Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 436: One Man, Two Roles, and Chaos in the Demon World (11)
Previously on Trash of the Count's Family...
Raon.
“Human, Sui Khan only injured his arm, but you were coughing up blood all over the place and passing out. What do you think people feel when they watch that? Human, do you ever think about the emotions other people might have?”
Hong.
“I’m curious whether you’re actually in any position to be saying that.”
And finally—
“...Honestly.”
On let out another sigh.
Cale pressed his lips tightly together and thought,
No, why are these kids so good with words?
The vocabulary Raon and Hong were using was genuinely surprising.
Then again, they’re smart.
At this point, it honestly felt like they were all better at talking than he was.
Heh.
Then he heard laughter.
“Hehe.”
Sui Khan was eating another slice of apple pie while laughing.
The moment their eyes met, he kept grinning like he thought this was all hysterically funny.
“......”
Just as Cale’s face was about to crumple—
“Sui Khan.”
Raon spoke in a low voice.
“Does this look like the time to be laughing?”
Sui Khan faltered.
Regardless, Hong quietly padded over to his side and tapped his leg with a front paw.
“This is not the time to laugh.”
“……”
Sui Khan stopped smiling.
“Honestly.”
On sighed again, and neither Cale nor Sui Khan could laugh anymore.
Something awkward and sour hung all over their expressions, but neither of them could say anything.
“We’re being careful too so we don’t get hurt.”
That was because of On’s final remark.
“……”
“……”
Neither of the two men could say a word.
“You need to know how to take care of your own body.”
At On’s continued rebuke, the two of them were once again left speechless, and their shoulders shrank ever so slightly.
Seeing that, On stopped talking.
Because of what had entered her view.
“The blood isn’t stopping.”
“Mm! This is a problem!”
On and Raon both turned serious, and Cale’s expression darkened too.
The wound on Sui Khan’s arm was not grievous.
It was not a deep cut, nor was it a stack of overlapping wounds.
Ordinarily, it was not the kind of injury one would call severe.
Just once.
And it had been a clean slice, not even that deep, which made it clear that even in an urgent moment, Sui Khan had done his best to protect his own body.
“You said he was around Choi Jung Soo’s level, right?”
“Yeah.”
Staring at the blood slowly staining through the tightly wrapped bandage again, Sui Khan opened his mouth.
“I failed to dodge one attack by mistake, and it turned out like this.”
His lips were blue, and his face had gone paper white.
He looked like he had chills.
No matter how shallow the wound was—
“But no matter how much I try to stop the bleeding, it won’t stop.”
Blood was still flowing, which meant the situation was urgent.
Cale and Sui Khan were acting calm, but this was not the kind of situation where calm made sense.
Glancing out into the dark night, Cale spoke.
“Hmm. Is it swordsmanship, or an ability?”
This wound that would not stop bleeding.
Was it the power of the opponent’s swordsmanship? Or an ability?
If it was swordsmanship, there was a high chance it was a technique of the Order of the God of Chaos, which meant it was something they had to be careful of.
“I don’t know.”
Sui Khan shook his head.
“The sample size is too small.”
There was not enough evidence yet to make a judgment.
“Hmm.”
Just as Cale sank briefly into thought—
“What about Choi Jung Soo?”
At Sui Khan’s sudden question, Cale answered without hesitation.
“He’s missing.”
“Did Choi Han go?”
“Yes.”
“The Demon World?”
“Yes. North. He mentioned that the Order of the God of Chaos was in the Demon World, and then contact was cut off.”
At that moment, Cale’s gaze met Sui Khan’s.
The Demon World.
The Order of the God of Chaos.
As Sui Khan rolled those key words back through his mind, he opened his mouth.
“Isn’t it here?”
Right then—
“Cale.”
Clopeh’s voice emerged out of the darkness, forcing them to stop talking for a moment.
The moment Cale saw him, he asked,
“That took a while.”
Clopeh had been gone for two hours.
“I apologize.”
But it was not a rebuke.
It had taken longer than expected, yes, but there was reason for that.
“Did you find a route?”
Where should they take the injured Sui Khan?
Cale had considered it and come up with an answer almost immediately.
Dioriel.
He had decided they should enter the city with the lord’s castle.
Because the current Demon King’s close aides are there.
Which meant it would be seriously troublesome if Cale’s identity or the existence of the mediator group was exposed to them.
Still—
The Order of the God of Chaos and the Five Colored Blood hunters won’t be able to run wild there either.
From the look of things right now—
the Order of the God of Chaos and the Five Colored Blood Wanderers each had their own hidden agendas.
Which means the Demon King is the one most likely to get stabbed in the back.
So the Order of the God of Chaos and the Wanderers would both be trying to avoid the Demon King’s notice.
Staying close to the Demon King’s trusted aides seemed the most logical approach to evade enemy detection.
“Yes.”
Cale offered a nod in response to Clopeh’s concise reply.
Earlier in the night, Cale had tasked Clopeh with devising a method to get Sui Khan within the city’s perimeter.
Dioriel was reputedly a place with considerable nighttime freedom, but...
Since the disappearance of the previous lord, Count Lupe, entry after dark had become restricted, requiring authorization through the mining or commercial sectors.
Given that Cale’s group were outsiders, a rigorous verification would undoubtedly be imposed if they attempted nighttime entry.
And with the Team Leader present—
Quiet and clandestine infiltration, followed by securing lodging, was the preferable course of action.
This was why Cale had instructed Clopeh to either smuggle them over the walls or find an alternative strategy.
“Please, follow me.”
Clopeh had indeed found a solution.
“Everyone is quite weary, so I’ve selected the most secure and convenient approach—one that will benefit us moving forward.”
“Excellent.”
Cale followed silently behind him.
Observing Clopeh’s unhesitating guidance, Cale mused,
He truly possesses a remarkable capability for execution.
Clopeh’s methods offered a distinct effectiveness that couldn't be expected from individuals like Choi Han or Rosalyn.
Frankly, simply employing Raon’s magic to circumvent the wall would have been a viable option. Invisibility was another.
“......”
“......”
Thus, the group proceeded in silence until—
“......”
Cale found himself utterly speechless.
“Ahem. Hm!”
A guard stationed at the eastern gate cleared his throat—
*Slip.*
Clopeh discreetly passed a small pouch.
“Ahem!”
The guard peeked inside, visibly startled, then turned to his colleague with a broad grin.
The other guard mirrored his smile and extended a hand.
*Creeeak.*
A small auxiliary door adjacent to the main city gate creaked open.
This was a modest entrance primarily used by the guards.
*Smile.*
With a polite smile, Clopeh traversed the doorway with unhurried grace.
“......”
“......”
“......”
“......”
Cale, Sui Khan, and the kittens followed him, their expressions a mixture of bewilderment.
Then—
“Ah, just a moment.”
One of the guards retrieved something from his coat.
It was a collection of documents.
“Here you are.”
“Thank you.”
Clopeh offered a courteous bow of thanks before producing another pouch from his attire and presenting it.
“Ahem. Hm!”
The guards’ smiles widened considerably.
“……”
Cale observed the exchange with a blank stare before resuming his pace, following Clopeh’s gesture.
Shortly thereafter, they entered a residential area and halted before a nondescript, moderately sized dwelling.
“Ahem.”
An elderly man stood waiting and greeted Clopeh as if they were acquainted.
*Slip.*
Clopeh, once more, retrieved a pouch from within his clothing and handed it over.
“Gasp!”
The old man’s eyes widened dramatically upon inspecting the contents.
As he looked up in astonishment, Clopeh simply placed an index finger to his lips, whispering,
“Shh.”
That solitary utterance was sufficient.
*Nod.*
The old man nodded solemnly, passed a key to Clopeh, and then vanished.
He didn’t even cast a glance at Cale’s group.
*Creeeak.*
Utilizing the key, Clopeh unlocked the door and entered the cozy, inviting interior of the house.
Basic furnishings were present, yet it lacked the personal effects and lived-in ambiance of an actual home.
“...Hey, you—”
Cale intended to pose a question.
What exactly did you accomplish in those two hours?
And from where did you acquire such funds—
Cale then had a realization.
Correct. He is quite wealthy, isn’t he?
Clopeh Sekka.
He was the heir to a highly esteemed noble lineage within the Paerun Kingdom.
He possessed considerable wealth.
Judging by their appearance, the pouches contained gold, silver, or valuable gems.
Cale found himself impressed by the thoroughness of Clopeh’s preparations.
“...How do you even know these individuals?”
In response to Cale’s query, Clopeh offered a smile and elaborated,
“This is a realm where its leader vanished a year ago—”
The lord had disappeared.
“Consequently, avaricious individuals would inevitably flourish.”
As if stating the most self-evident fact, Clopeh calmly remarked that corruption had likely begun to permeate Dioriel.
“...Hmm.”
Cale had no counterargument.
It was a rather logical conclusion.
It was simply—
None of Cale’s companions operated in a comparable fashion.
“Even if it entailed additional time and expense, I believed the most secure and comfortable strategy would be optimal.”
Two hours.
Clopeh had achieved a remarkable amount in that span.
No, how on earth had he managed to arrange even a residence within a mere two hours?
This individual is truly astonishing, wouldn't you agree?
Cale found himself impressed.
However, the spectacle was far from over.
Slip.
The sheaf of documents Cale had been handed by the guards earlier.
A total of three bound stacks.
Clopeh Sekka unfurled two of them upon the table.
“Hah—”
Cale was utterly taken aback.
The translation enchantment woven by Aurora’s mages took effect, drawing Cale’s gaze towards Clopeh.
“You deranged lunatic—”
Words failed him beyond that.
The first document bordered on classified information.
The second was intelligence one might acquire with considerable effort.
Yet, both were exceedingly difficult to obtain at this juncture.
And their importance to Cale was immeasurable.
This was because Cale was planning to orchestrate a grand upheaval by manipulating all three simultaneously—
the Order of the God of Chaos,
the Demon King,
and the Wanderers.
“……”
As Cale regarded Clopeh with a complex expression, Clopeh spoke, maintaining a subtle smile.
He then loosened the bindings on the final stack of papers.
“I procured this for your intentions, Cale.”
Rustle.
That concluding bundle.
“Hah!”
Cale was rendered speechless.
“Your insanity is unparalleled.”
It was a compliment, unequivocally.
Truly.
The names of the collateral kin dwelling within that ancient fortress were now within Cale’s possession.
You gathered all of this in merely two hours?
At Cale’s dumbfounded stare, Clopeh offered a straightforward explanation.
“I deployed a considerable sum of jewels.”
Wealth.
That was his concise reply.
“In my youth, my family’s sole tutelage was in the art of expenditure.”
The Sekka lineage.
Clopeh had simply mastered the principles of spending bestowed by his family, subsequently applying them with great efficacy.
Coinage and statecraft were inextricably linked.
And Clopeh Sekka, possessing a notably keen political acumen, had not overlooked this fundamental truth.
“Hah—”
Cale emitted a laugh.
“……”
Clopeh simply observed him in quiet contemplation.
Perceiving the sentiment within that gaze, Cale exhaled a soft chuckle and stated,
“You have performed admirably.”
A subtle luminescence flickered in Clopeh’s eyes, and observing it, Cale continued.
He spoke with genuine conviction.
“I believe my decision to include you was indeed correct.”
“!”
Pure elation suffused Clopeh’s eyes.
For he had discerned the sincerity embedded in Cale’s tone.
“Hehe.”
Unable to contain his delight, Clopeh released a low, mirthful sound.
“Heh.”
And Cale, his gaze fixed on the documents in his hands, found himself unable to suppress his own laughter.
“Hehe! Looking at the lord’s castle patrol schedule, I believe it will be simpler to proceed with robbing Count Lupe’s hidden treasury!”
“Hehe! It certainly will! We can formulate a plan forthwith!”
“Hehe. Let us first calmly peruse all the gathered intelligence.”
The usually composed children, now around ten years of age, were also brimming with excitement.
“……”
Sui Khan quietly absorbed the unfolding scene before directing his attention toward the window.
They are peculiar.
These individuals were undeniably peculiar.
Yet, he found himself unable to articulate his thoughts.
For the usually composed children abruptly escorted him into the bedroom.
The sole chamber furnished with a bed.
Sui Khan was compelled to recline on the bed and remain quiescently beneath the covers.
“So the hemorrhaging persists even after treatment.”
The expression in Clopeh’s eyes was unnerving.
Clopeh, having grasped that he was beginning to earn Cale’s approbation, exhibited a gaze blazing with fierce determination.
His eyes flashed as he declared to Cale,
“I shall retrieve both a curative method and pertinent intelligence.”
With an unprecedented brilliance in his eyes, Clopeh departed the dwelling.
He dissipated into the encroaching darkness, practically radiating with potent energy.
Gazing absently after his departure, Sui Khan perceived a voice.
“So.”
It was Cale.
“How did you sustain your injury?”
His question was directed at Sui Khan.
And the Team Leader did not resort to evasiveness.
“The Order of the God of Chaos intends to subsume the Demon World by exploiting the corruption of chaos, thereby fabricating an entity known as the gray sickness.”
He cut directly to the core of the matter.
“Currently, they have merely disseminated gray sickness seeds, but their plan is to instigate a grand eruption across the entirety of the Demon World, subsequently expanding their dominion here by offering a cure themselves. The genesis point for this outbreak is likely within this city, Dioriel, and the timing is anticipated to coincide with the selection period for the new lord.”
“!”
On’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“I witnessed an entire hamlet eradicated in a propagation test for the gray sickness seeds, and I confess, I rather lost control.”
He offered a sheepish smile and glanced down at his own appendage.
“Thus, I incurred this injury. Haha.”
However, the smile swiftly vanished from his countenance, and he inquired of Cale,
“Did you manage to rescue Choi Jung Gun?”
Choi Jung Gun had succumbed to the chaos's corruption.
Behind the question of whether a way to save him had been discovered, another query loomed: could the gray sickness also be cured?
As if the answer were self-evident, Cale responded,
“Yes. I saved him.”
The corner of Team Leader Sui Khan’s mouth curved into a smile once more.
Gazing down at his own wound, he made no effort to conceal the glint within his eyes.
Releasing a low chuckle, he stated languidly,
“Then we can dash every last one of those bastards' plans to ruin.”
Cale, meanwhile, had a thought,
He's furious.
Team Leader Sui Khan—his eyes were completely unfocused.
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo, who had perished, leaving only Kim Rok Soo behind.
Lee Soo Hyuk, whom he had only just managed to reunite with, now inhabited a new body.
A child's body, no less.
And now that body was wounded, the bleeding relentless.
Observing Team Leader Sui Khan's grin, his face unnaturally pale, Cale's heart pounded with an intensity he hadn't realized.
*****
Morning arrived, and Cale proceeded towards the lord's castle accompanied by Clopeh Sekka.
“Inform me if Choi Han makes contact.”
Naturally, this directive was given to Raon before his departure.
“Second Brother.”
Fully immersed in his role, Clopeh Sekka addressed him in a gentle tone.
Today, Cale and Clopeh Sekka were slated to meet the current Demon King's close confidants and orchestrate an event.
If circumstances permitted, their intention was to subsequently visit the ancient castle, openly and boldly.