The Damn Family Is Back Again

316. CHAPTER 4 (4)

The sense of incongruity intensified into anxiety, and the anxiety provided a clear answer through evidence.

The moment Claire realized that Carsein had left the house, she mobilized everyone in the duke’s household to search outside.

She contacted the knights and even deployed more people to thoroughly search the entire duchy.

Despite this, she gained nothing.

“…I’m sorry. We couldn’t find the young master.”

“We couldn’t find any trace of the young master, not even a clue…”

“We tried to gather those with wide connections among the servants to check for witnesses or testimonies, but there was no news from that side either…”

Claire, chewing over the bleak and complicated search results, returned.

Her legs weakly carried her back to the duke’s house.

She had searched for days but hadn’t even glimpsed Carsein’s shadow, and there were no witnesses or testimonies.

She even searched the two territories, thinking he might be staying there, but found nothing.

Realizing belatedly that his last appearance was in commoner’s clothes, she searched everywhere, but finding a specific person in a crowded place was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Her vision blurred again.

Returning empty-handed to the duke’s house, Claire…

“Big sister…”

She met the youngest, whose eyes were also soaked with tears.

Flora, who had been staring at the front gate with her knees together, was about to speak, and Claire knew what she would say.

“Where is Carsein…? Where is Carsein…?”

Her lips trembled.

The trembling lips soon fell silent without making a sound.

Yes. She actually knew.

The lively voice was as if it had been submerged in water, and her skirt was stained.

Flora had also been waiting here for Carsein to return.

“Will we never see brother Carsein again…? Will we never see him again…?”

The thought of never seeing Carsein again made Claire’s heart sink.

“There’s no way we won’t see him!”

“Sister…?”

“We’re family. He’s my brother and your brother. Why wouldn’t we see him! We’re family!”

Claire shouted, denying it vehemently.

Yes. How can one accept this?

How can one let go in such a way?

I couldn’t even say the common, “I’m sorry.”

“Sister will definitely come for you. No matter what, we will meet again, so don’t think like that. Flora!”

“Sob, sob… Really…?”

“I will find you. I, I definitely will…!”

That’s why I shouted louder that I would find her.

I wiped my tears and vowed to bring her back.

‘Yes. I can’t give up yet.’

Even though I searched thoroughly, I couldn’t find Carsein, but there are a few consolations.

– Even though we searched the duchy thoroughly, if he hasn’t appeared yet, maybe he’s not in the duchy?

– Right. Quite some time has passed. It’s possible he left when the ladies and the madam were away.

– Considering the time the young master disappeared…

The knights murmured during their break.

The main point was that no one knew when Carsein left the duke’s house. So if he left early, he might have left the duke’s house long ago.

It was something I overheard, but it was a plausible argument.

Also, the investigation so far was limited to the Bagrand duchy.

If it’s outside the duchy.

If we expand the search to the sphere of influence rather than the actual dominion.

There is still room for investigation.

Moreover, if he is in the territory of a family friendly to Bagrand or has taken refuge there, we could get permission to search, and there are always neutral territories where we could step in.

‘The worst case would be if he is in a faction or group that is not on good terms with us…’

Even then, it would be possible to quietly send people to search.

Determined, Claire went back into the mansion to attempt another search.

Just then.

Arina, who had finished her meeting with the retainers, returned.

“…Sister.”

“Big sister…”

Arina, who had dismounted from her horse, strode towards Claire.

“You’ve worked hard. Claire.”

Claire thought it was just as well.

It was wrong to act so recklessly and without leaving a single letter… but with Arina, this search would be much faster.

“We’ve searched everywhere in the duchy, but there’s nothing. It must be outside the duchy, wait a moment. I’ll show you the places marked on the map─”

“No. There’s no need for that. Not anymore.”

Arina cut off Claire’s words firmly.

Could she have already found him? A slight sense of anticipation began to rise.

“From now on, I will issue a wanted order for Karsein Bagland.”

But that anticipation quickly turned cold.

Did I hear that wrong?

Did I mishear something?

Claire asked with wide-open eyes.

“Sister, what are you talking about? A wanted order?”

Logically, this doesn’t make sense.

Yes. It can’t be a wanted order. It must be a mistake.

“A search order. Yes, you’re issuing a search order…?”

But Arina coldly denied it.

“No. It’s a wanted order. To be precise, a designated wanted order.”

More precisely. She used the term ‘designated wanted order’ openly.

Claire, boiling with anger, shouted immediately.

“Are you crazy?! Sister, a designated wanted order? That means you’re branding Karsein as a criminal!”

“Y-yes! Big sister is acting strange…!”

“Karsein hasn’t committed any crime. There’s no need to treat him like a criminal just to find him!”

Then Arina spoke in a tone that sank endlessly.

“This is the best way to bring him back safely.”

-Flap.

Arina handed a letter to the two of them.

-Ding!

▶Episode V. The Duke’s Pursuit begins.◀

▶Enemy entities appear! Following Arina’s orders, the knights of the Bagland Duchy search for Karsein!◀

▶The safe zone is shrinking. The passage that can be passed through is controlled due to the checkpoint.◀

▶Survive from them by all means.◀

Rumors circulating in the world.

It was a rumor related to the identity of Carsein and started from a single question.

『The person who reeked of the barbaric and ignorant commoners in both noble conversation and behavior suddenly changed one day.

The fool who didn’t know a single etiquette seemed to have mastered the entire noble society, to the point where people said he had changed.

It doesn’t end here. He saved the entire fiefdom that was on the verge of collapse. He touched the land called Rusmire and completely overturned it in an unknown way.

Then, at the symposium, he properly demonstrated his capabilities and made the stock price of Shatren, which had hit rock bottom, soar to the sky.

He did so by presenting a strange theory that no one knew.

Thus, the two fiefdoms have become the most notable places in the empire.

He also brought about a change in himself.

He suddenly took the runner-up position in the Hwangryong Martial Arts Tournament, where skilled fighters gathered.

Carsein, who had been busy ruining matches by fighting barbarically, not only learned the sword but also defeated everyone except Arina among the skilled fighters.

All these changes happened to Carsein within a year.

Is that really a normal thing?

Even though he receives all kinds of praise, is it possible for such a leap in capabilities?

To gain all those things that would not be strange to be called a genius in each field?

This question leads to one answer.

There is only one kind of thing in the world that can make that possible.』

Below this, the emblem of a kingdom that has already disappeared is drawn.

As if it were the answer to this question.

And below that, there was another speculation about the whereabouts of the disappeared Westerners and Carsein, who had also disappeared.

Just when Arina thought she had figured out the source of the rumor.

Arina sighs lightly and advises.

“This is the way to bring that guy back as intact as possible. This happened because a fool who didn’t even know his place acted recklessly.”

“…”

“In a way, it’s self-inflicted. The biggest responsibility lies with no one else but Carsein, that guy. So no matter how much you try to stop it, it’s useless.”

Then she orders the knights.

To spread the wanted posters everywhere.

-Thunk.

“Damn it. Are you really going to make him a wanted criminal because of this?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Claire gritted her teeth and shouted.

“He left because of our family. Since he was young, we always scolded, punished, and reprimanded him. He only got worse because no one believed him. And now, swayed by these ridiculous rumors that he’s plotting a rebellion, you want to do the same thing again?!”

Something that had been pent up burst out.

“What do you think of Karsein, sister? Have you ever thought of him as family, even once?!”

“We’re doing this to bring him back quickly, Claire.”

“This isn’t normal. These are just baseless rumors. It’s nothing more than a fabrication to slander Karsein. Treating him like a criminal and putting out a warrant, is that for Karsein’s sake?!”

“I also think this isn’t right. Big sister…”

Flora also supported Claire’s argument.

“You’ve gone strange because of that guy. Stay at the mansion. Only a few people will move with the duke’s family. If any information comes in, break the disposable communication stone to send a signal.”

“Sister!!”

Arina turned her head resolutely, without a hint of doubt.

“Damn it. You’ve gone mad, sister. Mad! Do you hate Karsein that much? You call him family but treat him like a stranger more than anyone else!”

She shouted angrily, but Arina’s back didn’t flinch even once. After mounting her horse, she rode away, far enough that her voice couldn’t reach.

Once again, the duke’s family commits a sin.

To Karsein, who had been hurt by each and every one of them, they were now about to inflict an indelible wound.

“…”

From the moment they treated him as a criminal, anything could happen.

The fact that such rumors were circulating was a problem in itself.

Watching her sister’s receding back, Claire clenched her fists tightly.

‘This, at least, must be stopped.’

But how?

The rumors were spreading uncontrollably.

The Bagrand, who should be defending Karsein and calling the rumors nonsense, had designated him as a wanted criminal.

What can be done here?

Despair washed over her.

She hated herself for being so powerless.

Now, just like then. Nothing has changed.

‘Yes. This can’t go on like this.’

I have to do something.

‘Come to think of it…’

– Since the master I served has disappeared, I will also step down from this position. I am sorry, Miss Claire.

She came to me not long after Carsein disappeared.

Yes. Camilla. Carsein’s maid.

“Flora.”

“Yes?”

“You want Carsein, your brother, to be safe, right?”

Flora, who knows nothing.

At this moment, she nods vigorously.

Because more than anyone else, she sincerely wishes that Carsein would no longer be in pain.

“Yes. Then we have to find Carsein before your sister.”

-Ding!

▶ Claire Bagrande’s trigger is activated. ◀

▶ Flora Bagrande’s trigger is activated. ◀

I had already anticipated it.

That this time too, I would face my own memories, not Carsein’s memorial.

But I couldn’t understand any of it.

Judging by the circumstances, that scene was after I left.

So, it was the time when I was engrossed in part-time jobs, having blocked all specific numbers.

The time when I threw a wad of money at them, took a taxi, blocked the numbers on my phone, and spent my time frantically working part-time.

The second one ran around looking for me everywhere.

Even then, borrowing other people’s phones to call my number several times.

The second one getting angry at the first one, shouting with mixed curses.

And finally, the scene where the call reached me.

The memorial ended with that scene.

▶ Hidden Memorial. ＜The Last Family Photo＞ has ended. ◀

“…”

The fact that I left home must have been a cause for celebration for those who didn’t treat me as family.

“Why on earth…”

As I was lost in thought, a familiar alarm sounded.

-Ding!

▶A reward is given for discovering the memorial.◀

■Reward

▶The hidden threats are revealed.◀

[ The main episodes of CHAPTER 4 will proceed concurrently. ]

[ All previously locked main episodes are now revealed. ]

“…What?”

-Ding!

▶Episode III. Those who fear Wederos begins.◀

▶An enemy entity has appeared. If your identity is exposed, the chase trigger will activate, and you must evade until the attention drops.◀