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 of the altar to

around so please

their eyes on them

refreshments. Isn’t this

then

"Ah, in addition.”

pointed toward the sky with

celebration starts. He wishes to have tea with those people. I'm

central temple… The White Star was

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold

at Cale before

highness, crown prince Alberu

to the

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

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

“…Of course.”

come this

him and Alberu

first time Cale saw Alberu’s face

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

not giving any signals through their eyes or greeting

‘He looks terrible.’

observed Alberu with a

through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see that Alberu had lost a lot of

“Oh no, your highness.”

curled down as if he was sad as he continued

be losing more weight by the day. Mm. How about asking the White Star-nim about it? Ask him

Praying is

faith is very

Alberu just continued looking

son of a

losing his temper.

the prince from the Breck Kingdom please step forward as

continued choosing the people who would have this secret meeting

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

made that comment to the people standing next to

person. Young master

room became even more silent at

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

people started peeking at

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

not going to step

quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

stopped in front of Cale and asked

master Cale, are you not going to

not been smiling at

who was

“Cale Henituse.”

of the person who had only

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

room. His voice was not loud

much as

looked at

you want me to do

then turned his body to

and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s

down this

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

as if he was breathing out, with the scowl on his

expect too many things from me.

then took a step back, looked forward

“…Ha.”

short chuckle came out of

their heads. They understood

had come to Puzzle

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

alone was enough for some people to think

they realized

was acting calm

person was at his

“Ha, haha-”

laughing out loud now. He could finally understand

if he doesn't act

fact that he had done everything for

who dared to go against the White Star's

that you are at your limit. I will put in a good

patted Cale’s

there is no next

the defeated fool who refused to make

will be the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who

without any regrets, headed out of the third floor with the

with anyone until that point. Many people were looking at him

‘Phew, that was close.’

was relieved on the

far apart, but my condition might be revealed

this illusion as the basis, Cale had clashed with

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

if he found out before I

to slither out of that

things in the room that was a bit more

is pretty

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

“…He’s done for.”

his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

the person sitting down at the chair

The White Star.

mask that covered above his nose was

Woooooooooooooooo–

away from the altar… The residents of Puzzle City and people

were at the center of the

set like this on purpose with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators.

that they could only see the people cheering

see the sacrifices as well as they step onto

Cale looked around.

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

out of the cheering and

could see

At that moment…

‘Mm.

Star looked toward

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

not avoid the

“Pffft.”

White Star laughed

a clear sign

for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’