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

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

priests are keeping their eyes on

and refreshments. Isn’t this quite great of a

smiled and then suddenly clapped

"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

floor of the central temple…

at noon… That was when the White Star

‘Honorable my ass.’

inner thoughts. His face just looked

before continuing to

highness, crown prince

headed to the

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

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

“…Of course.”

please come

pointed next to him and

first time Cale saw

had not called over or come to see Cale

were not giving any signals through their eyes or greeting each other right

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

if he was sad as

be hard on you. You seem to be losing more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White

Praying

faith

laughed while Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes

son of a

slowly losing his temper. However, his face

crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the

people who would have

have an intimate conversation

made that comment to the people standing

Young

became even more silent at that

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started

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

going to step

just quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

to walk. He stopped in front of Cale and

are you not going

as if he had not been smiling at

person who was not looking

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much as

looked at

want me to

his

forward and shoved his face closer to

down this

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

if he was

too many things from me.

step back, looked forward and

“…Ha.”

came out

slightly nodding their heads. They

Henituse. He had come 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 through

to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized

calm on the outside and

at his limits holding himself

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally

isn't Cale Henituse if he

that he had done everything

go against the

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

patted

is no

glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused

be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it

out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy refreshments with the White Star and headed

eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

condition might be

this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with the

far away from the White Star as possible

be bad if he found out

a good job to slither out of that situation and sat down on a chair a priest

things in the room that was a

Henituse is pretty much

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

“…He’s done for.”

his eyes without saying

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

down at the chair at

The White Star.

bastard wearing the white half mask that covered above his nose was

Woooooooooooooooo–

The residents of Puzzle City and people from all

come observe were at the center of the cheering

the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others got chairs as a form

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

sacrifices as well as they step onto

Cale looked around.

but to cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers of the White Star and

the fervor spreading out of the cheering and raised his

could see the White

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked

could have been a mistake but he was certain that the

not avoid

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

was a clear sign that

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’