Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 586

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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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“…You’re saying the ones our Rescue Team is trying to save inside aren’t human?”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes widened.
Kale answered by nodding his head in response.

The Yeonsan-dong Rescue Team incident.
An event that forced people to reconsider the definition of Grade 1 monsters—moving beyond simply focusing on ‘strength’ to also considering the monster’s ‘characteristics’.

“Mirror Mask possesses two unusual abilities. One is the capacity to mimic the appearance of any living creature it has killed.”

It didn’t have to be human.
Mirror Mask could perfectly replicate the form of any creature it consumed.

“However, Mirror Mask primarily assumes human form.”

Because it had consumed so many humans.

It was vile.
Kale, who had fought countless monsters, rarely made such judgments, yet Mirror Mask was truly vile in his assessment.
And the reason wasn’t simply because it devoured many humans.

“It hunts the weakest of a species, then assumes that weak form to lure other members of that species who feel concern, consuming them as it grows stronger. A monster that evolves through such deception.”

For example.

“In the case of humans, it first devours children or the elderly, then takes their pitiful form to draw other humans in with compassion, consuming them.”

This Mirror Mask targeted the vulnerable first.
And through them, it primarily hunted those who would offer pure-hearted aid out of sympathy.

“…Tch.”

Kim Woo exhaled sharply as he listened.
But Kale continued speaking while staring intently at Lee Soo-hyuk’s expressionless face.

“And the second characteristic of Mirror Mask is that it can enchant monsters, stripping them of their reason.”

Kale’s gaze slowly turned toward the monsters surrounding the building.
He could see the monsters rushing desperately, trying by any means to enter the building where the Rescue Team and Mirror Mask were located.

“Mr. Rabbit.”

White Rabbit was already observing the monsters with a curious expression.

“Even if you step forward, those monsters won’t be frightened.”
“True. By now, if they’d seen my arrival, they should have been cautious or fled to some degree, but there’s no reaction at all. It seems, just as Kim Rok-soo said, they’ve truly lost their reason.”

One of Kim Woo’s subordinates opened his mouth.

“Then isn’t this a difficult situation?”

When his eyes met Kale’s, he quickly spoke again.

“Isn’t it? The monsters keep pouring in.”

At that moment, Lee Soo-hyuk spoke.

“It doesn’t seem particularly difficult.”
“Pardon?”

As Kim Woo’s subordinate questioned, Kale opened his mouth.

“We just need to clear a path.”

At the same moment, Joo Ho-sik shouted.

“I trust you!”

In that instant, a chill ran down Lee Soo-hyuk’s spine.
Kim Woo felt the same way. His eyes widened in shock.

“What… what is that?”

The moment Joo Ho-sik shouted, he could see black smoke rising gradually toward the sky.
Then Kale spoke quietly.

“Even if Kim Woo, Heo Sook-ja, and Lee Soo-hyuk came at him together, Choi Han would still be unbeatable.”

In Kale’s eyes, I could see Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Jung-soo staring intently at Choi Han.

“…Truly.”

Without realizing it, Choi Jung-soo gripped the White Rabbit’s fur tightly in his hand. Mr. Rabbit glanced at him and curled the corners of his mouth upward.
Choi Jung-soo, unaware of this, etched every movement of Choi Han into his eyes.

‘I will only teach swordsmanship.’

Choi Han’s words filled my mind completely.

“That swordsmanship—”

I’m going to learn it?
Choi Jung-soo’s heart pounded fiercely. Yet despite the excitement surging through him, his eyes grew sharp and piercing.

‘It must be connected to our clan somehow.’

The more I observed that swordsmanship, the more it resembled the ancient sword techniques the Choi Clan had been researching.

“The fundamentals never change.”

Choi Jung-soo stared persistently at the younger man who bore the Choi surname and shared the same fundamental roots in swordsmanship as himself.

And then there was another person.

“Ha.”

A short exclamation escaped from Lee Soo-hyuk’s lips.
His eyes captured the sight of black smoke rising and gradually transforming into the shape of a dragon.

“…Powerful.”

When I grasped Choi Han’s hand, I realized he was a swordsman of considerable skill.
The scars and calluses on his hand spoke to his dedication.

But seeing Choi Han wield his sword properly now.

‘I won’t be able to win.’

But.

‘I won’t lose either.’

My characteristic, ‘Endure’.
It ensured that even if Lee Soo-hyuk couldn’t win, he wouldn’t lose.
Especially when it came to the sword.

The fundamental nature of the sword was to ‘endure’.
With that fundamental principle, Lee Soo-hyuk recalled Kim Rok-soo’s words: ‘You cannot defeat me.’

‘Does he understand my true power?’

Had Kim Rok-soo discerned the true nature of the strength I possessed?
The mere act of entertaining that possibility caused Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze to shift slowly from Choi Han toward Kale.

“…This is serious.”

The moment Lee Soo-hyuk’s lips curved upward, he felt an enormous tremor shake the earth beneath him.

Crash!
In the direction Choi Han’s sword pointed.
A massive black dragon swept across the ground.

The black dragon halted precisely before the building, then ascended toward the sky and vanished.

In an instant, a path had been carved open.
Choi Han and Kim Min-ah stepped into that passage, taking the lead.

“We’re moving out.”

Kale followed behind them.

“…Whoa!”

Kim Woo watched the spectacle in silence, goosebumps rising on the back of his hand as he rubbed it, then quickly quickened his pace.
If he wasn’t careful, he’d be left behind alone.

“Hurry.”

Bae Pureun approached and summoned a gust of wind to assist Kim Woo’s group. Kim Woo bit his lip as he watched the considerably younger Bae Pureun utter those words with casual indifference before striding past him as if it were nothing.

‘He’s strong.’

The same emotion washed over me countless times.
But I had no time to dwell on such feelings.

“Roaaaah!”
“Screeeech—!”

The monsters could not land a single attack against them, overwhelmed by Kim Min-ah’s spear and Choi Han’s sword, with Bae Pureun and Park Jin-tae providing support from behind.
Of course, Mr. Rabbit’s massive ear strikes contributed significantly as well.

“Captain!”
“Captain!”

The Rescue Team members standing before the building entrance, their eyes wide with astonishment at the spectacle unfolding before them, made no effort to hide their joy as Lee Soo-hyuk and the Messenger approached.

“…Hmm.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression darkened as he observed them.
They were all in poor condition.

“How long have you been fighting?”

At Lee Soo-hyuk’s question, the Vice-Captain among the Rescue Team members stationed outside the First Floor, holding the front lines against the monsters, opened his mouth to respond.

“Over an hour and a half, sir.”
“…You’ve endured well.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression hardened, and the Vice-Captain, unaware of this, shook his head.

“No, sir! We held on because you came!”

His expression was remarkably bright.

“Commander, but these people—”
“Command authority lies with Kim Rok-soo now. Follow his orders.”
“Yes?”

The Vice-Captain and the rescue team members who had been glancing at Kale while fighting the monsters all showed confusion in their eyes.
Kale paid no attention to their gazes and looked at his companions.

“Mr. Rabbit, Joo Ho-sik, Kim Min-ah, and Bae Pureun—please stay here and help the rescue team members hold back the monsters surrounding the building.”

Kim Min-ah’s brow furrowed slightly. It was obvious they would be fighting the Grade 1 monster Mirror Mask, yet Kale was excluding two people from the expedition.
But Kale couldn’t bring them along.

“Kim Woo.”
“…What?”

Kim Woo was startled by the sudden call and looked at Kale.

“I’d appreciate it if your two subordinates could also help with the defense.”
“Of course.”

The rescue team members were astonished to see Kim Woo, who always showed hostility toward Lee Soo-hyuk, readily obey this man called Kim Rok-soo.
Kale turned to look at the Vice-Captain.

“And—”
“Vice-Captain.”
“We’re going inside the building.”
“Ah! Yes, yes! I’ll guide you!”

The Vice-Captain glanced at Lee Soo-hyuk, then quickly moved toward the building entrance.
His expression was bright.

“Currently on the Third Floor, the Squad Leader and rescue team members are protecting the survivors. They were all found in quite poor condition, but fortunately, none of them had serious injuries.”

He hurried toward the Third Floor.

“Now that the Commander is here, everyone will be able to return safely!”

The Vice-Captain’s expression was bright.
Then Kale spoke quietly.

“When did the monsters suddenly come to the building?”
“Ah, shortly after we discovered the survivors, they swarmed in. It seems we attracted them while entering the building.”

The Vice-Captain’s expression brightened at the thought of rescuing people and returning safely.
However, since he was climbing alongside Kale at the front, he couldn’t see the darkened expressions of those behind him.

“I see.”

Kale asked in an indifferent tone.

“Did the survivors have anything else to say?”
“Pardon? Ah, they were all so exhausted that even speaking a single word seemed difficult for them.”

With that, the Vice-Captain reached the Third Floor and raised his hand toward the Squad Leader.

“Squad Leader!”

The Squad Leader was already waiting for them in front of the Third Floor entrance.
He hesitated upon seeing Kale, but quickly greeted Lee Soo-hyuk instead.

“Commander, you’ve arrived?”
“One moment.”

Lee Soo-hyuk raised his hand and glanced at Kale.
The Squad Leader found this gesture puzzling, but Kale had already passed him and entered the Third Floor space.

The wide-open Third Floor had pillars scattered throughout, but only a steel frame structure remained without separate walls.

“…Who are you?”

One of the Rescue Team members blocked Kale’s path.
At that moment, Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice echoed across the Third Floor.

“The operation commander.”

At those words, the person who had been blocking the way hesitated and stepped aside.

Kale headed toward the center of the Third Floor.
Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Han followed behind him.

“…Sigh.”

Park Jin-tae in particular couldn’t suppress his sighs, while Kim Woo wore a dazed expression.

“Sob.”
“Sob, sob.”

Frail.
Weak.
It was truly a pitiful sight.

On the Third Floor’s central area, where Rescue Team members stood guard at various points, emaciated and wretched figures huddled together, trembling violently.

The sight was so desolate that anyone who witnessed it would involuntarily stop in their tracks.

“Hmm.”

Even Choi Han felt it.

‘Those people are monsters?’

Mirror Masks?
That hardly seemed right.

‘They’re far too human.’

They seemed far too human.
And even their behavior resembled that of humans.

Children, adults, the elderly—all without distinction.
They watched Kale approach their huddled group with both anticipation and wariness in their eyes.

It was like the hope one holds for a rescuer combined with the caution one feels toward an unknown presence.

Choi Han unconsciously stopped walking and positioned himself in front of Choi Jung-soo.

‘There was a reason we left Bae Pureun and Kim Min-ah outside.’

I understood why Kale had done that.
Choi Jung-soo gazed at Choi Han with a puzzled expression.
Even though Choi Han blocked the way ahead, Choi Jung-soo, being taller, could see past Choi Han’s head to where Kale stood. Without a word, he stopped behind Choi Han and fixed his gaze forward.

In that moment, Kale’s mouth opened.

“There’s no point in dragging this out.”

Kale came to a halt before the cluster of people.

“The Rescue Team members must be exhausted too. It would be best to resolve this as quickly as possible and return to rest.”

Then he slowly crouched down.
His gaze turned toward the Elderly Man sitting on the ground.
The Elderly Man, wrapped in clothes provided by the Rescue Team members and trembling violently, looked at Kale with a quivering gaze.

The Yeonsan-dong Rescue Team incident.
They had been deceived by these Mirror Masks and ambushed, ultimately annihilated.
Even Lee Soo-hyuk had been deceived.
In the chaos of fighting monsters, the priority to save humans first before thinking had created this tragedy.

Kale opened his mouth.

“In this era, you see.”

His lips twisted upward into a smile.

“Those with soft hearts and deep compassion die young.”

In an instant, the shoulders of the watching Rescue Team members and Lee Soo-hyuk flinched.

“What—”

One of the Rescue Team members stepped forward.
He couldn’t understand why Kale was wasting time like this when they should have been evacuating the hostage immediately.

Whoosh.
But a single hand blocked his path.

“Commander?”

It was Lee Soo-hyuk.
Lee Soo-hyuk blocked the Rescue Team member with his hand while gazing at Kale.

Rather, he took in the entire landscape of this Third Floor.

In one corner of the Third Floor, Rescue Team members sat with severe wounds, having received only emergency treatment.
It wasn’t just them—everyone was in terrible condition.

They had been trying to save people.
That’s how they had ended up like this.

Yet that person was a monster.
A bitter taste rose all the way to Lee Soo-hyuk’s throat.

‘In this era, the softhearted and those full of compassion die young.’

…Was that really true?
Lee Soo-hyuk’s hand, blocking the Rescue Team member, lacked conviction.
That was when it happened.
Lee Soo-hyuk saw Kim Rok-soo’s eyes beyond the Elderly Man, looking directly at him.

Kale’s voice reached his ears.

“And that’s because of those rotten things trying to exploit such hearts. I really don’t like that.”

A spark flickered in Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes as strength returned to his hand.
In that moment, Kale’s gaze met the trembling Elderly Man’s.
A pitiful-looking old man.
This was surely the final form of someone this monster had devoured.

Kale’s calm voice rang out.

“Mirror Masks cannot speak. Human speech.”

The corners of Kale’s mouth lifted.

“Speak.”

In that instant, the Elderly Man’s pupils transformed.
Kale smiled and asked.

“Why? Can’t you speak?”

At that moment, the trembling of the Rescue Team members vanished.
Their quiet weeping ceased.
Simultaneously, the Elderly Man’s mouth opened.

“Sssss—”

The instant a thin, hissing sound—like a serpent’s cry—echoed through the air.

“Hey, you!”
“Wh-what!”

Park Jin-tae and Choi Jung-soo gasped, their mouths falling open.

It happened in a heartbeat.
The Rescue Team members, who had appeared frail and fragile, surged to their feet and lunged toward Kale.
Their speed was extraordinary.
But that wasn’t the most alarming part.

“…Look at their hands!”

The hands of the charging figures were no longer human.
They were reptilian—rough, glistening skin adorned with razor-sharp claws the size of human fingers.

“Sssss!”
“Sssss—”

From their gaping mouths, human tongues had vanished, replaced by forked serpent tongues that flickered between their fangs.
The Squad Leader cried out at the sight.

“Th-they’re not human?”

The monsters, their true forms revealed.
The Mirror Masks descended upon Kale simultaneously.
The sight of nearly dozens of them overwhelming Kale in an instant was profoundly perilous.

“…Damn!”

Kim Woo rushed toward the monsters without thinking, startled by the sight.
Park Jin-tae reached for his gun but hesitated.

“Stay still.”

Lee Soo-hyuk blocked Kim Woo’s path and spoke quietly.
Kim Woo stopped moving and looked at Lee Soo-hyuk.
But Lee Soo-hyuk was watching Kale.

“Kim Rok-soo is stronger than us, after all.”

Kim Rok-soo had certainly claimed he could defeat Kim Woo, Heo Sook-ja, and Lee Soo-hyuk alone.

There was a reason Kim Rok-soo had left such a vivid impression in Lee Soo-hyuk’s mind all this time.

He was someone who did what he said he would do.
The Kim Rok-soo that Lee Soo-hyuk knew never spoke idle words.

And now that man was calmly watching dozens of monsters descend upon him alone.

“And we haven’t received any orders yet.”

Commander Kim Rok-soo had said nothing.
He hadn’t asked for help.

“Then we should stay put. Right?”

That was when it happened.

Crackle, crack—

Red electricity surged through Lee Soo-hyuk’s pupils.
A brilliant golden light.

“Screeeee—!”
“Kyaaaa!”

That light engulfed the Mirror Mask.

Lee Soo-hyuk could see Kale rising slowly from the center of that space, wrapped in the golden-red lightning alongside the Mirror Mask.
In Kale’s hand was the upper garment that a Rescue Team member had removed for the frail Elderly Man.

“Th-that-”
“It really was a monster!”

And the people watched as the masks gradually peeled away from the monsters amid that golden-red current.

A bipedal monster with a black silhouette.
A monster that seemed a hybrid of a chameleon and a lizard.

“…Was that really the monster I was trying to save?”

In that instant, one of the Rescue Team members’ legs buckled beneath them.
Thud.
Lee Soo-hyuk immediately supported them.

“…Captain.”

Pat, pat.
Lee Soo-hyuk tapped the Rescue Team member’s shoulder before turning his gaze toward Kale.

“Sssss!”
“Kyaaaaa!”

Kale’s electrical current wasn’t particularly strong.
It was merely enough of a shock to reveal the Mirror Masks’ true forms.

Even accounting for their unique ability, the Mirror Mask was still a Grade 1 monster.
Its offensive power was quite formidable, rivaling that of high-tier Grade 2 monsters.

But on this side, there were quite a few powerhouses like Park Jin-tae and Choi Han.
Withdrawing the dazed Rescue Team members to the rear, Kale’s group swiftly disposed of the Mirror Masks at rapid speed.

“Rok-soo.”

Lee Soo-hyuk called out slowly to the approaching Kale.

“Hyung. And Kim Woo.”

Kale spoke to the two of them.

“I believe this is sufficient proof of who I am. And of us.”

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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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