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 altar

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

are keeping their eyes

refreshments. Isn’t this quite great of a

and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with his

people face to face before the celebration starts. He

of the central temple… The

White Star would reveal himself

‘Honorable my ass.’

thoughts. His face just looked cold to

at Cale before continuing

crown prince Alberu

to the front of the

was to the rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was in the front as he would

of refreshments with the White Star-nim.

“…Of course.”

please come this

pointed next to him

Cale saw Alberu’s face in

Crossman had not called over or come to see

signals through their eyes or greeting each other

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a stoic expression on

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.”

curled down as if he was sad

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 is

magnificent. Your faith is

looking forward without any changes

son of a

his temper.

the prince from

people who would have this secret meeting with the

to have an intimate conversation with the White

to the people standing next to him before

person. Young

room became even

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking at

the people who had fought against the White Star. The past did

going

quietly

Tap. Tap.

slowly started to walk. He stopped in front of Cale and

you not going

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

the person who was not looking at him

“Cale Henituse.”

the person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

room. His voice was not loud but everybody heard

as much

at

me to

then turned his

shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could see the

bowing down this

annoyance, and all sorts of other negative emotions. There

defeated person slowly spoke, as if he was breathing out,

many things from me.

took a step back, looked forward and avoided Sayeru's

“…Ha.”

chuckle came

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was

to Puzzle City to deliver

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

enough for some people to

they realized it

acting calm on the outside

person was at his

“Ha, haha-”

He could finally understand Cale

Henituse if he doesn't

that he had done everything for the sacrifice delivery

go against the White Star's order and felt

understanding this one time since you are saying that you are at your limit. I will put

patted Cale’s

is no

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

sacrifice? Nobody knows

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

with anyone until that point. Many people were

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

condition might be revealed if I am

this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with

it was better for him to be as far away from the White Star

if he found out before I flipped

job to slither out of

in the room that was a bit more rowdy after Sayeru

is pretty much

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

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

chair at the top of

The White Star.

above his nose was sitting

Woooooooooooooooo–

the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people

observe were at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at the

with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others got chairs

see the people cheering and the White

able to see the sacrifices as well

Cale looked around.

some people who had no choice but to cheer but the crowd had a

fervor spreading out of the cheering and raised

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star

could have been a mistake but he was certain that the White Star was observing

not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and turned his

sign that he was

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’