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

priests are stationed all around so please let us know if there is anything

saying that priests are keeping their eyes on them and not to do anything

and refreshments. Isn’t this

and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

the

starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm sure it will be an extremely honorable place

fifth floor of the central temple… The White

at noon… That was when the White Star would reveal himself to the people in front of

‘Honorable my ass.’

was calm despite his completely different inner thoughts. His

before continuing

highness, crown prince Alberu

the front of the

of the group, Alberu was in the front as

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

“…Of course.”

come

next to him and

time Cale saw

over or come to see Cale at

through their eyes or greeting each other right

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a stoic expression on

his tired look Cale had seen through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person

“Oh no, your highness.”

curled down as if he

weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow

Praying is

Your faith

just continued looking forward without any

son of

temper. However, his face

Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom

who would have this secret meeting with the

rare to have an intimate conversation with the White

to the people standing next to him before looking

last person. Young master Cale

became even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking

fought against the White Star. The past did not

going

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

stopped in front of Cale and asked the

Cale, are you

cold as if he had not been smiling at all.

person who was not looking at

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only been looking forward slowly

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

the silent room. His voice was not loud but everybody heard it

as much as I

looked at Sayeru and

you want me to do even

turned his body

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

bowing down this

other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru could see them

was breathing out, with the scowl on

too many things from me. This

back, looked forward

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out of

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was coming

He had come to Puzzle

watching the celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any resistance and

some people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized

acting calm on the

person was at his

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally understand Cale Henituse

if he doesn't act like

everything for the

who dared to go against the White

you are saying that you are

Sayeru patted

there is no next

fool who refused to make eye

be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows

any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments

contact with anyone until that point.

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on the

thing if we are far apart, but my condition might be revealed if I am close to the

using this illusion as the basis, Cale had

from the

be bad if he found

a good job to slither out of that situation and sat down on a chair a

hear some things in the room that was a

is pretty much dead

he wants to survive. What’s with

“…He’s done for.”

his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

chair at

The White Star.

white half mask that covered above his

Woooooooooooooooo–

away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle

at the center of the cheering crowd

purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators.

see the people cheering and the White Star on

to see the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

crowd had a lot of followers

out of

could see the White

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked

mistake but he was

but did not avoid

“Pffft.”

Star laughed and turned

was a clear sign that he was ignoring

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’