Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 417

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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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—I’m still purifying myself…

With Cale’s Power’s hollow voice as background music, the pillar of fire continued to soar magnificently.
Sizzle. Golden-red ash scattered between the pillars of flame.
I could see the dead mana gradually diminishing.
In the meantime, Kale quietly clasped both hands together.

Boom!
A thunderous sound echoed.

“So you’re the famous youngest Sword Master, Choi Han!”

Dorf’s fist blocked Choi Han’s sword.

“Your black aura is quite impressive, but it doesn’t seem to live up to your reputation?”

The sword descended toward the brightly smiling Dorf.

Boom!
Another thunderous sound rang out, and Kale clasped both hands even tighter together.

“How about we have a fair match between us? I challenge you to a warrior’s duel. What do you say?”

Hair like a mane fluttered in the wind.
Dorf’s two arms blocked the gleaming black aura.
But once again, the black aura poured down upon him in succession.

Boom!
Dorf was pushed backward, continuously forced back.
It seemed he would be knocked out of the pillar of fire he had barely entered.

Boom!
Boom!
Sword and fist collided.

“Tsk, the young friend is the silent type! I’ll take your silence as acceptance of my challenge.”

The moment Dorf opened his mouth, Kale gripped both his hands even tighter.
Dorf’s body trembled with a start.

“So… fast—!”

In an instant, Choi Han closed the distance to Dorf’s face.
The moment their eyes met.
Choi Han released one hand from his sword grip.
He clenched his fist and extended it forward. His mouth opened as well.

“You talk too much.”

Boom!
A fist wreathed in aura shot straight toward Dorf’s face.
The startled Dorf barely managed to block it.

“Ugh!”

His back collided with the pillar of flame. Fire consumed his upper garment in an instant.
But there was no time to worry about that.

“His aura suddenly amplified!”

The violent black aura now enveloping his fist bore no comparison to the black aura that had wrapped around his sword moments before.
Choi Han’s true power—something Dorf had never witnessed—was now directed at him.
Choi Han struck Dorf’s abdomen with his aura-wrapped fist, speaking calmly.

“A lot of talking.”

Boom!

Another hole tore through the pillar of flame.
Someone was sent flying through that opening.

“Cough!”

Dorf was hurled out of the flame pillar, clutching his abdomen.

-Should I leave the hole in the flame pillar as is? The one who created it is your ally, and the one who got hit is your enemy, right? Right? I’ll leave it. I’m doing my job well. Aren’t I?

I ignored Cale’s Power’s voice.
There was no choice in the matter.
I chased after Choi Han as he sent his true aura—not a deliberately weakened one—flying at the bouncing Dorf, following him outside.
With a brief remark.

“Silence is golden.”

Boom!
The black aura struck Dorf like a boomerang.
I simply watched the sight unfold.

‘Wow… that, that—’

A terrifying one… a vicious one… someone who deserves to be beaten mercilessly, but truly merciless in his beating….
I clamped my mouth shut at the sight of Choi Han.
For some reason, it felt like that loud Lion King Dorf was taking all the beating that should have been mine.

‘Ah.’

A sudden question occurred to me.

‘But is it okay to keep calling him that?’

Calling Choi Han a vicious one, a terrifying one—it felt oddly uncomfortable.

‘He’s not some ancestor from hundreds of years ago, he’s Choi Jung-soo, my uncle. No, not even a book protagonist. He said casual speech was fine, but is calling him that really appropriate?’

Ugh… I had no idea.
My head was starting to hurt.

There was a time I had gone to the Graveyard.
Though calling it a graveyard was a stretch—it was really just a forest.

‘Once I crossed this mountain, I would reach the Safe Zone.’

The Small Mountain I had gone to with Choi Jung-soo and Team Lead Lee Soo-hyuk.
Choi Jung-soo had spoken calmly at the entrance of that mountain.

‘Back then, when the world flipped upside down. Monsters just poured out everywhere, right? The internet, cars, phones—nothing worked properly.’

The members of the Choi Jung-soo Family who had been at his hometown house when the world turned upside down said they had chosen the shortest path over the Mountain to reach the Safe Zone that the radio had announced as their last resort.

‘But could we go alone? Shouldn’t we bring the villagers with us?’

They began leading the villagers over the Mountain.

‘We’re a fairly renowned martial arts family. People seek us out because we research ancient sword techniques. So we should step up in times like these.’

And naturally, the members of the Choi Jung-soo Family took on the task of protecting the villagers crossing the Mountain, clearing the path, and guarding the rear.
Some of them decided to stay behind and protect the Village. Or rather, they wanted to remain in the Village and fight the monsters entering it.

‘So many of us left back then.’

Both the Village and the Hometown House crumbled. The Small Mountain became desolate.
And all those places became Graveyards. If we found bodies, we were fortunate; if we couldn’t find them, that location became a Graveyard, became a final memory.

‘Hey, anyway, what if we bought this Mountain and made an orchard? Can’t we plant fruit trees on a Mountain? Is that a bad idea?’
‘…Ha.’

At that moment, Kim Rok-soo shook his head at Choi Jung-soo’s excited voice.

‘Anyway, greet this Mountain! Choi Jung-soo’s younger brother Kim Rok-soo is here to say hello.’
‘…Am I your younger brother? We share the same birthday?’
‘I was born at dawn. You weren’t born at dawn, were you?’

As Kim Rok-soo’s expression crumpled, Choi Jung-soo smiled more cheerfully and spoke with a sly tone.

‘Hey, anyway, we’re brothers and family. Aren’t we?’
‘Ha!’

Kim Rok-soo let out an exasperated sigh.
But Choi Jung-soo laughed.

‘Hey, Kim Rok-soo, you keep saying “ha, ha” but you’re not denying it? Did you think I wouldn’t know your temperament? Hehe, you’re happy to be my brother, right? Hmm? Team Leader, that seems to be the case, doesn’t it?’
‘It does seem that way.’
‘Shut up. You stay quiet too, Team Leader.’

Choi Jung-soo giggled even more at Kim Rok-soo’s reaction.

‘Keke, Kim Rok-soo is always like that! He gets embarrassed easily. He can’t deny the truth!’

It was true.
Kim Rok-soo couldn’t deny Choi Jung-soo’s words, only letting out a sigh. Kale recorded the eyes of Choi Jung-soo, who had laughed with his back to the forest.
Lee Soo-hyuk’s team leader’s snickering, but also his bitter gaze.
Everyone lived like that back then.

-Human!

Ah.
I quickly severed the memories that had unfolded in my mind.
Unnecessary memories were spreading on their own. I faced reality thanks to Raon.

Crash!
“Ugh!”

And I saw Dorf bouncing far away once more from Choi Han’s punch.

‘…Truly brutal… that guy… no, that human.’

My expression behind the mask grew bitter, and Raon spoke cheerfully into my mind.

-Human! Choi Han is truly consistent! Strong, Choi Han!

…Such a brutal dragon.
My expression furrowed once more. Indeed, this six-year-old dragon was equally brutal in his consistency.

Terrifying beings.
I exhaled softly.
My two hands slowly moved downward.

-Just a little more and we’re done! It takes time because there’s so much, but we’re purifying it step by step! About a third remains!

Cale’s Power spoke eagerly, but I opened my mouth, ignoring it.
I wanted to finish quickly and rest. Of course, I’d need to talk with Choi Han, but it seemed like we’d pass by without much issue.

‘First, handle the most urgent matter.’

Kale let both his arms hang limply at his sides. The Ancient Powers began to stir.
That was when it happened.

-Human! But what are doenjang-jjigae and gochujang?

Huh?
Kale’s body froze like a broken machine.

-Human, do you want to eat those?
“Huh?”
-Consistent Choi Han asked if you were craving them! You said you were craving them!

A conversation I’d had with Choi Han flashed through my mind.

‘Master Kale.’
‘…Huh? Why?’
‘Kimchi, instant ramen, grilled pork belly, pajeon, vegetable tempura.’
‘…Huh?’
‘You want to eat them, don’t you? You ate them often.’
‘Huh?’
‘Gochujang, doenjang-jjigae, braised pig’s feet. Aren’t you craving them?’
‘…I’m craving them?’

I recalled my own foolish response, asking back in confusion, but that wasn’t the problem.

-Human! What is instant ramen? I’m curious about everything!

I slowly opened my mouth at the bright voice.

“…It’s food from Choi Han’s hometown.”
-Oh.

After that short exclamation, Raon began pouring words into my mind in rapid succession.

-Then what about Choi Jung-soo and Kim Rok-soo? I’m curious! And why is the uncle an uncle? Is Choi Han’s uncle named Choi Jung-soo? I’m curious about everything!

Good grief.
My head was beginning to ache.
Only Raon knew all the details of my conversation with Choi Han and the circumstances surrounding it. And Raon had also heard from Choi Han that he had lived for a long time. The next person who knew the most was Erhafen, who had only heard the names Choi Jung-soo and Kim Rok-soo.

Hmm.
Kale pondered, but time was short.

“For now, only you, me, and Choi Han know about this.”
-Oh! So it’s a secret among the three of us?
“Yeah. You can’t tell On or Hong about it yet.”
-…Okay… Got it! The great me keeps promises well!

Crash!
Another thunderous sound echoed once more.
Thinking that Choi Han was fighting well, landing good blows, Kale continued speaking.

“Since we’re in a hurry right now, I’ll explain roughly for now.”
-Got it!

Unaware that the invisible Raon had clasped his chubby front paws together, Kale spoke calmly.

“Choi Han is my closest friend—a relative of someone like a brother to me. He’s my great-uncle.”
-Gasp!

Whether the six-year-old dragon was surprised or not, Kale tossed out his words bluntly.

“Yeah, that means he’s in quite a senior position.”
-Gasp!

Kale brushed aside Raon’s surprise and continued speaking.
Once he started talking, the words flowed naturally.

“This is a tricky situation, you see. It would be fine if he were a distant ancestor.”

If things had gone differently, Kim Rok-soo might have visited him during holidays and vacations to pay respects.

“He was someone I would have gone to my friend’s house to greet.”

As he spoke, his words gradually turned into complaints and grumbling.

“Geez, if I had treated him the way I’ve been treating Choi Han in that situation, I really would have been a total ruffian. Though I suppose I still am one now.”

Dark, absolutely.
If I went to visit friends, relatives, and elders saying “Choi Han, pay for the meal” and “go fight,” I’d get beaten up by Choi Jung-soo and be called a lunatic.

‘…Someday I will—’

Someday I’ll smack the God of Death on the back of the head.
Kale made a firm resolution. He kept his promises. Hadn’t he already smacked Crown Prince Adin and the White Star on the back of the head? Though admittedly, the White Star got off a bit lighter. I need to hit harder next time.
Kale’s mind grew increasingly complicated. After living through such an absurd situation, it was quite difficult to think normally.

-Human….

Raon grabbed hold of me again.

“What?”
-But what about the braised pork feet and vegetable tempura?
“Food.”
-Do humans like that?

Kale answered without much thought.
Since he’d told Raon this conversation was a secret, the Dragon would handle things appropriately on his own.

“Yeah, right?”
-Oh… I see. I still have plenty of subspace.

Flinch.
Kale’s shoulders froze.
The tips of his lowered hands twitched.

Subspace.
At that word, Kale envisioned miso paste, braised pork feet, and red chili paste being shoved into his mouth the moment he collapsed.
That was far too, extremely brutal.

“It’s food that doesn’t exist here.”

Urgent words tumbled out.

-Doesn’t Choi Han know? It’s food from Choi Han’s hometown, so Choi Han would know how to make it! That settles it!

…Huh?
What’s happening?
I wasn’t affected?

As I collapsed, I found myself thinking of tear-soaked kimchi entering my mouth.
That was.
That would truly be troublesome. My hair was already red, and imagining myself turning crimson with blood and kimchi… it would be quite the spectacle in its own right.

‘No. It won’t happen.’

I made a mental note to tell Choi Han later—and Raon—not to mention anything about hometown food. Choi Han would handle it appropriately on his own.

‘…Does it really matter?’

If Choi Han made hometown food, the rest of the group would probably enjoy it without much suspicion.
As long as the others didn’t know that I was Kim Rok-soo and that this world was originally from a book.

‘…It’ll work out somehow.’

I organized my thoughts roughly.
We were in the middle of battle right now.

“Young Master Kale!”
-Human!

That was when it happened.
I heard Choi Han’s urgent cry and Raon’s voice from far away.
I flinched.

“Young Master Kale! The shield—!”

I could see Choi Han rushing toward me, shouting desperately.
But something else caught my eye more prominently, more urgently.

Chestnuts.
Chestnuts were raining down from the sky.

‘What is this?’

The night falling down was not the sky collapsing.

-It’s a curtain! Human, a black curtain is falling!

A black curtain indistinguishable from night, bearing the color of the night sky, descended toward the pillar of fire and Kale.

“Kahahaha! This is it!”

Dorf’s laughter echoed.

‘Is this Dorf’s power?’

Kale watched as a black wall, solid as an iron plate rather than a mere curtain, descended toward him.

“A shield—!”

Choi Han shouted, but Kale could not move.
And then.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted from the pillar of fire.

“Ah.”

Choi Han stopped his charge.
He wiped his face with one hand.

The black wall halted in mid-air with the thunderous impact.
To others, it would have appeared to simply stop midway. But Choi Han could tell.

It was Raon.
Raon’s black shield was now blocking and supporting that wall.

“Is this the legendary dragon’s shield?”

Dorf’s calm voice came from behind Choi Han. His gaze turned toward Dorf.
He was composed, as if he had never been a talkative person.

So that’s the real Dorf—not the one who would flee in terror at Choi Han’s aura or sustain injuries.

“This will be quite the challenge.”

Dorf flashed a grin at Choi Han.
Then he clapped his hands together.

Clap!
The sound of his palms meeting echoed across the space.

Boom!
Choi Han surveyed his surroundings.
The forest that enveloped the Northern Alchemy Tower.
Countless golems stationed throughout that forest.
Massive golems advanced toward the tower, toward Kale and his companions.

Thud. Thud. Thud.
The earth trembled.
Choi Han turned his head.
Kale was still purifying himself. That fire power was the one that felled him most frequently. Knowing this, Choi Han tightened his grip on his sword.

“Shall we begin?”

The moment Dorf spoke with a benevolent smile.

Boom!
The golems began drawing their weapons—swords, spears, axes, and more.

Choi Han’s expression remained devoid of emotion as he took in the entire scene.
That was when it happened.

“I knew this would happen.”

Kale’s voice reached his ears.
Choi Han’s gaze shifted toward the pillar of fire.
The hole Choi Han had created earlier remained, and through the gap, Kale was visible.
With both arms hanging limply at his sides, Kale stood with his head bowed.

He slowly lifted his head.
I could see the corners of Choi Han’s eyes crinkling with laughter.
In that moment, my lips parted.

“Now.”

I had both hands extended toward the ground.
And I was activating one of the Ancient Powers.
As all the golems converged toward the Northern Alchemy Tower where my group was located.

“Seize them.”

Trees began to grow in accordance with my will.

The forest.
The trees that blanketed this forest.

-Understood.

The moment the Glutton Goddess responded.
Tree trunks began to sprout and grow.

And they started to coil around the golems, ensnaring the entire space.

Choi Han and Dorf—both of them could see me smiling as I watched them.
My lips opened.

“It’s time for Merry to arrive.”

As if in response, teleportation light began to manifest.

-Human! Perfect timing!

Red light flashed at the Northern Alchemy Tower and vanished.
And in that place.

“It seems I’ve arrived at just the right moment?”
“You’re a bit late. But we can still smash everything to pieces.”

Rosalind, Merry, Sir Rex, and the Dark Elf Warriors appeared.

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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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