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.

both of your birthdays

after hearing what Lee Soo Hyuk

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

Puh Rum rubbed his arm as if he had the chills before starting to

tell you

“Who knows?”

to Bae Puh Rum

his shoulders and looked back with a gaze that seemed to be asking if there was a problem. Lee

“Rok Soo.”

extremely quiet, as if

really how you can know about things

turned toward Lee Soo

at each other for a bit

he left echoed in Lee Soo

figure it out

“Pfft.”

chuckled before starting to

Let’s sing for the three of

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in agreement before clasping his

“Sir, hap-”

are you

before looking toward a

“Just say happy birthday.”

call him

smiled before

“Happy birthday to you-”

sing and the rest of the people in the room

while standing at the center of the

come join

hand grabbed Choi Han, and he

really, wut the heck is going

flustered and confused as he accepted the birthday song

the other hand, Choi Han

just patted

pupils

Choi Jung Soo to take in

soon came to

all three

believe that November 8th is a great

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

made a comment once the song

voice next to

still some time left,

Han turned

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

see the ripples in Choi Han’s

against the shore

birthday to you too,

head and turned his

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Cale started to speak

Jung Soo's voice

duper happy birthday to you!

‘Shut up.’

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

said I wasn’t going

to wish me happy

How

slowly started to

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's eyes

a gentle smile on his face

why he couldn't just brush

subconsciously started to

Tap.

Jung Soo's shoulder once and then started

His gaze was

about it as well.

Hyuk's gaze and Cale were

calming himself down, could see

don’t we head outside for a

It was Choi Han.

they needed to

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

‘He’s fidgeting?’

was not like Choi Han before he was swept up with an

name, birthday, and sword

the same

“Yes. Let’s go.”

followed Choi Han

stood in a corner of

say anything

want to see

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

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

but still accepted the

but it was difficult to tell what it

but to look toward Choi Han for

“…It’s a present.”

he started to frown after

Soo subconsciously started to

“Do you know me?”

slightly regretted the thing

looked nervous until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face no

will not answer any of your

Soo became frustrated after hearing Choi Han’s

he impulsively

mind me figuring it out on

Jung Soo could see a small smile appear on Choi

have no choice

his

because everybody had wished him

calmed down in order to hide the restlessness inside

was similar to what Choi Han was

Han nor Choi Jung Soo knew how similar they

“I understand.”

Jung Soo put the present in

definitely figure it

toward Choi

have a present for you.

Han's eyes opened a little

“I mean it.”

Jung Soo

my sword art

Han did all

that he didn’t know the reason at all. He couldn't help but have many ‘maybe?’ types

did not say those

was okay to say it once everything became

you are taking a lot of time to help

slightly bowed toward this man who was younger than him

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

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

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

like a

started to raise

heard Choi Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

was

who is

urgently raised his head after hearing Choi Han speaking informally in a different voice than

expression was the same as

was as still as his

“Please head in first.”

after hearing Choi Han’s

“Mm!”

the door, but managed to get the

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

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

Jung Soo started