Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 583

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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 125. How Much You’ve Grown

“…I’m really grateful.”

Lee Soo-hyuk patted Kale’s back repeatedly, his voice slightly hoarse as he murmured the words.
Kale heard that voice and gazed at the City Wall beyond Lee Soo-hyuk’s shoulder.

‘Surprising.’

Everyone was staring at Lee Soo-hyuk with astonished expressions.

‘It makes sense. Seeing the Team Leader like this would feel strange to them.’

Grandmother Kim and the Lee Siblings standing behind Kale likely found it equally unfamiliar to witness Lee Soo-hyuk displaying his emotions so openly.

Perhaps the original Kim Rok-soo from this time period would have found it the most awkward and strange of all.

Yet Kale understood now why Lee Soo-hyuk was acting this way.

‘When you’re exhausted, this is what happens.’

Beyond the fatigue of each passing day, the question haunted him: how much longer must he fight? Even as he continued saving people, this land kept crumbling. Should he simply let it all go and live in peace?
Such doubts and despair filled Lee Soo-hyuk’s mind.
Such worries were filling Lee Soo-hyuk’s mind at that moment.

Lee Soo-hyuk fought and protected with the same dedication as always, even while harboring doubt and uncertainty.
No wonder his spirit was worn thin, his heart pushed to the brink.
So it makes sense that the person would feel quite emotionally exhausted and cornered.

When meeting people from your past at such a time, your emotions can’t help but be stirred.

That’s why Kale opened his mouth in his usual manner, rather than with a welcoming heart like Kim Rok-soo normally would.

“Could you step back a bit?”

He was laughing.
He was laughing.

“Well, well. Kim Rok-soo, you haven’t changed a bit.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression grew noticeably warmer.
Kale Heniatus spoke to Lee Soo-hyuk.

“Grandmother Baker and the others came as well. Aren’t you going to greet them?”
“As expected, you’ve always had a subtle way of looking out for others.”

Lee Soo-hyuk said this while giving Kale Heniatus a light tap on the shoulder before moving past him.
The moment he passed Kale Heniatus, he came face to face with the three monsters that had been accompanying him.

Lee Soo-hyuk looked at each monster one by one, meeting their gazes.
A peculiar light flickered in the eyes of Steel Hawk and White Rabbit.

‘They’re not afraid.’

One would expect at least some fear or emotional disturbance, yet this human that Kim Rok-soo sought didn’t even flinch at the sight of the two monsters.

‘Clearly weak.’

Unlike Choi Han and Kim Rok-soo, this human seemed clearly weak, yet was not weak at all.
Of course, he could feel that this human was far stronger than the other humans around him.

Unaware of the monsters’ thoughts, Lee Soo-hyuk finally locked eyes with Dark Tiger.

Grin.
Lee Soo-hyuk saw the tiger monster smiling. And then the tiger monster’s mouth opened.

“Good to see you.”

Huh?
Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“I’m Albert Crossman, Kim Rok-soo’s older brother. It’s good to meet the one our younger brother was searching for.”

Albert Crossman stopped there and quietly observed Lee Soo-hyuk.
Lee Soo-hyuk also quietly observed Albert Crossman in return, then raised one corner of his mouth.

“Well.”

A small exclamation escaped his lips.
Lee Soo-hyuk tore his gaze away from the monsters to glance briefly at Kale Heniatus, then turned his attention back to Alberu without comment.
Then he opened his mouth.

“How old are you?”
“…What?”

Alberu’s pupils trembled slightly.
Regardless, Lee Soo-hyuk strode toward Alberu, placed his hand on the mane above his head, and stroked it as he spoke.

“No matter how much I tell Kim Rok-soo to call me hyung, he won’t do it. But it seems he calls you hyung. I’m envious, you know?”

Lee Soo-hyuk asked with a smile.

“So how old are you?”

Alberu hesitated and looked at Kale Heniatus.
Kale Heniatus shook his head with an expression that said he’d expected as much.
Alberu observed this, then turned his gaze back to Lee Soo-hyuk.

‘…Those eyes show no fear.’

Though he was smiling, there was something about his gaze that created an atmosphere difficult to approach carelessly. Yet strangely, despite being difficult to approach, it also emanated an aura that made one want to draw closer.
One might say the person’s very presence was magnetic.

Alberu assessed the human called Lee Soo-hyuk and opened his mouth.

“I’m 25 years old.”

Lee Soo-hyuk smiled as if thanking him for the answer and spoke.

“Then I’m your hyung.”

Pat, pat. He then tapped Alberu’s back and passed by him.
His demeanor showed no particular concern for the three monsters.

However, Alberu noticed that Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes had already assessed the monsters, and were now surveying the other humans as well.

‘So Kale Heniatus learned from Lee Soo-hyuk, did he?’

Alberu realized anew that Lee Soo-hyuk and Kale Heniatus had quite a lot in common.
Kale had likely learned much from Lee Soo-hyuk.

‘Of course, right now Kale Heniatus is more skilled.’

After all, Kale Heniatus was practically in his late thirties, so it made sense that his greater experience translated to superior proficiency.
Alberu observed Lee Soo-hyuk’s back quietly.

And the same was true for the others.

Kim Po-chul and the five who had joined them at the Gyeongju Entrance regarded Lee Soo-hyuk with a hint of tension.
There was no helping it, given Lee Soo-hyuk’s appearance.
Kim Po-chul found himself opening his mouth without thinking.

“…What kind of blood is that.”

Red stains were visible against his black clothing.
It was surely blood, but how many monsters’ blood would one need to be covered in to look like that?

“Mm.”

Kim Po-chul hastily closed his mouth.
Lee Soo-hyuk glanced at him briefly before moving on.

‘…Geez.’

Kim Po-chul couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

‘He’s like a blade, truly a blade.’

Unlike the bright smile he had shown Kim Rok-soo and the others moments before, the way he looked now was as cold as a sword’s edge.
Suddenly, as Kim Po-chul thought of a blade, his gaze naturally turned toward Choi Han.

And Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze also lingered on Choi Han for a moment.

‘Hm?’

His eyes widened slightly.
Choi Han had been standing still, but now he slowly bowed his head in greeting to Lee Soo-hyuk.

‘Wait, is that even a greeting?’

It felt more like… a thank you.
Lee Soo-hyuk found himself staring at Choi Han with an odd expression.
That was when Choi Han extended his hand.

“I’m Choi Han. I heard you’re the one who saved Kim Rok-soo hyung. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Ah.”

So it was a thank you after all.
Lee Soo-hyuk could see through Choi Han’s excessively formal greeting.

“It was nothing, really.”
“Please, speak comfortably.”
“Sure.”

Lee Soo-hyuk grasped Choi Han’s hand lightly.
Then, smiling, he spoke to Choi Han.

“You’re quite strong, aren’t you?”
“…Pardon?”
“I can tell just from your hands.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze shifted to Choi Han’s hands, marked with calluses and scars.
Choi Han could see that while Lee Soo-hyuk was smiling, his eyes remained cold and sharp.

“…I’m fairly strong.”
“Good.”

With that, Lee Soo-hyuk moved past Choi Han, glanced briefly at Choi Jung-soo, and turned toward the people behind them.
Choi Han watched Lee Soo-hyuk quietly.

He was truly grateful to Lee Soo-hyuk.

Lee Soo-hyuk was the one who had cared for Choi Jung-soo and Kale Heniatus like family.
The one who had died in Kale’s place.

And there was another who had died in Kale’s stead.
Choi Han’s gaze turned toward Choi Jung-soo.

Choi Jung-soo quietly observed the sword hanging at Lee Soo-hyuk’s waist and Lee Soo-hyuk’s figure.

‘Ideally, I should have embraced Kale Heniatus together with him.’

Choi Jung-soo and Lee Soo-hyuk were currently strangers to each other.
They had met for the first time today.

Choi Han looked at Kale Heniatus. Their eyes met immediately.

‘As expected, Kale Heniatus was also watching Choi Jung-soo and Lee Soo-hyuk.’

He was watching those two who were passing each other by.
Choi Han couldn’t imagine what Kale Heniatus was feeling.
Yet it stung.

But.

‘They will naturally come together.’

Choi Jung-soo, Lee Soo-hyuk, Kim Rok-soo.
Those three would naturally become connected.

‘…And I must too.’

I must be part of it.
Choi Han stepped forward to stand beside Choi Jung-soo, who was watching Lee Soo-hyuk with a furrowed brow.
At that, Choi Jung-soo flinched and looked at Choi Han.
Choi Han paid no attention to Jung-soo’s gaze and opened his mouth while looking at Lee Soo-hyuk.

“That person is quite skilled with a sword as well.”
“…Pardon?”

Choi Jung-soo was flustered by Choi Han’s sudden remark.
These two had barely spoken to each other—except for their initial greeting a few days ago, or rather, when they first met.

In particular, every time Choi Jung-soo witnessed Choi Han’s swordsmanship, his mind became so confused that it grew increasingly difficult to utter even a single word.

‘Who is this person? Just who could he possibly be—’

You’re using swordsmanship similar to the ancient blade techniques passed down through our family, aren’t you?

‘And on top of that, it’s the Choi family.’

Choi Jung-soo felt as though his mind might burst from the complexity of it all.
That was when it happened.
Choi Han’s voice reached his ears.

“You wish to learn swordsmanship, don’t you?”
“Ah.”

An exclamation escaped Choi Jung-soo’s lips in that instant. Choi Han looked at him and continued.

“No questions are permitted.”

To Choi Han, Choi Jung-soo’s questions were burdensome
because of the truths that might be revealed beyond them.

“I will teach you only swordsmanship.”

Choi Jung-soo looked down at the younger Choi Han and opened his mouth.

“Why are questions not permitted?”
“…I said no questions are permitted.”

With those words, Choi Han walked toward Kale Heniatus.
Choi Jung-soo gazed at Choi Han and Kale Heniatus for a long while, watching them intently.

Meanwhile, Lee Soo-hyuk stood before Grandmother Kim.

“Grandmother.”
“…Oh my. Soo-hyuk.”

Grandmother Kim gently touched Lee Soo-hyuk’s face with trembling hands.

“What’s happened to you? What is this? Oh my.”

Grandmother Kim continued to caress Lee Soo-hyuk’s face, arms, and shoulders with an expression of speechlessness.

“…Brother.”
“Jin-ju. Sung-won.”

Lee Soo-hyuk flashed a gentle smile at Lee Jin-ju and Lee Sung-won as they approached him. Yet the siblings’ expressions mirrored Grandmother Kim’s.

The Lee Soo-hyuk who had left the Central Shelter and the one standing before them now were utterly transformed.
This version of Lee Soo-hyuk appeared exhausted and worn in a way he never had before.

Throughout the entire journey down the Gyeongbu Expressway toward Busan Seomyeon, after deciding to make this trip,
they had never imagined seeing him like this.

A resilient leader.
A leader worthy of trust and loyalty.
That was the image they had come expecting.
Reality diverged sharply from imagination.

Lee Soo-hyuk gazed at them, offering each person a smile as they struggled to process their conflicting emotions, then gestured toward the figure standing furthest back.

“Park Jin-tae.”

Park Jin-tae stood motionless like stone, unable to tear his gaze away from Lee Soo-hyuk.
Lee Soo-hyuk addressed him with playful warmth.

“Jin-tae. Aren’t you coming? Don’t you miss your hyung?”

Park Jin-tae’s mouth slowly opened.

“…Insane. What a state.”

His voice grew sharp.

“What the hell is this pathetic condition?!”
“What’s wrong with me?”

Watching Lee Soo-hyuk regard him with innocent confusion, Park Jin-tae felt genuine, overwhelming anger surge through him.
He couldn’t understand why.
Yet the anger was undeniable.

Park Jin-tae stared at Lee Soo-hyuk’s condition and thought.

‘It’s obvious what happened.’

He must have ended up in that state by stepping forward to save people, insisting on bearing the burden himself.
He was neither a god nor a machine.
As long as he was human, he would surely be exhausted and feeling his limits.

‘I am, I am—’

Park Jin-tae reflected on his own life after Lee Soo-hyuk had left.
At the same time, he gazed once more upon the existence he had wanted to chase, the one he had wanted to surpass.

“…Damn it.”
“Jin-tae. After seeing your brother for so long, is that how you talk?”

Park Jin-tae turned his head away.
Lee Soo-hyuk gazed at Park Jin-tae for a moment before lowering his head.

“Hmm.”

The eyes of Lee Sung-won and Lee Jin-ju, who were glancing at Lee Soo-hyuk as he spoke to Park Jin-tae, held a different light than before.
And the moment their eyes met his, Lee Jin-ju turned her head away while Lee Sung-won’s lips trembled slightly.

Furthermore.

“Lee Chul-min.”
“Uh, yes?”

Lee Chul-min awkwardly lowered his head and greeted Lee Soo-hyuk. His appearance seemed quite unstable.

‘Something’s going on.’

Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyebrows twitched once more as he sensed the strange atmosphere.
But before that.

“First.”

He slowly turned around.
Those who had come to meet Lee Soo-hyuk again thought in that moment.

‘The real Lee Soo-hyuk.’

His gaze—seemingly indifferent yet razor-sharp—turned toward Kale and his companions.

“Why have you come to see me? Tell me what situation has brought you here.”

The answer to his question flowed from Kale’s lips.

“Very well.”

Kale answered plainly before opening his mouth once more.

“Ah. One thing, though.”

He spoke to the bewildered Lee Soo-hyuk, and to the people watching from near the City Wall and City Gate.

“I’d rather not repeat myself multiple times. You have a Grand Conference Hall here, yes? Gather everyone who matters.”

Repeating the same words grew tiresome.

“Let’s finish this in one go.”

* * *

The Grand Conference Hall located within the Busan Seo-myeon Central Fortress.
Now, with all the explanations concluded.
Kale and Lee Soo-hyuk regarded each other.

“Kim Rok-soo.”
“Yes.”

Lee Soo-hyuk observed Kim Rok-soo, who gazed back at him with a composed expression, before finally speaking.
His measured voice resonated through the Grand Conference Hall.

“Rok-soo. You’re saying everyone here will die?”

Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on Lee Soo-hyuk and Kale.
An aura emanated from Lee Soo-hyuk—so cold and sharp it seemed capable of severing all things.
And meeting that piercing gaze, Kale’s voice emerged calm and steady.

“Yes. Most of them die.”
“You. Are you really saying that to my face right now?”
“Yes. I am saying it.”
“Do you think I would believe you?”

Kale’s lips curved upward.
Why would he ask something so obvious?

“Yes. You are already believing me, are you not?”

One corner of Lee Soo-hyuk’s mouth lifted.

“Yeah. I believe you.”

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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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