The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 276



Chapter 276. After the Gathering (4)

Flora skipped lightly down the corridor, her steps bouncing as if she were walking on clouds.

With a cheerful tune escaping her lips, Claire couldn’t help but wear a satisfied smile at the sight.

“Are you that happy?”

“Yep!”

Flora replied with a spirited voice.

‘No wonder she feels that way.’

Claire shared the sentiment.

Karsein was said to be safe.

He had opened his eyes and was focusing on recovery, and they said he would be discharged soon.

This time, with their mother’s help, they could even bring a gift.

It was no surprise that her steps were buoyant.

Hand in hand with her giggling sister, they soon arrived at Karsein’s hospital room.

After a light knock, Claire opened the door, and the sound of pages turning filled the air as Karsein asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Ugh.”

Claire, perhaps taken aback by his tone, strode over and snatched the book from his hands.

“What are you doing?”

“What about you? You knew we were coming.”

“So why did you ask what I was doing?”

“Seriously! You can’t even look up from your book when your sister and I come to visit? Huh?”

Thud.

“Ow! Why did you hit me?”

“Here I am, visiting you as a good sister, and you don’t even greet us properly!”

In truth, it wasn’t just that.

Their family had come to visit, and the lack of the expected reaction, coupled with his indifferent demeanor, was enough to put her in a foul mood.

Irritated, Claire opened the book.

“What on earth were you reading… Huh? You weren’t seriously trying to manage the territory even now, were you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Ugh, it’s just pathetic. Seriously! You’ve barely been awake, and you’re already doing this?”

“As long as your body’s intact, that’s all that matters, right? Besides, if I take a break, the people of the territory will suffer more. So hurry up and hand it over.”

“Honestly. You won’t find a lord in the Empire who works as mindlessly as you do.”

It wasn’t her intention to start off like this, but somehow, she found herself nagging from the very beginning.

Claire sighed, realizing this fact a moment too late.

‘I didn’t come here for this. I need to get a grip.’

Still, she didn’t want to return the book. After all, she had come to visit with Flora, and she couldn’t bear the thought of not making eye contact or responding.

– Thud.

With the mindset of returning it later, she sat down, using the book like a cushion on the chair.

“Ugh. So what? Why are you here?”

“Of course, I came to check if you’re okay. You’re not seriously saying that my visiting my brother is a problem, are you?”

“Y-Yeah! It’s a family visit!”

“Oh. Is that so? Well, how kind of you.”

Karsein’s indifferent reply was quite displeasing, but Claire merely twitched her lips and let it slide.

“Anyway, since you seem fine, let’s get to the point. Is there anything you want?”

“What kind of nonsense is that out of the blue?”

“What? Don’t you remember? Back in the day, whenever Mom praised us or we did something well, she’d give us a gift too. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Karsein, you got second place! Mom said she’d grant any wish if you told her what you wanted!”

As Flora chimed in, the topic shifted immediately.

“When I was praised by my tutor, I received a pass to enter tourist attractions alone. I’ve gotten pocket money, and even rare flowers that only grow in foreign lands. Anyway, since I’ve set a record as the runner-up in the martial arts tournament, anything should be fine. Artifacts or magical tools are possible too. If you want, I could even swap out that sword for something new.”

“Wouldn’t something like a restorative elixir be better for you, Karsein?”

“Oh, right? That would be better for healing my injuries. Our youngest is quite thoughtful, huh?”

“Hehe.”

Claire affectionately ruffled the youngest’s hair as a good idea struck her.

“So, anything is fine. Is there nothing you want?”

“If it’s a trip, we could all go together as a family!”

In a way, it was a question that sought a gift, but for Claire, it was a rather good question.

With this, she could gauge Karsein’s preferences, hobbies, and interests. Depending on the answers that came forth, she could craft suitable attire and present congratulatory gifts, which would be the icing on the cake.

Flora felt the same. She had heard from Shaiden that Karsein tended to suffer from various ailments more severely than others from different empires. She was thinking of preparing some nutritional supplements or medicines that could be helpful using the concoction techniques she had just learned.

So both of them held quiet hopes.

Curious about what answer would emerge.

However. At last, Karsein opened his mouth, but his words did not meet the expectations of the two.

“I don’t need it.”

The eyes of the two widened in disbelief.

“Are you serious? This is a rare opportunity!”

“If Mom doesn’t give it to me directly, I can’t buy what I want.”

“Yeah. I don’t need it.”

With that, Karsein repeated his words like a nail being driven in, then added,

“If I want to travel, I’ll pay for it myself. As for pocket money, I’m earning my own, so I don’t really need it. Rare flowers that grow in foreign lands? I’m curious about that. It’d be nice to buy some and grow them myself.”

“No. Why would you use your own money for that…”

“Why? Isn’t it strange to do it with my own money?”

Karsein shrugged his shoulders.

“Besides, one should have some sense of propriety. How much have I cost the duke’s family so far? Thinking about that, a gift would be a hundred years too early.”

“…”

“…”

It wasn’t an incorrect statement.

Because of the incidents caused by Karsein, the duke’s family had suffered time and again.

He had to pay compensation to the noble who had been thoroughly beaten.

He had to reimburse the hired hands who had been involved in the ruined festival.

Moreover, if one were to calculate the costs of time lost, the value of broken items, and various other damages, it would amount to an astronomical figure.

But, is this really right?

To not receive gifts in such a manner while repaying for damages?

The two sisters were enveloped in an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

In the meantime, Karsein suddenly rose from the bed and began to dress.

As he changed clothes with a body still unhealed, the lingering blood slightly stained the bandages.

“What, what are you doing! You’ll get worse! Blood! You’re bleeding!”

“Are you crazy?! Why are you suddenly getting up and changing clothes…!”

“It’s just a broken capillary. No need to make a fuss.”

“No! You still need to rest─”

The sound of a crisp, well-fitted shirt cut off Flora’s words.

“The afterparty. We have to go, right?”

“Afterparty…?”

“Yes. It’s the thing we always do after the martial arts tournament. It’s a tradition; you can’t skip it. If one person is missing from the family, it doesn’t look good.”

– Knock, knock.

“Young master. The carriage is ready.”

Claire doubted her own ears.

The carriage being ready meant… they had intended to attend the afterparty all along.

‘Well… to be on time, it makes sense to move now.’

But in this condition?

With a body just risen from the sickbed?

Is it really okay?

“Are you not going to the afterparty?”

“Uh? No, it’s not that…”

“Of course you have to go! Not attending is truly shameful!”

“If you keep dawdling, you’ll be late. How long are you going to sit there?”

“Gah! Is it really true? Big sister!”

“Uh, um. Right. Shall we go, Flora?”

For some reason, Claire couldn’t shake off the feeling of bewilderment.

No. Rather… it was a more profound sense of foreboding.

‘Something feels… off.’

The fact that she was deemed unworthy of receiving gifts from the martial arts tournament due to the staggering losses, and yet still wanted to attend with her family in a body that wasn’t fully healed.

This was purely… a way of conforming to others, not herself.

What on earth is this?

– Ding!

▶ Claire’s character-specific hidden episode. ＜Resurgence of Discomfort II＞ has been cleared. ◀

▶ Synchronization in progress. ◀

▶ An event will occur if the target discovers the Key Memorial. ◀

[ Key Memorial: A Broken Frame ]

*

When Claire and Flora arrived, it was merely a nuisance, but as they delved into the matter, familiarity washed over them, shaped by the weight of reality.

—

So, I’ve grasped the runner-up title, and now they say they’ll grant me a gift?

Since it’s a present given with praise, I can ask for anything, right?

I nearly laughed out loud.

– Mother told me to pass this on. If there’s anything you desire, she’ll buy it for you. So, don’t you have a place you want to travel to or something like that?

How consistently grateful these people are, truly.

Thus, I could live the reality of my experiences.

Praise? Gifts?

I need none of it.

‘I will never accept what you offer.’

After all, it’s not mine to take.

“Ladies, young master! We have arrived at the hall!”

– Ding!

▶ Episode V. The afterparty of the martial arts tournament has begun. ◀

▶ You are currently in attendance at the afterparty. Please be cautious to avoid getting entangled in any incidents! ◀

‘As expected, it has come to this.’

In truth, I had anticipated it to some extent.

The moment Isabella left the hospital room, the episode branching point appeared.

The branching point was quite simple.

Whether to attend the afterparty.

It was as straightforward as that.

I already knew that my attendance was made possible by clearing a hidden episode, but I hadn’t realized it would divide the main episodes.

‘Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid this afterparty.’

Since Karsein had proven his skills at the symposium and martial arts tournament, from here on, the types of challenges would shift from overt attacks to more troublesome ones to deal with.

What’s truly absurd about these types is—

When I briefly stepped into the lounge for a break, a woman, half undressed, emerged from the adjacent room,

– “Kyaaa! Don’t do that!”

She screamed, drawing the attention of those around her.

If I entered the resting room, exhausted from dancing, the scent of sleep would trigger a state of drowsiness, and suddenly,

– “Ugh! Out of nowhere, Lord Karsein is threatening me to strip… I have no way to refuse…”

And when I woke up, there she was, a naked woman barely covering herself with a blanket, and I found myself branded a rapist.

—

Rushing around the corner, I collide with someone and tumble to the ground.

-Help me! Here, this person is attacking me!

Caught in a situation where my hands are absurdly groping a woman’s chest, my reputation plummets, branded with the titles of pervert and lecher.

It’s a tricky business.

The trigger just goes off in the most nonsensical way.

Moreover, I have a fiancée named Harnière, which complicates matters even further.

If I get caught in the wrong way, it could all end in a heartbeat.

But…

▶＜Another Plan＞ has chosen the method of acquiring funds through ＜Domain＞.◀

▶It’s a Level 3 condition. You must possess 1 million Pesel.◀

After clearing the Level 2 conditions, the requirements for Level 3 are far too stringent.

There’s no way I can reach the final stage in this state.

So, I must try to move.

Considering the increased freedom upon reaching Chapter 3, it might be possible to take on some risk and attend the after-party to push for business expansion.

“Carsein? What are you doing over there?”

“Go ahead without me. I have someone to meet.”

“Someone to meet…? Ah.”

Flora suddenly contorts her face into a sinister expression.

What’s this? What’s going on?

“C’mon. You’re from the Bargrand Duke’s family, right? Why, why again…!”

“F-Flora!”

“After all the trouble of hosting the martial arts tournament. C’mon…! You’re not sticking with us again…!”

“C-Carsein! You said you had someone to meet, right? Hurry up and go. Ha, haha!”

…I really don’t understand why she’s acting like this.

Enough. Let’s not think about it.

How could I possibly know what that little brat is thinking?

Right now, it’s crucial to recall my memories clearly and move without falling into any traps or choices.

‘If I turn this block, I’ll find… Count Ptoah, right?’

But when I actually round the corner, what I see is…

“…Brother.”

He was not the author of his own fate.

Just a boy burdened with disappointment.

– Dding!

▶ You have broken your promise with Willard Stephan. ◀

▶ Meet him in the hall and explain your deliberate defeat. ◀

Seeing the status window pop up like this, it seems he carries considerable disappointment.

An intrusion of variables that fall outside the realm of known information.

This time, it must have been through the figure of Willard that the event unfolded.

A gut feeling washes over me.

This is a dead flag.

“Can you explain why you declared forfeit in the finals?”

– Dding!

▶ A choice has arisen! ◀

Countless phrases appear alongside the status window.

Yet strangely, the answer stands out before my eyes.

…Because it was not much different from that time.

– Can you explain why you declared forfeit in the duel with that instructor?

I could see the disappointment etched on the face of that junior who had cheered for me, watching as I forfeited against the firstborn who had come as a special guest.

Thus, I had no choice but to select this.

[ 13. Because it is not worth fighting Arina. ]☑

“It is not worth fighting Arina.”

– Dding!

▶ Willard’s intimacy has increased. ◀

[ 38% → 45% ]