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.

it’s both of your birthdays tomorrow as well.

wide after hearing

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

if he had the

Does foresight tell you

“Who knows?”

Bae Puh Rum

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

“Rok Soo.”

quiet, as if he

how you can know about things like

toward Lee Soo

for a bit before Cale broke the eye contact and

whispered as he left

Why don’t you figure it out if

“Pfft.”

Hyuk chuckled before starting

Let’s sing for the

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in agreement before clasping

“Sir, hap-”

are

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

“Just say happy birthday.”

I can’t call him sir, now can

Kim smiled before

“Happy birthday to you-”

to sing and the rest of the people in the room

out while standing at the center

guys come join

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

wut the heck is going

and confused as he accepted the birthday song directed

other hand, Choi Han was completely

just patted

pupils slightly

eyes moved past Cale and Choi Jung Soo

soon came

to all three of

believe that November 8th

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

made a comment once

Cale's calm voice next to him at that

still some time left,

turned

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in Choi Han’s

like strong waves crashing against the shore but

birthday to

head

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

still seemed confused. Cale started to speak after

Soo's voice in his mind at

happy birthday

‘Shut up.’

birthday too? I guess not. Kim Rok Soo is not that kind

I wasn’t going to wish

to

How could I

started to

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's

a gentle smile on his face seemed quite meaningful to

he couldn't just brush

started to stare

Tap.

Choi Jung Soo's shoulder once and then started to walk toward

of it. His gaze was following Cale, as if he was trying

as well. He

Soo Hyuk's gaze

Jung Soo, who was calming himself down, could

we head

It was Choi Han.

why they needed to go out before he saw

that proved he had lived a difficult life, were fidgeting as

‘He’s fidgeting?’

felt as if this was not like Choi Han before he was swept up with

name, birthday,

were all the same

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Soo followed Choi

a corner

not say

did you want to see me

Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile of papers out

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

but still accepted

a moment but it was difficult to tell what it

no choice but to look toward Choi Han

“…It’s a present.”

know why, but he started to

subconsciously

“Do you know me?”

Soo slightly regretted the thing

until now calmed down and

not answer any of your

became frustrated after hearing Choi

he

I guess you won't mind me

Soo could see a small smile appear

I would have no choice if

his heart was

been thinking about his family because everybody had wished him a happy

down in order to

to what

Jung Soo knew how

“I understand.”

the present in

will definitely figure

Choi Han

present for you. However,

eyes opened a little

“I mean it.”

Soo answered

me with my sword art

know why Choi Han did all

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

Jung Soo did not

to say it once everything became

you are taking a lot of

who was younger than him but did not seem younger

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

sword instructor

since Choi Han didn't call himself instructor

like a

Jung Soo started to raise

Choi Han’s voice at that

“It’s me.”

voice was a

me who

Jung Soo urgently raised his head after hearing Choi

Han’s expression was the same

still as

“Please head in first.”

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

“Mm!”

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

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

hearing Cale’s calm response before

Jung Soo started