Choi Han heard Caleâs calm voice next to him at that moment.
âThereâs still some time left, butâŠâ
Choi Han turned back toward Cale.
âChoi Han.â
âYes, hyung-nim.â
âHappy birthday.â
Cale could see the ripples in Choi Hanâs eyes.
They were not like strong waves crashing against the shore but gentle waves splashing and shining brightly.
ââŠHappy birthday to you too, hyung.â
It's June 11 now, and it just so happens to be my birthday today, so here's a small scene from one of my favorite chapters along with my favorite characters! To everyone who also has their birthday on the same day, happy birthday to you! ^-^
Cale being an incredibly intelligent strategist and leader:
Everyone else: Wow, I wonder what he thinks about...
Inside Cale's mind: With the team leader, anything is possible. Even going from Endable all the way to Roan as a freshly reincarnated baby.
After I posted yesterday, I saw an opinion that I kind of agree with about the difference between Cale Henituse and Kim Rok Soo.
I'm gonna say my opinion without trying to offend the whole fandom. Again, you can read fics about OG Cale as MC. I will not stop you just because I have my own opinion. You are free to read whatever you want. If you don't agree with this, it's fine and if you do, don't antagonize or attack the fanfiction authors who made these fics. Let them do their own thing, okay?
This post is not a rant but me sharing my own thoughts and opinions about this topic.
To make this easier, I'll call OG Cale as Cale and OG KRS as KRS.
[âSPOILERS for the first part of the novelâ]
Some say that Cale Henituse and Kim Rok Soo are the same person. While I don't know if this is true because I haven't read the second part of the novel yet, in my opinion, they are not the same.
Again, I repeat, I like Cale Henituse. He's very intelligent and kind to Basen to the point of destroying his own reputation, he targets thugs and scammers whenever he's "drunk", he's willing to sacrifice his whole identity in order to save his world after surviving for twenty years by himself. He's a complex character and in another world, if given the chance, he would've been a great MC.
But that's the thing, he is not the MC of TCF, Kim Rok Soo is. And I think some fans forget the reason why Kim Rok Soo became the MC and not Cale Henituse. Because in some fics that I see whenever I scroll down to look for something to read, Cale completely replaces KRS' presence in the story, to the point that he doesn't exist anymore.
Let me explain.
Kim Rok Soo
Kim Rok Soo is a very integral part of the story. You can't easily replace him with another person, normal or otherwise, and expect the story to go the same way it did in the novel. He did things his way because he's a chaotic little shit. He's a different person from Cale, no matter how many or few similarities they both have.
It's not because he's simply smart or OP (as some would say) that he won a war that ended in only two years, but it's also because of his past and the bonds he made as himself.
He's a person full of empathy for these people that he meets wherever he goes, regardless whether he knows them from a book or not, because he understands them and their pain. He does not hide his personality and in a way, his charisma attracts these people who see him for who he is, a kind person.
Kim Rok Soo is different because he survived in an apocalypse by himself until he meets Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo. Plus, he did not have a great childhood. He was abused and lived by himself for the rest of his childhood and teenage years because of a curse (or maybe because his uncle is just a shitty person, who knows).
The opinions he has and the way he thinks are shaped by his own experiences. He is the Kim Rok Soo we see in the novel because he grew up under these circumstances.
To say that he's easily replaceable would be too disrespectful to the sacrifices he made as both Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse.
Cale Henituse
Cale, on the other hand, is different. He lived alone for how many years because he deliberately pushed everyone away because of his grief and after what Jour told him. It's not because of a curse that he became this way but because he chose to.
Yes, everyone he knows should've tried to make an effort by comforting him or talking with him (his family, the nobles he's close to, Ron and Beacrox) but that did not happen because he's the one who chose to live like this. I've mentioned it in my post about Deruth but if a person doesn't want comfort or doesn't want to talk, they will not talk, especially someone as stubborn as Cale. To blame all these people (including the kids) and the rest of the world because of his own choice is simply not right or fair since the only one responsible to actually help him is Deruth. Violan is not given this chance nor did she try as his stepmother but it all comes down to Deruth. But of course, he did not get any help nor did he seek any.
He lived his years shrouded in grief until the very end. He's a kind person but unfortunately, life is not kind to him.
Later, he survives in the war until the White Star kills him. What did he choose to do in the end when he made that deal with the God of Death? To return to the past so he can save everyone? No. Instead, he chose to go to KRS' world to find his mother. If CJS were given the chance to decline a proposal, why didn't Cale? He could've said he'll do it himself but instead, he left it to KRS. We all know he's stubborn enough to ruin his reputation, is he not stubborn enough to make a deal to save his world as himself?
You can argue it's maybe because the God of Death didn't give him the chance to argue with it but there are other ways the god could've sent KRS to this world. Like Choi Han or Choi Jung Soo.
Choi Jung Soo
Choi Jung Soo is a prime example of what could've and couldn't have happened if he agreed with the God of Death's proposal. He is not KRS. He has his own opinions and experiences that make him unique. He is not like Choi Han who drowned in his despair in TBoaH but instead, is a man who wants to survive with his friends (brothers) and smile with them despite the pain he suffers in.
If he were to replace KRS, the story would've gone differently. He might find Choi Han and they would do their best to survive in this new world together. He may or may not find Raon and the kittens, depending on the time and location when he arrives in this world. Alberu may or may not completely trust him like how he didn't completely trust Choi Han in TBoaH because unlike KRS who is too similar with Alberu, CJS is different. He might not look for the ancient powers since he has his own ability, leaving some that the White Star could've taken like the Sky Eating Water and Super Rock. In fact, the shield could've been left at the tree unless CJS knows about it and takes it. (Let me remind you that no one in this world knows there's an ancient power in that tree in the Henituse territory.)
I can list down things he could've or couldn't have done but it might be too long.
But my point is, it could've been Cale, Alberu, or Choi Han who were sent to the past but the story would've gone differently because these people are all different in their own ways. Heck, if the God of Death truly wants to save this world, he could've sent back Choi Han or Alberu instead of Cale. Because these two are also powerful in their own ways that do not need the help of ancient powers. Just give them enough information and they could've ended the war faster than twenty years.
Conclusion
So, yeah. Kim Rok Soo became the main character for several reasons. He was an ability user and team leader back in his world, he has the curse attached to him because of the White Star, he was an abused kid who had a sad childhood.
And I think there are other reasons why, if KRS is not the MC, that the story could've ended differently. Put aside Raon who is powerful and has a connection to Sheritt and the Dragon Slayers and would be integral to the story, On and Hong could've died with no one knowing about them because they were barely mentioned in the books. Mary could've stayed in the City of Life because no one would need her to help Ron. Hannah and Jack could've died because no one would've known that they were killed. Paseton has a chance to live but no one knows where he is.
Some characters would live and some would die if Kim Rok Soo is not the main character. That's basically what I think about all of this.
The reason why they survived, aside from the books, is because Kim Rok Soo's heart is so big that he wants to help people or give them the chance to survive. Some people would ignore or not notice these people because they have their own problems to deal with.
But Kim Rok Soo just wants to live. And I think that's why the story went the way it did.
Kim Rok Soo, the man who became Cale. His life motto was pretty simple.
Living long without pain. Enjoying the small joys of life.
Living a peaceful life.
- Chapter 2: When I Opened My Eyes
Again, I'm not stopping you from reading these fics nor am I telling you to attack fanfic authors because of what they write. This whole post is just me sharing my opinion.
You don't have to agree with anything I said. You can ignore this and read whatever you want to read.
This is not a post undermining or disrespecting what Cale sacrificed and felt as a person. This is a post to share my opinion that Cale and Kim Rok Soo both deserve the respect that they should get for everything they did and to not completely erase a character for the other. But if someone does it, then I can't do anything about it.
As a Mob Psycho 100 fan, I will end this with one line that perfectly summarizes what I think about this topic.
Cale treats his ancient powers like they're his friends. Some would say he "stole" them for his own benefit but I just can't see it that way after everything I read in the novel.
Cale, former Kim Rok Soo, made a connection with these people. To me, they're not just powers to him. In fact, it feels like he understands what happened to them and if he doesn't, he quietly listens to their stories. And the way he talks to them also feels less like a selfish person who wants to use them for his own protection and greed for power but more like giving them the chance to see a beautiful world that became peaceful because of them. It's like he's comforting them after they suffered so much in the past (which is also connected to the healing thing I talked about in my other post).
Like yeah, he's annoyed at them most of the time but he doesn't blame them whenever he gets hurt or bleeds way too much as a backlash after using them. Instead, he simply helps them achieve what they couldn't do when they died.
âIâll come back tomorrow.â
Cale said goodbye to the rumbling tree as if it was a person and exited the fenced area.
- Chapter 5: They Met
If he truly didn't care about them, he wouldn't get angry for them or at one point, he would've let their voices disappear in favor of getting stronger.
I like his relationship with them. Like they're the voices inside his head (lmao) and it might feel like he has wireless headphones attached to his ears 24/7 but he treats them the same way as the rest of his friends and family and it's really nice to see.
This is kind of the reason why I feel a bit weirded out(?) when fanfiction authors would completely erase Cale's (OG KRS) existence in the fic and replace him with OG Cale and give the other the ancient powers. Like I get people like OG Cale, I do as well, but it feels kinda wrong to see them with another person after seeing Cale bond with these people. In fact, I can't imagine them being with anyone but Cale, this chaotic little shit who gives Super Rock huge headaches and makes the others go violent for or with him whenever he's fighting with an asshole. Aside from one ancient power (if you know, you know), I just can't see him having none of them with him after everything he went through with them.
I keep remembering his "almost one-sided" conversations with all of them because most of the time it's chaotic but the rest are just as emotional with a feeling of deep understanding coming from him. It feels like he always has someone with him so whenever they're silent, I feel like the air is too heavy (like those few incidents when I just want to hug Cale).
I think the best description for Cale is that he's full of empathy.
So yeah, this is a random topic I thought about chaotic Cale and his equally chaotic ancient powers. Yes, I'm including Super Rock who isn't normal either. He's tamer than the rest but he's definitely not normal đ€Ł I swear some people who think they're normal in the story are probably in denial like Cale is.
It just popped in my head when I saw the line about the tree in Chapter 5, which I quoted above âïž
[Note: I'm not saying these authors are doing anything bad, by the way. This is just my opinion and I usually just skip those fics when I see them. I won't stop others from reading those fics just because I feel weird about this one thing about the ancient powers]
[Second note: This is about the first part of TCF, I dunno what happens in the second part yet but I hope to see more of his interactions with them]
[This is just my opinion, if you don't like it then just scroll past it]
Tbh, I find it strange how some people completely erase KRS!Cale from their stories and instead just have OG!Cale regress and just take things off from there or something.. I get that they like the guy but I can't find myself liking him more than KRS!Cale. (or at all, I don't know him that well)
And yeah yeah, it's their fics they can do whatever the heck they want but I just want to share my opinion and perspective on things.
I just can't see OG!Cale achieving even half of the success that KRS!Cale had obtained even if he regressed or took KRS!Cale's Ancient Powers for himself, I mean, the guy legit spent 20 years in Tboah just being a mere foot soldier while KRS!Cale fcked over WS in just two years and with limited information.
Even though his experience being a soldier can be useful, it's not gonna get him that far. Instead, to make it so that Og!Cale actually creates change, I feel like they just give him sheer dumb luck and a thick-ass plot armor bigger than KRS!Cale's. (I get that Krs!Cale is kinda the same but it just doesn't hit the same way)
There's also the fact that KRS!Cale's ginormous intellect and charm made it so that he can bulldoze his way into the White Star's thousand year plans.
Intellect and Charm that Og!Cale simply doesn't have. If he did, there would have been people that noticed he was soul-swapped. (I get that he was acting as trash but srsly? not even a single person noticed?)
I mean, in order to integrate him into Korea, GoD legit gave Og!Cale some of KRS's memories and also a fraction of Record and Instant while KRS!Cale had that kinda unreliable Tboah novel that he only read till like- the start of the invasion to the Henituse County or something?
There's also Record, Instant, and Embrace. These abilities were important in preventing casualties and is a big-ass stepping stone of KRS!Cale's success. There's also the bonds he has with his people and AP's that allowed him to fight enemies via power of found family and an excessive amount of explosions. There's a lot more I can rant about but I'm getting lazy.
TLDR; I just find completely removing a novel's MC and replacing him with a side character to be weird.
Clopeh Sekka went up my favorite character rankings so fast in the recent chapters to the point he's already in my Top 3. đ I was really excited for a Clopeh vs. Choi Han fight, and I was about to be disappointed that it doesn't end up happing in the end, BUT THEN THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WAS EVEN BETTER?!
When Clopeh asked that question to Choi Han it had me completely SPEECHLESS (just like Choi Han). Clopeh being the one who would choose to save Cale over anyone else, and Choi Han not being able to answer him. I don't think of Choi Han in a bad light because of that though, because if you think about it Choi Han hesitating to answer is also caused by his deep care and understanding of Cale, so I hope he doesn't feel bad about this later on. Choi Han and Clopeh are also complete opposites but it's the reason why they fit as Cale's knights so well, and I'm very glad that Clopeh passed the test. (But they should seriously fight each other sometime, even just a spar. I'm kind of desperate, author.)
Cale gets a dog. Maybe he randomly adopts it (as he always does) or his family gives him one, but either way, he gets a dog that actively follows him everywhere he goes. Everyone else is just happy thinking this can finally get Cale to stop running wild for once.
(Plot Twist: Cale gets into even more trouble with the dog.)
Putting aside the fact that it was actually written to be a guidebook for Kim Rok Soo, it was so obvious how weird The Birth of a Hero was as a 'novel' looking back, especially when you re-read the early chapters of TCF. It was weirdly detailed and descriptive about what should've been minor or unnecessary information if it was actually a novel.
For example, The Indestructible Shield, which was an ancient power that wasn't owned or found by anyone in the novel but just so happens to be in the Henituse Territory. It wasn't related at all to the main characters, but TBOAH went into detail about the ancient power's history, its original owner, its location, how to obtain it, and the response to expect once you feed the man-eating tree. I wonder whether Kim Rok Soo ever questioned why Nelan Barrow would write so much about something 'not important' while reading TBOAH, if whether or not the author just decided to ramble about world lore he made up but couldn't tie into the main story. Kim Rok Soo is better than me because I would've gotten really bored.
Also, TBOAH didn't just get into detail about the Ancient Powers either, since it also had a LOT to say about the Original Cale Henituse, his family, and the territory in general. From the very beginning, when Kim Rok Soo wakes up in the body of Cale Henituse, he goes to the bathroom to find the full body mirror the Original Cale Henituse had that was mentioned in the novel. That is INCREDIBLY random information to mention about a minor villain whose sole purpose was to get beaten up by the protagonist. But it doesn't happen just once. When Cale asks Deruth for an allowance, he recalls that the Original Cale also received a large allowance but the exact amount was never mentioned in the novel. Later on, when Ron serves Cale lemonade instead of cold water, he recalls again how the Original Cale hated sour things just like himself.
If he really was inside of the novel, he knew that there should be a large mirror inside.
As expected, the full body mirror was inside the bathroom. Cale Henituse, who had a lot of interest in his appearance and physique, had this mirror set up in here. Nobody else in the household had such a mirror.
The novel did mention that Cale received a large allowance, but it did not mention the exact amount. However, he could realistically understand how large it was based on the amount listed on the cheque.
He really is an insidious man. He knows that, just like Kim Rok Soo, the original Cale hates sour things. But he still chose to bring lemonade, which would take more work to prepare than cold water. [...]
It's pretty obvious by now that TBOAH went deeper into the Original Cale Henituse's character than a normal novel should have in just the first volume, like how he despised gangsters and scammers or how he had horrible aim when drunk, and his relationships with Ron and his family. Kim Rok Soo would recall reading about flashbacks to Cale being woken up by a servant that wasn't Ron which led to a ton of swearing, Cale breaking everything at his spot in the bar once, and Cale getting a scar on his side while drinking the night before meeting Choi Han. The novel also mentioned things that no one else but the Original Cale Henituse knew about, such as how he had high alcohol tolerance but just flushed easily which made people assume he was lightweight. if I were the one reading TBOAH, I would've started to wonder whether the author was planning to make Cale Henituse an important character later on (and maybe he was, but there were only 5 volumes).
The Henituse Family wasn't mentioned as much as Cale was, except for how people pushed the 15-year-old Basen to be the head of the family and how Basen started acting as the family's successor since 2 years ago, but it's odd enough that Nelan Barrow decided to describe characters that Choi Han never even meets (if we assume he only encounters Cale and Deruth and no one else in the family). There were even descriptions of the slums in the Henituse Territory and the Henituse Family business, like???
All of it further cements the fact that The Birth of a Hero was very much a guidebook written for Kim Rok Soo, who was going to swap bodies with Cale Henituse, and to help him adjust to his new life and plan for the future. The novel was fucking suspicious from the start!!!
We don't know the Original Cale Henituse's birthday, but just imagine the Henituse Family celebrating Cale's birthday. And Cale has to awkwardly play along even though he knows it isn't HIS birthday they're celebrating. While the Henituse Family is also awkward because it's been years since they got to celebrate Cale's birthday properly, but they wanted to take the chance this time now that they've gotten closer (except it's too late now). But they notice Cale's discomfort throughout the entire celebration even though he tries to hide it. Things snowball from there.
Or maybe when the day comes, Cale isn't aware that it's his body's birthday. So while everyone else is dropping hints about it being a special day, Cale is just confused about why they're acting so weird. It eventually leads the Henituse Family to misunderstand thinking Cale got so busy during or after the war that he forgot his own birthday.
(After Cale realizes, he'd also send Kim Rok Soo a gift via the God of Death. Fortunately, no churches were harmed after that conversation, but only a god's pride.)
This also works vice versa with the Original Cale Henituse in Kim Rok Soo's body. Maybe the Original Kim Rok Soo wasn't known to celebrate his birthday (with other people, or at all). So Kim Rok Soo doesn't even realize anything weird that day, except the increasing glances sent his way by his team members and other people from the company ("The team leader still went to work today even though it's his birthdayâŠsighs"). Kim Rok Soo only finds out by the end of his shift, when he's about to go home to his niece but is stopped by someone unexpectedly giving him a small gift.
(The next time he meets with Choi Jung Soo, he asks the guy to send his birthday greetings to the man he swapped bodies with, along with a birthday card drawn by his niece. ("I don't know about over there, but I found out it was your birthday here on Earth. Happy Birthday, Cale."))
(Extra: Choi Jung Soo becomes nostalgic after remembering all his shared birthdays with Kim Rok Soo, before remembering all the birthdays Kim Rok Soo spent by himself after their deaths.)
Or, the other characters find out it was Choi Han's birthday (not knowing it's also Cale's birthday). Everyone helps to plan a birthday party, with Cale even giving Choi Han a gift during the celebration ("I wasn't able to give you a gift last time, soâŠHappy Birthday, Choi Han.").
Once the celebration was over, or maybe when everyone else was too busy to hear or disturb the two of them, Choi Han was the first to greet Cale a happy birthday ("âŠHappy birthday to you too, Cale-nim. Kim Rok Soo."). Of course, Alberu does not forget to secretly give both his instructor and his dongsaeng gifts as well, aka, "a happy birthday to the two punks who gave me headaches".
((There's also an easy solution to this entire thing: Original Cale Henituse's birthday was ALSO on November 8. Now we have 5 people sharing the same birthday.))
The one thing I always think about is the fact that White Star, that crazy bastard, had so much more than just 6 ancient powers -- but it was only revealed AFTER he was killed. And all of those went to Cale Henituse, as if it wasn't enough that the guy already had NINE!!
By the end of Part 1, he had, AT THE VERY LEAST, 7 ancient powers (not counting the Fire-Suppressing Water which was used up), 7 embraced ancient powers (because the Annual Rings of Life combined into 1, and this is not counting the White Star's other unnamed ancient powers), and 2 ancient artifacts. This also doesn't even count his 3 abilities or the divine items in his possession.
You think it's crazy for the people of that world to possess more than 1 ancient power? Well Cale Henituse is a powerhouse of more than 14 ancient powers, literal nature incarnate. God of Nature in human form. A natural multidimensional disaster.
The God of Death smiled bitterly at the question Cale asked in an extremely brusque tone without even looking at him. His eyes were full of warmth as he looked at Cale.
âChoi Jung Gun is living well.â
âI donât care about that guy.â
HE STILL HOLDS A GRUDGE AGAINST HIM đđđ ALSO!!
âLee Soo Hyuk has reincarnated into your world.â
âWhat? What did he just say?â
âWhy do you look so shocked?â
[...]
ââŠThe team leader⊠is going to⊠Be born in the world Iâm living in?â
A lot of unexplainable emotions and thoughts were filling Caleâs mind.
Lee Soo Hyuk was one of the few people he had considered his family other than his parents.
âI can see him again?â
Okay, OUCH. The way Cale was speaking while slowly processing the fact that he could meet his team leader again. đđđ YRH really knows how to make you laugh then stab you in the heart in the same chapter.
Choi Han blinked himself to wakefulness and rolled out of bed. He stretched properly, yawning slightly through them, and moved over to his closet. Dressing was easy, the movements flowing through him like water. He walked over to the window, pulling the drapes apart to let the sunlight in.Â
For a minute, he stood still. He took a breath, a breath, one more breath. The sensation of sunshine on his skin was like the first bite of his motherâs favorite tea. He blinked as the sunlight shone into his eyes.
He walked, stepping over the stone floors, on his way to the office. Out the windows that he passed, he could see the wolf children training. A warm feeling spread through his stomach, as if the sun itself had deigned to give him light. It pooled in the bottom of his belly, speeding up his steps as he hurried.
Around corners and through long hallways, and he arrived at a wooden door.
Choi Han breathed deeply, pulling in air through his nose, and wondered if his emotions were visible on his face. He didnât think they were, but such things didnât matter anyway. It wasnât necessary.
Opening the door, pushing it open almost all the way, he sneaked in through the doorway before he could be sent away again.
The brilliant sunshine shone in through the open windows along the far wall, glowing with yellow and orange and red as it descended upon the body of Cale Henituse, sitting behind a big desk. Choi Hanâs steps faltered slightly as he took in the sight of the light falling on Caleâs hair, turning it a fiery shade of red, akin to an open flame.
In the morning light, with so few candles lit, Caleâs hair shone like a miniature sun. Like he was glowing from the inside out, the light haloâd around him, surrounding him as he read reports.
âChoi Han?â Cale looked up, a frowning twisting his elegant features, âWhat are you doing here? Is something wrong?â
Choi Han just shook his head, walking over to the wall and standing still. His eyes sneaked peeks at Cale as the man kept working, Raon sitting next to him and a cat on his lap.
Even as the sun rose high into the sky and no longer reached through the windows, Cale never stopped glowing.
Currently having a headache over TCF lore and debating to myself whether or not the Thames are actually the Red Bloods...
Because, consider this, the conversation between Choi Jung Gun and Cale in the Sloth Test didn't say outright that the Thames = the Red Bloods. Choi Jung Gun only asks Cale to find the Red Bloods after realizing that Cale is a Thames.
There was also the conversation between the Sealed God and Cale later on, when Cale asks whether the Thames were a part of the seven hunter families but the Sealed God denies it and says that they were only prey for the Hunters, probably due to their research of time and space.
Then Cotton was also working with the Fake Hilsman (theorized to be a Thames) in the same group, trying to find the Red Bloods.
But...I don't know...I feel like the Thames being the Red Bloods is very fitting?? Y'know, with the red hair and all. If the Thames are not the Red Bloods, maybe they still have a connection to them?? Maybe indirect relations?? Was Sealed God lying when Cale asked that question?? But was there a need to lie about that??
I wonder if the God of War is actually evil. I mean, I always thought that the God of War was good because they were described to make shelters for people in the middle of war. So I thought that "Oh, then the shelters on Earth during the apocalypse were also the God of War's doing, right?". But considering his actions in Part 2 it doesn't seem like he's all that good. So was it the God of War's doing, or a former God of War? Or somebody else entirely?
I still wanna know how the existence of shelters and abilities happened. If it's some divine interference or caused by how monsters from the Demon World were unleashed.
Here's also another thought of mine. How does an alternate world like Earth 2 exist? Since the characters have alternate selves, did the Choi Han or Choi Jung Gun from Earth 2 also end up in another world? Or did they live normal lives and died before the apocalypse? Is the Kim Rok Soo of that world also cursed even though he is not the soul affected by the White Star's reincarnation? Did the Kim Rok Soo of that world experience the same things as OgKRS, and were they due to the effects of the curse or was he just severely unlucky?
