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.”

to watch the preparation of the altar to

around so

keeping their eyes on

will prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this

and then suddenly

"Ah, in addition.”

toward the sky with his

that 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

of the central temple… The

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

calm despite his completely different inner thoughts. His

peeked at Cale before

highness, crown

the

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

time of refreshments with the White

“…Of course.”

please come

pointed next to him and Alberu walked

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

or come to see

any signals through their eyes or

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic

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 of

“Oh no, your highness.”

eyes curled down as if he

hard on you. 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

Praying

faith is very

continued looking forward without any

son of

temper. However, his face still remained

Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom

choosing the people who would have this secret meeting with

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

to the people standing next to

Young

became even more silent at that

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking

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

not going to

quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

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

master Cale, are you not going to

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

to the person who was not looking at him

“Cale Henituse.”

had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

silent room. His voice was not

much

at Sayeru and

you want me

then turned his body to face

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

bowing down this

wrath, annoyance, and all sorts of other negative

as if he was breathing

many things from me. This is

a step back, looked forward

“…Ha.”

chuckle came

their heads. They understood where Cale was coming

He had come to Puzzle

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

some people to think

realized it

acting calm on the outside and

was at his limits

“Ha, haha-”

now. He could

isn't Cale Henituse if

fact that he had done everything for the sacrifice delivery was

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

that you are at your limit. I will put

Sayeru patted

is

the defeated fool who refused to

next sacrifice? Nobody

the third floor with the people who will

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

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

basis, Cale had

away from the White Star

found out

slither out of that situation and

things in the room that was a bit more

is pretty much dead

should just fully submit if he wants to survive. What’s with this

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

up at the person sitting down at the chair at the top

The White Star.

above his nose was sitting on a white marble chair looking

Woooooooooooooooo–

away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people from all

were at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at

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

see the people cheering and the White

the sacrifices as

Cale looked around.

but to cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers

of the cheering

could see the White

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked

a mistake but he was certain that the White Star

frowned but did not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

laughed and

clear sign that he was ignoring

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’