Trash of the Count's Family

“The Jungle?”

Choi Han was confused at the unexpected response, but Cale did not respond. He just walked forward and cut through Hoik Village.

Other than the gravestones all around Hoik Village, there was not much of anything else. It was a very quiet village.

“Young master-nim, your umbrella.”

Hoik Village, the village that was next to Oorim, the forest where it rained more often than not, also rained quite frequently. Cale used the umbrella given to him by Hans and headed toward the end of the village.

Hans and a couple others followed behind him.

‘It’s here.’

The Path of No Return. The only entrance into the path appeared in front of Cale’s eyes. Maybe it was because of the sprinkling and the cloudy sky, but the path into the forest looked dark and creepy.

‘The Path of No Return.’

There was a large slab with those words on it at the entrance.

“Mm.”

Choi Han let out a moan.

Cale was observing the scenery in front of the slab.

Even on this rainy day, there were people waiting at the entrance of the Path of No Return while wearing raincoats or just letting the rain hit their skin. These were the people who still had hope for the return of their loved ones.

Cale made eye contact with one of the old men standing there. The old man’s eyes suddenly opened wide.

“...Do not go.”

The old man said that to Cale before stopping to lean on the slab and looking toward the forest. Cale just quietly watched the old man.

“Young master Cale.”

Rosalyn approached and called his name. She looked at the old man, as well as the rest of the people who were waiting at the entrance, with a sad gaze. At that moment, Cale started to move.

“Old man, it is raining. Don’t catch a cold.”

Cale put his umbrella next to the old man who was just standing in the rain and motioned to Hans.

“Young master-nim?”

“Umbrella.”

“What about me?”

“Share with Beacrox.”

Beacrox and Hans made eye contact and Beacrox started to frown. Hans kept his mouth shut and handed his umbrella over to Cale. However, Cale did not have a reason to take that umbrella from him.

“We can share mine.”

Rosalyn’s umbrella started to cover Cale as well.

“Thank you very much. Let’s go.”

Cale just briefly thanked Rosalyn before turning away from the entrance to the Path of No Return. The rest of Cale’s group followed him while the villagers at the entrance observed Cale’s group for a bit before looking back toward the forest.

“Hans.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

“Go find an inn. Although there are a lot of inns, I’m sure there aren’t any really good ones, so just find a decent one.”

Hoik Village had a lot of inns compared to its size. However, all of these inns were very shabby since the people coming here to look for their loved ones didn’t have much money.

“Just why is it that everybody enters that Oorim?”

Cale sat down in the first floor restaurant of the inn they picked before he answered Choi Han’s question.

“For hope.”

“Hope?”

“There is a legend about the Path of No Return.”

Even though it was infamous for no one ever coming back, people still went into it every so often. It didn’t matter if the old man tried to stop them like he did with Cale's group earlier.

“Supposedly, a dragon lives in the Path of No Return.”

- What the hell are you talking about, human? There are no dragons here. The only dragon around you is me!

Raon, who had been quiet, suddenly shouted into Cale’s mind.

Cale knew that there were no dragons here. He was someone who had read the novel.

“That Dragon will grant the wish of the human who find his lair. Whether that wish is to become rich, cure an incurable illness, or even make someone have a happy life. It will grant any wish.”

- A Dragon cannot do that. Dragons are great and mighty, but we are not gods! What nonsense!

Raon’s complaints were the truth. However, such legends had a tendency to shake the minds of the desperate.

“That legend is what draws people in.”

Cale could see a rare frown on Choi Han’s face. Choi Han probably did not like it. With his personality, seeing the atmosphere of this village, as well as people like the old man from earlier, it probably made him sad.

“Then wouldn’t it be fine if we just destroyed this forest?”

thing without giving it any thought.

why, by the end of volume 4, the 5 Forbidden Regions of the Western Continent ended up becoming the 4

be fine to just light it on fire and

Han’s suggestions became even more dangerous, he

a lie. Then there

a sigh as he

I

people were behind

master-nim! I, Hilsman, am

“Young master-nim, we’re here!”

entered the inn. Beacrox took out a pair

“Young master-nim.”

the inn. He approached Cale and handed him a magic bag. However, Cale blocked Lock from giving it to him,

hard. Go get

his hand out to Lock. Lock cautiously handed the magic bag to Cale once again and Cale started to

part of our deal,

“Yes sir.”

not an ounce of hesitation in Lock’s voice. Even though Lock probably knew that

to look at the contents before

be entering that

- What?

Meeow?

“Huh?”

“What!”

“...What is it?”

after getting such an unexpectedly strong response from everyone. Choi Han was frowning

“Cale-nim, you really.”

the kittens started to bang the table. Furthermore, Raon was

will be going as well. Weak human, you listen to me. Do not go without me. This is a warning. If I get angry, it will

the last person Cale saw was Hilsman, whose

about the ‘Path of No Return?’ I

“Who said that?”

a very quiet voice so that the innkeeper at

is not the case

were oddly sitting apart from each other. Cale reached his

Raon and On before

fine as long as I

wide as she looked at him. Cale made

you know why the Path of No

“I dunno.”

“Fog.”

started

was actually somewhat surprised after he

them,

the rarest existence in his group, he would pick On over Raon.

inside of the Oorim is filled

then started to speak

mana chaotic. That is why it is difficult to use magic

forest was completely covered in this

why a ground

Raon. These extremely rare existences by his side allowed

I want in there as long as I have

wagging and Raon’s wings seemed to be fluttering, as

***

standing outside of Oorim. Naturally, the kitten On was in his arms. Following his order, nobody else was there to watch him

die if you go in … you cannot

to have spent the night there, as he weakly warned Cale from next to the slab. Someone important to this old man had

man, I will break the legend and come back, so

Oorim without any hesitation. He walked quickly and soon found that he

fog. The fog had surrounded

use about my front paw’s worth of strength jn order to use magic.

really

I am great and mighty.

a brief explanation last night, asked for more details

out the fire in the

“Fire?”

Queen of the

the ruler of this wide southern territory

someone who is

showed any weakness to the strong while she was very weak

this forest was because she was desperate to

explaining to Raon and On, who were tilting their heads in confusion, he started to

I am a

you

asking why Cale was stating something so obvious. This made

“On, the path.”

“Got it.”

eyes sparkled before her front paw started to move. The

interesting. It doesn’t seem like regular fog. It is similar to

curious On’s words, Cale walked deeper into the fog, even though he could not see anything in front of him. The fog did not disperse, even when it rained. Cale brushed some rain water off of

the

“I can see it!”

the forest. He seemed very much at peace, as

great if we could

to meet Litana, the Queen of the Jungle, today. It soon became

***

title of the Queen of the Jungle,

was dark. She could only hear the sound

“I’m sorry.”

highness, there is no