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

that you are aware, priests are stationed all around

keeping their eyes on them and not to do anything

Isn’t

then suddenly clapped

"Ah, in addition.”

toward 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 be

the central temple…

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

‘Honorable my ass.’

inner thoughts. His face just looked cold

Cale before continuing to speak with

crown

the

the group, Alberu

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

“…Of course.”

come this

pointed next to him and Alberu

time Cale saw

not called over or come

of them were not giving any signals through their

‘He looks terrible.’

Alberu with a stoic expression

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

“Oh no, your highness.”

as if he was sad as he

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

Praying is

faith is very

while Alberu just continued looking forward without

son of

was slowly losing his temper.

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

people who would have this secret meeting with

It is rare to have an intimate conversation

the people standing next to him

last person. Young master

became even more silent

Sayeru respectfully ordered Cale.

“Please come forward.”

started

had fought against the White Star. The past did not disappear just because Cale

not going to

quietly looked

Tap. Tap.

slowly started to walk. He stopped in front

master Cale, are you not going to come

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

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

“Cale Henituse.”

the person who had only been

“Priest Sayeru-nim.”

through the silent room. His voice was

done as much

at

you want me to do even

his body to face

and shoved his face closer to Sayeru’s face. Sayeru could

bowing down this much

all sorts of other negative emotions. There

spoke, as if he was breathing out, with the scowl

expect too many things from me. This is

step back, looked forward and

“…Ha.”

chuckle came out of Sayeru's

were slightly nodding their heads. They

come to Puzzle City to

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

enough for some people to think that Cale

they realized it

acting calm on

was at his

“Ha, haha-”

loud now. He could finally understand Cale

Cale Henituse if

had done everything for the sacrifice

to go against the White Star's order and felt

saying that you are at your limit. I will put in a good word with the White

patted Cale’s

there is no next

eyes glared at Cale. He warned the defeated fool who refused to make eye

sacrifice? Nobody knows

headed out of the third floor with the people

eye contact with anyone until that point. Many people were looking

‘Phew, that was close.’

relieved

thing if we are far apart, but my condition might

illusion as the basis, Cale

far away from the White Star as possible in order to not have his

found out before

out of that situation

things in the room that was a bit

Henituse is pretty

if he wants to survive. What’s with this half-assed

“…He’s done for.”

closed his eyes without

Time quickly passed by.

Boom- boom- boom-

It was now noon.

at the chair at the top of the altar as the

The White Star.

that covered above his nose was sitting on a white marble chair

Woooooooooooooooo–

altar… The residents of

the center of the

to separate the cheering crowd with the forced

only see the people cheering and the

to see the sacrifices as well as they step onto the

Cale looked around.

but to cheer but the crowd had a lot of followers of the White Star and the God of

of the cheering and

see the

At that moment…

‘Mm.

White Star looked toward

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

did not avoid the White

“Pffft.”

Star laughed

a clear sign that

was for that

‘Ah, that scared me.’

Cale was relieved.

‘He didn't find out.’