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

stationed all around so please let us know if there

priests are keeping their eyes on

chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite

then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with his

people face to face before the celebration starts. He

fifth floor of the central temple… The White Star

was when the White Star would reveal

‘Honorable my ass.’

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

at Cale before continuing to

highness, crown prince

the front of the

the middle of the group, Alberu was in the front as he would be giving the congratulatory

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

“…Of course.”

please come this

to him and Alberu

saw

not called over or come to see

through their

‘He looks terrible.’

with a stoic expression on his

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

as if he was

prayer must be hard on you. You seem to be losing more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White

Praying

faith is

looking forward without any changes to

of a

was slowly losing his temper. However, his face

is the Caro Kingdom's crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom

who would have this secret meeting with the White

you must smile. It is rare to have

standing next

last person. Young master Cale

silent room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started

center of the people who had fought against the White

you not going to

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

stopped in front

you not going to come

he had not been smiling at all.

King called out to the person who

“Cale Henituse.”

the person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

done as much as

at

you want me

turned his body to face

and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru

bowing down this

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

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

many things from me. This is

back, looked forward and avoided

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out of

nodding their heads. They understood where Cale

had come to Puzzle City to

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

for some people to think that Cale Henituse

they realized

was acting calm on the outside

was at

“Ha, haha-”

out loud now. He

isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't act like

done everything for

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

this one time since you are saying that you are

patted Cale’s

there is no next

cold eyes glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to

the next sacrifice? Nobody

floor with the people who will enjoy

make any eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on the

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

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

away from the White Star as possible in order to

found out before I flipped

slither out of that situation and

things in the room that was a

Henituse is pretty much

should just fully submit if he wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

down at the chair at the top of the altar as

The White Star.

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

Woooooooooooooooo–

area a bit away from the altar… The residents of

at the center of the cheering crowd

was set like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore,

see the people cheering and the

see the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

some people who had no choice but to cheer but the crowd

fervor spreading out of the cheering and

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked toward

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

did not

“Pffft.”

Star laughed

sign that

was for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’