"Next episode, next episode, next episode!" the kids yelled out the moment Adalie walked into the room, surprising her while making those in the room wince at the loud volume.

"Alright, alright." Adalie said, turning the show on. "Geez, you kids are too excited for the stealing part and I'm not sure how to feel about that."

"Just ignore it." TBOAH! Archie suggested while looking sleepy. 

"Wise words." TBOAH! Shawn agreed just as the screen grew white.

Chapter 157: Rolling in by the vine (4)

Loot the tower.
Take everything from the tower.

"The perfect motto TCF! Cale lives by." Jung Soo teased.

"Not the only motto but yes, one of it." TCF! Cale shamelessly admitted. "After all, if you're going to steal something from somewhere, why not get everything else? It would make it worth the effort and time."

"What else are your mottos?" TBOAH! Mary asked curiously.

"Hmm, some of them are slacking off is the best, money is gr-" TCF! Ron cut him off.

"Young master-nim, I think it's a good idea to continue watching. You can tell the young lady your other mottos later during the break as I serve you lemon tea." the look of horror that crossed TCF! Cale made many laugh as some pitied him.

Choi Han was used to Cale's way of speaking by now.

"It would be weirder if you haven't with the amount of time you spend with him." TBOAH! Elisneh commented. "I see your face in almost every scene. Are you sure there's nothing going on between you two?"

"None/No-nothing!" both TCF! versions of Cale and Choi Han answered respectively.

'Although he is phrasing it like that, I'm sure he'll use it for good again.'

"Funnily enough, that's true." Taylor said with a small laugh. 

"Yeah, everything he steals always ends up helping others." TBOAH! Cage said.

"He has incredible luck in stumbling upon important items and stealing things but has to usually use it for others." Rok Soo explained. "It's balance like how everything should be."

Everything Cale had done until now was used to help others or for something positive. Choi Han trusted Cale.
That was why he responded back with no issues.

TCF! Cale unconsciously let out a small smile, feeling warm that Choi Han trusted him enough to follow his orders even though they sometimes (usually) sound weird or cruel.

"I will prepare for it."
"Good. We are going to wear the fake outfits as well."

"Do you have any addiction to wearing a copycat version of my outfit?!" TCF! White Star shouted in frustration.

"Yes." TCF! Cale replied with a small sadistic smirk. "It's fun seeing you annoyed."

Choi Han flinched after hearing that they were going to wear the fake secret organization outfit, but still quietly nodded his head.

"I hate the outfit." TCF! Choi Han whispered to TCF! Rosalyn and TCF! Lock who laughed in agreement.

* * *

Cale started to think about the Church of the Sun God and the Vatican.

The Church of the Sun God had existed as a religious body on the continent for a long time.
It became a powerful church after the Vatican was created in the Mogoru Empire a couple hundred years ago and has strengthened its influence as the official religion of the Empire for the past 150 years.

'This tower was supposedly built when the Vatican was created.'

"Supposedly." TBOAH! Hannah scoffed.

"It's not?" Rasheel asked.

"Dunno but who knows if it's the truth when the church is corrupt to the core?" TBOAH! Hannah explained.

Cale touched the surface of the tower.

It was currently the middle of a winter night.
The tower's walls were cold.

"Be careful, young master." Pendrick said in worry. 

"Human, make sure you're warm, alright!" Raon shouted. "You can't get a cold or any sickness!"

"Nya~" the two cats agreed.

"Yes, yes." TCF! Cale nonchalantly said, waving his hand lazily as he used his other to cover his yawn.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Sound of the Wind was running wild.

– Human, why are you smiling in such a scary manner?

"Since when does he not?" the wind teased.

"Kakaka, that's true!" the fire replied. "Especially when he was throwing large amounts of money."

Many blanched, not happy at the reminder.

Raon's voice echoed in his head. Cale ignored Raon completely as he started to speak. It was a quiet voice.

"It's new."

Choi Han responded to him.

"The Empire seems to have put it up recently."
"Yes. They probably destroyed the original lock and replaced it since there was nothing in the tower."

Cale pointed to the new lock.

"Break it."

Both Adins twitched in annoyance, watching as their empire's secrets and items get destroyed without their future self's knowledge.

Shhhhh.
A small black aura silently destroyed the lock.

"You really are strong, Mr. swordsman!" TBOAH! Lily praised which made both Choi Han fluster a little, not used to being complimented sincerely.

The door to the top of the tower opened without a sound. Raon flew in through the gap.

– There are no people nor magic devices here. Human, this really was thrown to the side!

"As they say, the abandoned places are the ones you should look at because it usually hides a secret." TBOAH! Pen said.

"Who said that?" TBOAH! John asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Just heard it from some servant." was the reply given.

Cale nodded his head at Raon's report and walked in through the door.
The fifteenth floor. The small window was the only window on this floor.

Paaaat.
A small orb of light appeared in front of Cale.
Choi Han closed the door while leaving just a small gap before he started to speak.

"I will be right here."

Cale nodded his head and slowly started to speak.

Eruhaben should be sleeping peacefully in Cale's bed with his hair changed to match Cale's red hair.

Eruhaben looked disturbed at this, turning pale when he imagined himself with red hair. It wasn't that he looked bad, he looked good in everything, but that he was supposed to be acting like Cale was what scared him.

The spy in Cale's bedroom should be looking at the real Hilsman guarding the door to Cale's bedroom and the fake Choi Han guarding the inside of Cale's bedroom.
They would think that Eruhaben switched shifts and went to his room to sleep.

"Smart." TBOAH! Litana praised. "That way, no one will be suspicious of you."

– Human, let's hurry up!

Cale did not respond to Raon's urging and slowly walked up.

"Hyung, do you think your future self is walking slowly because he's lazy or because he's confident no one will find you?" TCF! Basen asked curiously.

"Probably both." TCF! Cale answered.

Tap. Tap.
His footsteps echoed as he followed the circular staircase up to the top.

'All of the guards are gathered by the eastern Annex.'

"How stupid." TCF! Adin frowned. "Who ordered them to leave that place unattended?"

"...You do know you're their boss, right?" TCF! Valentino asked carefully, unaware his actions sounded mocking to others who snickered as TCF! Adin glared.

The highest level of security in the Vatican started from the eastern Annex, then the Western administrative offices, and finally the central building. The garden didn't even have any guards.

"I should make sure to increase the guards when he comes." TCF! Adin murmured to himself.

"Why invite him at all, dummy?" TBOAH! Elisneh asked with a raised brow.

"Because, if he becomes more famous, it would be good press." TBOAH! Adin answered this time. "Imagine, the empire and the hero becoming friends. People will believe the empire has his backing and will be more comfortable with us."

Cale had floated in the air for a long time in order to determine the patrol paths and learned that there was approximately an hour gap between when the guards would come to the garden.

"Thank you for noting this." both Adins smirked. 

"I'll make sure it won't happen this time." TBOAH! Adin said.

'They're pretty much advertising that the eastern Annex has a secret room.'

Cale found that to be stupid.

"When are their actions sensible?" TBOAH! Rosalyn questioned. 

He recalled what the sword master Hannah had said.

'The Church's patrols and the Empire's current patrol patterns are probably different, but I'll tell you anyways since it may help.'

The fake Holy Maiden explained the patrol patterns.

'They barely go to the garden.'

"Thank you for your information." TCF! Cale thanked TCF! Hannah who only smirked. 

"Anything to destroy those bastards." TCF! Hannah said.

'Ah, Hannah. But didn't the Pope go to the garden a lot?'

Hannah scoffed and added on.

Both Hannahs similarly let out a scoff.

'He did. That sleepless old bastard. He always walked around the garden. He wouldn't even let others come to the garden when he was there. Funny bastard. Is the garden his private area?'

Cale could finally understand the Pope's actions.

'The Pope seems to have known about this tower.'

He seemed to have known that a divine item was here.

"Of course he would." TBOAH! Hannah smacked her head in frustration and disappointment at herself. "Why didn't I realize that."

"Don't beat yourself over it, it's the Pope's fault for being too weird." TBOAH! Jack gently told his sister. 

'Although I don't know why he didn't give the divine item to the Saint.'

"He doesn't trust us." TCF! Jack softly explained.

"More like he just uses us for his selfish desires." TCF! Hannah darkly said.

Even if he was just a half Saint, Jack should still have been able to use the divine item. Then the believers would have become even more faithful.

Of course, the Pope may have thought it would be difficult to control the Saint if he had a divine item. That may be why he hid the existence of the divine item.

"I guess he had the right to doubt you two." TBOAH! Duke Fredo said with a small smirk. "You will bring his destruction, after all."

– Human, why are you continuously smiling as you walk up? Hurry up so that we can get our things!

Cale started to walk a little faster.

"Of course that would motivate Cale-nim." TBOAH! Choi Han whispered with a small smile, covering his mouth once he realized he unconsciously called the red head the name his other self uses.  

Swooooooosh-
The Sound of the Wind surrounded Cale's feet. He was able to climb up quickly without much effort.
Cale finally arrived at the 15th floor.

"Lucky." some murmured in envy, also wanting to climb long stairs without a lot of effort. It was both efficient and fun.

"Human, I will break the lock!"

Raon must have determined that it was okay not to be quiet, as he shouted out loud.
The Black Dragon broke the new lock on the small and old iron door and pushed the door to the side.

"Human, let's crawl!"

TCF! Cale let out a small look of disgust, not liking the idea of crawling in a dirty floor.

The door was only half of Cale's height.
Raon folded his wings and slowly crawled in. He then pushed his head back out.

"Human, why are you not coming in?"

"Haaaaa."
Cale let out a sigh as he crawled through the doorway.

TCF! Cale pitied his other self and vowed not to repeat such actions. Maybe he can have Choi Han do it for him?

The 15th floor. Cale stood up as soon as he entered the narrow room.

"...Human, it's so barren."

There really was nothing in here.
An old metal bed, a table that seemed like it would break at any moment, and a metal chair. Those were the only things in the room.

"That's where they locked the real saintess? How cruel." TBOAH! Archie said with a frown.

"Human, I think I understand why the Empire just left it alone."

There really was nothing in here.
It just seemed like a forgotten prison.

"Seems being the key word." TBOAH! Shawn said.

Raon recalled the dark cave he had been chained in. This room was as gloomy as that cave.

Raon in the room didn't react at all, having had his eyes covered by TCF! Cale the moment the room was shown while the two cats covered his ears.

"...Human, there is a weird violent and scary aura in here."

The Black Dragon felt something odd. Cale was silent.
At that moment, an interesting noise reached Raon's ear.

Swooooooosh-

It was the wind. Raon turned his head. He could not say anything.

The wind looked at the screen in excitement, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized what was about to happen.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The uneven slates on the prison's floor.
Cale Henituse was crouched over and tapping on the slate. Raon just continued to watch. Eventually, the Black Dragon made eye contact with the human who started to speak.

"It is right here."

Whirlwinds were roaring by Cale's side.

Everyone leaned forward, wanting to see what was about to be revealed as it wasn't everyday they would get to see a god's divine item.

Clunk. Clunk.
The old metal bed and chair started to clunk. The prison was quiet other than the noise of the roaring whirlwinds. Raon had never seen this power working in such a manner.

"Teehee, let's just say I have many talents Cale hasn't explored yet!" the wind said with a prideful smile.

Cale had used the Sound of the Wind as soon as he entered the prison.
He then felt the emotions stored within the ancient power.
This was the first time he had felt it.

'Cheering.'

The Sound of the Wind was cheering.

"You've become more active." the shield said with a smile to the wind who returned it.

"Hehe." the wind said. "I'll try."

Cale looked toward Raon. The Black Dragon nodded his head before using magic to lift up the slate Cale was tapping on.
The slate that had been there for hundreds of years took a bit of effort to move.

Swooooooosh-
The wind gathered on its own and brushed away the dirt once the slate was removed.

"...Found it."

There was a black box.
It was a box with a lock that was so old that the right key probably wouldn't even open it. It was a small box.

Many frowned at the sight, expecting something more... divine.

"That's it?" TBOAH! Bud asked incredulously and was hit on the head by his best friend.

"Don't judge a book by its cover." TBOAH! Glenn hissed.

Cale quickly brushed the dirt off of the top of the box.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
He could feel his heart going wild as he brushed the dirt away.

The Condemnation of the Sun.
It was now in his hands.

"Damn it." TCF! White Star cursed before smirking. "I'll just get it before you now then." 

"How? With your useless servants?" TCF! Cale mocked. "Have fun trying."

This would make it possible to create a mess in the Empire earlier than he planned.
Raon, who had been approaching Cale, could not get any closer due to the whirlwinds and so he destroyed the lock from a distance.

Crack.
The lock broke easily.
Cale slowly opened the box.

Screeech, clunk.

The inside of the box was revealed for the first time in hundreds of years.

Some kneeled down, not being able to stand seeing a divine item without properly showing respect.

"... What the?"

Cale was confused.

Swooooooosh-
The whirlwinds slowly disappeared as if they could finally relax. Raon was then able to stick to Cale in order to see inside of the box.

Here, TCF! Cale and the cats let go of Raon's ears and eyes, deeming it safe enough for Raon to continue watching and not be reminded of horrible memories.

"Hmm? Human, this is very scary and violent!"

"For Raon-nim to say something like that..." TCF! Adite murmured, leaning forward to see clearer in excitement.

Cale could not respond to Raon's statement.
He slowly took the item out of the box.

It was a book.
The white book seemed to be in perfect condition. Cale read the title.

< How to Die Peacefully >

"HAH?!" both Cage shouted in shock.

"You know that book?" Taylor asked and both Cage looked at each other.

"It's the diving item of the god of death." TBOAH! Cage admitted with a sigh.

"Ah, he's so annoying! Always begging me to find it." TCF! Cage groaned before looking at TCF! Cale with a grin. "But thanks to young master Cale, I found it so thank you!"

"No problem." TCF! Cale waved her thanks off. "Besides, I have a feeling I'll hand it to you. I don't need it anyway."

"I don't want it." TCF! Cage said before wincing. "I'll take it, young master Cale, the god is noisy in my damn head."

'... Scary.'
This did not seem to be the Condemnation of the Sun.

"Because it isn't." TBOAH! Pen said with a disappointed look but was still glad he saw a diving item.

It was at that moment.

– Are you trying to sacrifice yourself?

He could hear the voice of the Super Rock. Cale flinched and looked toward Raon.

"Of course he isn't!" Raon and the cats immediately shouted and glared at the rock who flinched.

"T-that isn't me!" he cried out.

"Raon, is there a curse on this book?"

"Ow!" TCF! Cale suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to look at him. 

"Cale-nim?" TCF! Choi Han asked, seeing the red haired rubbing his head.

"What's wrong?" TCF! Alberu asked.

"Stupid brick." TCF! Cale murmured before shouting at the sky. "You fucker! If you wanted to say something, tell it to me face to face and don't send a letter with a brick to my head!"

"What' wrong, Hyung?" TBOAH! Lily asked.

"It's nothing to worry about, Lily." TCF! Cale quickly changed tunes and smiled at her a little. "I just received a stupid letter by someone useless."

"The god of death would be hurt if he hears that." Adalie said with a wry smile, causing many to look in shock.

"Who cares." TCF! Cale nonchalantly said as he ripped the letter without opening it.

"I don't think that's a good idea, young master." TBOAH! Beacrox said.

"Don't worry, it's just a stupid letter." TCF! Cale said. "Right, Adalie?"

"Yeah." the panda agreed. "He was just complaining that his item wasn't evil regardless of the aura it produces."

"No! It just has a violent and scary aura!"

Cale turned stoic. Raon had been saying it was violent and scary since earlier.
Was it because of this book? Based on what the Super Rock was saying, it really did seem to be scary.

Cale slowly put the book down.

"Hmm? Human, isn't it ours?"

"Raon-nim..." Pendrick didn't know what to say to Raon who seemed to believe that finding something and touching it equates to owning it. 

"...No. This is a bit."

Swooooooosh-
A wind suddenly gushed. Cale could feel the Sound of the Wind's silent anger through the wind.

"Haaaaa."

Cale picked up the white book again.
The wind stopped.

'It is definitely a divine item. It is also not cursed.'

"I don't think gods will make a cursed item." Paseton said before hesitatingly adding a "right?"

No one answered him.

Cale felt odd while looking at the book.

'...Why is it in the Roan language?'

The words Cale could see were in the Roan language.

"Raon, the title is in the Roan language, right?"
"Human, isn't it a runic language?"
"'...What?"

Raon was saying that the title was runic to him.

"So it changes words depending on who uses it?" TBOAH! Witira asked with a curious look.

"I guess so." Mila answered.

Cale's expression changed. He opened the book without any hesitation.

He flipped to the first page.

< All of the world's lifeforms are beautiful once they are dead. >

"What?" TBOAH! Obante asked in surprise.

He turned to the next page.

< Do you wish to die? >
< Follow me! >
< Come learn about the easiest way to die! >

"...the god of death is very...peculiar." Rasheel said.

"What do you expect from that annoying voice in my head?" TBOAH! Cage asked rhetorically.

Raon, who was stretching his neck up to see the book, continued to tilt his head in confusion. It was weird. He then heard Cale's voice.

"You got that right." Jung Soo said.

"Raon."
"What is it, Human?"
"Miss Cage is part of the Church of Death, right?"

The crazy priestess Cage.

"I really like that title." TCF! Cage said with a small smirk.

Raon looked toward Cale with an odd expression.

"...Yes?"
"It has been a while since they had a Saint or a Holy Maiden, right?"
"...Yes?"

"Poor Raon-nim." TCF! Lock said in pity but was also in love with the cute act of the little dragon.

Raon's eyes seemed to be asking why Cale was asking such obvious questions, but Cale just silently continued to turn the pages until he returned to the cover.

"You should answer your poor son." Soo Hyuk teased.

"I am." TCF! Cale said before pointing at the screen. "He isn't."

"You're literally the same person!" Jung Soo exclaimed. 

"Lies." TCF! Cale shamelessly said. "I can change my future since it isn't written in stone."

He could see the name of the author.

< Author: A Heartfelt Death. >

"What a corny name." Rok Soo said.

'Ha, this...'
Cale was flabbergasted.
I think this is –

'A divine item of the God of Death.'

It was not surprising that he found a divine item.

"Love the confidence." TBOAH! Tasha said.

However, he was confused.

'Why is this over here?'

Why was a divine item of the God of Death in the prison of the Sun God's final Holy Maiden?
Cale could not put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"What more us." TBOAH! Rex said with a helpless look.

"That's why we don't bother thinking about it and just wait for answers." TBOAH! Clopeh said.

"Cale-nim will know it after all." TCF! Clopeh agreed. "He's god!"

Cale put the white book back in the box.
He then pulled the box out of the dirt.

"...And what is this?"

"Here we are, watching Cale get lucky again for the nth time." Dodori announced with a happy look.

Underneath the box was a book covered on both sides by an iron plate. Cale picked up the iron plates and the book in shock.
Thud.
The book fell out of the iron plates and landed on the ground.
The old book opened as it hit the ground.

There were just a few lines of text on the book after the effects of time.

"Human, this is in the Empire's language!"

The words were in the Empire's language.

"Could it be the holy maiden's diary?" TCF! Shickler asked.

"Most probably." TBOAH! Kora agreed.

Cale, who had learned the basics of the Empire's language for this trip, could read a few of the words.

< You fucking bastards! >

They were swear words.
Cale had memorized all of the swear words.

"...Should I ask?" TCF! Deruth said hesitantly.

"It's a custom in our world to memorize the swear words of a new language we will learn." Jung Soo said, only to be hit in the head by Rok Soo.

"It's a lie." he answered. "It's fun though and can easily help you know if someone curses you or not."

< I hope you all die! >

They were swear words.
The majority of the words that were still legible were mainly swear words.

"Human, doesn't it seem like the owner of this room wrote this?"

Cale carefully opened the book's first page.
He could see the Empire's language on the first page of the diary.

TCF! Cale unconsciously scowled, moving the destruction of the church higher in his list of 'people to ruin for destroying my slacker life'.

"Raon, read it for me."
"Alright. The great Raon knows all of the continent's languages!"

Raon started to read the legible text on the page.

Sheritt covered her ears and closed her eyes, not wanting to hear her son say lots of curses. The children's parents did the same to their child.

"Pope, you bastard who deserves to die a miserable death. You decided to imprison me like this? You stupid bastard who will never receive even the slightest sliver of a blessing from the Sun God."

Cale looked toward Raon. Raon looked back with a serious expression.

"That is what it says."
"•••Sure."

Cale listened closely to Raon's continued translation.

"You imprisoned this precious person in this tiny prison! A hundred, no, a thousand days of suffering is not enough for you! I will never forgive you! Evil bastards! I was the idiot for trusting you! Shitheads!"

'•••Yes. Anybody would get angry if they were imprisoned.'
Cale understood the Holy Maiden's feelings. This diary was definitely the Holy Maiden's diary.
Raon turned the page and continued to translate.

"You imprisoned me with the God of Death's divine item in order to suppress my power? Just watch! I will leave this underneath the divine item so that someone in the future will see it! Hmm?'
"Hmm?"
Cale, who had been blankly listening to the swearing, and Raon, who had been realistically reciting the swears, looked toward each other. Raon pointed to the white book.

"Human, this-"
"Yes, Yes. Just read on."
"Alright!"

Raon smiled at Cale's cheery disposition and continued to read. He then flinched.

"Stupid idiots. You don't even know where the Sun God's divine item is located. You dare to put me, the one aiming to become royalty, in this- human, this is weird!"
"...Let's keep reading."
"Alright."

Raon looked at the diary that was in the Empire's language.

< For someone who was called the future Queen to end up like this. Who knew the second prince and the Pope would do such a terrible thing? >
< Why did I ask royal father to bring the Sun God into the Empire? Wasn't it because I was a Holy Maiden? >
< That was why I said the Pope, that was why I said that bastard could not become Pope! They were all tricked by that evil mask! This is unfair! >

Raon read it all for Cale. He then continued to read.

"You stole the God of Death's divine item because you are scared of the Church of the God of Death? How could that be the will of the just Sun God? You bastards deserve to die miserable deaths!"

"Just for that reason? How could they!" TCF! Jack shouted in anger, bawling his hands into fists. "Young master Cale, let's end them!"

"I...yes, we will." TCF! Cale agreed, shock at the vicious words that left the saint. He understood, though, after hearing what the church and prince did to an innocent person.

The puzzle was slowly coming together for Cale.

The last Holy Maiden was the heir to the throne.

'The second prince was probably the one with the most influence after her.'

The second prince and the Pope had conspired to imprison the Holy Maiden in here.
They were also the ones to put the divine item of their enemy, the God of Death, in here.

"Those bitches." TBOAH! Toonka cursed. "Just fight like a man, bastards! Why are you so cowardly to do such a useless thing!"

"I agree, for once." TCF! Harol said darkly.

'Looks like the church will disappear.' Adalie thought without care. 'Well, the old generations will. Maybe even the royals.'

'That was why the Pope liked to walk here a lot.'

The Pope did not walk here because of the Condemnation of the Sun.
It was because of this bomb that needed to be kept an even a bigger secret. It was something only he could know about.

'I guess it makes sense.'

"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." the half-dragon said.

The Church of the Sun God is one of the most famous groups on the continent.
The Church of the God of Death is not as strong in influence.
However, death was stronger than the sun. It made sense why they would still be wary of them.

"They should be afraid." TBOAH! Litana said darkly. "Because I'll kill them all myself."

At that moment, Raon's continued translation reached Cale's ear.

"Stupid idiots! You burned my palace once you imprisoned me? You then called me crazy and a heretic for laughing? Why do you think I laughed?"

Gasp.
Raon gasped as he continued to speak.

"Stupid idiots. You didn't even know that the Condemnation of the Sun was in there."

"Hoh?" the leaders of the two groups said at the same time.

'What?'

"The divine item that you've been looking for is underneath that burnt palace!"

Cale looked toward Raon, who read one more thing in the diary.

"Ah, so funny."

'It really is funny.'

"It is." confirmed TCF! Rex Steker. "The one they want was under their noses this entire time."

Cale looked toward Raon, who looked back at the smiling Cale, and asked.

"Human, are we looting the palace as well?"

"Don't. You. Dare." TCF! Adin said, enunciating each word as he glared at TCF! Cale, daring him to do it.

"I don't know, it sounds fun." TCF! Cale said in response, smirking a little in TCF! Adin's direction. 

"Yehey, more looting!" the kids cried out in joy.