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Teen And Up Audience, No Pairing.

Tragedy, Angst, Pre-canon, Eventually Happy Ending.

2501 words

***

In which Cale Henituse reincarnated as Kim Rok Soo, then transmigrated back into his old body.

***

Cale doesn't know since when all of this started to gone wrong.

When one night his mother suddenly wanted to go to a village, kissed his forehead warmly. That pair of red irises stared at him sadly, as if they would never see each other again.

"Mother."

Little Cale, who had just turned five years old, didn't understand his mother's strange attitude. But as a child, he knew that something was wrong.

"Cale, Mom will be go somewhere for a bit."

"Where are you going?"

"Harris Village."

The long wavy red haired woman smiled faintly. Her palms touched her son's cheeks, which were blushing peach.

"There's something I need to bury there."

Cale blinked his eyes a few times, innocently asked.

"Can I come with you?"

"Not this time, honey. If you come along, then who will accompany your father?"

A rainstorm rages outside. Lightning struck each other, creating a flash of light that shot through the window. However, all of that was meaningless to Cale. He's a brave boy. He's not afraid of lightning. He just wanted to go with his mother.

Seeing the determination in her child's eyes, Jour—Cale's mother—smiles warmly as she gently pulls the little one into her arms.

"Mom won't be long. Just be there for a while and be right back. So you don't have to worry, okay?"

Cale knew from the start his mother was a stubborn woman, and that stubbornness passed down to him. However, Cale also knew, that he couldn't go against his mother's words. In the end, little Cale simply nodded while reaching out his little finger.

"Promise me you'll come back with present."

Laughter escaped Jour's mouth. She raised her hand, linking her pinky finger with Cale's.

"Okay, Mom promised to come back and bring you a present."

However, she broke that promise.

She never came home.

His mother did return, but in critical condition. Her carriage derailed in a storm on its way back. His father, Deruth, had called the best doctors from all over the country. However, after three days of treatment, Jour breathed her last.

The last thing Cale saw was his mother's body lying unmoving on the bed. Her red lips are turning blue. There was no more blush on her beautiful face, only covered with a white cloth. Cale reached out his hand to squeeze his mother's palm.

Cold.

He couldn't find the warmth he used to feel there.

His mother has left.

She is lying.

She didn't keep her promise.

During the funeral, Cale didn't cry. His father slumped, even when the sky was also crying, he didn't move from his position sitting in front of Jour's grave. His tears were obscured by the rain, but Cale could tell that his father was crying, it could be heard from the sound of his sobs.

Seeing Deruth like that, Cale felt his tears dry up. Someone need to be there to comfort his father. Despite the whispers of others saying he was a heartless child for not crying, Cale didn't care. He raised his hand, patting his father on the back.

"Father."

Cale called out quietly. His voice was hoarse.

"Let's go home."

Cale wanted to say that Deruth still had him. Deruth was not alone.

But somehow, all of it stuck in his throat. He couldn't make a sound even though he tried. In the end, that was all he could say.

"Let's go home, Father."

With the black umbrella in his grip, Cale gently hold Deruth's palm. Cale had never once looked in the direction of the tomb. He scared. He scared that once he look back, the tears he had been holding back would come out just like that.

They returned home, but the house they used to live in was somehow cold.

Cale felt like he wasn't home.

Sitting on his bed, staring blankly out the window. A knock on the door caught his attention. Ron, his personal maid who had looked after his since birth, entered the room. There was a red box in his arms.

"What's the matter, Ron?"

Cale couldn't find the usual smile on the old man's face. Ron handed the red box to Cale, and received by the boy with a confused look.

"The maids who came with the Madam to the village said that the madam bought this gift for you, Young Master."

Cale's reddish brown eyes shook. His hands trembled slightly. He bit his lower lip, before finally nodding slowly.

"Thank you. You may go."

After confirming Ron had left, Cale slowly opened the red box. He found a journal book inside it. Cale's trembling hands reached for the book.

This is the last gift from his mother.

Without him knowing, tears burst out from his eyes. The tears that he had been holding back since the day he saw his mother lying lifeless, were now free. Cale hugged the last gift his mother gave him, burying his face there.

He cried silently, letting his soft sniffling be overpowered by the roar of the storm from the window.

Cale truly didn't know since when all of this started to gone wrong.

The starting point of this disaster began when he met a teenage boy at the bar he used to drink.

It was the anniversary of his mother's death. The sky was clear with no clouds as if betraying his pain. Cale spent time at the bar, drinking bottles of alcohol to the point of eroding his consciousness. His face was as red as a cherry, a stark contrast to his skin, which was paler than most people. If it wasn't for his high tolerance for alcohol, perhaps Cale would have lost consciousness like average person.

Opening the sixth bottle, Cale gulped straight down the alcohol from the bottle. He laid his head on the table, slowly staring out the window. The sun has shrouded in the western horizon, allowing the moon to slowly seize its power to rule the sky. Oh, night comes. Finally this cursed day is coming to an end.

Taking another sip of alcohol, a voice caught his attention. His brows knit together. He had rented the entire third floor just for himself, because today he didn't want to be disturbed. A teenager in messy clothes walked towards him. His black hair seemed to shine under the oil lamp. Judging by the strange shape of his face, it didn't seem like he was from here.

"What do you want? I don't want to be disturbed."

"I need help."

The teenager said straight to the point. His eyes didn't radiate any life. For some reason, Cale hated seeing it.

Because those eyes look the same as him.

"I heard you're Count Henituse's son. I need to see your father."

"What business do you have with my father, huh?"

The black head clenched his fists. He looked down, staring at the floor.

"My village, Harris Village, is under attack. I have to report, and if I can I want the dead villagers to have proper burials."

Harris Village.

Hearing that name, forced old memories to replay in Cale's head like a broken record. The broken promise, the cries of his father, the stiff body of his mother. Cale needed something to blame, and he blamed Harris Village for throwing out all his hatred.

His head was spinning, his eyelids felt heavy, but the pain in his heart forced his consciousness. Unintentionally letting go of all the hatred, Cale looked at the teenager.

"And why should I care?"

He knew this was wrong, but he couldn't hold back all the anger that he had been suppressing for so long. The redhead held the bottle of alcohol up high.

"This alcohol in my hands is worth far more than the lives of your cursed villagers."

It was the worst night ever.

The two teenagers were both in pain.

They both couldn't control each other's emotions.

Unable to contain his anger, the black-haired teenager stepped forward with clenched fists.

"What an interesting thought. I'm very curious to know whether you will change your mind or not. Shall we test it out?"

The black haired teenager beat Cale until he was heavily injured. After finishing beating him, the teenager just left. The bar owner frantically called for the guards, carrying Cale back to his residence.

Yes, it was the night where everything changed drastically.

Cale never knew, that night his personal servant who he had considered as a second father, left him. Ron and his son, Beacrox, decided to go with Choi Han. Didn't leave a single message let alone a goodbye.

Cale also never knew, one month later, his step brother—Basen—who was sent to the capital to attend the king's birthday celebration, returned in a critical condition. He lost his left leg in a plaza terror incident at the palace.

Everything went wrong, and Cale didn't know why.

War after war began to erupt throughout the Western Continent. The first target was the Henituse territory, his homeland. Cale lost everything. Cale lost his family, again.

The Roan Kingdom, Henituse territory, was destroyed. Cale was the only Henituse family who survive. Cale didn't understand why he was able to live. Why didn't he just die with the rest of his family?

Falling to the ground in front of the shattered chunk of his house, memories flashed through his head again.

How his stepmother pushed his body from the falling building. His father's face covered in fresh blood, raised a sword, stood at the forefront. Lily's screams when the explosion occurred, and how Basen's eyes slowly closed, loss of blood.

His biggest goal is to survive in this world. However, his worst nightmare is being the only one who can do so.

His tears were flowing. Now, he has no one left to look strong.

Clenching his palms, Cale grabbed the sword his father used during the war.

Let go of all the anger, let the grudge burn inside his chest.

Cale stepped into the battlefield.

He registered as a soldier to fight. He swung back the sword that he had neglected for so long. There was no longer Cale the trash, nor Cale the alcoholic. What was on Cale's mind right now was revenge.

The black-haired teenager who beat him that night, Choi Han, turned out to be a swordmaster who was now operating under the command of the crown prince. He becomes the source of the kingdom's power, with a mage—former princess from the Breck kingdom—a kid from blue wolf tribe, and two assassins by his side.

Cale clearly knew the two assassins.

Ron and Beacrox, his former servants.

A flash of emotion welled up in his chest, but he decided to ignore it. His house had been destroyed, so there was no point in bringing up the past.

Twenty years.

The war lasted twenty years.

Cale didn't know since when all of this started to gone wrong.

The final war, the most terrible war that has ever recorded on the western continent. The entire kingdom works together to fight the enemy, with Choi Han at the center.

Cale was lucky enough that he was able to last long, as he was accidentally buried under the sea of corpses of his comrades.

Until White Star, the main enemy, launched his final attack on Choi Han.

"No!"

Cale's pupils widened. His feet ran before his brain even commanded. With the remaining strength, he raised his sword, trying to block the attack.

No, he couldn't let Choi Han die.

That bastard, he's the only hope that can beat this damn White Star.

Even though Cale's sword broke while trying to block the attack. Even though his body was torn apart from receiving the damage. He doesn't care.

Cale could see Choi Han's eyes rounded perfectly. For some reason seeing that kind of expression on his face, brought Cale some amusement. On the verge of death, he recalled his first encounter with the boy.

That night had indeed been a bad night for both of them, and Cale admitted that night he was wrong. He deserves it.

At least, he wanted to apologize. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, only blood came out from it. His energy seemed drained. His consciousness slowly faded.

He ended up dying in the last war. He got the death he always wanted.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a red-haired woman in a white dress standing in front of him. The woman smiled gently, extending a hand towards him.

Cale blinked his eyes a few times. His lips trembled as soon as he recognized the owner of that face.

"Mother ...?"

Jour just smiled. Behind him stood the people who had died on the battlefield. His father, step family, friends and even his comrades. They all stood there, welcoming him with a warm smile.

His chest that always burdened by responsibility, now became light. Without thinking twice, Cale grabbed his mother's hand, turning his gaze toward his beloved ones.

He missed them dearly.

"I'm home."

They're his home.

His memory slowly faded every time he stepped into the light. The warmth he had always longed for enveloped him. With a wide smile on his face, his body began to melt into flakes of glowing dust.

***

November 8th, right at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, a baby was born.

His brilliant reddish-brown eyes looked alternately at her mother and father, crying.

"My child."

The husband and wife looked at their baby gently.

"From now on, your name is Kim Rok Soo."

Rok Soo. They named it that way in the hope that their baby would someday be strong, going green even in the midst of dry autumn and cold winter.

***

Kim Rok Soo, 36 years old.

He was enjoying a day off from the hectic work at the office. Kim Rok Soo decides to read a novel recommended by his old friend. The novel is a fantasy-adventure genre, about a black-haired teenager named Choi Han on his journey to become a hero.

The main character faces many obstacles. Starting from being trapped in a dark forest for tens of years, then the village he had considered as home was attacked and scorched to earth. When when he reached the Henituse territory to ask for help, he met the Count's alcoholic son, Cale Henituse.

Somehow Kim Rok Soo felt a pang of pain in his chest when he read the novel. He didn't know what kind of feeling he was feel right now, and he couldn't describe it either.

Lying down on the sofa, with the fifth volume on his stomach, Kim Rok Soo felt sleepiness began to fill him.

For some reason, the contents of the novels he was reading kept replaying inside his head. Kim Rok Soo closed his eyes, letting sleepiness take over his consciousness.

***

When he opened his eyes, he was inside a novel.

[The Birth of Hero].

***Fin***