Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 262

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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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“Young Master.”

Kale Heniatus offered a smile to Rosalind, who called out to me in a composed voice.

The Flame Dwarf Tribe and the Bear Tribe.
A way to seize control of their lifelines had emerged.

Kale Heniatus met Rosalind’s gaze, thinking she would display the same anticipation as he felt. So he waited slowly for her next words, and finally Rosalind spoke.

“It seems like you struck us from behind, Young Master Kale Heniatus?”
“…What?”
“You hit the back of our heads quite spectacularly.”

At Rosalind’s composed yet chilling gaze, Kale Heniatus hesitated and reached to touch the back of his own head. But Raon was clinging to his back, so his hand couldn’t reach it.
The voice of the invisible Raon echoed through the group.

“That’s right, Rosalind! The weak human struck the back of the head!”
“Is that so? I’m truly delighted to see that Raon has grown so healthily.”
“I’m happy to see all of you too!”

Rosalind’s expression, which had been smiling contentedly at Raon’s voice, turned chilling again as she faced Kale Heniatus. Upon receiving that gaze, Kale Heniatus quietly averted his eyes.
Then he saw Choi Han, who was keeping his mouth firmly shut, and Rak, the lanky wolf boy, wearing troubled expressions and pouting.

‘Tsk.’

Kale Heniatus realized at that moment that Rak had seen his pathetic state through the video communication device.
He had shown the child a sight he shouldn’t have. He looked at Rosalind again and spoke matter-of-factly.

“I’m fine now.”

A lie.
Rosalind felt those words rise all the way to her throat, but she chose silence.
After conversing with Ron, this was the approach they had decided upon. Because they knew Kale Heniatus, and because they knew the future that awaited, they had resolved to answer through action rather than words.

Kale Heniatus quickly changed the subject at their quiet demeanor. Their appearance of concern for him felt awkward, and he didn’t particularly appreciate how they worried over him when he was a fully grown and capable adult.

“But how did you manage to handle everything so quickly?”

Kale fluttered the document Choi Han had handed him as he asked a question.
Rosalind answered his inquiry as though it were nothing remarkable.

“It was simple. I went to Norland first and told them that if they didn’t want to see Paern and Roan invading together, we should end this here.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Just as we discussed before, I dangled the carrot as well. I proposed limited food trade through maritime routes between kingdoms. Their expressions changed immediately after that.”

Kale nodded in acknowledgment.
They hadn’t come merely to destroy the palace.

One must wield both the whip and the carrot.
Among the many reasons the Northern kingdoms desired unfrozen lands, food was the most critical factor. However, the Dark Forest and Canyon of Death made ordinary food trade exceedingly difficult.

That was why the Roan Kingdom had first proposed conducting food trade through maritime routes. Of course, I had presented it solely as state-level trade, not merchant guild transactions.

Norland had already become incapable of targeting Roan, and the time when they would begin worrying about food shortages was approaching. Thus, they would have been drawn to this proposal.

Rosalind’s voice continued.

“And once we concluded the agreement with Norland, Ascoshan, left standing alone, naturally became more likely to follow suit. I pressured them by asking whether they could handle the Bear Tribe, Dwarves, and Dark alone within the Indomitable Alliance with the other two kingdoms gone.”
“You negotiated quite appropriately.”
“It was nothing special.”

Kale was glad he had entrusted this to Rosalind and skimmed through the documents containing the agreement details. Even at a glance, she had done remarkably well.
Kale gazed at his companions with a satisfied expression, and at that smile, they too quietly returned smiles of their own.
All except one.

Orca Arch looked at the three people smiling at Kale with a weary gaze.
Rosalind, Choi Han, Rak.
Having witnessed everything these three had accomplished, Orca Arch arrived at one certainty.

‘They’re worse than me.’

Even Choi Han and Rak were more severe than he had been during his tempestuous phase.
Watching Rak tear apart the palace roof with his bare hands in a berserk state, Orca Arch wondered if this one had entered his own tempestuous phase.

‘Whip and carrot? Carrot, my foot! That’s just asking to freeze to death!’

He said he’d destroy one palace, but he destroyed two and blew up several gardens as well.
So how could Norland and Ascoshan not be terrified?

Orca Arch shuddered, particularly remembering how Rosalind had smiled so gently before the Ascoshan King.

‘Your Majesty, if Breck Kingdom and Roan Kingdom unite and cross the border, will Ascoshan truly be safe? Please think carefully about it.’

Her smile carried a chill different from Kale Heniatus’s.

‘If you’re not careful, the enemy’s blades will reach right beneath Your Majesty’s chin in an instant, just as they do now.’
‘Isn’t that already the case right now?’

The way she delivered her threats so calmly was quite remarkable. Unable to help himself, Orca Arch found himself asking her a question.

‘Rosalind, is it alright to pressure them like this?’
‘Orca Arch, we’re here to cut off the enemy’s lifeline and secure their surrender. We need to corner them.’
‘But a cornered rat will bite a cat, won’t it?’

Rosalind glanced at Choi Han and Rak before turning back to Orca Arch with a question of her own.

‘Orca Arch, do we look like mere cats to you? I’d say we’re at least tigers.’

Orca Arch found himself at a loss for words.
It was far too accurate.

Orca Arch absently rubbed the back of his neck, which had gone cold, trying to shake off the conversation. That’s when Choi Han happened to enter his field of vision.

After his conversation with Ron, Choi Han had grown quiet. He wasn’t particularly angry, nor did he voice concerns like Rak. He didn’t move with the urgency that Rosalind displayed.
Curious about this demeanor, Orca Arch spoke to him.

‘Why are you so composed?’

But the moment Orca Arch’s eyes met Choi Han’s directly, and that composed gaze peeled back to reveal his true state, he swallowed hard.

‘I’m glad it appears that way.’

He was anything but composed.
Orca Arch turned away from the three who were far more reckless than himself and walked uneasily. Then he stood behind Witira. His heart finally found some peace.

However, the moment I heard Witira’s voice, I hesitated. Witira spoke with a puzzled expression.

“Young master, are you hurt somewhere?”

Ah, she didn’t know.
Witira hadn’t heard about my condition. Archie’s expression gradually twisted. It wasn’t because of Witira.

Creak, creak.

A man in a robe sitting atop a wheelchair, and another figure in a black robe, were rapidly approaching.
It had to be Clophe and Merry.

‘Those two are no joke either!’

Clophe, who was mad in the best way, and Merry, who could render people speechless with her purity, and behind them came Hillsman Vice-Captain, who was talkative and possessed a strong social nature.

As they drew closer, Archie’s expression twisted even more severely, and finally when they approached, Archie could see me answering Witira’s question at precisely that moment.

“Just, well, I nearly died and came back to life.”

Archie’s temper flared up.
Don’t speak of such matters so casually, as if I’d merely had a drink!

However, Archie chose silence upon seeing the suddenly quieted atmosphere around him. It was easier to think of nothing at all.

I gestured toward the tent, unbothered by the hushed surroundings.

“Let’s go report to the Crown Prince first.”

I waved the treaty document and headed toward our camp with light steps.

* * *

Canyon of Death, Indomitable Alliance Camp.
Though it was still February, the soldiers could feel winter departing as dawn arrived earlier with each passing day.

Tap, tap.

The helmeted soldier rolled a small stone in his palm.
The stone, warmed by the campfire, had long since cooled—now it was cold to the touch. This signaled that the time for a shift change was approaching, that dawn had arrived.

Tap. Tap.

The soldier, habitually clicking the stone, glanced backward.
In the sector under his watch, numerous tents blazed with bright light.

“…Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. The fires never go out.”
“Be quiet. Focus on your work.”

The soldier clamped his mouth shut at his hooded comrade’s rebuke. Yet his eyes remained fixed on the brightly lit tents.

This sector housed the Bear Tribe and the Flame Dwarf Tribe, the two-kingdom alliance, their core leadership, and the staff officers gathered in one place.
The allied forces’ operational command tent occupied the center, with tents belonging to each allied tribe and kingdom scattered throughout.

Among them, the central tent’s lights never dimmed.
The Bear Tribe standing at the center of that light spoke.

“How are the food provisions coming along?”

The Ascoshan Representative’s expression clouded under the gaze of the Bear Tribe Manager, the representative of the Bear Tribe leading this sector.
The greatest problem facing the Indomitable Alliance gathered at the Canyon of Death was the provisions needed to sustain this massive army.

“It’s not easy.”
“How long can we manage?”
“If we gather everything possible, we should be able to last until early March, but we cannot sustain a prolonged campaign. Breck Kingdom is one of the most agriculturally developed regions on the Continent, is it not?”

The Ascoshan Representative wore a dying expression, but the Bear Tribe’s face brightened.

Early March.
There was still sufficient time to endure.
Of course, he had no intention of prolonging this into a lengthy campaign.

‘Ascoshan can hold out until March at most.’

The Bear Tribe, planning to target the Ascoshan Kingdom if Breck Kingdom proved too difficult, gazed at the conference table with satisfaction before his expression hardened.

“Are the Flame Dwarf Tribe preparations proceeding well?”
“…Yes, they are proceeding well.”

The Bear Tribe Manager’s expression darkened as he observed the Dwarf’s flat response.
The Dwarves appeared strangely listless, their vigor completely drained after a single defeat—those who had once charged forward with such ferocity now seemed utterly broken in spirit.

‘This is precisely why Dwarves are useless.’

Aside from their craftsmanship, they served no other purpose.
Yet the Dwarf’s despair was not what it appeared to be.

‘The Dragon Hybrid has fallen.’

The scene that had occupied my mind for days.
Those humans who had brought down the fearsome Dragon Hybrid kept surfacing in my thoughts. By the laws of nature, humans are inferior beings to dragons. Yet I witnessed the impossible—mortals shattering that law and defeating a Dragon Hybrid.

‘…This bodes ill.’

The Flame Dwarf Chieftain saw the Bear Tribe Manager’s gaze but ignored it, instead grappling with the ominous meaning of his own racing heart.
Unaware of this, the Bear Tribe Manager shook his head in contempt, viewing the Flame Dwarf Chieftain’s averted eyes as pathetic.

‘At least the Lion Tribe is absent. That works in our favor.’

The Lion Tribe had withdrawn from this final battle.
For the Bear Tribe, their absence was advantageous—it meant securing dominance would be easier.

“…Those Paern bastards deserve to be torn apart.”

The Bear Tribe Manager turned his gaze toward the Norland Representative, grinding out the words. The Norland Representative made no effort to conceal his frustration and fury toward the Paern Kingdom.
The Bear Tribe Manager responded to him gently.

“As I mentioned, Paern’s betrayal is regrettable, but it has actually worked in our favor.”

It truly had been fortunate.

“We may not understand why Paern betrayed us, but as long as the Indomitable Alliance remains united, the Paern Kingdom stands alone. After we crush the Breck Kingdom, we can simply seize Paern’s lands for ourselves.”
“That is true. I agree, but I cannot help my anger.”
“I understand. I truly do.”

The Bear Tribe Warrior displayed a warm expression, as if soothing the Norland Representative’s heart.
But his true thoughts were entirely different.

‘Excellent. Truly excellent.’

The core of the Initial Indomitable Alliance had been the Paern Kingdom, particularly the Guardian Knight Clophe Seka.
Though Dark and the Bear Tribe gradually seized that position and the balance of power tilted toward Dark, the original symbolism still remained strong.

That was precisely why the Bear Tribe rejoiced when the Guardian Knight disappeared.
Now everything had completely shifted toward Dark and the Bear Tribe.

And now, even Paern had betrayed them.
It was a most satisfactory situation.
Why, you ask?

‘Because when Paern, Ascoshan, and Norland fight each other later, we can devour Ascoshan and Norland.’

The more the three Northern kingdoms exhausted themselves in conflict, the greater the benefit to the Bear Tribe.
If we commanded the Flame Dwarf Tribe—now devoid of vitality—and consumed the territories of Ascoshan and Norland, which were still somewhat useful, it would be quite a profitable gain.

‘…But I must confirm whether the Dragon Hybrid is dead.’

The highest priority directive from Dark concerned the life or death of the Dragon Hybrid.
That was why.

“We need to examine the enemy’s camp in detail.”

The Bear Tribe Warrior continued speaking to the Ascoshan and Norland Representatives, who turned their attention toward him.

“To avoid a prolonged conflict, we must observe the enemy’s movements and exploit any openings.”
“I agree with that sentiment, but there are so many powerful warriors on their side.”

The Norland Representative expressed his doubt with a clouded expression.

“Is infiltration even possible?”

The Bear Tribe Warrior offered a confident smile.

“Commander, in war, there is no need to ask if something is possible.”
“…Then what is necessary?”

Tap. Tap.
The Bear Tribe warrior drummed his fingers against the table, drawing all eyes toward him. Then he answered in a hushed voice.

“Do it unconditionally.”

Whether it was possible or not—such questions held no place in war.
Once the decision to infiltrate had been made, there was only one path forward.

“To execute without hesitation, regardless of the means employed. That is what determines victory and defeat in war.”

In the previous battle, Breck and the Roan Kingdom had proven far less scrupulous about their methods. Their cunning in drawing even the Paern Kingdom into their fold had been more meticulous than anything the Indomitable Alliance had managed.
But from the Bear Tribe’s perspective, it was now the Indomitable Alliance that could afford to abandon all restraint.

Especially Norland and Ascosan.
These two had nothing left to lose.
They were in no position to concern themselves with propriety or method.
The Bear Tribe warrior turned his gaze toward the representatives of Ascosan and Norland, his voice cutting through the silence.

“Who will prove more willing to abandon all scruples?”

It was at that moment.

Boom. Boom.

From far away.
A strange sound reached their ears.

The sound of war drums.
In that instant, the Bear Tribe warrior caught sight of the Norland Representative’s eyes—sunken and resolute.

“Indeed. Victory and defeat will be determined by who proves more willing to abandon all restraint.”

Boom. Boom.
The war drums grew louder with each passing moment.
Yet the Norland Representative’s words were far from finished. He rose from his seat and spoke with measured calm.

“But what troubles me most of all is something else.”

The Bear Tribe Manager rose to his feet as well, waiting for his final words.

“I fear we may become victors who grasp nothing—hollow victors.”

The Bear Tribe Manager let out a hollow laugh. He shook his head.

“That will not come to pass.”

The Bear Tribe Manager spoke with absolute conviction.

Because no matter what, the Bear Tribe would have their homeland.
They could never be victors with empty hands.
The other two kingdoms were of no concern to him.

That was when it happened.

Whoosh—

The tent flap was swept open.
As the fabric was pulled aside, the sounds from outside became far more distinct.

A dim sky.
Beyond the heavens transitioning to a pale indigo as darkness gradually receded, a sound echoed forth.

Boom— Boom—

“Soldiers have begun garrisoning in the enemy camp!”

A Bear Tribe warrior approached the tent, accompanied by Knights from Norland and Ascosan, and continued his report.

“Based on the Paern Kingdom flag visible, it appears the Paern Kingdom soldiers are leading the advance. The Mage Battalion appears to be positioned behind them.”

The Bear Tribe Manager stepped outside the tent.

Screech— Screech—

A sharp alert signal swept across the entire Indomitable Alliance Camp.
Soldiers and Knights emerged from their tents, swiftly organizing the encampment.

The Bear Tribe Manager watched the Norland Representative and Ascoshan Representative standing in neat rows behind him, a smile spreading across his face. He could clearly feel that he was the center of this alliance. He raised his voice.

“All forces, prepare to advance!”

Toot. Toot.
The horn’s blast relayed the Bear Tribe Manager’s command to the allied forces.
Tens of thousands of soldiers moved with swift precision.

‘If it seems we’re losing ground to the Breck Kingdom here, I should maneuver to maximize casualties among the Ascoshan and Norland soldiers.’

That way, the Bear Tribe and Dark would at least control the Northern Region.
With that thought, the Bear Tribe Manager felt no fear of the coming war.

‘I’ll use the soldiers as shields. We can block the magic with their bodies.’

He devised strategies to minimize casualties for the Bear Tribe and Dark by using the allied soldiers’ lives as shields.

So even at the sudden call to arms, he found nothing strange about the tens of thousands of soldiers rapidly mobilizing the camp.

Boom. Boom.

“…Is it alright to fight so suddenly?”

At the weak voice of the Norland Representative heard between the drum beats, the Bear Tribe Manager responded by raising his own voice.

“It’s fine.”

Boom. Boom.
The enemy’s drums grew louder.

‘How many times are they beating those drums?’

Were they having just a few soldiers strike the drums?
At the Breck Kingdom’s attempt to intimidate, the Bear Tribe Manager suppressed a sneer and shouted to those watching him.

“We are strong! Moreover, our numbers are overwhelming! Now this is a battle of infantry!”

Now that a bridge had been constructed across the Canyon of Death, the weight of ground combat had increased significantly.
I would emphasize this fact to incite the sacrifice of Ascosan and Norland.

‘The Indomitable Alliance wins either way—whether they triumph or fall.’

The Bear Tribe warrior proceeded with his transformation, his emotions elevated by pleasant imaginings.

Boom!

His enlarged foot thundered against the earth. The Bear Tribe warrior roared out his words.

“We shall achieve victory against our enemies, and we shall exact vengeance upon the traitor Paern!”

Boom—boom—
Even as he spoke, the sound of drums echoed across the battlefield.
Louder still.

No—directly overhead.

Boom—boom—

The Bear Tribe warrior lifted his head skyward, his words still hanging in the air.
Then he saw them—dark swarms descending.

Caw—caw—

The cries of ravens pierced the air.

“…How—how is that possible!”

The Bear Tribe warrior’s eyes widened in shock.

Boom—boom—

Above the ravens, a Tiger Tribe warrior in white garments beat upon a drum.
The wind carried the shaman’s drumbeat far and wide, amplifying it ever louder.

A single drum’s voice.
Yet no one could focus on anything else.

A being even whiter than the white tiger stood leaning on a staff, positioned upon the black earth created by the raven.

The Bear Tribe could not hide their shock.

“How, how is that monster still alive!”

The figure leaning on the staff.
He did not conceal his noble bearing as his white hair billowed in the wind.

The man who had stood at the center of the Initial Indomitable Alliance.
The man who had begun this war.

Once considered the brightest star of the Northern Region.

Guardian Knight Clophe Seka.
He stood leaning on his staff, looking down upon the Indomitable Alliance from the sky.

And beside him stood Kale Heniatus, the Commander of the Northeast Region of Roan Kingdom.

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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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