Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 177

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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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As soon as dawn broke, Kale’s group scattered. They agreed to reunite at the Plaza when the sun set.

‘I’m curious about the magic of the North. I’ll visit the Royal Library.’
‘Kale, I’ll procure a sword for you.’

Rosalind headed to the Royal Library, Choi Han to the weapon shop, and the two members of the Whale Tribe disappeared into the festival—each carrying out their own tasks alongside Kale’s instructions.

That left three children with an average age of nine years old in Kale’s care.

“…Human, am I really allowed to keep eating?”

I could see Raon’s affectionate smile.

“Of course.”

I answered gently and offered Raon a premium Northern beef steak. Then I wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth.

The Black Dragon’s gaze was rather skeptical, but he ate the steak nonetheless.

In the private room on the 5th floor of a five-story restaurant near the Plaza, I handed a slice of cake and rosé pasta to Hong and On respectively.

Hong eagerly devoured the cake, but On tilted her head in confusion.

“…Something’s off. You’re pretending to be kind.”

I paused at On’s words, but soon broke into a radiant smile.

“That can’t be. You need to eat well to grow strong.”

On eventually nibbled on a strand of pasta while observing me. But Hong and Raon were too absorbed in eating to notice.

Without needing to pretend to be mute or turn invisible, eating freely in the private room while watching the Plaza—for nine-year-olds on average, it was pure joy.

Raon exclaimed excitedly.

“Human, this is great! Let’s have fun like this and then do the fireworks perfectly this evening!”

Kale nodded and answered as naturally as water flowing downstream.

“Yes. Let’s throw in a lightning strike as a bonus too.”

Raon’s round eyes blinked wide.

“…Lightning strike?”

Clang.
The fork that had been gripped in Raon’s front paw clattered to the ground. Raon’s face contorted.

“Human, you’re going to use lightning strike?”
“I won’t overdo it.”
“There’s magic!”
“Magic won’t work.”
“Why!”
“Because they’ll know it’s magic.”

For Sword Master Clophe and the mages today, the incident had to feel like something ’caused by the Empire’ combined with ‘the force of nature’ as well.
Raon, seeing the resolve in Kale’s eyes, mumbled for a moment before pushing the steak plate toward him.

“Eat, human!”
“I’m full.”
“Why is your stomach so small? Is it because you’re weak?”

…As if you’re impressive for eating ten servings of steak.
I couldn’t fathom what Raon considered a small appetite, but I said what needed to be said.

“I’ll use it small today. I won’t overdo it.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Just a little sparkle is enough.”

At my calm voice, Raon grimaced but said nothing more. The cats also seemed satisfied now, munching on their food.

‘Sigh.’

I felt a melancholy settle over me—having to read the moods of nine-year-olds even when using my power. If they had been from the Whale Tribe or Tiger Tribe, I wouldn’t have needed to worry about it. I wondered how things had come to this, and whether my days as a reckless brigand had been easier.

Yet even so, I wiped the sauce from Raon’s mouth from time to time. The three children exchanged glances with each other, watching my every move.

‘If I collapse, everything gets destroyed!’

As Hong nodded at Raon’s gaze, On shook her head and sent a different signal.

‘We just need to protect him before he collapses. If any of those strong ones get close, I’ll unleash poison fog. Whether they’re from the Tiger Tribe or Sword Masters, they’ll eventually fall once poisoned.’
‘Oh! Perfect!’

Unaware of the children’s sinister exchange of glances, Kale chewed on a cookie with an indifferent expression. The children kept stealing looks at him, but there was nothing Kale could do about it.

Kale gazed out the window and pondered.

Crimson Lightning.
Last time I used it at full power and collapsed.

‘Then I’ll use only half.’

Since it was night, even half power would make the red lightning flash brilliantly and catch everyone’s eye.

At half power, I wouldn’t collapse, right?

Kale’s heart raced inexplicably. But soon his brow furrowed.

‘Have I gone completely mad now?’

He shook his head slightly at the sound ringing in his mind like an alarm. Since morning, one voice had been echoing like a warning siren.

-Are you trying to destroy yourself?

It was Jjangdol’s frightening voice.
Was it because I had decided to use Crimson Lightning? Kale couldn’t understand why Jjangdol was acting this way.

“…Is there any way to turn off this voice?”

At his grumbling, the Dragon and Cats who had been whispering secretly flinched. But Kale paid them no attention.

Really, Jjangdol is useless.

Perhaps because Kale thought that way, Jjangdol said something slightly different.

-Are you trying to destroy the traces of fire’s eternal rival?

Hm?
Eternal rival?
Destructive fire’s rival?

Kale recalled what he was meant to destroy.
It was the Lake where the legend of God’s Tears had been left behind.

But a rival?

Kale’s expression grew grave. Raon, following suit, turned his head toward where Kale’s gaze was directed, only to stiffen his expression.

An apple pie vendor stall came into view.
When Kale didn’t budge at the sight of the stall, Raon quietly pulled out his coin purse from his subspace and withdrew one silver coin. On and Hong each took out one silver coin as well.

Regardless, Kale saw nothing at that moment. His mind was consumed by a new matter.

Jjangdol would never lie.

‘Are you trying to destroy the traces of fire’s eternal rival?’

After hearing those words, one hypothesis emerged.

‘…Could the protagonist of the legend also be a human wielding ancient power?’

No matter how reckless the master of destructive fire might be, they would never have opposed a god. The easiest prediction was that the possessor of water’s ancient power—the natural opposite—was fire’s rival.

A myth suddenly came to Kale’s mind.

‘The Guardian Deity.’

A myth he had once heard from Taylor, the abandoned eldest son of Marquis Sten House.

In ancient times, a guardian deity protected the Northeast Region, which had been the foundation of the Roan Kingdom. The tale spoke of a god as immovable as stone, guarding the land of stone.

But why did that guardian deity come to mind now, of all times?

‘Because I’m thinking of Jjangdol?’

Kale exhaled a long sigh. He rose from his seat, having made a decision.

‘Not my concern.’

Jjangdol hadn’t asked, “Are you planning to sacrifice yourself?” At the very least, it meant there was no danger to Kale. If that were the case, there was no need to suspect or overthink things beforehand.

As Kale stood, he caught sight of Raon hurtling toward him.

“Human, human! Are you buying an apple pie?”

Apple pie?
Bewildered by the sudden question, Kale stared blankly at them. The dragon and two cats straightened their shoulders and stood confidently before him, as if awaiting his response. Kale shook his head.

“No.”
“Hmph.”

Raon grinned mischievously.

“Human, I understand your heart! We know you rented this restaurant because of us! Look forward to the apple pie!”
“We have lots of money now!”
“We should repay you somehow.”

What?
Unable to comprehend the three children at all, Kale ignored their chatter and spoke.

“Let’s finish eating.”

At his words, the children eagerly devoured the food piled on the table. Watching them enjoy themselves with such enthusiasm, Kale resigned himself to the situation—what will be, will be—and fell into contemplation.

While he sat in the corner of the private room, Raon left saying, “Human, I’m going to see Choi Han for a moment!” and returned, but throughout it all, Kale remained lost in organizing his thoughts.

* * *

Knock, knock, knock.

At the sound of knocking, Kale lifted his sprawled body upright. The door to the private room, rented all day under the Flynn Merchant Guild’s name, was about to open.

“Come in.”

With a clicking sound, Choi Han and the others entered.
I turned my gaze toward the window, watching as the Plaza slowly became drenched in the crimson glow of sunset.

“It’s ready.”

I rose from my seat.
Vendors in the Plaza were folding up their stalls one by one, and soldiers moved about clearing the space. Then, a massive wooden tower appeared in the center of the Plaza.

“Lord Kale, do they dance while setting that tower ablaze?”
“That’s right.”

The moment the wooden tower is set alight, people play instruments they’ve brought, sing, and dance, enjoying themselves until midnight.

Then, after midnight passes and the next day arrives, water is poured on the wooden tower to signal the end of the festival.

Boom. Boom— boom.

The wooden tower ignited with the sound of the drums.

“Let this night burn as brilliantly as fire!”

Someone’s cry echoed out, and the people in the Plaza followed suit with their own shouts.

Boom— boom. Boom, boom, boom!

The drum sounds grew increasingly intense, and above them, the voices of people mingled with the sounds of other instruments.

Tap, tap-tap.
I lowered my gaze slightly.
Raon, On, and Hong swayed to the rhythm like the people of Paern Kingdom, dancing clumsily to the music. Watching the joyful sight, I removed my robe once the sky had grown completely dark.

Black night clothes appeared.

“Go.”

I gathered wind at my feet without waiting for my companions’ response.
I went to the 5th Floor Terrace and lightly leaped onto the roof.

Tap-tap. Tap.

-Human, let’s go together!

Kale felt the heightened speed granted by Raon’s magic as he bounded across the rooftops. The group followed behind him as he moved away from the Plaza, which blazed with the most brilliant light.

At the end of that journey, Kale arrived at the quietest and darkest place in the capital of Bagosh.

Choi Han stepped forward ahead of Kale and delivered a brief report.

“I’ve identified today’s patrol route. I’ll guide you.”

Click. Choi Han took the lead, lightly touching his sword hilt.
Then Rosalind approached Kale’s side and matched his pace.

“There are no magical devices by the lake. From what I saw in the library, Paern definitely has both fewer mages and weaker magical power.”

Kale’s group hadn’t simply separated today without purpose. Rosalind reported matter-of-factly.

“Don’t worry about magic.”

Kale gestured to the two Whale Tribe members standing guard behind him. Paseton reported what he had confirmed by observing the festival all day long.

“Many nobles have reserved restaurants with good views of the Plaza. The reaction will likely be even greater.”
“And the Seka Duchy has been quiet. Clophe Seka has been confirmed to be at the Royal Palace.”

After hearing the final report from Orca Arch, Kale stopped walking.

The eastern forest of the lake. Kale entered the lakeside through the most deserted path. Along the barren shore, only a few faint lights were visible, and no people could be seen.

Kale looked toward the North.

The Temple and soldiers came into view.

This morning, Kale had instructed Choi Han and Arch to bury the liquid fire pillar in the center of the lake. It was all the supply he had brought from the Empire’s Maple Castle.

“Young master, shall I ignite it with a magical bomb?”
“No.”

Rosalind was puzzled by Kale’s shake of his head.
Since they hadn’t brought a timer magical bomb, a certain amount of explosive force would be needed to burst the orb containing the liquid.

“Then how—”
“I’ll do it.”
“You, sir?”

Kale stepped forward, ignoring the bewildered expressions on Rosalind’s, Archie’s, and Paseton’s faces. I had to move before the patrol arrived.

“…Kale, sir.”

Choi Han reacted to my movements.

My power—similar to a magical bomb—came to mind.
The lightning that had engulfed the Gorge of Ten Finger Mountain in crimson light in an instant.
Rosalind and the Whale Tribe hadn’t witnessed it, but Choi Han had seen that power, and he had seen me collapse.

“Choi Han.”

Choi Han, who had been about to step forward, looked at me as I called his name. I gave my instructions flatly.

“After I use my power, you must immediately take me, On, Hong, and Raon to the Seka Duchy. Understood?”

Choi Han bit his lip before nodding firmly.

“I understand… I know the entire plan.”

Rosalind’s confusion only deepened at Choi Han’s resolute expression. Kale’s instructions just now had been strange too.

Wasn’t that obviously how things would go?

Yet no one answered her unspoken question.

Kale extended both hands toward the Lake.
Then I turned my head.

In the distance, rising between the Plaza, I could see a burning wooden tower. I furrowed my brow.

“…It’s brighter than I expected.”

The burning wooden tower was taller than I had anticipated.

A small lightning bolt wouldn’t even be visible from the Plaza.

‘There’s no helping it.’

Kale decided to pour more power into it—just enough to avoid collapsing.

‘Then Choi Han will carry me out.’

With that leisurely thought, I gathered the destructive fire power at my fingertips.

-So you’re really going to destroy it.

I heard Jjangdol’s voice.
At the same moment, Choi Han lifted his head.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

The night sky began to roar.
The sound carried clearly across the quiet lakeside.

“…Surely not?”

Rosalind lifted her head, following Choi Han’s gaze. The night sky seemed to be trembling. She could see Choi Han moving toward Kale’s back.

-Rosalind, take out the potions.

For the first time, she heard Raon’s voice speaking directly in her mind.

-I’ll set up a shield.

She watched as On unfurled mist and wrapped the group in a protective barrier alongside Raon.
That was when it happened.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

The sky roared louder.
From the distant Temple, the Priest emerged and gazed upward at the heavens. The soldiers did the same.

“Soon.”

A small voice reached the group. Raon, speaking while rarely cloaked in transparency, said:

“It’s coming.”

Coming?
The group’s gazes lifted toward the sky, then turned to Kale.

That was the moment.

“Ah.”

My vision flooded with crimson.
The red-gold light bleached my sight white.

The sky itself seemed to turn red in an instant.
Then came a deafening roar.

BOOM!

Lightning.
That single word was branded into everyone’s mind.
Rosalind’s vision gradually returned. That fleeting moment of silence felt like an eternity.

Soon, a pillar stretching toward the heavens became visible.

“…Good heavens.”

Where the crimson lightning had struck, an endless column of fire surged upward into the sky.
Rosalind’s breath caught at the sight of it all.

A tremendous force of nature had just poured forth from Kale.

“Y-Your Grace!”

And she let out a cry that was almost a scream.

“Rosalind.”

Choi Han’s calm voice cut through to her.
Choi Han effortlessly hoisted the stumbling Kale onto his back.

He gazed at the flustered Rosalind and the two startled Whale Tribe members before speaking.

“What should we do?”

A weak voice came from behind Choi Han’s back. Yet it was clear.

“What do you mean, what should we do.”

Kale’s exhausted face became visible to everyone. He spoke.

“Everyone, proceed as instructed.”

Rosalind and the two Whale Tribe members snapped to attention at his words.

“Understood.”

Choi Han answered calmly and immediately set off toward the Seka Duchy while carrying Kale. Raon, On, and Hong followed in his wake. The remaining members of the group who had been watching also began to move.

Kale headed toward Bagosh, where music and laughter had vanished and silence now reigned.
Red lightning swept across the Capital alongside that deafening silence.

In that moment, Kale thought to himself.

‘I’m hungry.’

Apart from that, he was perfectly fine. He felt he could move on his own if needed.

But now was not the time to stop because of hunger.
As he thought this, Raon, On, and Hong, who had been moving alongside him, approached.

“What’s this? Why aren’t you moving faster?”

Raon, undeterred by Kale’s weakened voice, pulled something from subspace and held it out.
Ten apple pies that the three children had bought together.

“Human, you’re hungry, right? You said you were hungry the moment you opened your eyes last time!”

Kale’s mouth fell open, and a piece of apple pie slipped inside.
Of course, he was still being carried on Choi Han’s back.

Kale melted into the festival of shock, apple pie and all.

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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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