Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 655

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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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Sharp talons like an eagle’s claws shot out from behind the shield, streaking toward Erhafen’s neck.

Crash!
A golden barrier materialized, blocking the talons with a thunderous boom.
The barrier crumbled to dust in an instant, and seizing that opening, Erhafen’s claws lashed out toward the lion-dragon’s exposed arm.

Crash—!
“Damn, you’re fast.”

A white shield materialized where the lion-dragon’s arm had been exposed, nullifying Alberu’s attack.

A brief exchange lasting mere seconds.
Yet with each thunderous collision, the resulting shockwaves sent tremors rippling through the surroundings.

“Ugh.”

The man gripped the rooftop more firmly with one hand to prevent himself from being swept away by the wind and plummeting below.

“Hehehehe. Hehehehe.”

A river of stars formed by golden dust. Within it, colossal beings clashed.
And on the ground, humans and beastfolk slew another monster.

Whirrrrr—whirrrrrng–
The man’s gaze shifted briefly to the hand in his possession—not the one gripping the rooftop’s corner.
Clophe Seka. Multiple lights glimmered across the recording orb he held, capturing every sight before him.

“Hehehehe. Yes, this is how it should be.”

Clophe’s lips curved upward in an endless smile.
His dignified appearance had been utterly disheveled from clinging to the rooftop to evade the battle between Erhafen and the lion-dragon, yet that smile alone befitted the title of Guardian Knight.
He released the hand gripping the rooftop’s corner and grasped the recording orb with both hands.

“…How much money have I poured into this recording orb? I knew a day like this would come.”

His eyes gleamed with exhilaration—and something far darker, a hint of madness flickering within.

The others hadn’t noticed, but Clophe’s image storage orb looked quite different from the standard model.
Several devices were attached beneath the orb, and premium-grade mana stones were plastered all over it. Additionally, magical formations were inscribed upon it.

‘They went to considerable effort to make it usable without a Mage.’

A prototype image storage orb created by pressuring the Northern Region’s Mages.
Once a Mage initially activated the orb through magic, as long as it remained powered on, one could utilize various functions.
This was thanks to the continuous mana supply through mana stones and the operation of the magical formations.

Clophe adjusted the image storage orb.
Click.
A small switch on the device was pressed.

-Finally!

A new screen appeared above the image storage orb, and on that screen was Ritana, the King of the Jungle.

-I’ve finally managed to reach you!

This orb was both an image storage device and capable of video communication.
The magical formation inscribed on the device was a video communication magic formation.
Whoooosh.
Mana from the extremely expensive premium-grade mana stones flowed forth, and the video communication magic unfolded very smoothly.

-…Are you alright, Sir Clophe?

The first person to connect. Ritana was smiling with dignity, but she gazed at Clophe, whose hair was in disarray, with concern.

“I’m fine.”

Ritana paused for a moment at Clophe’s composed smile, then hurriedly continued.

-I couldn’t reach the Crown Prince of Roan, so I contacted you instead!

Alberu was in the midst of battle and had no opportunity to receive communications. Of course, Raon had stepped forward and maintained contact with several locations, but there were still many places not included.
The Jungle. The Wipper Kingdom. The Breck Kingdom, and so on.
Most of the Western Continent’s kingdoms were among those unreached.

-The Saint said that if he contacts me, it will be relayed to Roan, but Mogur is currently too preoccupied responding to the invasion.

Saint Jack had attempted to compile information and relay it to Raon, but Mogur was in such dire straits that they were too preoccupied dealing with the invaders. Other nations found themselves in similar predicaments.
However, there were kingdoms in different circumstances.

-We have repelled most of the invaders on our side.

Those places where combat prowess was exceptional, where they had managed to neutralize the majority of invaders and gained some breathing room, were the ones reporting such progress.

There were two such places.
The Jungle Kingdom led by Ritana and the Wipper Kingdom where Grand General Tunga held command.

-I heard from the Saint. Clophe is currently in Roan, is that correct?

Ritana reached out to Clophe the moment she finished dealing with the invaders, and fortunately, her message got through.

-How are things on your end?

She could see Clophe Seka’s eyes—serene and unchanged by any emotion.
Clophe closed his eyes slowly, then opened them and spoke.

“Seeing it yourself will be faster.”

His calm voice carried an almost reverent quality.
Ritana watched as the video communication screen shifted, revealing the scene before them.

-That, that—!

Her eyes widened.

-…A dragon!

A Gold Dragon wrapped in golden radiance came into view.

-…Is that a monster?

And she could see a monster blocking that Gold Dragon without much apparent effort.
Words escaped her.

She had heard from Albert Crossman that the monsters coming to Pursulsi could potentially destroy the continent.
She had believed his words, yet there remained a small doubt—surely it couldn’t be that bad?

-…It was the truth.

His words were true.
Even watching through the image, Ritana felt a chill of dread—if that monster appeared in the Jungle, could this land truly be protected?
Then, a sudden thought seized her, and she spoke urgently.

-What about the others?

Only the Dragon and the monster were visible. The people had vanished from sight.

“I will show you.”

The image slowly panned downward.

-Ah.

A colossal serpent with two heads filled Ritana’s vision.
Though not quite as fearsome as the monster battling the Dragon, even in death it commanded an awe-inspiring presence.
Gazing upon the fallen creature and the ruins of Pursulsi surrounding it, Ritana found herself at a loss for words.

“Our forces defeated it.”

She could only clench her lips at Clophe’s matter-of-fact tone.
Finally, she managed to speak.

-…Remarkable.

Her eyes widened once more as she uttered the words.

-What?!

Clophe’s eyes widened as well.

“As expected of Choi Han—”

An armored black Bone Dragon.
Upon its back stood Choi Han, Alberu, and Rosalind.

-Isn’t that Choi Han and the Crown Prince?
“That’s correct. They likely intend to ascend into the sky and launch a coordinated assault with the Dragon.”

Boom—boom!
The deafening roar emanating from the clash of colossal beings pierced Ritana’s ears through the video communication. Though fear threatened to overwhelm her at the mere sound, witnessing those who marched toward that battlefield, Ritana’s fists clenched with resolve.

Then, suddenly, a realization struck her.

-…Where is Prince Kale Heniatus?

The one who should have appeared first, the one who always stood at the vanguard despite all protests, showing his back to his allies—he was nowhere to be found.

“I heard that Prince Kale Heniatus is incapacitated. Thanks to that, only two monsters were summoned.”
-I see.

Ritana sighed and covered her face with both hands.

Given how formidable these two monsters appeared, the struggle to prevent the summoning of the remaining six must have been extraordinarily difficult.
It was something one could understand without witnessing it directly.

She heard Clophe’s voice.

“He will return soon.”

A peculiar fervor burned in Clophe’s eyes.

‘Yes, when the hero returns. That is when the true legend shall unfold!’

Unaware of his inner thoughts, Ritana drew strength from the passionate gleam in Clophe’s unwavering gaze.

-Soon.

She rose from her seat and closed the video communication channel.

-Let us head to Pursulsi at once.

With those final words, the video communication was severed. Clophe stared at the darkened screen before moving his hand once more.
Clophe stared at the dark screen for a moment before moving his hand again.

Whooooosh—whooooom—
It was happening elsewhere. Video communication calls kept coming from the Wipper Kingdom.
The one contacting me was surely General Tunka.

“The Jungle and Wipper forces will arrive shortly.”

Unlike Clophe’s indifferent tone as he spoke, he was still meticulously recording the battlefield through video.
Expression vanished from Clophe’s face.

“Legends become legends only when they pass from mouth to mouth among the people. They must not be forgotten.”

All of this had to become a story that would endure in this land, on this continent, for ages to come.
Clophe’s video recording device had captured everyone on this battlefield at least once, even without Kale Heniatus.

Later, a Free City would emerge between Mogur and the Roan Kingdom. In that city, famous for its Magic Tower and Alchemy Tower, one building would be erected that was just as renowned as those two towers.
The Heniatus Museum—the largest-scale museum ever constructed, with all costs borne by House Heniatus.
The cultural artifact positioned at the very heart of that museum would be this video recording device held in Clophe Seka’s hand.
Countless people would visit the Heniatus Museum to see this video recording device.

Clophe Seka, holding the video recording device in his hand, gazed at one spot with an expressionless face and spoke.

“Everyone’s working so hard—it would be unfair if no one knew about it.”

In the direction he was looking, a Bone Dragon and three heroes were surging upward from the earth toward the sky.

Then his gaze shifted slightly toward the Pursulsi City Hall.
Because Kale Heniatus was there.

* * *

At that moment, the door to the office where I was located in the Pursulsi City Hall burst open with a loud bang.

Crash!

Raon’s eyes widened as he turned his head.

“Huh? It’s Dodori’s Mother!”
“Hello, Raon? Call me Aunt. I’m Sherit’s close younger sister.”
“Okay, Aunt!”

Dodori’s Mother, Mila, gazed at Raon with affection while holding a hoe in her hand, but her expression soon grew peculiar.

“Yes, but Raon… what are you doing?”
“I’m busy right now!”

She approached Kale Heniatus and Raon.
Seeing Kale Heniatus’s clearly grave expression, Mila’s grip on the hoe tightened instinctively. However, upon catching sight of Raon beside him, she couldn’t help but pause momentarily.

“…Raon?”

Raon was rummaging through the inner pockets of Kale Heniatus’s coat.

“I’m searching through our human’s belongings right now!”

Declaring his search with confidence, Raon stripped off Kale Heniatus’s outer coat and shook it vigorously.
Thump.
A spatial pocket and another object fell from Kale Heniatus’s inner wear. Raon quickly seized the item.

“Found it!”

A golden spinning top rested in Raon’s front paws.
Raon grasped the golden spinning top firmly with both front paws and shook it violently.

“Wind Spirits!”

As Raon listened to the reports coming through the video communication device, he realized one crucial piece of information was necessary.
So he hurried to find the golden spinning top.

“Can you hear my voice? I am the great Raon Mir! I cannot hear your voices! But if you can hear mine!”

Flames ignited in Raon’s eyes.

“White Star! Find where that accursed white bastard is! And tell me his location by any means necessary!”

White Star.
I needed to know the location of that elusive creature.

That monster is not the end.
Surely a ritual to summon the Sealed God will unfold as well.
Thinking of that time, above all else, I must find the White Star’s location now.

“That’s got to be one of the most crucial pieces of information for humans! So please help us!”

Raon held up the golden spinning top and pleaded desperately.
Yet even as Raon gripped the golden spinning top, he heard no voice from the spirit.
However, a faint breeze blew from beyond the terrace.
Whoosh—
The curtain swayed in that wind. Raon caught that subtle shift, and a glimmer of light flickered across his eyes.

“Wind Spirits, I beg you!”

Raon made a vow.

‘Once I find the White Star.’

The fierce flames burning in his blue-green eyes blazed even more intensely.

‘I will never let them lay a finger on our human, our family.’

Whooooo—whooooo—
As if responding to Raon’s vow, black mana rippled around the young dragon.

“Raon.”

But that steadfast resolve of Raon’s did not last long.

“Move aside for a moment.”

Mila smoothly lifted Raon, who had been rummaging through the upper garments beside Kale Heniatus’s bed, and set him down on the floor.

“Huh?”

Raon looked at Mila with a puzzled expression at the sudden movement, but Mila pointed to the video communication devices that Raon had suspended in midair.
The video communication devices were currently off. Since everyone was engaged in war, they could not keep them on at all times and planned to contact this place urgently only when new messages arrived.

“Could you move the video communication devices to the corner? Your aunt is working, and they might be a bit distracting.”

A soft smile.
Mila drew a gentle smile across her face.

“I came to fix my teacher.”
“W-what did you just say?!”

Raon jumped to his feet, clutching the golden spinning top and the spatial pouch.
Mila pretended not to notice the tears glistening in Raon’s trembling eyes as she gently stroked his head.

“I need to concentrate, so could you help me a bit?”
“Oh, got it! Of c-course I’ll help!”

Raon quickly dragged the video communication device into the corner so that this side wouldn’t be visible.
Mila watched him for a moment before turning her gaze toward Kale Heniatus.

“…Haa… haa….”

Kale Heniatus exhaled shallow, feeble breaths.

“I need to hurry.”
“Aunt! Let me h-”

Gulp!
Raon stopped mid-sentence and hastily covered his mouth. His round eyes grew even rounder.

‘T-the hoe is glowing!’

The hoe in Mila’s hand.
Whoooosh—
Wind emanating from that hoe filled the entire office.
But soon, a thick beige-colored mana consumed the space, overwhelming even the wind. Raon turned his head.

“H-human!”

Crack—crack—
Cracks were spreading across Kale Heniatus’s entire body.
Like cracks forming on porcelain, numerous fine fractures appeared across his form.

“Raon. You don’t need to be alarmed.”

At Mila’s gentle voice, Raon turned to look at her.
He set aside his astonishment and took in the expression on her face.

“Our teacher has certainly endured much hardship.”

Mila gazed at the cracks spreading across Kale Heniatus’s body with a truly sorrowful expression, her eyes filled with compassion.

“A vessel, after all, exists within the human body.”

Kale Heniatus had once asked whether it was possible to mend an intangible vessel.

“Transform the intangible into the tangible, and there is nothing that cannot be mended.”

Mila examined the fractured parts revealed across Kale Heniatus’s body with meticulous care.
Not a single spot remained without a crack.

This meant that his entire vessel was currently in a precarious state.

“The problem is not that it will shatter, but that it will melt away.”

She gestured to Raon.

“Raon, would you like to come and see?”

She smiled.

“I am going to erase every single one of these cracks starting now.”

Without a single blemish.
She intended to mend them seamlessly and perfectly.

Of course, the process would be arduous, and the extensive use of her abilities might strain her body.
Yet she had no choice but to see it through.

‘…Erhafen.’

She had to fulfill the Ancient Dragon’s will.

“Well then, shall we begin? Your teacher needs to wake up soon, doesn’t he?”
“That’s right! Aunt is absolutely correct!”

Seeing the hope gleaming in Raon’s eyes, Mila kept her smile as she reached out toward Kale Heniatus’s fractured body.
Beige-colored mana flowed through her fingertips, drawing out long threads.
And those threads began to touch every single crack, one by one.

All the cracks began to knit themselves back together.

“Ha… hah….”

Even so, Kale’s shallow breathing echoed through the quiet room, and Mila bit her lip secretly, away from Raon’s sight, at the sight of him still unconscious.

-Ooh! The vessel, the vessel is finally coming together!
-Wow, the dragon has this kind of ability too? That dragon seems to be the strongest one?
-Incredible, absolutely incredible!

The Ancient Powers cheered as they felt Mila’s strength seeping into Kale’s body.
Among them, Jjangdol murmured softly.

-Kale, Kale! Can you hear us?

He called out to the unconscious Kale endlessly.
He needed to regain consciousness quickly.
But Kale couldn’t hear Jjangdol’s voice at all right now.

* * *

“I never could have imagined this.”

The moment Kale opened his eyes after losing consciousness, he realized this place was not reality.

The place he had first opened his eyes to in this world.
Kale Heniatus’s bedroom.
He lay on the bed and turned his gaze to the side.
The reason he was certain this wasn’t reality was there. A man sat in a chair where his gaze fell, looking at him as he opened his mouth.

“Kim Rok-soo, you’re awake?”

Kale Heniatus’s eyes reflected the figure of the man called Kim Rok-soo.

Kim Rok-soo, a Team Leader in his mid-thirties. He was gazing at Kale with an enigmatic expression.
The moment Kale saw those eyes, he opened his mouth.

“Are you Kale Heniatus?”

The corners of Kim Rok-soo’s mouth twisted in a peculiar way.

“You recognized me right away.”

Kim Rok-soo nodded, executing a gesture far too aristocratic for the man he normally was in his mid-thirties.

“Yeah. I’m Kale Heniatus.”

The two whose bodies had been swapped regarded each other.

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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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