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 well. Come

eyes opened wide after

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

Rum rubbed his arm as if

you things

“Who knows?”

Soo Hyuk responded to Bae Puh Rum before looking

there was a problem. Lee

“Rok Soo.”

was extremely quiet, as if he

foresight really how you can know

turned toward

other for a bit before Cale broke the eye contact

words Cale whispered as he left echoed in Lee Soo

you figure it out

“Pfft.”

before

Let’s sing for the three

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in

“Sir, hap-”

are you

Jin Tae started to frown before looking toward a corner of the ceiling and continuing to

“Just say happy birthday.”

I can’t call him sir, now

before starting

“Happy birthday to you-”

of the people in the room

out while standing at the center

come join

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

the heck is going

looked flustered and confused as he accepted the birthday

the other hand, Choi Han

patted Choi Han’s

pupils

past Cale and Choi Jung Soo to

soon came to an

all three of

believe that November 8th is a

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

made a comment once the

calm voice next to

still some

turned back toward

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

the ripples in Choi

the shore but gentle waves

birthday to

his head and turned

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Soo still seemed confused. Cale started to speak after a long

voice in his

duper happy birthday to

‘Shut up.’

you be excited and wish me a happy birthday too? I guess not. Kim

wasn’t going to wish you

to

How could

started to

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's eyes opened

on his face seemed quite meaningful to brush

was why he couldn't just brush it

Jung Soo subconsciously started

Tap.

Choi Jung Soo's shoulder once and then

all of it. His gaze was

as well. He just pretended

Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze and Cale were

himself down, could see someone walking toward

head outside for

It was Choi Han.

why they needed to go out before

proved he had lived a difficult life, were fidgeting as if he was a

‘He’s fidgeting?’

not like Choi Han before

birthday, and

were all the same

“Yes. Let’s go.”

followed

then stood in a corner of

Han did not say

did you want to see me

not hold it in any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile of papers

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Jung Soo was confused but still accepted the pile of

what it was as the first page did not have anything

had no choice but to look toward Choi Han for an

“…It’s a present.”

but he

Soo subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

Jung Soo slightly regretted the

that looked nervous until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face no longer showed any

will not answer any of your

Soo became frustrated after

why he

won't mind me

could see a small smile

no choice if

his heart was tightening

about his family because everybody had

calmed down in order

to what Choi Han was

Han nor Choi Jung Soo knew how similar they

“I understand.”

Jung Soo put the present in his pocket and started to

definitely

looked toward Choi Han and

don’t have a present for

opened

“I mean it.”

Jung Soo

my sword art

Han did all of

too many suspicious things for him to claim that he didn’t know the reason at

did not say those out

was okay to say it once

know that you are taking a lot of time to

bowed toward this man who was

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

instructor Choi Jung Soo ever

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

still like a master

to

Choi Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

was

who

hearing Choi Han speaking informally

Choi Han’s expression was the same

was as still as

“Please head in first.”

Choi Han’s comment and nodded to

“Mm!”

after seeing Cale standing by the door, but managed to get the

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

times after hearing Cale’s calm response before he walked past Cale and back into the

Jung Soo started to