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

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

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

arm as if he had the chills before starting to

Does foresight tell you things like

“Who knows?”

Soo Hyuk responded to Bae Puh

seemed to be asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo

“Rok Soo.”

was extremely quiet, as

how you can know about

turned toward Lee Soo

for a bit before Cale broke the eye

whispered as he left echoed in Lee Soo Hyuk's

you figure it

“Pfft.”

Soo Hyuk chuckled before starting to speak to

sing for the three

“You're right.”

in agreement

“Sir, hap-”

why are you saying

toward a corner of the ceiling and continuing to

“Just say happy birthday.”

I can’t call him sir, now can

smiled before starting to

“Happy birthday to you-”

and the rest of the people in the

hand out while standing

come

grabbed Choi Han, and he pulled

really, wut the heck

looked flustered and confused as he

hand, Choi Han was

just patted Choi Han’s

pupils

moved past Cale and Choi Jung Soo to take

came to an

to all three

birthday. I believe that November 8th is a

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

comment

calm voice

some time

Han turned back toward

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

could see the ripples in Choi

were not like strong waves crashing against the shore but gentle waves splashing and

to you too,

nodded his head and

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Soo still seemed confused. Cale started to

Jung Soo's voice in

Super duper happy birthday to you!

‘Shut up.’

happy birthday too? I guess

I wasn’t going to wish you

you’re going to wish

How could

started to

“Happy birthday.”

Jung Soo's eyes opened

on his face seemed quite meaningful to

was why he couldn't just brush it

Soo subconsciously started to stare at

Tap.

and then started to

gaze was following Cale, as

it as well. He just

both Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze and

himself down,

we head outside

It was Choi Han.

Soo was about to ask why they needed to go out

proved he had lived a difficult

‘He’s fidgeting?’

was not like Choi Han before he was

birthday,

the same

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Soo followed

corner of the hallway facing each

say anything for

want to

in any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile of papers out

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

was confused but still accepted

at it for a moment but it was difficult to tell what it was

Soo had no choice but to look toward Choi Han for

“…It’s a present.”

but he started to frown

Jung Soo subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

Soo slightly regretted the thing he

down and Choi Han’s face no longer showed any

will not answer

Jung Soo became frustrated after hearing Choi Han’s

was why he impulsively responded

mind me figuring

smile appear

I would have no choice if you

Jung Soo felt as if his heart

about his family because everybody had

demeanor calmed down in order to hide the restlessness inside

to what Choi Han

nor Choi Jung Soo knew

“I understand.”

put the present in his pocket and

definitely

Choi Han and

a present for you.

Han's eyes opened

“I mean it.”

Soo answered

me with my

Choi Han did all

know the reason at all. He

Soo did not say those

okay to say it once everything

are taking a lot of time to

Jung Soo slightly bowed toward this man who

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

sword instructor Choi Jung Soo

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

still like a master for Choi

Jung Soo started to raise his slightly lowered

Choi Han’s

“It’s me.”

was a bit

who is

his head after hearing Choi Han speaking

expression was the same

was as still

“Please head in first.”

iffy feeling inside after hearing Choi Han’s

“Mm!”

seeing Cale standing by the

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

closed his mouth a few times after hearing Cale’s

Jung Soo started