Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 680

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Damn it! Curse it all!
Albert Crossman immediately pulled out the spear he had hidden beneath his body and kicked away from the bed.

‘I’ve been deceived!’

The man where Choi Han’s sword was directed was not Duke Derth Heniatus.
The horn trumpet’s call sounded once more.

Pwooooo—uuu-pwooo-!
The horn trumpet’s sound varied in pitch depending on its meaning.
The previous call had signaled war, but the sound now ringing out meant a sortie or a charge.

His body froze without his realizing it, and his gaze turned outward.

He could see the Knight Commander drawing his sword.
Following that, other knights drew their weapons, and mages were preparing large-scale magic from Pursecity Hall toward the Plaza.

Albert Crossman’s eyes met those of Derth Heniatus.
A grin spread across his face.

“I told you. I was late finishing up after the meeting.”

Derth Heniatus laughed.
Alberu understood.

‘It’s the White Star.’

That bastard is the White Star.
He was certain of it.
At the same time, a powerful question arose.

‘…When? How?’

Since when had the White Star been impersonating Duke Derth Heniatus?
Throughout all this time, Alberu had not sensed even the slightest awkwardness from the Duke.

‘Kale Heniatus definitely said he heard from Duke Derth to retrieve the diary from his mother’s grave.’

Then at the very least, the Duke Derth whom Kale Heniatus had encountered before leaving Pursulsi was likely him.

‘And the Duke Derth whom Kale met right after returning from the World Tree was probably him as well.’

The Duke Derth had first casually asked Kale if he had visited his biological mother’s graveyard well. Kale hadn’t brought it up first, which meant this had to be information he already knew.

‘Then it must have been after that.’

The swap between the White Star and Duke Derth must have occurred after that point.

‘How did they manage it in between!’

After Duke Derth agreed to participate in Alberu’s feigned death operation, most of his movements had been tracked by both Alberu and Kale.
It was information they naturally came to know simply by working together, without even trying to monitor him.

‘Duke Derth never visited any unusual locations.’

Furthermore, Kale had asked Choi Han to guard Duke Derth’s bedroom every night to prevent any surprise attacks or kidnappings by the White Star.

‘When did they slip past our watch?’

Deep fury welled up inside Alberu.
He had been deceived.
He had lost.
Such emotions surged through him.

“Damn it—”
Kwaaaang—

His words were swallowed by the deafening roar.
A brilliant black aura surged violently from Choi Han’s blade.

“How does it feel? Having experienced it yourself?”

And it was blocked by a burning sword of flame about the size of a short dagger, clashing against that black aura. The hand holding that sword belonged to Derth Heniatus.
He calmly moved his other hand.

Crash!
The beige mana shattered instantly as it collided with the wall of wind.
Clang!
The pressure burst the bedroom windows open.
The landscape outside became clearer to view.
Between the crimson-stained sky, navy darkness descended gradually as night approached.

Whoosh—
A biting winter wind blew through the open windows.

“I went to each garrison and told them. The Saint examined the Crown Prince’s condition and said the internal damage was caused by the toxin embedded in the monster’s attack. To treat it, we need the monster’s blood.”

Derth’s voice filled the room, carried on the wind.

* * *

At that moment, Rosalind left Ancient Dragon Erhafen’s side and hurried toward the Knight Commander.

“What is the meaning of this!”
“Tower Master. Did you not hear? Well, it was decided hastily and matters are urgent, so you may not have heard in time.”
“What are you talking about?”

The Knight Commander’s face was set with resolve, yet a faint smile crossed his lips.
There was a small opening to explain to Rosalind, who was making efforts to help Roun.

“The Crown Prince’s treatment requires the monster’s blood. If we cannot obtain it within twelve hours, His Highness will… struggle, they say.”
“…And then?”
“So Roun’s forces and reinforcements will launch a first attack to draw the monster’s attention, and then the personnel from the daytime battle—excluding His Highness—will launch a surprise attack simultaneously to extract the blood. The plan has been decided. And they say preparations have been made for when the Temple opens.”

Rosalind’s face hardened.
She steadied her trembling voice and asked.

“Who? Who devised such a hasty plan?”

She looked around.
Ritana and Tunka recognized her and approached. And her own homeland’s prince, her younger brother, smiled faintly and raised his hand in greeting.
At that moment, the Knight Commander answered with more force than ever.

“Lord Kale Heniatus, sir.”
“…What?”

She spoke in casual tones without realizing it.
Who?
Prince Kale Heniatus?

“Duke Derth said that Former Commander Kale Heniatus has awakened. The moment he came to, he heard the situation and devised this plan.”

That makes no sense—
Rosalind had never heard of such a plan.

“…That’s strange. There was no meeting, was there?”
“Duke Derth was concerned there might be a spy among us, so he visited each garrison personally to convey the information discreetly. If there is a spy, they would have simply seen Duke Derth walking around the garrison and having a casual conversation.”

Ha ha.
The Knight Commander let out a brief laugh—not one of genuine amusement, but rather a sound meant to steady the mind and steel the resolve.

“Both Lord Kale Heniatus and the Duke are truly reassuring, aren’t they?”
“Well—”

That’s impossible!
Rosalind was about to cry out, but the Knight Commander’s next words caught her off guard.

“And the Gold Dragon will recover soon, you say? I thought the situation was dire. It’s surely thanks to your devoted care, Lady Rosalind.”
“…Is that also what Duke Derth said?”
“Yes. Now we have two dragons, a Bone Dragon, and Lord Choi Han and Former Commander Kale Heniatus. Along with Lady Rosalind and our other reinforcements.”

The Knight Commander looked around at the knights as he spoke.

“What is there to fear?”
“That’s right!”
“We have nothing to fear!”

The knights cried out with unwavering resolve. The soldiers also raised their voices in unison.
And their expressions grew bright with hope.

Yet they were afraid.
Terrified.
They had to draw that monster’s attention. Drawing its gaze alone could mean death. No—it felt certain they would die.
Still, they had to fight.

“The Duke—Kale’s father, the former Commander—he said something to me.”

The Knight Commander spoke the words that had sunk deep into his heart, slowly and deliberately.

“This time, I want to fight alongside him and show my son that I, too, exist.”

Those words, which Duke Derth had spoken after visiting him and explaining the entire operation, shook the Knight Commander to his core.

“Hearing those words, I came to understand much, and I felt that my heart aligned with his.”

I had merely watched the battles of great heroes, of magnificent beings.
Trembling with fear, bursting with awe, suppressing my rage.
And in the end, I witnessed their light fade.
Now I would cast aside my fear, swallow my wonder, and unleash my fury.
I chose to advance rather than stand still.

“We will be victorious. So that the sun may rise again, so that a new sun—the future of Rowan—may dawn. We will end this night.”

Those gathered here had resolved to end their fear, to end this darkness with their own hands.

“…Tower Master…?”

The Knight Commander hesitated and swallowed hard.

“R-Rosalind?”
“Ha-ha, hahahaha—”

Rosalind burst into laughter.
She swept her crimson hair back and left behind a single word.

“…How dare you.”

With those words, crimson mana ignited like flames from beneath her feet.
That was when it happened.

Boom—!
A deafening roar echoed through the chamber, and Rosalind watched as a black dragon burst through one of the windows and shot outside.

“Choi Han–!”

Choi Han was being hurled out alongside the black dragon.

“It would be foolish to assume I remain unchanged.”

The one responsible for flinging both Choi Han and the black dragon outside—Derth Heniatus—gazed at those remaining in the bedroom with a leisurely smile.

“Remarkable.”

It was Dragon Mila who spoke.
Truly, she could detect not the slightest hint of anything amiss from the one wearing Derth Heniatus’s mask. There was no sense of incongruity whatsoever.
Until just moments ago, Mila had been unable to sense even a trace of the White Star’s presence.

“You! You’re the White Star, aren’t you?!”

Clang!
Sword Master Hana immediately drew her blade.

“Perhaps.”

Yet at Derth Heniatus’s enigmatic response, Hana found herself hesitating. After all, his appearance was far too identical to Kale Heniatus’s father.

“What do you mean, perhaps?”

Alberu’s face twisted in frustration.
Still in his nightclothes, he descended from the bed and swung his spear toward Duke Derth.

Clang!
Spear and sword collided.

“This crimson blade! Only you, the White Star, possess such ancient power.”
“You know well. Then you must sense how I have changed?”

At those words, Alberu clamped his mouth shut.

‘Choi Han clearly used a level of power comparable to what he had wielded against the White Star before. And he poured considerable strength into it.’

Yet that same Choi Han was easily knocked back.
There was only one explanation for it.

“…Has he achieved balance?”

The White Star possessed the attributes of Tree, Wind, Water, and Fire—everything except Earth.
If he obtained Earth, he would naturally achieve balance across all five fundamental elements.
Until now, the imbalanced White Star had unknowingly been unable to pour out all his power.

“You know the answer. But here’s the thing.”

Derth Heniatus—or rather, the White Star wearing his face—asked with a smile.

“Why do you all attack so sloppily? Choi Han included.”

The White Star, wearing Derth Heniatus’s face, already knew the answer.

“Why? Are you worried about what happened to Kale Heniatus’s father? Whether he’s dead?”
“You bastard!”

Aura bloomed from Sword Master Hana’s blade, and fury ignited in her eyes.
She seized the opening in the White Star’s defense as he clashed with Alberu.

“Kugh!”

But before she could reach the White Star, her body was hurled backward.

“Hana!”

Saint Jack rushed to catch Sword Master Hana as she tumbled across the ground. A thick barrier of intertwined Water and Wind surrounded the White Star.

“Where is Duke Derth?”

At Mila’s calm voice, the White Star shrugged his shoulders.
Uuuuoong—
Beige mana trembled across the surroundings, revealing his form.
The White Star spoke bluntly.

“He’s alive.”

Alberu and the White Star’s gazes locked onto each other.
Wearing Duke Derth Heniatus’s face, the White Star painted a benevolent smile across his features.

“Of course, if you wish to keep him alive, you cannot kill me. And you will never find him.”

Expression drained from Alberu’s face.
The white spear locked against the White Star’s flame sword trembled violently.
Uuuung—uuuuu—-
And the vibrations of beige mana intensified even further.
It was a violent wave so fierce that even the sounds from outside could not be heard.

Both Alberu and the Dragon were consumed by rage.
Tasting their fury, the White Star let laughter escape his lips.

“Ah.”

He nodded his head.

“Now I understand. Why you two are attacking so clumsily.”

It was utterly theatrical. Anyone could see he was deliberately mocking them.
Though Duke Derth Heniatus possessed an ordinary appearance, the malevolence dwelling within made that face resemble a demon.
Even a single smile overflowed with malice.

“If I reveal my true power.”

The White Star whispered.

“The Lion Dragon will surely turn its attention here.”

The Lion Dragon, drawn to powerful presences.

“To stop my power, both you and the Dragon will have to exert yourselves. And when that happens, the monster will make its move, won’t it?”

As a result.

“The monster will come to kill the strong ones here, and the weak soldiers of Rowan and the reinforcements will rush forward to block its path. You know this, and so does the Dragon.”

One misstep could unleash unimaginable horrors.
Uuuuuung—
Mana vibrated with such intensity that it made the eardrums ache, as if reflecting Mila’s anguish. No sound from outside could penetrate—not the faintest whisper of wind.
Only the malevolent voice of the evil spirit echoed through.

“You weaklings will have to go deal with that monster. Ahahaha! Then I can simply flee, can’t I? With Derth Heniatus’s life in my grasp.”

A brilliant smile spread across the White Star’s face—across Derth’s face.

“Isn’t that delightful?”

That was when it happened.
Crack.
An extraordinarily faint sound reached his ears.
Barely perceptible through the vibrating mana, it registered at the White Star’s awareness.

“…!”

In an instant, the White Star’s pupils dilated.

Snort.
A scoff escaped Alberu’s lips.

“Transform!”

With Alberu’s cry, the spear in his hand shifted form.
The spear vanished, instantly becoming a rope.
That rope ensnared the crimson sword.

In that moment, the door grew.
The closed door behind the White Star wearing Derth Heniatus’s guise began to expand rapidly.
Crack. Snap.
Wooden vines erupted forth, swiftly binding the White Star’s body.

‘Your Grace. There’s something odd about this situation.’
‘What is it?’
‘I’ll plant a few seeds in the gaps of the bedroom door’s decorative frame.’
‘Seeds?’
‘There’s a reason. During the meeting earlier, something felt off.’
‘Twins?’
‘…Yes. Anyway. I hope I’m wrong about this. But no matter how much I think about it, something feels wrong.’

Alberu smiled as he recalled a fragment of their conversation.
Mila had suppressed her mana, and the vibrations of mana that had been blocking sound had long since vanished.

Creak—
The door with branches growing from it opened. But it was blocked by the White Star, leaving only a tiny gap.
And through that narrow opening, a pair of eyes appeared.
Those eyes slowly swept across the room’s landscape, moving until they fixed on one spot. Right beside him.

“Found you.”

Dark brown eyes that burned fiercely as if ablaze with malice.
Kale Heniatus, the owner of those eyes, stared at the one wearing Father’s mask—Derth Heniatus.

“White Star. It’s been a while.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————