Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 134

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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 immediately ushered Merry and Tasha into the Underground Cavern. It had been quite some time since Kale last saw Merry.

“Ah, well. Still the same, I see.”

Merry remained entirely shrouded in black robes from toe to crown. Yet from seeing her so often, Kale could sense the joy emanating from that motionless dark figure.

“It is good to see you. I am pleased to meet you again.”

Her voice remained mechanical and devoid of emotion, reminiscent of a navigation system. Yet above those pitch-black robes, a soft, warm aura flowed forth.

“I’m delighted too! Good Merry, I’ve checked on your bones from time to time!”

It was the Black Dragon Raon who greeted Merry most enthusiastically.

“Thank you.”
“Right. This is your first time in the Jungle, yes? I’ll show you everything. I’ve been there before.”
“How impressive. Is the Jungle sky beautiful as well?”
“Of course! And to reach the Jungle, we must cross the Sea. It will be difficult this time, but next time we have the chance, let’s ride on Orca Arch and see the Sea!”
“I look forward to it.”

Kale watched the exchange between Raon and Merry with an indifferent expression. Then a hand nudged his ribs sharply.
The force was considerable enough to make Kale furrow his brow as he turned his head. But the sight before him made him understand the rough gesture.

“What… what is this?”

It was the Dark Elf Tasha.
She was caught in a whirlwind of bewilderment and confusion, clearly at a loss for words. Her gaze naturally fell upon Erhafen, who stood a short distance away from Raon.
Erhafen stood between Raon and Merry, engaged in conversation.

“Long time no see, Necromancer.”
“Golden Dragon, have you met another Necromancer like me?”
“Do you think I was ever as small as you?”
“Merry, you don’t need to listen to that Golden Dragon’s comment about being small.”

It was a childish exchange unbecoming of a Dragon, but what did that matter to a Dark Elf?
Kale gently patted Tasha’s shoulder, which was filled with confusion.

“Tasha.”
“Your Highness— what is this?”

Kale whispered into her bewildered ear.

“You remember the oath with the spirits, yes? This remains a secret from Crown Prince Albert.”

His speech still mixed formal and informal registers.
Tasha’s shoulders tensed slightly. Her gaze, which had been filled with confusion, steadied as she looked directly at Kale.
Kale smiled wryly and continued.

“The last oath was regarding Raon, so it would be more trustworthy to include Erhafen and swear anew. Go ahead and swear.”

A refreshing smile bloomed at the corners of Tasha’s lips.

“You haven’t changed.”
“You’ll swear, won’t you?”
“Of course I will.”

Tasha couldn’t refuse the oath. When she and Kale had spoken, the dragon Erhafen’s gaze had swept across her.
And his next words put her at ease.

“You made the right choice. I plan to tell Crown Prince Albert someday, so don’t worry.”
“I trust you, Your Highness.”

Tasha gazed at Kale with gratitude. Merry, who had seemed so inhuman and rigid before, had changed without her noticing.

‘I like Prince Kale and Lord Raon so much. I want to come back again. It’s fun.’

Fun.
She had never imagined such words would escape Merry’s lips. That’s why she was grateful to Kale. Like Crown Prince Albert, Merry was as dear to her as a niece.

“Why are you staring?”

At Kale’s blunt question, Tasha let out a soft laugh. Kale watched her shift from flustered to resolute to content with a dissatisfied expression, then approached Erhafen’s side.

“Erhafen, what do you make of Merry?”
“You were planning to entrust this child’s treatment to Fendrick?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”

Kale ventured to speak to Erhafen, who appeared lost in thought. He had heard that Erhafen was also the one who had treated the frail Fendrick.

“Erhafen.”
“What?”
“Fendrick’s abilities seem somewhat… uncertain for this, don’t they?”
“Indeed.”
“Then surely the great Erhafen, having witnessed other necromancers, would know better than anyone?”

Erhafen’s gaze shifted from Merry toward Kale. The man wasn’t flattering or making a request in any subtle way—he was brazenly attempting to offload the child’s treatment onto him.

‘The problem is, I don’t mind it.’

Erhafen found nothing objectionable about Kale’s approach.
And he soon understood why.

‘There’s nothing in it for himself.’

Among all the requests Kale had made of him, none were for his own benefit. The earth attribute was Raon’s directive, after all. Everything else was either about strengthening his comrades or investigating those ominous stone pillars that might threaten this land.

‘A peculiar fellow.’

Despite his own life being fraught with misfortune, he constantly moved for the sake of others, all while complaining.
It was impossible to resent him for it.

Though I am a selfish dragon, it is precisely because of this that altruistic beings appear so appealing to me.
Erhafen answered Kale, who was watching him, with blunt indifference.

“It’s not particularly because of what you said. I’m simply curious, so I’ll examine the child myself.”
“Thank you.”

Erhafen cleared his throat and turned away from Kale.
But Kale, having decided he could finally set aside his worries about Merry’s pain, turned his head.

“…Your Highness.”

I could see the intense fire in Tasha’s eyes and the black robe drawing closer to me.

“Why?”

I addressed them both with an indifference so complete it bordered on coldness, yet Tasha made no attempt to hide the admiration gleaming in her gaze as she approached.

“You truly are a warm-hearted person, my lord.”
“Thank you. Lord Kale is a good and righteous man.”

Merry’s clipped tone followed in succession.
I gave a cursory nod. All I wanted was for Merry to endure the pain and grow stronger.

‘Only then can Merry fulfill her role properly in the coming battle against the Northern 3 Nations.’

The Wyvern Knights soaring above the Dark Forest—Merry would be one of the critical elements in our clash against them.
In any battle, seizing the initiative from the start was paramount.

The moment the Northern 3 Nations stepped beyond their territory and approached the Roan Kingdom and Breck Kingdom, I intended to utterly annihilate them from my fiefdom at the northern frontier of the Roan Kingdom.

‘I need to crush them completely.’

Mere destruction wasn’t enough. Only total annihilation would give pause to not just the Northern 3 Nations, but the Empire and Dark as well. Kale and the Crown Prince had already devised plans based on their inevitable response.

So I spoke to the black-robed figure standing motionless before me.

“If you’re grateful, recover quickly and grow stronger.”
“Yes. I shall do so without fail.”

Merry’s voice was mechanical, yet a hint of passion threaded through it.
I felt a quiet satisfaction at that fervor and turned my head. Then I paused. Someone had approached my side without a sound.

“Young master, shall we proceed as we did last time?”

It was Ron, my attendant.
A sudden sense of reassurance washed over me. Honestly, Ron was the most dependable among this entire group. I spoke to him with a gentle tone.

“Wouldn’t it work just the same?”
“Indeed, it would.”

Kale Heniatus, two dragons, and Ron. Along with the necromancer Merry and the Dark Elf Tasha.
Thus, Kale ventured into the Jungle with a combination he had never experienced before.

* * *

“This is the Young Master’s territory?”
“Well, yes.”

Kale answered Tasha’s question with casual indifference as she stood transformed into an ordinary human, setting foot upon the Coastline of Jungle Zone 1. Tasha stared blankly for a moment before following him off the ship.

They had arrived by boat.
Though two dragons accompanied them, revealing their identities was impossible, so they had chosen the ship over flight.
Kale had already instructed Tasha and Merry to conceal their identities as much as possible. Of course, Tasha had decided to reveal herself depending on the situation.

“Young Master Kale.”

Kale offered an awkward smile as he regarded the one who had come to greet him at the Coastline.

The Jungle Queen Ritana had sent her most trusted subordinate to welcome Kale, demonstrating her sincerity. Bin, Ritana’s most loyal retainer and armed escort, bowed respectfully to Kale.

“It has been a while.”

Kale acknowledged Bin’s greeting while glancing sideways.

“Grrr.”

A black panther bared its fangs, grinning in its own way as if delighted.

‘Damn it.’

Ritana had sent Ten, her closest companion and a black panther, along with Bin to receive Kale. This demonstrated how much she valued him, yet Kale had no desire to ride the black panther again.

-Human, I want to try riding too. Do I have to stay hidden?

Dismissing Raon’s words lightly, Kale asked Bin, the Queen’s subordinate.

“…You’ve brought horses. Do we all need to ride?”
“There is also a carriage, sir.”
“I see. Then I’ll-”

Purr. Purr.
The black leopard Ten nuzzled his head against Kale’s leg, seeking affection. Warrior Bin’s stern face softened with a faint smile.

“It seems Ten wanted to see you, sir. The Queen herself mentioned that both Ten and you could ride together.”
“…I see.”

In the end, Kale divided his party between the carriage and horses, while he himself mounted Ten.

“Purr. Purr.”

Ten rumbled contentedly, and Kale gripped the leopard’s fur tightly. Then he asked Warrior Bin.

“Where should we go to meet them?”

There was no need to ask whom Kale intended to meet. It was the Saint and Saint Maiden.

“They are in Jungle Zone 7, sir.”

Jungle Zone 7.
The Jungle was divided into fifteen zones in total. Among them, Zone 7 was the heart of the Jungle, where a massive river cut across the territory.

Moreover, the palace of the King—the ruler of the Jungle for generations—stood there.
Kale spoke to Bin with a playful tone.

“So the darkest place is beneath the lamp?”
“Precisely so, sir.”

Queen Ritana was certainly protecting the twins well. Kale told Bin.

“Let’s hurry.”
“Understood, sir.”

Bin’s horse took the lead. The black leopard Ten followed behind. Kale held on tightly to Ten, startled by the creature’s pace.

Even traveling at maximum speed, it took several days to reach Jungle Zone 7. But the moment they arrived, Kale let out a gasp of admiration.

‘I thought a city wouldn’t suit the Jungle. But this—this is a true jungle city. Extraordinary.’

Buildings and trees seemed to blend together as one. Yet the craftsmanship was in no way inferior to the structures found in the kingdoms or the Empire.

“What do you think?”

Warrior Bin crossed through the paths of Jungle Zone 7, asking Kale for his impressions. Kale answered honestly as he observed the animals scaling the trees, the jungle inhabitants, and the buildings visible between them.

“Magnificent.”
“Indeed. It is magnificent.”

Pride radiated from Bin. He pointed toward the center of Jungle Zone 7, shrouded in countless trees.

“You cannot see it now, obscured by the foliage, but that is the Royal Palace.”
“And we meet Her Majesty the Queen this evening?”
“Yes. And before that, well…”

Though Bin could not finish his sentence, Kale understood his meaning.

“We’ll see them first when we arrive.”
“Yes.”

Bin guided Kale and his party toward the center of Jungle Zone 7. Soon, the heart of the zone—the Royal Palace—came into view.

“Hmm. Splendid, young master.”

Ron, who had not been riding in the carriage, approached Kale’s side and offered his honest assessment. Kale found himself in agreement.

‘Nature itself is the palace, and the palace itself is nature.’

Trees that appeared to be centuries old grew through and around the Royal Palace, their massive trunks and branches forming the structure’s framework. The palace was constructed in an unusual arrangement between these ancient giants, creating the silhouette of an enormous mountain.

-Human, a home like this would be wonderful! Why not try to acquire one?

Ignoring Raon’s nonsensical suggestion, Kale turned his attention back to Bin.

“Please follow me.”

Bin approached the palace. The warriors stationed before it parted ranks at the sight of him, and Kale’s party entered the heart of the jungle—the palace itself—without obstruction.

“Construction took two hundred years to ensure the palace would not damage the natural environment. That is why each section of the palace possesses its own unique form.”

Following Bin’s guidance, I made my way toward the rear of the Royal Palace. Two massive trees came into view.
Two ancient trees, each appearing to have grown for centuries, had gradually merged until their trunks became one. Beneath that singular trunk stood a remarkably small palace.

When Bin came to a halt, I knew we had reached our destination.

“It’s beneath this palace.”
“Go inside.”

At my command, Bin approached the small palace. The warriors guarding its entrance appeared far more skilled than those stationed elsewhere.
They opened the palace gates at Bin’s gesture.

“Should everyone in your party enter together?”
“Yes.”

Once my companions had dismounted from the carriage and horses and positioned themselves behind me, I stepped inside the palace.
The small palace contained only a single great hall, where warriors maintained their vigilant watch. Ritana was clearly taking the protection of the twins very seriously.

At the center of the hall stood a doorway leading downward into the underground chamber.

Creeeeak.
Bin opened the door.

The passage descending underground was immaculate and brightly lit.

“We’re here.”

I nodded and entered alongside Bin.
Tap. Tap. As I heard the sound of my footsteps and those of my companions descending the stone stairs, I realized the staircase was quite lengthy.

“Is the underground chamber the main focus of this palace?”
“Indeed. To avoid damaging the two trees, a vast underground chamber was excavated beneath the palace. Currently, only one attendant, a top-tier warrior, and two individuals reside there. I was stationed here originally as well.”

This level of security was certainly formidable.

“We’ve descended quite far. Is there still more to go?”
“We’re almost there-”

Bin’s words hadn’t even finished.
Below us.
A sound echoed from the Underground Chamber.

“Ugh—aaaaaahhhhh!”

It was a scream.
A woman’s agonized cry, as though her breath were being torn from her body.
Everyone froze in place.

Thump.
In that moment, something landed upon my shoulder. I turned my head and stiffened. A black sleeve draped across my shoulder, and beyond it, a black robe came into view.

A voice emerged from within the black robe.
It was a voice in which emotion rarely surfaced.

“A seizure.”
“What?”
“It is dangerous. The signs of entering the intermediate stage of dead mana poisoning. It causes excruciating pain.”

“Aaahhh! Kugh—aahhh!”

The screams continued without pause.
Merry spoke rapidly.

“She has reached her limit.”

Sword Master Hana had reached her breaking point.
I did not answer Merry’s words. Instead, I turned my head and issued a command to Bin.

“Hurry.”

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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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