Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 672

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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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Click.
With the sound of the door closing, silence descended upon the room.

“…Kale Heniatus.”

The first to speak was Derth Heniatus. Kale Heniatus’s father.
Unable to hide the trembling around his eyes, Derth approached his son, who was wrapped in a robe.

“Your Highness.”

But there was someone who blocked what might have been a touching reunion between father and son.

“Your Highness?”

Alberu Crossman strode toward the Duke. Still clad in his armor, he appeared even more exhausted than before.

“Your Grace. There is something that must be done. That is why I have come here so urgently and in secret.”

Urgently. In secret.
As Derth’s expression hardened upon grasping the gravity implied by those two words, Alberu heard Raon’s voice in his mind.

-I have cast a sound-blocking spell.

Alberu’s mouth opened immediately.

“I will die soon.”
“…Pardon?”

For a moment, Derth wondered if he had heard correctly.

“…Pardon?”

As he questioned once more, Alberu gazed into the empty space beyond Derth’s shoulder, recalling the situation from moments before.

‘My brother. You returned faster than expected?’
‘Your Highness.’
‘…Your expression is not good?’

Kale Heniatus and Raon burst into the Puzzle City Administrative Office.
After Clophe declared he would not only correct the rumors but reveal the truth, kicking open the office door and leaving, Choi Han anxiously pursued him.
Left alone, Alberu had been methodically organizing his thoughts about the tasks ahead. It was then that Kale and Raon came to find him.
And the expression on Kale’s face as they met did not inspire confidence.
His expression was far from pleasant.

‘Why is he smiling like he’s about to pull off some scheme?’

Kale Heniatus. The man was grinning. And it was the kind of grin that suggested he was about to cause some serious trouble.

‘Brother.’

Kale approached Alberu with a languid smile and casually draped an arm across his shoulders.

‘…What is this about?’
‘Brother, I’m afraid you’ll need to die.’

Hm?
Alberu’s gaze snapped toward Kale the moment he spoke.

‘Once you pass, the only ones in Puzzle City capable of commanding the Rowan forces would be the Knight Commander and our father, wouldn’t they?’

Alberu felt uneasy but answered properly nonetheless.

‘Unless the Royal Court sends additional personnel.’

Unless King Jed Crossman and the Second Prince came to Puzzle City themselves.

‘Considering magic, military forces, mercenaries, and other nobles—Duke Derth has the highest probability of assuming command.’

The Knight Commander would only manage the knights and soldiers.

‘When you factor in the reinforcements from other kingdoms arriving soon, Duke Derth—your father—is the most suitable candidate. Moreover, since Puzzle City is in the Northeast Region of Rowan, the lord of the Northeast would know this place best.’

Smirk.
The corners of Kale’s mouth curved upward.

‘Excellent.’

Tap, tap.
With an utterly irreverent expression, I tapped Alberu on the shoulder. As he began to regard me with increasingly sullen eyes, wondering if I’d somehow gotten drunk on alcohol I hadn’t even properly consumed, I whispered.

‘Listen, for my father to become the top dog, you need to die.’

Alberu could see my face, devoid of any smile, coldly composed.

‘I need to catch a rat, you see.’
‘A rat?’
‘Yes. The White Star is under my father’s command.’

After that, I met with the World Tree and Hubesha, briefly explaining what had transpired. Of course, I said nothing about the dagger the World Tree had given me. That part remained known only to the World Tree and myself.
Alberu departed from the scene of that past conversation and returned to reality.

“Duke, I won’t actually die. It’s simply necessary that it appear so.”

At my resolute tone, Duke Derth’s expression hardened even further.

“…You mean to say it’s necessary, but you cannot explain why?”
“That’s correct.”

By revealing only the bare minimum of facts to Duke Derth, his reaction in the actual situation would unfold naturally.

“So when I die, I would ask that Duke Derth take charge of Pursulsi.”
“If I’m not mistaken, reinforcements from a foreign power are arriving soon as well.”
“Indeed. I ask that you handle that as well.”

Duke Derth passed by Alberu before him with a stern expression.

“Let me see your face.”

With a soft rustle, I removed my robe’s hood, and upon seeing my revealed face, Derth finally smiled.

“You’re not injured anywhere.”

Though I remained pallid and gaunt, my eyes were brimming with vitality.

“You’ve seen quite a lot, haven’t you.”

Duke Derth was relieved to see that Kale Heniatus had returned safely from meeting his biological mother, Jur Temps. Yet the moment he glimpsed his son’s eyes, he understood.

“So there is a reason I must do this.”

Kale answered not with words but with a slight lift of his lips. Duke Derth immediately turned his body toward Alberu.

“Very well. Let us proceed. Must only I know of this matter?”
“Indeed. No one in this world—not even family—must know. Only those of us in this room can bear this knowledge.”
“So only I am to know. Nothing shall escape my lips.”

Derth met Alberu’s gaze. Uncharacteristically, he stared directly into the other man’s eyes.
In that moment, Alberu perceived something anew.

‘They resemble each other.’

In Duke Derth’s features, Alberu caught a fleeting glimpse of Kale Heniatus. Though they seemed utterly dissimilar at first glance, the blood still spoke—they were kindred.
Then Derth’s mouth opened.

“However, there is one condition.”
“What is it?”
“I despise meaningless sacrifice.”

Derth’s words pierced Alberu’s ears like a dagger. He opened his mouth to respond at once.

“It will not be meaningless—”
“And.”
But Duke Derth cut off Alberu’s words.
And lifted the corners of his mouth.
Meaningless sacrifice was abhorrent to him.
And.

“I am equally disinclined toward meaningful sacrifice.”

Ha.
Despite his words being cut short, Alberu released a small exclamation.
He understood.

‘Certainly, within Kale Heniatus dwells Kim Rok-soo.’

They resembled each other.

“…Prince Kale and the Duke share quite a few similarities.”

Not merely in appearance, but in what lay within as well.

“Of course. He is my son. And he is of House Heniatus.”

House Heniatus, which had guarded its wealth across generations and cultivated it steadily—a family dwelling in the remote northeast corner of the Roan Kingdom, with the Dark Forest at its side.
They had passed down a single teaching to each successive head of their house.

It was the spirit of House Heniatus and the goal they pursued.

‘There is no need to be recorded in history. Instead, live for happiness and peace.’

Duke Derth recalled that phrase and offered a bitter smile.

‘How foolish of me.’

It was certain that Kale’s story would be grandly inscribed in history this generation.
Yet not a single member of House Heniatus had abandoned their pursuit of happiness and peace.

‘Happiness and peace are difficult to obtain precisely because they are worth pursuing as ideals.’

Duke Derth made his proposal.

“If both Kale and Your Majesty would heed what I said moments ago, I shall undertake this task.”

I despise meaningless sacrifice.
And I despise meaningful sacrifice as well.

“…I shall listen.”
“Father.”

Derth’s gaze turned toward Kale.

“Take care of your health while you work.”
“Yes. Understood.”

At last, a gentle smile bloomed at the corners of Derth’s lips.
Alberu observed Kale and Derth silently for a moment.

‘…Kim Rok-soo adapted so well to this place because people like Duke Derth, no—people like the Heniatus Family became his family.’

A bittersweet smile formed at Alberu’s lips.

‘That has nothing to do with me.’

The current King, Jed Crossman. I cherished him dearly in my childhood, but at some point, he began to regard me only as a candidate for the next king. Never as a son.
The reason remained unknown.

‘It was not affection I needed anyway.’

My aunt Tasha, a Dark Elf. And I had something like a sworn younger brother as well.

‘If I were to die… would there be someone to grieve? Would anyone shed tears?’

Alberu closed his eyes.
A few years ago, I would have answered decisively that no one would—except for Tasha. But now I was certain of something different.

‘They would weep. They would grieve.’

Starting with the young Black Dragon, there was Kale, Choi Han, Rosalind, and many others who would mourn my absence.
I found it remarkable that I could hold such certainty, and simultaneously realized I could never afford to die meaninglessly.

* * *

“Crown Prince! What do you mean by that?”
-Crackle, crackle-crackle.

Static filled the video communication channel, obscuring the image.
A voice cut through the noise.

-An unranked monster. We may need to engage in another decisive battle with what appears to be a Guardian Lion Dragon.
“Was it not agreed that we would discuss this once all reinforcements arrived?”
-There’s no choice, crackle-crackle, we have no choice, crackle-crackle-!
“Crown Prince! Crown Prince!”

The video communication channel cut out completely.

Crash—!
“I need to hurry!”

Western Continent South.
A verdant land blanketed in countless trees and vegetation. The Jungle. At its heart stood the Royal Palace.
Ritana pushed herself up from her seat and rushed straight out of the tent.

“Has everyone gathered?”
“No, Your Majesty. Warriors from the southernmost regions have yet to arrive. It appears they are delayed due to the distance and their preparations to counter foreign invaders.”

The Jungle’s elite warriors stood arrayed beneath the cold winter sun.
Ritana, King of the Jungle, recalled the garbled video communication and Albert Crossman’s words, then made her decision.

“Send the rest in a second wave.”

Growl—!
A massive black panther presented its back to Ritana. She mounted it and commanded the mages of the Jungle.

“We depart for Rowan immediately.”

Whoooosh—whummmmm—
A massive teleportation circle unfurled at the heart of the Jungle’s Royal Palace.
This was not a sight confined to the Jungle alone.

Brilliant light erupted—!
Figures materialized above the teleportation circle, bathed in radiant luminescence.
The first to emerge took a heavy step forward.
Boom. Such force infused that single stride that the very ground trembled beneath it.

“Where is he?!”

The owner of that thunderous cry that shook the very space around him.

“Welcome, General Tunka. The Wipper Kingdom’s reinforcements have arrived first.”

General Tunka of the Wipper Kingdom. Upon sensing crisis during his video communication with Alberu, he had immediately brought only his direct subordinates as the first wave of reinforcements.
He furrowed his brow at the figure who appeared before him.

“Who is that?”

The armored figure stepped forward.
A golden turtle perched upon his shoulder.

“I am Duke Derth Heniatus. I have assumed the position of temporary commander in place of His Highness, who has taken to the battlefield.”
“…You are Kale Heniatus’s father…?”
“Indeed. I would appreciate your cooperation with my orders.”
“Oh! Father!”

For a moment, joy flooded Tunka’s face. But then he shook his head and moved urgently.

“First!”

Tunka attempted to leave the training ground behind the City Hall building where the teleportation circle was laid out.

“First I need to assess the battlefield situation! What happened suddenly to prompt such a rapid attack-”

That was when it happened.

Booooom—!

A tremendous explosion struck Tunka’s ears.

“Ugh!”
“Gah!”

The sudden blast and vibrations spreading across the ground caused those who hadn’t evacuated in time to cover their ears and struggle to maintain their balance.
But Tunka moved with bestial speed, as if such things were beneath his concern.
Finally, he emerged in front of Pursulsi City Hall and took in the full view of Pursulsi.

“…Insane!”

The enormous white Monster Lion Beast. The Guardian, which had remained motionless, slowly raised its shield.
But Tunka’s eyes were not on that monster.

“Those two—are they Choi Han and the Crown Prince?”

Only the entities that moved the Lion Dragon captured Tunka’s attention.
And the stationed Rowan soldiers swallowed hard as they took in the sight.

“The white armor must surely be the Crown Prince, right?”
“Y-yes, it must be!”
“And the black armor is somehow-”
“He’s holding a sword! It must be Choi Han!”

Two knights stood before the Lion Dragon.
The two armored figures in helmets contrasted sharply—one white, one black.
The one in black armor and helmet.
He muttered softly.

“So you said you wouldn’t let me off if I broke your sword?”

Pfft. He scoffed, as if amused and exasperated, recalling the owner of the sword in his hand.

“How dare a mere human speak such words to a great being. Wouldn’t you agree, Bone Dragon?”

Flutter. Flutter.
The black Bone Dragon—the Dragon Hybrid—let out a derisive snort at the voice from above.

“If you underestimate Choi Han, you’ll regret it too.”
“Impossible.”

The swordsman in black armor practiced his strokes, moving the blade up and down, his eyes gleaming within the helmet.

“This great being would never lose to a human. And certainly not to some mere monster.”

Rashil, the Half-Shaved Dragon, possessed the trait ‘Indomitable.’ The dragon sat atop the Bone Dragon Hybrid with ease, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Then he turned his head and spoke.

“If I pretend to be Choi Han, then am I your teacher, Crown Prince?”

Beside Rashil stood Alberu in white armor, helmet on, gripping a white spear in his hand.

“You are not my teacher, great being.”
“What?”

Rashil had been about to express his anger, but at the mention of a great being, he twisted his lips into a smirk.
Then he turned his gaze back toward the Lion Dragon.

“What a peculiar monster. It reacted immediately to the old man, yet shows no response when I appear?”

Rashil’s eyes gleamed with displeasure.
At that moment, wind stirred.

Whoooosh—whoooosh—

“And it reacts when there are two of us? How amusing.”

Wind descended from the heavens above, and with that tremendous gale, a being began to descend.
Those on the ground, especially Tunka who had witnessed the Pursulsi spectacle firsthand, could not suppress their astonishment.

“Another dragon…!”

A beige-scaled dragon with a massive body rivaling the Gold Dragon approached a position facing the Lion Dragon.
Those on the ground gasped at the appearance of yet another dragon.

And the Lion Dragon slowly raised the shield it had not raised for Rashil alone.

A dragon with beige scales.
Mila let out a soft chuckle and spoke gently.

“What a truly amusing monster. When I polymorphed, it paid no attention, yet now that I’ve returned to my true form, it takes notice. Well, my true form and Rashil—together we two would rival Erhafen.”

The Lion Dragon began to react, precisely observing both Rashil and Mila’s presences.
In that moment.

“I shall proceed.”

Alberu pushed off from the Dragon Hybrid bone he had been standing upon and moved forward.

“Come on.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Mila.”

Alberu mounted Mila’s back.
Rashil, disguised as Choi Han, atop the Bone Dragon made of black bone.
And Alberu upon Dragon Mila, returned to her true form.

A voice reached Alberu through the Dragon Lord’s communication device, now shrunken to thumbnail size and nestled within his armor.

-Begin.

At the command from the true commander, Kale Heniatus—not Alberu, not Derth—Alberu swung his spear.

-Greetings, Alberu. I, Tae-rang, shall provide my full support.

Craaaaaash—!
The Lion Dragon’s shield and Alberu’s unbreakable spear collided, erupting in a deafening roar.

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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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