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.

birthdays tomorrow as well.

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

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

as if he had the chills

tell you things

“Who knows?”

Bae Puh Rum

shrugged his shoulders and looked back with a gaze that seemed to be asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk quietly looked at him for a while before asking

“Rok Soo.”

quiet, as

you can know about things

turned toward

them looked at each other for a bit before

as he left echoed

figure it out if

“Pfft.”

Soo Hyuk chuckled before starting to speak to

Let’s sing for the three of

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in agreement before

“Sir, hap-”

are

before looking toward a corner of the ceiling and

“Just say happy birthday.”

can’t call

Kim smiled before

“Happy birthday to you-”

to sing and the rest of the people in the

reached his hand out while standing at the center of the

guys come join

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

the heck is going

flustered and confused as he accepted the birthday song

other hand, Choi

patted

pupils

Cale and Choi Jung Soo to take in this whole

came to an

to all

that November

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

made a comment once the song

Cale's calm voice next to him at

some time

turned back

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in

were not like strong waves crashing against the shore but

to you too,

head and turned his

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

confused. Cale

recalled Choi Jung Soo's voice in his mind at that

happy birthday to

‘Shut up.’

me a happy birthday

going to

to wish me happy

How could

started

“Happy birthday.”

Soo's

gentle smile on

he couldn't just brush it

started to stare

Tap.

patted Choi Jung Soo's shoulder once and

all of it. His gaze was following Cale,

as well.

both Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze and Cale

himself down, could see someone

we head

It was Choi Han.

Jung Soo was about to ask why they needed to go out before he saw

guy who seemed younger than him, but had many scars that proved he had lived a difficult

‘He’s fidgeting?’

Jung Soo felt as if this was not like Choi Han before he was swept up with an eerie

last name, birthday,

were all the same or

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Jung Soo followed Choi Han

a corner of the hallway

say anything

you want

responded by taking a thick pile of papers

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

confused but still

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

to look toward Choi Han for an

“…It’s a present.”

why, but he started

subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

Jung Soo slightly regretted the thing he

nervous until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face

answer any

frustrated

why he impulsively responded

guess you won't mind me figuring it out on

smile appear on

I would have no choice if you

if his heart was tightening for some

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

down in order to hide the restlessness inside

what Choi

Jung Soo

“I understand.”

in his

will definitely figure

Choi Han and

don’t have a present for

opened a little

“I mean it.”

Soo

my sword art and

why Choi Han did all of

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

Soo did not say those out

to say it

are taking a lot of time

bowed toward this man who was younger than him but did not seem

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

maybe, Choi Han was the first sword instructor Choi Jung Soo ever had,

didn't call himself instructor nor master and didn't want to be addressed that

like a master

started to raise

heard Choi Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

was a bit

who is

Soo urgently raised his head after hearing Choi Han speaking informally in a

was the same

as still as his

“Please head in first.”

Choi Han’s comment and nodded to say

“Mm!”

after seeing Cale standing by the door, but managed

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

hearing Cale’s calm response before

Jung Soo started