The Damn Family Is Back Again

211 – 211. The Wrathful Ones (11)

Chirp- Chirrack-

-Swish.

The chirping of sparrows heralding the morning slightly lifts the blanket.

Harunie stirs, her body. Due to fatigue, her eyes don’t open immediately.

Barely lifting a hand, she rubs her sleepy eyes and yawns softly.

“Huaaam-.”

Morning has come.

It was an ordinary morning, no different than usual.

Only, her body felt truly refreshed.

As if she had slept a very comfortable sleep for the first time in a while.

Why is that?

Was there a reason she slept better than usual?

Then, suddenly touching something she was holding in bed, she felt a strange sensation and became curious.

‘Did I sleep without clothes?’

Her body was touching something else, making her feel naked.

Since I’ve received a threat from someone while sleeping, I’ve never taken off my protective pendant.

Occasionally, I’d take it off when I was uncomfortable, like when Teresa, the Duchess, or Mina was beside me.

However, I usually preferred to sleep with my clothes on.

But something felt off.

As I recalled how I fell asleep and slightly opened my eyes, my body stiffened immediately.

“…?”

It’s warm…?

I can feel something solid?

Can’t be.

I blinked rapidly with a fluttering eyelid.

When my vision returned to normal, I realized that a warm sensation was spreading throughout my body.

As I got out of bed, I saw the naked figure of Carcesine, who had been sleeping beside me, with my own naked body.

‘Ah, world…’

Am I really going to hold this person again?

And in the nude?

I clamped my mouth shut.

My face reddened.

My legs trembled with embarrassment.

As I recalled yesterday’s events, a silent scream burst out of me.

Carcesine and I were still asleep, and I had a phone-induced hallucination. I wrapped my arms around Carcesine’s nude body, creating a hot steam above Harne’s head.

“Ugh…”

“Ah!”

But I wasn’t thinking about the embarrassing moment.

Carcesine was about to wake up.

If Carcesine wakes up in this situation, it’s a total disaster.

I’m not even wearing clothes, and I’m exposing my naked body!

-Click, click, click.

I quickly put on my clothes.

And, with lightning speed, I put on the dress I had carefully folded away, causing Carcesine’s eyelids to flutter.

“Uh… what’s going on?”

Carsein’s body jerked into a sitting position, her voice dry and rough.

It seems like she’s been sleeping in late, but her eyes don’t show any signs of it now.

‘It’s over!’

She’s already dressed.

You can’t even see her underwear, let alone her bare skin!

Just as she was feeling relieved…

“Why is the sweat dripping so much over there?”

“Yeah, yeah?”

“On my face. I’m sweating a lot.”

There was still something unfinished.

Oh, the world. She touched her face and felt her skin getting red.

It must be because she got dressed in a hurry, and now her sweat is dripping down.

That look seemed so strange to her.

Carsein quickly got out of bed and approached her.

“Hey, no big deal. It’s just…”

“What’s going on?”

“Uh, just a minute… too close…”

“Why are you sweating so much right now?”

“…!”

Ah, this guy.

He always bursts in without warning at times like this.

She hadn’t even been awake for a few minutes since getting out of bed.

And even before that, she had just fallen asleep in the same bed.

She was already feeling embarrassed because she had been embracing him with her bare skin just a little while ago!

‘If he comes over again like this…’

– Klunk. Klunk.

“Harnee?”

“…”

She’s had enough of this fake kindness. Men give artificial kindness while they’re consumed by their desires, and women give packaged kindness wrapped in emotions like jealousy or envy.

But Karsein’s consideration is genuine kindness. Purely, words of goodwill that spring from concern for others.

That’s why, whenever he suddenly approaches like this, a strange feeling arises.

Will my reflection appear oddly in his approaching eyes?

Could his extraordinary mind be reading my thoughts?

Might my heartbeat be audible to him?

Such worries begin to surface…

Oddly, my body starts to tingle.

“It’s not like that! I’ll, I’ll go out first!”

“Harunie? Oh…”

Harunie, who hastily closed the door and left, covered her face with both hands where no one else was.

“Why am I acting like this?”

A flushed face.

Skin tingling for reasons unknown.

The worry that she might have looked strange during it all.

None of it was resolved.

The tingling persists.

The heat doesn’t subside; it keeps rising.

Especially where Karsein had touched felt even more so.

From noble mtl dot come

And the heart, thumping wildly, had no intention of calming down for a long while.

Yet, amidst all this, there was one embarrassingly undeniable truth she couldn’t dare voice out loud.

“I’m crazy!”

Even amidst it all, the audacious thought of burrowing into Karsein’s embrace had crossed her mind.

***

I remember losing consciousness in the battle with Talphon.

Could it be that I haven’t fulfilled the achievement?

Could this slumber actually mean death?

Such thoughts crossed my mind briefly…

But when I opened my eyes, all problems were resolved.

▶The third agent has been registered.◀

[ 3. Talphon ]

▶Rank: A+

▶Performance Ability: Investigator, Peace Officer, Combat Unit

[ You can directly investigate the residents of the Chatren estate. ]

[ Take charge of the estate’s security, and at times, suppress with force. ]

[ When an enemy entity appears, eliminate the enemy in proportion to your rank. ]

Indeed, an excellent rank.

The performance ability is also top-notch, without a doubt.

What remains is.

▶Episode VIII. You have cleared ‘Agent of Chatren.’◀

▶You have succeeded in achieving more than the given choices!◀

■Rewards

[ ??? ]

[ ??? ]

▶Proceed to Chatren for the next episode, Episode IX.◀

Returning to Chatren.

The next episode is bound to be fixed anyway.

Securing three agents, the player’s task thereafter is to respond to several incidents occurring in Chatren.

‘The problem is the randomness, making it uncertain how one should respond.’

But it’s not entirely daunting. Just like this time, no choices appeared.

In my own way. By my methods. With my knowledge.

It’s something that can be resolved, somehow.

…But why is this happening?

“…Huh.”

Harnie inhales sharply and turns her head swiftly.

It’s been like this for a while.

She looks at me, but as soon as I look back, she quickly turns away and says nothing.

Perhaps I should ask her directly.

“Excuse me, Harnie.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

All I can vaguely recall is this much.

It must be because I did something wrong.

When I asked with that guess, Harunie narrowed her eyes and turned her head away with a hmph, acting all haughty.

“Yes. You made a huge mistake. Making people go through so much trouble twice.”

So it was that after all.

But while I might not know about the Scorpion King incident, isn’t this time somewhat understandable? Sigh.

Well, whatever.

I should at least try to lighten the mood now.

“Still, thanks to you, I’ve completely recovered.”

“What?”

“Your devoted care must be why I feel so light. A whole day’s rest without any issues.”

“…”

Harunie’s expression stiffened slightly.

Oh, was that not it?

“It seems that really did have an effect…”

“What? I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

“Ah, it’s nothing!”

“You said it had an effect… Did you use some expensive medicine? If so, tell me the cost, and I’ll pay for it.”

“It’s not that! What strange misunderstanding is this?”

What could it be? It feels like she’s hiding something.

“I’m sorry for making both of you wait. It took a while to gather everyone.”

Just then, Talphon arrived.

Now that I think about it… It might be better to ask Talphon for a clear answer.

“Talphon. There’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it.”

“What happened when I collapsed?”

To be honest, I’m concerned that the abnormal status levels have dropped so much for someone who just woke up from collapsing.

This isn’t just from taking a rest.

Something else must have influenced those levels.

That’s why I’m asking.

That day, what happened while I was asleep?

“Oh dear. Hasn’t your fiancée explained?”

“Explained?”

“Just a moment, please—!”

Harunie rushed over in a flurry, wedging herself between me and Talphon.

“There’s no need to explain! It’s all been resolved.”

“Hm? That’s not the case.”

“Eh…?”

“How can we not explain? It’s a matter of utmost importance.”

She was hiding something after all!

“No, it’s… I’ll explain. So…!”

Talphon conveyed the message with a hint of annoyance.

“Your fiancée, who had been watching over you as you slept soundly all day, came to find me, worried that something had happened. And it turns out, you were afflicted with Defashion Syndrome.”

“Tal, Talphon—! Stop it now… Eh?”

“Go on. Talphon.”

Harunie was flustered, so I just pulled her into a hug from behind.

She couldn’t move like this, unable to use her arms.

She struggled and asked to be let go, but I couldn’t just overlook this and held her firmly.

“You, don’t say a word! Do you hear me? Karsein, Karsein?”

I should listen to this side of the story too before making any judgments.

It feels wrong to keep it all hidden.

After listening to the story, it was about Defashion Syndrome and my constitution.

“So, Defashion Syndrome has stages, and my constitution breaks the mechanism that resists the erosion from the west, which is why I couldn’t wake up?”

“That’s right. The aftereffects you’re experiencing are for that reason, and it wasn’t long before more were expected to come. However, the third stage is different.”

Swoosh.

Talphon’s gaze rolled towards Harunie.

“Since you won’t accept mana from anyone other than the first person who infused it into you. If your fiancée hadn’t directly infused mana to alleviate it, the aftereffects would have returned.”

“What? Is that so?”

Only then did I let go of Harunie.

“Why hide such a thing? It’s something I should be grateful for.”

“Right. Periodically infuse mana into it. Even a simple transfer from hand to hand can easily alleviate the aftereffects.”

Upon hearing this, Harunie grabbed Talphon’s collar tightly.

“What, what are you talking about?”

“What’s the matter? You’ve been practicing it well enough, and now you’re asking for an explanation again?”

“No, I get it all. But… mana? Why are we talking about mana…? You said to do it like we did at the beginning.”

This time, it was Talphon who wore a puzzled expression.

“Isn’t it obvious? You were supposed to have infused mana into Karsein, who suffers from Defashion Syndrome, just like you did at the start. Considering that guy is still alive, you must have known this fact already.”

-Thump.

“Oh my goodness.”

Harunie muttered, her face engulfed in shock.

“So, you used the same method to treat the ailment that arose from Defashion Syndrome this time too. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. But what exactly is the problem? Can’t you remember anything from that day?”

“That day? Hmm. If it’s that time… I woke up to find Harunie taking away the blanket…”

Wait. Hold on.

So that’s what it was.

I wondered why Harunie had come to my room.

And why she was sweating so much.

…It was like that day, wasn’t it? Completely undressed, in the same bed with me, and even fell asleep? That’s why you hurriedly got dressed?

“Kar. Se. In?”

A terrifying voice echoed in my ears.

I finally caught on.

“I told you not to say anything.”

“Oh, did I?”

What are you saying, you fool. You did say it.

“I clearly told you not to say a word.”

Harunie’s eyes narrowed beautifully.

Oh. Such a pretty smile.

…But why does it feel more frightening?

Chilling.

It feels like something is being etched onto my back.

I must come up with some excuse.

“Um, you see… that’s not really… the issue here, right?”

“Huh?”

“If we’re being precise, it’s not like… I was the one who wanted that…”

“…”

Seriously, you lunatic.

Trying to fumble your way out and then you say something like that!!!

“I told you not to say anything!”

…I’m screwed.

-Slap!

“Ouch!”

The red handprint etched on me today seemed to last particularly longer than usual.

***

With the red handprint still marked on my back, the carriage and several horses arrive at Chatren.

The current time has moved beyond the fourth week report and into the fifth week.

In the usual gameplay, it was around the sixth week when you could persuade Talphon to join.

So, there should be less than two weeks left, but I’ve managed to secure three weeks for myself.

It was ample time.

To investigate and resolve the issues of this domain.

▶Episode IX. The Enemy Within Begins.◀

▶The residents of Chatren have disobeyed your orders and secretly purchased high-quality fertilizer from outside!◀

▶You can now open the Clue and Prove Event. Would you like to proceed?◀

The first thing that caught my eye upon arriving at the Chatren domain were the bags of high-quality fertilizer bought from somewhere again.

‘It seems we’re proceeding in this direction.’

This was expected. The ranks of the guards, including Daik, couldn’t possibly control the entire population of the domain.

That’s why you need to bring in Talphon and Count Lilpeton of higher rank to completely isolate Chatren from the outside to prevent such incidents.

Anyway, it’s possible to point out the amount of fertilizer to strengthen the lord’s power. Just need to find the right time to act.

But, the quantity seems a bit off.

‘Shouldn’t there be more bags by this time?’

I pondered over the fertilizer bags.

From Talphon’s mouth burst a string of harsh expletives.

“These fools. What on earth are they doing!”

-Heeheehee!

“Take this!”

No system messages or options appeared.

But Talphon, who had stormed out in a fury, must have caught a whiff of something in this domain.

“Harunie. Let’s follow him.”

“Yes.”

Following him will surely lead to information.