The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 43

43 – 43. Faded Gift (2)

Flora, who had gathered torn pieces of paper and put them in a letter basket, walked towards Arina’s room.

Then, she leaned her face out from beside the pillar and glanced around.

Even though Arina’s room was right in front of her, Flora had to be cautious and carefully scan her surroundings.

“Okay, good. No one’s here.”

Confirming that there were no eyes watching, she placed the basket next to Arina’s room.

If the door were to open, this basket would probably be the first thing to be seen.

Flora giggled and lifted the corners of her mouth.

Imagining the future that lay ahead, she knocked on Arina’s door.

-Thump, thump!

“Come in.”

The voice inviting her in echoed in the room, but no one entered.

Puzzled, Arina opened the door.

“…Hmm?”

There was no owner of the knock. They had already left a while ago.

But when her eyes fell upon the mysterious basket, Arina quickly picked it up to see what was inside.

“What is this doing in front of my room?”

The cloth that was covering the basket is lifted.

One by one, the scraps of paper beneath the cloth reveal themselves.

Familiar handwriting somewhere, and paper of a familiar texture.

And clearly split in half, revealing her own torn seal.

“…”

In an instant, a shadow falls over Arina’s face.

“That’s it!”

Flora, who had hidden herself after knocking on Arina’s door, watches from a position where she won’t be caught by her older sister, raising the corners of her mouth in a sly grin.

It’s obvious who did such a thing.

The document delivered in the morning, and to make matters worse, an important certificate with the seal of the cattle party, is now in pieces like this. Karsain will be furious in no time.

As Flora expected, flames ignite in Arina’s blue eyes, which were fiercely staring at the scraps of paper, and soon Arina grabs a piece of paper in her hand.

Flora silently follows, expecting her sister’s reaction and anticipating the future of Karsain.

***

-Ding!

▶Arina’s intimacy has decreased!◀

[Current value: 15%]

“That’s it.”

How long she had been waiting for this message to appear in her room.

She thought there would be no need for it since Heron took care of it, but there were so many variables that she had been keeping an eye on the progress.

“The decrease is 5%, so she must have noticed for sure. As for the rest…”

▶The danger level of a specific area is changing!

[Designated Zone: Foggy Field]

[Danger Level: Normal → Dangerous]

The danger level of the Foggy Field has changed.

Was it really just because I had the proof of Arina’s lifting of the prohibition on my possession items that it had such an effect?

As it disappeared from my hands, the danger level returned to its original state due to the mistake.

Well, I’m not really disappointed.

If I hadn’t done this, I could have easily come and go in the Foggy Field…

“I will never accept such hypocrisy, Arina.”

I felt the same way when I made a plan to leave that house and become independent.

If I just catered to their taste a little, they would send me something and say I did well for the first year. It was truly disgusting.

So I didn’t accept it.

Without accepting anything, I carefully put it in the box in my room without even opening the packaging.

Even if it was something I desperately needed, I didn’t touch it.

Because I wanted to be independent on my own.

Without being caught up by any family, without being tied down, I wanted to escape.

That mindset hasn’t changed even now that I have become Karcein.

Although the development of the game may be greatly distorted and unknown variables may appear, I didn’t want any help from these damn family members.

Probably, Karcein thinks the same way.

-Ding!

▶CHAPTER 1 – Designating the Branch of Episode V.◀

▶The timer is given!◀

▶Complete an action that will determine the branch within it!◀

Another awaited message comes to mind.

The timer starts running before my eyes.

If I make a wrong move here, it’s a direct route to a bad ending.

I have to take action within the designated time to determine the branch of the episode.

“I should go out soon.”

I had already finished preparing to leave to save time.

I also had the destination in mind, as well as a plan for dealing with Blue, who would arrive soon.

Confidently, I opened the door.

The maids are staring at me, full of suspicion.

These maids are from the multipurpose room located close to Karsain’s room.

The reason they’re suspicious is simple.

“They probably can’t carry out Heron’s instructions.”

Things seem to be going smoothly.

-Ding!

▶The maids are tense.◀

▶How will they react to the item that needs to be delivered to Karsain?◀

[1. Do you have something to bring me?]

[2. (Pointing at a maid with her hand) You. Come here.]

[3. (Sarcastically) Do any of you have something to report? Like something that should have been delivered to me that went missing.]

[4. (Ignoring and walking past.)]

Why are all the choices like this?

Even though they have built up intimacy with me for the sub-episode, the choices don’t change.

I have no choice but to slightly modify the content of the choices.

“Hey, you. Are you the maid in charge of me while Camilla is away?”

“Yes, yes…”

-Ding!

Immediately, a second choice appeared.

▶Would you like to retrieve the items entrusted to the maids?◀

[1. Retrieve them.]

[2. Do not retrieve them.]

There’s no way there’s anything to retrieve.

If I fall for it here and go into the multipurpose room thinking there’s something else, it will lead to a bad ending.

“Do you have any requests… to make?”

“Yeah. I have one.”

Although they haven’t arrived yet, soon there will be one person… no, two people coming into my room. So.

“Tell them that I will meet with my mother. If anyone is looking for me, let them know.”

I will make sure to convey to the maid where Karsaine went.

The maid replied, sweating coldly, that she would do so.

After finishing the message with the maid, I immediately moved my feet and climbed the stairs.

Before long, Isabella’s office appeared.

Without hesitation, I knocked on the door and it quickly opened.

“Come in.”

Once again, Isabella personally opened the door.

It wasn’t much different.

As always, Isabella was in the middle of work, and I had just come in at a busy time.

Just like when I visited in the morning.

I still remember the first words she said, sitting on the sofa after pouring a lot of time into work, casually glancing at the documents and asking why I had come.

If it’s something like that, it’s better to quickly state the purpose and leave.

It takes up time. It interrupts work. And it sounds like I came to make unreasonable complaints.

Before Isabella could start complaining, I made my move.

“I came because I have something important to discuss.”

“Important matter?”

At the same time as Isabella’s question, a status window appeared.

-Ding!

[1. Please write a permit for the use of the training grounds.]

[2. Please write a permit for the operation of the Shatren territory.]

[3. Please write a permit for me to participate in this year’s martial arts competition.]

Three types of quarters appeared.

What I should receive here is, of course, the first one.

“Please write a permit for the use of the training ground,” Isabella said after a moment of silence, then told me to wait.

There was no longer a time when she made me wait on the sofa for a long time.

She came with the documents, wrote the permit in front of me, and handed it over.

“This matter is under Arina’s jurisdiction, not mine. However, how about I tell Arina to lift the prohibition order?” she suggested.

“Understood.”

After finishing my duty, I immediately stood up from the sofa, holding the permit.

But then Isabella suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Wait. Just wait a moment, Carsein.”

“Why?”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes.”

What else could I ask for?

I received the permit for the use of the training ground, and I have no intention of staying here any longer.

That way, as soon as the customer arrives, the next episode will be perfectly determined.

“Why don’t we talk about the festival?” Isabella asked with trembling eyes, looking at me like that.

“Is it necessary to bring up that story here?”

“…Is it necessary? What are you talking about, Carsein?”

“It’s disturbing during work hours.”

“Is it necessary…! Whether it is or not!”

Isabella snapped at those words.

“I heard everything from the girls. Didn’t you suspect me from the chairman? Didn’t you feel like you were being watched and couldn’t even enjoy it? And in the end, you didn’t even receive a birthday present. And…!”

Isabella, who had bitten her lip, finally let out a sigh.

“Wouldn’t you remember what Ariana did at that time?”

But still, Isabella said with a soaked voice.

“I know you have a lot to say to me, Carsein. So, let it out. I want to relieve your feelings even a little.”

From Noble mtl dot com

If you can’t let it out right away, you can come for a morning greeting like before.

If you want something now, I can give you that much.

Isabella wrapped her hands around mine, her eyes turning red.

Truly, it was a facade.

“Well, whether I say it or not, I’m just enduring time here.”

▶Remaining time: 40 seconds.◀

Not much time left.

As the episode branch was confirmed, the time to properly retaliate against some people was approaching.

I withdrew my hand from Isabella’s grasp and responded absentmindedly.

“Then let’s consider this permit as a birthday present.”

“What did you say?”

“If that’s the case, then my mood will quickly improve.”

“Carsane, that’s not it. No matter what…!”

“The me of the past, who was so capricious, is different from the me of now. Unless you want me to keep remembering the past forever?”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

Not believing even once, she made the president prove it himself with Wellington’s static electricity gloves.

Instead of immediately lifting the ban on going out, she made it feel like she was being monitored by choosing the option of reviewing.

The birthday gift became useless and ultimately ended up reminding her of memories from the worst time.

To expect her to remember all of that is actually a more cruel thing to say.

“I understand your intentions. However, I won’t consider that permit as a birthday gift. Carsane.”

She added with a sad look, saying that she is always welcome to claim a legitimate birthday gift.

And that’s how the conversation with Isabella ended.

After leaving the office, I immediately checked the remaining time.

▶ Remaining time: 20 seconds. ◀

“Only 20 seconds.”

It was enough time to get out of this position.

In order to recreate the scene exactly as it was seen in the game, I moved to a different spot.

After a while.

The timer disappeared and the episode’s name was engraved.

“Carsane. You were here.”

And.

– Zzaak!

A clear impression was engraved on my cheek, indicating that the purpose of this episode had been fully achieved.

***

As expected. Unchanging.

Arina hadn’t changed. Just like the first time.

Every time I felt the cold blood running through my body, I couldn’t help but be grateful to this woman, just as the first time she did it to me.

Because it allowed me to be unattached to emotions.

– Ttiring!

▶Episode V. The Troublemaker of the Arena Begins!◀

▶Arina’s intimacy has decreased for some reason!◀

▶Persuade Arina!◀

[If successful: Intimacy will be restored]

[If failed: Death]

As the heat rose on my cheek, the status window requested me to make a choice and progress the story.

Although the reason for this incident was different, it wasn’t much different from a scene in the game.

Slowly.

I reveal my weapon to intimidate Arina.

“No matter how upset or frustrated you are, you shouldn’t disregard someone’s sincerity like this. Seeing you still haven’t changed, Karsein.”

“Why are you rambling again?”

“Sigh. Trembling with ignorance. The excuses that come from that vulgar and dull mind are still the same.”

Pieces of paper fluttered in the air.

It seemed impossible to find their original form.

“I have acknowledged my mistakes enough. But you, you deceived my sincerity like this. Why, did you not even want to write the proof of lifting the ban that I gave you? Are you going to lie and say that you didn’t receive the permit for the performance that is in your hands?”

Her blue eyes glared fiercely.

In her disheveled breath, I could guess how angry she was.

But I won’t back down.

“You haven’t changed either. After going through such things multiple times, you even started doubting me.”

“Even though all the evidence points to you taking such actions, are you saying otherwise?”

For a moment, Ariana’s eyes flickered, but there was no change in her demeanor.

Thanks to that, I felt like I could use it to my advantage.

As I scanned through the options, a line that I particularly liked caught my eye.

“When did you send it?”

“What?”

“When did you send it to me?”

“In the morning. I ordered Heron to deliver it directly to your room.”

“Then I guess I can ask Heron? Whether it arrived in my room or not.”

-Twitch.

Blonde kid on the opposite staircase pulled back his head and his expression began to stiffen little by little.

“He seems intimidated, doesn’t he? Flora.”

But this time, even if I try to run away, it’s useless.

This plan was originally created to tie one person’s feet.