Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 490

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

“Ugh, ugh!”

Bud thrashed about, his body convulsing as he struggled against his restraints.
Yet Kale Heniatus, engaged in a handshake with Sophies, spared him not a single glance.

“Tsk.”

Ron, too, clicked his tongue dismissively without so much as looking in Bud’s direction.
Seeing that even Ron had turned away, Bud cast a desperate gaze toward Choi Han, who stood behind him.

“Ugh, ugh!”

A faint smile played at Choi Han’s lips as he observed Bud’s plight. Then, with a slight nod of acknowledgment, he walked past Bud without hesitation.

-Mercenary King, I’ve arrived too! Your friend is apparently keeping watch outside the walls to see if any sentries approach!

Raon’s cheerful voice resonated within Bud’s mind.

-Mercenary King, thank goodness your head didn’t fly off!

Bud ceased his struggling. He simply clenched his jaw and bowed his head in resignation, longing for the familiar reproaches of his friend Gren.
Yet sadly, only Raon seemed to notice Bud’s dejected state.

-Human! The Mercenary King looks rather melancholy for some reason.

Whether or not anyone cared.
Kale Heniatus paid Bud no mind and took the seat that Sophies had indicated.
It was that same dilapidated table and chair from within the Memory Storage where I had first laid eyes upon her. The weathered table held only two wooden chairs, and Kale Heniatus and Sophies occupied them.
Ron and Choi Han made their way silently behind Kale Heniatus.

“I cannot possibly have our guest standing.”

Yet Sophies gestured toward one corner, and the three men caught sight of a bed.

“Feel free to lie down, roll about, or stand on your head—use it however you wish.”

…Indeed, she was no easy opponent.
I realized once again that Sophies was formidable, and Ron drew a benevolent smile.

“I dislike beds, so may I do as I wish?”

Sophies regarded Ron briefly, then nodded with elegant grace.

“Of course. You are the returned master of the Molden Mountain Range, after all. Feel free to do as you please.”

The gazes of Ron and Sophies collided.
Ron naturally knew her identity, and Sophies, as she had mentioned earlier, had discerned not only Ron’s nature through her dogs but also the identity of House Molan.
Sophies met Ron’s gaze with cold eyes, and Ron moved with his benevolent smile.

“Hmm?”

And her eyebrows rose slightly.

“The young master has his preferred tea, so I have brought it prepared.”

Ron, dressed in assassin’s garb, leisurely withdrew a teapot and teacups from his spatial pocket with remarkable composure. As he produced lemon tea, Sophies cast a subtle glance around her surroundings.
Save for the red-haired man before her, not a single person showed any change in expression.

Only the red-haired man gazed at Ron with evident displeasure.
This man must be the ‘young master.’

‘To openly display such emotion and displeasure toward the head of House Molan…’

…That would make him the true master.
The moment he appeared, Sophies observed the Mercenary King’s reaction—the way he gazed at the red-haired man with endless, desperate eyes revealed absolute faith that this man would save him.

‘No matter how limited my outside information may be, for someone of the Mercenary King’s caliber to trust and follow so completely—’

It must mean this man possessed considerable power.

Pitter-patter—
Before long, tea brewed by the head of the Assassin Family was placed before Kale and Sophies, one cup each.
Sophies lifted a fine teacup of the sort used by noble houses—something she had not held in a very long time, not the worn cups of old.

“It brings back memories of drinking tea in the Royal Palace.”

She took a sip of tea as she spoke, her gaze settling quietly on the man before her.
Kale Heniatus addressed her with a touch of humor.

“What do you see when you look at my face?”

A subtle smile.
The corners of Sophies’s lips curved upward.

“It’s difficult.”

She gestured toward Kale Heniatus.

“And it’s a face I’ve never seen before. Who are you?”

Her gaze—as tightly pulled back as her hair, without a single gap—fixed upon Kale Heniatus.
I barely managed to suppress a flinch at the unexpectedly tart lemon tea before opening my mouth.

“I possess much, so I cannot readily reveal everything. First, I must know whether the information Your Highness holds is what I seek.”

I could not trust Sophies.

“Deposed as I am, the title of princess hardly suits me. Spare me the courtesy.”

I nodded and gave a slight shrug of my shoulders. Observing me, she continued with elegant grace.

“And if there exists a person who cannot speak freely because they possess much, there also exists one who cannot speak freely because they possess only one thing.”

She could see the corners of the red-haired man’s mouth lift.

“Then let us speak of a person to whom both can speak freely.”
“…What do you mean by that?”

Even as the tea grew cold, Sophies kept her eyes fixed on Kale Heniatus, teacup in hand.
In that moment, my lips parted.

“You are a sorcerer, so you were never ensnared by the Illusionist’s illusions—is that correct?”

The smile vanished from Sophies’s lips.

“Which Illusionist are you referring to?”
“You know perfectly well, yet you pretend not to. I’m talking about your older sister. Elysnet I.”
“Ah.”

Sophies let out an exclamation worthy of a theatrical performance, then turned her gaze toward the Mercenary King.

“You said you needed the secrets of the Molden Royal Palace, yet you’ve already figured everything out about that madwoman and came here.”

…Huh?
Kale Heniatus paused and opened his mouth.

“…I heard you two were close sisters.”
“Why? Are you upset because I called my sister a madwoman?”

Clink.
She set down her teacup and spoke.

“Someone who exploits family is not my family. That’s why she’s a madwoman.”

Clink, clink.
Ron emptied the cold tea from his hand and refilled it with fresh, warm tea.
Sophies kept her gaze on this and opened her mouth.

“I tried not to speak about myself if possible, but I have no choice now.”

She recalled the past.

“One day, I realized I possessed a special ability.”
“Woof, woof!”

She stroked the head of the scruffy puppy that had been with her since earlier.

“That realization came when I befriended this child’s mother—I discovered I possessed the power of a Shaman. And the moment I became aware of myself as a Shaman, I realized I had been seeing ‘illusions’.”

The fog that had filled her mind dissipated, and the truth revealed itself before Sophies’ eyes.

‘Can one simply break free from an illusion just by becoming aware of being a Shaman? Are there truly no other Shamans in the Royal Palace?’

Kale Heniatus felt a sudden question arise, but for now he focused on her story.

“Moreover, my family, the Royal Court, and indeed all of Molden have been deceived by that cursed wretch.”
“You mean Elysnet I has been showing illusions to the entire Molden Kingdom?”

Choi Han, who had been silent until now, interjected into the conversation.

“No. There was no need for her to go that far. She simply played the role of a benevolent ruler while concealing her despicable deeds.”
“Are those despicable deeds the dead mana in the Royal Palace?”

At Kale’s words, Sophies let out a hollow laugh.

“My, you certainly know almost everything.”

She nodded and straightened her posture with dignity.

“That’s right. I saw through the illusion and beheld the river of dead mana. That winding, serpentine river. And from that moment on, I threw myself at Elysnet I to stop her.”
“Why didn’t you reveal what you discovered?”

When Choi Han asked once more, Sophies burst into laughter. Even in that moment, grace radiated from her.

“Everyone in the Royal Family and all the administrators, servants, and handmaidens working in the Royal Palace are trapped in the illusion. And to the kingdom’s people, Elysnet I merely pretended to be benevolent.”

Moreover, Elysnet was developing the kingdom.
Who would ever notice her hidden darkness?

“No one believes me. Even those who followed me to the very end, down there on that hillside, could not escape the brainwashing of that illusion once they spent even a brief time in the Royal Palace.”

A bitter smile played at the corners of Sophies’ lips.

“They followed me not because they understood Elysnet’s true nature, but because they trusted and cared for me a little more.”
“Woof, woof!”

She stroked the puppy rubbing its head against her leg.

“Of course, these little ones trust me.”

As Kale listened to her words, there was one thing he had been unable to understand from the beginning.

“Why did Elysnet let you live?”

The only being within the Royal Palace who could see through illusions and fantasies. Why had Elisne kept such a dangerous element alive?
Because she was her sister? Out of familial affection?

A thin smile spread across her lips.
Kale Heniatus watched the smile form at the corners of Sophies’ mouth.
At the same time, he could see her eyes narrow slowly for the first time.

“She wanted to watch me go mad, you see.”

My family remains in the Royal Palace. Brainwashed as they are, they rest in Elisne’s grasp—for me, they might as well be hostages.
And no one will believe a word I say.

“Elisne said that since I blocked her path forward, death would be too easy a price. Instead, she wanted me to suffer in a state where I could do nothing at all, until I lost my mind.”

Sophies’ entire face contorted with a twisted smile.

“So I went mad.”

As the laughter faded slowly, the dignified woman looked toward Kale Heniatus and continued.

“In truth, who you are matters little to me. If you give me what I desire, I would gladly sell my soul to a demon. I have been waiting for someone who could offer me a chance.”
“Is that so?”

Rather than simply agreeing, Sophies leaned forward and whispered to Kale Heniatus.

“Give me freedom.”
“Your eyes betray far too much ambition to desire merely freedom, do they not?”

After a moment of silence, her lips parted.

“You read people well.”

Kale Heniatus raised his hand. When Choi Han responded, Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“Remove Bud’s gag.”
“Understood.”

Sophies remained still.

“Phew, I can finally breathe!”

Bud’s gag had been removed. Only then could he speak about the reason he had come to this place.

“While investigating the Molden Royal Palace, I obtained information that there might be a maze beneath it. And apparently, only members of the Royal Family are permitted to enter that maze.”

That was why he had sought out Sophies.

The Molden Royal Family was notably famous for being tightly knit and affectionate with one another—with the exception of Princess Sophies. Therefore, she was the only one who might possess information about the maze.

‘A maze.’

I had not heard any information about a maze from the Elf Priest Adite. I had only learned about the dead mana liquid located on the path leading to the World Tree.

Of course, since I had arranged to meet Adite once more, it was possible that she had deliberately withheld the detailed explanation to tell me then.

Sniff, sniff.
I lowered my head.

Sniff, sniff.
The puppy circled around me, sniffing, then wagged its tail and barked toward Sophies.

“Woof, woof woof!”

Sophies’ eyes widened slightly before she smiled and spoke.

“So you say he’s not a demon, but rather a good person?”
“That’s absurd. I’m a bad person.”

For a moment, Ron, Choi Han, and Bud fell silent and stared at me, but since the three of them were naturally quiet anyway, I didn’t notice.
Tap. Tap. I drummed my fingers on the armrest before speaking.

“First of all.”

I leaned forward, and the distance between us narrowed. I whispered.

“For now, think of me as a guide through the Maze—a guide along the ‘Path.’ My only desire is ‘freedom.’ What happens after that is entirely your concern.”
“Very well.”
“What a scoundrel.”
“…Pardon?”

Despite the dignified question, Sophies’ eyebrows rose slightly. But Kale, who had called her a scoundrel, remained composed.

“This arrangement seems far too advantageous for you alone.”

Sophies had always coveted the throne.
By merely guiding me through the Maze, she would gain freedom along with the opportunity to witness the Royal Palace crumble and seize the chance to bring down Elisne.

“It’s difficult to deceive you, isn’t it?”

Sophies made no attempt to deny it. Kale withdrew a document from his pocket and offered it to her.

“Let me present what we desire.”

Bud, held hostage. Since coming to meet him, nearly all the initiative had shifted to Sophies. Now it was time to change that momentum.
Now it was time to change that course.

Her expression showed considerable shock. She opened her mouth as she gazed at the seal impressed upon the first page of the document.
She looked quite startled. She opened her mouth as she gazed at the seal stamped on the first page of the document.

“…Roun?”

She looked at Kale.
She looked at Kale Heniatus.

“…You’re not from the Eastern Continent?”

Both had originated in the Eastern Continent.
Thus, she had assumed the man before her was a formidable figure from the Eastern Continent’s underworld whom she simply hadn’t encountered. Or perhaps an emerging power broker of comparable standing.
But his true identity lay beyond her expectations.
However, the opponent’s identity was beyond her imagination.

“I am Commander Kale Heniatus, representative of the Roan Kingdom.”

The moment Kale Heniatus revealed his true identity, contradictorily, she posed a question.

“…Who exactly are you?”

I found myself genuinely curious about the other person’s identity.
That was when Bud, who had been cautiously observing, straightened his shoulders and opened his mouth.

“The greatest hero of the Western Continent.”
“…A hero?”

When Sophies murmured the word “hero,” my face contorted, but she didn’t notice it.
Pitter-patter—
As warm tea was poured back into the teacup, Ron spoke.

“And my master, as well.”

Bud, seeing the startled Sophies, shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth again.

“The person I serve as a secretary. Even if the entire Mercenary Guild came at us, that fellow and his group couldn’t be defeated, you know? The man who turned an entire Empire upside down. Hahaha!”

Sophies’ eyes widened.

“Oh! And he’s very wealthy too!”

When Bud burst out with his final remark and laughed heartily, Sophies was left speechless.

This Kale Heniatus and his group alone could overturn both the Mercenary Guild and the Empire?
And this man represents the Roan Kingdom of the Western Continent?

“…Can you really tell me everything so openly? I haven’t shaken your hand yet. What if I tell Elisne everything as things stand?”

Woof, woof!
The puppy barked at the empty air.
Sophies flinched.

‘…There seems to be an even stronger presence whose identity I cannot discern?’

This shabby-looking puppy was no ordinary dog.
It was a clever child, resembling its mother. It seemed to possess a special quality that even Sophies had yet to perceive.

The boy was now gazing into empty space, claiming there existed a special being here that he could not perceive.
A presence so extraordinary that even he could not fully comprehend it.

Only then did Sophies furrow her brow at Bud’s words, while Kale Heniatus remained composed.

‘There’s more to this.’

So this man possessed such overwhelming power that he remained unbothered even as Bud revealed everything.
That’s why he disclosed such information to me as if it were trivial.

Sophies gripped the documents Kale Heniatus had offered her.
Terms presented by someone who possessed far more than she did.

“You’ve come to test me. To see if I’m worth using.”

At her words, Kale Heniatus shrugged and shook his head.

‘Test? Forget it. I came to pick up that bastard Bud.’

Kale Heniatus suppressed the sigh threatening to escape at Bud’s exaggerated boasting and hollow bragging.
But to Sophies, his expression conveyed something entirely different.

A man who could manipulate the Mercenary Guild and the Empire could just as easily topple the Molden Kingdom.

“…You’re a frightening person. I’ve brought into my home someone who could have my head blown clean off if things go wrong.”
“Huh? No—”

Blow my head off? What kind of dangerous phrasing was that—!
Kale Heniatus opened his mouth to speak.

“Never mind. Let me start by reading these terms.”

Sophies turned the first page of the documents with elegant grace, her dignified smile never wavering as she addressed Kale Heniatus.

“My resolve fears not even demons. Whether you’re a demon or not makes no difference to me.”

No, I’m not a demon?
Rather, it’s the White Star—the one suspected of having made a contract with demons—that needs to be eliminated.

“Rather than a demon, it seems like someone who plans to devour demons.”

Kale spoke the truth.

“You’re truly terrifying. Please don’t take my neck.”

No, that’s not what I meant.
But Kale had already lost the chance to protest.

Woof woof.
A puppy wagged its tail and looked up at Kale.

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