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.”

the preparation of the altar to

all around so please let us know if there

priests are keeping their eyes on them

prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite great

then suddenly clapped his

"Ah, in addition.”

the

White Star-nim has said that he would like to see some people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those

the central temple… The White Star was

Star

‘Honorable my ass.’

completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked

at Cale before

crown prince

gaze headed to the front of

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

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

“…Of course.”

please come

next to him

was the first time Cale saw Alberu’s face

not called over or come to see Cale at their

through

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

if he was sad as he

the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying. Ask

okay. Praying is

magnificent. Your faith is very

Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes to his

of

losing his temper. However, his

prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from

continued choosing the people who would have this secret meeting with

to have an intimate conversation with

standing next to him before looking forward

person. Young master Cale

room became even more silent at that

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking

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

going to step

quietly

Tap. Tap.

front of Cale and asked the still

master Cale, are you

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

who was not

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only been

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

done as much as I

looked at

you want me to do even

turned his body

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

down this much

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

was breathing out,

too many things from me. This is my

back, looked forward and avoided Sayeru's

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out

heads. They understood where

come to Puzzle City

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

some people to think that Cale

realized

he was acting calm on the outside and

was at his limits holding

“Ha, haha-”

laughing out loud now. He could finally

if

everything for the

go against the White Star's order and

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

patted

there is no

eyes glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to make eye

be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it may

of the third floor with the people who will

eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people were

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on the

condition might be revealed if I am close to the White

using this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with the White Star many

away from the White Star as possible in

found out before I flipped

of that situation and sat

in the room that

is pretty much

submit if he wants to

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without saying

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the chair

The White Star.

bastard wearing the white half mask that covered above his nose

Woooooooooooooooo–

residents of Puzzle City and people from all over

who were forced to come observe were at the center of the

like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore,

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

be able to see the sacrifices as well as

Cale looked around.

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

spreading out of the cheering and raised

see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked toward

was certain that the

frowned but did not

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed

clear sign that he

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’