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 the

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

saying that priests are keeping their eyes on

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

smiled and then suddenly

"Ah, in addition.”

toward the sky

White Star-nim has said that he 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

central temple… The White Star was

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

was calm despite his completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked

Cale before continuing to speak

highness, crown prince Alberu

to the front of

middle of the group, Alberu was

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

“…Of course.”

please come

to him and

first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person

not called over or come to see Cale at their resting

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

‘He looks terrible.’

with a stoic expression

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

if he was sad as he continued

losing more weight by the day. Mm. 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

faith

just continued looking forward

of

was slowly losing his temper. However, his

prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from

have

smile. It is rare to have an intimate

that comment to the people standing next to him

Young master

silent room became even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking at

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

you not going

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

in front

you

been smiling

to the person who was not looking at him in

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much as I

at Sayeru

me to

his body

forward and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could see the scowl

down

full of wrath, annoyance, and all sorts of other negative

defeated person slowly spoke, as if he was breathing out,

too many things from

a step back, looked forward and avoided

“…Ha.”

short chuckle came out of

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood

Henituse. He had come to Puzzle City to deliver

watching the celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any resistance and had even shown a lot of goodwill through it

people to think that Cale Henituse

realized it

calm on the

was at his limits holding

“Ha, haha-”

laughing out loud now. He could finally understand Cale Henituse

Henituse if he

had done everything for the sacrifice

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

some understanding this one time since you are saying that you are at your

Sayeru patted

there is no

glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who

the next sacrifice? Nobody knows

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

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

far apart, but my condition might be revealed if I am close

using this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with the White

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

found out before I

out of that situation and sat

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

is pretty much dead

wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without saying

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the person sitting down at the chair at the

The White Star.

half mask that covered above his nose was sitting on a white

Woooooooooooooooo–

an area a bit away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people from all over

observe were at the center of the

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

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

be able to see the sacrifices as

Cale looked around.

cheer but the crowd had a lot of

felt the fervor spreading out of the cheering and raised

see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star

but he was certain that

not avoid the

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and turned his

sign that he was

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’