The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 268



268. The Sword that Split the Skin (1)

Surely, I believe this is not a mistaken judgment.

The heir position of the Duke of Bagrand.

Rumors spreading following the symposium and the martial arts tournament results.

The vassals openly showing their intent to keep me in check on Arina’s birthday.

And finally, someone’s inferiority complex.

This situation, dragging on in any direction, would yield no benefits in the long run. It would be wiser to firmly explain my lack of interest in the heir position to avoid creating enemies.

Thus, I intended to meet with Marquis Magnuell to clearly express my disinterest in the heir position.

Of course, since the episode is ongoing, options might arise. That aspect should be taken into account to some extent, but I could adequately respond with the information available in the game.

The conversation flowed smoothly.

Initially, Marquis Magnuell scoffed, questioning why a competitor would request a conversation with a sponsor, but when I chose the appropriate responses, he ceased to press further.

He quickly got to the point, even proving that I had no interest in the heir position.

Yeah. That part went well.

I thought that after providing a suitable response, he would be convinced by the outcome.

But…

“Of all times, Claire had to walk in right then.”

With a message indicating that this conversation had somehow leaked outside, the pink-haired lunatic burst through the door.

Moreover, it was just as I had mentioned that I would leave the Duke’s house anyway.

“Tsk. I managed to dodge the topic somehow, but that was close. I almost got caught.”

I had cleverly misled him by saying that leaving the Duke’s house was more akin to branching out than departing entirely, preventing a bigger issue from arising.

However, this is something I truly need to be cautious about.

“Claire happened to overhear that, and I might consider myself incredibly unlucky, but my own recklessness played a part in this too.”

If just one more word had slipped out, if that one word, born from my true feelings, had reached Claire’s ears…

Just imagining it sends chills down my spine.

Moreover, if my escape plan were to fall apart completely, it wouldn’t be surprising for the system to deliver any kind of response. Since another plan was ruined, a bad ending could have been on the horizon.

“Still, I guess I should consider it half a success for now?”

▶The intimacy with a specific character has increased.◀

—

Let me know if you need anything else!

[ Marquis Magnuell ]

[ Current Affinity: 20% ]

As a candidate for the next duke, he had secured a line with Arina, yet he was showing a rather unfavorable affinity status towards Karsein.

According to Harnié, such competition among the nobility was said to be quite bloody. Even within the same family, voices and factions could be divided, so it was no surprise that the affinity status appeared as a gray box.

However, due to just a few exchanged words, the gray affinity box, which had shown a -5% affinity, surged to 20%, transforming into a white box.

At this point, one could set aside concerns about being hindered by Marquis Magnuell and his retainers. Of course, one would still need to be careful not to appear as if breaking a promise.

-Ding!

▶ There are 10 minutes left until the start of the arena event. ◀

“Seems like the timing is just about right… Shall we head back?”

*

This was something that retainers of noble families typically experienced.

Supporting an outstanding family.

Being a retainer of a family with such lofty reputation, power, and wealth undoubtedly provided a solid backing.

At this time, the retainers’ opinions did not diverge much. They united their strength for the sake of their own factions and the growth of the representative family.

However, such a golden age could not last forever.

When the time came, the next generation head would inherit the family.

If there was only one child, it might be different, but with two or more children, the flames of competition would ignite in the not-so-distant future.

From that point on, the retainers would also be divided into factions.

Even if they shared the same goal while racing towards it, once the new head began to reign, they would start to grasp each other’s rights.

Marquis Magnuell was no different from those nobles.

Under the Bagland Duke family, the largest family beneath the Peselros Imperial House, the time had come for a new head to emerge, prompting him to reach out for any rights that could bring him even a slight advantage.

What reason would there be not to trample on others for his own profit?

In that process, dirty and petty tactics were exchanged.

He had covertly employed underhanded means to defeat other families.

With malice in his heart, he sought to claim the position he desired.

Because that was the norm.

No matter how much they claimed to be retainers of the same duke family, it was not strange to eliminate competitors.

Humans are endlessly tainted by greed.

They are beings capable of doing anything to seize wealth and power.

No matter how virtuous a saintly figure might be, Marquis Magnuell was certain he would never be swayed by such sweet talk.

However.

The boy said.

That he had no interest whatsoever in the position of heir to the Duke of Bagrand.

Even if he were to cast aside everything in the world, he would not need a position like that of the Duke of Bagrand, which would be strange to desire.

It was certainly nonsense.

No matter what status one held, there would always be someone who coveted that position.

Even the imperial family contends for the rank of emperor; there would be no one who would not desire that seat.

But…

He was sincere.

“…Even if I were to be framed for a crime right now, I could have led the situation to a favorable fight.”

The Marquis thought that if he were in that position, he would have thoroughly framed his opponent. There would be no reason to refuse when the situation was so easily laid out before him.

Yet, Carsein did not take advantage.

Instead, he helped the Marquis avoid a situation that could have put him in a difficult position.

He clearly corrected Claire’s misunderstanding, completely eliminating any punishment that might have befallen the Marquis.

That was… pure honesty.

“I still can’t believe it, even upon reflection.”

The Marquis Magnuelle muttered with a wry smile.

As he pondered over Carsein’s words and actions, he realized that something had been amiss even before Claire barged in.

“Right. Now that I think about it, he grasped my intentions immediately.”

He distinctly referred to the fact that he had come to see the Marquis Magnuelle, a vassal of the Duke of Bagrand, not the patron of Princess Arina, and he pierced through the meaning of those words with clarity.

“The same went for the unblemished and the mines. He also knew what Princess Arina enjoyed, and he realized why I became her patron.”

From his perspective, he was merely a vassal.

Yet, without looking down on his opponent or becoming complacent, he meticulously and deeply investigated to extract all the information.

In the end, he even used that information as a weapon to respond appropriately, so it could be said that their side had been completely seen through.

When all of this was taken into account.

The Marquis Magnuelle could not win against Carsein in any regard.

After realizing this, the Marquis let out a sigh, releasing the venom within him, and laughed again in disbelief.

“Was the depth of my insight really that lacking?”

He had held a prejudice simply because his opponent was of common birth.

He had been blinded by the qualities of an heir and failed to recognize the brilliantly shining gem before him.

—

The depth of the eyes was truly lacking.

— Someday, Lord Carsein will surely stand out. Is it not that the Marquis’s insight has remained too shallow?

Just like what Count Ptoah said.

“Hmph. Yes. It seems you were right. My insight appears to be lacking compared to yours.”

The difference between Marquis Magnuell and Count Ptoah among the vassal families of the Duke’s house is quite significant. However, at this moment, I had no choice but to acknowledge his insight.

The dull eyes of the Marquis, who always lived with a venomous spirit, sparkled with bright vitality.

“What a pity. If the young lord had been a bit more interested in the succession, we could have had a fair fight this time.”

Indeed, it was a regrettable matter.

*

Harnier, seated in the audience, buried his face in his hands.

‘I’ve messed up!’

The events of this morning were still vivid.

After bringing my body, which had fallen asleep since dawn, and uttering words of concern, I thought I should repay him in some way.

So, I thought it would be better to do something for him before the match started…

But I didn’t want anything material.

I wanted to repay him with my heart.

It had to be something that would satisfy him, yet not feel awkward, and perhaps have a hint of ulterior motive—what could that be?

In searching for such a thing, the idea of a supportive kiss was chosen.

But once I actually committed such an act, all sorts of emotions flooded in.

The heat on my face wouldn’t settle down.

My heart, which had been pounding since earlier, showed no signs of stopping.

Something, whether it was embarrassment or satisfaction, kept twisting my body.

The sensation of his cheek touching my lips vividly resurfaced.

Holding this trembling heart, I gently smoothed my lips when Mina’s nagging finally reached my ears.

“Oh dear. Miss!”

“M-Mina?”

“It’s the start of the match! What are you doing like that?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Mina called out for a while and pointed over there.

“Lord Carsein is just coming out over there. You have to see every bit of that gallant figure, don’t you?”

“…”

—

—

Not completely calmed down yet.

But that doesn’t mean I can ignore the match of Karsein.

Besides, there are words I need to say at this moment.

With a trembling heart, Harni shouted with all her might.

“Hang in there, Karsein!”

I wish for it.

The victory of my fiancé.

Capturing every moment without missing a single one.

The splendid figure of the man I love.

That is what she must do right now.

*

-Ding!

▶The arena match has begun.◀

▶If you win against your opponent, your rank will rise and you will earn points.◀

Is this finally the start of the last event, the arena match?

The main episode seems likely to be easily cleared, regardless of how it unfolds in the arena.

However, I had to record a certain level of performance, an invisible condition.

‘Arina will surely throw a fit, claiming that the honor of the Duke of Bagrand has been tarnished.’

Even if it wasn’t visible in the status window, I had a rough idea of what was at stake. It was the same in the game.

The standard clearing method was to fall back from a suitable position.

If the fight drags on too long, health would deplete, and a lack of stamina could unnecessarily lower work efficiency.

Considering the 1:1 tournament style where only the winners advance, it would be efficient to be eliminated around the round of 16 or 8. It’s a situation where no particular choices arise, making it quite convenient.

However, this time, I won’t follow that standard clearing method.

“Yahhh!!!”

-Kaang! Kank! Puck!

“Ugh?!”

-Whoosh.

“Th-just two exchanges! The winner has been decided in just two exchanges! The winner is, Karsein Bagrand!”

─Waaah!!!

It’s essential to provide someone with a process to alleviate their inferiority complex.

—