Trash of the Count's Family

Cale continued to look forward without turning around as he started to speak.

“I don’t recall ever telling you my birthday.”

Kim Rok Soo had not shared his birthday with anyone during this time.

He had recorded his birthday later, when he joined the company and had to give some personal information. Lee Soo Hyuk remembered that information and took care of Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo's birthdays.

That was how it went until the two of them died.

“Han told me about it.”

Cale nonchalantly responded to Lee Soo Hyuk’s answer.

“Did you know that it is Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo's birthdays as well?”

“…Really?”

Cale slowly turned his body and looked at Lee Soo Hyuk since it was rare for him to sound flustered.

Lee Soo Hyuk, whose mood had been quite sharp since yesterday, seemed oddly anxious.

Cale started to smile in response.

"What is it? Did you prepare a birthday party for me or something?”

“Huh?”

Lee Soo Hyuk had an awkward expression on his face.

“It’s not a party since we are in a pretty serious situation.”

He then scratched his cheek.

“Just some late-night snack time?”

“It seems like you included Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo to prepare for that late-night snack time?”

Lee Soo Hyuk looked flustered again.

“No, I-”

“Shall we go?”

“Huh?”

“For the thing you prepared. Let’s celebrate all of us.”

Lee Soo Hyuk jovially scoffed after hearing Kim Rok Soo say everything he wanted to say.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

He then looked elsewhere.

Heo Sook Ja and Jo Min Yeh were walking toward Cale and Lee Soo Hyuk.

“Have a safe trip.”

Heo Sook Ja smiled as she addressed Cale.

“I'm sorry.”

Jo Min Yeh waved her hand to say no after seeing Cale lower his head and apologize.

“Not at all. Everybody knows how hard you've worked today, Commander-nim. We heard you didn't even get a chance to eat properly.”

Heo Sook Ja who was standing next to her started to frown.

She had not heard the details of the battle because she was here defending the Seomyeon shelter.

All she had heard was that the yellow head had escaped in the end.

She had also heard that it had run away with the blue head in its mouth.

That meant that the plan had failed.

However, she could not be angry about the situation.

She had seen how Commander Kim Rok Soo was covered in blood compared to everybody else who only had light injuries or no injuries at all.

Everybody had said the same thing.

They would have all been seriously injured or dead if he was not there.

“Commander-”

Heo Sook Ja opened her mouth before stopping herself mid sentence.

‘Commander, you should rest a bit.’

That was what she wanted to say, but she could not say it.

‘He can't rest.’

This young man could not rest.

She felt sorry about it, but it was the truth.

“Please enjoy your time.”

Lee Soo Hyuk who was quietly walking next to him started to speak.

“Rok Soo.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You’re really good at keeping your promises.”

Cale looked toward Lee Soo Hyuk with a confused expression.

However, Lee Soo Hyuk did not look at Rok Soo at all on their way to the room closest to the watchtower and the castle wall.

“What do you mean?”

Lee Soo Hyuk smiled and slowly answered after Cale finally asked.

“Yesterday and today. People probably saw your back the most.”

Cale recalled what he had said to them a few days ago.

‘The people here will fight while looking at my back the most, at least for this battle.’

Lee Soo Hyuk continued to speak.

“It was the case during yesterday's battle. Even today, your back was clearly visible as you stood by the watchtower all day.”

“I need to keep my promise.”

Lee Soo Hyuk grabbed the doorknob and looked toward Cale, who answered nonchalantly.

“Yes. That’s the Kim Rok Soo I know.”

Screeeech.

Cale could see the sights inside the door.

He slowly started to smile.

“Huh?! Mister! I thought you would give us a signal first. How can you just suddenly open the door like that?”

"Ah, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Kim Min Ah and Bae Puh Rum shouted in shock.

There was quite a lot of food on the table inside this small office.

It was not a fancy feast, but it was the best they could do in their current situation.

Choi Han, Choi Jung Soo, Kim Min Ah, Bae Puh Rum, Park Jin Tae, the Lee siblings, and everybody else who had a connection with Cale were all gathered in this small office.

Cale started to smile.

“Looks great.”

The two words he said made the entire office go silent.

Then people started to openly or discreetly smile one by one.

Lee Soo Hyuk started to point at that moment.

“Hey, Han and Jung Soo.”

Choi Jung Soo flinched at the sudden attention.

birthdays

after hearing

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

his arm as if he had the

Does foresight tell you

“Who knows?”

Soo Hyuk responded to Bae Puh Rum before looking

asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk quietly looked

“Rok Soo.”

quiet, as if he

you can know about things

toward

of them looked at each other for a bit before Cale

whispered as he left echoed in Lee Soo

Why don’t you figure it out if you're so

“Pfft.”

Soo Hyuk chuckled before starting

Let’s sing for

“You're right.”

head in agreement before

“Sir, hap-”

are

to frown before looking toward a corner of the

“Just say happy birthday.”

right. I can’t call him

smiled before

“Happy birthday to you-”

and the rest of the people in the

hand out while standing at the center of the

guys come join

other hand grabbed Choi Han, and he pulled the two of

really, wut the

looked flustered and confused as he accepted the birthday song

the other hand, Choi Han was

just patted Choi Han’s

Han’s pupils

Cale and Choi Jung Soo to take

soon came

birthday to all three of

believe that November 8th is a

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

comment once

calm voice next to

some time left,

turned back

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in

waves crashing against the shore but gentle waves splashing and

birthday to

his head

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

seemed confused. Cale started to speak after a

voice in his

duper happy birthday to you!

‘Shut up.’

excited and wish me a happy birthday

going to

So you’re going to wish me

How could

started

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's

gentle smile on

was why he couldn't just brush it

Jung Soo subconsciously started to stare

Tap.

Jung Soo's shoulder once and then started

had watched all of it. His gaze was following Cale, as if

it as well. He just

that both Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze

himself down,

we head

It was Choi Han.

needed to go out before he

seemed younger than him, but had many scars that proved he had lived a difficult life, were fidgeting as if

‘He’s fidgeting?’

if this was not like Choi Han before

name, birthday, and

the same or

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Soo followed Choi

corner of

not say anything

you want to

any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Soo was confused but still accepted

it was difficult to tell what

to

“…It’s a present.”

why, but he started to frown

Soo subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

Jung Soo slightly regretted the thing

hands that looked nervous until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face

will not answer

Jung Soo became frustrated after

was why he impulsively responded

I guess you won't mind me figuring it out on

smile appear on Choi Han’s face

would have no

his heart

about his family because everybody had wished him a happy birthday. His heart

Soo's expression and his demeanor calmed down in order to hide the

was similar to what Choi Han was

Choi Jung Soo knew

“I understand.”

put the present in his pocket and started

definitely

looked toward Choi Han and added

have a present for you. However, happy

opened a

“I mean it.”

Soo answered

with my

didn’t know why Choi Han did all of

that he didn’t know the reason

did not say those out

okay to say it

taking a lot of

bowed toward this man who

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

maybe, Choi Han was the first sword instructor Choi

Mr. Choi Han since Choi Han didn't call himself instructor nor master and didn't

like a master for Choi Jung

Jung Soo started to raise his

Han’s voice

“It’s me.”

voice was

me who is

head after hearing Choi

was

as still as his

“Please head in first.”

Soo suppressed this iffy feeling inside after hearing Choi Han’s comment and nodded to

“Mm!”

seeing Cale standing by the door, but managed to

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

after hearing Cale’s calm response before he walked

Jung Soo started to