Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 605

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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 Jung-soo’s face crumpled as he watched Kale declare his intention to fight.

“What are you thinking, in a state like that—!”
“Then do we have another option?”

For a moment, Choi Jung-soo found himself at a loss for words.

In their current condition, was there truly a way to defeat that evolved Yellow-Haired Monster?

No.
The evolved creature was wielding the power of the Blue-Haired Monster as well.

A body grown more massive than before, physical strength amplified beyond measure.
The Yellow-Haired Monster’s original abilities—electricity, earth, and sound.
And the Blue-Haired Monster’s water, horns, and venomous fangs.
Finally, those scales that could only be cut by Lee Soo-hyuk’s blade.

Could they overcome all of these and sever that creature’s breath?

‘…Over an extremely long time.’

It might be possible if they fought for an extended period.
After all, there was only one of them, but many on this side.

Yet Choi Jung-soo lowered his head deeply at Kale’s continued question.

“If this continues, there will surely be many deaths.”

In the eyes of the bowed Choi Jung-soo, the image of the battlefield was reflected.

Choi Han charging forward once more.

“Aren’t you overexerting yourself?”

And Kim Min-ah following behind him.

“I can’t stop.”

Her brow furrowed at Choi Han’s response.

“Damn it!”

She spat out the crude curse and rushed past Choi Han, taking the lead.
Then she swung the massive spear in her hand with all her might.

“Shhhhiiing!”

The monster’s eyes turned toward Kim Min-ah. And it curved—bent sideways.
As if it found her amusing.

“Don’t you dare laugh, you pathetic eel!”

Crack.
The grip strength in Kim Min-ah’s hands was so intense that the spear shaft fractured for a moment. Her fury toward that monster was overwhelming.

One hour.
Throughout that entire hour of combat, she hadn’t landed a single solid blow on that Yellow-Haired Monster.
The spear thrust forward with enough force to pierce through scales.

Boom!
But the spear struck the hard earth that enveloped the Yellow-Haired Monster—no, not earth.

“Rock.”

It collided with a protective barrier of stone-hard earth and became useless.
And then came the Yellow-Haired Monster’s counterattack.

Crackle, snap!
Golden lightning transformed into a spear and came hurtling toward Kim Min-ah.

“Move.”

Choi Han stepped forward past her, taking the front position.
Kim Min-ah’s face twisted.

Again.
Choi Han had taken the front line once more.

Boom!
Lightning and black aura collided.
The forces clashed violently as if to devour each other, then dissipated in an explosion.
Through the smoke from that blast, Choi Han leaped forward.

“Han has excellent stamina.”

Kim Min-ah spoke those words and watched Lee Soo-hyuk disappear into the smoke, following behind Choi Han.

The Yellow-Haired Monster’s horn and Choi Han’s sword clashed.
At the same time, the Yellow-Haired Monster moved its massive body with surprising agility.

“…A clever eel, aren’t you.”

It was to intercept Lee Soo-hyuk who was following behind.
That interception posed a danger to Lee Soo-hyuk.

Splash!
Water transformed into an arrow.
And electricity wrapped around that water as it shot toward Lee Soo-hyuk.

Thud!
Lee Soo-hyuk’s body dodged the arrow and rolled across the ground simultaneously.

“Damn!”

And toward him came the Yellow-Haired Monster’s tail, embedded with sharp spikes of earth.

“Are you alright?”

And it was Choi Han who deflected that tail.
Lee Soo-hyuk rose to his feet with a wry smile.

“Isn’t this a bit too much protection?”

Two reasons why a proper attack hadn’t been launched thus far.

One was the absence of Kale, who could unleash wide-range attacks.
The other lay with Choi Han, who couldn’t fight freely.

“…No one can die.”

Choi Han was struggling against the Yellow-Haired Monster while trying to keep the others alive, unable to fight properly.
Because Kale had insisted that everyone must survive.

‘The Front-Line Attack Squad has already retreated to the rear.’

Due to the diverse and wide-ranging attack elements—electricity, water, poison, and more—the Front-Line Attack Squad was waiting outside a certain perimeter.
Or rather, they were fighting.

“Graaaah!”
“Kiiieee!”

Despite the presence of an unranked monster, there were occasionally other monsters attacking in an excessive frenzy.

“Hold the line! Don’t let them cross the Boundary Line!”
“Stick together if you don’t want to die!”

The Front-Line Attack Squad was defending against them.
Choi Han’s gaze briefly turned toward the City Wall.

‘The Long-Range Attack is proving difficult as well.’

No matter how much Long-Range Attack was unleashed, it couldn’t wound the rock-hard earthen armor and scales.
At best, while Choi Han and Kim Min-ah drew its attention, Lee Soo-hyuk would inflict a wound.

When I first wounded the scales, I thought it would become possible to attack like against the Blue-Haired Monster.

‘But those scales have become far thicker than before.’

Lee Soo-hyuk’s blade had scarred the scales, but not enough to cut through them and expose flesh.

Lack of ability?
That wasn’t it.

This wasn’t the narrow Subway Tunnel, and despite its massive body, the Yellow-Haired Monster moved with agility, evading attacks as much as possible.
That’s why only shallow wounds were inflicted.

“Han. This won’t work.”

Ultimately, Lee Soo-hyuk had to properly sever those scales.
Otherwise, he needed to attack the horns or the inside of its mouth.

Those were its weak points, after all.
But the Yellow-Haired Monster thoroughly protected its horns and mouth from Lee Soo-hyuk.
It was a remarkably intelligent creature.

Lee Soo-hyuk was aware of this fact.
That’s why he spoke.

“I’ll have to climb onto that monster’s body.”

Lee Soo-hyuk spoke calmly.

“Since it’s impossible for me to restrain that monster, I’ll have to attack by climbing onto it.”

If the monster stopped moving, even its reinforced scales would be cut deep enough by Lee Soo-hyuk’s blade to expose flesh.

“But that carries a high probability of causing you severe injuries.”
“We don’t have time, Hana.”

Until now, Lee Soo-hyuk had attacked the Yellow-Haired Monster several times with all his might.
At this rate, he might lack the stamina to use his severing ability.

“If I just create a wound first, then Park Jin-tae, Kim Min-ah, and you will be able to widen that wound sufficiently.”

Then naturally, the Long-Range Attack Squad would have a high probability of hitting the enlarged wound.

“That’s right.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s plan was devised entirely excluding Kim Rok-soo.
Choi Han’s mouth opened.

“I’ll climb up and subdue it. Take your chance then.”
“It’s more likely if you draw the Yellow-Haired Monster’s attention while I climb up.”

That statement was correct.
So Choi Han fell silent for a moment.
Kale’s gaze came to mind.
In that instant.

“Han. I won’t die.”

At Lee Soo-hyuk’s smiling face, Choi Han opened his mouth.

“Please.”
“Got it.”

The plan was set.
All that remained was execution.

The two locked eyes with the Yellow-Haired Monster, who gazed down at them with an aloof demeanor.

And Choi Jung-soo, watching from the sky, opened his mouth.

“Right. No one can die.”

He lifted his gaze to Kale’s back.
Standing rigid, yet appearing diminished compared to usual—a back that seemed smaller.
Hidden beneath the heavy uniform, his neck and hair were already drenched in cold sweat.

“…What about you?”

So Choi Jung-soo asked.

“Then you won’t die?”

Choi Jung-soo truly despised his own weakness.
Objectively, he was not weak. But he lacked the experience to fight on the front lines, and he was weaker than Choi Han, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Kim Min-ah.

“Yeah, I won’t di—cough!”

Choi Jung-soo saw dark red blood spurting from Kale’s mouth over his shoulder.

“How can you say you won’t die like this!”

Choi Jung-soo quickly grabbed Kale and poured out words, but unfortunately, Kale couldn’t hear him.

‘…Suddenly!’

A pain of a different magnitude—far greater than before—overwhelmed me.
Though the previous pain had been unbearable, this new agony surpassed it entirely, and my entire body trembled violently.

-…Kale!

That was when it happened.

“…What?”

I heard voices.

-Hey, is this connected?
-Seems like it.
-Then why isn’t he responding?

Familiar voices.

-I told you not to trust Jjangdol’s words!
-…My prediction can’t be wrong.

Why?

“Why can I hear your voices?”
-Huh? You can hear us?

Destructive Fire’s voice came through.

-He can hear us.

Voice of Wind spoke with her husky tone.

-As expected, my prediction was correct. Ahem. Ahem.

Jjangdol spoke with a relieved tone.

It had been a long time since I arrived here—hearing the voices of the Ancient Powers.
How was I able to hear their voices?

Jjangdol’s voice reached me.

-A gap has formed as your current body and your soul tremble, creating a connection with us.
“Ha!”

This pain, which felt like a crisis to him.
Surely the White Star’s attack was happening on the other side right now.

“Ha, ha-ha—”

Yet it didn’t necessarily lead to a bad outcome.
Kale found himself laughing involuntarily.

“Hey, why is this guy suddenly spouting nonsense and laughing like crazy! Hey, Kim Rok-soo! Commander!”

Choi Jung-soo’s bewildered voice reached me, but Kale easily ignored it.
Even through the pain, my mind grew clearer.

A path had appeared.

“Can I use my original power now?”

Until now, I had only been using half of the Ancient Powers.

-No. You cannot use all of your original power.

Voice of Wind answered calmly.

-But you can connect with one!

Destructive Fire added in turn.
Then Jjangdol spoke in a grave tone.

-As you likely understand, your body here is currently under attack. Your comrades are trying to save you, but the situation is not favorable.

That’s what will happen.
The White Star’s power is formidable, and right now neither Kale nor Choi Han is here.

-In any case, I can only connect with one right now, so I’ll send the heart’s vitality.
“No.”

Kale shook his head.

“I’m fine.”
-What? You know how much blood you’re losing right now and you’re still saying that?

Kale shook his head at Destructive Fire’s astonished cry.

The heart’s vitality.
That power wasn’t needed right now.

‘My current pain won’t be overcome by regenerative or recovery abilities.’

Whether my pallid complexion from the continuous blood loss would improve was uncertain, but fundamentally, to overcome this pain, my comrades over there had to exert themselves.

And one more thing.

‘Overcoming this current situation.’

Kale’s gaze turned downward.
Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Han had stepped forward, with Kim Min-ah and Bae Pureun following behind them.

What they intended to do was crystal clear.
Observing the situation so far was more than enough to understand.

“…They’re planning to fight while accepting injuries.”

Either Lee Soo-hyuk or Choi Han had resolved to take damage.
That way they could pin down that Yellow-Haired Monster and use the opening to inflict wounds or attack areas without scales.

“Shield.”

Kale’s mouth opened.

“I need a shield.”
-…You-

Jjangdol struggled to find words, barely managing to continue speaking.

-Even in a situation like this, you’re only thinking about protecting others?

Kale closed his eyes to focus on his conversation with Jjangdol.
Choi Jung-soo and Steel Hawk gazed at him with expressions that questioned how a person could be like this.
Steel Hawk even had tears glistening in her eyes.

“…Our brother… is too kind….”
“Damn it.”

But neither of their voices reached Kale.
He focused on Jjangdol, on the Ancient Powers.

Right now.
I needed an unbreakable shield.

-Should I go then?

The Glutton Goddess spoke carefully.
She seemed reluctant.

But I needed her.
Vitality flickered in my reopened eyes.

“Sister.”
“Huh? What? Brother? Why?”
“Let’s go to the City Wall.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll do anything you say, brother!”

Steel Hawk rushed toward the City Wall.
Choi Jung-soo asked with a puzzled expression at the sequence of events.

“What are you thinking?”

I realized Kim Rok-soo wasn’t going to rest.
In that moment, Kale spoke with a smile.

“To find a way for us to win.”
“What?”

Choi Jung-soo questioned him, but Steel Hawk, who had already reached the City Wall, lowered her head slightly.
Thanks to that, Kale’s figure riding on her became visible to everyone.

“…This… Commander-”

It was the moment Heo Sook-ja and the others realized why Kale had merely announced the start of war and watched from the sky all this time.

“Commander. Are you hurt-”
“There’s no time for long explanations.”

Kale’s gaze swept across every corner of the City Wall, and in one corner, he spotted someone standing with Grandmother Kim and Jang Man-su.
Someone he had asked to come here with Jang Man-su just in case, but who hadn’t needed to use their abilities until now.

“Je Ha-jeong.”
“Yes?”

During the Initial Shelter battle.
Bae Chul-ho, who served as leader of the Initial Central Shelter alongside Park Jin-tae and Joo Ho-sik.
Je Ha-jeong, from the same shelter as Bae Chul-ho, Bae Pureun’s uncle.

He had protected the shelter from monster attacks until Kale came to provide support.

Using trees.

“Get on.”
“Yes?”

When Je Ha-jeong was bewildered by Kale’s words.

“Sister.”
“Got it!”

Steel Hawk bit the back of Je Ha-jeong’s collar and soared into the sky.

“Suddenly, what is this?!”

While Je Ha-jeong froze in shock, Steel Hawk swiftly hoisted her onto her back.
Choi Jung-soo hurriedly caught Je Ha-jeong and seated her properly.

“Please, I need your help.”
“Pardon?”

I had to listen to Kale’s request.

“You can create and cultivate trees, correct, Je Ha-jeong?”
“Yes… that’s right. Though five is my maximum.”
“That’s sufficient.”

Je Ha-jeong felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine as she watched Kale, his pale complexion smeared with blood, smile brightly.

But those unaware of the situation gazed skyward with confusion.
Lee Soo-hyuk and Choi Han, who were heading out to attack, were among them.

“What is Rok-soo trying to do? And who is that person?”
“That person is Je Ha-jeong, and she uses trees—”

Choi Han’s body stiffened mid-answer.
A sudden realization flashed through his mind.

One of Kale’s abilities—astonishing, awe-inspiring.

Tree.

The heart of the Jungle Kingdom. When dead mana might have been scattered across that place ruled by Ritana.
The power Kale had wielded then.

“…Could it be with tree trunks?!”

Choi Han’s face twisted.

Countless tree roots and trunks tearing through the night of the Jungle Kingdom, surging toward the Royal Palace at its heart.
That astonishing power.
If that power were to—

I can restrain the Yellow-Haired Monster!

The moment that thought crossed my mind, Choi Han’s face twisted into an expression that was difficult to describe.

“Why!”

Why tell us to live while you keep pushing yourself!
Why!
Why do you keep overexerting yourself like this!

Instead of looking at the Yellow-Haired Monster, Choi Han glared up at the empty sky. It wasn’t anger—it was sorrow.

“Han, what’s wrong?”

As Lee Soo-hyuk expressed his confusion at Choi Han staring at the sky without attacking, Steel Hawk began to descend. Simultaneously, tiny seeds fell to the ground.
At the same time, very small seeds scattered downward.

Tap. Tap. Tap.
The seeds, so small that people could barely distinguish them, embedded themselves in the earth.

“…Huh?”

And from those seeds, trees sprouted at rapid speed.
The trees, grown to adult height, soon stopped their growth.

“Je Ha-jeong, that’s enough. I’ll take it from here.”

Kale looked down below.
The Yellow-Haired Monster was glaring at him—a searching gaze, as if questioning what scheme he was plotting.

A grin spread across his face.
Kale’s lips curved upward.

-Take it easy.

Jjangdol’s worried voice, and.

-Don’t worry. I’ll handle this well.

The moment I heard Meokbo’s voice.
Kale spread both hands wide.

And it began.

Thud-thud. Thud-thud.
The trees started to awaken.
Crack, crackle.
Fissures spiderwebbed across the asphalt.
And through those cracks.

“Rise.”

Massive roots burst forth from the earth.
Simultaneously, trees grew without limit, their trunks thickening and swelling with power.
Every root and stem surged forward in a single direction.

“Shhhhhissss!”

Where the trees’ assault aimed, the Yellow-Haired Monster stood.

Now it was a test of strength between Kale and the Yellow-Haired Monster.

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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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