HO HO HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS! It's our second Christmas together so here's my present for all of you! ^_^ hope you all have a great day! Plus, I do feel bad for scaring you all in the previous chapter. It was fun though, hehe~

Chapter 172: Perhaps (7)

– Who are you?
The crown prince had asked a similar question before.
However, this time was different.

"I would assume so." TBOAH! White Star said dryly.

"Do keep your monologue inside yourself." TBOAH! Rosalyn said in annoyance. "No one appreciates it."

– Cale, I cannot see your future. I also cannot see your past, other than the last two years.

"How surprising." TCF! Duke Fredo mused with slight surprise. "Even the World Tree, something famous for knowing everything, can't see your future or your past."

"I mean, given that the god of death is with him..." Jung Soo said.

"Of course it would be him bringing trouble." TCF! Cage scowled.

2 years ago.
That was when Kim Rok Soo had become Cale Henituse.

"It's been that long?" TBOAH! Pen asked in surprise.

"It seems so." TBOAH! Billos said, also surprised.

"It only felt like days." TBOAH! Choi Han murmured.

– I may not be much, but I have lived a long time. I've lived, died, and reincarnated many times. That gave me the eyes to see a bit of the world.

'Will I gain the same skill if I die a few more times?' both White Star greedily thought.

"That...sounds so cool yet so sad." TCF! Lily said with a frown as her mother patted her head to comfort her.

The World Tree was able to see a bit of the flow of the world. However, there was a time when it could not see any of it.

And now, the number of things that the World Tree could see was slowly decreasing.

Many frowned at this.

"Is something blocking its sight or is it..." Mila didn't continue but everyone knew what she wanted to say.

"Impossible!" TBOAH! Adite cried out. "The World Tree-nim will never d-die!"

Everyone just stayed silent.

– A long long time ago.

The World Tree recalled when it had no choice but to create the snowstorm and take over the north.

That was the first time it had ever felt fear.

Some glanced at the fire, remembering the reason why the World Tree started ordering the elves to collect gold and the likes. The fire, though, looked ignorant, watching while happily spinning a gold coin in his hand.

– There were people like you whom I could not see their pasts nor futures. I could only see tiny glimpses of their near future.

Cale focused on the fact that there were people like him in the past.

Many also looked interested, wondering if there were other people who transmigrated to their world. Well, besides Choi Han.

'If there are others...were they unlucky bastards too?' Eruhaben thought.

'Were they transmigrators too?'

If there were other transmigrators, he was curious about their futures.

However, the World Tree quickly dispelled Cale's thoughts. A completely different explanation was given.

– The owners of the ancient powers were just like you. I could not see them.

'Ancient powers?'

The ancient powers looked surprise at this, looking at each other to see if someone knew but everyone was ignorant of it. Similarly, everyone turned to look at them, feeling shivers crawl up their spines as they wondered what made them special? Could it be...it was already written in the stars that they will be ancient powers? If so...are there fates also written beyond their control?

– I couldn't see through the arsonist nor the rock for brains.

"I'm not a rock for brains!" the cobblestone argued.

"I am an arsonist." the fire simply agreed with a shrug.

'...I feel like I know who it means when it says rock for brains.'
Cale recalled the owner of the Scary Giant Cobblestone.

Said power sulked.

He also started to think about the time when there were many people with ancient powers.
He was thinking about the ancient times.

It has been said that darkness had fallen on the world during the ancient times. Furthermore, it stated that the darkness disappeared and peace was restored.
However, nothing mentioned just exactly what the darkness was.

"That's true." TCF! Bud, just like the others, realized.

"Of course he would be the one to find the answer." TBOAH! Elisneh said with a roll of her eyes.

"What is the darkness?"

Raon and the priestess who had been looking at Cale tilted their heads in confusion at Cale's question. However, the World Tree understood what Cale was asking and responded back.

"Human! You should be clearer next time!" Raon scolded.

"Yes, yes." TCF! Cale carelessly said, patting Raon, who was about to scold him, on the head.

– I can only speak the things that the World allows me to say.

"That sucks." TBOAH! Shawn said with pity.

"Yeah, imagine having all the knowledge but forbidden to say it." TBOAH! Kora agreed. "I'll go nuts."

"I can't even keep a secret, how am I supposed to do that?" TCF! Toonka complained.

"Just copy me," TCF! Archie said with a small shrug. "forget everything."

It was saying that it could not answer Cale's question.
It then added one more thing.

– I also cannot say anything about things I cannot see. I could not predict the true body of the darkness. However, the me that lived during that time did see the, 'darkness.' Unfortunately, that is something I cannot discuss.
Cale started to frown at the twisted answer that did not answer anything at all.

"It didn't." Dodori confirmed with a slightly annoyed expression.

'I'm innocent!' the World Tree wanted to cry out.

– Did you say they were called, 'Arm?' The ones aiming for me?
"That is the case."
– I could not see, 'Arm.' The things I can see are dwindling these days.

Cale had a bad feeling at this moment.

Many agreed with his sentiment.

"If even the World Tree can't see things like Arm...doesn't this spell bad news?" TCF! Rex shyly said.

"It is." TBOAH! Rei Stecker agreed with a frown.

'...Looks like things will become an even bigger mess.'

TCF! Cale let out a groan as Rok Soo, TBOAH! Cale, Jung Soo, and Soo Hyuk laughed at him.

It was already a mess, but the upcoming future would be even more of a mess. Cale was disappointed that the World Tree did not know the true identity of Arm.

– Danger came to find me every time I could not see through the flow of time. It might be that I will be involved in the situation and not just be a bystander.

Both Adite and the elves in the room frowned, making notes of the fact that they should prepare for a war.

The World Tree came to a quick conclusion.

– But that is my problem, so let's return to you. Who are you?

It asked one more time. Cale calmly responded back.

"Just one of the many average people."

"I like how the World Tree ignores the fact someone wants to kill it." TBOAH! Gilbert said with a sweatdrop. "And the fact that TCF! Cale easily lies."

"Is it a lie if he believes it, though?" Taylor said with an amused smile.

Raon's voice reached Cale's ear at that moment.

"Our human is not average! And he is weak!"

"...Yeah, weak." TCF! Archie blankly said, remembering the explosions TCF! Cale caused.

'What is he talking about?'
Cale let Raon's comments in through one ear and out the other. However, he could not ignore the World Tree's comment.

Raon glared at TCF! Cale with a pout before flying away to his mother.

"Uh-oh, you made your son angry." TBOAH! Cale teased.

– I plan to throw away three or four branches today.

'Branches? Tree branches?'

"No!" both Adite, who knew what the World Tree was talking about, shouted although she knew it was futile as it was the future.

Cale had thought that the World Tree would care a lot about its body, so the fact that it was saying this gave him an ominous feeling. Although the tree was smaller than Cale had expected, it was taller than Cale and the branches looked quite thick and strong.

"It looks like it can be a weapon." TBOAH! Witira mused.

"Who would be stupid enough to carry such a long weapon?" Rasheel scoffed. "Not to mention the fact it's only a branch which is useless."

'Why would it throw them away?'

Cale opened his mouth to speak. However, the World Tree started to speak first.

– One.

The World Tree was planning on saying something it did not have permission to say.

"So it has to sacrifice something to speak the forbidden." TBOAH! Adin said, already thinking of ways to...ask the tree something.

During the time when darkness had descended on the world. Many lifeforms fought against each other at the time and the word, 'peace,' was nonexistent.
The Dark Ages were also called the Warring Ages.
It was a time when a person would happily kill someone else for their own benefit.

"What a suckish world." TBOAH! Hannah commented.

The World Tree said the first thing.

– The person who is collecting ancient powers has collected a total of three ancient powers.

"Three?" TCF! Eric said. "Then it's not TCF! Cale."

"Yes, that unlucky bastard has much more." Eruhaben said. "Whether that be a good thing or not, however, is another story."

Cale flinched at the glares he received.

Cale flinched.

'It is not me if it is just three of them. There is someone else who is collecting ancient powers? Why?'

"What do you think?" TCF! White Star sarcastically asked. "Of course because I want to play with them. No, dipshit, it's because I want the powers."

People currently saw ancient powers as just mediocre powers to have on the side.

"Idiots." TCF! White Star scoffed.

This was because ancient powers had limitations. A power that could not develop could not reach greater heights.

"So? More power means more power." TBOAH! Adin said.

Cale urgently started to speak.

"Why is someone trying to gather-"

However, he could not finish his sentence.

"Really, you're going to ask that?" TBOAH! Elisneh asked with a raised brow. "You know not everyone is like you, right?"

Boom!

Cale heard a loud noise at that moment. The ground also started to shake.

Something had fallen.

Cale tried to open his eyes.

– Do not open your eyes.

The World Tree was telling him not to open his eyes.

"You'll lose connection if you do." TCF! Adite explained, her heart breaking for the World Tree.

He also heard the young priestess Adite's voice at that time.

"W, World Tree-nim! My goodness!"

Adite called out to the World Tree as if she was screaming. He heard Raon's voice after that as well.

"What is going on? World Tree, one of your large branches rotted and fell to the ground! Are you hurt, World Tree? Are you not well?"
"Raon-nim, you cannot approach them!"

Raon frowned at this, worried for the World Tree and hoping it's alright. "World Tree will be fine, right?"

"It will." Adalie assured, seeing that she's the only one who knew the answer.

The young priestess prevented Raon from heading toward the World Tree. She was stomping on the ground while not knowing what to do. She then weakly responded to Raon, who was looking at her with an expression that seemed to be asking why she was holding him back.

"The World Tree-nim, the World Tree-nim told you not to come."
"Is that so? Alright then."

Raon did not say anything else before returning to his original spot.

'How obedient.' TCF! Cale thought, feeling slightly betrayed when he remembered the times Raon went against him.

However, his eyes were full of concern. His gaze was focused on Cale, who was right next to the fallen branch.

'Such a touching sight.' TBOAH! Tasha thought with slightly teary eyes. 'He cares so much for his human!'

On the other hand, Cale's mind had become even more complicated.

– Second.

The World Tree spoke weakly but urgently.

– Find the remaining traces of the Black Dragon's parents.

'Raon's parents?'

Sheritt looked surprised at this but also happy, knowing that she would soon meet her child.

'I do wonder what happened to my other child.' she thought. 'Maybe I should ask her later.'

Cale had planned on looking into this at some point in the future.

Boom.

Another large branch fell down.

"What do I do, what do I do?!"

He could hear the extremely concerned Elf's voice. However, Cale's mind was already complicated by what the World Tree was saying.

"It's alright, Cale-nim, you should focus more on your conversation with World Tree-nim." TCF! Adite said although it was obvious she was in pain.

He continued to focus on the World Tree's words.

– Last thing.

There was still one thing left.

– The judge who ran away to the Eastern continent. Find her.

The water smiled at this, realizing that it was going to be her turn next.

'...Now what the heck is it talking about?'
Cale had a thick frown on his face.

"The judge who ran away?" TBOAH! Hans asked in bewilderment.

It was at that moment.

Crack.
Cale heard something breaking from above his head. His body was pushed away at that moment.

"...Ugh!"

A hard and round rock seemed to push his body to the side. At the same time, a small and round front paw supported his back.

"Human! You should be careful!" Raon immediately ranted, flying to him as TCF! Cale only nodded, too tired to even defend himself.

"Cale-nim..." TCF! Choi Han said with a frown.

"I understand." TCF! Cale only said with a sigh.

Boom!

Cale opened his eyes.

He looked toward the spot he had originally been standing at. There was a large branch that had turned black and was leaking a red fluid.

Many paled at the sight.

"W-World Tree-nim will be okay, right?" TCF! Jack asked.

"It will." Lynn once again confirmed.

"It looks so weird to see a tree bleed." TBOAH! Cage said.

"Human, are you okay?"

Cale looked toward the Black Dragon who had pushed him to the side and then supported him. Raon stuck his head out from behind Cale. Cale calmly started to speak.

"You could have moved me with magic."

"That shouldn't be the first thing you say, idiot!" Rok Soo scolded.

"...I know." TCF! Cale said with a slight scowl before softly looking at Raon. "Thanks, Raon."

"Hehe, no problem Human!" Raon said.

"Good job, nya!" Hong praised as On patted Raon.

Cale would not have felt the impact from Raon's head that was as hard as a rock if he had done that.

"...I'll remember to move you with magic next time, Human." Raon said, remembering that TCF! Cale was weak. It must have hurt a lot when he hit TCF! Cale with his head.

Raon's pupils started to shake before they returned to normal and he started to speak.

"But you still dodged it!"
"Yes, Yes."

Cale casually responded before approaching the World Tree again.

"...I really can't get used to how calm he is after facing near death." the half-dragon said.

'I fear it.' he thought.

"He is Cale-nim for a reason." TCF! Clopeh said as if it was obvious.

Drip. Drip.
The sounds that he had missed because he was focused on the World Tree could now be heard. Three large branches had broken off.
There were red fluids that looked like human blood flowing out of them.

Many winced, looking disturbed.

'I thought it was normal, but I was wrong.'

He had never seen a tree that, 'bled,' like this.

"I don't think any tree besides the World Tree can bleed." TBOAH! Mary said.

Cale slowly put his hand back on the trunk of the World Tree.

"Huuuuuu."

A weak sigh could be heard.

– It looks like I'll be able to give you the fruit only after the summer is over. This is the limit of what I can tell you.

The World Tree's voice started to get quieter.

"It's enough." TCF! Cale assured the World Tree in the room he knew was present. After all, the World Tree's voice and the one before that scared them sounded the same.

Many looked at him weirdly.

– You have no thoughts about getting stronger, right?

"Even the World Tree understands Cale-nim." TCF! Choi Han said with a wry smile.

Right.
Cale had no plans about getting stronger at all.

"Of course you don't." TCF! Violan said with a fond smile.

The World Tree was able to get enough glimpses of the flow of time to notice that about Cale. It was because the World Tree was the same way.

The World Tree did not wish for strength. It did not care for power or fame.
It just wanted a peaceful life.

"Uh-oh, is this what people calls foreshadowing?" Jung Soo teased. "The World Tree gained a lot of power not wanting it just like you, no?"

"Shut it." TCF! Cale ordered, not wanting it to become his reality.

However, it moved when it had a prediction that it would cause it to be difficult to have that peaceful life.
It had covered the North with a snowstorm in the past and this time it had thrown away three of its branches in order to give a couple of pieces of advice for this human that it could not see.

Many stared at TCF! Cale, finding him and the tree oddly similar.

"Are we sure he isn't the reincarnation of the World Tree or something?" TBOAH! Choi Han whispered to his two companions who also looked lost.

"They are very similar." TBOAH! Rosalyn agreed with TBOAH! Lock nodding in agreement. "But no since the World Tree is still alive."

It had protected the humans it could not see in the past as well.
It believed that it would do the same again.
– ... I must rest now.

Cale could not hear the World Tree's voice anymore. He took his hand off the trunk and looked toward priestess Adite. The young priestess continued to cry as she started to speak.

Both Adite were on the verge of tears but seeing their faces on screen shocked them to stop.

"The World Tree-nim said that it must sleep for a long time and said that you should chat later along with the fruit."

Fruit.
That was the item Cale needed to gain from the World Tree. He still did not know what abilities the World Tree's fruit had. He just assumed that it was something good by the fact that Eruhaben wanted the World Tree to give it to Raon.

"...Oh yeah, wasn't that his original goal?" TBOAH! Eric said in realization.

The Elf caressed the blackened branches with sad eyes as she continued to speak.

"It also said that it was disappointed that it could not chat with Raon-nim, but asked to push that until next time as well."
"I am disappointed as well, but that's okay! Hey World Tree, is there something I can help you with?"

"Yeah, you should rest when you need to, World Tree, don't push yourself." Raon echoed his future self.

Raon approached the World Tree with a concerned expression. The young priestess shook her head.

"Recovery is something the World Tree-nim will take care of alone. All we need to do is wait."

"I hate that part." Paseton said with distaste. "Always makes me worry something bad would happen and think of the worst possible things."

Shhhhhhh-
Cale listened to the rustling of the leaves and started to think.

'The person who has collected three ancient powers and is looking to gather more.
'The traces of Raon's parents.
'The judge who ran away to the Eastern continent.'

Cale brushed his face with both of his hands.

'Just when will I get to rest?'
He started to feel sad.

"Never~" Rok Soo teased.

"You should admit it." Jung Soo said. "Rest and you will never be used in the same sentence unless 'not' is in-between it."

"I'll have the last laugh when we learn I'll be able to rest after a couple of videos." TCF! Cale bitterly said.

* * *

However, that sadness disappeared a few days later.

"Really?" TBOAH! Witira asked in surprise. "That doesn't sound like you at all."

"It doesn't." TBOAH! Alberu agreed. "Were you tricked or scammed?"

"Who can scam the king of scammers?" TCF! Alberu bluntly asked.

Tap. Tap.

Cale was chilling in the warm Elf Village underneath the frozen lake while enjoying fresh cherries.

"...Should I just live here?"

"You're always welcome!" TCF! Adite said.

"No, our place is better." TBOAH! Obante insisted.

"Shouldn't it be ours?" TCF! Witira wondered.

"It's ours." TCF! Choi Han said with a frown.

Raon responded to Cale's joking comment.

"No! Our house is the best!"

'That is true.'
Cale was agreeing with Raon's statement, but still felt more relaxed than ever. Paseton was watching this with a blank expression on his face.

"I feel bad for you." TBOAH! Archie said, feeling glad he didn't have the headache-inducing scammer in his world. "For all of you, in fact."

Only Paseton and Raon were by Cale's side right now.
They were currently under a cherry tree with trays of fruits and drinks around them. The cushion that Cale was sitting on seemed very comfortable as well.

Cale was receiving the VIP treatment in the Elf Village.
How was this possible? Paseton was amazed.

"He's special." TBOAH! Billos said.

"He is!" TBOAH! Clopeh agreed with his other version nodding in agreement.

However, he soon needed to stand up at Cale's command.

"Gather everybody."
"Yes sir."

Cale watched Paseton leave in order to gather the group as he stood up.

Both Shickler didn't know what to feel, seeing their son, a royal, being ordered around like a servant. Then again, it was TCF! Cale so it was fine.

Rosalyn and Raon had finished reinforcing the defensive magic barrier and they were currently testing it with Choi Han today.
On and Hong were currently rolling around the snowstorm while having fun with Archie.

TCF! Archie could only hope their playing wasn't something that had the definition of 'fun' from TCF! Cale's dictionary.

"Human, are we leaving now?"

Cale petted Raon's head instead of answering his question.

He had been contemplating the problems that the World Tree had handed him for the past few days.
He had now come to a conclusion.

"It took you that long to make a decision?" Soo Hyuk asked in surprise. "You must have felt extremely comfortable there."

TCF! Cale was at a lost. On one hand, he wanted to experience the comfort the elves gave his future self but on the other, he didn't want to face the troubles.

'Should I pick comfort or fun?' he wondered.

Cale could see the priestess Adite running toward him from the distance. The young Elf seemed to be struggling with the loose priestess robe as she ran.

"You should have one created for yourself." TBOAH! Glenn said with worry for the child. "You'll get hurt with that. Both of you."

"I will." both versions of the priestess promised.

She then started to catch her breath in front of Cale.

"Huff, huff, Cale-nim!"
"Yes?"
"The World Tree said one thing just now before returning to sleep!"

'It said something?'

"Oh no, here comes trouble knocking on your door." TBOAH! Cale teased.

Cale urged the priestess to speak, and the priestess clenched her eyes shut before she started to shout.

"Those punks with ancient powers were all lunatics. Do whatever you want."

The priestess Adite was shaking as she had never heard the World Tree speak so roughly before. She heard Cale's voice at that moment.

Both priestess in the room was also looking at the screen with their jaws wide open in shock. Who could blame them when, just like their future self, never heard the World Tree speak so harshly?

"How did it know?"
"Excuse me?"

Adite opened her eyes and looked toward Cale.
Cale was smiling brightly.

"Well, I pity the enemies now." Rasheel said although he looked excited for the future fights.

"Tell it not to worry. I plan to do whatever I want anyway."

"When do you listen, anyway?" TCF! Alberu mumbled.

He was someone who never planned on doing whatever other people wanted him to do.

"We can see that." Mila said.

Raon approached him and asked.

"Human, is it time to go set things on fire?"

"Raon...that's bad." Sheritt, finally believing that TCF! Cale would never change, decided to take things on her own hands.

"Okay." Raon said with a small pout.

The priestess flinched. Paseton returned with Rosalyn and Choi Han at that moment. They looked toward Cale after hearing Raon's question.

However, Cale was thinking about another existence.

God's Tears.

It was something nobody knew whether it existed or not.
It was something nobody had ownership of, something that was an ownerless magnificent water.
It was known to be able to heal any type of illnesses.

The smart ones quickly figured out what was happening and those who cared for the gold dragon smiled in relief, not wanting to see a friend die in front of them.

'Cale, do you believe that legend?'

Eruhaben laughed at Cale's statement and said that it was nonsense.

The stares he received made Eruhaben wonder what he said wrong. Was it not just a legend?

"Human, why are you not responding? Are we going to do something else instead?"
"Yes. We're going to steal some things."

The Elf priestess became nervous after hearing Cale say that he was going to steal something.

"You should speak privately next time." TCF! Tasha suggested. "Not everyone is used to your words."

Raon started to speak.

"Again?"

The Elf priestess winced even more than before.

"Poor priestess-nim." TCF! Basen said with pity.

Cale did not care as he pointed to himself for Raon, who was tilting his head in confusion.

"Yes. There is a thief inside of me."

The thief in him smiled widely, laughing crazily as others only felt pity for their future selves who were ignorant of it.

Cale just laughed even though everybody else looked shocked.

If the God's Tears really were the tears of a, 'god,' then it would roll over to him on its own.

"Arrogant." TBOAH! Adin scoffed.

"But true." TBOAH! Duke Fredo added. "Everything he wants, needs, and even dislikes all fall into his hands for whatever reason."

"He is beloved by the gods." TCF! Cage teased as TCF! Cale scowled.

"Fuck no." he cursed. "More like hated."

'If that's what being hated feels like, I want it.' some thought.