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.”

to watch the preparation

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 and not to do

Isn’t this quite

smiled and then

"Ah, in addition.”

the sky with his

before the celebration starts. He wishes

the central temple…

the celebration starts at noon… That was when the White Star would reveal himself to the

‘Honorable my ass.’

completely different inner thoughts. His face just looked cold to the

at Cale before continuing to speak

highness, crown

headed to the front

rear of the middle of the group, Alberu was in the front as

refreshments with the White Star-nim. You’re

“…Of course.”

come

to him

the first time Cale saw Alberu’s face in person

Crossman had not called over or come

them were not giving any signals through

‘He looks terrible.’

a stoic expression on

through the video communication device, seeing Alberu in person allowed Cale to see

“Oh no, your highness.”

as if he was sad as he

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

Praying

Your faith is

laughed while Alberu just continued looking forward without any changes to

of a

was slowly losing his temper. However, his face still

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

continued choosing the people who would have this secret meeting

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

people standing next to him before looking

Young master

became even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

of the people who had fought against the White Star. The

not going to step

quietly

Tap. Tap.

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

are you

not been smiling at all. There

person who was

“Cale Henituse.”

person who had only been looking forward

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

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

as much

looked at Sayeru

you want me to

then turned his body to

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

down this

other negative emotions. There were so many that Sayeru

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

expect too many things from me. This is my

then took a step back,

“…Ha.”

came out of

were slightly nodding their heads. They understood where

had come to Puzzle City to

had not shown any resistance and had even shown

alone was enough for some people to think that Cale Henituse had gone

realized it

calm

was at his limits holding

“Ha, haha-”

He

if he doesn't

that he had done everything for the

who dared to go against the White Star's

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

Sayeru patted

is

who refused to make

the next sacrifice? Nobody knows who it may

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

that point. Many people were looking at

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

are far apart, but my condition might be revealed

using this illusion as the basis, Cale had

was why it was better for him to be as far away from the White

he found out

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

room that was a bit

is pretty much dead

fully submit if he wants

“…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 of the altar as the drumming

The White Star.

his nose

Woooooooooooooooo–

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

at the center of the cheering crowd looking up at

with dividers to separate the cheering crowd with the forced spectators. Furthermore, Cale and the others got chairs as a form of

that they could only see the people cheering and the

the sacrifices as well as

Cale looked around.

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

spreading out of the

see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked toward

was certain that the White Star

not avoid the White Star's

“Pffft.”

laughed and turned his

a clear sign

for

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’