Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 535

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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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The heart of the Endable Kingdom.
The White Castle.

The palace was painted entirely in pristine white, just as its name suggested.
Yet the reason it earned the name “White Castle” was not merely because of the color adorning its walls.

A massive sinkhole.
What lay within that chasm was no longer a simple sinkhole.

It had been divided into countless layers, each hosting various facilities.
And regardless of which section one traversed through the divided levels, the center remained punctured by a circular opening that allowed sunlight to descend all the way to the underground depths.

‘The White Castle receives that sunlight directly from above.’

Only at the very bottom of the sinkhole where the White Castle stood—Zone 1’s center—was there no circular opening, for the White Castle itself occupied that space.

‘Light converges here, and thus it is called the White Castle.’

I barely suppressed a laugh that threatened to escape.
The White Castle.
The people of the Endable Kingdom regarded this place with considerable reverence, or so I had heard.

I found that rather amusing.

‘…In truth, greed runs rampant here.’

The Grand Conference Hall.
The White Star.
Representatives of the four Founding Noble Houses.
And ninety-six Nobility Candidates.
One hundred and one individuals gathered in this place.

“Then let us proceed to the next agenda item.”

An Elderly Dark Elf—Count Mok—was presiding over the conference.
I had been observing the atmosphere of the conference hall for the past thirty minutes.
Then Count Mok’s mouth opened.

“This concerns personnel changes for the administrative positions of Sector 7 and District 9.”

Kale sensed the atmosphere of the Grand Conference Hall shift in an instant.
At the mention of changing the administrative position overseeing a sector, the eyes of the 96 Nobility Candidates gleamed with renewed interest.

‘Hm.’

Kale lowered his head and twisted his mouth to suppress the laughter threatening to escape.

’96 Nobility Candidates. Quite the peculiar system.’

The Grand Conference Hall.
A single elevated platform stood within it, and at its center sat a circular table with five chairs arranged around it.
Of course, one of those chairs was placed upon a slightly higher dais, displaying its luxurious presence.

Naturally, it was the chair reserved for White Star.
The remaining four chairs belonged to the representatives of the four Founding Noble Houses, making it clear that these five were the true center of this assembly.

‘And the 96 sit on the floor.’

The 96 Nobility Candidates.
They sat upon cushions laid across the floor of the Grand Conference Hall, looking up at the dais where the circular table stood.

Kale glanced toward the conference hall entrance.
He recalled, one by one, the words Solena had spoken during the carriage ride here.

‘The 96 Nobility Candidates come from diverse races and different regions of origin. There are humans and Elves among them, not just those with dark attributes.’
‘Yet they share one thing in common.’

Solena had whispered softly to him.

‘They desire to become nobility. They covet high positions. That is why, despite being quite formidable, they sit quietly upon cushions laid on cold stone floors.’

Even within the carriage, Solena had glanced around cautiously before speaking to him with greater discretion.

‘Young Master. Each of them covets a noble seat for their own reasons. Among them—’
‘That’s enough.’
‘Sir?’
‘I don’t need the reasons. I’m not interested.’

Kale recalled what he had said to Solena.

‘You only need to know that I simply desire a position of nobility. That’s all that matters.’

Once again, the corners of Kale’s mouth threatened to rise.

“Nar Von Izelern.”

At that moment, Kale felt a hand settle upon his shoulder.
It was cold.
There was no warmth to it whatsoever.

Instantly, Kale’s shoulders tensed and stiffened without his awareness.
It was unavoidable.
The one seated to Kale’s right.
That person extended his left arm and spoke to him with affection.

“Are you struggling?”

A smile graced the lips of the one who had spoken so tenderly even as the conference proceeded.

‘Damn… I want to strike the back of his head.’

The moment Kale beheld White Star’s affectionate smile, he longed to deliver a blow to the back of that head.
Yet he restrained himself and shook his head gently.

“…I’m fine.”

Speaking formally to White Star while remaining still was an ordeal in itself.
Kale suppressed the words he wished to hurl at White Star and lowered his head.

“Oh dear.”

White Star’s voice carried a note of regret, but Kale pretended not to hear.
White Star gazed at Kale with even greater sympathy.

‘How long did they say Duke Fredo’s state of unconsciousness would persist?’

From this morning, White Star had received news from House of Duke Fredo and could not conceal his sympathy.

‘Tsk. A useful piece like Pae, and I can’t use him at a time like this.’

White Star couldn’t hide his regret at losing one element that would have aided his plans.
Yet separate from that, White Star quietly observed the twelve-year-old Young Prince with his head bowed, those indifferent eyes fixed upon him.

‘…He seems quite disheartened.’

The Young Prince, who had attended the conference with his lips twisted as if suppressing something, kept his head lowered and maintained his position.
His appearance was enough to evoke profound sympathy.
And for some, it provoked a sneer.

‘The next generation of the Izerun Family may not be able to maintain the dukedom.’

Count Mok, the Elderly Dark Elf, struggled to suppress his sneer as he observed White Star and Nar Von Izelern.

‘Still, it’s remarkable that someone claiming to be a ducal proxy manages to attend the conference despite such a timid disposition.’

He continued the conference while restraining his sneer.
Yet except for White Star, who sat on a slightly elevated platform, and Count Mok, who stood to conduct the proceedings.
The other two present regarded Nar Von Izelern with peculiar eyes.

A woman clad in armor attending the Grand Conference Hall.
Count Hubesa.
Though her head was bowed, she expressed her bewilderment upon seeing Nar Von Izelern’s fists clenched tightly.

‘This is different from usual.’

Seated directly to Nar Von Izelern’s left, she had observed White Star regarding him with apparent pity, yet her gaze could not leave those trembling fists, clenched so tightly.

‘Is he clenching his fists from worry and concern about his father?’

No.
That wasn’t it—

‘Isn’t that what happens when he’s angry?’

Count Hubesa suddenly recalled the words Nar Von Izelern had shouted at White Star when she had visited the House of Izerun.

‘…Kale Heniatus. I will never forgive that man. I will not let this stand!’

The solemn visage of the boy crying out so desperately kept replaying in her mind.

‘Could it be?’

Even as she entertained the possibility, an unsettling premonition continued to prick at her consciousness.

‘Nar Von Izelern. This child is kind.’

Unfittingly kind for the offspring of Endable’s supreme leader.
Gentle and compassionate.

Yet righteous.
And innocent as well.

‘But righteousness, in certain moments, can display a strength that nothing can break.’

A flicker of conviction crystallized in Count Hubesa’s eyes.
With her head bowed, she began to examine Nar—who stood with eyes closed as if lost in thought—with ever greater scrutiny.

“Hmm.”

And another who had detected Nar’s peculiarity folded his arms and tilted his head to one side.

‘Something’s off.’

That person was Gersei, Endable’s sole Marquis and Priest.
His doubts differed somewhat from those of Count Hubesa.

‘Is Solena not controlling him?’

Like Count Hubesa, Gersei could sense Nar’s fury.

‘Duke Fredo surely must have instructed her beforehand.’

The inscrutable Duke Fredo, as Marquis Gersei understood him, would have certainly given instructions to Solena, the loyal subordinate who remained constantly at his side before he fell into unconsciousness.

To prevent Nar from growing angry.
And to ensure that the Izerun Family and the Vampires would not stir.
Surely Duke Fredo would have issued such commands.

‘…But Nar Von Izelern can’t suppress his anger?’

This meant one of two things.

Either Duke Fredo had fallen unconscious during such a desperate battle that he couldn’t issue such an order to Solena.

‘Or Solena couldn’t control Nar Von Izelern.’

Hmm.
Marquis Gersei’s lips curved upward.
He couldn’t determine which of the two it was.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter either way.’

While Duke Fredo, the steadfast pillar supporting the Vampires, lay unconscious—what could Nar Von Izelern accomplish with his anger, regardless of the reason?

‘His nature is fundamentally gentle. So whatever this creature does will amount to the same thing.’

Marquis Gersei lost interest in Nar Von Izelern.
Of course, had he visited House of Duke Fredo like Count Hubesa to carefully listen to Nar Von Izelern’s fury toward Kale Heniatus, he wouldn’t have known—but he had no time to pay Duke Fredo a courtesy visit.

“The next agenda item.”

It had arrived.
A peculiar gleam flickered across Marquis Gersei’s eyes.
His gaze turned toward the highest seat in this conference hall.
He could see White Star regarding him with eyes seized by an uncanny fervor. Simultaneously, Count Mok continued speaking.

“This agenda concerns the festival, and it is a proposal brought forth by Marquis Gersei.”

Priest Gersei, the Marquis.
At the mention of his proposal, the atmosphere in the conference hall shifted once more.

Marquis Gersei—one of the three pillars of the Endable Kingdom and counted among its most powerful figures.
The eyes of not only the 96 Nobility Candidates but all the other nobles turned toward him.
Even White Star’s.

Of course, one person was the exception.
Kale kept his head lowered, his hearing sharpened to its peak.

“Ahem.”

Count Mok regarded Marquis Gersei with a glance tinged with slight discomfort and bewilderment before opening his mouth.

“The proposal put forth by Marquis Gersei is a request for permission to conduct a large-scale ritual on the final day of the festival, with all priests throughout District 2 participating.”

In that instant, the heavy atmosphere that had pervaded the conference hall grew lighter.
Disappointment flickered across the eyes of the Nobility Candidates.

‘Ah. I thought it would be something significant, given that a Marquis proposed it.’
‘Just a festival day ritual? Nothing special.’

Count Mok continued speaking as though it were of little consequence.

“The content of the ritual is gratitude for safely passing through this year and a prayer that peace and happiness will grace the future of the Endable Kingdom.”
Everyone’s interest waned, thinking it was merely one of the festival’s scheduled events.
Yet Kale’s eyes, though his head remained bowed, gleamed with sudden awareness.

‘…Something is amiss.’

White Star had said he was hastening to become a demon.
And that this endeavor was something Priest Gersei would undertake alongside him.

Yet in the midst of such urgency, Priest Gersei was unveiling a ceremonial ritual for the festival?

‘There is something more to this.’

I realized it then.
White Star and Gersei.

‘These two are plotting something.’

A premonition—almost a certainty—washed over me that something dark and sinister lay concealed within the ritual to be unveiled during the festival.
At that moment, Count Mok turned his gaze toward Marquis Gersei.

“Is there anything further you wish to add, Marquis?”

Ahem.
Accompanied by a soft clearing of his throat, Marquis Gersei offered a gentle smile.

“There is nothing particularly more to add, as it is a minor matter. We priests will prepare the ceremonial costs and necessary materials, so you need not worry about that aspect. However, since it is a ceremony, I hope all the kingdom’s people will observe it with reverent hearts.”

Flutter, flutter.
He waved his fan and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.
His demeanor was remarkably light, yet those who understood the weight of his position did not so much as furrow a brow at his gesture.

“Then I shall render a decision on this matter.”

Count Mok judged it to be an inconsequential matter and sought to expedite its passage.
There was nothing worth opposing, after all.

Marquis Gersei, observing this, concealed his mouth behind his fan.

‘Perfect.’

The corners of his mouth, hidden by the fan, rose ever so slightly without anyone’s knowledge.

“Then I shall mark it as approved—”

Count Mok’s voice echoed through the conference hall. His hand was already turning the page toward the next matter.
It was at that moment.

“I object.”

Screech—
The chair scraped backward.

‘Hmm?’

Count Mok thought for a moment that he had misheard, and turned his gaze from the matter documents toward the source of the voice.

A flinch.
In that instant, his shoulders stiffened slightly without his awareness.

“…Young Prince Nar. What do you—”
“I object.”

The elderly Dark Elf, Count Mok, stared at Nar Von Izelern with astonished eyes as he cut off his own words and spoke.

‘…What? This guy wasn’t actually depressed?’

Count Mok could see the Young Prince’s eyes blazing with fury.
He also noticed his clenched fists trembling violently.

“…Oh no.”

The Black Knight, Count Hubesa, let out a small sigh without realizing it.
She understood that the situation she had feared was about to unfold.

“Nar. What are you doing all of a sudden?”

White Star regarded Nar with a gentle gaze, yet one edged with sharpness.
In that instant, White Star’s eyes widened at Nar’s next action.

Crash!
The Young Prince’s hands came down hard upon the table.

“Your Majesty.”

The Young Prince stared at White Star with eyes blazing like wildfire.
He was thinking to himself.

‘With the intention of striking White Star down! With such fury!’

The Young Prince cried out with emotion.
Of course, his true feelings and his spoken words were entirely different.

“I believe now is not the time to think of festivals.”
“…What?”
“Father. Duke Fredo is a Duke of this Endable Kingdom.”

The Young Prince cried out with eyes blazing as if he would strike White Star from behind.

“Such a man has been wronged by that vile Kale Heniatus!”

The Young Prince’s form was consumed with rage, as though he would strike down Kale Heniatus himself at any moment.
In that instant, the atmosphere of the Grand Conference Hall shifted.

‘Hm?’
‘What?’

One by one, peculiar glints began to frost the eyes of the ninety-six Nobility Candidates.

‘…If we play this right?’

A strange yearning kindled in the eyes of those gazing up at the podium.
It was utterly different from their indifference toward Marquis Gersei’s proposal.

The reason they maintained their vigil on this cold floor, sitting upon nothing but a single cushion.
Duke Fredo had explained it to Kale.

‘My son. The Nobility Candidates believe that White Star and Endable will become the supreme power of the East-West Continent.’
‘Hmm. What must they do to escape their status as Nobility Candidates?’

A thin smile crossed his lips.
Fredo spoke with amusement.

‘First, Endable must ‘officially’ reveal itself to the world and dominate other nations. Only then will territories expand, requiring more nobles and officials to govern them—which is when we elevate the Candidates to nobility.’
‘And second?’
‘Second, individual Candidates must accumulate merit. They must achieve noteworthy accomplishments in war and battle. Only then will ‘they themselves’ be elevated from Candidates to nobility.’

Kale’s eyes gleamed as he recalled Fredo’s words.

‘My son. The Nobility Candidates are waiting now—for twenty years at most, five years at least—for the moment they become nobles.’

Kale smiled and spoke in response.

‘That must be exhausting, waiting like this.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘They must be waiting for someone to wage a proper full-scale war.’
‘…My son. Act as you see fit.’

In Nar Von Izelern’s form, Kale gazed directly at White Star and spoke.

“Will you remain as you are? I believe we absolutely cannot stay like this!”

The young prince, having witnessed his father’s emaciated form—uncertain when he might awaken—cried out, his voice trembling with sorrow and fury.

“For the sake of the Endable Kingdom, and for the future that will dominate this East-West Continent! This is a matter of the Endable Kingdom’s very pride!”

I could sense the unwavering resolve and steadfast spirit of a young prince who loved the Endable Kingdom with pure devotion.

“We cannot afford to wait in silence any longer!”

We must not wait.
The air surrounding the ninety-six Nobility Candidates began to grow heated.

“I am Nar Von Izelern, representing the Izerun Family!”

The atmosphere of the entire Grand Conference Hall grew quiet at first, then rapidly intensified with fervor.
The moment Priest Gersei’s smile—hidden behind his fan—vanished.
The young prince’s voice filled the Grand Conference Hall.

“I propose a motion!”

Ninety-six Nobility Candidates.
They instinctively realized that this moment was significant.

‘A chance to become nobility.’
To break the tedious, endless waiting they had endured in silence.
To fulfill their desires.
The thought occurred to them that the turning point might unfold right now.

Nar Von Izelern.
The moment everyone’s gaze fixed upon him, he spoke with composure.

“I request that you order the immediate execution of Kale Heniatus.”

…Well, well.
Priest Gersei unconsciously furrowed his brow.
He had assumed that since the boy was gentle-natured, even his anger would amount to little consequence.

‘How wrong I was!’

Only now did Marquis Gersei realize that such a pure-hearted one could spark something far greater.
He turned his head.
White Star and Nar Von Izelern.
Marquis Gersei could see them gazing at each other.
The young prince spoke calmly, his fury locked away within.

“I shall sever the breath of Kale Heniatus alongside the proud warriors of the Endable Kingdom.”

Warriors of the Endable Kingdom.
At those words, several of the Nobility Candidates clenched their fists.

‘It has come!’

Though they had thought it still distant, one of them had opened the board.
The young prince’s subsequent words granted the Nobility Candidates unwavering conviction.

“And furthermore, I shall make it known across the Continent! The greatness of the Endable Kingdom! And the greatness of Endable’s warriors! I shall proclaim it clearly to all under heaven!”

So this one intends to wage total war.
If we support this one, an ‘opportunity’ shall come.

Below, the burning eyes of the Nobility Candidates fixed upon Kale’s back.
Yet Kale, knowing this while feigning ignorance, opened his mouth as a young prince still dreaming of vengeance until the very end.

“And grant me the opportunity to lead those warriors.”

The young prince spoke to the king who had not yet been fully recognized.

“I humbly beseech you.”

Kale bowed deeply toward White Star.
Yet his bearing remained unyielding, like a colossal mountain that could never be bent.
A young prince. And ninety-six warriors.
A total of ninety-seven burning gazes turned toward White Star.
Of course, the true nature of the fervor contained within them all differed.

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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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