Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 22. It’s Real

Raon?
Confusion flickered across the Dark Elves’ faces. Kale had spoken an unfamiliar word—one he’d uttered with considerable gravity before instructing Choi Han to close the door.

“Is it okay if I show myself?”

Sheon, the Dark Elf, flinched. A young voice had emerged from empty air near Kale.

“Ha, haha.”

Sheon turned toward the Market Master’s laughter. He could see the elderly man releasing nervous chuckles in succession, dabbing the perspiration from his palms with a handkerchief. Was this real? Was it truly a Dragon?

Then the voice sounded once more.

“I’m showing myself now.”

Behind Kale’s back.

“Oh, my goodness!”

Tasha covered her mouth with both hands.

“Why aren’t you coming out?”

Kale’s voice was inaudible. The Dark Elves’ gazes were fixed on the small face peeking out from behind his back.
Raon had revealed only his face from behind Kale’s back. I exhaled a sigh and stepped aside. Gradually, the form of the Black Dragon Raon became fully visible to all.

“No, this is—”

Tasha was so astonished that words barely came. She turned her head to look at Sheon, wanting to ask her friend if she was truly seeing this correctly.
But Sheon had already gone rigid, eyes wide open. Realizing conversation would be futile, Tasha shifted her gaze toward her grandfather.

The Dark Elf Market Master remained composed. Though he was the one who seemed most likely to be shocked, he maintained his calm despite the continuous beads of sweat rolling down his face.

“Grandfather—”

Tasha opened her mouth to speak, then stopped.
The Dark Elf Market Master addressed Raon with a reverent expression.

“I cannot stand before the Dragon Lord on these two legs.”

The Elderly Man calmly began to kneel. Kale sighed at the spectacle.
I knew elves were obsessed with dragons, but I hadn’t expected Dark Elves to be the same.

‘But the spirit saw it, so I can’t exactly deny it either.’

Nature-attuned spirits were sensitive and accurate in their perception.
If the Dark Elf Market Master’s spirit had seen the dragon and confirmed the dragon’s aura near me, the Market Master would never believe me even if I insisted I had no dragon.

Spirits remembered an aura they’d once sensed with perfect clarity, as if copying it. And since this was a dragon’s aura, there was nothing more to say.

I glanced toward the doorway. Choi Han stood before it like a guard, wearing an awkward smile. And someone in a black robe stood motionless like a scarecrow, their expression and appearance completely obscured.

That’s when Raon stepped forward in front of the three Dark Elves.
What is he doing? I looked at Raon with a puzzled expression.

“I am the great Raon Mir!”

Oh dear. I could see Raon straighten his shoulders. He’d introduced himself quite well on his own.

“And I am a great four years old this year!”

Was there really a need to mention his age?

“Oh my, is that so!”

The Dark Elf Market Master was already on his knees. He responded to each word Raon spoke with expressions of awe.
How was I supposed to handle this?
My head was beginning to ache. But Raon’s introduction was far from over.

“And I’m taking care of Kale Heniatus because he’s weak!”

…That doesn’t seem right. I let out a deep sigh.
I approached Raon, who seemed ready to continue his lengthy introduction, and gently tapped his head. Only then did Raon close his mouth.
I spoke to Tasha.

“We should probably help the Market Master to his feet.”
“Ah.”

Tasha seemed to come to her senses, letting out a small exclamation. Then the Market Master spoke.

“No, that’s not it. A Dragon I met before told me that standing on two legs in front of him is a declaration of war. I have no desire to fight.”

What kind of dragon had he encountered?
I found myself wondering if this Market Master felt fear rather than respect.

“You can stand up. I don’t like that sort of thing!”

But at Raon’s words, the Market Master sprang to his feet in less than two seconds. I raised both hands.

Clap!
The sound of applause echoed through the room. I felt all eyes turn toward me and opened my mouth.

“Let’s all calm down for a moment.”

I gestured toward the sofa as though this were my own office.

“Everyone, please sit.”

Leaving the seat of honor for the Market Master, I walked toward the sofa area and settled into a three-person couch. The Market Master followed with a composed expression. He was no longer sweating. He spoke to Raon.

“Dragon, please sit here.”

It was the seat of honor I had reserved for the Market Master. I looked at him with exasperation. But Raon said to the Market Master,

“No. You sit down!”

Raon flew over and settled beside me, placing his face squarely on my lap. The Market Master quickly took the seat of honor to comply with the Dragon’s wishes. The tension finally seemed to ease, and I asked Sheon,
Kale Heniatus finally seemed to sense the atmosphere calming down and asked Sheon.

“I’ll bring it at once.”
I will bring it out.

Sheon’s throat was parched too. His face was the calmest, but also the palest. Kale spoke to Sheon’s back as he was leaving.

“Seeing a dragon is a secret.”
“A secret.”

Raon Mir echoed the words in a low murmur. Sheon nodded and responded.

“I swear by my bond with the spirits to keep this secret.”

When a Dark Elf swore by their bond with the spirits, it was akin to a death oath. An elf severed from the spirits would spend their entire life tormented by profound despair.

Raon Mir’s gaze swept toward the Market Master and Tasha. Under that look, both of them too swore by their spirits.

“I swear by my bond with the spirits to keep this secret, Dragon.”
“…I too shall swear by my bond with my spirits to keep this confidential.”

Only then did Kale Heniatus feel his mind settle at ease, and he sank leisurely into the sofa. Soon, Sheon swiftly prepared not merely a glass of water, but an extravagant spread of refreshments.
After taking a sip of tea, the Market Master spoke.

“My name is Obante.”
“I am Kale Heniatus.”

The Market Master could not speak to Kale without formality. It was unavoidable. After all, he was someone who walked alongside a dragon. Moreover, their relationship appeared quite intimate.

The dragon that Market Master Obante knew was, aside from being a wondrous being, possessed a capriciousness that swung between extremes in an instant. There could be no greater egotist in all the world. Obante alone knew such a dragon.

“Young Master Kale, do you know Alberu?”

Alberu. At the sight of the Market Master calling the Crown Prince’s name so casually, Kale leaned further toward the theory of kinship.

“His Highness does not know me.”
“Hah—so Alberu came to know such a distinguished person without my knowing. I suppose I mustn’t mention this to Alberu either?”
“I shall handle it myself.”

It was a way of saying to keep the oath sworn by the spirits. Market Master Obante nodded with a solemn expression, though visibly disappointed, and continued.

“Yes. I shall absolutely honor my oath. Young Master, I heard you came without learning the details of what the item is.”
“Yes.”
“For reference, its form is a bracelet.”

Indeed, the Market Master’s 521 years of experience showed—unlike Tasha and Sheon, who still watched Raon’s expression carefully, he cut straight to business.
Unfortunately, Kale had no intention of learning the details.

“Market Master, I don’t need to know.”

His face showed no curiosity whatsoever, no desire to understand. For a moment, Obante found himself at a loss for words. Kale turned to him with a question.

“Then, may multiple humans handle it?”
“…Why do you ask that?”

Wariness bloomed across Obante’s face.

“Among my companions, there is one who knows how to bestow the Death God’s blessing.”

Market Master Obante’s expression brightened immediately. Noticing this, Kale smiled faintly and continued.

“Until it reaches Crown Prince Alberu, I wish for the Death God’s blessing to be layered upon that bracelet daily. For this reason, I wish only myself and that priest to handle it.”
“If that’s the reason, then I’m grateful. It will reduce the chances of Alberu being discovered. And should a dangerous situation arise, it will create an opportunity to escape.”

Though excommunicated, the Mad Priestess Kaige’s blessings were far from weak. In the Death God Sect without saints, by Kale’s estimation, she could bestow blessings comparable to the Sun God’s twins.

“Since we’re doing this, we should prepare it properly, shouldn’t we?”
“Indeed. Young Master Kale, I’m counting on you.”

Market Master Obante told Kale about the schedule.

“The item will be finished processing by tomorrow.”
“Then we can depart anytime after tomorrow.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Obante’s expression grew troubled.

“Hmm? Grandfather, what’s the matter?”

Tasha, who wanted to leave as quickly as possible, finally voiced her question.

“I’m not sure if Young Master Kale was told, but in this desert, dead mana rises irregularly one or two times a year in small amounts between the grains of sand. And we only know when that time approaches once it draws near.”

Through the aura of the earth supporting the desert—the ceiling of the Underground Cavern—the Dark Elves had only discovered this timing a few days ago.

“Is that the time period?”

The Market Master nodded at Kale’s question.

“It is expected to occur in 2 days, lasting for 3 days.”

Humans were in danger during that period. Tasha could cross the Desert, but it would be healthier for Kale’s group to depart about a week later.

“Is it in liquid form?”
“It is smoke.”

That made matters worse. It wasn’t the scent of dead mana emanating from liquid—dead mana itself drifted like smoke.
It wasn’t merely unhealthy; dead mana could flow directly into the bloodstream, creating a serious situation.

“Hmm.”

Kale swallowed and appeared lost in thought. Obante’s expression revealed both apology and helplessness. Then Kale’s mouth opened.

“Then I suppose we’ll have to enjoy ourselves for a week.”
“Yes, your disappointment must be gre— Yes?”
“Do you have a tourist guide for the Underground City?”

Watching Kale’s composed demeanor, Obante nodded after a long pause.

“…Yes, we do. I shall have Sheon serve as your guide.”

The Dark Elves who had built the Inn had also prepared tourist guides. Kale nodded at this and gazed toward the corner of the sofas surrounding the table, asking a question.

“But who is that person?”
“Ah, that child is—”

A human in a black robe, sitting calmly.

“That child is currently working on the bracelet crafting we are sending out.”

A human who creates items related to darkness attribute. Kale suppressed the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.
Found.
The human most knowledgeable about the body and death.

“I called you here to explain about the item.”

Obante trailed off, unable to continue. Hesitation was written across his face. He glanced sideways at Tasha, and from that gesture, Kale understood that the Market Master had something to discuss with her.
That was when it happened.

“What is the problem?”

For a moment, Kale thought a god—an emperor—was speaking. The tone was unmistakable. I lowered my head to look down. There stood a dragon with its neck held rigidly straight, its brow furrowed in an expression of utmost dignity.
Yet despite all that, it looked utterly unimpressive.

“W-well, Dragon. You see…”

Still, Obante could not bring himself to speak freely.
In that moment, another voice broke the silence.

“I am curious about the world.”

The tone was flat and emotionless—like a navigation system devoid of all feeling.
It came from the figure in the black robe. Kale’s gaze shifted toward them.

“I wish to leave this place and see the world beyond.”
“…What?”

But those words made Sheon and Tasha’s eyes widen in shock.

“Sigh.”

Obante exhaled heavily, dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. His 521 years suddenly seemed to stretch into 600, aging him visibly in an instant.
Tasha opened her mouth. She appeared to know the figure in the black robe.

“Merry, what are you saying?”

Merry. That seemed to be the name of the woman in the black robe. Tasha’s expression hardened as she turned to glare at Obante.

“Grandfather.”

Her voice was a mixture of reproach and anger. Yet as she spoke, Tasha hesitated, glancing at Kale and Raon. She bit her lip. If others were watching, it would seem as though she were angry at someone who wished to leave this place, as though she were forbidding it.
And that was, in fact, the truth.

Sheon’s mouth opened.

“Merry, it’s dangerous. You know that, right?”

The figure in the black robe answered.

“That’s why I’ll go alone.”
“Absolutely not alone!”

Tasha shot to her feet, her voice rising. Even if she went with Merry, it could become dangerous—but alone? That was even worse.
Silence fell in the wake of her outcry. No one dared to speak carelessly. Yet in that moment, a voice filled with curiosity broke through.

“Why not? That human is incredibly strong. Stronger than any mage I know.”

I suppressed an admiring exhale, keeping my expression neutral.
Stronger than Rosalind, then?

The figure in the black robe lifted her head. Of course, even with her head raised, the black hood obscured her face completely. Merry’s gaze stopped as it turned toward me and Raon.

The black robe moved.

“Merry!”

Sheon reached out in alarm. But the figure in the black robe was faster.
Merry rolled up one of her sleeves.

Her arm was revealed beneath the light.

“Mm.”

Choi Han, standing by the door, let out a low hum.

“Ha.”

Sheon pressed his outstretched hand to his own head instead. Tasha’s expression grew bewildered as her eyes darted between me and Choi Han. And I found my pupils widening as I gazed upon the revealed arm and hand.
And Kale Heniatus gazed at his exposed arms and hands, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

Arms and hands exposed beyond the black robe.

Burns, or perhaps spider-web-like black lines, covered the skin in grotesque patterns that seemed endless.

The wound was so ugly that anyone who saw it for the first time would frown involuntarily.

Kale stared intently at the scar.

Really, he’s a necromancer.

I could now create an arm for Ron.
A true Necromancer.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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