Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 328

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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 group that emerged from the Imperial Palace made their way toward the Alchemy Tower. Their bearing was confident and dignified, radiating an aura of invincibility.

“Good heavens!”

The moment the citizens caught sight of a single figure riding confidently to the right of the Tower Master, they could not conceal their astonishment. The bodies of the Empire’s people, who had been attempting to flee beyond the castle walls, shrank back.

“…The Guardian Sword…!”

The one known as the current Imperial Sword of the Mogur Empire was Duke Hooten, a Sword Master.
Though he had been defeated in the recent Wipper War and held hostage at Maple Castle, he remained the Empire’s strength and pride.

Yet the elderly knight now reflected in the eyes of the Empire’s people carried a different significance than Hooten.

Guardian Sword.
A title bestowed upon the knight who had protected the previous Emperor from his twilight years through the reign of the current Emperor.
He had always been warm to the Empire’s people, but his unyielding character left no room for compromise as he devoted himself entirely to the Empire and the Imperial House.

His strength was at the highest Expert tier, woefully insufficient compared to Duke Hooten.
Yet Sir Bernard was called the Guardian Sword by the Empire’s people.
As much as his years of service, as much as the countless tales of his steadfast resolve, Sir Bernard was the Empire’s pride and honor.

“I… I don’t know anymore.”

The fleeing citizen set down the bundle he had been clutching to his chest.

Seeing the Guardian Sword Sir Bernard, still gentle yet unyielding, made it difficult to discern what was truth and what was falsehood.

Then Sir Bernard’s lips parted.

“All of you, stop!”

A weighty, resonant voice echoed across the surroundings.
Though he was over seventy years old, he cried out to his people with regret, fully clad in armor.

“Today I have come here, released from His Majesty’s side by His Majesty’s command.”

The eyes of the cowering citizens focused intently.

It was a famous story.
The Emperor always kept Sir Bernard at his side. Despite his advanced age, the Emperor cherished this old knight above all others. It was well-known that the Emperor, whose health was fragile, could not sleep deeply without Sir Bernard standing guard outside his chamber.

“The reason is simple. His Majesty is concerned for the people of the Empire!”

The Emperor had sent out his most trusted knight.

“Do not be deceived by that footage. Think about it for a moment.”

The veteran knight spoke calmly, revealing no emotion—not even anger.

“Has the Empire drawn its blade against you?”

Because of that, his voice carried all the more weight.
The people of the Empire looked around themselves.

They saw the collapsed City Wall.
They saw the Airship in the sky above.
And alongside it, people from the Slums suddenly telling them to flee.
They stared at the Airship and pondered.

‘Is that footage truly real? Could it be fabricated?’

From those who knew not what to believe, anxiety and confusion poured forth.

‘Damn it!’

Lex’s face twisted.
He too knew of the Guardian Knight Sir Bernard.
Moreover, Sir Bernard was, as far as he knew, one of the few good people within the Imperial Palace.

During his days as a novice knight, consumed by thoughts of vengeance, this elderly knight had given him one of the few precious memories he possessed. A warm consolation and the teachings of the blade.
All of the Empire’s novice knights had surely received Sir Bernard’s warm comfort and sword instruction at least once.

‘…If Sir Bernard steps forward, this will be troublesome.’

The people might truly believe the Empire’s words.
Once more, Sir Bernard’s resolute voice rang out.

“Rather, who are the ones who destroyed the City Wall this night? Who are the ones who shattered your peaceful evening?”

The tension drained from the bodies of the Empire’s citizens.
Then they trembled once more.

Dong— dong— dong—

The sound of bells rang out.
At that same moment, Sir Bernard and the Tower Master’s party entered the Plaza where the Alchemy Tower stood.

Tap. Tap-tap-tap. Tap!

People looked up at the rooftops of the buildings surrounding the Alchemy Tower Plaza.
Figures standing upright atop the peaked roofs.

Those clad in white robes emblazoned with a golden sun looked down upon the Plaza.

The Cat Tribe Knight Sir Lex turned his head at the touch of a hand on his armor.

“Those are the ones from the video, aren’t they? Aren’t they?”

It was one of the evacuating citizens.

One reason the people hesitated even as the respected Sir Bernard stepped forward.

“…Those are the Sun God Church members who fought the golems earlier, aren’t they?”

Guardian Knight Clophe possessed footage of the entire Wipper War. And it was remarkably clear footage at that.

“The white bone birds and the Saints. They’re the ones, aren’t they?”

The citizens could not forget the Saints and white bone birds from the footage, standing against the golems while proclaiming the history of the Sun God Church.

‘We shall advance toward the light!’
‘In the name of God, we shall strike down darkness!’

Their words still echoed in their ears.
Especially when the word “darkness” lodged itself in their minds, they could not help but react sensitively to dark magic.

Sir Rex gazed into the desperate eyes of the Imperial citizen trying to seize me.
This person had fled their home in pajamas, carrying only valuables and a few simple clothes.

Faced with such desperation, Sir Rex opened his mouth before turning away.

“Sir Rex.”

Someone called to him from among the Imperial citizens.
Rex turned his head.

“…Sir Bernard.”

The old knight’s stern gaze fixed upon Rex.
Unlike the other Imperial Knights, Rex bit his lip at the sight of this elderly knight’s eyes—eyes that still addressed him with the title “Sir” and treated him as a knight.

“Are you in charge?”

Eyes as fathomless as a deep lake turned toward Rex.

“I have no intention of fighting. I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”

Rex saw the one in the Tower Master’s robes and the Alchemist beside him, along with the other Imperial personnel, hesitate. The knights behind Sir Bernard in particular gasped and opened their mouths in surprise.

“Commander.”
“Sir Bernard, this cannot—”

But Sir Bernard’s next action silenced them all.

“Can we talk?”

With those words, Sir Bernard moved his hand.

“Huh!”
“Commander!”

Before the people’s cries could even erupt.

Bang!

A sharp sound rang out as a scabbard clattered to the ground.
The Elderly Man had dropped his sword to the earth.
He dismounted from his horse and walked slowly toward the center of the Alchemy Tower Plaza.

The Elderly Man surveyed everything around him—the Empire citizens in the surrounding Residential District, the white robes on the rooftops, the Airship, even the figures atop the Bell Tower—before finally fixing his gaze upon Sir Rex.

“Are you the one in charge?”

Sir Rex felt his breath catch at that commanding presence.
The aura of a seasoned veteran—gentle yet insurmountable.
Sir Rex clenched his fists.

“Ah—”

No. I am not the one in charge.
There was someone else meant to step forward.
Not Kale Heniatus, but there was certainly someone planned to take the lead.

That was when it happened.

—Lex! Can you hear me? It’s me, the great Raon Mir!

The Dragon’s voice reached him.

—Kale Heniatus says to tell you!

The moment Raon Mir’s voice conveyed Kale Heniatus’s message, the strength drained from Sir Rex’s clenched fists.

“…Lex.”
“Don’t go.”

His companions from the Slums had drawn near, their faces etched with concern and worry.
Their eyes conveyed both a question of what to do and a warning—don’t step forward, this is a trap.

Then.

Bang!

A sharp sound rang out once more.
Several onlookers gasped, drawing in their breath.

A steel shield clattered to the ground.

“…Sir Rex!”

His comrade reached for Sir Rex’s shoulder.
But his hand grasped only empty air.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Sir Rex, empty-handed, cut through the crowd and made his way to the plaza before the Alchemy Tower. There he faced Sir Bernard.

“I am responsible, Sir Bernard.”

Ah.
Someone let out a sigh.
At the same moment, one of the knights behind Sir Bernard cried out.

“How dare a criminal presume to meet Sir Bernard’s gaze! You should kneel-”
“Enough.”

Sir Bernard silenced the knight. Then, with a gentle smile, he approached Sir Rex.

A young knight with crimson hair and an aged knight with snow-white locks.
The old knight spoke calmly.

“I shall conduct a thorough investigation into the truth of the recorded footage.”

What?
An investigation?
The plaza erupted into murmurs in an instant.

“Furthermore, the Tower Master has consented to a comprehensive investigation of the Alchemy Tower.”

In that moment, the Tower Master’s hood was removed. The Alchemist beside him on the left also lowered his hood, revealing the unremarkable face of a middle-aged man. The middle-aged Alchemist gazed at the Tower Master, who had already removed his hood.

An elderly man with a face full of scars and stubborn determination.
The appearance of the Tower Master, known to all.

“I permit the investigation. Since my disciple Honth’s honor is at stake, I will participate actively. I wish to clear this disgrace.”

The murmuring grew even louder.
The real Tower Master had declared he would reveal everything.
Suspicious gazes began turning toward Lex.

“So then, wouldn’t it be better to resolve this peacefully?”

Peace, and resolution.
The expressions of the Empire’s citizens brightened at those words.
Simultaneously, the faces of the Slums’ inhabitants darkened. They looked up at the Bell Tower. Kale Heniatus had to be up there.

‘Why is he staying silent?’

The situation couldn’t be allowed to flow in this direction.
That was when it happened.

“Very well. Let us resolve this peacefully.”

What?
His comrades’ eyes widened.
Lex had accepted Sir Bernard’s proposal.

“We will withdraw all airships as well. We shall retreat.”

In that moment, a voice resonated in Lex’s mind.
Though it was the voice of a six-year-old, it carried within it the will of the orchestrator who had planned all of this.

-Just one thing.

Lex’s mouth opened.

“Just one thing.”

Kale Heniatus moved slowly across the top of the Bell Tower.

-There is a condition.
“There is a condition.”

Beneath the massive bell, Kale Heniatus’s gaze, hidden in shadow, turned forward.
Sir Rex’s gaze also turned forward.

-I wish to shake hands with the Tower Master.
“I wish to shake hands with the Tower Master.”

One person filled Kale’s eyes.
Not beneath the shadow of the bell, but before it. The one standing atop the Bell Tower, revealed before all.
I could see his white robes.
Kale approached and placed his hand upon the man’s shoulder.

Sir Rex’s mouth opened.

“Is it possible?”

In that moment, an Imperial Knight burst forth with indignation.

“You wretch! Who would believe the words of an attempted murderer of the Sub-Tower Master!”
“Wait.”

The Tower Master raised his hand.
His stubborn face surveyed the surroundings, and finally, looking at the Alchemist to his left, he nodded.

“Very well. If all shall know peace, then I shall shake his hand.”

In that moment, Kale’s mouth opened.

“Go ahead.”

And Sir Rex stepped back.
Simultaneously, the crowd gasped in astonishment.

“What!”
“There!”

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap-tap!

The people in white robes who had occupied the rooftop all leaped down into the Plaza, kneeling on one knee.

Yet the crowd’s gasps were not directed at that sight.

The top of the Bell Tower.
From there, a figure descended slowly.
One who came down as carefully as the wind cradled something precious.

Tap.

The moment that person’s feet touched the ground.
The hood naturally fell away.

“Ah—!”
“Good, good heavens!”

To the ears of the Empire’s citizens, who could only gasp in shock, came the voices of those in white robes kneeling on one knee.

“We greet the Saint!”

Step. Step.
Saint Jack moved forward.
From his body, the sacred power unique to the Sun God Church’s Saint began to radiate—a luminous aura suffused with healing.

“S-Saint.”

Some among the Empire’s citizens unconsciously clasped their hands together.
A gentle, warm force enveloped them, releasing muscles that had grown rigid with tension and chaos.
A bright, sacred light unlike the torches that illuminated the night. The healing power they had forgotten.
The expressions of the Empire’s citizens transformed.
In that moment, the Cat Tribe Knight Lex’s mouth opened.

“The Saint will shake hands with the Tower Master.”

Even in this sudden situation, the Empire’s citizens looked toward Jack and the Tower Master.

The Tower Master and Jack had shaken hands several times at Empire events.
The eyes of the Empire’s citizens widened as they recalled that memory.

Saint Jack’s steps came to a halt.
Saint Jack.
A single spark of flame kindled in eyes that had seemed so gentle.

-Saint! Do you remember what Kale said?

Raon’s voice echoed in his mind, relaying Kale’s words.

-Tower Master.
“Tower Master.”

Saint Jack extended his hand.

“Would you permit me a handshake?”

Saint Jack.
He fixed his gaze upon Sir Bernard, the Empire’s guardian sword.

“You are the Tower Master, are you not?”

The benevolent smile vanished from the elderly knight’s face.
In contrast, Saint Jack displayed a smile brimming with pure radiance.

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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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