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

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

that priests are keeping their eyes on them

Isn’t this quite great of a

then suddenly

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with

people face to face before the celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm sure it will be an extremely honorable place to

central temple…

was when the White Star would reveal himself to the people in front of

‘Honorable my ass.’

different inner thoughts. His face just looked

peeked at Cale before continuing

highness, crown prince Alberu

gaze headed to the front

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

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

“…Of course.”

please come

him and Alberu

first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in

Crossman had not called over or come to see Cale at their

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

‘He looks terrible.’

a stoic expression on

device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see that

“Oh no, your highness.”

curled down as if he was sad as he continued

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

okay. Praying is

magnificent. Your faith is

while Alberu just continued looking

son of a

was slowly losing his temper. However,

the Caro Kingdom's crown prince Valentino. Oh, the prince from the

have this

is rare to have an intimate conversation with

to the people standing

last person. Young

room became even more silent at that

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking at

fought against the White Star. The past did not disappear just because Cale had been

you not going to

quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

in front of Cale and asked

master Cale, are you not going

had not been smiling at all. There was

Bear King called out to the person who was

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been looking forward slowly

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much as

looked at Sayeru

me

his body to

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

down this

were full of wrath, annoyance, and all sorts of other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru could see them without

he was breathing out, with the scowl on

many things from me. This is

took a step back, looked

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out

nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was

Henituse. He had come to Puzzle

not shown any resistance and had

some people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized it

acting calm on the

defeated person was at his limits holding himself

“Ha, haha-”

He could finally understand

isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't

everything for the sacrifice delivery was

against the White Star's order and felt joy and

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

Sayeru patted Cale’s

there is no next

fool who refused to make eye contact with him as well

the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it may

without any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the people who will enjoy

eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people were looking at him with different emotions,

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved

far apart, but my condition might be revealed if I am close to the White

illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with the

as far away from the White Star as possible in order to not

he found out

to slither out of that situation and

some things in the room that was a

Cale Henituse is

submit if he wants to survive.

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the person sitting down at the chair at the top

The White Star.

the white half mask that covered above his nose was sitting on a white marble chair looking

Woooooooooooooooo–

the altar… The residents of Puzzle City

the center of the cheering crowd looking up at the

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

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

able to see the sacrifices as well as they step onto

Cale looked around.

cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers of the White

fervor spreading out of the cheering

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star

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

did not

“Pffft.”

laughed

was a clear sign that he was ignoring

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’