Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 688

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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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“No?”

At Jur Temps’s question, the man wearing Hilsman’s face shook his head with an enigmatic smile.

“Anyone can see you’re just playing around.”

On, the silver cat, muttered with an indifferent expression. Hong pressed against Kale Heniatus’s leg, and Kale Heniatus cradled Hong in his arms. Then Hong cried out with a startled face.

“Your hand is hurt!”
“What?”
“What do you mean, what?”

On and Raon’s gazes immediately turned toward Kale Heniatus.

“Tsk. He’s just as careless as his mother.”

Whoosh.
On, Hong, and Raon—three heads with an average age of nine—turned back toward the Fake Heylsman.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Kale Heniatus’s mouth as he slowly approached the Fake Heylsman seated in the chair.

“Just answer me one question first.”

Kale Heniatus stood directly before the Fake Heylsman’s face and bowed his head slightly. He could see the playful glint in the eyes of the Fake Heylsman, who sat in the chair looking up at him.

“Are you a Hunter?”

My biological mother, Jur Temps, had once told me about the “Hunters” who sought out the single-born.

“Why? What will you do if I am a Hunter?”
“A fair question.”

I answered calmly.

“I’ll eliminate you.”

The corner of the Fake Heylsman’s mouth twisted strangely.

“…You certainly do carry the blood of the Temps Family.”

My expression had grown serious, all playfulness stripped away, yet satisfaction lingered beneath the surface.

“That’s right. If you carry the Temps Family blood, you must harbor hatred for the Hunters. Without that driving force, what use is it?”

Hm?
I paused for a moment.

‘Annihilation?’

I hadn’t considered anything as extreme as complete annihilation. I’d simply said I would ‘handle’ them. That handling encompassed many possible meanings.
Negotiations to cease their hunting, or reaching an agreement through dialogue. Or, if force became necessary, restraining them so thoroughly they couldn’t even attempt to hunt.
Multiple methods of handling existed.

‘And I’m not trying to handle the Hunters simply because I carry the Temps Family blood.’

Though my body inherited the Temps Family bloodline, the soul dwelling within it was entirely different from the body’s original owner.
Of course, if my biological mother Jur Temps expressed anger toward the Hunters or harbored grievances related to them, I was prepared to stand for her. The same applied to matters concerning the Temps Family.

‘But more than that… I’m worried about Choi Han.’

Yet the fundamental reason I remained vigilant toward the Hunters was ‘Choi Han.’
Choi Han, a being from a single world. No matter how strong he was, I couldn’t assess the full capabilities of these unknown Hunters. Therefore, I had no choice but to remain acutely alert to their existence.
Both Choi Han and myself.
We were in perhaps the most similar circumstances—having left Earth to establish ourselves in this new world.

‘And somehow, I have a feeling the Hunters are here.’

Among the powerful individuals Father Duke Derth had gathered from across the continent, three had suddenly vanished.
If one of them was the White Star, that left two whose identities remained unknown.
Fake Heylsman wasn’t included among those two, as he had come from the Heniatus Territory alongside Duchess Viollan.

“Yes… I must handle them all. Every last one.”

In any case, the Fake Heylsman before me seemed to have interpreted my word ‘handle’ somewhat more grimly than I had originally intended.

‘…This feels off.’

Kale Heniatus felt an inexplicable chill creep down the back of his neck as he watched the Fake Heylsman grin without a trace of jest. It was the same sensation he’d experienced the day he first opened his eyes after possession—the moment he’d encountered Ron.

‘It’s as if… as if something entirely new is beginning.’

For someone who merely dreamed of a peaceful retirement, such a feeling was utterly dreadful, so Kale convinced himself that he must be misinterpreting things.
Without thinking, he rubbed the back of his neck and opened his mouth.

“It seems you’re not a hunter, at least.”

This impostor didn’t appear to be a hunter. Rather, he seemed to harbor a profound hatred for hunters.

‘And this person is either Temps or someone connected to the Temps Family.’

The Fake Heylsman nodded slowly.

“That’s right. I’m not a hunter.”

On, observing this exchange, perked up her ears slightly.
Though wearing Hilsman’s appearance, something languid about his demeanor reminded her of either Kale or the White Star.
Indifferent, or perhaps weary.

‘…He resembles Erhafen.’

Yes, he was more like Erhafen than Kale.
The Erhafen of old, who had stepped back from worldly affairs—the Fake Heylsman possessed that same detached composure.

‘Though the fury I glimpsed in his eyes just moments ago was undoubtedly genuine.’

In this moment, On recalled the words of two different people. Each had spoken to her while she sat upon their knee.

‘You will live your life with information held firmly in your grasp. To do that, you must first learn to observe people carefully.’

The first had been spoken from Ron’s lap.

‘If you sense someone is a bit unhinged, simply ignore them and go your own way.’

The second had been spoken while receiving Kale’s gentle touch.
Both were invaluable counsel, so On casually disregarded the Fake Heylsman and turned her attention to the conversation between Kale and the impostor.

“I came to see Duke Derth. I have things to tell him, and things to receive from him.”
“From Father?”
“Yes.”

Fake Heylsman spoke leisurely, his playful smile never wavering.

“If you wish to learn about my identity, you can hear it through Derth.”
“…Does Father know who you are?”
“He probably figured it out.”

Hmm.
Fake Heylsman examined Kale Heniatus from head to toe with deliberate slowness before adding one more remark.

“Or you could ask the King.”
“…The King?”

For a moment, I wondered whom he meant.
Then a figure suddenly came to mind.

Jed Crossman.
The current King of Roan Kingdom, who had entrusted most of the kingdom’s affairs to Alberu and now played the role of a reclusive elder. He had ascended to the throne at a remarkably young age.
People believed that the moment Alberu Crossman made his decision, he would immediately receive the crown from Jed Crossman.

‘Now that I think about it.’

I had harbored doubts during the collapse of the Temps Family.

A noble house of Roan Kingdom had suddenly fallen.
Yet no one had left any record of that fact.
It happened when Jur Temps was still young—not so long ago—yet strangely, there was no information about the Temps Family in Roan Kingdom.

‘…If the answer to that mystery is Jed Crossman, then the meaning changes entirely.’

If the Temps Family and Jed Crossman were connected, if there was a hidden story between them.

‘Then this absence of information makes sense to some degree.’

Moreover, when I met Jur, Duke Derth had been merely a student and knew nothing of the Temps Family’s collapse—only that it had occurred. That made sense now.
It was never information that someone of Duke Derth’s station could have known.

‘…What is this….’

A chill crept down the back of my neck.

‘This feels like there’s some serious secret history at play here.’

It seemed as though a matter of tremendous scale—one that would make drinking lemonade for an entire week seem preferable—was now bearing down upon me.
It felt like a premonition that would have an impact on me akin to a planetary collision.

Avoid the collision and live; collide and die.
I sensed that such an extreme situation might unfold.

“…I’m insane.”

Everyone looked at my muttering with puzzled eyes, but I didn’t even notice. I simply shook my head.

‘I’m insane. To think such thoughts! I shouldn’t entertain dark ideas. Only good thoughts, only positive ones.’

I set Hong down for a moment and touched the golden token I’d placed in my inner pocket.
Thinking of the White Star’s furious state trapped within it, a smile naturally bloomed at the corners of my lips.

‘Indeed, entertaining good thoughts brings peace to the mind.’

With newfound composure, I broke into a bright smile.

“I never imagined that knowing your identity would be connected to the Crown Prince.”
“Isn’t it? Curious?”
“Not at all.”
“…Huh?”
“I don’t particularly need to know, do I?”

My eyes remained indifferent as I spoke, and there was good reason for it.

‘If I wanted to know, there’s nothing I couldn’t find out.’

I simply had no desire to learn such a tremendous secret.
Jed Crossman?
My sworn brother will soon become king. As for the records of the previous era, I can simply ask him to organize and share them.
A capable worker—no, a brother—who will grumble but diligently arrange everything and kindly explain it all.

And the Hunter?
This is also simple to think about.
If they touch me?

…I’ll make them like the White Star trapped in the golden plaque.
Tsk. My lips curled upward.

“Very. A very simple problem indeed.”

Fake Heylsman felt an inexplicable chill at that expression.

“You— you really do look just like Jur Temps when she was young. Whenever she smiled like that, catastrophe would unfold—”

That was when it happened.

Kwaaaaaaang—!

A tremendous roar accompanied by intense crimson light poured through the window into the room.

“Human! Stage two!”

I turned my head to gaze outside.
The Lion Dragon’s maw gaped wide, unleashing a blood-red torrent of light toward Erhaben and Alberu.

“Just as the Crown Prince said!”

The ‘Lion Dragon strategy information’ that Albert Crossman had learned from Anroman of the 3rd Continent.
The Lion Dragon’s attacks unfolded across five stages total.
The first stage used only its shield and claws, and the second stage was this blood-red light it spewed from its maw at enemies.

“They’re dodging well!”

Hong’s eyes sparkled as he rushed toward the window.
I followed him to the window and picked up the orb resting upon it.

—Rok Soo.

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice came through the orb.

-If things continue like this, it seems like something terrible will happen. Am I wrong? If you and Han and the Dark Tiger that I know were here, you would have predicted this situation, wouldn’t you?

Raon flinched at those words and glanced nervously at Kale.
And Fake Heylsman spat out his words.

“Right now, that Ancient Dragon and the Crown Prince are guiding the monster’s attacks well so they’re heading toward empty space or areas without people. But if we’re not careful, those attacks could reach the people, couldn’t they?”

From the Monster Lion Beast, an endless torrent of crimson light poured forth.
Boom— Boom, crash! Crash!
Into the empty air, or onto uninhabited ground. The power erupting in all directions shattered and destroyed everything in its vicinity.

“Kale Heniatus, you say you’ve erected a barrier, but a barrier of that magnitude would seem to crumble immediately under the monster’s power, wouldn’t it?”
“…That fake Heylsman’s words are irritating!”
“Right, it’s annoying!”

Raon and Hong spoke thus while still watching Kale’s expression carefully.
It was a gaze similar to how Rashil and Mila looked at Alberu.

“Damn it!”
Crash, crash—!

Between the endless explosions, Dragon Rashil was frantic.

“Do it like our mom does!”
“Shut up!”

Ignoring the pink-haired Dodori’s words, Rashil moved his massive body agilely in a frenzy.
Yet his eyes remained fixed on the Lion Dragon, Erhafen, and Alberu.
Erhafen ceaselessly beat his wings to prevent the Lion Dragon’s attacks from reaching his allies behind Kale’s barrier.

Ting— Tang!
In the midst of this, Alberu fired bullets relentlessly, seeking gaps in the Lion Dragon’s defenses.

“Screeeee—!”

Six of the Lion Dragon’s eight wings were already destroyed. The monster was losing its dominion over the sky as a means of attack.

“Ha!”

Yet even in that situation, Rashil couldn’t suppress his anxiety and cried out.

“At this rate, all those insignificant humans will die! The Lion Dragon will enter stage three soon!”

The Lion Dragon had five stages of attack patterns.
These changed depending on the creature’s offensive state.
If stage two was a concentrated assault against a threatening opponent…

Then stage three was a multi-target attack.
In other words.

“It’ll try to slaughter everyone! So who’s supposed to protect those lowly humans then?!”

Rashil’s voice grew louder.

“And we can’t even use magic!”

Under normal circumstances.
If they weren’t using the mana orbit disruption device like this.
The mana would be stable.
Raon, Erhafen, Dodori, Rashil, and Mila—five dragons in total—had been planning to cast a single spell.

It was a spell to protect the people and Pursulsi.
A protective magic against the monster’s assault that would unfold when it entered stage three, the multi-target attack phase.

But due to the mana disruption that had started from Pursulsi City Hall, they couldn’t use magic.

“That monster’s power isn’t even magic!”

And the monster’s power didn’t originate from magic. That’s why, unlike the dragons who currently couldn’t use magic, it freely unleashed a variety of attacks.

“Damn it! If so many humans die like this, if they die—!”

Watching the humans behind Kale’s barrier desperately trying to help from their positions, Rashil finally couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“My scales are standing on end!”
“It’s alright.”
“What? You’re saying it’s fine even if they all die?”

Whoosh! Rashil’s head snapped to the side.
Standing atop Mila was Choi Han.

Bang!
Simultaneously, another gunshot rang out, followed by Alberu’s shout.

“Phase three initiated!”

In that instant, the Lion Dragon’s eyes began to darken progressively.

“…Danger zone declared… Indiscriminate bombardment preparations…”

Damn it!
Just as Rashil was about to utter another curse, someone spoke even faster.

“Dodori!”
“Huh?”

Alberu called out to Dodori, and at the sudden summons, Dodori’s eyes widened as she looked toward him.
To her, Choi Han spoke calmly.

“Not there, Dodori. Look toward that window instead.”

At that moment, I reached out my hand.
Creak— The slightly ajar window swung fully open, and Dodori, gazing back toward me, came into my view.

“Raon.”

The only space where magic was possible. I requested a spell from Raon.

“Relay my words to Dodori.”
“Understood, human!”

Soon, Dodori heard Kale’s words through Raon’s voice.

-We shall begin your lesson now. Soon, you too will wield this power.

A lesson? So suddenly? And a power I can wield?
Dodori’s eyes widened considerably.

“Stone, the stone—!”

Dodori’s head swiveled in all directions without conscious thought. Her entire body moved as she gazed toward every cardinal direction—north, south, east, and west—centered upon Pursecity Hall.

“Human, will you be alright?”
“Yeah. That’s why I didn’t use my full power when I captured the White Star.”

Kale Heniatus flashed a grin at the nine-year-old average and fixed his gaze forward.
He recalled the first time he had discovered this city.
The voice of Deputy Butler Hans echoed in his memory.

‘We do not know why this city was forsaken by the divine. However, it is said that at that time, the people of this city began gathering in small groups to build several stone towers. It is said this was an act of prayer imbued with a certain wish.’

Pursulsi was renowned as an ancient ruins where many stone towers gathered, yet it possessed another distinctive landmark.
They were the small stone towers stacked in every household.

Wherever one ventured in this city, outside every house’s window stood a stone tower built by that household’s inhabitants.
Small towers of ten stones or fewer, yet stones stacked in every single home of Pursulsi.
Kale had asked Hans whether the wishes imbued in these towers, stacked like prayers, had been granted.

‘So those wishes were fulfilled?’
‘No.’

A city forsaken by the divine. The divine had not granted their wishes.

‘Not a single prayer was answered. That is why there is not a single temple in Pursulsi.’
‘If the divine abandoned us, there is no reason for us to serve the divine. Is that it?’
‘Precisely.’

Yet still, the stone towers continued to rise throughout Pursulsi.

‘From that point onward, these stone towers became a covenant. A covenant between humans, and also a covenant with oneself.’
‘What kind of covenant?’

Deputy Butler Hans revealed a tradition passed down through Pursulsi.

‘Those who achieve their wishes destroy their own stone tower.’
‘Since these people were forsaken by the divine, they must ultimately achieve their wishes through their own strength. The act of destroying the tower signifies a kind of ‘overcoming’.’

The countless stone towers standing in Pursulsi were built by humans as pledges to themselves.

Kale Heniatus gazed quietly at the Lion Dragon before slowly shifting his gaze.
Jjangdol’s voice reached him.

-Kale. This place is the optimal battlefield for us.

Stones of varying sizes, each one unique in shape, rose into the air.
If my barrier alone proved insufficient to protect everyone.
Then I could simply use the stones that so many had gathered.

“A Guardian protecting the divine.”

And now I had to stop that very Guardian.
I drew a composed smile.

“At least I’ll have something to say for myself.”

That I had reason to use these stones.
So please understand.
I silently conveyed my intention first to those who had built towers from these countless stones, each one bearing their own pledges and wishes.

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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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