Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 5

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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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When does a person grow truly angry?
Is it when they take a powerful straight hook? Or when they endure five quick jabs in succession?

Obviously the latter.

I threw five jabs and got hit. Therefore, a single jab was tolerable.

“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”

The Tea Shop had grown nearly empty.
Past nine in the evening, the Tavern now drew the crowds instead. Especially at this hour, when those who labored in the Quarry came to drink, the place would be packed with bodies.

“I look forward to seeing you again next time.”

I nodded at Bilos’s farewell.

“The tea was excellent.”

I conveyed my impressions to Bilos, who watched me intently.

“I only got through half the book, but it was absolutely captivating. I especially enjoyed the protagonist—how they earned recognition for their abilities and grew stronger.”

In that moment, Bilos’s eyebrows twitched slightly before relaxing. His eyes gleamed with intrigue as he studied me.

But I was too preoccupied with Choi Han to notice his reaction. Only now, in this moment of respite, did I truly savor the passages I’d read in those tense circumstances.
Reading in the midst of urgent danger had its own peculiar charm.
Whether due to automatic correction from possession or something else, I understood all the written characters of this world, and I found the book’s contents delightful without reservation.

A smile played at my lips. I made my next request to Bilos, who stood there dazed.

“Don’t let anyone else read that book. I want to read it the moment I arrive.”

Truly, the spoiled son of a count, monopolizing others’ possessions. Bilos, a bastard of a wealthy Merchant Guild, would surely find this distasteful—but what could he do? These were the words of a count’s son.

“Yes! I shall reserve this book exclusively for you, Young Master Kale!”

Yet Bilos’s reaction differed slightly from what I had anticipated. He beamed brightly and repeatedly urged me to visit again.

“Please, you must come back next time. I’ll be waiting!”
“Sure, whatever.”

I felt reluctant, but I needed to see Choi Han, so I left the Tea Shop. *Ding.* The bell chimed once more, and somehow the interior seemed to grow livelier in my wake.
Yet the street outside proved far noisier. Even as a remote territory distant from the capital, it was hardly a backwater—it boasted artists and specialty goods aplenty. Moreover, laborers exhausted from a grueling day at the Quarry were gathering in the streets for an evening drink.
I walked that street alone.

‘Come to think of it, he’s quite an unusual fellow.’

In typical fantasy or martial arts tales, a wastrel from a noble house would naturally associate with local thugs and ruffians—drinking, chasing women, causing trouble in streets and shops alongside them.

Yet the irony was that I despised thugs. I despised gangsters equally.

‘I considered them vermin.’

The worst sort of vermin at that. I deemed the common folk who labored diligently, however hopelessly, to be more useful vermin by comparison.
So when drunk, I never struck anyone—but I had a remarkable knack for hurling objects at visible thugs. My accuracy, however, was abysmal.
Perhaps that explained it.

“Oh my, the young master has arrived?”

The Tavern owner feared me greatly. Understandably so—every object near my seat that night had been shattered. I was likely the number one name on the blacklist of every Tavern in Western City.

I didn’t bother answering his greeting. Instead, I tossed him a gold coin.

“Bring me the usual bottle. And roasted chicken breast—no salt.”
“Yes? But, shouldn’t you take a seat first?”

My brow furrowed. The owner immediately waved his hands frantically and bowed deeply.

“Right away! I’ll fetch the drink at once!”

The owner moved swiftly, yet his expression seemed oddly pleased—he sensed I wouldn’t be sitting down. I swept my gaze across the Tavern’s interior as I entered. Everyone lowered their heads, avoiding my eyes. They likely wondered why I’d chosen this place of all establishments. The thugs and gangsters in particular bowed their heads lower still.
Everyone lowered their heads to avoid his gaze. They must be wondering why they came to this Tavern out of all the places today. The punks and gangsters in particular bowed their heads even lower.

Tsk.

The only sound in the quiet space was the sharp click of Kale’s tongue against his teeth.

“Young master, the wine bottle has arrived.”
“Good.”

I accepted the wine bottle and roasted chicken breast. Wine I drank frequently—likely the most expensive liquor this tavern had to offer. Without hesitation, I took the bottle and left the tavern.
The moment I stepped onto the street, I uncorked the bottle and downed half of it in one go.

“Ah.”

The taste was quite good. My alcohol tolerance was considerable, so drinking half a bottle at once barely affected me. Only my face flushed red, making me appear to others as someone with a weak constitution.
I retraced my steps quickly, bottle still in hand.
Passing by the Tea Shop where I had spent the entire day, I continued forward and soon noticed the guards at the City Gate stiffen upon seeing me. Though their expressions made me want to slip outside the gate, unfortunately that was not my destination.

“Ah, my insides are burning hot.”

As the alcohol took effect, I felt my stomach churning increasingly, and I finally arrived at the City Wall a short distance from the City Gate. The towering wall extending from the gate rose above the rooftops, blocking any intrusion from outsiders.

‘Though its application varies depending on the person.’

I recalled the contents from the book.

‘One hundred paces from the City Gate along the City Wall.’

That was where Choi Han would scale the wall. I gripped the bottle tightly and approached the City Wall swiftly. Being a residential area, there were few people on the streets.
Upon reaching the calculated position, I took a deep breath.

The City Wall exactly one hundred paces from the City Gate. At the outskirts of the residential district, only the torches hung by guards atop the wall and light spilling from the windows of homes existed.

Yet that much light was sufficient. My eyes, now accustomed to darkness, slowly approached my destination.

‘As expected.’

I could see figures crouched at the base of the City Wall. There was more than one.

Pitiful forms trembling violently. I approached without hesitation.

Then I heard the sounds of the crouched figures reaching my ears.

Meow, meow.

Two cats huddled against the base of the City Wall, mewling pitifully. The corners of Kale’s mouth lifted.

‘This is it.’

I had found the right spot. The moment Choi Han scaled the City Wall, a kitten at the exact location where he would land got rammed by the territorial alpha cat’s body and tumbled down to that precise position below the wall. So Choi Han twisted his body urgently. This was a world where chance reigned supreme.

‘He really is a good one.’

Unable to harm the kitten, Choi Han twisted his body desperately and accidentally sprained his ankle. This was Choi Han—the one who had murdered dozens for the first time, buried countless corpses, and rushed here like a madman. He had reached his limit, and this mistake was the result.

Meow, meow.

I remained crouched, watching the trembling kitten and another kitten beside it—seemingly a sibling—licking the first one. Then I turned my gaze away.

My eyes shifted toward an alley in the opposite direction from where I had come. And then I saw it.

‘Found him.’

A man crouched down like a vagrant or beggar visible anywhere in the city. Disheveled black hair and tattered, scorched clothes were visible.
Originally, Choi Han and I were supposed to meet tomorrow. Tonight, I would get drunk and suffer a wound to my side. Already, the story had diverged from the book. Though only slightly.

I straightened up from my crouch, having been focused on the cats. Perhaps sensing my gaze, Choi Han slowly lifted his head, and black eyes peered at me through his tangled hair.

‘Ah, I’m trembling.’

My heart pounded violently.
Though the darkness made it hard to see clearly, those eyes glimpsed between strands of hair were not merely cold—they were chilling.

I was grateful I had decided to drink.
I praised my own judgment and relaxed my body as much as possible. I needed to land a jab. And I needed to make a good first impression.
I swallowed and spoke to Choi Han, who was staring at me intently.

“You look hungry.”

Tsk, tsk. I clicked my tongue and pulled out some chicken breast. Then, with the gentlest touch I could manage, I offered the roasted chicken breast not to Choi Han, but to the two cats.

“Poor things. Eat up.”

I hadn’t realized the kittens were this small, so I wasn’t sure if they could manage chicken breast. Tsk. With a click of my tongue, I tore the chicken breast into small pieces so the kittens could chew it properly. I crouched down, wondering what I was doing.
Truth be told, I didn’t particularly like cats. However, Choi Han cherished small animals.

Purr. Rumble.

The injured kitten rumbled with bared teeth, as if unaware of my kindness, but I spoke gently while petting the silver-furred cat with golden eyes. The silver cat seemed to dislike my touch and kept trying to pull away.

“Eat this and get better soon. Poor things.”

I asked without looking at Choi Han. I assumed he was watching me.

“Do you have somewhere to go?”

No answer came. But I continued speaking. Soon the patrol guards would come by this place, and I needed to move before Choi Han limped away to escape them.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

I petted the silver-furred cat with golden eyes that rumbled contentedly, while pushing away the red kitten that kept rubbing against me. The red kitten oddly kept nuzzling me. Its golden eyes, resembling its sibling’s, gleamed particularly bright in the darkness. But I had to focus on Choi Han.
I had to focus on Choi Han.

“And you’re not hungry anymore?”

Still no answer. I expected as much.

Choi Han was likely assessing me right now. But he probably wanted to rest.

A body and mind pushed to their limits, and the tremendous shock experienced in a single day. Except for that small village, Choi Han had lived alone for decades without mingling with people. To him, Western City was truly the outside world. Despite living for decades, he was still young.

“Won’t you answer?”
“…I’m hungry.”

Finally, Choi Han seemed to have judged me as weak.

A person so weak that even my exhausted strength could easily kill him. Someone whose intentions were unclear, yet whose kindness seemed genuine enough that I could accept it.

I rose to my feet and approached Choi Han. The patrol guards would be coming soon.

“Hey.”

As I drew closer, Choi Han’s condition became more apparent. It was a mess. Yet despite everything, his eyes possessed a clarity that marked him as the protagonist. There was something oddly comforting about his black hair and dark eyes—the unmistakable features of a Korean. So I smiled and tossed the words at him casually.

“Follow me. I’ll feed you.”

The best first impression is always made by the one who offers you something delicious.

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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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