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.”

them to watch the preparation of the

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

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

will prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this

then

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky

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

the central temple… The

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

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

peeked at Cale before continuing to speak

crown prince Alberu

gaze headed to the front

the rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was in

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

“…Of course.”

please come

pointed next to him and Alberu

was the first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person

called over or come to see Cale at their resting

giving any signals through their eyes or greeting each other right now

‘He looks terrible.’

with a

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

down as if he was sad as he continued

more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him

Praying is

Your faith

Alberu just continued looking forward without any

son of a

temper. However, his face still remained

Oh, the

who would have this secret meeting with the White

rare to have an intimate conversation with the White Star-nim

to the people standing next to him

Young master

room became even more silent at that

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started

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

you not going

quietly

Tap. Tap.

front of Cale and asked the still emotionless

Cale, are you not going to come

not been smiling at all. There

who was not

“Cale Henituse.”

who had only been

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

was not loud but everybody heard

done as much as I

at

you want me to

then turned his body

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

down this

other negative emotions. There were so

slowly spoke, as if he was breathing

from me. This

a step back,

“…Ha.”

short chuckle came out

heads. They understood

had come to Puzzle

had not shown any resistance and

some people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

they realized

he was acting calm on

person was at his limits holding himself

“Ha, haha-”

was laughing out loud now. He could finally understand Cale

Cale Henituse if

fact that he had done everything

to go against the White

since you are saying that you are at your limit. I will put in a good word with the

Sayeru patted

is

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

next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it

without any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on the

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

basis, Cale had clashed with the White Star

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

bad if he found

did a good job to slither out of

that was a bit more rowdy

Henituse is

wants to survive. What’s with

“…He’s done for.”

his eyes without saying

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

chair at the top of the altar as the drumming

The White Star.

that covered above his nose

Woooooooooooooooo–

from the altar… The residents

at the center of the cheering crowd

purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale

could only see the people cheering and the

sacrifices as well as they step onto

Cale looked around.

cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers

the fervor spreading out of the

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked toward

but he was certain that the White

but did not avoid

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

a clear sign that he was ignoring

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’