Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 102

—————

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

—————

“What do you mean by that?”

Merry’s mechanical voice, muffled beneath the black robe, trembled slightly.

“I mean I’ll provide you a place where you can survive until winter. However, that place won’t be the human world you speak of—not villages or cities where people dwell.”

The Innkeeper quietly approached the inn’s door and locked it completely. His worried eyes remained fixed on Merry in the black robe.
Kale Heniatus continued speaking as he observed the Innkeeper.

“But you’ll be able to live while witnessing the true beauty of the heavens and the earth.”

The Dark Forest earned its name for a reason, and monsters were plentiful there, yet the natural beauty and pristine sky possessed a magnificence and grandeur that could never be found in the Underground City.

“…I cannot cause harm.”

After a long pause, Merry’s answer finally emerged from beneath the black robe.
Harm. I smiled at the word.

“It seems you still don’t know me.”

From my seated position looking up, I could see that Merry wore a black hood with another black mask beneath it.
I spoke to her, whose eyes I had never once glimpsed.

“I never do anything that would burden me.”

Would I be mad enough to make enemies of the Church? I only step forward when the situation allows me to succeed without being discovered.

“And then the next six months.”

Merry had said she would wander for a year.
I naturally remembered those words.

“During those six months, I’ll help you escape alive at least once, even if you encounter the Sun God Church.”

The black hood trembled. It seemed Merry beneath the black robe had lifted her head in surprise.

“Is that possible?”

The Innkeeper interjected into the conversation. A man in his seventies. Kale had heard from Sheon that this Innkeeper was the one who had taken it upon himself to become Merry’s family after Tasha departed.

“Is it truly possible?”

Kale answered as he observed the elderly man asking in a trembling voice.

“Dead mana from a Dragon. I’ll give you that.”

But the words were directed at Merry, concealed within the black robe.
If her power matched that of the Mage Rosalind.
If she had to evade the priests of the Sun God Church.

Then making her stronger was the solution.
To the one who had crafted Ron’s arm, I owed at least that much by my own standards.

“Young Master.”

Ron, who had been silent, interjected. Kale raised his hand.

“Stay quiet.”
“But Young Master, dead mana from a Dragon—I cannot accept this as—”
“Vicross.”

Kale dismissed Ron and called out to the man who still stood dazed. To Vicross, who stared blankly, Kale spoke.

“Go bring lemonade, will you?”
“Ah—”
“Quickly.”
“Yes.”

Vicross averted his gaze from his father and hurried toward the Kitchen. Kale offered Merry a seat.

“Sit anywhere.”

One might mistake him for the Innkeeper himself, such was the ease with which he commanded the space.

“For now.”

A voice emerged from within the black robe.

“I will create an arm for you and then consider the matter.”

The hooded figure’s head turned in a different direction—toward where Ron stood. Ron received the black hood’s gaze with an expression he couldn’t quite explain.

A voice as clear as a navigation system yet utterly devoid of emotion rang out.

“Your muscular development is remarkably peculiar. Judging by your right arm and overall body balance, it appears you used your left arm similarly. I will need to craft the arm with considerable care. It seems you’ll need to undergo a correction process through multiple fittings.”
“How long will it take?”
“…One or two months.”

Kale leisurely took a sip of lemonade. He looked like someone lying on a beach lounger without a care in the world. He delivered his conclusion casually.

“Then you can do it at your lodging on the surface. Ron will be working there anyway.”
“This is confusing and difficult.”

Her rigid voice flowed out in a staccato rhythm.

“It seems like a very difficult problem. I cannot cause harm, yet they are so strong that harm may not occur regardless.”

She was likely referring to Choi Han and the Black Dragon Raon.

-That’s right! As expected, good children are smart! With me around, nothing gets damaged! We can just destroy everything!

Kale let Raon’s words pass lightly. Dragons were naturally violent creatures.

“…I will return later.”
“Suit yourself. But I’m leaving in a few days. Pack your things and come before then.”

Kale rose from his seat. With nothing more to say, he walked toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

“Oh, and drink the lemonade before you go. You should appreciate our chef’s skill. You’ll be seeing it often from now on.”

Merry showed no reaction to his words, simply watching Kale depart. Kale paid her no mind and headed toward his bedroom. Ron followed in his wake.

“Young master.”

Ron was not wearing one of his rare gentle smiles.

“Who is the author, and what is this right now—”
“Ron.”

Kale arrived at his chamber door and turned the handle. With a soft click, the door swung open, and he stepped inside.

“I’ve earned at least this much.”

Kale closed the door without looking back at Ron one final time. Then, after a considerable pause, Kale let out a quiet chuckle at the voice drifting through from beyond the threshold.

“Young master, shall I bring refreshments?”
“Yes, bring them. And something to drink.”

Kale added,

“Not lemonade.”

I was thoroughly sick of lemonade.

* * *

Caro Kingdom Dubori Territory. A village bordering the Land of Death. The knight guarding the City Gate leading toward the desert had been in a foul mood since morning.

“Damn bastard, acting all high and mighty just because he earned his knight’s rank three years before me.”

A senior knight who had obtained his knighthood three years earlier. Because of that senior’s authority—one of only two knights in this small village—I had been stuck on guard duty from dawn until late morning for days now.

The soldiers kept their mouths shut and pretended not to notice the irritable knight. Speaking up could have gotten them killed.

‘And he’s stolen all my money too.’

Every coin I could have earned guarding the City Gate, the senior knight had monopolized completely. The occasional drink he bought me—what good was cheap tavern ale in a backwater village like this?

“A few days ago he pocketed two gold coins. The bastard. If he keeps taking bribes like that, he’s going to get himself into real trouble one of these days—”

Thwack!

“Ow!”

The knight rubbed the back of his head where something had struck him from above.

“Damn it, what the—! What did you throw—?”

Something struck the back of the Knight’s head and clattered to the ground. Something small and round.
A gold coin.

Money had fallen from the sky. The Knight quickly snatched up the gold coin and glanced around. Looking up at the sky revealed nothing.

‘What is this?’

The Knight pocketed the coin and gave the soldiers a meaningful look—one that said to keep their mouths shut.

“You kept your promise after all.”

Kale climbed into the carriage that had been left at the village inn, responding to Tasha’s observation.

“It’s a shame it wasn’t that Knight from before.”

‘If I return alive, I’ll give you another gold coin.’

That Knight, to whom Kale had made such a promise, unfortunately hadn’t appeared at the City Gate this morning.

“I should have just vaulted over the City Wall from the start.”
“If you had, you wouldn’t have been able to save those two villagers, would you?”

Kale pretended not to hear Tasha’s words. Her constant chatter was becoming tiresome. Yet she gazed at him with warm eyes despite his dismissiveness.

“This is refreshing.”

The interior of the magic-laden carriage was indeed the most comfortable. Kale leaned back against the seat and turned his head. A black object pressed itself against the window, peering intently outside.

And beside it fluttered the Black Dragon.

“Is it fascinating?”
“Yes, Raon. It is fascinating. Is this the village where I lived?”
“How should I know!”
“I see. But I have never seen a village like this before. It is fascinating.”

At the stiff tone, Raon puffed out his chest proudly.

“The real sky seems endless. I cannot fathom it. It is magnificent.”
“Wait until you see the night sky. It is even more magnificent. And when we go to my home, it will be even more so. I will show you the Dark Forest as well.”
“Thank you, Raon.”

Kale turned his head away as he watched Merry in her black robes and the Black Dragon Raon converse.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Tasha was gazing at Kale with eyes full of admiration. Uncomfortable under such an intense stare, Kale turned away and shouted toward the carriage door.

“Let’s depart!”

The carriage began to move. Kale rolled up his sleeve and extended his wrist toward the Mad Priestess Kaige.

“Kaige.”

At his call, Kaige, who had been sitting beside him, carefully reached out both hands and gently wrapped them around Kale’s wrist. Then, in a tender voice, she intoned:

“Let death’s aura descend, and cast death’s veil upon those enemies who seek to slay you. Those who wander in eternal darkness shall not block your path. Your enemies shall lose both eyes and both legs, lose sound and light, and wander forever in confusion.”

At the ominous combination of words, Kale quietly took in the scenery beyond the carriage window. A chilling energy enveloped his wrist. More precisely, that energy was directed toward the bracelet.

“It is done.”
“Kaige, is the blessing of death originally like this?”

Kaige answered in a cheerful voice.

“Of course! Since the blessing of the death god is death itself, how could death be tender?”

A fair point.
For some reason, Kale worried that the bracelet, having received such blessings over several days, might become a cursed object. But since it would become a treasure to the Crown Prince, he set aside his concerns and made a request of Kaige.

“Are there no more violent blessings you could bestow?”
“I am increasing the intensity every day.”
“As expected.”

Truly, a mad priestess.
Kale felt reassured, and the carriage once again headed toward the Capital.

* * *

“Is this my room?”
“Yes, Young Master. You’ll be staying here tonight.”

Kale Heniatus averted his gaze from Tasha’s eyes, which overflowed with excessive gratitude.
Upon arriving at the Capital, Kale’s group had returned to the same inn in the village near the Capital where they had stayed before.
Kale opened the door to his room.

Click.
And then.
Slam!

The door shut again with a loud noise. Kale looked at Tasha. She grinned mischievously. Kale let out a deep sigh and opened the door once more.

He shuffled into the room with dragging, reluctant steps. Tasha closed the door behind him. At that same moment, a familiar voice reached his ears.

“This isn’t your room.”
“Of course it shouldn’t be, Your Highness.”

Crown Prince Albert Crossman smiled.
He had even prepared an elaborate banquet to welcome Kale.

“I didn’t expect you to come greet me personally.”
“I was in a bit of a hurry, you see.”

In a hurry?
Kale looked at the Crown Prince, and Alberu spoke as if tossing the words aside.

“Tunka has become the Supreme Commander and Grand General of the Wipper Kingdom.”

Tunka’s group, who had been quiet for the past few months, had begun to move in earnest. Tunka’s ascension to that position meant the Wiffer Royal Family had fallen into his grasp.
The Crown Prince could hear the indifference in Kale’s voice.

“They’ve taken the shortest path to ruin.”

A sneer played at the corners of Alberu’s lips.

“That’s right. It’s not our concern for now, though.”
“Your Highness, I didn’t realize you had smuggled out a Mage.”
“Of course. Even our own kingdom’s people don’t know about it properly. How would Wipper Kingdom find out?”

Kale and Alberu’s gazes collided.
Whoosh. Thud. The bracelet slipped from Kale’s grasp onto Alberu’s hand.

Sssssss. Black smoke rose from Alberu’s body, accompanied by a sound that tickled the ears like water meeting flame.
Click. Alberu fastened the bracelet around his wrist.

“Your Highness, this form suits you quite well, doesn’t it?”

Alberu as a Dark Elf quarter-blood appeared before my eyes.

The golden hair and blue eyes had vanished, replaced by brown hair and brown eyes. Combined with skin noticeably darker than the others. Despite being only a quarter-blood, the Dark Elf traits manifested remarkably.

‘It must be from consuming dead mana.’

The Dark Elf characteristics had developed more prominently than his human side.

“Why ask the obvious? Everything looks fine when you’re handsome.”

That was certainly true.

“The blessing of the God of Death. That’s fortunate.”

The Crown Prince felt the bracelet’s power clearly. He could distinctly sense the gift Kale had given him. Feeling that power, he shared a piece of information.

“I heard that General Tunka is going to the Empire in place of the Wipper Royal Family’s successor.”

Kale’s brow furrowed.

“…That will be quite a mess.”
“I agree.”

The Crown Prince asked Kale a question.

“Are you planning to stay in your territory?”
“Yes, that is my plan.”

It was at that moment. Raon’s voice reached Kale’s ears.

-Ah! That ignorant fool Tunka reminded me! The seeds have sprouted!

The seeds brought from the Magic Tower had apparently sprouted.

“What are you planning to do?”
“I thought I’d do some farming and take it easy.”

Talent, seeds, money.
I plan to cultivate them all. Of course, I’ll only be giving the orders.

“If you talk about farming with that expression, nobody will believe you.”

Crown Prince Albert felt a wave of unease wash over him at Kale’s scheming expression. But he returned to his golden hair and blue eyes, bidding Kale farewell. He had to hurry to the Empire.

Kale also left the Capital and returned once more to Harris Village in the Dark Forest.
After spending more than a month enjoying rural life, he received a message at dawn and was finally able to listen to the voice message the Crown Prince had left that he hadn’t been able to receive earlier.

-What exactly have you been doing all this time?

The Crown Prince sounded quite confused.

-Why does General Tunka call you a friend? Why are you the hero of the Jungle? Even a prince of the Breck Kingdom came asking about you while searching for his sister, Rosalind. They all came secretly and asked about you before leaving.
-Ugh, this is driving me insane.

Kale’s head had been spinning since morning, and he let the Crown Prince’s endless laments go in one ear and out the other. Just then, Ron approached and handed him a glass of water along with several letters.

“A message has arrived from the Whale Tribe.”

A letter had come from Witira, the Whale King’s successor.

【The sea has finally found peace. The Whale King wishes to show you, Young Master Kale, the maritime routes.】

Just as things were beginning to settle down, a message arrived from the North.

“How bothersome.”

Ron continued speaking gently, pretending not to hear Kale’s murmur.

“And the Count’s Household has sent word. The festival season is approaching soon, and they’re asking if you’d like to visit to see everyone after so long.”

Several voices suddenly erupted from the previously quiet bedroom.

“A festival?”
“Did you say festival?”
“A festival!”

Raon, On, and Hong, who had been sleeping in the corner of Kale’s bedroom, immediately sprang up and rushed over. Kale ignored their eager gazes and lay back down on the bed.

“How bothersome.”

At that moment, a sigh from the Crown Prince accompanied the final words left on the recording in the communication orb.

-Well, in any case, I’m returning with the Breck Kingdom Prince. And the Pope of the Sun God Church is dead.

“Hm?”

The Breck Kingdom Prince—I could just tell Rosalind about that. But there was something strange in what came after?

-Apparently, the culprits are twins who played the roles of the Saint and Saint Maiden of the Sun God Church. They’re on the run, but no one can find where they’ve disappeared to.

What?

-Sigh, it’s a complete mess. Really.

Click. With those words, the voice message left in the communication orb ended.
Kale and Ron’s gazes met.

“Contact Rosalind.”

Kale spoke seriously.

“Let’s ignore the rest.”
“Young master, you grow wiser by the day.”

—————

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

—————