Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 350: Severance (4)

The Jungle, the North, the central region, and the desert.

All of those were places depicted on the ceiling art.

Only the current location of the Roan Kingdom was omitted. The continent’s northeastern region was not separately illustrated.

‘This is strange.’

Cale was certain of the information provided by the glutton priestess of the Indestructible Shield in the past. His memory was not mistaken.

The Henituse territory, renowned for its abundant marbles.

The glutton priestess, who met her end there, had stated:

‘I couldn't purify it.’

‘That's why I could only consume it and perish, dyed in black. I couldn't simply stand by and watch the land become corrupted.’

‘I refuse to give up this flavor, even if I gain weight. It’s utterly unfair that I had to die eating dirt!’

Within the slums of the Henituse territory, the glutton priestess had met her demise while consuming the blackened earth.

“As the glutton described, the Henituse territory area also turned black.”

The Henituse territory, and by extension the Roan Kingdom, should have mirrored the Jungle and the North, becoming entirely black.

Yet, this region was conspicuously absent from the artwork.

‘Why is that?’

He couldn't fathom the reason.

Another voice, distinct from the thief's, chimed in.

The Scary Giant Cobblestone interjected.

– In the past, the current Roan was a land of boulders.

Cale’s eyes momentarily clouded over.

The land of boulders.

This phrase was familiar.

He recalled someone.

‘Taylor Stan!’

The close friend of the eccentric priestess Cage and the leader of the Marquis household, representing the nobles of the Roan Kingdom's Northwest region.

The individual who had once forfeited his position as heir.

Cale remembered their journey to the Roan Kingdom's capital, accompanied by the mad priestess Cage and Taylor Stan.

During their conversation, Taylor Stan had remarked:

‘The Roan Kingdom is the land of ‘boulders.’ ’

This statement was linked to an ancient legend.

Cale, whose knowledge of < The Birth of a Hero > extended only to volume 5, heard this for the first time then.

‘According to ancient texts, this land has many tales associated with ‘boulders,’ even preceding the existence of the Roan Kingdom. One such story speaks of a guardian, resembling a boulder, watching over this land.’

A boulder-like guardian.

‘They say this guardian could protect everything from any attack. He was reputed to be the one who defended the front lines when darkness befell the continent.’

The myth described by Taylor and the missing area in the ceiling art began to coalesce in Cale’s mind.

‘The legend claims the guardian stood unyieldingly, like a boulder, even as his body crumbled. In this manner, he safeguarded the lands and people of this northeastern region.’

Cale began to speak.

“...Was it you?”

The Super Rock replied.

– I died as my entire body disintegrated.

Cale shut his eyes, then reopened them.

“...Damn it.”

The very man who always cautioned him against self-sacrifice had ultimately given his own life.

Cale felt a surge of anger within him.

‘Why are there so many unfortunate souls like them?’

He uttered the name of the person etched in his memory.

“...Taylor Stan.”

Taylor Stan had mentioned something about the boulder guardian.

‘He’s likely not widely known. I only discovered this while researching ancient texts for information on ancient powers.’

Cale’s brow furrowed subconsciously.

“Why didn’t I consider him?”

He had overlooked Taylor, despite recalling the details Taylor had shared.

Taylor Stan was arguably the individual closest to Cale with the most extensive knowledge of ancient powers and legends.

This information was gathered during his desperate search for a way to heal his crippled legs.

‘I must meet Taylor.’

The necessary actions began to crystallize in his thoughts.

However, Cale still harbored a crucial question.

It pertained to the outcome of past conflicts.

“How did you defeat the individual with the sky attribute, given their immense strength?”

Oooooong- oooooong-

Cale felt the whip of the gold top vibrate at that moment.

Swoooooooooooosh- Swoooooooosh-

Neither those outside the island nor Cale within the temple could ascertain the events unfolding. Nevertheless, the winds on Wind Island began to howl with greater ferocity than usual.

Oblivious to this, Cale heard the Super Rock’s voice.

– A significant number of individuals possessing ancient powers united to confront that man. Naturally, some individuals with ancient powers chose to align with him.

Power confronting power. A massive conflict ensued.

– The majority of those who wield what are now termed ancient powers were participants in that battle. A vast multitude fought against him.

The fight went on and on. We perished in that battle, though we managed to take him down with us. My own body was also ruined.

The Super Rock spoke calmly. "It could be called a draw since we ultimately defeated him, but the cost was immense."

Everyone perished in that conflict. "The ancient era concluded after that."

Cale found it difficult to conceive of this ancient battle, which must have spanned decades. He wondered if their confrontation with the White Star would be similar. Cale began to consider the Western Continent. The populace there was already enduring numerous conflicts, commencing with the War against the North earlier that year. Could they possibly endure decades more of fighting? "Haa, that insane bastard," he muttered, sighing and cursing the White Star. However, Cale quickly clenched his fists. "The past is unlike the present."'

He could hear the Super Rock's voice. "That individual had amassed the sky attribute, along with all five natural elements."

'What?' Cale couldn't fathom that the ancient antagonist possessed more than just the sky attribute. Wind, water, fire, earth, wood, and sky. If he had controlled all six, he would have been indistinguishable from nature itself. 'That must be why he could contend with so many people.'

Nonetheless, a peculiar expression soon crossed Cale's face. The current White Star lacked an earth attribute power. He detected a hint of laughter in the Super Rock's voice. "He and I were the sole possessors of earth attribute powers during ancient times."

Cale understood what the White Star was searching for. He opened his mouth. "So, I need to find that person's earth power?"

The Super Rock chuckled, responding, "You truly are astute." He then added with gravity, "And then you must destroy it." The arduous journey. That path entailed two objectives. "You must also locate White Star, that bastard who holds the sky attribute, and defeat him." Cale's task was to find and annihilate the earth ancient power belonging to the man who sought to become nature, and subsequently, defeat the White Star.

The Super Rock continued his account of the White Star. "It's possible because his foundation is incomplete." Although the White Star possessed numerous ancient powers, his foundation remained incomplete due to his lack of all five natural attributes. This was precisely where he differed from Cale. "Cale, 'we' can apprehend him. Of course, it might prove challenging and excruciating."

The corners of Cale's lips curved upwards as he inquired, "Will my body be destroyed?"

The Super Rock burst into laughter, then replied with a serious tone. "I will not sacrifice anyone this time." Cale joined in the laughter, but it quickly subsided. "The individual with the sky attribute's body was obliterated on the day I died." The day the Super Rock's form disintegrated. The same day many of his companions departed this world. "There was but one child who survived that final battle. He was the sole individual I managed to save." The boy's survival was attributed to him standing behind the Super Rock. "Cale, you possess a power akin to that child's ability."

'Someone survived? A power similar to mine?' A sudden realization flashed through Cale's mind. "...Dragon Slayer?" The Dominating Aura. That was the only thought that surfaced. The Super Rock continued mournfully. "Now that I recall, it appears that child eventually became the first Dragon Slayer." The child whom the Super Rock had safeguarded grew up to be the Dragon Slayer. "I had tasked that child with a duty. I instructed him to safeguard this land should another with the sky attribute emerge in the future. I told him to nurture new, powerful individuals." Cale's arm became covered in goosebumps. The inaugural Dragon Slayer. The village he established. It was said that powerful individuals from across the continent gathered at this village to enhance their strength. He too found the unfolding events unbelievable. "...Can you believe it? The White Star is the final Dragon Slayer." "It is indeed ironic."

'Ho.' Cale was speechless. The ancient era. A vast expanse of time had elapsed since then. Many destinies had shifted in that interim. "That child." The first Dragon Slayer. "I am confident he established his home in the Castle of Light, one of the Three Restricted Areas."

'The Dragon Slayer village is located on the Eastern Continent, not the Western Continent? I suppose there's no inherent reason it had to be on the Western Continent.' Cale let out a chuckle. "I suppose I'll head to the Castle of Light after Wind Island." The Castle of Light. Cale knew nothing of this location, yet it might hold crucial information regarding the White Star or the Dragon Slayer village.

Cale committed this new piece of information to memory as he shifted his focus to the task at hand.

Oooooong- oooooong-

The whip of the top began to vibrate with increasing intensity. Cale gazed down at the hand not occupied by the jar.

Swoooooosh- Swooooooosh-

A miniature vortex materialized in his palm.

It was the Sound of the Wind.

"Will I be able to hear the voices of the wind Elementals if I grasp this top's whip?"

He received a reply from the thief.

– You are correct. However, you won't hear them immediately. It will prove somewhat challenging.

"...Somewhat challenging?"

'It doesn't resonate with me instantly?'

A frown began to form on Cale's face.

'She spoke as if I simply needed to retrieve it, but that's not the reality!'

The corners of Cale's lips gradually turned downwards.

Yet, the thief remained silent. The cheapskate's voice could be heard interjecting.

– The thief appears hesitant to reveal the full truth! Let us engulf everything in a sea of flames! Kahahahahah!

'…Isn't he gradually losing his sanity?'

Cale disregarded the cheapskate. At that precise moment, the thief resumed speaking.

– I never fathomed that you would come into possession of this item.

The thief's tone suggested she was offering justifications.

– Mm, at that juncture. I felt the necessity to assess the individual who would eventually hold this artifact, as they would gain formidable allies.

Cale acknowledged the truth in her statement.

"And...?"

However, his question carried an undertone of annoyance.

– And... Ahem, mm. I believed the most crucial evaluation would be one's character. Yet, I was quite desperate, harboring resentment towards the world, and frankly, a bit unhinged at the time...

"...And?"

– A, and...

A sense of foreboding began to creep into Cale's mind.

A test of one's character.

This notion alone instilled unease within him, however... The fact that she admitted to devising this trial in a state of madness sent shivers down his spine.

– Mm, my intention was that someone who had endured parallel experiences to mine would lead a life mirroring mine and wield this power for benevolent purposes.

"Cease these pointless explanations."

Cale desired the thief to get to the heart of the matter.

"The nature of the test?"

– ...I apologize. I cannot disclose that. Such are the stipulations.

He opened his mouth to retort.

"Damn it."

The thief offered no further words.

Nevertheless, Cale reflected upon the thief's recent pronouncements, contemplating her disposition and the circumstances that led to her mental distress.

That, he surmised, likely constituted the essence of the test.

Cale gently placed the jar to the side.

He then covered his face with both hands. He could already surmise the nature of the impending trial.

– We shall stand by your side. Simply keep that in mind.

As Cale extended his hand towards the top's whip, he heard the voice of the Super Rock. The thief addressed him again.

– The trial commences the instant you grasp the top's whip.

Cale's hand made contact with the top's whip.

Paaaat!

A golden luminescence enveloped Cale's vision. He maintained his grip on the top's whip amidst this phenomenon.

His surroundings soon dissolved into darkness.

At that moment, he perceived the thief's dispassionate voice. It was not the voice he heard within his mind.

"The trial shall now commence."

The test had begun.

"The moment you dread the most shall greet you."

Cale Henituse.

The moment he dreaded the most.

A scowl involuntarily contorted Cale's features.

The Sound of the Wind. The individual behind that voice had lost her family, friends, and kin before becoming a thief.

She had subsequently left the ancient artifact, forged from their very existence, within this desolate mana storage facility where their lives had ended.

It was a trial conceived by that person during a period of acute distress.

His reaction was understandable.

However, Cale could not suppress a vehement outcry.

"Damn it, how is this a test of a person's character?!"

Cale flinched following his outburst.

'Hmm?'

A gentle warmth descended upon Cale's face, tickling his eyes. It mimicked the sensation of the morning sun.

'Sunlight?'

It was at this juncture.

He discerned a voice speaking.

"My lord, it is morning."

'Lord? Who? Am I being addressed?'

Cale's eyes fluttered open.

He beheld the familiar ceiling of his chamber within the Henituse Estate. He had regained consciousness while lying in his bed.