Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 104

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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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“A martial competition?”
“Yes.”

An ominous feeling washed over me.
Choi Han kept his gaze fixed on the Lord’s Castle gates beyond the carriage window, unable to see Kale’s hardened expression, and continued speaking.

“I’m not sure which tournament they’re entering, but those two are quite skilled. It seems they’ll make it to the finals.”

Choi Han’s eyes were remarkably sharp.

“Hmm, I’m not sure what their primary weapons are, but they don’t seem to fight exclusively with swords. One of them—judging by the shoulder—appears to specialize in the bow.”

Kale glanced at Ron. Ron flashed a grin.

“There are assassins who work as servants, so why not chefs and artists?”

Kale momentarily forgot this was a fantasy world.
In this world, an ordinary-looking chef was an expert in deadly poisons, and an unremarkable person working in a tailor shop could kill with brutal efficiency using wire.
That was the kind of world this was.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”
“The Heniatus Territory’s harvest festival only has cooking, painting, and sculpture competitions.”

Kale was curious how Choi Han would react.

“Ah, I see! They must practice martial arts as a hobby.”

Watching Choi Han brush past the matter so casually, Kale thought his response was truly befitting a protagonist. And he couldn’t help but acknowledge it.

“Still, they’re not as strong as my front paw!”
“Noona, do you think we can win? I want to enter the competition.”
“You can’t cook, paint, or sculpt.”

Looking at the beings beside me, I acknowledged that this world was simply the way it was. The carriage passed the Lord’s Castle, and soon the Count’s Mansion gates came into view. I asked Ron.

“When is the competition scheduled?”

In any case, having many strong individuals in the territory was always beneficial. Ron handed over the schedule. Kale examined it and asked Choi Han a question.

“You remember their faces?”
“Yes.”

Truly, this world of overpowered beings was extraordinary. Why were there so many powerful individuals? It was an incredibly difficult world for someone weak like myself to survive in.
Kale’s gaze shifted toward Rosalind, who sat in the corner of the carriage. Since hearing about the Northern Alliance, she had remained silent, lost in thought.

‘Young master, would it be alright if I speak with the youngest—the Fourth Prince—first, and then discuss matters with you? Of course, I don’t intend to tell my brother anything related to the alliance immediately.’

Those were the words Rosalind had come to me with yesterday. I had told her to do as she pleased.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa—”

Vice-Captain Hilsman’s voice came from the driver’s seat. The carriage came to a halt. It stopped in front of the main gate without entering the Count’s Mansion. Kale let out a deflating laugh and opened the carriage door.
And Raon turned invisible.

“Where are you going?”
“Big brother!”

My youngest sister, Lily, stood at the front gate. The seven-year-old had been exposed to the summer sun extensively and was quite tanned.

“It looks like you’ve been training hard.”
“Yes! I’ve been working very hard!”

Lily, speaking with such confidence about her diligent efforts, appeared to have grown considerably. With training intense enough to tan her like this, her skills must have improved significantly. I noticed a wooden sword at Lily’s waist and a slightly longer wooden sword slung diagonally across her back.
At my gaze, Lily hesitated for a moment before quickly opening her mouth.

“The one on my back is just a longer wooden sword I made because I was curious!”
“Is that so?”

The wooden sword had scratches all over it—marks that looked exactly like those from striking wooden logs with a sword.

“Yes! That’s right!”

Lily spoke with exaggerated formality, avoiding my eyes. Then she quickly continued.

“And the Knights Order training is all finished now! I’m heading out to play! I got permission from Mother to be gone for just one hour! I’m going to the restaurant alley near the Lord’s Castle, so it’s safe!”

The seven-year-old explained everything to Kale in meticulous detail. Kale hadn’t even asked for an explanation—he’d merely been watching—yet she spoke with such earnestness, as if pricked by guilt.

“All right. Have a good time. I’ll see you this evening.”
“Yes, yes!”

Kale gestured for her to go, and Lily darted away toward the restaurant alley in front of the Lord’s Castle, glancing back several times despite her hurried pace. It was a place where the castle’s employees and administrators typically dined—affordable and clean.

As Kale climbed into the carriage, a thought crossed his mind.

‘Something’s off.’

She resembled nothing so much as the youngest member of a literary family from some martial arts tale—one who’d encountered a reclusive master and taken him as her teacher. Kale’s eyes met Ron’s. Ron’s left arm still needed another two weeks or so to fully heal.

“Look into it.”
“Yes, young master.”

Ron didn’t need to be told twice. The cunning old man who’d lived longer in this world seemed to share Kale’s suspicions.
The Countess likely had already investigated Lily, but it wouldn’t hurt for him to do the same. Kale checked the schedule for the cooking competition.

He returned to the Count’s Mansion with the schedule in hand. The person who greeted him at the entrance was unexpected.

“Basen.”
“Brother.”
“Ah, were you waiting for me?”

Basen didn’t answer Kale’s question and instead unfolded the documents in his hand. Kale remained awkwardly in the doorway, watching his brother.

“I heard you’ll be staying through the festival.”
“That’s right.”
“I was hoping you might present the awards for the territory competitions during the festival. Would that be possible?”

Kale’s lips curved upward. The documents in Basen’s hands were territorial affairs. So Basen had reached the point where he could handle territory business. Kale had never properly touched a single territorial document himself.
It was a good sign. But a question arose.

“What about Father?”
“Father will give the opening remarks for the festival, but he says he’s too busy to oversee all the smaller competitions. He’d like one of us—you, me, or Lily—to handle them.”
“And Mother?”
“Mother is the head judge, so she’ll present the judges’ awards. You’d present the grand prize.”
“Why don’t you do it?”

Kale had no desire to do it. And wouldn’t people remember Basen more if Basen were the one handling it?

“I’m occupied with territorial matters. I’m currently learning about territorial administration, and if I were to present awards at the competition, I’d need to observe it as well. I simply don’t have the time for that.”

Kale smiled. Right, Basen was busy learning territorial administration. He needed to study these things diligently to become a lord. Would people remember deeply just because I presented awards for one year? After that, once Basen had learned all the territorial administration, he could take over.

“Fine then. Since you’re busy, I’ll do it. After all, you’re the one who will lead the overall administration of this territory going forward, aren’t you?”

Lily was handling military affairs with great dedication.

“How reassuring.”

Kale patted Basen’s shoulder in encouragement. Basen spoke carefully, his expression filled with firm resolve.

“Yes, brother. Please trust me with this responsibility.”

Then, gladly. This territory is yours and Lily’s.
Kale nodded with a genuinely pleased and unburdened smile for the first time in a while.

“Don’t overexert yourself. I’m going to retire now.”

He passed Basen and headed toward his bedroom. His steps were leisurely yet light and graceful. Basen watched his brother’s retreating figure, received the greetings of Kale’s companions, and then made his way toward the Lord’s Castle. He resolved to become an administration expert by studying as diligently as possible, since he didn’t possess exceptional talent in martial arts like Lily did. Fifteen years old. Basen Heniatus had found his dream.
His entire family supported that dream. Recalling that fact, a smile bloomed across Basen’s usually stern face.
Recalling that fact, a smile formed on Basen’s usually expressionless face as his entire family had supported that dream.

It was a dream that Kale Heniatus couldn’t bring himself to support—one that would make him faint if he ever found out.

* * *

Boredom crossed Kale Heniatus’s face. It was closer to exasperation.

“I feel the same way, Your Highness.”
“I’m in the same situation.”

Crown Prince Alberto looked at Kale Heniatus with a weary expression. The two people who now faced each other every day through video communication were sick of each other. Nevertheless, they continued to contact each other because they had work to do.

“Yes, I’ll inform Rosalind of it.”
“Yes, I’ll pass the message along to Rosalind.”

The Fourth Prince will arrive within a month at the latest.

-Inform Count Derth as well.
“Understood.”

Did Father know that Rosalind was a princess? He’d never mentioned it, but since Vice-Captain Hans knew, I wondered if Father—Count Derth—might know as well. Still, he was the head of a noble house of considerable standing.
As I pondered these various concerns, the Crown Prince’s voice reached my ears.

-Don’t you want to hear something amusing?
“Not particularly.”

My true feelings escaped my lips before I could stop them.

-I’ll tell you anyway.

And there was Crown Prince Alberu, casually ignoring my refusal.

-Do you know how the Sun God Sect Pope died?
“Your Highness, is it really appropriate to discuss such matters with me here in the Empire?”
-I’ve cast a sound-blocking spell. Who do you think I am?

Who indeed. The Crown Prince who had gathered countless mages under his command. He would certainly have access to magical devices. I nodded in understanding, and Alberu continued.

-After the Emperor’s opening remarks for the festival, there was a ceremony related to the Sun God, and the Pope offered his blessings as well. The location was on a platform in front of the Sun God Temple in the Imperial Capital.

Alberu recalled that moment with a bitter smile. The Church ranked lower than the Emperor but higher than the Crown Prince standing beside him. It was a reflection of the Pope’s status. Yet that wasn’t something to smile bitterly about.
The real problem lay elsewhere.

-That platform was blown away.
“Pardon?”
-Both the temple and the platform were destroyed.

I immediately thought of Hice Island 5.

“An explosion?”
-You catch on quickly. Yes, an explosion.

Insane. That was the only word that nearly escaped me. At the same time, doubt crept in. I had assumed it was the Crown Prince’s doing, but he wasn’t the type to commit such an obvious act.
And hadn’t the Sun God Sect twins been identified as the culprits?

-It was a similar form to ours.

Ours. At that word, Kale’s expression shifted. The only explosion Alberu could refer to as “ours” was the magical bomb terrorist attack in the Capital.

-Twins in black clothing. Magical bombs. The destructive power was comparable to what we witnessed in the Capital. Does it ring a bell?

Kale sat in silence, his expression hardened. Understanding his reaction, Alberu continued.

-Fortunately, I survived thanks to the mage’s shield, but the believers in front of the temple were devastated. It wasn’t just the Pope who died.
-I intend to find that organization responsible and make them pay. It means they had plans to do the same to our kingdom.

Alberu still hadn’t forgotten that mage.

-This time it was a different mage, not that one. But regardless, I plan to capture that mage and make sure he faces punishment.
“Your Highness.”
-What is it?
“That mage no longer exists in this world.”
-What?
“He is dead.”

Kale avoided the Crown Prince’s gaze.

-…You killed him?
“I did not.”

That was the truth. Though Choi Han had severed both his arms and taken his eyes, he hadn’t been the one to kill him. That mad swordmaster had.

-Ha.

A deep sigh echoed. Kale paid it no mind. His thoughts were already complicated enough.

‘The Sun God twins and magical bombs. Something about this doesn’t sit right with me.’

But there was no way to find out. As a new incident, it was difficult to grasp the causal connections. And he couldn’t very well ask Ron and the others to investigate.
Above all, what Kale truly wanted was to avoid any trouble coming his way.

-…In the future, please inform me of such matters.
“Understood.”

I answered quite leisurely and unhurriedly. Alberu felt a headache coming on. He continued with a sigh.

-Contact me when the Fourth Prince arrives. The Fourth Prince is quite polite and dignified, I hear. It would be good to have a conversation with him.

Rude, you say? Whiny, you say?
Kale Heniatus recalled Rosalind’s words and nodded. Soon the video communication between the two ended. Kale Heniatus placed the video communication device, which had no further use for now, into his magic pouch.

And the next day, Kale Heniatus leisurely gazed downward from beneath the extended awning. A spacious area occupied the center, with circular bleachers erected around it.
Seated at the highest point there, Kale Heniatus unfolded a piece of paper.

-Is it a tournament now?

At Raon’s question, Kale Heniatus nodded. Starting today, a tournament would be held each day.

-But human, will we go see the night market later this evening?

I had taught Raon about currency this morning.

-Will you buy everything I ask for?

I nodded. Well, the things sold at the night market were nothing—I could buy them all and still have plenty left. Raon’s gleeful chuckling echoed in my mind. I kept my gaze downward.
The cat On and Hong each wore a necklace with a pouch hanging from it—pocket money. Merry, also dressed in a black robe, sat quietly holding a black pouch. It too was pocket money.

“I really am quite generous at times, aren’t I?”
-That’s right! You’re kind, human!

I made a remark that would have left Rosalind bewildered had she heard it, then extended my hand toward Choi Han and Ron standing beside me. A single piece of paper was placed in my palm.

“These three, I mean?”

Chef. Painter. Sculptor.
Choi Han explained, following the personal information listed in order.

“Former Knights Order Captain, Archer, Assassin.”

Good grief. I was at a loss for words.

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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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