Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 585

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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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Kim Woo rose from his seat, staring intently at the smiling Team Leader Lee Su-hyuk.

“Right. It’d be good to check just how much help this will be in combat this time.”

The two others accompanying him also stood up.

“Hyung. Me too.”
“No. You stay here. We need people to guard the Shelter.”

Kim Woo spoke to Team Leader Lee Su-hyuk.

“I’ll bring a few of my subordinates along instead of these guys.”

Without waiting for Team Leader Lee Su-hyuk’s response, he immediately left the conference room.
At that moment, Kale’s voice rang out.

“I’ll go and bring a few more people as well.”

Team Leader Lee Su-hyuk’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Rok-soo. I don’t know your and Choi Han’s abilities, but with Park Jin-tae, myself, and Kim Woo, that should be more than enough to handle the rescue support smoothly.”

Of course, Team Leader Lee Su-hyuk was basing Park Jin-tae’s combat power on when he had been the leader at the Central Shelter previously.

“It’s not even a Stage 2 situation—if it’s Stage 3, too many people will just get in the way.”
“Su-hyuk.”

Kang the Healer interjected.

“But given that they specifically requested you, it seems like a pretty dangerous situation. Wouldn’t more people be better?”
“Doctor. The Rescue Team members dispatched to the Yeonsan-dong area account for roughly half of our total personnel. Since they didn’t request all the remaining Rescue Team members and specifically asked for me alone, it means the situation will be resolved once I arrive.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s true, but…”

Kang the Healer nodded with a dissatisfied expression, but Kale shook his head.

“The more, the better.”
“…Kim Rok-soo.”
“Brother.”

Lee Soo-hyuk faltered once more at that single word—brother.
In that pause, Kale’s measured voice continued.

“Trying to shoulder everything alone is not a good habit. If you can share the burden, you should share it as much as possible. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression grew slightly strained.

“Hahaha!”

In that moment, Ma Seung-jin burst into laughter.

“There! Lee Soo-hyuk took one right there. Yeah, you need to listen to your younger brother.”

Heo Sook-ja spoke to Kale.

“Bring the personnel for support. However, it takes approximately one hour to reach Yeonsan-dong at a normal pace. Since we need to move as quickly as possible, keep that in mind when selecting your team.”
“Understood.”

With those words, I left the conference room with Kim Min-jun and Lee Jin-ju.
Choi Han had already departed the conference room the moment I mentioned bringing personnel.
Lee Soo-hyuk remained silent, watching my retreating figure with his mouth closed.

“Brother.”

Park Jin-tae passed by Lee Soo-hyuk and left a single remark.

“Kim Rok-soo is still Kim Rok-soo, but now he’s different.”

With an expression tinged with bitterness, emptiness, and a faint glimmer of hope all at once, Park Jin-tae passed Lee Soo-hyuk and followed in my wake.

“…Ha!”

Lee Soo-hyuk let out a short laugh and adjusted his sword belt.
Then he called out to Park Jin-tae’s departing back.

“Jin-tae. But listen.”
“What?”
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Park Jin-tae remained silent without turning around, then spoke after a moment.

“Ask Lee Sung-won or Lee Jin-ju.”
“…I see. Is that so?”

Lee Soo-hyuk nodded and asked something else.

“Did you keep your promise to me?”

Park Jin-tae’s face contorted.

When Lee Soo-hyuk left the Shelter, he had entrusted it to Park Jin-tae, and the two had made a promise.

‘Jin-tae. I don’t know about anything else, but I hope you’ll protect the people of this Shelter. Can you do that?’
‘Brother, don’t worry. I’ll do well.’

Damn it.
Park Jin-tae didn’t answer and simply continued walking.
Lee Soo-hyuk watched Park Jin-tae’s back with eyes that had grown cold and distant.
Then, with a slight smile directed at the Messenger who was gauging his mood, he spoke.

“Get ready to move with us. And turn off the alarm.”
“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Kim Woo frowned as he stepped outside through the open North Gate.

“Why are so many of them going?”

Park Jin-tae’s face crumpled.

“Whether they go in a group or not, what’s it to you? You just look after your own subordinates.”
“Tch. That bastard.”

Kim Woo shook his head and approached Kale and Lee Soo-hyuk’s side.
In less than ten minutes, all personnel designated for the support mission had assembled in front of the North Gate.

Of course, among the Rescue Team there was only Lee Soo-hyuk and one Messenger, with most of the personnel being those Kale had brought.

Lee Soo-hyuk spoke to Kim Woo and Kale.

“We move immediately. Yeonsan-dong is quite far, so we’ll travel as fast as possible.”

At Lee Soo-hyuk’s glance, the Messenger raised his hand.

“I have a map, so just follow me.”

Kale could see light swirling around the Messenger’s feet.
It seemed his ability was geared toward running at high speed.

Lee Soo-hyuk glanced briefly at Kale’s personnel.

Starting with Kale, there was Park Jin-tae, Choi Han, Choi Jung-soo, Kim Min-ah, Bae Pureun, Joo Ho-sik. And the White Rabbit.
The rest were resting at the Castle.

“I won’t wait for stragglers.”

With those words, Lee Soo-hyuk shot forward at rapid speed.

“Let’s go!”

Kim Woo followed in his wake. His body moved at considerable speed as well.
Two of his subordinates hurried after him. One of them spoke quietly to Kim Woo.

“Do you think those guys will be able to keep up properly?”
“Hmph. If they can’t, then their true abilities will be exposed.”

Kim Woo let out a scoff and quickened his pace.

After the Great Calamity, vehicles no longer functioned properly.
Public transportation was destroyed, and most cars and motorcycles were damaged beyond repair.
Moreover, in the month or two immediately following the Great Calamity, gas stations everywhere were destroyed and explosions occurred in what amounted to widespread chaos, so even if there were functioning vehicles, they were nothing more than scrap metal.

That’s why the fastest means of transportation right now was nothing but abilities and the human body itself.

One of Kim Woo’s subordinates let out a snort of laughter.

“With so many weaklings around, I don’t think we’ll be able to—!”

That was the moment.
Kim Woo’s group and Lee Soo-hyuk immediately turned to look behind them.

Whoooosh—
Wind swept through the air.

Wind spiraled around Bae Pureun.

“Let’s go!”

The moment Bae Pureun finished speaking, the White Rabbit, carrying Joo Ho-sik and Choi Jung-soo on her shoulders, bounded forward in a single leap.
And Bae Pureun shot forward, carrying Kim Min-ah on his back.

“…What—!”

Kim Woo could see them surging ahead in an instant.
But it didn’t end there.

Joo Ho-sik, clinging to the White Rabbit as they passed Kim Woo, clasped his hands together and murmured.

“I trust you.”

In that moment, a wind incomparably vaster than Bae Pureun’s swept them forward from behind.
There stood Kale, enveloped in a whirlwind.

“Let’s move.”

Riding Kale’s wind, Park Jin-tae and Choi Han surged forward together.
Kale passed by Kim Woo, who watched silently, and gave his shoulder a light pat.

“Let’s go. We need to save them quickly, don’t we?”

And that wind also enveloped Kim Woo and his subordinates.
Kim Woo felt his body becoming lighter.
At this rate, it seemed they could reach Yeonsan-dong at a considerably faster speed.

“Ha!”

Kim Woo exhaled a sigh as if exasperated, but his eyes wavered with uncertainty.

‘…A multi-ability user?’

The people of Seo-myeon Central Shelter had not yet heard about the abilities of Kale and his companions.
It couldn’t be helped.
They had first spoken about the unranked monster, which was the purpose of their visit to Busan Seomyeon, then discussed whether to believe it or not, and only then had they rushed out for emergency rescue support.

Kale confirmed the wind from Bae Pureun pushing the backs of the Messenger in front and Lee Soo-hyuk, then spoke to the Messenger.

“Let’s hurry.”
“Ah, yes!”

The Messenger swallowed hard and moved forward.
Lee Soo-hyuk watched Kale quietly before following behind him.

The wind created by the combined efforts of Bae Pureun, Kale, and Joo Ho-sik accelerated their movement even further.
However, obstacles existed in their path.

“Grrr-!”
“Grr!”

Monsters appeared throughout the area, revealing themselves upon discovering humans.

“Tsk! Boss, should I step in?”

One of Kim Woo’s subordinates spoke up.
Kim Woo was about to nod his head when he stopped at the sight unfolding before him.

“My, my.”

A massive presence keeping pace beside the Messenger. With each stride, it seemed as though it should produce thunderous sounds, yet it moved with surprising grace.
The White Rabbit spoke in a genteel voice, her tone tinged with regret.
Then she stepped forward.

“Flee if you wish to live.”

The charging monsters hesitated and retreated the moment the White Rabbit’s crimson eyes blazed with light.

“Kee-ing. Kee-ee”
“Kuh-ung.”

At that sight, Kim Woo and his subordinates gaped in astonishment.
Lee Soo-hyuk glanced at Kale, and Kale opened his mouth in response to that gaze.

“This gentleman who accompanied me here, Mr. Rabbit, is not only capable of communicating with humans but also inspires considerable fear and pressure in Grade 2 and 3 monsters, preventing them from approaching easily.”

Bewilderment flickered in Kim Woo’s eyes.
What? A gentleman? Mr. Rabbit?

“As long as Mr. Rabbit is with us, we can simply ignore and rush past small groups of Grade 2 and 3 monsters like these.”

Kale bowed slightly toward the White Rabbit.

“Thank you, Mr. Rabbit.”
“Not at all. This is something I can easily manage.”

Mr. Rabbit offered a genteel smile.

“Phew.”

Kim Woo exhaled in exasperation, though no one paid him any attention.
He glanced at Lee Soo-hyuk, curious about his reaction to this absurd situation.
Surely he would be equally flabbergasted.

“Hmm. We should be able to move faster and more safely now.”

Lee Soo-hyuk remained composed.

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

Ignoring the monsters that retreated without further incident, I moved forward rapidly. Kale did the same, while Kim Woo stared blankly before hurrying after us in a panic.
Kim Woo’s group was falling behind.

Without paying them any mind, as I moved in the direction the Messenger indicated, my eyes met with someone’s.

One of the people perched on the White Rabbit’s shoulders at the front.
It was Choi Jung-soo.

Choi Jung-soo turned to look at me, and when our eyes met, he offered an awkward smile before turning away.

“Why are you bringing that guy along?”

I turned my gaze toward the voice coming from beside me. Park Jin-tae glanced at Choi Jung-soo and opened his mouth.

“Right? He doesn’t seem particularly strong.”

Park Jin-tae had never witnessed Choi Jung-soo in combat.
But according to Kim Po-chul and Choi Jung-soo himself, his abilities amounted to nothing more than unremarkable physical prowess.
Park Jin-tae looked at me with incomprehension, unable to fathom why I had brought Choi Jung-soo along.

“I asked to bring him.”

Then Choi Han’s voice reached us.
Park Jin-tae watched as Choi Han spoke calmly.

“I requested it of Kim Rok-soo.”

Why?
For a moment, that question arose.
But it was soon answered.

“He’ll become stronger than you.”
“What?”

At Kim Rok-soo’s words, Park Jin-tae looked at me in astonishment.

“That guy?”
“Yeah. He has the potential. Possibly.”

Kale looked at Choi Han, and Choi Han, confirming that Choi Jung-soo couldn’t hear their conversation from this distance, opened his mouth.

“He will become that strong.”

Park Jin-tae looked back and forth between Choi Jung-soo and Choi Han as if he couldn’t believe those words.

Who was Choi Han?
This fellow who had suddenly appeared was considerably powerful.
While Kim Rok-soo had astonished them with the variety of powers he wielded, Choi Han had demonstrated remarkable strength through swordsmanship alone.

But this guy Choi Jung-soo could grow to match Choi Han’s level?

It was unbelievable.

“I will make it happen.”

Choi Han said this and closed his mouth.
Kale gazed quietly at Choi Han.

Before Choi Jung-soo’s death.
The power he possessed had not been stronger than Choi Han’s.
The white Mir had been weaker than the black dragon Choi Han created.

Yet Choi Han seemed to wish for Choi Jung-soo to become similar to him, or rather, to surpass him.
Kale understood that sentiment completely.

‘Because I feel the same way.’

His gaze turned toward Lee Soo-hyuk.

‘Whether this world is an illusion or a parallel dimension, I cannot be certain.’

If that were the case, then I—Team Leader Kim Rok-soo—
had to pass on what I learned from Team Leader Lee Soo-hyuk to the Lee Soo-hyuk standing before me.

“They’re all coming!”

The Messenger’s voice rang out, and Lee Soo-hyuk shifted his gaze toward Kale, who was staring intently at him, and spoke.
Despite the urgent situation, his voice was remarkably unhurried.

“Kim Rok-soo. What do you want to do?”

At the same moment, the Messenger shouted.

“It’s over there!”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward a single building.
A three-story Commercial Building with one side collapsed but still maintaining its structure.

“Screeeee!”
“Grrrrr!”
“Kyaaaaa!”

Dozens of various monsters surrounding it were launching attacks, trying to force their way inside.

“Ugh! Hold the line!”
“Endure! Just a bit longer and the Captain will arrive!”

And from within the Commercial Building, those wearing yellow armbands were attacking from the windows, defending against the monsters’ invasion.
But their numbers were less than a third compared to the monsters.

“Huh?”

And several of them looked toward where Kale stood.

“They’ve arrived! The support team is here!”
“The Captain has come!”

Bright light bloomed across their faces. With newfound hope, several Rescue Team members shouted toward the inside of the building.

“Just hold on a bit longer! You’ll be able to reach the Shelter now!”
“You’re safe now!”

At their words, the people inside the building—battered and skeletal, huddled together—shed tears or cried out in relief, clasping their hands together.
They were the ones the Rescue Team members had discovered and protected.

All of them seemed too exhausted even to speak, simply pouring out their relief and joy in silence.

At those silent tears and smiles flowing down, the Rescue Team members protecting them also felt their emotions welling up.

Kale and his group couldn’t see all of that scene, but they noticed that those on the other side had spotted them.
Kale’s mouth opened.

“Since I said I would show you our strength, let us take command this time.”
“What?”

Kim Woo frowned, but Team Leader Lee Soo-hyuk, who was responsible for the Rescue Team, readily nodded his head.

“Fine.”

And he added.

“Do it properly.”

His tone was colder than usual.
It was not the voice of an older brother, but of the Rescue Team’s commander.
There was a meaning of observation in his words.

“Tch! Lee Soo-hyuk!”

Kim Woo protested against it.

“No matter what, it doesn’t make sense to give command authority to this guy just because he’s your younger brother—”

At that moment, Kim Woo could hear what Kale uttered without hesitation.

“Park Jin-tae.”

It was not a particularly loud voice.
Click.
Kim Woo could see a gun being pulled out from Park Jin-tae’s possession with a metallic sound.

Kale gave an order.

“Fire.”

Park Jin-tae pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

The target was obvious without needing to be stated.
The moment bullets were fired at the monsters, Joo Ho-sik shouted.

“I trust you!”

Kim Woo looked at Joo Ho-sik as if he were some bizarre creature, but in that instant, Kim Woo had to hunch his shoulders.

Boom! Booooom—
A massive explosion erupted in flames where the monsters positioned at the rear were located.

“Kiiieeeee!”
“Graaaagh!”

Screams and groans burst forth from the rear monsters.
A glimmer of something flickered across Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes as he witnessed the sight.

“You’ve grown.”

As Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze turned toward Park Jin-tae, my lips parted.

“Choi Han, Kim Min-ah.”
“Yes, Rok-soo.”
“Is it my turn now?”

I pointed toward where the monsters were gathered.

“Go.”

Choi Han and Kim Min-ah shot forward toward the location I indicated.

Shiiing!
The blade drawn from Choi Han’s scabbard gleamed with a wild black aura that surged forth violently, displaying its magnificent power.

“Hmm!”

Kim Woo unconsciously faltered at that violent black force.
But he had to turn his attention to another sound.

Boom!
A dull, thunderous sound echoed across the area, and a massive spear materialized in Kim Min-ah’s hands.
Kim Min-ah charged toward the monsters, wielding the colossal spear—larger than her own body—with effortless grace.

“…Sigh.”

Kim Woo exhaled heavily.
In that moment, Kale’s voice cut through the chaos.

“I’ll take command. Allow me to outline our operational strategy.”

Kale closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
Records of this incident flooded his mind completely.
He articulated the primary objective of this operation.

“Our paramount goal is to rescue all Rescue Team members, and we will eliminate every monster in the vicinity.”

Kim Woo and Lee Soo-hyuk’s expressions shifted instantly.
Lee Soo-hyuk’s mouth opened.

“…Rok-soo. What about the other people?”

Kale gazed at Lee Soo-hyuk quietly.

Lee Soo-hyuk had never mentioned the Yeonsan-dong Rescue Team annihilation incident.
It remained a wound buried deep within his heart.
A painful mistake, indeed.

‘No. It wasn’t a mistake. Being deceived isn’t a sin.’

Following the Yeonsan-dong Rescue Team incident, people would partially revise their definition of monsters.

Massive bodies and formidable physiques.
Devastating destructive power in their attacks.

The worldview of those who believed these were the measures of a monster’s strength would crumble through this incident.

“All the people inside that building the Rescue Team is trying to save—”

Kale mentioned the cause of the incident that had shaken Lee Soo-hyuk so profoundly—the event that had left him exhausted, losing the meaning in his fight, an incident he could only bury in his heart.

“A Grade 1 monster.”

A Grade 1 monster possessing special abilities and a mesmerizing power to draw other monsters to itself.
A monster that perfectly mimics the appearance of humans it has killed, masquerades as a person, and murders others.

“The Mirror Mask.”

Inside that building, there were only Rescue Team members who were human.
What the Rescue Team members were guarding was not a person, but the Mirror Mask—a Grade 1 monster targeting them.

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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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