper Kingdom.”

It was definitely Toonka.

Cale’s face paled as Amiru continued.

The non-mage faction fighting the mages in the Whipper Kingdom were dismissed as barbarians by the mages.

However, there were no barbarians in this world.

All humans possessed the same brain. It was simply that, as time passed and history unfolded, they developed in ways best suited to their circumstances.

The non-mages of the Whipper Kingdom were strong individuals who had conquered the kingdom’s harsh mountains and shores without magic. They focused on strengthening the human body, rather than relying on magic.

They were rebelling to dismantle the Whipper Kingdom, designed for mages’ ease, and restore it to its original form.

The citizens of the Whipper Kingdom sided with these non-mages. Foreigners might perceive them as barbarians seeking to conquer, but to the Whipper Kingdom’s citizens, they were simply free people.

They used instinct to overthrow this kingdom of logic.

‘The problem is that Toonka is extremely stupid.’

An intelligent barbarian? Some said so, but in Cale’s opinion, Toonka was simply a very strong, simple-minded individual.

And stupid people were the most terrifying.

Because you couldn’t reason with them.

“Young Master Cale, you need not worry about that person. He seems to recover very quickly.”

Cale dismissed Amiru’s words with a laugh.

“I’m not worried at all. In fact, I’d prefer it if he remained under treatment for a long time.”

Cale hoped Toonka would remain in recovery until his departure. Amiru, along with the knights accompanying her in the capital, looked at Cale with warm gazes.

Cale had no time for such gazes. He was preoccupied with the mystery of Toonka’s early arrival.

“Young Lady Amiru, could you please show us to our rooms?”

“Certainly. You are still not fully recovered, right?”

“Yes. I am still injured.”

“…Oh, then let’s hurry.”

As Amiru began walking quickly with a serious expression, then slowed to match Cale’s pace, a single thought occupied his mind.

‘Billos may be a Flynn and extremely talented, but how was he so sure about the Civil War? How did he find out so early?’

Cale knew about Billos’ abilities because he had read the novel. However, Billos was still ostracized as a bastard son. There had to be a limit to his information gathering.

This meant Billos’ knowledge implied the story was changing.

‘The Civil War must be happening earlier than in the novel.’

This made sense, but what triggered the earlier Civil War? Cale didn’t dwell on it.

Toonka’s shipwreck meant his ship was destroyed by mage attacks, and he returned from the north, having gained strength.

This meant that even if the timeline shifted, the story itself remained largely unchanged.

The strength that instilled fear in mages. The pinnacle of human physical potential. Toonka survived the sea, mountains, desert, jungle, volcano, and glaciers solely through his physical strength.

Toonka survived nature’s harshest elements. Mages, who draw power from nature, had no way to defeat such a person.

‘Perhaps a dragon could kill him.’

A dragon could likely still kill Toonka with a single blow.

Cale, upon reaching the residence, requested everyone leave his room, then looked at the ceiling and spoke.

“Hey.”

“What is it, human?”

The Black Dragon revealed itself. Cale spoke seriously to the dragon.

“Stay by my side, without leaving for a while.”

Through the Choi Han and Black Dragon situation, Cale realized that avoiding Toonka might only lead to more complications. He needed to prepare for that encounter.

“I will do as I please.”

The Black Dragon snorted and turned away, but the way its wings fluttered indicated it would listen. It was saying one thing, but its body was saying another.

Cale felt much better after speaking to the Black Dragon. He surveyed his room. It was a residence the head of the Ubarr family had built in this small village.

‘It doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the village.’

This luxurious room was out of place in the village. This meant Amiru’s mother, head of the Ubarr territory, had plans to develop the area when she initiated construction of this residence.

That vision was finally materializing ten years later.

‘It probably took a while to secure Gilbert’s family and gain the Wheelsman family’s protection.’

Cale was scheduled to meet Amiru’s mother before leaving the Ubarr territory. She was expected to arrive from the city with the Ubarr family’s main estate around that time.

Cale pondered this meeting, then moved to the window. He could see the entire village, and the Cliff of Winds, from the large window.

The Cliff of Winds.

For centuries, a whirlpool ravaged the waters in front of the cliff, causing headaches for Ubarr citizens venturing into the sea.

But there was a reason Amiru’s family considered this area important.

Two other villages were by the sea, but this one was central to the three. The crescent-shaped shoreline had this village at its center, with two cliffs on either side, making it the easiest for boats to depart.

Furthermore, islands of various sizes were visible from the village, making it a beautiful sight. It would be an excellent location for a military base.

Cale was scheduled to visit the smallest island tomorrow morning. The “Sound of the Wind,” the source of the whirlpools, was located near that island.

Toonka had described the Sound of the Wind in the novel as:

< "It is a quiet but chaotic power." >

Exactly what Cale was looking for.

A power that would allow him to quietly and swiftly escape while causing chaos for the strong. Cale anticipated tomorrow morning with a slight smile.

That slight smile quickly blossomed into a satisfied grin.

“Young Master-nim! Uncle Beacrox prepared this seafood especially for you!”

“Uncle is very excited about the sea!”

“Right! Cale-nim, please eat a lot!”

Cale watched ten wolf children bring food to his room, a satisfied expression on his face.

He had told the others they were Lock’s cousins, living in the same village after their families were killed by bandits.

Cale’s smile widened. Not because he liked them, but because his eyes were focused on Beacrox, who was bringing trays of food behind the children.

Ron’s son, a chef, and a torture expert. That was Beacrox. He usually wore clothes without a wrinkle or speck of dust.

The same was true now. However, he had noticeable dark circles under his eyes.

“Please eat, Young Master Cale.”

“Great, thanks. It was a good decision to have you help Beacrox in the kitchen.”

Cale thanked Maes, the twelve-year-old eldest of the wolf children, before picking up his fork.

‘Young Master-nim, we want to work. Lock hyung told us we cannot leech off of you.’

The wolf children, led by Maes, had rushed into his carriage during their journey, asking to work. That’s when Cale had them assist Beacrox.

‘Mm, we think it will be better if we train with the knights, but we will still do our best.’

The twelve-year-old Maes was confident and calm, unlike Lock. He was also aware of the Wolf Tribe’s strengths. That’s why Cale was even more insistent on their helping Beacrox in the kitchen.

‘You are still children. It’s too early for dangerous training with the knights. Help Beacrox with the kitchen work.’

‘You really are like Lock hyung mentioned. Yes, we will do our best.’

The children’s dedication to work impressed Cale. Perhaps that’s why, but he couldn’t help but smirk at Beacrox, who seemed to tire more each day. Beacrox stood while the wolf children set the table and left.

“Uncle, aren’t you coming?”

The wolf children, bright and pure, called Beacrox “uncle” and treated him like family.

“…I’m coming.”

The children left first, after his comment. All were dressed cleanly, hair well-kept, as if they had never lived in a remote village before.

It was inevitable with Beacrox’s style.

‘Now that I think about it, he would be a really good babysitter.’

Cale avoided Beacrox’s gaze, anticipating Beacrox’s reaction if he knew Cale’s thoughts. Beacrox was currently a clean and respectful chef. He couldn’t be cold to the wolf children.

All he could do was glare at Cale occasionally.

Cale watched Beacrox pick up a fork and knife and leave the room, then spoke.

“Thanks for always providing such delicious meals.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Click.

Beacrox left, closing the door behind him. Cale looked at the door and spoke.

“I don’t know why he’s trying to do his father’s job while his father is gone.”

There was no reason for Beacrox to bring him food. However, Beacrox was slowly taking over Ron’s responsibilities whenever possible. Sadly, this prevented Cale from enjoying the void left by Ron’s departure.

The wolf children or Beacrox always filled Ron’s role.

Cale looked towards the corner of the room and continued.

“Come eat.”

“Cale’s meal buddies, On, Hong, and the Black Dragon, rushed to the table and began eating. Cale watched the sunset over the ocean as he leisurely enjoyed his dinner.

The next day.

“Hello.”

“Nice to meet you, Young Master-nim.”

Cale exchanged greetings with an old man.

This was a fisherman who had traversed the Ubarr Sea and battled the whirlpool for decades. This old man, renowned as the greatest veteran of the Ubarr Sea in this small seaside village, had a deeply tanned complexion reflecting his time at sea.

“Just trust me. I will safely take you to the central island.”

Amiru, beside Cale, nodded.

“Right. He is an amazing individual, so you will be able to get to anywhere in the Ubarr sea as long as he is with you. I’m sorry I cannot go with you even though I’m supposed to show you around. I have some work to do.”

“That is fine. It is enough that you have introduced me to an expert fisherman.”

It would be complicated if Amiru went with them. Cale had already determined his companions for today. The fisherman asked.

“Is it just the three of you?”

“Yes. Let us go.”

“Yes, sir. Please board.”

Cale boarded the small but sturdy boat. The Vice Captain followed him aboard. Since the Vice Captain would be with him, Cale didn’t need additional knights. The islands were uninhabited, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Please be safe, Young Master.”

“Got it.”

Deputy butler Hans watched Cale depart, On and Hong in his arms. The kittens, On and Hong, were struggling to escape Hans, who was getting closer to the water. Though they liked the smell of the sea, they disliked water.

– I will be flying.

Naturally, the Black Dragon planned to follow them, remaining invisible. Cale joked with the last person boarding.

“Beacrox, apparently the nets near the island tend to catch a lot of rare seafood. It will be great to broaden your palate.”

“…Thank you very much, Young Master Cale.”

Beacrox, at Cale’s order, boarded the boat with a stiff expression. Cale instructed the fisherman once everyone was aboard.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

The fisherman, the captain of this small boat, began rowing with his son. In this whirlpool-filled sea, neither a large ship nor acceleration magic was important.

It was safer to be with an experienced fisherman and rely on their years of rowing experience.

“The boat may rock quite a bit, so please hold on tightly.”

The old man announced casually as the boat departed. Cale began cursing shortly after leaving.

“Shit.”

The boat was rocking. The boat was barely avoiding the whirlpool that threatened to suck everything in. The force of the whirlwind was violently rocking the boat.

Splash, crash.

All sorts of water-smashing sounds filled Cale’s ears as the old fisherman shouted.

“Hahaha. Young Master-nim, isn’t the whirlpool grand?”

The fisherman was a very courageous man. Cale pushed away the hand of the Vice Captain, who was clutching his clothes with a pale expression.

He was feeling seasick.

1. TL: Yet he got shipwrecked…clearly didn’t survive the sea…(PR: Perservering = Survival)