The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 63

63 – 63. Broken Wings (8)

The command given by Emma was quite simple.

Expel Karcein from the Arena.

There were no other conditions.

The knights, who received a task that seemed unbelievably straightforward, were likely contemplating how they would spend the money they would receive from Emma.

For a day or two, he had intended to toy with them lightly, and by the third day, he had opened a gambling den. From then on, his only thought was to earn money and measure the timing.

But.

Once Isabella arrived, his plans started to go awry.

On the fourth day, Arina showed up.

And on the fifth day, Claire arrived.

Thanks to them, Theo faced a dilemma.

Although he tried to oust Karsein as customary for new knights, how could he do so when the young ladies of the noble house were glaring at him with wide eyes?

Moreover, Karsein persisted in his training relentlessly.

He was barely keeping up with the daily regimen, exhausted but pushing through.

“Ah, damn it. It’s so obvious someone else will come on the sixth day.”

Responding to Emma’s call and heading to the solitary cell, Theo thought he would finally get a decent meal this time.

But lo and behold.

Sending him a fierce glare from the cell, Emma casually asked.

“If you don’t report to me for three days, you must have definitely driven Karsein away, right?”

Theo hesitated before answering in a subdued voice.

“…Not yet.”

“What!”

Upon hearing his response, Emma erupted in anger.

“What kind of incompetence is it that you can’t even drive away a mere commoner from the training ground?!”

…”

There was nothing to say. Theo fell silent, and Emma expressed her frustration.

“How can a knight not even remove a single commoner! You can’t even punish one guilty person, and yet you call yourself a knight?!”

“Oh, come on. It hasn’t been a week yet.”

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“When a week passes, what then! What’s the point once he endures and completes training on the seventh day?!”

Upon completing the training on the seventh day, Karsein would become a probationary knight.

From then on, he would be free to move around the training ground, and that’s why Emma was so agitated.

“Are you trying to betray me now after all this time? And you think you’ll be fine?!”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do!”

Theo retorted to Emma with irritation.

“Your Grace, please wait. How should I handle him in front of the young ladies? Today, Miss Flora will come, so I’m certain we can drive him out.”

“What?”

“Lady of the manor came on the third day, Arina on the fourth, and Claire on the fifth. Who do you think will come next?”

Theo’s calming words pacified Emma.

Though uncertain, the presence of Miss Flora held a glimmer of hope.

“…Are you sure? Miss Flora will go to the training ground?”

“Whether it’s certain or not. There’s already a lot of rumors circulating in the noble house that she’s going.”

Unable to dismiss Karsein recklessly due to the presence of other young ladies and the lady of the manor, it was somewhat understandable why he hadn’t driven him out until now.

If that was the case, it was somewhat acceptable that he hadn’t been able to oust him.

“What’s the specific plan then?”

In response to the question about a concrete plan, Theo swallowed hard.

In reality, the situation was difficult to handle.

The subordinates he used to command were either driven away by Claire or were not sufficient in number compared to before, and to make matters worse, Bruce had not been able to crush Karsein, causing public opinion to sway slightly.

For now, he had no choice but to reveal what he knew as much as possible and try to deceive.

“While we may not know what to do with the other two young ladies, what should we do when Miss Flora arrives? When he entered the dormitory, he brought a bag and seemed to be protecting something from it. We can make good use of that.”

“Is that all?”

“Just that? If we can excite him with that and exaggerate, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Emma, agitated from days of accumulated anxiety in the solitary cell, was on edge.

Just relying on that wouldn’t bring peace of mind.

“No. You take the first step.”

“Yes?”

“Since Lady Flora is coming anyway, can’t we handle it decisively? It shouldn’t be difficult to sneak the items you received into his bag. Handle it there. It’s the knights’ way, through a duel.”

Theo, understanding the implications, swallowed hard.

“Well, Lady Flora has given us plenty of items. We could frame him as a thief using those… It shouldn’t be hard to challenge to a duel.”

Regardless of the outcome, there will be another chance, and it’s possible to sway Carcine’s opinions.

But the risk is significant.

While it’s possible to clear their names, going as far as a duel means it’s over if they fail.

Emma, with a fierce look in her eyes, seemed impatient even with Theo’s contemplation and continued, “You seem unsure, but if we can’t drive him away, it’s the end for all of us. Handle it today. Make him unable to use his limbs or whatever it takes!!”

Cold sweat ran down Theo’s back under Emma’s fierce gaze.

Is it really so urgent to handle it this way? But…

She means business.

Whether Carcine falls or not, one can leverage public opinion to claim wrongdoing.

However, making him unable to use one limb means there’s no turning back. It indicates they’re caught red-handed.

“If it’s known that money is Carcine’s, it’s all over. We can’t afford that. Remember my words, Theo Ramstare.”

“…Understood.”

Theo wiped his face and tersely replied before leaving the room.

“Ugh! Because of that damn wretch!!!”

– Crash!

Emma screamed as she shattered a glass in the room. Glass shards flew, grazing past Emma’s face.

Blood trickled down her slashed skin.

But the issue wasn’t the wound or the blood.

– Thud.

It was because the tiny notebook she held in her hand pushed Emma to the edge.

“It must be handled this time. It must…!”

***

The fifth day comes to an end.

It was quite a tiring day, I think.

I’ve grown somewhat accustomed, but training with Carcine was still demanding, followed by a sparring session with Bruce.

After completing the final task, my body was as soaked in sweat, panting as usual.

But strangely, I didn’t feel that tired.

…

I spread my palms and examined them.

Carcine’s hands bore small calluses.

They were a testament to how diligently he wielded his sword back then.

But that sensation.

I had it too.

“…It’s been a while since I felt this.”

Watching the callused hands, memories of my past self resurface.

I, too, used to frequent the dojo.

I, too, held a sword like this, feeling the calluses.

That’s why, rather than feeling tired, it’s more of a…

No.

It’s not at that level.

“It’s odd how similar even these things are.”

Not just Carcine. Even in my foolish days, there was a time I ran away from home.

It was raining.

A woman approached, sheltering me with an umbrella, asking what I was doing here.

Then…

I entered the dojo.

Receiving kindness from someone in a place other than home or school,

I explained that I wanted to learn kendo because I didn’t want to go back home and melt away.

Holding the sword, memories of those days come flooding back.

Breathing deeply, I murmured while looking up at the sky.

“Thank you. Hyunseong-hyung. Yoonji-nuna.”

Strictly speaking, I didn’t lose to Bruce because I learned the sword from those two.

It was thanks to their help.

“Still, I didn’t lose. I definitely landed the hit.”

Hyunseong-hyung, who warned never to side with scoundrels, and Yoonji-nuna, who would tease Hyunseong-hyung when bored and teach legal techniques, even though she could, to him.

I don’t know where they are or what they’re doing now, but… I finally express my gratitude.

The two. When the eldest and mother visited, offering a thick purse while insisting not to accept it again, we vehemently refused.

After that, I never saw them.

Control was imposed to prevent me from seeking them out.

I heard that after beating up a troublemaker at school, they went to learn martial arts.

Since I couldn’t go to the dojo, the time spent with the sword was quite long.

But.

“…Can I continue holding the sword here?”

Once I hold the sword, there’s no regret.

Even if it’s not the sword from that place but just in a game, it still feels like something.

However, there’s no one to stop me from learning the sword in this world.

It may also serve as a means to protect myself.

There’s no need to hesitate.

Even after this episode, I must have the strength to protect myself.

-Ding!

▶Successfully overcome the crisis of the 5th day!◀

▶Successfully triggered results beyond the choices!◀

■Rewards

[ The danger level of each area in the Forest of Shadows decreases by one step! ]

[ Warning→Caution, Caution→Normal ]

▶Satisfy the conditions to split the Broken Wings Episode into two!◀

▶Treat the Episode V. Broken Wings (Upper) as completed and proceed with Episode V. Broken Wings (Lower)!◀

▶Be cautious! Unseen threats lurk!◀

▶The threat levels of specific individuals rise to warning and danger!◀

[ Warning: Teo Ramstair, Bruce Ivan ]

[ Danger: Emma Urnen ]

Concluding the 5th day, the progress bar and status bars rise brightly.

Although I proceeded with the unfamiliar Broken Wings episode, fortunately, I didn’t deviate much from the original plan.

No, perhaps there was hardly any difference, so I could apply the original approach as it was.

Today’s training was quite rigorous compared to Carcine’s body, but as I persevered without giving up, the intimacy of the official knights began to rise, and perceptions changed.

And there was a significant change.

Those who recognized my passion in the duel with Bruce showed a white box, and despite the disadvantage, they stood up and caused an upset, almost erasing the ashy boxes that meant negative intimacy.

Reaching a favorable point at a specific moment, and despite it being a long time since I held a sword, by defeating Bruce, I only leave the final choice for today.

▶Where will you head to?

[ 1. Mark’s office at home ]

[ 2. Official Knight Glen’s residence ]

[ 3. Restaurant ]

[ 4. Dueling ground ]

[ 5. Radiel’s training ground ]

[ 6. Carcine’s residence ]

How will you conclude the 5th day?

The system directs Carsein to find a character and prepare for the next task.

Whether it’s Bruce or Theo, the player must be ready to deal with the increased danger to Emma.

But isn’t it strange?

Why do they have to choose a place to go? When looking for an ally, one would surely have to meet a person.

“I can’t be swayed by choices forever.”

So, I waited at the crossroads where I could choose all six places.

And, as expected.

Though some time passed, the warning window of choices didn’t appear. The timer remained the same.

Soon, as the two figures came into view, the choices vanished immediately.

“I think there’s someone over there, Radiel.”

“My lord? Could it be, Lord Carsein?”

Mark and Radiel rushed over.

Yes. There’s no need for only one to hear this.

Just like in the chaos of the banquet, this should be enough to prevent any awkwardness due to the information gap between the two.

“I believe some kind of request is being made in the banquet hall due to my duel opponent being Bruce today. Mark, what do you think?”

“I agree. However, there’s still something that leaves me skeptical.”

“What is it?”

“You mentioned being confident this time, my lord… but I’m not sure how you plan to clear your name.”

Even though Radiel explained it very well.

I should move on right away.

“I’d rather not discuss this here, so I’d like to change locations.”

Both of them nodded.

***

Since Carsein had suggested changing seats first, Mark followed him.

If this kind of talk spreads within the Order, it will surely cause a stir like before. It was very appropriate to move to a place where no one would listen and have a conversation.

Yet.

Every time he followed him, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

‘I thought the secret of the duke would surely be related to us. But…’

This direction was not a suitable place for a conversation.

Mark lowered his voice and asked Radiel.

“Radiel, have you heard anything by any chance?”

“Hmm?”

“Did my lord say anything separately…?”

Radiel shook her head.

It meant she hadn’t heard anything either.

‘But no matter how you look at it…’

The old building that used to be mainly used as a warehouse, abandoned as the Order’s internal buildings expanded.

Carsein was walking towards that old warehouse.

As if confirming Mark’s thoughts, Carsein stopped in front of the old warehouse.

With a key from his pocket, he inserted it into the door.

– Click!

The warehouse door, which creaked a few times due to poor maintenance, opened.

After opening the door, Carsein turned back and looked at the two knights alternately.

“Radiel. Wait here.”

He gave a somewhat cryptic order.

“Why is that, my lord?”

“There’s a high chance you won’t be able to keep your composure this time.”

“Me?”

“Inside here, the documents that Emma Urnen desperately tried to hide are hidden. How will you react if you get your hands on them?”

“Well, of course, I would either deliver those documents to the duchess or to Miss Arina…!”

“Yes. That’s why I’m telling you to wait for her.”

Radial smirked.

“Just that won’t be enough to drive Emma away. You already know, right? How those artificial pieces of evidence were fabricated.”

“…”

“Radial.”

Mark lightly placed a hand on Radial’s shoulder, lips tightly sealed.

“Right now, Lord’s words are correct. It’s not just about yesterday or today. Do you know how your expression changes whenever Lord’s name is mentioned?”

“What was my expression like…?”

“…You were ready to kill someone on the spot. It seemed like you were about to storm into the duke’s place with your sword and take matters into your own hands!”

Mark had once seen Radial going out alone.

That day, Mark, near the duke’s place, watched Radial, with a fierce look in his eyes, as he saw Emma pass by.

Radial was that impulsive and ruthless.

If he had a sword, he might have even thought of cutting her throat immediately.

Convinced by Mark, Radial acquiesced and took a step back.

“Fine. I’ll wait outside as Lord wishes.”

“…Thank you, Radial. I know it must be hardest for you right now.”

“Alright then. Come back soon. Lord… You will explain everything later, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

▶Radial’s anxiety is relieved!◀

▶Successfully avoided the death flags!◀

Checking his status window, Carsein could finally enter the warehouse with peace of mind.

Soon, he arrived inside.

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In the cluttered warehouse, Carsein knelt down, carefully feeling the floor until he found a spot to pry open.

“This, this is…!”

From beneath the floor, various expensive items and numerous pouches of gold coins were discovered.

“The most difficult thing to prove in that verdict was whether they had taken that commission. If we had evidence like this, we could have easily overturned the judgment.”

“Could these be…!”

“Even if they had taken a commission, anyone would be suspicious if a large sum of money came in at once. Besides, the knights had limited activity range. They had no choice but to hide it like this.”

Of course, there would have been doubts. But no one could have imagined that it was a hidden spot under the floor of the armory.

Mark’s fist trembled.

However, on the other hand, he understood why Radial was not brought along.

“But, Lord. This alone might not be enough. It could even lead to danger if used as evidence.”

Even if we look at it objectively, it ends within the scope of receiving a fine or punishment.

There were plenty of excuses to be made.

“Right. So, we need to create evidence too.”

“What?”

“Flora will come tomorrow. From the perspective of those who watched the trial, Flora will be as reliable an ally as anyone.”

“W-What… Lord!”

He chuckled.

“Mark, I’ll tell you what you need to do starting from now.”

The preparations for the naïve little one were already completed.