Trash of the Count's Family - Book 2: Chapter 366: Strongest Under the Heavens (4)
<Strongest Under the Heavens (4)>
“Young master-nim, did you pass?”
Cale frivolously walked over and looked at the Heavenly Demon.
“Pfft.”
The Heavenly Demon looked at Cale, who probably thought that he was acting frivolously but actually looked more like a precious young master fooling around, nonchalantly answered.
“Of course.”
–!
The people nearby flinched or looked toward Cale and the Heavenly Demon.
“…….”
The Knight of Abundance who was waiting for the next group… She looked at the Heavenly Demon as well.
“For real? You didn’t just give up?”
“Didn’t that group just go in? But he’s already out?”
The people waiting could not hide their shock and discussed with the people around them.
“…Who is that person?”
“Look into that person’s identity!”
Some people were going to stealthily look into the Heavenly Demon’s identity.
Some of them were participants but others were people from the factions of participants.
“There’s no way he would be lying right outside the testing ground. You must find some information on this person.”
Over the past few days, some people had been lying about their results in this test.
They were all captured by the Lan Kingdom’s Palace Guards and banished from the kingdom.
That was why nobody would have the balls to lie about the results of their qualifications test, and…
“… You truly-”
One person started to speak and everybody looked in the direction of the voice.
“Are strong.”
Once the statement finished…
“-!”
“……!”
People could not hide their shocks.
Someone who was waiting with the Knight of Abundance for the next group…
A woman with a spear as tall as herself on her back…
From the Snow Flower Sect, one of the Lan Kingdom’s Five Great Factions…
The sect leader’s younger sister was participating from this Sect.
And that younger sister was the woman who just spoke.
Hyun Seong was the name of this woman who looked to be in her mid-forties.
The way everybody looked at the Heavenly Demon changed after realizing that he got the spearwoman, who had not said anything and had not shown any interest in her surroundings, to speak.
“…….”
The Heavenly Demon was also looking at her.
– Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon! That woman was looking at you even before you walked into your test earlier!
He heard the invisible Raon’s bright voice in his mind.
The Heavenly Demon had been aware of this as well.
“Kim Hae-Yi.”
Hyun Seong spoke the Heavenly Demon’s name.
Truth be told, she had looked as if she was not interested in anything but had been watching everything with her senses alert.
‘Seong. This is an opportunity.’
Her older sister…
As the sect leader mentioned, this was a chance to spread the name of their Snow Flower Sect.
She could not miss this, and this competition was something that Hyun Seong herself wanted to make sure she won.
‘I’m sorry. I know you have your own wishes and desires.’
Her sister, the sect leader, had chosen a successor.
Hyun Seong was currently the number 2 figure in the Snow Flower Sect, and once the successor arose to the sect leader position and became number 1, she would be pushed to the back.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
She was too young to remain as number 2 and be pushed aside.
The Snow Flower Sect. For my hometown and my people.
And for my own future.
This competition was extremely important to Hyun Seong.
That was the reason her senses were extremely alert.
‘The Sword Ghost.’
A true martial artist, one of the few foreigners she respected.
She had come a bit earlier than her own testing time after learning that he was in this group before hers.
She then saw it.
‘That group-’
She had not focused only on Kim Hae-Yi.
‘The attendant and the guard.’
They were strong as well.
When the Sword Ghost stared at the guard and the guard had placed his hand on his scabbard…
Hyun Seong got chills all over her body.
An extremely wild nature was felt from this guard.
She felt like she was looking at a soldier who followed no set rule but had passed through the boundary of life and death numerous times.
And Kim Hae-Yi, the man who had told the guard to relax…
‘It was silent.’
It was similar to the eye of the storm.
While she felt wild nature coming from the calm looking guard, from Kim Hae-Yi-
‘The Dark Pulse.’
Those crazy bastards who followed no laws, daos and cared only for strength without thinking about good or evil…
It made her think of the alliance leader of the Dark Pulse.
Gulp.
She subconsciously gulped.
The reason was simple.
‘I can’t tell.’
Both the guard and Kim Hae-Yi…
She could not tell how strong these two people were.
The man making her think of the alliance leader of the Dark Pulse…
Was he weaker than the alliance leader?
‘I can’t tell.’
She truly could not tell.
She could not fathom these two people at all.
However-
‘That attendant.’
For some odd reason, this attendant kept catching her attention.
He did not look strong.
His body was too unsightly to have followed a path of martial arts.
Of course, he looked like he had swung some swords when he was younger, but only his body looked like it. He still looked feeble.
‘So why-’
Why from this attendant-
‘The Dao of Zen Temple.’
The people pursuing the dao…
Those bastards who bury themselves in nature to train…
But also get involved with everything that happens in the world…
Why was this attendant making her think of them?
‘I don’t know.’
She couldn’t figure out this attendant either.
But this attendant let out a scent she could not explain.
Was it the scent of nature?
Maybe she was completely mistaken?
Hyun Seong could not easily answer.
However, she could come to a conclusion.
‘They have a true identity they are hiding.’
The Heavenly Demon started speaking at that moment.
“Why are you not saying anything after having called my name?”
Hyun Seong snapped back to her senses.
She then quickly and respectfully answered.
“Next time, I hope that someday I get to observe your martial arts.”
“Observe-”
An odd smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon’s face.
“Not fight but only observe?”
The Heavenly Demon. On the outside, he looked much younger than Hyun Seong. But seeing him speaking so casually like this and Hyun Seong being respectful toward him despite being the older one… People felt something was odd.
“…….”
As the Knight of Abundance quietly watched…
A calm smile formed on Hyun Seong’s face.
“Personally sparring against you would be entertaining as well.”
The Heavenly Demon nodded with that odd smile still on his face.
“It would indeed be entertaining as well.”
He turned around.
“See you in the main tournament.”
He then started to walk.
“Young master-nim, please let me show you the way to the inn!”
Cale quickly stuck next to the Heavenly Demon.
“I’m not going to cause any issues.”
Cale snorted at the Heavenly Demon’s comment.
The Heavenly Demon stared at Cale for a bit before looking around.
The gazes directed at him…
‘This is great.’
He was taking in this moment.
‘This is a first.’
This was his first time in a situation like this since he was born.
The people here did not know him.
Neither the Demon Cult nor the position of Heavenly Demon was tied to Kim Hae-Yi.
That was the reason they could dare to talk about going up against him.
‘How entertaining.’
Both the Sword Ghost and Hyun Seong…
Some of the others as well…
They were all wary of him but did not cast away their competitive spirit.
‘There are actually a decent number of good martial artists here.’
The Lan Kingdom.
He liked this place quite a bit.
“…This is not good.”
It might become his true desires if it goes like this.
“What did you say?”
The Heavenly Demon shook his head at Cale’s insolent question.
‘I want them.’
The Heavenly Demon was starting to get a bit greedy after seeing the life in the eyes of the martial artists.
– Human, the Heavenly Demon looks like he is going to cause some trouble.
‘I know, right?!’
Cale and Raon’s gazes slowly became sharper as they watched the Heavenly Demon.
‘Mm.’
As for Choi Han, he was checking on the people behind these spectators who were stealthily following them.
“Just ignore them.”
‘Yeah. I’m leaving them alone on purpose.”
Choi Han dutifully played his role while not really listening to what the Heavenly Demon and Cale were saying.
‘Choi Han, Heavenly Demon. I’m sure that wanderers will be participating in this test as well.’
‘If we are right about the Lan Kingdom being the arrangement for the Blood Demon and the Blue Bloods, the enemies would not want to lose this opportunity to someone else who doesn’t know about it.’
‘It is also possible that there is something in the Lan Kingdom that even the Queen does not know about. Something important that only the wanderers know about. That may be why they were planning on leaving this kingdom to the Blood Demon.’
The wanderers of the Five Colors Bloods.
The enemies aiming for them, the ones who had turned Choi Jung Gun into his current terrible situation.
Now that only the Five Colors Bloods and Transparent Bloods were left, Choi Han could not accept even the slightest of mistakes because he let his guard down.
“Mm.”
Choi Han suddenly felt a bit awkward.
“Just let him be.”
He slightly nodded his head at the Heavenly Demon’s comment.
“…….”
The Sword Ghost, who had quickly come out of the test after the Heavenly Demon…
He was following the Heavenly Demon at about ten steps behind.
* * *
“Ugh!”
The Dark Pulse.
The place that had all sorts of weird martial artists because they didn’t care about justice, dao, laws, or anything else other than strength.
“Ugh!”
The head of the Dark Pulse that confronted the Cooperative Alliance…
Alliance Leader Pao Seo Tae.
His face was currently shoved on the ground.
“Ugh!”
He was putting power into his head to push off this foot that was stepping on him, but he couldn’t raise his head. All he could do was turn his head to look up at the person stepping on him.
“Why are you doing something so useless?”
Pao Seo Tae could see the brightly smiling little girl.
“You were planning on giving up-”
“Ugh.”
The girl put some more strength into her foot.
Alliance leader Pao Seo Tae felt a power he could not resist against, a pressure that felt as if Mt. Tai was suppressing him.
He felt as if his head would explode.
‘It is useless.’
He could not defeat this little girl at all.
If there was a Martial God, it would be this little girl.
Even in her prime, Queen Tamahi had been like dust in front of this little girl as well.
“Obediently do your best and participate in the competition if you don’t want to see the Dark Pulse disappear.”
The little girl moved her foot from Pao Seo Tae’s head and crouched down.
They made eye contact.
“And do as I say. Obediently.”
Pao Seo Tae’s face scowled with humiliation.
He could not pull himself up despite the foot no longer pushing down his head. He asked her a question.
“…Why me?”
The Dark Pulse had originally not planned on participating in this competition.
Of course, anybody who wished to participate could do so, but the Dark Pulse had no plans on sending anybody out.
That was the reason Pao Seo Tae was asking the girl.
“Hoo hoo.”
The girl laughed and answered.
“Because the Dark Pulse can do so.”
Plop.
She dropped a document in front of Pao Seo Tae.
It was a list of the mysterious or faction-less participants for the qualifications test that people had been talking about.
“Who would say anything about the Dark Pulse, with its terrible reputation, killing a few of the participants?
“Pfft.” The little girl laughed out loud.
“The Lan Kingdom never said anything about protecting the lives of the participants other than when they are in the competition grounds.”
‘They sure are.’
“Take care of them quietly.”
And even if they got caught in the process…
“Well, even if they find out, you are the Dark Pulse. So it should be fine.”
Pao Seo Tae opened his mouth to speak.
“The Dark Pulse, is not a place that does such cowardly and shameful thi- ugh!”
A pressure that suppressed his whole body…
Pao Seo Tae could not continue talking.
All he could see was a green-colored aura.
This green aura suppressing him…
He couldn’t tell what was within it, but it was definitely terrible.
“How many times will you make me say it?”
The girl spoke as if she was frustrated.
“Just do as you are told.”
She then continued speaking in a warm tone once again.
“I’ll see you next time.”
Pao Seo Tae could feel the aura suppressing him disappear.
He raised his head.
Nobody was there.
“…….”
He was alone in the central room of the safe house he had procured in the Lan Kingdom’s capital.
“How-”
How had the Dark Pulse ended up like this?
“Fuck.”
Pao Seo Tae, the Dark Pulse’s young leader…
He wanted to change the Dark Pulse.
No, he wanted to return it to the beginning.
Martial Arts.
He wanted to return it to the time when all they pursued was martial arts.
He had followings all throughout the Dark Pulse supporting him.
Pao Seo Tae did not want to participate in this competition.
The winner would end up as the successor to the Queen.
That would mean getting involved with the power struggle.
They would not be able to focus solely on martial arts.
“…….”
Pao Seo Tae extended his hand and picked up a paper.
Drip. Drip.
Dark red blood was dripping down from his mouth because of his internal injuries.
The water drop seeped into the paper.
There were many names on it.
< Kim Hae-Yi.>
The Heavenly Demon was on the list as well.
However, Pao Seo Tae could not focus on those letters.
‘Who was it?
Who was that little girl?’
Well, the little girl did introduce herself.
‘My name is So Hee.’
Pao Seo Tae had asked her where she came from.
‘I am just a roaming wanderer.”
That was all she said to introduce herself.
* * *
“10 people-”
Queen Tamahi quietly looked at the document Cha Run handed her.
“These are the strong individuals you have chosen?”
“Yes it is, your Majesty.”
“…And the chances they are connected to the wanderers?”
“We are currently looking into it, your Majesty.”
Seo Rak.
The Sword Ghost.
Kim Hae-Yi.
So Hee.
Etc.
Queen Tamahi looked through all ten names before asking.
“A jewel may appear outside of these ten people.”
“Of course, your Majesty. This is just a list of people I determined from the qualifications test. I’m sure more people will show their abilities when the official competition starts. I will make sure to submit new reports as soon as I discover any gems, your Majesty.”
“Mm.”
Tamahi nodded her head.
The old vassal quietly watched as his liege stood deep in contemplation.
She spoke up after a long period of them.
“These people-”
These 10 people…
“People we need to protect or people we need to kill. Sounds like they will be one or the other.”
Cha Run answered her.
“It may be neither, your Majesty.”
‘Hmm?’
Tamahi looked toward Cha Run.
Martial Arts Curriculum.
Cha Run had lived his entire life treating martial arts similar to an academic curriculum.
He was looking at her right now not as her vassal but as her teacher.
Tamahi stood up straight.
Cha Run continued.
“There may be no jewels in this group, your Majesty.”
The old man thought about a few of these people.
“Jewels need to be protected.”
Someone who didn’t need to be protected or killed.
“But there is no need to protect a ferocious beast.”
They could not protect a ferocious beast anyway.
Furthermore, ferocious beasts-
‘They are bound to show up even if they don’t want to prove themselves.’
Cha Run had seen a few ferocious beast seedlings.
‘No.’
They were not seedlings.
‘They are already ferocious beasts.’
Extremely well-trained and skilled ferocious beasts that knew how to hide themselves.
There were three people like that.
“Ferocious beasts will appear?”
“Yes, your Majesty. That is this low one’s opinion.”
“…How interesting.
Ferocious beasts-’
Tamahi quietly mumbled before chuckling.
“Then will I be eaten up?”
Whether enemy or ally…
Tamahi, who had laughed as she asked, flinched.
It was because Cha Run was not smiling at all.
“Haha!
Tamahi then laughed out loud.
“This truly will be entertaining.”
The old vassal smiled internally after seeing the eyes of his Queen, the same eyes that had been sinking with a sense of helplessness, start to sparkle.
* * *
– Human, human! There are even more people observing us now!
‘Oh.’
Cale nodded his head.
Cale’s group, who were staying at an inn that was also a restaurant, sat by a window on the second floor of the restaurant as they leisurely waited for food and some people to arrive.
‘We are getting a good amount of attention.’
It had been two days since the qualifications test.
The Heavenly Demon.
The level of interest in the bastard who was currently going by the name of Kim Hae-Yi was rising exponentially.
He was the person who qualified in the shortest amount of time after all.
‘Hmm?’
Choi Han made eye contact with Cale at that moment.
‘What is up with him?’
As Cale had that thought…
He heard the relaxed Heavenly Demon’s voice.
– Someone has sent an assassin.
‘An assassin?’
– Human, human! There’s someone similar to our nice grandpa Ron on the roof!
Assassin Ron.
Someone similar to Ron would definitely be one as well.
– How entertaining.
The Heavenly Demon seemed quite entertained.
– This is the first time someone has come to kill me since I was very young. I am truly curious to see how he will try to kill me.
‘Crazy bastard.’
The Heavenly Demon was waiting for the assassination attempt.
Cale shook his head and Choi Han sighed and looked toward the Heavenly Demon as if he understood.
“…….”
As for the Sword Ghost, he was at a table a bit away from them, eating his meal and staring at them.
‘And what is up with this guy?’
Cale found the Sword Ghost to be quite weird.
But the Sword Ghost was not the only weird one.
“…Oh God of Abundance.”
The Knight of Abundance started her meal after praying to her god.
She was also staying here, constantly roaming around Cale and the Sword Ghost.
Cale’s gaze turned odd after watching the two users.
‘They are weird, but-’
They were both users he could have nice conversations with if he played the right cards.
Because Cale was an NPC.
One who could give quests.
– Human, why are you smiling like that? Are you planning on scamming someone?
He ignored Raon’s comment.
At that moment…
Ring.
Some people opened the door to the restaurant and walked in.
– Human, it is crown prince Alberu and kind Rosalyn!
—
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