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

are stationed all around

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

Isn’t

smiled and then suddenly

"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 be an extremely honorable place to

floor of the central temple…

the White Star would reveal himself to the people in front

‘Honorable my ass.’

despite his completely different inner thoughts. His face just

at Cale before continuing to speak with

crown prince Alberu

headed to the

the rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was

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

“…Of course.”

come this

next to him

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

come to see Cale at their

two of them were not giving any signals through their

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic expression on his

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

he was sad

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

Praying

Your faith is

just continued looking

of

was slowly losing his temper. However, his

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

continued choosing the people who would have this secret meeting with the White

is rare to have an intimate conversation with

that comment to the people standing next to

person. Young master Cale

silent room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

Henituse was the person at the center of the people who had fought against the White Star. The past did not disappear just because Cale had been

you not going to

just quietly

Tap. Tap.

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

are you not

cold as if he had not been smiling at all. There was an unexplainable

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

“Cale Henituse.”

had

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

done as much as

looked at

you want me to

turned his body to

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

down this

and all sorts of other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru

spoke, as if he was breathing

too many things from me. This is my

then took a step back, looked forward

“…Ha.”

came out

slightly nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was coming

Henituse. He had come to Puzzle City to

the celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any

for some people to think that Cale Henituse had

they realized it

acting calm on

person was at

“Ha, haha-”

out loud now. He

if he

that he had done everything for

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

one time since you are saying that you are at your limit. I

Sayeru patted

there is no

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

be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it may

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

did not make any eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people were looking at him with different

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

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

basis, Cale had clashed with

away from the White Star as possible in order to

be bad if he found out before

job to slither out of that situation and sat

the room that was a bit more rowdy

Cale Henituse is pretty much

should just fully submit if he wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the person sitting down at the chair

The White Star.

covered above his nose was sitting on a white marble

Woooooooooooooooo–

residents of Puzzle City and people from all

were 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, Cale and the others

on the chairs made it so that they could only see the people cheering and the White Star on top of

be able to see the sacrifices as well as they

Cale looked around.

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

fervor spreading out of the cheering

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked toward

but he was

did not avoid

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

was a clear sign that he was ignoring

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’