Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 80

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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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Kale was currently inside Ritana’s tent. After sleeping in for the first time in ages, he had leisurely made his way to her tent. Ritana stared at him intently before speaking.

“Bin!”

At Ritana’s call, one of her subordinates stepped forward before Kale. He was someone Kale had become acquainted with back in the cave. From the books, Kale knew Bin as Ritana’s most loyal subordinate—a man whose talents lay more in martial prowess than in scholarly matters.

“You can go with Bin. He will guide you.”

Ritana handed Kale a document. Upon receiving it, Kale had to compose his expression.

“Ritana, I cannot accept terms like these. This is far too generous.”

Unlike when she had spoken of leaving, she smiled at Kale’s troubled face as if to say there was nothing to be done about it.

“Not at all. It is not excessive in the slightest.”

The document Kale held bore Ritana’s name and her official seal. All that remained was for Kale to add his signature, and it would become a binding contract.
The contract had one blank space for Kale’s signature and another blank space elsewhere.

The location and size of the land. That space too was left empty.

Ritana spoke.

“Privately owned land within the territory would be problematic, but for anything else, I will take responsibility. Take as much as you wish.”

To Kale, the arrangement of those words sounded as beautiful as a melody. Indeed, the sound of money flowing in was always beautiful.
Ritana. She certainly had a generous spirit.

“What if I claim the entire coastline?”
“I expected you to say that. But it does not matter. Do as you wish.”

Gratitude repaid a thousandfold. Kale now understood why Ritana had chosen Bin—the simplest of her subordinates—as his guide rather than a strategist or financial officer.

‘She truly intends to give me everything.’

Kale’s expression grew troubled.

“I believe vast territories are more of a burden than a blessing. I merely need a small plot of land where I can rest when I occasionally think of the Jungle.”

Ritana found herself wondering how she could possibly repay this upright man. Whether Kale had issued orders or not, his subordinates had been helping with reconstruction in Zone 1 since early morning.
Of course, Kale had woken late and had no idea what his group was doing at the moment.

“Kale, might I ask the name of your family?”

Kale felt a sudden chill run down the back of his neck. It was the kind of premonition that suggested he was about to walk into a trap. So he responded reflexively.

“I simply wish to depart quietly. Please forget what happened yesterday and look only to the future.”
“…You truly make it impossible for me to repay my debt.”

Repay? There was no debt comparable to what had been discovered.
It wasn’t even mid-grade mana stones—vast quantities of the highest-grade mana stones lay buried there, all perfectly cut and polished.
He had no idea who had buried them in the Jungle, but the records indicated they were “several centuries old.” That meant they could reasonably be considered ownerless.

Ritana called out toward the tent entrance.

“Ten!”

Ten? The black panther?

“Grrrrr.”
“Come with me. Ten will find you the shortest path.”

Kale turned around, feeling the chill intensify. The black panther was baring its fangs—tusks as long as Kale’s forearm—in what might have been a grin.

“Ten seems delighted to guide you. Simply ride on its back. Please accept this as a token of my sincerity.”
“…Very well.”

Grrr!
The black panther approached Kale joyfully. Kale turned away from it.

But moments later, he found himself mounted on Ten’s back. Ritana marveled at the sight.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Ten lower itself for someone to mount besides me. Ten truly has an eye for people!”
“Is that so.”

Kale found the massive black panther’s rumbling growl entirely unwelcoming. When he rode with Ritana, it was manageable because she was the owner, but this—this felt like thrusting his face into a tiger’s den.

“Young master, I’ll follow right after you.”

I nodded at Rosalind’s words.

“I appreciate it.”

Those accompanying me were the wolf boy Rak, the queen’s subordinate Bin, Vicross, and the invisible Black Dragon Raon—that was all.

“No, I’ll help with the restoration work, and once Hans and On cross over, I’ll head out with them.”

I had asked Rosalind and Choi Han to deliver the belongings to the villagers and bring the arriving group across the forest to the coastline.

‘Rosalind would be troublesome.’

The exceptional mage Rosalind. If she happened to discover the mana stone, I would be in considerable trouble.

“Then let’s go.”

At my words, the rest of the group pulled their horses’ reins. They all had their mounts loaded with supplies.

“Safe travels. Thank you for everything.”
“Think nothing of it.”

I responded gently to Ritana’s farewell. One must never let their guard down until the very end.

“See you next time.”

What a dreadful thing to say. If I were to see Ritana again, it would most likely be on a battlefield. For that reason, I declined. I simply answered with a smile instead.

“Ten, shall we go?”

As I asked politely, the black panther moved. The other horses followed alongside it. Ritana watched the sight unfold.

“Are you certain, Your Majesty?”
“I’m fine.”

She answered her subordinate’s question calmly. The black panther Ten had been the first life she had ever saved. Since then, the two had always been together. Though brief, Ritana had entrusted Ten to another for the first time.

Unaware of this, I headed toward Zone 1 mounted on Ten. The jungle people stopped their restoration work and greeted me as I passed. They all bowed to me in their own ways. Whatever Ritana had said beforehand, there were no cheers or fervent reactions.

‘Leaving quickly is always the right call.’

Commit the act and leave as fast as possible. Kale realized this was the best way to avoid troublesome situations, and he moved swiftly through Zone 1, where only black ash remained.

* * *

Kale dismounted from the black panther’s back. The Black Dragon’s voice echoed in his mind.

-Wow! There’s really nothing here!

The coastline of Zone 1, which had burned completely, held nothing.

-The sea is pitch black too!

The sea near the coastline had turned black from ash. Kale gazed quietly at that sea and the landscape. A cool, salty breeze wrapped around him and passed by.
The Queen’s subordinate who had come with him took in the sight of Kale. The Queen had ordered him to report everything about Kale.

“This place must have been truly beautiful once.”

The subordinate hesitated at Kale’s words directed at him. What he said was true. It really had been a beautiful place.

“The sun will set soon. Would it be alright if I looked around a bit? I’ll let you know once I’ve found suitable ground.”
“…Understood.”

Sunset was approaching.
Kale stroked Rak’s head and whispered.

“Play with Ten for a while. Don’t follow me.”
“Yes.”

By now, it was second nature to him.
Kale approached Vicross, who stood with a sullen expression, his face contorted as he stared at the black ash. Vicross, who hadn’t removed his white gloves in days, opened his mouth the moment he saw Kale approaching.

“I’ll keep that fellow—Bin or Vin or whatever his name is—under control.”
“You’re reliable as always.”

Kale asked him casually as he passed by.

“Vicross, have you ever been to the Northwest Region of the Roan Kingdom?”
“No, sir.”
“Really? Don’t you want to see it?”
“I need to visit the Count’s Mansion kitchen.”

Vicross regarded me with a reluctant expression, and I offered him a slight smile in return.

Soon, I would need an expert in interrogation.
Whether physical or psychological torture.
Vicross was the finest at physical interrogation.

‘For psychological torture, the Mad Priestess who should be with the eldest son of the Sten Marquis House by now would be perfect.’

I patted Vicross’s shoulder a few times—he seemed thoroughly displeased—and headed toward the highest hill visible from the coastline. The black panther and the queen’s subordinates watched us go, but soon they would have to face Rak and Vicross.

That’s why my steps felt light. No, my steps felt light thinking about the Mana Stone.

Just as when I discovered the Tower Master’s Chamber, my heart raced with each step closer to my leisurely life.

-Weak human, you look incredibly excited!

Raon’s observation was accurate. I was excited. I confirmed my party’s positions and headed toward the highest point on this coastline. Climbing the gentle slope of the hill, I reached the summit.

This place where everything had burned away.

-Huh?

At Raon’s reaction, the corners of my mouth lifted.

In “The Birth of a Hero,” the Mana Stone is discovered by chance. Originally, this area was covered with tall trees, making it impossible to see what lay beneath the soil. But after everything burned away, only black ash remained, and when the ash and earth washed down in the rain, this spot was accidentally revealed.

“It should be around here.”

-Human! There’s something five steps to your left!

Following my excellent navigator’s directions, I took five steps to the left. The Black Dragon was invaluable. The being with the highest mana sensitivity—a Dragon.

I crouched down where the Dragon indicated. Then, from my magical pouch, I retrieved the hoe I had used when obtaining the ancient power “Wind’s Sound,” and held it in my hands.

Thunk. Thunk. The hoe struck the black ash and soil. After the rain, ash had mixed into the earth, making the ground muddy and soft. Yet Kale treated it as though nothing could be more precious, digging with meticulous care.

And finally.

“Ahhh—”

An exclamation of wonder spilled unbidden from his lips.

An ordinary yet enormous iron chest. But that rusted box gleamed with an ethereal beauty. I worked tirelessly to excavate around it.

-Human, why are you working so hard? I’ve never seen you like this!

Dismissing Raon’s words lightly, I maneuvered the hoe to expose the chest’s entrance. Given its enormous size, I needed to move as quickly as possible to finish before sunset. My heart raced with anticipation.

-You could just ask me to clear it.

I paused for a moment.

-I’ll do it!

With a soft whisper, black mana flowed through the air, sweeping away the soil and ash in an instant. I realized how excited I had become. Taking a deep breath, I pointed at the lock.
Kale Heniatus realized he was far too excited. He took a deep breath and pointed at the lock.

“Smash it.”

Got it, human.

Still breathing deeply, I slowly grasped the chest’s lid. Superior-grade mana stones. Beyond their monetary value, they were precious materials for building a comfortable and sturdy sanctuary, and equally sturdy means of transportation. Materials I would use for a lifetime.
Kale Heniatus was still taking deep breaths as he slowly grasped the lid of the box. Top-grade mana stones. Beyond the money itself, they were precious materials for a comfortable and sturdy sweet home and equally sturdy means of transportation. Materials he could use for a lifetime.

The lid slowly opened.

Ugh, sweet.

“Hmm.”

Kale Heniatus swallowed his saliva. He did it because he liked it so much.

Brilliant, luminous colors revealed themselves before my eyes. Stone that remained unchanged even after hundreds of years. It was a horse-racing stone. The colors that displayed its highest quality were vivid and truly beautiful.

The corners of Kale’s mouth twitched upward in a smile.

“Oh! Excellent treasure! Human, more treasure!”

Raon dispelled his invisibility and descended beside Kale. Rising onto his toes, he peered into the box. Confirming that no one was around, Kale picked up one of the magical stones.

These chunks of wealth.

The magical stones used in magical devices produced in the Wipper Kingdom were typically low-grade, or at best mid-grade. Considering that, one could judge the value of these supreme-grade stones. The Royal Family used high-grade magical stones.
The Royal Family would have used high-grade magic stones at least.

Perhaps as the war intensifies, the value of this magic stone will only grow. There were endless places to sell it. Crown Prince Albert in particular would make a good buyer.

“Human.”

Raon lifted his head from the box and looked up at Kale Heniatus. His wings were fluttering.

“I want one too!”

Kale Heniatus hesitated for a moment, but soon decided to be generous. He stroked Raon’s head and pointed to a box of top-grade mana stones that contained hundreds of them.

“Really? Human, thank you! You’re so kind!”
“Really? Human, thank you! You’re truly kind!”

Even if she gave him just one, Kale was pleased that his four-year-old loved it so much.

“Got it! The seed and the magical stone are both mine!”
“Yes, yes.”
“Yeah, yeah.”

After confirming that Kale Heniatus was becoming more accustomed to it, handling the aftermath increasingly like Dragon and cleanly, he gazed at the sunset for a long while before heading back down to the Coastline.
“The peak there has a good view. Could I obtain a small plot of land there?”

“I could see the peak over there clearly. Do you think I could get a small plot of land up there?”
Bin, Queen Ritana’s subordinate, marveled at the size of the land Kale indicated. It was a modest plot, just large enough to build a small villa.

Bin, a subordinate of Queen Ritana, marveled at the size of the land that Kale Heniatus was filling in. It was a modest plot of land, just enough for a small Villa to be built.
Kale Heniatus gathered his share of documents and spoke.

“I think we can stay here until the rest of the group arrives.”

Bin, Vicross, and Rak unpacked the supplies they had brought at Kale’s command and set up tents. Kale intended to wait for the rest of the group here.

A week later, the entire group had assembled. Kale, who had been leaning back in a chair beneath the shade in front of the tent, cracked open his eyes at the sight of them.

“Shall we head back?”

Despite thinking that response was typical of him, Hans, the vice-butler, couldn’t help but speak up. Heading back. That word could only mean one thing: the Heniatus Territory.

“Are we returning to the Wipper Kingdom?”
“Then why did you tell us to come here?”
“Then where are we returning to?”

It wasn’t just Hans. Everyone expressed their confusion at Kale’s appearance, which seemed to border on indolence. Yet there was one person who remained composed—Bin, the queen’s subordinate who had stayed behind to see Kale off until the very end.

Kale rose from his chair. He lifted his hand and pointed toward one direction. As the group followed his gaze, the sea came into view.

“Ah! Could it be?”

Rosalind let out an exclamation, then looked at Kale with an expression of “Is it possible?” Kale met the gazes of Rosalind and the others as he answered.

“We’re at the coastline.”

In that moment.

Whoooooo—

A horn’s call echoed from far out at sea. A ship was approaching the location where the group stood. It was a familiar vessel—the very ship they had arrived on.

“Are you departing now?”
“Yes. Thank you for everything.”

Kale and Bin, the queen’s subordinate, exchanged words with ease. He walked past the group, who were watching the ship, and made his way toward the coastline.

“Young Master!”

From the bow of the rapidly approaching ship, Bilos waved his hand with an expression of barely contained joy after such a long time. At his excessive enthusiasm, Kale chuckled softly and held up a magic pouch, shaking it.

Bilos approached the coastline in a small boat the moment the ship came to a stop near the shore.

“Here you go.”
“Haha! Thank you so much!”

Bilos grinned widely as he received the second magical pouch containing the magical device. Kale turned to face his companions and spoke.

“Let’s go.”

In that moment, a fierce voice echoed.

-Human, is this my revenge now?

It was Raon. Kale nodded. As he climbed aboard the ship, he closed and opened his eyes slightly against the cool sea breeze, unlike the scorching summer sun.
The sea breeze felt wonderful.
Kale set his course once more toward the Heniatus Territory, his homeland.

* * *

“Welcome home.”

Count Derth greeted the returning Kale warmly. Kale, who had returned quietly without much fanfare, first arrived at the lord’s office where he encountered his father, Count Derth.

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve returned safely.”
“Good. You don’t appear to be seriously injured.”

Derth was grateful and delighted that his son had sought him out first. However, his expression soon turned peculiar. His gaze shifted to the lower left of Kale.

“Hmm, who is this person?”
“An acquaintance.”

Kale spoke bluntly, and in that moment, a loud voice resonated throughout the lord’s office.

“Greetings!”

Mueller, whose cheeks had filled out from eating well, shouted as if seized by convulsion.

“I am Mueller Horn, the successor of the Horn Family, a household with over two hundred years of tradition specializing in design and craftsmanship! I will diligently accomplish whatever you command!”

It was a fierce cry that howled with urgency. Confusion flickered across Derth’s expression.
Design? Construction?
Unable to comprehend, he turned his gaze toward his son. At that moment, Kale called out to him.

“My Lord.”

Kale addressed Derth neither as father nor as Count, but as My Lord. The shift in his tone caused Derth’s expression to grow serious. As a lord, Derth now faced his son.

“I heard you are renovating the castle. There must be a reason for this?”

Derth had been repairing the City Wall since around the time Kale first departed for the Capital. Now, the reason spilled from his son’s lips.

“An age of war will soon unfold, is it not? You foresee this as well, do you not, My Lord?”

Kale could see the depths of his father’s eyes growing darker. Kale stepped Mueller forward.

“This man is a descendant of a Magic Tower architect’s lineage.”

Kale could see Derth pause. Castle renovation, Magic Tower. Derth would understand immediately.

“Father.”

His son Kale spoke to his father Derth.

“Let us attempt this.”

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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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