Switched 1

A/N:

Bold letters - from novel/fanfic

[] - cut sentences/paragraphs

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At the blank transparent screen, words were showing.

Chapter 656: Everything can be connected (6)

"Chapter, like in the book?" tboah!Rosalyn said.

"I think it's more like storybook-like a novel" tboah!Choi Han remembers seeing some novels back in Korea.

"So is this the different information? since it implied that it's a book story?" tboah!Bud ask.

tboah!Alberu hearing this said "we still can't tell with just this, it's better to continue reading" as he was preparing his mental notes.

Kim Rok Soo who was in Cale Henituse's body...

And Cale Henituse who was in Kim Rok Soo's body...

The two of them could not take their eyes off of each other for a while.

"Oh, the body swap!" tcf!Tonka said loudly but not really caring much since he thinks those two are weak.

"So this might be the real one?" tcf! Rosalyn said

"Well the 'system' said that they'll give us a clue, so let's just continue and take notes what might be a clue" tcf!Alberu was also preparing his notes in his mind.

"Cale Henituse."

The first to speak was Kim Rok Soo, who was currently using Cale Henituse's body.

"How am I able to meet with you?"

"Ah, so this will be the first time they will meet" tboah!Lock said.

"Well at least 'supposedly' the first time, since they already meet each other now" tboah!Cale thought.

"I'm not sure. I was working the night shift and fell asleep for a moment to see that you were in this bed. But you see..."

The real Cale Henituse, who was making a kind of smile the original Kim Rok Soo would never make, mischievously asked.

"Aren't you planning on living in that body?"

tcf!Choi Han stiffen "does that mean that if given a chance Cale-nim would go back to his original body and leave us?" he was saddened at that thought. He looks at tcf!Cale and grip his hand determine to make sure his Cale-nim would want to stay with his new family.

Meanwhile tcf!Cale was sweating bullets, he had looked to his right because he felt someone's stare and immediately looked back "why is he looking at me while gripping his hand!? does he want to beat me up?" he's determined not to look at tcf!Choi Han right now.

The sudden question that was asked mischievously felt quite heavy. The real Cale Henituse shrugged his shoulders and added on.

"I plan on living the rest of my life in this body. That's why I plan on throwing away the name of Cale Henituse and living as Kim Rok Soo."

The real Cale Henituse's eyes were calm. They weren't shaking at all.

The Henituse family felt sad at his declaration. "why? why doesn't he want to return to them?" And they didn't even notice the switching, they feel ashamed of it.

Both Ron was slightly shaken at this. He might not show it but he did care for his puppy young master. He did serve him for a very long time, as both of their gazes to the center where two redheads and one black hair were sitting.

The real Kim Rok Soo quietly looked at the person who was in his real body before opening his mouth.

"...So you want me to call you Kim Rok Soo?"

"That's right. Why? You don't want to? Don't you plan on finishing your life as Cale Henituse as well? Then you should throw away the name of Kim Rok Soo now."

"Pffft."

Kim Rok Soo inside Cale Henituse's body... No, the person who had made up his mind to become Cale Henituse nodded his head and continued speaking.

"Sure. We'll do as you said, Kim Rok Soo."

"Good, Cale Henituse. Now our outer appearances match our names."

tcf!Choi Han felt relieved that Cale-nim decided to stay and live his life with them.

"Let's do that as well, Cale Henituse" og!Cale was smiling while addressing tcf!Cale.

tcf!Cale saw that smile and give a smile on his own "yes, let's do that."

Everybody heard them, and since both of them agree to it then there's nothing they could do but accept it as well.

While tboah!Cale thought "how come his future self was so happy living as Kim Rok Soo?"

Cale looked at Kim Rok Soo, who was laughing and making gestures that he would never have made and nonchalantly added on.

"I guess you've really been happy."

He recalled the moment he met with Lee Soo Hyuk and got the 'Embrace' ability.

Ah!

tcf!Cale gasp at the mention of a name that gives him happiness and sadness at the same time.

Eyes trembling "How.." tcf!Cale couldn't finish his word with emotions threatening to pour out "How did we meet there? does that mean in the future will meet, if this is the true future" and now he really hopes it is.

The children who were near tcf!Cale got closer to him to give comfort. They did not like seeing their human sad. tcf! Cale unconsciously hugs them tighter.

"Wait, he will give me his ability?" tcf!Cale temporarily snaps out of his state.

Lee Soo Hyuk had handed Cale the ability and told him about the real Cale Henituse as he disappeared.

'Oh, by the way, the original owner of your body is living well too. He's happy. That is why Jung Soo, I, and everybody is happy.'

"Everybody is happy" His two (hyungs) idiots are happy, tcf!Cale wants to believe in this future.

Kim Rok Soo had a bright smile that suited a twenty-year-old person and not someone in his mid-thirties.

"Yeah. I met someone I wanted to see for a long time."

Cale felt quite odd facing Kim Rok Soo, who was smiling in a way he had never smiled when he had been Kim Rok Soo.

"Who was the person you wanted to see?"

"My mother."

"Ah," a couple of people gasp in surprise.

"Jour..." voice quivering both Deruth remember the beautiful carefree woman that he loves till her death and remember how Cale looks just like her and oh how he had failed his son and the promise he gave to her to protect their Cale.

tboah!Cale gasp in surprise, "does that mean his mother lives in another world?" he was happy that his mother is alive, and sad at the same time because he can't see her.

"..but if I swap.." tboah! Cale mumble, he also glance at the right side and saw how strong they look and how they have full of life, then glance at the left side "everyone will be safe and happier" whisper tboah!Cale.

Some heard tboah!Cale mumbles and frowns.

Suddenly the slime is in front of his face.

"Whoa!" tboah!Cale jolted and shout in surprise. That caught the others' attention.

"pyah!" "pyah!" "pyah!"

Everyone frown.

"Wha-! I-I'm not trying to sacrifice myself!", "What is this slime talking about." tboah!Cale frown.

The slime just gave him a 'look' in response.

"Ok, rude much" tboah!Cale feel attacked and offended at that, his frown now looks like a pout.

While everybody thought that the trash Cale Henituse might be more than what he seems.

Cale was at a loss for words.

It was someone who had felt distant to Cale because she was not mentioned much in . Duchess Violan felt more like a mother to him.

At the mention of her name tcf!Violan felt touch that his son from a different world thought of her as his mother. She already accepted tcf!Cale is another one of her sons. But at the same time she felt sad "I wish my Cale would've also thought of me as his mother too even just a little"

She glances at tboah!Cale and og!Cale "I should've tried harder" she gripped her skirt.

"The Birth of a Hero?" a voice suddenly asks, "I wonder what is that?" tcf!Alberu continues his questions and looks at tcf!Cale who was obviously ignoring him "the audacity of this person" tcf!Alberu huff in thought.

While tcf!Cale was feigning deaf and thinking "yea nope, too lazy to explain, I'm one with the couch" sinking further into the very comfortable couch.

[]

"Cale Henituse, my mother reincarnated in the world you used to live in, the world I live in now."

"...She reincarnated on Earth?"

"Yeah. Earth 1. That's the world Team Leader Kim Rok Soo in his thirties is in."

Cale learned that his original world was Earth 1. He also recalled that Alberu's Unbreakable Spear Taerang came from Earth 3.

'Does that mean that the sealed god's test was on Earth 2?'

"That's a lot of Earth" tcf!Rasheel nonchalantly commented, and also thought "why am I even here?"

"I think the Earth here means the world we live in." tcf!Mila supplied while knowing Rasheel doesn't care.

On the other hand both Alberu, while they were interested that there are many Earth's. He was far more interested in the Unbreakable Spear that he will gain "now I just need more information on how to get that weapon on Earth 3" both Alberu smirk at that.

Cale pushed that potentially true but unverified thought to the side to focus on Kim Rok Soo's words.

"My reincarnated mother lost her parents when she was very young because of an unranked monster's attack and was left all alone. I'm trying hard to become her family."

"Unranked monsters?" tcf! Sheriff said in a quiet voice does that mean that Earth 1 is also facing difficulty? she thought as she felt sympathy for Kim Rok Soo.

A bitter yet proud smile was on Kim Rok Soo's face. Cale thought for a moment before asking.

"If she reincarnated, she should be younger than you, no?"

"Ha. She currently calls me uncle."

Kim Rok Soo shook his head as if he still couldn't believe it.

But the fact that he did not seem lonely made Cale understand why the real Cale Henituse made up his mind to live as Kim Rok Soo.

Both sides of Cales family don't know how to react or what to feel. They were happy that Cale was happy but at the same time sad that they didn't give that happiness to Cale to the point he'd rather leave.

The tboah!Henituse family's eyes held determination to do better from now on and give their Cale the happiness he deserve so he wouldn't sacrifice himself and leave.

[]

"I want to tell you the details, but I don't know how much time we have so I'll stop this story there."

"Okay."

Cale shared his honest sentiments.

"I want to hear the details, but I'm kind of in a rush right now."

He was worried about what might have happened in Puzzle City and how his friends would be fighting while he was unconscious.

"It's a little bit concerning that it implies there will be a battle in Puzzle City" tcf!Cale thought "but at least I won't be the one fighting" smiling in satisfaction as he read the word 'friends would be fighting' completely ignoring the fact that he was unconscious there.

But the children didn't and so are the others.

-Human! Why are you unconscious?! did you use your shield again to the point of being unconscious! you shouldn't do that human!

"You shouldn't faint because you use your shield again nya~"

"Take better care of yourself so that you wouldn't cough out blood till you faint nya~"

"What are they talking about?" as tcf!Cale's smile faltered.

"Cale-nim, you truly are..." tcf!Choi Han whisper remembering how tcf!Cale had used the silver shield to protect them from the mana bombs.

"Young master Cale.." tcf!Rosalyn said in concern as she remembers how she witnessed Cale bled after using his ancient power.

Hearing what the children said, everyone from the tcf remembered the plaza incident which was seen by some and heard by some of the heroic deeds that the red hair noble had done. Most of them have a reaction that will make tcf!Cale have a heart attack if he hears them.

While the tboah side was curious about what they were talking about.

"But I've been here a few times to know that I can't get out of here whenever I please."

Cale could never leave this place on his own accord the few times he had been here.

"Really? I didn't know. I still have a lot of work to do."

Kim Rok Soo nodded his head as if he got some good information before hesitating for a moment and then adding on.

"...The family is all well?"

At that the Henituse family perks up, their heart was beating wildly with excitement knowing their Cale still thinks of them.

"Of course."

Kim Rok Soo smiled differently after hearing Cale's nonchalant but firm response. His sorrowful smile made Cale a bit emotional.

That was why he added on.

"Everybody is doing well. Father and mother are healthy. Lily is learning to use the sword. I want to make Basen be the territory Lord. But for now, he is just helping out with the administration of the territory."

The Henituse family already accepted tcf!Cale was part of the family quite a while ago, so their heart's warm at the thought that both of their Cale shows concern over the family.

[]

"When I first spoke to Basen..."

It had been less than one month since Basen came to the Henituse County with Countess Violan.

"I said these things to that kid at that time."

Kim Rok Soo recalled that moment and repeated the words he said to Basen to Cale.

"Basen. You are part of the Henituse household. Remember that. No matter where you go, your family name is Henituse. Got it? Don't you remember what father said? Listen to me unless you are an idiot. Tell people that the Henituse blood flows through you. Tell them that no matter what."

Basen had responded back saying he couldn't do that, and the young Cale had responded like this.

"Shut the hell up. Do as I said. Otherwise, you won't be able to live in this house. Do you think that the cousins and the collateral family will leave you alone? Are you going to be dumb?"

Both Basen smile remembering fondly of this moment where Cale shows his care in the form of harsh words.

"pyah~" was said in a sing-song voice by the slime.

"Hmm? What's a tyundereh?" someone asked.

"pff" tcf!Cale glance at og!Cale and tboah!Cale, "yup, tsundere." smirk.

"Hmm."

Cale made a noise as he quietly listened.

"Cale."

Kim Rok Soo gently grabbed Cale's shoulder.

"I don't know whose blood flows through Basen Henituse's body, but that kid is my younger brother, Lily's older brother, Count Deruth's son, and Countess Violan's son. He's definitely someone with the mindset of Count Henituse's family."

Cale looked at the emotions flowing through Kim Rok Soo's eyes before closing his eyes for a moment and then opening them back.

He recalled Basen's face in his mind when he closed his eyes. Even if their hair color was different... He could see the weak yet stubborn face that resembled the pale Cale's face than Deruth's or Violan's.

"Basen is my dongsaeng as well."

"......He is. What else do you need other than that?"

Both Basen wanted to burst into tears, their heart was melting knowing that both his hyungs thought of him as a true brother and cared deeply about him.

They look at the center "I will make sure to do my part as their dongsaeng and support both of my hyungs" they both thought.

"Hmm, so even trash have someone they care about" thought tboah!Choi Han who was still bitter at Cale.

"What a beautiful sibling love," Jack said looking at his sister then looks at his hand and grips it, he too will do whatever it takes to protect her. After all, they only have each other.

tcf!Hannah also look at his brother, her eyes held determination "I will also do anything for my brother" she firmly thought.

Kim Rok Soo removed his hand from Cale's shoulder while looking at Cale's expression that seemed to be saying that there was no need to respond to him. He then added on.

"You can ask Countess Violan about the details. You'll probably need to chat with her if you want Basen to be the territory lord."

"Really!" tcf!Cale was visibly glowing while asking the Cales.

Looking at tcf!Cale reaction, both Cales snort, and laugh.

"Just how much do you not want to be a territory lord? pfft, ahaha" og!Cale said teasingly as he laugh.

"Pfft, yea I can practically see glitters in your eyes ahahaha" tboah!Cale said while laughing.

tcf!Cale (pouts) frown at them "my goal is to live a slacker life so, of course, I don't want to be territory lord."

The two Cales just continue laughing.

Kim Rok Soo shook his head with nostalgic eyes, as if he was thinking about the past.

"...Haaaa. No matter how much I acted as trash and the cousins wanted to kick me out, the Countess and Basen wouldn't budge. You'll need to convince Countess Violan if you don't want to be the territory lord."

The laughing halted and both of them freeze. tboah!Cale and og!Cale cannot believe that all their hard work will be exposed just like that.

"..acted" tboah!Ron said as he was remembering how the sweet young master that he took care of suddenly become trash and he didn't even realize that it was all an act. His young master was a great actor... No, it's not that "I didn't find out because I didn't care enough to know" he thought in bitterness.

"This confirms it then, that all this time he was acting as trash for his brother" tcf!Ron said with a bitter expression, how he had failed his young master to choose a different method because of his lack of interest.

Both Beacrox thought "so it was all just an act? as they recall how Cale throws insult and bottles but never directly harm anyone especially his family. He doesn't know how he should feel about that. He frown deep in thought.

Meanwhile, both Basen felt sad and angry at the same time, sad that his hyung sacrifice his reputation for him, and angry "why did his hyung choose that method! he ruined himself for his timid and useless little brother!" he thought as he grips his hand... No, he was angrier at himself for being timid and weak that resulted in his hyung sacrificing himself.

tboah!Lily and tcf!Lily touch their Basen hand "it's ok hyung, you are strong now and we will protect our family" Lily said with determination. At that Basen steel himself and nod firmly.

"Oh, Cale" "Oh my Cale, how I had failed you as a father," both Deruth thought in agony that he let his son go through hardship.

"To think he ruin his reputation and let everyone believe he was trash for many years just so he could help his step family, how selfless" Almost everyone has the same thoughts.

"So he really isn't trash?" tboah!Choi Han thought in contemplation "I guess I can give him the benefit of the doubt.. for now"

tboah!Cale and og!Cale just sat there with an expressionless face refusing to look at anyone.

[]

Kim Rok Soo had a bright smile on his face as he watched Cale nod his head. Cale frowned.

"...Hey."

"What's wrong?"

"...You... Don't the others say anything when you smile like that in my body?"

Kim Rok Soo touched the corners of his lips as if he was wondering what the issue was.

"What's wrong with my smile?

They were all happy that their team leader-nim let them go home early."

"...Are you doing your job properly?"

"Of course. I'm going to make sure to save this world I'm living in right now. I'll make it so that the people around me can live in peace."

"Ahh.."

Everyone remembers how og!Cale made a choice to sacrifice himself to give them another future. And now he's going to protect another world.

tboah!Choi Han's bitterness at Cale slowly faded as he think that yes maybe he was a good person and not a trash.

"Haaa what an unlucky noble," said Eruhaben as he look at the red and black hair humans at the center.

Cale closed his mouth after hearing Kim Rok Soo's response. He had the same desires as the real Cale Henituse.

This world where he was living as Cale right now... He wanted to protect this place. He would definitely protect this place.

"Ahh.. another noble and heroic person" tcf!Paseton whisper looking at the center with bright eyes.

"I'm now sure why it was Cale and Kim Rok Soo who swap, it's because both of them are too much alike," said tcf!Witira as she admires the noble hearts of these humans.

While tcf!Cale face wrinkled, yes he will protect those important to him but he was not self-sacrificing like this two idiots beside him. He will live a rich slacker life. He smile satisfied at that thought.

"Ah, but is my smile really weird?"

Kim Rok Soo was still touching the corners of his lips.

"Yeah, is it really weird?" og!Cale asks tcf!Cale.

tcf!Cale scoffed, but before he can answer the children beat him to it.

"It's not nya~ your smile looks cool!"

"Noona is right, your smile looks dashing nya~"

- Other human, I also think you're smile is cool and dashing! you should always smile!.. and human you should also smile more!

"What are they talking about?" tcf!Cale face scrunch.

''I also think it's a great smile" tboah!Cale said teasingly.

"Ha! that's 5 against 1" og!Cale said as he smile triumphantly at tcf!Cale.

tcf!Cale frowns (pout) at all of them.

"I think it gives off a mature feel and makes me look charming."

Cale almost scoffed in disbelief.

"Ho. You're talking about a mature feel with my face-"

He felt as if he would get a headache for a different reason. He had never imagined meeting the real Cale Henituse, but he definitely did not expect to hear such bullshit now that he somehow did meet him.

Kim Rok Soo responded as if there was no problem.

"Of course. I'm over forty years old after all."

'What?'

"What!?" Everyone has the same reaction as they were shocked at what they read.

Cale's gaze turned sharp as he looked toward Kim Rok Soo.

"...Why are you forty?"

Cale had opened his eyes inside the 18 years old Cale Henituse's body.

Kim Rok Soo looked right into Cale's confused eyes and opened his mouth.

"The moment Choi Jung Soo died, the God of Death offered him a deal."

tcf!Cale inhales sharply, another name that he loves and suppresses in his memory, he did not expect Choi Jung Soo to be involved.

He was asked whether he wanted to stay alive and be transported to a different world or to save Kim Rok Soo.

The God of Death told Choi Jung Soo to make the decision, and Choi Jung Soo chose his death.

tcf!Cale close his eyes and grip his hand "that stupid idiot" he mumbled with grief. "You should've prioritized yourself" as he trembles trying to control his anger and grief, but he knew, oh he knew if time turns back Choi Jung Soo will still choose the same, "that's just how he is" as he smiles sadly.

The children who were beside him felt his tremble so they once again came closer to comfort their human.

"The God of Death offers you a deal at the moment of your death or if you are in extreme danger that could potentially lead to your death. When I was forty... Umm, basically, the God of Death offered me a deal when I was about to die and I accepted it."

Kim Rok Soo. The real Cale Henituse had accepted the deal with the God of Death.

"Why make a deal only when a person is dying?" tcf!Dodori ask.

"Because there is less likely you would deny the deal since your about to die anyway" tcf!Mila said to her son as she felt unpleasant at the unfair ordeal.

Everyone frown at that. That just means that the person has no choice but to accept the deal.

"The conditions the God of Death offered me were simple."

Cale could finally see the remorse deep inside Kim Rok Soo's eyes that was clearly different from Kim Rok Soo's bright smile.

That emotion was similar to Cale's own emotions.

Kim Rok Soo continued speaking to the one person he could share the conditions of his deal with.

"As soon as I returned to the moment I met Choi Han, the starting point that could change the fate of our world, I would go into the body of a person named Kim Rok Soo in a different world. That was the condition of the deal."

The God of Death had also told him that his mother had reincarnated into this Kim Rok Soo person's world and was living a lonely life.

"Do you know why I accepted that deal?"

Everybody is now focusing on the screen, they will finally find out the reason why Cale Henituse chooses to accept and also the contents of the deal.

Kim Rok Soo put his hand against his forehead as if he had a headache. He closed his eyes.

The eyes that were full of remorse could no longer be seen.

"Where should I start... Hmm..."

He was silent for a bit before finally starting to speak again.

"I hate Harris Village."

"Harris Village?'

Both Choi Han frown in contemplation.

"Why does he hate the Village?" tcf!Choi Han thought.

"Is that why he said those harsh words?" tboah!Choi Han thought.

[]

Kim Rok Soo's eyes were still closed as he continued to speak.

"My mother said that she was going to visit Harris Village. There was something she needed to bury there. I found it odd that my mother needed to go to a village she had no connections with, a village that was just one of many in our territory."

His voice was calm, but the things he was saying were quite shocking.

"My mother left for Harris Village even though it was pouring rain and the wind was strong. I was quite worried because her body had always been weak. And then..."

Kim Rok Soo stopped for a moment as if it was difficult to say before continuing with a stoic expression on his face.

"She ended up seriously injured because the carriage tipped over on her way back due to the storm. She received treatment back home after that but unfortunately, she passed away."

tboah!Choi Han frown, "Is this the reason he hates the village? but it's not the village fault that her mother died... no.. I know full well how grief can cloud your mind and just hate everything." he sigh "when he insulted my family I could have just ignored him or punched him once and knock him out.. but I beat him half to death in anger because of grief"

As he is calmer now, tboah!Choi Han can understand Cale just a little.. but only a tiny bit...

Cale felt as if he could hear the roaring wind from that day despite never having heard it.

Kim Rok Soo was calm.

"But the carriage accident was not the reason my mother passed away. It wasn't that bad of an accident. Nobody other than my mother got hurt either. But everybody thinks that my mother passed away because of the injuries from the accident."

Deruth and Ron from both sides were surprised at that, they also thought that Jour/the Countess died because of the accident.

He sighed while keeping his eyes closed.

"I only learned about the real reason for her death after meeting the God of Death. My mother..."

He stopped for a moment and opened his eyes to look at Cale.

"I think that my mother expected things would end up like this."

As if he was opening a chest that had sunk deep down inside a lake... Kim Rok Soo started to share these old stories with the person who was living as Cale Henituse in his place.

"Cale."

Kim Rok Soo spoke with sorrow visible on his face.

"My mother possessed an ancient power."

'...What?'

Cale couldn't hide his shock this time.

[]

tboah!Cale was also shocked at finding out her mother died not from the accident but something else. He was worried and eager to find out more about her mother.

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A/N:

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