Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 579

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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 124. Does Bob Eat and Live?

Busan Seomyeon.
The words embedded themselves in everyone’s minds.

Simultaneously, information about the ‘Unranked Monster’ that Kale had mentioned surfaced in their thoughts.
As silence hung over the room, one person broke it.

“Hey. If it’s a monster like that, can we really go?”

It was Lee Chul-min.
Unlike the 24-hour battle from days ago, his complexion was not merely peaceful—it was remarkably composed.
He tilted his head back as he addressed Kale.

“Kim Rok-soo, according to what you said, this monster has the power to effortlessly destroy an entire metropolitan province and its surrounding cities? And it has special abilities too. So shouldn’t we just stay put?”

Lee Chul-min continued, regarding Kale with incomprehension.

“It’s not like we’re going to our deaths. Why would we abandon such excellent territory…”

Suddenly, mid-sentence, Lee Chul-min’s left cheek burned hot, and he averted his gaze.

“…!”

He caught sight of Park Jin-tae’s murderous glare.
And behind Kale, he could see Choi Han’s apathetic eyes fixed upon him.

“No. What I meant was—”

Lee Chul-min hastily opened his mouth, glancing at the others in the conference room.

“Can we handle this alone? From what I hear, when an Unranked Monster appears, the monsters in the surrounding areas also run rampant.”
“That’s right.”

Kale nodded readily and added, looking at the people in the conference room.

“The surrounding monsters will rampage. They’ll act as if their new leader has appeared and they’re delighted about it.”

Bae Chul-ho and Park Jin-tae froze at the word “leader.”
A peculiar glimmer flickered across their eyes.

“In any case, we’re in a difficult situation.”

Bae Chul-ho spoke calmly while gazing at Kale Heniatus.

“Rok-soo. I sympathize with your intention to go to Busan Seomyeon. The fact that there’s only one monster capable of destroying such an excellent Central Shelter—”

Since setting foot in the New Central Shelter, Bae Chul-ho had felt a profound peace he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
The same was true for everyone else.

This massive New Central Shelter was spacious enough to accommodate people from three to five of the original Central Shelters and nearby Temporary Shelters all at once—a fortress and a castle in one.
Moreover, it was a small city unto itself.

The existence of an unranked monster capable of destroying such a place sent a chill down Bae Chul-ho’s spine.
Yet his brow furrowed.

“No matter how exceptional your abilities are, or Choi Han’s, or anyone else’s for that matter. Realistically speaking, if we just go to Busan Seomyeon—”

That was when Kale Heniatus uttered a single name.

“Lee Soo-hyuk.”

The atmosphere in the conference room shifted instantly.

‘Huh?’

Bae Pureun, seated at the far end of the conference room, widened his eyes and glanced around.
He looked at Kim Min-ah and opened his mouth slightly.

‘What?’
‘No idea.’

Kim Min-ah shrugged and shook her head.
Neither Bae Pureun nor Kim Min-ah knew who Lee Soo-hyuk was. The mere mention of that name had shifted the atmosphere so noticeably that they felt an inexplicable unease.
Kim Min-jun felt the same way.

“Lee Soo-hyuk. Who is that person?”

He whispered softly to Lee Sung-won and asked a question.
Lee Sung-won, who had been recording the meeting, deliberated for a moment before answering in a hushed tone.
However, the conference room was so quiet that their conversation was heard by everyone else.

“…The person who laid the foundation.”
“Foundation?”
“There are so many people here who survived thanks to Lee Soo-hyuk.”

At that moment, Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“He saved me too.”

Kim Min-jun, Kim Min-ah, and Bae Pureun’s eyes widened.
The person who saved Kim Rok-soo?

Bae Chul-ho uttered an exclamation.

“What. Lee Soo-hyuk is in Busan Seomyeon?”

At that moment, Kale could see Park Jin-tae looking at him.

“Lee Soo-hyuk… Did you discover your older brother’s location with your ability?”

Park Jin-tae’s expression as he posed the question was enigmatic.
He appeared to have quite complex thoughts.

“Yeah. It’s my ability.”

Kale Heniatus now spoke to Park Jin-tae without any formality.
He addressed the people in the conference room.

“He is currently at the New Central Shelter that recently appeared in Busan Seomyeon.”

Bae Chul-ho uttered a remark.

“That changes things.”

Joo Ho-sik, who had been silent, also nodded in agreement.

Lee Soo-hyuk.
That name stirred reactions in people just as naturally as the name Kim Rok-soo did now.
Bae Chul-ho continued, his expression thoughtful.

“Lee Soo-hyuk is the type who draws people to him. Whether they’re subordinates or colleagues, there seem to be quite a few strong individuals around him.”

Kale Heniatus nodded in agreement.

Indeed.
The Busan Seomyeon Shelter currently housed an unusually large number of awakened individuals.
Many of those who survived would become pillars of the awakened community in the future Korea.

That’s why some even said the appearance of an unranked monster there later was inevitable rather than mere coincidence.

Bae Chul-ho, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke with a grave expression.

“But we have to protect this place too.”
“Of course.”

At Kale Heniatus’s matter-of-fact response, Bae Chul-ho exhaled in relief.
Kale Heniatus pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket.

“So I’ve decided on the personnel based on our upcoming plans.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Lee Chul-min spoke without thinking.

“Hey. Why are you deciding that on your own!”

His heart had been uneasy.
Ever since hearing the name Lee Soo-hyuk.

What if I end up going to Busan Seomyeon?
Busan Seomyeon itself wasn’t the problem.
If I meet Lee Soo-hyuk there.
That would be a disaster.
Given his temperament, Lee Chul-min could already envision the dark future ahead.

‘Hey. Lee Chul-min, you discriminated against people and mistreated those without abilities?’
‘Oh my. You hit Kim Rok-soo? Did beating someone up feel good?’
‘Lee Chul-min. Want to get hit yourself? Huh? What gives you the right to lay hands on people? Huh?’
‘Lee Chul-min. Did you go insane wanting to meet the Grim Reaper?’

…Damn it all.
Cold sweat began trickling down Lee Chul-min’s back without warning.

“Hey! I, I—”

I can’t go to Busan Seomyeon, so exclude me!
That’s what he wanted to scream.

“Lee Chul-min.”

At that moment, Park Jin-tae’s quiet voice made Lee Chul-min flinch.
But soon he fixed Park Jin-tae with a steady gaze.
His eyes spoke for him.

‘Commander, Lee Soo-hyuk is there! Will we be alright?’

But Park Jin-tae couldn’t understand a word his eyes were saying.
His mind was too preoccupied with other thoughts.

Lee Chul-min felt so suffocated it was as if he’d swallowed ten sweet potatoes without water.
That was when it happened.

Choi Han subtly gripped the hilt of his sword with his hand.
Lee Chul-min saw it, and at the same moment, he realized Choi Han was looking at him.

‘More cunning and terrifying than Lee Soo-hyuk. And I’m losing to a high schooler!’

Lee Chul-min cried out internally, but outwardly he said nothing and lowered his head.
Lee Chul-min fell silent.

Kale Heniatus watched Lee Chul-min speak to himself and then shrink back, his expression turning sour before he opened his mouth again.

“Of course, if you’re dissatisfied with the list I’ve prepared, please let me know. I’ll revise it immediately.”

After that, Kale Heniatus announced the roster.
Those who would stay to defend this place and those who would depart for Busan Seomyeon.

And once that announcement concluded.
Not a single soul dared to voice opposition to Kale’s decision.

* * *

The Gyeongbu Expressway connecting Seoul and Busan.
Just a year ago, this stretch should have been lined with a smooth, unbroken highway, yet now it bore no resemblance to its former self—twisted asphalt and abandoned vehicles scattered everywhere told a different story entirely.

The desperation of their flight was evident in every detail.
The sheer magnitude of the catastrophe was written in the destruction of this fundamental infrastructure.
All that remained was a haunting testament to what had transpired.

The vehicles strewn across the ruined expressway lay crumpled and shattered, stripped of their original forms.

“Good grief, the sun’s already setting! Let’s move faster!”

Five people gathered scattered vehicles at the tunnel’s entrance, dragging and pushing them into a single location.

“At least half of this tunnel collapsed. That’s fortunate—monsters won’t come from the other side.”
“Exactly. Come on, pick up the pace!”

The five stacked the automobiles in a circle, constructing a makeshift wall.

“Hey, Kim! Why aren’t you moving faster?”
“Goodness me. Can’t you see I’m already moving as fast as I can? Your nagging just keeps getting worse!”

The man called Kim grumbled as he pushed a vehicle.
Then he spoke to the young man standing beside him.

“Jung-soo, are you holding up alright?”
“I’m fine, sir.”

The young man called Jung-soo flashed a bright smile.
He was a man whose sturdy build immediately caught the eye.
Kim spoke to the youth.

“Heh heh. It seems like your martial skills and physical strength are better than your abilities?”

The young man’s eyes crinkled with playful laughter.

“I’m just a bit better than someone with abilities, sir.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty good, real good!”

Kim answered with a blunt expression before letting out a sigh.

“I really need to get to Busan soon.”
“Your family is there, right?”
“Yeah. My daughter and wife are in Busan. I went up there to do construction work, but….”

Kim couldn’t continue speaking.
He quickly changed the subject.

“Busan isn’t your hometown, is it?”
“No. The route is similar, so I’m heading that way.”

A shadow of melancholy crossed Choi Jung-soo’s face as he answered with a gentle smile.

‘I need to get home soon.’

I had to return to my home quickly.
But with my strength and abilities alone, it wasn’t easy to go directly to my hometown.
Since all I could do was squeeze into groups of people and move with them, I kept getting turned around and having to stop repeatedly.

By luck, I encountered people heading to Busan, and now the five of us were helping each other as we made our way there.

‘Once I reach Busan, there will definitely be people heading toward Gyeongnam.’

There, I would meet others going in the same direction and make my way home.
Choi Jung-soo steeled my resolve.

Home.
That was my only goal right now.

“Ah, Kim! Aren’t you working?”
“Ugh! Why only me! Choi Jung-soo is here too!”
“Is Choi Jung-soo the type to slack off? Kim started talking to him, so Choi Jung-soo had to respond and couldn’t work! We need to find a good spot before sunset!”
“Ah, fine, fine!”

Kim shook his head side to side.

“…Choi Jung-soo, let’s hurry.”
“Yes!”

At the sight of Choi Jung-soo’s bright smile, Kim let out a quiet chuckle and pushed the vehicle’s body with all his might toward the tunnel entrance.

That was when it happened.

“Huh?”

The Boy, who had been tasked with surveying the perimeter, lowered the telescope from his eyes and raised his hand urgently.

“A m-monster…!”

In an instant, the four adults released their grip on the vehicle.

“What?”
“A monster?”

Everyone turned their gaze toward the direction the Boy was looking.
And without thinking, I took a step back.

Boom. Thud-, Boom!
The earth trembled.
The expressway was destroyed in places, the asphalt jutting up into an uneven path, and a massive black shape was charging forward without hesitation.

The black shape rushing from the direction of Seoul was drawing closer at tremendous speed.

“Damn! What the hell…! That’s an incredibly powerful monster!”
“Seo Jun! Seo Jun! Give me the telescope!”

A woman who appeared to be in her late twenties reached out her hand toward the Boy.

“Aunt!”

The boy cried out without managing to hand over the telescope.

“There are people on that monster’s back! Two of them!”
“What?”

The people who had been hastily preparing for combat and readying themselves to flee from the monster froze at the boy’s words, staring blankly toward Seoul.

A black object drawing closer at rapid speed.
Its true form gradually came into focus.

Beneath the crimson sunset.
What approached was a black beast—a hybrid of tiger and lion—and upon its back rode two people.

“Uh, uh—”

At that moment, wind swirled around the black tiger, and it suddenly surged forward at tremendous speed.

“What do we do! I’ve never seen anything like this before!”
“Just, just everyone hide behind the cars!”

People scrambled and huddled behind the wall formed by the incomplete vehicles.
Ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

Yet the black-maned tiger approached the frantically fleeing people.
And the tiger cried out.

“Hey, don’t run! I just need to ask for directions!”

Huh?
The people’s frantic movements ceased.

What did we just hear?
Did that monster just speak to us?

They exchanged glances with one another.

Boom!
In that instant, Dark Tiger closed the distance to the humans in a flash and came to an abrupt halt.
The tiger’s black eyes swept across the group methodically.
Then its gaze locked with one person.

It was Choi Jung-soo.
The tiger’s mouth opened.

“Hmm? Isn’t this Choi Jung-soo? You look just like you described yourself.”

Choi Jung-soo flinched and took a step back.
Words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“…What the hell is this?”

What in the world was happening?
How did this tiger monster know my name?

That was when—

“That’s right, hyung. This is Choi Jung-soo.”

Choi Jung-soo lifted his head.
Two people were riding on the tiger’s back.
One of them, notably gaunt, appeared to be around his age, while the man behind him in distinctive attire looked slightly younger.

Choi Jung-soo’s gaze fixed on the two figures who were staring at him with piercing intensity.
Bewilderment poured from his lips.

“…What’s going on?”

In that moment, memories from the past surfaced in Kale Heniatus’s mind.
In the past, whenever Choi Jung-soo was flustered, dialect he didn’t normally use would slip out.

The corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth curved upward.

I was genuinely delighted to see him.
Truly.
More delighted than words could express.
Impossibly so.

I waved my hand.

“Hey there?”

Choi Jung-soo’s pupils trembled.
Kale Heniatus didn’t even notice those pupils—his eyes were fixed on Choi Jung-soo’s haggard appearance, and his brow furrowed.
Then he spoke bluntly.

“Have you eaten?”
“Huh?”

Choi Jung-soo asked back with a vacant expression before slowly shaking his head.

“No. I haven’t.”

Dark Tiger—Alberu—watched the exchange between the two before adding his own words.

“You need to eat properly.”
“Brother, that’s not easy. You can’t eat if there’s nothing to eat.”

Kale Heniatus answered that remark.
Choi Jung-soo opened his mouth.

“…Sigh.”

Only a sigh escaped.

Choi Jung-soo looked between Dark Tiger, who was shaking his head in disapproval, Kale Heniatus, whose expression showed clear displeasure at his appearance, and Choi Han, whose face was expressionless yet whose pupils trembled with emotion. Then he spoke once more.
His words carried an overwhelming sense of bewilderment.

“Is this a dream or reality?”

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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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