37 – 37. A Pack of Tigers (1)
-Ding!
▶Episode IV. The Snowflake Festival has come to an end!◀
▶Calculating the results!◀
…
…
▶The knights worked hard to find Karsein!◀
▶The reputation within the aristocracy is declining!◀
▶By persuading Arina, intimacy is gained!◀
▶Successfully achieved results beyond the choices!◀
▶Rewards will be given!◀
As a reward, a message appeared stating that the level had increased along with a small amount of experience points.
In this route, instead of gaining the characters’ intimacy, the perception value is consumed as a price. Depending on how the choices are made, the path diverges, and as there were a wide range of choices, it was possible to obtain opposite results.
The desired outcome was achieved.
It would have been possible to smoothly progress to the next episode branching stage, following the preferred route.
However, such things did not immediately come to mind.
“I didn’t realize this guy was secretly abandoned too.”
Unpleasant memories resurfaced.
Seeing Arina who didn’t come to look for money.
The permission that was given along with the words that she could play as much as she wanted after receiving the money.
The Snowflake Festival, filled with all sorts of food, sights, and entertainment.
Karceine waited, unaware of the fact that there was nowhere to go back to, fully prepared with gifts.
None of it was different from my experience.
Unlimited ticket privileges that hung on one wrist after payment.
A space called an amusement park where I used to go with my family, fueled by curiosity.
The past self who deliberately let go of his hand, unknowingly turning into a lost child, and just watched the sun set from that spot.
Amusement park. Snow festival.
Although the era and setting were different, it wasn’t much different.
Even the process of rediscovery.
“Damn. I never thought I’d go through this sh*t twice.”
A bitter laugh escaped.
In reality, I had become a lost child in the amusement park, but here, I became the child who was secretly kicked out.
That’s why my blood boils.
Instead of passion, a cold chill circulates, chilling my head.
Getting angry at unpleasant memories is only for a momentary moment.
“Yeah. I have to act rationally. There’s no need to put emotions into things like this.”
I’m sure of it because it’s my second experience.
Karceine, too, must have had the same thoughts, not much different.
If that guy’s perspective had changed, he would have acted like that for sure.
While lost in thought, I turned my gaze back to the status window that I hadn’t seen.
▶Hidden Episode. Cleared the precarious stone tower!◀
▶You have successfully achieved results beyond the choices!◀
▶Compensation will be provided!◀
■Compensation
[Increased intimacy with Arina!]
[Current value: 15%-＞20%]
[???]
[???]
First, let’s summarize the situation up to this point.
It was revealed that the Flame of Majungseok was fake, and when the chaos subsided, Isabella would have gone to find Karsein.
The hastily concocted excuse ultimately led to Arina’s lie being exposed, and Isabella ordered the family knights to find Karsein.
This was the development in the original game.
“Now, all that’s left is to enter late.”
Since meeting Arina, it skips ahead to the scene at the Duke’s mansion. In other words, this scene is the time that is skipped.
Therefore, although a hidden episode has appeared, it didn’t have much impact on the original development.
From now on, no matter what I do, as long as I enter as the Duke late, it’ll be fine.
I was pondering how to use this time.
“But… what is this exactly?”
The question mark at the bottom of the stat window catches my eye.
I finally noticed it, but it was a stat called 0 that was never visible in the game.
“Hmm…”
He found himself in a small dilemma.
While there were ways to directly increase other stats, there were no clues about this one.
But it’s not like increasing stats has any negative effects. Not only does it help avoid bad endings, but it also occasionally creates additional choices.
So he made up his mind to use the remaining stat points there. After all, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if he tried to increase the other stats, as their increase rate is much lower than the decrease rate.
‘Even if I increase it a little, it won’t be noticeable. Let’s increase all of them.’
[ ??? Use all points on the stat! ]
After the status window appeared, he wondered if there was any change in his body, but there was no noticeable difference.
‘What is this…? What has changed?’
At that moment,
A woman suddenly appeared before him while he was looking up at the sky, lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Karsen immediately turned his head.
Now, her face was somewhat familiar.
A beautiful woman with purple hair that matched her eyes perfectly.
Aside from that, she seemed like quite a spicy person.
“Why do you startle people like that?”
“Huh. Isn’t that the face of someone who got startled…?”
“You suddenly appeared, of course I got startled.”
Harnier made an expression of disbelief.
It was true that he was really startled.
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“What are you doing here instead? Did you come to see the Snowflake Festival?”
Carsein casually nodded at the mention of the damn Snowflake Festival.
Then, Harnier cautiously brought up the topic, clearing his throat.
“Ahem. Well, then, would you give me some of your time?”
“Sure, why not.”
“I see. Your time is valuable too… huh?”
As if he had misheard something, Harnier sounded perplexed.
“Did I hear wrong just now? I thought you said you would give me some time.”
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“Oh, no. It’s not that something is wrong… Are you okay? You must have something scheduled.”
“I don’t. Nothing like that.”
For Carsein, time was abundant at the moment.
He had been pondering over how to use this time, and if she hadn’t come to him, he might have been wandering somewhere with an empty heart.
“Um… I don’t know what happened, but I feel uneasy about taking advantage of you like this.”
Harnier raised his index finger and spoke.
“How about we make a deal?”
“A deal?”
“Yes. It would be more familiar and comfortable for both Confucius and me.”
He was offering to buy time.
That’s what Harnier was saying.
“…It’s not so bad.”
Although he had to find a way to pass the time, he was currently penniless.
In this situation, he had to somehow spend time and return as a duke.
In that case, it would be much better to spend time with someone and gain something from it.
“Where can I spend my time?”
“Well… Um, could I receive some guidance since it’s my first snow festival?”
“…Excuse me?”
Carsein narrowed his eyes as if questioning what he had heard.
Harnier chuckled in response.
“Well, I’ve been too busy to properly enjoy the snow festival every year. And besides… There might be people who want to tag along…”
After saying that, she either felt embarrassed or intentionally avoided eye contact, blinking her eyes.
As Carsein stood there, not quite understanding, she put her hands on her waist and asked.
“So, I’m going to help you!”
Being a festival guide wasn’t difficult.
If she borrowed Carsein’s memories from the memorial, anything would be possible.
However, it couldn’t be helped that she still hadn’t adapted to this situation.
“A-Are you laughing right now?”
“No, it’s just a bit funny. This situation.”
“Huh! You’re like that too, Master Confucius. Why on earth─”
After that, he didn’t hear what she said. It didn’t register in his ears.
However, Karcein had no intention of refusing.
“If you help me with this, could you teach me some etiquette?”
“What? What kind of etiquette?”
“It’s a deal. I’m asking you to teach me like last time. I’m not very skilled in various ways, am I?”
“Well, that’s true…”
It seemed like Suzita-san was questioning if this was right.
“Well then, let’s make it a deal. I’ll pay you for the guide and also give you some money for myself. How does that sound?”
“Are you okay with that? Sometimes time is more valuable than that amount of money.”
“I don’t think of it as a bad business. I have my reasons too.”
“Hmm…”
Harnie didn’t seem entirely satisfied with this proposal.
However, when approached with the idea of a deal, Harnie quickly agreed. After all, there was a reason on this side too. That was the most convincing argument.
“Alright. But if it turns out to be no good, you won’t give me anything?”
“You’re asking for too much. From your fiancé.”
“Seriously. Is that the only time I have to act like a real lover? I have to do it because of someone else.”
After sighing heavily, Harnie pulled Karcein’s arm.
“Instead of that, at least pretend to be a good lover.”
***
Harnie first taught the etiquette of noble lovers, crossing her arms.
Although she said that, she taught everything she needed to teach, and soon they entered into practical training and gradually became familiar with it. It was a bit tedious, though.
As we arrived at the entrance, the Snowflake Festival was entering its busiest season, with bright lights starting to shine. It was much more splendid and magnificent than what I had seen at the memorial.
“Wow.”
Harnier exclaimed in admiration at the decorations that adorned the sky.
It seems like it wasn’t a lie when she said it was her first time here.
If I were a bit younger, I would have thought she was a child experiencing an amusement park for the first time without a doubt.
“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen so many new things gathered like this. Did Karsen come to the Snowflake Festival often?”
“No. I haven’t properly seen it myself either.”
No. It’s true that this is my first time too.
Karsen, not me, has seen the Snowflake Festival a few more times.
“But aren’t you surprised? Everything is so fascinating to me.”
“…”
I listened to her words and looked at the decorations.
Certainly, they were astonishing. If only the disgusting memories of those two pasts, the source of this filthy feeling, didn’t come to mind.
But in this world where our lives are at stake in this game, there is no room to enjoy such things. That was the biggest reason why I wasn’t surprised.
Then suddenly, I felt a strength in Harnier’s arms crossed.
Before I could even ask why, she spoke first.
“Karsen. Do you remember… the deal we made earlier?”
“Yes?”
“That… I asked you to pretend to be my lover.”
“I know about that.”
They’re doing it for the sake of fulfilling the contract in the first place.
But why are they bringing it up now?
“Well, you have to protect her, right? Absolutely.”
“Excuse me?”
Before I could hear the response, a noblewoman’s voice came from the front.
“Oh my. Is this person the fiancé of the Lady Yeongae that they were talking about?”
No. Let me correct that.
It wasn’t a noblewoman, it was a group of noblewomen.
***
The Snowflake Festival doesn’t discriminate between the high and low, young and old.
Therefore, it was possible for nobles to come across each other. I had actually come across them several times when I was with my family.
But, this…
“Are they not looking at me?”
The woman who was called the fiancée of Harnier, although she had a plump appearance… If you looked closely, it seemed like she had come to meet Harnier rather than me.
At first glance, all the women behind the woman at the forefront were looking towards Harnier.
It could be an exaggeration, but my intuition, built up from experience, told me that this was harassment.
First, let’s dig up some more information.
“What’s going on?”
As I asked a straightforward question, some of the gazes shifted towards me.
“It’s nothing. I just came to see Harnie Yeongae because I heard she got engaged.”
That woman just said ‘Harnie Yeongae’.
As if Harnie did something wrong.
Then another Yeongae came forward to explain.
“We’ve seen Harnie Yeongae quite often. So we know a lot, and there was a reason we had to come in person.”
Harnie’s grip tightened as they spoke.
Their expression remained unchanged, but they were probably trembling.
Without being swayed by this, I asked what the reason was.
Upon hearing that, the Yeongaes started giggling as if they had been waiting for this situation.
“Harnie Yeongae is really popular among men. However, there is no one among them who Harnie pours their heart out to.”
“Because Harnie pours their heart out to men and then ruthlessly discards them! They’ve been doing this all along.”
“There are countless testimonies and witnesses. There are rumors of taking money and even some people being completely exploited. Do you know there are even worse rumors than these?”
“That’s why we always warn men in advance, thinking that such incidents might happen again. Because the number of victims might increase.”
“So, we came here wondering if the fiancé might be deceived. We thought you might not know this fact and came to tell you.”
Finally, the woman in the center concluded.
“Harnie Yeongae doesn’t hold love in their heart. So if you’re being deceived, please speak up now. We can put an end to this wrongdoing.”
In summary, it’s like this.
Harnie intentionally seduces men for some purpose and mercilessly discards them when they become useless.
They intervened because they thought there might be men who are unaware of this and wondered if the current fiancé, known as Karsein, might also be deceived.
To summarize further.
If you’re being deceived by that woman, get rid of her quickly.
Harney Teresa is a flower snake.
That’s what it means.
Harney started denying it in anger.
“Well, no. I’ve never been like that! I haven’t met a single man so far!”
“Oh my, look at that. More lies!”
“You never change, do you? Aren’t you ashamed as a noble?”
Criticism began to pour in.
Although she tried to deny it fiercely, since it was a fight involving many people, Harney could only fall behind.
Moreover, she also has a major weakness.
“Then just answer this. Why did Harney Young-ae get involved in businesses that men do?”
“…”
“See? You can’t even answer this.”
“It’s obvious. You’re just trying to overshadow men, right?”
Engaging in businesses that other noble ladies wouldn’t dare to.
Just by showing different actions from others, she couldn’t escape condemnation.
Even if it was for the Teresa family.
Thus, this matter was solely in my hands.
“So this time, you’re trying to deceive the Duke of Bargrand, right?”
“Master. Just be honest. We’ll take care of the aftermath.”
And with an intense gaze, Harnier pleaded,
“No! Truly, I… I have never tried to deceive you.”
The answer came quickly.
Such problems were easily deduced in my mind.
Over and over again. Time and time again.
The conclusion was reached without the need for any calculations.
I immediately unfolded my arms.
-Swish.
“Carsain…!”
Harnier looked at me with trembling eyes in an instant, but…
“What?!”
Using the arms I had just released, I swiftly wrapped them around her shoulders and pulled her towards my body, as if protecting her. Her startled eyes turned towards me.
Yes.
I have chosen one among the many here.
“You dare to insult my fiancée in front of me with such behavior?”
That gaze was filled with indignation.
How could I side with them instead of Harnier when I saw that look?
At the very least, I could never act in such a way.