Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 530

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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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Kale pointed at me with his index finger.

“Me.”

Then his gaze turned toward the black bird.

“And you, friend?”

The black bird’s eyes narrowed.
Saaaaa—
Kale’s shoulders trembled as he watched the black aura fill the room.
Crack!
In an instant, the black bird shattered into fragments.
And where those black remnants had vanished—

Thud.
Duke Fredo, in the form of a young boy, landed lightly on the ground.
Then, looking up at Kale, he spoke.

“Then we’re friends. Or rather, I think calling us brothers would be fitting.”

Smirk.
A smile curved across the boy’s lips—a smile that, despite its childlike appearance, carried an undercurrent of cruelty.
His innocent-sounding voice filled the room.

“Yes. Brothers seems the more appropriate term. We share blood, after all—don’t you think brothers suits us better?”

This madman!
Kale took a step forward toward Duke Fredo.

Clang!
“Ugh!”

At the same moment, Kale stumbled back in shock.
His eyes fixed on the silvery object gleaming before him.

Drip.
Red blood trickled down the blade where it touched skin.
The silver gleam Kale saw was a cold sword edge.
He gazed at the blade pressed against Duke Fredo’s throat, then slowly turned his gaze to regard the sword’s wielder.

‘…Lethal.’

Choi Han held the sword to Duke Fredo’s neck with an expressionless, indifferent face.

“I apologize, but I’m not in a good mood. I’d prefer if you stopped spouting nonsense.”

Choi Han’s voice as he spoke was calm and measured.

‘His tone is even gentle!’

To Kale, Choi Han still appeared mild-mannered, yet it was unmistakable that he was quite angry.

‘…This is good.’

Watching Choi Han turn his blade toward the irritating fool instead of himself, Kale felt reassured.
He thought once again that Choi Han truly handled those slightly unhinged individuals—like Clophe—remarkably well.

“That’s right! Vampire! Our human blood tastes terrible! Don’t eat it!”

At that moment, Raon appeared before Duke Fredo as well, glaring at him with his own fierce intensity.

Kale drew a satisfied smile and moved toward these dark-haired companions.

-An excellent judgment, Kale. If you use the Ancient Powers once more in your current state, you will lose consciousness for an extended period. So until you rest for a day or two, stay close to these strong ones.

Jjangdol praised Kale with apparent satisfaction.

-Kale, that was splendid cunning.

Kale ignored Jjangdol’s words and sat in the chair beside Choi Han.
Then he spoke toward Duke Fredo.

“What brings you here so suddenly?”
“If you could lower that sword first, I’d appreciate it.”

At Fredo’s words, Kale glanced toward Choi Han, who then lowered his sword and took his place beside Kale.
Duke Fredo also approached and settled into the chair across from Kale.

“Truly, people who don’t know the value of blood.”

Whoosh.
He touched his own neck.
The shallow wound had already stopped bleeding.

‘…He’s certainly impressive.’

Fredo committed to memory the speed of Choi Han’s draw—a technique even he had nearly missed—before speaking again.
After all, he had been the one to request this conversation.

“Currently, I am in a state of unconsciousness, secluded in the grand mansion known to be my residence in the capital of the Endable Kingdom.”

Kale had already gathered as much from context.
Desiring more detailed information, he remained silent, and Fredo continued.

“It was a means to deceive the nobility in the Northern Snowy Mountains and the people of the Endable Kingdom.”

Fredo’s account continued.
To avoid the accusation of being a duke who did nothing during the battle in the Northern Snowy Mountains, he had fabricated a story of having fought Kale once before entering the mountains.

“Deception is our specialty.”

Vampires were a race that had to hide far more skillfully than Dark Elves.
Their need to consume the ‘blood’ of living creatures periodically made them this way, and consequently, deception had naturally become a refined art for their kind.

Thus, Fredo had little difficulty feigning a grave condition.

“Of course, it wasn’t merely to deceive the nobility’s attention. It was also to evade the White Star’s suspicion. That creature trusts me far more than one might expect.”

Kale nodded.

‘The White Star believes him to be loyal?’

That was when—

“Sigh.”

Duke Fredo let out a deep sigh.
Kale’s gaze turned toward him.

“So you were planning to continue playing unconscious and maintain your role as a loyal noble to the White Star.”
“…It seems the White Star hurried back to the Endable Kingdom to see his loyal servant?”

But can you really afford to be here like this, living so comfortably?
Kale asked this, and Fredo answered casually.

“Right. He probably came to see me. But the White Star won’t be able to see me right now. Our family’s vampire healers are currently providing me intensive treatment, so we’ve restricted outside visitors.”
“But you can’t undergo treatment for days on end, and shouldn’t you return quickly to show yourself to the White Star?”

If I remain hidden for days claiming to be under treatment, the White Star will grow suspicious of whether Duke Fredo is truly in critical condition.
A loyal subordinate would never continue to refuse entry to his lord who has come to visit him while he’s ill.

“You’re right. I need to return soon. But I’ve discovered something insane the White Star is doing.”

What?
Something insane?
Suddenly, Kale recalled Duke Fredo saying that the situation had changed.

“…That’s what I meant when I said the situation has changed.”

And those words flowed from Duke Fredo’s lips once more.
Kale could see the gravity etched across Duke Fredo’s face.

“What kind of situation is it?”

Duke Fredo’s violet eyes turned toward Kale.

“You know the Demon Realm is scheming something, right?”
“Yes. I know they’re scheming something, but I don’t know what it is.”

Kale answered Duke Fredo’s question casually.

“Then this will be easier to explain.”

Tap.
Duke Fredo unfastened a single cuff button on his pristinely pressed white shirt as he spoke.

“The Demon Realm desires to transform this Natural World into their own domain.”

Click.
Both cuff buttons were now undone.

“Furthermore, the demons wish to roam freely across this land.”

Fredo fixed his gaze directly upon Kale Heniatus.
Meeting that stare head-on, I opened my mouth.

“Are you truly planning to open the Gate of the Demon Realm?”

For demons to cross into the Natural World, the Gate of the Demon Realm would need to be opened.

‘Is the White Star genuinely intending to open the Gate of the Demon Realm in this land?’

Was that the contract between him and the demons?
My mind began working furiously.
But that line of thought was abruptly severed.

“No.”

Fredo flatly denied the question.

“Not ‘now.’ Perhaps someday in the future I might open the true Gate of the Demon Realm. But that is not my intention at present.”
“…Then what are you planning to do ‘now’?”
“Kale Heniatus.”

Fredo called to me, but his gaze shifted to my side.
Raon’s and Fredo’s eyes met.

“The moment the Gate of the Demon Realm opens in this land, the Divine Realm will immediately become aware and relay the information to the Dragons.”

This was something I had already learned from Dragon Lord Sherit.

“For this reason, the Demon Realm has not dared to come to this land carelessly. Why? Because if demons and the Celestial Race were to clash, both would suffer grievous losses. The demons merely covet this land—they have no desire to wage a life-or-death struggle against the Celestial Race.”

It was a contradiction.
He claimed he didn’t want to fight, yet the White Star was making contracts in the Demon Realm right now, scheming to cause trouble in this land.
Then, Kale’s expression shifted as he listened to Fredo’s words.

“Now, here’s one thing. Among everything I’ve told you so far, there exists a gap.”

A gap?
Fredo’s words began replaying in Kale’s mind, and Fredo continued speaking.

“Kale Heniatus. The only way for gods or the Celestial Race to know that the Demon Realm is attempting to invade this land is—”
“…The Gate of the Demon Realm.”
“Exactly!”

Fredo’s face broke into a bright smile.

“You catch on quickly. Yes! That strange distortion in the Natural World that shouldn’t exist! The moment the Gate of the Demon Realm appears, through that distortion, gods and the Celestial Race can sense that demons are attempting to cross over.”

Suddenly, something flashed through Kale’s mind.

‘Then if demons appear in this land without going through the Gate of the Demon Realm, they wouldn’t be detected?’

As if perceiving that question, Duke Fredo continued.

“Of course, the moment demonic power is unleashed in the Natural World, gods and the Celestial Race will sense it.”

A flicker of realization crossed Kale’s eyes.

‘That means if they don’t use their power, demons could walk around here and neither gods nor the Celestial Race would know?’

At that moment, Kale’s face had gone pale.

“Human, are you shocked?”
“Lord Kale, are you alright?”

In an instant, Raon and Choi Han rushed to Kale’s side in alarm.
His complexion had suddenly changed.

Thump.
Kale could see Fredo’s two hands reaching out to grasp his own.

“What are you doing?”

Just as Choi Han reached for his sword, Kale spoke first.

“It’s fine. Leave it.”

As he said this, Kale could see Fredo opening his palm. He then shielded that open hand with his arm so that neither Raon nor Choi Han could see it.

“Close your eyes.”

At Fredo’s words, Kale’s pallid complexion eased slightly, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

‘So he knows.’

The moment I closed my eyes with that thought, Fredo began writing letters with his finger.

【There are many places where the gaze of the divine touches this world. The more secretive, the better.】

Kale’s smile widened further.
Fredo knew about the gaze of the divine.

The reason Kale’s expression had changed stemmed from a single question.

‘…If the demons are scheming something in this world, how could the gods who have scattered their gaze across this realm not know?’

The White Star, over a thousand years, would have found it nearly impossible to evade that gaze.
Even within Kale’s own body, the power of the God of Death touched him because of the Oath of Death, did it not?

‘In my case, they called it a location tracker.’

They said they could not hear or see the circumstances around Kale, but they could track his location.

【The Endable Kingdom is untouched by the gaze of the divine. The power of the gods does not reach it at all. Of course, the gods know this too.】

Ah.
Now I could understand, at least in part, why the gods had failed to detect the schemes unfolding within the Endable Kingdom.

【And this information I know is something only those who have received titles know.】
【Only five people know of it, including the White Star.】
【And now there are six, including you.】

Kale remained silent, his eyes still closed.
He could listen to everything and ask questions.
More characters were being written across his palm.

【Kale Heniatus. You must be curious about how demons traverse this world without the Gate of the Demon Realm, yes?】

Yes. I was curious.
If that were possible, it would be a grave problem.
The World Tree had spoken of it.

‘Gods cannot interfere in worldly affairs. They cannot change or manipulate one’s inherent destiny.’>

That is why they attempted to prevent it through Saints or the Dragon when it came to demon problems. In severe cases, they would send the Celestial Race.
Therefore, if demons were to seep covertly throughout this land and launch surprise attacks, there was a high possibility that this world would fall into the grasp of demons before others could lift a finger.

‘Then how do demons cross over into this world?’>

At that moment, Fredo began writing characters.
A sentence written on Kale’s palm with a finger, leaving no trace.

“Ah.”

A sigh escaped from Kale.

【Why would demons necessarily have to cross over from the Demon Realm?】
【Wouldn’t it be simpler if demons were ‘created’ here?】

Demons could be created.

From whom?

The White Star came to mind.

‘…The White Star is trying to become a demon!’>

He is not subordinate to the Demon Realm.
Kale’s heart began to pound violently.

【The White Star seeks to become a ruler transcending all limits of this world—whether demon or human.】
【To become something that does not exist in this world.】

Kale opened his eyes, which had been closed.
He met the violet gaze fixed upon him and parted his lips.

“It must be destroyed.”

He intends to create it.
Then to prevent it, I must destroy what he seeks to create.

“Duke Fredo. You knew all of this. So why are you only now calling this madness?”

A thin smile crossed his face.
Fredo released Kale’s hand at last.
He confirmed that Choi Han and Raon were confused about the conversation, then spoke.

“Hurry.”
“Hurry?”
“Yes. The White Star is hastening.”

Under normal circumstances, this would have been something to unfold over a longer span of time.
Thus, Fredo had planned to gradually seize control of the Endable Kingdom and render the White Star a puppet—or eliminate him entirely.

“Kale Heniatus. He is hastening because of you.”
“…Because of me?”
“Yes. You are the one who inherited the will of the god—”

Crash!
Raon suddenly brought his plump front paw down upon the table.
Splinter—
The table shattered.
As Kale looked up in surprise, Raon cried out, consumed by fury.

“No! We humans couldn’t care less about gods! We’re just good people whose only dream is to become a freeloader!”
“I know.”
“…You know?”
“…I can’t trust freeloaders, but I do know you’re not inheriting a god’s will. Since you’re not, I told Kale Heniatus everything. Otherwise, I couldn’t have told him. He would’ve heard it all anyway.”

There was no need to ask who would hear it all.
The being Fredo spoke of had to be a god.

“To be honest, I hate both gods and demons. I absolutely despise having someone above me.”

His own goals mattered far more than anything else.
An arrogant smile played at the corners of Fredo’s mouth.

“In any case, you’ll have to come with me to the Endable Kingdom.”
“Why?”

Fredo grasped Kale’s palm again and quickly wrote out a sentence.

【The device that transforms the White Star into a demon exists in the deepest part of the Endable Kingdom. I can’t destroy it myself. I need your help.】
“We’ll discuss the details once we reach Endable.”

A device existed in the Endable Kingdom that could transform humans into demons.

‘Could it be true?’

I stared intently at Duke Fredo.
The Endable Kingdom. That place was the enemy’s stronghold. Going there would entail considerable danger.

‘…But I have to go at least once.’

Whether Fredo’s words were true or not, I had to visit the Endable Kingdom.
It was a mysterious space shrouded in complete obscurity.

“I know what you’re troubled about.”

At Duke Fredo’s voice, I looked toward him.

“Do you lack trust in me?”
“Of course not.”
“Then let me show you proof of that trust.”

Fredo smoothed his wrist as his sleeve cuff came undone and revealed it.

“The reason I’ve been able to move freely while deceiving the White Star’s attention all this time is thanks to a ‘treasure’ passed down through generations in our House Heniatus alone.”
“…Are you really going to give that to me?”
“Yes. I will.”

Kale Heniatus regarded Fredo with slightly widened eyes, surprised at how readily he responded to my casual remark.
Fredo chuckled softly at that expression before speaking.

“It’s also the method for you to infiltrate the Endable Kingdom without any suspicion, without hiding anything.”

I wondered what he meant by that.
In that moment.

“What if you became me?”
“What?”

I slowly looked down at the young Duke Fredo from head to toe.

‘Become Duke Fredo?’

That’s impossible with just dye magic.
It’s not like a dragon using polymorph.
At that moment, Duke Fredo continued.

“Do you know how I maintain this youthful appearance?”

A soft rustling sound.
He rolled up his sleeve.
There was something like a black band wrapped around his forearm.

“This treasure imprints the current head of House Heniatus’s childhood form, allowing that head to transform and remain in their childhood appearance until death.”

Ssshhh—
The black band began to glow with a crimson light.

“Mm.”

Kale could instantly see the adult form of Duke Fredo.
Having returned to his original appearance, Duke Fredo crossed his legs and leaned back against the chair.
He looked remarkably languid.
Kale, observing this, opened his mouth.

“Even if you transform into young Duke Fredo, there will inevitably come a moment when I must face the White Star as Duke Fredo myself. How do you plan to deceive them?”

Even if he could transform into the appearance of young Duke Fredo.
He would become entangled with other nobles, including the White Star.
Above all, he would need to deceive everyone in the Endable Kingdom.
How could that possibly be easy?

“That’s not a problem.”

Fredo was utterly composed.

“I didn’t explain it properly.”

As if he had simply forgotten, he adjusted his band.
Whoosh—
Returning to his younger form, he spoke.

“In the Endable Kingdom, I am Fredo II.”
“What?”

Fredo II?
Duke Fredo’s son?

“That’s right.”

Light flashed from Fredo’s band again.
Fredo returned to his adult form.

“I am the father.”

Light flashed from the band once more.
Young Fredo appeared again.

“This appearance is my son. Except for a few trusted aides, everyone knows him as such.”

Kale opened his mouth as he watched the man grinning contentedly.

“So the people of the Endable Kingdom know Duke Fredo’s younger form as Fredo II?”
“That’s right. They know him as my son.”
“…Then I’m entering the Endable Kingdom as your son?”
“Exactly. You’ll be holding your father’s hand as we enter the Endable Kingdom.”

Hah!
Kale was astounded.
One person had deceived others by appearing as both a son and a father—it was truly astonishing.

‘But it’s a good strategy.’

I don’t know the Endable Kingdom.
Therefore, the probability of my acting clumsily was high, and I might perform actions that seemed strange to others.

‘But if I’m a young child?’

Then everyone would understand such behavior.

‘And a son standing beside his father isn’t unusual.’

Because of this, it would be easier for me to move alongside Duke Fredo, receive guidance, and explore various places. Receiving help would also be simpler.

‘Not bad at all.’

My gaze shifted to the bandage on Duke Fredo’s forearm.
The bandage had resized to fit his body, fitting perfectly on the young Duke Fredo’s arm.

“Kale Heniatus. Some of your allies saw my other form.”

Kale nodded.
In the Northern Snowy Mountains, the mercenary group, the Elves, and his companions had all witnessed both of Duke Fredo’s forms.

“You’ll need to keep their mouths shut. You have the capability for that much, don’t you?”

Kale did not bother to respond.
Of course he possessed that level of capability.
Satisfied with Kale’s silent answer, Duke Fredo laughed and unwound the band from his arm.
In an instant, he reverted to his adult form.

“Come with me as my son.”

Kale watched quietly before taking the band Fredo offered.
A smirk spread across his face.
The corners of Kale’s mouth lifted upward.

“Should I call you Father?”

Fredo laughed in return and answered.

“By the way, you’ll need to call yourself the White Star’s uncle.”

Uncle? What?
Kale’s expression twisted.

“The White Star is quite fond of Fredo II.”

Damn it.
Kale felt goosebumps rising on his skin already.

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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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