Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 367: Strongest Under the Heavens (5)
<Strongest Under the Heavens (5)>
Cale rose promptly, fitting his role as the attendant perfectly.
"Aigoo, our esteemed-”
‘Our esteemed highness and Miss Rosalyn-!’
Yet, he couldn't complete his words.
–Human, the crown prince and Rosalyn appear as if they're from the Beggars' Gang.
‘Exactly, right?What’s with that beggar appearance?’
Alberu and Rosalyn approached, covered in grime to the point that even Beggars' Gang members would address them as hyung-nim and noonim.
"I’m starving."
"I’m starving."
Instead of greetings, those were the first words they uttered upon meeting…
"Mm."
Cale's expression grew disturbed.
"By the way, that look doesn't fit you one bit."
The crown prince remarked while eyeing Cale's blonde locks and blue gaze…
"Mm."
Cale's face twisted further, his scowl deepening.
Though different in features, their shared blonde hair and blue eyes gave them a sibling-like resemblance.
"Well, in any case, please have a seat."
As Cale spoke with his disturbed expression lingering…
"Ugh!"
A groan escaped Cale's lips.
Baaaaaang-!
An abrupt blast echoed.
‘Eek!’
Cale found himself shoved onto the table.
The one who had forced him down—
‘…Choi Han!’
It turned out to be Choi Han.
In an attempt to shield Cale's back, Choi Han had leaped up but collided with him, pressing Cale against the table.
‘What in the world? What's happening?’
Cale longed to witness the chaos, yet…
–Human! A knife nearly struck your back!
Upon hearing Raon's remark…
‘Better to stay put here.’
He chose to remain flattened on the table.
Bang! Baaaaang!
Multiple impacts resounded.
Crack! Crack!
The ceiling splintered above as well.
What exactly was unfolding?
–Human, just remain there and allow Choi Han to guard you.
For once, Cale gladly heeded Raon's suggestion.
"Ugh!"
The instant a groan reached his ears…
"Ugh!"
"Ugh!"
Two additional groans followed.
‘Multiple assassins were involved?’
Cale's eyes widened in shock.
Why hadn't anyone mentioned there were several?
A touch of fear gripped Cale.
In truth, that wasn't the extent of it.
"Hiccup!"
"Gasp."
"Mmph!"
On the second floor, patrons at tables beyond Cale's party, the Sword Ghost, and the Knight of Abundance—all gasped or huddled in fear.
Shhhhhh-!
A dagger sliced through the air toward one of them.
"!"
The blade moved with such speed that the target couldn't even cry out.
Tang!
The dagger's path was swiftly deflected.
"……!"
The martial artist's gaze shifted to the figure blocking his front.
The blonde knight had effortlessly swung his spear to parry the dagger.
"T, thank-"
The man struggled to form words, but the dashing knight offered an elegant smile, as if radiating light.
"It was nothing."
Naturally, his beggar-like state somewhat diminished the effect.
"Ugh."
"… Ugh!"
All five assassins tumbled across the restaurant's floor.
"……"
The Sword Ghost observed the quintet before his eyes drifted elsewhere.
"……"
Kim Hae-Yi.
The Heavenly Demon remained seated.
Yet, five chopsticks from a nearby holder had vanished.
‘Right when Kim Hae-Yi’s attendant rose to greet the incoming pair…Daggers launched from every direction on the second floor.’
Blades originated from the ceiling, floor, windows—everywhere imaginable.
‘The guard and spear wielder intercepted them all.’
They deflected every single dagger with ease.
—!
No noise accompanied the action—not even a whisper of wind.
Only someone of the Sword Ghost's caliber could catch the afterimages.
‘Indeed, afterimages.’
Even the Sword Ghost couldn't track them fully.
Faint trails appeared with each flick of Kim Hae-Yi's hand, followed by impacts into the assassins’ forms.
He discovered they were chopsticks only after the ordeal concluded.
‘Targeted at vital points.’
Each chopstick pierced precise pressure points.
‘…He manages daggers of this caliber?’
Chills ran through the Sword Ghost.
Kim Hae-Yi.
This individual…
No, who exactly was he?
Initially, he suspected a hidden elder from one of the five great sects.
His youth might conceal a far older true age.
‘No. Definitely not.’
The five major powers…
This surpassed them entirely.
‘Perhaps the covert heir to the Lan Kingdom?No.Impossible.’
From the Sword Ghost's knowledge, Queen Tamahi lacked such strength presently.
‘Who are you?Kim Hae-Yi, who exactly are you?’
The Sword Ghost yearned to inquire but held back.
"……"
They were in the southern lands.
In the Lan Kingdom, rash actions could lead to death in combat without surprise.
Though it was a game world, the Sword Ghost approached it as real.
Clunk.
Suddenly, someone rose.
"!"
The Sword Ghost's brows twitched upward slightly.
‘The Knight of Abundance.’
She stood abruptly.
"Mm."
The Sword Ghost grasped the cause immediately.
The Knight of Abundance.
In this realm where foreigners struggled to rank in sacred orders, she had ascended to 12th place as a top Holy Knight.
Her motivation was clear.
"You dare-"
The Knight of Abundance.
Her eyes began to roll back.
‘Eek!’
Cale, slightly hunched as he glanced toward the Knight of Abundance, felt a jolt of surprise.
‘Her eyes!’
–Human, her eyes have totally rolled over!
Just as Raon described.
More precisely, they transformed.
The whites and golden irises gradually shifted, causing the eyes to gleam with gold.
"You dare draw blades and spill blood during this sacred mealtime-"
Plop.
The young woman dropped to one knee and gathered the scattered plates from the disturbance.
She collected the food, restored it to the plates, set them down, and made a gesture—likely to pray in line with the Church of Abundance's rites…
"……"
"……"
A peculiar atmosphere spread.
The assassins, somewhat composed now, glanced at one another while suppressing their agony.
"A meal represents the sacred gathering of Abundance's bounties."
Other diners also looked about cautiously.
"Those who disrupt this holy moment are ignorant of Abundance's value. Grant them mercy."
The innkeeper and owner, who had rushed upstairs in alarm, stood speechless, unsure how to react.
Such was the sanctity emanating from the Knight of Abundance's demeanor.
As even Kim Hae-Yi observed her silently…
‘The moment has arrived.’
One assassin attempted a sly getaway.
At that instant…
The Knight of Abundance spoke.
A radiant smile lit her face.
She had just finished her prayer.
A meal is the sacred gathering of Abundance's fruits. Those who disturb this holy time are ignorant of Abundance's preciousness. Show them pity.
Her smile persisted as she continued.
"Oh Abundance. I thank you for this chance to deliver punishment."
‘Mm!’
Cale's eyes flew wide.
–Human, as anticipated, she's insane!
Raon and Cale shared the sentiment…
Clang.
The Knight of Abundance drew her sword in a flash and slashed.
It happened then.
"Block it."
The Heavenly Demon instructed.
Clang!
Her blade was halted.
"……"
Her smile faded as her gaze fixed on the stoic Choi Han standing before her.
‘Impressive technique.’
The Sword Ghost marveled inwardly.
That straightforward action…
The guard knight's sword revealed profound martial insight.
‘Yet blocking that madwoman would prove tough.’
The Knight of Abundance.
Known also as the abundance lunatic.
Labelled a frenzied devotee for lack of a harsher phrase.
"……"
She turned her eyes to the Heavenly Demon, who sat relaxed behind Choi Han.
As he reclined in his chair with a casual grin…
His calm yet weighty tone emerged.
"Those are mine now."
He referred to the assassins.
"You lack the right to eliminate them."
"Mm."
Cale jerked and hastily straightened up.
‘He's furious.’
The Heavenly Demon's anger was evident.
–Human, I sense the Heavenly Demon's ire. What's the cause?
Raon remained puzzled, but Cale discerned it.
The Knight of Abundance responded.
"I’m aware the assassins target you, sir. Yet this stems not from my desire but from the great God of Abundance's intent. So, refrain from interfering."
Her words rang with conviction.
"It’s a divine will."
‘Aigoo.’
Cale squeezed his eyes shut before glancing back at the Heavenly Demon.
‘His anger has intensified.’
The cause was obvious.
The Heavenly Demon shook his head.
His silky hair swayed, but his voice lacked its usual smoothness.
"That won’t work."
The Heavenly Demon seethed quietly.
"I’ve already stated."
As the Demon Cult's living deity…
"Those are mine now."
His stare locked onto the Knight of Abundance.
The instant their eyes met…
‘!’
A shiver coursed through her.
It felt like her whole being teetered on a precipice.
As though—
‘Yes.’
A divine admonition reached her.
The assassin dared not stir.
The blonde spearman and guard knight overlooked them.
The Knight of Abundance spoke.
"The will of a god—"
Is unbreakable.
She aimed to declare that, but…
Another voice interjected simultaneously.
"Aigoo, our dear young master-nim~"
A figure stepped between them, breaking their stare.
‘!’
The Knight of Abundance's eyes misted once more.
It was the blonde attendant.
He hurried forward and spoke in a lighthearted manner that clashed with his features.
"Of course, of course. These scoundrels attempted to murder us. Naturally, we should handle them ourselves."
Cale faced away from the Knight of Abundance, his tone amiable.
However, he scowled at the Heavenly Demon.
‘Let’s proceed calmly, alright?’
The Heavenly Demon caught Cale's intent in his look and chuckled, averting his gaze.
Cale pivoted swiftly and neared the Knight of Abundance.
"If executing the god's will isn't your personal duty, we'll fulfill it on your behalf, Miss Knight.Shouldn’t we at least uncover who sent these killers after us?"
Cale beamed warmly and surveyed the room.
All present appeared to concur.
His statement rang true.
Moreover, further violence here would curse the diners partaking in today's meal, wouldn't it?
The innkeeper and owner nodded vigorously.
"We shall faithfully enact the God of Abundance's will."
"……"
No response came from her.
She wouldn't earn the title of crazed believer if she relented easily.
‘Impossible.’
The Sword Ghost shook his head.
This attendant couldn't halt the Knight of Abundance.
He glanced about.
Beyond ordinary folk, many observers had gathered to watch these figures.
The zealot knew this too, so she wouldn't concede.
"Miss Knight. If you doubt us, we'll surrender them to you afterward. Would you kindly delay enacting the God of Abundance's will until then?"
Cale sensed this was the Heavenly Demon's limit.
Yet, most onlookers expected the Knight of Abundance to refuse.
Had such conflicts never arisen before?
She never compromised.
"You-"
She began to speak then.
"Who are you?"
A strange hush fell.
‘Hmm?’
The Sword Ghost's focus shifted from the Knight of Abundance to the attendant.
The attendant?
This fellow didn't seem straightforward either, though…
"I serve as my young master-nim's attendant."
Cale flashed a bright smile.
Internally, though, he felt uneasy.
‘Has she detected that I'm the Third Evil and Seventh Evil?’
Cale felt wary around the Knight of Abundance due to her sacred aura as a ranker.
Discovery of his malevolent affinities now would prove troublesome.
"There's a fragrance emanating from you-"
As the Knight of Abundance continued…A transmission entered her thoughts.
–Cease.
A icy voice addressed her.
It pierced like a blade.
The voice echoed in her ears too.
"Deal with them."
The Heavenly Demon commanded Choi Han, who wordlessly rendered all five assassins unconscious.
One by one.
The Knight of Abundance regarded him before uttering.
"We'll comply with your request."
Her direct gaze fell on Cale.
‘Mm.What's with her?’
An inexplicable discomfort stirred in Cale.
‘Were we exposed?Will she seek to eliminate me?’
As anxiety mounted…
The Knight of Abundance rose quietly and returned to her place.
She resumed her meal.
Her demeanor appeared deeply pious.
Yet, before taking a spoonful, she glanced beyond the stunned crowd toward Cale's group—specifically at Cale—and declared.
"The earth marks the origin of all. The tree sprouting from earth bears the fruit. All embodies Abundance's will."
She then ate with profound reverence.
–Cale, Cale! Were we discovered?
The Super Rock queried in alarm.
–I am the tree.
The glutton priestess remarked casually in her languid tone.
–Precisely. She seems to have identified me and the glutton. But how?
With the Super Rock astonished and the glutton subdued…
Cale felt relief.
‘That’s all? I feared she'd uncovered me as the secret boss.’
Unbeknownst to him, the Knight of Abundance had trailed him here.
The untainted aroma of soil.
The invigorating essence of timber.
The pristine gaze of the bearer of both scents.
She had pursued Cale, entranced.
‘Who is he?’
Soil and trees.
Indispensable to the Church of Abundance.
‘Not merely an Elementalist.’
Far simpler than that.
‘Something more primal—’
More instinctive.
More primordial—
Flinch.
"……"
She paused her meal briefly.
Then, enlightenment struck.
‘… Nature.’
Indeed. She sensed nature's essence from him.
The world's purest, most exquisite fragrance.
The Knight of Abundance. She continued eating as though undisturbed, but her solemnity deepened.
As the Knight of Abundance nearly glanced at Cale again, she flinched.
"……"
"……"
The Heavenly Demon fixed his stare on her.
‘Halt.’
She remembered his prior caution.
The Knight of Abundance averted her eyes and resumed dining.
These individuals…
She resolved to investigate them further.
It felt like the God of Abundance urged her onward.
Meanwhile…
After Choi Han mentioned heading off with Alberu to handle the assassins and return, the Heavenly Demon directed Cale to sit.
‘Why?’
As Cale's frowning look turned toward the Heavenly Demon…
Two voices reached him.
–Human! The one akin to Grandpa Ron hasn't budged!
–Those assassins serve as decoys.
Raon. And the Heavenly Demon.
‘What?’
Cale was startled yet comprehended.
‘It figures. Raon noted the man's similarity to Ron.’
He wouldn't liken an assassin to Ron lightly.
Only for one of Ron's caliber.
–I deliberately spared that rogue.
In that instant.
A figure emerged at the second-floor window.
"Meeow!"
It was Hong.
To others, merely a cat, but Hong appeared when he and On were meant to be on the roof—On watching over Eden Miru.
Smile.
Cale pieced it together.
"You lot discovered it too?"
"Meeeeeow."