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.

your birthdays tomorrow as

eyes opened wide after hearing what Lee Soo Hyuk

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

rubbed his arm as if he had the chills

tell you things like that

“Who knows?”

Soo Hyuk responded to Bae Puh Rum before looking toward

there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk quietly looked at him

“Rok Soo.”

extremely quiet, as if he

you can

toward

for a bit before Cale

as he left echoed in Lee Soo Hyuk's

don’t you figure it out if

“Pfft.”

Soo Hyuk chuckled before starting to speak to

Let’s sing for the three

“You're right.”

nodded his head in

“Sir, hap-”

why are

toward a corner of the ceiling and continuing

“Just say happy birthday.”

call him sir, now

before

“Happy birthday to you-”

the people in

hand out while standing at the center of the

guys come join

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

wut the

confused as he accepted the birthday song directed

the other hand, Choi Han was completely

just patted Choi

pupils slightly

and Choi Jung Soo to take in this

soon came

birthday to all three of

believe that November 8th is a great

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

a comment

heard Cale's calm voice next to him at

some

Han turned

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in Choi Han’s

the shore but gentle waves splashing and

birthday to you

his head and

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Cale started to speak after a long

Jung Soo's voice

duper happy birthday to you!

‘Shut up.’

birthday too? I

going to

you’re going to

course. How

slowly started

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's eyes opened

gentle smile on his face seemed quite meaningful to brush

couldn't just

Soo subconsciously started to stare

Tap.

once and then started to

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

well.

Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze and

Soo, who was calming himself

we head

It was Choi Han.

they needed to go out before he saw Choi

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

‘He’s fidgeting?’

Jung Soo felt as if this was not like Choi Han before

last name, birthday,

the

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Jung Soo followed Choi

a corner of the hallway

not say anything

you want to see me

hold it in any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Soo was confused but

to tell what it was as the first page did

had no choice but to look

“…It’s a present.”

why, but he started

Soo subconsciously

“Do you know me?”

Soo slightly regretted the thing he

that looked nervous until now calmed down and

answer any

frustrated after

he impulsively

I guess you won't mind me figuring it

Soo could see a small smile appear

no choice if you did

his heart was tightening for

had wished him a happy birthday. His

his demeanor calmed down in order to hide the restlessness inside

what

Jung Soo knew how similar they were

“I understand.”

Soo put the present in his pocket and started

will definitely

toward Choi Han and added

present for you.

opened a little

“I mean it.”

Jung Soo

me with my sword art

know why Choi Han did all of

things for him to claim that he didn’t know the reason

Jung Soo did not say

okay to say it once everything became

are taking a lot

bowed toward this man who was younger than

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

Choi Han was the first sword instructor Choi Jung Soo ever had, aside from

called him Mr. Choi Han since Choi Han didn't

like a master

Soo started to raise

heard Choi Han’s voice

“It’s me.”

voice was a bit

who

hearing Choi Han speaking informally in a

Choi Han’s expression was

still as his

“Please head in first.”

Han’s comment and nodded to

“Mm!”

flinched after seeing Cale standing by the door, but managed

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

and closed his mouth a few times after hearing Cale’s calm response

Soo started