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

around so please let us know if there is anything you

priests are keeping their eyes on them

Isn’t

and then suddenly

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with his

starts. He

the central temple… The White Star was

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

inner thoughts. His face just looked cold to the

at Cale before continuing

highness, crown prince

gaze headed to the

Cale, who was to the rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was in the

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

“…Of course.”

come this

pointed next to him

Cale saw Alberu’s face in person in

called over or come to see Cale at

any signals through

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a

seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see that

“Oh no, your highness.”

if he was sad as he continued

despair prayer must be hard 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 to let someone else take your place. What

okay. Praying is

Your faith is very

just continued looking forward without

of

losing his temper. However, his face

prince Valentino. Oh, the

have this secret

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

made that comment to the people standing next to him before

last person. Young master Cale

silent room became even more silent

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 disappear just

not going

quietly

Tap. Tap.

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

Cale, are you not

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

called out to the person who was

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been looking forward slowly

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much as I

at Sayeru and

want me to do

turned his

his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could see the scowl

bowing down

of other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru could see them

as if he was breathing out, with

many things from me. This is

a step back,

“…Ha.”

chuckle came

slightly nodding their heads.

had come to Puzzle City

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

people to think

realized

was acting calm on the outside and

defeated person was at

“Ha, haha-”

He could finally understand

if he doesn't act

everything

looked at Cale Henituse who dared to go against the White

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

Sayeru patted Cale’s

is no next

defeated fool who

sacrifice?

with the people who will enjoy

contact with anyone until that point. Many people were

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

far apart, but my condition might be revealed if

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

to be as far away from the White

bad if he found out before

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

in the room that

is pretty much dead

he wants to survive. What’s with

“…He’s done for.”

eyes

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the chair at the top of the altar as the drumming

The White Star.

above his nose was sitting

Woooooooooooooooo–

bit away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people from all over were

at the center of the cheering

cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others

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

Cale looked around.

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

felt the fervor spreading out of the

could see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star

a mistake but he was

not

“Pffft.”

laughed and

sign that he was

was for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’