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.”

was telling them to watch the preparation of the altar to its

are stationed all around so please let us know if there

that priests are keeping their

prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t

smiled and then

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with

would like to see some people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people.

fifth floor of the central temple… The

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold

before

highness, crown prince

the front

the group, Alberu was in the

time of refreshments with the White Star-nim. You’re happy, aren’t you,

“…Of course.”

please come

pointed next to him

saw Alberu’s face in person

over or come

of them were not giving any signals through their eyes or greeting each

‘He looks terrible.’

with a stoic expression

his tired look Cale had seen through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see that Alberu had lost a lot of

“Oh no, your highness.”

he was sad as he

seem to be losing more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying.

Praying is

magnificent. Your faith

just continued looking forward without any changes

son of

losing his temper. However, his face still remained

crown prince Valentino. Oh, the

continued choosing the people who would have this secret meeting with

rare to have an intimate

made that comment to the people standing next to him

person. Young master Cale

room became even

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking at

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

going to

quietly

Tap. Tap.

started to walk. He stopped in front of Cale and asked the

Cale, are you not

not been smiling at all. There was an unexplainable

Bear King called out to the person who was

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been looking forward slowly

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

cut through the silent room. His voice was

as much

looked at

me to do

then turned his

his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could see the scowl in

bowing down this much

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

was breathing out,

from me. This is my

step back, looked

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out

people were slightly nodding their heads. They understood

had come to Puzzle

he was watching the celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown

alone was enough for some people to think that

they realized

was acting calm on the outside

defeated person was at his

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally understand Cale

if he doesn't

he had done everything

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

this one time since you are saying that you are at your limit. I will put

patted Cale’s

is

the defeated fool who refused to

the next sacrifice? Nobody

third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments with the White Star

contact with anyone until that point. Many people were looking at him with different emotions,

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

condition might be revealed if I

as the basis, Cale had clashed

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

he found out before I

job to slither out of that situation

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

is pretty

wants to

“…He’s done for.”

eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

sitting down at the chair at the top of the altar as the drumming

The White Star.

his nose was sitting on a white marble chair

Woooooooooooooooo–

an area a bit away from the altar… The residents

were at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at the White

with the forced spectators.

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

the sacrifices as well as they step onto the

Cale looked around.

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

of the cheering and raised

see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked

was certain that the White Star was observing

but did not

“Pffft.”

Star laughed and turned

sign that he was ignoring

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’