Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 345

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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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What happens when someone laughs wickedly, then their expression suddenly turns menacing?

That was exactly what Kale Heniatus looked like now.

Kale’s face had crumpled at Raon’s suggestion to smile like that at the White Star, but to the Mercenary King and his companion the Mage, it appeared as nothing more than a wicked grin twisted into a sinister scowl.

‘Kale Heniatus.’

The Mercenary King Burd Illis felt as though he’d heard that name somewhere before, vaguely.
A sharp jab to his ribs made him turn his head, revealing the Mage’s hood.

-We’ll talk about this later.

Talk about what?

-Kale Heniatus. I’ve heard that name somewhere. I think I saw it in the Western Continent report.

Just as the Crown Prince Alberu possessed general information about the Eastern Continent, the Western Continent was no different.

Burd Illis nodded to his friend before turning his gaze back to Kale Heniatus. Then he flinched.

“…Are you drunk?”

His face was flushed crimson.
It seemed like he’d had a few glasses of wine, but his complexion had turned as red as a ripe apple.

-Human! The Mercenary King is making a regretful expression!

…This crazy drunkard.
Kale had been speaking clearly, but upon seeing the Mercenary King’s shoulders suddenly droop, he tossed out his answer dismissively.

“It’s always like this.”
“Ah! Is that so? Well, you really do reek of a drunkard.”

…Good grief.
Kale was exasperated by Burd Illis’s remark, but even more so when the Mercenary King’s expression returned to its usual coldness. This guy was genuinely insane.
He was nearly as unhinged as Clophe.

However, Burd Illis, unaware of Kale’s sentiments, continued with a composed demeanor.

“I cannot trust this.”

There was no need to ask what he couldn’t trust. Kale’s mouth opened.

“You can’t trust me, nor my proposal.”
“That’s right.”

Even with two dragons at his side, a Sword Master present, and the proposer himself possessing multiple Ancient Powers, Burd Illis could not easily entrust his life and the future of the Mercenary Guild to this venture.
That was only natural.

So Kale answered simply.

“I’ll make you trust me.”

All I needed to do was provide reason for trust.

“How?”

“I’ll have one of my companions deliver something to a friend today. Take a look for yourself.”

“I need you to deliver something to a friend by today. Take a look at it once.”

Kale’s hand reached toward his companions.

Then you’ll find out.

The reincarnated White Star—that existence was impossibly powerful, but my comrades, who lived only once, were equally formidable.
The reincarnator White Star. His existence was absurdly powerful, but so too were his comrades who lived only one life.

“How great we are.”

Growth was not exclusive to White Star.
Growth wasn’t something only the White Star underwent.

“I absolutely have to hit that bastard from behind.”

A rare breed, Kim Rok-soo.
The first support-type operative from the rear guard division to unify and command both the frontline assault team 1 and rear support team 1—a team leader of exceptional caliber.
He, who was both Kim Rok-soo and Kale Heniatus, sketched out the future one careful step at a time.

The White Star, still lacking the balance of Ancient Powers.
We had sufficient odds of victory.

* * *

“…Sigh.”

Back in his room after the meal with the Mercenary King, Kale exhaled deeply.

“We are magnificent!”
“We are magnificent!”
“Magnificent!”

Raon, On, and Hong—averaging nine years old—chanted in sequence, their bodies bouncing with unbridled enthusiasm. Their expressions radiated pure delight. Kale’s face twisted.

‘Then you’ll understand. Just how magnificent we truly are.’

Those words he’d spoken to the Mercenary King had clearly captured the hearts of the trio. They played amongst themselves, repeating the phrase endlessly.

“…Sigh.”

Yet Kale’s sigh stemmed from more than just that.
He’d resigned himself to their usual antics long ago.

“Young master.”

A deceptively gentle voice. Kale extended the object in his hand to Ron with a reluctant expression.

‘I never imagined I’d have to hand this over with my own hands.’

Kale regarded the object in Ron’s hands with an ambiguous expression.
It was the item to be delivered to the Mercenary King, Burd Illis.

“Human!”

Raon approached him and spoke.

“Don’t worry! Rosalind recorded it in crystal clear quality! You’ll be able to distinguish faces just fine!”

A storage crystal containing footage that Rosalind and Clophe had documented of the party’s battles during this time.
That was the true identity of the object held in Ron’s hand.

“…That’s not what I’m worried about.”

Kale simply swallowed his words. He rose from his seat and followed Ron, who was heading toward the Mercenary King. Ron turned to look at Kale with a puzzled expression.

“Will you be joining me, Young Master?”

Kale reflexively shook his head at Ron’s unusually gentle demeanor.

“No. I’m going elsewhere.”
“I see.”

Kale left the room with Ron. Ron headed toward the Mercenary King’s quarters, while Kale went his own way.

-Human, I’m coming with you!
Meow!
Meow!

The pair of nine-year-olds followed after Kale.
As he walked, Kale recalled a brief conversation he’d had with Ron moments earlier.

‘Where would they be?’
‘Likely near the Kitchen Back Door.’

Kale’s steps led him toward the Kitchen Back Door of the inn. And the moment he arrived near the back door, he spotted someone washing dishes at the sink beside it.

Clink. Clink.
Had his footsteps been masked by the sound of dishes clinking? Even as he drew closer, the figure continued scrubbing diligently without lifting their head.

Kale’s expression grew increasingly somber.
He finally drew near and opened his mouth.

“It’s been a while.”

Clatter.
The motion of washing dishes came to a halt.

Dragon Hybrid.
He lifted his head. I could see the Dragon Hybrid’s pallid face.
His hair, dyed red at Erhaben’s request, caught the light.
The Dragon Hybrid’s lips parted slowly.

“It’s been… ugh.”

A short groan burst from his lips in that instant.
His hand clutched at his chest.

I had noticed it as I approached just moments before.
The hands washing the dishes trembled finely.
Beads of sweat glistened on his brow despite the shade, untouched by sunlight.

The Dragon Hybrid’s heart, his entire body—dozens of times per minute, pain wracked through him, delivering agony.
He was dying a painful death.

“Sigh.”

The Dragon Hybrid exhaled deeply and looked back at me, speaking.

“It’s been a while.”

Then he turned his head and resumed washing the dishes.
In that moment, Raon’s voice echoed in my mind.

-Human! This… I strangely feel pity for the Dragon Hybrid!

Well.
Rather than answer Raon, I crouched down across from the basins containing the dishes the Dragon Hybrid was washing and gazed at the bowls already cleaned.

“Does it feel good?”

My flat voice filled the area near the Kitchen Back Door.

Anyone reading only the words might think I was picking a fight, but my tone and expression as I spoke were far too composed.

Clink, clink.
The Dragon Hybrid looked down at the bowl and answered flatly.

“Worth eating.”

Kale let out a soft chuckle.
When he had approached the Dragon Hybrid earlier, he had noticed something beyond the creature’s obvious pain.

He had seen the Dragon Hybrid smile faintly while transferring the cleaned bowl to another basin.

Kale exhaled another deflating laugh before speaking.

“I clashed with the White Star.”
“…I heard.”

The conversation flowed with casual indifference.

“Quite impressive.”
“…He is remarkable.”

Kale studied the Dragon Hybrid—a being created by the White Star.

“Do you remember?”

At Kale’s words, the Dragon Hybrid’s gaze shifted toward him.
Kale was asking if he remembered their conversation.

Early this year.
The Dragon Hybrid recalled the exchange with Kale. Kale had asked about the Dark’s base and issued a command.

‘Rest for now, and when I call you again later, that’s when we’ll go after the Dark.’

Go after the Dark.
The Dragon Hybrid continued to recall Kale’s subsequent words.

‘For now, do as you wish. Of course, under surveillance. Your freedom will be limited.’
‘And there’s no such thing as a free meal.’
‘I know you’re in pain, but work here.’
‘Nothing’s free.’
‘You’re an adult too. You need to earn your keep.’

The Dragon Hybrid’s mouth opened slowly. Lips unaccustomed to the intensifying pain trembled faintly.
Yet the voice that emerged remained composed.

“I understand.”

After a brief hesitation, he added.

“…I believe this is a good place to stake everything and fight one last time.”

A good place to stake everything and fight one final battle. Kale paused for a moment before speaking.

“Is that your story?”
“Yes.”

Clink, clink.
The Dragon Hybrid lowered his head again and washed the dishes.
Kale asked nothing more. He turned away from the Dragon Hybrid and proceeded on his way.

-Human! Can I go see the Dragon Hybrid for a moment?
Meow.
Meow.

Kale nodded slowly.
From the Kitchen Back Door, positioned at a corner connecting to the Inn’s garden, came the voices of children averaging nine years old speaking to the Dragon Hybrid, but he did not bother turning around.

Meanwhile, there were those whose gazes remained fixed on a single point, watching intently.

“…How troublesome.”

Mercenary King Burd Illis. He stared at the images unfolding within the crystal recording orb, unable to hide his astonishment.
No—a chill ran down his spine.

He replayed the footage several times.

Kale’s group confronting dark magic.
Along with their battle against the White Star.

“I never imagined the White Star would be this formidable.”

The Mage from the Puff Family wiped his face with both hands.

The power he had encountered superficially was nothing compared to the truly terrifying might of the White Star, and dread washed over him. Yet at the same time, the sight of those who overcame such power transcended imagination itself, leaving the Mercenary King unable to tear his gaze from the image.

“…Family Head.”

Burd Illis turned his head.
There stood Ron Mollan, looking down at him with cold eyes as he sat upon the sofa. Ron’s lips parted.

“There is not a shred of falsehood in that image.”

Ron Mollan.
The Mercenary Guild’s roster still contained information about him.
He too was a renowned Assassin.

“Think carefully.”

Ron left those words behind and turned his back on the Mercenary King and the Mage. At that moment, as he approached the door, Burd’s voice reached him.

“Family Head.”

Burd Illis asked cautiously.

“Will you make the family’s name known on the Eastern Continent once more?”

Burd saw Ron’s back as he turned away from his question.
And when their eyes met again, he faltered.

Ron’s lips curved upward.
It was a cold smile, devoid of any warmth.

“Concern yourself with your own life. Do not inquire about mine.”

It was an answer befitting the head of the Molan Family, known for their cold rationality.
Burd Illis watched Ron disappear through the doorway, and Kale Heniatus’s words echoed in his mind.

Kale Heniatus, who spoke in his usual blunt and matter-of-fact manner. Those words where pride and confidence had colored his tone for the first time.

‘You’ll come to understand. Just how great we are.’

The Mercenary King Burd Illis closed his eyes.
Following Ron’s counsel, it was time to contemplate his own life and the future of the Mercenary Guild.

* * *

Early morning.
Kale found himself face to face with the Mercenary King Burd Illis alongside his companions.

“I’ll accept your proposal.”

The moment those words left the Mercenary King’s lips, Kale’s fist clenched briefly before relaxing.

“Then let’s begin at once.”

Kale was eager to execute the proposal immediately. He spoke without looking at the pallid Erhafen beside him.

“I’d like the second proposal to be implemented first.”

The Mercenary King recalled the second proposal Kale had mentioned—’Save the Dragon’—and nodded.

“Understood.”

He had seen it in the recording. The Dragon before him, wounded from battling the White Star.
No further explanation was necessary.

Yet there was something that needed to be addressed. The Mercenary King’s cold gaze turned toward Kale.

“Turns out, our friend here is quite famous on the Eastern Continent. They say he’s quite capable.”

A night of deliberation.
The Mercenary King Burd Illis had naturally investigated Kale Heniatus during that sleepless night. He couldn’t rely solely on the recording crystal.
The investigation revealed that Kale Heniatus was indeed exceptional.

“So you heard somewhere that I possess the power of healing?”

Kale nodded as he recalled his conversation with Crown Prince Adin.

“That’s right.”

A smile played at the corners of Mercenary King Burd Illis’s mouth. He pulled a small bottle of liquor from his pocket and brought it to his lips.

‘…Where did that bastard pull that bottle from? Does he carry alcohol in a spatial pouch?’

As Kale watched in disbelief while Burd drank without a care, the Mercenary King emptied the small bottle and spoke.

“Seems like you don’t have accurate information.”

…What?

“I don’t possess the power of healing.”

Kale recalled what Crown Prince Adin had said.

‘Once the White Star takes control of the Mercenary Guild, then I can receive that power. Then I’ll have a complete body.’

Now that he thought about it, Crown Prince Adin had never mentioned that the healing power was an Ancient Power, nor had he explained what form it took.

“…Then?”
“I only know the path to where that power lies.”

The corners of Kale’s mouth lifted.

“Then we just need to obtain that power.”
“Exactly. Our friend is clever. Yes, that’s how it works. But here’s the thing.”

Burd Illis’s eyes behind his spectacles swept across Kale’s surroundings.
His finger pointed to each member of the group one by one.

Ron, Choi Han, Vicross, Erhafen, On and Hong, and even in the direction where the invisible Raon stood.
He pointed to everyone and opened his mouth.

“This person, that person, these cat children, and even the Dragon who is cloaked in invisibility.”

Burd Illis’s voice was resolute.

“Not everyone can go. Even if you know the path, you cannot seize that power. Never.”

Choi Han faltered.
A power he couldn’t obtain even if he went?

Choi Han looked toward where the Mercenary King’s finger had finally pointed.
Kale Heniatus—he was the one being indicated.

“You can.”

And the Mercenary King lowered his hand as he spoke.

“I can too.”

One commonality between the Mercenary King and himself surfaced in Kale’s mind.

“Must one possess an Ancient Power of the wind attribute?”
“Yes.”

It was a brisk yet resolute answer.
The healing power the Mercenary King knew of—to obtain it, one had to possess an Ancient Power of the wind attribute.

The Ancient Dragon Erhaben, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“What manner of healing power is this?”

What could it be that only those who possessed an Ancient Power of the wind attribute could obtain?
Burd answered to that.

“An artifact.”

An artifact?

“An artifact that came from the Western Continent, or so I’ve heard.”

Thump!
In that instant, Kale’s heart surged violently.

“Ugh!”

I clutched at my chest and drew a deep breath.

-Weak human!
Meow?
“Lord Kale!”

I heard my companions’ voices from around me. But I quickly recovered and waved my hand to assure them I was fine.
Then a voice echoed in my mind.

-I found it.

…Found what?
The Voice of Wind. The Thief’s voice—the master of that power—reached me.
A husky voice brimming with fervor.

-I finally found it.

…Does the Thief own that artifact?
I opened my mouth urgently as the Thief’s voice grew increasingly excited.

“Where is that artifact?”

Burd Illis answered.

“Wind Island.”

Wind Island?
A vast, desolate island situated in the seas of the Eastern Continent.
Burd Illis’s expression darkened.

“Tens of thousands—no, hundreds of thousands of blade winds assault it daily, shredding every living creature that dares enter into ribbons.”

A place where no living thing could survive.
A place where wind became the scythe of death, extinguishing every breath, erasing all that lived.

“The artifact lies deep within that island.”

The Mercenary King Burd Illis.
An artifact he had used only once before.
He had tried to retrieve it, but faced with a wind attack so lethal it threatened death itself, he’d been forced to leave the artifact behind.

“There’s no other way to save the Dragon. That artifact is the only answer.”

The moment Kale heard Burd’s heavy voice, The Thief’s soft yet exhilarated voice bloomed in his mind.

-A spinning top stick.

A spinning top stick?
A stick for spinning tops?

-My spinning top stick is on that island.

Kale recalled the object he had seen when he obtained the power of the Voice of Wind.
It was a spinning top.
A massive spinning top buried beneath a colossal rock.

The owner of the Voice of Wind—a thief who left behind a legend of stealing divine artifacts in the coastal village of Ubar Territory.
She had not stolen divine artifacts. She had merely stolen from the Temple.

Kale envisioned the spinning top, endlessly creating whirlpools, rotating without pause or cessation.
The spinning top stick and the spinning top.

The voice of the Mercenary King Burd Illis reached his ears.

“Wind Island. Though people also call it the Wind Blade Tomb. It’s a place of death.”

A place where wind blades, alive and merciless, severed the breath from all living things and transformed it into a graveyard.
An artifact lay there, and the power of The Thief remained.

“And that island permits only one person at a time—one who possesses an Ancient Power of wind attribute.”

The moment Burd Illis finished speaking with his grave expression, Choi Han, Erhafen, Raon, and the rest of the group turned their gazes toward Kale.

“Then I’ll just have to go and come back.”

They could see Kale smiling.

—————
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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