Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 91

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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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The massive whales that had been crossing the sea beyond the horizon vanished. In their place, a single human appeared before Kale.

“Young Master, it has been a while.”
“Paseton, good to see you.”

Paseton, the Hybrid Whale-man. Only a small humpback whale had taken human form to appear before Kale’s group. The sky above the cliff had already turned to night, and only Raon, Choi Han, and Rosalind stood with Kale.

“Why did you summon me so suddenly?”

Paseton’s gaze fixed on the conch shell held in Kale’s hand. Even in the midst of their battle with the Mermaid Tribe, he could not help but answer this call.

The signal Kale had sent was an ’emergency’ signal—a sound only the Whale Tribe’s humanoids could hear.

“Do you already require our strength?”

One of the agreements between Kale and the Whale Tribe. Kale could command the power of the Whale Tribe.
Kale got straight to the point in response to Paseton’s question.

“I have learned the identities of those aiding the Mermaid Tribe.”
“…What?”

Paseton’s expression hardened at words he had not anticipated.
The Whale Tribe was already troubled by the mysterious humans supporting the Mermaid Tribe while occupying Hice Island 5. They were not exceptionally powerful, but their presence as allies was irritating.

“One of my subordinates was gravely injured while investigating this. They have been poisoned by mermaid venom, so treatment is urgent. I thought it best to share what information they gathered.”

Yet Paseton’s first instinct was to question something about Kale’s words.

“How did you come to know of this, Young Master?”

Kale’s mouth closed for a moment. Rarely, an awkward smile crossed his lips.

“I was simply concerned.”

Raon spoke directly into Kale’s mind even as he remained visible.

-There he goes again.

But Kale Heniatus dismissed it lightly, his expression taking on that characteristic hint of irritation.

“In any case, the mermaids grew stronger through the Dark Forest near our territory, didn’t they? The Whale Tribe is so formidable they’ll handle it well, but I wanted to do something myself.”

Paseton thought that irritated expression looked more like embarrassment. It was the same face he’d worn when I removed the mermaid poison from his legs.
Countless emotions flickered across the handsome man’s eyes. Even beneath the night sky, those beautiful eyes were clearly visible.
Kale turned his head away.

“I see.”
“It’s not as though we’re complete strangers, after all.”

He gave a vague response to Paseton’s words before his gaze met that of his companions.

Rosalind and Choi Han.
Both of them stared intently at Kale. Their eyes were speaking volumes.

‘Isn’t that rather inconsistent with the facts?’

Then Paseton’s voice reached them.

“Young Master, thank you. You saved my life last time as well.”

Still, Kale did not look at Paseton. Instead, Rosalind and Choi Han’s eyes posed a silent question.

‘When did you save this one?’

Kale ignored that gaze. And naturally, neither Rosalind nor Choi Han voiced their question aloud. Rather, Rosalind opened her mouth to speak of something else.

“Young Master Kale came here immediately upon learning the information. You said that while treating the mermaid poison was urgent, you had to inform the Whale Tribe right away.”

Kale conveyed his gratitude through his eyes. This was the first time anyone had helped him when he did such things. Choi Han stepped back with his lips firmly sealed.

“I see. To treat someone poisoned by mermaid venom, you would need to bring a mermaid corpse.”
“I’ll go myself.”
“Pardon?”

Kale looked at Paseton once more.

“We’ll go too.”

There was something I needed to do.
Of course, the words I spoke masked my true intentions.

“My power is too meager to participate in direct combat. But I still wish to help in whatever way I can.”

Help, then strike and withdraw.
That much would suffice.

Paseton’s pupils flickered.

The Whale Tribe was already engaged in a grueling battle against the Mermaid Tribe. Of course, having foreknowledge of the poison and dead mana, they had prepared defenses and held the advantage.
But the Mermaid Tribe numbered considerably, and the Whale Tribe, burdened with protecting weaker sea creatures, faced countless obstacles.

Overwhelming power was what they truly needed.

‘The young master claimed his power was meager.’

Paseton’s gaze drifted slightly toward the Black Dragon.
Whether above the water’s surface, on the island, or beneath the waves.

“Little whale, what are you staring at?”

The cute and diminutive dragon snorted and assumed what it considered a dignified posture. Paseton witnessed the dragon’s power—that overwhelming, awe-inspiring force.

“It is nothing, Dragon.”
“Hmph, I’m coming too.”

At Paseton’s respectful demeanor, Raon snorted and turned away. Simultaneously, he spoke directly into Kale’s mind.

-Does this work, human? Was I magnificent?

Kale gave Raon a subtle nod. For a dragon, he had performed admirably. Regardless of whether the dragon felt satisfied, Kale addressed Paseton.

“I’ll brief you on the details as we move. How soon can you depart?”

Paseton answered without hesitation.

“Immediately.”
“Good.”

Late into the night, Kale Heniatus prepared for departure with utmost discretion.
Naturally, this preparation was not happening at the coastline. Both the Ubar Territory’s soldiers and the Royal Court’s forces were currently patrolling the coastline and the village.

Kale Heniatus stood on the outermost of countless small islands positioned before the coastline. He had already relocated his entire group here during the day.

“Oh.”
“Wow.”

Paseton watched those expressing their amazement with bewilderment. He had anticipated On and Hong, but there were far more people than expected. And he sensed the aura of formidable warriors emanating from them.

Paseton wondered if he, being among the weaker of the Whale Tribe, had been mistaken, but the reactions of the two Orcas who accompanied him suggested otherwise.

“Archie, it’s been a while.”

At Kale Heniatus’s greeting, Archie—an Orca and bodyguard to the Whale King Siceller—bowed stiffly, his expression awkward. Then he deliberately averted his gaze from Kale Heniatus.
The intensity in Kale Heniatus’s eyes and the piercing gaze of the Black Dragon behind him made him deeply uncomfortable.
Then Raon spoke.

“Are we riding on this Orca?”
“Probably.”

Archie’s face contorted. Had he heard correctly just now?
Riding?
Archie looked toward Paseton. At his gaze, Paseton stared into empty space as he answered.

“Well, ahem, large ships would certainly draw attention, so the group will first travel on the smallest medium-sized vessel possible to distance themselves from the coastline, and since there appear to be patients among you, the ship’s quarters are cramped, so Kale and the Dragon—”
“I’m Raon now!”
“Yes. Raon, and several others will follow behind using flight magic, and, ahem, you’ll carry them on your backs.”

A sigh escaped Archie’s lips.
Then Raon spoke again.

“But Orcas are smaller than humpback whales. If it’s cramped, that won’t work.”

Though Orcas were smaller than humpback whales, they still measured seven to ten meters. Archie’s face twisted further, while the expression of the combat operative beside him grew increasingly bewildered.

“Archie, I’m counting on you.”

Tap, tap. Kale Heniatus patted my shoulder and let out a chuckle. Why did that sound like mockery?
At that moment, Paseton’s voice reached Archie’s ears.

“Ah, by the way, it seems the two of you will need to tow a medium-sized vessel as well. Since it’s a ship with magical propulsion, you can simply tie it along as a guide. We didn’t deliberately board any crew members.”
“…Why am I doing such trivial work!”
“But the Whale King ordered us to do everything.”

Archie clamped his mouth shut at Paseton’s words. These days, with the conflict against the Mermaid Tribe, the Whale King had become extremely sharp-tempered. One wrong move and he might get beaten to death.

“Damn it!”

Archie cursed at the sky.
Kale patted his back.

“I’ll ride on your back. So please ensure a safe journey.”

The Orca Archie had become an aquatic taxi.

* * *

Splash, splash— splash—

Listening to the sound of water being cleaved, Kale admired the Night Sea. The Orca’s back was comfortable.

Tap, tap. Raon struck the Orca’s back. On and Hong, afraid of water, clung to the innermost part of the ship, next to Ron. Though the water frightened them, On and Hong were actually more concerned about Ron than Kale was.

“Human, the whale’s back is slippery.”
“That’s how it is.”
“I see.”

With a vacant expression, Raon also lay down on the whale’s back beside me. Archie, living up to the reputation of being the strongest among Orcas, was larger than an ordinary Orca.
At roughly twelve meters in length, it felt like an entire building was moving.

Kale gazed at the whale beside us. Another Orca approaching at the same speed. Between Archie and that Orca, a medium-sized vessel was being transported, bound by mana rope. Of course, Paseton had taken the lead as the guide.

‘A high-speed taxi indeed.’

It was incredibly fast. Kale looked over at the other Orca’s back.
Rosalind and Choi Han sat with peculiar expressions, and Hilsman, who suffered from severe seasickness, sat with a troubled face, his mouth clamped shut. Turning his gaze away from them, who were sitting quite uncomfortably, Kale admired the night sky above the sea and the shimmering stars.

And I thought to myself.

‘Destroying one island or so should be fine, right?’

Savoring the peaceful atmosphere, Kale Heniatus arrived at Hice Island 1.
Hice Island 12 was close to the Dark’s base on Hice Island 5, so there was a risk of whales being spotted. For now, the plan was to disembark at Hice Island 1 and then move to Island 12.

“I will bring my sister.”

Paseton spoke with a stern expression, saying he would bring his sister Witira to Kale.
During the journey, Kale informed them that those helping the Mermaid Tribe were quite a large organization and bold enough to have orchestrated the Capital terror attack on the Roan Kingdom.

“Yes. Go quickly and come back.”
“Understood. Hice Island 1 is within our sea territory, so the Mermaids won’t come here.”
“Right.”

Paseton bowed and immediately departed from the island. Archie and his subordinates followed without a backward glance.

“Young Master, shall we set up the tent?”
“Yes. After setting up the tent, move Ron.”
“Understood.”

Mess, the Wolf Tribe member, answered respectfully and immediately went near Rak and Hilsman. Rak, the Wolf King’s successor, was patting the back of the vomiting Hilsman.

Soon, under the leadership of Rosalind and Mess, the group set up several tents on the coastline of Hice Island 1. Naturally, Kale did not participate in the work and was merely observing.

Standing before them was the rarely seen Choi Han. Kale had called him over separately.

“Choi Han.”
“Yes.”
“Even if I’m underhanded, I believe being underhanded is better than any of us getting hurt.”

Kale’s goal was to slip away quietly without getting caught in the crossfire between whales and mermaids.

“But there’s one thing I must do in this matter.”

Before the Whale Tribe arrived, Kale had something to tell Choi Han.

“The Mage from the Capital terror attack. You remember him, right?”

Choi Han’s expression hardened. Redica, the Mage obsessed with blood—the man whose arm Choi Han had severed.
Kale Heniatus whispered low.

“He’s the only human who has ever seen Ron’s face. There are two things I consider most important in this matter.”

Choi Han and Kale Heniatus’s gazes collided.

“One is curing Ron of the Mermaid Tribe’s poison, and the other is ensuring that neither Ron nor any of us face danger going forward. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Choi Han answered without hesitation.

“I will destroy that Mage’s remaining eye, or kill him.”

He added,

“Vicross will rage, but it would be better if I handle it. His rational judgment is clouded right now.”

Choi Han understood clearly what he had to do. Because I let that Mage slip away, Ron ended up like this. Now, killing a man was something I could do without any fear.
It wasn’t painless, but especially with trash like that—it was better to kill them, not spare them.

“No, there’s no need to go so far as to kill him. I’d rather not soil our hands directly.”
“It wouldn’t be much trouble.”

Kale Heniatus understood as well.
Choi Han was virtuous, but his vigilance against taking lives was faint.
But Kale himself preferred not to stain his own hands with blood as much as possible. He was a coward in that regard.

“Choi Han, my plan is—”

That was the moment.

Splash—

A tremendous sound of water being cleaved reached their ears.
Kale Heniatus closed his mouth for a moment. The stench of blood pierced his nose in an instant.
He turned his head toward the Coastline.

“My.”

So there actually was someone who fought using such a crude method.
Well, not someone—a whale.

A colossal humpback whale.
Witira, the Whale King’s successor.
She surfaced above the water covered in blood, having apparently clashed with the Mermaid Tribe while scattering her own crimson essence.

“Prince Kale Heniatus, it’s been a while.”

Yet her voice emerged with perfect composure.
At that moment, Raon’s voice echoed through Kale Heniatus’s mind.

-I am too great to resort to such bloodshed! Especially not you!

Raon insisted vehemently.

-Human, give me the mana stones quickly! I’ll create dozens of magical bombs just as you said!

Those precious crystallized concentrations of mana—possessing such devastating destructive power. Hundreds of the finest-grade mana stones.
The Black Dragon and Rosalind.

“Choi Han.”

Kale Heniatus walked toward the coastline where Witira waited, speaking in a tone only Choi Han could hear. Only a select few had separate roles to play.

“You’re good at concealment, aren’t you?”

The operation’s codename was Reflection.
Returning what was given—there was no method more infuriating or psychologically devastating than that.

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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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