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

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

saying that priests are keeping their eyes on them and not to do anything

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

then

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky

celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm sure it will be an extremely honorable place to

fifth floor of the central temple… The White Star

That was when the White Star would reveal himself to the people

‘Honorable my ass.’

despite his completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold to

before continuing to speak with

crown prince Alberu

headed to the

of the middle of the group, Alberu was in the

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

“…Of course.”

please come

next to him and

time Cale saw Alberu’s face

called over or come to see Cale at their

two of them were not giving any signals through their eyes

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a

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 he continued

despair prayer 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?

okay. Praying

faith is

Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes to

of

temper. However, his face still remained

Kingdom's crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom please step forward

choosing the people who would have this secret

smile. It is rare to have

made that comment to the people standing next to him before looking

Young master

became even

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking at

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

going to

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

walk. He stopped in front of Cale

master Cale, are you not going to come

had not been smiling at all.

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

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

room. His voice was not loud but everybody heard it clearly

much

looked at

want me to

turned his body to

face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could see

down

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

was breathing out,

things from me. This

step back,

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out

people were slightly nodding their heads. They understood where Cale

He had come to Puzzle City to

was watching the celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any resistance and had

was enough for some people to think that Cale Henituse had

realized it

he was acting calm on

was at his limits

“Ha, haha-”

out loud now. He could finally understand Cale

Cale Henituse if he doesn't act

had done everything for the sacrifice

dared to go against the White

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

patted

is no next

He warned the defeated fool who refused to make eye contact with him

the next sacrifice? Nobody

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

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on

one thing if we are far apart, but my condition might be revealed if I am close to the

the basis, Cale had clashed with the White Star

away from the White

if he found out

slither out of that situation and

the room that was a bit more rowdy after Sayeru

Henituse is pretty

fully submit if he wants to survive. What’s

“…He’s done for.”

eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the person sitting down at the chair at the top of the

The White Star.

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

Woooooooooooooooo–

The residents of

the center of the

set like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with

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

probably be able to see the sacrifices as

Cale looked around.

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

the fervor spreading out of the

could see the White

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star

was certain that the White Star was observing

frowned but did not avoid the

“Pffft.”

laughed

sign that he was

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’