Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 383: I'm sure it was not enough (8)

“Hahaha—”

Alberu burst into laughter...

“Cough.”

Stoic Cale kept wiping away the blood still trickling, though far less now, from around his mouth.

“…….”

The vast Virtual Reality realm of New World...

Queen Tamahi, sovereign of the Lan Kingdom—one of the three mightiest nations in this immense virtual domain—stood speechless.

She merely gawked vacantly at the duo.

“Haha, Cale—”

“What is it, your highness?”

Alberu typically minded his audience, yet...

Oddly elated for some reason, and having played more casually in this game since the outset...

“You remain unchanged.”

Uttering this, he flung his arms open and neared Cale.

The very first occasion.

Yes, echoing that debut moment when the Indestructible Shield emerged in Roan Kingdom’s capital, shielding all from Arm’s magic bombs...

Alberu reenacted the gesture from post-incident, long unperformed.

‘What’s with him?’

Cale sensed profound irritation as Alberu closed in with arms spread.

Why so?

‘That smile of his?’

Alberu beamed with pure joy.

Unease gripped Cale, prompting retreat, but... Sadly, his bodily strength had waned since Young Master Silver Shield entered this world, while Alberu’s had surged.

“…What’s going on, your highness?”

“Hahaha!”

A gentle embrace ensued between Alberu and Cale.

Pat pat.

Trembling slightly, Alberu’s hand patted Cale’s back.

‘Mm.’

Aware of the cause, Cale couldn’t shove him aside.

‘He overdid it, pushing too hard.’

Adept at magic, yet Alberu fell short of Raon—no, Rosalyn’s prowess.

Talented beyond average humans, that was all.

Bound by his limits, unable to transcend.

Straining to unleash Raon-level mana surely taxed his frame.

Aftershocks caused the hand’s quiver.

“Tsk.”

Sighing under breath, Cale withdrew from the hug gingerly, mindful of Alberu.

“Shall I steady you, your highness?”

Alberu’s face soured at once, as Cale observed.

“You, prop me up?”

Alberu’s disbelieving expression annoyed Cale right back.

As for Queen Tamahi witnessing it all...

“Your Majesty—”

Dismissing the martial artists’ supportive grasps, she rose slowly.

Her stare stayed riveted on Cale and Alberu.

“…….”

Their words didn’t reach her.

Internal ki could let her hear, but she refrained.

Just beholding their fond embrace and chat...

Sun-like glow and silver light vanished...

Sir Hin Pao departed...

Desolate beach ahead...

Only those two stood in view.

Unthinkingly, the Queen whispered.

“…Hero—”

Cale had spoken to her earlier.

‘Teaming with New World’s sun hero for salvation! Kingdom of Darkness moves to rescue this realm! Haha!’

Of course, detailed accounts after Prince Consort encounter, Cale noted.

But now Queen Tamahi grasped it.

‘Between them—’

One surely the hero.

Fairytales always pair heroes with—

“…Allies.”

Exceptionally gifted, just allies.

The three strong.

Label for Eastern/Western Empires and Lan Kingdom...

Tamahi once took pride, later loathed that title.

The wanderers.

They revealed true titans exist.

Hidden powerhouses plotting to engulf the land.

“…Darkness exists only with light—”

Indeed.

Wanderers.

Darkness they are, so light must counter.

World’s order can’t favor one solely?

‘No.’

Queen shook head.

‘Kingdom of Darkness?’

Unfamiliar entity to Tamahi.

‘From Kingdom of Darkness, I am.’

‘This lord soon kings another realm.’

Plus, other nears throne—another kingdom implied.

Two history-omitted kingdoms battle wanderers, gods.

To save world.

“Ha—”

Scoff escaped subconsciously.

Faint joy, overwhelm laced it.

“…Not end, but start.”

Queen Tamahi mused, eyeing calmly conversing Cale, Alberu.

“It was lacking.”

Cale’s words to weeping Sir Hin Pao on faith’s shortfall, god’s abandonment...

Tamahi now saw them anew.

The Lan Kingdom had been wavering back and forth under the influence of the wanderers…

Because of her weakness…

Because she believed it would be tough to defeat them…

For a long time, she had kept a low profile and finally initiated this crown prince selection tournament just to seek a chance for retaliation.

How vast were the grief and suffering hidden in her heart all along?

She constantly feared that the Lan Kingdom's internal matters would be exposed to its citizens or even other kingdoms.

As one of the three great powers, the Lan Kingdom couldn't afford to reveal such vulnerability.

However, her perspective shifted now.

The Lan Kingdom alone lacked the strength to confront the wanderers.

“It is just that we truly were lacking.”

They were simply too weak.

And that deficiency—

“Can be filled.”

Today, she had witnessed a steadfast shield capable of achieving that.

Slowly, she made her way toward Cale and Alberu.

Though she hadn't received the full details from Cale, the broad outline was now visible to her.

She could at least distinguish between allies and adversaries.

It was evident who provided greater benefits and who acted from genuine motives.

“Ah. Are you okay, your Majesty?”

Despite the blood near his mouth, Cale inquired about her condition.

Queen Tamahi observed him briefly before responding with a question.

“Can we be with you?”

“Excuse me?”

Cale seemed puzzled, but Tamahi pressed on with her intended words.

Today, the Lan Kingdom—

“That alliance that the Kingdom of Darkness is a part of…”

Needed to seize this moment to embark on a new trajectory.

“The Lan Kingdom wishes to join you.”

This opportunity would make the Lan Kingdom far stronger.

“We will fill where we are lacking… So I hope you can give us a chance to get stronger, a chance to join you.”

She would protect the Lan Kingdom.

Aware of her own weakness, the Queen of the Lan Kingdom spoke with firm confidence.

"Will you give us that opportunity?”

As for Cale…

‘Oh.

What a jackpot?’

“Opportunity always has a way of finding the ones who desire it.”

Cale remarked calmly while shaking Queen Tamahi’s hand.

He then went on.

“If the Lan Kingdom can be with us, it will be a great boost.”

Smile.

Cale displayed a warm, affable smile.

Smile.

Alberu offered an elegant smile in response.

‘As expected.’

Queen Tamahi felt confirmed.

‘These two people were amazing people.’

A kingdom sought entry into an alliance.

The two before her decided on the matter right away.

What did that imply?

‘The leader.’

It signified the alliance leader's presence, and that leader—

‘He holds omnipotent power of decision.’

And that figure—

‘The black-haired man.’

It was Cale Henituse.

‘That should mean that this blonde man-’

Probably.

‘He should be the hero.’

The hero of the sun.

‘He definitely has some connections to the Sun god.’

Queen Tamahi's gaze deepened.

She comprehended that she was emerging from the foul swamp of the wanderers and God of Chaos, ascending to the surface for a glimpse of the crisp sky.

Smile.

Tamahi smiled.

Cale and Alberu kept smiling too.

– Cale.

The Scary Giant Cobblestone began addressing Cale unhurriedly.

– But doesn't this queen know that the Kingdom of Darkness is from the Eight Evils?

– And the crown prince doesn’t have a territory to rule right now. You just said he is someone who will become king in the future.

– Then aren't we actually an alliance without anything?

‘Be quiet.’

Cale brushed off the Super Rock.

He glanced sideways at Alberu.

Alberu’s expression, with his warm smile, silently conveyed a message.

‘We will proceed like this for now.’

Why?

Gaining one of the three strongs as an ally was a tremendous advantage.

“Haha-”

Cale laughed.

“Hahaha!”

Alberu also laughed.

“Haha-”

Queen Tamahi laughed too.

And thus, the silver shield that emerged in the Lan Kingdom lodged firmly in the memories of the Queen's most trusted aides present that day.

Yet its influence on the Lan Kingdom could eclipse even the lingering impact of So Hee's battle with the Heavenly Demon.

A few days later.

===================

< Holy shit! Breaking news breaking news!>

===================

A piece of news began spreading across the RPOG user community, stirring up mayhem.

===================

< Apparently the Lan Kingdom is closing? >

The content is exactly as the title says.

– The kingdom is closing? What are you saying?

– Stopping all diplomatic activity.

Queen entering closed door training.

Heir selection paused.

– Hmm? Stopping diplomatic activities?

– Queen going into closed door training? All of a sudden? Did something happen? What is going on in the Lan Kingdom these days?

===================

This resembled a sect sealing its gates in the Martial Arts world.

A perpetual seal with no fixed end date whatsoever.

However, that wasn't everything.

===================

– Not only is the kingdom behind this. Sky Sword, Dark Pulse, plus the other five major forces (excluding the Cooperative Alliance) are shutting their gates too.

– Holy shit. Every single one? So users got nothing left to do in the Lan Kingdom now?

– No no. Nothing like that.

The five major forces seem to be mustering a massive guard force. Outsiders (users) and folks from other lands can join freely. Veterans or newbies alike can apply, with full backing throughout training.

– Oh. Maybe I ought to switch to guard duty? Broke as I am, free training sounds tempting.

– Hey hey, doesn't that imply the four major forces aren't truly sealing up?

– Not sure. Word is they're halting all outside operations.

===================

Chaos gripped the users.

Still, certain ones yearned to uncover the secret motive driving these moves.

===================

– So in essence…

The Palace has barricaded itself.

Yet the four major forces declare gates sealed even as they take on fresh guards, funding their training to completion?

– Sealing gates and cutting external ops should dry up their funds. But mass-training new guards?

===================

Then realization dawned on them.

===================

– This is definitely not the four major forces' own idea.

– Y-yeah. It's obviously the kingdom's command.

===================

The Lan Kingdom moved purposefully toward some grand objective.

An objective so immense the four major forces obeyed without complaint.

===================

– So the Lan Kingdom's mass-recruiting guards right now? Using royal funds for it.

– Pretty much.

===================

Only one conclusion emerged for everyone.

===================

– …Is the Lan Kingdom gearing up for war?

===================

War.

One of New World's three powerhouses geared for battle.

This news alone set the whole RPOG user base ablaze with thrill.

===================

– War fits perfectly.

They say gates sealed, but that hides the real deal. Openly bulking troops would draw rival kingdoms' interference. Hence this sneaky approach.

– …Holy shit. A real war at last?

===================

Cheers erupted as massive shifts rocked RPOG thanks to the ‘Great First Step’ update.

No inter-nation wars had occurred before.

That said, some users posed yet another query.

===================

– But who's the Lan Kingdom aiming to fight?

===================

The Lan Kingdom's foe remained a mystery.

Most users responded thus.

===================

– No idea. We'll see soon enough.

===================

Truth would reveal itself in time.

While users and all within the RPOG VR realm fixated on Lan Kingdom's turmoil…

“So ‘The Night of the Beginning,’ sacred ground of the God of Chaos, lies within the Devil’s Boundary?”

Cale gave a nod.

Right now, he hid out in a secret safehouse buried deep in Lan Kingdom territory.

Sir Hin Pao the Guide. That map to The Night of the Beginning from his recollections…

It pointed straight to the Devil’s Boundary.

“Indeed, your highness. Weren't you in the Devil’s Boundary before?”

“Yeah.”

“You must know the area. Mind guiding us there?”

Cale's bold ask left Alberu speechless.

“Oh, and what exactly is the Devil’s Boundary like, your highness?”

Rosalyn responded to Choi Han's inquiry.

She echoed the phrase Alberu had shared with her previously.

"A place full of weak and trashy things.”

While Choi Han's brow furrowed slightly…

Rosalyn went on speaking.

"But I don’t see it that way.”

As Choi Han’s gaze grew misty, Rosalyn gestured toward Alberu.

“That is also the place our highness is trying to build his Empire.”

“Hoooo.”

Interest sparked in the Heavenly Demon's eyes as he glanced at Alberu, then turned to Cale with a question.

"When are we heading there?”

A serious expression crossed Cale's face as he replied.

“I'm not sure. I do plan on going as quickly as possible, but…”

Next, he questioned Rosalyn.

“Did Raon contact us?”

Eden Miru.

Right now, Cale had zero updates on that rascal's hatching.

“I think I need to go and see what is going on.”

Be it The Night of the Beginning… Or the God of Chaos…

He appeared to need a visit to the children averaging ten-years-old, along with Eden Miru.

—

Translator's Comments

Is no news good news? Or is it bad news when it's from kids?

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