Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 193

—————

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

—————

Kale opened his eyes.
A teleportation magic circle materialized beneath his feet.

Whiiiii—

The sound of biting cold wind reached his ears.
Fierce gusts swept through the Canyon of Death.
Kale ignored the howling and fixed his gaze upon the figure before him.

“It has been quite some time, Your Highness the Fourth Prince.”

Pen, Rosalind’s youngest brother and the Fourth Prince of the Breck Kingdom, opened his mouth awkwardly in response to Kale’s courteous greeting.

“Ahem, yes. Indeed, it has been a while.”

His gaze drifted toward Kale’s arms.
Cookies. He could see cookies.

A memory surfaced—the day he had visited the Heniatus Territory to meet his sister Rosalind, only to be drenched by a torrent of water. The crunching sound of cookies being eaten had echoed like background music throughout the ordeal.

‘Youngest, do this properly. If you don’t, it won’t be a sparring match—it’ll be a war where your head gets severed.’

Pen trembled slightly as he recalled Rosalind’s warning. He felt inexplicably cold. When Kale offered a gentle smile, he laughed awkwardly.
At that moment, Raon’s voice echoed in Kale’s mind.

-If that whiner complains again, this time it won’t be a water torrent. It’ll be a fire torrent. I’m practicing fire torrents.

Kale naturally dismissed the comment with ease and surveyed the area around Pen.

Behind the Fourth Prince Pen, five or six tents came into view.

Whiiiii—

The sound of wind swept through once more.
It was the gale howling from the Canyon of Death.

A gorge where the wind never ceased.
The fierce winds born of nature had transformed the towering, cavernous depths into a sanctuary of death.

February. The winter winds were particularly brutal, and tonight’s snowfall made visibility nearly impossible. As I watched white flakes scatter through the darkness, another voice reached my ears.

“Are you Kale Heniatus of the Heniatus Count Family?”

My gaze shifted to the figure standing beside Pen.

It was Ecrus, the chief disciple of the Breck Kingdom’s court mage and the presumed successor to that position.

-…Human, why is that vapid-looking fool scrutinizing you like that?

Indeed.
I responded to Ecrus’s appraising gaze with the refined courtesy befitting a nobleman.

“Yes, that is correct. I am Kale Heniatus, Count Ecrus.”
“Hmm, you know of me then. Yet you failed to greet me first.”
“My apologies. This is my first time in the Canyon of Death, and I confess my mind was elsewhere.”

Pen found this peculiar.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

Kale Heniatus was behaving oddly submissive. Pen cast a meaningful glance toward Count Ecrus, hoping to convey his disapproval.

‘Enough, Count!’

Yet that silent message failed to reach Ecrus. The Count continued to regard Kale with undisguised displeasure.

Twenty years old. Merely twenty, and yet the Roan Kingdom had sent him as their representative. What rankled him most was how this boy played the hero, not through the disciplined cultivation of magic, but through sheer fortune in obtaining some ancient power. It was deeply unsatisfying.

‘A typical example of someone pretending to matter through connections.’

What truly galled the Count was that despite being a nobleman of no particular talent, this youth possessed considerable connections. Though he knew few details, he had heard whispers that Kale was acquainted with the former Princess Rosalind, Crown Prince Alberu, and General Tunka.

Even as Ecrus made his displeasure evident, the boy maintained impeccable courtesy toward him. It was precisely the behavior of someone skilled in flattery—the demeanor of one adept at pleasing others.
Deliberately, he began introducing the people around him.

“Kale, these are our mages. And this is a Baron, and over there is a Viscount.”

He deliberately emphasized the word ‘mages.’

Originally, the Roan Kingdom had never been strong in magic.
But then they brought the Wipper Kingdom mages and former Crown Princess Rosalind to the Breck Kingdom and taught their own mages.

‘My teacher was pleased.’

My teacher, the court mage, had called it an opportunity and was delighted.
The Count didn’t deny that it was an opportunity either.

‘But I cannot relinquish power.’

One could never surrender the initiative. He looked around Kale.

‘He brought very few people.’

Beside Kale, there was only a man who appeared to be a knight and a slender boy.

‘We must handle matters in the Breck Kingdom territory.’

Former Crown Princess Rosalind had instructed both the youngest Prince Pen and himself to accommodate Kale as much as possible, but unlike Prince Pen, he was no longer part of the Royal Family and had no obligation to follow Rosalind’s words from the Roan Kingdom.

‘Prince Pen becomes strange whenever Rosalind is involved, so I must take action.’

Otherwise, there would be no reason to come to the Canyon of Death to clean up after some young noble without a title.
Count Ecrus opened his mouth, looking at Kale.

“Ahem, I heard through the Roan Kingdom. You’re installing magic bombs in the Canyon of Death?”

Behind Ecrus, the Baron and Viscount who had been introduced earlier stood and stared at Kale. It was clearly an attitude meant to pressure him.

‘…This is why my sister needs to come back.’

Prince Pen’s eyes narrowed at their behavior.
Count Ecrus was fortunate enough to have magical talent and had become the court mage’s prized disciple.

Even though Pen had no claim to the throne and merely handled trivial royal matters, he was exasperated by their dismissive conduct. At the same time, he marveled at his sister’s foresight.

‘Ecrus won’t listen to what I have to say.’
‘Then what should we do?’
‘What should we do? Leave him be. After all, he’s someone with plenty of pride and concern for Breck.’
‘…And you, Young Master Kale?’

My sister laughed at that question. And she answered.

‘That person doesn’t need to be worried about. He’s protected by the strongest mage in the world.’

The strongest mage. Those words echoed in my ears. Pen’s gaze turned toward the slender boy. The other one was the escort knight I’d been introduced to earlier.

The slender boy flinched and looked away when his eyes met Pen’s.

‘Is that person a mage?’

Pen concealed his doubts and turned his gaze back to Kale and the Count.
Count Ecrus spread his hand and spoke confidently to Kale.

“Among the people I brought, there’s no mage either. How well do you think the magic bomb installation will go? We know the Canyon of Death better than anyone, and since we’re mages ourselves, we should be the ones to do it.”

Count Ecrus was sincere.
This was about saving the Breck Kingdom. Regardless of who took the lead, it was right that he do it.

‘Of course, I feel a bit sorry toward the person who just arrived.’

He felt apologetic for placing Kale on the teleportation circle and saying this, but time was of the essence. He had to handle this quickly and return to the Capital.
The Count waited for Kale’s answer, his hand still extended.

That was when it happened.

“Hmm? Are there more people in your party?”

The voice of the mage operating the teleportation circle rang out.

Whirrrr—

Light swirled around the teleportation circle. The Count looked at Kale.

“A few more members of my party are arriving.”

Kale answered smoothly as he descended from the magic circle. The Count stumbled backward, his gaze fixed on the formation.
Light swirled, and soon a brilliant radiance spread across the magic circle.

Whoosh.

About ten massive figures materialized in that spot.
Though draped in black robes, each one possessed a physique as colossal as a towering mountain.

“Hmm.”

The Count involuntarily swallowed hard under the weight of their presence.
That was when it happened.

Swish.
The hood of the giant standing at the front was pulled back. An elderly man’s voice resonated.

“I am Gashan, Tiger Shaman.”

Swish, swish.
The hoods fell away one after another.
Ten pairs of gleaming tiger eyes pierced through the darkness, shimmering with predatory brilliance.
The Tiger Tribe. The Count had never seen them before. Yet they were legendary among the demi-human powerhouses.

“Count.”

Ecrus flinched and turned his head.
Kale stood before him.

“We would appreciate it if you and your mages handled the cliff edges and elevated terrain. In exchange, we shall manage the deeper sections.”

Deep within the gorge.
Where the winds howled violently. Even maintaining one’s body through flight magic alone was grueling there.
The Count’s expression shifted.

He had assumed that when Kale mentioned installing magical bombs in the gorge, he meant along the cliffs near the precipice. But Kale was speaking of installing them below, deep within the gorge itself.

“…You mean to descend below the Line of Death?”

The line of death.
Typically, the Canyon of Death had a reference point.

Dozens or even hundreds of meters below the cliff.
Or the point where the gorge, the deep ravine, began.
The point where the turbulent river came into view.

That was a place one had to avoid if they didn’t want to die.

Down there?

“Yes. We will descend.”

A calm voice echoed out. Only then did the Count truly see Kale and his companions.
The expressions of those at his side were uniformly resolute.

Among them, only Kale remained composed. That’s why he stood out so distinctly.

The Count’s mind was fixed on the thought that a man from the Roan Kingdom was heading toward certain death. He couldn’t think of what to say.

That was when it happened.

“I must ask a favor.”

Pen stepped forward. He spoke to Kale with a rather respectful demeanor.

“If we must descend as well, we’ll explore every possible means. If there’s anything we can help with, just say the word.”

Kale offered a gentle smile. And he thought to himself.

‘I’ll have to hand off the magic bombs to these people.’

Deep within the gorge, I would need to plant the Dragon’s Wrath.
I couldn’t very well reveal that precious pillar of flame to others, could I?

‘Besides, I’m not the one doing the work.’

I merely had to watch. How convenient was that?
Kale opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll head out first.”
“Huh? You’re leaving?”

Pen looked at me in bewilderment.
I turned around and headed toward the gorge. The Count opened his mouth.

“Night is dangerous. We should move during the day…!”
“Would the Northern 3 Nations tell us to move during the day?”

The Count fell silent.

The Wyvern Knights.
I had heard about them.
That’s why time was pressing. If the Wyvern Knights were involved, they could conduct reconnaissance during daylight hours.

I couldn’t find any other words to say when faced with the gaze of the twenty-year-old youth looking at me. When the Count said nothing, I moved toward the gorge again.

‘I need to hurry and get going.’

I quickened my pace and asked the Tiger Shaman following behind me.

“Is it dangerous at night?”

Gashan laughed.

“Night is good for us.”

Tigers were nocturnal creatures. Moreover, only the finest warriors had come. Descending into the gorge was hardly a difficult task.
The mages hurried after my group.
I stopped before the cliff of the first section and handed the magic pouch to Count Ecrus.

“This contains a map marking the locations of the magical bombs and the bombs themselves. I’m counting on you, Count.”

The Count felt a peculiar emotion from my continued politeness. He accepted the magic pouch and spoke.

“…I’m counting on you.”

I could see a calm smile on the Count’s face.
Immediately.

“Let’s go.”

The moment Kale Heniatus spoke.
Thud. Thunk.
Black robes were hurled to the ground.

And the berserk Tiger Tribe warriors revealed themselves.

“Ah.”

The Count retreated backward. The pressure was on an entirely different scale from before.

Tigers that ruled entire mountains.
The tigers made no attempt to hide their massive forms, gleaming black and gold in the darkness.

Each one of these colossal beings, towering like mountains themselves, fixed their gaze solely upon Kale Heniatus.

Kale Heniatus’s lips parted.

“Jump down.”

Grrrr—

The sole white tiger.
Gashan laughed and leaped down the cliff.

It was the beginning.

Ten Tiger Tribe warriors hurled themselves down the cliff, into the Canyon of Death.

White eyes piercing the darkness, golden streaks receding from view captivated the onlookers’ sight. By the time those golden afterimages vanished.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The cliff resonated.
The Tiger Tribe warriors embedded their hands and feet into the cliff face.

Grrrr.
Simultaneously, a thrilled chorus of tiger roars carried on the fierce wind. The tigers savored danger.

“Kale.”

I turned my gaze. Choi Han appeared in my line of sight.

“I’ll be going.”
“Alright.”

Choi Han leaped off the cliff right after me.
Watching that scene unfold, I moved my hand. Tap. My hand came to rest on the shoulder of Rak, a boy taller than me.

“Rak, watch carefully.”

Rak couldn’t respond to those words, his eyes fixed on the cliff. The image of the berserk Tiger Tribe warriors remained etched in his mind, refusing to fade.

In that moment, my voice reached him.

“Until I return here, someone will be needed to guard the Canyon of Death.”

…Could it be?
Rak stared into my calm eyes. But I said nothing more, meeting his gaze before turning my head away.

I looked at the people watching me.
I could see the people of the Breck Kingdom.

Count Ecrus faltered under my gaze. A question suddenly occurred to him.

Why did people of Rosalind’s, the Crown Prince’s, and Tunka’s caliber keep Kale by their side?

But he couldn’t pursue the question further.
My mouth opened.

“Move.”

I stood motionless at the cliff’s edge, watching those who hesitated before quickly moving into action.

* * *

And then dawn broke.
The sun began to appear to the east of the gorge, shining brilliantly as if the winter’s cold could not harm it in the slightest.

It happened then.

Boom, crash!

Kale Heniatus smiled.
I could see hands digging into the cliff face.

A white-furred Tiger Shaman climbed over the cliff’s edge.

“I’m back, Young Master.”
“How was your night walk?”

Gashan burst into hearty laughter at Kale’s question.

“It was a pleasant walk, especially since you came to greet me, Young Master.”

The other Tiger Tribe members climbed up after him. Finally, Choi Han leaped from the cliff and landed beside Kale.

“I’m back.”
“Good work—”

Beep beep beep—

Kale’s words of praise for Choi Han died on his lips.

Beep beep— beep beep beep—

Kale turned his head.
The tent.
An emergency signal was blaring from the tent set up by the Breck Kingdom. The magical communication device flashed red without pause.
A critical emergency alert.

Top priority emergency contact.

Kale entered the tent. Pen and the Count rushed in after him.

“Turn it on quickly.”

Pen ordered, and the video communication channel connected.
Kale let out a hollow laugh as he listened to the contents transmitted through the communication channel.

Today, February 15th.

Paern Kingdom. The Land of Knights is a land with knights.
Knights do not act cowardly and follow the code of chivalry.

Paern Kingdom’s declaration echoed across the Western Continent.

【We desire the land that does not freeze.】

The Northern 3 Nations declared war.

‘I didn’t expect this.’

I didn’t think they would move so openly.
Why would they?
It couldn’t be simply because of chivalry. There must be another conspiracy lurking deep beneath the surface.

But that wasn’t the problem.

【Paern, Norland, Ascosan, and the Bear Tribe and the Flame Dwarves declare that they will advance toward the land that does not freeze starting today.】

Pen and Count Ecrus looked at Kale.

The Bear Tribe and Dwarves?

This was information they had no knowledge of whatsoever. Their gazes turned toward Kale without realizing it. Kale was not looking at them.

Kale’s mouth opened as he stared at the video communication channel with piercing intensity.

“Those bastards.”

A flinch. The people were taken aback by the words that came from Kale’s mouth.
That was when Kale gave an order to Choi Han, who stood behind him.

“Contact the Territory.”

I needed to move faster.

“Summon all the Northeast Region nobles. Make sure they receive the order.”

Kale Heniatus issued the command to gather the nobles of the Northeast Rowan Kingdom.

The Northeast Region of the Roan Kingdom, where the Heniatus Count Family was located.
The land with the most stone in the Land of Stone.

Now a leader had to emerge to rule that place.

—————

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

—————