Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 150

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 34. To the Empire

-I’m probably a very annoying human to the Empire’s people.

Why was the Crown Prince suddenly engaging in self-criticism?
Kale Heniatus waited silently for the Crown Prince’s next words, who had suddenly uttered such an unexpected remark about going to the Empire.

The Crown Prince, smiling brightly, appeared quite cheerful.

‘I’ve never seen the Crown Prince make such an expression before.’

For some reason, Kale felt uneasy.

-I was a righteous and passionate Crown Prince who was running about trying to find the magical bomb terrorist organization that had attempted to commit cruel acts against our Roan Kingdom.

Kale’s expression grew even more displeased.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Alberu’s expression only grew brighter, as if he were greatly amused.

-Like a Crown Prince who made it his life’s goal to eliminate such wicked people from the Western Continent rather than worry about how the world turns. And one who showed strong solidarity with the Empire, who had suffered similar pain, and spoke with determination to find the culprits together with them.

Unable to bear it any longer, Kale opened his mouth.

“The Empire must have found you quite troublesome.”
-Yes. It was enjoyable.

Crown Prince Alberu smiled brightly before Kale for the first time in a long while. Kale averted his gaze from that smile, thinking that the Empire must have been quite bewildered as well.

The Roan Kingdom.
Neither strong nor weak—merely an ordinary kingdom. Yet it was a kingdom that had maintained its history on the Western Continent for quite a long time.

If that kingdom’s promising Crown Prince were to speak with such righteousness, the Empire could neither ignore him nor join in proclaiming justice alongside him.

‘Because they were accomplices.’

Neither Kale nor the Crown Prince could be certain whether the Mogur Empire had participated in the Secret Organization’s magical bomb terrorist attack on the Roan Kingdom Capital.

However, the Empire had one foot in the Secret Organization’s terrorism directed at the Sun God Church, and they had also attempted to kill the Saint and Saint Maiden.

That’s why they wanted to sweep the bombing incident under the rug as much as possible.
But this passionate Crown Prince kept bringing it up, which must be infuriating.

However, Crown Prince Alberu was acting that way precisely to hide his cooperation with other kingdoms.

“But what does that have to do with this matter?”
-While I’m putting on such an act, you know.

Kale Heniatus shook his head at the Crown Prince’s words.

“Acting? Your Highness is not that kind of person. You are righteous and virtuous.”
-Stop spouting nonsense.

The Crown Prince’s face crumpled, and Kale fell silent. Alberu spoke to someone even worse than him.

-Anyway, I’ve been requesting an on-site investigation day and night.
“An on-site investigation?”
-Yes. I said I wanted to find even the slightest clue, that I wanted to examine the Sun God Sect Cathedral where the explosion occurred and the plaza in front of it. I kept suggesting it even during the war.
“Won’t the Empire be angry?”
-I approached it carefully.

Of course he’d approached it carefully. Kale suppressed a hollow laugh and asked.

“Since you contacted me, it seems the Empire has somehow approved the on-site investigation?”
-It’s been over a year now. I think they approved it because they believed there was nothing for me to find.

The Crown Prince tapped the table and spoke to Kale.

-While you’re there examining the cathedral, you might as well take a look at the Alchemy Tower, right?

It wasn’t good at all.
My scalp had been tingling since earlier—something felt off.

“Isn’t the Empire already in a tense mood after losing a castle to the Wipper Kingdom?”
-Tense indeed. So perhaps the Empire is cooperating with the Roan Kingdom’s bombing investigation to divert the people’s attention.

The Crown Prince stared intently at Kale and opened his mouth.

-The Empire probably already seized everything they could from the Religious Order under the guise of investigation. Right?
“…Yes, Your Highness?”
-Are the Saint and Saint Maiden doing well?
“They’re doing w-”

Kale Heniatus closed his mouth as a sudden thought occurred to him. Soon, a smile bloomed at the corners of his lips.

“Your Highness.”
-Yes.

The Crown Prince urged him forward, noticing that the reluctance had vanished from Kale Heniatus’s expression.

“Do you think there might be hidden treasures within the Religious Order?”
-Why? Do you think there won’t be?

Not at all.
I had a strong feeling there would be.
This was the intuition of someone who had spent years reading fantasy novels.

The Sun God Church, which had endured as the state religion of the Empire for centuries.
Some of its precious treasures were surely hidden somewhere. The Empire had not yet destroyed the Religious Order’s buildings that remained untouched by the explosion’s aftermath.

Raon’s voice reached me from the corner where he had been listening quietly.

-Human, human! Treasure hunt? I’m good at finding treasure!

The corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth rose higher and higher.

No matter how dull the Saint was or how much the Saint Maiden harbored ill will toward the Religious Order-

‘They would know about secret spaces, wouldn’t they?’

Alberu’s voice reached Kale Heniatus as he organized his thoughts.

-Fifty-fifty.

Kale Heniatus’s eyes turned toward Alberu.

-I was being quite generous.
“You’re not turning it over to the Royal Court?”
-I’ll turn it over to the Royal Court and get paid for it. Last time, I had to spend a fortune of my own money on potion costs.

Raon’s voice echoed once more in Kale’s mind.

-Human, you laugh exactly like the Crown Prince! You’re doing it again!

Kale pushed himself away from the backrest and asked the Crown Prince a question.

“When will it be?”
-December. He said we should enjoy the year-end celebration together in late December. It seems he wanted to display his power in his own way.
“Display power? Isn’t the Empire still hiding all its strength right now?”

Even when fighting Tunka, the Empire had thoroughly concealed its core forces, including alchemy. It was truly laughable.

-In any case, we depart for the Empire in early December.

It was currently mid-November, the beginning of winter.
Kale prepared to close the video communication device and left a parting message for Alberu.

“I shall see you in the Capital.”

True to form, Alberu ended the video communication the moment he heard Kale’s response. He was indeed a consistent Crown Prince.

* * *

Kale moved faster than the rest of the group, accompanied by Raon and Choi Han.
He now stood face to face with his father, Derth, in the lord’s office of Heniatus Territory Castle. It had been a long time since he’d visited the castle.

“Father.”
“Yes.”

Count Derth’s smile never faded as he looked upon his son’s face after so long.
The Count believed that Kale had been holed up in the Harris Village villa and had only recently left for another country to carry out the Crown Prince’s orders.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Speak freely.”

Kale Heniatus had a reason for arriving at the fiefdom before the others.

“I intend to bring some people I know to the fiefdom.”

People he knew.
Naturally, they were from the Tiger Tribe. Their massive frames and considerable numbers made it more troublesome and difficult to hide them from the lord.

Count Derth observed the worry etched across his son’s face and opened his mouth.

“How many?”
“About twenty. They are pitiful souls who have lost their homes.”
“Are they in family units?”
“Yes.”

Hmm.
Count Derth swallowed hard.
Early winter. Wanderers who had lost their homes. Surely they were those who had fled without even completing the autumn harvest.

“There are adults, children, and elderly among them.”

At Kale’s continued words, the furrow between Count Derth’s brows deepened.
Wretched souls trembling as they searched for a new home.

A hollow feeling inexplicably stirred within him, and Count Derth took a sip of tea. As the warmth of the drink settled in his chest, he regarded his son Kale.
He understood well why his son wished to bring them here. Indeed, our son possessed a generous heart.

Kale observed his father’s reaction and spoke with the utmost pity.

“Father, I would like to resettle those people in Harris Village. Would that be possible?”

Accepting and sending away residents was strictly within the lord’s domain. Kale was careful, as he was not merely bringing one or two guests of his own, but rather granting them an entirely new home.

‘But he will grant permission.’

Given Count Derth’s nature, I thought he would not refuse. The Count’s lips slowly parted.

“That is difficult.”

Kale faltered.

“Pardon?”

I hadn’t expected him to refuse.
Kale Heniatus truly hadn’t anticipated this. Then, Count Derth’s voice continued.

“Harris Village is the northernmost point of our territory. Isn’t it the case that the Northern 3 Nations are expected to descend come spring?”

Count Derth considered himself a materialistic man, yet he still harbored affection for those within his domain.

“Therefore, I intend to relocate the residents of the northern region before spring arrives. I cannot leave those who would become my subjects in such a perilous place.”

With a tap, Derth set the teacup down on the table and spoke.

“Bring those you’ve taken in to the Lord’s Castle. I shall provide them shelter.”

Kale said nothing and simply gazed at Count Derth. The Count opened his mouth once more at his expression.

“You need not worry about other matters. Our territory has always been rich in mines and flourishing in the arts—we harbor little prejudice against outsiders, do we not? And with the repairs to the City Wall, it has only grown larger. As for the expenses, I shall bear them—”
“Father.”

Kale carefully interrupted Count Derth’s seemingly endless words.

“They are the Tiger Tribe.”
“Hmm?”
“The Tiger Tribe.”

Wondering why the Tiger Tribe was suddenly mentioned, Count Derth regarded his son.

“Father, those I bring are of the Tiger Tribe.”

Kale offered Count Derth, who seemed momentarily bewildered, a courteous explanation.

“They are exceptionally strong. Their combat prowess is considerable as a military asset. They have lost their homeland and were wandering, so I wished to bring them here.”

After a long moment, Count Derth’s mouth opened.

“Excellent.”
“Yes.”

Kale accepted the Count’s praise with equanimity.

“Father. Harris Village has already been restored, and there are residents from the territory who have relocated there, are there not? The Tiger Tribe also prefers to be near the forest. I believe they would be pleased if we granted them that village as a settlement.”
“Indeed, indeed.”

The Count nodded repeatedly before speaking.
A smile played at the Count’s lips—subtly different from before. Raon, who had been observing their conversation while invisible, spoke into Kale’s mind.

-Human, the Count is smiling just like when he was deceiving you! How fascinating! They’re so similar!

Kale let the words wash over him like background music now. As lord, the Count issued instructions to his son.

“I entrust that matter to you.”
“Understood.”

Kale concluded the Tiger Tribe matter and conversed with the Count a while longer before rising from his seat. As he turned toward the office door, Count Derth spoke to him.

“No matter how busy you become, show your face from time to time. Your mother and siblings await you.”
“I understand. I’ll make sure to spend the new year in the territory.”
“Good.”

Kale left the office.
Kim Rok-soo, now Kale. The long years without a family bound by blood made such moments feel slightly awkward for him.

Yet there was no time to dwell on such discomfort.

Kale visited the tea shop within the castle for the first time in ages.

【The Fragrance of Tea with Poetry】

It was a tea shop operated by Bilos, the illegitimate son of the Flynn Merchant Guild. After he departed for the Capital, staff had managed the establishment, yet it still held its place.

And today, the proprietor had returned to his shop for the first time in a long while.

“It has been some time.”
“I trust you have been well, Young Master?”

Bilos’s face, resembling a pig-shaped piggy bank, radiated delight.
With the magical device Kale had given him and the spoils from the Wipper Kingdom’s civil war, he was steadily expanding his influence within the Flynn Merchant Guild.

“I’ve been managing well enough. I didn’t expect you to come right away when I reached out.”
“I was nearby. When you call, I must come immediately.”

Bilos spoke his honest heart. There was no choice in the matter—Kale Heniatus never summoned without purpose, never wasted words on idle talk.

A merchant’s instinct had stirred within him.
Every time Kale Heniatus called, something momentous erupted.
Curious about what it might be this time, Bilos had rushed over immediately.

Kale Heniatus’s lips parted slowly.

“Let’s go to the Empire for a bit.”
“…The Empire?”

Bilos showed no surprise. He had prepared himself to accept whatever was proposed.
To such a man, Kale Heniatus continued in a measured tone.

“Yes. But do you know any alchemists?”
“…Pardon?”

Tap. Tap.
Kale Heniatus drummed his fingers on the tea shop table as he spoke. His tone was monotone.

“There must certainly be alchemists who failed to join the Alchemy Tower and were cast aside. Like in the Wipper Kingdom.”

Like in the Wipper Kingdom.
In those days when the Magic Tower held dominion, there were mages from the Wipper Kingdom who had grown weary of the Magic Tower’s cruel experiments and its oppression of the kingdom’s people, and had left. There were also those who had suggested reforms to the Magic Tower only to be driven out.

The Alchemy Tower kept silent about it, but it currently conducted cruel experiments.
Surely there were righteous and steadfast individuals who had resisted or could not endure such things and had departed.

Kale Heniatus watched as Bilos opened his mouth. Bilos spoke.

“Even if I don’t know any, I will find them.”
“Good. That’s the answer I wanted to hear.”

Their conversation had aligned perfectly. Bilos asked cautiously of the satisfied Kale Heniatus.

“But what do you intend to do once you find that alchemist?”
“Put them to work.”
“…Pardon?”

Kale Heniatus ignored Bilos’s question and spoke his mind.

“Do you know where to purchase alchemy materials?”
“…There are plenty in the Empire.”
“Then stock up on everything I mentioned.”
“…Y-yes, understood.”

Raon’s voice echoed through my mind.

-Human! Can we make that pillar of fire too?

The thousand-year-old Dragon possessed considerable expertise in alchemy as well. Upon seeing the liquid that had created the pillar of fire, Erhafen had remarked:

‘Hmm, these humans have created something quite fascinating.’

The intrigued Erhafen was now secluded in his Rare, conducting research.
I intended to gather everything necessary while visiting the Empire.

-Human, this will be entertaining!

If the Empire could create it, there was no reason we could not.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————