Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 6

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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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Choi Han slowly pushed himself up from where he’d been leaning against the wall.
His right ankle seemed to trouble him—his body tilted slightly—but I neither offered support nor commented on it. There was no need to extend further kindness to him.

I told Choi Han to follow me, then turned my steps toward the Count’s Mansion. But a single creature impeded my path.

Meow.

A red-furred cat with golden eyes bounded toward me and rubbed its cheek against my shoe. My brow furrowed. I disliked cats, yet this one was rather adorable. But suddenly, goosebumps erupted across my entire body, and I turned my head. Choi Han was staring directly at me.

‘Damn it.’

I awkwardly stroked the cat.

“You seem to like me? But I have to go. See you next time.”

I had never understood the habit of speaking to animals. Yet now I had become that very person I didn’t understand. I quickly rose and distanced myself from the cat.

Growl.

A silver-furred cat with golden eyes growled at the red-furred one—as if beckoning it closer while simultaneously telling me to leave. The red-furred cat moved toward the silver one, yet reluctance dripped from its every motion; it turned back to look at me several times. But I deliberately ignored it.

Meow, meow.

The cats’ sorrowful cries faded into the distance. I glanced back slightly. Choi Han was limping along, following well enough.
Our eyes met again for a moment. An eerie sensation washed over me, and I quickly turned my head away. Then I slowed my pace to match his speed.

I passed through the Residential District. I took another sip of alcohol.
Bar Street, the Market, the Plaza—then the Residential District where the wealthy dwelt. Finally, my steps led toward the Count’s Mansion behind the Lord’s Castle.

“What are you doing?”

I looked at Choi Han, who had stopped. As we passed the Lord’s Castle, he must have seen the soldiers of the domain salute me, and the domain residents who avoided me.

Choi Han was likely reconsidering whether I was an easy target to kill.
I asked once more.

“Aren’t you coming?”

As Cale had anticipated, Choi Han followed behind him. He was likely coming along to learn about the funeral arrangements and gather information about the people of Harris Village.

“Y-Young Master?”

The moment Cale stood at the main gate, the guards and knights greeted him with stammering voices.

‘I really wish they’d stop calling me Young Master with that stutter.’

Since I had entered the body of a ne’er-do-well, I tried to stay within that framework as much as possible. And honestly, being a wastrel was more comfortable than being a proper young master. Yet hearing them stammer every time still felt subtly unsettling.
I wanted to move about freely. When Cale’s expression turned displeased and his brow furrowed, the stammering knight quickly opened the gate.

“Please enter.”

Cale turned his gaze back to Choi Han. The others also looked at him. They must have been curious about who this ragged-looking person following the young master was. The knights observed him with cautious eyes.

“Follow me.”

By now, Choi Han would have understood Cale’s position. He limped toward Cale. Cale simply turned around without concern and entered through the main gate, with Choi Han standing right behind him.

But my heart was racing.

‘He’s definitely planning to use me as a hostage if something dangerous happens later. That’s why he’s standing right behind me.’

Of course, Choi Han wouldn’t kill me. However, being taken hostage was quite psychologically taxing, so Cale glared at the two knights following behind with a scowl on his face.

‘Don’t follow.’

The knights hesitated at the clear meaning in his gaze. They looked back and forth between Cale and Choi Han, and then one of them approached with a stern expression.
The knights valued principles above all else. They were truly worthy of being Derth’s knights.

‘Well, this is how knights should be.’

Cale was quite satisfied with how the knights responded to the outsider, despite his ragged appearance and youthful looks, so he allowed one knight to follow. Thus, Cale led Choi Han toward the Count’s Mansion’s main building.

“Welcome back, sir?”
“…Yes, Ron.”

This frightening old man. Ron had been waiting for Cale in front of the main building’s entrance. I never expected he’d actually be waiting. Cale felt relieved at first.
But Ron’s gaze turned toward Choi Han, and his kind smile hardened.

‘Ron can at least estimate Choi Han’s abilities.’

Choi Han stared back at Ron. Kale paid no mind to whatever silent exchange of power the two were conducting and went about his business. His work was far from finished.

“Follow me.”

Kale called out to Choi Han again and began walking. The servant Ron quickly followed after Kale.

“Young master, what is the matter? If you tell me, I shall escort this gentleman myself.”
“Never mind.”

Another person approached Kale as he walked.

“Young master, you’ve come home after drinking again today, I see.”

It was the sub-butler Hans.

‘Ah, he’s the one assigned to me.’

Kale clicked his tongue and completely ignored Hans’s remark. Instead, he picked up a wine bottle and pointed it in Hans’s direction. That was when it happened.

“Oof!”

Hans shielded his face with both arms and curled up. The surroundings fell silent.

“Tsk.”

Kale clicked his tongue, and Hans, raising his head, stared blankly at Kale with a flushed face.

“Clean it up.”
“Yes, sir.”

Hans blankly accepted the wine bottle Kale handed him.

“Next time I’ll throw it.”

At Kale’s words, Hans’s face drained of all color. Kale paid this no mind whatsoever and continued forward. Now four people followed him—Hans included.
Kale occasionally glanced back to ensure they were keeping up, and finally arrived at his destination.

The Second Kitchen. The moment Kale spotted the sign, he thrust the door open with force.

“Young Master?”

Hans’s bewildered voice came from behind. Yet a deep smile played across Kale’s lips. The end was near.
Now Vicross and Choi Han would meet. My heart thundered in my chest. The door swung open without resistance. But the moment I opened it, the sight before me froze my expression.

Sinister. Sinister.
Vicross, the Second Kitchen’s head chef, was sharpening a knife with a sly grin. Standing alone in the Second Kitchen in his neat attire, he looked genuinely pleased. But the moment he saw me, that smile vanished.
That’s what terrified me. There’s nothing more frightening than provoking a madman. You never know where a madman will snap.

I moved before Vicross could react. I placed my hand on Choi Han’s shoulder and gestured toward him.

“Give him some food.”
“Pardon?”

Vicross, his expression hardened, asked for clarification. The sharp kitchen knife in his hand gleamed under the light. I steadied my trembling nerves and spoke once more.

“Feed him. He’s hungry.”

A sigh escaped from the knight behind me, but I had no time to heed it. I waited for Vicross’s answer with a pounding heart. Finally, Vicross replied with a rigid expression.

“Understood, Young Master.”

Perfect.
Vicross, Choi Han, and Ron—whom I hadn’t anticipated—were now entangled together. Three people bound by circumstance.
A brilliant smile bloomed across my face. Only then did my tension ease, and I raised my voice an octave as I issued another command to Vicross.

“Prepare something for me too. I’m hungry.”

Choi Han looked at me. But I didn’t notice his gaze as I added to my order for Vicross.

“Of course, only the finest.”

I recalled the steak I’d eaten last evening.

“That steak you made yesterday was exquisite. You’re quite the skilled chef.”

The tip of Vicross’s knife trembled ever so slightly.

“That steak should make for a quite delicious meal. Prepare it quickly.”

Kale didn’t wait for Vicross’s response. I turned and left the kitchen, heading toward my bedroom. The knight and Hans followed close behind, and soon Hans spoke up.

“What should we do about him?”
“He’s my guest for now. Handle it as you see fit.”

I’d already arranged everything, so I was done being bothered for today.

Vicross and Ron would soon witness Choi Han’s abilities. Since Vicross had sworn loyalty upon recognizing Choi Han’s skill, he would do so again once he truly understood it. Of course, if he failed to grasp Choi Han’s prowess, I had other contingencies. Couldn’t I simply have Choi Han make something—anything other than myself—his prey, and let Vicross observe the result?
Even if crude, I’d thought through various possibilities.

“Hans, since I’m tired, bring the meal to my bedroom once it’s ready.”

As expected, Ron didn’t follow me. Satisfied, I stationed the knight and Hans outside the door, closed my bedroom door, and lay down on the bed. Between exhaustion and the lingering effects of alcohol, I drifted into sleep before the meal even arrived.

Thus, I remained unaware that Vicross’s dining knife and Ron’s sharp dagger had both been aimed at Choi Han—his throat and heart respectively—only to fail completely.
Of course, it was a trivial incident that no one but the three parties involved would ever know about.

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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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