The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 325



325. Loner (8)

The carriage, which had shaken off the pursuing soldiers, took its time circling around the territory.

It was to buy time as per the transaction details and to provide an alibi to avoid suspicion as much as possible.

Thanks to that, by the time they entered Rusmire, it was quite dark around.

“Wait. Stop.”

As they entered the checkpoint, the carriage stopped for a moment.

“What kind of merchant carriage is this?”

“Here, the transaction details.”

Tasha handed over the transaction statement, which was carefully read. Although it could be checked behind the carriage, the inspectors were not very focused.

“Well, it seems about right. Pass through.”

“Thank you.”

After returning the statement to Tasha, the carriage passed through the main gate.

Karsein, who was riding inside the carriage, was half in doubt, but he could see that this was also true.

“Did we really pass through the checkpoint so easily?”

The soldiers at the checkpoint, who should have been on high alert after hearing Arina’s wanted order, had let them through without any issues.

Soon, the carriage entered deep into the Rusmire territory.

-Ding!

▶You have entered the Rusmire field.◀

▶The danger level of this field is at the ＜Alert＞ stage.◀

Alert stage.

Unlike the danger levels I’ve seen so far, this is a much easier stage.

You are not prohibited from entering the field, and if you fail to complete the conditions, a trigger does not occur to corner you, nor are there any restrictions on specific actions, and the reduction in action power and stamina is not significant.

There was no need to particularly doubt the reason.

However.

The direct reason for passing the inspection so easily was not on that side.

-…I will now take you to Lusmire. Oh, and thanks to Miss Claire lowering the intensity of the inspection, this side should be fine as well.

If a wanted person has nowhere to go, they are bound to hide somewhere, but with the fatal weakness of a Kelvia allergy, they cannot hide.

Therefore, they must move to another place to escape the allergy symptoms, and naturally, they can be stopped through more thorough inspections.

If they were determined to catch them, they could catch them anytime.

Why did such a strange thing happen?

That’s not all.

If the place where the Kelvia fruit, which causes the Kelvia allergy, is scattered reaches the entire north, there is no way to escape from there. However, the reason escape was possible was not only due to Harni’s help but also because neutralizers were scattered here and there.

The fact that the effect of the Kelvia fruit was reduced due to the neutralizer in the first place is an ironic part, and it feels artificial that a path was made to this place beyond that.

Also, Camilla and Tasha’s judgment was the same.

If they had confessed the wanted person early on, they could have gained great benefits.

Why on earth?

That question was not easily disappearing.

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

▶You must survive for the specified period in the state of independence.◀

[ Remaining time ]

[ 3 days 2 hours 11 minutes ]

But there is a clear answer to what needs to be done.

‘Yes. Surviving is my top priority.’

Survival.

No other goal is needed besides this.

*

As the watching eyes disappeared, a signal was given to the luggage compartment. The coachman was sent away, completely erasing any witnesses.

When I got off the luggage compartment, a familiar voice was heard.

“Karsein!”

“Harnie.”

She, who had entered Rusmire first, was also here.

Harnie, with her always beautiful purple hair fluttering, ran to me in one step and hugged me, scanning me all over.

“Are you okay? Any injuries or anything…!”

“I’m fine. As you can see.”

“Ha… really. I was so shocked when I heard it was dangerous because you were patrolling outside…”

A deep sigh. And a worried face that instantly caught my eye.

I could guess how much she had been worrying here.

But that look was only for a moment. Harnie soon wiped away the worried look.

“Thank you. Both of you.”

“No, miss.”

“We just did what we had to do.”

The two women answered Harnie politely, bowing their heads.

And then, it was my turn.

“Master Karsein. Could you please stay here for a day?”

“…What?”

“This is where my daughter stays. Therefore, it is a place that is difficult to enter recklessly within the territory.”

Tasha took a breath.

“As you may already guess, we are currently acting as the lord’s agents in Rusmire due to the vacant lord’s position. That means there are no residents who would come here for ordinary reasons.”

…That means, in short, they are offering a safe place.

“Although short, please hide here for a few days, young master.”

“As my mother said, our room, where we are acting as the lord’s agents, will not be easily searched. If that happens, the guards will surely contact us immediately.”

Harnie, who was watching the two women, gently held my hand.

“I agree with them, Karsein. It’s more dangerous for us to leave here now. Although not as much as the north, this winter is particularly colder. We can’t endure here with nothing, can we?”

“…”

I know that too.

Of course, from my position, this is a great opportunity.

Even without food, clothes, or a place to sleep, it is hard to survive this harsh winter. It would be impossible to endure the remaining three days.

It would be crazy to give up this benefit that provides all the necessities.

It should be me asking for help instead.

I should hold on to it no matter what I have to pay.

But this is really, something I’m not used to.

…Receiving help from others.

It was so awkward for someone like me, who had always been a loner, to receive such a helping hand.

“Hmm. I roughly understand. They said they would do it. They probably think there’s no other way. Right?”

Was it because I had been silent for a long time? Harnié answered on my behalf.

…As she said, there was really no other way.

“I’ll talk to them well. If they try to run away, I’ll hold them tight, so don’t worry!”

When Harnié confidently spoke while rolling up her sleeves, the two women showed a relieved expression as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

“We will serve you with all our heart.”

The two women bowed their heads politely and readily offered the room.

They added that if there was anything needed, we should let them know, and they would gladly comply as they would with a maid.

After Camilla and Tasha left.

Harnié looked back at me with half-closed eyes, sighed, and lightly hit me.

“…Ah. What is it?”

“From my experience of watching you closely, Carsein, you think too complicatedly at times.”

“Yes?”

“At times like this, try to think simply. You see things too rigidly.”

What on earth does that mean?

Enough. I need to rest now.

“Let’s go in. We don’t know when or where we might be chased, so it’s better to rest here even a little.”

“…”

“Why are you like this?”

Harnié seemed to be watching me cautiously, then took a step away from my body.

Then, sniffing her own body alone, she asked a strange question.

“Just in case, I’m asking.”

“Yes?”

“By any chance. Do I smell weird? From my body…”

“…”

“Or maybe it started when you hugged me…”

Oh my.

Is he really worried about smelling bad in this situation?

How can someone be so consistent?

Even in a moment when he should be tense, seeing him like this eases the tension a bit.

Seeing him so full of clumsiness makes me want to tease him.

“Yes. It was me.”

“W-what did you say?”

“You have a unique smell. Hmm. Yes, you do.”

“That’s too much! I was running a bit, so it’s because of the sweat, but saying it so bluntly is…”

Blushing, he said that, but as if conscious of the closing distance, he immediately stopped talking and stepped back.

“I-I’ll go in first.”

He hurriedly went inside, looking like he was being chased by someone.

I forgot that we were actually being chased, and a laugh escaped me.

“Maybe I went too far with the joke. I feel a bit sorry.”

I didn’t know he was so conscious about the smell, but because of that, he must have gone straight to the bathroom.

Well, I guess I should apologize later.

Harunie always smelled good.

When we first met, she did.

When we got somewhat used to each other, she did.

And even now, it’s the same.

Whenever she was around, that scent would always be there.

A bright and cheerful scent that didn’t suit me.

If I told her that honestly, she would surely pinch my side and puff out her cheeks… Well. It’s my fault for going too far with the joke. I have no choice but to apologize.

I momentarily let go of the tension and followed Harunie, grabbing the doorknob.

Just then.

As the door opened, Harunie was standing there, hesitating.

“Is something wrong?”

“Well…”

As if something was troubling her, Harunie hesitated before finally speaking.

“…The problem is the clothes.”

“The clothes?”

“I came here in such a hurry… and ended up wearing this.”

Harnie turned around to show her back.

‘Ah.’

A deep sigh of regret surged from within.

This garment… no, this item was a very notorious one that I was well aware of.

There was an item called the “Stone Mask” in the game.

It was a mask that boosted your stats early on, but once you wore it, you could never take it off by your own strength…

I don’t know who came up with such an idea, but there were times when I used it early in the game and ended up with a ridiculous choice leading to a bad ending.

After experiencing it once, I naturally never used it again.

But, similarly, there was an item of clothing with the same effect. It was infamously called the “Stone Mask Clothes.”

…The problem was that Harnie was wearing that very clothing now.

“…”

“…”

We exchanged glances in silence.

I knew what she wanted to say.

That clothing couldn’t be taken off alone, so she needed someone else’s help.

And unfortunately, I was the only one who could help her.

To take it off, I would inevitably have to touch her body…

I didn’t want to think about what would come next.

My mind was becoming hazy.

“…First, could you give me something to cover my eyes?”

Let’s try.

As best as we can.