Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 225

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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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Erhafen flinched along with the others.

“…Payment for the meal?”

His expression grew peculiar as he glanced at those around Kale Heniatus. Choi Han nodded as if recalling something from the past.

“That’s right. One must earn their keep.”

Merry nodded as well, and Raon spoke brightly from beside Erhafen.

“Exactly! You have to earn your keep! There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world! I earn my keep and get 20 silver as spending money!”

Erhafen’s expression grew increasingly bewildered. In that moment, Kale’s voice reached the Elf Fendrick.

“I’ve heard that Elves have no desire for material wealth. Surely you don’t expect compensation for doing good deeds?”

The words were delivered gently, and they weren’t wrong either.
I recalled the Elf Village that had tried to exploit me, and began mentally listing the Elves I could put to work, including Fendrick.
Then I calmly pressed the silent Fendrick.

“Hmm? Fendrick, you think so too, don’t you?”
“…I suppose I do.”
“Excellent!”

Fendrick stared blankly at Kale Heniatus, who patted his shoulder and smiled brightly. The moment he arrived, he wondered what on earth was happening. Then Kale, with that radiant smile, produced a pristine Priest’s robe and held it out to him.
It was the garment they had worn when pretending to be a Priest while bringing Saint Jack along.

“Here, get to work.”
“Ahem, do your best.”

Fendrick watched blankly as Kale Heniatus issued instructions in that gentle voice and Erhafen stepped back behind him with a soft cough, then accepted the Priest’s robe.

An hour later, the holy white light emanating from the Priest that Kale Heniatus had brought began to illuminate the area beneath the South Wall.

* * *

The Battle of Leona Fortress.
What awaited at the end of that battle was another war entirely.

“Ugh, my whole body aches. I suppose it’s time for me to hang up my soldier’s boots.”
“After fifteen years of service, you’ve certainly earned it. I heard you’re planning to use your severance to open a restaurant?”
“That’s the plan.”

The Soldier who had enlisted at twenty and was now thirty-five rubbed his lower back and settled onto a pile of rubble.
The Young Soldier beside him surveyed the area around Leona Fortress and spoke up.

“They say war follows war, and now I understand exactly what that means.”

Leona Fortress and the Coastline before it.
Countless people moved about, laboring busily. Everyone was occupied with the effort to restore the war-torn land to its former state.
The Young Soldier and the veteran were among those tasked with repairing the walls of Leona Fortress.

“I thought once the war ended, we’d get a few days to rest and enjoy ourselves.”

The veteran let out a dry chuckle at the Young Soldier’s words.

“Kid, a few days? We haven’t even finished purifying all the dead mana out there yet. Besides, the meals they’re serving are quite generous.”
“That’s true, but…”

After the battle’s victory, the meals distributed to soldiers by the Caro Kingdom were remarkably abundant in celebration. On the day of their triumph, even spirits were passed around.
The veteran spoke to the Soldier who lamented the reality falling short of his expectations.

“It’s because our Crown Prince is a righteous man. We must move like this now so that if another attack comes, we can endure it, and later, when the war is truly over, we’ll have a foundation to build our lives upon.”

He gestured with his chin toward the Central Castle rising beyond the fortress walls.

“The high-ranking officers aren’t getting proper rest either—they’re constantly moving.”

His expression grew somber.

“And many are too injured to move. How could we possibly rest and feast in such circumstances?”
“…The Grand General is recovering, isn’t he?”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”

Like the veteran, the Young Soldier’s expression grew clouded as well.
The commander they spoke of.
That person was not from the Caro Kingdom.
Kale Heniatus, the Northeast Rowan Kingdom commander. They were referring to him.

Kale Heniatus was known to be recuperating in the Roan Kingdom after suffering severe strain from wielding the power of a massive shield.

“And the Rowan people are working hardest on the cleanup right now. But how can we, the people of the Caro Kingdom who own this land, just slack off?”

The veteran’s gaze turned toward the Coastline.
The Dark Elves, whom they had been taught to fear and despise, were scraping together all the dead mana from the Coastline into spirits.
They worked so diligently, laboring day and night to purify the Coastline.
Seeing this, the veteran felt a pang of conscience.

Of course, the Dark Elves were now excitedly scraping together all the dead mana. This was the first time they had encountered such a precious pile of dead mana.

“Come on, don’t leave a single drop. Gather it all up. This is liquid gold, liquid gold.”

Tasha, the leader of the Dark Elves, whispered to her kin so others couldn’t hear, urging their swift movements. But there was no need.

“We know, Captain. And don’t tell us to stop. We can’t miss a single drop of this.”

The Dark Elves were already smiling at the scent of dead mana, working with utmost diligence not to miss even a drop. Thanks to this, the Coastline was being purified rapidly.

Moreover, broad smiles bloomed on the Dark Elves’ faces.

Unaware of this, the soldiers were moved by the Dark Elves’ efforts and found their gazes naturally drawn toward the South Tower.

The South Gate beneath the South Tower.
Through that open gate, the people of the Roan Kingdom were visible.

“…That light never ceases to amaze me.”
“Indeed.”

White light flowed out from within the South Gate.
And those bathed in that sacred white light rose to their feet and bowed their heads to one person.

“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it.”

The handsome man with his gentle smile looked almost holy.

“So you’re the Priest the Commander brought with him?”
“Yes, he brought this Priest because he thought we’d need someone to treat the regular soldiers’ wounds.”

The man with a scar near his eye, who looked sickly rather than fierce, continuously treated the wounds of Caro Kingdom soldiers who kept approaching.

Beside him, the Necromancer assisted with the Priest’s minor tasks.

Before the next patient arrived, the handsome Priest grabbed his trembling lips from smiling too much and whispered softly to the black-robed figure.

“Merry, when… when can I rest?”
“I don’t know.”

Fendrick, the Elf who had borrowed Tasha’s magical device to appear human and hide his ears, gazed at Merry with longing, but the black-robed figure remained firm.

“Rest as much as the Young Master thinks is worth the meal. And I’m happy to do good work.”

Merry had simply stated facts and straightforward feelings, but Fendrick heard that mechanical voice differently.

‘You’re doing good work, but you’re counting the meal cost?’

Of course, Merry had no such intention, but the Elf’s sickly face lost even more color. Merry’s mechanical voice could only be interpreted with a chilling meaning.

-Elf, let’s work! Helping is joyful! Let’s save everyone together!

And the Dragon’s constant, brainwashing presence in his mind. Raon remained invisible beside them, watching over Merry and Fendrick as Kale had instructed.
Of course, this was only possible because Choi Han and Erhafen had taken on the role of Kale’s escort knights.

“Ha, haha—”

Fendrick smiled with an enlightened expression as he greeted the next patient. But the problem was that his appearance looked just like a Priest rejoicing at seeing a fully recovered patient.

The soldiers, unaware of this, gazed at him with admiring eyes. Simultaneously, they recalled one existence.

“The Rowan Kingdom Priest acts like that, yet the High Priest just runs away.”
“…Tch, did you see him running away? I saw those Priests fleeing from light arrows, running behind the High Priest. Those who serve the light!”

The soldier shook his head in disbelief.

“Is that all? Once the war ends, they claim they’ll provide treatment and quietly come out to campaign. On top of that, the Priests with healing power only accept those of Knight rank or higher. For soldiers, they just toss bandages and ointment—not even a shred of divine power.”
“Exactly. And even those ointments and bandages only came after the Crown Prince strongly protested and brought in healers.”

One soldier drove his shovel into the ground, unable to contain his anger.

“They were quick to pocket donations, but even quicker to flee! Filthy bastards.”
“Hey, friend, take it easy. If the believers hear you, they’ll be upset with you.”

At his comrade’s words, the soldier’s fury only intensified.

“I am a believer, a believer!”

His anger stemmed from the very fact that he was a believer.

“I volunteered as a soldier in this war because I believed in the Sun God’s words! The Sun God said: when darkness approaches, you must step forward first and become the light! On those words, I enlisted as a soldier, and my parents were proud of me!”

His comrade could say nothing as the soldier heaved with indignation. The comrade bit his lip, bowed his head, and patted the soldier’s shoulder.

“Take heart. Isn’t it because people like you exist that the Sun God shines light upon this land?”
“…You don’t even believe, yet you certainly know how to speak smoothly.”
“Well, this much is nothing.”

At his comrade’s wry smile, the soldier let out a bitter laugh and lifted his head. Then he saw the Priest still tending to the soldiers.

“…Which Religious Order is that Priest from?”
“Ah! You don’t know that?”
“Know what?”

The soldier looked at his comrade at his reaction. His comrade shared the story that had been spreading among the soldiers these past few days.

“Many people asked which Religious Order he belonged to. So he simply raised a finger without saying a word!”
“Raised a finger?”

He looked in the direction his comrade’s finger was pointing.

“He pointed to the sky and smiled without saying anything.”
“The sky?”

He lifted his head. He saw the blue sky and the sun.
The sun. The Soldier’s gaze fixed upon that brilliant existence.

“…Ah.”

He shook his head side to side. Yet even so, he gazed at the Priest, who radiated light as brilliant as the sun itself. That Priest’s smile appeared so tender and compassionate, like the warm glow of daylight.

“Ah! And he added one more thing.”
“What did he say?”

The Soldier looked at his comrade while suppressing the inexplicable flutter in his chest, and his comrade continued with a puzzled expression.

“‘Light illuminates the darkness, and light does not diminish when shared. Soon, a light that brightens the darkness will come to this world. I wait for that day and wish to share with people.’ That’s what he said.”

The Soldier’s expression became subtle as he listened to his comrade’s words.
A passage from the Sun God Cult doctrine came to mind.

【The sun finds even darkness and illuminates it. The sun is vast enough to shine light upon all life.】

The Soldier’s heart raced strangely. His comrade patted his shoulder.

“Come on, come on. Let’s get back to work.”
“…Yes.”

His comrade resumed working, and the Soldier grasped his shovel and lifted his head. Beyond the City Wall, he could see the Central Castle. And atop the castle hung the sun.

“…The sun.”

The Soldier called upon the name of his god and bent his waist once more to resume his labor. He felt the light that illuminated him.

* * *

Yet there existed a space where even sunlight could not penetrate—a place that remained only cool and cold.

The Dining Table was laden with an elaborate feast. It was a spread made possible only because the war had ended, and it also signified that this gathering held considerable importance.

But Prince Valentino of the Caro Kingdom could do nothing, even with the lavish Dining Table spread before him.

The soup in the bowl before him had long since gone cold.
Prince Valentino did not look at the cold soup, but rather fixed his gaze upon a single person.

Kale Heniatus, seated directly across from him.
Prince Valentino watched as Kale continued his meal with unshakeable composure before him.

The honor guard had been stationed outside the door, leaving only the two of them at the dining table.

In Kale’s manner of eating, there emanated an air of ease befitting a celestial aristocrat.

Yet Prince Valentino’s hands trembled so violently that he could grasp neither spoon nor fork.
The only thing his trembling hands could reach for was the knife beside the fork. A blade. It was seared into Prince Valentino’s pupils.

“…So then.”

Prince Valentino spoke in halting fragments.
Documents lay scattered beside the soup bowl.

“The dead mana bombs were created by the Empire?”

Kale continued eating without answering. Prince Valentino pressed on regardless.

“The Empire and the Indomitable Alliance are in league together?”

Prince Valentino’s expression twisted.

“Yet the Empire sent soldiers to our side? Adin, that bastard came to cheer me on as well?”

Adin.
Crown Prince of the Mogur Empire.
The moment his name was mentioned, Kale lifted his head.
Meeting the Crown Prince’s eyes, Kale spoke.

“Eat. You cannot fight on an empty stomach.”

And he lowered his head once more, resuming his meal.

The Crown Prince could find no words as he watched.

At first, I wanted to confront Kale and Rowan, questioning whether this was a deception. The materials they presented as evidence were difficult to believe outright, and I wanted to tell them not to fracture the good relationship between the Empire and the Caro Kingdom.

Rowan—a kingdom not particularly close to the Caro Kingdom. I could not hastily trust words from that place.

Yet Prince Valentino did not speak rashly. Instead, he deliberated, and ultimately his conviction tilted toward one side.

The Roan Kingdom was now in circumstances most similar to the Caro Kingdom’s.
And I saw Kale’s ashen face.

The Crown Prince turned his head.
Far beyond the window at the coastline, I could see Dark Elves and people from Rowan’s side. I witnessed them even handling the cleanup, and I received reports of the Priest and Necromancer’s treatment efforts.

Moreover, had not Kale and his Sword Master faced a mortal crisis and fought without hesitation?
I had not yet asked Kale about the lightning strike, but the power of his shield was nothing short of miraculous. It was Leona Fortress that such a powerhouse had protected while sustaining injury.

The Crown Prince slowly picked up his spoon.
His mouth opened.

“Yes. One must have a full belly.”

Kale lifted his head, and Valentino’s gaze shifted toward his knife.

“Only then can one draw a blade.”

Clang.
Yet the Crown Prince soon set down the spoon brimming with soup. Then he lifted the cooled soup bowl itself and began drinking it down.
It was an act entirely devoid of dignity.

Thunk!

The empty soup bowl was placed upon the table, and the Crown Prince opened his mouth, looking at Kale.

“When hunger gnaws at you, you can devour anything. And desperation takes hold.”

Valentino was hungry.
Information, power, grievance, rage, betrayal—all of it swirled together, and I was hungry. This hunger had to be satisfied.

“Commander Kale, I wish to maintain close contact with Crown Prince Alberu.”
“By all means.”

Kale picked up his knife and cut into a piece of steak as he answered.

“I will satisfy your hunger, Your Highness.”

Prince Valentino watched the steak on Kale’s plate being carved into pieces by his blade, swallowing hard. And the moment their eyes met again.

Both men smiled.

One envisioned revenge, while the other pictured sweeping away the Religious Order and the Empire in one fell swoop.
A radiant smile bloomed on the lips of two men, each contemplating a different target.

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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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