Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 330

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

A massive crater had been torn into the ground.

“Aaahhh! The explosion—!”

The Plaza floor shattered, scattering stone dust and broken debris in all directions.
As violent winds propelled the wreckage outward, people instinctively raised both arms to shield their faces.

Whoosh.

“…Priest?”

But there was no need.
Priests in white robes had already appeared before the Imperial citizens, spreading their garments to block the debris.
One citizen, clutching a bundle, had been staring blankly at the Priest’s back when their eyes met as the Priest turned.

A middle-aged woman with a benevolent expression.

“May light be with you.”

Ah.
At the Priest’s words, the citizen’s face contorted. Over the Priest’s shoulder, he could now see the aftermath of the explosion settling.

Now he could see it clearly.

“…Saint.”

The future of the Sun God Church alongside Saint Jack.
Saint Hana.

She gripped a sword in her hand, now impossibly massive, covered in gold and black as if it were a tower.

“…Sword Master.”

His gaze shifted to Hana’s face, then to her hand. Black veins bulged and twisted across it like a spider’s web.

“…Necromancer.”

Anyone could see that her appearance was characteristic of a Necromancer.
But how could a Necromancer possibly wield an aura mixed with golden light?

“This cannot be—”

Yet he found himself stumbling backward at the sight before him.

Crackle, sizzle—

Sword Master Hana’s aura rippled like an electric current, seeking to devour her opponent.
But there existed something that held back her ferocious aura.

The moment the Imperial citizen laid eyes upon that presence, he collapsed to the ground.

“Sir Bernard’s h-hand—”

A hand shrouded in pitch-black mana was blocking Sword Master Hana’s aura.

“Heh heh.”

Sword Master Hana laughed and gazed at the one blocking her blade.

“Well, Sir Bernard. Not using your sword?”
“…Saint.”

Sir Bernard’s expressionless face and the black mana lingering in his hand.
The kindness that once graced the old knight’s visage had vanished, replaced by cold severity. His hand grasped Sword Master Hana’s blade.

“Interesting. I knew you had attached yourself to Kale Heniatus, but—”

A bitter smile formed on his lips.

“Could it be that the Saint has touched dead mana—”

That was the moment.
A thunderous voice rang out.

“Support the Saint against the one who has poisoned her!”

Ting, ting-ting!
Simultaneously, countless daggers were hurled toward Sir Bernard.

Sir Rex, pointing at me while shouting that I had poisoned the Saint.
And white daggers thrown by those clad in white priestly robes.
At the same time, I could see Hana laughing.

“Support will freeze to death.”

Crackle, crackle.
A golden aura rippled.
Sir Bernard saw the madness swirling in Sword Master Hana’s eyes.

“I’ll kill you all myself.”

Damn it.
Sir Bernard released his grip on his sword with a brief curse and stepped backward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Daggers flew into the space where he had stood, embedding themselves.
At the same time, Sword Master Hana also stepped back one pace.

“Fall back.”

Hana spoke to her brother Jack. However, she soon let out a hollow laugh as she watched Jack take his place beside her instead of retreating.

“Kale Heniatus brought in some strange water.”
“…Hana.”

Crack, crack.
As if she hadn’t heard her brother’s voice, Hana rolled her neck and loosened her muscles as she spoke.

“Stay away from me. I’m good with holy power. I’m the best support.”

A smile graced the corners of Saint Jack’s lips. It was a sad smile. Jack’s holy power was poison to Hana. Therefore, he added:

“I’ll use it on the enemies too. It’s poison to them as well.”

Hana’s smile deepened.
She knew her only family well.

Hana and Saint Jack.
Saint Jack and Hana.
The two shared many similarities in temperament.
Others simply didn’t know it.

Whoooosh—

Saint Jack’s sleeves fluttered. The power of the sun, infused with healing, began to envelop his entire body.
Simultaneously, the Saint pointed her sword directly ahead.

“Now everyone will see it. The dead mana overflowing from Sir Bernard’s hands.”

A different kind of silence descended upon the plaza.
The tension was palpable, ready to explode at any moment.

Extreme tension permeated the plaza.
Yet the citizens of the Empire were consumed not only by tension, but by fear.

Sir Bernard, known to be an Expert, was wielding black mana.
Moreover, his hands had turned black the moment he clashed with Saint Jack.

‘What is happening here?’

Even amid their confusion, the citizens’ minds began to piece together the answer. They had no choice.

“Ha, hahahaha—”

Sir Bernard burst into laughter.
The Empire’s Knights and Alchemists surrounded him, raising their guard toward Saint Jack’s side. Meanwhile, the one known as the Tower Master stood beside Sir Bernard and spoke.

“What nonsense is this! I am the Tower Master!”

His expression was filled with stubborn indignation.
The one wearing the Tower Master’s robes pointed toward the Sun God Cult twins and Lex.

“Who would believe the words of such heinous criminals who committed magical bomb terrorism against the Sun God Church and the Imperial Palace!”

His wrinkled face flushed with genuine fury as he raised his voice, the veins in his neck bulging.

“To cast such preposterous slander upon the Empire’s Sword of Protection and myself, the Tower Master of the Imperial Alchemy Tower—”

Thump.
A hand descended upon the Tower Master’s shoulder.
The elderly man in the Tower Master’s robes turned his head.

“That’s enough.”

It was Sir Bernard.

“Look around you.”

The elderly man in the Tower Master’s robes surveyed his surroundings.
Despite the chaos, he could see the Imperial citizens hesitantly backing away as their eyes met his, and soldiers shrinking back while gripping their weapons.

Saint Jack’s voice rang out.

“Everyone witnessed Sir Bernard’s hands turning black and the death of his mana. There is no one left who trusts you.”

The elderly man in the Tower Master’s robes’ face contorted. His pupils trembled.

I felt the shift in atmosphere.
I felt the people’s attention turning increasingly toward the Saint’s words.

The elderly man slowly turned his head. Then, in a voice only Sir Bernard could hear, he muttered quietly.

“…Master.”

Master.
A smile bloomed at the corners of Sir Bernard’s lips.
He took a slow step forward.

“Sir Bernard—”
“Commander.”

The Knights and Alchemists stepped forward before Sir Bernard, but he waved his hand dismissively.

“Move aside.”

I walked forward slowly, and the other matched my pace.

Tap. Tap.
Tap. Clack.

Sir Bernard and Sword Master Hana.
The two of us advanced toward each other.
Hana asked with a smile.

“Shall we fight?”

At that moment, she could see Sir Bernard come to a halt.
Sir Bernard.
He tilted his head slightly upward, gazing at the Alchemy Tower behind Hana. His two hands slowly began to rise.

Whoooooom—

Black mana gathered in his palms.
Hana’s posture straightened as a chilling aura began to settle at the tip of her blade.

In that instant, Sir Bernard’s mouth opened.

“I understand, my liege.”

…What?
As Hana’s eyes narrowed, a voice echoed in Sir Bernard’s mind.

—I ask this of you, Bernard.

A gentle voice.
Yet always fresh and unchanging.

A thousand years.
My liege, who had been my beacon throughout all that time.
The White Star.

A smile bloomed at the corners of Sir Bernard’s lips.

“What—”

Sword Master Hana’s mouth froze mid-protest. A voice echoed directly into her mind.
She was not alone.
A single entity’s voice resonated through the minds of everyone in Kale Heniatus’s group.

-A tremendous aura approaches. A massive presence draws near.

The voice of the Ancient Dragon Erhafen.
Choi Han, moving swiftly through the Alchemy Tower alongside the Dark Elf Tasha, halted in his tracks.

A tremendous aura?
What could be so massive that even a dragon would call it tremendous?

-I cannot discern its nature. I must investigate.

Erhafen’s voice continued to resonate.
Choi Han changed direction.

Screech.

Choi Han wrenched open one of the Alchemy Tower’s windows.
As he forced open the battle-damaged window, the entire plaza came into view. In that instant, Sir Bernard’s voice reached his ears.

His voice was loud enough to shake the plaza and the entire Capital.

“What is unnecessary shall be discarded.”

Choi Han’s body stiffened once more.

What is unnecessary shall be discarded.
Those words spoke of his own journey.
His story of casting away half his despair and filling the void with hope.

In that moment, Choi Han turned his body again.

-Hurry! Choi Han, move quickly, human! I grow uneasy!

The moment Raon and Kale Heniatus’s intentions reached me simultaneously, Choi Han dashed toward the first floor of the Alchemy Tower with lightning speed.
Even in that instant, Sir Bernard’s voice echoed through the air.

“I could not abandon it, but he did—and now stands on the threshold of completion itself.”

Bernard turned his head to the side.

“…Sir Bernard?”
“Commander?”

Soldiers and several Knights gazed at him with trembling eyes.

‘What is happening here?’

The eyes of those ignorant of the truth.
The remaining Imperial officials regarded me with anticipation.

‘You will do something for us, won’t you?’

Among those watching him, Bernard saw his liege.

—Abandon it.

Discard what is unnecessary.
Only then can you fill the void and move forward.

Words his liege had always spoken.
Now came the time to abandon.

“What utter nonsense!”

Bernard opened his mouth with a smile as he watched Sword Master Hana rush toward him, her voice raised in fury.

“I abandon the Empire.”

Abandon?
The Empire?

The moment those words filled the Imperial Capital, even Hana, who had been rushing forward, faltered. Bernard’s two hands pointed toward the ground.

Whoooosh—
The ground trembled.
Black mana surged from Sir Bernard in an instant. Hana froze at the sensation.

It was familiar. The aura resembled someone she knew.
Then she heard a voice like a scream piercing her ears.

“No! This, this is a terrible aura!”

It was her brother Jack’s voice. Hana turned her head.
With fear and anger mingled across his face, Saint Jack shook his head repeatedly while channeling his healing power.

“…Brother?”
“Hana! You have to stop that! I don’t know what it is, but that’s ominous!”

Boom!
Hana turned her head at the sound reaching her ears.
Then she could see the doors of the Imperial Palace opening behind the Empire’s knights.

“…What?”

The black mana that Sir Bernard had been spreading across the ground had vanished.

“Hahaha, hahaha— the result of countless hours of effort.”

As Sir Bernard’s laughter and voice echoed, Hana witnessed a bizarre sight.

“Cough!”
“Ugh!”

The knights beside Sir Bernard, the alchemists, doubled over and groaned.

“S-Sir Bernard?”
“Why, why are you doing this to us?”

Hana saw people beside Bernard whose eyes were turning black. Even the one in the Tower Master’s robes groaned as their eyes darkened.

“…Master—”

Sir Bernard stroked the head of his disciple, the puppet Tower Master, and spoke.

“A scarecrow remains a scarecrow for life. It is good that it serves the world our lord will create.”

At the same moment, screams erupted from multiple locations.

“Ugh!”
“Aaahhh!”

Knights scattered throughout the Imperial Capital—those bearing the Imperial Family’s insignia on their shoulders—their eyes darkened to black as they groaned.

And soon they moved with expressionless faces.

Knights with eyes rippling in darkness gathered behind Sir Bernard. Like puppets, they moved in perfect order, supporting him from behind.

“Th-there! At the Imperial Palace-!”

The citizens of the Empire pointed toward the main gate of the Imperial Palace.
The open gate.
Countless figures with eyes stained black emerged into the plaza, weapons in hand.
Imperial knights.
Imperial nobles and their knights.
Alchemists and mages.

All of them were the leadership who had fled during the previous Wipper war and their subordinates, or the Imperial Palace’s key forces. With eyes turned black, they advanced toward the citizens of the Empire.

“Control… they’re being controlled. It’s dark magic.”

At this instinctive realization, Saint Jack’s entire body trembled.
Eyes turned black.
Moreover, Sir Bernard’s eyes too were darkening. The immense and ominous power the Dragon had spoken of, which he himself had felt—it now manifested before his eyes.

“…Dark magic commands the living!”

Jack’s face twisted in horror.
Killing the living, controlling the living.

Saint Jack’s hands trembled as he comprehended the power wielded by dark magic.
Why?
Because he would have to fight them.
Because he would have to block and suppress the attacks of those being controlled.
No matter how much they relied on power, surely there were innocent people among them.
Jack’s resolve wavered.

It was then.

“Your Highness!”

Sir Rex’s voice rang out.
Jack lifted his head.

A figure in plain robes, unlike himself, descended slowly from the very top of the Alchemy Tower. It was Kale Heniatus. Jack moved to approach him but hesitated.
Kale Heniatus had not come alone.
He set down the person he had been cradling in his arms.

The smallest among all those gathered nearby.
A figure in white robes that dragged across the ground, swallowed entirely by the oversized garment, her form completely obscured.

“…Merry.”

Necromancer Mary.
The moment Jack saw her, words inexplicably caught in his throat. He could see Mary passing by him.

“You need only purify them.”

Mary’s voice flowed forth, calm and unobstructed.

“You are capable of it, Saint Jack.”

Jack’s body flinched once more.
Purify.
Whom?
His gaze fell upon eyes darkened to black.
As Jack turned his head, he saw Mary moving forward. She opened her mouth.

“Is it my turn?”

A calm voice reached her from behind.

“Yes.”

It was Kale Heniatus’s voice.

“Do as you wish.”

Necromancer Mary halted her steps with a smile. Standing ahead of Sword Master Hana, she extended both hands outward from her robes.
Hands brimming with black veins, unlike the smooth hands of Sir Bernard.

Those hands pointed forward.
Imperial soldiers and nobles with eyes stained black, noble private soldiers, and alchemists alike. They formed a unified army in perfect formation.

Sir Bernard stood at the very front of that army.
Their eyes met—Sir Bernard’s and Necromancer Mary’s.

Sir Bernard’s mouth opened.

“You’ve managed to survive. The last Necromancer.”

In that moment, Necromancer Mary’s mouth opened.

“I’m grateful.”
“What?”

Sir Bernard’s questioning voice was swallowed.
Flutter. Flutter.
The white hem of her robe began to flutter.
A darkness blacker than night began to surge forth from Necromancer Mary.

“…Immense.”

Wonder flickered in Saint Jack’s eyes as he unconsciously murmured.
A power as vast as Sir Bernard’s own, a darkness of such magnitude, enveloped her.

‘All I need do is purify it.’

The moment Necromancer Mary’s voice echoed in his mind, Jack lifted his head.

Screech! Screech!

The skeletal birds descended closer to the ground. Simultaneously, the Holy Knights in the sky tore open their spatial pouches.
Riiip—
No, they shredded them.
White objects tumbled forth from within.
Bones.

The moment they touched Necromancer Mary’s black aura, they found their form, moving as though alive.
Necromancer Mary’s lips parted. Her gaze fixed solely upon Sir Bernard.

“I will crush you.”

In that instant, a colossal dragon of white bone materialized across the Imperial sky.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————