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

“…How did you?”

“Rok Soo told me.”

rubbed his arm as if he

foresight tell you

“Who knows?”

to Bae

asking if there was a problem. Lee Soo Hyuk

“Rok Soo.”

quiet, as if

foresight really how you can know about things

toward

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

left echoed in Lee Soo Hyuk's

you figure it

“Pfft.”

Soo Hyuk chuckled before starting to speak

sing for the

“You're right.”

his head in agreement before clasping his

“Sir, hap-”

why are

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

“Just say happy birthday.”

I can’t call

before

“Happy birthday to you-”

the rest of the people in the room joined in as

hand out while standing at the center of the

come

hand grabbed Choi Han, and he pulled

wut the heck

Jung Soo looked flustered and confused as he accepted the birthday song directed

Choi Han was completely

patted

Han’s pupils slightly

Cale and Choi Jung Soo to take

song soon came to

birthday to all

that November 8th

“Alright, alright! Let's eat!”

comment once the song

Han heard Cale's calm voice

still some time

turned back

“Choi Han.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“Happy birthday.”

ripples in Choi Han’s

crashing against the shore but gentle waves splashing and shining

birthday to

his head and turned

“Choi Jung Soo.”

“Huh?”

Cale started to speak after a long

voice in his mind at that

happy birthday to

‘Shut up.’

a happy birthday too? I guess not. Kim

said I wasn’t going

to wish me happy

How

started

“Happy birthday.”

Jung Soo's eyes

smile on his face seemed quite meaningful to brush

he couldn't

started

Tap.

shoulder once and then started to walk toward the

Hyuk had watched all of it. His gaze was following Cale, as if he

knew about it as well.

Soo Hyuk's gaze and

Soo, who was calming himself down, could

head outside for a

It was Choi Han.

they needed to go out before

proved he had lived a difficult life, were fidgeting as if he was a

‘He’s fidgeting?’

if this was not like Choi Han before he was swept up

birthday, and sword

the same or

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Jung Soo followed Choi

corner of

say

want to see

any longer and asked, and Choi Han responded by taking a thick pile of papers out of his pocket and handing

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Soo was confused but still accepted the pile

what it was as the first page did not

no choice but to look toward Choi

“…It’s a present.”

he started to

Soo subconsciously

“Do you know me?”

slightly regretted the

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

not answer any of

became frustrated after hearing Choi Han’s

was why he

me figuring it out on

see a small smile appear on Choi Han’s face at that

no choice

as if his heart was tightening for some

his family because everybody had wished him a happy birthday. His heart was beating

down in order to hide the restlessness

was similar to what

Choi Jung Soo knew

“I understand.”

Jung Soo put the present in his

will definitely

looked toward Choi Han

a present for you.

opened a

“I mean it.”

Jung Soo answered

helped me with my sword

Choi Han did all of that,

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

Jung Soo did not say

say it once

you are taking a lot of

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

“Thank you very much.”

Maybe…

Han was the first sword instructor Choi Jung Soo

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

a master for Choi Jung

Soo started to raise

heard Choi Han’s voice

“It’s me.”

was a

who

Soo urgently raised his head after hearing Choi Han speaking informally

Han’s expression was

was as still

“Please head in first.”

this iffy feeling inside after hearing Choi Han’s comment and nodded to say

“Mm!”

flinched after seeing Cale standing by the

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

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

Soo started to