The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 319



319. Loner (2)

▶Abnormal statuses are being recovered.◀

▶Abnormal status: Cold level 3 is being recovered.◀

▶Abnormal status: Freeze level 3 is being recovered.◀

▶Abnormal status: Frostbite is completely gone.◀

…

…

After a day, the abnormal statuses were recovered.

The stats returned to normal, and most of the fatigue-related abnormal statuses were also erased along with the cold status.

With both stamina and energy recovered, it was safe to say I was in full condition.

“…”

Right next to me, Harniye was sleeping soundly.

Sharing her body heat with me as she clung to my body.

“To receive help like this again.”

To be honest, thanks to her, I was able to ease my worries significantly.

The abnormal statuses were piling up.

The stats were dropping.

The number of people targeting me, including the pursuit team and assassins, was increasing.

Even trying to escape from Eleor after the homelessness felt hopeless. Even if that time came, there was no sharp solution.

But she came to help me at the most troubled and dangerous time.

She was truly a grateful person.

But, I am no longer his fiancée.

…Frankly, there is no reason for him to help me.

Nevertheless, Harnié came running to find me. She didn’t use the Jewel of Oath, nor did she even mention breaking this contract.

Gratitude and guilt began to coexist in my heart.

I should repay her somehow.

But I don’t know what Harnié likes.

I have no idea what would make her happy.

I only feel slightly familiar and somewhat understanding, but I don’t really know anything about this person.

So, I keep looking at the top of her head.

Wondering if she’s upset and if her intimacy level is dropping.

But…

Unlike others, there’s nothing floating above her head.

‘Why doesn’t Harnié have an intimacy box?’

Intimacy is one of the most important elements in this game. So, all characters are supposed to have an intimacy box.

Even obvious enemies like Theo Ramstein and Emma Urnen, as well as the maids and knights of the Duke’s household, and the residents of the Shatren territory, all have intimacy boxes.

From Radiel and Mark, who are friendly to Karsein, to Tashana Camilla, who showed complete loyalty to me, and even characters who turn into allies midway, their intimacy levels fluctuated and changed in their intimacy boxes.

Even nobles and vassals who I rarely encountered were affected by this, showing different dialogues and reactions.

Extremely hidden characters like Shayden and Heron also revealed their intimacy boxes, proving that all characters had intimacy levels.

But, Harnié’s intimacy box is nowhere to be seen.

Why is that?

“Umm…”

Harnié just fell asleep in my arms.

*

Although it had been quite a while since I woke up, it wasn’t long before I realized that something big enough to fully wake me up had happened.

“Cold Week?”

“…Yes.”

Before the danger level rose in the Eleor Field and before being chased due to the main episode, I had heard stories while living here.

This year’s Cold Week would be even colder, information derived from the experiences of the people of Eleor.

“Winters in the north are always cold. But, they say that among these harsh winters, there is always an exceptionally abnormal day.”

Commonly known as Cold Week. An event where the coldest week of the year begins in the coldest place.

The current cold is nothing, so we must thoroughly prepare for a few days, stockpiling food and insulation materials to survive the extreme cold when it arrives.

That’s two days from now.

I asked Harunie if she had any cash to prepare for the Cold Week, but…

“It seems impossible. With just my money…”

“Even if we combine ours, it looks insufficient to get through the Cold Week.”

Insufficient. Endlessly.

‘Damn it. I was careless. I should have saved up money for this reason…!’

With Harunie’s help, I entered the building, and took this opportunity to change my plan.

Originally, the plan was to escape from Illeor and endure the time, but with her help, I decided to endure the remaining time on the timer here.

Among the overlapping main episodes, there was one with clear conditions.

But…

▶ Episode II. The Path of Independence is in progress. ◀

▶ Survive for the specified period in this abnormal state. ◀

[ Remaining Time ]

[ 0 : 00 ]

Even though all the specified time had passed, the clear window did not appear.

The timer had already reached 0 seconds a long time ago, and during that time, I waited a bit longer, but nothing changed.

In other words, the timer wasn’t the problem.

That means…

I still haven’t met the clear conditions of this episode.

‘…There’s no direction on where to go. No hints about the clear conditions. This means I have to find it myself.’

In the meantime, the Cold Week is approaching?

I can’t help but be suspicious.

There must be a separate time limit.

If I stay still, it’s like entering the abyss of death.

Even if it’s dangerous to go out now, I had to move, taking the risk.

But, what should I do?

In this situation where I haven’t been given what to do, what is the right answer?

‘Is there something, something missing? There must be something I’m missing…’

I thoroughly search the status window for any missed phrases.

I recall one by one the things I missed in Illeor, looking for hints.

Surely, there must be a reason for this survival objective and the time limit.

If I can just find it. If I can just find it here…!

‘…Huh?’

Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to an episode on the status window.

▶EX Episode. The traces of the Kingdom of Wederos are in progress.◀

▶Obtain information related to the Kingdom of Wederos.◀

▶You can get what you want every time the achievement level reaches its maximum.◀

Since Chapter 4 began, the main episodes have been overlapping and filling up, but this episode was also among them.

This is…

“Karsein?”

It’s just a hunch, but I think this is a hint.

They are still looking for Karsein.

All episodes are focused on chasing and pursuing Karsein.

Surviving itself is undoubtedly the base.

But this one is different.

The clear condition is not vaguely to survive, but specifically to find the traces of the Kingdom of Wederos.

…And there was something I hadn’t checked in that abandoned mine.

I realize it now, but there was something else left in that abandoned mine besides the memorial.

It was the emblem of the Kingdom of Wederos.

At this point, I can’t help but be suspicious.

It cleverly matches the EX episode.

“We can’t freeze to death, so let’s get out of here for now.”

*

Not a search, but a manhunt.

What was issued for Karsein was a cold manhunt order.

It’s not an order to be given to family, let alone anyone else.

Especially if the target is Karsein.

Considering what might happen later…

Claire’s vision goes dark.

But she must not give up.

Even if I know nothing.

Even if the only thing left is the broken frame from Karsein’s room.

I had to find someone who might know even a little about Karsein’s whereabouts.

But it wasn’t easy.

It was nearly impossible to find a maid who had resigned from the duke’s household without mentioning her whereabouts.

Nevertheless, Claire managed to find her.

Karsein’s maid. Camilla.

“I didn’t expect you to come to such a shabby place. Miss Claire.”

“…Camilla.”

It was a clear contradiction. Even though she knew her master had disappeared, Camilla was not agitated. Rather, she was calm and composed. She resigned from the duke’s household and suddenly disappeared. Along with the head maid, Tasha.

To resign so calmly even though her master had disappeared.

Camilla was a maid who showed considerable loyalty to Karsein. According to rumors among the maids, Tasha also received help from Karsein.

If so, wouldn’t it be more likely that they would know even a trivial detail about Karsein?

She could have asked outright.

She could have pressured Camilla by leveraging the power of the Bagrand duke’s household.

In a hurry, she could have shouted at her to confess quickly before she got caught and hurt even more.

But she showed no such movement.

Suppressing her radical and impulsive nature as much as possible.

Claire spoke calmly.

“…I know I don’t deserve it. I don’t even deserve to be called a sister, and I acted rashly, making things harder for Karsein. I know that too.”

“…”

“Because of my rashness, things got bigger. I got scolded, and a lot of unfair things happened. Foolishly, I didn’t notice this at all before.”

Even thinking about it now, it makes her heart ache.

But now, she doesn’t repeat those foolish past actions.

“But this time, I’m sincere. I have no intention of hindering Karsein. This time, I really want to be a sister who protects her brother. Foolishly, I didn’t know before… but now I remember clearly. How much the world hates Karsein. I know it’s not strange for them to do something extreme. So I’m trying to quickly resolve this incident and protect Karsein.”

After a long detour, Claire finally got to the point.

“Can’t you tell me anything? Camilla.”

It was surprising. Considering the second lady’s extremely impatient nature, it wouldn’t have been strange if she had been threatened right away.

Camilla had also been threatened by Claire before and had been terrified because of it.

In that sense, Claire’s current calm and composed reaction was astonishing.

‘Miss Claire has changed so much…’

Now, she might really be able to help the young master.

Because of her hot-tempered nature, she had only been a poison, but the second young lady truly cared for her family.

But unfortunately, Camilla also knows nothing.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything either. All I did was see the young master off.”

“…Really?”

“I’m truly sorry, Miss Claire.”

“…”

Coming here with the mindset of grasping at straws, it must be quite painful to return empty-handed and start over from the beginning.

Therefore, I can give you a small piece of advice.

“It’s not a way to find the young master, but there is a key to end the situation where the young master is in danger due to the wanted order.”

“…What? What is it?”

“You already hold that key, Miss.”

Among the wise retainers, the talk might already be circulating.

She, too, is a legitimate descendant of the Bagrande duchy.

The only thing left is for her to realize it herself.

*

Somehow, I managed to leave the village of Eleor and entrusted all my money to Harni, asking him to prepare for my escape.

And then.

My prediction was exactly right.

“…I can’t believe it.”

▶EX Episode. The traces of the Kingdom of Wederos are in progress.◀

▶You have discovered traces of the Kingdom of Wederos.◀

▶The achievement level increases according to the investigation scale.◀

[ Achievement Level: 28% ]

“This is all for the ongoing episode. That means…”

This must be the condition required to clear the episode.

I swallowed hard and began to investigate deeper into the abandoned mine.