Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 527

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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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Screeeech—
Kale watched silently as the bedroom door where Alberu was resting swung open.
He recalled the situation from moments before.

‘Human! You’ve got a message from Count Derth—no, Duke Derth! Don’t tell Vicross he’s a Count! He’ll get upset!’

It had been while I was resting briefly in my assigned bedroom.
Kale had casually glanced away at those words, and Gashan had grinned widely.

‘It’s probably about our Tiger Tribe and Rak’s situation.’

Kale had assumed the same.

‘Raon. Connect the call.’

So I connected the video call without much thought.
And the moment Duke Derth’s face appeared on the communication screen—

‘My son! You’ve become a g-god—’

Kale was startled.

‘Father. No, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s absolutely not true.’
‘My son! Strong denial is affirmation—’
‘No, Father.’

The moment Kale spotted where his father was through the Duke’s face filling the screen, he was startled once more.

‘…Is that so?’

Duke Derth, his father, seemed somewhat disheartened as he pulled his face back from the communication screen and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

Then Kale could see it.

The grand conference hall at the heart of Heniatus Territory Castle, where all the retainers gathered whenever something significant occurred.
Not just any conference room, but the grand one.
The moment Kale saw the confused eyes of the Heniatus Territory retainers looking at me, vertigo washed over him.

Moreover, everyone except the young Lily had gathered in the conference room.
The moment I saw Basen sitting right beside Father, his expression overflowing with confusion and bewilderment, and Duchess Viollan sitting with Father, her eyes wavering with uncertainty.
Kale Heniatus realized that something truly serious had happened.
He opened his mouth immediately.

‘Father. But where did you hear such baseless rumors?’

At Kale Heniatus’s words, Duke Derth slowly lifted his head and looked at Kale Heniatus as he spoke.

‘Kale Heniatus. The ears of House Heniatus reach throughout the entire kingdom.’
‘Then the spread to other places—’
‘It hasn’t spread yet. But according to our intelligence, it seems to be spreading gradually.’

Along with those words, Derth stated that the Royal Palace in the Capital would already be aware of the rumor.

‘Perhaps… it will spread across the entire Western Continent beyond the Roan Kingdom.’

The moment Kale Heniatus heard the Duke’s words, he nearly grabbed the back of his neck.

A mere hero and a hero chosen by divine will were vastly different.
The degree of reverence was different.

While a mere hero might fill a page or chapter of a history book based on their achievements, a hero chosen by divine will would have an entirely separate, thick biographical volume created about them.

‘Brother.’
‘…What is it?’

When Basen cautiously opened his mouth, Kale Heniatus looked at him tensely.

‘Um, Brother. Shouldn’t family members be honest with each other without deception?’
‘…That’s true.’
‘Brother. Are you truly not a divine representative—’
‘No.’

Before Basen could finish speaking, Kale Heniatus cut him off sharply.
A divine representative, no less.
It was a terrifying term.

Kale Heniatus looked at the members of House Heniatus beyond the video communication device and spoke with conviction.

‘I’m just an ordinary human, I tell you.’

Weak.
I felt that even this wasn’t enough.

‘If I had inherited the will of a god, would I collapse so pathetically? I’m just an ordinary human, so this is how it is.’

That’s right.
I’m not some great human connected to gods or anything like that.

‘I simply did what someone had to do, but from the White Star’s perspective, since he kept clashing with me, it seems he’s developed some ridiculous thoughts in that head of his.’

The White Star might have brought up a god just to explain Kale’s existence.
He was certainly mad enough for that.
Kale continued speaking with conviction.

‘Rather than worrying about baseless rumors about me, it would be better to focus on preparing defenses, since we don’t know when the White Star might target the Heniatus Territory.’

After finishing everything he had to say, Kale waited for the reactions of the people in the communication device.
This should be enough, right?

Duke Derth was the first to respond.

‘…My son. I’ve gained great enlightenment thanks to you.’

Next came Duchess Viollan’s subdued voice.

‘Kale. We trust you. So don’t worry. Just come home and rest whenever things get difficult. It seems Lily misses you too.’

Then Basen spoke.

‘Brother. I respect you.’

This was strange.
Somehow the atmosphere in the conference room had grown even more heated.
In any case, it seemed they didn’t believe the talk about Kale being a god’s representative or having inherited a god’s will, so he offered an awkward smile as he said his farewell.

‘Then I’ll get back to work. I’ll stop by the territory next time.’
‘Yes. I need to get back to work too!’
‘…It’s always work. Don’t overdo it.’
‘Brother. I’ll work hard as well!’

And I ended the video communication.
Kale Heniatus stared at the disconnected communication device for a long while, heaving heavy sighs.
So he didn’t notice.
The burning gazes of Gashan and Rak as they watched his hunched, weary shoulders.
Nor did he see Choi Han shaking his head gently with a kind smile on his face as he observed him.
Kale Heniatus remained lost in thought, unaware of his companions’ reactions.

“Kale. Aren’t you going in?”
“Ah.”

Kale Heniatus snapped back to attention at Choi Han’s voice.
What was supposed to be a brief moment of reflection had turned into deep contemplation.
Kale Heniatus looked down at his arms.

Goosebumps covered his skin.
The conversation he’d just had with the Heniatus Duchy had left him with such a chilling memory.

“I should go in.”

Kale Heniatus gave a brief reply to Choi Han and stepped into Alberu’s bedroom.
The Magic Captain and the General exited the bedroom in the opposite direction, and Kale Heniatus bowed his head in greeting before striding forward with long steps.

‘…Hmm.’

Alberu swallowed hard as he watched Kale Heniatus.

‘That guy didn’t even seem to notice the expressions on the Magic Captain and General’s faces.’

As the Magic Captain and General passed by Kale Heniatus in greeting, they regarded him with quite complex expressions.
Yet Kale Heniatus hadn’t properly seen their expressions at all.

‘What’s he thinking about that he’s not even observing his surroundings?’

Alberu watched Kale Heniatus approaching him, thinking that this was how rumors spread.

“Your Highness.”
“Brother.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Right, younger brother. Why don’t you sit down for a moment?”

Sigh.
Kale Heniatus exhaled and settled into a chair near Alberu’s bed.
Choi Han observed the scene and grasped the door handle.
He closed it to ensure their conversation remained private.

Click.
The moment the door shut, Alberu’s eyes shifted.

“What happened at the other three locations?”

This battle had unfolded across four fronts simultaneously.
On the Eastern Continent: the Molden Royal Palace and the Northern Snowy Mountains.
On the Western Continent: Lake of Despair and Sten Territory.

Kale Heniatus explained to Alberu the battles that had occurred at the Molden Royal Palace and the Northern Snowy Mountains.

“And regarding Lake of Despair…”

Kale Heniatus paused before describing the third battle.

Upon entering Sten Castle, Kale Heniatus had intended to move immediately to Lake of Despair.

‘Human! I’ve received word from Witira!’

At that moment, contact came from Witira, the Whale King’s successor, and after hearing the full account of events, Kale Heniatus’s mind grew even more tangled.

“…The Lion Tribe that attempted to invade Lake of Despair and Lion King Dorf apparently fled after several clashes.”
“They as well?”

Bewilderment flickered across the Crown Prince’s eyes.

“How strange. I can understand why the White Star fled—you’ve explained that to me—but would the Lion King flee so pathetically without reason?”
“Exactly.”

Kale Heniatus nodded in agreement and leaned back deeply into his chair.

“The report I received through Clophe Seka was similar.”

After Witira, I immediately established a communication connection with Clophe Seka.

‘…That’s strange, Lord Kale Heniatus.’

Clophe also said it was strange.

“According to Clophe Seka, the Lion King Dorf’s objective was definitely the World Tree located at Lake of Despair.”
“But?”
“…After the battle ended, upon reflection, he said the battle was rather anticlimactic rather than fierce, and that additional investigation would be necessary.”
“Is that so?”

Tap. Tap. Tap.
Alberu could see Kale Heniatus tapping the armrest of his chair with his index finger.

“It seems I must visit Lake of Despair.”

Kale Heniatus decided he should visit Lake of Despair to discuss the issue of the Fake World Tree with the World Tree.

‘Something feels off.’

It felt unsettling that the White Star simply fled like that.

‘A Dark Elf who wields a spirit that devours spirits has appeared.’

The World Tree was like a parent and a hometown to the spirits.
Dorf, who commands dark attribute spirits, and the existence of a spirit that devours spirits—these facts told Kale Heniatus that he could not brush this matter aside lightly.

“…That is quite remarkable.”
“What is, Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince continued with an intrigued expression.

“The Endable Kingdom, that is.”
“…Well, it is rather surprising.”

A kingdom built by races with dark attributes gathering together.
It was certainly a fascinating place.

‘Though somewhat bittersweet.’

Across the East-West Continent, while the degree varied by region, those with dark attributes were the unwelcome races.
I couldn’t say how the Endable Kingdom came to be, but many dark-attribute races likely sought refuge there, unable to endure the territorial prejudice.

That was when Alberu spoke up abruptly.

“It would be wonderful to form an alliance.”

Kale’s eyes turned toward Alberu.
He gazed at Alberu quietly before opening his mouth.

“I plan to meet with Duke Fredo soon.”
“An amusing vampire, that one.”
“Indeed.”

Except for the part where Kale claimed his own blood was the finest tonic.

“I intend to stop by the World Tree first, then meet with the vampire immediately.”
“You’ll be busy. Is there anything I can help with?”

Alberu felt the air shift in that instant.
The moment he posed that question, he sensed a sudden solemnity settle over Kale’s body as he sat comfortably in his chair.

“…Kale?”
“Your Highness. Or rather, brother.”

The moment their eyes met, Alberu’s shoulders trembled slightly.

‘…Why does his gaze look like that?’

Kale’s eyes were fierce.

“Brother, I have one request to ask of you.”
“…Y-yes. Tell me.”

Alberu could see Kale speaking with more solemnity than ever before.
His grave voice filled the bedroom.

“…Please prevent the nonsense that the White Star spreads from circulating.”
“…Ah.”

Alberu let out a sigh.
In that moment, Kale realized something.

‘…Even the Crown Prince cannot do it.’

It was hopeless.
Kale lowered his head, and Alberu patted his shoulder.

“I will definitely make my younger brother’s hundred-year dream come true. Trust me.”

Alberu could see Kale’s eyes turning irreverent.
Kale spoke his true thoughts without hesitation.

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll deal with the White Star and just flee. If I hide, no one will know.”

Kale averted his gaze from Alberu’s eyes, which looked at him with pity. Then his eyes met Choi Han’s, and Choi Han smiled gently and spoke.

“Young Master Kale, you will succeed. You can do it.”

…Isn’t this elder’s encouragement even more irritating?
Kale also averted his gaze from Choi Han.

-Human! I don’t want to live in hiding! Just live confidently and show yourself! You’re more than capable of it!

He ignored Raon’s indignant voice as well.
Kale felt increasingly suffocated.

Knock, knock, knock—
Then, a knocking sound came from the door.
The moment everyone’s gaze turned toward the door, a familiar voice came from outside.

“Your Highness. It is Kaige. I have come to see Young Master Kale.”

Crazy Priestess Kage.
She stood outside the door.

Kale Heniatus immediately signaled Choi Han, who opened the door.

Creeeeak—
Kage entered the bedroom with a serene expression.

“Good day to you.”

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth immediately in response to her cheerful greeting.
Click.
Choi Han quickly shut the door, and Kale Heniatus’s voice filled the bedroom.

“Kage. We’ve already exchanged greetings earlier, so I’ll skip that. Kage, why were you in that place just now?”

Kage was not someone weak enough to be taken hostage.
Why had she been the Crazy Priestess in the Birth of a Hero?

The Birth of a Hero.
In that book, after her dear friend Taylor’s death, Kage killed half of the assassins who had murdered him and was excommunicated for the act of killing.

‘I simply chose loyalty and duty as a person over the will of the gods. I believe that was right.’
‘Now I am free!’

After that, she became known as the Crazy Priestess and earned her name as a volunteer soldier in the war.

‘Kage’s specialty was curse magic.’

Curse magic using the power of the God of Death—her strength in it was said to be considerable.
Though I had never witnessed Kage fighting until now.

‘There’s no way someone like that would be easily taken hostage.’

Kale Heniatus looked at Kage, and she looked back at him.
Smirk.
The corners of her mouth rose, and her serene expression soon settled into composure.

“If you’re asking why I was taken hostage.”

Priestess Cage answered in a low, murmuring voice.

“I deliberately got captured along with the kingdom’s citizens, intending to seize the opportunity to strike down those creatures all at once and rescue the people.”

For a moment, Kale heard Alberu muttering behind him, ‘…strike down?’ but he couldn’t respond to it.
It was because of what Priestess Cage said next.

“Young master. The God of Death has been pestering me endlessly, asking what it would be like to become a Saint. I was so annoyed that I wanted to slap that mouth of his whenever he appeared before me.”

Kale felt an inexplicable chill creeping down the back of his neck.

“But today, he said something different. He mentioned that it might not be a bad idea to give the position of Saint to another human.”

Silence descended upon the bedroom.
The moment Priestess Cage mentioned ‘another human,’ all eyes turned toward Kale.
She broke the silence and asked him a question.

“What do you say? Are you willing to make what the White Star said a reality?”

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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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