Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 60

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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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Kale Heniatus didn’t mind that Witira and Paseton still wore expressions of uncertainty. They would soon witness On and Hong’s true capabilities.
“Let’s go.”

At Kale’s command, the Black Dragon soared toward the Great Stone Wall, and Kale’s body lifted from the ground to follow. On and Hong naturally ascended toward the wall from within Kale’s embrace.

“Paseton.”

At Witira’s call, Paseton nodded, and the Whale Tribe siblings began to move their feet slightly. Then they started ascending the Great Stone Wall at tremendous speed. With each step, moisture swirled around them before evaporating.

Whoosh.
Kale, rising vertically along the Great Stone Wall while cutting through the air, soon reached the top.

“Wow.”

Hong’s voice rang out in admiration.
The Dark Forest. That vast expanse of nature spread before the party.
The second-largest of the Five Great Mysteries, it was a colossal forest located at the northernmost point of the Northeast Rowan Kingdom, stretching in an elliptical shape toward the eastern coastline.
It spanned an area equivalent to two or three substantial fiefdoms. Thus, the Roan Kingdom had sought to claim this land by any means, yet no one could ever rule it.

‘Perhaps a Dragon or Choi Han could manage it.’

“Quite vast.”

Kale spoke matter-of-factly while observing the Stone Mountain rising from the forest’s center.
Contrary to its name, the Dark Forest was not dark. Rather, the forest’s vista, growing gradually brighter with the dawn, was enough to open one’s heart wide.

“We’re descending.”
“Understood.”

The Black Dragon gently lowered Kale and the cats to the ground. The Whale Tribe siblings were already on the earth below.
Crunch. Kale descended lightly to the ground, and the grass beneath his shoes crumpled with a soft sound.

“You mentioned the Dark Forest is divided into two regions, correct?”

Kale nodded at Witira’s words and set On and Hong down on the ground. Then he opened his magical pouch and spoke.

“The outer and inner regions.”

This vast forest was divided into two zones. The first zone, comprising the forest’s outer reaches, was not particularly dangerous. Mutated monsters were scarce, and most were small to medium-sized creatures. However, the second zone—the forest’s interior centered around Stone Mountain—harbored considerable peril.

‘Even Choi Han has only recently become able to traverse that second zone with complete freedom.’

Complete freedom meant the absence of enemies. Of course, such concerns were irrelevant to Kale Heniatus and his companions.

“The swamp we’re heading to lies at the boundary between the outer and inner zones. So it’s not particularly dangerous.”

The outer zone was broad in circumference, but traveling in a straight line made the distance manageable. The inner region, by contrast, stretched horizontally in an elongated oval shape with far greater area.

“I intend to avoid monsters where possible, but I won’t go out of my way to do so.”

At the mention of not bothering to avoid monsters, the Whale Tribe siblings smiled with ease. There was nothing to fear—not when facing dragons, and certainly not for humpback whale humanoids, the ocean’s sovereigns.

“Dispelling the magic.”

As the Black Dragon spoke, the appearance-altering magic on the Whale Tribe siblings dissolved. Witira smiled with a refreshed expression.

“That’s much better. I didn’t realize how stifling it was. Thank you, Dragon.”
“Thank you, Dragon.”

At the warm greetings from Witira and Paseton, the Black Dragon fluttered its wings idly before approaching Kale Heniatus. The dragon’s expression was peculiar.

“The mana here is dark.”
“Dark?”

At Kale’s question, the Black Dragon nodded and surveyed the forest.

“And there’s a scent.”
“What kind of scent?”
“A familiar one. I can’t place it.”

Familiar yet unplaceable? Kale regarded the dragon with a puzzled expression, but the Black Dragon turned its head sharply. Then, with an impassive face, it continued.

“It’s not a dangerous scent. Simply an ancient one.”

Does a dragon really possess such exceptional olfactory senses? The question crossed Kale’s mind, but I couldn’t dwell on it for long.

“So what now? How do we reach that swamp?”

Witira watched as Kale retrieved a piece of paper from his magical pouch. She then observed him unfold it.

“…A map?”

It was indeed a map, though rather crudely drawn. However, centered on Stone Mountain, it possessed rough directional divisions marking the cardinal points.

“Yes. A map.”

Kale had sketched this rough map based on the contents from “The Birth of a Hero.”

【Choi Han had decided to gradually expand his territory outward from Stone Mountain. He resolved to begin from the north and map out all four cardinal directions.】
【…Finally, Choi Han had grasped the internal geography, and now he was beginning to understand the outer regions.】
【…Choi Han wept upon seeing the Great Stone Wall. The southern outer region where he had finally descended. There existed a place where people lived. It had taken far too long to reach here.】

“But nothing’s certain. That’s why we need to actually confront it ourselves and assess the situation.”

Kale spoke to Witira and Paseton, who were watching him.

“So take the lead.”

Already, the Black Dragon fluttered its wings behind Kale, observing the Whale Tribe siblings. Witira chuckled softly and extended her hand toward Kale. Kale retrieved a water bottle from his magical pouch and offered it to her.

Witira drank from it, then immediately reached out her hand.
With a whooshing sound, a whip approximately three meters long materialized. She gave it a light snap and wrapped it around her arm. Then she spoke playfully to the group.

“I shall safely escort you to your destination.”

Kale found her truly reassuring. A humpback whale. The royal bloodline of the Whale Tribe, who handled even the orcas—the ruffians of the sea—with ease, possessed a reassurance that was incomparable.
However, he had no intention of following her words. Without explicitly stating this, Kale pointed toward the entrance of the Dark Forest.

“Let’s depart.”

Kale entered the Dark Forest.

The forest was not silent, but rather filled with various sounds. The chirping of insects, the distant cries of monsters, the calls of animals, the songs of birds.

“Aren’t dangerous places usually quiet?”

Paseton asked Kale as he slashed through the undergrowth with his blade.

“That’s only possible when there’s a single ruler.”

The Dark Forest had no ruler. It was merely a realm where creatures preyed upon one another.

“Watch your footsteps. Keep your skin covered.”
“Understood.”

Paseton observed the cloth wrapped between Kale’s shoes and trouser cuffs, studying him with renewed appreciation. Kale’s magical pouch was truly a marvel—it had produced every conceivable item, each one precisely what they needed.

‘I must be careful of my ankles here. The insects are dangerous too. A bite could poison me.’

Paseton recalled Kale’s warnings and wondered how he possessed such intimate knowledge of this place. Yet he dared not ask. Kale was far too occupied at the moment.

“Watch ahead.”
“Ah, yes!”

At Kale’s calm instruction, Paseton quickly turned his attention forward, hacking through the undergrowth alongside his sister Witira. They were now traversing a thicket of vegetation that reached to their waists.

Kale’s hand moved ceaselessly across the map, recording new information with meticulous precision.

‘Seems like a waste of effort.’

Kale questioned whether mapping the Dark Forest was truly necessary. After all, they weren’t here to conquer it.
Yet his instincts whispered otherwise—there would certainly be buyers for such knowledge.
When undertaking a task, Kale’s method was to work thoroughly and cultivate profitable opportunities along the way.

“We’re nearly through the thicket.”
“Next comes the small monster territory.”

At Kale’s words, Witira nodded and swung her whip with unhurried grace. Given their composition, there was truly no need for concern.

Perhaps for that very reason.
As Witira entered the small monster zone, her heart remained at ease. A branch snapped beneath her foot. That was the moment.

“Move quietly.”

Kale spoke without inflection.

Fwooosh!
Fwip!

The sharp sound of air being cut echoed in succession. Witira flicked her hand lightly, a crude poison needle caught between two of her fingers.
Kale turned to look back and could see Witira smiling faintly.

“I’ll handle this quietly.”

Monsters crept out from behind the trees. Witira gazed at them with complete indifference.

“A goblin mutation?”

Kiiieek!
Krik, krik!

They were larger than ordinary goblins, and their facial features were somewhat different. Their skin colors also varied between purple and red.

“No, these aren’t goblins.”

Witira followed the hand resting on her shoulder with her gaze. Kale stood beside Witira and observed the approaching monsters.

“It’s dangerous if they come closer.”
“Hontas. Eastern Continent creatures.”
“Ah!”

In the Dark Forest, monsters from the Eastern Continent appeared. Kale encountered them for the first time.

“They resemble goblins. However, they’re less intelligent than goblins, but far more savage and cruel.”
“I thought their appearance looked unfamiliar.”

Witira nodded and spoke calmly.

“I’ll take care of them.”
“No. I’ll do it.”
“…Pardon?”

In that moment, as Witira stared blankly at Kale, she saw two figures leap past him and land on the ground. It was On and Hong. They brushed themselves off and prepared for battle.

“We can handle this much ourselves.”

Witira could see over ten small monsters slowly approaching through the forest. She turned her gaze back to Kale. Mist was forming around his body. Simultaneously, On’s figure began to blur.

“I have something I want to test as well.”

Kale needed to understand his own limits. And now was the perfect time to find out.

The Black Dragon on my right, Witira on my left, Paseton covering the rear. Wouldn’t I be able to fight freely and safely?

“Fall back.”
“…Young master.”
“And if things look dangerous, save me. With you all here, how could I possibly get hurt?”

Witira stepped back slightly at the sight of those eyes—filled with absolute conviction and unwavering trust. She positioned herself in the rear alongside Paseton, both ready to rush forward at a moment’s notice.

Then a shield formed around Witira and Paseton. The Black Dragon stepped forward in front of the Whale Tribe siblings and spoke.

“The poison is stronger than expected.”

Poison? At those words, Paseton looked at his sister with a puzzled expression. Witira, equally uncertain, shook her head and kept her eyes fixed ahead. A small murmur of admiration escaped her lips.

“…Impressive.”

On, Hong, and Kale were all engulfed in mist. Moreover, the color of the mist was strange. Rather than white, it carried a crimson tint.

Poison. I was beginning to understand the meaning of that word.

“Kee-rick, kee-rick!”
“Kee-ri-rick!”

Noisy creatures. Wrapped in mist, Kale gathered wind into one hand and both feet. A surge of vitality coursed through his heart. Feeling that power, Kale spoke.

“Let’s go.”

Kale’s body surged forward in an instant. At the same moment.

“Kee-rick? Kee-rick, kee-rick!”
“Kee!”

A thick white mist blanketed the area, so dense that visibility became nearly impossible.
Through it, two streaks of crimson fog moved.

A violent wind vortex erupted skyward with a deafening crack. One of the monster’s arms shot upward into the air.

“Gack. Krrk, cough!”

The crimson fog engulfed the monster in that spot. And right beside it, Kale Heniatus rose above the mist. Simultaneously, his shield unfurled—a massive barrier twice his own size, swirling with crimson fog.
That shield face came crashing down directly onto the ground.

A thunderous boom!

The sound of something being crushed accompanied the deafening impact.
Without pause, a vortex laced with crimson fog swept through the adjacent space. Two monsters caught in its current spiraled upward, vomiting blood.

“Gack.”
“Krrk, cough!”

Their poisoned bodies hemorrhaged from every orifice.

Paseton stared at the scene, then spoke in a daze.

“You said they were weak?”
“Weak.”

Hearing the Black Dragon’s resolute answer, Paseton found himself thinking.

‘Ten small ones, and they’re still stronger than goblins?’

He turned to look at his sister. Witira answered lightly, her face radiant with a bright smile.

“It’ll be over soon.”

Another thunderous crash, and the mist gradually cleared. True to her word, it was finished. Paseton could now see Kale Heniatus.

“They’re weak, probably because we’re still at the beginning.”

Kale Heniatus spoke matter-of-factly, standing upon his symbol—the silver shield. Beneath it lay two monsters, crushed beyond recognition.

Meow.

Through the dissipating mist, the silver cat On emerged into view.

“Sister, was the poison weak?”

The red cat Hong appeared, his tail swishing lazily. Where Hong had been, the earth had turned dark—poison. Hong covered it with clean soil using his hind legs.

Though the scene appeared peaceful, Paseton observed the corpses that had died in agony from the poison, the monsters still dying, and the bodies torn apart by shields and whirlpools, then spoke bluntly.

“Young Master, you weren’t hurt, were you?”
“No.”

Paseton’s expression shifted to alarm as he hurriedly pressed further.

“Were you injured?”

Kale Heniatus pointed to the back of his hand.

“Just scratched.”

Paseton fell silent. Witira patted her brother’s shoulder and approached Kale Heniatus. He raised his shield. Since it was ancient power, he could simply dispel the blood without needing to wipe it away. When it reappeared, there would be no trace of blood.

“Young Master, will you continue handling the smaller monsters?”
“Probably.”

Kale Heniatus wiped the blood from his empty hands as the shield and whirlpools vanished, then continued speaking.

“I’m recovering, so I can’t overexert myself.”

Witira watched Kale Heniatus and the Black Dragon with their composed expressions, then observed On and Hong listening to the Black Dragon’s thoughts on the battle, and let out a deflated laugh. To her and the rest of the group, Kale Heniatus spoke.

“Let’s move quickly.”

We still had far to go.

Two days later, in the morning, Kale Heniatus lowered the map he held in his hand and gazed ahead. He spoke to the group.

“We’re almost there now.”

The boundary between the outer and inner regions. The Swamp. Not much distance remained until that point.

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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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