Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 32

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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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No one questioned Kale’s sudden departure outside. The attendant Ron was nowhere to be seen. Only Hans, the butler, asked where he was going.

‘Young Master, where are you headed?’
‘Don’t worry about it.’
‘Yes! But since this is your first day in the Capital, wouldn’t it be better to carry a wine bottle without breaking it?’
‘…Are you telling me to just go out?’
‘Absolutely not. Please take care on your way, Young Master.’

As the carriage moved, I pondered what to do with Hans, who kept making such remarks, and rose from my seat once the carriage came to a halt.

“Get down.”
“Yes.”

Since boarding the carriage—no, since leaving my room—Choi Han had said nothing else. His expression suggested his thoughts were turbulent.

I only knew Choi Han’s personality as depicted through the fifth volume of “The Birth of a Hero.” But one thing was certain: he was good-natured, yet not entirely so, and remarkably intelligent.

‘If he tries to make an absurd excuse, I might believe it at first, but eventually he’ll become suspicious.’

Having lived alone for decades, I carried much loneliness, yet I was intelligent and obsessive enough to endure that solitude. Choi Han viewed me favorably and followed me now, but as depicted around the fifth volume of “The Birth of a Hero,” this man ultimately harbored ambitions to become the leader himself. He would live according to his own sense of justice.
Right now Choi Han sees me favorably and follows me, but as shown around volume 5 of ‘The Birth of a Hero,’ this guy ultimately wants to become the leader himself. He’s someone who will live for the justice he believes in.

“…it’s so white.”

Kale Heniatus descended from the carriage and faced the Temple of Death God, which was an extraordinarily white building. He had heard that because death is associated with white, they cleaned it every single day, wiping away even a speck of dust or a single blemish.

It’s a strange place.

At night, the Temple of Death God seemed to want to say that night, which most humans fear, is actually not something to be afraid of. Perhaps for that reason, they opened the Temple to worshippers and outsiders when the sun began to set.

“They say all the priests sleep during the day, right?”

Kale Heniatus found it truly peculiar. Soon enough, he came face to face with two Priests greeting him at the entrance of the Temple.

“May peaceful rest be with you!”
“May you find peaceful rest!”

The priests of the Death God Sect were, for the most part, brimming with vitality. One might assume that death would be associated with stillness, but the sect’s philosophy was quite the opposite—to live one’s remaining days vibrantly as one journeyed toward death.

“Priest.”

I approached the priest slowly. He examined me with a peculiar expression. My attire suggested I was either a well-to-do noble’s son or a wealthy merchant. And behind me stood a man dressed like a beggar—yet he wore a sword and appeared formidable.

“What is it?”
“Do you have an empty Chamber of Death?”

The expressions of the two priests standing at the entrance hardened. The priest I had addressed glanced between Choi Han and me before speaking.

“Whose death are you here to witness?”

Even as he spoke, the priest’s gaze kept flickering toward Choi Han. His disheveled appearance, as though he’d rolled down a mountain; the impression of someone who hadn’t eaten properly in a day or two and was deeply troubled; that guileless, virtuous expression. Something about it unsettled the priest.
The priest turned his attention to the more affluent-looking man. Brilliant red hair and a handsome face—not strikingly handsome, but the kind that drew eyes wherever he went. And at this moment, the man was smiling.
The man raised his hand slightly toward the priest while smiling.

“Mine.”
“Pardon?”

I smiled at the bewildered priest.

“I’ve come to witness my own death.”

At that moment, Choi Han placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Kale Heniatus.”
“What?”

Turning around, I faced Choi Han, whose expression was rigid yet somehow anxious.

“You don’t need to go this far. I believe in you.”

My smile took on a peculiar light. I spoke softly.

“But you won’t be able to believe.”

Choi Han would have no choice but to doubt.
I had decided to say nothing. So I staked my truth and my death on this.

‘Why spell everything out? I’ll get dragged into it.’

There was no need to entangle myself with Choi Han to that degree. Not within my iron-clad rules for a happy life. Look at what’s happening now. Haven’t I already brought those wolf children into my circle?

‘Later, he’s the one who fights mermaids while riding whales commanded by the Whale Tribe.’

A world centered on humanity. Within it, Choi Han’s position was shifting—becoming someone who embraced both humans and non-humans alike. The Whale Tribe was the catalyst for that transformation. The Whale Tribe that appeared at the end of Volume 5 was truly terrifying.

‘The worst predators.’

The Whale Tribe were the strongest of the beast-kin. They were also the most beautiful. If mermaids in this world took the form of humans covered in scales with webbed feet on two legs, then the Whale Tribe were beautiful beast-kin of black, gray, and pink hues.

‘But they have a temperament that doesn’t bow even to dragons.’

Terrifying creatures. With their small numbers came devastating power—a single casual punch could shatter a human’s skull like glass. Even Rak couldn’t breathe in front of the Whale Tribe.

‘Their nature is ferocious.’

In any case, that man gets entangled with all sorts of people and all sorts of incidents. I was sick of getting dragged into more complications.

“Priest, you have a room available, yes?”
“Of course. I’ll prepare it shortly. Let’s head downstairs.”
“Very well.”

I followed the Priest, my footsteps measured and unhurried. Choi Han trailed behind me, his expression clearly displeased. Feeling his presence, I walked deeper into the Temple with ease. After descending for some time, several doors came into view along one wall. The Priest opened one of them and stepped down the staircase leading underground.

“Death awaits at the very bottom.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.”

The Priest regarded me with curiosity as I descended into the underground with composure.
In the Death Temple, ‘death’ carried the meaning of ‘oath.’
Death, which inevitably comes someday—it is inescapable, and the sect accepted it as a kind of destiny or oath bestowed upon humanity alongside life itself.
Thus, it was the Death God Sect’s purpose to bring the end of death upon those who broke their oaths.

Those who descended to this chamber of death, or chamber of oaths, typically carried solemnity and gravity. The Priest found it peculiar that this one appeared so at ease, so composed.

‘He reminds me of Priestess Kaige.’

Kaige, who casually cursed at the sect yet remained beloved by the god—the Priest suddenly recalled her, then just as quickly erased the thought from his mind. At that very moment, Kaige was hearing the god’s voice again and venting her frustration accordingly.
Having dismissed thoughts of Kaige, the Priest descended the stairs completely and, turning the doorknob of the door before him, spoke to Kale Heniatus and Choi Han.

“Please wait a moment. I shall prepare everything.”

With those words, the Priest entered the room alone first. Kale Heniatus gazed at the closed door and opened his mouth.

“If that is truly your wish, allow me to mention one thing beforehand. How does that sound?”

Choi Han answered immediately.

“Yes, please speak. I trust you.”
“Is that so?”

Kale Heniatus brushed his chin with one hand and spoke bluntly.

“The first of two things.”

His gaze fixed upon Choi Han.

“I do not know the identity or purpose of the Secret Organization.”
“…What do you—”

Choi Han’s eyes wavered. That was when the doorknob clicked and turned, and the Priest emerged.

“You may enter now. The one who has crossed death need only show your hand to the Priest inside.”
“Yes, I understand.”

Unlike Kale Heniatus, who responded with composure, Choi Han appeared deeply troubled and bewildered. The Priest tilted his head at this display but soon withdrew from the area, as it was not his concern.
Kale Heniatus grasped the doorknob and turned back to Choi Han.

“Hard to believe?”
“No, it’s just…”

Appearing slightly flustered, or perhaps skeptical, Choi Han displayed the rare sight of stammering. He had said he trusted completely, yet he could not bring himself to believe Kale Heniatus’s words. Not knowing? How could that possibly be true?
Then a calm voice reached Choi Han’s ears.

“I understand.”

Choi Han looked at Kale. His leisurely expression, as always, carried an air of maturity that commanded respect. That face conveyed a single message.

“Let’s go in.”

Choi Han followed Kale beyond the white door, stepping into the Chamber of Death.

As expected, the room was draped entirely in white—from the tables to the chairs to the wallpaper, everything was white. And standing alone within that monochromatic space was a Priest, the only figure bearing a color other than white. He had his mouth and ears covered.

The Deaf Priest. Kale didn’t particularly favor that designation, yet these individuals commanded a certain respect in their own right. Nobles and royalty alike—anyone requiring contracts or confidential discussions that shouldn’t reach certain ears—sought out these Priests.

Kale bowed silently in greeting, then raised his hand. The Priest nodded in response and pointed each of them toward a chair at the table.
Kale took the seat on the right, while Choi Han sat across from him on the left. The Priest settled into the head of the table and slid forward a piece of paper.

【Those who reject death, and those who stand with them, shall feel the touch of the God of Death. At that moment, speak your oath. Should the oath be broken, those who reject death shall meet their end.】

Quite a grim statement indeed.
Once Kale confirmed that Choi Han had finished reading, he returned the paper to the Priest. The Priest then extended both arms slightly forward, much like Kaige had done before. In that instant.

Uuuuuung— Uuuung—

The white room began to vibrate. Perhaps because it was a place where divinity dwelled. With the vibration, black smoke began to rise around the Priest. The dark smoke soon enveloped both Kale and Choi Han, gradually forming a single thread.

“…Is this the power of a god?”
“Yes.”

Kale answered Choi Han’s question while feeling the thread of black smoke that wrapped around him. Just as it had been during the oath with Kaige, the god’s power was recognized in his mind without needing to be explained.

‘Break the oath, and I die. That’s how it works.’

Choi Han had likely felt the same. That must be why his expression had grown so rigid. Kale felt the touch of divinity and began to speak his oath.

“The truth is that this Priest before me cannot hear, and should that be false, the Priest shall pay the price of that lie with death.”

It was a customary phrase always added when dealing with a Deaf Priest.

“Furthermore, I, Kale Heniatus, swear before the God of Eternal Rest that I shall speak only truth to Choi Han, and should any part of my words be false, I shall pay the price of this oath with immediate death in this very place.”

Immediate. At that word, Choi Han’s expression grew even more tense. He was anxious.

At first, I had considered whether to tell Choi Han everything.

I came into the world of a book I was reading. I’m Korean too. So I know the contents up to volume five. This Secret Organization causes incidents all across the Continent. And the entire Continent will soon be devastated by war due to various conflicting interests.

Should I say it like this? Or perhaps…

I came into the book I was reading, and it turned out I was the son of a wealthy nobleman. So I wanted to live comfortably, but I remembered the plot and got involved a little. The world will descend into war, but I just want to live peacefully.

Should I say it this way?

Either way, the mere thought of it was horrifying. If I misspoke with the first option, I’d be drawn into a continental war and die on the battlefield. With the second option, wouldn’t I simply die under Choi Han’s contempt?

I despised both outcomes.

“First.”

The first of the two options.

“I, Kale Heniatus, do not know the identity of that organization.”

A deep sigh escaped Choi Han as he covered his face with both hands. But when he lowered them, he could see that I was still alive.

“I truly do not know who they are.”

It was the truth.
I—Kim Rok-soo—had read “The Birth of a Hero” up to volume five, but I only knew what the Secret Organization had done. I didn’t truly understand their purpose, their identity, or anything substantial about them.

“And there is one more thing. This, too, is nothing but the absolute truth.”

The second of the two options.

“I despise them and wish for their destruction.”

Indeed, I was still alive. I hated them—those who caused incidents and were presumed to be involved in the continental war. I wished for them to disappear so that the Continent could know peace, and I could live peacefully as well.

Choi Han’s expression was bewildered. As he stared at the black thread connecting himself, the Priest, and me, his fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly. When his expression grew quite fierce and I faltered slightly, he spoke.

“How can you despise them if you don’t know who they are?”
“Because I do know of certain things they intend to do. The Black Dragon experienced it, and so did Rak. Choi Han.”

Kale pointed at himself with his index finger.

“I have lived as a scoundrel. That is my dream.”

Choi Han’s expression grew peculiar at the mention of a scoundrel being a dream.

“I have no intention of becoming the heir to the Heniatus Family. Basen Heniatus—my brother, bound to me by blood. I wish for him to become the heir.”

This too was the truth. So I asked Choi Han.

“Then why did I come to the Capital as the representative of the Heniatus Family? I wish for Basen to become the heir. My father, the family head, ordered me to come, but it was something I could have refused.”

After a long moment, Choi Han answered.

“…I do not know.”
“Because I know what the Secret Organization in the Capital is trying to do.”

Choi Han’s eyes widened once more.

“I cannot tell you how I know. But they intend to kill many people in the Capital. I could not send Basen here, and I wish to stop this incident.”

Of course, I do not wish to stop it with all my heart and soul, sacrificing my life.

“And after resolving all of this as quietly as possible, I intend to return to my fiefdom.”
“…Is there no way you can tell me how you know?”
“That is correct. To no one. I cannot tell a single soul in this world.”

Choi Han’s eyes were filled with questions, but his lips remained firmly sealed.
He did not know the identity of the organization. But he knew several of the things they intended to do. And he despised them and wished for their destruction.
Choi Han’s head lowered gradually as he fell into deep contemplation. His mind was turbulent. Yet the divine power conveyed by the black smoke made him perceive the truth: if he lied, I would die in this very place.

“But I will tell you one more thing for your sake.”

One thing. At that word, Choi Han quickly lifted his head and looked at me.

“The final one.”

Adding a third point anew, I spoke.

“I have no intention of harming you.”

I spoke with perfect composure. Yet the fact that I remained alive was itself the truth.

Choi Han’s face began to contort.
Tap. Tap. He drummed his clenched fist against his own thigh. The tapping was weak, but his fist remained so tightly clenched that veins bulged across its surface. Choi Han lifted his head slightly. I was still alive.

“…I believe you.”

After what felt like an eternity, his answer came, and I repeated to Choi Han the very words I had spoken before entering this room.

“I understand.”

And I smiled.

Sigh.
Choi Han’s exhale descended upon the white table. He lifted his head to look at me. His eyes had already returned to their usual clarity, and they appeared stubborn as well.

“Kale Heniatus, please swear one more oath. Then I will trust you completely.”

I hadn’t anticipated this. Choi Han’s response left me feeling uneasy. It wouldn’t be difficult to weave the truth together carefully, but the phrase “trust you completely” caught in my throat. It was something I couldn’t simply refuse.

“Fine, go ahead.”
“Kale Heniatus.”
“Yes.”
“I must have my revenge on them. I think this is the first time I have ever hated someone, an entire group like this.”

Hatred was carved into those righteous eyes. For a moment, something beyond hatred—a hint of madness—flickered there. He must have been recalling the Harris Village incident.

Hmm. I swallowed hard. This was precisely why I had been reluctant to keep Choi Han by my side, even as he followed me. Choi Han was kind, but once he set his mind to something, he saw it through. So I waited, tense, for what he would say next.
Choi Han spoke.

“When you learn their identities, you must tell me without fail.”
“Ah—well, fine.”

I thought it would be some difficult request. I swore with a reluctant expression.

“I, Kale Heniatus, swear that when I learn their identities, I will tell Choi Han. Should I break this oath, I accept death as my price. Does that suffice?”
“Yes, it does.”

Only then did Choi Han smile, his expression visibly relieved. Watching him, I found myself contemplating.

‘Do I really need to know who they are?’

To uncover their identities, I would have to follow the exact path Choi Han had walked, and even then, I’d only catch glimpses. Would that not be madness? Once I left the Capital and the Roan Kingdom, I would encounter all manner of heroes and foreign races. Dreadful.

“Then that’s the end of it?”
“Yes.”

Bang! I raised my hand and brought it down hard against the table. The impact sent a subtle tremor through the surface, and the Priest opened his eyes, nodding slightly. Immediately, the space vibrated once more.

Uuuuuung—

Black smoke seeped into each of our bodies. It was slightly different from when it had happened with the Mad Priestess Kaige. I felt two oaths settling into my body and withdrew a single sheet of paper from my inner pocket.
It was a check for ten million Gelons. I placed the money before the Priest, who sat with solemn composure, and rose from my seat. After bowing, I left the room. Choi Han, who had been alternating his gaze between the money and me, followed me out, closed the door, and regarded me with a puzzled expression. To that look, I spoke bluntly.

“There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world.”
“I see.”

I ascended back to the surface. The Priest standing before the first-floor entrance greeted me upon seeing that I had survived.

“I wish for you to continue living.”

A greeting that meant: don’t die by breaking your oath, and keep on living. How ominous.

“Thank you, Priest.”

I responded to his greeting with a smile and gratitude. The Priest regarded my smile and composed tone with some curiosity, but I passed by him and exited the Temple.
Then I boarded the carriage. As it began to move slowly, I spoke to Choi Han.

“By the way, that blood-drinking mad mage—he’s orchestrating the incidents occurring in the Capital.”
“…May I kill him if I encounter him?”
“Why ask the obvious? Do as you please.”

Whether he killed him or not—though Choi Han had failed to do so each time they met, given that the mage was a top-tier magic user specializing in teleportation.

“Yes, I will definitely kill him.”

Watching Choi Han, his kind face twisted with hatred and obsession, I turned my gaze away. It was far too brutal. For someone like me, who recognized the limits of my own capacity, it was a scale I could not bear.

And here. There was one more person that Kale found difficult to handle.

“Young master.”
“Ron.”

Upon arriving at the Mansion and attempting to rest in his bedroom, Kale was visited by Ron, the assassin with a benevolent smile.

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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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