Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 381: I'm sure it was not enough (6)
Previously on Trash of the Count's Family...
<I'm sure it was not enough (6)>
The Lan Kingdom stood as the third powerhouse alongside the Eastern and Western Empires.
Renowned as the territory of martial experts, this realm featured a uniquely sacred spot known as the Holy Land inside the royal palace.
The Holy Land of the Lan Kingdom.
Access was restricted to the sovereign and their kin alone, while others required the ruler's explicit approval to step inside.
Queen Tamahi currently reigned.
Her spouse was Prince Consort Hin Pao.
Cale glanced toward the semi-transparent window.
[Skill: Fear of Chaos (Deactivated)]
[*Visit the Holy Land of the God of Chaos to lift the deactivated state. – See more-]
Sub quest 1. [Steal the power of chaos]
‘Sir Hin Pao showed up in Serisa’s recollections.’
Officially, Serisa served as a bishop in the Church of the Sun God…
Yet she secretly worshipped the God of Chaos.
Cale had encountered her at the Western Empire’s capital academy, gleaning a clue about the Holy Land from her memories.
‘Sir Hin Pao possesses a map leading to the Holy Land.’
Serisa had gotten her directives from the Holy Land, guided there personally by Sir Hin Pao.
Shaaaaaaaaaaa-
The sound of rushing water reached his ears.
Cale lifted his gaze and scanned the surroundings.
“This has to be that lake.”
Right in the heart of the Lan Kingdom.
A vast lake dominated the area, featuring a tiny island smack in the middle.
The Queen and her immediate family dwelled on this secluded island.
“How impressive.”
Alberu gazed at the lake, visibly intrigued.
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-
Despite being a lake, currents flowed ceaselessly.
This body of water spanned the size of several arena stages combined.
Shaaaaaaaaaaa-
The lake’s surface churned restlessly.
Countless streams collided and intertwined in chaotic patterns.
Cale observed the spectacle and quipped playfully.
"You’d probably perish if you tumbled in?"
Queen Tamahi responded with serene certainty.
“Yes sir. You would die.”
“Mm.”
Cale jolted slightly.
Tamahi paid it no mind and advanced toward the lake confidently.
“The Silent Lake.”
Thus was the Holy Land named.
“Currents surge freely and tirelessly beneath the hidden surface.”
“At times, they clash fiercely against one another.”
“At others, they merge in unity. Yet…”
“The water never truly unites, nor does it cease.”
She recited descriptions of the Silent Lake effortlessly.
“It resembles the ocean.”
Its surface mirrored the sea’s vastness.
“It can turn into a quagmire.”
Those caught in its grasp would sense themselves sinking into a bog.
“Anyone plunging here meets eternal silence amid the perpetual watery strife.”
Silence.
Alberu murmured the term before adding.
“Silence equates to death.”
"That is correct.”
An island lay at the lake’s core, yet no vessels approached it.
Queen Tamahi eyed the distant guards, then Alberu, Cale, and her sole attendant Cha Run, before wading into the lake.
"Yet a route exists to evade doom.”
Splash.
As her shoe met the water’s surface…
Shaaaaaaaaaaa-
Amid the watery roar…
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Droplets echoed clearly.
– Hoo.
Cale heard the Sky Eating Water inhale sharply and glanced skyward.
Droplets materialized abruptly in the sky.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
They aligned perfectly in a straight line.
Then they descended onto the lake.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
A pathway formed ahead of Tamahi.
Without conflict or fusion…
The serene droplets forged a hushed trail.
Spacious enough for two abreast.
“Please follow this path.”
Tamahi gestured, and Cha Run, Alberu, and Cale trailed in sequence.
Splash.
Cale set foot on the lake’s solitary tranquil spot amid the constant din.
‘Mm.’
An unusual feeling washed over Cale then.
[You have entered a sealed zone.]
The status window helpfully notified him.
[Within this zone (excluding The Silent Lake and island), neither magic nor aura functions.]
[Entry permitted solely for the authorized.]
Ah.
This explained her remark about barring magical flight over the lake.
Squish, squish.
It resembled treading a damp earthen trail.
Cale inhaled the crisp air as he proceeded.
‘Hmm?’
He startled upon spotting crown prince Alberu ahead.
‘What’s happening?’
The sword at Alberu’s waist…
Sheathed, the Sun Sword—a divine artifact wielded solely by the chosen hero—gleamed faintly.
Sparkle.
Rather, it seemed to devour light.
Ambient illumination oddly converged toward the blade.
“Oh.”
Cale expressed wonder.
“What is it?”
Alberu turned at Cale’s words, then recoiled.
“…Why?”
Why that expression?
Cale smirked inwardly at Alberu’s unspoken query.
“It’s nothing, your highness.”
‘I’ll mention it later.’
Cale resolved silently and beamed innocently.
“…Haaa.”
Alberu sighed deeply before facing forward.
‘What’s his deal?’
Cale frowned, sensing unmerited ire.
Yet he quickly smoothed his features.
‘Prince Consort Hin Pao.’
Elegant pavilions dotted the island.
Subtle rather than ostentatious, they exuded serene majesty upon approach.
Each blade of grass, every bloom…
All blended in flawless accord. Devoid of gems or gold…
“Ah-”
The exquisite harmony drew even crown prince Alberu’s admiring gasp.
“Your Majesty.”
The Prince Consort emerged to welcome the Queen.
‘Renowned for utmost devotion.’
Originating from a prominent noble house, Hin Pao had forsaken all influence upon marrying Tamahi, devoting himself wholly to his consort role.
‘Yet a devotee of the God of Chaos.’
He collaborated with the Five Colors Bloods to monitor the Queen.
“Your Majesty. Are these the heroes who thwarted the Cooperative Alliance?”
Sir Hin Pao resembled a scholarly figure more than a warrior.
Contrasting the robust Queen Tamahi, his pallid skin evoked delicate petals adrift.
“That is correct.”
The Queen smiled, stepping firmly ashore.
Cha Run offered polite respects to Hin Pao. Alberu stood behind.
Cale, lingering at the rear out of sight, gradually emerged.
Hin Pao.
His smile was gentle.
Smile.
Cale mirrored with a picturesque grin.
“?”
Hin Pao’s confusion surfaced shortly.
Cale offered no greeting.
Nor did Alberu.
These ordinary visitors snubbed the Prince Consort.
He paused briefly but upheld his serene smile, turning to the Queen.
“Your Majesty. Would you kindly introduce them?”
His refined tone remained tranquil.
“Mm.”
Queen Tamahi appeared slightly troubled as she spoke.
Cale had assured her he’d handle matters once she arranged this encounter.
‘Didn’t anticipate him greeting us personally.’
The Prince Consort venturing out alone, sans escorts, deviated from expectations.
It signaled keen interest in the duo who vanquished So Hee.
“These people-”
As Queen Tamahi began…
“Oh guide.”
Cale uttered abruptly.
“!”
Tamahi witnessed an unprecedented sight.
“!”
Never before had Prince Consort Hin Pao displayed such turmoil.
His features mirrored the Holy Land’s turbulent waters.
Raw emotions churned visibly.
"Guide?”
The Queen echoed the word…
Cale advanced steadily.
“Or perhaps messenger?”
Guide or messenger.
Denoting Hin Pao’s elevated status within the Church of the God of Chaos, beyond mere adherent.
Cale pressed the rattled Hin Pao.
“The Night of the Beginning.”
Hin Pao’s expression shifted dramatically.
Oooooo-
Grey aura erupted from his form.
“You dare utter that name-!”
The Night of the Beginning.
The God of Chaos’s Holy Land bore that title.
"Who are you?”
A grey-aura-clad weapon materialized in Hin Pao’s grasp.
Unlike with Bishop Serisa, it formed a lengthy spear.
“Ho!”
Cha Run reacted in shock, positioning before the Queen.
Prince Consort Hin Pao.
Publicly deemed martial-arts illiterate.
“Me?”
Cale strode toward Hin Pao undeterred.
Alberu shadowed protectively, though Cale ignored it.
He awaited a specific trigger.
[You have connected with the Guide of Chaos (Sir Hin Pao)!]
The quest notification activated.
‘No longer caught off guard.’
Cale noted the familiar phrase.
[‘Skill: Fear of Chaos (Legend)’ activates.]
This had triggered during his clash with Bishop Serisa.
[*Though AOE in nature, it targets solely ‘Hin Pao’ for quest advancement.]
A provisional legend-grade skill unlocked for quest progression.
Oooooo– oooooo–
Grey aura swelled with ominous resonance.
“!”
Markedly unlike Serisa’s encounter.
“H, how—this power—”
Hin Pao identified it instantly.
[Fear of Chaos on a God of Chaos follower yields 30% delusion/domination chance.]
[Odds vary with skill proficiency.]
[Current mastery: F (Quest-boosted temporarily to A)]
No immediate submission.
[Target resisted successfully!]
Skill faltered.
Consequently—
Baaaaang!
A grey spear thrust at Cale.
A thunderous impact rang out; Cale retreated.
“He’s remarkably powerful.”
Alberu had interposed, deflecting the strike.
His primary white spear fractured.
Craaaaaaack-
“You presume to wield such formidable might!”
Sir Hin Pao lashed out anew.
Ooooooooo—
The encircling grey aura was unmistakable.
‘Far superior to me!’
Queen Tamahi sensed Hin Pao’s authentic prowess.
A God of Chaos adherent entangled with Five Colors Bloods.
Weakness would undermine his role.
‘Not merely wanderers targeted our realm!’
Tamahi grasped the Church of the God of Chaos—lurking amid them and wanderers—coveted the throne.
“Your Majesty!”
“Safeguard her majesty!”
Family and guards surged forward, halted by…
“Stop!”
Tamahi commanded, unsheathing her blade.
“Martial Scholar, withdraw!”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
Cha Run conceded his inadequacy and retreated swiftly as Tamahi lunged into the fray with Alberu and Hin Pao.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Her pulse raced frantically.
‘Terror grips me!’
Fear overwhelmed her now.
Oooooo– oooooo–
Hin Pao’s spearmanship impressed, but the grey aura’s emanations instilled dread.
“Mm.”
Alberu grunted.
Spear mastery.
Aura potency.
Strength.
Hin Pao outmatched Alberu in every facet.
‘Magic inaccessible here.’
Alberu aimed to endure maximally without full commitment, ignoring the Sun Sword.
Stoically, he maneuvered his spear.
“I'll assist!”
Queen Tamahi slashed to join.
"No need, your Majesty.”
Alberu rebuffed politely.
"What?”
Tamahi blinked in bewilderment.
“Such hubris! You’ll confess everything!”
Hin Pao intensified his assault.
His thoughts whirled turbulently.
‘Wanderer So Hee got seized.’
Her abrupt capture signaled plan disruptions.
Bishop Serisa’s imprisonment by Sun God followers compounded it.
‘This mess—’
These interlopers caused it.
Alberu and Cale…
Hin Pao’s stare darkened profoundly.
Guide.
The navigator to the Holy Land.
Cale invoked that rank and the sanctuary’s name.
Escape tempted Hin Pao, yet Cale’s nature pinned him.
‘He mimics the Saint-nim’s ability.’
No.
Not mimicry.
‘Echoes the Saint-nim’s nascent phase.’
A prodigious Saint, Chaos Church’s once-in-a-millennium talent…
Mastered chaos power profoundly from awakening.
This foe wielded comparable potency.
‘His identity?’
One Saint existed globally.
Thus—
‘Who’s this imposter?
Chaos God follower?
Ally?
Impossible.’
No ally endured chaos power assault.
Moreover, targeted as guide, not peon.
‘Perhaps—’
Divine intervention?
Unbeknownst events?
‘What’s transpiring?
…Truly, what?’
Hin Pao couldn’t flee nor unleash fully. Turmoil engulfed his psyche.
Then—
“Together, we can seize him!”
Tamahi seized the lapse, urging Alberu…
“Our involvement seems unnecessary, your Majesty.”
Alberu withdrew, declaring.
“!”
Hin Pao faltered, but…
Alberu locked eyes with Cale upon retreat.
“!”
Queen Tamahi confronted genuine dread.
Hin Pao.
His terror evoked primal childhood night-frights.
‘Thus, ignorable.’
Maturity banished such.
However—
‘Authentic terror—’
No.
Precisely, not mere fear.
Total bodily subjugation.
The compulsion for breath required sanction—
Yet embedded primal dread intensified with maturity, like prey’s escalating beast-phobia.
A dread born of knowledge she shunned.
Submersion in this mire bred domination’s allure.
“Ah.”
Tamahi’s grip slackened on her sword amid amplified dread and control.
Alberu merely crossed arms, shaking head.
“…T, this, what—”
Dominating Aura had subdued even So Hee.
Now honed on Hin Pao.
Alberu and Tamahi endured mere spillover.
"T, this isn’t the c-chaos I recognize—”
Chaos permeated this force too.
It sought his capitulation.
‘What’s this?’
His disarray amplified to terror.
Cale neared Hin Pao, reactivating the skill.
[‘Skill: Fear of Chaos (Legend)’ activates.]
[Induce fear, then eye contact to glimpse memories.]
Success.
Hin Pao already quaked in fright.
[Skill: Dominating Aura (Grade: EX. Indeterminate)]
Fear of Chaos ranked legend, yet…
Dominating Aura defied ranking. Concealed its caliber, but…
Equaled or surpassed legend.
And—
[Growth potential present.]
Indeterminate, yet evolvable.
[Scanning memories.]
[*Preview limits to quest-relevant recollections.]
[Fully dominated Fear of Chaos adherent pursues ultimate objective or directive.]
“Ahhhhh—”
Hin Pao wailed.
Cale delved into memories undaunted.
Guide.
Bearer of the Night of the Beginning’s mental map.
No tangible chart existed.
It resided as recollection.
Quest relayed it for advancement.
[Map obtained.]
A window displayed it conveniently, though unnecessary.
Cale had memorized it fully.
Drip.
[Skill side effect detected!]
[Side
