The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 293



293. The Prophet of Wederos (12)

Pollux, who came to deliver the prophet’s words to me, left.

Left alone, I began to wander again.

-So I thought. Both Beneris and you. Maybe the power you have from the Kingdom of Wederos was a bridge to come here.

“…”

It didn’t matter that the prophet knew exactly that I would come here.

It was questionable that he pinpointed my plan, not Carsein’s, but it didn’t matter.

It was the same that he didn’t convey the prophet’s prophecy after hearing my ultimate goal of returning to my world.

But the words Pollux said before leaving.

The speculation that it was a bridge to come here… I couldn’t shake off the strangely unsettling feeling.

‘No.’

This is not where I lived.

It’s just a world in a game. It has nothing to do with me.

The Kingdom of Wederos?

—

—

It’s just a setting.

That’s all there is to the protagonist character, Carsein, having such a setting attached to him.

But a bridge? Did I come here because I had a reason to be here?

“That can’t be.”

Yeah. It’s a ridiculous story.

No matter how rationally I think about it, it doesn’t make any sense, it’s just a baseless rumor…!

─Fire!!

At that moment, sparks flew.

Due to the tools I had installed in my room early on, the time had come, and it spread into flames.

Seeing that now means…

The plan has gone a bit awry.

“…Damn.”

How stupid.

I had forgotten about the timer that would spread the fire because I was lost in thought.

-Ding!

▶You did not meet the given conditions.◀

▶The evasion trigger may not work properly.◀

▶Penalties will be determined based on additional actions.◀

“Sigh. I haven’t even cleared the episode. I got too immersed.”

The condition to avoid a conversation with Arina is to cause another incident to cover up the choices.

However, there is a small prerequisite here as well.

Carsein must be involved in this incident.

In other words, I should have been at the hotel before those sparks flew.

“It can’t be helped.”

A light walk would have been fine, but not arriving on time is my fault.

I’ll have to pay the price for being caught up in unnecessary thoughts.

Thanks to the flames, I used the items I had to extinguish the fire in the quiet night street. And, I messed up my clothes as if I had run out of the flames.

I have to at least pretend to be hurt.

Since the clothes were rented from Claire’s boutique, I had to return them… but now that I’ve ruined them, they’ll be charged as payment.

“Next is… the person to meet.”

—

—

If I simply got caught up in an incident, I could escape somehow and everything would be fine, but this time was different.

Even if I had to bear the penalty, I had to meet my family by force this time.

As I pretended to be injured and walked around the streets, I could meet them soon.

-Ding!

▶You have encountered your family!◀

▶A recovery event has occurred.◀

‘But why did it have to be her?’

Meeting Arina here was actually the best.

Seeing my condition, she would forcefully end the conversation, making the choices disappear.

So, I hoped Arina would come here as much as possible.

“Ka, Karsein…! You…!”

This little kid came instead.

From noble mtl dot com

…Ha. Fine.

Who am I to choose in this situation?

‘Rather than Isabella or Claire, this one is better.’

Either way, I had to wait until I recovered, so I had to secretly create real burn marks, but with Flora, I just had to pay money.

The cost of the ointment.

That was better.

But.

A variable occurred.

“This, this works on burns too. It removes the heat, so apply it over your clothes!”

“…I want to choose a place to recover first.”

“No! You have to apply it in your current state. Cooling the skin is the priority!”

…This little kid.

After learning pharmacology, she became quite smart.

The first aid for burns is sufficient cooling.

If you try to take off your clothes, it would rather cause wounds, but… applying that here is also difficult. Because I’m not actually injured.

If she finds out I lied, the choices with Arina will pop up again…

‘Should I just say I got away well? Or, should I say I already applied the medicine?’

While I was pondering how to make an excuse.

—

—

Someone suddenly jumped out from right behind.

“You don’t have to do that. I’ve already taken care of Karsein’s burn first aid.”

…Harnie?

*

Harnie explained the details of the first aid to Flora.

She explained the details of the first aid to Flora, and it matched well.

Except for one thing.

The lie that she helped me after seeing me nearby.

‘I don’t know when or where she appeared, but it’s good.’

Harnie’s appearance was quite a boon.

Whether she noticed I was in a difficult situation, or if it was pure goodwill as before, I don’t know, but this way, there’s nothing to catch.

Flora will meet Arina and convey the news that Karsein is diligently treating her.

I just need to nod along appropriately.

“I don’t need to explain separately, right? You roughly know that there’s nothing wrong with my body.”

“…”

“I want to rest now. Please convey it well.”

As I answered, Flora suddenly trembled all over.

“Ugh! I don’t know!”

As usual, she screamed and tried to leave.

“Apply this!”

-Thud.

▶You have obtained an item.◀

‘…I receive this no matter what.’

Still, considering no other options appeared, doesn’t it mean it passed smoothly?

Flora huffed and walked away.

As the figure disappeared, I immediately tried to thank Harnie, who was right next to me.

“Thank you. I was in trouble, but thanks to your appropriate words, that kid didn’t catch me─”

But, her eyes…

They seemed red.

“Let’s go back quickly. Someone might come and suspect us again.”

—

—

“…”

“Karsein?”

This won’t do.

-Thud.

“Ka, Karsein? Why…”

“Harnie. Have you been crying?”

“Crying? Why would I cry?”

Harnie reacted as if it was strange to ask if she had been crying.

The only sign that she might have cried was her slightly red eyes.

It could just be tears from yawning.

But, I know.

This woman isn’t good at lying about things like this.

“What happened?”

“Pardon?”

“Who made you cry?”

As I pressed further, holding her arm, she reluctantly averted her gaze.

“It wasn’t anything dangerous like you might think. It’s just… I’ve been having a hard time.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Today was particularly tough.”

Harnie is not a woman who easily shows tears.

Even in unfair situations.

Even in difficult situations.

She doesn’t cry.

That’s how strong Harnie Theresia is.

So if she’s shedding tears like this, it must have been really tough…

“I’m saying this because you might be worried I’m thinking strange thoughts, but it’s not like that. I’m just emotionally exhausted.”

As she said, she didn’t directly ask for my help.

Maybe it’s something I can’t help with.

There are personal matters that are hard to talk about.

Those things can’t be helped.

—

—

However. I can say this much.

“I’ll stay by your side, so please take a rest.”

I’ve experienced having someone by my side when times were tough, and just that alone can be a relief.

*

“I’ll stay by your side, so please take a rest.”

To have someone stay by your side when you’re struggling.

It’s something to be grateful for. If the person is someone you have feelings for, it’s something to be happy about.

However, Harnië remembers clearly.

The words Karsein had said in his conversation with Pollux.

In that case…

Although the answer to what should be said here is already clear.

Harnië couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Then… is it okay if I do?”

What are you saying, Harnië?

The man in front of you isn’t from this world.

He’s someone who was dragged here without knowing why.

He said he barely survived countless times, narrowly escaping death!

Moreover, he said he has a place where he originally lived.

He said his goal is to return there!

Then… then you have to let him go.

You have to let him go, not hold onto him!

Her inner self screamed that way.

But Harnië couldn’t bring herself to act on it.

– Thud.

“You seem tired.”

“…Yes.”

She was already leaning on Karsein.

Ignoring and denying that inner voice.

She knew better than anyone that she should be distancing herself from this embrace.

She painfully realized that she had to pull away, even now.

—

—

Karcein didn’t want to leave the Duke’s house just for that purpose.

It was to return to his original world.

Having said that he had crossed the brink of death, one can only imagine how much he longed for it.

Even though he had a world he originally lived in, he was dragged here, so one can only guess how unfair and miserable he must have felt.

However, Harnie didn’t want to let him go.

Such a tender embrace.

His touch is gentle, and his body warmth is already imprinted on her, making it impossible to forget.

What can she do if she likes him?

What can she do if this person has dug so deeply into her heart?

What can she do if she doesn’t want to be apart from him?

She should have drawn a line here, but she couldn’t.

Even though she knew she had to push Karcein away from this place.

The budding flower of love still craved more love.

– If you hold on like this, Karcein won’t be able to achieve his goal, will he?

At the cruel remark echoing from within, Harnie bit her lip hard.

‘Just a little. Just a little longer.’

Yes. Until he returns to reality.

Until then… it’s okay.

“…Harnie?”

“It’s a bit chilly… Is that not okay?”

“No. It’s fine. It would be better to take you back as soon as possible.”

“…”

With a painful heart, Harnie hugged Karcein’s arm even tighter.