Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 309

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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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“Why do we need the Sun God’s divine artifact?”

Kale posed the question. I could see Sub-Tower Master Metelona shaking while shaking her head.

“I-I don’t know that much, sir. I heard that the Tower Master said it was necessary, so we’ve been searching for it since long ago.”

Metelona answered, but when she saw the coldness in Kale’s eyes, she flinched and hurriedly continued speaking.

“It’s not exact, but at some point, the Tower Master said that the ‘true’ lights must disappear.”

True lights?
Kale recalled the Sun God’s divine artifact he possessed.

Condemnation of the Sun.
Could that small hand-mirror-shaped divine artifact be the ‘true light’?
However, Kale had heard the Sub-Tower Master’s words precisely. He stepped slightly closer to her and asked calmly.

“Lights, plural?”

An expression indicating multiple, not just one.
At that question, Metelona nodded. And at her following words, Kale’s brow furrowed.

“Yes. The divine artifact and those whom the Sun God granted power to.”

Condemnation of the Sun and the half-baked Saint Jack.
As the pieces falling into my possession aligned one by one, I contorted my face, barely suppressing the exclamation that threatened to escape.

Otherwise, I would have laughed.

But at that expression, there was one person here who became terrified.
The Sub-Tower Master hurriedly spoke again.

“That’s why we tried to capture the Saint and Saint Maiden to discover the location of the divine artifact. Unfortunately, both escaped unintentionally, so we couldn’t capture them immediately. Of course, Commander Kale, you’ve obtained Saint Jack—”
“Wait.”

Kale stopped Metelona’s words.

‘…Saint and Saint Maiden?’

Both of them?
One was a half-baked Saint with only divine power, and the other was a fake with no divine power at all?
That was when it happened.

“Ah.”

Someone’s exclamation reached my ears.
I turned my head.
It was Crown Prince Albert. When he met my gaze, he opened his mouth. Still speaking in that heavily lowered tone, he said:

“I know quite a bit about the Sun God.”

Because I’m part Dark Elf.
And because I’m the Crown Prince of the Crossman Royal Family of the Roan Kingdom, said to be blessed by the Sun God.
He knew quite well about the Sun God—both enemy and object of blessing—and about that deity’s doctrine.
Especially as a Dark Elf, he knew well. The Sun God Church was the greatest enemy the Dark Elves had to avoid.

“The Sun God always speaks of vanquishing darkness. It’s a faith suited more to ‘holy war’ than ‘healing.’ That’s why the followers were always commanded to exterminate all creatures with dark attributes. And the deity distributed that power to ‘children’ worthy of inheriting their will.”

I froze.
Could it be?

“Then the Sun God’s divine artifact is likely a ‘weapon.'”

The Sun God’s twins.
Saint Jack, a half-baked Saint with only divine power but lacking the ability to wield weapons. And Hana, without divine power but talented enough to become a Sword Master on her own.
One possessed the power of the Sun God, the other the qualities of a warrior.

Ha.
I let out an involuntary laugh.
I recalled the hand mirror in my possession.

Yes, what befits the name ‘Condemnation’ is a weapon.

I understood.

“Both of them are genuine.”

Hana and Jack.
Those two twins were “genuine” from the start.

‘And the Tower Master, Riche, had tried to eliminate the Glutton Goddess and the Sun God twins.’

The picture became clear.
I rose from my seat. There was nothing more to discuss with Metelona. I nodded to the ancient dragon Erhafen, who gestured as if he would remain here a bit longer, and posed one final question to Metelona.

“Do you know the plans regarding the Jungle?”

The Sub-Tower Master hesitated before recounting the plans. Their contents were focused on “conquering the Jungle.”

‘The Empire’s response to the Jungle has certainly changed.’

Likely, either the Crown Prince or the Tower Master had returned to the Capital and issued new orders to the Imperial Army in the Jungle.

“Well, I am primarily responsible for Wipper, and the Jungle is almost entirely handled by the Tower Master and Your Highness. I understand the general flow of operations, but I don’t know the details beyond that.”

The Sub-Tower Master watched as Kale simply nodded at her urgent words and turned away.

“Gasp.”

In that moment, the pressure vanished and she could finally breathe fully.

“Huff, huff.”

As Metelona gasped for breath, she watched Kale’s retreating figure disappear outside the tent with Choi Han and the Dark Elves, and she clearly recognized her own trembling state even as the pressure faded.

Meanwhile, I moved with my companions to the boundary line of Zone 8. Warriors stood arrayed along the boundary, emanating a tense atmosphere.

“If we venture any closer toward Sector 7, we risk being spotted by the Empire, sir.”

I nodded at Choi Han’s report and asked Alberu.

“Are you ready?”
“Goodness, your manner of speech grows increasingly wild—beyond even an unruly colt.”

Alberu dismissed my irreverence casually and climbed onto a tree along the boundary to observe the Golems. I watched Alberu, who unlike myself ascended the tree with ease and settled into position, with an enigmatic gaze.

‘Truly like a Dark Elf.’

Now she looked even more like an Elf.
I could use her as combat personnel later, couldn’t I?
While Kale entertained thoughts that others would surely deem sacrilegious, his gaze met Alberu’s.

“What?”
“Kale, you— how did you eliminate that thing?”

Alberu saw Kale smiling wickedly at his words.
Simultaneously, he recalled what his aunt, the Dark Elf Tasha, had said.

‘…Black Despair, they call it. That horrifying thing has emerged into the world again. We’ve been told we can purify it, but since we’ve only read about it in history and never actually attempted it… I lack confidence.’

After hesitating, Tasha spoke while looking at Alberu.

‘Is it truly the case that Young Master Kale purified it along with the dead mana? Is that something a person can accomplish?’

Tasha had posed that question with genuine gravity.
Alberu recalled the words the nobles had spoken before coming here. With the kingdom’s proclamation imminent, the matters of dark magic and the Empire had all surfaced.

‘Your Majesty, are you not entrusting too many duties to Commander Kale Heniatus?’
‘If, as Your Majesty says, Young Master Kale has uncovered all of this and is currently fighting on the front lines of this war, is it wise to leave things as they are?’

The nobles of Roan now understood that the flow of war was being altered by Kale, that the continental balance of power was shifting.
In particular, Kale’s discovery of dark magic and his response to it had transcended the bounds of common sense merely in the retelling.

Thus, worried nobles and retainers had multiplied. It was not merely a power struggle, but a wariness of something different and exceptional from themselves.
Overwhelming power was always frightening.

The Crown Prince came to see the Golem directly, his mind swirling with the words of both Tasha and the nobles.

‘He eliminated that alone?’

The Golem’s imposing presence, and the terrible, sinister power that only one with Dark Elf blood could perceive.
He could only utter a single phrase to Kale, who had charged at those things.

“You fool.”
“What?”

Kale found himself asking without thinking.
What do you mean all of a sudden?

But Raon responded. The dragon, who had been quietly invisible, spoke.

-The Crown Prince is right!

What?

“You’re such an idiot.”
“…Excuse me?”

A one-two punch.
Kale’s expression went blank, but the Crown Prince was serious.

What is it that those who wish to become powerful treasure most?
It is their own life.
They desire to live long and continue enjoying their power.

The Crown Prince spoke honestly to the pale-faced Kale.

“You’re the craziest one of all.”
“Excuse me? Brother?”

Alberu dismissed Kale lightly and turned his gaze away.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you.”

Choi Han bowed his head respectfully.

What?
What conversation is happening without me?

Kale stared in bewilderment, but Alberu descended from the tree and patted his shoulder as he spoke.

“Work hard. Otherwise, I’ll have you sit as Prime Minister or Chairman of the Nobility Council later.”

What a horrifying thing to say!
If I become Prime Minister, my precious carefree middle-aged life disappears.
If I become Speaker, I’ll just have to work until I die of old age.

‘Good grief, are there really such exploitative royal employers!’

Kale Heniatus looked at the Crown Prince with an expression as if he were screaming silently. Then Alberu continued speaking with an expression that showed complete understanding.

“Brother, if you safely finish everything, I swear by my name I’ll let you live a life of leisure.”
“You truly wield words as intense and wise as the sun in the sky.”

Alberu shook his head as he watched Kale spout flattery so readily. He recalled the words of his subordinate.

‘Your Highness, are you not afraid of Commander Kale Heniatus’s power?’

Why would I be?
The corners of Alberu’s mouth, hidden behind cloth, lifted slightly.
He was not such an easy person to deal with.

“I should be going now.”

Alberu spoke calmly to Kale, who was watching him intently.

“I need to land a blow of my own.”
“…As you wish. Safe travels.”
“Your speech pattern is quite like a drunk colt.”

Alberu shook his head with amusement before immediately teleporting to where he needed to go.
That place was Maple Castle in the Wipper Kingdom.
Tonight, Alberu and the representatives of each nation would broadcast their declaration across the entire Western Continent.

* * *

A dark night.
Upon the ground hidden by the jungle’s trees, where neither moonlight nor starlight could penetrate.

A human voice flowed from a small video communication device.

-With this, Rowan, Breck, Wipper, and the Northern 3 Kingdoms hereby declare that dark magic has appeared on the Western Continent, and we pledge to devote all our strength to its annihilation.

The moment Alberu finished shouting, Kale shut down the video communication. Raon’s voice echoed in his mind.

-Human! Are we going now?

He surveyed his surroundings.

Tens of thousands of warriors were nowhere to be seen.
Only Tasha, dark as the night itself, a handful of Dark Elves, Rosalind, Ritana the Jungle’s ruler, Choi Han, Erhafen, and Merry remained.

Whoosh—whoosh—

With the river cutting through the jungle at his side, Kale opened his mouth.

“Let us begin.”

That was the moment.
The Dark Elves’ and Ritana’s gazes turned toward Erhafen.
The man Kale had suddenly brought along.

The Dark Elves stared at him with trembling eyes, their fists clenched tight, while Ritana’s expression filled with questions.
He was the one she had been introduced to as an escort knight during the previous Four Kingdoms One Race Alliance agreement. Yet Kale had reintroduced his identity anew.

‘An Archmage.’

A being who transcended even the highest-tier mage Rosalind.
Even in the darkness, his platinum hair gleamed.
Erhafen’s hand moved.

Golden dust instantly enveloped the group.
Simultaneously, their forms all vanished into the darkness.

Only Rosalind remained fully visible as she spoke.

“I will wait here.”

At the end of her farewell to her now-invisible companions, she could hear the sound of wind rustling.

Rustle—

It was the sound of the group rushing forward.

With Erhafen’s arrival, there was no need to move laboriously beneath the water.
They all dashed toward Sector 7 along the riverbank, cloaked in invisibility.

Whoooosh— whoosh—

The Voice of Wind swirled around Kale Heniatus’s feet.

* * *

-Human! Everyone is so fast!

Indeed.
Kale Heniatus lifted his head.
Thanks to their swift movement, they had already arrived near the surveillance perimeter of Sector 7.

However, the City Wall of Sector 7 was nowhere to be seen.

The river that cut through Sector 7 from north to south had no City Wall blocking it.

Instead, countless Imperial Army soldiers were visible. The soldiers were positioned without gaps on both sides of the river.
Even with invisibility, they would have to collide with them to pass through. Of course, these were skilled enough to slip past undetected, but they needed to reach the center as quietly as possible with absolutely no unnecessary variables.

Click. Click.

The moment Kale Heniatus’s fingers snapped together.

-Understood! Human!
-I shall commence.

The voices of Raon and Erhafen rang out.
Simultaneously, Kale Heniatus dove into the river.

Still outside the surveillance range.

Splash—
Splash— splash—

Starting with him, the sound of water being crossed echoed out.

Beneath the water.
Transparent circles materialized.

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth. Golden dust brushed past near his throat.
The Dark Elves and Ritana believed Erhafen had created the circle alone, but in truth, within the circle created by two dragons, he breathed easily and opened his mouth.
His voice, touched by magic, reached his companions clearly even beneath the water.

“Straight ahead.”

Soon the transparent circles began moving along the riverbed.
They had entered the surveillance range, yet remained invisible to every eye.

Whoooosh— Whoosh—

Kale Heniatus and his party were ascending the river.
From below to above.

Beneath the night sky, within the calm river waters, Kale Heniatus and his party finally entered the heart of Sector 7.
That was the moment.

Kale Heniatus heard Raon’s voice.
It was the voice of the only dragon moving above the river rather than beneath it.

-Human! Human!

Kale Heniatus froze.
It was the urgent voice of the dragon.

Then, Kale Heniatus sensed something strange.
He was not the only one who had stopped.
Without any signal, several transparent circles that should have been enveloping several people came to a halt.

-Human! The Empire has gone mad!

At Raon’s voice, Kale Heniatus lifted his head.
He could see the rippling water above. Raon’s voice rippled just as much as those undulations.

-Inside Sector 7, human, there are massive bombs scattered throughout Sector 7!

What?
Bombs?

-They’re dead mana bombs! Enormous ones! Installed throughout the residential districts! Hundreds of them!

With a sharp click, the invisibility spell shattered from Kale’s ears.
The one who had dispelled the magic was the Ancient Dragon Erhafen.

Now Kale could identify who those figures were—the ones who had stood frozen almost exactly as he had moments ago.

The Dark Elves, Merry, and Erhafen. It was them. Every single one of their expressions was grave. Unlike Raon, they couldn’t see above the river, but they had sensed the aura of dead mana.

An aura so monstrously immense and horrifying.

-Hundreds of these… if they all detonate, everyone in Sector 7’s jungle perishes! No, Sector 7 becomes nothing but the Land of Death! It’s no longer habitable!

These bastards.
Only now did I grasp the Empire’s true intention.

The hostages were merely the beginning.
They intended to obliterate Sector 7 entirely.

Perhaps they even planned to lure the jungle warriors who would come to rescue the hostages into this death trap.

-Human! All of Sector 7 is essentially one massive dead mana bomb! This is catastrophic!

The golems and the soldiers standing guard—all of it had been a smokescreen.
Not a defense against the jungle warriors who would assault them, but rather a barrier to prevent anyone from seeing inside Sector 7.

“Ha, haha—”

I was utterly dumbfounded.

-Merry and the Dark Elves can’t handle this. If all of these detonate simultaneously, someone will die!

That someone would be the ordinary people of the jungle.
Fury began to crystallize in my eyes. At the same time, my mind grew turbulent with complexity.

-But if I or Grandfather step in and destroy everything, it’ll only make things worse! And we can’t just leave it alone either!

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth urgently, then stopped.

-Human?

He ignored Raon’s voice. Another voice had cut through the Young Dragon’s urgent tone.

-Hungry.

What?
The owner of that voice was the master of the Unbreakable Shield—the Glutton Goddess.

Why did she suddenly appear?
Before Kale could even voice his confusion, the Glutton Goddess spoke.

-I can just eat it.

What?
Eat what?
Dead mana?

-Don’t you remember?

The Glutton Goddess asked.

-Where we first met. That tree you gave me bread from. Don’t you remember?

I remembered.
The Man-Eating Tree at the very top of the Slums in the Heniatus Territory.
That black tree. The very tree that had become the protagonist of an even stranger tale, and the place where I had obtained the ‘Unbreakable Shield’.

‘…Wait. Black?’

The moment Kale Heniatus obtained the ancient power ‘Unbreakable Shield’, the black had vanished and the tree had turned white.

‘Could it be?’

Was the reason that tree turned black not simply because of Meokbo, but something else entirely?
The people of the Slums feared that place beneath the black tree, where everything had withered and decayed, and they avoided it. Back then, I moved alone without Raon by my side.

Suddenly, the image of land laid barren by dead mana flashed through my mind.

In that moment, Jjangdol’s voice reached me.

-When the black rain fell in the past, living creatures could breathe and survive beneath the shield. Though we could not purify it.

Following that, the unbreakable shield—Meokbo with wood attribute—spoke. The voice was slow yet resolute.

-I eat it all.

What a magnificent Meokbo!
The corners of my mouth lifted.

This is the Jungle, after all.
The place where the most trees existed.

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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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