Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 575

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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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Chapter 123. Madness in the Darkness

Crash—crash!
With a sharp, deafening sound, the hastily repaired iron door shook violently.

Je Ha-jeong gripped the wooden beam and cried out.

“Just like Kim Rok-soo said, these monsters are going absolutely berserk!”

The more Je Ha-jeong thought about it, the more her skin crawled.

‘Kim Rok-soo’s foresight was completely accurate!’

As the sun set according to Kim Rok-soo’s prediction, Grade 2 and Grade 3 monsters descended into madness and threw themselves at the Central Shelter in unison.
Moreover, their attack power had increased by 1.5 times.

A bead of sweat trickled down Je Ha-jeong’s spine.

‘If I had faced this situation without knowing anything…!’

Could I have survived?

‘No, I would have been dead long before that.’

When the Grade 1 preview monsters appeared, Je Ha-jeong had wondered if her life was coming to an end.
That was why she felt grateful now.
Because tonight was not ‘an unexpected night,’ but rather ‘a night with at least minimal preparations made.’
Je Ha-jeong’s mouth opened.

“Uncle! Can you hold out?”

Instead of answering Je Ha-jeong, Bae Chul-ho looked at his nephew.

“Pureun.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle!”

Wind surged forth from both of Bae Pureun’s hands as he stood by the window.

Whiiiish—
A colossal gust of wind erupted like a rocket.

Boom!
“Screeeech, screeeech!”
“Growwwl!”

The monsters struck by the wind rocket staggered backward. Without missing the opportunity, the people inside the building launched attacks through the windows at the creatures outside.

And one more thing.

“Keeeeee—!”

With a piercing cry, the talons of a massive eagle raked across the monsters.
Simultaneously, the owner of those talons, the Steel-Feathered Eagle, soared skyward.

“Kee! Keeee—!”

As the enormous wings beat, steel feathers shot forth like arrows, assailing the monsters.
The Steel Hawk relentlessly attacked and harried the grade 2 and 3 monsters, preventing them from approaching the Central Shelter building.
Bae Chul-ho opened his mouth as he watched.

“I can’t believe it.”

He recalled what Kim Rok-soo had said.

‘Tonight, a boss-class monster will be stationed here.’

The Steel Hawk, which had attacked this place before departing, claiming it wasn’t worth conversing about, was now protecting it.
It was an unbelievable sight.
In that moment, Bae Chul-ho’s eyes met the Steel Hawk’s.

‘Inhale.’

When his shoulders instinctively shrank back from that intense gaze,
the Steel Hawk’s beak opened, and instead of a cry, Korean words emerged.

“If it hadn’t been a worthwhile proposal, I wouldn’t be doing this pointless nonsense. Tsk.”

With those words, I turned my gaze away from Bae Chul-ho.
Bae Chul-ho let out a sigh at my demeanor, turned his head, and his eyes met Bae Pureun’s.

“Ahem.”

As Bae Chul-ho made an awkward expression, Bae Pureun flashed a grin.

“Uncle, don’t worry too much. I’ll do my best too. Our Kale Heniatus said I have a lot of talent, after all.”

Kale had never said any such thing to Bae Pureun.

‘You’re enough. Try coordinating with Je Ha-jeong.’

That was all.

‘Do you think I can do this well?’
‘I’m confident you’ll hold up just fine.’

Kale had merely stated an obvious fact.
Of course, Bae Pureun’s ears had simply exaggerated those words beyond their original intent.

Bae Pureun’s mouth opened.

“And we don’t even need to hold out for long, right?”

A glimmer of intrigue flickered in Bae Chul-ho’s eyes.
The gazes of those nearby turned toward Bae Pureun.

There was no need to hold out for long.
Bae Pureun’s mouth opened again.

Just a few hours.

“Until we launch a surprise attack from the rear!”

Bae Chul-ho’s mouth opened.

“Right. We just need to hold out until then.”

Those around him steeled their resolve and nodded in affirmation.
That was when it happened.

Crackle.
Bae Chul-ho lowered his gaze to his own hands.
Nestled in his palm was a walkie-talkie.

It was one of the items Kim Rok-soo had entrusted to him.
Not an ordinary walkie-talkie, but rather a medium infused with an awakened one’s power, or so he’d been told.

-Ah. Ah.

A man’s voice crackled through.

-Can you hear me?
“Uncle! It’s Kim Min-jun’s voice!”

Kim Min-jun—Kim Min-ah’s older brother and the owner of these walkie-talkies.

-…Is that you, Pureun?
“Yes, hyung!”

Bae Pureun spoke with unbridled enthusiasm.

“Hyung! Hyung! Could you check if Min-ah is doing well?”
-…Sigh.

Kim Min-jun exhaled deeply through the walkie-talkie before responding.

-What is your current situation?

Bae Chul-ho answered, leaving the disappointed Bae Pureun behind.

“We’re holding up for now.”
-Understood. Please contact us immediately if anything unusual occurs, and we will do the same on our end.
“Yes. Understood.”
-Then let’s all stay strong.

With those words, the first communication with Kim Min-jun came to an end.

‘Let’s all stay strong.’

Bae Chul-ho’s ears caught those words echoing in his mind.

“Right. We have to hold on.”

Now, as night had just begun, he waited for tomorrow’s sun to rise.

And at that very moment.

-Ah. Ah.

Kim Min-jun’s ability touched the second walkie-talkie.

-Grandmother. Can you hear my voice?

Grandmother Kim looked around inside the building and opened her mouth.

“Min-jun?”
-Yes, Grandmother. What is the current situation?

At his question, Grandmother Kim surveyed her surroundings.
The Central Shelter where Park Jin-tae served as leader.
She had left that shelter where she had been staying and gone to Bae Chul-ho’s Shelter to treat the wounded.
And finally, she had come to the Central Shelter where Joo Ho-sik served as leader and was spending the night here.

“The current state is—”

Her eyes turned toward the Main Gate.
Most of the windows here were sealed shut, but the door was open.
That was fine.

Crash!
Bang!

Monsters collided against the translucent barrier.

“Roarrr!”
“Screeeech!”

The frenzied cries of monsters, drenched in madness, vibrated from all directions.
Yet to the south and north of the building.
The monsters were forced to collide with a translucent barrier.
And the person who had conjured that wall.

“Ugh!”

Jang Man-su stood with both arms spread wide horizontally, his entire concentration fixed upon the shield.
And to the west of the building.

“I never thought I would aid humans.”

A three-meter-tall White Rabbit muttered in a grave voice, its hind legs—covered in soft, fluffy white fur—striking backward with tremendous force.

“Squeal!”
“Screech!”

With each blow, Grade 2 and Grade 3 monsters collapsed.

“Yet a transaction of genuine value always piques my interest.”

The White Rabbit turned its head, tracing a circle.

“Growl!”
“Shriek!”

Grade 2 and Grade 3 monsters fell in droves around the enormous rabbit’s ears.
And to the east of the building.

“Hah!”

With Kim Min-ah’s battle cry, an enormous spear swept through the air.

“Roar!”
“Shriek!”

With each strike, monsters fell.
Kim Min-ah’s eyes blazed with fierce determination.

“…Enemies are rushing at us from all sides, so there’s no need for restraint!”

Directional control, the fear of striking the wrong target—none of it mattered now.
Enemies were pouring in from every direction.
I only needed to avoid swinging my blade toward the building behind me.

And behind Kim Min-ah.
While most windows were sealed shut except for the door, the one behind her remained open.
Grandmother Kim was positioned there.
Kale had told Kim Min-ah:

‘Grandmother Kim has witnessed countless battlefields. The moment she tells you to flee, jump through that window into the building.’

Kim Min-ah kept those words in mind as she wielded her blade.
Grandmother Kim watched her and opened her mouth.

“Everyone is doing splendidly.”

Grandmother Kim observed the people of Joo Ho-sik’s Shelter around her. They were all burning with fierce determination to overcome this crisis.

‘…But it’s not mere determination—it’s a problem.’

Grandmother Kim swallowed her true thoughts and locked eyes with a man.
He was the one serving as leader after Joo Ho-sik.
He flashed Grandmother Kim a reassuring smile and answered with vigor.

“Don’t worry! We will surely achieve victory!”

The man’s eyes blazed with power.
And it wasn’t just him. Most of the people in this shelter were filled with hope.
They spoke brightly.

“Foresight? To actually meet someone with such a power! And the strongest monsters have become our allies too! It’s all thanks to him!”
“Ho-sik was right! We will achieve victory!”
“We absolutely will! As long as we all work hard together!”

Grandmother Kim’s eyes met Jang Man-su’s.
Even as he was busy deploying his shield, Jang Man-su offered an awkward smile. Grandmother Kim did the same.
Both recalled Kim Rok-soo’s advice.

‘Just accept it as is, and everything will be fine.’

Grandmother Kim opened her mouth.

“Anyway, Min-jun, we’re fine.”
-Yes, I understand.
“And Min-ah is fine too.”
-…Thank you, Grandmother. I’ll contact you immediately if anything unusual occurs.
“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Crackle.
Kim Min-jun’s communication with Grandmother Kim had ended.
As he gazed down at the radio for a moment, Lee Jin-ju’s voice reached his ears.

“It’s a relief that everyone is okay.”
“Indeed.”

Kim Min-jun crouched beside Lee Jin-ju and could see Lee Sung-won recording the contents of his radio transmission.
Kim Rok-soo had spoken to these three people.

‘Recording, transmission, amplification—when these three elements combine, they can form an information system. These three are important now, but in the future ahead, they must absolutely use their abilities to the fullest.’

Kim Min-jun’s hands clenched with force.
His younger sibling and their friend possessed strong power and useful abilities to survive in this world, yet he felt his heart ache as if he were merely a burden.

But now he knew otherwise.
Light began to emanate from the radio in his grip.

Crackle—
It was to connect with the third radio.
That was when it happened.

ROOOAAARRR—!

A tremendous roar erupted.
From the rooftop where Kim Min-jun stood, he could see the black dragon sweeping through the monsters.

“Damn it! If you’re going to attack, at least give me some warning! I’m on your side! You should give me time to dodge!”

And Lee Chul-min’s desperate cry reached his ears as well.
But Kim Min-jun kept his gaze fixed on one point.

A man who stood with his sword extended, coldly observing the monsters pushing forward relentlessly through the path the black dragon had carved.
Choi Han.

“…This place is safe too.”

Relief washed over him alongside a shiver.
That was why.

Crackle.
When the static ceased.

-How is everyone?

Kim Min-jun answered Kim Rok-soo’s question with vigor.

“Everyone is fine.”

And he asked in return.

“Are you all right on your end?”

At that question, Kale Heniatus glanced around before answering calmly.

“Nothing unusual yet. I’ll contact you again depending on how the operation develops.”
-Understood.

Crackle.
The radio transmission ended.
If he wanted to reconnect, he could operate the radio as Kim Min-jun had instructed.
Kale tucked the radio into his pocket and surveyed his surroundings.

A desolate city devoid of light stretched before his eyes, its power cut off.

Destruction and collapse were evident everywhere.
Dried bloodstains and bone fragments—whether from humans or monsters, impossible to discern—were scattered throughout.

Even in the darkness of night, Kale could see the surroundings clearly.

A soft flicker of light.
It was thanks to the gentle glow emanating from the small glass vial he held in his hand.

“Ah. It’s suffocating. Can’t we make the light brighter?”

Kale glanced at Park Jin-tae as he approached his side.

Currently, Kale was leading the way while Alberu, Park Jin-tae, Joo Ho-sik, and Chae Su-jung followed in single file behind him, moving covertly through the darkness.
Park Jin-tae had cautiously gauged Alberu’s reaction before stepping forward to address Kale.

The others, excluding Kale, were following behind him without any light source of their own.

“Besides, there don’t seem to be any monsters around here anyway.”

Kale shook his head at the grumbling Park Jin-tae.

“That’s not possible. Monsters are lurking everywhere throughout the streets, not just in the shelters. We must proceed quietly until we reach our destination.”

First, they had to reach their objective location.
At Kale’s firm response, Park Jin-tae pouted and glanced back over his shoulder.
He momentarily froze at the piercing gaze of the Dark Tiger, but upon confirming Joo Ho-sik and Chae Su-jung beyond it, he pressed close to Kale’s side.

“Hey.”

And he opened his mouth to speak.

“Chae Su-jung—she’s originally famous for her skills in this area.”

Chae Su-jung, renowned as a molotov cocktail thrower, had earned her reputation through devastating destructive power.
Even before the incident at the Central Shelter, monsters that had managed to survive her incendiary attacks would hide at the mere sight of her—such was the caliber of her offensive capability.

That was why Park Jin-tae had considered her participation in this nocturnal raid squad to be an entirely sound decision.

“But Joo Ho-sik? That’s different, isn’t it?”

But Joo Ho-sik, of all people!

“Kim Rok-soo.”
“Why?”

Park Jin-tae’s brow furrowed as Kale’s responses grew increasingly terse. He exhaled a soft sigh and whispered quietly.

“Listen. Joo Ho-sik is insane. Even Lee Soo-hyuk found him unsettling!”

In that instant, the tiger’s ears perked up.
The volume was audible to Alberu, who stood nearby. Of course, the two people behind the massive tiger’s body heard nothing.

Then, Kale’s voice reached both Alberu and Park Jin-tae.

“I know.”

Kale understood Joo Ho-sik far better than Park Jin-tae did.
Why?

Many from Joo Ho-sik’s Shelter had perished, yet a considerable number survived compared to other locations.
Even as they fled outside the building, they remained unified rather than scattered.

And in the future.
The surviving Joo Ho-sik established a one-man guild.
The guild’s name was ‘Joo Ho-sik.’
He alone served as its sole member.
He performed every role—Guild Master, vice-master, secretary, and member—all by himself.
Which was strange in itself.

That one-man guild was a religious order.

Joo Ho-sik had created a religion.
One for himself alone.

He despised and rejected others joining his religion with great intensity.
He accepted no one into the guild.
He proclaimed his religion existed solely for his own salvation and revealed neither its name nor its teachings to the world.

No one but Joo Ho-sik knew the name or contents of Joo Ho-sik’s Religion.

‘How absurd.’

And with that one-person Guild, he accepted all sorts of requests.
And he became filthy rich.

This was the extent of what most people in the future knew about the eccentric Joo Ho-sik.
And Kale, who worked for the Company and kept tabs on the major Guilds, knew a few things more.

In truth, Joo Ho-sik’s one-person Guild was created because of his abilities.

And Joo Ho-sik spent every penny he earned restoring the devastated lands of Korea.
He poured money into barren mountains, fields, and rivers—everywhere that needed it.
That’s why Joo Ho-sik was perpetually broke.

Kale’s lips parted.

“He’s genuinely insane. And he does a lot of good.”

Joo Ho-sik was genuinely insane.
And he was quite a good person.

Kale had never encountered anyone like him before.

“Wait, if he’s insane, how is he a good person—!”

Park Jin-tae couldn’t raise his voice, so he thumped his own chest instead, staring at Kale with an expression of utter exasperation.
In that moment, Kale’s quiet voice reached his ears.

“That’s exactly why we need to fight alongside him properly.”

At those calm words, Park Jin-tae felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

“…You must know what Joo Ho-sik’s ability is, right?”

Joo Ho-sik never spoke of his ability, yet he wielded it freely.
Because of that, people elevated him to the position of leader.

But.

“No matter what I tried, I couldn’t figure out what that ability actually was.”

Joo Ho-sik’s abilities were impossible to pin down.
Something felt off.

Joo Ho-sik’s power was a mystery to everyone. It lacked clarity.

But Kale Heniatus knew.
His lips parted.

“Faith is magnificent, is it not?”

Park Jin-tae’s face immediately darkened.

“Sigh. That’s what Joo Ho-sik is always saying.”

A soft chuckle escaped.
Kale’s laughter deflated like a punctured balloon. At that sight, Park Jin-tae began to bristle with irritation before his eyes suddenly gleamed with realization.

“Surely not?”
“That surely is correct.”

At Kale’s measured response, Park Jin-tae murmured softly.

“…Faith?”

A grin spread across Kale’s face.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.

Joo Ho-sik’s power was simple.

Faith.

Whatever Joo Ho-sik believed in came to pass.

Yet the scope of that faith was not omnipotent.
His belief was limited to the abilities of those with powers.

For instance, an explosive force of five could become seven through his conviction.
An attack with a range of two could extend to four.

In this manner, Joo Ho-sik’s faith could amplify an ability user’s power proportionally to the strength of his conviction.
So long as he believed.

‘Park Jin-tae with his flame bullets, Chae Su-jung hurling incendiary bottles, Joo Ho-sik the amplifier.’

With these three together.
And with Kale’s Destructive Fire beside them.

Tonight.
The savage beasts brimming with madness would face a force equally consumed by frenzy.

‘No, that’s not quite right.’

The corners of Kale’s mouth lifted.

‘They’ll be blindsided.’

The monsters, not us.

—————
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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