Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 209

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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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Raon’s voice echoed through my mind.

-Ugh, he’s definitely lost it.

I couldn’t say anything in response to the six-year-old’s exasperated tone.
I saw the peculiar glint in Paseton’s eyes as he stared at me, and the stiffened footsteps of Witira and Archie as they entered the outpost, but I couldn’t react to any of it.

Orca Arch in particular looked quite shocked.

“…Lord, what are you doing again—no, that’s truly magnificent.”

He blurted out in confusion before hastily ending his words with praise for me, then glanced at Clophe.
Orca Arch found himself unable to close his mouth at what Clophe said next.

“Everything this person says is correct, and this person knows everything. If you follow this person, you will walk the righteous path.”

Orca Arch was left speechless by Clophe’s reverent tone. But what left him even more speechless was a more troubling fact.

‘But it’s true, isn’t it?’

What Clophe said was indeed true. The nuance was slightly different, but regardless, hadn’t Young Master Kale always taken the lead in righteous endeavors and looked one step ahead?

“That’s a fair point.”

Orca Arch pressed his lips firmly shut as he watched Witira nod in agreement. Witira smiled faintly, her expression amused.

‘…A terrifying human.’

Orca Arch decided that Kale was more frightening than Whale King Siceller, who had beaten him. And he pretended not to see this scene with wavering eyes.

However, there was someone here who could not pretend not to see this spectacle with trembling pupils.

-What… what is this?

The father of the guardian knight.
Rock Seka, who leads the Seka Duchy, could not properly comprehend this situation.

A god? A legend?
I had noticed that my son held legends in blind reverence. However, that stemmed from his desire to become such a being himself, not from serving someone else.
Duke Rok’s gaze turned toward Kale Heniatus.

In the meantime, Kale had worn a peculiar expression while observing Clophe.
But as a little time passed, Kale’s initial shock subsided. Other thoughts began to fill that space.

‘Look at that?’

Unlike Kale’s rapidly spinning mind, a voice filled with shock echoed throughout the outpost.

-Commander Clophe Seka, what nonsense are you spouting right now?

The Duke called upon Clophe as “Commander” rather than “son,” seeking to restore his composure. Kale almost wanted to applaud the Duke’s composure.

Even I was shocked—how much more must the Duke be reeling?
His mind must be churning with questions: had his son lost his mind, or was he being coerced somehow?

‘Should I step in?’

Kale wondered if he should take the initiative and clarify the situation.
Then, Clophe’s lips parted.

“Your Grace.”

His voice was perfectly steady.

“Three days.”

Clophe’s mind had arrived at the conclusion that Kale was a “legend” through reasoned logic.
While imprisoned, he had run countless simulations.
The Necromancer had told him with genuine joy how the naval victory had been achieved. Thus, he had been able to derive the answer.

-…Three days, you say?

Even as the Duke responded to his son’s words, he urgently sent multiple hand signals to the mages. This situation could not spread beyond these walls. Especially not to the Indomitable Alliance.

Already, with Clophe Seka captured and the Dark member who had piloted the wyvern gone missing, Paern Kingdom’s standing within the Indomitable Alliance was diminishing.
The Bear Tribe, the Dwarves, and the naval powers of Norland and Ascosan Kingdom wielded greater influence.

‘Why must the Roan Kingdom approach at such a time!’

With such circumstances unfolding, the Duke’s head throbbed with pain. At least Paern possessed above-average troop numbers and knight reserves, or his forces would have been diminished even further.

Duke Rok attempted to swallow a sigh. That was the moment.

“Yes, three days. That is how long it will take the Roan Kingdom to conquer Paern’s Capital.”

Kale Heniatus hesitated, and Duke Rok hesitated as well.
Clophe spoke calmly of military forces that could only create legends.

“Moreover, with the Whale Tribe present, if the Roan Kingdom so desires, they will neutralize Paern in a matter of hours.”

Clophe recited slowly.

“This person possesses the strength to annihilate the remaining Wyverns. Three of the Dark’s Red Stars, though of the lowest rank, have been captured.”

He was certain his mind had not yet crumbled.

“He also possesses the power to erase three hundred ships in a single moment.”

After thinking and thinking again, he reached his conviction.

“A Sword Master, a Necromancer, numerous Sword Experts of tremendous strength. Beyond that, forces comparable to the Whale Tribe stand behind this person.”

Clophe—he was not mad.
His every thought moved only in the direction that would allow him to survive.

“Father, no—Duke.”

Clophe was also a Sword Master. Though he had waged war to become a legend.
Yet he had honed his blade with the desire to become a legend, a figure who had reached the pinnacle in his own domain.
And so he saw it clearly.

“I wish to live.”

The truth Clophe had witnessed spilled from his lips.

“The Indomitable Alliance can never possess the southern lands.”

Duke Rok could see the certainty that had descended upon his son’s eyes. The dull gaze that had seemed vacant now sparkled with brilliance. This was the gaze of House Seka, the White Snake—the eyes of one who never missed an opportunity and always found a path to survival.
Clophe revealed that gaze unfiltered before Kale Heniatus.

“We must follow this person.”

Even as a mere tail, the serpent wished to follow the legend.

“Then we might walk the very path where legends are forged.”

A small fiefdom in an ordinary kingdom. A tale that began there and shook the entire continent.
Was this not the very beginning of a hero that appeared in countless legends?

Clophe spoke to his father, to the Paern Kingdom.

“Your Grace, we must survive as well.”

We must cast off the Indomitable Alliance like a shed skin and survive.

Duke Rok swallowed involuntarily.
His son, Clophe Seka, who had accepted “Dark” to become a Sword Master and become a legend.
Though Dark was now the cornerstone of the Alliance, it was his son who had been the cornerstone of the Northern 3 Nations in its infancy.

The eyes with which his son had spoken of heading south without hesitation, those eyes full of conviction—now before him appeared eyes that held a faith even deeper than that certainty.
The Duke’s complicated mind began to fill with an inexplicable unease.

“Well then.”

Kale Heniatus, who had placed a gentle hand upon his son’s shoulder, continued speaking as he looked at Duke Rok. His voice was remarkably businesslike.

“I shall now show you the way to survive.”

Yet the words that left his lips were anything but matter-of-fact.
Kale patted Clophe’s shoulder—the shoulder of one who had made his own choice—and continued.

“It will be the way for the Paern Kingdom to endure without collapse, and to remain the most powerful in the Northern Western Continent even after the war.”

The phrase “remain the most powerful in the Northern Western Continent” became etched into Duke Rok’s ears.

-…Such a method, what on earth-
“If you want to know.”

Duke Rok stared at me as I cut him off. Despite facing a Duke, I showed not a shred of hesitation. Only a businesslike expression remained.

“Come here. I have no taste for conducting conversations while standing.”

I, Kale Heniatus, had suggested to Duke Rock Seka that he come here. In truth, it was less a suggestion than a threat.
Through the window behind me, Duke Rok could see the shattered outposts. My leisurely voice seeped into his ears.

“Oh, and if you bring five or more people, I’ll interpret that as a desire for war and attack immediately. The Whale Tribe will sweep the entire Northern Coast.”

Duke Rok saw my gentle smile. Exuding an utterly aristocratic atmosphere, I spread my hand open.

“Teleportation should be possible.”

Five fingers were displayed.

“Five minutes.”

Bring fewer than five people within five minutes.
A resolute declaration that I would grant no time for deliberation.

God or not, to the Duke’s eyes my face appeared as that of a demon. And the demon spoke.

“Inform the Alliance if you wish. It won’t change anything for Paern or the Seka Family anyway. Of course, our conversation will never have happened.”

It was the truth.
Would the Indomitable Alliance, heading southward, turn their steps toward the harsh, frozen North for the sake of the Paern Kingdom—a kingdom without Wyverns or a Sword Master?
My voice reached the Duke’s complicated mind.

“One minute has passed.”

With those words, the video communication was severed.
Duke Rok squeezed his eyes shut.

“Prepare immediately!”

He shouted as he opened his eyes.

* * *

Creak.
The old communication room door at the Central Outpost swung open.
Duke Rock Seka stepped through the threshold, leaving his attendants behind, and faced the scene within.

“Welcome.”

A man sat in a chair, legs crossed, sipping tea. Kale Heniatus stood motionless before the doorway, observing the Duke.

The Duke saw his son seated in a wheelchair, drinking tea. He also saw what appeared to be whale-kin among those present.
Rock Seka was both a Duke and a father, so his mouth opened without his consent.

“Clophe…!”

Yet Duke Rock could hear only Kale Heniatus’s voice, not his son’s.

“I will create the new legend Your Grace desired for the Paern Kingdom.”

The Duke’s movements froze.
Clophe’s expression shifted. The teacup trembled in his hands. Witnessing this, Duke Rock’s gaze fixed upon Kale Heniatus. The Duke could see him smiling.
The Duke could see a smiling face.

“Three things.”

Kale Heniatus made a proposal to the Duke.

I’ll propose three things. And let me tell you three facts.

With those words, their transaction began, and so did their conversation.

Kale Heniatus stated three conditions and explained three facts to support those conditions. It didn’t take long to convey all of what he said.

The tea in the cup had grown cold, yet it was a fitting duration for a brief respite.
At the end of that hour, Kale Heniatus concluded his conversation with Duke Rock. He rose from his seat, signaling the end of their discourse.
At the end of that time, Kale Heniatus finished his conversation with Duke Rok. He stood up from his seat and signaled the end of their conversation.

The deadline for preparation is one week.

Kale turned away from Duke Rok without another word.

“…One week.”

Duke Rok could see the ferocious gleam in the eyes of the whales remaining in the sea.
One week. He had granted them time, but several members of the Whale Tribe and the whales remained. After one week, the Whale Tribe’s actions would be determined by Kale’s decision.
Duke Rok lingered at the outpost for quite some time.

* * *

Meanwhile, Kale, who had left the outpost, found himself fielding questions from Raon.

“Weak human! Why did you give them a preparation period? What happens in one week?”

Kale sprawled out on Orca Arch’s back and answered.

“The world’s probably going to flip upside down a bit.”

Yes, absolutely.
Dark Elves appearing in the world for the first time in hundreds of years—wouldn’t everyone be shocked?

Cale gave a rough answer, imagining the scene, but the words sounded different to one being.
The massive orca’s back trembled, and cold sweat beaded on its face. Regardless, Raon responded.

“Oh, I see!”

The black dragon answered calmly and lay down next to Kayle. Archie’s swim was the fastest he’d ever had in his life.

“Human! I received a call from the crown prince!”

Raon approached Cale holding a red glowing video communication device.
The bedroom. A space where only Kale, the average nine-year-olds, and Ron were present.

“Connect.”

Raon connected with Cale’s words and went to the corner of the room out of sight with On and Hong. The average 9-year-old’s mouth was full of food sources.

Faaaat.
Whoosh.

-Prince Cale Henitus, the star of our kingdom… Do you eat meat?
-Our kingdom’s shining star, Prince Kale Heniatus… do you eat meat?

Cale nodded roughly as he put a piece of beef steak in his mouth.
I nodded casually while placing a piece of beef steak into my mouth.
Glug, glug. Red wine was being poured into the wine glass beside me. I took the glass Ron offered and sipped the wine.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I had just returned from the Kingdom of Faern and was hungry. So I was eating some. I’m sorry for contacting you like this.”

Cale answered roughly what came out of his mouth.
I responded with whatever came to mind.

Even though he always cursed at me, Kale wasn’t the kind of person who would say anything about eating.

But Cale felt a little strange. He stabbed the meat with a fork and turned his eyes to the video communication screen.

“hmm.”

The crown prince was smiling brightly.

-Yes, if you are hungry, you should eat. Our Kale Confucius says he’s hungry, so of course he has to eat!

It’s strange.
Something was wrong.

-Ugh, can I have a plate of steak? Our Prince Kale couldn’t have deserved a more sumptuous dinner!

Why is this happening?
Why is he like this?

A well-oiled tongue.

Cale’s expression became distorted. The crown prince’s eyes trembled slightly at the change, but he smiled brightly and said.

-okay. I will treat Prince Kale to a very delicious, royal dish. Isn’t it? Steak and wine aren’t enough!

Cale’s grumpy voice rang out.

“…Do I have to go to the capital?”

The crown prince put away his bright smile and returned to his usual expression, opening his mouth to Cale, who understood that he was pretending.

-I contacted you to discuss.

The crown prince was aware that Cale was his partner in this war. So, he relayed the facts of what was currently happening in the capital to Cale.
The Crown Prince understood that Kale was his partner in this war. Thus, he conveyed to Kale the true flow of events unfolding in the Capital.

-In the end, the Kingdom of Caro asked for help from us and the Empire. I think they got scared after hearing the information about the Indomitable Alliance Fleet.

Even though it was the news he had been hoping for, Cale noticed something in the crown prince’s calm expression.

-And this problem is difficult to handle through the royal family alone.

The Kingdom of Roun is still at war. In such a situation, it was difficult for the royal family to decide on the issue of helping the Caro Kingdom. If done wrong, the nobles could spread rumors among the people that ‘the kingdom is abandoning its people and helping other kingdoms for profit.’
The Roan Kingdom still remained in a state of war. Under such circumstances, aiding the Caro Kingdom was difficult for the Royal Court to decide alone. If mishandled, the nobles might spread rumors among the people that ‘the kingdom abandons its citizens to aid another kingdom for profit.’

“Are the nobles opposed to helping the Karo Kingdom?”
“Are the nobles opposed to aiding the Caro Kingdom?”

Author of Aylan Marquis. A place considered to be the best shaman in the Loun Kingdom.
The Aylan Marquis Family—counted among the Roan Kingdom’s finest martial houses.
Kale felt a subtle unease stir within him.

-I want to hear your opinion.

Cale wiped his eyes with his hand.

-The Marquis Ailan faction and the central noble faction want to hold a formal grand noble meeting to create an opportunity to hear your opinions.

The northeastern part of the country where Count Henitus is located.
The Northeast Region, where the Heniatus Count Family stood.
The Sten Marquis House, where the abandoned eldest son Taylor resided.
The Geyler Duchy, where Antonio guarded the Southwest bordering the Empire.

-He said that the opinion of our northeastern commander, who is protecting Roun, would be the most important.

The nobles wanted to be assured that Roun would be safe in the future and that they could help the Karo Kingdom. And I wanted to hear this from the person who achieved victory in the war rather than from the crown prince.
The nobles wanted assurance that Roan would be safe going forward and that they could aid the Caro Kingdom. And they wished to hear this not from the Crown Prince, but from the one who had achieved victory in war.

But the problem was that the intention was not that pure.
But the problem was that their intentions weren’t purely that simple.

Cale’s mouth slowly opened.

“It’s a modification of the Southeast and Central factions.”
“A scheme between the Southeast and Central factions, I see.”
-Indeed.
“But it’s not entirely wrong either.”

Cale could see the crown prince’s face. I could feel the irritation visible through his calm face.
I could see the Crown Prince’s face. Beneath his composed expression, I sensed his irritation.
Had the Crown Prince truly summoned me out of concern for the kingdom rather than factional concerns, he likely wouldn’t have shown such irritation. In a sense, it was only natural to hear from the commander responsible for the Northeast Region’s military operations.

Talk. Talk. Talk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.

-I also want the Sword Master and Necromancer to come along. They say the name is to commemorate their major.

Knock, knock-
Tap, tap-
My fingers ceased their drumming against the table.

-But I will definitely stop this, so don’t worry. From now on, ignore any unnecessary communication from the center.
-But I will certainly prevent this, so don’t worry. Ignore any unnecessary contact from the Capital going forward.

The crown prince paused for a moment and smiled strangely. He recognized what he meant from Cale’s changed expression.

-You secretly take good care of your subordinates.

Cale’s expression, which was full of annoyance and irritation, took on a different emotion. The crown prince added as he looked at Cale, whose annoyance had disappeared and his eyes had turned into cold eyes.

-And the people of the Capital Kingdom want to see you. I heard that the best-selling weapon in the capital these days is the shield.

ha.
Sigh.

“I guess we’ll have to turn the capital over first.”
“I’ll need to turn the Capital upside down first.”

The crown prince said as he looked at Cale, who had decided to come to the capital.

-The kingdom will be turned upside down.

With cheers, or with fear.

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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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