Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 128

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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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“So what do we do now?”

Hana looked at Kale Heniatus, her eyes filled with confusion as she sought an answer.
Unfortunately, she had chosen the wrong person to ask.

“First you doubted me, and now you’re asking me what to do?”

Kale Heniatus spoke whatever came to mind.
His head had no room for thoughts about what to do with those twins—it was occupied with far more pressing matters.

“B-but. You’re fighting against Dark—”

Fighting. What nonsense was that?
Kale Heniatus shook his head and continued speaking whatever came to him.

“First, entrust your twins to Ritana. The Jungle has vast lands and plenty of places to hide—it’s definitely within Ritana’s capabilities.”

Unlike her own anxiety, Hana gradually calmed at his emotionless voice. Kale Heniatus’s next words resonated deeply within her heart.

“And take care of yourself first. Protecting yourself is your responsibility. You understand that, don’t you?”
“…I do. This incident made me understand it even more.”

Her brother, blessed with the Sun God’s healing power but cursed with terrible athletic ability. Unlike him, she possessed exceptional talent with the sword and physical prowess.
It was her duty to protect both her brother and herself.
Kale Heniatus’s voice reached her ears.

“That’s right. Don’t trust anyone.”

She looked at Kale Heniatus.

“Don’t trust Ritana, don’t trust me. Just the two of you—survive together.”

The man spoke without expression, telling her not to trust him. Hana recalled the Spear Master.

‘Think of me as your real brother. Trust us. I’ll give you and your brother freedom.’

She recalled the Pope.

‘I’m the one who made wretches like you shine so brilliantly. Trust me. Then you shall be guided along the radiant path of the Sun God’s light.’

Everyone had asked Hana and her brother to believe in them.
She nodded at Kale Heniatus, who was watching her.

“No. I won’t believe.”

At that response, Kale Heniatus nodded.
Of course she should refuse.

This woman’s body was dying, and only her Saint brother possessed healing power.
She had nowhere to run, and needed only a place to hide.
Abandoned by the Empire, the Secret Organization, and everyone else, she had nowhere to go.

That’s why I spoke.

“And I’ll bring someone who can save you, so wait here.”
“…Can I really survive?”
“Yes.”

Life began to flicker in the Blonde Sword Master’s dying eyes. She touched the place on her arm where black veins bulged, then fixed her gaze on me.
Her clear eyes looked directly at me.

“Then what do I have to pay in return?”

A smile formed at the corners of my mouth.

“Hana, you’re quite sharp.”

Hana remembered everything I had said.

“You said we would make a deal.”

Unlike the previous organizations, I had proposed a deal. I didn’t deny those words.

“That’s right. We must make a deal. Of course, that deal will proceed with a death oath when I bring someone to save you. We’ll make the deal again at that time.”

I can survive. I will survive.
Hana could confirm this fact from Kale Heniatus’s words. Without realizing it, she gazed at her brother sleeping with a gentle expression.
Her brother was so gentle that he seemed foolish at times, yet he placed her above all else, making her his highest priority. Hana felt something swell in her chest and bit her lip hard.

Then, words that made her heart race even more reached her ears.

“And once the treatment is complete, I’ll give you the chance to take your revenge properly, so hold your breath and wait.”

Revenge?
Hana stared at Kale Heniatus with piercing intensity.

“…Is revenge truly possible?”

Kale Heniatus nodded casually.

‘It’s possible.’

He recalled what he had heard from Witira—the battle that the Tiger Tribe and Whale Tribe would wage together.
The attack that would unfold against Dark Battle Unit 1.
The timing was set for this coming winter.

‘Whether the Northern 3 Kingdoms are currently cooperating with Dark while also separately cooperating with the Empire.’

Or whether the North, Dark, and the Empire were all cooperating together—he couldn’t say for certain.
But when the opportunity came.

‘I’ll sweep them all away.’

The North was a place that coveted the Roan Kingdom where Kale Heniatus lived. It was right to eliminate as many helping hands there as possible.

Kale Heniatus had decided to make a mess of things in his own way.
He looked at the two twins.

One was a Sword Master.
The other was half a Saint of the Sun God Church.
Currently bearing false accusations, but once his innocence was revealed, all the Sun God Church’s followers would gather beneath that Saint.

Kale Heniatus spoke sweet words to the Sword Master.

“I’ll give you, who loves blood, a sufficient opportunity to drench yourself in it.”

How beautiful would a sea of blood be?
That was what the Saint’s younger sibling standing before me had said.
Kale Heniatus observed her eyes, which were overflowing with vitality and flickered with hints of madness, and thought to himself.

‘She’s not normal either.’

I casually brushed back my red hair and fixed my gaze on Hana. She struggled to conceal her trembling as she suppressed the electrifying images in her mind, then spoke.

“Kale Heniatus, you’re evil, but quite kind.”
“If that’s how it appears to your eyes, then so it is.”

I made no effort to correct Hana’s perception.

Hana let out a low laugh. Though her body, addicted to dead mana, found it difficult, she seemed more vibrant than before.
I gently asked her, who appeared to be pleasantly imagining spilling the blood of her enemies.

“Then shall we stop talking and get some sleep?”
“Yes.”

Only then did Hana lie back down with a relaxed expression. Of course, she glanced once at Choi Han, but when she saw that Choi Han was looking at me, she closed her eyes without saying anything.

And as I witnessed that scene, I gazed up at the cave ceiling.
I was done for.

Why did everyone seem so eager to fight and bicker?

In the end, I couldn’t fall asleep, feeling like I wanted to cry.

* * *

The next morning, early. The rain had stopped.
I sat perched on a round rock, gazing at the forest filled with mist. The cool morning air greeted me as I stepped outside the cave.

“Sigh.”
“Why the sigh so early in the morning?”

I turned my body toward the voice that came from behind me as I was exhaling that sigh.

“Ritana.”

The Jungle Queen Ritana approached me. She perched on a rock beside me, her gaze filled with concern.

“Young Master, you haven’t been sleeping, have you?”
“…My mind is troubled.”

My carefree life drifted further away.
I found that fact melancholic.

Ah. Ritana let out a soft exclamation. She gazed at me with eyes that held both sympathy and admiration.

“Of course. Given your nature, Young Master, such circumstances and truths must weigh heavily upon you.”
“Yes. Given my disposition, the current situation is burdensome.”

Ritana’s heart ached seeing the virtuous and righteous young master respond so wearily. Yet because he was such a person, she had something to tell him.

“Young Master, didn’t you say last night that living happily and healthily without worrying about enemies is the greatest revenge?”

I looked at Ritana.
And I thought.

‘Is it time to cause chaos?’

I guessed why she had approached me. So I answered.

“Yes, I believe that is the greatest revenge.”

Of course, I don’t believe that at all.

“I see. But my thoughts differ from yours, Young Master.”

I could see frost—a simmering anger—crystallizing in Ritana’s calm eyes. She had not forgotten the fire that burned the Jungle last year.
Fortunately, the Tribal Warriors had not perished, but what she governed in the Jungle extended beyond them alone.
The Southern Jungle, which valued coexistence.
She continued speaking with the serenity of the calm before a storm.

“Countless trees, plants, and animals died in that inferno. And to restore the blackened Jungle Zone 1, we must pour countless hours and effort into it. Those who lost their homes must wait through that time as well.”

Ritana had not become the Jungle Queen for nothing. A leader needed to know how to be inclusive, but more importantly, she had to know how to stand against external threats and fight her enemies.

“As a person of the Jungle, I must take that revenge.”

She was curious what expression Kale Heniatus would wear.
But before she could read that expression, Ritana smiled at the words she heard from Kale Heniatus.

“The reason you suddenly bring up last night’s story is obvious.”

The reason Ritana had sought out Kale Heniatus alone so early in the morning was transparent. Kale Heniatus spoke to her.

“I will contact Crown Prince Albert.”
“…As expected, you are as clever as you are virtuous, young master.”

Ritana was different from Tunka.
She wanted to seize the dead mana bomb as justification alongside the Jungle’s flames. But this was difficult to do alone.

“Crown Prince Albert would welcome a conversation with you, Ritana.”
“Young master, thank you for saying so. Since the Empire is involved, it seems we alone won’t be enough. We need to prepare to make the dead mana bomb public knowledge.”

Ritana was not in a hurry. Kale Heniatus asked casually.

“Are you aiming for after the war between the Empire and Wipper Kingdom ends?”
“Yes.”

Kale Heniatus could see the Queen’s eyes brighten as she lightly caressed the tip of the short spear hanging at her waist. She murmured softly.

“Because we must also prepare for war.”

It was chilling.
Just as Kale Heniatus felt a chill run down his spine and tried to turn away from Ritana, she called him again.

“Ah, young master. And here is my repayment.”

Hm?
Kale Heniatus looked at the paper placed before him, then glanced back at Ritana.
This is repayment?

Ritana simply smiled at his gaze and pushed the paper further toward him. Kale Heniatus eventually took the paper and unfolded it.

‘Oh.’

A silent exclamation of admiration.
Ritana’s voice reached my ears.

“The land for building your villa was rather small, so I thought it would be nice to include the hill where that land is located along with a portion of the coastline.”

The Jungle Zone 1 Coastline.
The document transferred complete ownership of the hill where the highest-grade mana stone had been discovered, along with half of that coastline’s rights. My heart raced. It was exhilaration.

I saw Ritana smiling unpretentiously.
She spoke.

“It’s still not fully restored, but fortunately it’s land managed by the Tribal Chief. The tribal warriors have agreed as well.”
“…Half of the coastline is too much, though.”

I added a comment for no particular reason.
Ritana waved her hand dismissively at those words.

“Oh, too much? You travel by boat anyway. I’m giving it to you for your convenience coming and going.”
“Well, even so.”
“It’s the will of the Jungle Zone 1 tribal warriors, so please accept it.”

I sighed and placed the document in my inner pocket.

“If that’s the case, I’ll accept it.”
“Yes, thank you.”

Ritana gazed at me with a pleased smile as I accepted such a considerable expanse of land without hesitation or fuss. Then, as our eyes met, she quickly erased that pleased smile.
At that moment, I spoke to her as if something had worked out well.

“Then I can meet the Crown Prince at this coastline. I can bring him secretly on my ship.”
“Ah!”

Ritana marveled at such foresight on my part. How was it that I always thought ahead about the future, and about others and the kingdom?
I carefully added to her admiration.

“And Ritana, those twin siblings seem like rather pitiful people. Please look after them until I can bring a dead mana healer.”
“…Your noble heart always moves me, young master.”

Kale Heniatus offered Ritana an embarrassed smile.
And he thought to himself.

‘The Crown Prince will probably say he wants to turn back again.’

Crown Prince Albert’s reaction was predictable.

Kale escorted the Jungle Queen Ritana and the twins to the jungle exit of The Path of No Return along with his companions. Of course, he had secretly slipped a communication crystal into the Blonde Sword Master’s arms.

Meow.

At On’s cry, Kale nodded.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Kale headed toward Erhaben’s Lair, the Gold Dragon’s dwelling on Yelia Mountain.

* * *

The moment Kale arrived at the summit of Yelia Mountain, he flinched.

“Human! Human!”

From the cave entrance, something dark came hurtling toward Kale with fierce intensity.
It was the Black Dragon Raon.

Meow.

Following behind, Hong and the wolf boy Rak emerged from the lair entrance.
How did they know to come greet me?

Kale quietly stepped back a pace to the side. If he collided with Raon, he felt he would be walking the path to the afterlife. The dragon was coming at him with such ferocity.

“Human!”
“What?”

At Kale’s indifferent question, Raon’s expression brightened.

“You’re still human!”

Raon circled around Kale Heniatus in flight, spiraling playfully.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Didn’t you want to see me?”
“Do you know what I learned?”

Raon’s words tumbled out in rapid succession. Kale, sensing the dragon would continue his rambling, casually stroked his head while responding.

“Of course you handled everything perfectly. You’re the great Raon, after all.”

Raon laughed with delight.

“That’s right! The Gold Dragon said I’m more of a genius than expected!”
“Yes, yes. You’re a magnificent genius.”
“Human, do you know what I learned yesterday? Like a volcano—”

Anticipating Raon’s story would grow lengthy, Kale cut him off.

“Video communication device.”
“Huh?”
“Contact the Crown Prince.”
“Understood!”

Raon readily agreed, and Kale swiftly established a video communication link with the Crown Prince. Crown Prince Albert appeared on the screen with a sullen expression, regarding Kale.

-Why? Is this because Rosalind contacted you yesterday?
“No. I have something else to discuss.”

The Crown Prince’s expression grew peculiar as he observed Kale.
This was the first time Kale had dispensed with flowery pleasantries—the kind of absurd flattery about being the kingdom’s star—and gotten straight to business.

-What is it? And where are you? Why does everything look so glittery?

The room Erhafen had provided for Kale was a luxurious chamber gilded entirely in gold. It had been Raon’s demand.
Through the video communication device, Albert observed Kale’s chamber, which appeared even more ornate than the King’s own quarters, his expression one of bewilderment. To him, Kale’s voice reached across the distance.

“The organization that conducted the bombing terrorist attacks is apparently in a cooperative relationship with the Northern 3 Kingdoms.”
-What?

Kale Heniatus quickly recounted everything that had transpired to Alberu, whose expression had grown rigid.

The connection between the Sun God Church and the Empire.
What the Empire had done.
Meeting the twins.
The relationship between the Jungle and the Empire.

Furthermore, Kale explained how he had previously helped the Whale Tribe and formed a bond with them, and how the Whale Tribe was planning to fight against that Secret Organization’s combat division.

Alberu blinked and asked.

-So you’re saying the Jungle Queen has expressed her desire to meet? The Empire did all these things? And the North is involved too?

Kale’s answer was simple.

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince spoke.

-What are you?
“I’m Kale Heniatus.”
-Ha. This is driving me insane.

As expected, the Crown Prince exclaimed about going insane, and Kale posed a question to him.

“We’re on the brink of chaos, aren’t we?”
-Our kingdom is in turmoil from top to bottom.
“Then let’s create our own chaos.”

The Crown Prince stopped his irritation and looked at Kale.

“Your Highness, we’re currently in a cooperative relationship with the Breck Kingdom, aren’t we? And who else do we have?”

Alberu’s lips curved upward slightly.

-We have the Jungle, the Whale Tribe, and the Wipper Kingdom.
“We also have the twins who were falsely accused. And Dark Elves who can handle dead mana bombs.”

Beyond that, Kale had not mentioned to the Crown Prince that he had additional preparations. He also had one Dragon who would help unconditionally, and another Dragon whose loyalty was uncertain.

Kale Heniatus and Albert Crossman.
Similar smiles played at the corners of both their mouths.

Raon, who had been outside the range of the communication device, spoke to Kale’s mind for the first time in a while with an excited voice.

-Human, that smile of yours is truly rare! What are you planning to do! I want to be excited too!

What am I planning?
Preparing to strike the Empire, the North, and the Secret Organization from behind.

The Crown Prince spoke to Kale.

-Worth trying?
“Absolutely.”

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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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