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.

of your birthdays tomorrow as well.

Jung Soo's eyes opened wide after hearing what Lee Soo

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

as if

Does foresight tell you

“Who knows?”

Hyuk responded to Bae Puh Rum before looking toward

looked back with a gaze that seemed to be asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk quietly

“Rok Soo.”

was extremely quiet, as if

foresight really how you can

turned toward Lee

each other for a bit before Cale broke the

he left echoed in Lee Soo Hyuk's

you figure it out if

“Pfft.”

Hyuk chuckled before starting

sing for the three

“You're right.”

his head in agreement before clasping his

“Sir, hap-”

why are

started to frown before looking toward a corner of the

“Just say happy birthday.”

call him sir,

before

“Happy birthday to you-”

of the people in the room joined in

while standing at

come join

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

Ah, really, wut the

Soo looked flustered and confused as

the other hand, Choi Han

just patted

Han’s pupils

Jung

song soon came to an

birthday to all

birthday. I believe that November 8th is

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

a comment once the song

voice next to him at

some time

turned back toward

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in Choi

waves crashing against the shore but gentle

birthday to you

head and turned his

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

confused. Cale started

voice in his mind at that

duper happy birthday to

‘Shut up.’

happy birthday

wasn’t going

going to wish me happy

How could

started

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's

gentle smile on his face seemed quite meaningful to

was why he couldn't just brush

subconsciously started to

Tap.

patted Choi Jung Soo's shoulder once and then started

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

about it as well.

that both Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze and Cale were

calming himself

we head outside for a

It was Choi Han.

Jung Soo was about to ask why they needed

that proved he had lived a difficult life, were

‘He’s fidgeting?’

this was not like Choi Han

birthday, and sword

were all the

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Soo followed Choi Han

then stood in a corner of the

Han did not say

you want to see

Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Jung Soo was confused but still accepted

was difficult to tell what it was as the first

Jung Soo had no choice but to look

“…It’s a present.”

why, but he started to frown after

subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

slightly regretted

down and Choi Han’s face no longer

not answer

Jung Soo became frustrated after hearing

why he

you won't mind me figuring it out

Soo could see a small smile

I would have no choice if you

Jung Soo felt as if his heart was tightening for

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

calmed down in order to hide the

was similar to what Choi

Jung Soo knew how similar they were right

“I understand.”

in his pocket and started

definitely figure it

then looked toward Choi

present

Han's eyes opened

“I mean it.”

Soo

with my sword art

didn’t know why Choi Han did all

there were too many suspicious things for him to claim that he didn’t know the reason at all. He couldn't help

Jung Soo did not say

was okay to say it once everything

taking a lot of time to

who was younger than him but did

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

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

Han didn't call himself

Han was still like a master for

to raise his slightly lowered

Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

voice was a bit

who

after hearing Choi Han speaking informally in

expression was the same

as still as

“Please head in first.”

inside after hearing Choi Han’s comment and nodded to say goodbye before heading toward the

“Mm!”

Cale standing by the door, but managed

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

mouth a few times after hearing Cale’s calm response before he walked past

Jung Soo