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.”

telling them to watch the preparation of the altar

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

priests are keeping their eyes on them

chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite

smiled and then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

the

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

central

Star would reveal himself to the people in front of the

‘Honorable my ass.’

thoughts. His face just looked cold to the

peeked at Cale before continuing to

crown

gaze headed to the

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

refreshments with the White Star-nim. You’re happy, aren’t you, your

“…Of course.”

come

next to him and Alberu walked

Cale saw Alberu’s face in person in

or come to see Cale at their

giving any signals through their eyes or greeting each other right now

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a stoic

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

curled down as if he was

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

okay. Praying

faith

laughed while Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes

of a

temper. However, his

Valentino. Oh, the prince from the Breck Kingdom please step forward

the people who would have this

It is rare to have an intimate conversation with the White Star-nim like

that comment to the people standing

Young

silent room became even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking at

against

you not going to step

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

started to walk. He stopped in front of Cale

you

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

who was not looking

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

silent room. His voice was

much as I

looked at Sayeru

me

his

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

bowing down

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

spoke, as if he was

many things from

back, looked forward and

“…Ha.”

came out of

heads. They understood where Cale

to Puzzle City to deliver

celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any resistance and had even shown a lot of goodwill

people to think

they realized it

calm on the

person was at his limits holding

“Ha, haha-”

was laughing out loud now. He could

isn't Cale Henituse if

everything for the sacrifice

to go against

will show some understanding this one time since you are saying that you

patted

is

fool who refused to make

will be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it

without any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments with the White Star and headed for the

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on

apart, but my condition might be revealed if I

the basis, Cale had clashed with the White Star

as far away from the White Star

if he found out before

out of that

room that was

Henituse is pretty much

submit if he wants to survive. What’s with

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the chair at the top of the altar

The White Star.

half mask that covered above his nose was sitting on a white

Woooooooooooooooo–

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

people who were forced to come observe were at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at the White

was set like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others

could only see the people cheering and the White Star on top of the

probably be able to see the sacrifices as well

Cale looked around.

but the crowd had a lot of followers of the

of

see the White

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star

mistake but he was

did not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

sign that

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’