Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 371

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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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Boom, crash!
The white lightning that threatened to plummet to the earth at any moment and the golden lightning positioned directly beneath it clashed, generating currents as if devouring one another.

Crackle, crackle.
The two relentlessly sharpened their blades as if to swallow each other’s lifelines.

From the ground, Choi Han’s gleaming black aura erupted violently from his sword.

“Choi Han.”

Even at Ron’s soft call, Choi Han did not turn his head. He merely raised his sword toward the sky.
Ron then spoke to him.

“I will handle the Cat-Human Race.”

In an instant, Ron’s figure vanished into the shadows of the City Wall. His afterimage disappeared from sight.

Choi Han said nothing.
He simply charged forward, his gaze fixed on the White Star.
The White Star did not even glance at Choi Han.
But Choi Han did not care.

‘Attack.’

That command was enough.

Whoooosh—
A gray mist enveloped him.
The mist of the Cat-Human Race, no doubt.

Within it, his sword blazed with light.

When his body was completely swallowed by the mist, Choi Han smiled.

“I like this.”

One of the hands gripping the sword moved.

“Cough!”

A Cat-Human’s neck was seized in Choi Han’s grip. A shimmering black aura erupted from his hand, strangling the life from the creature.
Choi Han watched the Cat-Human’s eyes roll back as he spoke.

“The children won’t see anything unsightly.”

That was why he appreciated the concealing fog.

Grrrrr.
Kraaagh!

From various directions came the ferocious roars of Bear Tribe members, their forms obscured entirely by the mist. The sounds drew steadily closer.
Yet those approaching were not Choi Han’s concern.

“I’ll handle them.”

It was Vicross.
Vicross’s massive greatsword swept past Choi Han and descended without hesitation toward one of the approaching sounds.

Screeeech!
The colossal greatsword clashed against the Bear Tribe’s razor-sharp claws.
Vicross swung his blade again, sensing Choi Han passing by him.

Choi Han drew his sword horizontally with effortless grace.
The blade traced a slow, straight line across the void.

“Impossible!”

One of the Cat-Humans cried out in shock.

The shimmering black aura had severed through empty fog.
No screams echoed in response.
Yet in that instant, the fog split.
The mist that had concealed the Cat-Humans and others tore asunder as if sliced through paper.

It lasted only a moment.
For less than ten seconds, the fog hung split horizontally.

In that instant, the enemies witnessed it.
Through the fractured gap, they glimpsed the cold, piercing gaze of the Black Sword Master assessing their positions.

When the gap sealed shut and only mist remained, Choi Han’s composed voice echoed forth.

“Run or wait.”

The Cat-Human Race member flinched, his body tensing.
For that fleeting instant, his eyes had locked with Choi Han’s. Terror washed over him—the dread that he might perish beneath that black aura.

The Sword Master was undoubtedly a formidable existence.
Yet to one who had witnessed the White Star, the Cat-Human Race, the Bear Tribe, the Lion Tribe’s Tribal Chief, and other supreme powers, the Sword Master was merely a Sword Master.
And yet, from the eyes of this mere human Sword Master, he felt fear.

‘This won’t do!’

He withdrew his body backward.
The Cat-Human Race’s method of combat was to lurk concealed in shadow, then methodically select and dismantle the weakest prey.

‘…Wretches!’

The defeated bloodline of the Fog Tribe. Those were his targets.
Especially the weakest and youngest among them.
The Cat-Human Race’s footsteps moved without sound.

Whoosh.
He took a step forward.
That was the moment.

“…!”

His mouth was clamped shut.
Simultaneously, a sharp dagger pierced through the back of his neck and emerged.

The Cat-Human Race’s eyes darted about.
He saw a white-haired man smiling benevolently.

Ron tightened his grip on the hand clamping the Cat-Human Race’s mouth.

Crack!

The Cat-Human’s head twisted at an unnatural angle.
Without even a sound, confusion flooded the dying Cat-Human’s eyes. In that moment, Ron’s voice reached his ear.
The Elderly Man whispered in the softest of tones.

“…The Cat-Human way.”

Just before death, the Cat-Human glimpsed the assassin’s gaze—cold and serene.

“You were the weakest among them.”

With those words, Ron vanished back into the fog.
Though only three in number, this mist served as an excellent refuge for them. Especially for Ron.

Moreover, they moved freely. They did not fear the White Star’s assault, for they had witnessed the golden lightning aimed at the White Lightning.

Simultaneously, they saw Erhafen and the Mercenary King rushing toward Kale, the children at their side, and finally Lord Sherit.

A low growl rumbled.

The three scattered figures sensed over a hundred enemies approaching through the fog, gripped their swords tightly, and charged forward.

Elsewhere, figures rushed urgently toward some distant point.

“Kale!”

Erhafen approached urgently, calling out to Kale, but immediately fell silent upon seeing Raon. He glanced at the children before casting a spell.
His voice transmitted into Kale’s mind carried an urgent tone.

-What are you doing?

Kale pretended not to hear.

-Defense is one thing, but an attack?! You know as well as I do that we should be fleeing right now!

Erhafen’s exasperated voice came through.
Simultaneously, another’s voice reached him—tinged with shock and frustration.

“Hey, should we fight now?”

It was Mercenary King Bird Illis. He had already drawn his sword, but he wasn’t releasing his aura yet.
He gripped my shoulder.

He had once thought that someday, whether together with me or not, he would fight the White Star.
But Bird had heard about the battle with the White Star in the Imperial Capital.
Even with enough forces to capture the Tower Master of the Alchemy Tower, he had heard that stronger forces were needed to fight against the White Star alone.

Yet we fight now with weaker forces than then, and the White Star with stronger forces than then?
Kale Heniatus made such a decision?

Bird’s eyes, filled with doubt and urgency, turned toward me.
I met his gaze steadily and opened my mouth.

“Then you should at least smash that lunatic’s head in. You’re just going to run away?”
“Huh?”
“You heard what that bastard did, what those Cat-Human Race bastards said, didn’t you?”
“Y-yes, I did hear?”
“And you’re just going to sit still?”

At my remarkably composed behavior, Bird simply blurted out whatever came to mind.

“That’s something I can’t just sit still about.”
“Right. That’s it. I can’t just sit still about it.”

I had to do something.
Otherwise, I felt like I would burst from rage.

I simply could not understand the White Star.

To be frank, I had no desire to concern myself with any curse someone chose to bear alone.
That was the life of whoever made that choice.

But innocent others must not suffer because of it.
The White Star’s family and relatives, Lord Sherit’s sacrifice, Raon and his siblings—what crime had they committed?

“I’ll beat that bastard to death.”

Burd froze at the sound of Kale’s voice.
He could see the lethal glint in Kale’s eyes. He had never witnessed such a look before.
With that gaze, Kale opened his mouth.

“You’re worse than garbage.”

Boom, boom, boom.
White lightning and crimson lightning clashed against each other in the black sky like a battle of nerves, striking in rapid succession.
Of course, the white lightning’s power was overwhelmingly superior.

Yet Kale directed the crimson lightning toward the white lightning to meet it head-on.
He was going to resist?

“Why should I?”
“…Kale?”
“Huh? Kale, what did you say?”

Erhafen and the Mercenary King looked at Kale as if questioning what he had just said, but Kale’s gaze was fixed elsewhere.
He released the shield Sherit had been holding from his grasp.

“Let’s go with the path where everyone lives.”

A flicker of intrigue crossed Erhafen’s eyes.
At the same moment, Kale’s mouth opened again.

“Raon’s mother.”

In that instant, those nearby flinched.
Despite the urgency of the moment, none of them could hide their bewilderment.

“Wh-what? Me?”

Lord Sherit was particularly flustered.
The black mana surrounding Raon surged wildly and erratically.
Regardless, Kale simply said what he needed to say.

“Yes, Raon’s mother.”
“Wh-what, I—I am, that’s right!”

Sherit nodded blankly, her head bobbing repeatedly.
That was the moment.

“Open a path for us.”

Her eyes transformed.

“A path?”

As Burd Illis looked bewildered, Erhafen asked Kale Heniatus.

-Is there a path?

Kale Heniatus nodded and spoke to Lord Sherit.

“Raon.”

Sherit saw two black shields shoot forward past me, streaking ahead.
They were shields shaped exactly like hers, differing only in color.

Boom! Boom!

“How amusing,”

The White Star blocked the black shields with a curtain of water, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Is it the child’s turn now?”

He pointed to the sky.

“That red lightning can’t stop me in the slightest.”

Screech!
Gasp!
The dying sounds of the Bear Tribe and Cat-Human Race echoed from within the fog. Yet the White Star paid the fog no mind whatsoever.
These were surely the deaths of his subordinates, but he didn’t spare them a glance, his gaze fixed entirely on Raon.

Whirrrrrr—

Raon created another shield and hurled it forward.

Whoooosh!
Boom!

The shield collided with the water barrier and vanished in a deafening explosion.
White Star let out a scoff.

“Not even a dragon’s trait—just a pathetic imitation shield conjured by magic. You’re still so young, aren’t you?”

Raon lacked the Protection trait, so naturally, his shield attack was merely a magical imitation.

Whirrrrrr—
But dozens of black shields began materializing around Raon.

Whoooosh—
And a crimson mist coalesced around those shields.
It was the mist and poison of On and Hong.

Lord Sherit saw the black shields—identical to her own but different in color. She slowly turned her head and met Kale’s indifferent gaze. The corner of Kale’s mouth curved upward.

“Rather clever, wouldn’t you say?”

In that instant, Raon suddenly opened his mouth.

“No! Not just clever! I am magnificent! So when I learn something, I master it!”

Raon conjured dozens of black shields and glared at White Star through the gaps.

Strangely, Raon found himself unable to use his own trait.
Currently, he wanted to use that trait but didn’t know how. Yet it didn’t matter. A magnificent being like myself could accomplish anything once I learned it.

In that moment, Raon felt Kale’s hand touch his back.
Those fingers traced something across his scales.

A glimmer of realization flickered in Raon’s eyes.
Simultaneously, Kale spoke to Lord Sherit.

“We can’t destroy the house, can we?”

Sherit’s shoulders trembled slightly.

“More homes are always better.”

Especially for us—more homes were always preferable.

“That’s right! Human, you speak truth! More homes for us is good!”

Raon burst out shouting, then suddenly stopped. His gaze fixed solely upon the White Star as he spoke.

“Our homes must not be destroyed!”

Sherit finally released the grip she held upon her shield.
At that same moment, white mana began to surge forth from around her.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

And Kale Heniatus lifted his head.
The cry of the heavens had reached its crescendo.

“Now we must see this through to the end?”

The White Star’s voice reached my ears.
I nodded in response.

“Yes. We must see this through to the end.”

The White Star regarded me with a peculiar expression.

“How curious.”

He could not fathom me at all.

“Why cling to things that are neither necessary nor real? You could simply abandon this castle and that phantom, then teleport away. Why insist on protecting what does not truly exist?”

A Dragon Lord.
That translucent being was merely a phantom left behind by the dead—a thing that could never become real.
Was not a living existence far more important than clinging to such an illusion?

Yet you deliberately choose a path that wounds you?
The very one who treasures his companions above all else?

As the White Star gazed at him with questioning eyes, Kale answered in his own way without hesitation.

“It’s the path toward becoming a carefree idler.”

To live, to truly exist as human, one must live properly.
Living in a way that brings peace of mind. Whether playing or eating delicious food, one must be alive enough to truly savor the joy and taste.

Kale despised his memories even as he cherished them most dearly.

The countless records etched within his mind.
Most of them were illusions unnecessary for eating, earning money, and working.
Like Lord Sherit’s illusions, they existed only within Kale’s mind.

Yet, even if unnecessary for eating, earning money, and working.
They were necessary for living.

“What? You must become an idler? What kind of answer is that?”

Kale raised his voice as he watched the White Star’s bewildered expression at his answer.

“Raon, Erhafen!”
“Understood.”

Whoooosh.
Platinum-hued mana formed a colossal arrow aimed at the White Star.
Simultaneously, dozens of fog-laden shields created by Raon, On, and Hong shot forth toward the White Star.

Whoooosh— Whooosh—
And Kale spread both his arms wide.

His crimson hair and garments fluttered in the wind.

The White Star sensed the forces of nature enveloping Kale.
Fire, water, wind, earth, wood.
All the powers surged and billowed forth from Kale like a tempest.
And there were Kale’s eyes, gleaming as if ready to devour the White Star itself.

The White Star laughed.
Erhaben’s massive platinum arrows and dozens of black shields rushed toward him.

Crash—
The White Star’s curtain of water layered upon itself in multiple folds, meeting the dragons’ assault. It was more than sufficient to block them.
Simultaneously, he reached his hand toward the sky.

“…Hmm?”

In that instant, he saw three beings hastily retreating backward.

-Choi Han! Grandfather! Vicross!

When Erhaben’s arrows began their assault, Raon called out to them.

-Humans are coming!

The moment the two dragons launched their attack, they immediately headed toward the White Castle.
The White Star let out a scoff at the sight. Those creatures had never held his interest anyway.
He gazed at Kale beyond the two dragons’ assault.
A being that captured his attention far more than the dragons’ attacks.
A peculiar fervor kindled in the White Star’s eyes.

The moment a tremendous natural force erupted from Kale’s body.
The White Star’s hand, which had been reaching skyward, turned downward.

“Strike down—”

The White Star’s mouth opened.
And Kale’s mouth opened as well.

When the three dragons beheld only Kale in the presence of that tremendous natural force.
Kale spoke.

“Help me.”

The Wind Spirit answered.

‘That’s right! Of course!’
‘Trust only us!’

The golden spinning top was held in Kale Heniatus’s left hand.
My lips did not stop moving.

“Grow,”
-Understood.

The moment the Glutton Goddess answered, the stems and roots of white trees scattered throughout the White Land began to expand into something massive.
And they rushed toward the White Castle at incredible speed.
At that instant, Ron, Choi Han, and Vicross stepped into the castle.

-Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?

Jjangdol’s voice reached me.
But I let out a laugh.

Pushing myself too hard?
Yes, I am.

But I have no intention of dying.
I was different from Lord Sherit or Erhafen.

I will live.
I will survive no matter what.
All of us.

I continued without hesitation.

“Fire. Destroy.”
-Good!
-Yes!

Destructive Fire and Sky-Devouring Water answered in turn.
And finally.

“Defend.”
-Understood.

Cale’s Power responded.

The ground began to tremble.

Rummmmmble—!
The earth split open as colossal boulders surged upward.

Boom! Crash!
The massive stones erupting from the ground wrapped around the White Castle, rapidly forming an enormous circular dome at breathtaking speed.

Above it, towering white tree trunks and roots coiled upward, creating an additional shield.
Wind converged around it.
Just as on Wind Island, fierce whirlwinds materialized one after another.

Earth. Wood.
Then a colossal barrier of water surged outward.
It rose following the rocks that formed the dome. And wind guarded around that water.

The golden lightning vanished.
Instead, pillars of fire erupted outside the wind’s vortex.

Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart pounded fiercely. I had never wielded all five elements simultaneously before.
I felt my heart’s vitality moving without pause.

Yet I laughed.

“Fight? Not a chance.”

Five elements.
Their power bent to my will, constructing the colossal dome, the defensive barrier.

—We shall protect you.

The moment Cale’s Power spoke on behalf of the Ancient Powers.

Boom!
The final stone settled into place, completing the massive dome.
The dome enveloped only the White Castle.
At the same moment, the incantations of both Raon and Erhafen shifted.

“Shield!”
“Shield!”

Sherit cried out as well.

“Protect it!”

Black mana, platinum mana, and white mana bloomed from the three dragons.
Kale Heniatus smiled.

My offensive power had diminished compared to before, yet my defensive capabilities had grown stronger.

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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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