Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 343

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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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Chapter 76. Two Ruffians

For a moment, no one spoke.
Kale was so taken aback that he simply stared at the outstretched hand offered by the Mercenary King Burd Illis.

-…This man is also a bit strange!

Raon’s bewildered voice echoed through my mind directed at the Mercenary King.
On and Hong, who had descended from Kale’s arms long ago, looked at the Mercenary King with expressions of confusion. However, the Mercenary King Burd Illis showed no sign of noticing their average nine-year-old expressions.

“Ah. I got angry thinking you were someone else, friend?”

Burd’s outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air, but he paid it no mind and gazed at Kale apologetically.

“Sorry, sorry. When I take off my glasses, I can’t see very well. But my friend has a similar vibe, similar hair color, and similar eye color, so I got confused.”

At that moment, Choi Han stood directly behind Kale. The Mercenary King and Choi Han. The two regarded each other. A peculiar light flickered in the eyes of the Mercenary King Burd Illis as he glanced toward Kale.
He smiled softly and spoke in a low voice.

“…My hand is getting embarrassed?”

Choi Han’s gaze, contrary to his composed expression, was quite cold as he observed the scene.
Choi Han had also confirmed the information that Alberu had provided.

‘Sword Master. Moreover, a person with special abilities that remain unidentified.’

Based on that alone, he wasn’t particularly concerned. However, he remained tense in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
But the words spoken by the Mercenary King Burd Illis irritated Choi Han’s sensibilities.

‘Friend, nice to meet you!’
‘But my friend has a similar vibe, similar hair color, and similar eye color, so I got confused.’

A person with hair and eye color similar to Kale’s.
Someone with a similar aura.
Only one person came to mind.

The White Star.

Tension crept to the tips of Choi Han’s fingers.

Of course, if the White Star and the Mercenary King were friends, then the information that Dark and the White Star were targeting the Mercenary Guild was likely false.
Or there was some other circumstance at play.

‘Above all else.’

Choi Han couldn’t help but feel tense.

‘That bastard has some measure of my power.’

I couldn’t forget the gaze of the Mercenary King as he looked at me.
Unlike the drunken state, his eyes were remarkably cold and composed.

That gaze was clearly assessing me.

To recognize my level, one would need to be at least on a similar tier.
Not simply a Sword Master like Duke Hooten from before or the mad Clophe Seka. They were formidable, but not something to fear.

The Mercenary King was clearly different.

‘That’s what makes it more problematic.’

From me, the Mercenary King only radiated the power of an ordinary Sword Master level. Yet he clearly possessed something more.
A figure whose true nature I couldn’t discern. Someone to be wary of.

‘I need to inform him.’

I needed to tell Kale about this. But right now, I couldn’t speak to Kale directly.

Then, I saw the Mercenary King Burd Illis’s mouth open again.

“…You’re rejecting my handshake?”

The smile had completely vanished from Burd Illis’s expression. My tension spiked rapidly. It was that moment.

“Hey.”

Kale opened his mouth. I flinched slightly at my shoulders. His voice carried a chill. I turned my head as I stood beside Kale.

‘…Kale?’

I could see Kale’s expression. His face, brimming with boredom, turned toward the Mercenary King. And a cold voice descended.

“Put your hand away.”

Kale told the Mercenary King to withdraw the hand he had extended.
In that instant, silence descended upon the surroundings.

The first floor of the inn was still bustling, and the former bandits and current employees were working as diligently as possible while avoiding Kale’s gaze.
But around Kale alone, it was quiet.
Yet that silence was soon broken.

“…Put it away?”

Burd Illis repeated those words as if he didn’t understand for a moment. Then he looked at Kale.
Their heights were similar. But the Mercenary King could see the red-haired man gazing down at him with those eyes.

The moment a chill settled into the Mercenary King’s cold eyes, the red-haired man’s lips parted.

“Bring some alcohol.”

Huh?
On and Hong tilted their heads in confusion.
But Kale gestured toward Burd Illis with an expressionless face.

“If you’re my friend, it’s alcohol instead of a handshake. You don’t know that?”

Oh.
A smile gradually spread across Burd Illis’s lips. His voice became cheerful.

“So a greeting between drunkards is alcohol, is it?”

Kale answered calmly even to that cheerful voice.

“Stop spouting obvious nonsense.”

Heh.
A small laugh escaped from Burd Illis’s lips. Soon that laughter grew quite loud.

“Hahahaha!”

His laughter was as refreshing as his appearance.

“Ah, I really like this friend.”

Burd Illis draped an arm across Kale’s shoulder. Kale stared at him with a blank expression, his green eyes visible behind his glasses. Regardless, the Mercenary King pulled the arm-linked Kale to one side.

“Come now. I have some drinks at my table to seal our acquaintance. Let’s head over there.”

Tap.
Kale brushed the hand off his shoulder.

“Hm?”

Burd Illis looked at him with a puzzled expression, and Kale spoke flatly.

“Follow me instead. The food and drinks are top-tier.”
“Oh, really?”

Burd Illis’s lips curled upward.
Kale retraced the stairs he had descended, speaking as he went.

“I own this Inn.”

Kale gestured to Vicross, who was watching from the Kitchen, then climbed the stairs. As he did, he glanced all the way to the table where Burd’s companions were seated, then spoke to Burd.

“I’m loaded. I’ll treat everyone.”

Wow.
Burd’s mouth fell open.

“…That’s impressive.”

The Mercenary King’s expression turned genuinely admiring.
At that moment, as Kale climbed the stairs, Raon’s voice echoed in his mind.

-Human! The Mercenary King isn’t just a little strange—he’s very strange! He seems off in a different way than the twisted Clophe Seka!

Kale ignored that voice and spoke to his servant Ron.

“Food and alcohol—”
“I’ll have them brought to the third floor.”

Ron, already anticipating what Kale was about to say, finished his sentence. Kale glanced at the Mercenary King as he rose with Ron’s guidance, then headed to the third floor without hesitation.

Choi Han followed behind him.

“Kale.”

Choi Han called to him in a hushed whisper near his ear. But before he could say anything, Kale smiled and spoke.

“It’s fine.”

How did he know what I was about to say?
Choi Han felt puzzled, yet simultaneously reassured. Without another word, he followed Kale.

“Wow, so this inn’s owner is my friend? And that friend knows quality alcohol?”
“…Could you keep it down? This is embarrassing.”

The Mercenary King casually admiring the inn. And the robed Mage reproaching him as if mortified.
Their conversation drifted from behind Kale.

“What’s embarrassing about it? I’m just touring my friend’s place.”

The Mercenary King’s relentless commentary continued even in the private room on the third floor.

“Wow, this isn’t inn food at all—it’s like something from a noble house or the Royal Palace!”

Mercenary King Burd Illis marveled at the dishes and alcohol being laid out on the table. Kale felt the same way.

Vicross came into view as he set down a plate of food. Kale subtly gave him a thumbs up, and Vicross deliberately looked away.

—Human! Me too, I want to eat too! Can’t you send the Mercenary King and the Mage away and let me eat as well? Whimper!

Raon’s excited voice rang out.

—Wow! Human, Vicross is so kind! The beef steak is grilled exactly how I like it best! Human, if you give Vicross an apple pie—

But Raon’s voice soon stopped.
It was because of what Kale had just said.

“That friend of yours who said he was confused earlier.”

A warmth seemed to settle over the dining table. Kale directed his question at Burd Illis openly.
Brazenly.

“Does your friend wear a white mask?”

Choi Han flinched.
His gaze flickered between Kale and Burd.

Kale had asked the Mercenary King directly about the White Star.
Burd Illis answered while putting a salad of chicken, vegetables, and sauce into his mouth.

“Oh, how did you know?”

Choi Han flinched once more.
The Mercenary King had answered far too easily.

“That’s right! That’s my friend! A mask that covers from his nose to his forehead! And his eyes are a lighter brown than yours!”

And he said it in a cheerful voice at that.

-Human! The Mercenary King is a bright fool! Similar to Tunka!

Raon chattered in Kale’s mind as if exasperated.
But Kale’s expression became peculiar.

Similar to Tunka?
This guy?

Kale’s smile grew increasingly bright.
The Mercenary Guild was currently fighting against Dark.

Dark had been rooted in this Eastern Continent for at least fifteen years or more.
And the Mercenary Guild had a far more ancient history than Dark.
Would the leader of such an organization, a figure worthy of the title King, truly have never seen the leader of Dark even once?

The Mercenary King didn’t even know who the White Star was, yet he called him a friend?

Kale couldn’t help but laugh. He smiled as he asked the Mercenary King a question.

“You’re going to kill that friend, aren’t you?”

Silence descended upon the bustling dining table.

That friend.
You’re going to kill the White Star?

Kale asked, and Choi Han observed Erhafen and the others along with the Mercenary King. In that moment, the Mercenary King answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Oh!”

He spoke with admiration.

“That’s right. How did you know?”

The Mercenary King’s answer—that he would kill the White Star.
Burd Illis adjusted his slightly slipped glasses and revealed his curiosity toward Kale. But then he immediately shook his head and spoke.

“No, wait.”

The corners of his eyes curved upward behind his glasses.

“You’re a friend who knows who I am without even asking my name. I suppose you could figure that much out.”

This bastard.
The moment Kale heard the Mercenary King’s answer, he was certain.

The Mercenary King, Burd Illis, was a madman.
And.
One more thing.

He was someone you could reason with.

Kale recalled what Erhafen had said when he faced the Mercenary King earlier.
The Ancient Dragon spoke in Kale’s mind.

‘That bastard seems to have figured out my identity. He even glanced at the empty space where Raon is. Of course, his gaze was so subtle that the little one didn’t notice… but the kid still needs more training.’

Kale picked up a bottle of alcohol and opened his mouth.

“Friend.”

He uncapped the bottle.

Clink.
He placed the entire bottle in front of the Mercenary King.
And asked.

“You can tell what other people’s abilities are, right?”

Kale recalled the Mercenary King who had just confused him with the White Star. At the same time, he pondered why the confusion had occurred.

Hair color and eye color?
That guy who came running from a distance without even wearing glasses?

Kale’s calm voice settled alone upon the table.

“You might not know the details, but you can roughly tell what kind of ability that person possesses, right?”

It seemed he couldn’t pinpoint the opponent’s ability with perfect accuracy.
The Mercenary King’s incomprehensible special ability. Kale speculated about it as he asked.

“So you confused me and the White Star?”

Kale, who possessed multiple Ancient Powers, and the White Star.
Kale, who possessed the artificially created Dragon Slayer ability, and the White Star, who held the genuine power.

“Right?”

The Mercenary King had probably encountered the White Star before. He had described his appearance accurately.
And if this bastard’s hidden true ability was as Kale suspected.

Kale spoke affectionately to his silent counterpart.

“Tell me about the White Star’s ability, friend. Will you?”

In that instant, a deep smile carved itself across the Mercenary King’s lips.

“Hey, Mage.”
“What?”

The Mage, whose face was obscured by the hood of his robe, asked with a sigh, and the Mercenary King answered while gazing at Kale.

“I really like this bastard.”

Burd Illis said so and drained the entire bottle of liquor in one gulp.

Clink.
The empty bottle was set upon the table, and the Mercenary King Burd Illis opened his mouth.

“Friend, it’s good to meet you.”

Burd extended his hand, and Kale grasped it.

“Yeah, good to meet you too.”

At last, the two shook hands.
In that moment, Burd’s mouth opened. Beyond his glasses, Kale could see cold, piercing eyes.

“I can discern a person’s abilities to a certain extent.”

And he added:

“Though there are limitations, of course.”

The words tumbled out with a cheerful lilt.

“That’s why the White Star wants to kill me without anyone knowing.”

The air above the table seemed to freeze and settle into stillness.
Yet Kale and Burd Illis—both were smiling as they looked at each other.
Burd Illis released Kale’s hand and spoke.

“That’s why I move openly among people.”

The Mercenary King deliberately spread rumors about his investigation process and his movements.
So everyone would know where he was. And he only traveled to places crowded with people.
The reason was simple.

“I need to survive.”

The Mercenary King, Burd Illis. He spoke with a face as cold as the chill in his eyes.

“And I want to kill that bastard too.”

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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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