Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 29

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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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Choi Han, Rak, and Rosalind, who had come with Choi Han, stepped into Kale’s room. Both Choi Han and Rosalind’s expressions were filled with urgency.

“Hans, bring us something to drink.”
“Yes? Ah, of course!”

Kale instructed the butler Hans and closed the door without letting him enter the room. He pointed to the bed for Choi Han, who was watching him.

“Lay the boy down first.”
“Yes.”

Choi Han carefully laid Rak on the bed. Kale approached Rak slowly. He was indeed of pure bloodline, bearing the fragile appearance of an ordinary human. Yet his height was quite tall for a boy.

“Hah… huff… huff…”

Rak was gasping with high fever, struggling to keep his eyes open. His face was deeply contorted, his body limp and devoid of strength. The rampage was now inevitable.
I spoke to the boy whose height matched that of an adult, looking up at me with eyes forced open with effort.

“Just close your eyes. Don’t strain yourself.”

My tone was resolute, without coercion yet carrying an undeniable force. Rak slowly closed his eyes. As he did, a stranger’s voice reached him.

“Everything will be alright.”

Rak exhaled a fevered breath and silently called out to one person. His uncle. The chieftain of the Blue Wolf Tribe, who had stood one step away from the seat of the great Wolf King before dying for his tribe. His uncle had hidden Rak before turning to face the invaders.

‘Everything will be alright.’

That was what his uncle had said. Rak’s fevered face twisted miserably. I turned my head away, observing this without emotion.

“Kale, why is Rak like this?”

Choi Han looked urgent and flustered. In the original story, at this point in time, he would gradually open his heart, but not completely to Rak like this.

‘What happened?’

I was well aware that Choi Han’s state had changed somewhat because of me. That was precisely why I had tried to sever our connection. I swallowed my questions and looked at Choi Han.

“Potions are ineffective. Rosalind mentioned that the Wolf Tribe is a species immune to potions. Healing magic doesn’t work either. I don’t know what to do. I have to protect him—I have to protect him.”
“Calm yourself.”

At this rate, you’ll awaken. That prospect terrified me as much as the Black Dragon stirring in that corner. Whether it was from living alone for decades, or simply because that was Choi Han’s true nature despite decades of solitude, he was tender-hearted and genuinely kind.

“Kale.”
“If you trust me, then leave this to me.”
“…I trust you.”
“Good.”

Kale waited until Choi Han had regained his composure, then turned his gaze toward Rosalind.

Rosalind. First in line to the throne of the Breck Kingdom. Yet a genius mage preparing to abandon that very position. She was the sort of person who evoked crimson roses—hair a brighter red than Kale’s own, lips curved upward in a subtle smile. But her temperament suited the sun far more than any rose.

Rosalind stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the corner of the room, ignoring Rak, Choi Han, and Kale entirely.

“…This aura, such magnificent mana—!”

Her words trailed off as her trembling hand clenched into a fist, her eyes locked on the exact spot where the Dragon sat cloaked in invisibility—the chair at the dining table.

“Sigh.”

A breath escaped Kale’s lips. The Dragon had apparently taken an interest in the mage.
The Black Dragon was undoubtedly demonstrating to Rosalind alone a mana technique beyond her imagination—channeling its power exclusively to her. Dragons, as a rule, cared little for humans, but they had always been quite fond of mages.
It was simply enjoying itself.

Kale’s gaze settled on the space near the dining table where no living creature was visible, and he spoke in a low voice.

“Stay still.”

In that instant, Rosalind drew a sharp breath and quickly steadied herself. The Dragon had withdrawn its mana. Rosalind’s pupils trembled visibly as she looked toward Kale.

“What is—”

Kale cut off her words and gestured toward Rak.

“This matter comes first.”
“Ah.”

Rosalind’s expression regained its composure in an instant. She watched Rak’s limp form with her eyes closed, then turned to me with a question.

“What’s happening to Rak right now?”

I glanced at the small staff in her hands. They had likely reached the Capital in just three days because Rosalind had used teleportation magic. Unlike my expectations, Rosalind had already revealed her magical prowess.

“You’re a mage?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Have you heard of berserker transformation?”

Ah. An exclamation escaped Rosalind’s lips. Yet her face soon betrayed a question.

“I’ve read about the Wolf Tribe’s berserker transformation in books. But this is the first time I’ve seen one accompanied by such high fever and pain.”
“That’s because it’s his first time.”
“What?”

I spoke to those gathered in the room, their eyes fixed upon me.

“When beastfolk undergo berserker transformation for the first time, they suffer greatly from the overwhelming physical changes and lose their reason. Once they endure this first transformation, they can wield berserker transformation as their weapon.”

A beastfolk was strongest when berserked.
I continued speaking while observing Rak’s condition.

“His transformation won’t last much longer.”

Then I looked at Rosalind. She nodded at my gaze and answered firmly.

“I don’t know what kind of person you are, but I can at least read the situation and understand what’s needed.”

Despite her resolute tone, her eyes held a desperate plea.

“He’s just a child.”
“I know.”

She made her request, and I answered it.

Meow. At that moment, two kittens appeared between us and leaped onto the bed with a bound. On and Hong stared intently at Rak. In that instant.

“Ugh.”

Rak bared his teeth and growled at the young kittens On and Hong. His instincts were overriding reason, and as a member of the Wolf Tribe, he was reacting to other beastfolk. The display was fierce enough that Choi Han swallowed hard.

Meow.

Smack. Hong struck that growling mouth with a front paw—a sharp, blade-like attack that said not to mess around. Then Hong looked at Kale, his eyes pleading for help.

“It’s fine.”

Kale answered briefly to that look, and at the sound of knocking—knock, knock, knock—he immediately opened the door. Hans stood there with drinks and wet towels. Kale gave him instructions.

“Hans.”
“Yes.”
“Get a stretcher.”
“A stretcher?”

Kale pointed to Rak on the bed.

“Put him on the stretcher and take him to the Underground Training Ground. Clear out all the knights from the training ground, and don’t leave a single person there.”

Hans’s expression screamed the question—the training ground? For a sick person?—but Kale ignored it.

“Go now.”
“…Yes.”

Hans was full of questions and regarded Kale strangely, but he obeyed without complaint. Once Hans left to fetch the stretcher, Kale turned around and pointed at the two bewildered people.

“Choi Han, and you.”
“I’m Rosalind.”
“Right. Rosalind.”

Both of them turned their bodies from the bed where Rak had been toward Kale.

“Yes, Kale.”
“Why are you doing this?”

Concern, worry, desperation, and seriousness—all of it was written across their faces, making them look less like heroes and more like simply good people. To those two, Kale spoke without emotion.

“The two of you should spar with each other.”
“…What?”

After a few seconds of silence, Rosalind voiced her question, while Choi Han waited wordlessly for Kale to continue.

“Originally, for beastkin like those of the Wolf Tribe, Tiger Tribe, and Bear Tribe who carry the blood of fierce beasts, when they experience their first rampage, their parents or siblings resolve it for them. They absorb all the attacks from the rampaging one and protect the child from harm. That’s how they safeguard the child.”

In that moment, both Choi Han and Rosalind’s expressions darkened. Rak had neither parents nor siblings. Kale glanced at Rak before continuing.

“Looking at this, it seems this child won’t be able to do that.”

Clap. Kale clapped his hands once, then pointed at Choi Han and Rosalind in turn.

“Well then, pretend to be his father and mother. If you don’t like that, just think of yourselves as his older brother and sister. The two of you should protect him on your own.”

Kale possessed an “unbreakable shield,” but he had no desire to personally handle Rak’s rampage. Why would he step forward when there were those stronger than himself?

Rosalind and Choi Han looked at each other.

“Eventually, that child will exhaust himself, and soon the rampage will weaken and his reason will return. It’s crucial that reason returns at the end of the first rampage. Only then will he not lose his reason during the next rampage.”

The moment when reason overcomes instinct—that moment had to come to the beastkin.
Choi Han pondered for a moment before asking Kale.

“Kale, how long does the rampage last?”
“He’s pure-blooded among the pure-blooded.”
“…So it will take quite a while, then.”
“Yeah. A couple of hours?”

Kale approached Rak’s bed and patted Choi Han’s shoulder as he stood beside it.

“It would be difficult for others. But you, Choi Han—it’ll be simple for you. I trust you.”
“…I will see it through. I am Rak’s older brother.”

Rosalind regarded Choi Han with an enigmatic expression. Choi Han, who had survived by ruthlessly cutting down assassins and protecting those around him. He was always tense with vigilance, scanning his surroundings. Yet despite the urgent situation, he now appeared at ease.
As she observed Choi Han, Kale’s leisurely voice reached her ears.

“Right. Once we’re done, let’s eat something delicious.”

Kale found himself thinking of the meal and wine he hadn’t managed to consume earlier.
The door opened as Hans entered with Ron, carrying a stretcher.

“Young Master, the training ground has been cleared.”
“That was quick.”

I instructed Choi Han to transfer Rak onto a stretcher as he now breathed heavily while beginning to growl, then spoke.

“Let’s go.”

I hastily gathered supplies into my magic pouch and headed toward the training ground.
The Underground Training Ground. The Heniatus Count Family was renowned for its wealth, but its roots lay in martial prowess. How could we afford to be weak when we bordered the Dark Forest, teeming with dangerous monsters?

Thus, the underground chamber of the mansion housed a training ground superior to those of most nobles. Upon entering the spacious subterranean space, I issued orders to Hans and Ron.

“Both of you, stay outside. Guard the first floor and don’t let anyone enter.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Understood, sir.”

I felt uneasy about Ron’s excessively gentle smile. But watching the two of them disappear without complaint, I promptly led the cats to a corner of the training ground, not forgetting to wave my hand dismissively at Choi Han and Rosalind, gesturing for them to move farther away.

“Both of you, to the center!”

Choi Han and Rosalind moved according to my command.
Choi Han headed to the center with Rak. Rosalind stepped back gradually from Rak with a serious expression.

“Krrgh!”

Rak was now even experiencing minor convulsions.

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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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