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

Soo's eyes opened wide after hearing what Lee

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

his arm as if he had the chills before starting

Does foresight tell you things

“Who knows?”

Hyuk responded to Bae

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

“Rok Soo.”

was extremely quiet,

can know about things

toward

two of them looked at each other for a bit before Cale

he left echoed in Lee Soo

figure it

“Pfft.”

Hyuk chuckled before starting to speak

for the three of

“You're right.”

Ho-Shik nodded his head in

“Sir, hap-”

why are you saying

before looking toward a corner of

“Just say happy birthday.”

I can’t call him sir,

before starting

“Happy birthday to you-”

the

while standing

guys come

Choi Jung Soo, the other hand grabbed Choi Han, and

really, wut the heck

and confused as he accepted the

hand, Choi Han was

just patted

pupils slightly

Cale and Choi Jung Soo to take in

soon came

all three of

birthday. I believe that November 8th is

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

a comment once the song

voice next to

some

Han turned

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

the ripples

the shore but gentle waves

to you too,

his head

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

still seemed confused. Cale started to speak after

Jung Soo's voice in his mind at

happy

‘Shut up.’

excited and wish me a happy birthday too? I guess not. Kim Rok Soo is not that

I wasn’t going to

going to

course. How could I

slowly started

“Happy birthday.”

Jung Soo's eyes opened

smile on his

he couldn't just brush

started

Tap.

shoulder once and then

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

it as well. He

Soo Hyuk's gaze

Soo, who was calming himself down, could see someone walking toward

don’t we head outside for a

It was Choi Han.

needed to

proved he had lived a difficult life,

‘He’s fidgeting?’

Soo felt as if this was not like Choi

birthday, and sword

all the

“Yes. Let’s go.”

followed

a corner of

say anything for a

want

it in any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

confused but still accepted the pile of

but it was difficult to tell what it was as the

no choice but to look toward Choi Han

“…It’s a present.”

didn't know why, but he started to frown

subconsciously started

“Do you know me?”

Jung Soo slightly regretted the thing he

until now calmed down and Choi Han’s face no longer

not answer any of your

Soo became frustrated after hearing

he impulsively responded

mind me figuring it

could see a small smile appear on Choi Han’s face

have no choice if

his heart was

already been thinking about his family because everybody had

demeanor calmed down in order

similar to what Choi Han

Jung Soo knew

“I understand.”

Soo put the present in

definitely figure

then looked toward Choi Han

present for you. However,

eyes opened

“I mean it.”

Soo

me with my

Choi Han

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

did not say those out

to say it once

know that you are taking a lot of time

toward this man who was

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

sword instructor

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

Han was still like a master for Choi

Jung Soo started to raise his slightly

Choi Han’s voice at

“It’s me.”

voice was a bit

who

Jung Soo urgently raised his head after hearing Choi Han speaking

was the

was as still as

“Please head in first.”

Han’s comment and nodded to

“Mm!”

the door, but managed

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

mouth a few times after hearing Cale’s calm response before

Soo started to