#cale is very lovable

[blueteller]

Cale and Impostor Syndrome

From discord, sent by @Jalffy22's dad, who apparently used Chatgpt… to diagnose Cale with Impostor Syndrome?? As well as my own thoughts on analysis on it.

Cale Henituse is a character from the popular Korean web novel series "Trash of the Count's Family" written by Yoo Ryeo Han. Impostor syndrome can be explained in the context of Cale Henituse and his journey within the story. Cale Henituse, as a character, experiences various aspects of Impostor Syndrome: Comparing Himself to Others: Throughout the story, Cale Henituse often finds himself comparing his abilities to those of other characters, especially his closest allies and mentors. This self-comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially when he believes he falls short in comparison to powerful figures like Alberu Crossman or Raon Miru. Downplaying His Achievements: Despite his significant accomplishments, Cale often downplays his own achievements. He might attribute his successes to luck or the help of others, rather than acknowledging his own talents and efforts. Fear of Being Unmasked: Cale's reluctance to reveal his true identity as the "Trash of the Count's Family" can be seen as a manifestation of impostor syndrome. He fears being exposed as a fraud, even though he consistently takes on important roles and responsibilities within the story. Reluctance to Seek Help: Cale often hesitates to seek assistance or advice from others, even when he faces challenging situations. This hesitancy may stem from a belief that he should be able to handle everything on his own, contributing to his impostor syndrome. Setting Unrealistic Standards: Cale frequently sets high and often unrealistic standards for himself, striving for perfection in his decisions and actions. This tendency can lead to stress and burnout as he constantly pushes himself to be better. In the context of Cale Henituse and his experiences, here's how you can relate impostor syndrome to your passion for "Trash of the Count's Family" or to your own experiences: Recognize Your Achievements: Just as Cale should acknowledge his accomplishments, you should recognize and celebrate your own successes and contributions in your passion. Understand that your engagement and dedication are valuable. Embrace Learning: Accept that it's okay not to know everything about the story or the characters. "Trash of the Count's Family" is filled with intricate plotlines and characters, and it's natural to learn and grow along the way. Seek Support: Connect with other fans of the series who share your passion. Engaging with fellow enthusiasts can help you gain a deeper understanding of the story and characters, and it can provide valuable support. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. It's perfectly normal to have limitations and areas where you may not have all the answers or insights. Self-compassion can go a long way in alleviating feelings of impostor syndrome. Set Realistic Goals: Define achievable goals within your passion that align with your knowledge and interests. This will help you enjoy your journey while gradually building your expertise. Remember that impostor syndrome can affect anyone, even fictional characters like Cale Henituse. By recognizing your own worth and embracing your passion for "Trash of the Count's Family," you can overcome impostor syndrome and fully enjoy your involvement in the fandom.

***

Now, with the AI stuff out of the way… (Man it really feels like reading a medical textbook doesn't it? You can tell it was written by an AI…) Let's discuss what our dear AI told us about Impostor Syndrome, and how Cale is overcoming it throughout the story.

That aspect can be easily overlooked, even though Cale clearly experiences character growth as time goes on. Sure, it's snail-paced and it can be frustrating at times – but you can blame it all on the trauma. A 36-year-old man with a list of traumas long enough to fill a restaurant menu sure deserves to be given some slack for being a bit slow on the "healing" process.

Comparing Himself to Others vs Embracing Learning

Unlike what AI stated, Cale really doesn't compare himself to others all that much – at least not directly.

Cale is not the type to say, "I am a much worse person than Choi Han." Cale is the type to say, "My past is nothing interesting to talk about, really. Now Choi Han, he's such an admirable guy. He managed to stay a good guy despite all the hardships he suffered through. Might have been that good family influence he got in his childhood." Now, unless we know the information that Cale is ommitting here – the abuse at the hands of his uncle and a terrible childhood overall – we wouldn't know that by all this, Cale is actually saying "Choi Han is a better person than me, might have been because he was raised right and I wasn't." Thing is, I don't believe even Cale himself realizes that's what he's doing. He would probably deny it, if someone tried to confront him about him.

It is true, however, that Cale often insults himself, while praising others at the same time, in quite the hypocritical fashion. If Cale saves someone, he's doing it "because of self-serving reasons". If someone else saves someone, in his eyes, they're a good person. You can clearly see the pattern here.

However, the "embracing learning" comes in where Cale starts raising children, and they pick up his mannerisms and behaviour. Most of the time, Cale stays completely oblivious to his own influence. "Where did they learn that?" he asks, hilariously, while it's extremely obvious to the readers exactly where they learned it: YOU, CALE!!!

But Cale learns. He watches his children grow, he watches his allies grow, and he feels proud. He's accepting his role in their life as someone they deeply care about. Someone they wish to protect. He starts avoiding injuries for their sake. And sure, he still has those dumb moments of "Well I didn't even cough blood this time, do I really deserves this reward?", it doesn't change the fact that he's getting better at this. At being appreciated. …Worshipped? Heck no, he'll run as fast as he can in the opposite way. Appreciated by his family? He's getting better. Where he used to deny the kids head pats in the beginning, now he pets them all the time. He eats Raon's apple pie not just out of hunger, but because it's from his son, and it makes him feel better because of the connection. Slowly, he's leaving self-deprecation behind and embrances his family. It's incredibly heartwarming and sweet to watch 💖

Downplaying His Achievements vs Recognizing His Achievements

Yet another snail-paced progress we can observe, but it does exist nonetheless. Cale downplays his achievements mostly as a self-defense machenism. Taking that much responsibility on himself is SCARY. He said so himself right at the start of the novel: "Kim Rok Soo knew that the responsiblity for the lives of people is a very scary thing". …Funny how he keeps taking the initiative then, isn't it?? But despite all his denial, Cale isn't stupid. He knows exactly how much his actions changed the world; the scale of it is frightening. Nevertheless, he dismisses it all for the sake of his dream – becoming a slacker. He does not want the fame of a hero who saved everyone. He wants to rest!!! But, yet again, his family enters the picture here. Cale doesn't need to be the hero for them to love him. They are grateful for all he has done for them, but it's not a fanatical worship; it's love, thankfulness, appreciation. By the end of Part 1, Cale admits to Alberu and Eruhaben's faces that "he finally starts considering his own life a bit precious". That is a very big moment! It might seem like the lightest of concessions, but it's a huge step for someone like Cale!! See, he's growing!!! 👏

Fear of Being Unmasked vs Practicing Self-Compassion

Best example I can think of is when Cale's identity as Kim Rok Soo is revealed to Choi Han, and later on Raon and even Alberu. Cale did fear his identity being exposed, and for a good reason. You'd think that Choi Han being Korean himself would make things easier – but actually, it would only make things harder. Choi Han doesn't come from the same Korea as Kim Rok Soo. A lot has changed since he was on Earth. Cale revealing the monster apocalypse would involve a lot of vunerability. He also valued Choi Han's good opinion greaty, I think. Cale read the story of him and concluded that Choi Han was a "good guy". He respects him. No matter what he claims, Cale doesn't want Choi Han to think badly of him. In the Indignity Test, there was a moment where Cale reflected how much he did not want to get by the younger Choi Han or Raon – not because of the physical pain, but because of the emotional pain involved. He would feel incredibly shamed if Choi Han or Raon hated him. Because he cares about them both. So. Much.

And then, there's the Alberu reveal. It's surprisingly sincere. Alberu offers Cale the chance to explain himself, and promises to listen to everything without judgement. Cale is visibly shaken by the promise, but he believes him. It was such a precious scene!! That's where the self-compassion comes in. Cale is learning to be a bit kinder on himself than in the past. He's starting to trust his allies with vulnerability. When Cale uses Instant, he tells Raon how he's someone who can never forget and asks him to "not be like him". Because Cale's life is full of sacrifice and suffering, and he doesn't WANT others to be like him. But after that incident, he promises Raon to avoid hurting himself as much as possible when he captures the White Star with Embrace. His self-care is directly linked to his compassion towards his family, but it's there! It exists! Way to go, Cale!! 👏 (…Just don't stab yourself again, lol. I get that it was special circumstances, but still.)

Reluctance to Seek Help vs Seeking Support

Cale is such a paradox in this aspect. On one hand, he's a strategist – asking for help is his JOB. He wouldn't be able to achieve all he has if he never requested help. He asks people to do tasks for him all the time. On the other hand… whenever things go wrong, he's the one to handle the repercussions. Cale is the one to make the sacrifice whenever something unexpected happens.

For Cale, this is such a delicate balance. He wants to make sure everyone is always safe. He never allows them to face mortal danger without making a plan to let them all survive it. The time in the Empire, when the White Star used the Sky Attribute for the first time, Cale yells at everyone to run while he himself rushes towards danger. While it's very hypocritical, it's directily linked to his sense of responsibility for others. On the other hand, once everyone refuses to leave, we can see how excellent their teamwork is. And who taught them that?? Cale, of course!

It isn't that Cale doesn't ask for help. It's that whenever the scales tip and his group is in danger, he will do anything to light up their weight by taking it on his own shoulders. And like I said – it's an extremely delicate balance to walk. Like spider silk thin rope. One wrong step, and Cale could fall. Still… I think Cale is gaining experience in this as well, and so are his allies. They get stronger, and they understand Cale better. They're able to handle dangers without him being involved. It's a positive direction to grow for all of them, even if Cale is constantly unlucky enough to get himself into trouble like this… over and over and over 😅

Setting Unrealistic Standards vs Realistic Goals

Cale has one of the most simple, yet the most unrealistic dream ever imaginable. "To be a slacker". Which, if taken literally, would be the easiest thing. Just sit around, enjoy your wealth and do no work. Simple, right?

…Except, Cale's version of "slacker life" involves making sure the ENTIRE FREAKING UNIVERSE IS AT PEACE. 🤣🤣🤣 "So that no one bothers him or his family." That's… a bit difficult, isn't it??

So, Cale's dream is completely unrealistic, yet with the speed he's going at it, he might actually achieve it. Way to go, you madlad. Respect!!

However, with the help of Lee Soo Hyuk, aka. Sui Khan, Cale has another goal. Which is much more down-to-earth. Creating a farm in the Forest of Darkness. And tending to it with his family. That's… such a sweet ambition. I really hope they can make it. No – I'm sure they will, eventually. One of the "glimpses of the future" we got in the story was the fact that On and Hong's red mist would sometimes linger around the Forest of Darkness, as a sign of the Molan family's legacy. So the kittens will definitely live there in the future, and naturally, so will Cale. Personally, I can't wait 😁

…So yeah, that's all I got to say about Cale's Impostor Syndrome. Got any more thoughts on it? Let me know!

[phantomfallacy]

So I just binged The Greatest Estate Developer and I'm clawing at the walls??? Screeching with laughter? God Lloyd busts my sides better than any comedian I've watched. If ya'll haven't read it yet, I'm begging on my knees—

Originally, people compared TGED with LCF, which actually made me leery about reading it because LCF just has that peak found-family-feel that has yet to stand out to me in any other series. But while TGED doesn't have the level of found family that LCF does (bc Cale collects his family like he collects Pokemon), it has other qualities that make it unique and lovable.

Lloyd is similar to Cale in shamelessness and cunning, but he's more hands-on with solving problems, and will not hesitate to fuck a bitch up, personally. Take a shot for every panel that has a tooth he knocked out from his enemies eyy!

Lloyd's replacement of the original body is subtly touched upon repeatedly early on, which I give kudos to because a lot of transmigration stories don't do that, especially if the main character transmigrates into a villain/cannon fodder. This obviously affects the tone of the story, and we get plenty of touching moments that change the relationships between Lloyd and the side characters who knew him intimately before the swap.

His relationship with his summons is also very sweet. I'm sad to say that there's not enough moments with him and his summons, but he does give them cuddles and every panel where he squishes his and their cheeks together hhhh. I got cavities—

Cults are a must for men as charismatic as him, because he's literally bombastic and has so much flair—side characters say he's got a plain ass face but like. Who needs a face that's pretty when you have your personality speak for you?

Love his relationship with the protagonist too. He and Javier are in a constant state of shitting on one another while supporting one another—

Which leads to the main charm of TGED: ITS HUMOR. It's like crack. I can't get enough of it. I'm usually not a big fan of crack humor, but the manhwa takes itself seriously sometimes too, and I guess there's just enough of these moments intermingled that makes me addicted.

If that's not enough to convince people to get started, here's some bonus points:

There's muscles. A lot of muscles. Attractive muscles.

Javier looks like Lio Fotia from Promare.

Emperor? No it's Empress and she's thicc.

One of his summons farts steel pipes and volcanic ash.

I'm begging you to read it.

[s12e28]

I really like this progression... it wasn't often that Cale would refer to Alver with first name alone.

It's usually a title (Crown Prince, Your Highness, Hyung-nim) or full name (Alver Crossman), so seeing him go 'Alver keeps his promises to his people.' makes me want to stab my thigh.

It was also very funny how he kept putting Alver on a pedestal in comparison to other princes (Adin specifically). Like, yes yes we get it you crazy wife... your little prince is the best in the world. He's the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd most popular, righteous and lovable, most deserving flying squirrel. Adin is undeserving of being the Imperial Crown Prince, so let's make Alver the Emperor (No wait, Cale, what kind of future are you drawing...?!)

Anyways, it felt very intimate to me. This was before the awarding ceremony (sworn-brotherhood sentencing), so if you read it like this—you can't help but feel as if Cale were gearing up to take their relationship to the next level. Something like 'Maybe I'm allowed to experience a fairytale romance too?'

Unfortunately, Alver went rogue and decided on his and Cale's label himself 😒 I already explained in previous posts my take on that, but basically the outcome is Cale distancing himself because he realized that despite Alver being the coolest most capable ruler, the perfect prince was still 13 years younger, lacking experience like a child wearing the mask of an adult. What set Cale off during the banquet was the fact that Alver publicized that label. It would've been fine if it was just a them thing, but damnit how would the people react if they found out their future King fucking his 'precious little brother'? Cale worked hard to solidify your status, but you'll risk your image for a fetish? Alver is an idiot...!

[columboscreens]

have you seen Poker Face at all? it feels like it was written with columbo in mind

i have actually watched the first episode and i enjoyed it enough that i do intend to watch more.

most of the performances are solid. natasha lyonne, adrien brody, and benjamin bratt are all fantastic. the visuals are exquisite. the mystery, the premise, and the "gotcha" are all enjoyable. the ending is solid. it's decent television, all things considered.

that said, while both lyonne and creator rian johnson are great fans of the show, it...isn't columbo. i've seen people draw very close comparisons; the two shows are less similar than you might be led to believe. poker face may be a howcatchem with a protagonist who evokes the lovable dishevelment of her predecessor, but the show's writing lacks the subtlety and facility of columbo's. it is violent, vulgar, rough, and crude.

but it fills a certain niche we've been missing on television--i saw one person online so unused to this type of show that they posed the question of why charlie cale wasn't going to be solving one murder per season. so if this is the show bringing stylized monster-of-the-week serials back into fashion, i'm certainly not complaining.

besides, i always respect a lady with discerning taste

[isthe-protag-cluelesstho]

As someone who is kinda just floating my way through life right now, I've kinda been thinking about what my favorite characters say about who I am and like, what I want,

I mean, I've fallen into the Trap of Webnovels, one of the biggest black holes of How Do We Fuck With The Trope and while I clearly am not alone in my love of Cale Hetinuse, Han Yoojin and Kim Dokja (and likely other blind lovable bastards I haven't found yet), what exactly is it that makes their loneliness so true?

This may of course be my stupid migraine talking, but one of the things I find so fascinating about Webnovels is how consistently they deal with themes of Being An Outsider. Fundamentally, even just a passing glance at the summaries or a roll through the current trending set of Most Popular Stories, shows the persisting theme of being Other in some way,

One of the biggest genres, not just in Webnovels but most Very Online media are Isekais in some form, or the protagonist is thrust suddenly into not simply the stress of life, but the stress of having to either hide your true nature or otherwise display what sets you apart, driving further into their separation from the rest of the characters.

A lot of them now even twist this further, showcasing protagonists who "arent supposed to be there" or who are the "wrong" person to step up into the story.

God, it's like we as a group of people living in the world have reckoned with how far our lives and hopes have strayed from the goal, and have poured all of it into characters who still feel as though they can never belong.

I am US American and thus am reading these stories through at least 3 layers of additional abstraction on top of the already dense nature of Webnovel Fan Culture. I am still learning how to glean the hidden themes from stories which have started to generate triple decker layers of nuance and in joke so ubiquitous, my only viable comparison is that old Tumblr post joking about how reading AO3 tags was it's own form of dialect incomprehensible to anyone not submerged in it

And yet still, I can tangibly feel the ache in some of these stories. Across far too much space, linked only by the light of our respective screens, I am admiring the skill of these stories to articulate the depth of my isolation.

The characters I love tend to be people who feel as though they cannot be accepted. That they must atone for whatever it was that brought them to their current place in the story. An empress who leans into her divorce because she believes she cannot be anything other than herself, and that that self is an undesirable burden. A man who cannot believe he is allowed a family, that his presence will inevitably end that family's peace so he should fulfill his "role" as a hapless, useless piece of trash. A man out of time, who sacrificed everything for his brother and yet believes he's worthless, willfully stubbornly blind to any injury he has cause that would mean admitting that he matters. And on, and on, and on,

I am mostly just talking in order to codify exactly what it is that draws me in, and I frankly think... It's cause I feel seen.

I have always loved lonely characters, Anne of Green Gables, Ender Wiggan, The Goose Girl. Characters who are lost until they settle finally with the people meant to care for them,

I think Webnovel protagonists are so compelling to me cause they highlight how even when you are tremendously lucky or powerful or intelligent, the world does not care. It's only through the Power Of Friendship (both ironically and unironically) that the heros find peace. I guess they soothe the part of me that wishes I could be healthier or richer or more satisfied with my life, they vent the stress of Living THrough Interesting Times and honest to god they remind me to think about my friends and my actual goals. To remove myself from the idea that Achieving The Win Condition would actually help with my loneliness. Cause really, the only way to stop being lonely is to build relationships you can trust to show up at the end of the world, or to bail you out of Time Prison or pick you up outside of Imperial Divorce Court

What's the point if it's not to strive towards connecting with the people you love?

[rymurrsneckbeard]

SO last year I made a list of teams I want to win the Cup (I think, I can't seem to find the goddamn post now) and it seems like a fun thing to do again!

'Please god no, kill me instead' category

Tampa Bay Lightning (ENOUGH. You won enough. Go away.)

Edmonton Oilers (I love watching Connor McDavid suffer.)

Boston Bruins (You won the one Cup you were allowed to win the year Andy got it. Fuck off otherwise.)

'...ew' category

New York Islanders (You don't belong there ANYWAY with all your fuckin' loser point OT losses, also both your goalie and coach are domestic abusers so get the fuck out of here)

Dallas Stars (I have somewhat rational hate for Jamie Benn. Just an intensely dislikeable team)

Washington Capitals (I'm a Pens fan, come on. Also you don't belong here either. Go back to Russia already, Ovi.)

Vegas Golden Knights (Fuck them and their LTIR cap cheating bullshit. Small bright spot is I love William Karlsson SO MUCH)

Carolina Hurricanes (I love Jake and I love Svech but otherwise...nah. I'm good.)

meh

LA Kings (Other than PLD they really don't have any players I really love but I also don't dislike them, other than the bullshit that went down with Quick at the deadline last year whiiiiich...)

New York Rangers (I don't love the Rangers but I DO love Alex Wennberg and I also love that I have friends who would be very very happy about it and I'd be happy for them. Also Jonathan Quick getting his FOURTH ring would make me so goddamn happy.)

oooh okay

Nashville Predators (I have nothing against the Preds, plus they have players I LOVE like O'Reilly, LSchenn, and ESPECIALLY Jason Zucker. Also Juuse Saros is a delight.)

Colorado Avalanche (Look I will always and forever want Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen to win things. But they also have a few players I really really don't like so I can't ENTIRELY cheer for them to win it all.)

yessss

Toronto Maple Leafs (I mean. Morgan. Willy. Mitch. Auston. But then they have Keefe who can go fuck himself. And Reaves/Bertuzzi/Domi can also all go fuck themselves. But I love the first four enough that I can ignore the others.)

Florida Panthers (I need Matthew to win a Cup. And Aaron Ekblad. And Sam Bennett. I just need someone to throw Cousins into the fucking ocean please.)

PLEASE WIN

Vancouver Canucks (I want Brock Boeser to have ALL the good things. He deserves everything good and shiny. Also Petey?! And Lindy!? Also my newfound love/lust for JT Miller!? And Conor Garland is SO LOVABLE. Like I just enjoy them overall. The ONLY negative is fucking Desmith.)

Winnipeg Jets (I wanna see Adam Lowry win a Cup. And I fucking LOVE Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan. There's just really no one on this team I genuinely hate. I don't LOVE Scheifele but he's whatever.)

SO there we go. Ranked as best I can place them, lol.

[rie-092]

Are requests open?

If so can I request a Romantic Yandere!Cale Henituse × Reader who's Cursed and experimented on?

Maybe they has some Ancient Powers locked inside of them that made them valuable or was a potential host of becoming a powerful puppet soldier. In any ways, Reader is a cold wall but when you break it down they become more clingy, dependant, and soft.

Let's say Cale found them in complete accident, while investigating some "stuff". He also discovers the files containing about Reader's abilities and while he decides to first send them off somewhere, Cale thinks that it would be mote beneficial if he recruits Reader instead. Reader joins the Squad and in a few years boom! A redhead yandere lover with his kids and subordinates but does Reader care about the group are Yanderes?

Nope! Unlike the scientists who hurt them, the Squad and Cale love Reader + they're already gone insane so a little killing won't hurt!

TREAT YOU BETTER

❲ yandere! cale henituse x cursed! reader x platonic yandere! tcf ❳

summary : despite of being a little crazy. you prefer staying with them over those annoying ‘doctors’ since they are treating you better.

tw : yandere behavior, unethical human experimentation, violence, mention suicidal thoughts, killing, obsessive behavior, manipulative behavior.

the ‘treasured child of nature’ is the title that you hate the most. why do you ask? because that title is the main reason why you were suffering. why do those people who claim themselves as ‘scientist’ did some ‘test’ on you? the main reason why those damn magicians tried to cast hypnotism magic on you. you hate that title as much as you hate yourself.

you once heard from that scientist about the ancient power locked inside your body. a very powerful ancient power that can destroy a whole kingdom in a blink of an eye. you were the top candidate to become a powerful puppet soldier that will save your kingdom from wars.

but you hate it. you don't want to kill. you don't want to hurt anyone. but you were too tired. you were too tired to feel the same feeling that you felt every day. the feeling of some drugs being injected into your body. you were too tired of seeing the same hallucinations that you see every day. you want to end it. you want to end your life so much. and if you can't end your life peacefully just like you want to. you will just bring this facility, the scientists, the magicians and the whole kingdom with you to hell.

and when you are close to snapping. that's when those guys appeared in your life. and you can't forget that day, the day when that facility that you loathe, got destroyed by a certain group. a group of powerful people who were led by a certain man with crimson red hair colour.

the day the facility where you suffered ever since you were born, disappeared. that was the day you met cale henituse and his group. and boy, the first person who approached you after they finished 'disposing' of those scientists and magicians that was working for that facility, was obviously, the cute little black dragon named raon.

and the first one who became a platonic yandere for you is raon. this little dragon sees his old self to you. so pitiful, so weak. and he vows to himself that he will ask his human to let you stay with them.

and at first, of course, our lovable yet kinda dense red-head commander wants to send you off. he thought that it will be better and beneficial for both of you if he sends you off. but he erased that idea from his mind after hearing raon's request. and it will be more beneficial for him to recruit you instead since you will be a great ally to him. of course he doesn't even know that he will slowly but surely become yandere for you after you agreed to stay with them.

first, let's list down the platonic yanderes for you. first of all, there were the kids ( on, hong, raon ) who was willing to kill the people who wants to use them just to get close to their human. and please remember, even if you were reaalllyyy cold to them at first, they really love your presence! even though you don't pay any attention to them! just stay with them in the super rock villa! ahh, of course, they will be really happy if you and their human will end up with each other!

the next one is the dragons ( sheritt, eruhaben, mila, rasheel, dodori and of course, the dragon half-blood ). let's start with sheritt first. we all know that sheritt already lost one of her sons. and seeing raon clinging to you just like how he clung to cale. sheritt was surprised. and of course, she treats you like you were her daughter despite of you ignoring their presence. the next one is eruhaben, mila and rasheel. we all know how prideful the dragons are. but for some reasons. These three dragons were really obsessed with you. eruhaben and rasheel, being a tsundere they are. they won't even admit that they love you (in a platonic way of course). and the thought of those mere humans using you to get close to cale makes their blood boil. well, getting rid of them is a good choice. mila doesn't really like you that much before. but after seeing you having a nightmare one night, it boosted her yandere tendencies. ahh, if she will be given a chance to kill those humans who made you like this she will make sure to shatter their bodies in pieces where even their own family won't be able to recognize them.

and dodori and the dragon half-blood. we all know that dodori is a big fan of cale. and after hearing from raon about you, he becomes curious. since in his eyes, you look quite intimidating and scary (since raon described you as a kind human). he thought that you were only fooling raon. but he slowly, after following you and watching you for a few days. he started seeing you as his big sister. dodori doesn't care if you were only fooling them but he and his hoobae will protect you forever! while our dragon half-blood was the only sane platonic yandere here. he wasn't that obsessed with you, unlike the others. but he was willing to kill someone for you. just say the word.

let's move on with alberu, choi han, rosalyn, lock, beacrox, ron, mary, cage, tasha, witira, paseton, and archie. oh! oh! this combination of yanderes was quite good! first of all, they care about you as much as they care about cale. there is alberu who loves spoiling you with material things. since according to him, he just wants to take care of his future sister-in-law. and there is rosalyn, mary and sometimes tasha, cage, and witira who loves dressing you up. they don't care about the scars that you've got from the scientists and mages before. they just love dressing you up like a doll ( note, they were the ones who sets you and cales date every time since according to them, cale is quite dense when it comes to these kinds of things ). and there is archie and paseton who visits you often in the super rock villa. and these two doesn't even realize that they are yanderes for you. since according to archie, they aren't used to these types of things.

and there is choi han and lock who was assigned ( by cale of course ) to be your bodyguard. even though you treat them as if they don't exist, they don't care. oh, and they find it funny and cute whenever they see you staring at nothing. it kinda reminds them of cale. alright, let's move on with the molan father-son duo who loves to take care of you! well, the main reason why beacrox became attached to you was that the only time they saw your face brighten up was the time when you ate the food that beacrox cooked. after that day, beacrox started treating you as his little sister. and seeing beacrox, cale and everyone around him acting weird. ron also become curious about you. what's so special about you? that's the question that ron had on his mind. but the more time he spends with you, the more he becomes attached to you. you were so fragile and just like the young master, you act like an obedient puppy sometimes. and he knows the things you've gone through that made you like a stone and cold as ice. kukuku, ron is curious about what will gonna happen once they were able to make you open your heart to them.

the henituse family especially lily and basen really adores you. how can't they adore you? you were really cute! and seeing you and their cale sitting next to each other without saying anything is really adorable! for their eyes, the two of you were made for each other. and let me tell you a secret, lady violan is the one who discovered your love of food. since she was the first one who saw you smile after eating the chocolate chip cookie that she made. and after hearing that from his wife, deruth gave you a huge box full of chocolate cookies as a present.

okay, the last and the most obsessed with you. the supreme commander of the allied nation, cale henituse. We know that cale isn't really used with ‘love’. and despite of being a smart person. cale took a while to realize that there was something odd with his adoration for you. the first time he realized it was when you sneaked out to go on the market. and that time, cale was nervous and worried about you. it's funny to think that he was worried that you left them when he planned to send you off before.

cale couldn't help it, you were addicting. your presence itself was really addicting. and this was the first time that cale wants to be greedy. he wants you to stay by his side. he doesn't know what will he gonna do if he loses you like how he lost lee so hyuk and choi jung soo. and the more he sees you, the more his yandere tendencies worsen.

and after a year of staying with them. you noticed one thing. the super rock villa was safer than the facility where you have grown up. unlike that place, here, you have many people who care for you (even though they were a bit crazy, you don't really care). and unlike that place, you can eat delicious food and wear comfy clothes here. this might take a while, but you slowly opened yourself to them.

the first time you approached them first is when you offered to play with the kids. and to be honest, they were surprised and really happy because of your offer. and that time was the first time when they heard you laugh so softly. and after that, raon excitedly said it to his mother who happened to be with eruhaben, mila, rasheel, dodori and the dragon half-blood.

and boy! boy! sheritt might be happy to see her son happy. there was also a side of her who also wants to hear you laugh. and so are the other dragons and the dragon half-blood. that's why sheritt decided to invite you to a tea party with her and the other dragons. and on that said party, after seeing your long yet kinda messy hair. eruhaben decided to braid it for you and of course, you obeyed him and sat quietly in your chair while nibbling your cookie. and how will they say this? rasheel, dodori and the dragon half-blood weren't really used to seeing you acting like a child. while sheritt and mila happily decorated your hair with some flowers. and after they finished decorating your hair, they gave you a mirror to show it to you. and boy! rasheel almost choke his tea, and the dragon half-blood and dodori's eyes brightened up after hearing you giggling softly as you thank them.

and after seeing that clingy and childish side of yours. only made everyone want to protect you more. hah, even though they love that side of yours. they are also worried that people might take advantage of you. tsk, tsk, tsk, it looks like they need to protect you even more.

and man, even cale loves that clingy side of yours. because you mostly spend your time with him. sitting next to him and reading a book. and there were some times that you fell asleep on cale's shoulder. of course, cale didn't fail to record it in his mind. he doesn't want to forget those times when you were with him.

and oh, remember that ducal family from the other kingdom who kidnapped you before? let's just say that the ducal family and that kingdom disappeared overnight. what was the reason? who knows?

fun fact! there were also three platonic yanderes up in the heaven who was involved with the disappearance of that said kingdom. but let's keep it a secret for now, okay?

“ you don't have to worry, (first name). no one will be able to hurt you anymore. ”

[weirdsht]

Yandere Cale

a/n: did this during class, i'm just that down bad

Warnings: yandere behaviors, possessive everyone, mentions of death and torture, unhealthy behavior, mention of mind games

English isn’t my first language so there will be grammatical errors

Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission

If there's something missing in the warnings let me know so I can add it

Any form of interaction toward the post is appreciated <333

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Masterlist

Yandere Cale who originally found you left alone on the verge of death. He really doesn’t care as he doesn't  know you but Raon kept insisting that they help you so he brought you back to his territory just to indulge his child.

Yandere Cale who gave you the best hospitality he could offer even though you’re still unconscious. No one really knows just who you pissed off but it was obvious that you were beaten, probably tortured, nearly to death.

Yandere Cale who couldn’t help but stare at your unconscious self. Not because he was worried or anything, he knows that his people’s abilities are the best of the best so he knows you’re faring well. Rather, he kept staring because of how pretty you are. He knows beauty when he sees one and you’re one of the prettiest humans he’s seen. 

Yandere Cale being vigilant after you woke up. No matter how hard he and his connections tried, he couldn’t find any information about you. His first priority is his people and he's worried that you’ll bring harm to them.

Yandere Cale later finds out that you’re a transmigrator. Poor you who came from his world and doesn't know anything about this world. 

Yandere Cale that takes pity on you. You manifested a great ability but have a weak body and a naive mind. All this became your downfall as you easily trusted a lowly noble that took you in only for them to use you and then left you in the current state you’re in when they got tired of you.

Yandere Cale who offered you a deal. He outright told you that he will also usee you, but unlike those lowly people he won’t ever abandon you. As long as you stay loyal to him and meet his demands he will guarantee your entire being. He also promised to take your weak constitution into account.

Yander Cale and his family, both biological and found, who quickly grew fond of you. You’re just such a delight to be with. You get along with everyone so great that even the most vicious of the group trusts you. Even the kids are willing to protect you.

Yandere Cale’s biological family who treats you like you’re their child. Even before the two of you got together they’re already treating you as part of the family. Assigning you your own servants. Frequent breakfast invites and gifts for no reason at all. Deruth even went as far as providing you your own allowance that’s separate from Cale’s. 

Yandere Cale whose fondness grows little by little which eventually turns into love without him even realizing it. At first it was just respect for your wits and abilities that has helped them out more than he can count during operations. Then before he knows it he’s already fretting about your entire being. Are you eating well? Is this work too much? Are you getting enough rest? Don’t push yourself too much. Is there some kind of vitamin they can provide for your weak body? You’re just so lovable that he can’t help himself.

Yandere Cale who caught himself falling for you deeper and deeper to the point it’s unhealthy. But does he care? Absolutely not. He knows his morals are skewed from the very beginning and his way of love for you is just a part of it. But fret not, your happiness is his priority and he won’t restrict you like other yanderes. Just make sure that you won’t ever permanently leave him and the things you’ll do won’t be detrimental to our health.

Yandere Cale who couldn’t believe you reciprocate his feelings. After months of pining and courting you’re officially his. Of course he has his ways to make sure you’ll go to no one else but him in case things don't go his way. Well looks like he won’t need it since you also love him, of course not as much as he loves you but he’ll take it.

Yandere Cale keeps you beside him at all times, as much as he could. He lost so much before becoming Cale and he can’t lose anything anymore. He’s confident in his looks and wealth and of course he trusts you, what bothers him is that he knows there’s always gonna be a mongrel who won’t leave you alone just because you’re so pretty. 

Yandere Cale who doesn’t really oppose you if you want to go somewhere. Vacations are fine, in fact they’re recommended by him. It’s also fine for him if you go without him. He knows that he can’t always accompany you but he doesn’t worry as he has eyes and ears everywhere, not that you’re aware of it. Everything you do, no matter where you are, Cale will always have someone report it to him. Aside from that he also requires you to take at least two escorts with you. Cale has his ancient powers and Raon that he can use but not you. Sure you have a great ability but he can’t have you overusing it. Most of the time It’s Choi Han and Hilsman escorting you everywhere you go.

Yandere Cale and his people who use your weak bodily constitute as their excuse. Everything they do is for you so don’t worry about it. Someone insults you and Choi Han blasts them away immediately or Raon always uses float magic so you don’t have to walk? It’s because they can’t have you stressing and pushing yourself, your body won’t be able to handle it and they need you to help Cale plan for the next operation. You know to yourself that you’re weak so you can’t help but agree with them. What you don’t know is that they know everyone who interacts with you, and if they see someone even just look at you the wrong way? There’s gonna be a bloodbath, of course without your knowledge.

Yandere Cale who entrusts you to Alberu whenever he deems the place to be too dangerous for you. And Alberu who accepts your company with open arms each time. His palace is basically your second home now and Alberu appreciates you always helping him out with his responsibilities whenever you’re around. The crown prince acknowledges your wits and talent for doing paperwork and providing him with sound reasoning and solutions. Your time in the palace is always lovely. No one dares lay a hand on you even though there’s a lot of nobles that could use you against Cale and Alberu. 

Yandere Cale and Alberu who already set an example with one of the nobles that messed with you so they know you’re not to be messed with. To be specific it was the baron family that left you to die when they first found you. No one can pinpoint any evidence towards the two but everyone knows it was their doing. Everyone but you, as far as you know it was a classic case of tax fraud and bankruptcy. Fully unaware of the days to weeks of torture that whole family suffered under their care.

Yandere Cale doesn't punish you whenever you do something wrong. He can’t have you more sick than you already are and he can’t handle seeing you in pain. Plus in his eyes as long as you don’t leave him then you can’t do anything wrong. But if you did something that greatly upsets him or talks about leaving him, he’ll play mind games with you. That’s his forte afterall. A little gaslight here and there always does the trick.

Yandere Cale who’s vulnerable with you. He shows you his soft side and shares his experience as Kim Rok Soo. The two of you can relate to each other the most as you came from the same world and experienced the ruin world firsthand. Late night talks are common between you two. Sometimes you reminisce about your old life, sometimes you both just lay there in silence appreciating each other’s presence with the kids in the middle of the two you quietly snoring. 

Yander Cale never fails to check in on you no matter how busy he is. How are you? Was your day great? Do you want anything? Did you run into any trouble? He just loves hearing you ramble about anything and everything. It’s also one of his ways to know if he needs to kill or torture someone. Sure he can easily get information from Hilsman and the others but he likes hearing things directly from you.

Yandere Cale who spoils you. He has so much money that it probably won’t make a dent in his savings even if you ask him to buy a country. Ron sees you eyeing something while you are taking a walk? That’s reported to Cale and the item is brought immediately. Everything you touch is gonna be in your room the next day when you wake up. Want something? It doesn’t matter whatever it is, just say the word and Cale will abide by your wishes. You practically didn’t ask for this dangerous life, his living that’s full of fighting and war so he does his utmost best to make up for it.

[skyrndipity]

kim dokja begrudgingly cares about cale, and cale (no matter how much he denies it) also cares about kim dokja. i won't ever get tired of showing it.

honestly, i started writing this fic because i've read so many tcf x orv crossovers, but there was one aspect that made me feel iffy. someone said it was the way that kim dokja is made as an idiot while cale is the almighty god to put him in his place, and i agree. i've also read crossovers of other fandoms and most of them are the same. i just want friendships between the characters instead of arguments about which one is the best. i always felt so bad whenever the readers pick on kim dokja. as much as i love cale, kim dokja is such a lovable mc for me. he's realistic and a very comforting character. in short, he's my absolute favorite. it's sad how he's often downgraded so the other character can shine.

anyways, so i just thought "fine, i'll do it myself" and made the crossover fic where cale and kim dokja will combine their brains and wreck some shit together. it's working.

[blueteller]

That's a very good analysis! I agree with everything you said – well, except for KRS not being serious about his Slacker Life. If he ever heard you say that, he'd curse you for blasphemy 😂

Cale Character Study

I feel like we know so little about Kim Rok Soo that first impressions are misleading. This will probably contain spoilers if you haven’t read the translations yet.

Keep reading

[blueteller]

Why is Cale so lovable, actually? What's his secret??

Here's the thing: despite his flaws, KRS-Cale's charisma is insane, even for protagonist standards. Why is that?

Sure, it's a standard protagonist quality to use the ✨Power of Friendship✨ to save the day, but Cale has the unique ability to – completely unintentionally – turn EVERYONE around him into simps, sometimes even his enemies. And that, bizarrely, includes the audience. No don't lie to me, I've been in this fandom for a month already, I have eyes!

So, how does that keep happening, exactly??

To answer that question, allow me to first introduce you to a very important concept for healthy relationships: the 5 languages of love.

Words of affirmation

Quality time

Physical touch

Acts of service

Receiving gifts

A no, this does not apply only to romantic relationships - it's ALL relationships. Every person has their own preferences, both in showing and receiving them, usually 2 or 3 of them being the most important ones for a person. For example, I'm a "words" and "touch" person myself: I like hugs and people telling me they care about me. Pretty simple concept.

So, here's the thing. I've been re-reading TCF, and I came to a very important conclusion: Cale, completely by accident, absolutely excels at all five love languages.

It's so subtle you might not realize it at first. It does't sound like someone with such a closed personality, does it? It's especially confusing when you consider his background: an abused orphan who was pretty much always alone. But perhaps because he never recieved much affection growing up, he currently compensates by subconsciously sharing what he always wanted to receive, yet never got as a child. And because he ends up in a world where he's surrounded by abused children who didn't get enough affection, it's so darn effective, winning people's undying love and loyalty instantly.

Let's look at these one by one, shall we?

1. Words of affirmation

Cale has a tendency to accidentally say exactly what the listener needs to hear. But it's not all bluff, and not all luck. Cale is actually quite wise. He gives proper words of encouragement, based entirely on his knowledge and judgemment. For example: he tells Choi Han that he can protect people. He tells Raon that he should live freely and that he's great and mighty. He tells Alberu he deserves to rule the kingdom. He tells Mary not to "listen to nonsense". He tells Rosalyn she's reliable and capable. The list goes on and on.

Cale might not be saying "I love you" directly, but he is saying "Good job, take good care of yourself"... which pretty much amounts to the same thing.

2. Quality time

It might sound ridiculous, but... taking down Arm and saving the world is actually their perfect family quality time. Laugh if you want, but I'm serious! They're not a regular family, after all. They were all hurt, scarred and/or betrayed by the secret organization at some point. By destroying them and saving the world together, Cale not only gives his friends a purpose - he is also giving them closure. Revenge, retribution, healing, moving forward... it's all there. THAT'S some quality time!

3. Physical touch

While he's certainly not hugger or anything (not counting the Choi Han battle hug or Alberu's showman embraces, those were always an act), Cale is not averse to touching people either. Head pats for the children are quite common. Cale also touches people on the shoulder a lot, have you noticed? Like when Jack cried over Hannah, or when Cale congratulated Choi Han on a job well done after rescuing Raon. It's subtle, but it's there: his touch means support, affection and respect. It definitely counts.

4. Acts of service

Pretty much everything Cale does ends up helping other people, one way or another. Considering the sheer scale of Cale's actions, it's only natural that combined with the other love languages, it makes others feel great admiration towards Cale. He might not like it, because he sees those acts of service as "self-serving". But I think Cale was the most honest about it at the beginning of the story: when he gave On and Hong bread for the first time. "You don't need a reason for things your heart draws you to."

Cale actually, genuinely wants to help others. It's just he's so overworked already, he doesn't want the expectations and responsibility that comes with other people relying on him. As an orphan, he was made to believe that taking care of his own interests is inherently selfish, but somehow, he only applies that when thinking about himself. Despite everything, he actively encourages others to take care of themselves while neglecting himself. No wonder people love him.

5. Receiving gifts

Despite liking money so much, he's extremely generous. He lets go of five billions when selling Toonka – whom he "doesn't even like" – some documents back from the magic tower pretty much "just because". Sure, Alberu told him to do it, but Cale wouldn't listen to him if he didn't want to. You'd think his previous life of poverty would make him greedier than that. But while he steals from bad guys with no remorse, he gives to his allies freely with even less remorse. Sure, he expect them to "repay" him with their services, but you'd have to be blind not to notice how beneficial those deals are for everyone involved. And his kids? Cale downright spoils them. Sure he "scams" Raon by letting him pick one magic gemstone out of hundreds, or a single coin out of Alberu's pockets... but that's just responsible parenting more than anything.

And remember how he asked Basen and Lily what they wanted as a gift at the beginning? There was absolutely no ulterior motive to that: zero. He did it literally just because. Remeber when he gave Raon an additional pouch with healing potions when he just met him? Or when he gave Choi Han the same pouch when he sent him off to find Lock and Rosalyn? Yeah. Cale does that pretty much all the time in the novel.

Conclusion: the reason why Cale is so lovable is because he's already so loving 😊

[jiye0ngs]

Hello👋 i see you are currently taking request, so i'm gonna send you one. Can i have some headcanons with the MCs where they have a crush who has an insanely powerful awakened power BUT has a weak body? And she is constantly sacrificing herself? (Inspired by Cale, Dokja, and Yoojin's character)

P.S. I don't want to be demanding so if you find this quite hard gor you to write, then you don't have to

hi! it's alright ahaha, no worries!

note: this might be a little long, so everything is kept under the cut!

JIWOO would most likely be worried All the time. i could see jiwoo as the type to go hey!! are you okay!! what happened!! (cue worried Hug) all the time after his crush just disappears when she goes off to sacrifice herself in a situation. he wants to look out for her always, in all ways, and take care of her as much as possible.

it's pretty interesting to think of jiwoo's character as a whole too, imo, since he is Also someone who's constantly sacrificing himself, and (much like kdj, cale henituse, yujin, and his crush), has self-deprecating qualities. on more than one occasion she’d probably go,

crush: you worry about me all the time, but jiwoo...don’t you do this too??

jiwoo: yeah but this isnt about me!! stay focused queen!! hydrate and get some rest!!

overall, theyre both just hand in lovable hand. holding hands as much as possible so no one sacrifices their self anymore.

KAYDEN is pretty confident in his crush’s power and strength, but he is very much looking out for her. as we’ve seen with how kayden pretends to ‘not care’ for jiwoo in the webtoon then proceeds to go eliminate anything that harms jiwoo, it’s safe to say that he’d do that again for the person he’s crushing on in a heartbeat — maybe even in a much more intense way.  

i like to think that an activity they both like is training. as they’re both very strong individuals, they can go all out on each other. kayden always encourages her strengths and makes sure to work through her points of improvement together, especially on developing a stronger stamina, so that when she Does go to sacrifice herself, at least she can withstand it a bit more. (kayden is her no.1 supporter and no.1 fanclub president, no matter how much he tries to deny it. he’s so immensely proud of her.)

very much a simp. do not underestimate how much kayden can be a simp for his beloved. you know how ken from barbie life in the dreamhouse says “my barbie senses are tingling” every once in a while? yeah. kayden kinda does that too 😭 just as she’s ready to go all out to sacrifice herself again, boom — kayden break is there. he takes her home, fusses over her, and he makes sure to lift her spirits up. when his crush points this out, kayden tries (and fails) to not get flustered.

crush: you missed me, didn’t you? that’s why you came running to get me.

kayden, tomato fucking red: no i didn’t? lmao what r u saying?

JISUK pretends not to be worried but, much like kayden, is secretly always right by her side. always keeping one eye open just in case. when she’s around he’s always like mehh okay fine whatever but like.. once she’s gone he’s all .. “omg? where are you? where’d you go? yo? hello?” 

also, jisuk (not so subtly) constantly hypes her up. again, much like kayden, he knows that his crush feels like she’s always lacking (even if her power is tremendous and used to its greatest potential), so he always wants to let her know that he has her back. it’s just some good old sincerity from yoo jisuk. 

(is not comfortable with open hugs or physical forms of reassurance right away, but i like to think that he does hug her after one incident where everyone thought she really sacrificed herself for Good and like . when she pops out of nowhere with, i’m alive ahaha what’s up? jisuk does not hesitate to cling on to her.)

WOOIN — the sweetest ever. he’s always open and softer with her, and he doesn’t hesitate to tell her to take care of herself or do his best to get trouble out of her way (even if he’s a little embarrassed about how whipped he is sometimes). a mixture of worried and trusting —  he knows she can fend off anything that hinders her without even batting an eye, but he really does not want her to just sacrifice herself so easily like that. 

wooin’s duality can come into the scene too, i think. at one moment he’s having small talk with her so she can rest, then the other moment he sets off to go and personally destroy the thing that almost made her sacrifice herself in the first place. then he’s back to bonding and resting together.

after jiwoo, wooin would also be most likely to not hesitate to sacrifice himself in return. 

SUBIN treasures her above so many things, so i think it’s not gonna be unlikely for her to step in when her crush is getting ready to surrender herself again. dotes on her a lot, and fusses over her too — at every moment possible, subin wants to make sure she’s free from any wounds/scrapes/hunger/lack of sleep. subin adores her crush so much, so it’s understandable that she’s a little down whenever her crush puts herself down, too; subin doesn’t hold back when she wants to praise or comfort her. 

i think sparring and training together would also be their go-to hobby. subin goes easy on her most of the times, which ends up in her crush going “girl i’m not made of glass you can go all out on me!!” but subin can’t. even if she did, her crush would win anyway, which just fuels subin’s infatuation w her ahahaha. 

hides her worries in playful gestures and lighthearted conversations. she wants to be someone that could remind her crush of how she (crush) is deserving of so much love. subin would really stick by her side through anything that could happen.

SUCHEON (including him because i couldn’t resist) - The pinnacle of “idc just go and do ur thing” and then once she Does do her thing he goes.. “wait. wait. where are you. if you actually sacrifice urself im gonna Get You.”

also the pinnacle of pretending he doesn’t care but actually he does. actually he was up all night trying to look for her when she disappeared after an incident. actually all his problems disappeared when he saw her again.

this one was interesting, and it was really fun to think out how each of them would react! thanks for the request ~ 

[blueteller]

Detailed Psychological Makeup of Cale Henituse

[blueteller]

So, about Cale and Dragons...

Has anyone else noticed how much Cale loves Dragons? It's pretty funny, if you think about it.

It's obvious that Cale admires Dragons since the start. No, not just respects them out of being the strongest beings in the world. Kim Rok Soo was someone who enjoyed reading fantasy novels in his spare time. He probably liked Dragons long before ending up in a world where they actually exist.

Look at the evidence! Despite "The Birth of a Hero" bluntly describing Dragons as self-centered and egotistical, Cale never has a single negative thought about them as a species: if anything, he's extremely respectful, even in his inner musings. On the top of it, it seems like he prefers them being "selfish" creatures, since that's how he perceives himself.

And the funny thing is: even though he inwardly complains about the Elves for being such Dragon worshippers, he's almost being hypocritical??

Because while he starts off telling Raon that he's "great and mighty" as a way of buttering him up to make him work – he actually means it. He is not being fake at all! Cale genuinely thinks that Raon is amazing. He's in awe of Dragon powers. Even though he has concerns about Eruhaben when they first meet him, once he realizes what a "soft grandpa" he is Cale quickly relaxes and starts respecting him in a similar way.

Don't get me wrong – he's not above manipulating and putting Dragons to work. But he's like that with everyone, especially those he respects (just look at his relationship with Alberu, lol).

Let's face it, folks. Cale is a Dragon fan. He loves everything about Dragons. From the way they look and how powerful they are, to their odd quirks and flawed personalities.

The best proof of it is how Cale reacts to the Dragon Crown in chapter 180:

-That crown likes Dragon blood.

Cale looked toward Raon.

“What is it, human?”

Cale started to speak at that moment.

“Let’s throw this away.”

“What?”

“No. I can’t let them continue to hold onto this.”

The Black Dragon had never seen Cale frowning while looking at something that looked expensive like this crown with a large jewel.

Cale continued to speak in a stern tone toward Raon, who was tilting his head in confusion.

“Should I break it?”

This was the first time he picked up something that he didn’t like.

The very MOMENT Cale realizes what he's holding, he doesn't just dislike it. He's disgusted by it enough that even though it's expensive-looking and potentially useful... he hates it. He really just wants to get rid of it, right on the spot! You could argue that it's purely because of his relationship with Raon, and while I don't disagree, I think it's deeper than that.

Look, Sheritt was the first known Dragon to bond with a human and have life-long friendship with one, right? I think Cale is unknowingly continuing that legacy. He's not a Dragon Slayer, however... He is something similar, but different. Kinda a parent to Raon, kinda a son to Eruhaben. In the simplest terms, he's a family member to Dragons. Cale considers Dragons "his people".

Cale loves Dragons. And Dragons can't help but love Cale as well. It's adorable :)

[kazirexx]

I LOVE THIS ANALYSIS SO MUCH 😩😭

Cale and Impostor Syndrome

From discord, sent by @Jalffy22's dad, who apparently used Chatgpt… to diagnose Cale with Impostor Syndrome?? As well as my own thoughts on analysis on it.

Cale Henituse is a character from the popular Korean web novel series "Trash of the Count's Family" written by Yoo Ryeo Han. Impostor syndrome can be explained in the context of Cale Henituse and his journey within the story. Cale Henituse, as a character, experiences various aspects of Impostor Syndrome: Comparing Himself to Others: Throughout the story, Cale Henituse often finds himself comparing his abilities to those of other characters, especially his closest allies and mentors. This self-comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially when he believes he falls short in comparison to powerful figures like Alberu Crossman or Raon Miru. Downplaying His Achievements: Despite his significant accomplishments, Cale often downplays his own achievements. He might attribute his successes to luck or the help of others, rather than acknowledging his own talents and efforts. Fear of Being Unmasked: Cale's reluctance to reveal his true identity as the "Trash of the Count's Family" can be seen as a manifestation of impostor syndrome. He fears being exposed as a fraud, even though he consistently takes on important roles and responsibilities within the story. Reluctance to Seek Help: Cale often hesitates to seek assistance or advice from others, even when he faces challenging situations. This hesitancy may stem from a belief that he should be able to handle everything on his own, contributing to his impostor syndrome. Setting Unrealistic Standards: Cale frequently sets high and often unrealistic standards for himself, striving for perfection in his decisions and actions. This tendency can lead to stress and burnout as he constantly pushes himself to be better. In the context of Cale Henituse and his experiences, here's how you can relate impostor syndrome to your passion for "Trash of the Count's Family" or to your own experiences: Recognize Your Achievements: Just as Cale should acknowledge his accomplishments, you should recognize and celebrate your own successes and contributions in your passion. Understand that your engagement and dedication are valuable. Embrace Learning: Accept that it's okay not to know everything about the story or the characters. "Trash of the Count's Family" is filled with intricate plotlines and characters, and it's natural to learn and grow along the way. Seek Support: Connect with other fans of the series who share your passion. Engaging with fellow enthusiasts can help you gain a deeper understanding of the story and characters, and it can provide valuable support. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. It's perfectly normal to have limitations and areas where you may not have all the answers or insights. Self-compassion can go a long way in alleviating feelings of impostor syndrome. Set Realistic Goals: Define achievable goals within your passion that align with your knowledge and interests. This will help you enjoy your journey while gradually building your expertise. Remember that impostor syndrome can affect anyone, even fictional characters like Cale Henituse. By recognizing your own worth and embracing your passion for "Trash of the Count's Family," you can overcome impostor syndrome and fully enjoy your involvement in the fandom.

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Now, with the AI stuff out of the way… (Man it really feels like reading a medical textbook doesn't it? You can tell it was written by an AI…) Let's discuss what our dear AI told us about Impostor Syndrome, and how Cale is overcoming it throughout the story.

That aspect can be easily overlooked, even though Cale clearly experiences character growth as time goes on. Sure, it's snail-paced and it can be frustrating at times – but you can blame it all on the trauma. A 36-year-old man with a list of traumas long enough to fill a restaurant menu sure deserves to be given some slack for being a bit slow on the "healing" process.

Comparing Himself to Others vs Embracing Learning

Unlike what AI stated, Cale really doesn't compare himself to others all that much – at least not directly.

Cale is not the type to say, "I am a much worse person than Choi Han." Cale is the type to say, "My past is nothing interesting to talk about, really. Now Choi Han, he's such an admirable guy. He managed to stay a good guy despite all the hardships he suffered through. Might have been that good family influence he got in his childhood." Now, unless we know the information that Cale is ommitting here – the abuse at the hands of his uncle and a terrible childhood overall – we wouldn't know that by all this, Cale is actually saying "Choi Han is a better person than me, might have been because he was raised right and I wasn't." Thing is, I don't believe even Cale himself realizes that's what he's doing. He would probably deny it, if someone tried to confront him about him.

It is true, however, that Cale often insults himself, while praising others at the same time, in quite the hypocritical fashion. If Cale saves someone, he's doing it "because of self-serving reasons". If someone else saves someone, in his eyes, they're a good person. You can clearly see the pattern here.

However, the "embracing learning" comes in where Cale starts raising children, and they pick up his mannerisms and behaviour. Most of the time, Cale stays completely oblivious to his own influence. "Where did they learn that?" he asks, hilariously, while it's extremely obvious to the readers exactly where they learned it: YOU, CALE!!!

But Cale learns. He watches his children grow, he watches his allies grow, and he feels proud. He's accepting his role in their life as someone they deeply care about. Someone they wish to protect. He starts avoiding injuries for their sake. And sure, he still has those dumb moments of "Well I didn't even cough blood this time, do I really deserves this reward?", it doesn't change the fact that he's getting better at this. At being appreciated. …Worshipped? Heck no, he'll run as fast as he can in the opposite way. Appreciated by his family? He's getting better. Where he used to deny the kids head pats in the beginning, now he pets them all the time. He eats Raon's apple pie not just out of hunger, but because it's from his son, and it makes him feel better because of the connection. Slowly, he's leaving self-deprecation behind and embrances his family. It's incredibly heartwarming and sweet to watch 💖

Downplaying His Achievements vs Recognizing His Achievements

Yet another snail-paced progress we can observe, but it does exist nonetheless. Cale downplays his achievements mostly as a self-defense machenism. Taking that much responsibility on himself is SCARY. He said so himself right at the start of the novel: "Kim Rok Soo knew that the responsiblity for the lives of people is a very scary thing". …Funny how he keeps taking the initiative then, isn't it?? But despite all his denial, Cale isn't stupid. He knows exactly how much his actions changed the world; the scale of it is frightening. Nevertheless, he dismisses it all for the sake of his dream – becoming a slacker. He does not want the fame of a hero who saved everyone. He wants to rest!!! But, yet again, his family enters the picture here. Cale doesn't need to be the hero for them to love him. They are grateful for all he has done for them, but it's not a fanatical worship; it's love, thankfulness, appreciation. By the end of Part 1, Cale admits to Alberu and Eruhaben's faces that "he finally starts considering his own life a bit precious". That is a very big moment! It might seem like the lightest of concessions, but it's a huge step for someone like Cale!! See, he's growing!!! 👏

Fear of Being Unmasked vs Practicing Self-Compassion

Best example I can think of is when Cale's identity as Kim Rok Soo is revealed to Choi Han, and later on Raon and even Alberu. Cale did fear his identity being exposed, and for a good reason. You'd think that Choi Han being Korean himself would make things easier – but actually, it would only make things harder. Choi Han doesn't come from the same Korea as Kim Rok Soo. A lot has changed since he was on Earth. Cale revealing the monster apocalypse would involve a lot of vunerability. He also valued Choi Han's good opinion greaty, I think. Cale read the story of him and concluded that Choi Han was a "good guy". He respects him. No matter what he claims, Cale doesn't want Choi Han to think badly of him. In the Indignity Test, there was a moment where Cale reflected how much he did not want to get by the younger Choi Han or Raon – not because of the physical pain, but because of the emotional pain involved. He would feel incredibly shamed if Choi Han or Raon hated him. Because he cares about them both. So. Much.

And then, there's the Alberu reveal. It's surprisingly sincere. Alberu offers Cale the chance to explain himself, and promises to listen to everything without judgement. Cale is visibly shaken by the promise, but he believes him. It was such a precious scene!! That's where the self-compassion comes in. Cale is learning to be a bit kinder on himself than in the past. He's starting to trust his allies with vulnerability. When Cale uses Instant, he tells Raon how he's someone who can never forget and asks him to "not be like him". Because Cale's life is full of sacrifice and suffering, and he doesn't WANT others to be like him. But after that incident, he promises Raon to avoid hurting himself as much as possible when he captures the White Star with Embrace. His self-care is directly linked to his compassion towards his family, but it's there! It exists! Way to go, Cale!! 👏 (…Just don't stab yourself again, lol. I get that it was special circumstances, but still.)

Reluctance to Seek Help vs Seeking Support

Cale is such a paradox in this aspect. On one hand, he's a strategist – asking for help is his JOB. He wouldn't be able to achieve all he has if he never requested help. He asks people to do tasks for him all the time. On the other hand… whenever things go wrong, he's the one to handle the repercussions. Cale is the one to make the sacrifice whenever something unexpected happens.

For Cale, this is such a delicate balance. He wants to make sure everyone is always safe. He never allows them to face mortal danger without making a plan to let them all survive it. The time in the Empire, when the White Star used the Sky Attribute for the first time, Cale yells at everyone to run while he himself rushes towards danger. While it's very hypocritical, it's directily linked to his sense of responsibility for others. On the other hand, once everyone refuses to leave, we can see how excellent their teamwork is. And who taught them that?? Cale, of course!

It isn't that Cale doesn't ask for help. It's that whenever the scales tip and his group is in danger, he will do anything to light up their weight by taking it on his own shoulders. And like I said – it's an extremely delicate balance to walk. Like spider silk thin rope. One wrong step, and Cale could fall. Still… I think Cale is gaining experience in this as well, and so are his allies. They get stronger, and they understand Cale better. They're able to handle dangers without him being involved. It's a positive direction to grow for all of them, even if Cale is constantly unlucky enough to get himself into trouble like this… over and over and over 😅

Setting Unrealistic Standards vs Realistic Goals

Cale has one of the most simple, yet the most unrealistic dream ever imaginable. "To be a slacker". Which, if taken literally, would be the easiest thing. Just sit around, enjoy your wealth and do no work. Simple, right?

…Except, Cale's version of "slacker life" involves making sure the ENTIRE FREAKING UNIVERSE IS AT PEACE. 🤣🤣🤣 "So that no one bothers him or his family." That's… a bit difficult, isn't it??

So, Cale's dream is completely unrealistic, yet with the speed he's going at it, he might actually achieve it. Way to go, you madlad. Respect!!

However, with the help of Lee Soo Hyuk, aka. Sui Khan, Cale has another goal. Which is much more down-to-earth. Creating a farm in the Forest of Darkness. And tending to it with his family. That's… such a sweet ambition. I really hope they can make it. No – I'm sure they will, eventually. One of the "glimpses of the future" we got in the story was the fact that On and Hong's red mist would sometimes linger around the Forest of Darkness, as a sign of the Molan family's legacy. So the kittens will definitely live there in the future, and naturally, so will Cale. Personally, I can't wait 😁

…So yeah, that's all I got to say about Cale's Impostor Syndrome. Got any more thoughts on it? Let me know!

[catm3imi]

Okay this is pretty cute and legit

Why is Cale so lovable, actually? What's his secret??

Here's the thing: despite his flaws, KRS-Cale's charisma is insane, even for protagonist standards. Why is that?

Sure, it's a standard protagonist quality to use the ✨Power of Friendship✨ to save the day, but Cale has the unique ability to – completely unintentionally – turn EVERYONE around him into simps, sometimes even his enemies. And that, bizarrely, includes the audience. No don't lie to me, I've been in this fandom for a month already, I have eyes!

So, how does that keep happening, exactly??

To answer that question, allow me to first introduce you to a very important concept for healthy relationships: the 5 languages of love.

Words of affirmation

Quality time

Physical touch

Acts of service

Receiving gifts

A no, this does not apply only to romantic relationships - it's ALL relationships. Every person has their own preferences, both in showing and receiving them, usually 2 or 3 of them being the most important ones for a person. For example, I'm a "words" and "touch" person myself: I like hugs and people telling me they care about me. Pretty simple concept.

So, here's the thing. I've been re-reading TCF, and I came to a very important conclusion: Cale, completely by accident, absolutely excels at all five love languages.

It's so subtle you might not realize it at first. It does't sound like someone with such a closed personality, does it? It's especially confusing when you consider his background: an abused orphan who was pretty much always alone. But perhaps because he never recieved much affection growing up, he currently compensates by subconsciously sharing what he always wanted to receive, yet never got as a child. And because he ends up in a world where he's surrounded by abused children who didn't get enough affection, it's so darn effective, winning people's undying love and loyalty instantly.

Let's look at these one by one, shall we?

1. Words of affirmation

Cale has a tendency to accidentally say exactly what the listener needs to hear. But it's not all bluff, and not all luck. Cale is actually quite wise. He gives proper words of encouragement, based entirely on his knowledge and judgemment. For example: he tells Choi Han that he can protect people. He tells Raon that he should live freely and that he's great and mighty. He tells Alberu he deserves to rule the kingdom. He tells Mary not to "listen to nonsense". He tells Rosalyn she's reliable and capable. The list goes on and on.

Cale might not be saying "I love you" directly, but he is saying "Good job, take good care of yourself"... which pretty much amounts to the same thing.

2. Quality time

It might sound ridiculous, but... taking down Arm and saving the world is actually their perfect family quality time. Laugh if you want, but I'm serious! They're not a regular family, after all. They were all hurt, scarred and/or betrayed by the secret organization at some point. By destroying them and saving the world together, Cale not only gives his friends a purpose - he is also giving them closure. Revenge, retribution, healing, moving forward... it's all there. THAT'S some quality time!

3. Physical touch

While he's certainly not hugger or anything (not counting the Choi Han battle hug or Alberu's showman embraces, those were always an act), Cale is not averse to touching people either. Head pats for the children are quite common. Cale also touches people on the shoulder a lot, have you noticed? Like when Jack cried over Hannah, or when Cale congratulated Choi Han on a job well done after rescuing Raon. It's subtle, but it's there: his touch means support, affection and respect. It definitely counts.

4. Acts of service

Pretty much everything Cale does ends up helping other people, one way or another. Considering the sheer scale of Cale's actions, it's only natural that combined with the other love languages, it makes others feel great admiration towards Cale. He might not like it, because he sees those acts of service as "self-serving". But I think Cale was the most honest about it at the beginning of the story: when he gave On and Hong bread for the first time. "You don't need a reason for things your heart draws you to."

Cale actually, genuinely wants to help others. It's just he's so overworked already, he doesn't want the expectations and responsibility that comes with other people relying on him. As an orphan, he was made to believe that taking care of his own interests is inherently selfish, but somehow, he only applies that when thinking about himself. Despite everything, he actively encourages others to take care of themselves while neglecting himself. No wonder people love him.

5. Receiving gifts

Despite liking money so much, he's extremely generous. He lets go of five billions when selling Toonka – whom he "doesn't even like" – some documents back from the magic tower pretty much "just because". Sure, Alberu told him to do it, but Cale wouldn't listen to him if he didn't want to. You'd think his previous life of poverty would make him greedier than that. But while he steals from bad guys with no remorse, he gives to his allies freely with even less remorse. Sure, he expect them to "repay" him with their services, but you'd have to be blind not to notice how beneficial those deals are for everyone involved. And his kids? Cale downright spoils them. Sure he "scams" Raon by letting him pick one magic gemstone out of hundreds, or a single coin out of Alberu's pockets... but that's just responsible parenting more than anything.

And remember how he asked Basen and Lily what they wanted as a gift at the beginning? There was absolutely no alterior motive to that: zero. He did it literally just because. Remeber when he gave Raon an additional pouch with healing potions when he just met him? Or when he gave Choi Han the same pouch when he sent him off to find Lock and Rosalyn? Yeah. Cale does that pretty much all the time in the novel.

Conclusion: the reason why Cale is so lovable is because he's already so loving 😊