Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 379

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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 84. This Much

“Excellent, human!”

Raon’s voice rang out with considerable enthusiasm at the suggestion to immediately go strike the White Star from behind.

“Human, let’s smash the White Star’s back of the head!”

I paused for a moment.
Was it acceptable for a six-year-old to use such vocabulary?

“The youngest is right! We need to hurry!”
“Everyone is waiting!”

But hearing On and Hong’s words that followed, I could no longer dwell on that concern.
Following the logic of these nine-year-olds on average, I needed to return quickly to those who were waiting.

“Follow me.”

I took the lead.
Choi Han stayed close beside me. I examined his composed expression as usual, then raised my hand and placed it on his shoulder.

“Let’s hurry back and examine the records.”
“Yes, Kale.”

Choi Han offered a gentle smile.
In those kind eyes that smiled as much as mine did, I sensed his yearning to see that book.

I intended to show Choi Han that book.

There were things he needed to know.

Of course, I had considered damaging the book slightly to obscure certain passages from his view.
But I changed my mind.

‘…He is more mature than I am.’

Regardless, Choi Han had lived far longer than Kale Heniatus.
Though he had spent most of his life living alone in the Dark Forest, leaving him somewhat naive and innocent about society, he was nonetheless a man who had endured and survived in that treacherous darkness by himself.

I don’t know what kind of person Choi Jung-gun was. But I knew Choi Han quite well—the version of him I had come to understand through observing and experiencing his actions in this world.

“…Lord Kale, is there something you wish to say?”

Choi Han asked with a puzzled expression as he noticed me staring intently at him. In response, I gave his back a light tap with my hand resting on his shoulder.

“I trust you.”

With only those words, I walked ahead of Choi Han.

“…Pardon?”

A few seconds later, when Choi Han asked with a peculiar expression, I replied with an impassive face.

“You.”
“…Me?”

I pointed at Choi Han with my hand.

“You’re the one attacking the White Star today.”

Choi Han’s expression grew even more peculiar. Yet he offered no objection to my resolute declaration, simply adjusting his grip on his sword hilt.
Instead, someone else raised their voice urgently.

“What about me!”

It was Raon.

“Human, why am I being left out? I’m great and mighty!”
Meow meow meow!

The average nine-year-olds looked at me with expressions of disappointment. They seemed to be asking why only Choi Han got to attack while they were excluded.
The average nine-year-olds watched as my hand, which had pointed at Choi Han, now turned toward them.

“You too.”

Kale Heniatus continued speaking with the same indifferent tone.

“You too, and you as well.”

Pointing at the three children, I tossed out the words carelessly.

“Help Choi Han. But you’re not allowed to fight.”

Only then did the children’s expressions brighten.
They understood that I would prevent them from stepping forward to fight directly, but they smiled at the prospect of being allowed to provide support from behind.

Tap.
I turned my head at the sensation of something touching my arm. Bud’s elbow had nudged my arm slightly.
Bud asked me with an excited expression, his tone deliberately casual.

“What about me?”

I answered him straightforwardly.

“You’re not allowed. Don’t fight and don’t provide support either.”

Bud’s face crumpled for a moment.

“Why? Let me fight too! I’m quite capable, you know! I’m not some useless dead weight! I’m the Mercenary King, for crying out loud!”

Bud was exasperated.
Raon might be young, but he was a Dragon; compared to the Cat-Human Race members On and Hong, Bud’s strength was overwhelmingly superior.
Setting aside his unique wind attribute abilities, he was a Sword Master who had risen to the position of Mercenary King—a formidable warrior.

Yet since joining my group, he rarely had a proper chance to fight. He was being treated like dead weight.

“I’m not the kind of person who gets treated like dead weight anywhere else.”
“I’m the dead weight.”
“…What?”

For a moment, Bud froze at my response.
He had clearly heard me say “I’m the dead weight.” He heard it distinctly. Slightly flustered, he cleared his throat and patted my shoulder.

“Ahem, why would you be a burden? Where else would you find a hero like you? As a drinking companion, I hold you in the highest regard—”
“Enough. Carry me.”

What?
Bud genuinely wondered if he’d heard correctly.
Regardless, Kale Heniatus pointed to himself and spoke.

“From this moment on, I am a burden. I’m in such a weakened state that I can barely walk from the pain, and I can’t even speak properly.”

The group’s attention converged on Kale Heniatus.

“Even though I maintain my body’s balance by gathering the five natural attributes differently from the White Star, I’ve expended an absolutely tremendous amount of power.”

The group understood this fact well.
Especially Raon and Choi Han, who fought alongside him in nearly every battle, knew this aspect intimately.

Never before in any battle had Kale Heniatus used such an enormous amount of Ancient Powers. Moreover, unlike the previous battle in the Empire, hadn’t the White Star used lightning twice in succession?

“If I were my usual self, I would have collapsed or coughed up blood after expending that much power.”

Choi Han nodded at this point.

The imbalance of Ancient Powers within one’s body could cause collisions between forces, creating strain on the body.
And setting aside the Ancient Powers, whether one was a Mage or a Knight, anyone who expended tremendous power would place strain on their body and sometimes cry out in agony.

The original Kale Heniatus would have clearly suffered the latter situation, with strain placed upon his body.

“But I’m fine. As you all know, it’s thanks to the crown I possess.”

Kale Heniatus pointed to the white crown resting upon his head.

“The tremendous power contained within this crown helped me withstand the White Star’s attack.”

Kale Heniatus revealed a fact that On, Hong, Choi Han, and Bud did not know.
Simultaneously, he recalled the crown’s altered appearance from before.
The crown with its central jewel now cracked halfway through, unlike before.

“The White Star knew I possessed this crown from the time of the Empire battle, yet he never took it. Even in this battle, he didn’t.”

I pinpointed the most compelling implication of that fact.

“Either the White Star doesn’t understand how immense the power contained in this crown truly is.”

Or.

“He believes I cannot use it.”

Choi Han’s mouth fell open.

“Then we must conceal the fact that you know how to use this crown, and that you repelled the White Star’s attack with its aid.”

I nodded in agreement.

This crown—brimming with immense power that had allowed me to withstand the White Star’s assault.
I could not afford to lose it.
It would undoubtedly prove invaluable in future confrontations with the White Star.

I spread my arms slightly.

“So I’m in critical condition.”

I declared this with absolute confidence.

“Fight without me.”

Then I casually asked Bud.

“Do you have any red liquid? I need to smear some blood.”

My appearance was somewhat disheveled, but my complexion was far less pallid than one might expect. There were no obvious severe injuries upon me.
Bud, facing me, opened his mouth.

“…How…”

His voice trembled.

“How did you know I had something like that? Hehehehe.”

My voice trembled with unbridled excitement.
Bud immediately rummaged through his spatial magic pouch.

“I actually have it.”

I stared at Bud with a bewildered expression. It was just a casual remark, yet he actually carried around a red liquid for painting blood. What kind of person was he?

“Heh, of course I do. A mercenary must survive on their own even on the battlefield. For that, one must always be prepared for any unforeseen situation.”

Oh.
Bud let out a small exclamation and pulled out quite a large bottle from his spatial pouch.
The transparent glass bottle was filled with red liquid.

I glanced down at my shirt and reached out my hand.

“Give it to me.”

Bud handed over the bottle containing the red liquid.
I took the bottle and walked back toward the village entrance. My companions followed behind, and soon I stopped before the massive knight statues.

I looked around.
A village sealed off on all sides.

No entrance was visible.

Yet I remembered what Lord Sherit had told me.

‘You are the king. Your loyal knights will obey your words.’

I stood before the statues still kneeling and commanded.

“Open the gate.”

That was the moment.

Screeeech—
Screeeech—
The massive statues rose to their feet. The two statues soon moved toward a single location.

Thump. Thump. Thump.
The end of colossal footsteps.
The two statues came to a halt before a cliff. Then they extended their hands toward a specific point and pushed with all their might.

Grooooan—

I watched as an enormous boulder shifted into motion.
A massive entrance, concealed with seamless perfection, was revealed beneath the statues’ touch.

I tucked the crown from my head into my garments and made my way toward the entrance. Of course, I spoke to Bud.

“Carry me.”

Moments later, the statues moved the enormous boulder once more, seamlessly disguising the entrance as part of the cliff face.

* * *

Bang! Bang! Crash!

The face of the Bear Tribe member pounding the white shield contorted with frustration.

The Castle of Light—one of the Three Forbidden Zones. The Bear Tribe was already irritated by their feet sinking into the white granular earth, but this situation only intensified their rage.

“…Stubborn thing.”

Crack, crackle.
The white shield fractured finely with each blow. Yet it refused to shatter completely.

“It seems they intend to hold out to the very end.”

He acknowledged his fellow Bear Tribe member’s words with silent agreement.

The white shield—barely enduring, on the verge of collapse yet refusing to break.
This must be the power of the phantom Lord Sherit.
And the powerless platinum-hued shield beneath that white barrier would be the magic of the Ancient Dragon Erhafen.

“But it does appear that Kale Heniatus can no longer exert any strength.”

At the words of a Cat-Human Race soldier nearby, those around them offered silent affirmation once more.

Boom!
Each time the White Star’s subordinates struck Lord Sherit’s shield, a thunderous sound reverberated through the air. It was clear that considerable force was being channeled into every blow.

Crack.
With each impact, fissures spread across Sherit’s shield.
Yet there was another entity bearing the brunt of these attacks far more severely.

Crackle.
The stone dome I had created.
The rocky dome that had endured until the very end now fractured under the force and impact of the assault.

Pitter-patter. Thud.
Shattered fragments tumbled from the cracks, cascading to the ground below.

This alone was sufficient evidence for the White Star’s forces to draw their conclusion.

“Kale Heniatus… no longer has the strength to maintain the dome.”

If the dome collapsed, my companions and I would be in grave danger.
Kale Heniatus surely understood this as well.
Yet despite this knowledge, the dome trembled and wavered under the Bear Tribe’s assault—a force infinitesimally small compared to the White Star’s lightning from moments before.

“What should we do?”

One of the Bear Tribe members posed the question to the one observing all of this.
The one receiving the question was the Mage who had led the Cat-Human Race here.
With a teleportation magic circle spread out and ready to activate at any moment, he looked not at the Bear Tribe member who had asked, but at another figure.

“My lord.”

It was the White Star.
He sat collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily.
His complexion remained pallid.

“Shall we continue waiting?”

Even as he posed his question, the Mage could see the White Star’s gaze fixed upon the colossal dome enveloping the White Castle.
The Mage perceived the White Star’s eyes burning with a desire he could not fathom—as though waiting for something, yet simultaneously consumed by curiosity.

“Yes. Wait.”

White Star issued the command simply.

“There’s nothing particularly dangerous about it anyway. If things go south, we can just flee.”

The Mage swallowed a sigh.
How many leaders would so casually speak of fleeing while their subordinates surrounded them on all sides?

Yet White Star was precisely the sort to say such things without hesitation.
The Mage turned his gaze away from White Star for a moment to order his subordinates to attack more fiercely.
That was the instant.

“Regardless of anything else.”

White Star’s murmur reached his ears.

“I don’t need to confirm anything else. But I must verify Kale Heniatus’s condition.”

The Mage’s gaze returned to White Star. Their eyes met.
White Star smiled across his weary face.

“Only then can I gain my certainty.”
“…Might I ask what certainty you speak of?”

White Star turned his gaze back to the dome Kale Heniatus had created.

That dome—it must be the manifestation of Kale Heniatus’s earth attribute power.

White Star recalled the records of the First Dragon Slayer Neran Berow.
Within them lay this passage.

【White Star. The reason he was overwhelmingly powerful was because he possessed all five natural attributes of nature, along with the power of the heavens.】

White Star’s lips parted.

“I will soon obtain the power of earth.”

According to his plan, the day he would acquire the earth attribute Ancient Power was not far distant.

“Then Kale Heniatus and I will clash once more.”

Someday, Kale Heniatus and the White Star would have to collide properly. Only then could all of the White Star’s objectives be achieved.

“When that time comes, will I emerge victorious, or will Kale Heniatus? I need to gauge that now.”

That was why he sought to assess Kale Heniatus’s current state.

“Understood. I will have them continue striking the shield.”

The Mage bowed his head, signaling his compliance with the order.
The White Star did not look at him.

Sigh.

With each breath I exhaled, my heart ached from the curse’s influence. My entire body was exhausted.
The fatigue weighed constantly upon my shoulders.
The White Star slowly lifted his gaze.
The sky came into view.

‘I possess the power of that sky.’

How many ages had I endured to obtain the Ancient Powers I desired?

‘And soon—’

The White Star’s expression shifted as his thought continued.
His pupils dilated as he gazed at the sky.

“Cease the attack!”

Those striking the white shield halted their movements. In that instant, the White Star’s voice reached their ears.

“Behind!”

Behind?
All eyes turned backward.
The White Star was already gazing behind them.

Whoooosh—

The wind blew as it always did.
Yet between the currents of air, a voice could be heard.

“Damn.”

A space that had been empty mere moments before.
Figures began to materialize there, gradually revealing themselves.

Those rushing through the air, propelling themselves off the White Land.
The one leading them opened his mouth.

“We’ve been spotted.”

Clang!
In the same instant, he drew his sword.
As he kicked off the air, Raon’s acceleration magic propelled him forward with tremendous force.

Whirrrr—
The knight wielding a blade shimmering with black aura shot forward at tremendous speed, finally unleashing his strike.

Crash!
The blade naturally flew toward the White Star.

“Long time no see.”

Choi Han greeted the White Star with a smile.

“…How?”

The White Star, his expression betraying confusion, stared past Choi Han’s shoulder.

“Attack!”

The Mercenary King’s voice cracked with desperation as he screamed the command.

“Attack! Don’t stop! Push forward with everything you have!”

The Cat-Human Race and the Black Dragon appeared as well.
Leading them forward, the Mercenary King roared with all his might.

“Do not let Kale Heniatus’s sacrifice be in vain!”

The White Star saw the Mercenary King drenched in blood.
However, that blood was not the Mercenary King’s own.
There was someone covered far more thoroughly in blood than the Mercenary King could ever be.

The White Star saw Kale Heniatus’s eyes—those eyes that gazed toward him with difficulty through a face caked in blood as he was carried on the Mercenary King’s back.

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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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