Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 233

—————

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

—————

The battle at the Canyon of Death would unfold two days from now.
Kale had to make good use of the remaining time before then.

“…Sigh.”

Or so it should have been.
Kale dragged both hands down his face.

“…Choi Han, what is this estimate?”

Kale waved a single sheet of paper in his hand. It fluttered weakly, covered in various tables and numbers.

It was a document detailing the damage to the Royal Palace and the restoration costs required.

“….”

Choi Han lowered his head without a word.
Kale sighed and picked up another sheet of paper. It too fluttered weakly as he waved it before Merry.

“Why did three nobles suddenly collapse?”

A pure, mechanical voice responded.

“I’m not sure. They simply asked about my strength, so I showed them a little of it.”

Merry recalled the small banquet held at the Royal Palace after the parade ended. Since the war wasn’t truly over yet, the modest celebration had made the world seem to sparkle before her eyes.
It had been an overwhelming experience, and the bewildered Merry had stepped out onto the Terrace to rest for a moment thanks to Tasha.

That was when three nobles entered the Terrace and kindly approached her, curious about her strength. Thinking they wanted to befriend her, she had shown them a glimpse of her power.

“Then they suddenly asked me to abandon Prince Kale and join their side instead, saying that if I did, we could overthrow Prince Kale and seize power together.”

Hehehehe.
Kale turned his head at the sound of suppressed laughter coming from behind him. Crown Prince Albert was slumped over his desk, his shoulders trembling.
Anyone could see he was desperately trying to hold back his laughter.

Kale’s lips twisted.

“So?”

A grave voice emerged from the black robe, laden with suspicion directed at the three nobles.

“So I asked, ‘Am I an enemy?’ And they replied, ‘You could be an enemy, or you could be on the same boat as us now.'”

The three nobles who had approached belonged to a noble faction with roots in the Capital and the Central regions.
They had tried to bring Merry to their side. Yet to Merry, the nobles’ conversation about power sounded entirely different.

“When they spoke of bringing down the Young Master, I suspected they were sent by Dark or perhaps the Indomitable Alliance. But since the Young Master said not to fight, I merely restrained them. Then they suddenly collapsed.”

Merry recalled the three of them fainting in rapid succession, utterly helpless.

“They were strange people.”

Merry could not fathom the courage of those who were so weak yet dared to say they could become enemies.

“Sigh.”

Kale exhaled deeply. He heard what sounded like Alberu’s breathless laughter, but he pretended not to notice and looked toward Choi Han.

Choi Han’s situation was a common cliché.

“A young noble threw his glove at you?”

Choi Han bowed his head once more. Instead, someone else answered.

“Yes, Young Master!”

It was Vice-Captain Hilsman.

“At the celebration banquet, the heir of the Aylan Marquis Family suddenly threw his glove at Choi Han, asking if he was truly a Sword Master and challenging him to a duel, did he not?”

Kale’s expression was indifferent.
In a fantasy world, whenever a banquet unfolded, there were always young nobles who recklessly challenged strong individuals like the protagonist.

The Aylan Marquis Family.
They were called the greatest martial family of the Southeast Region and the greatest martial family of the Roan Kingdom.

“So? If it were Choi Han, he would have ignored it?”
“Exactly! We remembered the young master’s orders and ignored it. But then that noble’s son started insulting House Heniatus, didn’t he?”
“…What?”
“He said they were incompetent—that the family members have no strength and only money. He said they’re protected because the people they employ are strong.”

Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong.
Kale didn’t even consider it an insult. The Heniatus family members could wield swords, but none of them were exceptionally strong. Lily showed promise, but it was only potential at this point.

And having money and strong subordinates—
Wasn’t that better?

The words hadn’t angered me as much as I’d expected. Yet contrary to my assumption, Hilsman continued speaking with indignation.

“So Choi Han accepted the duel! During the fight, somehow they ended up destroying part of the palace’s training ground! That young noble was just too weak!”

Puhahaha.
Crown Prince Alberu’s laughter echoed like background music in Kale’s ears. Hilsman continued.

“Of course, Marquis Aylan appeared and took that noble’s son away. And he apologized to Choi Han and said he would apologize to House Heniatus as well. A letter will arrive at the family soon!”

Kale closed his eyes, then opened them and rendered his judgment on these two incidents.

“…Such is my fate.”

Alberu’s laughter grew louder.

-Human! I’m definitely the best!

Raon’s voice echoed like background music in Kale’s mind. He stood up abruptly. Choi Han and Merry clattered as they lifted their heads to look at Kale.
The Crown Prince also gazed at Kale with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Where are you going?”

To the Crown Prince’s casual question, Kale answered with an expressionless face.

“I need some fresh air.”
“Oh, should I take a walk too?”

Alberu could see Kale’s sullen expression.

“…I’m heading north.”
“What?”

Kale’s stroll had a rather expansive scope.

“It’ll take half a day there and back.”

Before heading to the Breck Kingdom, Kale had to make a trip north. It was at the request of the ancient Dragon Erhafen.
Erhafen, who would remain on the Eastern Continent to investigate the history of the Lieben Region where the stone pillar stood in Kale’s stead, had one task to complete on the Western Continent. Kale had agreed to handle it for him.

“I need to visit the Elves.”

North.
The lake that even now would be filled with white snowstorms.
I had to see the World Tree and the Elves beneath it.

“…Can you make it back within half a day?”
“Yes.”

Of course, with Raon it would be more than sufficient.

“Then we should prepare to depart for Breck in the meantime.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Merry, Choi Han, and Hilsman’s expressions shifted. Kale surveyed them all before nodding.

“That works well.”

Kale set off on his stroll with a light heart.

* * *

The Elf Village beneath the lake where the World Tree existed.

“…Look! I’ve gathered more again!”

The Young Elf Priest carefully withdrew a pouch from the dangling folds of her sleeves and held it out to Kale.
Jingle, jingle. The cheerful sound of coins clinking together rang pleasantly in Kale’s ears.

“The World Tree hasn’t said anything, but I thought we’d need another coin purse soon! So I prepared one. But not a sea of fire!”

The Young Elf Priest greeted Kale with a bright smile, and there was considerable warmth in her demeanor.

“…Yes, thank you.”

Kale hesitated for a moment before accepting the purse of money. Since it came from an Elf without material desires, there was no harm in taking it.
Kale was the type who didn’t unnecessarily refuse money.

Instead, he withdrew a small jewel from his pocket and spoke.

“Please show me the way.”
“Of course! The World Tree has been waiting for you!”

The Young Elf Priest walked forward with vigor. Kale followed leisurely behind the young Elf.

“Oh! Raon, even in our time apart, your cuteness remains extraordinarily magnificent!”
“To behold the great Raon once more in this lifetime! I have no regrets even if I were to perish this very moment!”
“The great Raon!”

Voices of Elves echoed from behind. Raon, with his shoulders squared and wings fluttering, extended his short front legs and spoke.

“I’m busy! Do it later!”

With that, he quickly flew behind Kale.
Kale glanced at Raon following him, then gently stroked the dragon’s head as he made his way toward the World Tree.

Beyond Erhafen’s request, he had other matters to discuss with the World Tree.

Swishhhhh—

The sound of vast tree leaves rustling in the wind. At the center stood an ordinary-looking tree.
Kale could see the World Tree looking noticeably more robust than before.

“World Tree, have you been well?”

As if answering Raon’s voice, the World Tree’s branches swayed gently.

The World Tree that had spoken three things to Kale last time and dropped three branches.

Find Raon’s parents.
There exists a being that has gathered three ancient powers.
Find the water that judges.

Kale remembered what the World Tree had said.

“Kale, you can converse the same way as before.”
“So conversation is possible now.”

After sharing those three facts, the World Tree drifted into a brief slumber. The Young Elf Priest nodded with a faint smile.

“Yes, brief conversations are possible.”

Kale approached the World Tree slowly and placed his hand against the wooden trunk, closing his eyes.

-It’s been a long time, Kale.

The World Tree’s voice lacked strength.
Kale extended a small jewel with his other hand.

“This is something Erhafen created. It contains defensive magic intended to protect the Elf Village and you, World Tree.”

Erhafen, who had lost one of the World Tree’s branches, decided he needed to strengthen the defensive magic circle protecting the World Tree’s location and asked Kale to handle it.

“Raon will install it. It won’t take long.”
-I see. Thank you. Please convey my gratitude to Erhafen as well.

Despite the mundane nature of their conversation, the World Tree’s voice trembled faintly. Kale’s expression darkened.

As if sensing this, the World Tree’s voice continued.

-I’m recovering. I’ve recovered considerably. I should return to my original state by the end of this year.

That was fortunate then.
In truth, if the World Tree had been in good condition, there would have been no need to strengthen the existing defensive magic circle. But because it had weakened, Erhafen chose to reinforce the defensive magic circle.

-You have the face of someone with questions. Is there something you wish to say?

Kale’s shoulders stiffened.
He deliberated for a moment before speaking.

“If something like what happened before occurs again, you don’t need to answer.”

The Young Elf Priest, who could only hear Kale’s voice, faltered at the words “something like what happened before.”
The day a branch had fallen.
Whenever the Young Priestess recalled that moment, her heart would lurch. Raon, standing beside the priestess, also grimaced at the memory.

-That’s right.

Kale opened his mouth in response to the World Tree’s answer. Knowing that Raon was present, he deliberately phrased his question in a twisted way. Still, the World Tree would understand.

“Where should I search? Other than the Judging Water?”

An existence to find, other than the Judging Water.
That was Raon’s parents.

Kale unconsciously bit his lip. He’d rather not ask, but finding a way forward without asking seemed impossible. Especially during wartime.

-I can answer this one.

Kale inadvertently released a sigh of relief. A faint but slightly forceful voice of the World Tree echoed in his mind.

-Of course, it’s not the answer you wish to hear, but this is my limit in my current state.

Not the answer I wish to hear?

-A king is one acknowledged by nature.

Why did the word ‘king’ suddenly appear?
Kale’s brow furrowed. Yet he had no choice but to listen to the World Tree’s words.

-An existence that should have originally died, lived.

The hand touching the tree flinched.
Kale had asked about Raon’s parents. But a different answer came.

In Volume 1 of “The Birth of a Hero,” an existence that should have originally died.

Raon Mir.

-Nature acknowledged his existence.

A being who should have died but lived—nature acknowledged him.

-One who twisted fate. That alone was sufficient for nature to judge him worthy of reclaiming what had been forgotten. A variable, an impossibility, something beyond belief.

Tap. Kale felt a gentle touch against his calf. His eyes opened without his realizing it. When he lowered his head, he saw Raon’s round face.

“Human, is something wrong?”

In that moment, Kale could hear the World Tree’s voice growing faint as it spoke to him.

-That is precisely what nature is.

An endless succession of impossibilities and variables. That was nature itself.

‘Could it be?’

Kale Heniatus recalled the presence of a king worthy of nature’s acknowledgment. A plump Dragon, slightly over 1 meter 20 centimeters tall, furrowed its brow.

“Human, why are you looking at me like that?”

When Kale couldn’t respond, the Young Priestess approached and spoke.

“The World Tree has fallen asleep again.”
“…I understand. I’ll visit again next time.”

Raon’s face filled with regret as he tapped the ground repeatedly with his front paws.

“How unfortunate! I wanted to talk with the World Tree too!”

…Surely not?
Kale shook his head, dispelling his stern thoughts. It couldn’t be. If his suspicion were correct, he had set something far too momentous in motion from the very beginning.

…Saving a single dragon couldn’t possibly be a big deal, could it?

Dragon Lord.
Kale swallowed the words without letting them escape his lips, then spoke to Raon.

“Let’s head back quickly.”
“Got it! I’m going to see Rak right away!”

Kale watched the plump silhouette of the six-year-old dragon soaring toward the defensive magic circle with the Erhaben jewel he’d handed over, then forcefully buried the thought deep in the recesses of his mind.

Half a day passed, and when only one day remained until the battle with the Indomitable Alliance, Kale stood on the teleportation circle alongside Raon.

His destination this time was not the Roan Kingdom.

* * *

Whoosh!

Kale opened his eyes. The voice of the invisible Raon reached his ears.

-It’s been so long!

Kale smiled.
Inside the small tent. The teleportation magic circle drawn there.

Two people were waiting to greet him as he descended from the circle.

“It’s been quite a while, everyone.”

Rosalind and Rak. The two welcomed Kale. Choi Han, Hilsman, Merry, and the others had not yet arrived. Among the people from the Roan Kingdom, Kale had arrived first in secret, and Rosalind and Rak came to meet him.

Since it had been quite some time for both of them, a smile played at the corners of Kale’s mouth. But that smile soon faded.

“It’s been a while, Young Master.”

Rosalind was smiling, but her expression held something slightly ambiguous. And beside Rosalind stood Rak, his head bowed low, unable to meet Kale’s gaze.

The wolf boy, Rak.
He couldn’t bring himself to look at Kale. At that sight, Kale hesitated.

‘Could he be upset because I left him alone for so long?’

It was at that moment when Kale was having such thoughts.

“…Young master.”
“Yes, Rak. It’s been a while.”

At the faint voice, Kale approached Rak and placed a hand on the boy’s hunched shoulders, though the child was taller than him.
Pat, pat. His hand tapped Rak’s trembling shoulders.

“You’ve endured much alone.”

It was the moment Kale spoke.

“…I’m sorry.”
“Hmm?”

Kale could now see Rak’s face, which had grown noticeably taller. The boy’s eyes, cast downward, turned toward Kale. Rak hesitated, then spoke through trembling lips.

“…I can’t berserk anymore.”

What?
What was he suddenly saying?

Berserk form.
The moment when beastmen became their strongest. The instant when both animal and human traits were amplified to their absolute peak.

He couldn’t do that anymore?
But he’d already gone through his first berserker transformation before?

As questions flooded Kale’s mind, Rak continued speaking, hiding not only his trembling lips but also his shaking fingertips. Yet his voice was terribly unsteady.

“I, I need to become the Wolf King’s successor soon. I have to.”

Rak, who should have grown through despair after losing Fendrick.

“…It seems I can’t become stronger.”

The Rak of then and the Rak of now were different.
The current Rak, who desperately wanted to grow stronger, had suddenly lost the ability to berserk.
Kale saw only a boy with a tall frame, unable to meet his gaze again, his head bowed.

—————

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

—————