Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 402

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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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“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
-…Sigh.

Rosalind couldn’t help but exhale at Kale Heniatus’s casual question.

-Is that what you obtained? The magic stones?

Kale Heniatus and Raon both chuckled.

“Yes, quite impressive, isn’t it?”
“Smart Rosalind! We’ve gathered so many magic stones!”
-…That’s good.
“And we’ll gather more.”
-…More from here?

Heh.
At the sound of Kale Heniatus’s laughter, Rosalind felt an inexplicable chill run through her. Though she should have been excited as an ally, an odd unease crept up her spine.
Regardless, Kale Heniatus continued.

“I’ve already told the Singten Merchant Lord that if he gathers as many magic stones as possible, he’ll receive sufficient compensation.”

Kale Heniatus had originally instructed Flavin Sinten to gather magic stones, but when they met again this time, he mentioned it once more.

‘Merchant Lord, gather many magic stones.’
‘…Understood.’
‘The value of those magic stones will become the future of your guild and the value of the position you’ll ascend to.’
‘I’ll do my absolute best! I’ll pour all my effort into it!’

Kale Heniatus recalled that moment with a satisfied expression, remembering Flavin Sinten’s passionate demeanor. Rosalind asked indifferently upon seeing that expression.

-Isn’t the compensation the Singten Merchant Lord will receive a prison sentence?
“Of course.”

Mm.
Rosalind said nothing more.
The Singten Merchant Lord would likely be tempted by Kale’s words and procure a vast quantity of mana stones.
But the price for that would ultimately be imprisonment.
After organizing her thoughts, Rosalind spoke.

-That’s a good idea.
“Isn’t it?”

Whoosh.
Rosalind’s attention was momentarily drawn to the sound of mana stones being transferred by Kale’s hand into a different spatial pouch.

“But is something the matter?”

However, Rosalind soon opened her mouth to state the purpose of her contact in response to Kale’s voice.
Kale could see Rosalind’s expression darken.

-Young master, Choi Han appears to be running late.

Raon and Kale’s movements came to a halt.

“Did something go wrong while obtaining Sirem’s power?”

Choi Han had set out toward the Roun Kingdom Capital alongside Erhafen. He was supposed to obtain three ancient powers possessed by Sirem, the fake Dragon Slayer.

Of course, due to the Mogur Empire plan undergoing changes, the timing of acquiring Sirem’s power had accelerated faster than originally anticipated.
But Kale judged that with Erhafen accompanying him, there should be no issues in the process.

-There were no problems in the process of obtaining the power.

As Kale had expected, Rosalind confirmed that there were no issues with the process.
That was when it happened.

-I’ll explain the rest.

A familiar voice came through.
Only then did Kale notice Rosalind, who had been leaning her face close to the video communication screen, pulling her body back.
Kale finally saw the landscape within the video communication screen come into view.

It was a bedroom.
And Erhafen was visible as well.

“Human! There! That’s Choi Han! Choi Han is lying down!”

Beyond Rosalind and Erhafen, I could see Choi Han lying on the bed.
Raon’s chubby front paw pointed at the figure of Choi Han lying in the video feed.

“This is terrible! Choi Han has collapsed just like the human! He’s picked up such useless habits!”

But he wasn’t simply lying there.

-…Ugh.

As Rosalind and Erhafen fell silent, a pained groan from Choi Han came through the video communication channel.
Raon’s mouth snapped shut.

Choi Han’s body was trembling finely, and occasionally he writhed with an expression of agony.

Kale Heniatus had never seen Choi Han’s face contorted like this before. Even in combat, that man always wore an infuriatingly composed expression that seemed designed to irritate his opponents, so seeing him grimace this way left a bitter taste.

“What happened?”
-It became like this after he gained the power.

Unlike when we left the Black Castle, Erhafen’s expression had grown weary in a short span of time.

-Right after Choi Han inherited three of Sirem’s Ancient Powers in the Underground Prison, he was fine for a few minutes.
“Then-”

Erhafen opened his palm toward Kale Heniatus, who was about to speak, gesturing for him to let him finish first. Kale Heniatus closed his mouth again.

-I judged him to be fine because the vessel that received the three Ancient Powers remained intact. As I’ve mentioned before, you know that Choi Han’s vessel is far more solid and larger than yours, right?

Kale Heniatus nodded, recalling what Erhafen had said in the past about Choi Han’s vessel.
Erhafen had said that because Choi Han’s vessel was extremely sturdy and spacious, it was perfectly suited for inheriting Ancient Powers, just like the Ancient Powers that Kale Heniatus possessed.

Then why does he look like that now?

-Moreover, the Ancient Powers that Choi Han received from Sirem this time are similar to that fake aura you possess and the regenerative ability of the heart.

A dominating aura, and a power similar to the vitality of the heart.

-In other words, it’s a power unrelated to the five natural attributes. These aren’t forces that would collide severely due to balance issues.

That was correct.
This was precisely why Kale had agreed when Choi Han said he would take Sirem’s power.

‘The White Star, like the Ancient White Star, possesses the sky attribute and even the five natural attributes, striving to become an absolute being, so the balance crumbles without the power of earth.’

Choi Han’s situation was different.

“Then this isn’t a problem caused by a collision between ancient powers?”
-…That’s right.

Only then did Kale notice the doubt lingering in Erhafen’s expression.
The Ancient Dragon was also questioning the current situation.

-After obtaining three ancient powers, Choi Han said he would verify once whether he could properly contain them.

Kale’s face began to contort gradually.
Erhafen quickly opened his mouth.

-I know. We decided to check if only the Sword of Calamity was functioning properly.

He hadn’t even used the other two powers.

-And the Sword of Calamity worked fine.

The problem came after that.

-But suddenly.

Erhafen closed his eyes, then opened them.

-Choi Han collapsed. Clearly, when he used the Sword of Calamity, he didn’t use the power to handle wyverns or the last ancient power. I confirmed the energy occurring within Choi Han’s body. There’s also what you said.

Kale’s expression finally contorted.

-…But when Choi Han collapsed, I suddenly detected an incomprehensible power raging inside his body.

Kale Heniatus’s head throbbed.

Three Ancient Powers that Sirem possessed.
Two of them were the power to command wyverns and a half-broken Calamity Blade.

And the final third.
Its true nature was discovered on the day Kale’s group met Sirem in the Underground Prison, after Choi Han had spoken with him privately.
Kale learned of it before departing for the Mogur Empire, before parting ways with Choi Han.

‘What kind of power is it?’

Until that moment, Kale had thought nothing of it.

‘That power is called “Lifespan Severance.”‘

Choi Han spoke with an enigmatic smile.

‘I mentioned it before, didn’t I? The First Dragon Slayer paid with his own lifeforce to create the Calamity Blade.’

Upon hearing those words, Kale grasped the true nature of the power called “Lifespan Severance,” and simultaneously, he could no longer regard Choi Jung-gun favorably.

‘This Ancient Power you call Lifespan Severance sounds like a method or mechanism that converts one’s own lifeforce into another form of power?’
‘That’s correct.’
‘Don’t accept it.’

Lifespan Severance.
Neran Berow. It was the Ancient Power that had enabled Choi Jung-gun, Choi Han’s youngest uncle, to create the Calamity Blade.
There had been accounts of the Calamity Blade being forged with lifeforce imbued within it, but there had been no explanation of how it was accomplished.

The Ancient Power corresponding to that “how” was “Lifespan Severance.”

Was he insane to let Choi Han accept such a power?
Kale had no intention of allowing Choi Han to possess that power.

‘I won’t use it. Still, I’ll accept it for now.’
‘…Why?’

Yet Choi Han insisted on accepting it.

‘If I don’t possess that power, after Sirem dies, the lifespan-discarding force that escapes his body will linger in some other place or object. We cannot allow someone else to obtain it. What if it falls back into the White Star’s hands?’
‘Then I’ll hold onto it.’
‘That won’t do, Kale.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because if given the chance, I fear you would use that power.’

Kale fell silent at Choi Han’s words. When he spoke again, his tone was unwavering and resolute—the words of someone who had wrestled with this decision for a long time.

‘I will swear the Oath of Death. If I ever use that power in a way that harms my life, my lifespan, or my physical condition—’

Kale cut him off.

‘Using lifespan-discarding means sacrificing a portion of your life. Isn’t that the same as dying? So what’s this Oath of Death supposed to mean?’
‘No, death is not the price. If I use that power at the cost of my life, I swear instead that I will lose someone precious to me.’

In that moment, Kale felt certain that Choi Han would never use that power at the cost of his own life.
Losing someone precious.
Wasn’t that precisely what Choi Han had been fighting against all this time?

‘I will take that power for myself.’

Kale sensed an unwavering determination emanating from Choi Han.

‘…One more thing.’

So Kale spoke.

‘Add one more condition to the Oath of Death.’

Losing someone precious.
There was a blind spot in Choi Han’s condition.

Lose.
The meaning of that word.

Through the curse of the Oath of Death, Choi Han could lose someone precious.
That statement could be interpreted in two ways.

Either someone precious dies, or Choi Han fades from that person’s memory, becoming nothing to them anymore.

‘Choi Han, do not use Lifespan Sacrifice to protect those precious to you.’

Kale Heniatus spoke with unwavering resolve.

‘If you use your power for such a purpose, those precious to you will lose their lifespan in equal measure to the life force you expend.’

Kale Heniatus knew Choi Han quite well.
And so he had imposed a condition that might seem cruel.

‘If you use your own life for that power, those precious to you will perish by the curse of the oath.’

Those precious to him would die.
Because of him.

‘Ha, haha.’

Choi Han burst into laughter before Kale Heniatus. Then, ceasing his laughter, he answered with a bright smile.

‘I understand. I will swear to that as well.’
‘Make sure to tell Erhafen to verify all such details.’

To Kale Heniatus, who spoke in a cold tone, Choi Han responded brightly, as if pleased by something.

‘I have no intention of using the power. So please do not worry about me.’

And those words were sincere.
Because of that sincerity, Kale Heniatus entrusted Choi Han with matters concerning Sirem.

-Choi Han never used Lifespan Sacrifice.

At Erhafen’s voice, Kale Heniatus could pull himself from his thoughts.

-I know that well.

After hearing the tale of Sirem’s power from Kale Heniatus and Choi Han, Erhafen went to the Capital with Choi Han, and through Kaige, who remained there, swore the Oath of Death. Afterward, he went to the Underground Prison and helped Choi Han inherit Sirem’s power.
After that, she went to the Underground Prison and helped Choi Han inherit Sirem’s power.

Through the Oath of Death, Erhafen confirmed that Choi Han had never used Lifespan Sacrifice.

-I told you already. It’s an incomprehensible force.

An unknown power that even the Ancient Dragon could not fathom was consuming Choi Han’s entire being.

-…Ugh, uuugh.

With each brief pause, anguished groans escaped from Choi Han.

-He said something before collapsing.
“What did he say?”
-That memories were flooding in.

Memories?
As confusion crossed Kale Heniatus’s face, Erhafen recalled his conversation with Choi Han.
The moment Choi Han had suddenly trembled and collapsed forward.

‘…Ugh, memories, cough!’
‘Choi Han, don’t speak! Just calm down-‘
‘Memories, cough, are flooding in. Memories are pouring, in.’
‘…What?’

Before losing consciousness, Choi Han had gripped Erhafen’s collar and spoken with great difficulty.
Those words now spilled from Erhafen’s lips.

-…Choi Jung-soo.

…Who?
Who was Erhafen referring to just now? Choi Jung-soo?
Why did that name come up?
Kale Heniatus’s eyes widened.

-He mentioned the name Choi Jung-soo and said ‘memories, records are flooding in,’ then lost consciousness.

Erhafen recalled Choi Han.

‘…Choi, ugh, Choi Jung-soo…?’

Choi Han, speaking as if bewildered, soon clutched his head and collapsed.

‘Memories… records are flooding in.’

With those words.

Erhafen continued speaking while observing Kale Heniatus’s hardened expression.

-I asked Sirem if he’d ever experienced something like this, and he said he never had.

That was the moment.

-…Kale?
“Ugh!”

Kale’s hand flew to his chest without thinking.
He frantically plunged his hand into the inner pocket of his black jacket.

It was scorching hot.
The spatial pocket where he usually carried his belongings was burning.
He quickly pulled out the spatial pocket from his inner pocket and opened it.
From within, he retrieved the hottest object.

A black book.

A divine artifact left behind by the God of Death.
A tome inscribed with the method to overcome death with death itself.

Kale turned back the book’s cover.
The words on the first page had changed.

【You truly are someone who shatters laws and destiny. My decision to trust you was indeed the right one.】
【I will pass Choi Jung-soo’s memories to Choi Han. Of course, I intend to keep our conversation about choices between us a secret.】

This rotten god!

【This is a gift for you.】

A gift, my foot! Drop dead!

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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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