Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 352: Tears (1)
Previously on Trash of the Count's Family...
“...So tiring.”
With a hand, Cale patted his shoulder.
Harris Village.
Cale had made his way to Harris Village. He had departed without informing anyone, so there was likely quite a commotion at the Lord’s Castle right about now...
“It's all a sham. So it doesn't matter.”
‘Doesn’t matter.’
‘It’s not real. It’s not genuine.’
Repeating these phrases to himself, Cale gazed forward.
A towering stone wall stood before him.
This very wall had been erected to demarcate the separation between the Forest of Darkness and Harris Village, and further, to safeguard the Henituse territory against the mutated monsters lurking within the Forest of Darkness.
If.
If only Raon were present at this moment.
‘Human, human! Are we heading to our home? Will we be seeing everyone? I want to see them all!’
A frown began to form on Cale’s face.
“I ought to get him an apple pie.”
While contemplating the tasks ahead after concluding his test, Cale stood before the castle wall.
Crackle.
Cale quietly observed the faint, rose-gold thunderbolt hovering above his palm.
“...How strange.”
The stingy one.
The rose-gold luminescence of the Fire of Destruction was indeed on Cale’s palm, yet he couldn't discern the stingy one's voice, no matter how intently he tried.
The same held true for the Indestructible Shield, the fearsome Scary Giant Cobblestone, and the gentle Sound of the Wind.
None of them responded to Cale’s efforts.
Cale tilted his head upwards.
Swoooooosh- Swooooooosh-
The wind began to swirl around the tips of his feet.
His form swiftly ascended into the air. Upon reaching the crest of the stone wall, the verdant expanse of the forest came into view.
The Forest of Darkness.
As the sight of the green woodland met his eyes, Cale exhaled a sigh.
“This place is identical.”
Cale perceived the Forest of Darkness, which bore an almost exact resemblance to his recollections.
His body moved with haste.
He was heading towards the cave’s entrance.
Having arrived, he dismissed the Sound of the Wind and commenced a slow entry into the cave.
The book remained clutched in his hand.
Cale began to articulate.
“...The very first location where the White Star made his personal appearance during the final conflict was within the Henituse territory, and subsequently, and then-”
“Shit.”
Cale couldn't suppress an oath.
He opened the book.
He found himself unable to recall its contents.
Making a guess, he turned to a particular page.
< The White Star initiated their campaign in the Henituse territory, subsequently invading the Roan Kingdom and proceeding to conquer the entirety of the Western continent’s northeastern region. This period saw immense casualties, and numerous heroes met their demise. >
The voice of Cale’s former team leader, Lee Soo Hyuk, echoed in his mind.
‘Hey, rookie. How is it that you can recall anything you wish to remember after seeing it just once, yet you completely forget anything you don’t want to remember, as if afflicted with amnesia?’
Cale traversed the cave passage, illuminated by magical light, while perusing the book.
He struggled to comprehend the text within the book.
He had very little recollection of its contents.
Rustle.
Another page crumpled. Cale’s frustration began to mount.
“That mad thief.”
‘How could she possibly devise a test like this?’
Cale’s gaze gradually softened.
Tap. Tap.
The only sounds echoing within the cave were his footsteps.
His pace diminished as he proceeded.
He had, with unparalleled speed, sprinted from the Lord’s Castle to the Forest of Darkness and even to this cave’s opening.
Yet, as he advanced towards the destination that should lie at the cave’s end, Cale’s steps toward the Super Rock Villa grew increasingly deliberate.
He couldn't help but ponder what awaited him there.
Nonetheless, Cale understood the necessity of proceeding.
He recognized the imperative to complete this trial with utmost expediency.
He was aware that individuals awaited him in the actual world.
“...But still.”
Cale halted his advance.
His voice was remarkably calm.
“I cannot continue like this.”
Cale clenched his fists tightly. His expression remained utterly devoid of emotion. He brought a closed fist down forcefully.
Pow!
Cale struck his thighs and legs, which had ceased their forward motion.
He then resumed his internal monologue.
“I cannot persist in this state.”
He was decelerating.
His pace was faltering when every second was critical. He was slowing down when an overwhelming mountain of tasks demanded his attention. How could he possibly halt here?
This was not behavior fitting for Cale Henituse, or rather, for Kim Rok Soo.
Pow, pow!
He continued to strike his weary thighs, which resisted the urge to walk on.
Nevertheless, his expression remained impassive.
‘Kim Rok Soo, I... I.’
He heard the voice of his former team leader, Lee Soo Hyuk, within his thoughts.
It was a memory he retained, despite his aversion to it.
‘Will you shut your trap?’
‘Shut what? Well, looks like I’ll be shutting up for all eternity in a moment.’
‘...Please don’t speak nonsense either.’
‘I’ll say what I want to say. Kim Rok Soo, hey Rok Soo.’
‘...What is it?’
‘I leave it to you. Got it?’
‘...I thought you told me to be a slacker?’
‘Have you ever experienced a world where things go as you wish? You... cough! Anyway... I’ll entrust it to you, Rok Soo. Please take care of things, Rock Soo.’
‘Damn it.’
Cale stood up straight once more. He then resumed his walk, his pace returning to normal after having slowed to a near halt.
The voices of people from other departments, unaware of his presence, echoed in his mind. ‘Hey, that snake Kim Rok Soo didn’t even shed a tear when the person who saved his life died. How can someone be so heartless?’
‘…Who knows. At least team leader Lee Soo Hyuk chose a capable successor before he left. Kim Rok Soo is very competent at his job.’
‘He might be an emotionless bastard, but he’s undeniably good at his work.’
An impassive Cale continued his trek towards the cave’s exit. The thing he feared most was ahead, but this time, it was an illusion.
“That’s why it doesn’t matter.”
Cale spoke to himself as he pressed onward. Tap. Tap. His footsteps maintained a steady rhythm, unwavering. The end of the path was finally in sight.
A light, far brighter than the dim magical illumination lining the path, appeared ahead. Cale walked into the radiance.
“It looks identical.”
It was precisely the same. The scene mirrored the last time Cale had laid eyes on the Super Rock Villa. This familiarity allowed him to enter the villa with a sense of ease. He began opening doors, one by one.
“Ha, haha-”
A laugh escaped him. “…Ha, my word.” He couldn’t believe it, his laughter hollow. Saint Jack’s prayer room and bedroom. Sword Master Hannah’s bedroom. Necromancer Mary’s laboratory and sleeping quarters. Rosalyn’s laboratory.
Click. Click. Cale’s laughter intensified with each door he opened. It was unchanged. Their rooms remained exactly as Cale remembered. Well, with minor exceptions.
On Saint Jack’s desk lay the Condemnation of the Sun, the cracked divine item resting there. Sword Master Hannah’s blade was placed gently upon her bed. In Mary’s laboratory, one of her many black robes and a bone from a black wyvern were present. Rosalyn’s magical staff and a top-tier magic stone, a gift from Cale that she hadn’t fully utilized, sat on her desk.
Cale paused, his gaze falling upon a book. <…The majority of those struck by the formidable onslaught of the White Star and his followers perished, their bodies vanishing without a trace.>
<…Consequently, creating graves for many of these valiant heroes proved difficult, as there was nothing to inter.>
“Ha, haha-”
Cale’s empty laughter reverberated through the villa. He opened his mouth. “This is their tomb.” This expansive plaza, situated beneath the Forest of Darkness, served as their final resting place.
Click. Cale opened another door, revealing the rooms where Lock and his siblings had resided. He gently touched the Wolf King’s diary, a gift for Lock, before moving forward. Click. Click.
Beacrox and Ron. He observed the rooms of the formidable father and son. “Ha!” Upon Ron’s bed, an arm rested—the prosthetic limb bestowed by Mary, seemingly left behind after Ron’s demise. Cale closed his eyes, then reopened them, continuing his path.
Click. He entered Eruhaben’s chamber. Then… Click. Upon opening another door, Cale beheld the sword he had gifted Choi Han. It was fractured, only a portion of the hilt remaining intact.
<Choi Han, the hero, met the most cruel of ends. He directly confronted the White Star, luring him away from innocent civilians, only to vanish without a trace after being struck by white lightning.>
<The sole remnant was the hilt of his sword.>
<The author of this account investigated the past of this hero, the youngest sword master ever, who sacrificed himself for others.>
Flip. Flip. Cale continued to turn the pages. <However, no information could be unearthed regarding Choi Han’s history prior to the Roan Kingdom’s Capital Plaza Terror Incident, the event where Cale Henituse first emerged as a hero.>
<It was as if his existence began concurrently with Cale Henituse’s accomplishments.>
<Naturally, these are merely the author’s musings.>
Pat. Pat. Cale lightly tapped his thighs with his fists, a sense of frustration mounting.
<Cale Henituse. It was possible to ascertain the pasts of most heroes who accompanied him.>
<However, the narratives of Choi Han and Raon Miru arguably commenced with Cale Henituse’s initial feat and concluded with his most significant achievement.>
Cale opened his mouth. ‘Who in the world wrote this? What is with these descriptions?’
He had wanted to voice these thoughts, yet no words would emerge.
“Haaaa.”
Taking a deep breath, Cale confirmed his ability to inhale properly before closing his mouth once more.
Bang.
He slammed the book shut and resumed his walk, with only one room remaining.
‘My room.’
Cale made his way toward the uppermost floor of the Super Rock Villa. Since he had dedicated the entire level to his personal quarters, ascending the stairs was necessary.
Reaching his chamber at last, Cale exhaled another deep breath.
“Haaaaa.”
Pat. Pat.
He rhythmically tapped his thighs with his fists as he entered. Immediately, his gaze fell upon the fountain pen and sword he had presented to Basen and Lily. Next, his eyes landed on the possessions of Count Deruth and Countess Violan, indicative of their own fierce struggles, as only their belongings were left behind.
It appeared the Cale of this reality had meticulously gathered his family’s possessions here as well. Cale could empathize with that sentiment; this was a sanctuary known only to him now, a place where he had envisioned spending their future together once all conflicts had concluded. He understood, in that moment, why that Cale would transform this space into their eternal resting place.
“Ha! This is here too.”
A scoff escaped Cale as he noticed the video communication device he used to converse with Alberu Crossman resting on the table. He recalled the information associated with it: <Alberu Crossman. He fought against the White Star, who sought to conquer the capital, and perished.>
Pat. Pat.
Cale’s hands drummed against his thighs again, a self-soothing gesture to maintain his progress. Yet, his steps faltered once more.
His attention was drawn to the top of his bed. “…This is driving me out of my mind.”
A genuine sense of losing his grip on reality washed over him. Three piggy banks sat upon the table. There was no need to inquire about their ownership; they belonged to Raon, On, and Hong. The children’s savings were placed right on the bed.
His hands, which had been patting his thighs, froze mid-air. “…Fuck.”
Cale wrestled with the surge of emotions welling up within his heart. The piggy banks were about half full. He rummaged through his pockets. “…Why am I out of money?”
He yearned to replenish their savings, but his pockets were empty. Cale sank onto the edge of the bed.
Pat. Pat.
This time, his hand rested on the book’s pages. “What must I do to escape this place?”
His voice was remarkably calm as he posed the question, yet his eyes burned red, and his shoulders sagged with weariness. The moment he had dreaded most had arrived. He had believed he would conquer this trial upon confronting it, which was precisely why he had journeyed to the Henituse Estate and subsequently to the Super Rock Villa. He had meticulously examined every trace of the past, convinced it was the path forward to a new future. Cale needed to reunite with those awaiting him.
It was then that a subtle sound reached his ears. Swoooooooosh- Swooooooosh-
The distinct murmur of the wind. Cale turned his head, observing its gentle caress against the windowpane. He walked over and slid it open.
Swooooooooosh- Swoooooooosh-
The wind continued its serenade. It brushed past his face, and Cale’s expression shifted, taking on a peculiar cast. He could discern the wind’s pattern – it flowed from top to bottom, seemingly beckoning him to follow. Cale, his face etched with an exhaustion mirroring Kim Rok Soo’s weariness that had once worried his companions, began to speak.
“You wish for me to follow?”
At that precise moment, a voice echoed within his mind. ‘Can you hear me?’
Cale flinched. It was a voice he had never encountered before. ‘Can you hear me?’ ‘Can he hear us?’ ‘He must hear us!’
It wasn't a singular voice; a multitude suddenly spoke, each tone distinct, all inquiring if Cale could perceive them. Cale glanced downwards.
Tap.
He stepped onto the windowsill, positioning himself there. Swoooooosh- Swooooooosh- The wind gusted from top to bottom, appearing to guide Cale. He looked back, surveying the collection of belongings scattered about. “This is not my future.”
His thoughts turned not to the possessions before him, but to the individuals existing in the true world beyond this dreamscape. ‘Can you hear me, sir?’ ‘Hey, can you hear me?’
The voices persisted, their numbers gradually increasing. Cale had a strong inkling as to their identity. “Wind Elementals.”
He felt their certainty without requiring any external confirmation. Cale turned back to face the window and gazed down at the ground far below the imposing villa. “Haa, how bothersome.”
‘I possess no martial arts skills for a safe descent from such a height. Choi Han isn’t here to catch me. Nor is Raon present to employ flight magic for my transport.’
A faint smile touched Cale’s lips. He tossed the book he held back into the room. Plop.
The book landed softly on the bed. Cale then pushed off the windowsill. Swoooooosh- Swooooooosh-
The wind embraced his form as he plummeted downwards, the Sound of the Wind engulfing his rapidly descending body. Cale closed his eyes. – You have passed the test.
A familiar voice reached Cale’s ears after that message.
– Can you hear me?
– Cale, can you hear me?
– You can hear me, right?
‘Hmm?’
– Answer me.
The thief. The Super Rock. The cheapskate.
Cale’s lips curved into a smile upon hearing these voices echo within his mind.
“I can hear you. Loud and clear.”
His tone sounded surprisingly light. Nonetheless, Cale let out a grumble as his eyes fluttered open.
“How could you create such a terrible test— huh?”
Just as Cale was about to voice his complaint to the thief, he flinched the moment his eyes snapped open.
‘He opened his eyes!’
‘He must have passed the test!’
‘We’ve been watching over you!’
Their voices were audible, though their owners remained unseen. Cale’s gaze fell upon the gold whip he held, its former radiance now diminished.
‘Nice to meet you! It’s wonderful to meet you!’
‘Alright! Finally, someone to talk to! This is awesome!’
The cacophony was overwhelming, as if he were standing in the heart of a bustling marketplace.
‘Do you have any idea how hard I worked to keep you safe?’
However, a particular Elemental’s voice made Cale flinch anew.
These Elementals had been claiming credit for his protection.
‘Now that I think about it—’
A realization dawned on Cale regarding his current predicament.
Before him stood a translucent dome. It was a barrier woven from wind, encircling both him and the jar.
Drip. Drip.
The sound of dripping water met his ears. Cale tilted his head back, observing Raon’s fiery orb still casting its bright glow.
“...Damn it.”
A frown began to crease Cale’s brow.
The temple’s ceiling was showing the first signs of fracturing. Drip. Drip.
A dark liquid began to seep from the ceiling, descending in droplets. Cale lowered his head.
The temple had once been quite immense. Now, however, half of its interior was submerged in the dark liquid.
The temple was steadily filling with dead mana.
‘We’ve been holding it back, but it’s about to explode!’
The Wind Elementals continued their pronouncements. ‘We are currently protecting this temple and the black mountain, but the black mountain will erupt soon!’
‘Then the ocean will turn black!’
‘That’s not the main issue! Everyone will perish!’
Three days. Mercenary King Bud had