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.”

watch the preparation

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

are keeping their eyes on them and not to

Isn’t this quite

smiled and then suddenly clapped his

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with

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

of the central temple…

starts at noon… That was when the White Star would reveal himself to the people in front of

‘Honorable my ass.’

his completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold

Cale before continuing to speak

highness, crown prince Alberu

headed to the

the group, Alberu was in the front

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

“…Of course.”

please come

to him and

Cale saw Alberu’s face in

not called over or come to see Cale

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

‘He looks terrible.’

with a

Alberu in person allowed Cale to

“Oh no, your highness.”

eyes curled down as if he

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

Praying is

Your faith

Alberu just continued looking forward without

of

temper. However, his face still

the prince from the Breck Kingdom please step forward

the people who would have this secret

is rare to have an

made that comment to the people standing next to him before looking

last person. Young master Cale

room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started peeking at

against the White Star. The past did not disappear just

you not going to step

quietly

Tap. Tap.

walk. He stopped in front of Cale and asked the

Cale, are you not going to

had not been smiling at all. There was

out to the person who was not looking at him in a low

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only been looking

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

was not loud but everybody

as much

looked at Sayeru and

you want me to

his

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

bowing down

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

if he was breathing out, with

things from me. This is my

step back, looked forward and

“…Ha.”

short chuckle came out of Sayeru's

nodding their heads. They understood where Cale was

to Puzzle City

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

some people to think

they realized it

calm on

at his limits

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally understand Cale

he isn't Cale Henituse if he doesn't

he had done everything for the

Henituse who dared to go against the White Star's

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

Sayeru patted Cale’s

is

glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who

next sacrifice? Nobody

with the people who will enjoy refreshments with the White Star and headed

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

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on

apart, but my condition might be revealed if

this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed

for him to be as far away from the White Star as possible in order to not have

found out before I flipped everything

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

hear some things in the room that was a bit

is pretty much

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

“…He’s done for.”

eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

up at the person sitting down at the chair at

The White Star.

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

Woooooooooooooooo–

area a bit away from the altar… The residents of

observe were at the center of the cheering crowd looking

with

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

able to see the sacrifices as well as they step onto

Cale looked around.

crowd had

felt the fervor spreading out of the cheering and raised

could see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked

mistake but he was certain that the White Star was observing

frowned but did not avoid the White Star's

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed and

sign that he was

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’