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

aware, priests are stationed all around

saying that priests are keeping their

prepare chairs and refreshments. Isn’t this quite great

then suddenly clapped his

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with

face to face before the celebration starts.

fifth floor of the central

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

inner thoughts. His

Cale before continuing

crown prince

to the front of

the group, Alberu was in

refreshments with the White Star-nim. You’re

“…Of course.”

come this

next to him and

time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person

not called over or come to see Cale at their

any signals through their eyes or

‘He looks terrible.’

a stoic expression on

Alberu in person allowed Cale to

“Oh no, your highness.”

if he was sad as he

by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him to allow you to stop praying. Ask him to let someone else take your place.

okay. Praying is

magnificent. Your faith is very

while Alberu just continued looking forward

son of a

slowly losing his temper. However,

next is the Caro Kingdom's crown prince Valentino. Oh, the

the people who would have this secret meeting with the White

have

people standing next to

person. Young master

became even

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

at the center of the people who had fought against the White

not going to step

quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

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

are you not going to

not been smiling at all. There was an

called out to the person who was not looking at him

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

much as

at

you want me to

then turned his body to

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

down

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

as if he was breathing out, with the scowl on

from

took a step back, looked forward and avoided

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out of Sayeru's

slightly nodding their heads. They understood

come to Puzzle City

celebration where the sacrifices were being offered. He had not shown any

for some people to think that Cale Henituse had

realized

calm on the outside

defeated person was at his limits holding himself

“Ha, haha-”

He could finally understand Cale Henituse

he isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't

had done everything for the sacrifice delivery

to go against

saying that you are at your limit. I will put in

patted Cale’s

is no next

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

the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who

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

not make any eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved on

thing if we are far apart, but my condition might be

using this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with the

be as far away from the

bad if he found out before I flipped

slither out of that situation and sat down on a chair a priest brought

some things in the room that was a bit

Cale Henituse is pretty much

wants

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the chair at the top of the altar as the drumming

The White Star.

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

Woooooooooooooooo–

away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle

were at the center of

with the forced spectators.

the chairs made 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.

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

felt the fervor spreading out of the cheering and

see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked toward

he was certain that the White Star was observing

did not avoid

“Pffft.”

laughed and turned his

sign

was for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’