31 – 31. Snowflake Festival (2)
It was truly a strange sight.
Flora, who despises Carsein so much, and Carsein, who has been tormented by her numerous times. The two of them riding alone in a carriage like this.
Inside the departing carriage, a silent and lukewarm stillness flowed.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
It was Carcain who broke the silence.
“I doubt you really intended to come with me like this. If you have something to say, there’s no need to worry about me. Just say it without hesitation.”
Could there be any reason for her, who received the love of her family, to want to ride in a carriage with Carcain? Carcain knew all too well how much Flora despised herself.
That’s why he skillfully guided the conversation to get to the point and open Flora’s mouth.
Flora spoke up promptly.
Along with a snort that seemed to say it was nothing.
“Is this another way for you to seek attention from our family?”
As if understanding what she came to say with just that one sentence, Carcain smirked.
“You’re talking about seeking attention. Do you think anyone wanted this to happen?”
“Did you not want this to happen? Then why did you go to the Snowflake Festival with me?”
“It wasn’t me who wanted to go.”
How could he want to go when he said he would keep an eye on her as a birthday present? Carcain himself didn’t particularly want to go to a festival.
But…
“Liar! You lied to Claire and Mom, saying it was a birthday present for me!”
Flora couldn’t believe him.
“Your birthday? You’ve been buried all along anyway. Even if you had stayed ignorant this time, it wouldn’t have mattered. How would Mom and Little Sister know unless you told them?”
In Flora’s eyes, Carcain always had to be separate from the family.
He couldn’t receive any kind of attention.
He’s just a very bad person trying to tear our family apart.
So, Flora clenches her fists and shouts.
“Maybe your dirty lies worked this time, but there won’t be a next. I’ll put a stop to it at the festival. I’ll make sure you can’t do anything to our family.”
You can never be a part of our family.
I’ll make sure you have no interest in us.
I’ll personally make sure you have no interest in the likes of you, the lowly commoner.
“Sisters, mom, and even the place of our brother, I won’t give you anything!!”
Flora grits her teeth and takes a deep breath.
This was no longer a conversation.
It was a warning from someone who fervently wished for torment, persecution, and the isolation of Carseine. It might even be something more than that.
Flora, who poured out her scathing remarks, smirked disdainfully.
As always, she expected Carseine to rush in and cause a commotion.
If that would separate her from her family again.
If she ended up alone in the Duke’s manor during this Snowflake Festival.
That would be enough for her satisfaction.
“…!”
But Flora could no longer smirk disdainfully.
There was not a hint of disturbance.
Not a single movement from the slightly tilted head.
Just an endlessly cold gaze, with a facial expression that remained unchanged, as if there was no emotion at all.
Karsein just listened quietly.
Suddenly, a sneer appeared on Karsein’s face.
“Didn’t I say it? I’ve always felt that kind of injustice.”
With a mixture of sneering, Flora swallowed a gasp.
“I never had any intention to begin with. I’m not like that. I’ve always been treated like trash. It won’t be any different this time either.”
Suddenly, that moment came to mind.
The day she noticed the existence of the Calvia fruit and left the meal, thinking of herself as a criminal.
The day she went to find him, thinking he was considering himself guilty.
The day she shouted in Karsein’s room, claiming that she was unjustly treated.
Those words…!
“I never said I wanted to go to the Snowflake Festival as a birthday present. You thoughtless kid.”
-Gulp.
“What… What are you saying?”
Flora, who was tense, realized that she had to listen to Karsein’s words because of her previous experience.
But just then, the carriage stopped.
It meant they had arrived at their destination.
Karsein opened the door again, showing a sinister sneer.
And assuming an escort posture.
“Don’t worry. I know you want to kick me out of this house, but you don’t have to go to such lengths.”
He spoke as if he could see Flora’s innermost thoughts.
“Are you saying you won’t say anything to our mom and sisters?”
“Yeah. I don’t plan on taking anything from this house. Furniture? Money? Clothes? Accessories? I don’t need any of it. And…”
──Not even.
-hehehehe!
“Oh my, you! Why are you acting like this today?”
Flora couldn’t hear the voice of the surprised words, buried in the last line.
“Aren’t you going? Going down this high carriage without my help?”
“…”
Strangely, Karsein’s reply didn’t sound like a lie.
“It doesn’t seem to be a matter of truth or falsehood…”
Karsein was eerie today.
To an excessive degree.
***
“Hurry, come quickly. If you’re that late, you’ll have less time to play.”
Claire shouted through a megaphone she made with her hands from a distance.
Perhaps because of the argument in the carriage, the three of them got off first and were waiting.
Upon hearing those words, Flora hopped along and followed her sisters. Then, as if hiding, she exchanged glances with Karsein.
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s go inside.”
Isabella took the lead.
Karsein checked the characters written on his head from the back.
[ 39% ] [ 11% ] [ 17% ] [ 3% ]
“They’ve certainly risen quite a bit.”
The increase in the family’s closeness was remarkable. It seemed that the effect of the past birthday was not just limited to the game, but rather a potent remedy.
Since I had personally put in the effort here, some of them were quite satisfied with their progress.
And when I checked the status window, I found that other stats were also quite high.
“With this level… even if I fall behind a bit in this episode, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Meanwhile, the family members were heading towards a building beyond the festival area.
When you think of a festival, you usually imagine freely moving around and having fun in the space where the festival is held.
But what shouldn’t be overlooked is that the Snowflake Festival is an annual event of the royal family.
As it was an event hosted by the royal family, the aristocrats needed to enter the main hall and complete a designated task.
That’s why they were visiting here first.
From Noble mtl dot com
▶ Episode IV. The Snowflake Festival is in progress! ◀
▶ Successfully conclude the festival with your family! ◀
“Yeah. The episode won’t pass so easily.”
It’s not just a festival.
Since the episode also applies here, the phrase “successfully conclude” meant that accidents should not occur even in this extension of the festival.
As I walked with Isabella, nobles began to appear one by one, exploring Bagrand.
The commoners were said to enjoy the festival with the power of the royal family, so it was not only the commoners who were enjoying it.
This place was a gathering place for nobles, a social gathering.
For Carsane, it could be considered a tiger’s den.
As the family followed behind, the grand chairman appeared.
The nobles, who had been chattering away, immediately turned their attention to the entrance of the Duke of Bargrand.
“Indeed, Bargrand is Bargrand.”
“A flawless elegance that is art in itself.”
“I am looking forward to what great achievements he will make in the empire.”
Various compliments poured out from the mouths of the nobles.
Except for one person.
“But why is that person here…?”
“Shh. You’ll hear it.”
“This is a disaster. I thought this festival would be the most enjoyable… Is it a failure?”
Voices of unease and disdain were directed at Carsein.
In response, the unprecedented Arina reminded Carsein once again to be cautious.
“After the audience with His Majesty, we will be able to go outside and see the streets. Just endure until then.”
“I don’t care.”
“Hmph.”
Feeling that caution was not enough, Arina sighed and spoke again.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you? I said I would give you a reward if you finish this task well.”
“I know.”
Arina, still full of suspicion at the sullen response, but for now, the audience was the priority.
Walking down the corridor, when a large room came into view, Claire turned around and headed towards the chairman.
“Even the chairman has friends he hangs out with. It’ll be over soon.”
Only two people were allowed by Alhyeon’s permission.
In other words, it was the end for Isabella and Arina.
So Flora and Claire went to meet their own friends.
Karsein was left alone.
In a den full of kittens.
-Ding!
The choices began to appear.
***
They’re coming.
The kittens, who had longed for this moment, hoping to be left alone.
No one can protect them now.
Even if they were to retaliate against those who stood in their place out of the blue, they wouldn’t care.
Even if they were to lose something in the process, what they gain is greater.
“Karsein’s departure itself is for the public good.”
Even personal compensation will be given.
Just the fact that Karsein is in this position is enough to make the nobles of powerful families feel uneasy and resentful.
That’s why there will be compensation.
For those who dedicated themselves to driving away the unwelcome guests in this place.
For those who proudly take the lead in striking down the heavens.
Even for a family with no name or title, just stepping forward brings great rewards.
That was the information obtained from confirming the memorial of the flowerpot.
“Hey, you’re so bold. You came back without any fear?”
“Why did you come? To give us a gift?”
“If this is the gift, I’m really grateful. hehehe.”
Leaning against the window, the nobles gathered, giggling.
The men seem to express themselves through their actions.
The women seem to be watching, but they are thinking about how to spread the incident with a smile on their faces.
And on this side.
– Ting!
The choices appeared.
▶ The nobles are threatening. How will you act?
[ 1. (As a sample, knock one person down) Damn, did you think I would just stand here and take it?! ]
[ 2. Retreat to the second floor. ]
[ 3. (Timidly) Please, can’t you leave? I heard I would receive a gift from my big sister. ]
[ 4. (Remain silent.) ]
…
…
All sorts of choices appeared at once.
I already know about the dead flag from experience, and it seems there’s a way to get through this situation right away.
But all of that was wrong.
If in Episode III, you couldn’t avoid the incident and had to choose to meet one character, this time you have to choose what incident to face.
Therefore, no matter what, Karsein had to face the incident…
“If you twist the constraints of the choices a little, the story changes.”
Looking around, even from a distance, the pink hair was clearly visible.
Even a slight disturbance seemed to make them look this way.
As for the blonde one…
“That doesn’t seem to have any solution.”
Alright.
Let’s endure in this state then.
I didn’t react to whatever they said in this state. I chose option 4, silence.
Around 10 minutes passed like that.
“Why is this guy not reacting today?”
“Just say something, will you? You filthy scumbag.”
Finally, the scene I was hoping for appeared.
“Hey. It won’t work. Move aside.”
“What will you do?”
“If I hit you a few times, you’ll open your mouth.”
The guy who seemed the biggest in the crowd took action.
He was swinging his arms and advertising that he would hit me.
-Ding!
[1. I take the incoming punch head-on.]
[2. I dodge the incoming punch.]
[3. I strike before getting hit.]
[4. I block the punch and counterattack.]
The choices appeared right on time, and I decided to go with option 2.
Now, all I have to do is dodge the punch…
-Boom. Thud.
“W-What…! You blocked me?”
Because it was so slow, my instinct kicked in and I blocked the guy’s punch with my hand.
“Why is it so clumsy? And slow, too…”
Could it be because I’ve been sparring so frequently in the modern world?
I had that thought for a moment.
Although it was hard to believe that he had so much strength, I quickly understood why.
Being clumsy and slow was normal for him.
Upon further reflection, it was true that Karsein’s health wasn’t great, but that didn’t mean he was good at fighting.
In other words, these kids were also unsuited for fighting.
They were not nobles who were raised elegantly.
They were precious children who had never even experienced a fight before.
And yet, Karsein had grown up in the slums, fighting rough battles. He had lived a much harsher life than those punks with their puffy cheeks and double chins who greedily stood out at such a young age.
So… this fist wouldn’t have seemed like a fist at all, even if it hadn’t had any fighting experience.
“How did he manage to knock down the nobles with a body like this… It’s possible.”
The strange thing was resolved.
“This bastard!”
I raised my fist again and it flew towards him.
I almost blocked it unconsciously.
Looking at his slow hand, I quickly dodged his fist before he could hit me. After avoiding it a few times, he gasped and shouted.
“Hey, beat this commoner!”
Since he couldn’t do it alone, they started attacking me together.
Their pride disappeared, and they only thought about hitting me with all their might.
“But why do I have to get hit?”
It would be more embarrassing to get hit by this slow, bursting fist.
Even though they rushed at me together, I wasn’t the one getting tired.
Just by avoiding them, they got exhausted themselves, and that’s how they ended up in a mob.
“Huh, huh?”
No one touched me. I just dodged.
The body of the stout guy tilted. It was predictable, really.
The guy who was struggling alone made a dull sound against the wall and eventually fell down.
The guy who fell forward seemed to have broken his nose, as it was bleeding profusely.
“This, this bastard…!”
There’s no way I wouldn’t try to touch it when something is flowing in my nose.
The guy who realized it was a nosebleed looked at me with a distorted expression.
Anyway, it worked out as I wanted.
“Everyone, this guy hit me, hit me!!”
Since the guy had a bloody nose, he said.
Oh come on…