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

are aware, priests are stationed all around

their eyes on them and not to do

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

smiled and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with his

he would like to see some people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to

floor of the central temple…

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

thoughts. His face

peeked at Cale before continuing to speak

highness, crown prince Alberu

headed to the

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

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

“…Of course.”

please come this

pointed next to him and

first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person in this

over or come to see Cale at their

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

‘He looks terrible.’

a

the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to

“Oh no, your highness.”

down as if he was sad as

You seem to be 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

okay. Praying is

magnificent. Your faith is

while Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes to his

son of

slowly losing his temper. However, his face

crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from

people who would have this secret

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

comment to the people standing next to him before

last person. Young master Cale

even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

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

not going to step

quietly

Tap. Tap.

slowly started to walk. He stopped in front of Cale and asked the still emotionless

are you not going to

face turned cold as if he had not been smiling at all. There was an unexplainable sense of

the person who was not looking at

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

done as much

at Sayeru and

want me

turned his body

took a step forward and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru

down this

of wrath, annoyance, and all sorts of other negative emotions. There were so

person slowly spoke, as if he was breathing

things from me.

took a step back, looked forward

“…Ha.”

came out of Sayeru's

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood

to Puzzle

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

some people to think that

they realized it

acting calm

was at

“Ha, haha-”

now. He could finally understand Cale Henituse

he isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't

everything for the

go against the

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

Sayeru patted Cale’s

is no

at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to make eye contact with him as well as everybody

next sacrifice? Nobody

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

contact with anyone until that

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

but my condition might be revealed if I am close to

as the basis, Cale had

better for him to be as far away from the White Star as possible in order to

if he found out before I flipped

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

could hear some things in the room that was

is pretty

fully submit if he wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the chair at the top of the altar

The White Star.

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

Woooooooooooooooo–

bit away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle

at the center of the cheering crowd looking

with the forced spectators. Furthermore,

the chairs made it so that they could only see the people cheering and

be able to see the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

choice but to cheer but the crowd

spreading out of the

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked

a mistake but he was certain that the White Star was

not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

laughed and turned his

sign that he was

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’