Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 307

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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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“…Your Highness—”

There is a way.
Rosalind called out to Kale slowly, as if savoring those words. Kale responded to her with firm resolve.

“We just need to find the way.”

We simply need to find a path into that District 7.
There must surely be a way for us.
A smile bloomed on Rosalind’s lips, which had seemed so bitter moments before. She opened her mouth slowly.

“I was waiting for you to say that.”
“You’ve found a way, haven’t you?”

And immediately came Kale’s question. His gaze posed it to Rosalind.

‘You would have found a way.’

Rosalind’s smile deepened.

“Of course.”

Yes, it was Rosalind.
Kale smiled as well.

“The brilliant Rosalind smiles just like when she sees the Crown Prince and that human!”

He let Raon’s words drift past him, gently stroking the back of Raon’s smooth head as he spoke.

“But it seems there’s a problem.”

She had found the way, but there appeared to be a problem.
Rosalind nodded and pointed toward the ground as she spoke to Kale and the others.

“Let’s go and discuss it there.”

* * *

Jungle District 8.
Located directly below District 7, where the Royal Palace stood and was considered the capital, it was not a place where as many people lived as one might expect.

But today, that place was filled with far more people than ever before.

Scritch, scritch.
Kale Heniatus turned his head at the sound of a blade being sharpened.
A warrior leaning against a tree was honing his sword.

‘Quite the grim atmosphere.’

It wasn’t just that one person.

The Jungle was a place where trees grew in abundance, with vines and branches tangled together in every direction. Small paths existed where people could traverse, but most were overgrown with trees and vegetation, lacking any proper roads.
Those who navigated such treacherous terrain with ease were the Jungle people, and among them, the particularly powerful ones were warriors.
Numerous warriors with grim expressions were stationed throughout District 8—leaning against trees, on the ground, in the undergrowth—maintaining their weapons.

Roaaaar!
Grrrrr—

Beasts, both companions and mounts of several warriors, were visible as well.
The voice of the invisible Raon reached my ears.

-Human! Everyone here is furious! They all look ready to tear things apart!

Killing intent emanated from every corner.
Especially when the dark-skinned Jungle people revealed their fierce eyes from beneath the shadows of the undergrowth, I felt an involuntary chill.

“We’re here.”

I turned my head at Rosalind’s voice. She had pulled back one of the tent flaps.
Then the scene inside became visible.

“Young Master Kale!”
“Sir.”

Choi Han and Merry sprang to their feet.

Grrrrr—

A massive black panther rushed toward Kale Heniatus and rubbed its head against him. It was Ten, the black panther who accompanied Ritana.

‘…Ah, I was scared.’

Kale casually stroked Ten’s head and approached the person sitting at the table, regarding him with an anguished expression.

“It has been a long time, Ritana.”
“Your Highness.”

Ritana, the ruler of the Jungle.
She had grown so haggard that she could not hide her pallid complexion.

“Are you feeling well? I heard you collapsed, and I apologize for calling you so suddenly.”

Ritana spoke with an apologetic expression as she observed Kale’s pale complexion.
Merry, dressed in a black robe, subtly stood beside Kale and observed his condition. Choi Han, meanwhile, remained silent with his lips pressed firmly together.
Of course, the other Jungle leaders inside the tent also refrained from speaking carelessly upon seeing Kale’s complexion.

Only one being spoke eagerly.

-Still, human, your complexion has been improving since you created that water spear…! It’s just that your stamina has become as fleeting as a mayfly’s. Hmm… a bit… quite… hmm….

Kale ignored Raon’s words and opened his mouth.

“And how fares the Jungle?”

At those words, Ritana closed her eyes tightly before opening them again. Unable to contain her anguish, she wiped her face with both hands and spoke.

“It is my fault for being late.”
“Your Majesty—”

One of her subordinates called out to her, but Ritana raised her hand to stop him. Kale observed her eyes gradually opening wider.

Within her anguish lay both fury and resolve.
At least her gaze remained sharp and clear.
Ritana opened her mouth.

“After contacting Your Highness, I immediately went to District 7.”

Just before Kale Heniatus grabbed Crown Prince Adin by the nape of his neck, On sent word. What happened next was relayed through Ritana’s mouth.

“We don’t have many mages, so we were planning to teleport just a few of them to District 7 first. But when we tried to teleport to our destination, the teleportation was rejected. Rather, they had installed a magic circle that blocks teleportation.”
“Where were you trying to go?”

Ritana’s face contorted.

“The Royal Palace.”

Kale understood immediately.

“So there’s an Imperial spy in the Royal Palace. The Empire must have seized the palace first. Do you have any idea who it might be?”

Ritana nodded.

“It seems to be one of the mid-level commanders who were responsible for defending District 7.”

Without needing to say more, Kale could see the full picture crystallize before him.
A mid-level commander responsible for defending the Capital occupied a position neither too high nor too low.
They couldn’t access top-secret intelligence, but they would certainly be able to discern military movements.

Ritana laughed with a hollow ring to it.

“…District 7 fell into the Empire’s hands with ease.”

Right after the Royal Palace teleportation was blocked, she immediately moved to the outer edges of District 7.
And she saw the golems.
Those massive, grotesque creatures. They had sealed off all the entrances to District 7 from every direction.

The main gate, woven from the Jungle’s distinctive tangled trees, was trampled flat, and a black giant took its place—a sight that sent shockwaves through Ritana.
And when she saw the dying Capital defenders atop the City Wall, and realized that those killing the Capital defenders were themselves Capital defenders.
She cried out.

‘Do not resist!’

She requested amplification magic from a mage so that everyone inside District 7 could hear her voice.
She was desperate, but still rational, and above all, her instincts screamed at her intensely.
Do not recklessly charge at those golems and airships.

That’s why I shouted.

‘This is my command as Ritana! Do not throw your lives away recklessly!’

These people were from the Jungle.
The Jungle was a place where agriculture could hardly develop.
To survive here, one had to gather and hunt. Moreover, with its rugged terrain devoid of flatlands, the countless Tribal Warriors and Jungle people who lived here possessed their own kind of “grit.” And their stubbornness ran deep.
So it was entirely possible that even non-warriors might charge recklessly at the Imperial Army without thinking.

‘Soon, I, Ritana, will have the Jungle’s warriors rescue you! Trust and wait!’

Ritana wanted to prevent the Jungle people from dying such meaningless deaths.

After hearing all of this, Kale Heniatus spoke to her.

“That was a wise choice.”
“… Looking back, it seems that way.”

Ritana offered a twisted smile. She had already heard everything about what the Empire had done through the footage and Rosalind’s words.

“A liquid similar to dead mana but with even greater lethality. If we had charged in recklessly, it could have brought great disaster to the Jungle people and the Jungle itself.”

Even if it had been a desolate wasteland like Maple Castle in the Wipper Kingdom, it would have been problematic, but in a place like the Jungle teeming with flora and fauna, the “Black Despair” became something far more horrific.

Ritana spoke while adjusting her spear, her weapon.

“And now I understand why the Imperial Army is crouching in District 7 and not moving.”

Kale Heniatus nodded.
The reason the Imperial Army was currently remaining in District 7, using only golems as gatekeepers, was obvious.

‘It must be because of the war with the Wipper Kingdom.’

Furthermore, Choi Han must have inflicted at least serious injuries on Adin.
And wasn’t dark magic now exposed?
From the Empire’s perspective, having to consider relations with other nations and numerous Temples, they couldn’t rashly launch an attack on the Jungle.
That’s why such a fortress had been constructed.

The Jungle Kingdom saw this as an opportunity.
A chance to overturn the situation.

Kale Heniatus got straight to the point.

“What is the route?”

Ritana looked at Rosalind. Rosalind approached a table near Ritana and Kale Heniatus, then unfolded a piece of paper.

The paper rustled softly.

It was a map of District 7 and its surrounding areas.
Rosalind traced her finger across the map and opened her mouth.

“Based on the Jungle Kingdom Army’s regular reconnaissance missions, we estimate the surveillance range of the Golems and airships to be approximately this area.”

Her finger swept across District 7 and its surroundings, drawing a circle.
Vice-Captain Hilsman cautiously opened his mouth at the sight.

“…Does this mean we have no choice but to go directly through the ground?”

Hilsman paused briefly before adding carefully.
Because the enemies’ surveillance covered all of District 7. If things continued this way, a full-scale battle was inevitable.
However, if a full-scale battle erupted while District 7 remained in the Empire’s grip, the outcome could be catastrophic.

“But if it becomes a full-scale battle, couldn’t the Imperial Army spray that black liquid to prevent our approach?”

They possessed dead mana bombs as well, did they not?
The Jungle Kingdom would be devastated, and the warriors would be unable to advance.
Hilsman continued.

“And as hostages, ahem, in any case, the Jungle Kingdom people within District 7 would also be in danger.”

If Ritana approached, there was no telling what the Imperial Army might do to the Jungle Kingdom people inside District 7 to stop her.

“I know.”

As Rosalind answered calmly, Saint Jack quietly added his words.

“Then we go to the sky?”

Hilsman shook his head at my words, recalling the bone-white bird.

“Saint, there are airships in the sky.”
“Ah, I see. Then we must engage in a full-scale battle after all?”

Saint Jack’s expression darkened. He looked at Rosalind with concern, then hesitated.
She was smiling. A resolute voice flowed from her lips.

“No. We’ll proceed with an ambush strategy this time.”

Her finger pressed firmly on the center of Jungle District 7.

“Specifically, a small force will infiltrate Jungle District 7, destroy the golems, and target the airships. That’s the objective of our ambush.”

If that succeeded, the Jungle warriors stationed in Jungle District 8 could easily enter Jungle District 7 and engage the enemy.

“And there is a route for this ambush.”

When Hilsman and Saint Jack’s expressions turned puzzled at Rosalind’s words, a new hand appeared on the map.
It was Kale Heniatus. His finger drew a line from north to south in place of Rosalind’s.

“The River.”

A river existed along that line.
A river crossed through Jungle District 7.

“Ah.”

The moment Hilsman let out an exclamation, Kale spoke while looking at Rosalind and Ritana.

“The reason you stationed forces in Jungle District 8 was to ascend the river and target Jungle District 7, wasn’t it?”

Both of them smiled.
Rosalind spoke.

“With a small force, it’s possible to ascend the river through magic.”

Not on the river’s surface. Not traveling by boat.
What she meant was moving covertly beneath the river, through the water itself, advancing upstream.
That’s why only a small group could go, and naturally, they had to be strong enough to destroy golems.

Rosalind opened her mouth.

“Currently, Crown Prince Adin, Choi Han, and Merry have agreed to go.”

Ritana too?
Kale Heniatus paused, then understood.

The second-strongest after Choi Han—a powerful Spear Master who could match him. That was Ritana. She was indeed suited for this task. Should Choi Han fall under some spell again, having her there would be reassuring.

“I will command the operation from the rear.”

And Rosalind would support them from behind.

“But there is one problem.”

Rosalind finally mentioned the flaw in this operation.

“It’s purification.”

They could destroy the golem.
But what came after was the issue.

The golem’s core.

“Merry says she can purify it, but she alone won’t be enough. Because everything must be handled in a short time. And we can’t ask Prince Kale to do it. You understand, don’t you?”

Kale Heniatus nodded.

“We can’t set the forest ablaze.”

The Jungle. Given the terrain here, Kale’s Destructive Fire was awkward to use.
If he wasn’t careful, the flames could spread to ordinary buildings touching the trees, endangering civilians. Moreover, Destructive Fire was a power unsuited for ambush tactics.

Rosalind continued.

“That’s right. And there’s another problem—the ‘dead mana’ that will remain even after Merry purifies the area. Merry says it will be difficult for her to handle all of it quickly and at once.”

Merry picked up on Rosalind’s words.

“I haven’t attempted purification yet, so while it’s possible, I can’t say with certainty how long it will take.”

Purification combined with dead mana absorption.
In a surprise attack where time was critical, it was too much for Merry to handle alone.

“So you’re troubled about this?”

Kale Heniatus asked, and Ritana, the ruler of the Jungle, nodded.

“Yes, I’m troubled.”

However, instead of nodding, Rosalind asked a question.

“You have something, don’t you?”

Have something? What could she mean?
Rosalind observed Kale smiling.

Kale Heniatus nodded.
In that instant, Raon’s voice resonated in Kale’s mind.

-They’ve arrived!

Before coming to the Jungle, Kale had made a request to Alberu during their video communication.

Whoooosh—

Light began to spread throughout the tent.
It was the light of teleportation magic.

Kale turned his head at the sensation of a hand tugging at his sleeve. A black robe. It was Merry. He flashed a grin at her, as if she had read his thoughts, then approached the teleportation circle.

He recalled the request he had made to Alberu.

‘Your Highness, Merry alone is insufficient.’

Destructive Fire cannot be used.
Of course, Kale Heniatus was already aware of this fact. That was why he felt reassured when Merry went to the Jungle, and why he subsequently realized what was needed.
Kale Heniatus opened his mouth as he looked at the person standing at the very front of those who appeared alongside the light.

“It’s been a long time, Tasha.”

The Dark Elf Tasha.
She offered a cool smile.

The Dark Elves, darker even than the Jungle people, were like black pearls.
Among them, the elite warriors appeared inside the tent.
Except for Tasha, all of them had cloth wrapped beneath their eyes, their brilliant gazes unconcealed. Only their eyes were visible on their faces, yet their presence was overwhelming.

A Necromancer and Dark Elves.

Black despair and dead mana. Beings capable of resolving everything.
They were desperately needed here in the Jungle, and would be essential going forward.

“It truly has been a long time, Your Highness.”

Tasha extended her hand to Kale Heniatus, offering a handshake.

“…As expected.”

Rosalind nodded, having grasped what Kale Heniatus was thinking. Ritana and the other leaders could not hide their delight at the sight of the Dark Elves, whom they were seeing for the first time, letting out exclamations of joy.
They too had caught on to Kale Heniatus’s plan.

But there was one person.

“Your Highness?”

Rosalind noticed someone who had gone rigid.
It was Kale Heniatus.

He stood frozen, staring at the Dark Elves.
His gaze trembled, his pupils wavering.

-Human!

He could hear Raon’s trembling voice.
But that wasn’t the problem.

Among the Dark Elves, dark as black pearls, Kale Heniatus spotted a man with brown hair and darker skin than theirs, his eyes concealed beneath a mask—younger than the others around him.

‘What?’

Why did he come here?
A fragment of someone’s words brushed past Kale’s mind.

‘Contact me from the Jungle. We’ll meet then.’

Did “we’ll meet then” mean they would actually meet?

“I—”

The moment Kale’s mouth opened in utter bewilderment, the man standing behind Tasha strode forward and placed a hand on Kale’s shoulder.
Then, in a voice so deliberately lowered that his original tone was nearly unrecognizable, he spoke.

“Long time no see, little brother.”

Albert Crossman—what are you doing here?
Kale was left speechless.

Blonde hair and blue eyes.
This Dark Elf quarter appearance—no one who knew only his true form could ever have imagined it. It was a far cry from his usual radiance.
And with his eyes completely concealed, recognition was even more difficult.
Only Kale and Raon, who had seen him in this form before, could identify him.

Kale was dumbfounded.
Why was the man who was supposed to make an announcement tonight here?
And could he even be here like this? What about Rowan?

Bewildered, Kale swatted the hand resting on his shoulder away. For now, he matched Albert’s tempo and spoke bluntly.

“Hyung, aren’t you supposed to be working?”

The only visible feature on his concealed face—his brown eyes—curved like a crescent moon.

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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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