The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 287



Chapter 287. The Prophet of Wederos (6)

Though he had laid down the swordsmanship he once knew, the lessons from Sister Yoonji and Brother Hyunseong had not vanished.

He may have seemed frail, but he was different from before. He had eaten well enough, and having learned how to protect himself, he was no longer so weak that a mere shove would send him sprawling.

Thanks to this, Minhyuk had gained confidence.

Fear had never been his companion, but now he firmly believed that no matter who came, the same situation would not repeat itself.

With a fierce determination to repay one blow with two, he was ready to fight.

The courage to stand against the one-sided, unreasonable brawls.

The skills to defend his body and the quick judgment learned from others.

Wasn’t that enough?

From noble mtl dot com

It turned out to be a grave miscalculation.

“Ugh!”

– Thud, thud!

“Serves you right, you b*stard!”

“Did you think you won? Wake up, you fool!”

Once, they had been the ones who tormented Minhyuk, the wretched lot who looked down on others as if they were beneath them, dividing people like grades in front of their classmates.

In their desperate attempt to salvage their pride, they had only managed to slander and belittle others, gaining nothing but a pitiful sense of satisfaction, until they were swiftly brought low by a harsh lesson.

Yet, they returned to torment Minhyuk once more.

Not with their own hands, but by borrowing the hands of others.

“Hey, you little brat, what gives you the right to mess with someone else’s precious little brother’s face, huh?”

So-called, they called it, backing.

There was something invisible in the school.

For various reasons, it was the upperclassman who had turned their face toward you.

Or perhaps it was someone who had wormed their way into your group, eager to fit in.

A relative whose school overlapped by chance. A favor from a superior’s parents.

The connections were countless.

That was the identity of the one currently beating Min-hyuk.

It was a clear lapse in judgment.

He was not afraid of them charging again.

But this side was different.

He thought he wouldn’t lose any longer in a fight against a classmate, but at this age, even a one-year difference could shift the balance dramatically, including height and weight.

The man pulled a cigarette from his pocket and sneered as he spoke.

“Hey, I heard you’re the kid they picked up, right? And you’re supposedly the illegitimate son of some famous group.”

“…”

“Ha! What kind of mess did you get yourself into that you can’t even call those two for backup?”

At the pointless taunts, Min-hyuk flinched at the corners of his eyes.

“There’s no parachute better than that, but you’re too dumb to use it. Oh, wait, is it because you’ve been abandoned by your family too?”

─Hahaha!

“No, there’s no easier ally than family, yet you can’t even call them! Isn’t that something? Come on, tell me. What did you do to end up like this?”

His eldest sister was someone’s superior.

His second sister was someone’s superior.

He rambled on about how if he had been a bit more favorable to his family, he would have been in serious trouble, but he didn’t care about that.

Min-hyuk only needed to wait for a single opportunity.

“You ugly duckling. I think we’ve talked enough, right? So just shrink back a bit. Huh? Don’t go making a fuss and bringing your brother here—”

As he bit down on the cigarette and flicked the lighter to ignite it, the timing was perfect.

-SSSSSSSSS!

“Ah, hot!! aaah!! You b*stard!”

From then on, it was a fight between those who sought to seize the opportunity and the one whose anger flared at being touched.

The result was.

“Tongue, hyung…!”

“Skin is…”

“That cowardly b*stard…!”

“Just old enough, but nothing special, huh?”

“This son of a b*tch…! Alright. Let’s see how you fare today. I’ll make sure to…!”

– Bang.

“What a pity. It’s time to go home, isn’t it?”

It was Min-hyuk’s victory, laced with venom.

“It’d be quite amusing if the rumor spread that a grown adult came to avenge his younger sibling only to get beaten up instead, wouldn’t it?”

“This fucking b*stard…!”

The situation was swiftly resolved.

This tale would never see the light of day.

“What’s up with him? Did he get into another fight?”

“Seriously, what’s the difference between him and a thug?”

“What good is being smart if this is how it ends? I don’t understand why the teachers let such an uncultured brat roam our school!”

For the students heading home, it became the perfect gossip to chew on.

Only then did Min-hyuk grab his bag and head home.

– How could he be so forsaken that he couldn’t even call upon those two for backup?

– There’s no ally easier to summon than family, yet he can’t even do that!

“Pfft.”

Where else could one find an ally as easy to call upon as family?

That question itself was flawed.

.

.

.

Min-hyuk trudged home, each step heavy with the weight of his thoughts.

As soon as he opened the door, the sight of his family drained his energy.

But today, fortunately, there were many empty seats.

There would be someone to nag him about what he did to get hurt.

Someone to sigh and wonder if he caused trouble at school again, ready to take on the role of his parents.

And finally, someone to hand him money and suggest he visit a hospital or something.

Not everyone was there.

‘Is there such luck?’

As Min-hyuk took off his shoes at the entrance, reveling in the absence of pointless chatter.

“Hey! Why are you so late? I told you to hurry—”

Someone plopped down heavily.

The youngest, gasping for breath with her mouth covered.

In her shock, the name tag that read ‘Eun-ji’ slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.

Witnessing the crimson blood flowing freely, the youngest inhaled sharply, her shoulders trembling with each irregular breath.

“Why did you come looking like that? You fool!”

“What?”

“Filthy! Why are you covered in that outside? It’s grotesque, strange, and it stinks!”

“Ah, damn it.”

Min-hyuk swallowed his curse in despair and headed straight for his room.

In front of the closed door, Eun-ji shouted in a panic.

“I’m telling Mom on you!”

Afterward, Eun-ji reported that Min-hyuk had returned drenched in blood.

Naturally, their mother and two older sisters went to find him, but…

“Min-hyuk? He looked fine to me.”

“I didn’t see any bloodied clothes. If there had been, they would’ve been found in the washing machine, but there was nothing.”

“Is our youngest worried about her brother?”

Yet, for some reason, all they received in response was that Min-hyuk was perfectly fine.

‘That can’t be right…’

With trembling hands, the youngest Eun-ji pulled out an ointment and placed it in front of the door.

▶ Hidden Memorial has ended. ◀

▶ HP recovery penalty has been lifted. ◀

“Ha.”

Once again, the memorial reflected not the past of Carseine, but my own.

It was absurd.

I wondered who kept leaving the ointment in front of my room.

It turned out to be the youngest, Eun-ji.

—

Somehow, what I was doing with Flora felt like a mirror image.

“But what does it matter?”

Enough. I was slowly getting used to this absurd memorial.

The feeling of filth is fleeting, just a momentary sting. If the irreversible penalty has vanished, then that’s something, isn’t it?

I turned my steps back without a care.

*

The place I followed my family to revealed familiar scenes.

▶ Episode VI. The price of standing atop the high peak is underway. ◀

▶ Perform the duties of the duke’s household based on the acquired items. ◀

▶ Additional rewards may arise depending on the performance of your tasks. ◀

In this episode, there is no dead trigger.

The tasks unfold as mini-games, and the quicker you clear them, the more the timer shrinks, allowing for a brief respite from family duties and a taste of freedom.

It wasn’t too difficult, even if I was barehanded.

Perhaps it was the three green lights glowing that influenced my ease.

‘Ah. I’ve already gotten the hang of it.’

Compared to managing the territory, this was a walk in the park.

As long as I took on the assigned tasks, there was no need to rack my brain.

If this was all I had to do, I could almost entertain the thought of settling down.

‘No, no. That won’t do. That would cause chaos.’

– Ding!

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks are increasing. ◀

▶ Timer is extending. ◀

With a clattering sound, Arina approached and let out a deep sigh upon seeing my results.

“How on earth can you shatter something so simple? I handed you something so easy that even children could manage, and you couldn’t resist using brute force to break it?”

Yeah. That’s how it should be.

I had to show that I was missing at least one screw.

[ Arina Vagrand ]

[ Inferiority Complex: 88% ]

To bring down that damned inferiority complex, which I didn’t even know when it had risen.

—

I wish I could just wipe it all away.

But then, it would disrupt the flow of the story, or the feelings of Arina, whom I’ve come to know since arriving here, and that would create problems.

So, I continued to stir up trouble whenever I could.

“I’m so frustrated I could scream! What am I supposed to do about it?”

“It’s not about strength; it’s about following the manual as it’s laid out. Why can’t you even manage the simplest tasks?”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks are increasing. ◀

▶ Timer is extending. ◀

“This is pathetic.”

“A kid who claims to wield a sword can’t even…!”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks are increasing. ◀

▶ Timer is extending. ◀

“Oh dear.”

“Ha. I’m getting dizzy. It’s impressive in a way, isn’t it? Karsein.”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks are increasing. ◀

▶ Timer is extending. ◀

And so it went, repeating. Again and again.

Only after Arina complained and stepped outside did I finally manage to perform the task properly.

▶ Task succeeded. ◀

‘Damn, that was easy.’

It was clear, even to the untrained eye, that this was a treacherous path, one I had never learned before, but that didn’t mean it was insurmountable.

I didn’t even need to reach a part-time level.

It was just a matter of following the manual handed down from above, and there was no way that could be difficult.

If I could make a living just doing this, I briefly entertained the thought that settling down here wouldn’t be so bad.

But I know better than anyone.

The moment I settle, my escape will be postponed.

This isn’t something I’ve grasped for myself.

It’s not a business I’ve built through my own efforts, through running and reaching out with my hands.

Here lies solely the domain of the Duke’s house, of this family.

Things I must not grasp.

I must leave this place.

▶Task completed.◀

▶You may now exit the workshop and take desired actions.◀

“…Shall I rest a moment?”

To the eye, all seemed well, yet both body and mind felt far from clear.

I needed to return and find solace.

But then.

“Brother! Over there, it’s that brat!”

“Hey. Did you touch my little brother?”

– DING!

▶Episode VI. The Price of Standing on High Peaks is in progress.◀

▶A dispute has arisen. Please select an option.◀

The episode resumed.

In a manner, with a scene all too familiar.

*

“…”

Arina gazed at the sky, seeking to soothe her troubled heart.

A fool who wields a sword.

A fool who claims to command mana.

Is it truly possible to ruin everything over a simple mark?

“…I tried to teach him, somehow. There’s no such thing as a waste like this.”

– Perhaps you should impart a part of the business you inherited to Karsein. He is your brother, after all.

“Haah. If it weren’t for Mother’s pleas.”

Mother had begged and pleaded so, how could one refuse?

Even if he was a foolish brother, there was no choice but to teach him well.

It was time to return. To go back and show that foolish brother the bitter taste of reality, to teach him sternly.

──────!

“…?”

What is this sound?

– Thud!

“Wait, this is…”

Somehow, the sound felt familiar.

A dull, heavy thud of something colliding.

It was unmistakable.

A fight had broken out.

“No way.”

This place was not just a gathering of Karsein, but a venue where various nobles had come together.

Those standing atop the high peaks were expected to set an example.

They had to walk the righteous path without tarnishing the prestige of their great houses.

They could not indulge in such base acts as brawling.

Yet, what echoed in her ears was the unmistakable sound of fists striking flesh.

It was absurd to think that Karsein was not involved.

Rushing swiftly to the source of the noise, Arina soon spotted Karsein.

‘Not again with this troublesome mess…!’

Karsein, splattered with blood from head to toe, was immediately visible.

She hoped against hope that it wouldn’t be true, but no matter how one looked at it, the source of that dull impact was right here.

Already, her head throbbed at the thought of what kind of compensation would be required this time…

But first, she had to manage the situation. Even if her temper flared, resolving this chaos took precedence.

However.

“What gives you the right! Who do you think you are, hitting our brother like that?!”

Another figure, standing guard, cried out with a quivering voice.

– Ding!

[ Please don’t hurt him, brother. ]

[ Current status: 95% ]