Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 628

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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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‘A Dragon mixed in among the people Father hired?’

And one pretending to be weak, no less?
And it laughs wickedly when it sees us?

“…Suddenly, the back of my head feels cold.”

A Dragon was certainly an entity with considerable potential to become an ally.
Yet strangely, I felt a chill creeping down the nape of my neck. It was an ominous premonition—as though I were about to embrace some needless burden in my arms.

“Hmm? Kale, what did you say?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“You must be tired. Let’s head inside.”
“Yes.”

I squared my shoulders and trudged after Duke Derth, whose footsteps carried the weight of resolute determination.
Duke Derth observed my gait and frowned slightly.

‘…There’s no strength in the way he walks. Yes, he must be exhausted.’

Derth resolved, as Viollan had suggested, to erase that wretched being called the White Star from this world as soon as possible.
To do so, he needed more powerful allies.

‘Hmm. Is it difficult to hire the Whale Tribe?’

Or perhaps.

‘Is there a Dragon somewhere? I can pay whatever they ask for.’

Just as deep furrows were about to form between Derth’s brows.

“Father, are you certain of the identities of those you’ve hired?”

He quickly smoothed away the wrinkles and answered lightly.

“Of course! I mobilized every intelligence network of the Duchy to select only those with thoroughly verified identities! Don’t worry! I’ve at least confirmed their origins and upbringing! I was so thorough that I could even identify a Dragon if one were among them!”

…No, Father. There’s supposedly a Dragon here.
Kale Heniatus couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth, so he forced an awkward smile, but seeing it, Duke Derth’s eyes filled with concern.

‘How exhausted must he be to wear such a strained smile!’

Duke Derth’s heart ached so much he wanted to seize the White Star by the throat and shake him. Swallowing his anguish, he proceeded through the Garden toward the Mansion.

As Kale passed through the Garden, he took in the powerful figures lined up before him.
He was curious about who the Dragon was. But he couldn’t hastily ask Raon Mir who it was because of the people around him.
However.

‘…Something’s off about everyone’s expressions.’

The gazes of most of the powerful figures watching Kale and Choi Han behind him were peculiar. Then Kale’s eyes met those of an Elderly Knight.
A man who appeared to be over eighty approached Kale and extended his hand.

“Young Master Kale.”
“Yes?”

The Elderly Man offered his trembling hand with a face full of emotion.

“Would it be permissible to shake your hand?”
“Ah.”

“He’s Sir Babala from the Breck Kingdom. For the past fifty years, he’s been a central figure in the Breck Kingdom’s monster extermination plan.”

Why would such an important person come here?
Kale wanted to ask.

“He came to help you, regardless of payment.”

Duke Derth smiled warmly.

“There are many such people.”

Of course, many had come for the money.
But in addition to that, the majority had come because they wanted to work under Kale or help him, money being secondary.
Sir Babala nodded.

“Your Grace is absolutely right. I would be honored to offer whatever assistance I can to a hero bearing such a heavy burden.”

My expression hardened.
A chill ran down my spine.

“Not at all. I am no hero.”

I shook my head firmly and turned my gaze toward Choi Han.

“I am merely an ordinary person. If anyone deserves to be called a hero, it is my companions. They are more than worthy of recognition.”

Ah.
Sir Babala let out an exclamation of admiration.

‘Such humility! I have rarely encountered it!’

The sincerity in those words was unmistakable.

‘And to lift up one’s companions without hesitation!’

In over eighty years of life, I have known few who genuinely praised their companions and subordinates with such authenticity.
And all those who possessed such sincerity became great figures remembered by history.

“I am simply someone who wishes to live quietly. Nevertheless, I am grateful that you have come to help.”

With these humble words, I released Sir Babala’s hand.
Then I offered a slight bow to the other hired powerhouses.
I considered my approach.

‘This should draw more attention to Choi Han instead. I said I wished to live quietly, after all.’

I was satisfied with my handling of the situation.

“…Truly, the Prince is—”

Sir Babala could not continue. He swallowed his words and regarded me with a composed expression.

“You must be exhausted. Please rest well.”
“Thank you, Sir Babala.”

It seems to have worked.
Kale was satisfied that his response had been appropriate, seeing Sir Babala release him immediately.

But he did not see the determined, tightly clenched fist of Sir Babala.

‘I will fight the greatest war of my life. I will stake everything I have.’

The words left by the young hero in the Elderly Knight’s heart became a great spark, burning brightly.
That was not all.

‘Yes. If we are to fight anyway, it is meaningful to be part of such a historic moment.’
‘How can a person be so virtuous! Ah, not just anyone can become a hero.’
‘Such a pallid complexion—I want to envy him, but I cannot help but pity him instead. Just how much hardship is he enduring?’
‘Truly a hero worthy of admiration!’

Unaware, the air throughout the garden grew hot with the burning fervor in their hearts.
And at that moment, I paused at Raon’s words.

-Human, the more we humans speak, the more the dragon laughs wickedly and scoffs!

What?
The more I speak, the more it laughs?

-There, in the nine o’clock direction behind! Pink hair! Do you see it?

Pink hair?
My gaze turned toward the nine o’clock direction.
Despite the late hour, the Heniatus Duchy Mansion was wrapped in brilliant light.
The pink hair caught my eye immediately.

Indeed.
A pink, curly-haired figure was laughing quite wickedly.

‘…Cotton candy? A poodle?’

The curly hair, unmoved by the wind, was perfectly round.
The pink dragon was slightly taller than Rosalind, with a bow as tall as herself strapped to her back.
Her eyes were obscured below by a hood, and her forehead was dominated by the curly hair, leaving only her eyes visible. Her eyes, a pale violet that contrasted with her light pink hair, were fixed upon me.

-A pink dragon! I’m curious what attribute it has!

At the same time, I heard Raon’s voice and another one.

-So you’re finally looking at me?

The voice was quite androgynous.
High yet low in pitch.
Yet there was an elegance and weight to it that made me tense instinctively.

‘How does this dragon know about me and find me?’

Obante Mayor and the Dark Elves, the Elves—they were all searching for the dragon. Could word have spread because of that?

‘No.’

The movements were covert; there’s no way rumors would spread from that.
Then how does it know about me, and why would that selfish dragon personally make the journey instead of sending someone else?
Dragons are said to be creatures whose hearts are difficult to fathom.
I felt my shoulders tense involuntarily.
Just then, the curly-haired dragon’s voice reached me.

-Nice to meet you. I am Dodori, noble and beautiful, great and very, very magnificent.

Ah.
Suddenly, this dragon felt like just some neighborhood kid passing by.
Why was that?
I found myself thinking of Raon.

-I’ll visit your room soon. Leave the door open.

I nodded vaguely.
Somehow, this dragon no longer felt frightening.

-Hmm. Unlike what I knew, you have a dragon by your side.

Unlike what you knew?
I focused on those words.

‘Where did they hear information about me?’

Tension surged through me once more.
At that moment, the curly-haired dragon spoke in a meaningful tone.

-As expected of Kale Heniatus.

Hmm?
For some reason, those words struck me as odd, but I turned away from the dragon and entered the mansion.

* * *

Kale Heniatus, Choi Han, Raon.
My bedroom with only these three remaining.

“I’ll open the door.”
“Very well.”

Choi Han opened the terrace door.

“The wind is cold, human! Aren’t your knees aching?”

Raon, dispelling his invisibility, brought a blanket and wrapped me snugly in it. Then he paused.

“It’s here!”
“You recognized it as a dragon right away.”

Tap, tap, tap.
The curly-haired dragon descended onto the terrace.
The curly-haired dragon, dressed the same as before, calmly crossed the terrace and entered the bedroom.
Then it stood before me.

‘I should stand up.’

I tried to rise from the sofa at the sight of it.
But the pink dragon Dodori’s gaze was not fixed on me.

“Hey.”
“What is it?”

The pink dragon crossed her arms while gazing at Raon Mir.

“What’s your name?”

Raon Mir answered brightly, as if delighted to meet a new dragon.

“I’m Raon Mir! A human gave me this name! It carries the wonderful meaning of becoming a dragon who lives joyfully!”
“…Is that so? How old are you?”
“I’m a magnificent six years old this year!”

The corners of Dodori’s eyes, which had been rigid, curved upward in a smile.

“Hmph. You’re still young.”

Then she snorted and shrugged her shoulders.
As Raon Mir tilted his head at her demeanor, the pink dragon looked down at him with a serious gaze, as if instructing him as a proper adult would.

“You lack the experience to understand the world yet.”

Despite her tone being neither particularly high nor low, there was a weight to her words that resonated deeply with everyone present.

Kale Heniatus observed Dodori quietly.
Duke Derth had mentioned that the minimum age requirement for those he recruited was adulthood.

The pink dragon Dodori, despite her distinctive hairstyle, possessed an appearance that seemed to be at least around Kale’s age.

Whether Dodori failed to notice Kale’s inquisitive gaze or not, she looked down at Raon Mir with her head tilted slightly upward.
Her eyes held an air of arrogance, while Raon Mir asked with his bright face.

“Pink dragon! I’m great and know the world well! So how old must one be to understand the world as you see it?”

Hmph.
Dodori snorted once more and opened her mouth.
Her eyes held the gleam of one about to impart special knowledge.

Kale Heniatus waited for her answer.
From this response, he could deduce Dodori’s age.

The age at which one understands the world as Dodori perceived it.

“I’ve lived for fourteen years, and I’ve come to understand this: you need to be at least fourteen years old to truly comprehend the world.”

…Fourteen years old?
Kale Heniatus’s mind flashed with images of Basen, Lily, Rak, and the Wolf Tribe Children.
Regardless, Dodori spoke to Raon Mir with unmistakable firmness.

“Treat me as your senior. Your junior dragon.”

Raon Mir stared blankly with his mouth agape, but Dodori dismissed this lightly and turned her gaze toward Kale Heniatus.
Her eyes gleamed brilliantly, yet strangely, the more Kale Heniatus observed this pink dragon, the more she resembled nothing more than a neighborhood child.

“Ahem. Yes. Kale Heniatus.”

Dodori looked at Kale Heniatus while occasionally glancing sideways at Choi Han and Raon Mir, clearing her throat repeatedly.
Kale Heniatus found her behavior peculiar.

‘…Is she embarrassed?’

Dodori was indeed embarrassed.
The pink dragon cleared her throat even more at Kale Heniatus’s bewildered gaze.

“Ahem. Your life story is, ahem. Truly. Ahem.”

Her round, fluffy cheeks flushed slightly.

“Ahem. It was truly moving! Ahem.”

…What?
Kale Heniatus momentarily questioned what he had just heard.

But once the pink dragon had spoken, courage seemed to bloom within her, and her voice grew louder than before.
She stepped forward.
Dodori stood directly before Kale Heniatus and thumped her chest proudly.

“That’s why I came to see you myself, Kale Heniatus! I didn’t know there was a dragon beside you, but ahem. Anyway, anyway!”

…Not one dragon, but three. Or rather, counting the half-dragon, four in total.
Kale Heniatus wanted to correct Dodori’s mistake.
But Dodori gave him no opportunity to speak.

The pink dragon suddenly stretched out both arms.
And grasped Kale Heniatus’s shoulders wrapped in the blanket.
A dignified, weighty voice full of determination flowed from Dodori’s lips.

“Trust only me! I shall make you the greatest hero in human history!”

…What is this insane dragon?
For just a moment, I genuinely wanted to silence that curly-haired fool’s nonsensical words.

-…Human.

I heard Raon’s bewildered voice in my mind.
For Raon, it couldn’t be helped.
To Raon, I was already the greatest hero.
There was no need to make me one.

-That pink curly-haired one is strange. Do we really have to go along with this?

Tell me about it.
I barely swallowed my true thoughts that threatened to burst out and opened my mouth.

“But how did you know of me, Dodori, and come to find me?”

Dodori released her hands from Kale Heniatus’s shoulders and asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Hmm? You don’t know?”

Her eyes conveyed the sentiment: how could you not know?
From that look, I recalled where I had seen Dodori or heard stories about her.
But there was no pink dragon in my records.

‘Obante Mayor said the dragon he saw was a different color.’

I answered firmly.

“Yes. I do not know.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s possible.”

Dodori nodded in understanding, then carefully retrieved a book from her possession.
Her touch was delicate, as if handling something quite precious.
The moment Kale’s gaze shifted toward the book, Dodori spoke with a voice brimming with emotion.

“It’s a book about your story. Among all the books I’ve read throughout my dragon life, this one moved me the most.”

The book was worn from how thoroughly it had been read.
The instant Kale saw the cover, he doubted his own eyes.

The title read: “The Hero Without Equal in This World, Shield Prince Kale Heniatus.”

Suddenly, Dodori began speaking rapidly, words tumbling out.

“Beyond this book, there are hundreds of other versions of your story scattered across the Western Continent. Yet, regrettably, not a single officially recognized edition has been published by the Roan Kingdom or House Heniatus. Most are merely compilations by wandering bards and storytellers.”

Dodori felt both understanding and disappointment about this phenomenon.
The pink dragon expressed her regret with passionate fervor.

“It seems these books have emerged in various forms without your consent, responding to the curiosity of countless continentals eager to know your story. However, according to my analysis, each book contains numerous inaccuracies! They lack precision! Your true accomplishments are not properly captured!”

For a moment, Kale found himself thinking.

‘Did she really read all several hundred of those books? And analyze them too? Why? Why is this dragon analyzing my story?’

Dodori shook her head vigorously, clearly displeased.

“I do hope a proper biography recognized by you will be published soon! Have you ever received proposals regarding the compilation of a biography? I can procure renowned historians for you! At minimum, a ten-volume deluxe hardcover edition with substantial content and vivid illustrations! The first limited edition will include a memory storage containing your interview! Plus, I can arrange distribution routes across the entire East-West Continent! I can prepare everything for you!”

Dodori’s eyes gleamed intensely as she gazed at Kale.

-…Human. That one’s eyes are seriously strange.
“Oh, my head.”

Kale eventually clutched his head with both hands.

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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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