Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 297

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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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“That’s fortunate. I’m pleased we share the same conviction, Commander.”

Crown Prince Adin smiled.

‘This fool would trip over his own feet and crack his skull open!’

Kale Heniatus felt his insides roiling with fury. Yet his face displayed an expression of relief. Simultaneously, his gaze shifted toward the golems.

“Y-Your Highness. I-In all my years, I’ve never s-seen anything so grotesque.”

Hilsman, usually eloquent, stumbled over his words. He could not conceal his dread.

The golems remained motionless.
Yet the sight of thirty-some towering black entities, each standing ten to fifteen meters tall, humanoid in shape but utterly devoid of life, cast an oppressive shadow and an unsettling unease over everything.

It was repugnant and terrifying.

Vice-Captain Hilsman glanced at his allies. Prince Valentino could not hide his shock, while Kale remained silent.

‘…Choi Han, Merry, Rosalind.’

Hilsman thought of his comrades at Maple Castle.

Merry, unable to reveal herself.
Rosalind, who must command the mages while fighting.
Choi Han, stripped of his aura.

Could these constrained warriors truly survive a battle against golems?
Hilsman was afraid.

‘And they can’t even use shields!’

When those colossal hands and feet of the golems struck the walls of Maple Castle—walls that stretched twenty meters high—could the mages even withstand it?
Even if they could hold the line, they would be too preoccupied with defense to mount any counterattack.

‘If only Commander Kale had his shield. Then at least we might have a chance to endure!’

Vice-Captain Hilsman bit down hard on his lip.
That was when it happened.

“Sub-Tower Master.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

Crown Prince Adin called upon Sub-Tower Master Metelona, and she immediately spoke.

“Everyone, fall back!”

Sub-Tower Master Metelona’s voice echoed across the military camp.

Fall back.
Clear the path for the golems to pass.
No—scatter.
It was a signal to flee, lest they be trampled to death beneath those massive feet.

Screeeech—kriiiii.
The colossal beings took their first slow, deliberate steps.

Kuu—oooong—

The earth itself trembled with each footfall.
The Imperial soldiers and nobles, unable to conceal their shock, hastily retreated as far as possible from the main gate of the earthen wall.

“Commander, can you stand?”
“That much is possible, Your Highness.”

Kale Heniatus wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth with a casual hand and rose to his feet. Hilsman hurriedly steadied him.

‘Watching them approach… the pressure is far more formidable than I anticipated.’

Kale feigned pain as he retreated from the center of the earthen wall.
His eyes moved rapidly, calculating.

‘Most of them had no knowledge of the golems’ existence.’

It was possible that only the Imperial Palace and the Alchemy Tower were involved in their creation.

Crash—!

A deafening roar erupted as the golems shattered the main gate and the earthen walls nearby. The gate alone could not contain their massive forms.
The earthen walls stretched ten meters high, and as Kale watched the golems pass through, crushing both the gate and the surrounding walls, he could see their silhouettes with perfect clarity.

‘Operators.’

Cockpits existed atop the golems’ shoulders.
Through the translucent glass, I could make out the alchemists seated within.

“Your Highness, it appears those are the operators—”

Hilsman’s urgent whisper to Kale faltered mid-sentence. He had caught sight of Kale’s eyes.
Prince Valentino appeared shocked and horrified, yet Kale’s expression remained unchanged from his usual composure. Only Hilsman, who had served him for so many years, could discern the difference.

Composed.
Kale was more rational and collected than he had ever been.
And his eyes still burned with refusal to surrender.

Hilsman’s own expression gradually calmed.
In that moment, Kale was observing the golems advancing past him toward the battlefield.

Searching.
If these were golems from a fantasy novel, there had to be one thing present.

‘Where is the core?’

The golem’s core.
The weakness and vital point that would allow for the easiest destruction.
I found it.
I lifted my gaze toward the empty sky.

Crown Prince Adin observed Kale intently.

‘He’s shocked.’

Though his eyes remained calm, the way Kale stared not at the golems but at empty space revealed just how much confusion and alarm he was experiencing.

—Human!

Yet Kale Heniatus was searching through empty air for something transparent.

The golem’s core.
The one who would notice it fastest—what the Crown Prince and the Alchemist had hidden within the golem’s body.
Raon Mir.

-Human, are you perhaps searching for that sphere inside the golem—the source of its power?

As expected!
My Raon Mir was truly magnificent.

Kale Heniatus nodded subtly, his expression one of admiration and acknowledgment of the golem’s prowess.
Of course, Kale and Raon Mir had already exploited the golem’s weakness.

-Human, they’re all in different locations! One in the arm, one near the heart. Each one is different!

They had used their heads well.
That was Kale’s assessment.
This meant the Wipper side would need to make multiple attempts each time just to find a single core.

‘But we have Raon Mir.’

A Dragon, no less.
A Dragon more skilled than any spirit at perceiving auras and energies.
As Kale spotted an escape route, his mind began to race with possibilities.

That was when it happened.

-Human, but there’s something strange about that sphere.

What?
Strange?

Kale Heniatus hesitated.
What could possibly be strange enough for Raon Mir to mention?
Suddenly, a question surfaced in Kale’s mind.

‘…What exactly is a golem’s core?’

What moves the golems?

-Human, it’s not mana. It’s not mana stones.

Yes, I expected as much.
Kale Heniatus considered another possibility.
Could it be dead mana?
But Raon’s answer differed from what Kale thought.

-…It’s different from dead mana too. There’s something else clumped together in them.

Something else clumped together?
Kale Heniatus’s brow furrowed slightly.

All living things eventually die.
When they do, dead mana flows out.
It was merely another facet of nature.

But these cores contained something more than that.

-It’s melancholy.

Raon’s voice filled my mind.
What was clumped together with the dead mana.

-Anger, sorrow, resentment are contained within. They scream! I can hear them! Everything is tangled together inside the sphere!

Raon’s voice grew increasingly intense.
The more the young dragon explored, the more he sensed what lay within those spheres.

-Human! This is horrible, no—it’s sad!

What was contained within the dead mana.

-…I hear the voices of children! Ah, no! All sorts of voices come from the small golems!

Kale Heniatus’s expression twisted.

‘…Could it be?’

Memories of the Alchemy Tower’s past flowed through his mind.

Fifteen years ago, the Alchemy Tower had brought children from the slums across the Empire and driven them to death under the guise of experimentation.
After that, they had continued their experiments by bringing slaves from across the Western Continent.

What had the Alchemy Tower been experimenting on? What had they been trying to create?
Why had they researched dead mana?

Anger began to kindle in Kale’s eyes.
He gazed upon the massive humanoid golem before him.

‘If this golem was created during the experimental process…?’

Kale could make an inference about what it was made from—one that bordered on certainty.

‘These bastards!’

Kale himself was no saint, but at least he wasn’t garbage. When Hilsman felt the grip of Kale’s hand tightening on his shoulder, he looked toward him.

“My lord?”

Despite his clenched fist, his face remained serene. His gaze turned toward the battlefield.

Boom— boom!

With the appearance of the massive golem, the atmosphere of the battlefield transformed in an instant.

“Knights, stand by! Mages, provide support to the golem unit operators!”

Bright and spirited voices echoed throughout the Imperial Army’s encampment.
Kale observed the Crown Prince, the Sub-Tower Master, and his disciple Honth. They too were stepping onto the battlefield.
Then his eyes met with Adin’s. The Crown Prince feigned a worried expression as he spoke.

“Commander, you should step back and rest. Someone in poor health shouldn’t be fighting.”
“…I understand, Your Highness.”

How considerate of him to say such things.
Kale retreated as if reluctant, moving away from the Crown Prince toward a place where their gazes could not easily reach him.

“Commander.”

I stood beside Prince Valentino.
The priests were moving about busily, so only his guards surrounded Prince Valentino.

The safest place with the most secure communications for Kale.
The moment I took my position there.
Sub-Tower Master Metelona’s voice shook the entire battlefield.

“Golem units, destroy Maple Castle!”

At the same time, my lips parted and a quiet voice rang out.

“Hold on.”

The video communication device hidden within Vice-Captain Hilsman’s pocket gleamed.
My words were transmitted directly through the video communication device.

-Hold on.

Herald Chief of Staff Herrol closed his eyes and then opened them.
Thirty massive golems were advancing toward Maple Castle.

“What… what are those monsters!”
“Even monsters aren’t like that! What in the world are those things?”
“Giants… giants have appeared!”

Voices filled with terror erupted from all corners of Maple Castle.
The Wipper Kingdom Army, which had created hellish flames and brimmed with confidence.

“…So this is the true power of the Empire!”

Yet they had to feel overwhelmed by the Empire’s hidden true strength.

Could they, so insignificantly small compared to the golems, possibly win this fight?
Could dozens of ants rushing forward ever defeat a single human?

The soldiers’ fear was transmitted directly to Herrol.
The hands gripping the Spire Tower’s railing trembled.

It was at that moment.

-Open the gate.

Kale Heniatus’s command came like a whisper.

‘Open the gate? Not defend? Fight that golem?’

Herrol Chief of Staff hesitated and turned his head.

The video communication channel connected to Kale Heniatus.
Beside it stood the leadership of Wipper.

Five people in total.
Chief Advisor Herrol, Grand General Tunka, Mercenary Group Administrator Rosalind, and Choi Han and Clophe.
Kale Heniatus called out to one person.

-Choi Han.

Choi Han’s gaze turned toward Chief Advisor Herrol.
Choi Han’s mouth opened. His voice carried through the video communication channel to Kale Heniatus as well.

-Open the gate.

A smile flickered across Kale Heniatus’s lips before vanishing.
He lifted his head.

The Empire with its bright atmosphere, and in stark contrast, Wipper Kingdom silent as a tomb.

Kale Heniatus spoke again.

“Clophe, we’re changing the operation order. Start with the Phoenix first.”

Soon Rosalind’s resolute voice rang out.

-Hold the line! Mages, immediately memorize shield magic and offensive spells! We’re using all the mana stones!
-All staff officers scatter and observe the golem! Find its weakness! Use the remaining dragon’s wrath as well!

Following that, Herrol Codian’s voice, dripping with malice, also reached his ears.
Finally, Choi Han’s voice came through.

-Lord Kale, are you holding the line?

The corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth finally lifted.

-Or are you breaking through?

This clever bastard.
Kale Heniatus turned his head at the sound that soon reached his ears.

Wheeeee— wheeeee—

The sound of a flute echoed through the air.
A white-haired masked man in a brown robe was playing the flute.

Screeeee— screeeee—

White skeletal birds began to slowly rise into the air.
As the black golems approached the castle, the bone birds took flight.

Crown Prince Adin watched this indifferently before freezing.

“Surely not?”

The largest of the skeletal birds.
It descended toward the Spire Tower of Maple Castle.
The bird did not take flight again.

And then the Crown Prince witnessed a sight.

“Not a Dwarf?”

There was a Dwarf upon the skeletal bird.
But there was another person riding alongside the Dwarf.

“…A swordsman?”

Knights sat atop the bone-white birds.

Screech— screech—

Tribal Chief Kanel, perched upon the largest of the bone-white birds, extended his hand toward the Spire Tower and pulled a figure up onto the creature’s back.
He handed over the reins in greeting.

“It has been a long time.”

Kanel offered the reins while paying his respects.

“Welcome, Knight Commander of the Wyvern Knights.”

The legendary Wyvern Knights of the Northern Region.
Those who seemed destined to dominate the skies themselves had revealed their presence on the battlefield.

The Wyvern Knights of Paern and the Flame Dwarves of the Wings.
They had begun to move as one.

Clophe had brought every surviving member of the Wyvern Knights who had not participated in the previous battle at Heniatus Castle.
He recalled his conversation with Kale Heniatus.

‘The Paern Kingdom must be supreme among those who fight in the skies. Show them that power.’

The White-haired Priest felt laughter bubble up from within.

‘I’ll save imitating Lord Kale Heniatus for later. But this is good too.’

The Priest shouted to the sword-wielding Wyvern Knights.

“This is my command!”

White-haired Priest Clophe recalled himself from when he had been a Wyvern Knight and a guardian knight. A thrill ran through him. He felt as though he might lose his mind. It seemed as though he could do anything.

Because a legend stood behind him.

He relayed Kale Heniatus’s command exactly as given.

—Take to the skies.
“Take to the skies!”

And then.

—Hunt the monsters of the earth.
“Hunt the monsters of the earth!”

Screeeee— screeeee—
The skeletal birds’ wings unfurled.
They beat their wings in unison, seizing control of the sky. The aerial power the Indomitable Alliance once wielded had finally evolved and manifested before the world.

Kuuung. Kuung!

The golem units halted their advance and lifted their heads.

Colossal birds of the sky.
And towering golems of the earth.
They began to face off against one another.

It was in that moment.

Screeeee.

The main gate of Maple Castle swung open.
And a figure emerged—absurdly small compared to the titans arrayed across the battlefield.

Toward the colossal forces, a single human walked forth.

A swordsman in a black helm, wielding an ordinary iron blade.
He alone stepped into war.

Clang!

The swordsman in the black helm drew his blade.
The command from moments before echoed through his mind once more.

—Choi Han.

Choi Han pointed his sword at the golems.
He had asked.

‘Kale, should I hold the line? Or should I destroy them?’

Kale’s answer was etched into Choi Han’s mind.

-Destroy them.

Choi Han charged toward the golem.

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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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