Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 412

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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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Kale Heniatus let out a hollow laugh.

‘What do you mean by a mana stone pouch now?’

The way Sparkling Thunderbolt spoke only made him laugh.

‘I already handed over all the mana stone pouches to Rosalind.’

Not just the mana stones, but everything—including the matter concerning Becrock—had been delegated to Rosalind and Sir Rex.

-…What a shame.

I was exasperated by Sparkling Thunderbolt’s timid muttering.

‘No, how much money have you already received?’

Hadn’t I poured out nearly a billion last time?

-…I have nothing to say, but it’s still a shame.

Kale Heniatus simply shook his head side to side.
Still, I had to use Destructive Fire regardless. There was no way to know when Merry would arrive.
That was the moment.

Saint Jack dismounted from Vicross’s back and had already drawn close to Kale Heniatus.

“Young master, I apologize for being so scattered—I’m only giving this to you now.”

Hm?
Kale Heniatus paused.
I saw a spatial pouch being offered by Saint Jack.

“Ah, I received this from the Capital as well.”

Vicross also produced a spatial pouch.

“Take it.”

I caught what Hana threw. It was also a spatial pouch.

A spatial pouch completely filled with mana stones.
Two pouches stolen from each of the Alchemy Towers, and one pouch that Vicross had hastily brought from the Capital just in case.

-Human! Are they all mana stones? We’re mana stone rich!

Behind Raon’s excited voice, I heard the voice of Jjandol whispering secretly in my mind.

-…Heh, rich, huh?

Damn it.
My face twisted. An inexplicable sense of unease crept over me, as if something were about to go wrong.

“Are you all done with the pleasantries?”

I lifted my head, my face still twisted from Jjandol’s words. At the top of the Northern Alchemy Tower.
The Lion King stationed there spoke to me leisurely.

He gazed at me and my companions with an air of curiosity.

“I’ve only heard stories, but seeing you in person is quite novel.”

Hana, who had been staring blankly at him, opened her mouth.

“That’s strange. He looks so frail.”

The Lion King.
The middle-aged man was lean. His hair, spread out like a lion’s mane, felt wild, but his scarred frame, which showed almost no muscle, made him appear diminutive.
Still, Hana’s furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing.

“Why does he look so strong?”

That lean middle-aged man looked incredibly powerful.
I couldn’t gauge his strength.

She was a Sword Master, yet she couldn’t gauge his strength.
In that moment, a voice reached her ears.

“Because he’s the Lion King.”

She turned her gaze toward Kale’s voice.

The Lion Tribe.
They were among the strongest of the beast-kin races, invariably counted among the top five.
The king of that Lion Tribe.

Hana’s lips gradually curved upward.

“Ah, so you mean the strongest one among the Lion Tribe?”
“Yeah.”

Hana’s expression brightened at the mention of being the strongest. Kale pointed toward the tower’s peak.

“Hold your ground.”
“…You’re telling me to hold on, not to win?”

Hana’s face twisted immediately.

“Then win.”

At Kale’s casual addition, she let out a wry laugh. She understood as well. Judging from her inability to grasp the Lion King’s level, she was slightly weaker.

Whoooosh—
A golden aura tinged with black erupted from her sword.

“Send me up.”

The moment Kale’s words reached her ears, Hana immediately kicked off the ground and surged toward the tower.

Whirrrrr—
A whirlwind wrapped around her feet.
Hana ran with all her might.

Boom! Boom!
With each thunderous footfall, the earth trembled, and Hana’s body rocketed toward the tower’s peak.
The face of the middle-aged man who was the Lion King came into view.
She immediately swung her sword.

Screeeech—
The golden aura flew toward the middle-aged man like a boomerang.

Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted from the top of the tower.
Tap. Hana planted her feet on the railing at the peak of the Northern Alchemy Tower and smiled as she gazed forward.

“This is fun.”

She could see the middle-aged man’s form.
The Lion King, who had shattered the golden aura with his bare fist, shook out his clenched hand as if it ached.

“Stronger than I expected. Excellent.”

Then he gave Hana a thumbs up with his other hand.
His face, which had seemed weary moments before, now radiated vitality and brightness—he looked delighted, as if Hana didn’t know what to do with his enthusiasm.

He lightly bumped his two fists together.

Boom!
But the sound from the collision was anything but light. Hana shook out her hand as if in pain, but seeing the Lion King effortlessly disperse the aura, she heightened her guard further.
The Lion King laughed and spoke.

“My warrior’s blood is boiling.”

Hana spoke to him.

“They call you a king?”
“Ho!”

He wore an expression of admiration.

“Kale Heniatus’s side has quite a lot of information! You even know that I’m a king! How remarkable, truly remarkable!”

Whoosh.
His gaze turned toward those behind him.
In turn, Hana could now perceive those standing atop the tower.

A Knight, a Dark Mage, a Mage, and those presumed to be from the Lion Tribe.
And finally.

“…Saint.”
“P-please, Saint.”

There were Soldiers bound hand and foot, trembling as they gazed desperately at her.
They were Soldiers meant to face Hana as enemies, yet they looked at her in terror as though she were their last lifeline.

At that moment, Hana heard the Lion King speak as he gazed down at those atop the Tower.

“Where did my identity leak to Kale Heniatus from?”

The eyes that had seemed somewhat foolish and feeble moments before transformed into something coldly menacing in an instant. As most who received that gaze stiffened or lowered their heads, a few stepped forward.

“Your Majesty!”

The foremost among them spoke to the Lion King.

“We shall face that swordsman!”
“Indeed! We shall bring him to his knees!”

Hana’s expression grew peculiar.
It was the bearing of a loyal retainer serving their lord with utmost devotion. The White Star’s subordinates had never displayed such conduct toward anyone other than the White Star, so the sight was unfamiliar.

“No, that won’t do.”

And the Lion King’s demeanor upon hearing those words was equally strange.
Normally, if these White Star subordinates were typical, they would either eagerly send their underlings forward, or by now they should be charging at Hana with words like “Do you think I cannot defeat something like that?”

But this was different.
This one was different.

“You would find him too formidable to overcome.”

Offering Hana a faint smile, he then spoke to his subordinates in a gentle voice, as though his earlier display of overwhelming pressure had never occurred.

“Stand back. Don’t needlessly interfere and get hurt. We can’t have that.”

His expression showed genuine concern for his subordinate’s wellbeing.
And he asked Hana.

“Shall we have a fun fight, and an honorable one at that?”

…I’ve never encountered someone like this before.
Hana and Kale Heniatus both shared the same thought.

Whether it was due to amplification magic or not, the Lion King’s voice reached Kale Heniatus clearly from below where he watched. While he couldn’t hear Hana and the others’ words, the Lion King’s words alone were enough to grasp the general situation.

So I was puzzled.

A fun fight, an honorable one?
Those words from someone serving the White Star?

The Lion Tribe members who had been with Crown Prince Adin until now didn’t seem to be like this.
Kale Heniatus was bewildered.

-…Human, that Lion Tribe member seems different? How confusing!
‘Khahaha! Chaos, destruction! A duel!’

Raon asked in the same puzzled tone as Kale Heniatus, and the Wind Spirit spoke on its own.
Kale Heniatus looked up at the top of the tower, then slowly stepped backward.

“Young Master.”

Vicross approached him. Kale Heniatus opened his palm to show Vicross and Saint Jack, then spoke.

“I’ll move first.”

With those words, Kale Heniatus called out to Raon.
Whoosh—
A gentle breeze stirred, and Kale Heniatus gazed up at the tower’s peak while discreetly shifting his position.

At that moment.
Pfft.
Hana let out a scoff. She gazed at the Lion King with her sword slung across her shoulder, as if looking at a peculiar fellow.
Even so, she observed him with a sidelong glance.

The one who had kicked a soldier into the dead mana and sent him plummeting.
That creature stood frozen, observing the situation unfold.
Hana turned her gaze away from him and fixed it upon the Lion King.
The Lion King spoke with a dignified expression.

“I am Dorf. Having heard many tales of Kale Heniatus and his companions, I believe I can guess your name.”

Clang!
Hana pointed her sword forward.

“I am Hana.”
“Ah! A fine name indeed!”

Dorf, the Lion King, smiled with evident delight at learning her true name, then waved his hand toward his subordinates, signaling them to withdraw.

“Everyone step back and observe quietly. Do not move unnecessarily. You will be injured.”

A vast space had formed between Dorf and Hana.
The summit of the Northern Alchemy Tower, divided into four directions—north, south, east, and west. The southern section became the battleground for Dorf and Hana.

“Shall we engage?”

The corners of Dorf’s mouth rose higher and higher. Within his radiant smile lurked an inexplicable madness.
Hana felt the same.
Her own smile deepened with each passing moment.

Whoooooosh—
A golden aura streaked with black flowed around her body. Her eyes locked solely upon Dorf.

Silence descended.
No one moved hastily.
In that moment.

Whoosh.
When someone watching took a step backward.

Dorf and Hana rushed toward each other.

Boom! Crash!

A tremendous roar erupted from the top of the tower.
Hana’s blade surged forward with golden light, aimed at Dorf’s throat.

Crash!
Dorf’s head snapped backward as his fist collided with the sword.

A grunt escaped him.

Hana felt her blade pushed back in that instant.
The force packed into that fist was staggering. It was merely a bare-knuckled strike with no aura, no technique, yet it possessed an overwhelming solidity and strength.

In that moment, she grasped something crucial.

‘…He hasn’t entered his berserk state?’

The Lion King Dorf.
His appearance showed no signs of transformation.
Hana’s expression darkened gradually.

‘He’s stronger than me without even entering his berserk form?’

Another fist came hurtling toward her.

Boom, boom, crash!
Blade and fist clashed relentlessly, each seeking to overwhelm the other.
Hana caught sight of Dorf’s gaze fixed upon her.

Serious.
Not smiling.

“…You’re stronger than I anticipated. You have considerable combat experience. If you’re Hana, I believe I’ve heard you were with Dark.”
“Is there a problem with having been in Dark?”

The two stepped back momentarily, continuing their exchange.
They had gauged each other’s capabilities to a reasonable degree.

“Problem? Not at all. It seems Dark was quite foolish to let someone of your caliber slip away. You would have made an excellent comrade. What a shame.”

Dorf’s middle-aged face twisted into a sinister grin, and Hana felt an inexplicable unease wash over her.
Yet she had to fight now.

‘I must honor Kale Heniatus’s request.’

Hadn’t Kale said it?
To hold the line.

Hana acknowledged that she herself could be somewhat reckless at times, but there were limits to how far she would go.
Uuuuoooong—
She unleashed her aura once more and charged at Dorf.

“Come on! Bring it!”

Dorf rushed toward her with both fists hanging loose at his sides.

Uuuoong—
Her aura-infused blade moved toward Dorf’s heart.
Dorf’s fist aimed for her throat.

That was when it happened.

“No, please! Saint, Saint! Save me—”

Her blade froze.
Hana’s sword stopped mid-strike.
Her gaze shifted toward the source of the voice, even though she knew she shouldn’t—her eyes moved toward the one calling out to her.

A soldier stood at the railing.
And that one from before.
The one who had kicked soldiers into the dead mana below—he now raised his foot with a twisted expression.

“Shut your mouth! Stop interfering and do your job properly!”

With those words, he kicked the soldier.
Hana’s eyes met those of the falling soldier.
The eyes that had gazed at her so desperately slowly closed.

Eyes filled with resignation.

Hana’s sword changed direction.

“Ugh.”

The sudden shift sent a jolt of recoil through my body.
But Hana ignored the backlash and rushed toward the Soldier.

Hold on.
The reason I said that wasn’t to defeat the Lion King.
Hana understood that much.
I had to endure for one reason—to prevent what was about to happen.

“Damn it!”

Hana cursed under her breath as she sprinted toward where the Soldier had fallen.
In that instant.

Boom!
A deafening roar violently shook her ears.

“…Ah.”

And she let out a breath of relief.

“Did… did I survive?”

The enemy Soldier’s eyes were wide open, trembling in disbelief, tears streaming down his face. He looked toward the one who had saved him.
It was a masked man.
With trembling hands, he gripped the Soldier’s arms to keep him from falling.

“…Ah, I’m alive.”

The Soldier soon felt wind sweep around him, lifting him into the air.
Relief washed over him.
With an overwhelming sense of gratitude, he gazed at the masked man who had saved him.

“What…?”

However, the masked man did not look at the soldier.
Once he confirmed the soldier was safe, his gaze fixed on a single point.

“What the hell is this bastard?”

The masked man—Kale Heniatus—could not tear his eyes away from the top of the tower where the soldier had fallen.

“Cough. Hack!”

Someone was spewing blood, draped over the railing.

It wasn’t Hana.
It was that bastard—the one who had been kicking the soldiers—beaten and bloodied, groaning in agony.

“Ugh!”

Someone had grabbed him by the hair and yanked him upward.
Kale Heniatus ascended slowly.
He had intended to covertly stop the one doing the kicking from behind and rescue the soldiers first.
Now he gazed upon the one who held that kicker by the hair.

The figure, consumed by rage, spoke to the one whose hair he gripped.

“Did I not tell you that you might get hurt? Did I not tell you to stand back and watch?”

The Lion King, Dorf.
He whispered while clenching his subordinate’s hair in his fist.

“You dare interfere with my fight? Do you wish to die?”

I was utterly bewildered.

‘…What kind of man is this?’

Why was the Lion King acting like this? Well, it was possible, but… something felt off.
I was genuinely perplexed.

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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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