Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 505

—————

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

—————

“That’s not an option.”

I turned my gaze away.
Choi Han’s stern face came into view. He looked at me and spoke with unwavering resolve.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but whatever it is—it’s not happening.”
“Huh?”
“Allow me to share a fact with you.”

Shing.
Choi Han drew his blade from its sheath with a subtle motion.

“If a sword pierces the heart, you die. Blood won’t save you.”

My heart, already racing, quickened further beneath the weight of Choi Han’s murderous gaze.

Regardless of age or station, that look in his eyes was genuinely terrifying.
Truly.
Without thinking, my mouth opened and words spilled out.

“Are you insane? My dream is to be a wealthy, long-lived unemployed person!”

Ah.
My honest heart had truly escaped my lips.

“….”

Yet Choi Han simply stared at me without any particular reaction.

…Are you looking at me with pity right now?
I couldn’t bear to meet Choi Han’s gaze and looked away. At that moment, Fendrick spoke up.

“In any case, I’ve conveyed everything the World Tree said.”

Looking at Fendrick, I recalled the World Tree.

‘Had it already sensed the vitality within my heart?’

The thought that the World Tree might know all of the Ancient Powers he possessed made him feel rather uneasy.

‘…I’m certain it said my future was difficult to see.’

It claimed that the futures of those who possessed Ancient Powers could not be seen, but was that a lie?
That didn’t seem to be the case either.

Kale Heniatus had much to contemplate.
The problem was simply that now was not the time for calm deliberation.

“Ughhhh—”

Below, a sorcerer writhed and groaned in agony.

Crash!
Boom. Boom, boom, boom—!

The sound of destruction echoed from all directions as something was being demolished.

‘They’re not even thinking about the future—they’re just destroying everything recklessly, aren’t they?’

It seemed my companions were using their power without restraint, as if there were no consequences. This had to be stopped.
To escape the Royal Palace and regroup with Bud, I needed to conserve some of my strength.

-…Excuse me…

At that moment, the Fake World Tree spoke to me hesitantly. Its branches were close enough to touch me, making conversation entirely possible.
My gaze turned toward the World Tree.

“Lord Kale Heniatus.”

But Choi Han spoke first, and I raised a hand to him to wait a moment. However, his next words drew my attention back to him.

“This Fake World Tree is under Elisne’s control. However, it is currently resisting that control, and its window of freedom has only about twenty minutes remaining.”
“…Twenty minutes?”
“Yes. So the plan was to destroy the maze and incapacitate as many enemies as possible within that time, then escort you to safety.”

My brow furrowed.
Including the time I had lost consciousness, I had thirty minutes of leeway. It was short, very short indeed.

“Did I exhaust all my power because time was running out?”
“Yes. I judged that escape was the priority. And I determined that if I continued to rampage like this, Elysnis’s illusion would not unfold properly.”

Choi Han’s words were correct. They were correct, but—

“Choi Han. There could be urgent situations later, so what will you do if you recklessly expend your power? For now, don’t push everyone too hard.”
“…Understood.”

Choi Han fell silent for a few seconds before responding.
Then I felt something odd and turned my gaze, only to find Fendrick staring at me with a peculiar expression.

“What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

Fendrick shook his head while regarding me with eyes that seemed to say he was at a loss for words.
The Kale before him bore the marks of using Ancient Power—a pallid face and dried blood clinging to the corners of his mouth were plainly visible. Yet despite this, Fendrick found himself speechless at what he was saying.

‘…As expected, he values his comrades more than his own body.’

That must be how he overcame the illusion as well.
Fendrick’s heart ached, yet he understood the feelings behind Choi Han’s stern expression. Having such a lord, anyone would be exasperated and yet unable to help but respect him.

I opened my mouth.

“First, let me inform the others that I’ve awakened—”
—Human! Human! Huuuuman—!

…Sigh. Every time I try to do something, something bursts out.
My brow furrowed, and I could picture the Dragon—invisible to sight but calling out to me and rushing toward me with violent intensity.

Crash!
And I flinched.
Something collided with the tree.
It was definitely Raon.

“…Raon. Are you alright?”
—Human! You’re awake?

But Raon seemed not to hear my question.

-Good news! Human, I’m smashing through the entire Maze! I’ll crush the Maze walls to dust—finer than sand!

…The six-year-old Dragon’s vocabulary was certainly expanding, but it seemed to be developing in a rather dangerous direction.

-Weak human, stay still! We’ll handle everything! Black Tree, don’t let him escape! If he does, the human passes out!

Screeeech.
The Black Tree coiled tighter around me.
I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Sigh.”
-Oh right! The Crown Prince is calling!
“…What?”

A communication device suddenly materialized in midair and moved toward Choi Han’s hand.
The crimson communication device connected immediately.

-Why are you contacting me so late—! …Brother. Where are you trapped?

Alberu’s expression, urgent as he answered the call, shifted subtly.

“It’s nothing serious. What’s the matter?”

Tsk.
Alberu clicked his tongue lightly.
For something supposedly trivial, my appearance was in terrible shape. It was the kind of condition that made one wonder if I needed to find some miraculous medicine. Yet Alberu had no time for such idle thoughts.
However, Alberu had no time to indulge in such idle thoughts.

Intelligence has come in that suspicious individuals have entered the Northwest Region.

Kale Heniatus’s eyes changed. His body naturally bent closer to the video communication device.

Of course, the White Star could have launched a direct assault on the Roan Kingdom itself, but I believed it more likely he would covertly infiltrate his subordinates into Northwestern Roan instead.
Of course, White Star could have openly invaded the Roan Kingdom, but I thought it was more likely that he would secretly infiltrate his subordinates into Northwestern Roan instead.

That’s why Alberu’s people were currently moving around various places in Northwestern Roan, searching for suspicious individuals.

-As we suspected, they are estimated to be subordinates of the White Star.
“I see. Then-”
-That’s why I’m busy. I’ll send important information by message.
“Pardon?”
-I’m swamped. That’s all then. Take care of yourself.

Click.
The video communication cut off.
Kale fell silent for a moment.

Bzzzzzz-
Then the sound of the video communication device ringing reached his ears. It was likely a message. Just as Kale’s gaze was about to turn toward the device again-

“How-! How are you already-!”

Elisne’s voice came through, torn and desperate.
Elisne, shocked at the sight of Kale, was leading the sorcerers toward this location. Kale’s gaze naturally turned in that direction.

“The Young Master has awakened! Stop him!”
“The Commander is awake! Increase speed and focus on escape!”

Tasha and Zit relayed Kale’s condition and issued orders to their respective subordinates.
Elisne still stared at Kale with a shocked expression. She seemed even more surprised than when Choi Han had broken free from the illusion.

“B-but you said that was the illusion that would make him experience his greatest fear-!”

Fear? What fear?
Kale let out a scoff. However, focused on Elisne, he failed to notice the murderous coldness etched across Choi Han’s face and the brilliant gleam in Raon’s transparent eyes.

“Kugh!”

Suddenly, a suppressed groan echoed out.
Kale turned in alarm toward the source of the sound. In that instant, a figure was flying through the air in the distance.

Boom!
The sorcerer who had been wearing glasses crashed to the ground and tumbled. His body lay limp as if unconscious, and the one who had kicked him drew his sword.

“Three left.”

Choi Han headed toward Elisne and the sorcerers approaching with those words, leaving one more comment as he did.

“Please rest easy.”

Of course, he tossed the communication orb to Kale Heniatus. With a soft rustle, black branches parted to receive the communication orb in his stead and passed it to Kale Heniatus.

“Hah.”

Kale Heniatus let out a sigh at the sight, his expression turning peculiar.

‘…At this rate, they’ll be able to handle most threats without me soon?’

He thought that things would become somewhat easier going forward and lowered his head to look at the communication orb. He needed to check the Crown Prince’s message after all.

And then he was startled.

Beeeeeep—
A sharp warning sound struck his ears and Kale Heniatus’s expression hardened.

“…As expected.”

Upon confirming who was attempting to connect via communication orb, he bit his lip briefly before releasing it.
It was something he had anticipated. Thus, he immediately connected the communication orb.
The crimson light burning far more intensely than Alberu’s communications was ominous.

-Human, connecting right now!

Kale Heniatus nodded and watched the communication orb screen connect with growing unease.
If this person was contacting him, it had to be an emergency.

-Kale Heniatus.

Clophe Seka’s coldly rigid face appeared on the screen.

-We’ve discovered Lion King Dorf in the forest near Lake of Despair.

Even as Kale Heniatus hoped this wouldn’t happen, his pupils darkened at the news he had anticipated.

* * *

“Kale, we’ve spotted Lion King Dorf in the forest near Lake of Despair.”

Clophe Seka delivered the message while gazing downward.

“Commander.”
“Quiet.”

He gestured silently to his subordinate. His cold eyes fixed on a specific point on the ground.

‘As expected, Kale.’

Not long ago, Kale and Crown Prince Alberu had contacted Clophe with an urgent cooperation request.
It was a cooperation notice sent only to Clophe, not to the Paern Kingdom.

【White Star’s subordinates are expected, with very high probability, to invade Lake of Despair, one of the Five Inexplicable Regions. We request cooperation in response.】

Clophe reflected on the contents of that cooperation notice.

-As expected.

Kale’s voice through the video communication channel was cold and subdued.
When Kale had devised the operation regarding the Fake World Tree, there was one thing he had kept in mind.

‘The Elves have already attempted infiltration once and failed.’

The cause of failure was the dead mana liquid.
Kale had considered this infiltration from the perspective of White Star, not from his own side.
From their standpoint, they would naturally have assumed the Elves would infiltrate again to destroy the Fake World Tree.

‘And they would have anticipated my involvement as well.’

Kale had already saved the Elf Village at Ten Fingers Mountain once, so he had a connection with the Elves.
White Star would have anticipated that the Elves would request Kale’s assistance, and judged the scale of such cooperation to be substantial.
Therefore, they would have assumed Kale and the Elves would head toward the Eastern Continent while simultaneously.

‘They would have anticipated the Western Continent being left undefended.’

If Kale were White Star, in such a situation he would protect the Fake World Tree while simultaneously attempting to destroy the real World Tree.
And that prediction had proven correct.

-You remember the operation details, right?

Clophe answered Kale’s question curtly with, “Yes, Kale.”
He had naturally stepped forward, willing to undertake this task.
The cooperation request letter had also included the benefits Clophe would gain.

‘…Above all, this is the path a legend walks.’

Keke.
The corners of Clophe’s mouth gradually curved upward.
An uncontrollable fervor enveloped him.
The additional letter Kale had enclosed.

【I’ve instructed several wyverns to follow you for a certain period.】

Of course, it was an order Choi Han had given to the wyverns.

【The wyverns will obey your commands. So during that period, you may use them for purposes other than what we’ve asked of you.】

Clophe wet his lips with his tongue.

‘Once I resolve this matter, I’ll need to organize the Northern Region during the remaining time.’

His eyes gleamed.
Heroes and legends had their own masters, but surely he should become the supreme ruler of the Northern Region, shouldn’t he?

His mouth opened.

“Descend.”

Dozens of wyverns, with knights mounted upon them, began descending rapidly toward the location Clophe indicated.

Clophe himself headed toward the ground, toward the forest.
At that moment, Kale’s voice reached him.

-Win. If you can’t, endure. Endurance is the priority above all.
“Yes, Kale.”

I suppose I should lend a hand in writing a page of legend.
Where Clophe’s gaze fell.
There, Lion King Dorf—bearing the distinctive features Kale Heniatus had described—was rapidly moving toward the Lake of Despair with his Lion Tribe warriors.

“Hmm!”

As Clophe descended, he saw Dorf’s expression shift to one of shock at the sight of me.
His noble smile twisted into something far more sinister.

“Tch. I’ve been spotted?”

He immediately issued orders to his knights.

“Ready!”

The knights’ arms tensed with power. Their shoulders drew back sharply, and in their grips they held long lances forged from solid iron.

“Throw!”

At Clophe’s command, the elongated lances were hurled toward the forest.

“These bastards!”

Dorf recognized Clophe immediately. Dark barriers materialized from both his hands.
Simultaneously, the Lion Tribe warriors drew shields or dove for cover to evade the lances.

Crash!
Clang, boom! Boom! Clang!

Dorf’s dark barriers collided with the wyvern knights’ lances, unleashing a deafening roar.

“Ugh!”

Having repelled the lances, Dorf’s expression contorted as he glared at the figure descending closer to the forest.

“…Clophe Seka.”
“Oh. You know who I am?”

Clophe Seka displayed his characteristic holy-looking knight’s smile.
Dorf returned with a leisurely expression and let out a scoff directed at him.

“Ha! Clophe Seka! Did you come here knowing what lies in this place? You-”
“Why should I care?”
“…What?”

Clophe Seka had no knowledge of what existed in the Lake of Despair.
However.

“What matters is that I lend my hand to the path of legend. Nothing else concerns me.”
“…What the hell, you madman-”

Dorf cried out with an incredulous expression.

“You, the guardian knight of the Northern Region, just do whatever Kale Heniatus commands without question?”

At that moment, Clophe Seka’s smile vanished.
With an expressionless face, Clophe Seka opened his mouth, and a calm yet resolute voice flowed forth.

“How foolish.”
“…What?”
“What need is there for reasons when legends and heroes are being forged?”

The corners of Clophe Seka’s mouth rose once more as his eyes began to gleam.
Before Dorf could even think that those eyes held the gaze of a truly mad man.

Rustle. Rustle.
The sound of leaves accompanied the moment.

Crash!
Trees shattered entirely as a whip burst forth.

Whoosh-
The whip swiftly evaded the spear and seized a Lion Tribe member hiding behind a tree, hurling him to the ground.

Boom!
“Cough!”

With a deafening roar, the Lion Tribe let out a scream.

Lake of Despair and the World Tree.
Clophe Seka was my first arrangement to protect that place.
And my second arrangement had just revealed itself.

Dorf’s mouth opened.

“…A whale has come ashore.”

Between the shattered fragments of wood, Witira, the next ruler of the sea and of the Whale Tribe, revealed herself.

—————

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

—————