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.”

them to watch the preparation

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

keeping their eyes on them and not

chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite great of a

and then

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with his

the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with

fifth floor of the central temple… The White Star

White Star would

‘Honorable my ass.’

calm despite his completely different inner thoughts. His

at Cale before

highness, crown prince Alberu

to the front of

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

refreshments with the White

“…Of course.”

please come this

pointed next to him and Alberu walked

Cale saw Alberu’s face in person in this

over or come to see Cale at their

not giving any signals through their eyes or greeting

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic expression

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

How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying. Ask him to let someone else take your place. What do

Praying

Your faith

continued looking forward without any changes to his

of a

losing his temper. However, his face still

Valentino. Oh, the prince from

the people who would have this

smile, you must smile. It is rare to have

comment to the people standing next

person. Young master Cale

even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking at

was the person at the center of the people who had fought against the White Star. The past did

you not going to step

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

stopped in front of Cale and asked the

Cale, are you

been smiling at all. There

King called out to the person who was not looking at him in

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

much as

looked at Sayeru

me to do even

then turned his body

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

down this

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

as if he was breathing out, with the

many things from me. This is

a step back,

“…Ha.”

short chuckle came

heads. They understood where Cale was coming

had come to Puzzle City to

were being offered. He had not shown any resistance

to think that

they realized

was acting calm on the outside

at his limits

“Ha, haha-”

laughing out loud now. He

Henituse if he doesn't

everything for the sacrifice delivery

looked at Cale Henituse who dared to go against the White Star's

one time since you are saying that you are at your limit. I will put in a good

patted Cale’s

there is

who refused to

will be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows

away from Cale without any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments with

that point. Many people were looking at

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

one 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 clashed with

better for him to be as far away from the White Star as possible in order to not have his

he found out before I flipped

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

that was a bit more rowdy after Sayeru

Cale Henituse is pretty

wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without saying

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the chair at the top of the altar as the

The White Star.

bastard wearing the white half mask that covered above his nose was sitting

Woooooooooooooooo–

away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people from all

forced to come observe were at the center of the cheering crowd

like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others got chairs as a

made it so that they could only see the people cheering and the White Star on top of the

probably be able to see the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

were some people who had no choice but to cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers of the

the fervor spreading out of the cheering and raised

could see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked toward

mistake but he was certain that the White

not avoid

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and turned

a clear sign

was for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’