Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 393

—————

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

—————

Whether or not I was being ignored, I moved to a nearby chair and sat down.

“Please, have a seat.”

I then gestured toward another chair for Rosalind.

“Crown Prince! I told you I was coming here! I came to the coordinates where we last connected through video communication!”
“…I see.”

Alberu nodded weakly at Raon’s proud declaration.

Thirty minutes ago, when I suddenly contacted Alberu saying I was coming to his bedroom, he had thought it was nonsense. But the moment he heard what I needed to discuss, he had no choice but to urge me to come immediately.
But the moment he heard the urgent matter that followed, he had no choice but to quickly call Kale over.

Others will be here soon.

No one ever asked who was coming here.

“Hey, this cookie tastes good, doesn’t it?”

Kale Heniatus’s expression was at ease as he crunched on cookies from the basket on the table. He had the relaxed demeanor of someone in his own home.

“No thank you, sir.”
“Would you prefer some tea instead?”
“Hmm.”
“Mm.”

Rosalind glanced at Alberu, then nodded with a perplexed expression on her face.

“…One moment, please.”
“…Just wait a moment, please.”

With a sigh, Alberu got up from his seat and headed toward the cupboard prepared at one side of the bedroom. Beneath it were simple magical cooking utensils.

Alberu, who always worked late into the night, found tea to be perfect for getting through the long nights unscathed. There were quite a few varieties of tea in his cupboard, and Alberu skillfully placed the teapot over the flame and boiled water to brew his tea.

“You seem familiar with this.”

When Rosalind remarked that it was surprising to see the Crown Prince brewing tea himself and that such items were prepared in his bedroom, Alberu nodded readily.

“I’ve enjoyed tea since childhood, so I brew it often.”

Ah.
Rosalind swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.
Crown Prince Albert Crossman had endured a difficult childhood, far from what one might call privileged.

Having lost his mother and grown up alone in the palace, Albert Crossman had no one to serve as a reliable shield for him on the surface.

Of course, it was said that the Dark Elves, including Tasha, had supported Alberu from behind, but even so, the Crown Prince had essentially grown up alone in the eyes of the world.

‘So he must have had quite a lot to do on his own when he was young.’

Perhaps Alberu had struggled and grown up far more than Rosalind imagined.
Though his appearance suggested someone who had never known hardship, Rosalind recognized this as her own prejudice and spoke without hesitation.

“I’m already looking forward to the tea you’ll brew for us, Your Highness.”
“Well, my skills are rather modest.”

Behind Alberu, who answered with an awkward smile, came the voices of Kale and Raon.

“Your Highness, I’ll have a cup as well.”
“Crown Prince! Don’t you have any juice?”

Good grief.
Alberu felt a headache coming on. He pressed his temples with one hand while retrieving two more cups with the other.
Then he pulled out apple juice from a magically refrigerated box and poured it into one of the cups.

“Ooh! Crown Prince, you really are a good crown prince! I love apples! Especially apple pie—it’s the best!”
“…Would you like some apple pie as well?”
“I have plenty! I’ll give you some!”

Alberu flew over to Kale’s side with the juice cup in his front paws and settled into a chair, then simply glanced at Raon, who was sipping his juice, before turning his gaze back to the teapot.
In the meantime, Raon had used magic to pull apple pies from his subspace and filled the cookie basket on the table to the brim.

“Human! Eat plenty of apple pie!”
“Sure.”

I ate a slice of apple pie without thinking.
Rosalind watched Kale Heniatus and Alberu quietly.

‘His mind must be in turmoil.’

From Crown Prince Alberu’s back as he gazed at the teapot, I could sense his anguish. Suddenly, she recalled the Breck Kingdom she had abandoned.
Her younger brother, who had taken the position she had cast aside.
Wouldn’t his back look similar to Alberu’s?

The key figures of the kingdoms on the Western Continent who understood the current situation were burdened with worry and anxiety.
Especially those kingdoms aware of the White Star’s existence.

They were terrified of what the future might hold.
That was what it meant to bear the weight of a nation.

‘…Young Lord Kale must feel the same.’

In Rosalind’s view, the one suffering most right now was Kale Heniatus. She couldn’t begin to fathom how complicated his thoughts must be.

During this brief respite, she gazed sympathetically at Kale, who mindlessly consumed apple pie.
The man rumored to be a drunkard who drank heavily barely touched alcohol now. And it wasn’t as though he had hobbies or was enjoying himself.
He worked busily, and whenever a brief moment of rest came, he simply ate, slept, and rested on his bed.

Rosalind casually pushed the cookie basket toward Kale.

A soft clink.
A teacup was placed before her.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“It’s nothing.”

Alberu gestured dismissively to Rosalind, then placed the remaining cup of tea before Kale and sat in the seat of honor between Rosalind and Kale.
And he spoke, tossing the words out casually.

“Spacing out?”
“Yes.”

Kale answered firmly and took a sip from his teacup.

‘This is nice.’

Whenever Kale Heniatus rested at the Jjangdol Mansion, the table was always laden with a basket full of cookies, and I made a mental note to procure this tea from the Crown Prince and distribute it to Vicross and Ron.

That was when it happened.

Knock, knock, knock.
A soft tapping sound came from the bedroom door.
At the same time, Raon gradually became transparent and moved toward Alberu’s bed. The mattress dipped on one side, though it was barely visible.

“Come in.”

At Alberu’s words, the bedroom door slowly opened. A Dark Elf, one of Alberu’s loyal subordinates in humanoid form, ushered two people into the room.

“It’s been so long, everyone!”
“There are unfamiliar faces, and some I haven’t seen in quite a while.”

The one who greeted them cheerfully was Kaige.
In “The Birth of a Hero,” she had been known as the Mad Priestess, but now she was simply called Kaige.
After parting ways with the Sun God Cult twins in the Mogur Empire, she had been staying temporarily at her friend Taylor’s residence.

And following her with a calm greeting was Taylor Sten.
The eldest son of House Sten with the injured leg. The abandoned heir, after his leg healed, had now become the center of the Northwestern Region’s nobility in the Roan Kingdom.

“Prince Kale.”

Taylor Sten offered Kale a warm handshake.
Even though he had become a Marquis, he still spoke to Kale without formality.

“It’s been a while, Marquis.”

Kale readily grasped the hand he extended.
After the video communication with Witira of the Whale Tribe, Kale had connected video calls with several people in the Roan Kingdom.
Among them were Alberu, Kaige, and Taylor.

“Everyone, please sit.”

Alberu took the seat of honor, and the others settled into their places. Then Taylor Sten spoke first.

“It’s been so long since we’ve met, and I’m truly delighted to see you. However, I never expected you to contact me so suddenly.”

His gaze turned toward me. Within those eyes swirled a complex tapestry of emotions.

Surprise, joy, admiration, delight.
Decidedly positive sentiments, all of them.

It was inevitable.
He had traveled throughout the Roan Kingdom with his dear friend Kaige to mend his legs. During those travels, he encountered me, and from that moment forward, everything unfolded favorably.
I had become a symbol of fortune to him, and simultaneously, a figure he had chosen as his role model.
Thus, Taylor Sten had willingly visited the Crown Prince’s bedchamber today.

“Were you surprised by my sudden contact?”

At my question, Taylor broke into a gentle smile.
That impression of fragile yet steadfast resolve remained unchanged.

“Yes, I was somewhat taken aback. I certainly didn’t expect to hear from you regarding the Ancient Powers.”

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

Wind Island, where I had obtained the golden spinning top.
When I witnessed the murals upon the Black Temple’s ceiling and heard tales of the ancient White Star.

At that moment, I had resolved to seek out the most knowledgeable person regarding the Ancient Powers, and Taylor Sten was the one who immediately came to mind.

Taylor adjusted his knees.

“I’ve conducted considerable research into the Ancient Powers and ancient history. Particularly regarding the Ancient Powers themselves, I believe I am the foremost expert within the Roan Kingdom.”
“That’s right. Do you remember when you told me about the Guardian of Stone?”
“I do. That was when we came to the Capital together.”

Alberu observed the exchange between me and Taylor with his chin resting upon his hand, remaining silent.
The atmosphere was remarkably serene.
Just as he found himself drawn into that tranquility, he noticed the defrocked Priest Kaige reaching into the spacious sleeves of his robe, as if to retrieve something, only to withdraw his hand and place it back.

‘A drinking cup?’

He questioned whether he had seen it correctly, but there was no time to dwell on that doubt.
It was because of Taylor’s composed voice.

“So you’re asking me to forge a fake ancient document?”

I smiled.

“Would that be a problem?”
“It’s illegal.”

Taylor met my gaze with eyes that were gentle yet resolute.

“But I’ll give it a try.”

Alberu let out a stifled laugh.

“Nobles within the royal court certainly know how to speak of illegal matters.”

He shrugged at Kale and Taylor’s gazes.

“Well, I’m not objecting, mind you.”

I discreetly turned away from Alberu’s comment and continued speaking to Taylor.

“Marquis Sten, you understand the form of ancient documents better than anyone.”

How aged the texts recording the Ancient Powers were, what texture of paper they used, and in what format they were recorded.
Taylor was an expert in that field.
After all, he was someone who had desperately sought and studied only the Ancient Powers, which everyone else dismissed as a secondary ability.

“What should I inscribe on this ancient document?”

At Taylor’s question, I pulled out a document from my inner pocket.
Taylor unfolded the document I gave him.

“…What is this?”

His brow furrowed.
After staring at the document for a long while, he looked at me and asked.

“What language is this?”

About twenty thin pages in total.
Each page was divided in half.
Taylor’s finger pointed toward the bottom of the page.

“This is the common language of the Western Continent used since ancient times.”

His finger moved slowly upward.

“But the characters written above it, at the top—I’ve never seen this script before.”

A deep smile played at Kale Heniatus’s lips.

The documents had been created together by Kale Heniatus and Choi Han.
Korean characters were written at the top of each page, with the Western Continent’s common language at the bottom.

Taylor didn’t answer, simply turning his gaze back to the documents as he watched Kale Heniatus smile.

At the bottom of the document’s first page.
Below the incomprehensible language, the first sentence written in the Western Continent’s common language read as follows:

【This record is another record of mine, Neran Berow.】
【Just as I left records in the East, I leave records in the West. Those who live beneath the light shall never discover this.】

Neran Berow.
Taylor murmured the name.

“…My lord, who is this person?”
“I couldn’t say.”

Kale Heniatus didn’t answer this time either. Instead, he leaned toward Taylor and whispered.

“The only certainty is that this must be false to us, but true to everyone else.”

Taylor lost all further interest in the documents’ contents. Understanding what his task was, he carefully secured the documents and placed them in his inner pocket.

“Only the people in this room will know the truth.”

At Taylor’s affirmative response, Kale Heniatus’s smile transformed into one of satisfaction.

“Is there anything else you require?”

Kale answered without hesitation to Taylor’s question.

“I need materials regarding the Ancient Powers within the Roan Kingdom. Detailed accounts aren’t necessary—a concise summary of the legends would suffice.”
“Hmm, within the Roan Kingdom, I see.”

Tap. Tap.
Taylor, who had been patting his own knee, soon nodded and asked.

“How much time do we have?”
“Ideally, within a month or two.”
“Then I’ll give it a try.”

Taylor answered readily, and Kale smiled gratefully before shifting his gaze. There stood Kaige, her hands tucked into her sleeves, wearing an ambiguous smile.

“Kaige?”
“Ahem, Young Master. Care for a drink?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”

At Kale’s immediate refusal, Kaige’s expression fell with disappointment. In that moment, someone spoke directly into her mind.

-Kaige! There’s this guy named Bud who absolutely loves alcohol! The great Raon Mir will introduce you next time!

At Raon’s magical voice—which he had been concealing because of Taylor—Kaige’s expression brightened instantly.
Kale felt oddly unsettled by her sudden change in demeanor, but he opened his mouth nonetheless.

“Kaige, if possible—”
“What is it? Want me to come along? Or do you have something to ask and want me to answer if I can? Is it related to the Oath of Death?”
“Pardon? Ah, well… yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

Kaige flashed a knowing smile at Kale’s bewildered expression.

“Young Master, my sleep has been rather restless these past few days.”

After a brief pause, the God of Death had been visiting her dreams with increasing frequency lately.
Though excommunicated, Kaige remained a priest whom the God of Death cherished and whose powers he had not revoked, and she had been tormented by the God of Death for days on end.

“She spoke to me in a dream. She said that you would come looking for me. That you would ask about the oath made a thousand years ago.”

My expression hardened.

She was right.
Just as she said, I had grown curious about the oath that Lord Sherit made with the Dragon Slayer through the King of Death.
I wondered if the King of Death could truly impose a curse of reincarnation.

And more than anything else.
If such a curse could be imposed, could it not also be lifted?

“She spoke to me in a dream.”

Kaige slipped her hand into her sleeve. Alberu hesitated again, but everyone else watched as her hand emerged from the fabric without anyone noticing.

“She told me to give you this painting when we meet again.”

A rolled sheet of paper rested in Kaige’s hand.

“And this book as well.”

A black book also lay in Kaige’s hand.
The sacred artifact of the King of Death that I had discovered in the Mogur Empire.

A book that contained only a single sentence in the eyes of Priest Kaige.
She recited it quietly.

“Are you curious about how to kill death?”

As her recitation ended, her eyes turned toward me.

“That is the content of this book. In the dream, she told me to hand these two things to you. And to ask nothing.”

Ask nothing?
I gazed at the black book and the rolled paper in Kaige’s hands, lost in thought.

Should I take them, or should I refuse?

But it was a moment when I had to accept it.
Kale Heniatus took the two items from Kaige’s hands.
The moment I received them, Kaige’s mouth opened.

“I’m not entirely sure whether what’s written on the paper is text or a picture.”

Kaige had simply transcribed the image she saw in her dream onto the paper.

“However, Young Master, you were told to look at it alone. You were told not to show it to anyone. The moment you show it to someone, the paper will burn and disappear.”
“…What kind of—”

Rosalind opened her mouth with a hint of unease, then closed it again.
Kale Heniatus rose from his seat.

“I’ll go to that corner and look at it. Since I was told to look at it alone.”
“What?”

Alberu furrowed his brow as he spoke.

“You’re going to some corner alone to open something without knowing what it is?”
“What’s the problem?”

Kale Heniatus brushed off Alberu’s words as if it were nothing and headed toward the corner of the bedroom.
No one was nearby.

-Human… there’s no one around. But I can’t go either, right? Got it, I won’t go. But you have to tell me!

Without responding to Raon’s words, I went to the corner of the room, faced the wall, and unfolded the creased paper.
When unfolded, the paper was only the size of my palm.

I could see the characters written there.
They were not pictures.

They were text.

They were not characters from this world.
They were not Hangul either.
Characters that neither Choi Han nor anyone else would recognize.
In fact, they were characters I didn’t know either.

But Kale Heniatus recognized that these were words.
He simply read them.
Whether they were letters or images, Kale deciphered them.

And a hollow laugh escaped him.

【Grade 1 Ability User Kim Rok-soo.】

Damn it.

【Will you return to your original world?】
【Or will you die in this world?】

And the next sentence.
No, it wasn’t a sentence.

It was time.
Time that was decreasing by one second even now.
Though the characters were incomprehensible, I read them as time.

One second.
It continued to decrease by one second at a time.
The time was dwindling away.

【When this time ends, the moment of choice will arrive.】

Kale closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.
Even in that brief moment, the time was decreasing.
There were still weeks, even months remaining. Yet the time continued to dwindle.

【Choi Jung-gun, Choi Han, Choi Jung-soo. They were born in different years, but share the same birthday.】

Choi Jung-soo and Choi Han share the same birthday?
Kale’s pupils trembled.

【Kim Rok-soo and Choi Jung-soo. They share the same birthday, don’t they?】
【When Kim Rok-soo should have died, there were two humans who saved him and died instead.】
【One of them was Choi Jung-soo.】

Kale Heniatus had pondered this before.

Were Choi Jung-gun, Choi Han, and Choi Jung-soo members of the same family?
If so, why had he come instead of Choi Jung-soo following Choi Jung-gun and Choi Han?
Why had it been me who came?

【Choi Jung-soo should not have died at that time.】

The words left behind by the King of Death were etched into Kale’s mind.

【Kim Rok-soo.】
【You were the one who should have died.】

Kale recalled the memory of the day his companions had departed.
No—the record surfaced instead.

A record he could never forget, no matter how hard he tried, flooded his mind.

In that instant, darkness consumed his vision.

—————

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

—————