Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 528

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

Chapter 115. Mountain Beyond Mountain

Silence settled within the bedroom.
Crown Prince Albert’s eyes widened.

‘What did I just hear?’

He recalled what Kaige had said moments before.

‘Are you willing to make what the White Star said become reality?’

Make what the White Star said become reality?
The God of Death said that?
This time, Alberu was genuinely shocked.

‘This is unexpected.’

The more Alberu contemplated the current situation, the more chills ran down his spine. Could it be that what the White Star said might actually come to pass?

The God of Death.
Alberu recalled that deity.

‘…It’s not a religious order with that many followers.’

The Death God Sect was spread evenly throughout the Roan Kingdom. This was similar to most other religious orders established in the Roan Kingdom.

‘The Roan Kingdom hasn’t designated any particular religion as the state religion.’

Of course, some people found it strange that the Roan Kingdom, despite the Crossman Royal Family being known to have received the Sun God’s blessing, had not chosen the Sun God Church as the state religion.

‘Would I be insane to make the Sun God Church the state religion?’

But for Alberu and the Crossman Family, the Sun God was merely a fearful entity that watched over them.

‘Come to think of it, the Death God Sect isn’t particularly known for anything special except the Oath of Death.’

Yet the God of Death was stepping in so actively regarding the White Star problem?
A thought crossed Alberu’s mind.

‘I need to look into this.’

I decided I should gather information about the God of Death and that religious sect.
As Alberu organized his thoughts, he glanced sideways at Kale Heniatus.

‘…Will this fellow truly inherit the will of a god?’

He was curious.
That was the moment.

“Th-th-”

Kale Heniatus’s mouth opened.
Emotion gradually began to settle across his body and face, which had been frozen in genuine shock.

“This damned God of Death and all his nonsense!”

Oh.
Alberu was impressed.
The audacity to blaspheme even a god without hesitation!
Those words would surely reach Kaige through their connection!
Alberu found himself admiring his younger brother after a long time.

Regardless, fury surged through Kale Heniatus.

“All he does is pull insane stunts.”

The God of Death—isn’t this bastard completely insane?
Kale Heniatus’s temper flared. Without thinking, he struck his chest with his fist.

He’d dragged two innocent members of the Choi Clan here, negotiated to bring another, and even transported himself while he was peacefully reading a novel on vacation. And now this entity was sending them back, telling him to make a choice, forcing a countdown he never wanted.
He would have to inherit the will of a god—no peaceful retirement, no quiet life. He’d spend the rest of his days hiding, fleeing from threats on all sides.

“…Now you’re even interfering with my dreams?”

If he inherited the will of a god, he could forget about any respite. He’d have to spend his entire life in hiding.
A genuinely murderous and ominous glint flickered across Kale Heniatus’s eyes as he spoke quietly to himself.
Then, an incongruous sound echoed through the bedroom.

Clap—clap clap, clap—
The sound of applause.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward a single woman.
Kaige was clapping with a deeply satisfied smile on her face.
She lavished praise upon Kale Heniatus without hesitation.

“Young Master! That way you just insulted the God of Death was absolutely wonderful! Hahahaha!”

Laughing heartily, she began retrieving a wine cup from the voluminous sleeves of her robe.

“You’re refusing, aren’t you, Young Master? How wise of you! The will of the gods can go freeze to death. I should live as I please. It’s my life—I cannot live by another’s will.”

A wine bottle emerged from her sleeves as well.
In that moment, Alberu let out an exclamation.
How was she concealing a wine bottle and cup within her sleeves?
It was astonishing.

“We share the same convictions, so let’s have a drink! Ahahaha!”

Kaige appeared to be in exceptionally high spirits.
The reason soon became apparent.

“I got a hit in! Hahahaha!”

There was no need to ask whom she had struck—it was obvious.
Kale Heniatus watched Kaige rejoice over landing a blow against the God of Death and opened his mouth.

“You anticipated I would react this way?”

In response to his question, she set up a drinking table at a nearby surface.

“Wouldn’t someone of your station have done the same? Was I mistaken?”
“No. You read people well.”

Kale Heniatus answered without the slightest hesitation, then dropped into a chair near the table. In that moment, his eyes met someone else’s.
A flinch.
Kale Heniatus’s shoulders trembled without his awareness.

‘Hmm?’

Alberu and Kaige, who had followed Kale’s gaze, flinched in surprise.
Choi Han’s image reflected in Alberu’s pupils.

‘…Why is he acting like that?’

Alberu had occasionally witnessed Choi Han’s sharp side, but this was the first time he’d seen him conduct himself so openly and menacingly.
Choi Han’s expressionless face as he stared fixedly at a single point, his eyes gleaming with intensity, appeared far more ominous than Kale’s furrowed brow from moments earlier when he’d been angry.

‘…An emotionless face is more terrifying.’

As Alberu observed Choi Han intently with that thought, Choi Han gazed quietly into the void before slowly closing his eyes.

The memory of his first encounter with the World Tree surfaced.
Raon and Kale had said they’d met the World Tree before, but for Choi Han, that had been his first time.

Back then, Kale had been conversing with the World Tree while his hand rested against its trunk.
Observing this, Choi Han had heard what Kale said to the World Tree.

‘Are you saying the God of Death is targeting me?’

The World Tree’s words that the God of Death was targeting Kale.
Later, Choi Han had asked Kale about it.

‘What has the God of Death done?’
‘…Well… it’s complicated.’

It was the first time Choi Han had seen Kale unable to answer properly, as if at a loss.

‘Kale.’
‘…Hmm. It seems like they’re trying to take something from me.’

When Choi Han pressed further, only then did Kale provide an answer.
The moment those words left his lips, Adite, the Elf Priest who served the World Tree, spoke.

‘Death?’

Upon hearing those words, Choi Han felt certain he had grasped the truth.
There was nothing the God of Death would desire from a human except death itself or something of equivalent value.

‘No. It’s not that.’

However, Kale Heniatus firmly denied Adite’s question.
But Choi Han had seen it.
That distinctive expression Kale Heniatus wore whenever he was troubled.

Choi Han immediately realized that what the God of Death desired was something so important that Kale Heniatus couldn’t bring himself to speak of it openly to his companions.

Choi Han opened his eyes, which had been closed.

‘…The God of Death is asking Kale Heniatus to inherit his will?’

What was he trying to take?

“That’s absurd.”

His monotone voice was utterly frigid.
And beside Choi Han, dark energy began to creep and coalesce.

“…I, the great one, will not tolerate even gods.”

It was Raon, who had been cloaked in invisibility.
Between the black energy that enveloped Raon’s form so completely it rendered him unseen, a sinister, teal-blue gaze gleamed forth.

‘Hmm.’

Kale Heniatus felt a slight chill watching this display.
Having two dark presences acting in tandem like that was somewhat frightening.
Though Kale Heniatus felt intimidated, he soon pretended not to notice and turned to Kaige with a question.

“Why is the God of Death doing this to me?”

Ah.
Only then did Kaige and Alberu tear their gazes from Raon and Choi Han, regaining their composure.

“Hmm.”

Kaige seemed to ponder for a moment at Kale Heniatus’s question before uncorking the bottle and filling her glass.
Glug, glug, glug—
Once the glass was full, Kaige drained it in one go.

“Ahhhh—”

Only then did a satisfied smile grace her lips.
Yet her eyes remained serious.
She opened her mouth, looking at Kale Heniatus.

“I’m not entirely sure why the God of Death acts that way toward you, sir. They haven’t said anything about it.”

Tap, tap.
She tapped the empty glass lightly against the table before continuing.

“Well. But.”

Kale Heniatus waited for her next words, and Kaige spoke without hesitation, true to her nature.

“Wasn’t I taken hostage earlier?”
“Yes, you were.”
“Do you happen to know who those people in gray robes are?”
“The Demon Worshippers, aren’t they?”

At Kale Heniatus’s words, Kaige glanced sideways at Alberu. Seeing that Alberu seemed to know everything already, Kaige continued comfortably.

“That’s right. They are the Demon Worshippers. I realized it the moment I sensed their power.”

For Kaige, it was an instinctive understanding.
Crunch.
She tightened her grip on the glass as she spoke.

“However, that fact is not the real problem.”
“…Not the real problem?”

Before I knew it, Alberu had interjected into the conversation. He had no choice.
The Demon Worshippers had appeared, so how could that not be a major problem?

“Your Highness.”

Kaige looked at Alberu.

“Are all the gods of this world good and righteous?”
“…What?”
“If one serves the gods, does that make them all good and righteous?”

Alberu did not answer.
Kaige gazed at the silent Alberu before refilling her glass.

“If there are those who serve the gods, then surely there must also be those on the opposite side who serve the Demon Worshippers, would you not agree?”

Kaige knew her thoughts were unconventional.
But through living in this world, she had come to understand something.

“All things possess two sides—where there is white, there must be black. This is the natural order of things.”

Kale Heniatus regarded Kaige with an odd feeling.
Certainly, as one conversed with her, Kaige possessed her own unwavering convictions.
Thus she chose without hesitation and acted without reservation.
Of course, Kale Heniatus had no intention of affirming or denying her convictions, nor of commenting on them at all. It was not his place to interfere.

“In any case, their existence is not the problem.”

Clack. The bottle was set upon the table.

“The problem is.”

Kaige’s eyes grew dark.

“That something from the Demon Realm has crossed over to this side.”

Kale Heniatus recalled the drums that had thundered across the battlefield and the White Star’s white mask.
The drum and the mask.
They must be artifacts from the Demon Realm.

Kaige drained her drink once more.
Thunk!
The moment her glass struck the table forcefully, she murmured.

“And the fact that those objects are being used for evil purposes. That they’re being used to harm people.”

That was the problem for Kaige.
From her perspective, she couldn’t simply stand by and watch. Though she had been excommunicated from the religious order, she still wielded its power.
With power comes responsibility. That was her way.

“Those objects must be destroyed. Before they harm anyone else.”

Kaige spoke while looking at Kale Heniatus.

“I don’t need to follow what the God of Death says. I don’t follow him either. But I want to destroy these objects.”

Kaige looked at the people being held hostage, trembling in fear.

“Young master. You’re going to fight the White Star, aren’t you?”

Glug, glug, glug—
Kaige placed a fresh cup before Kale Heniatus and filled it with alcohol.

“Take me with you. I’ll be useful.”

She waited for his answer.
And she smiled.

“Mmm. This alcohol is rather bitter.”

Kale Heniatus had lifted the cup and drained it in one gulp.
From the empty cup, Kaige could sense his permission. Her smile deepened even further.
Kale Heniatus simply watched this without comment.

‘…I need both Saint Jack and Kaige.’

In the battles to come, there was a high probability that something related to the Demon Realm would appear, and the more that happened, the more I needed Jack and Kaige.
Especially as the promised day with the God of Death drew closer, having Kaige by my side would prove advantageous in many ways.
Kale Heniatus filled her cup with alcohol.

“Oh my, you’re filling it to the brim.”

Kaige lifted the glass with a smile.
That was when it happened.

Tap. Tap.
The sound of something tapping against the window reached our ears.
In an instant, every gaze in the bedroom turned toward the window.

“…A bird?”

A beautiful black bird was tapping at the windowpane with its beak.
It was a species I had never seen before, utterly out of place in these surroundings. An oddity, truly.

An enemy?
That thought crossed everyone’s minds simultaneously.
Tension settled over the bedroom.
As if sensing this, the bird drooped its wings downward, its posture conveying no hostile intent.

“Should we open it?”

Kale Heniatus looked cautiously toward Alberu and asked. Alberu nodded in response.

“It seems to have sought us out. Open it, but be ready to surround it immediately.”
“I’ll open it.”
Choi Han approached the window frame with his hand resting on his sword hilt and opened the window.

Click. Creeeeak—
The window opened carefully.
Flutter—
The bird entered gracefully through the window. In the same motion, Choi Han drew his blade and shut the window closed. Raon was already quietly gathering mana around himself.
That was the moment.

“Circumstances have changed a bit, so I came myself.”

Huh?
It was a voice I recognized. A voice etched in my memory.

“…Duke Fredo?”

Kale Heniatus could see the beautiful black bird flying toward him.
The bird descended gracefully onto the table and opened its beak once more.

“Yes. Fly.”

The bird elegantly spread its wings once, then folded them shut, fixing its gaze upon Kale Heniatus.
When Kale Heniatus was momentarily startled by the unexpected visitor’s appearance, the black bird spoke with refined grace.

“Kale Heniatus. How is it? Have you given it some thought during this time? I am most eager to taste your blood.”

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