Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 490: Death of a God (2)

The law of the hunt.

Cale stared at the Wanderer Ryeon without voicing the words lingering in his mouth.

“When the ones doing the hunting say something like that, it sounds a little different, doesn’t it?”

The hunter families had hunted Single-Borns. And the Wanderer Ryeon belonged to the Five Colored Blood family, which stood at their head.

Cale smiled and tossed the words out.

“Looks like you’ve decided to side with us?”

“......”

Ryeon gave no answer.

A method to kill a god.

The fact that she had mentioned it at all was no different from Ryeon and Cho declaring that they were cutting ties with the Five Colored Blood family.

After all, the third Emperor, Dragon King, was glaring at Ryeon as if he could not suppress his rage and wanted to kill her.

“What are you trembling for?”

Even at Cale’s mocking remark, the third Emperor could say nothing. He merely glared at Ryeon.

“......”

Ryeon’s body trembled faintly under that stare.

However—

“Continue.”

At Cale’s words, she opened her mouth.

But the instant the third Emperor spoke—

“Are you not afraid of the first Emperor?”

“!”

Ryeon could no longer continue. Her words stopped completely.

It was then.

“There is a sacred place in the heavenly realm called Sky Wing!”

“...Cho!”

Ryeon urgently looked at her younger brother.

Holding his sister’s hand, Cho glared at the third Emperor and continued.

“Officially, that place is a closed sacred place, but in reality, they say it is where the celestials keep the tightest defenses. There was information there about the law of the hunt. The first Emperor obtained information there about the erasure of a god!”

“Cho, you little—!”

The third Emperor turned his edge toward Cho.

“What!”

“!”

Cho rammed right into him.

The third Emperor, Ryeon, and even Cale were momentarily taken aback. Cho immediately poured out his words.

“You lost to this human bastard and got beaten half to death by the Demon King! Who the hell do you think you are, saying you’ll kill my sister?”

“Th-that crazy bastard—!”

Regardless of what the third Emperor said, Cho turned his gaze to Cale.

“Hey!”

“What?”

“You’re going to let us live, right?”

“Yeah.”

“!”

Cho was the one who looked flustered when Cale answered without even a moment’s hesitation. But Cale remembered how violently Cho’s eyes had been shaking, in contrast to the shameless way he had asked just now, and spoke.

“Explain more.”

“O-okay.”

Cho gulped and continued.

“But before that, can’t you shut that guy’s mouth?”

Cho pointed at the third Emperor’s mouth.

Cale slowly looked at the Demon King, and the Demon King nodded.

“Mmph, mmph!”

Soon, even the third Emperor’s mouth had restraints placed over it, and he was forced to quietly listen to their conversation while bound in restraints that not even a god could undo.

His eyes were bloodshot with rage, but no one cared.

Truly, no one cared.

The divine realm and the Demon World. Countless dimensions. The third Emperor was one of the top three of the hunter family that influenced all those places.

And truly, no one cared about him.

“Human, eat!”

Munch, munch.

Cale put the piece of steak Raon gave him into his mouth and chewed.

“......”

The third Emperor’s eyes went from rage, past hollow disbelief, until they lost their light.

Cho, who had been watching that, let out a sigh and began the real story.

“The one holding all the information about the law of the hunt is the first Emperor. I’ll only tell you what we know.”

Sky Wing, the sacred place of the heavenly realm.

“Sky Wing looks as though it has been sealed off, but in truth, they say it is the place the celestials guard most thoroughly. The first Emperor infiltrated that place and came into contact with the law of the hunt. And he learned the method to kill a god.”

Cale’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Came into contact with it?

It was a somewhat strange expression.

“We don’t know the details of that process either. However, the part my sister mentioned earlier was said to be written there as the explanation of the law of the hunt.”

Nothing is eternal.

All living beings have natural enemies. Gods are the same.

The principle created the world and gods, then scattered seeds throughout the world to kill gods. This has no form, and it is a law made by the principle. When a god’s arrogance crosses the line, that law will inevitably activate.

Thus, it is called the law of the hunt.

As Cale recalled what Ryeon had said, Cho continued.

“A god does not disappear even if its heart is torn apart.”

Well, even the God of Death had said he would not die despite being in that wretched state.

“Then how can a god be killed? The answer to that was quite simple.”

Grin.

The corners of Cho’s mouth rose.

“You just need to possess a seed carrying a certain possibility, that power.”

The principle created the world and gods, then scattered seeds throughout the world to kill gods.

And those seeds germinated when a god acted arrogantly, when a god crossed the line, and began to grow that possibility.

“What is that possibility?”

At Cale’s question, Cho stared straight at him. His gaze examined Cale, as though searching for something, making Cale’s brow furrow. Before Cale could say anything, Cho’s mouth opened first.

“Cale Henituse. Why do you think this law is called the law of the hunt, of all things?”

Cale paused.

The reason the name of the law was, of all things, the law of the hunt.

One step, then another.

Cho approached him.

Then he looked at the table set before Cale. Staring at the food Cale had been eating, he opened his mouth.

“Cale Henituse. Hunting. Why do we hunt?”

Ah.

In that instant, Cale felt a chill run down his back. He felt as though he understood something.

The law of the hunt.

The reason it bore that name.

Cho’s low voice reached Cale’s ear.

“What do you think is the most fundamental, primal, instinctive reason a hunter catches prey?”

Cho’s gaze was still fixed on the dining table.

That was how Cale realized it.

That was it.

The answer lay at the end of that gaze.

Cho tossed the words out.

“To eat it.”

The reason for hunting.

It was to eat.

Cho’s gaze shifted from the dining table to Cale.

“Cale Henituse. You were said to have the talent to kill gods, right?”

Cho murmured as if whispering.

“That means you can eat gods.”

Cale heard someone behind him inhale sharply. It was probably Strategist Ed or the commander of the royal guard. But Cho’s words had seized all of Cale’s attention too completely for him to care about such sounds.

The talent to kill gods.

It meant the possibility of being able to eat gods.

Cho stared fixedly at Cale and spoke.

“A god won’t die even if its heart is ripped out. But if it gets eaten? If its very existence gets eaten?”

If that happened—

“Then that existence is erased. It’s gone.”

Ha, ha.

This time, Cale heard the Demon King laughing behind him. The Demon King’s laughter sounded as if he found it absurd, or perhaps interesting, and a strange heat could be felt in his voice.

In contrast, Cale’s gaze sank deep. Cho stepped back, leaving one calm sentence with him.

“So you possess the possibility of eating gods.”

When had the ancient site of the demon god reacted to Cale?

The Water that Devours the Sky.

When that water had tried to go beyond Cale’s limits and face the third Emperor, the ancient site of the demon god had reacted to Cale.

And—

The Water that Devours the Sky. That power had named herself the Water that Devours the Sky in order to devour the sky, to defeat a god—more precisely, the God of War.

The God of War.

He had called the Water that Devours the Sky the water that judges, imposed limits on her, and imprisoned her beneath a lake.

What the God of War had done to her was control and oppression, not something that could be called cherishing her talent.

Why did he go that far?

Whenever that thought had occurred to him, he had not found an answer. But Cale felt as though he might have faintly grasped that answer today.

The God of War.

That damned god Cale had never met, but who was currently said to be siding with the God of Chaos and helping turn the divine realm into a mess.

Perhaps that bastard knew about the law of the hunt.

That might have been why he had done such a thing to the Water that Devours the Sky.

It’s all conjecture, but it’s not groundless conjecture.

Cale briefly organized his thoughts.

The expressions of those watching him were truly varied.

Mm.

In particular, Cho, the very person who had spoken, swallowed a groan and observed Cale intensely.

He has it, doesn’t he? He really has the power to eat gods!

Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to make such a meaningful expression.

Look at that frown!

Cale’s expression gradually grew more serious.

The Wanderer Cho, Strategist Ed, and even the third Emperor, Dragon King, began to harden their faces along with Cale.

—Heh heh.

At that moment, Cale had no choice but to listen to the voice of the Water that Devours the Sky.

She possessed diction quite unlike her clear voice.

—So, that means I really can beat the shit out of a god? That damned God of War? Khahahaha!

Ugh.

Noisy.

Cale automatically let out a sigh at her hopelessly hearty laughter.

It was then.

“Will you kill a god?”

Hm?

Cale realized he had to answer the words the Demon King had thrown at him, seeing the way the Demon King was looking at him. The Demon King’s gaze somehow looked murderous, so Cale quickly answered with whatever came out of his mouth.

“Are you crazy? Why would I fight a god?”

The Demon King’s eyebrow twitched. He did so without expression, and Cale remembered how the Demon King had beaten the third Emperor and quickly opened his mouth.

This bastard before him. This was the one who had beaten a being with power comparable to a god like dust flying on a rainy day.

“No, of course, I do have some things to settle with the God of Chaos and a few other gods. Mm. Well, I can’t exactly give you a definite answer about what I’m going to do.”

The more he spoke, the more it felt as if he was rambling.

“I don’t intend to fight anyone if I can help it. I just want to live peacefully, if possible.”

Yes. Peace! What a beautiful word.

If it had not been for these damned hunters and the issue with the God of Chaos, he would already have gone to the Forest of Darkness in Henituse territory and repeated a life of sleeping, eating, and resting.

Ah, seriously—

Truly.

“The more I think about it, the more wronged I feel.”

Cale felt rather wronged.

“Where would you find someone who likes peace as much as I do?”

Why did someone like him have to suffer like this?

Irritation welled up in Cale.

“......”

“......”

No one said anything. Cale paid not the slightest attention to that and spoke to the Demon King, who was still looking at him—though his gaze was now somehow strange in a way it had not been before.

“Of course, I’ll create a battlefield that won’t bore you. Because that’s the only way this can go.”

Cale sent the Demon King a look asking if that much satisfied him, then turned his head at the hand tapping him.

“Human, when you’re stressed, you have to eat!”

“This is good too!”

Munch, munch.

Cale shoved the food Raon and Hong were taking care to give him into his mouth. Ron the servant watched this with a pleased expression and handed Cale a handkerchief. Cale wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth and spoke.

“I’m going to start purification again tomorrow.”

Ah.

Strategist Ed reacted to those words.

“Do you mean the Demon World-wide purification tour?”

Mm.

Cale momentarily heard it as a Demon World-wide performance tour and answered while vowing that such a thing would absolutely never happen.

“Yeah. So I’d like to go to the ancient site of the demon god tonight.”

The ancient site of the demon god.

Cale needed to learn about that gray light that had amplified his power without any side effects.

Strategist Ed, receiving Cale’s gaze, opened his mouth.

However, someone else answered first.

“I will go with you.”

“Huh?”

The corners of the Demon King’s mouth rose subtly.

“It sounds entertaining.”

“Uh, mm. Sure?”

Cale felt uneasy, but there was no particular reason not to go with the Demon King.

What about this sounds entertaining?

Of course, Cale did not really understand what the Demon King meant.

“Ah. And.”

Even so, Cale was the type to make sure he did what needed to be done.

“Are you guys going to deal with the third Emperor?”

At Cale’s question, the Demon King nodded.

“After we obtain information from him, we will handle him as we see fit. The third Emperor’s name will never be heard outside this prison again.”

“!”

The third Emperor’s face turned white as he understood the meaning behind those words, but regardless of whether he did or not, not a single person cared.

*****

“Savior—!”

“Savior—!”

“Savior—!”

The moment Cale arrived at the entrance to the ancient site in his wheelchair, he saw the Gray Tree clan throwing their entire bodies to the ground as though hurling themselves down in bows, crying out to him.

“Huhu.”

The Demon King was laughing behind him.

Cale felt as though he now knew what the Demon King had meant by entertaining.

Young Master Silver Shield!

Silver Shield—!

For a moment, he remembered the people of the Roan Kingdom who had cheered for him.

Somehow, this welcome seemed even more desperate than that.

Somehow, the eyes looking at him seemed even more blind and fervent than that.

Cale avoided the Gray Tree clan’s gazes and looked toward one corner with a strange expression.

Right?

—Yeah. That’s right.

The Water that Devours the Sky answered.

—That’s the water dragon.

Near the entrance to the ancient site of the demon god, in an extremely secluded corner.

Something cautiously lifted its head over a small puddle there.

The Dragon King’s water dragon.

The thing that had lost most of its power, that creature now the size of a thread snake, lifted its head slightly and looked at Cale.

—Its eyes are... quite desperate, aren’t they?

And they were looking at him with extremely desperate, plaintive eyes.

What is that?

Cale wondered what was going on.

And at that same time—

“At last!”

“He is coming!”

The Demon World-wide purification ritual tour that would begin tomorrow.

News of it spread throughout the Demon World.

“Prepare a grand welcome! We can finally be freed from the gray sickness!”

“To think we will witness the legend of gray rain!”

“He is the one chosen by the demon god! We must receive him with utmost care!”

The demons could not hide their joy at the news.

They were suppressing the gray sickness as well as they possibly could, but that did not mean the fear had vanished. On the contrary, their fear of the disease had grown even stronger because they could imagine the tragedy that would unfold in the future if it could not be purified.

In the midst of that came joyful news.

“The residents will be overjoyed when they hear this!”

“My lord, the residents say they want to go out and welcome him on their own!”

“Tell the families of the infected as well. A miracle will soon come!”

Bright voices and faces full of anticipation appeared everywhere.

“By the way, I heard he said he would perform purification immediately after waking?”

“Truly, he is a benevolent person. At this point, even if he is human, shouldn’t we grant him some sort of position?”

“A position?”

“He saved the entire Demon World. A mere commendation or medal would not be enough.”

“That’s true. Mm. A position—perhaps a noble title?”

“Shouldn’t we do at least that much? At this point, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} his family should be elevated as a family of meritorious service.”

“That is true.”

The legend of gray rain.

As they waited for the one who had created that legend, discussions and talks of repaying his grace unfolded across the Demon World.

At that same time, unaware of this, Cale heard the priest speak with utmost courtesy.

“Savior. The demon god awaits you.”

At the same time, a voice sounded in Cale’s ear.

—...You have come again... one who possesses the talent to kill gods......

That voice spoke a little shyly.

—I missed you... very much......

What the hell.

The instant Cale heard that shy voice, goosebumps suddenly rose all over him. His expression immediately turned sour.