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

eyes opened wide after hearing what Lee

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

as if he had the chills before starting

tell you things like

“Who knows?”

to Bae Puh Rum before looking

be asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk quietly looked at him for

“Rok Soo.”

voice was extremely quiet,

really how you can know about things like

toward

them looked at each other for a bit before Cale broke the eye contact and walked toward the

left echoed in

you figure it out

“Pfft.”

chuckled before starting to speak

Let’s sing for the three of

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in agreement before clasping his

“Sir, hap-”

are

looking toward a corner of the

“Just say happy birthday.”

can’t call him sir, now can

smiled before starting

“Happy birthday to you-”

sing and the rest of the people in the room

standing at the

come join

the other hand grabbed Choi

wut the heck is

as he accepted

other hand, Choi Han was completely

patted Choi Han’s

pupils slightly

Choi Jung

came

all three

I believe that November 8th is a great

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

made a comment once the song

voice next to him at

still some

Han turned back

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples

strong waves crashing against the shore but

to

his head and

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Cale

Jung Soo's voice in his

happy birthday

‘Shut up.’

wish me a happy birthday too? I guess

going to wish you happy

to wish

course. How

slowly started

“Happy birthday.”

Jung Soo's eyes

said with a gentle smile on his face

why he couldn't just brush it

started to

Tap.

Soo's shoulder once and

gaze was following Cale, as if he was trying

well.

Hyuk's gaze and Cale

was calming himself

we head outside for a

It was Choi Han.

ask why they needed to go out

hands of the guy who seemed younger than him, but had many scars that proved he

‘He’s fidgeting?’

Choi Han before he was

name, birthday, and

the same

“Yes. Let’s go.”

followed

a corner of the hallway

did not say

you want to

any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by taking a thick

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Jung Soo was confused but

it was difficult to tell what it was as

Soo had no choice but to look toward Choi Han

“…It’s a present.”

he started to frown

Jung Soo subconsciously started to

“Do you know me?”

slightly regretted the thing he

until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face

answer any of your

frustrated after hearing Choi

he

guess you won't mind me figuring it

a small smile appear on

no choice if you did

Jung Soo felt as if his heart

his family because everybody had

demeanor calmed down in order to

was similar to what Choi Han

Han nor Choi Jung Soo knew how similar they were right

“I understand.”

put the present in his pocket and

definitely

then looked toward Choi Han and added

present for

eyes opened

“I mean it.”

Soo answered

me with my

why Choi Han did all of that,

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

Choi Jung Soo did not say

was okay to say it once

a lot of time to

bowed toward this man who was younger than

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

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

Han since Choi Han didn't call

still like a master

started to raise his slightly lowered

Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

voice was

me who is

hearing Choi

Choi Han’s expression was the same

still

“Please head in first.”

suppressed this iffy feeling inside after hearing Choi Han’s comment

“Mm!”

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

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

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

Jung Soo started to