Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 269

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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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“Revenge?”

Ritana, the ruler of the Jungle, widened her eyes and looked at him as if questioning such a statement. When Kale Heniatus hesitated, unable to grasp her meaning, Ritana smiled and opened her mouth.

“It is merely judgment.”

Oh.
I swallowed the admiration that threatened to escape.

Judgment—what an arrogant expression.

Yet she was a woman who held fourteen zones of the southern Jungle on the Western Continent, an expanse three times the size of the Empire, beneath her feet.

The Jungle was a place where magic, technology, and everything else had developed far less than other kingdoms.
Instead, they had developed in a different direction. The Jungle’s power had never been revealed to the world, which was why everyone remained ignorant of it.

I raised both hands toward the arrogantly smiling Ritana in acknowledgment.

“The Jungle must be the only place capable of pronouncing judgment upon the Empire.”

I handed her a document. It contained the purpose of my visit to this place.
Ritana accepted the document and spoke.

“Will the Empire truly issue a declaration of war to reclaim Maple Castle?”
“Of course they will.”

My response flowed without hesitation.

‘Because it is the Empire.’

Because it is the Empire, they must act accordingly.

First, a surprise attack would be an abandonment of the Empire’s honor.
Second, all the kingdoms in the Central Region except the Empire and the Wipper Kingdom were connected to warfare and remained extremely sensitive to conflict.
In such circumstances, would the Empire launch a surprise attack on another kingdom?

‘Tension across the Continent would reach an extreme peak.’

Moreover, other kingdoms would cast sharp gazes toward the Empire.
Therefore, the Empire had a high likelihood of moving officially under the justification of ‘reclaiming Maple Castle,’ which was an excellent pretext.

“Then I’ll see you on the battlefield later.”

Ritana climbed back onto the black panther.
She would lead the warriors toward the Jungle Zone 1 Coastline.
It was where Kale’s Villa once stood, and where the 4-Kingdom 1-Race Alliance agreement had been made—the Jungle warriors would prepare there for the coming moment.
Kale bid farewell to the departing Ritana and moved forward.

“Are you returning to the Empire?”

Kale had not come to Jungle Zone 1 alone.
Of course, the invisible Raon and Choi Han, along with On and Hong, had come with him. Hong, hanging from Choi Han’s shoulder, cried out.

“We need to go prepare for Sir Rex’s first rampage!”
“Right. Sir Rex knows less about the Cat-Human Race than we do. It’s serious. We need to make him a smart king.”

On yawned from Choi Han’s arms and spoke seriously.
But Kale shook his head.

“I can go to the Empire a bit later.”
“Then are you going to the Wipper Kingdom?”

Kale stared intently at Choi Han.

‘Why is this guy so curious about where I’m going these days?’

Choi Han, who had always simply agreed without complaint until now, had recently become quite curious about where I was going. Yet he wasn’t opposing my intentions either.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been ordering him around without saying much.’

Even back when I was Kim Rok-soo, when I became a new team leader, I had given my employees only fragmented instructions about managing mercenaries and ability users, which had caused considerable subtle resistance.

‘Team Leader, please! Say something! Why do you always do everything alone? Do you think the world and people will recognize you for that? Even though we’re company employees, that’s not really what this is, is it? Why alone! Please stop doing that.’
‘Team Leader, instead of always reading web novels or books, why don’t you talk with people? With us, at least? Please?’
‘We share the same heart as you, Team Leader! Even though we’re disguised and hidden, the convictions we hold in our hearts are the same as yours!’

Kale, or rather Kim Rok-soo, recalled those employees whose dream was ‘resignation’ and ‘unemployment’ like mine, then dismissed the thought. Unlike me, those with families—it was difficult to tell them everything and command them. That’s why I had resorted to giving only fragmented instructions.

Kale Heniatus glanced at Choi Han, On, Hong, and the invisible Raon Mir watching from the shadows, then spoke with a dismissive tone.

“Why does it matter where I’m going?”
“I will follow you.”
“We’re coming with you!”
“I need to know where we’re headed so I can prepare myself mentally.”

Choi Han, Hong, and On’s responses erupted simultaneously.
Kale Heniatus let out a hollow laugh.

“Weak humans require my assistance to travel! Without me, the great Raon Mir, you cannot go anywhere!”

The transparent Raon Mir’s voice echoed through the space where only the group remained.

“Weak humans are weak! I must be the one to take you!”

An inexplicable laughter spilled from Kale Heniatus.
Then he paused.

—Do you desire freedom? Want to escape this damnable world?

…It was the voice of Sky-Devouring Water.

—Life is already a mess, but trust only me. For your freedom, I can do anything.

…Good heavens.
Kale Heniatus had sensed hints of this before, but he was taken aback anew by the crude profanities pouring from that crystalline voice. Then, Jjangdol’s voice followed.

—Restrain yourself.
—Tch.

Jjangdol was calming the water.
Kale Heniatus was at a loss for words.

‘I thought the ancient powers had been quiet lately. They’re becoming increasingly strange.’

Kale Heniatus’s expression grew grave. How had he ended up collecting such peculiar beings? He regarded Choi Han with a serious gaze.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”
“Do you love peace and justice?”

For a moment, I found myself at a loss for words.
The nine-year-olds around us fell silent, their eyes darting between the two of us.

“That is—”

I couldn’t answer Kale’s question easily.

At seventeen, peace and justice had been nothing more than abstract concepts I believed to be right. But when I fell into the Dark Forest wearing only a school uniform, my entire worldview shifted.

Yet I chose peace and justice to live as a human should. It brought me comfort.

But ironically, there was no comfortable path in this world. That was my reality now. My heart found no peace.
I had gained a home, a family, friends—yet danger walked alongside them all, and my heart remained perpetually uneasy.

I looked toward Kale.

Was he about to offer me an answer?
Did he understand this anxiety in my heart and wish to tell me something?

If so, I should answer his question first.
Finally, I opened my mouth.

“…Peace and justice feel so distant to me.”

Peace especially felt impossibly far away.

“They are distant.”

Kale’s calm affirmation made me press my lips together. In my mind’s eye, the desolate Jungle Zone 1 still lingered.
Then, Kale’s voice reached me.

“But they can draw closer. As close as you wish.”
“…Kale.”

Was he speaking of hope?
I could see Kale Heniatus placing his hand on my shoulder, patting it encouragingly. Kale then opened his mouth as he gazed upon Jungle Zone 1.

“The Eastern Continent is far away too.”

Meow.
On, the eldest among the group with an average age of nine, sensed something odd about this conversation.

But the others had not yet noticed.
I nodded with a sorrowful expression.

“Yes, it is far like the Eastern Continent. Like that place I have never visited, peace and justice feel distant.”
“Do not worry.”
“Kale.”

His words not to worry struck deeply within me. I clenched my fists as I gazed upon the melancholy in Kale’s eyes as he looked toward that desolate land far away.
My vow came to mind—to become someone who paves the path toward legend.

“I will surely guide you to that path where peace and justice dwell—”
“It’s right next door, right next door.”
“Pardon?”

Next door? Where? The Eastern Continent?
I paused for a moment and called out to him.

“…Kale?”
“Peace and justice can become as close as we wish.”

As expected.
I tightened my grip on my clenched fists as I arrived at the conclusion Kale had reached. His words—that they could become as close as we wished—made me imagine that I too could reach that place.
If that were the case, I could gladly draw my sword and lead the way, even down a path shrouded in despair.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”

Kale looked at me and spoke.

“Let us go together.”

Choi Han took a step back from Kale Heniatus. Then he lowered his head to the man who was watching him. It was not an overly formal gesture, but his gaze burned with the resolute will of a knight answering his lord.

“Yes, I will go anywhere.”

At that moment, the six-year-old Black Dragon, who had been watching carefully, suddenly cried out.

“I’m going too, human!”
“Yes, I know.”
“You know? Good! No, of course you should know!”
“Yes. So then, unfold the teleportation magic circle to the Eastern Continent.”
“Huh?”

Raon hesitated.

Meow.

As if she had expected this, On’s cry rang out. Regardless, Kale gazed at his companions, each wearing a different expression.

Choi Han, On, Hong, and Raon—excluding those left behind in the Empire.
This combination was exactly the same as when they had gone to rescue Raon, with Raon added to it. Just like when he was Kim Rok-soo, only those with nothing around him gathered like this.

He opened his mouth as he looked at this combination that he quite liked. His expression was solemn.

“The Inn opens tomorrow.”

Meow.
On let out a cry like a sigh.
Unaware of it, Kale spoke to Raon.

“We’re going to the Inn.”

* * *

【The Inn That Loves Hope and Adventure】

Choi Han stared blankly at the sign of the three-story Inn.

“What do you think?”

Kale posed a question, and Choi Han answered honestly.

“…It looks far too warm.”

The inn, with its red roof and white walls, possessed a small courtyard garden adorned with flowers and trees, emanating an inexplicably welcoming atmosphere.

-That’s right! Choi Han is correct—it does look warm! It qualifies as our villa, no, our business establishment! Human, open the door!

Kale opened the inn’s entrance with a satisfied expression.

Ding-ding.
A cheerful bell chimed to signal the arrival of guests.
Choi Han stepped inside following the pleasant sound and could hear Ron’s voice.

“Young master, how is it?”
“It’s good. You’ve done excellent repairs.”

Choi Han observed the people beside the servant Ron.
Two men who appeared to be cooks, and three men who seemed to be staff members. All five looked simple-hearted and virtuous.
Particularly, the gentle smiles they wore made them seem genuinely likeable.

‘They’re tense.’

Yet Choi Han sensed that all five were in a state of tension.

‘They’re nervous as if they’d received an assassination notice.’

Though it was strange, Choi Han set aside his thoughts in deference to Kale’s actions.

“Introduce me to the inn staff in the backyard as well.”
“Ah, yes!”

Indeed, Choi Han could sense the presence of many people from behind the inn.
In truth, Choi Han had not learned the details of what Kale had accomplished on the Eastern Continent. Thus, he was quite eager to discover who these new members might be.

As Choi Han followed Kale toward the rear gate leading to the backyard, he surveyed his surroundings. Unlike the Heniatus Count Estate and the Royal Palace, the interior was unpretentious yet charming and warm.

It appeared to be a space where even a novice adventurer could find comfort.

‘Is this our new home?’

The newly established base on the Eastern Continent stirred a peculiar excitement within Choi Han. There was something invigorating about building from the ground up.
Thus, he crossed the threshold leading to the backyard with a surprisingly light heart.

‘I sense several quite powerful auras. Were they selected as inn guards? As expected, he overlooks nothing, even the smallest details.’

With that thought, Choi Han encountered the backyard teeming with personnel.
And he paused for a moment.

Menacing.

Every face bore a menacing expression.
And they looked resolute.

And there was something else.

“…Why are they wearing those clothes—?”
“Ah, uniforms, uniforms.”

Kale Heniatus answered nonchalantly, regardless of whether Choi Han was frozen in place.

“They embody the values of our inn—adventure, justice, and peace. Should we not act for the values we cherish?”

Choi Han gazed at the one standing foremost among those gathered in the backyard, among the household members—the most imposing figure with a towering frame.
Black clothing.

And crudely embroidered upon it were one white star and five red stars.

To anyone’s eyes, it was a counterfeit Dark uniform.
A deliberately crude imitation of a Dark uniform served as their uniform.

Choi Han looked at Kale Heniatus, and Kale Heniatus casually retrieved a garment from his spatial pocket and extended it to Choi Han.

“Yours.”
“…Thank you.”

The black garment bore a single red star embroidered upon it.
Equally crude.

At that moment, Kale’s voice reached my ears.

“It will be the beginning of peace for everyone.”

Choi Han carefully gripped my clothes and responded.

“It is not far off, then.”
“That’s right.”
“What should I do?”

Along with Choi Han’s voice, another voice echoed in my mind.

-It’s time to throw money around! Time, I tell you!

Destructive Fire.
That stingy Destructive Fire had finally spoken after a long silence.

-I haven’t forgotten the sight of you throwing silver coins like an angel! You looked more sacred than the coins themselves!

I retrieved another garment embroidered with a crimson star from my spatial pouch. Destructive Fire was still speaking.

-You suggested having a fire festival with that fellow Tunka, didn’t you?

That’s right.
I had suggested to Tunka that we have a fire festival.

-You know as well as I do.

Destructive Fire spoke in a hushed tone.

-I am the perfect fit for this power.

Of course I knew that too.
That’s why I had stopped by the Eastern Continent to coincide with the opening ceremony.
I had come to create the final key for the war against the Empire.

I opened my mouth while looking at the bandits I had brought—those with fierce expressions—and Choi Han.

“The inn’s opening ceremony will be held today.”

The ordinary and warm opening ceremony would continue until evening.
But after the sun set.

“And starting tonight, we’ll crush the Underworld Organizations of Ribensi one by one.”

A single slash from Choi Han’s sword would tear the doors clean off the organization buildings.
Kale Heniatus made no attempt to hide his smile.
While the Former Bandit Leader’s face drained of color, Kale declared calmly.

“Ah, our organization’s name is ‘Real Arm.'”

If anyone asked ‘Who are you?’, it would be perfect to answer truthfully, ‘We are Real Arm!’

-Weak human, are we saving the Eastern Continent now too?

Kale pretended not to hear the six-year-old speaking such ominous words and pulled out a robe emblazoned with a crimson star.

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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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