The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 378



378. Yggdrasil Project (18)

The crisp sound of clapping echoes from the retainers.

Some look satisfied, some relieved, and some, though uneasy, resigned to it.

And amongst those retainers, Claire could see with her own eyes that one person was there.

But that person didn’t protest.

They must have heard that the acting head was changed here, but they didn’t object.

They gazed at this place for a long while, lost in thought, then quietly turned away.

Watching that, Claire faintly understood.

‘…They met. Carsein and them.’

If so, they must know now.

That they shouldn’t do anything.

And, that they must have realized this time around.

What kind of mess they’ve created.

And…

Even that she hadn’t seen family as family.

After that, of course, she would have to return to the duchy.

I know that psychology well, having experienced it countless times.

She’ll try to clean up what she herself somehow scattered. Realizing too late, she’d try to fix what she started.

‘It’s too late now. You don’t even deserve that, sister.’

I sent countless signals, urging her to stop before it was too late.

I warned her, endlessly pointed out that what she was doing was wrong.

Despite that, she insisted, making Carsein a public enemy, clinging to the unproven, and making her own family a wanted criminal.

Even if it wasn’t extravagant, she shouldn’t have blocked his path.

At least, she shouldn’t have made that choice, so he could leave this place and live in peace.

So, Claire took precautions in advance. Inside the duchy, so that she could know how Carsein felt, again and again.

She made sure people would encounter him on the way here, creating a situation she wouldn’t forget, time after time.

To carve an even bigger scar on that aching heart, to make her realize another truth.

‘This is the price you have to pay, sister.’

Carsein wanted to leave the duchy.

He wanted to get out of the duchy, not a luxurious mansion but a worse hell, only without bars.

The reason was none other than us. The people who didn’t even treat him properly as family.

He was endlessly rejected and ignored.

Living an isolated life, he broke and broke down again.

It made me take a step forward without even realizing how much had changed.

It definitely wasn’t like this in the beginning. I was a little excited about having a new family, and that feeling, that desire to get along, it crumbled.

It was all because of us.

“…”

Her red ponytail sways listlessly, more than ever before.

The once-glossy hair flops down, lifeless, until even the hair tie gives way, and it comes undone.

Claire immediately looks away from Arina.

*

-Ding!

▶The progress of the Yggdrasil Project has decreased due to the fulfillment of the following conditions!◀

[ 1. The power structure of the Bagrand Dukedom has shifted away from Arina. ] ☑

[ 2. Information reaching Belian has been blocked by the capture of Arcshus Pelsclaim. ] ☑

The status window announced the good news as the conditions were met.

With this, the Bagrand power structure will drastically change, with the position of acting head of the family moving from Arina to Claire.

The number of pursuers has drastically decreased, thanks to the arrest warrant that was issued long ago, and it’s been a while since a pursuit event has triggered.

Probably, my actions are becoming more free, and since Arina is secured, the Yggdrasil Project, which required completely taking over the Bagrand Dukedom to progress, has surely been dealt a significant blow.

But, is that really the end of it?

I immediately shook my head at that question.

“…No. It can’t possibly be that simple.”

I know now.

Just how dangerous Belian is.

How meticulous, calculating, and terrifying he is, I know it well.

“Even if I prevented Bagrand from falling, there’s still no guarantee Harnish is safe.”

The memorial sent me a clear message.

Not only about that family falling, but that from the moment Jieun entered my room, we were helpless.

So, it’s not over yet.

There must be plenty of ways to still threaten Jieun.

Until I completely rip up his roots and erase him, I have to keep moving.

Remember.

The next move. His move.

I must read and reread it, to stay one step ahead.

There surely is a way, at this point, for me to stop the Yggdrasil Project.

Based on the information we’ve gathered so far, there must be a way to completely ruin his plan.

“How to apply it to reality… this is probably the limit. Then, within this world’s context?”

Step by step.

I gather the information of this game.

The clearest things that come to mind are the messages of Karn Bagrand, and the information Roselle Bagrand left at her tomb.

“Right. His goal was Bagrand, but that was just the first goal.”

The true purpose of the Yggdrasil Project wasn’t just Bagrand, but to bring the Peselos Imperial Family, the entire Peselos Empire, under his control.

“If that’s possible… does that mean he at least has the power to do that…?”

From noble mtl dot com

This is territory beyond common sense.

But, I know now it’s possible.

I’ve already experienced it.

The precedent of Maph.

And I saw it with my own eyes and eliminated it.

That vassal who used the power of a demon while wearing a human’s skin.

“Tree Fiend. Yeah. That existed, didn’t it?”

Goosebumps began to erupt all over my body.

This… it’s not just an impossible story.

It’s not something to dismiss as absurd.

“If they’re turning all humans into Tree Fiends and putting them under their control…”

No one would be able to tell.

How could you possibly know if the colleague right next to you is a demon?

What method would you use to suspect the subordinates you see every day?

Friend or foe identification? That’s completely impossible.

Infiltrating the Empire is instantaneous.

If demons, wearing human masks, have spread out and are hiding… that’s a time bomb ready to go off at any moment.

The moment that bomb explodes, it’s over, plain and simple.

The Empire’s key institutions will be paralyzed, and constant confusion will arise among the soldiers who are supposed to be united.

Within that, doubts will only intensify and time will drag on and on…

Falling under *his* hand.

The Duchy of Bagrand, too. This empire, too.

Devoured whole by a single world tree, all becoming playthings of Belian.

“Ha, I get it now. Why they called him a demon.”

He means to knead all the humans of this world as he pleases.

The future is so damn obvious.

They’ll crumble, knowing nothing, without even a single measure to take.

Unless they possess a special power like mine, to discern the demonic energies.

…But thinking that way, the answer comes so easily.

– *Ding!*

▶Conclusion reached!◀

▶Conditions satisfied, determining the progression of the episode!◀

▶Episode V. The Nightmare of 10 Years Ago will commence.◀

▶Due to the Yggdrasil Project, demonic beasts march upon the Pesselos Empire!◀

▶The Duchy of Bagrand is the main target!◀

▶Failure to prevent the deaths of Arina, Claire, Flora, and Isabella will result in a Bad Ending!◀

[Number of enemy entities: 51907]

Even the status window doesn’t deny it.

And among that, a phrase stands out.

“Ten years ago. So, it was like that, huh?”

Slaying the demonic forces is the only breakthrough that can truly derail this plan.

“Hyah!”

-Heeheeing!

Alright, let’s see what a real rebellion looks like.

*

“To suddenly attack your own comrade standing right there… what in the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“That’s… that’s the only way to explain it!”

They abruptly attacked their own allies.

There was no other way to describe it.

Hearing the same thing repeated over and over, those receiving the reports were about to explode with frustration.

‘Just when the search for that guy was about to be lifted after the proxy head of the Bagrand family was suddenly replaced with Princess Claire, why the hell is this kind of thing happening?’

Lately, strange things were afoot.

Reports of them attacking their own allies had come in repeatedly, and rumors of them suddenly fighting each other in the mud for no reason were common within the camp.

A sudden scream would echo, and when you rushed to the source, the one who had screamed would look sheepish, claiming to have seen some phantom, or someone crying for help would suddenly act as if they’d never said a word.

It wasn’t a one-off event.

These occurrences had been repeating for days.

It was like some petty nuisance, like someone forcefully kicking a stranger’s door and then running away—these senseless things kept happening, endlessly.

‘Tch! If it weren’t for that Princess Arsien, I would have caught that Carsein b*stard and achieved something by now. Nothing’s going right. Absolutely nothing.’

Commander Pergo exhaled a deep sigh, trying to shake off the frustration.

“Do what we always do. Lock up the one who attacked first, and the rest—”

“Commander Pergo!”

“What’s with the sudden outburst? What is it?”

“Over there, look over there!”

“What?”

The soldier, looking quite bewildered, points behind them with his index finger. Commander Pergo, wondering what in the world it could be, shifts his gaze in that direction.

There was just a large tree there.

“What did you see? Why are you making such a fuss over a measly tree? Are you messing with me?”

“No, th-that’s not it… that tree. It wasn’t there before.”

“You little shit. What kind of bullshit are you spouting? You saying the tree moved or something?”

“Y-yes, yes…”

“Heh. Heheheh.”

Commander Pergo laughed, sounding utterly defeated.

“Ha. Just because I got demoted and I’m stuck here you think you can look down on me, huh? You little shit. What? A tree moved? Why don’t you just say it grew legs?”

“Uh, uhhh…!”

“I don’t know where this kind of prank went viral, but! I should start by nipping it in the bud with you, right? Right?”

“Commander! Th-there! Over there right now…!”

The soldier, face frantic, points behind them.

The same direction as before. Where the tree had stood perfectly still, seemingly normal.

Furious to his core, Commander Pergo finally throws a punch.

“You motherfucking b*stard, you still can’t understand even after I’ve said it like this–“

Then.

– *Thwack.*

“Kuh…?”

*Thwack*, and Captain Pergo was impaled by something.

“What… the?”

Confused, Captain Pergo drops his gaze to the gaping wound in his stomach.

There, a green, wedge-like thing was writhing.

“Shit, *baal*… what’s this?”

“C-Captain!”

The writhing mass spread.

It flowed through his body, as if to endlessly consume him.

From his abdomen to his ribs.

From his ribs to his heart.

And then up his neck… something pierced his brain.

“Uh… huh?”

Captain Pergo opened his eyes again after that.

When he regained his senses, the cheers of his soldiers were echoing all around.

“Magnificent! Captain Pergo!”

“You apprehended that Karsein single-handedly!”

“We believed in you. That you, Captain Pergo, and no one else, would capture this vile criminal!”

“Me… Carsein?”

Confused eyes darted around, finding a rope clutched in my hand, pulling someone along.

Right behind me. Following the rope, my gaze landed on Carsein, bound perfectly.

“Truly impressive, Commander Pergo.”

“Ah, Princess Arsien…!”

“My apologies. I was unaware you were such a remarkable warrior, and committed the grave error of hindering your path.”

Holy shit. Royalty, bowing their head to me.

“Your merit will be greatly recognized. A talent like you wouldn’t be out of place as a knight directly under the Imperial command.”

“Th, that means…!”

“Would you consider becoming my Royal Guard, protecting the shortcomings of someone like me? Commander Pergo.”

Pergo’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

‘Promotion, this is a meteoric rise…!’

The question of when I captured Carsein didn’t even cross my mind.

All I could think about was the brightly illuminated days ahead.

I’m happy.

Truly.

…

-Snap. Snap-snap.

A chilling sound echoed as writhing vines seized the ankles of my subordinate.

“U, ughhh! Commander…!”

“…”

The seed, burrowing deep and transmuting, had long since taken the unmistakable shape of a human.

Pergo’s lieutenant scrambled back in horror, but.

His fate would be no different.

“Ugh, UaaaH!!”

-Thud.

And another seed burrows into a human body.

Another seed transmuting within human flesh.

Every memory warped by the dream given by Yggdrasil. Lost in an unending sea, their bodies stripped away.

It wasn’t human anymore.

“What’s going on! Commander!”

“What’s going on? It’s just me and this kid here?”

“Huh? Uh… I just heard a loud noise from over here…”

“There was definitely screaming here. Wasn’t… there?”

“You fools. Focus on the search!”

“Ugh… Yes, sir!”