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.”

watch the preparation of

stationed all around so

keeping their eyes on them and

Isn’t this quite great

smiled and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with his

the celebration starts. He wishes to

the central temple… The White Star

was when the White Star would reveal himself to the people

‘Honorable my ass.’

was calm despite his completely different inner thoughts. His

before continuing

crown prince Alberu

gaze headed to the front of

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

with the White Star-nim. You’re

“…Of course.”

please come

to him

was the first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person in this

not called over or come to

two of them were not giving any signals through

‘He looks terrible.’

with a stoic expression

look Cale had seen through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see that Alberu had lost

“Oh no, your highness.”

curled down as if he was sad as

Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying. Ask him to let someone else

okay. Praying is

magnificent. Your faith is

just continued looking forward without

son of

slowly losing his temper. However, his

crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom please

who would have this secret

you must smile. It is rare to have an intimate conversation with the White

people standing next to him before looking

last person. Young master Cale

even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started

against the White Star. The past did not disappear just because

going to step

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

front of Cale and asked the

master Cale, are you

as if he had not been smiling at

the person who was not looking at

“Cale Henituse.”

who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

voice cut through the silent room. His voice was not loud but

much as

looked at Sayeru and

want me to do

his

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

down this

were full of wrath, annoyance, and all sorts of other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru

person slowly spoke, as if he was breathing out, with the scowl on his

many things from me.

took a step back, looked forward and avoided Sayeru's

“…Ha.”

came

nodding their heads. They understood where Cale

come to Puzzle City to

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

was enough for some people to

they realized

acting calm

person was at his limits

“Ha, haha-”

laughing out loud now. He

he isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't act

done everything

to go against the White

are saying that you are at your limit. I will put

Sayeru patted

there is

Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to make

the next sacrifice? Nobody knows

floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments with the White Star and headed

not make any eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people were looking at him

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on

far apart, but my condition might be

this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with

it was better for him to be as far away from the White

if he found out before I

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

could hear some things in the room that was a bit more rowdy after Sayeru

is pretty

wants to survive. What’s

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the person sitting down at the chair at

The White Star.

half mask that covered above his nose was sitting on a

Woooooooooooooooo–

area a bit away from the altar… The residents

who were forced to come observe were at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at the

cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore,

the chairs made it so that they could only see the people cheering and

probably be able to see the sacrifices as well as they step onto the

Cale looked around.

but the crowd had a lot of followers of the White Star and the God of

of

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star

he was certain that the White Star was

frowned but did not avoid the White Star's

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed

a clear sign that he was

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’