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

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

are keeping their eyes

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

then

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with

would like to see some people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm sure

the central temple… The

noon… That was when the White Star would reveal

‘Honorable my ass.’

thoughts. His face

before

highness, crown

to the front of the

the group, Alberu was in the front as he would

White

“…Of course.”

come

next to him and

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

over or come to see Cale at their

signals through their eyes or greeting each other

‘He looks terrible.’

with a stoic expression on his

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

he

asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying. Ask him to let someone else

Praying

faith is very

continued looking forward without any changes to his

of

his temper. However, his face

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

choosing the people who would have this secret

It is rare to have an intimate

comment to the people standing next to

Young master Cale

room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking

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

not going

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

He stopped in front of Cale

are you not

if he had not been smiling at

Bear King called out to the person who was not looking at him

“Cale Henituse.”

the person who had

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

room. His voice was

much

at

want me

turned his body to

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

down

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

as if he was breathing out, with the scowl

things from me. This is

took a step back, looked

“…Ha.”

chuckle came

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was coming

come to

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

people to think that Cale Henituse

they realized

he was acting calm on the outside and

was at his

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally

isn't Cale Henituse if

that he had done everything for the sacrifice delivery was

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

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

patted Cale’s

is no

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

will be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it

any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments

that point. Many people were looking at him

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

one thing if we are far apart, but my condition might be revealed if

just using this illusion as the basis, Cale had

as far away from the

bad if he found out before

thought that he did a good job to slither out of that situation and

that was a bit

Henituse is pretty much dead

if he wants to survive. What’s with this half-assed

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

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

The White Star.

his nose was sitting on a

Woooooooooooooooo–

an area a bit away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people from all over

forced to come observe were at the center of the

dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the

only see the people cheering and the White

sacrifices as well

Cale looked around.

to cheer but the crowd had

of the cheering

could see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked toward

a mistake but he was certain that

but did not avoid the

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

was a clear sign

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’