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.”

the preparation of the altar

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

he was saying that priests are keeping their eyes on them and not to

prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite

and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the

to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea

fifth floor of the central

when the White Star would

‘Honorable my ass.’

different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold to the

at Cale before continuing to speak with

highness, crown

to the

group, Alberu was in the

with the White Star-nim. You’re happy, aren’t

“…Of course.”

come this

him and

Cale saw Alberu’s face in

not called over or come to see Cale

any signals through

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic expression on

the video communication device, seeing Alberu

“Oh no, your highness.”

eyes curled down as if he

must be hard on you. You seem to be losing more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him

Praying is

Your faith

continued looking forward without

of

was slowly losing his temper. However,

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

who would have this secret meeting with the White

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

the people standing next to him before looking forward

last person. Young master

room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

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

you not going

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

He stopped in front of Cale and asked the

master Cale, are you not going

had not been smiling at

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

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much as I

looked at Sayeru

want me to do even

then turned his body to face

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

bowing down

negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru

was

too many things from me.

step back, looked forward and avoided

“…Ha.”

came out of Sayeru's

heads. They understood where Cale

come to Puzzle City to deliver

had not shown any resistance and had even shown a lot of

people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized

calm on the outside

at his limits holding himself

“Ha, haha-”

was laughing out loud now. He could finally understand Cale Henituse

Henituse if

everything for

to go against

this one time since you are saying that you are

Sayeru patted Cale’s

there is no next

defeated fool who refused to make

be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows

floor with

anyone until that point. Many people were

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved

one thing if we are far apart, but my condition might be revealed if

the basis, Cale had clashed with the White Star

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

bad if he found out before I flipped everything

slither out of that situation and sat down on a chair a priest

things in the room that was a bit

Cale Henituse is

fully submit if he wants

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

sitting down at the chair at the top of the

The White Star.

his nose was sitting on a white marble chair looking

Woooooooooooooooo–

altar… The residents of Puzzle City and

to come observe were at the center

separate the cheering crowd with

could only see the people cheering and the White Star on

able to see the sacrifices

Cale looked around.

had no choice but to cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers of the White Star and the God

the fervor spreading out of the cheering

see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked

a mistake but he was certain that the White Star was observing

not avoid

“Pffft.”

laughed and

a clear sign that he

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’