The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 322



322. The Loner (5)

Everyone calls Veneris a prophet.

They praise him as someone who can foresee dangerous events and hear the voice of God.

But the reality is a worthless illusion.

▶You can use points to predict what will happen next.◀

“…It’s just an illusion obtained through the game’s system.”

The power of the system, not some prophecy.

It is nothing but a fake, unworthy of reverence.

And now, even that can no longer be used.

▶Point Usage Record◀

[ 15 points were consumed to find out that the pursuit team has currently arrived at the village of Ileor. ]

[ 10 points were consumed to discover traces of Carsein. ]

[ 30 points were consumed to obtain testimony that Carsein went to the abandoned mine of Ileor. ]

[ 20 points were consumed to calculate the time to reach the abandoned mine of Ileor. ]

…

…

▶Prophecy points have been updated.◀

[ Prophecy Points: 0P ]

The points are completely exhausted, leaving not even a tiny amount.

With this, Beneris can no longer read the future. He has lost the power that had backed him up to this point.

But still, he smiles.

“I lost what I wanted most, so what’s the use of keeping this?”

At one time, he believed without a doubt that he would gain many things with this.

With this power, he rose to a high position, receiving praise from everyone.

It felt like he had gained everything in the world.

But he did not obtain the most important thing.

Climbing. And climbing again.

His goal was only to reach higher places.

He discarded everything he thought was meaningless as he climbed higher.

He killed his emotions and grasped reason.

He honed his abilities and discarded all unnecessary byproducts.

He repeated the same actions, aiming for a solitary life.

And at the decisive moment,

He made a regretful mistake again.

…Even though he had experienced the same thing twice.

“I should have realized earlier that those people who were by my side… were real.”

It still lingers in my eyes.

Clearing all the episodes.

Thinking I had cleared the chapter and stepped out of this world.

I had no doubt that this time, I could meet my family with my head held high…

But that choice was no different from missing the opportunity that came again.

Veneris gives a hollow smile.

His empty eyes roll helplessly to the place where Carsein had left.

“If I had looked around a bit more then… No, if I had paid proper attention, I would have realized it sooner. That she was my lost daughter.”

There is a reason why this world gives the same experience twice as if it were pieced together.

There is a reason why things similar to reality happen as if they were arranged after being possessed by this game.

The overlaid reality is never a meaningless game setting.

When I returned to reality, soaked in joy. When I faced the truth that was not visible before my eyes.

What remained then was only a sense of loss, self-reproach, and despair.

“So, Kim Minhyuk. You must choose well. If you don’t want to end up like me. Because… I failed because of that.”

Veneris sat down in the abandoned mine, waiting for the sound of voices approaching.

-Ding!

▶You have earned prophecy points by completing the event.◀

“…It’s tiresome. Even in this situation, the points are rising.”

At one time, it was no different from a fast track to promotion.

And at one time, it was the best knight leading the fastest path.

That was the status window. It was so grateful that I thought it was a reward bestowed by heaven, and I even bowed to it.

But now, that evaluation has completely reversed.

Veneris now couldn’t hate the status window more.

*

The guess that Veneris, like me, had a status window and was the same Korean, so he could call my name correctly, was not wrong.

He was indeed Korean and a person possessed by this game for some reason. And like me, he was someone who saw the status window.

Therefore, the information obtained from Veneris through the one and only question opportunity was abundant.

Among the clear commonalities arising from comparing real and in-game events, the distinct difference of the Kingdom of Wederos could be a significant hint.

Yes. It indeed became a significant hint.

The Kingdom of Wederos.

It was no longer just a game setting.

-So I had this thought. Both Veneris and you. Maybe the power you possess from the Kingdom of Wederos was a bridge to cross over to this place.

A bridge to possess a real human into the game.

That was the truth.

As a possessor who sees the same status window.

As a Korean who entered this game.

As someone who has experienced the same thing twice.

That was the truth he handed to me.

Veneris could be a possessor too, so it makes sense.

The power of prophecy, if it is also the power of the system, is not entirely wrong.

There is a valid basis.

…But.

My head is still complicated.

-You could say it’s the same experience, but if the same thing happens consecutively, it’s not a coincidence.

-Kim Min-hyuk, it means there was a reason you entered Karcein’s body. In other words.

-It means there is a reason you came here too. Just like I did.

There are still doubts about those three statements.

“What do you mean by saying you did too?”

What is the reason you came here?

What is the reason for possessing a specific person named Karcein?

Is there a reason why I have to experience things from reality, as if they are projected into the game?

“Damn it. What kind of reason could there possibly be…!”

I don’t know.

I really don’t know.

From the reason I was possessed here to the words to look around, I hadn’t figured out anything.

Thinking and thinking again. As countless calculations were being made in my head with this question still lingering.

The status window opened with an alarm sound.

-Ding!

▶The pursuit team has started to follow.◀

▶They are searching the abandoned mine of Eleor. Due to the reduced pursuit speed, the remaining time has slightly increased.◀

▶Any kind of pursuit team can force a battle if they catch up!◀

“…I forgot.”

It doesn’t matter if my reality overlaps with this place or not. I don’t have the luxury to care about such things.

Whether this world is created by projecting my reality or not, I don’t have the space in my mind for that.

For now, I must survive.

“Venelis didn’t say that this game couldn’t be cleared.”

He was called a prophet.

All his prophecies were accurate and never wrong.

So, if he didn’t say that this game couldn’t be cleared, it means there must be a way to clear it.

I will definitely survive and return to my reality.

With that, I stepped out of the abandoned mine.

Though it had a complex structure, it wasn’t difficult to get out.

I already knew all the paths because I had raised the achievement rate to 100%.

However, as soon as I came out of the mine, a stinging smell pierced my nose.

Sensing danger from this scent, I quickly pinched my nose and frowned.

“What is this?”

-Ding!

▶Status Abnormality: Kelvia Allergy Level 5 is applied.◀

▶Providing the player with insufficient information!◀

※Passage Restriction

▶Due to Kelvia Allergy, passage is restricted.◀

▶Depending on the level, you can pass if you have the appropriate means of transportation and protective equipment. If you try to force your way through, you may suffer significant debuffs depending on the level.◀

■Explanation

[ Due to the bounty order of Arina Bagland, Kelvia fruits, which are the weakness of Karsein Bagland, are scattered around. ]

[ Most of the pursuit teams have blocked Karsein’s passage using Kelvia fruits, so take another path or use the power of protective equipment. ]

▶The intimacy of the characters is updated.◀

▶Be careful! Those with greatly deteriorated intimacy can become informants!◀

“…Ha.”

The blood circulating in my body turns cold.

Suddenly, such a thought crossed my mind.

I only realized it after coming here, but you must have felt inferior to me in reality as well.

So, how did you move when I disappeared?

Probably, you called people to forcibly capture me, just like now?

You must have already taken measures against those I could ask for help. Right?

“That’s so like her.”

How can she strangle me so tightly?

With this, everyone turns their back on me.

The moment they catch me, not only will they get the reward, but also the opportunity to connect with the Bagrande Duke’s family, so they will search with their eyes wide open.

Intimacy? Even if I raise it, it would be meaningless.

Rather, those who are greedy for money might cunningly plan to capture me alive when I let my guard down.

In other words, there is no one to help me.

Whether it’s the reward or the connection with the Bagrande Duke’s family, it’s more beneficial to catch me.

If they didn’t like me in the first place, they would take this opportunity to deal with me.

It means I have to face this world head-on.

But it’s okay.

I’m used to this.

I was alone from the beginning. I’ve always lived alone.

In the first place, there is no one here who could help me─

“Karsein!”

…That voice.

“Don’t move and stay there. I’ll bring the allergy neutralizer now!”

A person running towards me, holding her skirt after getting off the horse.

At the sight of her purple hair fluttering, the blood in my body stops.

“Are you okay? The allergy symptoms haven’t appeared yet, right?”

A hand that slightly touches me while checking my body.

Warmth spreads through my body, which had been cold with blood.

The mind that had been endlessly spinning to find an answer stops in an instant.

“I thought we were caught, so I prepared to speak. Let’s run away together quickly. Ah, before that…”

There was.

“…I will never betray you. I swear on the Jewel of Oath right here and now.”

Even if the sky falls, there will be someone who stands by my side.

*

Silently, we rode the horse.

The pursuit speed was continuously delayed due to the complex roads of the abandoned mine in Illeor, not to mention the favorable conditions that had arisen.

So, I was able to easily escape Illeor with Harni.

▶This is a level 3 zone.◀

▶You can pass through because you have made sufficient preparations.◀

▶You can pass through because you are riding a horse.◀

▶You have taken a neutralizer. The allergic effects are reduced, allowing passage without penalties.◀

The horse, the protective gear, and the medicine to neutralize the Kelvia allergy.

Because she had prepared them, I was able to find a way forward.

But, that too had its limits.

“…”

“Can’t we pass through here?”

“No.”

-Ding!

▶This is a level 5 zone.◀

▶You cannot pass through under any circumstances.◀

▶Warning! If you try to force your way through, you will be forcibly put into a state of unconsciousness!◀

If the level is low, you can endure by consuming a certain amount of neutralizer, a consumable item, or by using the durability of pre-prepared items.

But level 5 is different.

This is a path that cannot be passed no matter what you do. It was a completely restricted passage.

“What should we do… If we don’t go this way, we can’t take it to the Marquis of Theresia…”

Then, I suddenly turned my gaze to the side path.

Kelvia berries contain a small amount of mana.

So, when you look at it with mana-infused eyes, you can judge the passage by the intensity of the color, as you can now.

‘Why is the color so light here?’

Right next to it is a level 5 zone. If you deviate even a little, you will immediately faint. But with this level of color, you can ride a horse without any penalties.

Now that I see it, these colors are made like a path.

In the middle of this empire, did someone create a path for me to pass through?

It doesn’t make sense to create a path to pass through when everyone is desperate to catch me. Rather, it would be normal to narrow the encirclement even more.

‘No. Now is not the time to argue about that.’

[ Time left until pursuit ]

[ 1 minute 49 seconds ]

-Neigh!

There is not much time left.

I had to move, no matter what happened behind me.