Trash of the Count's Family

# Gathered (3)

Boom- boom- boom-

Early morning as the darkness slowly disappeared and the sun started to rise… The sound of drums echoed throughout Puzzle City.

Not a single one of the many birds were chirping. The sound of the drums was the only thing that was heard, as if it would cover up all of Puzzle City.

“Human! Wake up! The drums are sounding!”

“It’s today, nya!” “Today, today is that day, nya!”

Today was the 50th celebration, the day to offer the sacrifices.

“Ugh.”

Cale couldn't breathe for a moment. He barely let out a breath and quietly mumbled.

“T, take your feet off.”

‘These little punks.’

The children averaging ten-years-old. The three children who were chubbier than when they were children averaging nine-years-old were pushing down on Cale’s stomach.

“Huff, huff.”

‘I thought I was going to die.’

“Aigoo. Human, you're so weak!”

“It’s okay that you are weak, nya.”

“…It’s… a bit understandable.”

Raon, Hong, and On commented one after another and shook their heads. Cale had expected it from Raon and Hong but looked at On with a bit of a betrayed gaze as he had not expected this from her as well.

On raised her front paw and pointed to the clock.

“It’s almost time to head to the temple, nya.”

Boom- boom- boom-

Cale listened to the drums as he observed the clock.

The celebration was to start at noon.

However, the preparations had started early in the morning.

Knock knock knock.

Ron knocked on the door and entered the room.

“Young master-nim, it looks like you will need to get ready.”

A cold gaze slightly revealed itself through Ron’s fake benign smile as he looked at Cale whose hair was a mess and overall look was shabby.

“Mm.”

Cale grabbed the cup of lemonade and quickly got up from the bed. He started grumbling.

“They’re telling us to come and go for no reason from the morning.”

Cale and the rest of the people staying in this place…

They were people who came as the person in charge of the sacrifices delivery from the different nations and territories or famous people who received the threat veiled as an invitation from the central temple. They were all forced to watch the celebration.

All of them had meaningless tasks to fulfill from the early morning. Furthermore, they had to do it all together.

“They’re just trying to tame all of you.”

That was right. This schedule was a taming process by the central temple and the White Star as Ron mentioned.

Cale's glabellas scrunched as much as his temper.

"Tsk. How annoying.”

* * *

In the end, Cale ended up coming to the central temple to do those annoying things.

Of course, he was alone.

Ron, Raon… He could not bring anybody else with him here.

He was currently on the third floor of the central temple where he could see out clearly unlike the first and second floors that were surrounded by the rock wall.

He could see all of Puzzle City.

There was a simple reason as to why Cale and the rest of the forced celebration spectators were brought here.

‘It’s an altar.’

Outside the rock wall surrounding the central temple…

There was an altar on a wide area that used to be a plaza in the past.

‘That’s where the sacrifices will die.

Close to 2,000 lives will be lost there today.’

They had been called here early in the morning to watch that and get scared.

“Young master Cale Henituse of the Roan Kingdom's Henituse territory?”

Cale looked away from the altar after hearing a voice.

“Mm. You're here. Your identity has been verified.”

The priest smiled warmly before moving to the person in line behind Cale.

“Prince Pen of the Breck Kingdom?”

"What is it?”

“What else? You ended up coming in the end. Your identity has been verified.”

Cale listened to Rosalyn’s younger brother respond with a grumble as he looked around.

There were hundreds of people gathered here from all over the Western continent.

“Mm.”

“Ahem.”

The people who made eye contact with Cale quickly looked away.

There were people throughout the room peeking at Cale and unable to hide their shock.

‘That person is here?’

After the initial shock, their faces were filled with curiosity, scorn, disappointment, or grief.

“Sayeru-nim. We have confirmed everybody on the list.”

“Really?”

In front of the room… Bear King Sayeru, who had been standing facing the group of people, nodded his head at the priest’s report and addressed the crowd.

“The celebration starts at noon so please wait here until you all move together when the times comes.”

telling them to watch the preparation of the

that you are aware, priests are stationed all around so please let us

their eyes on them and not to do

will prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite great of

smiled and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

the

would like to see some people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm sure it will be an extremely honorable place to

fifth floor of the central temple… The White Star was

White Star would reveal himself to

‘Honorable my ass.’

completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked

before

crown prince Alberu

the front of the

rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was in the front as he would

time of refreshments with the White Star-nim. You’re

“…Of course.”

come this

next to him and

saw

over or come to see Cale at

any signals through their eyes or greeting each other right

‘He looks terrible.’

a stoic expression

Cale had seen through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in

“Oh no, your highness.”

down as if he was sad as he

asking the White Star-nim about

Praying

faith is very

Alberu just continued looking forward without any

son of a

slowly losing his temper. However, his face

prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom please step forward

the people who would have this secret meeting with

It is rare to have an intimate conversation with

to the people standing next to him before looking forward

person. Young master Cale

room became even

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started

Henituse was the person at the center of the people who had fought against the White Star. The past did not disappear just

going

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

front of

Cale, are you not going to come

been smiling at all. There was an

the person who was not looking at

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

voice was not loud but everybody heard it clearly through the

much

looked at Sayeru

want me to do

his body

step. He took a step forward and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru

down this

other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru could see them without

person slowly spoke, as if he was

expect too many things from me.

then took a step back, looked

“…Ha.”

came

people were slightly nodding their heads. They understood

Henituse. He had come to Puzzle City

being offered. He had not shown any resistance and had even shown a lot of goodwill

was enough for some people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized it

calm on the

person was at his limits holding

“Ha, haha-”

was laughing out loud now. He

Henituse if he doesn't

done everything for the sacrifice

to go against the White Star's order and felt joy and

you are at your limit. I will put in a good word with the

patted

there is no next

glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to make eye contact

will be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it may

with the people who will enjoy refreshments with

with anyone until that point. Many people

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

but my condition might be revealed

this illusion as the basis, Cale

was why it was better for him to be as far away from the White Star as possible in order to not have his shield found

found out before I

slither out of

the room that was

Henituse is

fully submit if he wants to survive. What’s with this

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the chair at the top of the altar as

The White Star.

half mask that covered above his nose was sitting

Woooooooooooooooo–

from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people

people who were forced to come observe were at the center of the

on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with

could only see the people cheering and the White Star on

the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

had no choice but to cheer but the crowd

spreading out of the

could see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked

been a mistake but he was

frowned but did not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

sign that he was

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’