Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 142

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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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But extinguishing the fire was not a task for today.
Kale deliberately left the tent entrance wide open. Of course, he did so for the passing soldiers to see.

-Human, human.

Raon’s voice echoed in my mind.
I dismissed those words and approached those with light contusions and ligament injuries rather than the critically wounded.

“You have quite a few bruises.”
“Yes, yes. Priest.”

The soldier, a light case sitting in the corner of the tent, answered without thinking. I retrieved a potion and soaked it into cloth.

Then I gently pressed the cloth against the contused area. As the cloth passed, the light bruises disappeared.

“Th-thank you.”

The soldier could see the white-haired Priest smiling gently at his gratitude. Without another word, I approached another person and treated their light injuries with potion.

-Human, you’re kind!

As always, I dismissed Raon’s words lightly and treated each patient with minor wounds one by one with potion.

The soldiers silently bowed their heads, expressing gratitude as they watched the white-haired Priest treat even the smallest wounds without neglect, using potion for each one.

I received their gratitude casually and thought to myself.

‘Free potions are best used without restraint, after all.’

I used the potions the Crown Prince had provided from his personal funds without hesitation. Using someone else’s potions certainly made the experience all the more enjoyable.

“Thank you, Priest.”

I smiled naturally at the thought of using the Crown Prince’s personal funds. I responded to their thanks in a manner befitting a Priest.

“Think nothing of it. It is the duty of a Priest to care for the afflicted.”

Kale quickly dealt with the lightly injured patients around him before moving toward where his companions were. Crazy Priestess Kage and Saint Jack stood beside those hovering at death’s door.

‘He’s working hard.’

Saint Jack. Sweat poured down his face as he tended to the patients.

The patient currently receiving Jack’s healing power was a soldier whose side had been deeply slashed, leaving him on the brink of death.

Whoosh.

Golden light continuously flowed from Jack’s hands, healing the soldier’s wound. Kale observed the sight and reflected.

‘His healing power is unparalleled.’

The Crazy Priestess Kage was an exceptional priestess. Yet the aura emanating from Jack in this moment was incomparable to hers.

It was only natural that all eyes within the tent converged upon him. Kale watched with satisfaction.

‘I could put him to good use in the Empire later.’

If this white priestly robes and white mask were to rampage through the Empire as they were, it would create absolute chaos. The thought thrilled Kale.

“Ugh… Hnn.”

The soldier who had been groaning and hovering at death’s door gradually regained color in his complexion as he received Saint Jack’s treatment.
Finally, Jack withdrew his hands from the patient’s side.

“Haah.”

Jack collapsed into a chair near the patient’s bedside, exhaling deeply. Observing the patient’s side, Kale clenched his fist slightly.

The side that had been gaping open with exposed organs, rotting and oozing pus, had been healed with absolute perfection—not a single scar remained.

“Wow.”
“Amazing.”

The people of the Wipper Kingdom could not hide their admiration upon witnessing this. Kale approached Jack, who was breathing heavily as if exhausted.
He guided the seemingly drained Jack to a corner of the tent and seated him.

“Are you alright?”

At Kale’s inquiry, Jack offered a smile. With trembling hands, he wiped the perspiration from his brow and spoke.

“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“I believe I made the right choice in following you.”

What was he talking about all of a sudden?
Kale stared at Jack in confusion, then caught himself with a start.

Jack was beaming with radiance. He appeared genuinely happy.
He whispered to Kale in a voice so soft only he could hear.

“When I was in the Religious Order, I was forced to spend my days healing only a select few of the highest rank. I could never tend to those who truly needed the touch of the divine. But now…”

The Saint’s eyes, which had seemed so weary before, now gleamed with renewed vitality.

“I have finally come to understand my true purpose. Young Master, shall I tell you something amusing?”
“…What is it?”

Jack clenched his fist, then slowly opened it. The trembling in his hand had vanished.

“My healing power…”

Now, at last, he seemed to understand the will of the divine.

“Young Master, my healing power appears to be growing stronger.”

Kale marveled inwardly the moment he heard those words.
His healing power was already remarkable enough to resurrect the dying—and now it was growing even stronger?

‘A true Saint, indeed.’

He truly was a Saint.
Kale patted Jack’s shoulder encouragingly, delighted to see him so content with his newfound purpose.

“I have faith in you, Saint Jack.”

Jack clenched both fists at those words.
He had saved his younger brother thanks to Kale. When that man asked for help, Jack came without hesitation. Yet the work here was again about saving someone’s life.

He lifted his head and gazed at Kale. Kale stood before him, surveying the patients. His eyes burned with an intensity unlike any he had shown before.

‘I should have lived like this from the beginning.’

Regret flooded through Jack, but he suppressed it and rose from his seat. He approached the patients once more.

Kale watched as Jack resumed his treatment, then surveyed the interior of the tent. That gaze—the one that had made Jack regret his past life. The bearer of those eyes was thinking.

‘I’ll need to stay awake tonight.’

There were several more patient tents.
But even if he stayed awake through the night, Kale only needed to keep watch.
He handed potions to Kaige and Jack—a modest comfort for those who would suffer the most through the sleepless night.

* * *

The next day.
The eyes of the Wipper Kingdom’s soldiers turned toward the tent where Priests worked through the night, its interior glowing brightly as they treated the patients.
Soldiers whose treatment had been completed moved to other tents with joy at their survival, while other critical patients were brought in—a cycle that repeated endlessly.

And now, another person was expressing gratitude through tears.

“Thank you, thank you so much. Truly.”
“Not at all. I merely did what was necessary.”

The soldier whose leg might have needed amputation grasped Saint Jack’s hand, tears streaming down his face. Jack, equally moved, held the soldier’s hand firmly in return.

This scene had already repeated several times throughout the day.

Tunka, entering the tent, paused at the sight before him—one he had never witnessed before. Herrol Codian stood beside him.

“General.”
“…Yes.”

Tunka regarded the revived soldier with a peculiar expression.
He had realized this morning that the atmosphere of the Military Camp had brightened considerably. It was a vitality different from that which came with victory in war.

“You’ve arrived, General.”

A familiar voice greeted me as though we were strangers. It was Kale.
Tunka watched as Kale, disguised as a Priest, approached him, then glanced around at Kale’s companions.
They were all treating soldiers through the night, sweat dripping from their brows.

Tunka met Kale’s gaze as he drew near. Kale leaned in and whispered.

“Tonight. I’ll extinguish the flames, so bring all the documents.”

His tone was cold, yet Tunka’s lips curved into a smile.

“Understood. I will.”

Kale hadn’t slept since yesterday, so he found Tunka’s grinning face rather distasteful. Thus, he turned and retreated into the tent.
Of course, thanks to my Vitality of the Heart, a single night without sleep left me perfectly sharp.

“Thank you.”

Kale ignored Tunka’s voice calling from behind.

* * *

Tonight was the new moon.
Kale gazed downward from the sky above Maple Castle.

‘Save for the pillars of flame and the Military Camp, it’s absolute darkness.’

Because it was the new moon, the pillars of flame surrounding the castle were all the more visible. Kale recalled the conversation Herrol had with him when handing over the report.

‘Is the castle truly empty of people?’
‘Yes. Do I not have three Mages at my disposal? Through them, my trusted subordinates and I infiltrated the castle and confirmed it ourselves.’

Mages sent from Ron, Breck, and the Jungle Kingdom were currently disguised as servants of Tunka’s staff, prepared for video communication and emergency situations.
Kale observed Herrol, who now wielded Mages without hesitation, with considerable curiosity. Sensing his gaze, Herrol spoke.

‘One must sacrifice the small for the great. Later, to eliminate all magic, must we not also utilize our enemies?’

I cleanly ignored the gleam in the eyes of this madman who had gained flexibility. I focused solely on the information Herrol had provided.

‘Not only were there no people, but there wasn’t a single useful item either. Not one magical device. It was literally an empty castle.’
‘The Mages confirmed the magical devices?’
‘Yes, they detected no mana signatures whatsoever.’

At minimum, there were no magical devices of the type commonly used on the Western Continent within that castle. Modified versions were a different matter, of course.

Kale opened his mouth.

“Let’s descend.”

“Yes, Kale.”
“Yes, of course.”

Choi Han and Rosalind responded, and Raon’s voice resonated in my mind.

-Should I land us at the castle’s peak?

My group descended onto the castle surrounded by pillars of flame with utmost discretion and silence. Simultaneously, our invisibility dissolved.

The soldiers standing guard around the pillars of flame noticed nothing of our movements. This was all the more true because Herrol and Tunka had lowered the alert level.

“It’s hot.”

I stood upon the castle’s peak terrace and voiced my impression.
The flames made it sweltering.

I glanced at Choi Han and Rosalind. Choi Han was rubbing the embroidery hanging from his chest.

One white star surrounded by five red stars.

The counterfeit Secret Organization uniform, now more refined and with increased mobility, still appeared cruder than the genuine article, but thanks to the handiwork of my butler Hans and Vicross, it looked less crude than before.

“Young Master, what shall we do?”

To Rosalind’s question, I answered without hesitation.

“First, let’s descend to the first floor while checking once more whether magical devices exist. With Rosalind and Raon, we should be able to examine more thoroughly. And we’ll also investigate the Empire’s true intentions.”

Everyone nodded, as it all made sense. I continued, examining the castle map Herrol had provided. The castle extended down to Basement Level 1.

“Let’s search for any treasures or valuable items while we’re at it.”

The two of them paused. Raon materialized in mid-air and cried out.

“As expected of you, human! I knew you’d say something like that!”

He answered with great enthusiasm. Choi Han glanced at Rosalind. He could see her smiling.

“You mean treasures, not money or food supplies?”
“Yes. You understand well, Rosalind.”

I left the money and food rations aside for the soldiers’ share and searched for something far more precious.

“I’ll do my best.”
“Yes, I’m counting on you, Rosalind.”
“What about me, human?”
“You too.”

Choi Han watched blankly as Kale, Rosalind, and Raon conversed while descending, then followed after them.
Kale began investigating Maple Castle.

However, there wasn’t much to investigate.

“Hmm, there are no magical device reactions so far.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”

Kale’s group, gathered in the castle’s main hall on the first floor, had found nothing of value.

“Still, let’s check the underground chamber.”

Rosalind nodded at Kale’s words. Now, setting aside the matter of treasures, both Kale and Rosalind expressed their doubts.

Did the Empire simply raise pillars of fire and leave?
It made no sense. Wouldn’t that be far too wasteful?

Rosalind opened her mouth.

“Shall we head down to the Underground Chamber right away?”
“No. Let’s first check the state of the pillar of fire before we go.”

Being on the first level, I could observe the pillar of fire up close.
The fire formed a columnar shape roughly seven meters in width. Because of this, even if the soldiers opened the first-level door, they could not see me.

I headed toward the entrance of the first-level hall.

‘Young Master, the moment you open the first-level door, the pillar of fire will be directly visible.’

Herrol’s words echoed in my mind.

“Young Master, be careful.”
“Lord Kale, allow me to open it.”

With Rosalind’s worried words, Choi Han stepped forward ahead of me toward the entrance door. He stood before a door roughly half the size of the massive main gate and looked back at me.

“Open it.”

At my command, Choi Han opened the door. As it swung open, the fire gradually came into view before my eyes. I swallowed hard.
He swallowed his saliva.

“Mm.”

Whoooosh.
With the roaring sound of the flames, a suffocating wave of heat washed over me.

“Lord Kale, you should step back. It’s far too hot.”

I shook my head at Choi Han’s words and stepped one pace closer to the entrance. Thanks to the ancient power ‘Vitality of the Heart,’ the heat was bearable despite its intensity. My expression grew grave.
Kale Heniatus’s expression grew serious.

“It’s stronger than before.”

I had expected the firepower to be weaker since the scale was smaller than the flames that had consumed Jungle Zone 1. But as I drew closer, I could feel the heat was far more intense than in the Jungle.

‘…This time, a massive deluge won’t be feasible.’

Kale’s brow furrowed—unlike before, he had no intention of summoning a tidal wave.
At that moment, wind swept through the entrance.

Whoooosh—
A scorching heat grazed past Kale, a suffocating wave of warmth that stole the breath from his lungs.

Kale instinctively moved to retreat from that inferno.
Even with a heart brimming with vitality, burns were not painless, were they?

It was then.

-Are you willing to sacrifice yourself?

Hm?
Kale halted his retreat. A voice resonated within his mind.

-Will you sacrifice and protect?

It was the voice of the Stone’s master.

‘Why is this suddenly emerging now?’

Since obtaining the Earth attribute, I had paid it no mind whatsoever. There was neither occasion nor desire to use it—not even a speck of interest.
My thoughts grew tangled. Then a hand grasped my arm.

“Kale.”

It was Choi Han.
In that moment of confusion, I responded coldly to him who had seized my arm.

“What?”
“Over there—”

Choi Han pointed awkwardly toward a location. My gaze followed his gesture, and his voice continued.

“Raon seems strange.”

Now that I thought about it, unlike usual, Raon had said nothing while watching me approach the flames. In fact, since arriving on Basement Level 1, Raon had been silent.
I finally turned to see Raon at the spot Choi Han indicated.

“…Why is he doing that?”

The bewilderment in my voice escaped my lips.

Sniff, sniff.
Raon had buried his face against the first floor and was sniffing loudly.

I stared at Raon, wondering what this was about. Then he suddenly lifted his head. Our eyes met.
The Black Dragon tapped the first floor with a thud.

“I smell something, I smell something!”

A smell?

“It’s the same smell I caught near the Black Swamp!”

The Black Swamp?
For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant. But in that brief instant, my eyes sharpened.

The Black Swamp.
The place where I had obtained the dragon bones and the ancient power—the aura of domination.
And the location where the Secret Organization had supplied dead mana liquid to the Mermaid Tribe.

The Black Dragon Raon spoke to me.

“It’s the smell of that dead dragon’s dead mana!”

The corners of my mouth lifted.

The Saint and Saint Maiden had said the dead mana bombs were in liquid form.
I had wondered where the Empire obtained that liquid, and it seemed the dead mana from the Black Swamp that the Secret Organization had once brought to the Mermaid Tribe had also made its way into the Empire.

My mouth opened.

“We’re going underground.”

Basement Level 1 of Maple Castle. There was something there that I coveted quite dearly.

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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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