Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 482

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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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This time, me?
My face contorted.

“Human! What’s wrong?”

Raon’s voice reached me from beside, but I had no time to pay attention.
The God of Death cherishes heroes but sacrifices the few for the many, or so the World Tree had said. And just now, the World Tree pointed at me, saying this time it was me.
So I asked in a deeply sunken voice.

“Are you saying the God of Death is targeting me?”

Gasp!
I heard Adite draw in a sharp breath.

“Gasp!”

Raon was startled, then immediately poured out words in rapid succession.

“Human! A god touches you? If a god touches you, I won’t let it slide! I’ll destroy everything!”

And in this place where the World Tree dwelled.
Tasha and the Dark Elves couldn’t enter without the World Tree’s permission, but Choi Han, who had stepped foot here alongside me and Raon, quietly opened his mouth.

“…I am now a human with nothing to fear.”

I flinched at Choi Han’s calm yet considerably menacing tone, but soon the World Tree’s voice reached me, and I ceased paying attention to my companions.

Still listening to the World Tree’s voice with my eyes closed, I couldn’t see Choi Han’s fierce gaze—anything but gentle—or Raon’s eyes burning with fierce determination.
Adite, watching this alone, swallowed hard and clasped her hands together.
At that moment, a low laugh reached me with my eyes still closed.

-Hahahaha.

The World Tree spoke to me as if I were adorable.

-Did I not tell you? The God of Death is skilled at making deals. The one he wishes to make a deal with this time is ‘you’.

Ah.
Kale Heniatus exhaled in relief.

‘I thought for a moment they were going to sacrifice me for the greater good.’

He realized his alarm had been premature, and his expression eased considerably.

-Of course, if the deal goes wrong, you could die.

What?
Is the World Tree actually mocking me right now?
Kale’s face began to contort in displeasure. Regardless, the World Tree continued speaking.

-The power of the God of Death within your possession would certainly serve as a medium for negotiating with him.
“…It is not a deal.”

The letter from the God of Death in Kale’s possession had clearly offered him a ‘choice’—an opportunity to decide whether to remain here or return.
The God of Death had framed it as a ‘favor,’ not a ‘deal.’

Wasn’t a deal supposed to involve an exchange?

Yet the God of Death had only asked him to choose, never mentioning taking anything from him in return.

Kale’s contemplation deepened. Then, the World Tree’s voice reached him again.

-Kale Heniatus. Trust the God of Death, yet trust him not. The God of Death, in the past too, kugh—!

Boom!
Kale suddenly felt the massive tree shudder violently.

‘What is this?’

He nearly opened his eyes in shock.

-Do not open your eyes!

But hearing the World Tree’s cry, he squeezed them shut again.

“World Tree! Your branches—!”

Along with Adite’s cry that resembled a scream, I heard a dull thud. Based on what Adite said, it seemed another branch had fallen, just like before.

-…I was about to say something I shouldn’t have, and now I’m being punished for it.

The World Tree muttered, its bitterness laid bare.

The World Tree could perceive the flow of the world. However, there were things that could not be spoken of, and when ‘darkness’ had come in ancient times, part of that flow had remained hidden from its sight.

-In any case, I cannot speak of the past. But Kale, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. There are no coincidences either.

I took the World Tree’s words deeply to heart.

Kim Rok-soo’s birthday.
Time dwindling ever shorter toward that day. The opportunity the God of Death would grant was drawing near.
But that was no opportunity.

‘It could be a transaction.’

I etched the word ‘transaction’ into my mind. At the same time, a subtle smile formed at the corners of my lips.

‘So there’s something the God of Death wants from me?’

The God of Death desired something from me.
Then wasn’t this a proposal for a transaction?

‘This could be worth attempting.’

I had no intention whatsoever of moving according to the God of Death’s will.

-Ah, and one more thing for your reference.

The World Tree hesitated for a moment before beginning to speak in a brighter tone.

-This isn’t something that would cause a branch to break. After all, there are quite a few who would know of this matter.

The brightened tone soon turned grave.

-Gods cannot meddle in worldly affairs. They cannot change or manipulate inherent destiny either. But there exist means to accomplish such manipulation.
“…What are those means, Your Majesty?”
-It differs for each god. And even if I knew, I couldn’t tell you. One wrong word and I fear every branch of this tree would snap.
“I see.”
-But there is one thing I can reveal.

I focused all my attention on the World Tree’s words.

-Gods plant eyes in this world to observe it.
-What could those be?

I suddenly recalled Saint Jack and the excommunicated Priestess Cage.
They each served different gods. Were they the god’s ‘eyes’?

-The ‘eye’ of the God of Death also resides within your body. Ah, something like a tracking device.
“Are you saying the god has tampered with my body?”

I found myself opening my mouth in surprise without realizing it.
At my words, Choi Han and Raon grew even more alarmed and tense, though I remained oblivious.

-…I cannot say more than this. But a clever one like yourself will figure it out. For your reference, it is not that pocket watch.

Not the God of Death’s letter?
Then where is the god’s ‘eye’ within me?
If it’s a tracking device, that means the God of Death can check my location whenever he wishes?

My mind began sifting through memories from just over two years past.
Scenes from the past flickered through my consciousness like frames from a film.

“Ah.”

I found it.
I discovered what could be called the God of Death’s ‘eye’.

There had been two occasions when the God of Death’s power had entered my body.
That was the reason the God of Death and his Temple became renowned, and why so many sought to visit the Temple.

“…The Oath.”

Oath of Death.
Countless individuals sought out the Death God Sect and swore the Oath of Death, establishing bonds of trust and mutual interest with one another.

I had first sworn the Oath of Death alongside the Mad Priestess and Taylor, and later went to the Death God Sect with Choi Han to swear it again.

‘Had my location been completely exposed to the God of Death since then?’

A chill ran down my spine.

“Is that what it is?”
-…I cannot answer.

A cautious answer to a cautious question.
Yet that alone was sufficient. Had the Oath of Death not been the “eye,” the World Tree would have denied it outright. Since it was true, the answer could not be given.
The World Tree’s tone and atmosphere made it abundantly clear.

I resolved to meet with Priestess Cage as soon as I returned to the Roan Kingdom. It seemed especially important to see her before November arrived.

‘Something feels off.’

Now that I thought about it, something truly was suspicious.
Why had the God of Death brought Choi Jung-gun and Choi Han to this world?
I could roughly guess the intention, but I needed to know all the details for certain.

“Thank you for your great help.”

Once I had organized my thoughts somewhat, I offered my gratitude to the World Tree. Had I not had this conversation with the World Tree, I would have been blindsided by the God of Death rather than worrying about the White Star.

‘Why do so many problems keep surfacing lately?’

The Demon Realm, the God of Death—there were truly many issues.

-No, that is not so. For reference, Albert Crossman’s existence in the Roan Kingdom is natural.
“…What?”

Why was the Crown Prince suddenly brought up?

-I cannot say more than that.
“…I see. In any case, thank you for your help.”
-Kale Heniatus. Do you think I’m merely offering help?

Hm?
What was that supposed to mean?
The moment Kale Heniatus’s brow furrowed slightly, the World Tree whispered.

-I need your help.

The World Tree needed his help?
Kale Heniatus pondered for a moment, but decided to listen first.

“What is it?”
-Do you remember Ten Fingers Mountain?

Ten Fingers Mountain.
That place consisted of ten peaks located in the Western Region of Roan Kingdom—it was where I had obtained Destructive Fire and where the Elf Village, home to the Elf Healer Fendrick, once stood.

“Yes, I remember.”
-And the events that transpired there?

I recalled the records of the past. A scene flashed before my eyes in an instant.

After my first encounter with a Dragon Hybrid in Caro Kingdom and the war that followed, the Ancient Dragon Erhafen had come seeking me, saying that Rare had been destroyed.
I remembered the conversation I had shared with him through a communication crystal before his arrival.

‘You know Ten Fingers Mountain, right? Where the Elf Village was.’
‘…Yes, I do.’
‘You were guarding a branch of the World Tree there, weren’t you?’
‘That’s right.’
‘It was stolen a few days ago.’

My companions and I had fought alongside the Elves against the Spear Master and the Tamer, and through that victory, we had managed to protect the World Tree’s branch from the Dark forces.
But afterward, it was stolen once more.

If the World Tree’s branch disappeared from the Elf Village, the illusory magic concealing it would be dispelled, and simultaneously, the village constructed of trees would crumble.

‘When I went to the Elf Village for that matter, I found my Rare had collapsed. Heh, I suppose with only a year left to live, they decided to do such a thing.’
‘…Are both of them Dark?’
‘The Elf Village is certainly Dark, but my Rare shows no clear traces.’

Kale Heniatus recalled only up to this point and did not summon any further memories.
What had transpired in the Elf Village on Ten Fingers Mountain.
It was the matter of Dark stealing a branch of the World Tree.

“…Is there something you wish to ask of me regarding that matter?”
-I had discovered why ‘Dark’ had targeted the World Tree branch.

The World Tree’s voice that followed was filled with fury.

-They intend to create a new World Tree.

The World Tree.
The World Tree of this world was not the grandiose, must-be-protected entity that typically appeared in fantasy novels.
It had simply existed for a long time in a particular place, repeating cycles of life and death, and had become a pillar supporting the comfortable existence of nature spirits.
The same held true for the Elves.

Moreover, having lived so long, I had gained the power to perceive the world’s currents, and through that, I could glimpse the future and past to some degree.

‘In truth, merely being this much makes one a remarkable existence.’

The World Tree was sufficiently remarkable, and its power could be called tremendous. And to the Elves and spirits, it was a precious being.

‘But to create a new World Tree?’

The World Tree continued to speak.

-They stole my branch and seem to have conducted experiments to create a World Tree. I cannot discern what they aim for, but lately, whenever I observe the world’s currents, I feel a force obstructing me.

It was not like the darkness that had obscured my vision in ancient times.

-It was a power similar to mine. But unlike me, it did not possess its own will—it seemed to be controlled.

In the end, Kale Heniatus could not help but ask.

“Is it possible to create a new World Tree?”
-Am I?
“Pardon?”

I was left speechless by the World Tree’s retort, exasperated by its absurd response. Yet the World Tree itself was so furious it couldn’t even rest properly.

-In any case, I was able to detect where that power similar to mine originated and what was interfering with me.
“…Where is it?”

At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching my side.
Whoosh.
The sound of something unfolding reached my ears.

-Open your eyes.

I released my hand from the World Tree and opened my eyes.
Before me stood Adite with a map unfurled. Her finger pointed to a specific location.

“It is here.”

Ah!
I gasped.
The place Adite’s finger indicated.
It was the Molden Kingdom on the Eastern Continent.

“According to the World Tree, a false World Tree is being created in this location.”

More precisely, it was pointing to the very heart of the Molden Kingdom’s capital.
There resided Elysnet I, the Illusionist and King of the Molden Kingdom.

My mouth fell open.

“So the Illusionist is cultivating the World Tree.”

I shifted my gaze.

Illusionist.
At that word, I could see Choi Han staring at the map with such intensity it seemed it might tear. The Illusionist had forced him to confront a moment of despair, and he had nearly fallen under her control.
I quietly averted my eyes from Choi Han, whose expression was growing increasingly murderous.

At that moment, Adite conveyed the World Tree’s will.

“We humbly request your assistance in destroying the new World Tree. To this end, the World Tree and our Elf Village will mobilize everything we have to aid you.”
“…Everything?”

Kale Heniatus asked without much thought, and Adite quietly pulled out a pouch.

“…Well, this money is the entire fortune our village scraped together.”

It was a money pouch.
The elves, who had never cared even a whit about possessing or owning anything, including money, had for the first time ransacked their village to gather everything of value—the result of their earnest effort.

“I prepared this since I know you reasonably well, Kale. Beyond that, any supplies or combat personnel you need—all the elves from our village and across the East-West Continent stand ready to assist.”

All the elves connected to the World Tree had finished their preparations and were waiting on standby.

Adite spoke with pride, and I accepted the money pouch without hesitation.
There was no reason to refuse a gift being offered.
I cradled the surprisingly heavy pouch with anticipation and asked.

“But if all the elves can mobilize, why do I need to step forward? If elves from every continent join in, it seems like most problems would be solved, wouldn’t they?”

When Kale Heniatus asked with a puzzled expression, I could see Adite’s face growing serious.

“That’s the thing.”

She muttered with a gloomy face.

“We failed once.”

Failed? What do you mean failed?

“Adite! When did we fail? The great me didn’t know about this!”

Indeed, that was strange.
I was hearing this for the first time, just as Raon said, and I had no knowledge of it either.

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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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