Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 564

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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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It was a darkly amusing story.

When Kim Rok-soo had searched for information about the appearance of unranked monsters and recorded it.

In the section explaining the process of this ‘initial Central Shelter destruction and monster attacks’ that occurred before the first unranked monster appeared, something caught his eye.

It was the ‘taste-test monsters’.

From rank 3 to rank 2.
Then from rank 2 to rank 1.
A taste-test monster appeared each time the ranks transitioned.

Kale Heniatus couldn’t shake the word ‘taste-test’ from his mind.
It remained vivid in his thoughts even without reviewing the records.

The first taste-test monster.

During the transition from rank 3 to rank 2, rank 1 monsters appeared as taste-test specimens, and they had destroyed Kim Rok-soo’s first Central Shelter.
Many people died.

‘This is an era where even fighting a single rank 1 monster is difficult.’

People hadn’t properly utilized the abilities they possessed.
Because they lacked information.

Kim Rok-soo had witnessed those dying to the taste-test monsters while fleeing.
That’s why calling it a taste-test left a bitter taste in his mouth.

But what was truly terrifying was this.

‘It really was just a taste-test.’

The onslaught of rank 1 monsters that would soon follow, and then, after some time had passed, the invasion of unranked monsters that would occur afterward.
Compared to those two calamities, this was merely a taste-test.

He had to overcome it.
Without sustaining major losses.

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“The overall pattern is that monsters appear according to their grades, but as I mentioned, there are various forms of monster attacks interspersed throughout.”
“Rok-soo.”

At that moment, Jang Man-su, who was being carried on Choi Han’s back, approached Kale Heniatus together with Choi Han.

“You must be exhausted.”
“No. I think I’ll be fine after resting for just an hour or two.”
“Yes. Please rest.”

The shield would be ready in two hours.
Jang Man-su hesitated before opening his mouth.

“…Can we defeat Grade 1 monsters? Seven of them at that.”

In that instant, the area around Kale Heniatus fell silent.

Seven Grade 1 monsters.
The number seven stole the breath from those surrounding Kale Heniatus.
Even at that moment, a fierce battle was unfolding on the rooftop.

“Push them back further!”
“Hold on!”
“Let’s use a bit more telekinetic power!”

From the rooftop railing, people unleashed every small attack they could muster against the Grade 3 monsters attempting to assault the building, hurling them over the barrier made of fallen monsters and debris.

That was why I couldn’t tell them.

That seven Grade 1 monsters would appear soon.

The people would surely lose their will to fight.
Even Jang Man-su was gripped by fear.
It was then.

“It’s possible.”

Someone other than Kale Heniatus opened their mouth.
It was Park Jin-tae.
He stared intently at Choi Han, who was carrying Jang Man-su on his back.

“Somehow, we should be able to overcome seven of them.”

Ssssick. Park Jin-tae flashed a smile at Choi Han, who was watching me.
Then Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“Choi Han will be sitting this one out.”
“…What?”

The eyes of Park Jin-tae and those around him widened.

“How are we supposed to—without him—”
“Night.”

At Kale Heniatus’s single word, Park Jin-tae fell silent.

“You will remember what I said.”

Night.

“The moment the sun sets. The moment dusk itself fades away.”

When darkness descended upon the world.

“The monsters will become intoxicated with madness. Their ferocity will reach an entirely different dimension, and their attack power will increase by 1.5 times.”

That was why the first critical juncture was night.

“Especially when Grade 2 and Grade 3 monsters rush at you all at once.”

Kim Rok-soo, who had fled with the collapsing Central Shelter at his back, remembered that night with vivid clarity.
He had squeezed into the gaps between the rubble of buildings and watched, holding his breath.

That night, filled with madness and becoming hell itself.
Countless humans had died.

That night was brutal for the humans scattered across the Central Shelter after its collapse, unable to gather and dispersed in all directions.

“For us to survive tonight, Choi Han must withdraw now.”

Throughout the night, Choi Han would not be able to sleep for even a moment alongside Kale Heniatus.

“This man needs to rest, even if just a little.”
“…Then—”

Park Jin-tae bit his lip hard, then barely managed to speak.

“Then how do we fight?”

Park Jin-tae was certain of one thing.

“You would have already found the answer, wouldn’t you?”

How to kill seven Grade 1 monsters.
That was when it happened.

“Commander!”

Lee Chul-min’s voice rang out.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the direction Lee Chul-min was pointing at from where he stood at the railing.

“Grade 2 monsters are beginning to approach!”

The Grade 3 monsters still surrounding the building continued their attempts to force their way inside and kill the people within.
But the Grade 3 monsters approaching from the rear began to slowly retreat.

As if passing the baton.

“…They’re making way for the Grade 2 monsters.”

Just as Park Jin-tae said, the Grade 3 monsters withdrew as the Grade 2 monsters approached.

More and more Grade 2 monsters were revealing themselves.
A pressure of an entirely different magnitude from the Grade 3 assault engulfed the people.

Tick. Tick.
Kale Heniatus watched the clock.

It was already well past 2 o’clock.
3 o’clock would arrive soon.

At 3 o’clock, the Grade 1 tasting monsters would appear.

“And, and—”

Lee Chul-min’s voice trembled.
Among the Grade 3 and Grade 2 monsters of similar height.
Peculiar-looking monsters of unusually towering stature began to reveal themselves one by one.

“They, they’ve appeared!”

With Lee Chul-min’s cry, the others shouted as well.

“Gasp! Grade 1, Grade 1…!”

Those standing at the South Side railing unconsciously retreated one by one.
They had recognized the Grade 1 monsters.

Park Jin-tae muttered.

“At least it’s fortunate. The Grade 1 monsters are coming from one direction, not from all sides.”

Seven were scheduled to appear from the South Side.

Currently, only three were visible.
A monster with a serpent’s head, a monster that seemed a blend of lion and tiger, a monster resembling a skull.
Each was a different monster.

Park Jin-tae opened his mouth while staring at the monsters.

“Kim Rok-soo. At 3 o’clock, seven of those creatures will attack from the South Side, right?”
“That’s correct.”

His voice was remarkably composed.
In that instant, Park Jin-tae felt irritated by such composure and turned his gaze toward Kim Rok-soo.

“Hm?”

Then he faltered.

“Hey, you—”

Kim Rok-soo was smiling while looking not toward the South Side but in another direction.
Those who had been watching Kale Heniatus along with Park Jin-tae all flinched at his expression.
In that moment, Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“I possess the ability of foresight, as I mentioned.”

Foresight.
At that word, everyone fell silent.
Only now did they truly grasp the magnitude of the foresight ability Kim Rok-soo had spoken of. It finally dawned on them that everything Kim Rok-soo had said thus far had been accurate.

“Choi Han will not fight.”

His resolute words left no room for doubt.

‘Then we’ll have to do this ourselves?’

Park Jin-tae’s brow furrowed.
Surely Kim Rok-soo possessed a method for us to overcome this alone, yet anxiety gnawed at him.

Then, a dry voice cut through the air.

“However, there are those who will fight alongside us.”

What?
Park Jin-tae’s eyes widened.

Yet Kale Heniatus kept his gaze fixed on the North, his hand settling upon Lee Jin-ju’s shoulder.

“Sister.”
“Huh? Yes?”
“Say exactly what I tell you—loud enough to reach that building.”

Kale Heniatus pointed to one of the Northern Buildings.
It was quite tall, half-destroyed and barely standing.

‘What?’

Park Jin-tae could make out human figures where Kale Heniatus pointed.

‘Two people?’

Two people were visible.

‘Don’t tell me—’

People to fight alongside?
Park Jin-tae felt his skin crawl as he looked at Kale Heniatus, but Kale was already speaking the words Lee Jin-ju would relay.

“Stop skulking around and spying. If you want to live, come here.”

Even as he spoke, Kale Heniatus recalled a fragment of conversation from his memories.

‘Team Leader, Team Leader! You’re not going to wake up?’

Back in the Molden Kingdom, when he had to face despair trapped within Elysnet I’s illusion.
Two people who had appeared in that illusion of his.

One of them was Jung So-hoon.

‘…Should I boil some instant ramen?’

The new recruit Jung So-hoon, asking if he wanted to eat ramen.
And the other person.

‘Team Leader! Is this really the time to eat ramen? Just because that bastard Jung So-hoon is eating ramen, you’re eating it too?’

Kim Min-ah, Vice Team Leader.
A frontline assault operative commanding one of the attack squads under Kale Heniatus’s leadership.
She had married and built a family, and had an adorable daughter named Bae Pureun.

Kale Heniatus recalled a conversation he’d had with Kim Min-ah during the days when Kim Rok-soo was Team Leader.

‘…You went there?’
‘Yes. I was running around and spotted it, then ran away again. I’m amazed the Team Leader is from there, you know? They said he hadn’t even awakened his abilities back then, yet somehow he survived.’

She had mentioned visiting the Central Shelter where Kale Heniatus spent his early days.
On the very day the Central Shelter collapsed.

‘When did you go?’
‘Around 2 or 3 PM on the first day. A Taste-Grade 1 monster appeared not long after I arrived.’

The corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth lifted.
She had said something then.

‘I was with the guy who’d become my husband back then. I dragged him around with me. Ha ha ha!’

Kale Heniatus called out to the two people watching from the Northern Building.

“Kim Min-ah. Bae Pureun. Join us over here.”

Kale Heniatus looked at Lee Jin-ju.

“Aren’t you going to do it too, noona?”
“Huh?”

Lee Jin-ju blinked in surprise before opening her mouth.

“Do you know them?”
“No. I don’t?”
“…Then?”
“I have precognition, remember? Those two are strong.”

That’s when Park Jin-tae muttered quietly.

“That crazy precognition ability.”

Kale Heniatus ignored that remark entirely and fixed his gaze on Lee Jin-ju.
Sensing his attention, Lee Jin-ju collected herself and opened her mouth.

{Stop sneaking glances while you run. If you want to live, come here.}

In that instant, both figures moved sharply.
They appeared startled.
Watching their reaction, Lee Jin-ju continued.

{Kim Min-ah. Bae Pureun. Join us over here.}

Kale Heniatus’s mouth opened again.

“Bae Pureun. Fly over here.”
{Bae Pureun. Fly over here.}

Just as Lee Jin-ju finished relaying that message and closed her mouth, Park Jin-tae approached Kale Heniatus.

“Hey! An ability user who can fly through the sky?”

It was an ability he’d never heard of before.

“Yes. Look.”

Kale Heniatus gestured with his chin toward the Northern Building.

“He’s flying over.”
“…Huh.”

Just as Kale Heniatus said, a man was flying toward them with a woman on his back.
The woman kept pointing in their direction, shouting something frantically.

‘This crazy Kim Rok-soo!’

Park Jin-tae couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.
He found himself afraid of Kim Rok-soo.
An ability to fly through the sky?
An ability to sense the strength of opponents?
Kim Rok-soo possessed a terrifying ability that transcended comparison with those.

“Hey!”

A woman perched on the back of a man flying through the air pointed toward where Kale Heniatus stood.
Her voice rang out.

“Who are you people? How do you know us?”

Whoosh. Whoosh.
Kale Heniatus gestured welcomingly, as if beckoning them forward.
Bae Pureun and Kim Min-ah exchanged words before making their way toward the rooftop.

In that moment, Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“Kim Min-ah.”
“Who are you to know my name—”
“I can heal your brother’s wounds.”
“…What?”

Both Kim Min-ah and Bae Pureun, who carried her, stared at Kale Heniatus in shock.

“Your brother is in that building over there. Right now he’s in critical condition with a severe wound along his ribs.”

Kale Heniatus recalled Kim Min-ah’s sorrowful expression from before.

‘We fought back there. My brother told me to abandon him and flee with Bae Pureun right away.’

Kim Min-ah had forced a smile.

‘But I stayed by his side until the very end. I’m grateful we could spend those final moments together.’

She added in a lighthearted tone.

‘Though afterward, Bae Pureun had to carry me around while fleeing, which was quite the ordeal.’

Kale Heniatus placed his hand on Grandmother Kim’s shoulder.

“I will treat your brother’s external injuries. In return, I would like both of you to fight alongside us here at this Shelter.”

Grandmother Kim’s wrinkled hand settled gently over Kale Heniatus’s hand on her shoulder.
Kale Heniatus spoke, feeling the warmth of her touch.

“Then all three of you will survive. You, Kim Min-ah, and your brother.”

At that time, Kim Min-ah and Bae Pureun were high school students.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Bae Pureun opened his mouth.

“Min-ah. Should I go get your brother?”

Kim Min-ah opened her mouth.

“Let me down first.”

Bae Pureun and Kim Min-ah descended to the ground.
In that moment, Lee Chul-min’s voice rang out.

“Seven! All seven of them have appeared!”

Those who had been standing at the rooftop railing lowered their hands and turned their gaze toward where Kale Heniatus stood.
That was acceptable.

“…The monsters are retreating.”

The Grade 3 monsters were withdrawing.
They retreated further back than where the Grade 2 monsters stood—like actors exiting the stage after the curtain fell on an act.

Boom.
With each step of the Grade 1 monster bearing purple tiger stripes across its bear-like body, the earth trembled.
Though it was but a single creature’s footfall, it felt as though dozens of Grade 3 monsters were approaching.

Truly, a Grade 1 monster was drawing near.

“Kim Min-ah.”

Kale Heniatus spoke.

“Your brother has a transmission ability, doesn’t he?”

Kim Min-ah’s eyes widened in an instant, and Kale Heniatus passed by her.
He then stood before the door leading down from the rooftop and pointed to each person one by one.

“Park Jin-tae, Kim Min-ah, Lee Chul-min, Bae Pureun. The four of you will fight alongside me.”

In that moment, Park Jin-tae found himself opening his mouth without thinking.

“You, you’re going to fight too?”

His gaze fell upon Kim Rok-soo’s unremarkable frame.
Kale Heniatus answered his stare with composure.

“Yes. I will fight as well.”

His finger pointed to himself.

“One creature each for Park Jin-tae, Kim Min-ah, Lee Chul-min, and Bae Pureun.”

Four in total.

“And I will take three.”

The corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth lifted.

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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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