Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 172

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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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Tap, tap, tap!
Rapid footsteps echoed through the watchtower.
Kale’s gaze turned toward the entrance of the watchtower.

“Kim Rok-soo.”

It was Lee Soo-hyuk.

“It seems tonight we’ll have to fight the Yellow-Haired Monster-”

His words, spoken at an even pace, came to an abrupt halt.
His hurried footsteps also stopped dead in their tracks.

“Why did you stop? Is something wrong at the watchtower-”

Park Jin-tae leaned his face forward beside Lee Soo-hyuk, then froze, his shoulders trembling.

“…You…”

In Park Jin-tae’s eyes was reflected the figure of Kim Rok-soo, his entire body trembling violently, his eyes drained of color by agony.
The expression on Choi Han’s face as he supported him was worse than it had ever been.

Yet the way he was supporting him seemed strangely familiar.

‘So that’s why he left so quickly—he was planning this all along?’

This gathering had been arranged to celebrate Kim Rok-soo’s birthday, yet he had hurried back to the watchtower.
The others, judging it to be concern about the approaching enemy, had quickly finished their meal and returned to their posts.

It was Park Jin-tae who had rushed to the watchtower following Lee Soo-hyuk when the alarm suddenly sounded.

But what he found was not the figure of a composed commander—instead, a young man wracked with pain, with only Choi Han at his side.

‘What is this?’

Why was he in such agony?
I had seen him exhausted and bleeding during the initial shelter battle.

But he wasn’t in pain like that.

‘Why—’

Why was Kim Rok-soo in such a state?
Park Jin-tae’s mind circled the same question repeatedly, but his lips remained sealed.

Tap. Tap.
Instead, his eyes caught Lee Soo-hyuk’s back as he approached Kim Rok-soo.

“Rok-soo.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression was calm as he called out softly to Kale.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Kale, who barely stood upright with Choi Han’s support, clutching at his chest.

Soon, Lee Soo-hyuk’s pace quickened.

“Kim Rok-soo.”

I met Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze as he addressed me by my full name.
Lee Soo-hyuk stood before me.

“Kim Rok-soo. I know you’re hiding something.”

I remained silent.
Instead, Choi Han and Park Jin-tae hesitated, reacting to Lee Soo-hyuk’s words.

“You’re the Kim Rok-soo I know, yet something about you has changed. I know that too.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s lips curved upward.

“But you should still say what needs to be said, shouldn’t you?”

I already knew that Lee Soo-hyuk was quite angry, despite his smile.

“You have to tell me if you’re in pain. Right? Rok-soo.”

Lee Soo-hyuk watched my lips slowly curve upward.
It was painfully clear that I was forcing a smile through the agony.

Weeee—beep—
All manner of warning alarms blended together.
Kale smiled and slowly opened his mouth.

“It feels as though my heart is being torn to shreds.”

Choi Han’s hand tightened, and Park Jin-tae unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut, turning away from Kim Rok-soo.
At that moment, another figure entered the watchtower.

“Commander! We’re moving the device to the City Wall and activating the defenses!”

It was Choi Jung-soo.
Since he wasn’t directly participating in combat like Kim Min-ah and Baepureom, he had come to the watchtower to relay news on behalf of the busy preparations, and he saw Kale’s appearance.
He drew in a sharp breath from behind Park Jin-tae.
But there was still someone in the same state as before.

“The method?”

Only Lee Soo-hyuk continued to ask with the corners of his mouth raised.
Kale gazed at the massive form approaching through the night mist in the distance at that question.

The approaching Yellow-Haired Monster.
And my own life.
The lives of everyone in Seomyeon Shelter.
The method to resolve all of it.

‘The Death God gave me a hint.’

【The humans who tried to save you, who should have originally died, broke the law that you must die.】

Humans can break laws and fate.
That is why Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Jung-soo died trying to save him.

‘This time, no one must die.’

Kale opened his mouth.

“I have stated that method repeatedly.”

Between ragged breaths, my voice emerged strained, yet its core remained unwavering.
Kale looked past Choi Jung-soo and Park Jin-tae toward Lee Soo-hyuk.

“No one dies, and we succeed in this hunt.”

That was one of the two methods I had to change fate.
Lee Soo-hyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“…Is that the answer?”
“Yes.”

Even at my response, he asked again.

“Are you certain?”

Are you certain that method is the right answer?
Lee Soo-hyuk asked, and he could see Kale smirk slightly.
Soon my face twisted, and my lips parted.

“To change fate, half-hearted conviction is insufficient.”

Certain?
This resolve goes far beyond that.
I spoke quietly.

“I will make it so.”

In that instant, Lee Soo-hyuk was arrested by Kim Rok-soo’s gaze.

“Absolutely.”

Unwavering eyes that held a ferocity capable of summoning a colossal tempest.

“Without exception.”

A voice that spat out each syllable as though grinding something between my teeth.

“Irrevocably.”

And a body standing rigid, ignoring the pain.
Finally, an unwavering gaze.

Without fail. Without exception. Absolutely.

“No one dies, and we succeed in this hunt.”

Kale uttered those words and then spoke to the others.

“Do you understand?”

Kale removed his hand from Choi Han’s shoulder and stood alone.

“Everyone, return to your positions.”

And he added casually.

“And I’ll conceal my condition as much as possible.”

Choi Jung-soo’s face twisted as he listened. He heard Park Jin-tae’s irritated voice.

“Can you really hide something like that?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!”

Park Jin-tae scoffed at Kale’s answer. But he said nothing more.

He understood the chaos that would ensue if it became known that the commander was in a state where even standing properly was difficult, let alone fighting.

Both Kale and everyone here knew this truth.

Wheeee—
Kale drew a whistle from his pocket and blew into it.
But the one he sought to summon with the whistle was already approaching him.

“Little brother!”

It was Steel Hawk.
She drew near the watchtower and thrust her face toward Kale.

“Oh no! Why does our little brother look like that? Did someone poison him?”

Steel Hawk examined Kale in alarm.

“Let’s go first.”

Lee Soo-hyuk was the first to turn his back on Kale.

“We’ll talk later, Rok-soo.”
“Damn it!”

Park Jin-tae kicked the watchtower pillar for no reason and followed Lee Soo-hyuk. He had already drawn his gun from his pocket.

Choi Jung-soo tried to follow as well.

“Wait.”

Someone called out to him. Choi Jung-soo turned his head.
Choi Han gestured to him.

“What is it?”

Kale looked at Choi Han with confusion. He had suddenly stopped Choi Jung-soo in his tracks.
Choi Han grabbed Choi Jung-soo’s shoulder as he approached and spoke to both of them.

“Choi Jung-soo, come with us.”

Originally, only Kale and Choi Han were supposed to ride on Steel Hawk.

“…You.”
“It needs to look fine to others’ eyes. Didn’t your brother Rok-soo say that?”

Choi Han cut off Kale’s words before he could speak.

“If Steel Hawk’s back shows any sign of falling or shaking, it would be good if Choi Jung-soo helped ensure he doesn’t fall.”
“…Choi Han.”
“We’re running out of time.”

Whiiiiiing—!
The Yellow-Haired Monster had drawn considerably closer than before.
Meanwhile, lights flickered to life across the City Wall, and from the Watchtower above, I could see people moving about in various locations.

“Let’s go.”

Kale ultimately followed Choi Han’s wishes and headed toward Steel Hawk, bringing Choi Jung-soo along.

“Brother, you don’t need treatment?”
“I’m fine, Sister.”

Kale answered Steel Hawk’s worried voice with composure, then slowly climbed onto her back.

‘Ugh!’

Despite moving as slowly as possible, my heart ached.
More precisely, it was a pain as if my body and soul were twisting against each other, failing to align properly.

‘Perhaps the White Star is doing something to my body right now.’

The aftereffects had reached me, this body.

“Ah.”

Choi Jung-soo stepped forward, trying to help Kale, who was moving with difficulty.
But his shoulder was pulled back, and he heard Choi Han’s voice near his ear.
It was spoken quietly enough for only him to hear.

“Make sure you hold onto Kim Rok-soo carefully so he doesn’t fall into danger.”

It was an abrupt shift to informal speech. Yet Choi Jung-soo found it not entirely uncomfortable, so he nodded and opened his mouth.

“Understood—”
“And.”

Choi Jung-soo’s gaze turned toward Choi Han.

“If it seems like your lives are in danger, retreat together with Kim Rok-soo.”

Choi Jung-soo caught a glimpse of someone in Choi Han’s eyes.
His father and mother, who had worried about him as he traveled to Seoul for his university practical exam, came to mind.
And the stern gaze of his grandfather as well.

The owner of those eyes, clearly younger than him yet bearing the weight of years, spoke to Choi Jung-soo.

“You cannot die. Absolutely not.”

Choi Jung-soo found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Choi Han then asked him.

“Do you understand?”

Choi Jung-soo barely managed to open his mouth.

“…I understand.”

A soft chuckle escaped.
In that moment, Choi Han laughed. When Choi Jung-soo froze at the sight.

“Use formal speech.”
“…Huh? Yes?”

Choi Jung-soo responded blankly to Choi Han’s abrupt remark. Choi Han placed a hand on top of Choi Jung-soo’s head.

“Well, casual speech looks nice too because it feels closer.”

Then he ruffled Choi Jung-soo’s hair.

“Huh?”

Choi Jung-soo stared at him with bewildered eyes, but Choi Han paid no mind and pushed his back.
Before he knew it, Choi Jung-soo found himself positioned directly behind Kale.
Choi Han sat behind him, and the moment the three of them settled onto Steel Hawk’s back, she began ascending into the sky once more.

“Let’s go!”

As Steel Hawk cut through the night mist and surged toward her destination.
From below, Heo Sook-ja cried out from atop the City Wall.

“Illuminate the enemy!”

Every light from within the Castle and along the City Wall pivoted in unison toward a single point.
Abilities, electricity—all of it converged into a torrent of illumination.

“Shine on the Yellow-Haired Monster!”

The beams converged upon the creature.
And there, emerging from the mist, its form was revealed.

Steel Hawk, who had drawn closest to the monster.
Kale’s lips parted from where he sat upon her back.

“Heh heh.”

A low chuckle escaped him.

“…How troublesome.”

Choi Jung-soo exhaled a sigh.
At the same moment, Choi Han spoke.

“This will indeed be difficult.”
“It will be.”

The Yellow-Haired Monster had transformed.
No—it had vanished.

A colossal creature with towering blue horns, its scales striped in patterns of blue and yellow light.
Dragon-like in every way save the inability to take flight, it fixed its gaze upon Steel Hawk—upon Kale.

The Yellow-Haired Monster had devoured the Blue-Haired Monster.

“Has it truly absorbed its abilities as well?”

Choi Jung-soo murmured in an anxious tone.
Steel Hawk’s mouth opened.

“Not just its abilities—its body appears larger than before too.”

The Yellow-Haired Monster’s body swelled to 1.5 times its original size.
Steel Hawk and Choi Jung-soo both felt it.
Even those who had seen the Yellow-Haired Monster before.
And those facing an unranked monster for the first time.
None dared to speak carelessly.

There was no choice.

Screeeee—
Kyaaa, kyayaya!

When an unranked monster appeared, the nearby monsters filled with something indistinguishable between fear and rage, causing chaos all around.
The sounds of that chaos echoed from every direction.

“…Truly.”

Kim Woo, standing atop the City Wall, spoke as he sensed all of this.

“His prediction was truly correct.”

Kim Rok-soo had said it.
There was a high probability that the Yellow-Haired Monster would change.

‘The Blue-Haired Monster. It’s a creature that deliberately tore off the horned section and put it in its mouth before fleeing. It could be an act of familial affection, but the probability of it being otherwise is high. We must consider all variables.’

One of those variables was the assumption about the Yellow-Haired Monster absorbing the Blue-Haired Monster’s power.
Kim Woo’s gaze naturally lifted toward the sky.
It wasn’t only him.
Everyone looked upward, searching for Steel Hawk.

Because the beginning of every battle would start there.

And Kale, positioned in the sky, gazed impassively at the Yellow-Haired Monster staring at him, rather than at the people’s gazes.

Tsssssss—

The monster growled lowly, glaring at Kale.
Then Choi Han’s voice reached Kale from behind.

“How long will the pain last?”

Kale answered indifferently.

“I don’t know.”

At his nonchalant response, Choi Jung-soo’s face contorted.
He could see Kale trembling all over, breathing in ragged gasps.

“But soon.”

Choi Jung-soo listened to Kale’s voice as he observed the unwavering straightness of his back.

“It will definitely subside soon.”

Kale was certain it would be so.

Because his comrades would have begun to move.
He trusted in the abilities of his comrades who were elsewhere.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”

Therefore, Kale could not stop.

“Go.”
“I will return.”

Choi Han kicked off Steel Hawk and began to plummet downward.
At the same time, he drew his sword.

Whoooosh!
A black aura, more violent than ever before, surged upward as if piercing through the heavens.
The moment that black signal flare entered people’s eyes.

“Open the City Gate.”

Screeeech.
The City Gate swung open, and Lee Soo-hyuk, Kim Min-ah, and Mr. Rabbit stepped outside.
Behind them, representatives from each region and hundreds of warriors followed in their wake.

* * *

Albert Crossman lifted his gaze.
Beyond his helmet, the starlit darkness of night stretched before him.

Today, Albert Crossman wore plain black armor stripped of Rowan’s insignia.
Not as the Crown Prince, but as a comrade—as an older brother—he had come to this place.
He looked down below.

The Sinkhole, now free of the black barrier.
He gazed into the vast Sinkhole where the Endable Kingdom lay and opened his mouth.

“Everyone, descend.”

Kale’s companions stepped into the Sinkhole without hesitation.

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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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