The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 279



Chapter 279. The Afterparty (7)

“You don’t need anything…?”

“I’m satisfied with my current life.”

Karsein continued, his gaze sweeping down over himself.

“As a commoner, I find contentment in being able to eat quality food. It feels strange to harbor discontent while wearing such fine clothes. Isn’t it something to be grateful for?”

“Karsein. What are you saying? You are my son.”

Isabella’s heart sank heavily at the cold reply that echoed once more.

“There’s no need to be so rigid about it. If you’re going to enjoy something, then enjoy it fully. That’s all I ask of you. Understand?”

Karsein paused for a moment before responding.

“Understood. I will do that.”

Yet, no matter how much she pleaded and tried to persuade him, Karsein’s attitude did not change.

“Considering the stature of Bagrand, I must have shown a rather lacking appearance. Perhaps I should start with my outward appearance.”

“Karsein. What do you mean…?”

“Just look at Claire or Arina; they dress quite splendidly. In comparison, I am exceedingly plain. To better illuminate the brilliance of Bagrand, I suppose I need to purchase some jewels.”

My mouth felt parched.

“I hear that noblemen carry fine watches. No wonder everyone looked so empty when they saw me. And my shoes, they seem to lack as well. I suppose I should change those at the same time? How troublesome.”

Even a few drops of saliva felt like they were drying up.

—

“It would be quite disappointing for the knights not to wear the emblem of the Duke’s house, wouldn’t it? Yes. I think it would be good to add a shoulder piece as well. After all, it would be troublesome if one appeared too dull when it’s time to act as a knight.”

From the parched corners of my mouth to the depths of my throat.

It feels as if it is burning away.

“Hmm. If you wish to travel, then so be it. If you desire to safeguard your health with the rare specialties of distant lands, I shall oblige. And if you find your attire lacking, then let us procure new garments. If the interior seems uncomfortable, I will change it.”

“Wait. Just wait a moment, Karsein!”

No.

That is not it.

“Do not say that. I—I did not wish to impose upon you.”

I only wanted to offer this child what they desired, not to force anything upon them.

And then.

“Why did you buy that? Do not do this.”

It was not my intention to squander the hard-earned money of my own child; as a mother, I simply wished to give a gift.

“I merely want to care for you as your mother. There is no need to be so rigid about it!”

Yes.

How could a mother and child argue over such matters?

It should not have come to this.

“I want to argue, that’s why.”

“What?”

“Perhaps the Duchess does not mind, but my position is quite different.”

Karsein pulled away from Isabella’s hand.

“Legally, I am indeed the adopted son of the Duke of Bagrand. My registration is complete, so I am without issue in the eyes of the Duke’s house. But do other nobles see me that way?”

A chilling draft sweeps in.

“No one thinks that. No matter what anyone says, I am merely a foundling. No matter how much I dine in a place like Flora’s, the food remains different. No matter how fine the clothes Claire gives me, I am still a commoner, and no matter how close I stand to Arina, I am but a parachute knight, not a knight of a noble family.”

♬~

As soon as the words left my lips, the prelude flowed from the lobby.

It was the beginning of the true after-party.

“I will not possess anything that is not solely mine.”

Rising from my seat, Karsein walked toward the hall without looking back.

In that moment, Isabella was flooded with thoughts.

Who on earth had cast such vile glances at that child?

—

Who dared to fill his son’s head with empty dreams?

An unbearable rage surged within him.

Yet, more than this fury, there was a lamentation.

A lament for his own failure to embrace the child in time.

He could dimly grasp the truth.

To gift something to Karsein would forever remain impossible.

“If only, if only I had cherished you more…!”

If only he had drawn closer.

The boy would never have been called a b*stard.

If only he had not treated him so awkwardly.

He could have prevented the scorn that awaited the child outside.

If he had treated him without discrimination.

If he had cared for him as he did his own.

Perhaps they could have forged a bond of mother and son.

Even if not a drop of blood was shared.

– Dding!

▶ Isabella’s intimacy level has increased. ◀

[ Even without a drop of blood, I wanted to be your mother: 96% ]

*

It was not only Karsein who realized that the afterparty of the martial arts tournament had begun.

The prelude echoed throughout the building, creating a venue for socializing.

“I suppose I should head down soon.”

Arina, who had been resting upstairs, rose from her seat and reached out toward the table as if it were the most natural thing to do.

Yet, despite her reaching, there was nothing to grasp.

“…Ah.”

A sigh escaped Arina’s lips.

For her, with her always-red hair tied in a ponytail, the hair tie was always there.

But today, that hair tie was absent.

“…Right. It broke that day.”

On nothing less than her own birthday.

The hair tie was severed by Karsein’s hand.

Though I was filled with a rage that was hard to comprehend.

What followed was an indescribable emptiness.

“I suppose I must use something else as a makeshift.”

– Knock, knock.

“Lady Arina. It is Heron.”

“Ah. Please wait a moment.”

What could he want?

Arina opened the locked door.

Outside, Heron stood with a polite demeanor, waiting.

“What is it?”

“Well, a gift has arrived.”

“A gift?”

“Yes. From Lord Karsein…”

Heron paused, drawing out his words.

“He also asked me to convey his apologies for the previous misdeed.”

If it’s a misdeed…

‘Is that it?’

The one that ruined my birthday.

It seemed to be a gift for that.

“Hand it over.”

Heron presented the box.

The well-wrapped package felt surprisingly light.

I cautiously opened it, wondering if it was yet another poor prank.

But contrary to my thoughts, the contents were quite normal.

…Too normal.

“…”

Inside the small box were an array of items perfect for tying a ponytail.

Some were adorned with glimmering jewels, and there were also new products from a boutique said to be crafted from rare ores.

In that case, it could only be considered normal.

There is no adornment quite like this for a noblewoman.

Yet, why is it?

Strangely, my hand hesitates to reach for it.

“Hmm.”

“Miss?”

“…Put everything else away, except for this. Heron.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Feeling the emptiness, Arina decides she must tie her hair up and picks one to pull out.

But even with her hair bound, this peculiar void does not fade.

What on earth—

What is this feeling?

It is an ornament far more expensive, crafted from materials of much higher quality.

Yet it feels less than that cheap hair tie.

*

After finishing the conversation with Isabella.

No new status windows appeared.

I wondered if some unnoticed issue might arise since it was a skipped scene, but nothing of the sort happened.

“…Is this all that remains?”

▶ Episode V. The aftermath of the martial arts tournament is underway. ◀

▶ A small event is to be conducted in the banquet hall. ◀

[ Current Events Completed (0/4) ]

In this place, thick with traps and triggers, there is but one way to clear the episode.

To find and complete an event that meets certain conditions.

With traps lurking at every turn, merely locating and clearing this event was a daunting task.

Yet, paradoxically, once this is done, Episode V will conclude.

Completing four events will ensure a safe return home.

To achieve this—

It must begin here.

“Eek!”

– Thud.

“Ah, ah…”

The blonde little one, arms laden with skewers of lamb, stumbled and fell on her backside.

Naturally, one need not mention what became of the skewers.

“Uh, Karsein…? What are you doing here…?”

“Why? Is it wrong for me to be here?”

“N-no! I didn’t say that!”

Flora scrambled to her feet, flustered.

And then, a chime echoed through the air.

– Ding!

▶ You have cleared the collision event with Flora! ◀

▶ Complete the remaining events! ◀

[ Events Completed (1/4) ]

‘At least nothing has changed.’

When I first encountered these traps in the game, I had cursed aloud, wondering what kind of nonsense this was.

But that was the point.

Karsein often found himself branded a pervert, a lecher, or worse, a deviant, all because of these traps. It was absurd, truly.

Yet, there was one common thread among them.

‘Collisions with women. That was the crux of it.’

No matter what trap was triggered or what flag was raised, everything that unfolded in the aftermath was intricately tied to women.

In other words, the events that needed clearing were exclusively linked to them.

Using this to provoke incidents was the answer.

“Uh, what should I do? Wait a moment! Just stay here!”

– Ding!

▶ A choice has appeared! ◀

Wait, you say?

That simply wouldn’t do.

“Come with me. Just.”

“Uh…?”

“Honestly, it’s better to follow you and clean up than to wait around here.”

“Uh, mm. Let’s go!”

[ 2. Following Flora. ]☑

If I don’t follow, I’ll end up in the changing room, stripped of my clothes, and in a real mess.

At least in moments like this, Flora proves to be quite helpful.

As I trailed behind her and changed my clothes, Flora, waiting with her fingers twitching, asked,

“Were you with that person… or not?”

“That person?”

“Your fiancée.”

Ah. So that’s what she meant.

She must have thought I was with Harnié.

“My fiancée is busy right now. She’ll probably come later.”

“Oh… really? Then what about the time left…”

“Maybe I’ll spend some of it with you all. The rest, I’ll take care of my own business.”

“…Really?”

I don’t remember her reacting like that before.

-Not knowing how to have fun properly. Hmph! Then stick with my little sister and me!

But, well… I must have changed something again.

-Ding!

▶Flora’s intimacy level has increased.◀

[ Flora Vagrande ]

[ Intimacy: 73% ]

‘…Huh?’

What’s this…

‘No, forget it. Don’t think about it.’

It’s become so predictable now.

What matters is completing the safe event that the system will never willingly hand over, with my own hands.

So, following Flora, I carefully navigated through the dangerous choices and triggers.

-Ding!

▶You have cleared the event of the stray hem!◀

▶Complete the remaining events!◀

[ Completed Events (2/4) ]

– Ding!

▶ You have cleared the artificial fountain event with laughter! ◀

▶ Complete the remaining events! ◀

[ Completed Events (3/4) ]

Before long, only the final event remained.

‘Let’s see… do I go in here?’

I muted my steps to avoid disturbing the noblewoman practicing her dance in one of the rooms.

As I crossed that threshold, I had to watch out for the bananas that the young noble scions had carelessly dropped, claiming it was a prank. If I stepped on one, I’d slip and end up with my face buried in the skirts of a noblewoman.

Finally, just around this corner, I would reach the dining area, where I would inevitably collide with a maid pushing a food cart, bringing it all to a close—

– Ding!

▶ A timer has been activated. ◀

[ Remaining Time ]

[ 0:14 ]

“What? A timer?”

There shouldn’t be a timer here at all.

Feeling something was off, I focused my mana to my ears, and I heard the sound of two pairs of footsteps.

…If it were one, I could understand.

But two?

Moreover, these footsteps were chasing someone.

Quickening my pace, I caught sight of vivid purple hair at the end of the corridor.

‘No way.’

I didn’t know what it was, but I had to move.

“What’s going on? Who are you—”

Before the flustered voice could escape my lips, I yanked her arm and pulled her into the shadowy recesses.

And then.

From noble mtl dot com

– Thud!

“Shh.”

“Do not make a sound. Harnié.”

With my arm enveloping her, I carefully raised my index finger to shield our view.