Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 513
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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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For the first time, I could see the Marquis’s brow furrow with displeasure.
“Hmm.”
The Marquis’s eyes, holding his fan, swept across the two people flanking me, pausing on each in turn.
His gaze settled on Sword Master Hana’s shoulder.
Beyond her shoulder, the hilt of a sword protruded sharply.
He stared quietly at the blade, hastily wrapped in bandages, before his lips parted.
“…The Sun God’s Condemnation, then.”
The Sun God despised those of dark attribute.
Thus, in ages past, the Sun God Church had conducted purges so thorough that Necromancers vanished from the Western Continent entirely.
An artifact forged by such a god.
The Sun God’s Condemnation.
The mightiest weapon capable of annihilating dark attributes, and an existence that forces those of dark nature to reveal their true forms.
“And you’ve even brought a Saint with you.”
The Marquis’s lips twisted into a grimace.
Uuuuoooong—
The surface of the enormous gray force hovering above the Marquis trembled.
“Indeed. Kale Heniatus, you have many companions, don’t you? I had forgotten that. But regardless, you are prey today.”
I took a step forward.
Tap.
But something blocked my path. I lowered my gaze to the white sleeve spread before me.
“Saint Jack?”
Saint Jack extended his arm to block me. The moment I saw his expression, my eyes widened slightly.
‘He can make that kind of face?’
Fear clouded his gentle features.
The moment I noticed this, my heart sank. I wondered if Jack had become frightened.
But Jack’s face was filled with hostility alongside that fear.
It was rare for this gentle soul to wear such an expression.
“Your Highness.”
Jack’s gaze remained fixed on the Marquis.
“Who is this person?”
Then he opened his mouth toward the Marquis.
“No, who are you?”
Sling.
I turned my gaze toward the sound of a blade being drawn. Sword Master Hana grasped Judgment of the Sun with a puzzled expression.
Uuuuung—
The sword was vibrating.
Violently.
It was the moment when Hana’s and my gazes met, both filled with bewilderment.
Jack’s voice reached our ears.
His eyes were directed at the gray sphere hovering above the Marquis.
“…That power does not belong to this world.”
“Exactly!”
Bud raised his voice in strong agreement with those words.
“It didn’t smell like this world!”
My eyes grew cold.
Power that doesn’t belong to this world?
…Could it be power from the Demon Realm?
If so, is this person a demon?
Then Jack murmured.
“You are like me. You serve something.”
What?
Kale Heniatus’s eyes widened.
Step.
Saint Jack stepped forward.
The moment he heard from Raon that Kale Heniatus was urgently requesting help, he immediately grasped the front paw Raon extended toward him.
‘The human could be seriously hurt, and things could go very wrong! If you want to come, come! If you don’t want to, you don’t have to! I won’t even mind if you don’t!’
How could I not go when he was asking?
This was the person who saved my sister Hana, saved myself, and saved both Mogur and the Sun God Church.
So I came here without hesitation alongside Hana.
And I realized my resolve was the right path.
A voice laden with conviction pierced toward the Marquis.
“You serve the Demon Realm and its demons.”
A sigh echoed through Kale Heniatus’s mind.
-Serving the Demon Realm, no less.
Hearing Jjangdol’s words, Kale Heniatus bit his lip.
Just as he had anticipated—just as there were priests in this world who believed in gods and among them were those who inherited divine power—
there also existed priests who believed in and followed the Demon Realm.
Jack’s hand reached toward the gray sphere.
“That belongs to the Demon Realm.”
Whoooosh—
Light began to radiate outward from Saint Jack as its center.
“Not the power of this world that I possess, but divine power, you see.”
“You understand well!”
Flap, flap.
The Marquis unfolded his fan once more, gazing at Jack with an expression of delighted bewilderment.
He was genuinely pleased that Jack had recognized me.
“I made the right call telling them not to kill you, didn’t I?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Hana stepped forward with a furrowed brow.
Kale had already been pushed to the background, and now Jack and Hana faced the Marquis directly.
“What do you mean? I stopped them from pursuing you to the end and killing you both. You see, you’re still useful. Especially you, Hana—you’re no longer quite human anymore, are you? You’re infected with dead mana. Kekeke.”
Hana’s mouth fell open without her realizing it.
“That bastard’s laugh is seriously grating.”
“…Hana.”
Jack tried to stop her, but the Marquis simply continued, waving his fan as he picked up where Hana had left off.
“I hear that quite often. But someone of my caliber is bound to hear such things frequently.”
Snap.
The fan closed, pointing toward the sky.
“People live beneath this irritating sun, after all. They might very well call those of us with such tremendous power grating. But that will change now.”
It will change now.
With those words, a massive gray mass of power shifted its direction toward the Sun God twins.
“So I’ll spare you both. You’ll have to shed tears watching this world fall under the dominion of the Darkness Kingdom. Kekeke.”
Hana looked at Jack.
“Brother. Is that bastard insane? Does trusting demons do that to you?”
“…Well. That person was originally—”
“Wait. He was always this crazy?”
Ssshhk.
Hana smiled and yanked at the bandages wrapped around the sword’s hilt.
Shhhhp.
A pristine white blade revealed itself, unmarred by a single speck of dust.
“So this is why this blade keeps crying out to kill that madman?”
“Kekeke. Hana. Are you trying to fight me?”
The Marquis licked his lips with his tongue as he gazed at the white sword she pointed at me, as though he were dying of joy.
“…Finally. Finally I’ll see the Sun God’s children bow before me and beg to live under my heel. Kekeke! Shall I kill them all?”
The Black Knight, who had been standing back, opened her mouth.
“Marquis. I’ve been waiting a long time to hear those words.”
Chaaang—!
The Black Knight’s blade revealed its cool, beautiful form. And it slashed downward with a subtle motion.
“Gaaahhh!”
Pause.
The descending blade stopped.
It was a scream coming from far away, from behind—not from this place.
Her eyes turned forward.
Jack and Hana.
Between those two who looked ready to rampage at any moment, slightly withdrawn—Kale Heniatus. A smile hung at the corner of his lips.
“Uaaahhh!”
At that moment, another scream rang out.
That direction was the forest across from her, where the Dark Elves were positioned.
Whoooooosh—
Simultaneously, wind rushed toward her like a massive tidal wave. No—it crashed against her.
‘Kale, you did it! And you brought them!’
‘I’m here! Sorry! Sniff. I was so scared! But I’m not scared now!’
‘Chaos, destruction, rage! I’m going to break everything! I’m a Wind Spirit hiding my true power!’
The wind brought by the three Wind Spirits carried On’s power within it.
The mist obscured the entire field of vision in an instant.
The Black Knight watched as Kale Heniatus disappeared into the mist.
At the same time, she saw Hana and Saint Jack smiling. Raon had told the twins something.
‘The human asked us to help with the escape operation! Oh, and if you two face enemies you can’t handle, block the human’s path and give us a signal!’
Kale Heniatus opened his mouth as he watched the mist engulf everything except his allies in an instant.
“From this moment on, our operation has only one objective.”
His allies’ eyes turned toward him.
“We escape without a single casualty.”
The light in their eyes transformed.
Power crystallized within their pupils.
It was not merely a matter of willpower.
Whoooosh—
Light enveloped them.
Healing energy washed over the Elves and mercenaries. Radiance poured forth from Saint Jack’s sleeves.
The mist swallowed even that light.
Meowww.
Then, the Silver Cat emerged from within the mist.
“Screeeech!”
“Arrrghhh!”
His allies heard the enemy’s screams. Simultaneously, Kale Heniatus lifted On onto his shoulder and spoke.
His voice was swift and precise.
Now it was a race against time.
“The Dark Unit assassins positioned behind the Dark Elf battalion are currently under attack. Those attacking them are the Molan Family—our allies. We will rendezvous with them and escape.”
However, to reach the Molan Family, there was a mountain to overcome.
That mountain was the Dark Elf battalion and an unknown force presumed to be Vampires.
“Commander. Shall we attack the Dark Elves?”
“Yes. We cannot gauge the strength of those serving the Demon or the Knights Order. But Vampires and Dark Elves are definitively natural enemies of the Sun God Church.”
That made it easier to break through in that direction.
Our forces realized Kale’s explanation was no longer necessary. They waited for his next command.
The confusion from the mist was fleeting.
There was no telling when the Molan Family’s ambush would end.
We had to move quickly.
“The Mercenary Group shields the Elves. And the Elves attack on signal with arrows.”
A strained breath escaped.
Someone’s labored breathing reached our ears.
Gren Puff gripped his wounded side and pushed himself upright.
Fortunately, his complexion was better than before. The same held true for the other Mages.
It was thanks to Jack’s healing power.
But complete recovery had not yet been achieved.
“…Gren Puff.”
The moment Kale’s lips parted, Gren spoke on behalf of the Mages.
“We have sufficient stamina to flee. Though our mana remains unstable for casting spells.”
The Mages nodded. Gren continued with a faint smile.
“We mercenary-born Mages excel at running stamina. And shouldn’t the Saint’s power be reserved for elsewhere?”
He was right.
There was a reason I couldn’t immediately order Jack to heal everyone at once.
‘Dark attributes evade Jack’s healing power.’
And.
‘The escape could become a prolonged battle.’
If Jack healed multiple people at once and exhausted himself, rendering him powerless, that would be problematic.
I signaled Jack with my eyes.
“It’s a potion made by the Temple.”
Jack handed a handful of it to the Mages before returning to Kale Heniatus’s side.
Meow!
At that moment, On signaled to Kale Heniatus.
She conveyed that it was time for the only being who could see everything within the fog to move, that there was no time left.
“Choi Han, Hana takes the vanguard.”
Under the current circumstances, the strongest forces would lead the way.
“Bud takes the rear. Saint Jack in the middle.”
Bud, who could detect approaching formidable enemies by scent, would guard the rear. In the center, Saint Jack—
“I shall begin.”
Whoosh—
The healing light bestowed by the Sun God wrapped around our allies, forming a radiant barrier.
“Vampires and Dark Elves won’t be able to approach within this barrier.”
I opened my mouth.
“Move out.”
On received my gaze.
A path began to form within the fog.
“This looks good.”
Hana pointed to the path and spoke to Choi Han, who silently signaled her to stay quiet before drawing his sword. A shimmering black aura rippled across the blade.
He took his first step forward.
“No more talking. Just run.”
“And we cut down anything that blocks the way?”
“That’s right.”
Choi Han advanced forward, leading our forces alongside Sword Master Hana. And directly behind the two of them stood Kale Heniatus.
“On, send the signal.”
He swung the spinning top.
Soon, strange wind vortexes tore through the mist.
It was not the Voice of Wind.
Whiiiiii—
Wind Spirits created vortexes in various locations.
The vortexes continued to multiply, appearing each time the Black Dragon flapped its wings and revealed itself carrying the Red Cat on its back.
“Cough. Hack!”
“Grrrr—!”
Red poisonous mist intertwined with wind appeared on both sides of our forces, carving a path for them to run.
—Human! Don’t worry about us! We’re doing great!
Kale Heniatus continued to observe his surroundings while listening to Raon’s unceasing reports.
‘Chaos, destruction! West! Nine o’clock!’
“Nine o’clock!”
Kale Heniatus shouted, and Soros immediately relayed the command.
“Fire!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
Arrows flew in unison toward the direction Kale Heniatus had indicated.
Clang! Bang!
Simultaneously, the mercenaries had to brace themselves against the force striking their shields.
Kale Heniatus examined the mercenaries’ shields.
The black arrows shot by the Dark Elves vanished the moment they touched the shields. Yet the force was strong enough to dent the shields in an instant.
‘If we take two more volleys like that, the shields will be useless.’
At that moment, the voice of the Elderly Dark Elf rang out.
“We’ve found the enemy’s position!”
Soon, a rain of arrows from the Dark Elves would pour down.
“…The enemy’s spirits are coming!”
Soros informed us of the enemy spirits’ movements—that they were devouring spirits.
I had already sensed both of these threats.
“Fire!”
The Elderly Man’s voice rang out at that moment.
“Raon!”
-Understood!
Thump.
Hong dropped onto my outstretched arms, and in an instant, an enormous, impenetrable black shield barrier materialized, enveloping our forces.
The mercenaries, save for Gren, hesitated, but soon they had to shrink back as they witnessed countless black arrows pouring through the mist.
“Don’t stop!”
Then my voice rang out.
“Everyone, charge! Think of it as death if you stop—keep your eyes forward, no matter what!”
“Follow the commander’s orders!”
Bud’s voice followed from the rear, and our forces began advancing again.
Boom!
Bang! Bang! Boom! Boom!
Dozens upon dozens of countless black arrows began raining down upon the shield barrier.
At this, Elf Soros found himself unconsciously watching me, afraid the shield barrier might shatter.
Then he was startled.
‘What?’
Choi Han and Hana at the front were no longer visible.
Then, between the barrage of black arrows, I could see a streak of white light followed by a shimmering black aura.
“Ugh!”
The Elderly Dark Elf involuntarily clutched his shoulder and staggered backward.
Sizzle—
The skin on his shoulder was burning away.
Yet he kept his gaze fixed forward.
Choi Han, who had deflected his black arrows.
And Hana, protected by Choi Han’s cover, attacking him in unison.
The white blade grazed past the Elderly Dark Elf’s shoulder.
“…Just a mere graze…!”
Despite only a brief contact, his skin burned severely, leaving a grievous wound.
It would not heal.
It was a wound left by the Sun God’s sacred artifact.
“These bastards…!”
But before the Elderly Dark Elf could even respond, Choi Han and Hana were engulfed in mist and vanished in an instant.
The two returned to the vanguard.
Hana glanced back at Kale Heniatus and grinned wickedly.
“So we just attack whenever we locate a strong enemy like this?”
“Yes.”
“Simple. And I like it. Don’t you?”
She could see Kale Heniatus answering her question without emotion.
“Well, we have to do at least this much. We can’t just keep running and taking hits.”
Perhaps due to the attack on the Elderly Dark Elf, the arrow barrage ceased momentarily.
Kale Heniatus looked toward Soros.
Soros had certainly heard Kale Heniatus say he wouldn’t simply flee. Because of that, even looking at Kale Heniatus’s eyes, he seemed to know what he was about to say.
The moment his lips opened involuntarily, Kale Heniatus, seeing this, raised his hand.
The black shield barrier vanished.
Soros’s voice reached the Elves.
“Attack!”
In that fleeting moment when the enemy’s assault ceased.
The Elf’s arrows and the Spirits who had hidden behind the black shield barrier, evading the enemy’s Spirits, began their counterattack.
Water, fire, wind, earth, and wood energies intertwined with the arrows, spreading in all directions.
Direction mattered little.
Everyone here except us was an enemy.
“Krraaagh!”
“Kugh!”
The moment the enemy’s screams echoed again, our forces witnessed the black shield barrier materializing anew as their assault concluded.
Kale Heniatus withdrew a pouch containing the finest magical stones from his inner pocket. It passed into the grasp of something unseen.
The invisible Raon had taken it.
To ensure the black shield barrier never faltered, Kale Heniatus had instructed Raon to conserve his strength and rely on the magical stones instead.
He spoke to his allies who had paused after their assault.
“Why have you stopped?”
In that instant, his allies startled and tore their gaze from the sturdy shield barrier protecting them, refocusing ahead as they ran forward.
Though visibility extended barely a step ahead, the mist parted only for our forces, revealing a path.
Before their eyes stood the silhouette of their commander sprinting forward.
Escape without a single casualty.
It seemed possible.
Hope and strength infused every step our forces took.
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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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