Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 30

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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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Rak’s limbs trembled with increasing violence, his entire body quaking uncontrollably. Yet neither Rosalind nor Choi Han moved to approach him.
Rak’s fingernails were growing—sharp and elongated, like the talons of a predator.

“Grraaahhh!”

Rak’s body convulsed against the floor. His frame, which had been thrashing about like an arrow, began to transform. I confirmed that the massive iron doors of the Training Ground were securely sealed before edging cautiously toward the corner. On and Hong crept toward the corner as well.

‘This is serious.’

I watched as Rak’s lean, towering form underwent a gradual metamorphosis.

“Grrgh, aaahhh!”

Rak rose slowly, his sharp fangs fully extended, his voice a primal roar. He staggered upright, his face contorted in agony as his eyes snapped open. Then he unleashed a howl toward the ceiling.

“Graaahhh!”

In that instant, a translucent barrier materialized before my eyes. A shield. While On and Hong looked around in alarm, I spoke without emotion.

“Dragon, you’re impressive as always. Add some sound dampening to this, would you?”

Another layer of shield materialized. Rosalind glanced over and visibly flinched at the layered barriers. The Black Dragon’s voice reached my ears from somewhere within the shield.

“You are quite fragile. Therefore, you must be protected.”

On and Hong recognized the Black Dragon’s presence and brightened, then looked up at me with sympathetic eyes in agreement with its words. I ignored their gaze and replied flatly.

“Do as you wish.”
“I do not understand why you do not use that power.”
“You don’t need to.”

That power. The Black Dragon had noticed that I had not revealed my ancient power to others, and it questioned this choice, referring to it as ‘that power.’ I shrugged. Another layer of shield materialized, creating a total of three overlapping barriers.

‘Its abilities are advancing at a remarkable pace.’

Dragons wielded magic differently than humans did. Dragons commanded magic through sheer will. I found the Black Dragon’s rate of improvement astounding, and I couldn’t help but think how useful it would be to put such power to work.

Kaige settled onto the ground with a heavy thump, watching Rak’s rampage unfold with an unsettling calm.

“Grraaaaahhh!”

The Training Ground echoed with his screams. Without the sound-dampening and shockwave-absorbing magic in place, every knight in the Mansion would have come rushing down.

With each roar that tore from his throat, Rak’s body swelled larger. Muscles rippled into existence where none had been before, and his eyes burned crimson. It was the unmistakable mark of fading sanity.

Why had the Wolf Tribe boy succumbed to berserk transformation?
A year from now, Rak would experience his first true rampage. The cause would be the death of a single being.

‘The healer Fendrick.’

That elf would fall in battle. He was someone who reminded Rak of his dead chieftain—his uncle. And in that moment, Rak’s mind would shatter. Madness would consume him, and he would seek only to slaughter everything within sight.

“On, Hong.”

I looked down at the two siblings pressed tightly against each other within the protective shield.

“You two haven’t experienced a rampage yet, have you?”

The cats shook their heads.

“Do you know anything about berserk transformation?”
“Not really.”
“We never had anyone to teach us.”

I’d expected as much. On and Hong were likely purebloods, which meant their rampages would be all the more severe. I turned my gaze forward and continued.

“The Wolf Tribe, Tiger Tribe, Bear Tribe, and Whale Tribe lose their sanity most severely when they rampage. That’s why we generally consider these four tribes to be bestial demihumans, closer to monsters.”

I didn’t know much about the Cat Tribe.

“I don’t know the exact details about the Cat Tribe either, but if you feel like you’re about to rampage, develop a fever, or suddenly fall ill, come to me immediately without hesitation.”

Trouble was a headache I’d rather avoid. And if it happened, who would clean up the mess? I would have to.
I took responsibility for everything under my care, everything I had taken in.
When I received no response, I glanced sideways. Two pairs of golden eyes had been fixed on me without moving, but soon the cats padded over and began rubbing their bodies against my legs.

‘Why is he like this?’

Rak’s aggressive stance unsettled me, so I shifted slightly to the side while remaining seated. That’s when a chilling voice echoed through the air.

“Does the Dragon have a berserk state?”
“No.”

Of course the Dragon didn’t have a berserk state—that would be insane. If a Dragon went berserk, entire mountains would simply vanish. A horrifying thought. My expression hardened more than ever as I stared straight ahead, a gesture that made it clear I didn’t want to hear another word.

“Tch.”

A clicking sound of disapproval echoed through the void. Why was this Dragon like this? Just as I was pondering the incomprehensible temperament of the creature, the berserk state began to manifest fully.

Thud. As the wolf-human standing on two legs stomped, the Training Ground floor trembled.
The blue Wolf Tribe member’s fur had taken on a deep blue-black hue. No longer a boy, a ferocious wolf-human became covered in that dark blue fur. With sharpened claws and arms of muscle that far surpassed even Choi Han’s, Rak swung with devastating force.

“Rak!”
“Rak, snap out of it!”

Choi Han and Rosalind called out desperately, but to the rationality-stripped Rak, they were merely living creatures to be attacked.

“Grrrrgh.”

A savage, grinding sound poured from Rak’s mouth. The wolf, now roughly 1.5 times Choi Han’s size, lunged at him.

“Rak, come to your senses! It’s me, Choi Han!”

Choi Han couldn’t counterattack, only defending against the wolf’s assault while desperately calling out to Rak. As if that would restore his reason? I shook my head, watching the scene unfold.

“Knocking him unconscious would be the fastest way.”

The cats gasped and retreated from me.
But unlike my words, I had no intention of doing that. A beastman knocked unconscious would simply lose their reason again if they entered a berserk state later.

“This is rough.”

The attacking power of a berserked wolf-human exceeded imagination. Even though it moved purely on instinct, the way it wielded its muscles felt entirely different.

“On, Hong.”

Kaige called out to the cat siblings. He had a reason for bringing them along.

“Watch the movements of that Wolf Tribe child.”

He pointed them toward Rak, ensuring On and Hong could observe the wolf-human clearly. Rak hurled himself relentlessly at Choi Han and Rosalind—a fight without restraint, utterly characteristic of the Wolf Tribe. Kaige whispered to the cats.

“That is the movement of a beast-human driven by instinct. Unlike humans, they can move according to their primal nature. That is the beauty and the greatness of beast-humans.”

Crash! Rak’s fist slammed into the ground, shattering the stone floor. The raw power was staggering.

“Berserk transformation is neither something to fear nor dread. It is when they are strongest.”

Tap. Kaige’s hand gently tapped the heads of the two cats.

“Though the Cat Tribe and Wolf Tribe differ, you too are beast-humans. Watch and learn from those instinctive movements, that wild nature. And so—”

Two pairs of golden eyes met Kaige’s gaze.

“Make them your own. Or else, figure out how to tear the throats from bears, tigers, wolves—those beasts.”

The cat children, the Cat Tribe young, immediately tore their attention from Kaige and fixed their stares upon Rak. They rose to their feet, their eyes sharp and focused on him. Silver and crimson fur bristled upward as tension rippled through their bodies.

Cats—a weaker species compared to apex predators. Yet in their secretive nature, they grasped precisely what Kaige meant. He watched the cats for a moment, then called upon the Dragon.

“You.”

The Black Dragon materialized in the empty air. Rosalind and Choi Han were completely absorbed in Rak, their attention wholly upon him. Kaige pointed to the two of them for the Dragon’s benefit.

“Observe how Rosalind uses magic to prevent her opponent from being injured. Watch how Choi Han employs his aura not for offense, but to protect that Wolf Tribe child from harm.”

Bang, bang, bang! Rak’s fists came down with merciless speed, attempting to shatter Rosalind’s shield. Yet even as this happened, Rosalind called out to him desperately.

“Rak, do you remember your sister? You said I was family now. Please, come to your senses!”

Choi Han drew Rak’s gaze toward himself instead of Rosalind. He deliberately unleashed his killing intent.

“Attack me, Rak. I am the one who will protect you.”

Responding to the killing intent, Rak lashed out at Choi Han with his claws—a force born of pure physical strength, requiring no aura whatsoever.

Kaige watched the scene from a distance and spoke to the Dragon.

“It’s harder to avoid injuring someone than to hurt them. But you’re a Dragon, so I’m sure you’ll manage it easily enough.”

The Dragon replied.

“I am a Dragon. There is nothing I cannot do.”
“Right. So watch and make your own judgment.”

The Dragon settled beside the cats and turned invisible again. Likely, just like the cats, it would be committing Rosalind, Choi Han, and Rak’s offensive and defensive techniques to memory.

‘I should have brought some wine.’

Suppressing my regret at the absence of wine, I quietly savored the tedious spectacle—one attacking, two defending. Two hours. In the time it took for a film to end, the children of both tribes watched without once tearing their eyes away, while Choi Han and Rosalind grew exhausted.

“…Gasp, gasp. Gasp.”

But the one most worn out was the werewolf.

“Huff, gasp. Bro—”
“Rak!”

Choi Han’s face brightened at the word “brother.” He approached the werewolf, who was swaying as if about to collapse—though his berserk state hadn’t fully subsided yet. At Choi Han’s behavior, I watched with disapproval, but soon rose from my seat nonetheless.

“S-sister—”

Rak recognized Rosalind too.

“Ah, Rak!”

Rosalind rushed over and embraced Rak, whose body was still covered in dark blue fur, though the light was returning to his eyes. Rak was unharmed. Rather, only Rosalind and Choi Han bore minor wounds.
The two of them had protected Rak like family.

“I’m, huff, gasp, sorry.”

Reason returned. It had been a perfect first berserk transformation—one where he remained aware of every moment. Rak buried his face in Rosalind’s shoulder, she who was half his size, and the thirteen-year-old boy wept. His cries were mingled with the sounds of a beast.

“Rak!”

And Rak gradually transformed back into his human form and collapsed. The rampage had ended. Choi Han quickly rushed over and caught him. As Rak fell, he struggled to hold onto his fading consciousness. He was terrified it might happen again.
That was when it occurred.

A man cradling two cats in his arms approached the boy, who was blinking rapidly in an attempt to fight off his dimming vision.

‘Uncle.’

It was the man who had spoken of his uncle. That man spoke to Rak.

“You can rest now.”

The man smiled softly and gently closed Rak’s eyes, just as before.

“It’s all over.”

At those words, Rak finally felt reassured and closed his eyes. He lost consciousness while leaning against Choi Han. Choi Han carefully laid Rak back down on the stretcher.

Watching this, Kaige retrieved a potion bottle from the pouch he had brought and tossed it to Rosalind. Despite the careless throw, Rosalind caught it and examined the potion bottle with a question.

“But potions don’t work on Rak’s body, do they?”

Kaige looked at Rosalind with an expression as if to say why she would ask something so obvious. Then, seeing that she still harbored doubts, he spoke to her.

“Why would I give a potion to a Wolf Tribe member? It’s for you. You’ve worked hard.”

Rosalind stared intently at Kale. She had witnessed the tremendous sight of a magical triple layer, and she had many things she wanted to ask Kale. But she said something else instead.

“Thank you.”

That came first.

“Don’t mention it.”

Kaige answered lightly and turned his head. He could see Choi Han. Choi Han was already looking at him.

“Choi Han.”

He needed to hear the story of how this situation had come to pass.

“We need to talk.”

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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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