Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 113

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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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Kale felt as though he were emerging from a swamp, consciousness returning to him gradually. The moment awareness flickered back, he understood.

‘I lost consciousness.’

He had collapsed from exhaustion. Kale realized the moment had come to open his eyes. Yet it was within his mind that he first sensed another presence.

-Three, two, one. Half of one, half of half of one… Human, I’m counting from one hundred again. Wake up before I reach zero. If you don’t, I’ll destroy this entire continent. One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight…

Hearing Raon’s voice, Kale’s eyes snapped open immediately. And he was bewildered.

‘A flower field?’

Petals scattered and drifted across the crystalline sky in every direction. Then Raon’s voice reached his ears in reality.

“Fifty-five!”

The whispered voice sounded flustered.
Kale tilted his head slightly. The sound came from atop his stomach. When he raised his hand, he felt a transparent object hovering there. The Dragon.

‘Has he been here the entire time I was unconscious?’

Thinking of the Black Dragon who had been chanting numbers the whole while, that too seemed absurd. Kale felt the reptilian coolness of its scales as he patted the empty air that appeared to others as nothing. Then he turned his gaze.

‘Hmm.’

The first face that came into view was Ron’s austere one. Ron, devoid of any gentle smile, his expression hardened, had stopped what he was doing to stare at Kale. At that sight, Kale was bewildered once more.

‘…Why is he sharpening his sword?’

At the boundary line of the flower field’s outer edge, Ron stood alone, honing his short blade. Whether he had wiped away blood or not, the blade gleamed under the light of the crystalline sky. It looked sharp enough to split skin with the slightest touch.
Kale stared blankly at the sight before turning his attention to the voices he heard.

-Human! Why did you pass out for three whole days! I could create a hundred lightning bolts like that! Don’t ever do it again! If you’re weak, then live weakly!

Three days?
I was unconscious for three days?

“Kale!”
“He’s awake! Finally, he’s awake!”
Meow!

I saw Choi Han, On, Hong, and the rest of the group rushing toward me. The moment I laid eyes on them, I furrowed my brow.

‘What’s with their appearance?’

They said I’d been unconscious for three days? I watched Choi Han and Rak approaching in their black night clothes without even washing off the dried blood and dark liquid, then looked down at myself.

It was fortunate.
I was still in my night clothes, but at least I had no blood or dust on me.

-I cleaned off the dust with magic! I’m a clean dragon!

As expected. Raon was the best. I lay still and watched as On and Hong rushed over covered in soot. I couldn’t even be bothered to get up.

“Finally, finally! You’ve regained consciousness.”

Choi Han spoke first. His voice was mixed with relief and emotion.
Three days. During that time, Choi Han and the group had stayed by my side the entire time until I woke. The elves said this place was safe and told them to trust them, but Choi Han and the group couldn’t bring themselves to trust them.
After all, these were people who had never been able to trust anyone in their lives.

Our eyes met. My gaze seemed to be asking where this place was. And he was right. I was looking at Choi Han with exactly that sentiment.

‘Why on earth am I in this state and in this place?’

As if responding to my thoughts, Choi Han’s mouth opened.

“This place is said to be where life force and natural force are maximized. We brought you here because it’s supposedly the best place for recovery and healing.”

From his words, I could tell this was the Flower Field of the Elf Village from the book. The World Tree branches were near this flower field. I moved my weakened hand to touch my head.

I felt something resting on my head, and it seemed to be a crown made from World Tree leaves. When I felt the texture of the leaves, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

‘The finest treatment indeed.’

Before I collapsed, I recalled someone’s voice of admiration.
Before collapsing, Kale recalled someone’s voice filled with admiration.

‘The blessing of a great one…!’

The Elf Chieftain seemed to have properly sensed the dragon’s presence. The problem was whether only she knew, or if everyone did.
Kale pointed to his belly toward Choi Han. Choi Han quickly averted his gaze.

A dry sound escaped him.
Kale’s eyes narrowed slightly. Choi Han, absently touching the flowers in the flower field, spoke in a hushed voice so only those nearby could hear, his words tumbling out rapidly.

“Ahem, no one has actually seen Raon’s form. However, the Elf Chieftain and the Guardian Warrior are aware of his presence beside us.”

Kale’s eyes questioned him. Only those two?
Choi Han, who had glanced at Kale, turned his gaze away again before answering.

“It seems everyone has more or less figured it out.”

Kale could hear Raon’s whimpering voice.

-I, I didn’t show my form! I kept my promise! And I stayed quietly only beside you, human! Even when the Elf Chieftain spoke to me, I ignored her!

Three days. I had been unconscious for far too long. I couldn’t fathom what they had done in that time.
Kale looked past Choi Han, who refused to meet his gaze, and surveyed On, Hong, Rak, Vicross, and Ron in turn.

“Young master, do you have the strength to speak?”

At Ron’s question, the group reacted, their gazes piercing as they stared at Kale. He had collapsed while coughing blood. They knew Kale was a kind person who genuinely enjoyed helping others, but fundamentally, he did not enjoy exerting himself physically or getting injured.

For such a Kale to have expended so much strength as to lose consciousness—they were so startled that their minds went blank for a moment. They focused intently on Kale’s slowly opening lips.
His voice was always indifferent, devoid of warmth no matter how many times one heard it.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

Ron’s rigid lips gradually curved into a smile. On and Hong made crying sounds as they rubbed against Kale’s night clothes, smudging them completely with soot.

“Yes. No one was injured. You need not worry, young master.”

Worry? Kale answered with a bewildered heart.

“Of course it should be that way.”

If Choi Han were injured, it would mean he possessed power on par with the Whale King’s bloodline. Remaining unscathed was simply the natural outcome.
Kale found Choi Han’s suddenly smiling face deeply unsettling. So too was Vicross, slowly peeling off his white gloves stained with blood. And Ron, feigning benevolence once more.

“Ahem.”

At the sound of his own throat clearing, Kale glanced back at Choi Han. He should rise. His strength had recovered somewhat by now, yet the Flower Field proved far softer than expected.

“Kale.”

Choi Han cleared his throat and opened his mouth. Three days prior. He needed to report the results of that battle. While he had handled it properly, perhaps he had been somewhat excessive in his methods.
Everyone, without exception, had lost themselves in the frenzy.

“As a result of the battle three days ago, all enemies have withdrawn for now. The assassin presumed to be Number One is dead, and the Middle-aged Swordsman appears unable to move his lower body forward. As for the Tamer—”

Kale’s palm appeared before Choi Han’s eyes. At the signal to stop, Choi Han fell silent and fixed his gaze upon Kale. Though his complexion was good, his face spoke volumes of inevitable exhaustion.

“I’m hungry.”
“…Pardon?”
“Meat.”
“…Pardon?”

In the Elf Village with only vegetables, Kale sought meat. He would have welcomed even bread, but now that the moment arrived, meat seemed the only suitable option. Though his strength had recovered, his hunger had not diminished.
Kale, exasperated by Choi Han’s vacant repetition, spoke forcefully. His voice, emerging after so long, carried a ragged edge.

“Tell them to bring me meat.”

At that moment, Vicross rose to his feet.

“I shall procure it.”

Truly, the cook.
For the first time, Kale found Vicross reassuring. Watching Vicross depart with fresh gloves to prepare the meal, Kale slowly pushed himself upright.
Thump. A flower crown tumbled across his thigh. Among its beautiful petals and blooms lay peculiar leaves of unusual character.

World Tree leaves. Not the ordinary verdant foliage one might expect. At first glance they resembled common conifer needles, yet the faint aurora light that shimmered around them suggested with high probability that these were indeed World Tree leaves.
Leaves severed from the World Tree were said to acquire such luminescence over time.

Kale, regarding the flower crown that appeared more sacred than merely ornate, found himself troubled by the thought of having lain motionless for three days. Thus he gazed beyond the boundary of the Flower Field, holding the leaf crown delicately between his index and thumb.

Beyond the Boundary Line, there had originally been no one. However, a group arrived precisely as Vicross departed. Kale observed them and spoke.

“I would prefer to lie in a bed rather than here.”

The elf at the front of the group—a supporting character frequently mentioned alongside Fendrick in “The Birth of a Hero”—the Elf Chieftain Canaria. With her white hair neatly pinned up, she bowed deeply, her wrinkled face suffused with a smile.

“I shall provide a dwelling befitting one blessed by the protection of the great.”

Her posture was extraordinarily, excessively respectful.
Choi Han had observed for three days, yet the excessive courtesy still stirred a faint resistance within him. Though they had helped, there was reverence that transcended mere gratitude. Without realizing it, he furrowed his brow and glanced at Kale.
He knew that Kale disliked such excessive formality and ceremony, even in the Royal Palace. Yet Choi Han held his tongue at the sight before him.

“Of course.”

With the utmost naturalness, he answered at ease, gently swaying the crown of World Tree leaves upon his head.

“Lead the way.”

Anyone observing would have thought Kale was a dragon.
Regardless, Kale accepted the situation with a sense of detachment. Yet the moment he beheld the house they had guided him to, perplexity began to settle upon him.

“Here it is.”

A dwelling carved from the largest wooden pillar in the Elf Village. The house within the colossal tree was mystical.
Kale gazed at the Tribal Chief Canaria.

“It is my own residence.”

The Tribal Chief had offered her own home. It was the finest dwelling, after all.
Kale paused briefly, but spoke with confidence.

“May I enter?”

Indeed, there was no reason to refuse when offered such a fine house.

* * *

Seated upon a plush sofa made of leaves and eating bread, Kale could hear all that had transpired over the three days. As he accepted the cup of fruit juice Ron offered, he fixed his gaze upon Choi Han, the Tribal Chief, the Guardian Warrior, and Fendrick, all seated before him.

“The Tamer lost his eyes and teleported away with the Spear Master while unconscious.”

Kale’s report on the situation from three days ago had come to light.

“The Spear Master suffered severe injuries to his legs along with his spear, making it unlikely he can move his lower body. Only those two escaped, while the Middle-aged Swordsman and several of his subordinates remain in captivity. As for the rest—”

They were dead. The beasts as well.

Kale’s gaze met that of Tribal Chief Canaria. Observing the wise light in her eyes—the kind only those who had lived through countless ages could possess—Kale opened his mouth.

“It seems we should depart now.”

His words implied that everything had been resolved, and it was time to leave.
Fendrick hesitated before speaking.

“We should repay—”

Kale’s party had done far more than the elves could have imagined. Yet Fendrick could see Kale raising his hand to silence him.

“Enough. The elves will have their hands full just rebuilding this village and restoring the Boundary Line. Why would I ask for more? It’s enough that no one in our group was injured.”

Fendrick’s pupils trembled. He had sensed it before, but how could someone be so unpretentious? He had heard that the higher the nobility, the more greedy and power-hungry they became, but it seemed he had been mistaken.
Then, the Tribal Chief’s voice reached his ears.

“Truly, you are one blessed by the Dragon’s protection.”

Fendrick froze. Of course—the great one was a Dragon. The Tribal Chief and the Guardian Warrior had spoken not a word to the uncertain elves.
Everything seemed to fall into place with the Tribal Chief’s words.
That vast natural power. The master of the force that had annihilated their enemies—it was indeed a Dragon. Though gods existed, the elves believed that the god upon the earth was the Dragon. To be protected by a being who had reached the pinnacle that living creatures could touch.

“The Dragon does not reveal itself but circles nearby—there must be a reason for this.”

Tribal Chief Canaria gazed upon Kale.
The Dragon concealed its identity but revealed its power. She, who had lived through countless ages, understood its meaning.

‘It dislikes being worshipped. But since it has someone precious to it, it wishes that person to be treated as it would be.’

She had been skeptical when told that a human would come to help. But if this was one blessed with the Dragon’s protection and love, and if this was one who had coughed up blood to protect the elves and the World Tree—

‘That’s possible.’

Her lips parted slowly.

“Since you are under the protection of the Dragon, I believe you have the right to know everything.”

Right? My eyes narrowed slightly. Something about this doesn’t feel right. I just want to get what I need from the Elf Village and leave. Why is this happening?
My lips opened urgently.

“Wait—”
“It seems you are searching for the World Tree.”

Before I could even say wait, I heard something unnecessary. My pupils trembled. The Elf Chieftain, noticing this, let a faint smile cross her lips.

“The location of the World Tree has never been revealed. Very few humans would know of it.”

Very few, but I knew.
Lake of Despair. The last mysterious region. The World Tree existed in that place, which people feared and avoided. Only the current elves and a select few knew of this.

“…It is a place humans have no need to know about.”

I answered as if I didn’t know. I didn’t want to learn it through this elf chieftain’s words. But as if she understood my meaning, a faint smile bloomed on the Elf Chieftain’s lips.

“Indeed. One should not be greedy, yet humans are always greedy and wish to know of that place. Just like now. But there are those of the opposite nature as well.”

She thought that this human, who was without greed and knew how to sacrifice himself, should know everything. Especially since the Dragon was listening beside him.
The fact that this selfish Dragon would exert power for someone meant that human was at least a hero worthy of being recorded in history. Why would the legendary heroes of ancient times, whose names have been forgotten by humans, have Guardian Dragons at their sides?

The Dragon had gradually aided talented humans with unwavering resolve.

‘Of course, this one doesn’t seem to have talent, but he possesses several ancient powers and fortune unparalleled under heaven.’

The Elf Chieftain got straight to the point.

“That is why we intend to have Fendrick report this situation to the Gold Dragon. His magic is what maintains the World Tree’s protective barrier.”

I froze. What did I just hear?

-Gold Dragon?

Raon reacted the same way as Kale. This time was different from when we encountered the Dark Elf Market Master. Elf Chieftain Canaria clearly seemed to know the dragon’s whereabouts.

‘…I’d rather pretend not to know.’

Of course, I had no desire to learn the location of that dragon. It was connected to the World Tree, after all. True, it wouldn’t be catastrophic if the World Tree wasn’t on the Western Continent, but still.

-Human! I’m curious!

But Raon was growing curious.

-Ask her! I’m curious about the other dragon!

Why did a dragon who was supposed to care only about himself show such keen interest in another dragon? I hesitated for a long moment before finally opening my mouth.

“Where has Fendrick gone?”

I deliberately avoided asking directly about the dragon’s location. I desperately hoped the Chieftain would claim ignorance. But the Chieftain answered without even a second’s hesitation.

“He resides in the Wipper Kingdom.”

My shoulders tensed. In that instant, Raon cried out.

-Human! Don’t we need to go sell the seedling to that fool? And we still have to destroy the Magic Tower!

That’s right.
I had to meet Witira of the Whale Tribe, then head to the Wipper Kingdom to meet Tunka.
To rake in a substantial profit. And to blow up the Magic Tower.

-Ooh!

Raon was thrilled.

This was going to be quite the undertaking.

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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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