Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 544

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

Alberu continued speaking as he observed the young prince wearing a weary smile, as though burdened by the world itself.

“We make quite a pitiful sight for people supposedly meeting with a spy.”

Even Kale found himself at a loss for words this time.
Watching him, Alberu continued speaking with utter indifference.

“Why must I be shoved into a corner of this cargo cart, buried beneath a pile of straw?”

Alberu’s cold gaze turned toward Kale.

“And all while serving as the faithful servant of Young Master Nar?”

Kale clamped his mouth shut.
He exercised his right to silence.

Clop, clop, clop.
Even as they spoke, the cargo cart laden with straw and various hay continued its journey along the main avenue of District 2.

In one corner of the cart, its roof covered with thick canvas, Kale crouched and peered out through a small hole in the fabric, surveying District 2.

“…It seems you intend to ignore my question.”

Alberu sat crouched beside him in an equally cramped position, staring at him intently.

“Ahem.”

Kale Heniatus let out a fake cough at Alberu’s words and averted his gaze. However, he felt Alberu’s persistent stare, and Kale eventually opened his mouth.

“You’re suddenly speaking formally.”
“Right. Anyway!”
“Ahem. Anyway!”

Kale Heniatus continued speaking as he looked out from the carriage passing along the main road, surveying District 2.

“You already told me that.”
“You told me.”

Alberu brought up the agenda he had heard from Kale.

“It’s the proposal initiated by Marquis Gersei, the Priest—that on the final day of the festival, priests stationed throughout District 2 will gather to conduct a large-scale ritual. Is that correct?”
“As expected, Your Majesty, the Sun of Rowan, your memory is remarkable.”
“Spare me the flattery.”

Alberu sat beside Kale and peered outside through a hole positioned at eye level.

“So our younger brother finds that agenda unsettling?”
“Yes. Duke Fredo felt the same unease about it. Particularly since the Vice High Priest knows nothing of this agenda, Duke Fredo and I became certain.”

Kale and Alberu’s eyes met.

“‘The White Star and the Priest are plotting something significant on the festival’s final day.'”
“Is the spy the Vice High Priest?”
“As expected, you grasp it immediately.”
“You yourself mentioned that the Vice High Priest knows nothing of this agenda, didn’t you?”
“Indeed.”

Kale smiled at Alberu, who understood him so well, and continued.

“The facility for creating demons is accessible from District 2, it seems.”
“I heard it was located beneath Zone 1?”
“True, but the entrance is in District 2. It’s located in the Demon Temple, where Priest Gersei serves as the chief administrator and the Vice High Priest as the deputy administrator.”

Alberu sensed something odd at that moment.

“Demon Temple?”

Demons are demons, and gods are gods—but a demon-god?

“Would you like to hear an interesting story?”

Kale let out a soft laugh.

“The name of the demon-god enshrined in that Demon Temple is Berrow.”
“…Berrow is the—”
“Yes. It is the surname of the First Dragon Slayer, and the surname that successive Dragon Slayers abandon their original names to inherit.”

That is why White Star, though originally bearing a different surname, became Kale Berrow upon becoming the First Dragon Slayer, inheriting Neran Berow’s name.

“Your Highness, there is no demon race called Berrow. It is a demon race that will be created in the future.”
“…Do the people of the Endable Kingdom know this?”
“They do not. Except for some of the leadership. They believe it to be an existing demon race.”
“…I see.”

This was the reason Duke Fredo had discovered the name ‘Kale Berrow’.
Of course, according to him, he had obtained this information by planting a spy beside Bear King Sayehr.

‘My son, for your reference, Bear King Sayehr and Lion King Dorf are not nobility like us. Instead, they are White Star’s complete subordinates. So you must be careful. They are people with many secrets hidden.’

Kale turned over the information Fredo had given him, organizing his thoughts for a moment.

“Hmm.”

Similarly, Alberu gazed out the carriage window, lost in thought at Kale’s words.

“I thought a building serving the demon race would have a somewhat unusual appearance, but it looks similar to ordinary temples.”
“The shapes, forms, and symbols differ slightly, but they give off a clean and reverent feeling.”
“…You said there are many ‘humans’ in District 2 here?”

Alberu’s eyes caught sight of priests moving about District 2.
Though each bore different emblems, they all wore gray-tinted robes—garments Alberu had seen during the battle at Sten Territory Castle.

“Yes. Those who serve the demon race, scattered across the East-West Continent, have come here and built their own buildings to live.”
“I see.”

Alberu nodded at Kale’s words and opened his mouth.

“But here’s the thing.”
“Yes.”
“Do I really have to serve as your servant?”

Alberu looked at Kale with a rare hint of reluctance.
At that gaze, Kale’s expression became more serious than ever.

“Your Highness, this is an important matter. Think about it.”

Kale pointed at me.

“This Nar Von Izelern is deeply beloved in the Endable Kingdom. I’m quite popular, you see.”

Alberu’s expression grew bitter.

“…And?”
“But this charming young master has always been frail, so from childhood I’ve had to spend much time convalescing outside the Capital.”
“I’ve already heard all that. So?”
“So if I say I travel with a loyal servant who attended to me at the villa where I was recuperating, few will suspect anything. Especially since he’s a Dark Elf hybrid—a dark-attribute race—they’ll be even less inclined to question it.”

Alberu’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Kale noticed his understanding and barely suppressed the smile threatening to break through, instead speaking with a sorrowful expression.

“Your Highness, please understand my position.”
“…Is that so?”
“I never said I was pleased. Rather, my heart races at the thought of what’s to come when I make contact with the spy. I’m not weak, am I?”
“Tch— your tongue grows slicker by the day—”

Thud!
The carriage lurched violently and came to a halt.
Alberu stopped mid-sentence and looked toward Kale.

“We’ve arrived, it seems.”

The rendezvous plan Fredo had outlined before our departure was beginning.
Before the cargo carriage door could open, Kale whispered urgently to Alberu.

“Your Highness. The Vice High Priest is the only outsider who knows that Duke Fredo is awake.”

And there was one more thing Alberu needed to remember.

“Furthermore, the Vice High Priest believes that ‘Fredo Von Izelern’ and ‘Nar Von Izelern’ are separate individuals, and that Nar is truly the real son of Duke Fredo.”

Pfft.
Alberu let out a deflating laugh and whispered.

“So Duke Fredo deceives even his sole collaborator?”

Duke Fredo was deceiving even the Vice High Priest, withholding the full truth from her.
Kale smiled back in response.

“That’s what makes this Vampire so entertaining.”

Click!
At that moment, the sound of the carriage door lock disengaging echoed through the air.

“Did you bring all the goods?”

A voice called out from beyond the carriage door.
It was the voice of the storage keeper of this building, of this warehouse.

Kale recalled what Fredo had told him.

‘We’re planning to make contact using a cargo carriage. Everyone involved is on our side, so don’t worry.’

Soon after, the voice of the carriage driver who had brought Kale here sounded out.

“Of course. I brought everything! Do you think I’m the kind of person who does sloppy work?”

Kale heard the storage keeper’s voice once more.

“Kehehehe, so we’re moving it without checking?”
“Obviously! Get moving! I have to leave again in a bit!”

Creak.
The carriage door slowly swung open.
The storage keeper spoke with vigor.

“Alright, you two newcomers! Move the cargo from this carriage!”

Through the slightly ajar carriage door, Kale’s eyes met with the driver’s.
The moment the Vampire driver gave Kale a respectful nod, the storage keeper spoke.

“I’ll be watching from the side, so slacking off will be impossible!”
“Yes! We’ll work hard!”
“Yes, just give us the orders!”

Soon, two loud voices answered in unison.

Creak—
The coachman opened the door a bit wider.

Thud. Thud.
Two burly men stepped into the cargo cart.
They entered the cart, their eyes sweeping across the towering piles of straw that filled it.

“Young Master. We’ve come to escort you.”

And they came to a halt before Kale.
In that moment, I could see Alberu stepping forward before me.

“Please state the passphrase first.”

At Alberu’s quiet voice, the two men opened their mouths simultaneously.

“For the future of Endable.”
“For the future of Endable.”

Alberu’s gaze turned toward Kale.

“Young Master.”

Kale nodded his head.
Only then did Alberu step back behind Kale, assuming the posture of a respectful servant.

‘Wow. He’s quite good at this.’

I was about to let out an exclamation of admiration as I watched Alberu, who had instantly immersed himself in the role of a servant, but instead I opened my mouth.

“Are you the ones meant to guide me?”

Yes.
Standing behind me, Alberu swallowed the exclamation that had nearly escaped.

‘He’s quite good at this.’

Kale had never experienced such a situation before, yet he demonstrated the confident demeanor of the next Duke representing the Izerun Family with remarkable skill.

As Kale and Alberu marveled at each other’s performances, the two burly young men bowed their heads respectfully to Kale.

“Yes. We have been assigned to serve you.”

In that moment, Kale spotted the sacks.

Thump. Thump.
Two large sacks were placed before Kale and Alberu.
The young men unfolded the sacks.

“Please enter.”

Kale gazed at the opening of the sack and swallowed a sigh internally.

‘My son. There will be sacks there. The promised ones will transport you through those sacks to the Vice High Priest. They are the Vice High Priest’s people. By the way, they are ‘human’.’
‘…Sacks?’

Fredo gazed at Kale’s distorted expression with affection and spoke.

‘It couldn’t be helped. According to the Vice High Priest, she cannot even move about District 2 comfortably right now.’
‘Why?’
‘You’ll find out once you get there.’

Kale stared blankly at the sack.
Living this long, I’ve done everything imaginable.
His mouth opened.

“I just need to get in?”

The two young men nodded at his question, and Kale entered the sack.
Next, Alberu entered the sack.

At that moment, the Storage Shed keeper, who had been peeking inside, raised his voice.

“Move quickly, quickly!”
“Yes, yes!”
“Yes!”

The two young men quickly hoisted the sacks containing Kale and Alberu onto their shoulders.

Thump, thump.
Kale remained motionless inside the sack, unable to shift his body even slightly.

‘My aching bones.’

He recalled the location Fredo had mentioned.

‘The rendezvous point isn’t far. There’s an abandoned building connected to the back entrance of the storage shed. It’s been left vacant for the warehouse expansion. It’ll be torn down soon anyway.’

That was where they would meet.

Creak—
The sound of an old door opening reached his ears.
Kale realized the young man carrying him had come to a halt.

“Young Master. I’ll set you down now.”

With those words, Kale felt his body being lowered to the ground.
Thud.
Carefully set down, he could see the mouth of the sack opening.

“We’ve arrived.”

The young man stepped back, and Alberu, who had already emerged from his sack and exited, quickly approached Kale’s side.

“Young Master. Please come out.”

He then diligently assisted Kale in exiting the sack smoothly.
Kale accepted the service as naturally as expected and stepped out of the sack.

“Then we shall take our leave.”
“Glory to Endable.”

The two men opened the door again and swiftly disappeared.
Kale surveyed his surroundings.

“An ordinary dwelling.”

It was a small, humble dwelling where trainee priests once resided in the past.
Of course, having stood vacant for so long, the building was on the verge of collapse, its walls weathered and the atmosphere desolate throughout.

“Young Master.”

At that moment, I could see Alberu standing before me, blocking my path.

“You should look to your right, sir.”

At Alberu’s courteous yet cautious voice, I shifted my gaze rightward.

Creak. Creak.
The floorboards on the right side were trembling. Upon closer inspection, a small wooden door was attached to the floor.

Crack!
The trembling wooden door suddenly burst open without hesitation.
And I could see a plump hand gripping the door handle.

“Goodness, what a struggle.”

A soft, gentle voice emanated from the wooden door that had opened in the floor.

“Heave!”

And from that wooden door, a woman emerged onto the floorboards, draped in a worn gray robe.
A woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, with a round impression reminiscent of a baby polar bear, smiled broadly with full, plump cheeks and waved her hand toward me.

“Prince Nar. It has been quite some time. Have you brought a letter from the Duke?”

At that moment, I recalled what Fredo had said.

‘My son, when you meet the Vice High Priest, there is something you must say first.’

I spoke those words.

“Vice High Priest. Please dispel the illusion first.”

Her pupils, now thin as threads within her smiling eyes, held my gaze.

“So Duke Fredo is alive after all. Which means he must have told Nar about such things as well, wouldn’t you say?”

Though the Vice High Priest’s lips curved upward, her eyes gleamed, and her entire face seemed to smile, her gaze remained utterly devoid of warmth—cold as winter frost.

‘My son, in my eyes, the Vice High Priest is far more terrifying than Gersei. That is why I chose to join hands with her.’

Kale recalled Fredo’s words once more as he regarded her.
The Vice High Priest extended her hand toward him.

“You’ve worked hard to come this far, Little One.”

In that instant, space itself began to shift.
Shock flooded Kale’s eyes.

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