Trash of the Count's Family

We should get there in about an hour.

Cale put the now accurate map back in his pocket before looking at his group.

Drip, drip.

Drops of blood were dripping from On’s sharp claws.

“Grr, Grrrrrr.”

A small monster that looked like a fox was twitching on the ground from being poisoned. The Black Dragon came over to report.

“All done.”

Close to twenty of these fox-like animals were dead.

‘They really are getting stronger with experience.’

On and Hong could not learn properly because they had to live in hiding as they had run away from their tribe. The Black Dragon naturally lacked experience after living in confinement his entire life. Cale was using the Forest of Darkness’s monsters to quickly fill those gaps in their training.

“Should I have fought as well?”

Where else would he get an opportunity to safely build experience? The Black Dragon and the kittens all abruptly turned their heads as Cale mumbled to himself.

“Seems like a useless idea!”

“Weak human, it is too much for you at this point. One day is enough.”

“Our youngest is right. You spit out blood from using the shield too much last time!”

Paseton let out a gasp.

“...Ho.”

However, Cale could see that Witira was just smiling brightly. He then saw her caress her whip with a determined gaze.

That was the look of someone who wanted to fight. She really was a scary person.

Cale quickly opened up his magic bag and gathered everyone around him.

“Everybody put this on before you go any farther.”

“Is it because of poison?”

“Yes.”

Cale answered Paseton’s question before putting the mask on the Black Dragon, who stuck his head toward him.

“Human. There is a weird scent.”

The Black Dragon frequently said this to Cale since a few days ago.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. It is stronger here. It is something I am familiar with.”

“It is probably poison or the rotting smell from the nearby plants.”

Cale brushed it off and approached On. The Black Dragon that was ignored tilted his head while wearing the mask.

The Black Dragon started to mumble, but the mask prevented Cale from being able to hear what he was saying.

“...No. It is not such a trivial scent.”

However, the Black Dragon remained quiet because it was not a dangerous scent.

Cale then put the mask on On’s face.

‘Even Choi Han avoided this swamp.’

Choi Han had a pretty high resistance to poison. However, there was no reason to go through the swamp when there were many other paths in the Forest of Darkness while this path was messy and annoying.

Paseton approached Cale.

“It is really interesting that there are only two swamps in a forest this large.”

“Really? I don’t think so.”

Paseton could see Cale’s starting to smirk from underneath the mask. It was a pretty sly smirk.

“You’ll understand once you see it.”

Two swamps were enough. Cale verified that everyone had their masks on and checked their expressions. They had only been sleeping between 1 - 3 hours a night ever since they entered the Forest of Darkness.

“You all look so healthy.”

Nobody looked tired.

you

at Cale’s comment. He looked over to his sister and asked with

he really be

Paseton turned back to look at Cale, who looked to be the

they thought Cale was tired. Of course, Cale was full of

whip on her arm as

is it our

with his foot instead of

the boundary between the outer

“Grrrrrrrr.”

“Caaaaaaw!”

“Squeeeeeak-”

the boundary. He then proceeded to speak to Witira, who took a step past the boundary as

“Go.”

humanized Humpback Whale. This ruler of the sea was not the type to be

“It’s your turn.”

Flick.

flicked her whip as soon as Cale

Boom!

created on the ground from the flick of

“Grrrrr.”

“Keeeeeeeeee.”

“Squeeeeeeak.”

The noises disappeared.

fell between Choi Han and the Black Dragon, was itching for a fight. Her

“Shall we hurry on?”

mysterious young master responded back with a completely relaxed

I want to go home and

let out a sigh after hearing what Cale had to say, before taking

reveal themselves in the now quiet

for monsters that were weaker than the monsters in the inner region, but the monsters in front of them were

the Eastern Continent, and

different. They still

forth between the Black

“Hurry up and fight.”

“...Yes sir.”

forward and the battle between the strong monsters and the

did not get scared, even in front of strong creatures like a dragon or members of the Whale tribe. In fact, it made them charge at them even harder. It was like they were fighting for their

a shield

“What about you?”

deal with those

“Sure. Let’s go.”

walk

Boom!

ogre’s body was split into two even pieces. Some of the blood

Flick. Boom!

of the whip was followed by the explosion of a giant spider, and one of the legs flew over and hit the

“Watch and learn.”

spoke, while On, Hong, and the Black Dragon all pretended not to care

through the forest all disappeared thanks to Witira. Cale stopped once he could see the swamp in the distance before

now the start of the swamp

Boom. Boom.

before it was followed by

“Let us keep moving.”

“Sigh.”

out a sigh as he followed his sister to Cale’s side. The Whale siblings suddenly stopped walking and tightly pressed their masks. It was because

time, their eyes opened wide after seeing the swamp that was covered by large trees until

you think? Isn’t it

the shocked Paseton and

as

to

pretty large lake. It is large enough for multiple huge ships to fit. It is also

the most fitting spot to explain the reason for the name

the only actual

it to be

after looking at the swamp area. Cale understood

or brown, yet

“It must be poison.”

in response and tightened the mask on his face. He also tightened the laces

rest of the party

could hear Cale’s voice coming

in the environment. Although it might not be a deadly poison, they all

and quickly, make sure he was completely covered. He then felt that something was

“...Hong?”

region after seeing Cale nod. Witira tried to reach out and grab him,

“Hong!”

Witira looked toward Cale with shock, but Cale did not seem to be fazed. Witira then

“Delicious!”

and chewing on a black plant. Cale stepped into the

“How is it?”