Chapter 429: One Person, Two Roles, and the Chaotic Demon World (4)

Rustle~

The sound of wind brushed past their ears.

The breeze flowed through the gathered crowd, drifting toward the altar to the north.

Rustle~

The converging wind wrapped around the man on the altar, shrouding him in a veil of gray light.

“…”

Cale withdrew his hand from Choi Jung Gun’s head and stepped back.

He spread his arms and raised both hands.

Rustle~

Choi Jung Gun’s body slowly lifted into the air.

The grotesque form was no longer visible.

Only gentle wind and soft gray light remained, creating a quiet, almost unreal scene.

The stench was gone.

Completely.

Instead, different scents reached them.

The smell of fields in spring.

The familiar scent of trees from one’s hometown.

The warmth of a mother’s embrace from childhood.

The aroma of a favorite dish.

Scents tied to joy and comfort seeped into their hearts.

Rustle~

The scene was not grand.

But it was enough.

Under the red glow of the setting sun, the gray light appeared even more serene.

It doesn’t suit the name chaos.

That was the Heavenly Demon’s first thought.

But after looking around, he changed his mind.

No. I was wrong.

The people’s faces were dazed.

Yet their expressions were nothing like those he had seen during the Night of Pleasure at the God of Chaos’s holy site.

There was joy.

Delight.

Excitement.

Emotion.

But none of it was excessive.

Like a tide quietly rising, those feelings seeped into their hearts without a sound.

Before they realized it, they had already sunk into it.

This, too, is chaos.

At that moment—

everyone’s gaze gathered on the same place.

On Cale Henituse.

And on Choi Jung Gun.

* * *

Rustle~

Choi Jung Gun’s body stopped rising.

Cale slowly opened his eyes.

His lips parted.

In accordance with the game’s skill prompt, he spoke:

“Created beings—”

Created beings.

A body that had been forcibly tainted by the power of Chaos Corruption.

“—shall ultimately fade.”

Swoo—

The wind stilled.

Whoo—

In the lingering current of air, only Choi Jung Gun remained, wrapped in gray light.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

Everyone’s gaze fixed on the red-haired man, whose hair glowed brighter than the setting sun.

No one spoke.

The scene was not dazzling or extravagant, yet it held their attention completely.

Because the gray light was warm.

It eased their hearts.

Cale opened his mouth once more.

“Created beings shall ultimately fade.”

Then—

“Return to the origin—”

Rustle~

The gray light slowly seeped into Choi Jung Gun’s body.

Cale watched calmly and continued.

“—as your original form.”

A thought passed through his mind.

Like the inheritance at the very beginning.

Like being born anew.

The God of Chaos Church seemed obsessed with the concept of an origin.

Their holy site had even been named the Primordial Night.

Did they believe that returning to the origin was the purest expression of chaos?

---

TL Note:
In this chapter, we have replaced “beginning” with “origin.”
This wording better matches the terminology and thematic tone used throughout Trash of the Count’s Family, especially in relation to chaos, creation, and return to one’s initial state.

---

Cale pondered this briefly as he brought the ritual to its conclusion.

The final words followed.

“Return to your true self.”

Created beings faded.

What remained would return to its true essence.

Buzz!

From Choi Jung Gun’s body—

more precisely, from the gray light being absorbed into it—

a powerful wave burst outward

“Hm!”

“!”

The surge of air ruffled hair and clothes.

Yet no one turned away.

Rustle~

With one final, intense flash, the gray light was completely drawn into his body.

“Ah, his body—”

The gray, grotesque skin and bulging veins began to recede, slowly restoring themselves.

Drip, drip.

From his closed eyelids.
From his nostrils.
From his slightly parted lips and ears—

Drip, drip.

Gray droplets fell.

The skin that had been tainted by gray slowly regained its original color.

Neither fast nor slow, the corruption receded from Choi Jung Gun’s body.

Strange.

The old man felt a sense of contradiction.

The gray that had clung to that body before had been nauseating.
Terrifying.

So why did the gray light enveloping him now feel—

beautiful?

No.

Warm.

And the droplets falling now—

They don’t feel filthy at all.

Drip, drip.

The gray drops struck the altar and flowed down to the ground.

As they seeped into the soil, they vanished.

Just like ordinary drops of water absorbed by the earth.

Nothing special.

…Nothing special.

And yet—

Someone was being reborn.

The scene was not grand.

Nor was it dazzling.

Yet—

“Ah.”

Why was his heart pounding so hard?

Drip, drip.

The droplets gradually lessened.

Choi Jung Gun returned to normal.

As if nothing had ever happened.

What a marvel—

Yes.

Only that word fit.

A marvel.

Like a miracle.

No.

It was a miracle.

The old man had witnessed a few miracles in his lifetime.

And the miracle of life had never arrived with fanfare.

No lavish prelude.

No grand announcement.

Like a sudden ray of light in the middle of ordinary days, a miracle appeared quietly—

and passed just as quietly.

Yet it could change a life completely.

Like meeting my wife.

He had met her by chance while visiting a neighbouring village.

An encounter without signs or omens.

And yet—

it had been a miracle that stayed with him for his entire life.

Because it was a miracle.

And now, too.

Drip.

The final gray droplet fell.

There were no more.

“Ah—”

A healthy, unblemished man slowly descended back onto the altar.

Huff, huff, huff.

Even, steady breaths.

No longer grotesque.

No longer frightening.

Just a living person—

no different from the rest of them.

“…”

The old man almost wept.

Precious, joyful memories had been stirred awake.

The tiny gray lights that had risen from his body had aided in that man’s rebirth.

The process itself was a miracle.

It was not ornate.

Yet it was solemn and sacred—enough to quietly shake the soul.

“…”

“…”

No one spoke.

No one wanted to disturb the lingering atmosphere.

“Village Chief.”

Only one person could break the silence.

It was Cale.

“Ah—yes!”

Aurora snapped back to her senses.

She knew Cale had used the purification power of the God of Chaos Church, yet a feeling she couldn’t name lingered in her chest.

This is chaos?

So warm?

Unbelievable.

Yet undeniable.

As expected of an ancient, supreme god…Would such an existence rely only on fear?

She quickly responded to Cale.

“We need to move him, don’t we?”

“Yes. That’s necessary.”

Choi Jung Gun needed to be returned to the original building.

A proper examination was required.

Not only to confirm that the corruption was gone—

but to check his overall condition as well.

Aurora caught Cale’s glance and was about to move.

But someone was faster.

“I’ll carry him.”

It was Choi Han.

“I’ll help as well.”

The Heavenly Demon stepped forward.

Choi Han had already prepared a stretcher.

Cale looked at him.

His gaze lingered only briefly—on Choi Jung Gun.

“…”

Choi Jung Gun lay asleep.

Choi Han studied his restored face closely, his jaw tightening as he bit down on his lip.

Pat. Pat.

Cale lightly patted his shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

Choi Han and the Heavenly Demon carefully lifted Choi Jung Gun onto the stretcher.

– Human, is Choi Jung Gun purified?

From the tallest tree near the square, Raon, On, and Hong appeared.

Cale gave them a small nod, then turned to Aurora.

“My ritual is finished.”

“Ah! Then… is the purification fully complete?”

“No.”

Cale shook his head.

Cale’s gaze shifted from the village chief to the surroundings.

Hm?

He froze.

The villagers were all staring at him.

They must have all recalled happy memories.

The more he thought about it, the more unfathomable the God of Chaos felt.

Corruption, fear, joy, purification—

It could manipulate an astonishing range of emotions.

Most gods have a single, defined domain…

But the God of Chaos has many.

Like a tool that could be used in countless ways.

And it seems particularly fixated on the origin.

The purification incantation reflected that.

So did the name of its holy site.

Cale frowned inwardly.

What, exactly, is the origin?

Then—

“Hm.”

Cale stiffened.

A faint vibration came from his chest.

He should have checked it immediately—

but first, he turned to the villagers.

“There’s one final stage left to the ritual.”

That was the truth.

The last step still remained.

“Please enjoy the banquet and create happy memories.”

A festival or a banquet—either would suffice.

The ritual’s final step required people to gather in joy.

Cale turned to Aurora.

“This will be enough, right?”

“Yes—yes! Of course it will!”

For some reason, Aurora responded with unusual energy, but Cale paid it no mind and turned back to the villagers.

“Thank you for preparing today’s banquet and for helping with the ritual.”

Thanks to them, he had been able to carry out the purification and save Choi Jung Gun.

Their joy truly helped.

The God of Chaos drew power from human emotions—despair, fear, joy, pleasure.

If fear were used, people would be pushed into unbearable pain.

But joy was different.

Using joy to purify left no scars behind.

“Then, I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”

With that brief farewell, Cale stepped down from the altar and headed toward where Choi Jung Gun had been taken.

He didn’t linger.

Soon, his figure disappeared from sight.

“…”

“…”

Those who remained watched Cale’s retreating figure.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then—

“Um…”

Theodore, the village’s eldest former chief, spoke up.
Standing beside Clopeh Sekka, he held his granddaughter in his arms, spoke.

“Which god does Priest-nim follow?”

Though Aurora was now the village chief, Clopeh had deliberately chosen to sit beside the elder most trusted by the people, wearing a gentle smile.

“Well.”

He didn’t answer directly.

“That person…”

As Theodore hesitated—

“Priest-nim! Priest-nim!”

His granddaughter suddenly called out.

“Hm.”

“What was that gray just now?”

At the child’s innocent question, Clopeh responded just as gently.

“Which gray are you talking about?”

“Ah!”

There were two.

“Both!”

Her curiosity was pure.

And it quietly spread to those around her.

Clopeh began,

“the ugly gray that covered Choi Jung Gun’s body—

was the corruption power used by someone from the God of Chaos Church.”

The words sank heavily into the adults’ hearts.

The God of Chaos Church.

Before they could speak—

“What about the pretty gray from later?”

The little girl asked again.

Her eyes sparkled.

Under the increasingly focused gazes, Clopeh answered with the gentle sanctity befitting a priest.

“That was the power of purification, used by the one I serve.”

Listening nearby, Aurora thought to herself—

So clever.

Clopeh had spoken nothing but the truth.

Yet the words corruption and purification sounded like entirely different powers.

Even though both belonged to the God of Chaos Church.

“Wow! Purification!”

The little girl clapped, repeating the unfamiliar word. Then she pointed down the path—

the path where Cale had already disappeared.

“Who was that uncle?”

“Oh—!”

Theodore hurriedly pulled his granddaughter closer.

“Haha. It’s all right.”

Clopeh let out a soft chuckle.

The girl slipped free from her grandfather’s arms and looked up again.

“Is that uncle a priest too?”

“Oh, this child—of course he’s a priest—”

The old chief stopped mid-sentence.

“…No. He is not a priest.”

Theodore turned to look at Clopeh.

Clopeh met his gaze, smiling calmly as he spoke in a low voice.

“Neither priest, nor pope, nor saint.”

“He needs no title.”

With unwavering devotion, Clopeh thought:

Cale-nim will surely use this power of purification again.

That was simply how things were.

This merit must not be attributed to the God of Chaos Church.

Everything belonged to Cale-nim.

He was the one who did it.

Clopeh was not exaggerating. He was only stating the truth.

“That person is simply someone who acts as he pleases, serving no god.”

That was Cale Henituse.

That kind of person.
That kind of hero.
That kind of legend.

Thus—

“And I follow such a being.”

Clopeh’s words were filled with sincerity.

“Ah…”

Former chief Theodore let out a long sigh.

That red-haired man.

He did not believe in gods, nor did he follow them.
He acted solely according to his own will.

Yet this priest, whose presence felt holier than any god’s, regarded him as his faith.

The being a priest follows…

…A god.

Yes.
A god.

Thump. Thump.

The old man’s heart began to pound.

The two grays I saw today.

One was corruption.

The other, purification.

The former belonged to the God of Chaos Church, so the latter naturally—

That warm gray…

The power that wrapped around their happiness.

That gray was—

“…The Demon God…”

The words slipped out before he realized it.

The old man flinched.

“Hm?”

Clopeh tilted his head slightly, a look of mild confusion on his face.

“N-Nothing!”

The former chief hurriedly waved his hands, forcing out a laugh.

But it was too late.

Everyone had heard him.

Clopeh did not correct him.
He simply maintained his gentle, holy smile.

“Hm. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

Watching the scene unfold, Aurora pressed her fingers to her forehead.

…Is this really okay?

Clopeh Sekka.

That man was definitely plotting something.

And yet—she couldn’t find fault with him.

He hadn’t lied.
His conduct was flawless.
If anything, he appeared excessively sincere, almost gentle.

“…Hm.”

Aurora chose to observe in silence.

It’s about the Demon God…

Since that term had surfaced, caution was necessary.

They had to prevent needless misunderstandings from spreading among the villagers.

At least it happened inside the village.

That gave them room to manage the situation.

Aurora was relieved it occurred in the village.

And Clopeh—

“Heh…”

He lifted his gaze to the crimson sky, a faint, meaningful smile touching his lips.

“…Hm.”

* * *

Meanwhile—

On the way to Choi Jung Gun’s location, while walking with the ten-year-old cats out of the villagers’ sight, Cale suddenly stopped.

What?

Something was vibrating against his chest.

Cale reached inside his clothes and pulled it out, then quickly moved to a secluded spot.

Fear.

Purification.

Joy.

Corruption.

The parchment taken from the God of Chaos Church.

A parchment written in text even the system couldn’t read.

@($*%

Inside the system, this parchment had been vibrating nonstop—

until just now.

…

Now it was still.

But Cale knew exactly when it had reacted.

When he thought of a single word.

“The origin?”

Buzz!

The tightly rolled parchment quivered faintly.

“Heh.”

The corner of Cale’s lips slowly lifted.

“Human! Why are you smiling like that?! It’s scary!”

Nya!

Nya.

Cale ignored the voices of the children whose average age was ten.

His gaze remained fixed on the parchment, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

@($*%...

These unreadable characters.

They were most likely—

“‘The origin of chaos.’”

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

The parchment shook violently, as if responding.

Cale’s smile deepened.

Jackpot.

It seemed he had stumbled upon something truly dangerous.

And truly valuable.

 -----
P/R Thoughts: This wasn’t a loud miracle — it was the kind that quietly rewrites a life.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]