The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 307



307. As if it never existed (4)

The path I arrived at, guided by Camilla, who I couldn’t bear to refuse.

Here, where the Duke’s eyes rarely reached, they were all waiting for me, focusing their gaze on one place.

If even one person were to scream here, my escape plan would be completely ruined.

Since the clear condition for Chapter 3 is also escape, the failure of the plan will inevitably delay the escape with a huge penalty.

But they have no intention of doing so.

As can be seen from the boxes shining brightly with a value of 100%, they are just waiting quietly.

Waiting in line on the path I will pass.

The alarm sound has already gone off. If you see this, you will know what to do. However, I haven’t checked the status window yet…

It’s obvious.

What I have to do.

This was something I couldn’t fail to notice.

I just walked forward, heading towards them.

“It’s quite an old story, but at that time, the doctor said that I would never be able to survive with just the decoction. In other words, my life was nothing more than a candle in the wind. Nevertheless, I am alive. Like this, right now.”

The first one was…

Tasha.

-Ding!

▶By satisfying the hidden condition, Tasha Deol’s intimacy does not drop below 100%.◀

▶This character shows endless loyalty to you.◀

[ Tasha Deol ]

[ Intimacy: 100% ]

“I will never forget the grace of saving my life, which was fading away, by giving me the root of the Shuhufep tree.”

▶There has been a change in Tasha’s intimacy settings.◀

[ To my benefactor, a final farewell. ]

…Benefactor.

That’s not it.

I only bought the root of the Shuhufep tree solely for my own purpose because I knew Camilla’s background.

So that the dead trigger on the character Camilla would be deactivated.

I only made that choice to survive.

Yes. It wasn’t goodwill.

Absolutely, I, a rotten human being, never harbored such goodwill.

“No need. I─”

“Young master. This is something I bought with my own money, not the duke’s.”

“…!”

The implication of these words… No way.

“It’s not something from the Duke’s family that you so despise, so wouldn’t it be alright to take it?”

“You knew that.”

When I looked at her with bewildered eyes, Tasha answered very politely.

“You haven’t used a single penny of the Duke’s money for some time now. As the head maid, I have already been observing this. But that’s not what’s important right now.”

-Swish.

Tasha, displaying the same message as Camilla, handed me an item. At the same time, the item’s description appeared.

◆A-grade Map

[A top-quality map with very little margin of error, delicately drawn with contour lines and river basins.]

“If you want to escape from the Duke’s family, you will definitely need an expensive map. Once discovered, you will never have the same opportunity again. But to be honest…”

“…”

“I hope you can repay a little of that kindness and lighten the burden on your heart.”

Looking at the bowed old man, I took the map with a short word of acknowledgment.

“Thank you, young master.”

…Yes. I need to think rationally.

This map will be very useful to me, who doesn’t have a minimap.

Also, this will be the last time with Tasha.

There will be no more meetings. Since it’s because of the burden on her heart, it’s not bad to listen to her.

With such ambiguous thoughts, I turned my eyes and started walking.

But that wasn’t the end.

Rather, it was the beginning.

-Clack!

“To Sir Carsein Bagland, the knight’s oath!”

A pair of men and women holding swords smiled and took the knight’s oath pose in front of me.

-Ding!

▶By satisfying the hidden condition, Radiel Grupein’s intimacy will not drop below 100%.◀

▶By satisfying the hidden condition, Mark Redeltaine’s intimacy will not drop below 100%.◀

▶This character shows endless loyalty to you.◀

[Radiel Grupein]

From noble mtl dot com

[Intimacy: 100%]

[ Mark Redeltaine ]

[ Intimacy: 100% ]

▶Radiel, there has been a change in Mark’s intimacy settings.◀

[ To my benefactor, a final farewell. ]

*

Radiel and Mark were no different from Tasha.

“How can you not even bring a wrist guard when you wield a sword?”

“Moreover, young master, no matter how much you dress like a commoner, you stand out too much. You should at least take an artifact that knights use when they infiltrate, so you won’t get caught.”

■Items in possession■

◆Grade A Wrist Guard

[ Reduces stamina consumption when using a sword and slightly increases movement efficiency. ]

◆Grade A Assassin Hood

[ Provides stealth ability in fields with danger levels below caution, and increases evasion rate proportional to stats in fields with danger levels above caution. ]

They handed me the items they had personally procured with their own money.

They said it was because there was an inspection section to escape from the duke’s house, and in unavoidable situations, I would need to hide my appearance.

The arguments of the two knights were not wrong, just like Tasha’s.

But they also said the same thing.

“This is the last time. Please accept it.”

“Please, we want to repay the young master for his kindness, even if just a little.”

They said it was the last time, so I should accept it.

They wanted to lighten their burden and repay the kindness.

Those were the ambiguous answers they gave.

…Something felt off, but I decided to accept it.

I needed the items, and logically, it was the right thing to do to reduce variables in escaping from the duke’s house.

But the same situation kept repeating every time I met someone.

“Thank you for saving Rusmire!”

“As the village chief, I was happy to meet the best lord. Thank you, my lord.”

Barak of Rusmire. And Kiyan, Tony, and Melik, whom I met for the first time.

-Ding!

▶This character shows you endless loyalty.◀

▶You have obtained an item!◀

“Thank you, hyung!”

“Thank you, oppa!”

“It was an honor to be entrusted with this task, even though I am just a mere guard.”

“Thank you for saving the foolish Shatren, my lord.”

Ferdi and Trisha. The guards Dyke and Frict, and Brem, the village chief of Shatren.

They all made requests to me and handed over items with gratitude.

…All displaying the message of benefactor above their heads.

After that, people without messages appeared.

If you look closely, there were only a few representatives from each place, so it wasn’t that many. Strangely, the procession felt long.

I walked stolidly.

I just received the necessary items.

I never had such deep thoughts. It was just to achieve my own goals.

If it were a game, this would probably not be represented by dots.

Those people, who were just characters in a Tsukuru game… would never have shown such messages.

But…

Strangely, I didn’t think I would have any regrets.

As I walked forward, two familiar people appeared.

It must be these two. The ones who created this procession.

“…Why did you do such a thing?”

“It is your final journey, is it not?”

“Are you not denying it?”

“No. Because it is the truth.”

“There are so many people who have received your grace, young master. If we just let you go, we wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully.”

“Indeed. That’s right.”

“…Shameless. Quite so.”

“Even if you say so, they will never forget the grace they received from you, young master.”

The old butler and the family doctor of the duke’s house laughed heartily.

“Sigh. So, why did you do it? What did you want to say by doing this?”

When I asked for the reason, the two became quite serious.

They immediately lowered their posture.

…No.

They knelt and bowed.

▶By satisfying the hidden condition, Heron’s intimacy will not drop below 100%.◀

▶By satisfying the hidden condition, Shaiden’s intimacy will not drop below 100%.◀

[ Heron ]

[ Intimacy: 100% ]

[ Shaiden ]

[ Intimacy: 100% ]

▶These characters show you endless loyalty.◀

▶Hidden event. The condition of those who received grace has been satisfied.◀

▶Changes occur in the intimacy settings.◀

““To the benefactor who saved the Duke’s family. We offer our infinite gratitude.””

[ To the benefactor who saved the Duke’s family, a final farewell. ]

They too.

Were the same.

…I still can’t understand. Still.

Soon, the procession that completed this path ended.

It seemed that Heron and Brem were the last.

Only one horse was prepared at the place I was to walk.

This must be the end.

Without hesitation, I approached the horse.

At that moment.

One person who remained called out to me.

“Young master!”

…Yes. There was still one person left.

The loyal maid had silently followed me to the end.

When I turned my head back, Camilla was sobbing.

“Thank you for forgiving me, who had lived with such great sins…! And…!”

Her voice cut off.

Just by looking at the heavily strained voice, it was clear that words wouldn’t come out.

However, Camilla forced herself to speak.

“It has been… an honor to serve you, young master.”

Camilla was indeed a loyal maid.

She faithfully carried out all my orders while attending to me.

So, there was no need to check the status window.

But… when I mounted the horse and took the reins.

“…You’ve worked hard.”

“…!”

Those words slipped out of my mouth before I knew it.

-Neigh!

Normally, I wouldn’t have left even a single word, as if we were strangers.

Logically, it didn’t mean anything. There was no need to say such words.

But for some reason, I felt like I had to.

-Isn’t it okay to at least say you’ve worked hard?

…Maybe it was because of a small change in me caused by a woman I had met until now.

-Ding!

▶You have escaped from the Duke’s house.◀

▶CHAPTER 3 is automatically cleared, and CHAPTER 4 begins immediately.◀

▶Proceed with Episode I. Escape.◀

▶Avoid the Duke’s pursuit during the given time.◀

[ If you are caught, you will be taken back to the Duke’s house and return to Chapter 3. ]

▶All members of the Duke’s First Knights keep this a secret. The pursuit time and range are reduced.◀

▶80% of the Duke’s servants keep this a secret. The pursuit time and range are reduced.◀

▶The people of Ruthmeyer and Shatren territories keep this a secret. The pursuit time and range are reduced.◀

▶Due to the influence of Viscount Ptoa and Carlton, the news spreads more slowly.◀

The pursuit period is 3 days. In other words, I had to remain undetected for 3 days.

But during these 3 days, I was able to live in another city without any threats.

*

-Poof!

Claire spat out the water she was drinking.

“What? You haven’t heard from Carsein?”

“Yes.”

“No. Didn’t he say he was going to inspect the territory?”

“He did, but… I don’t know the details…” “Sigh. I can’t tell them to leave that day empty now.”

But no matter how much she thought about it, the situation was strange.

What on earth was going on?

Claire groaned and dismissed the maid.

“He definitely said he was going to inspect the territory that day.”

He even changed into commoner’s clothes for a disguised inspection.

She heard it clearly with her own ears just before he got into the carriage.

“Then why isn’t there any reply from Rusmire and Shatren?”

There couldn’t be any other territories besides those two.

The maid who just left wouldn’t lie out of madness, and she genuinely seemed unaware.

Thinking that Carsein was deliberately ignoring her… was too much of a leap now.

She couldn’t hide her uneasiness with no contact at all.

“…I have to go back to the duchy.”

Something was strange.