"If you think this is a dream, think again."

The child spoke with an amused tone as he opened the cabinet, approached the bed and sat on the floor. 

"I'm real, everything is real."

Cale sighed, sitting up as he realized the kid would never disappear and that he was currently awake. He looked at the obviously entertained child and sighed again.

"So, are you the one the god of death sent to help me or are you just a random child who managed to evade all the security in this house and entered my closet for fun?"

The child blankly looked at him.

"...Do I look that stupid to risk my life for something so idiotic?"

Cale shrugged.

"Who knows? Children are very unique."

The child rolled his eyes as Cale let out a small amused snicker before focusing on the child with a serious look.

"What's your name?"

The child looked confused.

"What?"

"Your name. You don't expect us to work together when we don't even know anything about each other, right? Or would you prefer me calling you child."

The child frowned.

"That would be annoying."

Cale nodded in agreement. 

"Right? So, name?"

The child sighed.

"My name is Kim Rok Soo."

Cale frowned in confusion.

"Kim Rok Soo...what a unique name, sounds similar to Choi Han."

The child, Kim Rok Soo, nodded.

"It does stand out..."

Cale raised a brow at Rok Soo's thoughtful face.

"What? You want a new name?"

Rok Soo stayed silent for a moment before replying.

"I should get a new one but..."

He trailed off but Cale understood what he meant as he lied back down on his bed.

 "You don't need to change it if you don't want to."

Rok Soo slightly frowned.

"I, and by extension you, will stand out."

Cale scoffed.

"My name and appearance alone will gather attention so what's another factor? Besides, I'm sure they'll be too worried about me to even notice a child."

Rok Soo agreed at his statement before remembering something.

"Oh, I'm not a child."

Cale looked confused.

"Huh?"

Rok Soo didn't reply and just closed his eyes, focusing as a bright light filled the room for a few seconds before vanishing, revealing a small reddish-brown dragon.

Cale blinked and rubbed his eyes a couple of times but soon gave up after seeing nothing change. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the dragon with a blank stare.

"So you're a dragon?"

The dragon nodded.

"Yep."

"Were you originally a dragon?"

Rok Soo shook his head.

"Nope, I was a human before but when the god of death offered me a deal favorable to me, I agreed with one condition: make sure I don't get hurt. Apparently, for the god of death, being a dragon will prevent me from that."

Cale just blankly looked at him.

"So you were a human who the god of death made a deal with but changed your species because of your request."

Rok Soo nodded in agreement.

"Basically."

Cale let out a disbelieving laugh before slouching on the bed with a tired look.

"Okay, anything else you want to add for your introduction?"

Rok Soo frowned.

"Why don't you introduce yourself?"

Cale smiled.

"I will do my own introduction after yours. Fair?"

Rok Soo begrudgingly nodded. 

"Fair."

"So, anything else?"

"Whatever we discuss will stay with us only, right? Of course, that includes me being a dragon."

"Indeed."

"And we'll be completely honest with each other?"

"Of course. If we don't, then how will we cooperate? What, do you want to do the vow of death?"

"No need, I'll trust you."

Cale smirked.

"I'll trust you too."

Even if they said that, the two knew their words weren't needed to affirm their trust in each other. After all, even if they were strangers, they were sent by the same god to work together and save this world that was fated to end. This shows that the other person was trustworthy enough for the god of death who wanted to stop the White Star no matter what.

Besides, if the other person turns into a traitor, it was easy to kill him if the god of death doesn't do it himself.

Rok Soo, although a child, was in a dragon's body. 

Cale, while in his younger body, was still quite strong considering he learnt how to do swordsmanship since young. Plus, he has strong allies who would help him.

Rok Soo continued his introduction.

"Well, there's really nothing much to say. I'm from another world and have some knowledge about your world. Unfortunately, I only know a few details because that bastard god of death didn't let me finish reading the book."

"Book?"

Rok Soo nodded.

"It's basically a guide book disguised as a fantasy book, honestly. It contains a lot of information of your world but I never got to finish it."

"I see."

Rok Soo smiled as he looked at Cale with an expectant gaze.

"So, it's your turn."

Cale sighed.

"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting at all."

"Need time to process everything?"

Cale shook his head.

"No need, it wasn't that confusing."

Cale directly looked at Rok Soo.

"Did the god of death tell you anything about me?"

Rok Soo shrugged.

"He just told me to trust you because he believes in you and similar bullshit. I only recognized you because of your appearance matching the book. Funnily enough, you were barely mentioned so the only thing I know about you is that you are the son of a rich count and live as a trash."

Cale frowned.

"I knew that god of death is irresponsible."

Rok Soo smirked.

"He is."

Cale also smirked before continuing.

"Well, as you know, my name is Cale Henituse and I lived a life as a useless trash in front of the people although only my family and some specific people know that I train both magic and swordsmanship although I'm quite terrible with magic. When I was around twenty, war broke out and my loved ones slowly disappeared one by one until I died by the White Star's hand."

"White Star?"

Rok Soo interrupted with a confused look.

"The leader of the enemy."

Cale shared before asking.

"You don't know him?"

Rok Soo shook his head.

"I told you I only read some parts of the book. I only know things until the Henituse war."

"I see he god of death is also stupid. The important events happened after the Henituse war. How will you help me if you basically know nothing?"

Rok Soo laughed as he agreed.

"Right?"

Cale sighed before continuing.

"Well, I met god after I died and he offered me a chance to go back in time and change the world's fate with a helper which appears to be you. The end."

Rok Soo looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I see. Then, since introductions are done, what are we going to do now?"

"I was planning on roaming around for a bit before dinner but since you're here..."

Cale slightly frowned, wondering how he would explain to his family about a dragon appearing out of nowhere. It wasn't like he could simply tell them that he came from a ruined future, died, made a deal with death, and returned back in time with a human turned dragon as a helper, right? They might think he went insane or something!

He might be fine with being a trash but he definitely did not want to be known as a mentally ill trash.

Rok Soo seems to have thought of something as he began speaking to Cale.

"Let's go visit the black tree."

Cale blinked.

"The blackened tree? Why do you want to visit it?"

Rok Soo looked at him with a sly smile.

"You'll see."

While Cale continued looking confused, Rok Soo was nodding to himself. If he doesn't need the ancient powers considering he was a dragon, shouldn't he at least give it to a reliable ally? Besides, recalling how Choi Han managed to beat Cale without any resistance, Cale might die before they even defeat the enemy.

Rok Soo then remembered something and brought out a small pouch and opened it, grabbing a potion before handing it to Cale.

"Here, the god of death gave me this."

Cale took it with a curious look.

"A potion?"

"Apparently, it's a special potion which can heal almost all injuries instantaneously."

"Why did he give you this?"

Rok Soo shrugged.

"He said you'll need it. I didn't understand what he meant until I saw you."

Cale frowned.

"What's wrong with me?"

Rok Soo stared at him blankly.

"Your whole body is covered with black bruises. Even if you drink a lot of highest grade potions, how long do you think it would heal? I'm actually surprised you can move that much right now."

Cale didn't reply and drank the potion with no hesitation. 

How could he forget? Even if his father provided him hundreds of highest grade potions, it took him one month to completely heal. Because of that, Basen went to the king's celebration and was severely injured along with his other...acquaintances.

After swallowing the whole potion, Cale was surprised to immediately feel its effects as all of his bruises including his broken leg were quickly healed within minutes.

"Huh, the potion works really fast, as expected from a god."

Rok Soo commented as Cale moved his body around, feeling extremely refreshed. He then look at Rok Soo.

"By the way, have you become comfortable as a dragon?"

"I have."

"Can you use magic and the other skills of one?"

Rok Soo silently nodded.

"Then, can you turn invisible?"

Instead of replying, Rok Soo's dragon form vanished in front of Cale as the latter let out a pleased smile.

"Perfect. Let's go out and do whatever you need with the tree and when we return, I'll introduce you to my family as a child I adopted, deal?"

Rok Soo removed his invisibility with a raised brow as he teasingly spoke.

"Heh, who would have thought that a trash would adopt a child and become a father all of a sudden."

Cale smirked.

"Well, even a trash can have a change of heart, no?"

Rok Soo smirked back.

"Alright, let's hurry and go with your plan before the sun vanishes. I don't want to eat late at all."

"Same."

With that, Rok Soo disappeared as Cale opened his door.