Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 320

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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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The path leading toward the Northern Gate. I surveyed my surroundings.

-Human! There are soldiers everywhere, but many humans pretending not to be soldiers!

The Capital Market was undoubtedly bustling and vibrant. Yet as Raon’s eyes swept from the market streets toward the Northern Gate, he spotted numerous individuals who bore the unmistakable bearing of soldiers or knights scattered throughout.

-Everyone else has good expressions, but only the disguised ones have bad expressions! They’re all stiff!

That would be the case.
I fully understood the fear gripping the Imperial Army soldiers stationed throughout the Imperial Capital in disguise.

The Imperial Capital.
A peculiar peace was being maintained there.

“Ah.”

I glanced at Choi Han, Merry, Tasha, and Erhafen following at a distance, then my gaze shifted to the side as a thought suddenly occurred to me.

The noisy market.
A moment before the disguised soldiers could arrive.
It was an ideal environment for a quiet conversation.

I asked in a hushed whisper.

“How did you hear about me?”

I witnessed Bilos’s pupils trembling as he stared at me.

‘This Crown Prince!’

I wondered what Albert Crossman had done to make Bilos’s pupils quiver like that.
How exactly had he spread the rumors?

“That is… the information came from the North.”

Huh?
…The North?
Wait. They wouldn’t be talking about the Empire’s north.

“…The Western Continent’s north?”
“Yes.”

Bilos nodded with a grave expression.

“Starting last night, it spread quietly among the northern merchants, and now everyone who matters knows about it. I suspect it won’t be long before it spreads among the Empire’s citizens as well.”

My expression grew increasingly peculiar.

The North… there was one person who came to mind.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t heard from him either.

“Initially, I wouldn’t have believed this rumor if it had originated from the Empire or Roun.”

Bilos shuddered as if merely recalling that time was horrifying.

“The Northern Three Nations Alliance, which had been defeated by Roun, is rumored to be reviving their ambitions in response to Commander Kale Heniatus’s absence. It was impossible not to be concerned.”

My expression grew increasingly strange.

“…I’m absent?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, coughing up blood.”

Bilos spoke with difficulty, as if the rumors he’d heard about me were too terrible to voice.

“Trembling and unable to control your limbs.”

Even as he spoke, he looked at me with concern.

“Like those from ancient times who possessed multiple ancient powers, a collision occurred within your body, and ultimately… there are many historical records of death. Surely that’s not all true, is it?”
“That part is true, but…”
“…Pardon?”

Bilos’s piggy-bank-like face drained of color. Regardless, I had no time to concern myself with Bilos at that moment.

-Human! A message came from the Crown Prince!

It was because of Raon’s words.
Raon read the Crown Prince’s message directly into my mind.

-Busy. I’ll contact you later.

…What?
Am I not busy?
Just as my face was about to contort, I stopped in my tracks at the next message.

-I actively incorporated Commander Clophe’s opinions, and this is what resulted. Unfortunately.

What?
Whose opinion did he listen to?

“Young Master, are you perhaps… are you feeling unwell right now?”

Bilos approached me with a pallid complexion, drawing slightly closer.
But I couldn’t hear his words.
Only Raon’s voice echoed relentlessly through my mind.

-A message also came from that unhinged Clophe.

…Oh, for crying out loud.

-I shall inscribe your name in history, Master Kale. I will pave your path to legend with silk.

…This damned bastard.

“This crazy son of a—”
“Yes? I was just trying to offer some support.”

Bilos froze in shock. My face was contorted enough to warrant his alarm.

In that moment, Bilos recalled the image of sixteen-year-old me—once notorious as a reckless troublemaker throughout the fiefdom—hurling empty wine bottles at thugs.
My face now bore that same delinquent expression.

“Y-Your Highness?”
“…No. That’s not it.”

Kale waved his hand dismissively at Bilos, gesturing for him to continue on his way.
Bilos, sensing that something was amiss and choosing not to pry, took the lead. Kale followed behind, his mind churning.

‘What in the world has that madman done?’

The truth behind the vicious rumors about Kale himself was a collaborative effort between Crown Prince Alberu and his guardian knight, Clophe.

‘…Spreading the rumors from the North was a wise choice, but.’

It was the Northern Three Nations—those who had submitted to Rowan and were ostensibly forced into cooperation. If rumors about Kale’s life or death spread from them, both third parties and his own allies would find them credible.

-Human! I’m starting to think Clophe has completely lost his mind!

In other words.

-He’s sending Holy Knights! Don’t we lack Holy Knights?

What?
Kale recalled Clophe and the Wyvern Knights who had faced the Empire during the battle at Maple Castle.

‘…This bastard—’

The corners of Kale’s mouth curved upward. Brilliantly insane, that’s what he was.
It was at that moment.

Meow.

A cat’s cry echoed through the air.

Kale, who had somehow wandered beyond the Market and now stood where the Northern Gate of the Capital came into view, turned his head.

In a quiet Residential District—neither close to the gate nor near the Market or city center—lay a narrow, dark Alley.
A figure crouched within that shadowed passage, its gaze fixed upon Kale.

Meow.

Kale chuckled softly and approached the cat.
A feline with reddish fur and short hair.
Moreover, a small pouch hung from its back.

As Kale opened his arms, the cat leaped into his embrace.

“It’s been a while, Sir Rex.”

Sir Rex, still wanted for attempted murder of the Sub-Tower Master, could move covertly through the Imperial Capital in his feline form.

Meow.
Sir Rex gently tapped Kale’s shoulder with his front paw as if delighted to see him.

Kale retrieved the pouch hanging from the cat’s back.

-Human! It’s a spatial pouch!

Without a doubt, it contained the video recording device that Frigia had prepared.
Kale cradled both the cat and the pouch, then stepped into the dark alley where the feline had been waiting.
He then gestured to his separated companions.

‘Let’s go.’

At that moment, mana bloomed from Erhaben and Raon, and in an instant, Kale and his entire party became transparent.

* * *

“Is it there?”

Beyond the Northern Gate of the Capital.
The moment a voice rang out from atop a particularly sturdy tree among the dense foliage, the transparency enveloping his body dissipated.

“Yes, that’s the place, Young Master.”

Bilos, who had crossed the city wall using Raon’s flight magic, clung to the tree trunk like a lifeline, nodding awkwardly.
Kale, oblivious to Bilos’s shock from the rapid aerial movement, fixed his gaze on a single location.

The forest visible beyond the Northern Gate.
A small clearing situated deep within that forest.

Spring had arrived, and the Training Ground was filled with delicate wildflowers in full bloom.
And conveniently, hunters were resting leisurely against the base of a tree. To any observer, it was a peaceful scene.

From his concealed position at some distance from that spot, Kale heard Erhafen’s voice.

“They’re not hunters. Those bastards are knights.”
“That’s correct.”

Choi Han agreed as well.

“Though they appear to be resting, their entire bodies are tense, and they seem to be on guard against any approaching intruders.”

The corners of my mouth began to curl upward.
I turned my gaze toward Bilos.
He immediately shifted his eyes away from the hunters and blurted out urgently.

“That face, that face!”

He pointed to one of the five hunters.

“He was definitely a knight who accompanied the royal physician.”

Bilos whispered with an excited expression.

“This really does seem to be the secret passage!”

A secret passage.
At those words, the expression of Sir Rex, the cat perched on my shoulder, hardened.
The Alchemy Tower that had escaped through the sewers. There was an unknown secret passage within that place.

At that fact alone, every hair on Sir Rex’s body stood on end.

‘What could be there?’

What was happening inside that Alchemy Tower that he was visiting for the first time in fifteen years?
What about his sister and brother—
What about them—

Sir Rex could not bring himself to continue that line of thought.

“I can see it.”

Lex turned his head.
The platinum-haired man spoke calmly.

“The secret passage has been concealed using at least three high-grade illusion spells.”
-That’s right! The golden Dragon Grandfather saw it perfectly!
“Furthermore, an alarm spell has been layered onto the illusion magic. If anyone attempts to dispel that illusion, an alert will be sent to the Alchemy Tower.”
-Grandfather is right about this too!

Kale Heniatus listened quietly before asking, tossing the words out casually.

“Does it matter?”

In that moment, the voices of two Dragons echoed in his mind.

-I am a Dragon.
-I am the great Raon Mir! Human, do you still not understand!

Kale Heniatus chuckled softly and waved his hand invitingly at Sir Rex. Sir Rex quietly leaped into Kale’s arms.
Kale Heniatus stroked the cat fur as he spoke.

“Then, shall we try the peaceful approach?”

Lex and Bilos witnessed it.
That crooked smile.

“I dislike seeing anyone get hurt.”

The Cat-Human and the portly Merchant swallowed hard.

* * *

“We’re on high alert. We cannot afford to lower our guard for even a moment.”

Beside the Flower Field.
Four hunters gathered beneath the largest tree trunk—some lying down, some eating, some maintaining their hunting bows—responded to one hunter’s words with expressions of indifference.

“Of course.”
“The moment anyone shows up, I’ll slit their throat in one swift motion—”

Rustle. Rustle.
The hunter lying beneath the tree’s shade flinched at the sound.
He gripped the Imperial Knights sword concealed beneath worn leather, his gaze shifting toward the noise.

Rustle. Rustle.

One person? Two?
No, three.

Rustle, rustle.

“Oh, this would be perfect for a flower viewing— ah.”

A young man who had entered with an excited expression froze, his eyes widening in surprise.
Upon spotting the hunter, he appeared startled—his hair and eyes were both a warm brown.

Meow.

A red cat nestled in his arms, its head tilting back and forth with curiosity.
Behind him emerged a stout man carrying what appeared to be several apple pies.

“…What is this?”

As one of the hunters asked gruffly, the last of the three—a younger-looking man with the same brown hair and eyes as the first youth—stepped into the Flower Field.

“No, it’s nothing.”

The foremost youth scratched his brown hair, his eyes darting about as his spirit deflated.

The five disguised Imperial Knights remained lying or sitting, continuing their pretense as hunters while observing the three newcomers in the Flower Field.
Only the captain knight rose slowly to his feet and spoke curtly.

“You brats should leave. This isn’t a flower viewing spot. It’s a hunters’ rest area, so don’t bother us.”

Swish—
Spring leaves rustled in the gentle breeze.

“What? No, touch you? We were just inside the city, and the weather was nice, so—”

The sickly-looking young man, still cradling the cat, tried to protest with a pained expression, but the hunter ignored him.

‘How are the City Gate guards managing this? Letting these foolish layabouts outside the walls?’

Then again, these were ordinary commoners, not merchants or high-ranking officials, so it made sense they’d been allowed to leave.
The hunter—the Knight—shouted, brimming with irritation.

“Shut it. Don’t provoke the hunters’ tempers and get out of here. We’re here to admire the flowers, not deal with this.”
“Then would a fight be entertaining?”

What?
The hunter watched as the young man’s expression transformed in an instant.
The sickly appearance vanished, replaced by something cold and sharp.
The moment he sensed it—

Swish—

Leaves scattered through the air.

“Gack!”
“Ugh!”

White bones erupted from beneath the earth, seizing the hunters’ ankles.
More bones burst forth in quick succession, clamping over their mouths.

“Ugh!”
“Mm—mmph!”

Swish.
A figure emerged from atop the massive tree the hunters had been leaning against.
She hung upside down from the trunk, smiling down at the hunters.

Whoosh.
Four massive wind arrows nocked in a bow, each aimed at one of the four hunters.

And finally, the last one.
The young man with chestnut hair—the one who had spoken with Kale Heniatus.
He was already unconscious, sprawled on the ground.

Kale Heniatus observed the fallen man, then patted the shoulder of the man with hair the same color as his own.

“As expected, you’re fast.”
“No, sir. Not at all, Kale Heniatus.”

Choi Han offered a gentle smile.
The hunter who appeared to be their leader had taken a single blow from Choi Han and lost consciousness.

Kale Heniatus approached the four hunters who were lying or sitting down, crouched low, and met their gazes.
At that moment, the navigation voice echoed.

“There are an unusually large number of corpses beneath this tree. That is why there were so many bones available to use.”

At those words, Kale Heniatus asked the hunters, his irritation rising sharply.

“You’ve killed quite a lot of people just to guard this place, haven’t you?”

The bones that Merry had manipulated came from beneath the tree, and the place where the hunters had been resting was a grave of their own victims.

“Ugh!”
“Mmph, mmph!”

Kale Heniatus turned his gaze away from the hunters who were trying to speak and stood up, issuing an order.

“Knock them out and bind them.”

Merry, Tasha, and Choi Han would handle it without needing further instruction.
So Kale Heniatus looked toward another direction and spoke.

“I’m counting on you.”

He could see the platinum-colored powder blanketing the Flower Field.
Each time Erhafen’s hand swept through the air, the platinum powder scattered in all directions.

“Huh? Huh!”

Bilos’s eyes widened as he handed another apple pie to Raon.

It was melting away.
The landscape touched by platinum light dissolved into nothingness.

The illusory magic was dissolving one layer at a time.
No alarm sounded.

“Keep the alarm active.”

The enemies, hearing no alarm, would still believe this secret passage remained undiscovered.

“You’ve layered it well.”

Erhafen gazed at the dissolving flower field landscape.

One layer.
Two layers.
Three layers peeled away.

The moment the three layers of scenery dissolved completely.
Kale Heniatus’s eyes met the Ancient Dragon’s.

“…This won’t be easy.”

The Ancient Dragon assessed the strength of his opponent—whether Tower Master or Lich—and spoke the words almost carelessly.
Yet as he watched Kale Heniatus brush past his remark with composure, he let out a soft chuckle and stepped back.

Where he had stood.
The platinum light mana vanished.

“…Ah.”
“Mm.”

Tasha, Merry, and Choi Han swallowed hard, unable to speak at the revealed landscape. Tasha was the first to break the silence.

“There’s an overwhelming aura of death emanating from it.”

The flower field had vanished, leaving behind a massive black maw gaping open in the earth.

The entrance leading underground.
That entrance was pitch black.

“…It carries a scent similar to black despair.”

Tasha, unsettled by the repugnant presence, turned her gaze away from the underground darkness toward Kale Heniatus. She could see him looking at Merry and Choi Han.

“It is fine, Kale Heniatus.”

Choi Han answered while gripping his sword hilt, and Merry followed with a response as straightforward as a navigation system.

“I am strong.”

Kale Heniatus nodded.

“Then that settles it.”

I surveyed my entire party once more.
Tasha, who would remain to watch over the hunters and the entrance while awaiting Vice-Captain Hilsman’s imminent arrival, bowed her head slightly and stepped back.

Cat Tribe Knight Lex and Merchant Bilos nodded at my gaze. They had already come prepared to follow.

-Of course I’m going!

As Raon’s words concluded and I turned to regard Erhafen, the ancient dragon moved his fingers.

Snap!

Everyone’s bodies gradually became transparent.
Lex and Bilos swallowed hard as they beheld the sight and the dark entrance descending into the depths below.

Then, they heard my voice.
Words spoken in a humming tone.

“Now then, where are you hiding?”

My face was visible as my body faded to transparency from the feet upward.
I was smiling.

“If even a single strand of hair is caught, I will die.”

The Cat-Human and the Merchant froze.

And finally, as I watched my eyes complete their last contortion and the invisibility ended, my voice echoed out.
A languid, humming voice resonated through the empty space where no one could be seen except the unconscious hunter.

“Where, oh where, are you hiding?”

Lex and Bilos swallowed hard.
It was because the contortion in Kale Heniatus’s eyes terrified them.

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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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