27 Chapter 27- Thank You. Hyung-nim

Oh my God, I really should read TCF fanfics less. I really need some self-control.

Anyways, sorry for the inconsistency. I didn't know anything and just drowned in the Fanfics of TCF.

Plus, WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN KRS's LIFE BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE. HELL YEAHHHH!!!!!!! the discord is probably on fire right now.

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It was two days after the T̵r̵o̵u̵b̵l̵e̵s̵o̵m̵e̵ ̵B̵r̵a̵t̵ Simon incident. After calming down, Simon noticed the atmosphere around the servants.

He immediately realized why the servants looked like they hated him. Of course, Simon never apologized.

Why?

Because the servants were going too far. Simon understood the reason for their dislike but their actions were too much.

At first, Simon was going to apologize. He was sincere. It was his fault so he felt the need to apologize. After making up his mind Simon asked for some tea.

One of the servants that cleaned Simon's room was the one who came. His name was Laurens. That was all that Simon remembered about this guy.

Laurens came and "accidentally" spilled the tea on Simon. Plus the acting was so good that even Simon thought that it was an actual accident.

Of course, Simon then overheard the servants talking trash on him later. Laurens was there bragging that he had poured white tea all over that white brat.

That killed any thoughts of apologizing. Simon started to talk less to the servants too. He didn't ignore them but never asked them for anything.

The servants were more than happy to not have to deal with this "Troublesome" white brat.

...

Cale had no matters that gave him a headache. The search for the bombs was going fine. His life was peaceful. He had questioned Simon about what had happened and why Simon was unconscious.

Simon had brushed it off as passing away from training too much.

Cale was suspicious of a few things but decided not to ask Simon. Other than that things were all great.

Until today. Ron came with a letter from Billos. Seeing the "benign" old man's smile wasn't something Cale wanted to experience. Leaving that Lock also visited Cale.

Looks like Lock wanted to thank Cale. Cale wasn't interested that much in the conversation since Lock was so nervous that he couldn't even speak. So, he immediately proposed a plan.

'They are your siblings but they have their own freedom. You can't decide what they will do. Plus I will not take care of your siblings for free. We will make a deal.'

was the basic summary of what Cale told Lock. Lock agreed with his idea and Cale immediately shooed Lock off.

Cale now had nothing to do. He went back to his relaxing life. T̵h̵a̵t̵ ̵w̵o̵u̵l̵d̵n̵'̵t̵ ̵l̵a̵s̵t̵ ̵l̵o̵n̵g̵.̵

...

Lock looked at the calm red-haired in front of him. He wondered why someone that seemed so weak had so many strong people like his Hyung around him.

Lock didn't question it much. His curiosity was something he could suppress. He was really grateful to Cale. He would help Cale very much. But for now,

He decided to think about the deal more properly. Lock got out of the room. To be honest he was still nervous around Cale.

Cale reminded him of his uncle but scarier.

'No. Let's stop thinking about it.'

Lock had a bitter smile as he walked towards his room. On the way, Lock decided to change his destination. He needed to think properly.

So getting holed up in his room wasn't the best thing. Lock decided to stroll outside in the garden. It was a nice place for him to relax. He would think in a peaceful place.

Lock changed his directions as he got out of the manor soon and went to the garden. The garden was pretty huge. With small fountains, green bushes, flowers, etc. All in all, It was a nice place.

Lock walked to one of the benches as he began to think. He started thinking about what he should do.

Should he make the deal? Will it be worth it? Would Cale harm his siblings? No, Cale didn't seem like he had ill intentions.

Although Cale told Lock that He had no right to choose the other wolves' future, Lock was still worried. His instincts as a Wolf made him care for his family.

Yes, Family. The only family he had left.

Those 10 younger siblings of his. Lock still remembered his siblings shaking and crying. He remembered Maes with a face full of despair.

He saw absolute terror in the eyes of everyone. They were all in danger. He needed to protect them. That was why he stepped up.

But Did he really protect them all?

When those horrible scums had come, Lock was confident. He was confident about his Father, Uncle, and everyone. He was confident in his family.

Yet those dirty bastards targetted the weaker ones. Using Divine Items to weaken the adults. They fought unfairly.

The trickling sound of the water from the fountain was all Lock could hear.

He was strong. He needed to be strong. If he was not strong

then

then, his siblings would suffer. He didn't want that. He could change it. Couldn't he? Yes, he could. He should be able to,

Because He was strong. He just went through his first Berserk mode. He would be even stronger.

He... He was strong, wasn't he?

Lock didn't notice drops of tears running down his face.

[Vigor left his eyes.]

He was hurt. It hurt worse than the pain of going berserk.

H̵e̵ ̵s̵h̵o̵u̵l̵d̵n̵'̵t̵ ̵b̵e̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵a̵n̵y̵ ̵p̵a̵i̵n̵.̵

Right?

Because

He

Was

Strong.

Or W̵a̵s̵ ̵h̵e̵? Lock remembered it clearly. He said that he saw his siblings shaking in fear. But he himself knew the truth.

[Despair slowly covered his eyes.]

Lock was even more scared. He had been the most scared. His siblings must have been even more scared of him.

Seeing the eldest in despair was the reason they were so sad.

"I am just helpless. I am weak. Sorry. I am sorry."

Lock didn't notice but his eyes were red. Tears fell like a river. No, he noticed it. He already noticed it. But He... chose to ignore it.

[His eyes seemed to have lost hope.]

No servant was nearby as it was lunchtime. The guards were far away. He was sat on the bench crying. He knew he was being Pathetic. But

It hurt. It hurt him a lot. Yet all he could do was Cry.

"I am sorry Father. I am sorry Uncle. I am sorry Everyone. I *sniffs* I *sobs*"

He was a disappointment. Wasn't he?

He disappointed everyone. Everyone must be upset. If not for Choi Han and Rosalyn. His siblings. His family would be taken away.

It hurt. It hurt him very much.

Lock was tall. Taller than both Simon and Cale. Taller than Choi Han. Taller than Rosalyn. Yet he was the youngest.

He was only 13 years old. He was still a kid. A happy kid who had to suffer because of those darned Scums. He needed to be strong.

But His 13-year-old self couldn't handle it. It was too much for him.

"I am sorry for being a disappoin-"

"You are not a disappointment."

A voice cut Lock off. Lock turned around. Only now did he notice someone else with him. A white-haired man whose blue eyes were similar to his.

Those eyes were looking at the fountain in front of them.

The man turned around as his and Lock's eyes met. Lock was a shy person. He would've already averted his gaze. But,

Today he wasn't shy. This person seemed cold. Lock remembered this person. He was colder and scarier than Young Master Cale.

Still, Lock didn't avert his gaze. He instead said.

"No, I am. I am pathetic. I am"

"No, you are not."

"Huh?"

"You are not a disappointment to anyone. You are not pathetic. Neither are you weak."

Lock listened to the White-haired man. The cold man seemed to be calming in a way. His cold gaze seemed that he wasn't lying at all. Lock remained silent.

"You are strong. Very Strong."

"There is nobody as strong as you. I am not talking about your strength. You are weaker than many people in that term. But You are still strong."

"You said you are a disappointment to your family. Instead, they should be proud of you. You must have made them feel very proud."

[Lock's tears all stopped.]

"Listen Kid. You protected your siblings. They are your family, right? So You protected them. Now you are strong. You can protect them from now on too."

[Lock's eyes glowed a little.]

"They are strong too. You are strong too. If you think you are not strong. Then isn't Choi Han your Hyung?"

[Lock's eyes began to show life.]

"Isn't Rosalyn your Noona? Are they not strong? Do you think they won't help you? Aren't they your family too? Will you ever abandon them?"

"N-No I will never."

Lock would never abandon them. He would rather die.

"Good. Then Know this. They will also never abandon you. You are also a part of their family."

[Lock's eyes began to have hope.]

"If they aren't enough. Ask Me. Ask Cale. Make friends you can trust. They will not abandon you."

[Lock's eyes were almost free from despair.]

"Lock. Listen, You are strong. Your family is strong. It's not hopeless. Even if it's hopeless. Don't care about it. You have your family that you must protect. If you aren't strong enough then become stronger. Nobody can stop you. Know that you are not alone. Nobody is disappointed. They are proud. You are not pathetic. You are brave. AND You are not weak. You are strong."

That was it.

[Lock's eyes became free of despair.]

Tears dropped but this time he was satisfied. He was not sad.

All those thoughts died. He would grief over what he lost but He would PROTECT what He had.

A smile spread across his face. Lock was happy. It hurt if he thought about it but he still had things that made him happy. That healed his Pain. He smiled brightly.

He wasn't even scared of the white-haired man. He instead happily thanked him.

"Thank You. Hyung-nim"

Simon's expression froze for a moment before nodding.

Both of the blue-eyed guys looked at the fountain. The water was peaceful. They loved it.

Unbeknownst to them, A certain Black Haired Swormaster smiled at the two from behind the nearest pillar.

He too was happy as he smiled.

A Bright Smile.

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TO BE CONTINUED