STABLE BOY ; Trash of the Count's Family

54. ROADTRIP PREPARATIONS

South's in complete foreign territory now regarding the story, so he's understandably apprehensive when Cale called in into his tent with Hilsman.

Oh, Lock's here. And Mesh, the second oldest of all the younger wolf kids. So this is a job for the kids?

"The Blue Wolf Tribe kids including Lock, Hillsman, Vicross," Cale informed them. "That's all your passengers, South, and you'll take about a month. Arrange for the trip accordingly. No, you do not get Leon."

Oh, so we get Vicross too— "what do you mean I don't get sunbaenim?"

"I've given the details to these three. Hilsman will assist you in anything regarding the logistical arrangements, so don't kill everyone on your way there," Cale ignored the question and moved onto the map to point out the path South will have to take. "I want you to climb Mount Yellia with Lock— it's going to be dangerous."

"...Whuh?"

South's knowledge of the story is completely like standing at the edge of a cliff, and Cale Henituse has just shoved him off without warning.

"...why me instead of Sir Hilsman, if I may ask?"

"He and Vicross are protecting the kids in case anything happens," Cale says. "Lock will be heading up the mountain on his own, you're just there to accompany him."

Ah, I see now.

You're being overprotective, master, he's a wolf, he'll be fine. While South kind of understood— if it'll take a month, if anything happens, Lock won't be able to easily call for help from the ones down at the camp. Having South around, even as just insurance following him, is better than nothing. Lock is, in the end, still young, and this would be his first time on an important mission without Choi Han and Rosalyn.

But the problem is, Young Master, I am already naturally cold with low blood pressure. Do you know what cold-blood creatures do in the snow? Yes, they hibernate. Do you want me to hibernate, Young Master?

"All due respect Young Master, do you want me to die?"

Cale stared at South as he said that, utterly baffled. "You have courage to say that when Vicross is right outside."

"He will hit me anyway." South nodded wisely, "I accept my fate."

"Why are you so insufferable?" Cale retorted.

"I owe you the rest of my life in debt, Young Master," South began cheekily, "you can't fire me until I pay it all off. So technically this is your fault."

"Don't test me. Get out."

He's not complaining, though. He gets to work.

Hillsman looked mortified, Lock looked nervous, and Mesh had his ears covered by Lock as if the entire conversation had been something utterly scandalous.

-

South got punched on the head once he walked out of the tent.

"WHUH?!"

Vicross acted like he didn't do it.

South relented, because he pretty much asked for it anyways. For someone that punished South with not being allowed to work, Cale sure was an absolute slave driver when he did want him to work. South didn't know which one he liked less.

"Alright, cold weather... Hans-hyung?" he got to work quickly, "I need the schedule for the next month with the Young Master. I have to take at least six horses with me."

"Oh? We have an expedition?"

"The kids are going camping and I'm following," South said. "I think the Young Master will mostly slack off in our accommodations, but I will leave a few horses for emergencies and outings. Can you call sunbaenim as well?"

The horses are of varying strength, age, and experience. Of course, he should take horses he works well with, and definitely strong horses for the treacherous journey. But he can't just take all the strong ones, Cale will need them with him if he wants to go out, or if there's an emergency that needs a second expedition team or quick messenger...

...and if they're going somewhere cold, he can't bring the older horses. So he shouldn't bring Christallion, even if he's the most reliable on long trips.

(Yeah, this is going to take a while to figure out.)

South sighs. That Young Master just assigns jobs. He doesn't think of all the complicated matter that has to be settled between the lines.

But well, South wasn't complaining. That's why Cale hires competent people, after all. He pawns all the details off to someone else. If only he could be so efficient at attaining his slacker life too, but alas.

-

"Horse-hyung! Is it true we're going on a roadtrip with you?!"

"It's the sleeping oppa!"

"Everyone, don't cause him trouble!" Lock called, "he'll be very busy on the trip, so don't disturb him okay?"

South sighed as they let go of him.

He's not particularly opposed to the idea. If it's Cale's orders, everyone here will go through hell or high water for him. The problem, however, was definitely the entourage.

"You're going to a snowy mountain?!" Hans freaked out. "Him? Our cold, freezing, anemic, low-blood-pressure, will hibernate every three minutes in winter, our South?!"

"That's what I said," Coachman Leon groaned into his hands, "it's like he wants to die."

South's annoyed. "Young Master is spending a fortune on my medicine this trip, can we move on from it? I don't want to think about my debt right now."

"Right."

"Yeah, definitely."

"Anyways, Seonbae," South handed him a sheet of paper. "I can't read. Tell me anything important I need to know."

Coachman Leon stared at it for all of two seconds before responding. "You need to know how to read. Are you sure we should let you steer the trip alone? Should I go too?"

"Well I'm not going to master a language in two days! Just tell me, the preparations are already very rushed!"