The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 290



Chapter 290. The Seer of Wederos (9)

It had been an hour since I had thrown down the gloves that would smooth over the situation and slipped away.

– Ding!

▶ Episode VI. The Price of the One Who Stands on the High Peak has been cleared. ◀

The status window flashed the message of episode completion.

I chuckled softly as I read through the status window.

“Looks like it’s all neatly wrapped up.”

▶ Two outcomes will be determined based on the progress of the episode. ◀

▶ The amount to be deducted will be calculated. ◀

▶ Free action time will be assessed. ◀

▶ Calculating… ◀

If my response had been wrong, my family would come looking for me.

Depending on the episode’s influence and its severity, there would be a time lag, with the more grievous missteps drawing the encounter closer.

Yet, even after an hour had passed, I had not met Arina.

In other words, my response had not been in error.

“Puhuh. Hahaha!”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

How could the circumstances align so perfectly?

The progression in the game was one thing, but this situation felt oddly familiar.

It was common for one-sided disputes to arise.

Whether at work or school, there were always those who harbored grievances against me.

Here, the only response I could take was singular.

I had to endure the unilateral accusations of others.

Having done nothing wrong, voicing my complaints would only earn me reprimands.

And should I dare to assert my strength or knowledge, I would be suspected of causing even greater trouble.

Because, at the center of it all, the gaze of my family always loomed.

The only solution was to do the exact opposite: to step back and admit fault, or to acknowledge and compensate for my supposed wrongs, which was the simplest way out.

This situation… yes.

From noble mtl dot com

It was not so different from my reality.

“I wondered how the story could twist like this. But now I see, it’s not so twisted after all?”

Karsein currently finds himself at odds with a knight.

The reason being that he had beaten the knight’s younger brother, and now the furious elder brother has come seeking vengeance.

Well, the story will likely unfold along those lines.

In any case, Karsein cannot escape the criticism of having caused trouble, no matter which path he chooses here.

And the family of Karsein present at the scene will later confront him, scolding him before demanding compensation from the other party.

There was a whole background woven into the setting of how the compensation amount was determined.

Generally, one would be enraged and express their injustice in such a situation.

An innocent person should not have to bear the blame and pay reparations, right? It’s only natural to feel wronged.

Yet, Karsein finds it impossible to even adopt this normal reaction.

As if, like I did. Resignation and surrender were the only answers.

In the end, Memorial was indeed the answer.

Memorial, which had always provided the right response, was not mistaken this time either.

There was no reason to get caught up in someone trying to frame him.

Even if I were to incur some loss, this was the correct answer.

To those damned family members.

They have no right to know the truth.

Thanks to that, I realized that the actions I had taken in the game were wrong, and consequently, I could easily choose the actions I should take here.

“Camilla.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Deliver this money to the Duchess.”

“Money… you say?”

Camilla hesitated for a moment, tilting her head in confusion.

It was understandable. She must be wondering why I would send such money to the Duchess. She might even want to suggest that I should send a separate letter.

But there was no need for that.

“Just say it’s because I caused a problem. That’s why I’m not writing a letter, and if I were to return it, it should be money I earned myself to convey sincerity.”

“Um… understood.”

Camilla took the envelope of money I handed her and stepped back.

With this, that matter should pass without issue.

By the time the news of this incident reaches Isabella through Arina, any questions about why I sent this will likely fade away.

In the meantime, I checked my status window once more.

▶I have chosen to acquire funds for ＜Another Plan＞ through ＜The Territory＞.◀

▶It is a level 5 condition. The amount of funds I must hold has increased!◀

▶Possess 238.8 million Pesel.◀

[ About 30% filled! ]

“Thirty percent, huh.”

The humid summer breeze is slowly giving way to the slightly cooler autumn winds.

If I were to calculate the time it would take to exhaust the accumulated funds against the expenses…

Next year. That’s likely when I’ll make my exit.

“Not happening. That’s not an option.”

I can’t stay in this wretched household for much longer.

Not next year, but I’ll finish it within this year.

If possible, even if it means staying up all night.

I drew two lines beneath the results written in my notebook and began recalculating.

Considering when, where, and how much time I need to squeeze out…

“Roughly, about a month left, I suppose.”

Strangely, that day draws nearer.

A month before the year comes to an end.

More specifically, about a week pushed back from the Thursday of the second week in November.

In other words, it means this.

The day I declared a severance from that damned family.

“Fine. What does it matter if our departure times overlap?”

It’s probably just a coincidence.

If I put in more effort, it would be moved up; if I were lazy, it would be pushed back.

It’s just coincidence layered within a predetermined margin of error.

-You, are you planning to stay up all night again?

-Min-hyuk, are you really going to pull another all-nighter?

“…”

Suddenly, the voices of the two overlapped, and the hand gripping the reins froze.

“Either way, I can’t stop here.”

-Heehee!

A few months remain.

Let’s end it all within.

Just as I did in reality.

*

Isabella, out for a stroll to clear her mind, was visited by a guest.

“Carseine sent this to me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

The guest was the maid, Camila.

She was Carseine’s direct maid, his only dedicated servant.

It was strange enough to bring news related to Carseine, but…

“Money…? Why would Carseine send this to me?”

Given the nature of the item Camila had brought, it was impossible not to harbor doubts.

“Master said that since a problem arose, it must be duly conveyed to you, my lady.”

“…A problem arose? Carseine?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Isabella fell into thought for a moment before finally speaking.

“I don’t know what exactly happened, but this is not right.”

The envelope of money was passed back to Camila.

“This is not money that Carseine earned through hard work. If there’s been some kind of accident, that’s something I should compensate for. Return it to the master.”

“Master instructed that if you were to say such a thing, he would advise you to refuse it once more.”

“…Hmm?”

“He said that only money earned directly would carry true sincerity. Please convey that to him.”

“Only money earned directly…?”

Isabella cast a puzzled glance at the envelope of money.

Yet, she soon came to understand.

“…Alright. I see. There must be a reason for him to go this far.”

With that, Camila, having delivered Carseine’s message along with the envelope, took her leave with a bow.

-Swish.

Isabella opened the envelope once more.

The amount inside was quite substantial.

Compared to the wealth of the duke’s family, it may seem insignificant, and even when likened to the funds of the nobility, it is but a drop in the bucket.

Yet, when measured against the standards of common folk, it is a sum greater than a monthly wage.

If it were said to be money earned without even a hint of allowance or small grants, it was indeed a considerable amount.

What on earth could be happening?

A gut feeling urged me to investigate.

Just as Isabella was about to turn away.

Another guest arrived.

“Mother. I’ve come urgently; do you have a moment?”

Claire. And Flora.

Two daughters.

It did not take long for the entire truth to unfold, unmasked and laid bare.

*

As the evening sun dipped low.

Isabella gazed out the window.

But she was not herself.

Her fists were pale with tension.

Her lips trembled slightly from time to time.

In her eyes, instead of warmth and kindness, something else lingered.

-About that knight, you see, the family’s financial state was dire. The parents were ensnared in a casino’s grip, unable to escape, and, unsurprisingly, the child bore debts as well.

“…”

In the end, it was all about the money.

Claire had analyzed it thus.

The one who had raised the issue had such a tarnished image, and while it was slowly improving, the stigma of being a stepson still clung to him.

Thus, he was an all too perfect target for trouble, a scapegoat waiting to be ensnared.

It seemed they had taken care of everything on their end, leaving no room for interference.

However, it was revealed that this was not the end of the matter.

-Click.

“Mother. I heard you called for me.”

Just then, Arina responded to the summons and entered the office.

Isabella took a steadying breath, her composure regained, and spoke.

“…Sit down for now.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The two settled onto the sofa.

Isabella, unable to sip even a drop of tea, broke the silence.

But that first word was.

A weighty utterance.

“Arina. Do you dislike Karsein?”

“…What?”

“When I fell into madness, was it the problem that he slipped in through the cracks?”

Arina, flustered, responded with confusion.

“Wait a moment, Mother. What do you mean by…?”

“Or was it that you were displeased with treating that child as if he were Karun, in an incomplete state? If not that, was it unsettling that Karun took that place? Or perhaps it is because Karsein is of low birth, a foundling from outside, a child with no blood ties?”

With each unrestrained question from Isabella, Arina inhaled sharply.

“Mother, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why is Karsein even being discussed here…?”

“You dislike that child, don’t you? Otherwise… how could you harbor suspicion in such a situation?”

“…!”

In that moment, Arina realized the reason for this unfolding scene.

Just hours ago. It was because of that incident.

Recalling her misjudgment, Arina bit her lip.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing Arina bow her head, Isabella felt a sense of relief wash over her.

‘Yes. This child is clever. She must have quickly realized her mistake.’

She had awakened early, inheriting the legacy of a noble family at a much younger age than her peers.

Yet, while she may have been capable in many respects, this particular aspect remained unfulfilled.

“You should say that to Karsein.”

“…”

“I see how much trouble this incident has brought upon our family. Therefore, we must all lay it bare together.”

Isabella, gently admonishing, handed over a ticket.

It was a ticket to a well-known resort within the Empire.

“So, how about we take a trip as soon as Karsein finishes his schedule? Again, I say… I hope things go well with Karsein. Arina.”

The number of tickets was matched to the members of the ducal family.

Isabella, her three daughters, and the last adopted son, Karsein.

This clearly signified a family journey.

To mend the rift that had formed.

Through the choice of a family trip, Isabella hoped for reconciliation between the two children.

*

After the episode cleared, Arina did not come.

Whether it was right to pass the envelope of money to Isabella through Camilla, that matter slipped by without friction.

In another sense, my actions, having paid the price for standing atop a high peak, bore no issues.

With the problem stifled, I was granted a long stretch of freedom to act.

Day and night, I immersed myself in work.

By slicing my breaks, I gathered money as a result.

▶＜Another Plan＞’s method of acquiring funds has been selected as ＜Domain＞.◀

▶It is a Level 5 condition. The amount of funds required has increased!◀

[ You currently hold 46% of the target amount. ]

In one swift move, I could narrow that gap and step closer to the dream of escape.

Yet that sweet time was not to last long.

“Master Karsein. A letter from the lady has arrived.”

– Ding!

▶Episode VII. The family journey of the ducal house begins.◀

▶Return to the ducal house.◀

▶Failure to arrive within the designated time may result in penalties related to action restrictions and choice limitations!◀

A new episode had emerged as an unwelcome intruder.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

No matter the interruption, I now knew the path I had to tread.

There was little time left until that money was filled.