Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 61

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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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“We should arrive within the hour.”

I tucked the refined map into my pocket after several corrections and surveyed my companions.
Drip, drip. Blood droplets fell from On’s sharp claws.

“Creak, creeeeak.”

A small fox-like monster, poisoned by paralytic venom, writhed on the ground. The Black Dragon approached and reported.

“All done.”

About twenty fox-like monsters lay dead.

‘Real combat experience makes all the difference.’

On and Hong had to hide and flee their tribe, so they never received proper training. The Black Dragon was similarly lacking in experience. They were rapidly closing that gap through their time in the Dark Forest.

“Should I have fought too?”

When would I get another chance to gain experience so safely? The moment I muttered this, the Dragon and the cats’ heads snapped toward me.

“That’s a pointless idea!”
“Weak human, this is beyond your limits. One day is enough.”
“The youngest is right. Last time you overused your shield and coughed up blood!”

Paseton let out a sigh.

“…Right.”

But instead, I could see Witira smiling brightly. At the same time, I caught the gleam in her eyes as she caressed her whip with unmistakable fervor.
Those were the eyes of someone who wanted to fight. She was truly a terrifying person.

I quickly opened my magic pouch and gathered everyone together.

“Everyone stop for a moment and put on your masks.”
“Is it because of the poison?”
“Yes.”

Kale responded to Paseton’s question while fitting a mask over the Black Dragon’s extended snout.

“Human, but there’s a strange smell.”

For the past few days, the Black Dragon had been telling Kale this frequently.

“What kind of smell?”
“I’m not sure. It’s stronger here. It’s familiar, though.”
“It’s probably the stench of poison or rotting plants from around the Swamp.”

Kale answered indifferently and moved toward On. The Black Dragon, left behind with the mask on, tilted its head in confusion. The Black Dragon muttered something, but the mask obscured its meaning so that Kale couldn’t quite make it out.

“…No, that’s not it. It’s not some ordinary smell like that.”

But since it wasn’t a dangerous smell, the Black Dragon soon fell silent.
Kale fitted a mask over On as well.

‘Choi Han avoided this Swamp too.’

Choi Han had some resistance to poison. But since there were other routes available, there was no reason to trudge through this Swamp. It was simply too bothersome and annoying.
Paseton approached Kale’s side.

“It’s strange that such a large Forest has two Swamps.”
“Is it? I don’t think so.”

Paseton could see the corners of Kale’s eyes crinkling above the mask. It was quite a sinister smile.

“You’ll understand once you see it, probably.”

Two Swamps were enough. Kale confirmed that everyone had their masks on and observed the complexion of his party members.
Two days into the Dark Forest. A grueling march with barely one to three hours of sleep each night.

“Everyone’s complexion looks too good, though?”

Everyone’s faces looked far too healthy.

“You really are impressive. All of you.”

At those words, Paseton’s face crumpled. He glanced at his sister, questioning her with his eyes.

‘What do I have to say?’

Witira shrugged her shoulders, evading the question. Paseton turned his head back to look at Kale Heniatus. Among everyone present, the young lord with the best complexion was Kale Heniatus.

Paseton observed the Black Dragon and the cats. Whenever Kale seemed fatigued, they would rush over and tend to him with utmost devotion. Of course, the vitality of his heart kept Kale energetic, but the others had no way of knowing that.
Witira stroked the whip coiled around her wrist as she asked Kale.

“Young lord, is it our turn now?”

Kale answered not with words, but by taking a step forward.

Here. From this point onward was the Boundary Line. The line that divided the interior from the exterior.

“Grrrrr.”
“Shriek!”
Zzzzzt—

Though there was neither wall nor barrier, the moment they crossed the Boundary Line, countless sounds flooded toward Kale. He spoke to Witira, who had stepped onto the Boundary Line just as he had.

“Go.”

A gentle humpback whale. Yet the ruler of the Sea was far from a creature that sought safety.

“Your turn.”

Whoosh—crack! The moment Kale finished speaking, Witira unfurled her whip and swung it. Boom! The ground split open from the whip’s force.

“Growl.”
“Screech.”
Zzzt.

The sounds vanished.
The stronger one between Choi Han and the Dragon. Witira’s body tingled with anticipation. How her heart had raced upon witnessing the unexpectedly formidable abilities of her companions.

“Shall we move quickly?”

She asked Kale with a smile, and the enigmatic young lord before her answered with an equally relaxed smile.

“Yes. As fast as possible. I want to get home and rest.”

Paseton, who had been listening to their conversation, let out a sigh and drew his sword, water whirling around its blade.

As the sounds faded from the forest, enemies slowly revealed themselves.
The Boundary Line. A place where weaker monsters dwelled compared to the interior. Yet what appeared before them was far removed from the weakness that existed outside the Dark Forest.
Mutated ogres, mutated trolls, spider-like Eastern Continent monsters, and high-tier monsters emerged.

“These monsters here are certainly strange. They’re actually thinking of fighting even in front of the Dragon.”

Paseton stepped forward and glanced at the Black Dragon and Kale Heniatus. At those words, Kale Heniatus nodded and gave his instruction.

“Go ahead and fight.”
“…Yes.”

Paseton burst forward, and the battle between the Whale Tribe siblings and the high-tier monsters began.

The Dark Forest monsters showed no fear even when facing powerful beings like dragons or the Whale Tribe. Rather, they charged even more fiercely. As if a stronger being who might dominate them must not appear, they attacked with desperation.

Kale Heniatus watched this leisurely, and upon seeing a shield form, he asked the Black Dragon.

“You?”
“Troublesome. Weaklings.”
“Right. Let’s go.”

Kale Heniatus slowly stepped forward with the shield.

Boom!
The ogre’s body was split precisely in half. Blood droplets splattered against the shield and dripped down.

Whoosh, crack! Boom!
Following the sound of a whip being swung, the spider’s body burst, and one of its legs flew toward the shield, struck it, and fell away.

“Watch and learn.”

Kale Heniatus spoke leisurely as he passed through the battlefield in a straight line, while On, Hong, and the Black Dragon pretended otherwise but intently watched the scene beyond the shield.
Monsters that appeared before Kale Heniatus, who walked as if taking a stroll, all vanished by Witira’s hand. When Kale Heniatus saw the swamp gradually coming into view, he stopped walking and spoke.

“Now we’re entering the swamp’s territory.”

Boom, boom. The moment the mutated troll’s head fell and its body collapsed simultaneously, Witira shook the bodily fluid from her whip and answered.

“Let’s hurry.”
“Sigh.”

Paseton exhaled a long breath and followed his sister to Kale Heniatus’s side. The approaching Whale Tribe siblings unconsciously halted their steps. They pressed their masks firmly against their faces as a pungent, acrid stench assaulted their nostrils.

At the same moment, their eyes widened at the sight of the swamp revealed between the dense trees of the forest.

“What do you think? Doesn’t it suit the Dark Forest?”

I turned my gaze from the startled Paseton toward the swamp.

The swamp resembled a lake.
And it was dark.

I spoke to my companions.

“It’s quite a massive lake. There’s enough space to accommodate several large ships. And peculiarly, the swamp’s color is black.”

It was the space most befitting the name Dark Forest.
The swamp was the only black thing in this forest.

“…I had no idea it would be this large.”

Witira let out a gasp of wonder. Even so, she swallowed hard as she gazed beyond where she stood, toward the area near the swamp. I understood her reaction.

All the plants had turned black or bore a brownish hue. Yet they were not withered. Rather, they overflowed with vitality.

“Poison.”

At Witira’s words, I nodded in affirmation and tightened my mask further. I also pulled the laces of the shoes I’d changed into this morning tighter. I retrieved gloves and put them on.
The rest of the group followed my lead.

My voice reached their ears from behind the mask.

“The plants that grow here are mutated species that have absorbed and grown from the swamp’s toxins. While not lethal poison, they all carry venom nonetheless. Be careful not to let any plants touch your skin.”

Paseton recalled the mermaid’s poison at those words and adjusted his clothing more securely. Then, suddenly, he felt something amiss.

“…Hong?”

The red cat padded lightly past Paseton. Hong glanced at me, and when I nodded, he bounded eagerly into the Swamp. Witira, noticing this too late, gasped and reached out her hand.

“Hong!”

Hong wore neither mask nor any protective covering. Witira turned to me in alarm. My expression remained impassive. At the same moment, Hong’s voice rang out.

“Delicious!”

Hong’s tail swished contentedly as he chewed on the black vegetation. I stepped into the Swamp first and moved to Hong’s side.

“How is it?”
“Just a simple paralytic toxin. It has a sharp, tangy taste!”

I offered calm counsel to the gleeful Hong.

“Don’t overindulge. Eat slowly and in moderation.”
“Yes. I feel myself growing stronger.”

I tossed a casual remark to the Whale Tribe siblings, who stood bewildered between the trees, still hesitant to enter the Swamp.

“Aren’t you coming?”

The Whale Tribe siblings exchanged confused glances and cautiously stepped into the Swamp. I led them forward slowly toward the murky waters. Fortunately, the brown earth and black Swamp were distinctly separated, so there was no danger of sinking.

Because of this, I could quickly assess my surroundings.

“Paseton.”
“Yes.”

Paseton, the Whale Tribe’s information officer, had gone rigid as if his soul had fled. I pointed to a specific location.

“It appears someone has passed through this Swamp recently.”

The area near the Swamp had been disturbed and excavated. Multiple traces were visible. Monsters did not come here. That left only one answer.

“I will investigate immediately.”

Paseton began his investigation at once, and I turned my attention elsewhere.
The materials of the Swamp—the reason the merfolk could grow stronger. The traces spoke volumes.

“…It’s likely the Swamp itself.”

Several traces were discovered on the ground near the Swamp. Naturally, based on the belief that no one would ever come here, the traces had been left brazenly.

Tap, tap. Kale Heniatus gazed at the Swamp before lowering his head at the tugging on his pant leg.

“I thought I told you not to eat too much.”
“Hehe.”

Hong seemed genuinely delighted, laughing with a “hehe” while his mouth was stained black, rubbing affectionately against Kale Heniatus like a pet seeking attention.

“I want to drink from that Swamp too.”

Witira beside him flinched, but Kale Heniatus paid no attention to her as he answered Hong.

“Wait a bit.”

Hong’s ears drooped.

“…I want to become stronger.”
“Why?”

Hong glanced briefly at the Black Dragon and his sister On. At that moment, a large hand covered Hong’s head.

“Don’t think such useless thoughts. Take it slow and be patient. You’re already stronger than me, aren’t you?”
“That’s obvious.”

Kale Heniatus ruffled Hong’s hair dismissively and told him to go consume more poison.

Kale Heniatus turned his head absently, thinking of the time when he would make On and Hong even stronger. His brow furrowed.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

The Black Dragon was behaving strangely. The Black Dragon kept tilting his head in confusion.
At that moment, Paseton approached.

“There are no signs of recently harvested plants in the vicinity. However, there are many traces of activity near the Swamp. And judging by the state of the traces, it appears someone was here roughly a month to three weeks ago.”

Kale Heniatus spoke while gazing at the vast black Swamp.

“It seems they harvested the Swamp.”
“That does appear to be the case.”

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth to speak as he watched Paseton and Witira grow more serious. That was when the Black Dragon approached. My brow furrowed.

“Why did you remove your mask?”
“It wasn’t a familiar scent—it was a familiar mana signature.”

What? A chill ran down my spine. The Black Dragon pointed at the black Swamp with a short foreleg.

“There’s a similar mana signature.”

Deeper wrinkles formed between Kale’s brows. Seeing that, the Black Dragon spoke calmly.

“That Swamp carries the mana signature of a Dragon.”

I hurriedly gazed at the black Swamp. A Swamp whose size defied estimation. Yet my mind was already conjuring the proportions of a mature Dragon—or perhaps an ancient one.

“Of course, it’s merely residual mana signature with no vital signs.”

The Black Dragon’s final words struck like a killing blow. An impossible thought crystallized into certainty within my mind. And simultaneously, I understood why the merfolk had grown stronger.

A Dragon’s corpse lay within the Swamp.

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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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