Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 77

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

A peculiar silence settled over the cave. Ritana shifted her gaze from Kale Heniatus to her subordinates, wondering if she had heard correctly.
Her subordinates wore expressions similar to her own.

“Kale Heniatus, could you explain what you mean more clearly?”

Ritana, who had been leaning against the cave wall, straightened her posture. Her leather armor had long since dried by the campfire, presenting her well as a warrior.

“I am from the Roan Kingdom.”
“From the northeastern region, then. We are warriors who worked in the Jungle.”
“I see. I am from a small fiefdom in a corner of the Roan Kingdom, yes.”

Kale Heniatus scratched his cheek somewhat awkwardly at Ritana’s vague claim of being merely a “warrior,” and spoke carefully.

“I am from a minor noble family. Thanks to that, I do not lack funds for traveling around. I also have companions.”
“Companions?”
“Yes. On and I entered the Forest together, but I have others who trust me and follow me.”

The eyes of Ritana and her subordinates, who valued the concepts of a leader and a group, softened further.

“In any case, as I traveled to various places, I was fortunate enough to encounter an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”

A bitter smile appeared at the corners of Kale Heniatus’s mouth. His eyes narrowed as if recalling a difficult memory.

“Yes. An opportunity I discovered in a cave after barely escaping from the Whirlpools at sea. At that time, I found someone who was injured and was able to save them. It seemed that was the reason I got caught in the Whirlpools, and I was so grateful, ah.”

He trailed off and offered an awkward smile.

“My apologies. That was not what I meant to say.”
“It seems you have saved many people, Kale Heniatus.”

Ritana looked from the quiet cat-like girl On to Kale Heniatus. This courteous and well-mannered noble did not put on airs despite his status.

“No, I simply could not pass by without helping.”

Truly humble and virtuous.

“In any case, I obtained a certain power at that time.”
“What sort of power?”

Ritana realized the main topic was about to emerge and fixed her gaze upon Kale Heniatus’s lips.

“Water that suppresses fire. It possesses the nature to suppress any fire whatsoever.”

A peculiar gleam flickered across her eyes and those of her subordinates. It certainly appeared different from an ordinary power.

And that judgment was accurate.
This water was unlike ordinary water.
Whether alchemy or anything else, no matter what properties it possessed, it could suppress ‘fire’.
Originally, it was that fortuitous discovery Tunka had found. By drinking that water, he had obtained a body that remained unharmed even within flames.
However, because Kale Heniatus possessed ‘the vitality of the heart’, he had no fear of mere burns. It would sting a little, certainly, but it would recover immediately—was there truly any need to use it?

Instead, he had bestowed the properties of that water directly upon the ancient power ‘the permeating necklace’ that Rak had retrieved.

Kale Heniatus added carefully.

“However, since the total amount of power I can use is fixed, I am uncertain how much I can actually employ.”
“Ah.”

Ritana released a sigh. She moved her lips silently several times before asking.

“Such a precious power—are you certain it is acceptable to use it for us?”

Kale Heniatus forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising.

There was indeed a limit to the total amount of power.

‘Roughly enough to suppress a sea of fire if it engulfed the entire Western Continent?’

Unless Kale Heniatus himself were to suppress the fire that consumed the entire Western Continent, it was a total amount that would not be depleted even if used for a lifetime.
In any case, he had not spoken an untruth, had he?

“What should I call it?”
“…Please call me Rina.”

One of the subordinates paused slightly. Kale Heniatus ignored this and addressed Ritana by her nickname.

“Ritana.”
“Yes.”
“Power itself is neither noble nor base. What matters is how one chooses to wield it.”

Ritana and her subordinates could see Kale’s eyes clearer than ever before, burning with conviction.

“I believe that if I can use the power I possess to protect nature, to safeguard the lives of plants, animals, and people—to preserve their homes—then I must use it.”

Ritana’s hands clenched into fists without her realizing it, her grip tightening involuntarily. Her heart trembled with emotion.

“Of course, since this power recognizes me as its master, I’ll need to go there personally to use it. It may take some time and prove inconvenient, but—”
“Must you… enter the flames to use it?”
“The flames themselves would be difficult. But I’ll need to get close.”

Kale could see Ritana’s expression contort—a whirlpool of gratitude and guilt swirling together. Her subordinates felt it too. Though a few still harbored caution toward Kale, even that wariness was tinged with appreciation.
Kale delivered his final blow.

“If my power can be of help, I would be truly happy. I want to save and aid everyone.”

-This isn’t the weak human I knew. Well, he is kind, but this is different. Still, saving people is a great deed!

The four-year-old’s confusion amplified before reaching a conclusion. On yawned and turned away from Kale entirely.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Kale offered her a gentle smile in return. Yet his eyes remained cold and calculating as he observed Ritana and her subordinates.

Two weeks. They had left behind those they needed to protect and the jungle itself, arriving with only a single thread of hope. Yet they had merely wandered, pushed to the brink of desperation.
To them, Kale was no different from a dragon.

“How can I ever repay such a debt?”
“No, please don’t speak of debt. I haven’t done anything yet. I simply wonder if perhaps I entered this forest for this very purpose.”

Ritana was moved by Kale’s appearance—unmarred by greed, filled only with goodness. She had held a principle dear since childhood.
Repay vengeance tenfold; repay kindness with all you can give.

“Kale, I still want to repay this debt somehow. Just guiding us and going near the flames is already so much to thank you for. And you’re using power that has limits—I can’t simply accept this without giving something in return.”
“Really, it’s fine.”

Kale wore an expression of bewilderment. He seemed to ponder for a moment before something occurred to him, and he clapped his palms together softly.

“Ah!”

He spoke to Ritana and her subordinates with a hint of embarrassment.

“I once read about Zone 1 in a book concerning the Jungle. I heard that place is truly beautiful, with its lush jungle meeting the coastline. Especially the sunset there is said to be magnificent. While reading that book back then, I thought how wonderful it would be to have a villa in such a place.”

Zone 1, now engulfed in flames.
Along the coastline at the eastern end of that place lay a deposit of material rivaling that of a gold mine.

A month later, through a sorcerer who crossed over from the Eastern Continent, the flames are barely extinguished. That sorcerer had gone to draw in seawater from the coastline when he happened to discover a massive lump of gold.

That gold lump was a deposit of ‘Mana Stones’.
Not a true mine, but merely a place where the highest-grade Mana Stones lay buried in abundance. The sorcerer kept this knowledge to himself alone, mined it all, and fled.

“Once all the fires are extinguished, would it be permissible for me to visit that place to see the sunset?”

Ritana was momentarily at a loss for words. The beautiful Zone 1 coastline. Yet that place too had burned. So it would be a hideous landscape, which the man before her surely understood. And yet, rather than desiring land or wealth, his heart spoke only of wishing to see that place—this surprised her.
So she spoke first.

“Merely viewing it would seem insufficient.”
“Pardon?”
“I shall have a villa built for you. If Zone 1 displeases you, I shall build it elsewhere.”
“Ah, no! That is too much, far too generous! It is unnecessary.”

Kale suppressed the corners of his mouth that were threatening to rise upward.

“No. I shall have a villa built for you.”
“Ah, then…”

With a perplexed expression, as if resigned to his fate, Kale spoke.

“If I have been of help in extinguishing the flames later, might I instead obtain a small plot of land suitable for building a villa, rather than a villa itself, which would be too grand?”

Ritana had been told that Kale came from a minor noble house, but the more she observed him, the more she realized this was not the case. The quality of his clothing, the appearance of the magical pouch he carried, and the refinement he possessed.
Surely he was someone who could easily purchase a villa or land.

“Of course. Please claim as much land as you desire, Kale. I truly wish you would do so. It would set my mind at ease.”

That’s settled.
Kale Heniatus suppressed the cheer bursting from within and nodded along with a sigh.

“Yes, I understand.”

Though he had no interest in material wealth whatsoever, he played along convincingly. Seeing this, Ritana resolved that once everything was resolved, she would repay his kindness even more generously, giving him far more than he could ever ask for.

Kale knew Ritana’s nature all too well. As he stroked On, their eyes met.

‘The goal is land, isn’t it?’

On’s eyes were brimming with the question, but Kale pretended not to notice and opened his magical pouch.

“Would you all like something to eat? You all look quite famished.”
“Ah, well.”

Kale retrieved food that he had pressed Vicross to prepare from his magical pouch. He understood the most fundamental rule of building his faction.

The one who feeds you is a good man.
Choi Han had been won over the same way, hadn’t he? Kale spoke gently while smoothing the blanket that Ritana’s subordinate had provided.

“This is payment for the blanket. Let’s share a meal and move out tomorrow.”

The atmosphere grew warm and cozy.

“First, let’s return to the village where my companions are waiting, and then we’ll cross this forest to reach the Jungle. Please, eat.”

Kale continued to win over Ritana and her subordinates.

“You’ll need your strength to rescue everyone, won’t you?”

His voice carried resolve and determination, and Ritana and her subordinates found themselves thinking of those waiting for them.
And a mage stone was waiting for Kale Heniatus.

Ritana grasped the fork Kale offered as she gazed at the fresh, warm food in the magical pouch. She murmured softly.

“The legend wasn’t in some distant place after all.”
“Pardon?”

Kale had heard everything, but he pretended otherwise and asked again.

“No, it’s delicious, Kale.”
“I’m relieved.”

For the first time in two weeks, Ritana and her subordinates enjoyed a night of comfort and satiation. On glanced at Kale, who was watching them with satisfaction, and let out a quiet sigh.

* * *

“Kale, this is remarkable.”
“Isn’t it? On is truly exceptional.”

Kale cast a sidelong glance at Ritana and her subordinates following behind him. In the brighter morning light, the six figures unmistakably carried the bearing of seasoned warriors.

On the Western Continent, warriors and soldiers were somewhat different.
Tunka was a typical soldier, the knights of the North resembled warriors more closely, and the jungle people were a fusion of both. They revered martial prowess and advanced their own techniques while executing unconventional combat with remarkable skill.

“Lady Ritana, if we go a bit further, we should reach Hoik Village.”

Kale could see Ritana and her subordinates pulling their navy cloaks down deeper. They had crossed the border unexpectedly. They concealed their appearances as much as possible beneath the dark blue garments.

In particular, Ritana had hidden her black hair. The Royal Family’s hair was completely black.
With her small stature for someone from the Southern Region and her identity concealed, it was difficult to discern any sign of strength from Ritana.
But he knew.

‘One step below Choi Han.’

She was a formidable warrior in an entirely different league from Tunka. Being one step below Choi Han meant she was extraordinarily powerful. Especially the spearmanship she displayed in the jungle while riding the black panther was something no one could possibly match.
In the jungle, shrouded in shadow even in broad daylight, she was like death itself to her enemies. That was why she had become the leader who controlled the jungle.
A leader had to be both compassionate and strong. They had to protect their people.

“We’re almost at the village now.”

Kale moved forward, sensing Ritana’s group following quietly behind him. On manipulated the mist to clear their path.
The fog gradually grew thinner.

“Ah.”

Exclamations of wonder came from behind as the subordinates felt themselves breaking free from The Path of No Return. Kale walked on in silence.

I walked at an unhurried pace, and my subordinates and Ritana followed me with unwavering trust.

Patter. Patter. Raindrops drummed against the new raincoat Kale had received from Ritana.

-We’re almost there.

And finally, as the mist parted, the entrance to Hoik Village came into view. I had returned to the entrance once more.

“Ha.”

A laugh that resembled a sigh escaped from my lips.

Meooooow!

On leaped from my arms and bounded toward the ground.

Meow!

Hong came running. The siblings rubbed their cheeks against each other. I stood with my arms crossed, watching the scene, then furrowed my brow as I noticed those standing beside the stone monument at the entrance.

“What are you all doing out in the rain?”

Hans, Choi Han, and Rosalind. They had been waiting for me. Each of them pretended not to hear my reproach, responding in their own way.

“Young master, I couldn’t sleep as your assistant butler.”
“Kale, it’s cold. Who are the people behind you?”
“Young master, welcome back.”

I uncrossed my arms and walked toward them. Standing before them, I spoke.

“I’m back.”

I didn’t particularly want to see the smiles my companions were making, so I turned my gaze away. There, I saw those watching me—people waiting for those who would not return.

I sat down beside the stone monument and approached the Elderly Man who had tried to stop me from entering the forest. I crouched down before him. His eyes trembled with disbelief.
I spoke to the Elderly Man calmly.

“Elderly Man.”

Waiting. Yearning for those who would never return—Kale Heniatus had experienced this. Kim Rok-soo had experienced this. He had waited for his departed parents, knowing full well the futility of it. He gazed into the Elderly Man’s eyes.

“There was no Dragon.”

The legend had shattered.

Moisture gradually welled up in the Elderly Man’s eyes. He said nothing, his gaze fixed upon the ground as he nodded repeatedly. I passed by him and the gathered people, adding my words without emotion.

“There are clothing and remains scattered throughout the forest. If you wish, I will have them collected.”

It was all that Kale could offer.
I stepped before my companions. Then I spoke to Ritana’s group and to my own party, including Choi Han, whose gaze alternated between them and me.

“Pack your things.”

I pointed toward the forest.

“We’re heading to the Jungle.”

The inferno consuming Zone 1 of the Jungle in its entirety. It was now Kale’s turn to suppress that raging fire alone.

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