Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 78

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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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Chapter 17. I Was Flustered

Two hours later, my entire group had gathered at the entrance to The Path of No Return. Of course, we weren’t alone. I instructed Hans.

“You’ll be the one to take the list.”
“Understood.”

Hans departed to deal with the villagers who were watching me. He would likely learn about the Cats’ secret in the process.
At my signal, Mess, the Wolf Children, and Hilsman lined up in a single file. They looked as disciplined as the Knights Order.

“On will guide us there and return with Hong. Then you and On will gather the remaining belongings together.”

Mess and the Wolf Children nodded with solemn expressions. As I observed their demeanor with satisfaction, a voice heavy with reluctance came from below me.

“Y-Young Master, why me? I’m supposed to be designing.”

Mueller trembled between me, Hilsman, and Vicross, looking up at me anxiously. His pathetic appearance was pitiful. I was worried about leaving this fool alone.

“Just come along while I’m asking nicely.”

I didn’t want to grab him by the scruff of his neck or tuck him under my arm and drag him along again. Somehow Mueller understood my words and nodded, his face turning pale. A large bag containing paper and pens for his designs was slung across his shoulders.

I approached Ritana, who stood a short distance away. A gentle smile played at my lips.

“It seems we’re ready to depart now. You must have been quite anxious waiting for two hours.”
“No, it’s fine.”

Ritana answered while observing me and my group.
Since I appeared to be of ordinary strength without formal combat training, she had assumed my companions were knights of moderate ability.

‘An extraordinary person.’

But that was clearly a misconception. She was facing a powerhouse whose depths she could not fathom, surrounded by numerous talented individuals who obeyed his commands.
Though she couldn’t hear the conversation from a distance, he seemed to command his group with charisma in a way entirely different from how he treated her.

Meanwhile, my group wore different expressions as they observed the gentle me that Ritana saw, but they showed no outward sign. I had instructed them beforehand.

‘Follow my lead.’

They’ll figure it out on their own. After all, no one here lacks common sense.

“On, let’s go.”
Meow.

On took the lead, with Kale and the others following behind.

“Um, Kale.”

Choi Han approached Kale, who was walking at the very front alongside On. He seemed cautious, as if he had something to say.
Kale confirmed that Ritana and her group were behind Rosalind, at a slight distance, before turning his gaze back to Choi Han.

“What is it?”
“Could this Jungle fire also be their doing?”

His eyes were cautious yet sharp. Kale immediately understood who Choi Han meant.
The Secret Organization that had orchestrated the magical bomb terror. He must be referring to them.

“No. It’s not their work.”

After becoming entangled with the Secret Organization in the Capital, Choi Han would normally be slightly—very slightly—connected to them even in the Breck Kingdom. But this time, it didn’t seem like they were involved.

“I see. I wondered if it was information you partially knew about, like with the Capital incident last time.”
“I still remember my oath.”

Kale reminded Choi Han once more.

“If I learn their identity, I will tell you. So don’t worry.”
“Understood.”

Choi Han watched Kale, who calmly parted the mist and created a path as usual. He opened his mouth, then spoke with solemn resolve.

“Please don’t bear difficult burdens alone.”

What was he talking about? Kale looked at Choi Han with bewilderment. That was when—

“I agree with that sentiment.”

Rosalind, who stood between Ritana’s group and Choi Han, smiled gently at Kale. Kale found their words difficult to comprehend.

Difficult work?

“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean. I have no intention of doing difficult work.”

Why would I do difficult work myself when I have plenty of people around to order about? Kale answered their question while looking at Rosalind, bewildered. However, Choi Han and Rosalind exchanged glances and smiled helplessly.
That expression left Kale feeling quite uneasy. But with no time to waste, he didn’t ask further and simply walked ahead.

And finally, after pushing through the night with only brief rest, they managed to escape The Path of No Return the next day.

“Hmm.”
“…Good heavens.”

The moment Kale’s party emerged from the forest, each of them gasped at the sight before them.

Black smoke.

Where the Jungle should have been—a place one would need another day to reach—dark gray smoke was staining the sky.
From the plains below, they could also see red flames flickering in the distance.

Ritana bit her lip. It wasn’t merely because it was her land. The thought of her family and people still searching for shelter in those flames weighed heavily on her heart.

“Let us hurry.”

She turned her head. Kale was there. This nobleman must surely be struggling. It was evident from his refined upbringing.

“Yes. We shall guide you from here.”

Still, Ritana had to press forward. For that, she was grateful.
At her gesture, five subordinates stepped ahead. Ritana took the lead position herself. The leader of any group had to stand at the front.

“We must move quickly, so the shortest path may be treacherous.”
“That is of no concern.”

His answer was gentle yet resolute.

“Then we go.”

Rather than words of gratitude, Ritana stepped forward. Thus they advanced toward the black smoke. And when another day had passed, a massive inferno appeared before their exhausted eyes.

To be precise, several massive tents formed along the perimeter of the enormous blaze were also visible. However, they escaped the party’s notice.

“What kind of fire—”

Rak, the wolf boy, instinctively stepped backward. It was as though a volcano had erupted, its molten lava consuming the mountainside.
The flames towered skyward like a mountain itself. None of us had ever witnessed such a sight.

“Ahem.”

Choi Han caught his breath with an involuntary cough.

My breath came short.

Even having survived in the Dark Forest, I had never seen flames of such intensity. Jungle Zone 1—that vast expanse consumed entirely, swelling upward like a fortress toward the heavens, reaching a height that defied comprehension.

Nature’s calamities transcended human imagination with ease.

“That fire?”

The Mage Rosalind asked, glancing toward Ritana’s group. Her pupils trembled with disbelief.
There was reason for her shock.

It was raining.

The Jungle, where downpours came several times a day, was advancing toward summer—the monsoon season. The sky hung heavy with clouds, and rain fell steadily.
Yet the fire persisted, burning an unnatural crimson against the gray world.

That was what made it so devastating.

“Yes, that’s the fire.”

Ritana gazed at the raging inferno with a bitter expression. It remained contained, still devouring the forest of Zone 1 from its position.

“…The Jungle is dying.”

She watched Rak step backward.
Her lips tightened. The catastrophe beyond imagination instilled fear in all who beheld it. Even the people of the Southern Region, paralyzed by dread, dared not approach—they merely maintained the Boundary Line, watching helplessly.

Ritana turned her gaze toward Kale. He was quietly observing the flames. Would he attempt to approach the fire even after seeing it?
She found herself unable to urge him to hurry.

That was when it happened.

“It’s hot.”

Kale’s voice reached her ears. He removed his raincoat and jacket. Having shed the simple yet refined jacket that proclaimed his noble status, he rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt.
He turned around to face his companions—more precisely, to face Ritana.

“Let’s go. I believe I need to get as close to the fire as possible. I may need to cross the Boundary Line.”

He appeared as serene as if taking a leisurely stroll. Ritana glanced around. His subordinates wore expressions of unsurprised understanding. She looked at her own subordinates, then turned back to face Kale once more.

“I shall escort you.”
“I can go alone.”

Kale preferred to go alone. He could already anticipate how Ritana would escort him.

“That won’t do. It’s too dangerous.”

Ritana shook her head and turned her gaze away. Beyond the Boundary Line, countless tents had been erected. From them, figures came rushing toward her.

“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!”
“Commander!”

Distant voices called out to her. Ritana smiled gently at Kale’s expression of apparent surprise at the word “Majesty.”
Of course, Kale was merely feigning shock. And he was genuinely astonished—though not because Ritana was the Queen.

‘Wow, this thing is really massive.’

An enormous creature was bounding toward Ritana.

“Grrrrr!”
“Ten!”

At Ritana’s call, the massive black panther bounded forward like it was flying, reaching her in moments. With fluid grace, Ritana mounted the black panther as it came to a stop before her.

The Jungle Queen Ritana and the black panther Ten. Now I understood why Kale earned the epithet of Death’s Messenger.
The black panther, dark as deep indigo, was as massive as two or three grown men combined. Perched atop it, she spoke to Kale.

“Ten and I shall escort you.”

Her subordinates who had rushed out from the Safe Zone alternated their gazes between her and Kale.

“Your Majesty, who are these people?”

Ritana did not answer her subordinates immediately. Instead, she could see people and animals emerging one by one from the Safe Zone’s tents, aware of her arrival. They were those whose home had been Jungle Zone 1.
They would have been waiting for her. That was why she had to bring the legendary Dragon.

“A Dragon.”
“Pardon?”

Ritana offered a smirk to her bewildered subordinate. She extended her hand toward Kale.

“Please, ride with us, Kale.”

A low growl rumbled from the panther.
Seeing the black panther growl, Kale found himself reluctant to mount it. The panther Ten was glaring at Rak.
One of Ritana’s subordinates who had come with Kale stepped forward. He explained to the others on her behalf.

“We brought him because he might be able to extinguish the flames.”
“Can he truly extinguish the fire?”

Astonished eyes turned toward Kale. Choi Han and the others of our party blocked the path before him.

“Kale, it’s dangerous. Allow me to escort you closer.”
“No need.”

Kale shook his head at Choi Han’s words.

“That heat will cause burns even from a distance. It’s dangerous. Everyone should remain in the Safe Zone.”

Having others follow would only be a burden. Their strength would be useless against those flames anyway.

“Rosalind, I ask for your shield.”
“…Very well.”

Rosalind sighed and cast a shield around Kale, Ritana, and Ten. Rosalind already knew Ritana’s true identity. Though it seemed Ritana had no idea who Rosalind was.

“Since you are the Jungle Queen, we shall escort you more safely than anyone else. Young Master, have a safe journey.”

No, I didn’t want to ride the black leopard? Kale could have traveled quickly via Wind’s Sound instead.
He gazed at Ritana with her resolute expression still extending her hand toward him, her entourage, the jungle dwellers filled with questions—and finally, with a sigh, he grasped Ritana’s hand.

And then he mounted the black leopard. As he gripped the beast’s fur, a slight fear crept over him. He didn’t want to fall.

“Let’s go.”

Ritana kept her back straight and turned her gaze away from Kale, whose eyes remained fixed on the distant flames. Then she leaned forward and spoke to Ten.

“Ten, take us to the fire.”
“Grrr!”

Ritana straightened her back, and the massive black leopard began to move. The leopard and the dark-haired woman carried the red-haired man toward the flames.
They crossed the Safe Zone and headed toward the Boundary Line.

“Your Majesty!”
“Ten!”
“What is the matter?”

As Ritana swiftly cut through the Safe Zone’s tents, she could see the people calling out to her. All of them looked haggard. She bit her lip.

“Go faster.”

Then Kale’s voice reached her.

“Ten, faster.”

Ten responded as if answering Ritana’s command, rapidly cutting through the trees and undergrowth of the Safe Zone. Kale’s companions and subordinates followed behind, but they could not keep pace.
Rustle, rustle. Leaves, rain, and brush touched Kale’s shirt.

But the moisture vanished in an instant.

“Extraordinary.”

Kale dismounted from the black leopard. They had reached the Boundary Line. An intense heat radiated from ahead. Five meters beyond the Boundary Line, flames towered like a colossal tidal wave.

‘That Crown Prince is insane.’

Now that I faced him directly, I realized the Crown Prince truly was mad.

-…This fire is strange.

The Black Dragon Raon’s voice echoed in my mind. I spoke firmly to Ritana, who was approaching.

“Ritana, step back.”
“But!”
“I need to advance toward that inferno.”

With a blaze of this magnitude, I would need to expend roughly one-third of my water’s suppressive power. Facing it directly, this was far beyond an ordinary wildfire.

‘I don’t know the extent of my water and necklace’s power anyway. I’ll use it generously.’

If it proved insufficient, I could simply draw upon more strength. I spoke simply to the two beings who had come with me. Ritana and Ten were becoming obstacles to what lay ahead.

“Step back.”

Ritana’s jaw fell slack at my resolute demeanor.

“Grrr.”

Then Ten seized her collar and dragged her backward.

“Ten?”

Ritana regarded Ten with bewildered eyes. The black leopard Ten was not one to flee. That such a child would urge retreat while I remained puzzled her. In that moment, my voice reached her ears.

“This child trusts me.”
“What?”

The man with hair as crimson as flame smiled with a low chuckle. It was a leisurely smile.

“I won’t be harmed. I’ll extinguish the fire and return, so watch from a distance. Well, if it seems dangerous, come rescue me then.”

Having said this, I entered beyond the Boundary Line without hesitation. Ritana watched the sight before stepping back several paces. Ten crouched low, and she mounted onto his back. Like Ten, she was prepared to rush in and rescue me the moment danger seemed imminent.

Kale walked straight toward the flames, oblivious to Ten and Ritana’s presence.

‘If my heart had lacked vitality, this would have been catastrophic.’

The heat was no trivial matter. Yet I felt no pain—thanks to the ancient power contained within the Seeping Necklace, an artifact capable of channeling any natural force, and the water’s regenerative essence it held.

-Weak human, that fire seems a bit mad! It defies the laws of nature!

Raon’s voice clamored loudly, but Kale stood directly before the inferno and turned to look back. He could see Ritana and Ten, and far beyond them, the tents. And approaching from those tents, he could see figures drawing near.
Even if I told them not to come, they would surely be my companions.

Kale clicked his tongue and spread both arms wide.

Whoooosh—
Crackle—

Listening to the sound of rain and the roar of flames, Kale drew upon the power of the Seeping Necklace.

Uuuuuu—

An otherworldly cry resonated from Kale’s form. Simultaneously, the necklace began to glow with an azure radiance. Kale could feel the water’s power coursing through the necklace.
He closed his eyes.

‘If the flames are like a tidal wave.’

Then I shall create a true tidal wave.

Water that suppresses and dominates fire.
Kale generously drew forth one-third of that power.

Splooooosh—

A torrent of water surged upward directly above Kale.

Uuuuuu— Uuu— Uuuuu—

The cry grew ever louder as a colossal barrier of water materialized above him. With eyes still closed, Kale envisioned a tidal wave and conjured the mightiest current he could muster.

“…Good heavens.”

Ritana let out an involuntary gasp. At the same moment, Ten instinctively stepped backward. A massive wave materialized before them both. Her entire body erupted in goosebumps.

Woooooo— Wooo—
Shwaaaaa—

Rain and cries mingled as the surging torrent of water rose skyward, gleaming with a deep azure hue. Those who had been running toward the Boundary Line and those watching from the tents alike froze, their eyes vacant with awe at the spectacle before them.

Flames towered toward the heavens themselves. The wave climbed to match that inferno’s height. And in an instant, it carved an enormous current through the air, poised to sweep everything away.

Kale opened his eyes.
He lifted his head.

“Mm.”

Was one-third too much?
Kale felt a flicker of bewilderment. The wave I had conjured appeared far more wondrous and tremendous than I had anticipated. Even to my own eyes, it was extraordinary. Then Raon’s voice reached me.

—Yes! Let’s sweep away this insane fire, human!

The corners of Kale’s mouth rose.
Yes, let’s sweep it away.

Woooooo—

The cry cut off abruptly.

Kwaaaang—!

The colossal wave crashed down with devastating force. A barrier of azure water engulfed fire and earth alike.

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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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