Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 214

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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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Before attending the strategy meeting, he had asked Merry a question.

‘Merry, the Sun God Cult’s Priest is coming. Do you think you should go? I believe you could rest with Raon instead.’
‘There’s no need to hide. And I’m strong. Vice-Captain Hillsman said the Priests’ words are nonsense. I want to follow Lord Kale just like you do, sir.’
‘If that’s your wish, then come with us.’

Raon had also spoken.

-Weak human, don’t worry. I will protect kind Merry!

Raon seemed to quite like Merry. It appeared to be because they felt similar to each other.
Kale turned his attention away from Raon and Merry, focusing instead on the Staff Officer who was explaining the strategy. He needed to concentrate on the meeting.

“This battle against the Caro Kingdom will be decided at Leona Fortress.”

The Staff Officer’s finger pointed to the map of the Caro Kingdom.

“The southern region of the Caro Kingdom is home to the Land of Death—one of the Five Great Mysteries, the desert. Therefore, there is no chance the Indomitable Alliance would advance in that direction.”

His finger drew an X over the Land of Death, then moved past it to indicate the central region of the Caro Kingdom.

“Based on their current movement patterns, there is a high probability they will land on the Central Coast. After all, the Central Coast is closest to the Caro Kingdom’s Capital.”

The Caro Kingdom had abandoned naval warfare.
Their naval forces were inadequate, and naval battles made it difficult to receive aid from other nations.

Instead, they had chosen the Central Coast as their target.
That region was less developed commercially than the North and had fewer inhabitants. Moreover, two massive mountains stood side by side directly near the coastline.
It was unclear why the Indomitable Alliance would come to the Central region instead of the North, but for the Caro Kingdom, it was a fortunate opportunity.

“Therefore, we have hidden the provisions that were on the Central Coast, evacuated the kingdom’s people, and concentrated all military forces near Leona Fortress.”

His finger pointed toward the large fortress located on the Central Coast.

Leona Fortress.
Looking at the map, it was incomparably larger than the fortresses in other regions of the Caro Kingdom.

“Leona Fortress is positioned between two massive mountains that divide the Central Coast from the Central inland regions. You can think of it as the only viable route to the Capital without passing through Leona Fortress.”

There was a possibility of crossing those two mountains instead of Leona Fortress, but such an option was remote.
Those who had crossed the sea would not find it easy enough to traverse.

“What is the current fleet strength of the Indomitable Alliance?”

Duke Hooten of the Mogur Empire posed the question.
The Duke’s manner of asking while pretending ignorance despite knowing everything was natural.

“We estimate approximately five to six hundred vessels, Your Grace. A considerable number are large-class ships. We anticipate they are bringing substantial troop numbers.”

The real concern was the quality of those troops.

“Ahem.”

The Staff Officer cleared his throat and glanced subtly at Kale before speaking.

“In the battle at the Heniatus Territory of the Roan Kingdom, where we achieved our first victory, their troop quality was considerable. Therefore, I believe we must pay greater attention to defense.”

Kale listened in silence.

If it were him, he would have devised a way to block the Caro Kingdom’s fleet before they entered the coastline, but he understood the Caro Kingdom’s reasoning for abandoning naval warfare and preparing a decisive battle at the coastline’s entrance instead.

The Caro Kingdom had to defend itself first against the Indomitable Alliance.
But simultaneously against the Empire and the Roan Kingdom.
It had to protect itself in the space between them.

Therefore, they would naturally want to proceed in a direction where they could exert maximum strength. Since Kale had no desire to deeply interfere in another kingdom’s affairs, he remained silent.

The Staff Officer continued.

“Since Leona Fortress is a coastal defensive fortress, its scale is considerable. Think of it as a triangular fortress wall centered around three Spire Towers. Each tower is roughly the size of a small castle.”

Prince Valentino opened his mouth.

“Then each tower can be defended separately.”

He smiled wickedly while looking at Kale and Duke Hooten, and both men understood his implication. The Staff Officer’s mouth opened.

“Yes. Leona Fortress is built facing the western coastline, so the Central Spire Tower can be managed by the Caro Kingdom military, and if the Mogur Empire would handle the northern spire tower. As for the southern spire tower…”

The Staff Officer hesitated for a moment, glancing at Kale Heniatus.
Originally, he had intended to entrust the southern spire tower to the Roan Kingdom, since they had promised to send substantial forces.
However, the number of troops from the Roan Kingdom that arrived yesterday was far fewer than expected.

Of course, their quality was superior to anyone else’s, but they numbered less than a hundred.

Could such a small force truly be entrusted with the southern spire tower?

“Well, when we were planning, we made a slight miscalculation, so we were hoping to request the southern spire tower from the Roan Kingdom’s side.”

The Staff Officer carefully chose his words, unable to directly tell the people who had come to help that there had been an error due to insufficient troop numbers.
Duke Hooten, noticing his discomfort, opened his mouth.

“Indeed, Commander Kale. The troop numbers seem a bit insufficient to entrust the entire southern spire tower to them alone, don’t you think? What if we divided some of our knights and archers? What do you say?”

He spoke with a certain level of respect toward Kale, who was the commander.
Prince Valentino and the Grand General added their voices as well.

“Actually, I think it would be better to send more of our Central Military forces instead. What do you think, Grand General?”
“I agree. Since the Roan Kingdom’s forces are of truly exceptional quality, if they handle the core threats heading toward the southern spire tower, our kingdom’s soldiers can manage the remaining forces.”

The conversation was quite harmonious.
Despite being a tactical meeting, no one raised their voice, and each nation’s efforts to complement one another as much as possible put the Staff Officer in good spirits.

The Staff Officer smiled and spoke.

“Yes, and healers from the Sun God Church and other light-attribute religious orders will be assigned to each nation’s military camp. So you need not worry about medical treatment. Isn’t that right, High Priest?”

The Staff Officer posed the question gently toward the High Priest, who had come as the representative of the Church Alliance. The Caro Kingdom had promised substantial donations to bring them here, and naturally, the religious orders had eagerly agreed to participate in exchange for those donations.

“Of course, you need not worry.”

The High Priest spoke with a smile.

“For the Caro Kingdom and the Mogur Empire, that is.”

The Staff Officer’s smile vanished.

The Church Alliance, with the Sun God Church at its center, demonstrated the audacity to treat the soldiers of the Mogur Empire, who were the very embodiment of inconvenience.
However, there was one exception.

“But the Roan Kingdom is impossible.”
“What do you mean by that!”

Prince Valentino’s brow furrowed as he fixed his gaze upon the High Priest. The content differed from the original agreement.

“It cannot be helped, Your Highness.”

The High Priest smiled with an oily expression and extended his hand toward the Roan Kingdom delegation.

“That person will die if divine power touches them.”

The High Priest’s gaze turned toward the figure in the black robe.

“Because they are a Necromancer who feeds on dead mana.”

The Empire needed to build favorable relations for practical benefit and profit. However, showing goodwill toward the Roan Kingdom could undermine their justification.

Justification and pride were the most important things to the Church.

Duke Hooten of the Empire exhaled a sigh and leaned back against his chair. It was a gesture indicating he would not participate in the conversation.

“…High Priest, do you understand what it means to show such behavior before the people I brought here at my request?”

Prince Valentino’s hardened face turned toward the High Priest. But the High Priest kept his mouth firmly shut. They had not yet received payment, and if they withdrew, it would be a loss for the Caro Kingdom.
To the faithful, they could simply say they could not aid the kingdom because of the Caro Kingdom’s support for a cursed existence.

“Our position remains unchanged.”

Prince Valentino was exasperated by the High Priest’s unyielding attitude. It was clearly different from what had been discussed. Rather, the High Priest wore an expression of grievance.

“It cannot be helped. Originally, we intended to aid the people of the Roan Kingdom as well, but Commander Kale and the Roan Royal Family dismissed our request to hand over the Necromancer, so there is nothing we can do.”
“…Is that so? You’re playing games with people’s lives right now, is that what you’re saying?”

Prince Valentino’s expression changed. The High Priest hesitated at the cold shift in his demeanor but refused to yield his position.

“Games? I merely spoke of those who cannot receive treatment and those unworthy of it.”

It was at that moment.

“How absurd.”

Prince Valentino turned his head. He saw Kale smiling.
But his atmosphere was murderous.

“I never thought you’d say such nonsense so openly here.”

Kale truly hadn’t expected them to speak so brazenly.

With his calm utterance, the atmosphere at the table shifted once more. Valentino regarded Kale with an enigmatic expression. A peculiar glint flickered across Valentino’s eyes as he observed Kale’s crude words.

But the High Priest could not contain his fury.
Nonsense?
He shot to his feet and cried out.

“How dare you-”
“Not interested.”
“…What?”

Irritation surged within Kale.
He abandoned all pretense of civility and reverted to his true reckless nature.

“You bastards don’t need treatment.”
“Y-you! What kind of vulgar street rat language is that! If you show us such an attitude-!”

The reckless Kale cleanly ignored him and opened his mouth.

“Merry.”

Kale looked at Merry. He had let her hear unnecessary words. Irritation welled up within him toward himself.
He was concerned that Merry might think the Roan Kingdom couldn’t receive treatment because of him, or that he was a being unworthy of treatment, and thus suffer hurt.

So Kale opened his mouth.
To tell her there was no need to entertain such absurd thoughts.
That was what he intended to say.

But a voice flowed out from the black robe first.

“There is no need to hide.”

Kale’s mouth, which had been opening, froze mid-word.

“I am magnificent.”

The voice, mechanical yet pure, carried no hesitation whatsoever—only unwavering conviction.
A smile spread across Kale’s lips.

-I’ll kill that Priest bastard.

Kale silently disagreed with Raon’s words and opened his mouth.
It’s insufficient.
That level from Raon won’t satisfy the madman’s appetite.

“Your Highness.”
“You, are you now disrespecting my words and our Religious Order!”

Kale stared at the contorted face of the High Priest.

“The true curse will fall upon you and your order.”
“What, what?”

Kale changed his plan.
Well, isn’t a madman free to alter his plans on a whim, according to his nature?
Isn’t that precisely what makes him a madman?

Originally, he had intended to draw in the Caro Kingdom’s Sun God Church to strike at the Mogur Empire.
But the plan had changed.

The Empire and the Church.
From now on, they would be a matching pair.

Who did these bastards think they were to debate their worthiness of salvation?
Divine judgment from the sun must descend upon such wretches.

“Crown Prince, Your Highness.”

Kale conveyed his intentions with absolute clarity.

“The Southern Spire Tower is sufficient with just us.”
“Commander Kale, I understand your sentiment, but surely we must ensure that no one is injured. I will personally see to it that this matter is handled properly today—”
“No one will be.”

Prince Valentino’s urgent words died on his lips.
He saw Kale standing before him with absolute confidence, utterly unshaken.

No one will be injured.
Because.

“Roan has brought heroes with them.”

Kale’s gaze turned toward the High Priest who had risen to his feet.

“Have you ever experienced pain so severe you thought you would die?”
“What are you—!”
“We call those who have overcome such pain heroes.”

Pain so severe one thought they would die.
Merry recalled her own past—those agonizing days spent enduring the addiction to dead mana. Choi Han remembered the days he had to endure in the Dark Forest.

“Those who stand behind me are individuals who have overcome suffering of that magnitude.”

Kale spoke with a conviction more absolute than ever before.

“They are those I can trust with my back.”

Those standing behind Kale—Merry in her black robes—straightened their shoulders.
There was no reason for them to shrink back, no reason to hide.

“The right to receive treatment? We don’t need something like that.”

Just as Kale said, they had no need for such qualifications.
Because they were already complete as they were—we were already complete.

Kale rose from his seat.

“Have we covered the essential points?”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”

The Staff Officer who met his gaze answered truthfully without thinking.

“The detailed contents will be delivered to each military camp in written form.”
“…Yes, that is correct.”

Kale Heniatus bowed slightly to Prince Valentino.

“Then I shall take my leave first.”
“…I will visit you separately.”

Kale held no anger toward the Caro Kingdom. They had done enough. It was the Church Alliance that was beneath his notice.

“What is the meaning of this, Commander? Apologize to the Church for your insolence!”

The High Priest glared at Kale, his face flushed with indignation.
Kale walked toward the conference hall door. He swept his gaze across the numerous eyes fixed upon him before finally looking at the High Priest.

As he passed by the High Priest, Kale whispered softly.

“You have lost your chance.”

A chance?
The High Priest looked after him, bewildered by the cryptic words, but Kale pushed through the conference hall door without hesitation and departed. As the High Priest watched his rough exit, a chill crept over him, and he turned his gaze away—only to freeze.

Choi Han and Hilsman.
The two men had been quietly observing the High Priest, and when Merry departed, they followed after her and Kale, escorting them from the conference hall.

When Kale’s party arrived at his bedroom, they could hear him murmur.

“The Sun God Church has lost its chance to survive.”

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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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