Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 574

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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 moment the Dark Tiger’s massive body moved.
A person inside the Shelter watching this muttered under their breath.

“…Lightning.”

It was movement like lightning itself, just as the word suggested.
And the end of that movement was.

“Kee-eek, ik! Kyek!”

The Dark Tiger’s massive fangs tearing into the red ape’s neck.

“Kee-ik, kyek!”

The people’s jaws dropped at the pathetic whimper of the creature that had been their terror.
The terror slowly began to collapse to its knees.

Thud—!
The red ape fell to both knees, its breath extinguished.
Behind it, the people could see the Dark Tiger lightly shaking its mane, and the person riding atop it.
Je Ha-jeong found herself opening her mouth without thinking.

“…Did you really—”

Did you really come to help us?
She wanted confirmation of this desperate hope.
But Je Ha-jeong couldn’t finish her sentence.

Because the Dark Tiger and the person atop it had turned their backs to them.

“Let’s finish this.”

At Kale’s words, Alberu let out a long sigh.
Kale easily dismissed that sigh.

“Your Highness. You said you’ve figured out everything about the leader monster except for one thing?”

From the moment Alberu connected with the leader monster’s body, he could grasp ‘everything’ about this creature.
Everything except for one thing.

Kale recalled Alberu mentioning that one exception.

‘I was able to grasp all of the Dark Tiger’s memories. But here’s the thing—I have no idea where this beast came from.’

Where did the Dark Tiger come from?
Where did all these monsters originate?

‘The original owner of this body clearly seemed to know where he came from. But the moment I connected, that memory alone was erased.’

Kale spoke while stroking the tiger’s mane.

“Well, we need to figure out that one unknown thing quickly, so let’s hurry.”
“Sigh. Understood.”

With a heavy sigh, Alberu turned away from the others and took a step forward.

“Kiiiii—”
“Grrrrr!”

Monster cries erupted from all around.

“…The Crown Prince doing this… this… damaging his own dignity….”
“Your Highness.”

Kale urged the hesitant Alberu forward.

“Brother, bark already.”
“Damn it.”

Alberu had no choice but to comply with the urging.
The Dark Tiger opened its mouth, revealing vicious fangs.

And Alberu let out a howl.

“Roooaaarrr—!”

The Dark Tiger’s thunderous roar caused the air near the Central Shelter building to vibrate violently.
Kale felt the vibration and recalled what Alberu had said.

‘Kale. Just as you suspected, those monsters serving as leaders among these sample monsters seem capable of exerting considerable influence over Grade 2 monsters.’

Kale had previously noticed something beyond the fact that the leader monsters attacking each Central Shelter could communicate—something he had focused on and theorized about.

Command.
Could these leader monsters command Grade 2 and 3 monsters?
That was the hypothesis he had formed.
And he had been able to hear part of the answer from Alberu.

‘From examining this body’s memories, Grade 3 monsters experience extreme terror and oppressive pressure from this body, while Grade 2 monsters feel considerable fear and oppressive pressure.’

Extreme terror and oppressive pressure.
Considerable fear and oppressive pressure.
The two were quite different, but one thing was certain.

Even if it wasn’t true ‘command’.

“Kiii!”
“Kruk! Kuk!”
“Kraaaagh!”

Grade 2 and 3 monsters felt fear toward the leader-role monsters among the sample creatures.
The Grade 2 monsters showed an even greater reaction than when the Dark Tiger had appeared, hastily retreating beyond a certain range.

Just like at the Central Shelter where Kale was, the Grade 2 monsters stood like a wall at a considerable distance, surrounding the building.

Kale observed this sight and shifted his gaze.

‘Ah, and Kale. Sample? Anyway, the other sample Grade 1 monsters experience slight fear and oppressive pressure, it seems.’

Unlike the Grade 2 monsters that retreated as Alberu said, the remaining Grade 1 monsters glared at the Dark Tiger and Kale with vigilant eyes.
While they showed faint fear, they soon realized their superior numbers and took a stance to seize any opening for an attack.

“I mustn’t show them any openings.”

With those words, Kale spread both his hands wide.

Whoooosh—
Crackle!
In my right hand materialized a spear of water, while my left hand gripped a lance of golden lightning like a weapon.

“Kale, are you really going to fight? Is that okay?”
“No, sir. I can’t afford to lose. I’m just putting on a show of strength without actually exerting myself—making them think twice before recklessly attacking.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Yes.”
“That’s so like you.”

Alberu and I exchanged words with utterly composed expressions.

But the Grade 1 Tasting-level monsters, unable to hear our conversation, grew tense throughout their bodies—wary of the Dark Tiger and simultaneously cautious of the human’s sudden display of power—and did not dare to attack recklessly.

And the people inside the Central Shelter could not believe what they were witnessing.

A man riding atop a colossal tiger as though it were his own limbs, his back held perfectly straight.
The power of water and Destructive Fire held in that man’s hands.

“…Who is that person? …Is he even human?”

Je Ha-jeong’s murmur reflected the sentiments of everyone present.

They had only heard tales of multiple ability users thanks to Lee Soo-hyuk, one of the most famous ability users in this region, but had never actually witnessed one.

Je Ha-jeong considered the abilities the man before her possessed.

“…Water… lightning.”

And he commands monsters. Among similar professions, what came to mind—

“…A tamer?”

She couldn’t quite grasp how to describe all these abilities combined.
Though Je Ha-jeong was quite a distance away, she could still see the faint smile playing at the man’s lips.

‘To maintain such composure even with monsters right before him.’

It sent a shiver down his spine that transcended mere surprise.
He recalled the woman’s voice he had heard moments before.

‘From now on, I will dispatch the First Support Unit.’
‘Please hold on just a bit longer.’
‘The First Support Unit will eliminate all the trial monsters.’

Je Ha-jeong spoke without thinking.

“…We might actually survive.”

Then, he heard the cry of Bae Chul-ho, the leader of this Central Shelter.

“Oh my goodness!”

Je Ha-jeong’s gaze snapped toward the sound.
Bae Chul-ho gripped his head with both hands.
His eyes trembled uncontrollably.

His gaze was fixed on the sky where the Dark Tiger had descended.

Besides the Dark Tiger, there were others descending from the sky.
Bae Chul-ho’s face contorted as he saw one of them.
Then a longed-for voice reached him.

“Uncle!”

Bae Chul-ho’s mouth fell open.

“Pureun!”

Bae Pureun descended rapidly toward the ground.
Because of his speed, those accompanying him were also able to land swiftly on the surface.

“Uncle!”

Bae Pureun rushed past the corpse of the red ape and charged straight into the building. Bae Chul-ho was already sprinting toward him.

“Unbelievable!”

Bae Pureun and Bae Chul-ho embraced each other tightly.
After the world had changed so drastically, reuniting with family felt like nothing short of a miracle.
Bae Pureun was overwhelmed with emotion at the realization that Bae Chul-ho had been so close all this time. He was the uncle I had seen frequently, even outside of holidays.
That was when it happened.

“Hello.”

Those who had descended to the ground with Bae Pureun appeared in Bae Chul-ho’s eyes.
And Pureun snapped to attention at that voice, stepping away from Bae Chul-ho.
The one who had greeted Bae Chul-ho opened her mouth.

“I am Kim Min-ah.”

Bae Pureun quickly approached Kim Min-ah’s side and spoke.

“Ah, my, my girl, girl—”
“Later.”
“Okay.”

At Kim Min-ah’s firm voice, Pureun quickly fell silent. But the crimson blush on his cheeks betrayed his embarrassment, and everyone caught on to the connection between them.
Regardless, Kim Min-ah bowed respectfully to Bae Chul-ho before turning away.

“I’ll see you again shortly.”
“…What?”

Kim Min-ah immediately headed toward the exit of the building. Bae Chul-ho instinctively reached out his hand.

“Outside is dangerous—”

But Bae Chul-ho’s hand never reached her.
She had already moved away from him at great speed.

“It’s alright, Uncle.”

It was the moment his nephew Pureun’s voice reached him.
Boom!
An enormous spear materialized as it struck the ground, and Kim Min-ah grasped it lightly in her hand as she approached the Dark Tiger.

“Uncle, our Min-ah is incredibly strong. Me too.”
“…What?”

You’re strong too?
Bae Chul-ho’s eyes widened in that instant.
A man’s voice came from atop the Dark Tiger.

“Park Jin-tae!”

Another person who had visited this Central Shelter.
Park Jin-tae, whom Bae Chul-ho had originally known as the leader of that other shelter.
That foul-natured Park Jin-tae twisted his face and reluctantly answered.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it! Let’s just go!”

When Bae Chul-ho looked at Park Jin-tae with puzzlement—his expression reluctant yet his movements hurried—Park Jin-tae set Jang Man-su down from his back onto the ground.
Then, meeting Bae Chul-ho’s gaze, he let out a small curse.

“Damn it…”
“Park Jin-tae!”

But at Kale’s voice calling him once more, he opened his mouth while looking at Bae Chul-ho.

“…You’ll understand if you hear the story from Grandmother Kim.”
“Good to meet you.”

At the kind-hearted grandmother’s greeting, Bae Chul-ho quickly bowed in respect, then looked back at Park Jin-tae.

“…Park Jin-tae.”
“What?”

Bae Chul-ho faced the blunt Park Jin-tae while pointing outside the building with one hand.

“Who is that person?”

His finger pointed toward Kale.
For the first time, all expression vanished from Park Jin-tae’s face.
Then Park Jin-tae’s mouth opened.

“…Well, I’m not entirely sure anymore either.”

He could no longer gauge Kim Rok-soo’s true strength.
Yet one thing was certain.
Regardless of what happened.

“He’s our current leader.”
“What?”

Not you?
Bae Chul-ho’s eyes widened. He was astonished by Park Jin-tae’s answer—especially coming from someone so ambitious.
Park Jin-tae offered a bitter smile.

“Once you see it, you understand. If we follow him, we’ll survive. All of us.”

* * *

Boom—!
Bae Chul-ho watched the final Grade-1 Taster monster that had attacked the Central Shelter collapse.

“…Hah.”

An emotion beyond mere admiration escaped his lips.
All of the Grade-1 Taster monsters had truly fallen.

Then a hand appeared before him.

“Hello. I’m Kim Rok-soo.”

The man who had stood atop the Dark Tiger, directing Kim Min-ah, Park Jin-tae, and Bae Pureun as they methodically eliminated each monster.
Bae Chul-ho grasped that hand firmly.

“I’m Bae Chul-ho. Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.”

He wanted to express his gratitude however he could.
So he began to speak further, but Kale shook his head.

“We need to help the other Shelters, so I don’t have much time. Let me keep this brief.”

Upon hearing that Kale had no time to spare, Bae Chul-ho recalled another Central Shelter nearby.

“Yes. Please feel free to tell me anything.”

Bae Chul-ho grasped Kale’s hand firmly between both of his own as he spoke.
Kale opened his mouth with a composed expression.

“Is Chae Su-jung here?”

Bae Chul-ho’s pupils dilated.

“…Chae Su-jung?”
“Yes. The one who makes Molotov cocktails.”
“She is. But why?”

Without hesitation, Kale continued in response to Bae Chul-ho’s question.

“I need to speak with her. I’m planning a counterattack.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it said that the best defense is a good offense?”
“Pardon?”

Just as Bae Chul-ho continued repeating the same response, Kale’s expression grew slightly displeased.

“Do you need me?”

A woman wearing round glasses descended the staircase from the 2nd Layer.
Kale nodded upon seeing the sharp eyes beyond her lenses.

“Yes, I do need you.”

The incarnation of fire, the Molotov cocktail thrower.
Chae Su-jung.
He needed her very much.

Chae Su-jung approached Kale with an expression that mingled gratitude for helping her defeat the taster monster with suspicion about why he was seeking her out.
Yet even in that moment, Kale had much to do.
He posed a question to Bae Chul-ho.

“Ah. Do you know Bae Chul-ho? And Joo Ho-sik?”
“…Of course I know that man. Isn’t he a leader of one of the Central Shelters?”

Park Jin-tae, Bae Chul-ho, Joo Ho-sik.
The Central Shelters where each of them served as leader were among the earliest ones in this region, relatively close to one another.

Bae Chul-ho’s expression darkened at the thought of Joo Ho-sik.

‘That man isn’t exactly pleasant to converse with.’

Even Lee Soo-hyuk, the strongest in this area, had found Joo Ho-sik unsettling.
Of course, he treated the people in his own Shelter exceptionally well, but ordinary conversation with him was impossible—his words simply didn’t make sense. They said he followed some peculiar religion.
Bae Chul-ho’s mouth opened.

“Are you thinking of going there?”
“Yes.”

A straightforward answer followed.

“We need to help them too.”

Bae Chul-ho gripped Kale’s hand more tightly, his admiration evident.
Kale found his expression and gesture uncomfortable, so he gently withdrew his hand and spoke.

“We should hurry. There’s much to be done.”

Kale offered a gentle smile.

* * *

“Sister. It’s six o’clock.”
“Right.”

Lee Jin-ju lifted her head.

The tail end of autumn.
A crisp wind blew as the season gradually shifted toward early winter.

The sun was already disappearing beneath the Western Sky.
She turned her head to gaze at Kale.

“Rok-soo. Night is coming soon.”

Kale opened his mouth, watching Earth’s sunset for the first time in ages.

“Yes. Night is almost here.”

Night.
For those who had struggled through despair for so long, not knowing what lay ahead.
For Kim Rok-soo’s past, filled with regret.

A night of possibility was approaching—one that would reveal a future transformed.

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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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