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A man dressed in black form-fitting clothes that didn’t fit in with the fashion of the Rowoon Kingdom strode down the hallway with large steps, rushing towards Cale Henituse.
"Oi, why's my body so skinny?"
Everyone was surprised to hear Kim Rok Soo refer to Cale's body as his. The casual and familiar manner he grabbed Cale’s wrist was even more shocking, leaving everyone unable to react. Kim Rok Soo’s fingers covered the entire expanse of the thin wrist which barely had any meat on it.
Cale’s eyes widened in recognition immediately. He stared at Kim Rok Soo in disbelief. “You… How are you here?”
Kim Rok Soo ignored his question and continued to inspect him from head to toe, even turning him around at one point before turning him back. He grabbed the fabric on one side of Cale’s waist and pulled , and the resulting shape on the opposite side of his figure as the fabric hugged his torso was a perfect s-line, revealing just how thin and grabbable Cale’s waist was.
Someone choked audibly at the sight of it.
Cale didn’t stop him throughout the inspection process, obediently allowing himself to be moved and groped. He felt like it was Kim Rok Soo’s right to do this since it was originally his body. To be honest, Cale felt a little guilty. He had either been slacking around or getting injured, and both involved lying in bed to rest. The firm muscles that used to be on his body had pretty much all disappeared without a trace. Meanwhile, Kim Rok Soo looked fitter and more muscular than ever.
Kim Rok Soo grabbed Cale’s sharp jawline with a scarred hand and tilted the shorter man’s head up with a frown. His thumb brushed against Cale’s defined cheekbone.
“What, are the Henituses not doing well?” Kim Rok Soo asked in a demanding tone. He was so blunt and rude that everyone around him bristled. “Is it Arm?”
Cale observed the vicious expression on Kim Rok Soo’s face that belied his worry. Although he used to look cold and serious in his own days, the current Kim Rok Soo’s expressions seemed a little more arrogant, and it was both interesting and strange to see the difference.
“Who are you?” Vicross asked with a scowl. His eyes glinted like daggers at the sight of this unfamiliar intruder in their estate.
Choi Han was a little bit calmer because he recognized the Korean features and saw Cale being comfortable in the presence of this strange man. However, he was still apprehensive and on edge, with a hand on his scabbard in case any unexpected situations happened. “Cale-nim, is he…?”
“Yeah,” Cale answered Choi Han briefly and held up a hand to tell Vicross to back down. It was hard to explain the relationship between the two of them, and he didn’t know why Kim Rok Soo was here and how long Kim Rok Soo could stay, so he had to prioritize the interactions between them.
“We’re doing well. Don’t worry,” Cale assured.
“Then why are you so skinny?” Kim Rok Soo frowned, this time grabbing Cale’s waist with both hands. They wrapped around Cale’s waist perfectly. “I think you’re as skinny as my niece.”
Cale shivered slightly at the sudden touch because his waist was a little sensitive and ticklish, but he stayed still regardless.
“Just take my things for yourself and eat well,” Kim Rok Soo added, making people’s eyes widen as they wondered just what their relationship was.
Cale smirked as he thought of the luxurious meals and gold coins. It was worlds apart from what he had in South Korea. “I’ve been doing that very well . Do you regret it? Do you want your things back?”
Kim Rok Soo chuckled and shook his head. He finally released Cale. “No. I’m happy where I am since I found my mother.”
Cale stared at the smile on Kim Rok Soo’s face.
It was interesting to see his own, no, his old body move and talk since you would normally never be able to do so except in videos or in front of a mirror. Kim Rok Soo laughed in a way that was different from him, more free and unrestrained, yet in a way that was oddly elegant. Cale couldn’t help but reach out as well, grabbing Kim Rok Soo’s firm bicep. There were new scars on Kim Rok Soo’s body, proof of his struggles to stay alive.
“Are the kids doing well?” Cale asked fondly, thinking of his team 1 members.
“Of course. I’m keeping your track record of zero casualties. I got a pretty nasty scar in the latest battle though.” Kim Rok Soo lifted his shirt without caring about etiquette, showing a long pale scar that cut in a horizontal line across his well-defined abs. It had already healed, but one could imagine how much it must’ve hurt. “Sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry about?” Cale mused, even as he reached out to trace that scar, bigger than all the others on his old body. “It’s good enough as long as you survive.”
“What relationship do you have with this man, young master?” Ron cut in with a benign smile as his sharp eyes stared at Kim Rok Soo. He couldn't stand watching any longer.
Cale finally noticed the atmosphere and realized the looks they were receiving weren’t quite right. True, it must be confusing for everyone else. He should try to explain the situation to them, even if it was just a brief explanation for now.
He opened his mouth to explain, but Kim Rok Soo cut in.
“Ron,” Kim Rok Soo said with recognition in his eyes and a smile in his voice. He must’ve missed Ron a lot because he looked happy. However, the next words that left his lips were completely unexpected.
“His body is mine and my body is his,” Kim Rok Soo said casually with a sharp grin, delighting in the way shock rippled across everyone’s faces, including Cale’s. Cale didn’t know Kim Rok Soo had such a mischievous side to him. Kim Rok Soo wrapped a muscular arm around Cale’s slender waist and dragged him away. “Excuse us. We have a lot to talk about in private.”
“Cale-nim!”
“Young master!”
“I’m fine, I’ll explain it to you guys later,” Cale sighed as he waved to his friends and comrades. He frowned up at the snickering Kim Rok Soo when they were further away from everyone else. “Hey, how do you want me to clean up this mess later?”
“I didn’t lie, and you can just tell them the truth,” Kim Rok Soo shrugged, still smirking. “Let’s talk over wine, it’s been a while since I had wine from our territory.”
“I wish we had soju instead.”
“Soju is delicious,” Kim Rok Soo agreed. “I would’ve brought some for you, but that stingy God would never allow something like that.”
“Fuck the God of Death.”
“Agreed.”