The Damn Family Is Back Again

215 – 215. Turning Point (2)

▶Arina’s intimacy level has decreased!◀

[ Current Value: 31% ]

“Ha. Flora’s birthday issue somehow passed because of the other siblings. I should have guessed when I saw you trying to avoid breaking down in front of mother. To think I tried to respect you. I’ve made the same foolish mistake again.”

Arina covered her eyes with one hand.

With a hollow laugh, she wiped away her smile and warned me.

“You better be prepared for the consequences of your loose tongue, Karsein.”

It’s coming.

I couldn’t see it before, but now I do.

-Thump!

I caught the wrist flying towards my cheek.

“…!”

“If you thought I’d always stand in the same place, you’re gravely mistaken, Arina Bagrand.”

Despite the mana-infused hand, I no longer falter.

My body, now evenly nourished and grown, the muscles built through continuous training, and my awakened mana, I no longer just yield to Arina.

“Watch till the end. And if I fail spectacularly, just as you say.”

I pushed Arina’s wrist away roughly and continued.

“Then do whatever you want. Lock me in a cell, make me do chores in the mansion, strip me of the duke’s title, I won’t care.”

Of course, that’s never going to happen. But still.

“Ah. You always prefer to leave unnoticed, don’t you?”

“Karsein Bargrand!”

-Thud, thud.

Having said my piece, I didn’t look back and descended to the lower floor.

“Don’t worry. Even if I don’t leave unnoticed, I’ll disappear on my own accord.”

***

Thump.

Harnie lightly kicked a stray pebble.

It was safe to say that today had been perfect.

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Taking a rest during the fourth week’s mid-evaluation report could have been criticized as a noble’s way of avoiding a scratch on their family’s honor.

But no such criticism came.

Thanks to the time Karsein created, Harnie was able to route the Plesia Company through Rusmayer, bringing it within the influence of her own territory, and the issue with the mining clothes was gradually being resolved.

Harnie had not only avoided criticism but had actually achieved results, and Karsein had done no less.

He had produced quality fruits that made the nobles drool, and even the royal family had given him extra points for his successful contact with the West.

So, he was in a particularly good mood.

Solving his own problems was satisfying, but the thought of Karsein, unable to utter a word and instead receiving deductions, was deliciously gratifying.

But.

Her cheeks were slightly puffed up at the moment.

“Why are you so late?”

Because Karsein had yet to appear.

He had said he had some work left and told her to go ahead, but now, over 30 minutes had passed, and he was nowhere to be seen for an hour.

It wasn’t something to be upset about, really.

Karsein must have had his reasons. He must be staying there because he had business to attend to. It was fine to understand and move on.

But today, she felt a little eager to return with him quickly.

-It seems rumors don’t matter much, do they?

-Exactly. Unlike taking a break during the fourth-week evaluation, you receive no criticism because of your outstanding abilities.

-It’s not just the abilities, but something else has been more noticeable lately… Ahem.

-Um~ That’s true. Should we say his appearance has changed quite noticeably?

Such voices came from the young ladies at the back of the conference room.

Clearly, they were words of praise for Karsein.

Rumors were slowly being quelled, and some recognized her talent.

Whether it was her improved health or the noticeable change in her appearance. Either way, it was a positive transformation.

Yet, Harunie found those words irritatingly grating.

That’s why she wanted to return quickly.

“…”

With her cheeks puffed slightly, Harunie kicked another hapless pebble with her shoe.

The pebble, which had been rolling along, went further than before. Harunie’s gaze did not leave it.

Then suddenly, the pebble stopped as it hit something.

Only then did the air escape from Harunie’s cheeks.

Yes. Those were Karsein’s shoes. It was time to return.

“Really. Do you even realize how long ‘a moment’ has been? I’ve been waiting quite a while.”

Just as she was about to lift her head with joy and suggest they head back,

Harunie suddenly felt a sense of dissonance.

“I’m sorry for making you wait. Let’s go back.”

“…”

His reaction seemed no different from the usual Karsein.

His voice, his tone. Not much different from the usual him.

But there was a subtle change.

Why could it be?

Despite being a completely different season, why did it feel like a chill was blowing through?

Convinced that it wasn’t just her imagination, Harunie was certain at this moment.

“Karsein.”

Harunie reached out and grabbed the arm of Karsein, who was walking ahead.

“What happened back there? Was there something upsetting?”

“Something upsetting? There was nothing of the sort.”

“Don’t lie. Otherwise, how could…”

“Really, there was nothing.”

“…”

Harunie’s brows narrowed slightly.

‘Nothing happened, you say?’

To me, it seems clear that something has happened, right?

Harnie silently gazed at Karsein.

Of course, I wasn’t so sure from the beginning.

But at some point, I became able to read Karsein’s expressions.

Acting alongside him, getting to know what kind of person he is, I began to notice even the slightest changes.

Karsein is someone who is hardly ever shaken.

Meticulous. Attentive. Not a thing out of place.

But that doesn’t mean he’s always stiff.

When troubled, he shows it on his face.

When he suspects something’s gone wrong, he breaks into a nervous sweat.

When awkward, he scratches the back of his head and looks around cautiously.

Even if he seems indifferent, when something pleases him, a faint smile appears, or the corners of his mouth lift slightly.

He too is a person, subject to the shifts of emotion.

Yet, there are times when his expression is utterly absent.

Cold as ice, like a doll stripped of feeling.

Just like now.

When something has happened.

And the sad truth is…

Somehow, I think I know why.

I’ve seen it time and again.

I didn’t want to leave Karsein alone with his lies.

“…Harnie?”

Just like before, Harnie stood on tiptoe, reached out with both arms, and pulled Karsein’s head into her embrace.

“I told you, didn’t I? You have to express it when it’s tough. Say it when it hurts. Holding it in isn’t natural.”

“It’s not that. Harnie, it seems you’re misunderstanding something─”

“It’s your family again, isn’t it?”

“…!”

“See. I was right about something happening.”

What more could he excuse?

Karsein couldn’t even begin to ask how she knew.

“I won’t ask any more since it’s upsetting. But, since you were caught lying today, I won’t just let it slide.”

Finally, Karsein’s face emerged from where it had been buried against my chest.

As I gently stroked Karsein’s cheeks with both hands, Harunie whispered,

“Let’s spend the rest of today together.”

Today is a day in need of a change of pace.

***

Harunie urged me to spend the remaining time with her, grasping my hand and hastening me onto the carriage.

Then, the carriage began to head somewhere.

Where to, only Harunie had whispered to the coachman, so I didn’t know either.

And…

“Do we really have to go this far?”

“Yes. It’s absolutely necessary.”

“…”

She covered even my eyes with a blindfold, not allowing me to look out the window.

Because of that, I had no clue where we were going.

“Master, Miss! We’ve arrived!”

Somehow, we reached our destination. I thought it might be time to remove the blindfold, but Harunie insisted I wait a little longer.

“There’s a reason for everything. I’ll hold your hand, so just walk slowly.”

“Um… Okay.”

I didn’t know the reason, but there must be one for all this.

That’s the problem, though—I have no idea what it is.

I had to walk forward, relying on Harunie’s hand. I could walk more steadily and without stumbling if I enhanced my senses with mana.

But I didn’t want to. Somehow, I felt like Harunie would get angry if I did.

After walking a bit, Harunie finally allowed me to take off the blindfold.

When I did, we were at a lake.

It was a bifurcated lake, stemming from the bridge we stood on.

“Hmm. The starlight is still weak.”

Harunie illuminated one side of the lake with a light spell.

Then, the clear interior of the lake became visible.

“Look, can you see the fish inside the lake?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“Actually, that fish is a species that can’t survive in this lake.”

“…?”

What does that mean?

A species that can’t live in the lake is living in it?

“It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“…Yes.”

I hesitantly agree, and Harunie smiles beautifully.

“But it’s not a lie, it’s the truth. This lake can’t provide an environment for those fish to live because the growing aquatic plants are taking almost all the nutrients.”

It doesn’t make sense to me, but it seems that the game’s setting has created such an environment.

Anyway, the fish is alive.

Surviving in a very harsh environment.

But it seems its life won’t be long.

“Just barely alive, not getting enough nutrients in its limited space. It wouldn’t be strange if it died at any moment, would it?”

“That’s right. But, that fish doesn’t die.”

-Ssshhh.

As Harunie speaks, the water begins to rise.

I wonder why the water is rising, and then I see that on the opposite side of the lake, the aquatic plants have suddenly grown, increasing their volume and causing the water to flow down this way.

The fish, as if it had been waiting, approaches the rising water and starts to gasp.

I see.

No wonder the color of the water seemed different.

“At night, the aquatic plants on the other side grow only at this time, so it’s time for the fish to satisfy their hunger. And then, the fish take this opportunity to attempt their escape from this lake.”

-Splash. Splash.

It was true. Just as Harunie said, the fish were leaping, trying somehow to get over the high wall.

And then, very faintly, I hear crying from the lake behind the wall.

“Don’t tell me the ones in that lake are females?”

“You saw correctly.”

The females crying towards the males trying to get over.

It looked as though they were cheering them on.

It seems impossible… but one fish desperately leaps and flutters over to the adjacent lake.

“Once they leap over the wall, the wounded male gets to feast and find a mate. He’s destined to live a happy life in that lake from now on. They say he even got a special name… but I don’t know much about that.”

“…”

“Now you understand why I wanted to show you this, right?”

Harnie clasped my hands tightly together.

“Just as those fish have seen the light, it’s not always about hardships. Like the calm after the storm, I wanted to tell you that surely, one day, happiness will come your way too.”

So, it’s not natural for you to be hurt.

Don’t think pain and struggle are the norm.

“Even though it’s tough right now, Karsein. You will definitely find happiness. Absolutely.”

Harnie said this, holding my hands firmly.

‘…Somehow, this doesn’t feel strange.’

Maybe because someone held my hands just like this and said the same words before I possessed this game.

But whether then or now, I mustn’t be swayed.

The pain and hardship I feel now are irrelevant.

I no longer feel pain from such wounds.

For my goal alone.

I will march on, undeterred by any wounds I may endure.

“It seems the day will soon turn to night completely. The sightseeing ends here, so let’s head back.”

“Right. You’ll escort me down as well, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

Our hands touched again.

The way back wasn’t difficult. Perhaps this place is used as a tourist spot at night, as lanterns were lit, guiding the way.

Then, suddenly, Harnie cleared his throat.

“Hem-hem. Karsein.”

“Yes?”

“It’s out of the blue… but may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“That… What do you want to do after you leave the ducal house?”

I didn’t expect a difficult question.

Hmm. Now that I hear it, it is a bit of a tough question.

‘What to do. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.’

I can’t speak of returning to the place where I lived…

“By any chance, if you’re not busy, would you consider working at my shop?”

Harnie asked again with a cough.

“You know how it is. Without any work, it’s hard to make ends meet… and…”

“I’m not particularly drawn to that idea.”

That was one thing I had to firmly decline.

“If there’s even a speck of a chance that I’ll be dragged back to that household, then it’s not a safe place for me.”

“…Is that so?”

“What I really want is to cut ties completely with Vagrand. It would be safer to live in seclusion in a mountain that no one knows about.”

“I see. If that’s the case…”

Harnie seemed deep in thought after that.

I didn’t ask what was on his mind.

In the meantime.

Step by step.

Hand in hand, we had unknowingly returned to the carriage.

“Let’s get in.”

“Ah, yes! Of course.”

But why am I so tired as if I’ve done something?

I wasn’t this exhausted even when there was more work to do.

Today, strangely, fatigue seems to rush over me.

Maybe I should catch a quick nap inside the carriage.

***

It’s been a while since the 5th-week report meeting ended, but the carriage only arrives after nightfall.

Yet, for some reason, no one gets off the carriage.

A few steps away, Camilla, who was waiting to greet her master and his fiancée, approached the carriage with a ‘just in case’ thought.

The curtains were drawn at the window, but there was a slight gap.

It seemed the curtains were hastily drawn.

Hearing no sound, Camilla peeked through the gap in the window and couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected sight.

“Um… Miss Camilla? The lord is…”

“Shh.”

Camilla, sensing the villagers’ voices filled with concern, placed a finger on her lips, signaling them to lower their voices.

“Please, she’s asleep from exhaustion. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

Hearing that she was asleep, the villagers quietly dispersed.

“To think they fell asleep leaning on each other. Such a scene seems straight out of a romance novel.”

Even amidst this, the sight of their hands still clasped together…

It was a scene that made one smile without realizing it.

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