Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 603

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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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Tap-tap-tap!
Quick footsteps echoed through the air.
Kale’s gaze turned toward the watchtower entrance.

“Rok-soo.”

It was Lee Soo-hyuk.

“It seems we’ll be fighting the Yellow-Haired Monster tonight—”

His words, delivered at an even pace, came to an abrupt halt.
His hurried footsteps froze in place.

“Why did you stop? Is something wrong at the watchtower—”

Park Jin-tae leaned forward beside Lee Soo-hyuk, then shuddered and stiffened.

“…You… what…?”

Park Jin-tae’s eyes reflected Kim Rok-soo’s trembling form—his entire body quivering violently, his pupils drained of color by agony.
Choi Han’s expression as he supported him was grimmer than it had ever been.

Yet there was something familiar about the way he held him.

‘So that’s why he left so quickly—for this?’

This gathering had been arranged to celebrate Kim Rok-soo’s birthday, but he had rushed back to the watchtower with haste.
The others, believing his concern was for the approaching threat, had quickly finished their meal and returned to their posts.

Park Jin-tae had followed Lee Soo-hyuk to the watchtower in alarm when the warning siren suddenly blared.

But what greeted him was not the sight of a composed commander—instead, a young man wracked with pain, with only Choi Han at his side.

‘What is this?’

Why was he suffering like this?
He had seen him exhausted and bleeding during the early Shelter battles.

But he had never shown pain like this before.

‘Why—’

Why was Kim Rok-soo in such a state?
Park Jin-tae’s mind circled the same question repeatedly, yet his lips remained sealed.

Tap. Tap.
Instead, his eyes caught the sight of Lee Soo-hyuk’s back drawing closer to Kim Rok-soo.

“Rok-soo.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression was calm as he called out softly to Kale.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Kale, who stood barely upright with one hand clutching his chest, supported by Choi Han.

Soon, Lee Soo-hyuk’s pace quickened.

“Kim Rok-soo.”

I met Lee Soo-hyuk’s gaze as he addressed me by my full name.
Lee Soo-hyuk stood before me.

“Kim Rok-soo. I know you’re hiding something.”

I remained silent.
Instead, Choi Han and Park Jin-tae hesitated, reacting to Lee Soo-hyuk’s words.

“I know you’re the Kim Rok-soo I’ve always known, yet something about you has changed.”

The corners of Lee Soo-hyuk’s mouth lifted.

“But you should still say what needs to be said, shouldn’t you?”

I already knew that Lee Soo-hyuk was quite angry, despite his smile.

“You should tell me if you’re in pain. Right? Rok-soo.”

Lee Soo-hyuk watched the corners of my mouth slowly rise.
He could clearly sense the forced smile emerging from within the agony.

Weeeeee—beep—
All manner of warning alarms blended together.
Kale Heniatus smiled and slowly opened his mouth.

“My heart feels as though it’s being torn to shreds.”

Choi Han’s grip tightened, and Park Jin-tae unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut, turning away from Kim Rok-soo.
At that moment, another figure entered the Watchtower.

“Commander! We’re moving the device to the City Wall and activating the defenses!”

It was Choi Jung-soo.
Since he wasn’t directly participating in combat like Kim Min-ah and Bae Pureun, he had come to the Watchtower to relay news on behalf of the others who were busy with preparations, and he saw Kale Heniatus’s state.
He drew in a sharp breath from behind Park Jin-tae.
But there was still one person whose expression remained unchanged.

“The method?”

Lee Soo-hyuk alone continued to ask with the corners of his mouth raised.
Kale Heniatus gazed at the massive form approaching through the night mist in the distance.

The approaching Yellow-Haired Monster.
And my own life.
The lives of everyone within the Seo-myeon Shelter.
The method to resolve all of it.

‘The God of Death gave me a hint.’

【The humans who tried to save you, one who should have originally died, broke the law that dictates you must die.】

Humans can break laws, break fate.
That is why Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Jung-soo died trying to save me, it was said.

‘This time, no one must die.’

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth.

“I have spoken of that method repeatedly.”

My voice, exhaled between ragged breaths, sounded strained, yet its core remained unshaken.
I looked past Choi Jung-soo and Park Jin-tae toward Lee Soo-hyuk.

“No one dies, and we succeed in this hunt.”

That was one of the two methods I possessed to change fate.
Lee Soo-hyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“…That’s the answer?”
“Yes.”

Even after my response, he asked again.

“Are you certain?”

Are you certain that method is the correct one?
Lee Soo-hyuk asked, and he could see me smirk slightly.
Soon my face twisted as my mouth opened.

“To change fate, half-hearted conviction is insufficient.”

Certain? That level of resolve is not enough.
I spoke quietly.
Kale Heniatus spoke in a low voice.

“That’s just how it ends up.”

In that moment, Lee Soo-hyuk faltered at the look in Kim Rok-soo’s eyes.

Definitely.

Unwavering eyes that hold a fierceness as if about to unleash a massive storm.

No matter what.

A voice that spits out each word one by one, as if chewing something slowly and deliberately.

Absolutely.

And a body standing rigid, ignoring all pain.
Finally, an unwavering gaze.

Without fail. Without exception. Absolutely.

“No one dies, and we succeed in this hunt.”

I declared this to the others.

“Do you understand?”

I withdrew my hand from Choi Han’s shoulder and stood alone.

“Everyone, return to your positions.”

And I added casually.

“And conceal my condition as much as possible.”

Choi Jung-soo’s face contorted as he listened. Then came Park Jin-tae’s irritated voice.

“Can you really hide something like that?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!”

At my response, Park Jin-tae scoffed. But he said nothing more.

He understood the chaos that would erupt if word spread that the commander was in such a state he could barely stand, let alone fight properly.

It was something I knew, and everyone here knew.

Piiiii—
I drew a whistle from my pocket and blew it.
But the one I sought to summon with that whistle was already approaching me.

“Brother!”

It was Steel Hawk.
She drew near the Watchtower and thrust her face toward me.

“What the—why does our brother look like that? Did someone poison him?”

Steel Hawk examined Kale in alarm.

“Let’s go first.”

Lee Soo-hyuk was the first to turn away from Kale.

“We’ll talk later, Rok-soo.”
“Damn it!”

Park Jin-tae kicked the watchtower pillar for no reason and followed Lee Soo-hyuk. He had already drawn his gun from his pocket.

Choi Jung-soo tried to follow them as well.

“Wait.”

Someone called out to him. Choi Jung-soo turned his head.
Choi Han gestured to him.

“What is it?”

Kale looked at Choi Han with confusion. He had suddenly stopped Choi Jung-soo.
Choi Han grasped Choi Jung-soo’s shoulder as he approached and spoke to both of them.

“Choi Jung-soo, come with us.”

Originally, only Kale and Choi Han were supposed to ride on Steel Hawk.

“…You.”
“It needs to look fine to others’ eyes. Isn’t that what your older brother Kim Rok-soo said?”

Choi Han cut off Kale’s words before he could speak.

“If Steel Hawk’s back shows any signs of falling or shaking, it would be good if Choi Jung-soo helped prevent that.”
“…Choi Han.”
“We don’t have time.”

Whiiiing—!
The Yellow-Haired Monster had drawn far closer than before.
Fires ignited across the City Wall, and from the Watchtower, I could see people moving about in various locations.

“Go.”

I ultimately followed Choi Han’s intent and headed toward Steel Hawk, bringing Choi Jung-soo with me.

“Little brother. You don’t need treatment?”
“I’m fine, sister.”

I answered Steel Hawk’s concerned voice with composure, then slowly climbed onto her back.

‘Ugh!’

Despite moving as slowly as possible, my heart ached.
More precisely, it was a pain as though my body and my soul were twisted out of alignment with each other, rather than a pain from my heart alone.

‘Probably, the White Star is attempting something to my body right now.’

The aftereffects had reached me, reached this body.

“Ah.”

Choi Jung-soo stepped forward, trying to help me move with such difficulty.
But his shoulder was pulled back, and he heard Choi Han’s voice near his ear.
It was spoken quietly enough for only him to hear.

“Hold onto Kim Rok-soo hyung carefully so he’s not in danger.”

It was an abrupt shift to informal speech. But Choi Jung-soo found it not uncomfortable at all, so he nodded and opened his mouth.

“Understood—”
“And.”

Choi Jung-soo’s gaze turned toward Choi Han.

“If it seems your life is in danger, retreat together with Kim Rok-soo hyung.”

Choi Jung-soo caught a glimpse of someone in Choi Han’s eyes in that instant.
His father and mother, who had worried about him as he traveled to Seoul for his university practical exam, came to mind.
And the stern gaze of his grandfather as well.

The owner of those eyes—clearly younger than him yet bearing the weight of years—spoke to Choi Jung-soo.

“You cannot die. Absolutely not.”

Choi Jung-soo found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Choi Han asked him then.

“Do you understand?”

Choi Jung-soo barely managed to open his mouth.

“…I understand.”

A soft chuckle escaped.
In that moment, Choi Han laughed. Choi Jung-soo faltered at the sight.

“Use formal speech.”
“…Huh? Yes?”

Choi Jung-soo responded blankly to Choi Han’s abrupt remark. Choi Han placed a hand atop Choi Jung-soo’s head.

“Well, informal speech looks good too because it seems closer.”

Then he ruffled Choi Jung-soo’s hair.

“Huh?”

Choi Jung-soo stared at him with bewildered eyes, but Choi Han paid no mind and pushed at his back.
Choi Jung-soo found himself positioned directly behind Kale Heniatus.
Choi Han sat behind him, and the moment the three of them settled onto Steel Hawk’s back, she began ascending into the sky once more.

“Let’s go!”

As Steel Hawk cut through the night mist and surged toward their objective.
Below, Heo Sook-ja cried out from atop the City Wall.

“Illuminate the enemy!”

All the light from within the Castle and the City Wall turned in a single direction.
Every resource mobilized—abilities, electricity, everything.

“Light up the Yellow-Haired Monster!”

The beams converged on the enemy.
Then, from within the mist, its form was revealed.

Steel Hawk, drawing closest to the monster.
Kale Heniatus, perched upon her, opened his mouth.

“Heh heh.”

A low chuckle escaped him.

“…How troublesome.”

Choi Jung-soo exhaled a sigh.
At the same moment, Choi Han spoke.

“This will indeed be difficult.”
“It will be.”

The Yellow-Haired Monster had transformed.
No—it was gone.

A colossal creature with massive blue horns, its scales striped with both azure and golden light.
A dragon-like being, unable to soar through the sky, now fixed its gaze upon Steel Hawk—upon Kale Heniatus.

The Yellow-Haired Monster had devoured the Blue-Haired Monster.

“Has it truly absorbed the abilities as well?”

Choi Jung-soo murmured anxiously.
Steel Hawk’s mouth opened.

“Not only the abilities—its body seems larger than before.”

The Yellow-Haired Monster’s body had swollen to 1.5 times its original size.
Steel Hawk and Choi Jung-soo both fell silent.
Even those who had seen the Yellow-Haired Monster before.
And those facing an unranked monster for the first time.
None dared to speak carelessly.

There was no choice in the matter.

Kiiiii—
Kyaa, kyayaya!

When an unranked monster appeared, the nearby creatures erupted into chaos, filled with something between fear and rage that defied comprehension.
That cacophony of turmoil echoed from all directions.

“…Truly.”

Kim Woo, standing atop the City Wall, opened his mouth as he felt all of this unfold.

“That young one’s prediction was indeed correct.”

Kim Rok-soo had said it.
There was a high probability the Yellow-Haired Monster would arrive transformed.

‘The Blue-Haired Monster. A creature that deliberately tore off the horned section and fled with it in its mouth. It could be an act born of affection, but the probability it was not is equally high. We must account for every variable.’

One of those variables had been the assumption about the Yellow-Haired Monster absorbing the Blue-Haired Monster’s power.
Kim Woo’s gaze naturally lifted toward the Sky.
And he was not alone.
Everyone’s eyes turned upward, searching for Steel Hawk.

For the beginning of every battle would commence from that place.

And high in the Sky, Kale gazed impassively at the Yellow-Haired Monster that stared back at him instead of at the people below.

Tsssss—

The creature snarled lowly, fixing its gaze upon Kale.
Then Choi Han’s voice reached Kale from behind.

“How long will the pain persist?”

Kale answered without emotion.

“I don’t know.”

At that composed response, Choi Jung-soo’s face twisted.
He could see Kale trembling violently, gasping for breath.

“But soon.”

Choi Jung-soo heard Kale’s voice as he observed his unwavering posture.

“It will certainly subside soon.”

Kale was certain it would be so.

Because his comrades had begun to move.
He trusted in the abilities of his allies elsewhere.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”

And so Kale could not stop.

“Go.”
“I will return.”

Choi Han kicked off from Steel Hawk’s back and began to plummet downward.
Simultaneously, he drew his sword.

Shhwaaaack!
A black aura, more violent than ever before, surged skyward as if to pierce the heavens.
The moment that black signal flare entered people’s sight.

“Open the City Gate.”

Screeeech.
The City Gate swung open, and Lee Soo-hyuk, Kim Min-ah, and Mr. Rabbit stepped outside.
Hundreds of warriors and representatives from each region followed in their wake.

* * *

Albert Crossman lifted his gaze skyward.
Beyond the helmet’s visor, the night sky glittered with stars in its darkness.

Today, Albert Crossman wore plain black armor stripped of Rowan’s insignia.
Not as Crown Prince, but as a comrade—as an older brother—he had come to this place.
He looked down below.

The Sinkhole, now freed from the black veil.
Gazing upon the Great Sinkhole where the Endable Kingdom lay, he opened his mouth.

“Everyone, descend.”

Kale’s Group stepped without hesitation into the depths of the Sinkhole.

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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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