Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 617

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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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The final battle.
And the peace that would follow after.
Just thinking about it brought a natural smile to one’s face.

Priest Gersei felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the soft, serene smile bloom across Alberu’s face.

The White Star.
No matter how exceptional he was, no matter how many times he was reborn through a curse that was not quite a curse—he remained human.
And yet this human smiled while asking what he could possibly covet from a god?

‘…He is not normal.’

This one too was twisted somewhere deep within.
Just like his master.

Alberu circled around Gersei and opened his mouth.

“The Ancient White Star gathered the power of five natural representative attributes. And through the worship of his followers, he sought to become a god himself.”

But he was defeated in battle against other Ancient Power wielders, and all those attempts came to nothing.

“Kale Berrow.”

Alberu continued, thinking how irritating it was to call this one by name, even though he was essentially the same as Kale.

“He inherited that very name—the White Star.”

It was nothing less than inheriting its meaning, and moreover, a declaration of will to become even more complete.

“He desires to become a god himself.”

The statue of Berrow erected in the Demon Temple was proof of that.
But it seemed he did not merely desire godhood.

“And he even coveted the power of the Demon Race.”

Kale had conveyed this to Alberu.

“Brother, wouldn’t someone like that covet the power of gods?”
“Wouldn’t someone like that covet even divine power?”

Coveting the power of gods.
That greed seemed like something nearly impossible to achieve, something that appeared utterly beyond reach.
But would the White Star be the type to give up simply because something seemed impossible?

Not in the slightest.

“Through dozens, hundreds of reincarnations, the White Star endured with such unwavering resolve. Wouldn’t he have dreamed of becoming a perfect, flawless being?”

If he possessed the determination to persevere even while losing countless precious ones, including his own kin, then he deserved to desire at least that much for the scales to balance.

“That monster possessed everything that the Ancient White Star, once lauded as the strongest among humans, had.”

Moreover.

“He obtained the power of the Demon Race as well.”

And furthermore.

“He even coveted the divine.”

And finally.

“He would dream of becoming an existence that possessed everything.”

The White Star must be coveting something beyond even divinity itself.

“Brother, would the other gods have sent us so many signals all this time merely to guard against the Sealed God?”
“Gods cannot arbitrarily interfere in the affairs of this land. That is the law.”

Alberu recalled the gods who had any connection whatsoever to these events.

The God of Death, the Sun God, the War God.
Three gods significant enough to be involved in such a matter.

“If the White Star acquires each power according to his plan…”

The god’s concern was warranted.

“Priest Gersei. As you well know, divine power cannot be obtained simply by coveting it.”

Alberu moved away from Gersei and settled back onto the sofa.

“Which god would share their power with another?”

The gods Alberu envisioned were not beings who bestowed everything so freely.
They were capable of cursing humans and bloodlines alike.

‘Well, it might be possible for a god to lend some of their power.’

But the god involved in this matter—
the Sealed God was not such a being. His actions toward Kale made that abundantly clear.

“The Sealed God sharing power with the White Star?”

Alberu let out a soft chuckle at his own words, as if amused by the absurdity.
He looked down at Gersei.

【Degradation.】

Kale had transmitted to him.

【Isn’t he planning to steal it?】
“You’re planning to steal it, aren’t you?”

Priest Gersei’s pupils rippled with something far different from confusion.
Alberu posed the question.

Whether the White Star intended to seize the Sealed God’s power.

“Right? That’s it, isn’t it?”

Unlike Kale, who had merely speculated, Alberu was nearly certain of this assumption.

Power and authority.
He desired them to some degree himself, having grown up in the crevices of such ambition.

“That’s right.”

So I had already found my answer simply by reading Priest Gersei’s expression.

“Priest. Do you know what your face looks like right now?”

Flinch.
Priest Gersei, unaware of his own expression, lowered his head.
Alberu’s voice descended upon the bowed crown of his head.

“It’s the face of a nobleman trembling in fear that his power might be stripped away by me. I know the psychology of such men well.”
“…What are you talking about!”

The Priest’s face contorted as his voice rose.
How dare he compare him to some mere power-hungry nobleman!
He was different from such nobles—he dreamed of a greater world.

“Why? Your expression looks the same to me.”

It was simply identical in my eyes.

“I—”

Priest Gersei glared at Alberu as he opened his mouth.

“I will say nothing! Not—not—”

His gaze turned toward Vicross.

“No matter what cruel torments you inflict upon me with those daggers, I am one who holds a noble purpose! I will never open my mouth!”
“I don’t need it.”
“…What?”

Alberu rose from his seat and looked down at Priest Gersei, his words falling flat.

“I don’t need it. Your words.”
“…That can’t be—”

In that moment, as Priest Gersei stammered in confusion, Alberu gazed down at him with an expressionless face.

‘Don’t rush.’

I want to extract every piece of information from that bastard.
But the more urgent the matter, the more carefully I must proceed.

‘Today’s most critical objective is Kale Heniatus and everyone’s survival.’

Once I secure that, I can handle everything else one step at a time.

‘Besides, that bastard needs to grow anxious.’

Alberu turned his gaze away from Priest Gersei.
Then he left the room.
Behind him, Priest Gersei’s flustered voice rang out.

“W-wait, aren’t you curious how to strip away a god’s power?”

True.
I am curious.
Because gods couldn’t even be destroyed.
But I cannot afford to lose the initiative by acting hastily.

That was when it happened.

“Your Highness.”

Ron asked calmly.

“Shall we bury that coffin?”

Count Mok, lying in peaceful slumber, looking as though dead.
Ron spoke with a benevolent smile.

“There’s no need to keep unnecessary things in a place where they’ll be an eyesore, is there?”

Though he was clearly referring to the coffin, his eyes were fixed on Priest Gersei.
Priest Gersei’s pupils, which had been so confident about enduring torture, trembled once more.

‘Death is frightening, it seems.’

Alberu chuckled softly and replied.

“Figure it out yourselves.”

Without hesitation, he grabbed the door handle and tossed out the words.

“Both of them. All of it.”

Gersei realized what he meant.
Hiss.
Those Mollan Family bastards had laughed coldly, after all.
Of course, everyone except Gersei knew this was all mere intimidation with no real intention of execution.

‘Those two will drain Gersei dry on their own.’

Alberu felt considerably more at ease.
That was when it happened.

Beep beep beep—beep beep—
A sharp signal tone rang out.

‘A communication crystal…!’

Alberu pulled a communication crystal from his pocket.
It was an emergency alert signal.

‘The call is from… Duke Fredo!’

It was a contact from Duke Fredo, the vampire leader left alone in the Endable Kingdom.
And it was an urgent transmission at that.

‘I have to take this!’

To do that, he needed to get rid of Gersei and Mok.
Alberu hurriedly looked up.

“I’ll take care of it.”
“Cough. Hack!”
Screech- screech-

Vicross held the large coffin containing Count Mok with one hand while gripping Priest Gersei by the nape of the neck with the other.
And then he dragged both of them equally without ceremony.

“Do what you need to do.”

The protagonist of this scene was Vicross.
Vicross left the room without hesitation.
Alberu opened his mouth as he watched the closed door.

“Indeed, Ron’s son has quite sharp instincts.”
“That’s right. He’s quite clever.”

Before Alberu could say anything to Ron, who was subtly slipping in praise for Vicross, he immediately connected the communication crystal.

“Duke Fredo!”

And Alberu’s face crumpled.

-Crackle-crackle, we, crackle–

The other party’s communication was quite unstable.
The sound was a mess, and the communication screen was completely filled with noise, showing nothing.

This meant that either mana was being disrupted right now, or the surroundings were in a considerably unstable state.

Priest Gersei.
The reason I hadn’t rushed his interrogation was because of Duke Fredo, but faced with this situation, Alberu felt flustered.

“What’s happening?”
-Crackle–, escape, crackle–
“What?”

Us? Escape?
Deep furrows began to form between Alberu’s brows.

“Duke Fredo, are you alright?”

A voice that was definitely Duke Fredo’s barely came through amid the crackling static.

-White Star-, crackle crackle, Endable, drawing sacrifices in as hunters-, crackle crackle–

Sacrifices?

-Wolf Tribe, crackle crackle! And, Sky Mountain—

Thud.
And the connection cut off.

“Your Highness.”

Ron’s voice came from beside me, but I stirred the dead mana once more.

Whoooosh–
The communication device responded and began connecting somewhere.

“Damn it. It won’t work!”

The connection to Duke Fredo failed.
After several attempts, I ground out the words.

“Cursed hell.”

And I redirected the communication.

-Your Highness?

The one who received it was Mercenary King Bud.

“Mercenary King.”

I opened my mouth with a hardened expression.
Wolf Tribe and Sky Mountain.

“Immediately investigate the movements in the Eastern Continent. And is there a place called Sky Mountain on the Eastern Continent?”
“Oh! Yes, there is! Sky Mountain! But what-”
“Do what I asked first.”

Click.
He severed the communication channel.
He spoke to Ron behind him.

“Bring Rak here immediately.”

Sky Mountain.

“Duke Fredo must have smuggled the Wolf Tribe members to Sky Mountain.”

He immediately connected to the Roun Royal Family.

-Your Highness! What were you trying to accomplish-
“Never mind that.”

The person on the other end of the communication erased the joy from their face at Alberu’s stern expression and low voice.
To such a person, Alberu issued a command.

“Send word immediately to every corner of the East-West Continent!”

Duke Fredo had said.

‘The White Star-, crackle, Endable, as hunters to gather sacrifices-, crackle–‘

It was entirely possible to infer from this.
That the White Star was using the people of the Endable Kingdom as hunters to gather sacrifices.
What the sacrifices were, he could not know.

“The warriors of the Endable Kingdom might launch an assault and kidnap people!”

But preparations must be made for any possibility.

-Your Highness, what do you mean, so sudden!
“Furthermore, raise the alert status throughout the entire Roan Kingdom to the highest level! Immediately!”
-Your Highness!

Alberu’s voice became calm and even lower.

“Do it now. I’ll explain later.”
-…Yes!

He ended the communication device after hearing his subordinate’s response and turned to Ron.
The Dark Forest. Since Kale was staying here, there were people I absolutely needed to summon.

“Bring Duke Heniatus and Duchess Viollan.”

That was when it happened.

Crackle—
The communication device flickered unstably once more.

‘Duke Fredo!’

At the incoming call, Alberu hastily activated the communication device.

-Crackle—, crackle—

But the signal quality was worse than before.
The screen was black, and almost nothing could be heard.

“Duke Fredo!”

Alberu raised his voice in frustration.
Only two words came through before the communication device cut off.

-Location, crackle, Pursulsi, crackle!

Two words that came through clearly from Duke Fredo’s voice.
After that, only silence filled the room.
In the quiet space, Alberu’s mouth slowly opened.

Pursulsi.

“…Pursulsi?”

Alberu’s gaze turned toward Ron. Ron’s mouth slowly opened as well.

“The city famous for its stone towers, known to be forsaken by the gods.”

Pursulsi.
A city renowned for its stone towers and the festivals held in their honor. The commercial and transportation hub of the Northeast Region of Roan.
A place where legends of a city abandoned by the divine still lingered.

And the city where Kale had obtained the second Ancient Power, ‘Vitality of the Heart’.

Alberu’s lips parted as he murmured to himself.

“…Location…Pursulsi… and gathering sacrifices—”

Once the sacrifices were gathered, what came next was.

“…Summoning.”

Then what the location signified was.
A summoning ground.
And that place was.

“Pursulsi.”

A fierce light ignited in Alberu’s eyes.

“Ha!”

He laughed as if exasperated, his lips curling upward.

“Coming to Roan?”

Silence fell once more.
But that silence was broken again by Alberu.

“You must have a death wish.”

He gazed out the window.
The sunset painted the sky in crimson, blending seamlessly with the deep blue of approaching night.
6 PM.
In six hours, this day would end.

* * *

I opened my eyes from atop the watchtower and spoke.

“…One hour.”

Once one more hour passed, it would be 8 AM.
That meant the Heniatus Estate over there would have safely made it through another day.

“Rok-soo. What do you mean by one hour?”

I turned my head at the sound coming from behind.
Lee Soo-hyuk had climbed up onto the watchtower.

There were only two of us here.

“Rok-soo. Do you have something to tell me?”
“Yes.”

I asked the other self within my body.
This choice reflected a great deal of the other Kim Rok-soo’s opinion.
Kim Rok-soo and I had reached one conclusion after discussion.

‘Should we do it?’
-I need to prepare for after you leave too.

The Kim Rok-soo here answered without hesitation.

‘Are you really sure I should tell him?’
-Tell him. You can tell Soo-hyuk hyung. I want you to.

I nodded at Kim Rok-soo’s words.

It was time to reveal the truth to Lee Soo-hyuk.

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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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