Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 15

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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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“Young master, are you going?”

The moment Ron attached himself to Cale as they stepped out of the carriage, Cale answered without much interest.

“Of course I’m going. Who else would?”

Ron and the Vice-Captain immediately followed Cale as he headed toward the scene without hesitation. They flanked him with impressive coordination, though Cale paid it little mind.

A man descended slowly from the carriage—Benion Sten.
The moment I saw him, my brow furrowed deeply. The assessment my father, Count Derth, had given me of Benion Sten’s character was merely a single line.

【A typical, authoritarian nobleman.】

Furthermore, I—Cale, Kim Rok-soo—had evaluated him in “The Birth of a Hero” as follows.

A typical villain.
But confronting a typical villain in reality rather than in a book was quite troublesome. I couldn’t beat someone senseless like Choi Han did, without rhyme or reason, simply because I disliked them or thought they were doing something wrong.

By the time I arrived at the scene, the incident had already progressed considerably. In just a few short minutes, Choi Han had become furious, his shoulders trembling with rage.

“How can you block the path of such a noble person?”
“Someone nearly got hurt just now—how can you say that? Who blocked whom? It was your carriage that was driven recklessly in the first place, causing this mess!”
“When you see a noble’s carriage, you should yield. It’s that foolish commoner’s stupidity for standing there like an idiot!”

Benion’s subordinate and Choi Han were arguing, and Hans, who stood beside the furious Choi Han, approached me with an awkward expression. Then he whispered near my ear.

“It seems Choi Han is quite agitated.”

Hans had apparently already identified the carriage and recognized its owner as someone from the Marquis’s house. And Benion, the master of the subordinate now venting his anger, seemed to have also recognized the other party’s identity.
Upon seeing the crest of the Heniatus Count Estate on the carriage, that noble must have stepped out.

“That’s enough.”

Benion, a man with brilliant golden hair, spoke gently to his subordinate. The subordinate immediately fell back behind Benion as if he’d never been angry at all. Only Choi Han remained, soothing the startled elderly man while still seething.

Tsk. I clicked my tongue.

Soo-ah wasn’t angry. Even from that considerable distance, he would have spotted the carriage bearing the golden turtle emblem just as Hans had. He’d likely reacted with exaggerated fury toward Choi Han’s accusations. Hans, understanding this, had waited for me with an awkward expression.
I placed a hand on Choi Han’s shoulder as he glared at Benion and Soo-ah.

“That’s enough.”
“But—!”

I understood why Choi Han was angry. This place resembled Harris Village, his second home. He was furious at their casual indifference after nearly endangering a life there, and at their refusal to apologize to the Elderly Man.

Yet the actual victim, the Elderly Man, couldn’t bring himself to be angry. He lacked the martial prowess that Choi Han possessed.

“There was clearly another route available, yet you didn’t avoid it and nearly injured someone. How can you just leave it like this—”
“Choi Han.”

I pressed down firmly on Choi Han’s shoulder.

“Calm yourself.”

I gazed steadily into Choi Han’s dark eyes. I watched as his anger—or more precisely, the memories of Harris Village that had consumed him—gradually subsided.
Once I confirmed this, I turned my head without hesitation to face Benion Sten.

Brilliant golden hair framed a serene smile. An immaculate suit pressed without a single wrinkle. Shoes polished to perfection. Yet what captured my attention was the faint crimson stain at the cuff of his white shirt sleeve.

‘Blood must have splattered while watching the Black Dragon tortured.’

A madman. Benion Sten was the kind of person who ate while watching a torturer whip the Black Dragon’s skin until it was covered in blood.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Are you from the Heniatus Count Family?”
“Yes, a pleasure. Young Master Benion Sten.”

As expected, he already knew who I was. Benion hadn’t simply inherited his successor’s position through luck. The problem was merely that he was rather disagreeable.

“Mm.”

Some people wore seemingly pleasant smiles, yet there was something truly disagreeable about them. Benion was one such person.

“I rarely attend gatherings in the neighboring territories, so I’ve only heard rumors. I’ve heard there’s someone in the Count’s household who is rather free-spirited and lacks proper aristocratic bearing.”

He smiled brightly while appraising me from head to toe. His gaze was disagreeable, yet his expression was ambiguous enough that it would be difficult to take issue with it.

“Since the year before last, you’ve been providing venues for banquets and gatherings of Northeast Region nobility in place of Young Master Basen Heniatus—”

Asking when he already knew the answer. Cale had no talent for such conversations. So he smiled brightly and answered politely.

“Yes, that reckless fool is me.”

Reckless fool. The moment those words left Cale’s mouth directly, Benion’s subordinate faltered.

“A rather well-known reckless fool at that, I’d say.”

Benion’s lips twisted in a mocking sneer. His expression suggested he’d never encountered such an unhinged person before, but Cale paid it no mind.

The Sten Marquis House. Impressive enough to lead a faction, but even so, someone who hadn’t yet received formal recognition as a minor family head couldn’t simply handle a noble without rank according to his own whims.

The Marquis was remarkably cold-blooded. Typically, once someone became a minor family head, they’d publicly declare it for protection and authority. But the Marquis had not.

‘There are still five of them.’

Benion had two younger sisters and one younger brother beneath him, and the Marquis enjoyed watching them compete. That stress led Benion to take pleasure in observing the black dragon’s torture. The Marquis viewed his sons’ competition as entertaining spectacle. Naturally, the eldest son who fell behind in that competition had become crippled. A household spiraling into madness. By comparison, how fortunate was our Heniatus Count Family.
Compared to that madhouse of a family, how wonderful our Heniatus Count Family is.

“You’re quite an interesting person.”

A wealthy Count’s House belonging to no faction, stubbornly enduring in the outer reaches of the Northeast Region. Who would dare make an enemy of them? Rather, if anything, one would covet them.
A wealthy Count’s Household that belonged to no faction and stubbornly endured on the outskirts of the Northeast Region. Who would dare to make an enemy of such a place? Rather, if anyone coveted it, they simply coveted it.

Yet Benion offered a noble resolution to this matter.
However, Benion gracefully handed over the solution to this matter.

I was delayed for a moment due to an unforeseen obstacle, but still, I find myself thinking that it turned out to be quite a good thing to be able to greet you like this. I’ve also gotten to know Prince Kale.

An unexpected obstacle. The Elderly Man. Benion only regretted that time had been delayed because of the Elderly Man. Moreover, he wanted to finish this matter on a good note.

“And I think Suha should be educated to properly distinguish between those who are qualified to run on the road, on this land, and those who are qualified to stop.”

Of course, Cale listened quietly, but he was a man who paid no heed to nonsense.
Of course, Kale was listening quietly, but he was the type of person who didn’t pay attention to nonsense.

Benion finished speaking and looked at the person who seemed most anxious in the room.

Thump. The Elderly Man who received that gaze dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

“I-I’m terribly sorry.”

The Elderly Man’s hands trembled as he bent so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground. Watching this, Choi Han’s hands trembled as well.

The demeanor of commoners varied drastically depending on the temperament of the noble who governed each territory. This Count’s Estate, no different from a dog of the Sten Marquis House, had inherited that same disposition—exceedingly aristocratic and authoritarian.

Benion’s lips curled into a satisfied, languid smile. He was pleased. I watched him intently and called out to him.

“Young Master Benion.”

I turned to face him and asked.

“Is it finished?”
“…Yes, it is.”

I crouched down. The fabric of my expensive garments touched the ground. I stared at the trembling hands.

‘This could turn into something serious.’

I heard it clearly.

Whoosh.
The sound of Choi Han drawing a deep breath. That was unmistakably the sound of someone restraining their rage.
The sound of Choi Han taking a deep breath. That was clearly the sound of someone holding back their anger.

Cale placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder. Bennion’s eyebrows twitched. The nobleman’s hand rested on the commoner’s shoulder.

“Old man.”

The old man raised his head in surprise and looked at Cale.

“Yes, yes?”

Cale asked indifferently.

“Where is the bar?”
“Where’s the Tavern?”
“Pardon?”

Cale raised the old man’s upper body. Benion, who was watching this, sighed silently and shook his head at the mention of alcohol.

“Guide me.”

Cale made eye contact with the old man, who was looking at him with trembling eyes, and spoke with his brows furrowed.

“Aren’t you getting up?”

The old man hesitated and looked back and forth between Cale and Benion. However, Cale ignored those gazes and stood up, extending the hand he had placed on the commoner’s shoulder to Bennion.

“It was a pleasure to meet you today, Prince Benion.”

Cale offered to shake hands.
Cale offered his hand for a handshake.

“Lord Soga, there is a long delay now.”
“Young Master, we’ve already fallen quite behind schedule.”

Bennion looked down at the servant with an unsmiling face, and the servant bowed. Bennion smiled and held Cale’s hand.

“I’m busy, so let’s go.”

And then I let go. It was a very short handshake. Cale said, grinning like a drunk person.

“If we get a chance to meet in the capital, let’s have a drink.”
“If we get the chance to meet in the Capital next time, let’s share a drink.”

The smile he gave seemed somewhat withered. Kale decorated the last part in a refreshing way to show off that wilted smile.

“Yes, seeing you today, it seems that the only person who will become the head of the Marquess of Sten is Prince Bennion. He is a very wonderful person.”

house owner. Benion’s eyes lit up at those words. As Cale expected, Benion smiled softly again and gave Cale a compliment.

“Confucius Cale also seems like a cheerful and very free-spirited person. See you next time.”

No, I don’t plan on ever seeing you again. Even if you see it, you will see it from a distance. Cale nodded, hiding his true feelings, and Bennion seemed to be really busy as he got into the carriage and left immediately.
No, I have absolutely no intention of meeting him. Even if I do, I’ll keep my distance. Cale nodded while concealing his true thoughts, and Benion, seemingly quite busy, climbed into the carriage and promptly departed.

“Half of the nobles are like that.”

Choi Han’s shoulders flinched at the crude words he spoke, but Cale was already crouching down in front of the old man again.

“Old man, can’t you get up? Did you hurt your leg?”

Contrary to the words he blurted out, Cale keenly looked at every part of the old man’s body. Cale, who had a sullen expression on his face again as he could not see a single bruise, looked at the old man with a blank expression. And I called Choi Han.

“Choi Han.”

Instead of answering, Choi Han only looked at the back of Cale’s head, who was squatting.

“You take this old man to me.”
“Take this elder to his home.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I can guide you to the tavern instead.”

After stopping the old man who was trying to show him around the bar, Cale turned around and looked up at Choi Han, who was standing silently.

“Because you saved me. From now on, just take me safely to the end.”

Choi Han’s mouth closed and opened repeatedly, unable to open his mouth willingly. At that time, the old man’s voice reached Cale’s ears.

“Our house sells alcohol.”
“Our home happens to sell alcohol.”

The old man smiled awkwardly at Cale, who widened his eyes as if he was truly surprised, but continued speaking with a more relaxed look on his face.

“Yes, it is the only inn in this town. It also doubles as a bar and restaurant.”
“Yes, it’s the only inn in this village. We also operate a tavern and restaurant.”

Even without Cale saying anything, Hans went to the old man’s side as he stood up, supported him, and asked about the inn. Starting with that movement, the surroundings began to become bustling.

Ron came over and brushed off Cale’s dirt-stained clothes. Then, following the vice-captain, he headed to the village entrance where the rest of the group was. Now the only people left here were Cale and Choi Han.

“…Kale.”
“…Cale.”
“What?”
“Aren’t you angry?”

Choi Han paused again and was unable to continue speaking. Cale shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth.

“For ignoring me? Or for giving you such ridiculous advice? For almost killing that old man, but instead calling it an obstacle?”

Cale’s voice was calm and calm. It wasn’t an angry voice at all. Rather, it was dull. Cale continued.

“Do you have to run when there is someone in front of you? Why don’t you dodge? Didn’t this old man almost get hurt? How can you be confident and say it’s an obstacle when you almost killed someone?”

Choi Han watched Cale closely as he gazed at the distant mountains. At the same time, I listened to his voice.

“Why are you getting an apology from an old man? Apologize properly.”

[UNTRANSLATED LINE 249]

“I’m the type of person who can’t say that. I don’t want to say it. I’m not angry.”

But not now. Cale knew that this aspect of Choi Han made him look cool, but he didn’t want to look that cool himself.
But not now. I knew that this quality of Choi Han’s made him appear admirable, yet I had no desire to appear that way myself.

“Acting like myself is the trick I have learned in life.”

Compromise moderately with power, and moderately accept irrationality. And yet, to some extent, I live as I please. Cale smiled at Choi Han, who was looking at her with complicated eyes.

“and.”

Also, if Kale was ignored or something bothered him, he always made sure to pay it forward someday, really someday.

[UNTRANSLATED LINE 264]
“That bastard will probably be cast out from the household soon.”

I knew who that bastard was without even asking. So Choi Han looked at Cale with a rare expression of surprise on his face.
There was no need to ask who “that bastard” was. So Choi Han’s face openly displayed his rare surprise as he looked at me.
A sinister smile spread across my lips. Two cats approaching from the distance stopped in their tracks.

‘I’m going to steal that bastard’s dragon.’

After stealing the dragon, Bennion will be greatly angered by the Marquis, and obstacles will arise on his way to becoming the head of the family. When you have to stop along the way, shouldn’t someone who doesn’t know when to stop and runs without seeing the road blocked at least once?
Once I stole the dragon, Benion would incur the Marquis’s wrath, and obstacles would arise on his path to becoming the family head. When one must stop but continues running without knowing it, shouldn’t such a person experience the road being blocked at least once?
I was more than willing to place a considerable obstacle in Benion’s way. Of course, secretly.

“If you’re curious, you can help me a little.”
“If you’re curious, you just need to help me a little.”

A smile also appeared on Choi Han’s lips. It was a mischievous smile that did not fit the good atmosphere, and the cats came to me with a very interesting face.
A smile bloomed at the corners of Choi Han’s lips—a mischievous grin that didn’t suit his noble demeanor. At that smile, the cats approached with quite intrigued expressions.

“You won’t regret it if you do it.”

I think I will be able to repay you right away this time.

“clearly.”

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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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