The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 334



334. Family (4)

No matter how much of a royal Arshien is, even with his eyes wide open, it could have been dangerous.

Even in front of the royal Arshien, it was insufficient.

Even if they claimed that it was to prevent damage to the Shatren territory, as a leader of the empire, they couldn’t suppress the resistance of the territory’s residents by force. Even if they claimed that as a princess, she couldn’t stain the sword with the blood of the empire’s people.

In fact, it was insufficient to stop the advance of the pursuit squad.

Even if the royal family tried to stop it, the rumor that it was the work of the Bagland Duchy and that they might be plotting treason against the empire did not subside.

They pointed out their actions of trying to suppress the people of the empire by force, but if it was related to rebellion or led to a riot, it would be a reason for suppression.

And they had a justification to boldly crush this place by force.

Shatren was not the land of the royal family but the territory of the Bagland Duchy, and the warrant issued by the duke’s family was the biggest justification.

As long as they couldn’t overturn the biggest justification, the warrant, they couldn’t buy time. If they didn’t distinguish between public and private matters, Arshien could be in a difficult situation.

Originally, they should have given in.

They should have just bought some time and then opened this path.

Nevertheless, Shatren territory was occupied by Arshien, allowing Karsein to extend his escape time a little longer.

By a single person.

By his sister, who called him brother, not a criminal.

With strong reinforcements, Arshien could confidently speak to the pursuit squad.

“Do you have anything more to say, Captain Fergo?”

Even in this situation where the person from the Bagland Duchy, to which the territory belonged, was refusing, did they have the courage to invade?

The question of whether they had anything more to say contained such a meaning.

“…”

Of course, they couldn’t.

A warrant was issued by the Duke of Bagrande, but the owner of this territory was only the ‘Duke of Bagrande’. If the person concerned refused, they had to back down.

The pursuit unit had no choice but to retreat.

*

Afterwards, Arsien immediately began the investigation.

The most important gateway, Shatren, was to be investigated by the imperial family.

In order to find traces of Karsein remaining inside Shatren, they temporarily occupied Shatren.

However, the time was being delayed much more than expected.

“Your Highness, is it not done yet?”

“The Shatren territory is wider than I thought.”

Commander Fergo thought to himself. If that was the case, they shouldn’t have sent people to Rusmire.

There might be traces of chasing Karsein, but it was impossible with that number.

In the first place, the number had decreased further as they had taken personnel to treat the injured in Rusmire, and with Arsien investigating, there was no progress.

“Why are you asking, Commander?”

“…Please hurry up a bit more.”

He couldn’t say it out loud, so he could only ask them to hurry.

“Alright. I will hurry up the search. However.”

Arsien approached Flora, placing a hand on her shoulder, and continued.

“In order to find the traces, we need some information. You will allow this much time, won’t you?”

“…Understood.”

“Good. Then, Lady Flora, shall we have a chat? Since you, as the Duke of Bagrande, know Shatren better, I would like you to tell me what you guess about your brother’s traces.”

Flora, not quite understanding, asked, “Yes…?”

-Wink.

“…! Yes! I will tell you!”

Realizing it was a silent signal, Flora quickly followed Arsien.

Arsien, having dismissed Commander Fergo, moved to another place with Flora. A face-to-face meeting took place in a place where no one else was present. It was not strange for a serious conversation to proceed.

However, now that such a place was set up, Flora showed signs of being very nervous.

‘Well. Is this the first time she has faced me directly like this?’

Isabella and her other sisters might have experienced it early on, but Flora had no such experience. She always moved with her sisters, and at worst, clung to her mother.

She was always like that, even though she maintained her manners.

“There is no need to be so nervous, my lady.”

“Yes…?”

“Isn’t your older sister my friend? Just think of me as an older sister of a noble lady you met at another noble house.”

“Ah…”

Arsien chuckled softly, easing the tense atmosphere.

After a brief silence, Flora relaxed. Arsien promptly asked Flora.

“Do you, by any chance, know anything?”

While trying to buy time, Flora suddenly appeared, shouting.

That meant she had already been staying in Shatren, and there was a possibility she had encountered Karsein.

In other words, she was the most likely witness at the moment.

It wouldn’t be strange if she knew something.

But Flora answered in a dejected voice.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything either…”

“…Is that so.”

It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped. It seems the relationship between the siblings has recovered well, but it appears they didn’t mention where they would run away to.

Back to square one.

There is no information about Karsein at all.

All they know is that he might have fled to the back, judging by the blocked roads and the map of Shatren, which raises concerns.

The back of Shatren is the duchy and the nearby city center.

In a way, it was the hardest place for Karsein to escape.

“This is dangerous. The Kelvia fruits are likely to be more densely scattered in this area.”

The biggest problem is the Kelvia allergy.

The Kelvia fruits scattered everywhere will continuously torment Karsein and severely restrict his movements.

The duchy. Especially around Shatren and Rusmire, the concentration is so high that there’s a good chance he might get caught while trying to escape.

Then Flora responded brightly.

“That should be… okay?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Well… I made an allergy treatment for Kelvia and gave it to him.”

Arsien’s eyes widened.

“Tell me more about that.”

The fact that my brother turned his path into a neutralizer.

The fact that he made this neutralizer penetrate through Rusmire and Shatren in the Eleor area.

And the fact that he gave the homemade remedy to my brother whom he reunited with here.

Arsien, who heard Flora’s story, could greatly relieve his worries.

The duration of the drug’s effect is semi-permanent.

The efficacy is at the level of neutralizing extreme poison.

Although it is a reversible reaction, this is only under very special conditions.

It was literally worthy of being called a remedy.

‘If this happens…’

It’s not a complete cure, but it lowers the stage of the allergy, so it will still be annoying, but the significance of that remedy is great.

Carsein can break free from the constraints of the allergy and operate in a wider range.

Even for him, who had no place to hide, he could now have the capacity to hide, and if he had sufficient supplies, he could stay longer.

If only they could keep dragging out time here.

If only they could keep holding them back.

If there is a safe place somewhere in the empire.

Carsein can escape danger more easily.

But that’s the story when things go ideally.

“Do you want to protect Carsein, no, your brother?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay. Then you have to make a choice. Not anyone else, but you.”

Arsien continued calmly.

“Soon, the path here may open. Young lady.”

“What? Why? We’re blocking it like this…”

“…Even if we drag out time here, there are limits. They can’t force their way in right now, but that’s only because you’re here. Because the Duke of Bagrand is here. Not me, but because you’re here. What do you think this means?”

“No, no way…”

Flora gasped as if she had guessed.

It might be asking for a rather cold decision. This choice comes with a burden and an enormous sense of responsibility.

To a very young girl.

To a girl who might still be too young to make a judgment.

It might be too much to bring up such words.

That is why I ask.

“Do you have the courage to be hated, young lady?”

Do you have the courage to be hated by your family?

Silence filled the room after the final question.

It was not something that could be easily answered. Even with sufficient contemplation, it was a difficult matter.

No matter how much of a background she had, Flora was still young and delicate compared to her two older sisters. Even from the position of making such a harsh request, it did not feel good.

‘Yes. This is too harsh a request. I should withdraw the question.’

However.

Arsien had overlooked one thing.

“I’ll do it.”

“…What?”

“Brother Karsein, it will become dangerous if we continue like this.”

This girl no longer turns away from reality.

She will no longer remain a naive child.

“What should I do?”

Even if it means being hated by her family.

She has grown into a mature person who can discern right from wrong.

*

With Arsien and even Flora refusing entry to Shatren, Captain Fergo and his pursuit team had no choice but to wait here.

But as time passed.

“…Your Highness, is it not yet?”

“We are searching every corner, so wait. Ah, there they come.”

“Your Highness! We found something!”

“Something?”

“A snake. It doesn’t bite people and is docile.”

“Huh. A docile snake. How curious. Is it a species that only lives here?”

“…”

Even when enough time had passed.

“Is it still not done?”

“Wait a bit longer. Do you think the royal guards have endless stamina?”

“Your Highness. Ugh, my leg!”

“Oh dear. It seems we have an injured person. Isn’t this because you were rushing? Tsk. I’ll go.”

“…”

Even when I went to check, thinking there might be time left after the investigation.

“Prince Arshien. It’s almost done…”

“Phew. My shoulders are sore from searching so hard. I told you to wait, but you keep rushing me?”

“At times like this, you should rest, Your Highness.”

“I’ll give you a massage!”

“A massage. That sounds good.”

“…”

After that, every time time passed, Captain Fergo went to Arshien several times to ask, but each time he was turned away.

No. Was he even investigating in the first place?

His movements were so slow that it made one doubt.

Thanks to that, Captain Fergo and the pursuit team were getting frustrated.

Investigating the interior of the territory shouldn’t take this long, so why is it taking so long? Their faces clearly showed their frustration.

But as if they were convinced that this frustration would end, the shadows and wrinkles on their faces all smoothed out.

-Click, click.

‘…I knew we would hit a limit, but this is too early.’

The feared situation comes to pass.

Arshien’s excuse was quite solid.

The excuse that Flora was staying here. The excuse that someone from the Bagrand Duchy heard unpleasant words while staying in their territory. Using that to block their path.

In any case, there’s no way they can pass through Shatren no matter what they do.

However, it’s only a matter of time before Shatren opens.

There’s no way this news won’t reach the Duchy.

…Yes. The biggest problem is.

It was when someone who could set foot in the Duchy arrived.

A woman with a red ponytail dismounted from her horse and approached.

A knight, dignified and noble, as expected, demanded passage from Arshien.

“I heard there’s a possibility that Karsein passed through here. Please clear the way, Your Highness.”

Arshien glanced at his watch.

Karsein doesn’t have enough time to escape yet.

At least three to four villages must pass before there is time for pursuit.

More time had to be bought.

“…The investigation isn’t over yet.”

“If everyone here goes in, the investigation will be over faster.”

“Those who mercilessly wielded swords against the residents are now conducting an investigation? Moreover, there was a precedent where Shatren was greatly damaged by allowing outsiders in, wasn’t there?”

“In that case, our unit will go in separately to investigate. This is, after all, the territory of Bagrand.”

As expected, it doesn’t work. Arshien swallowed his words inwardly.

He had guessed that this time would come someday, but there was no other way.

What remains is…

“Sister. I’m looking with the princess. Just wait a little longer.”

There is no choice but to leave it to the same Bagrand.