The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 64

64 – 64. Broken Wings (9)

A torn pouch.

Two ointments inside.

It was undoubtedly Carsein’s pouch.

Flora’s gaze remained fixed on it.

Discomfort ballooned rapidly.

Simultaneously, sharp questions resurfaced.

Why?

Karcein has nothing.

He didn’t even try to have anything.

In this banquet, he was nothing but destitute, unlike a noble.

But.

Just now, that pouch tore open.

It belonged to Karcein.

Judging by the ointment visible, it wasn’t a mistake of mistaking it for someone else’s.

Why is this happening to Karcein?

With a frustrated heart, Flora approached the knight who had just torn Karcein’s pouch and shouted, holding one side of her chest.

“Hey, you. You were muttering something about a commoner earlier, what was that about? Stop and look here for a moment!”

The knight, upon spotting Flora, turned around in surprise.

“It seems like you received some orders, why did you commit such an act?”

“…”

“I’m asking you! Say something quickly?!”

Despite shouting, the knight remained silent.

Right at that moment.

Someone from behind answered that question.

“Why did you do such a thing? Well, it must be to deceive me.”

“Ka, Karcein?”

Flora turned around in shock at Karcein’s voice.

Unknowingly, she took a step back.

“I, I didn’t deceive you! I didn’t do such a thing!”

“You didn’t? Lying again?”

“What?”

“Every time lies come out of your mouth. It’s not a lie when I’m appealing.”

Thud.

With heavy footsteps, Karcein took a step towards this side.

“In the dining hall, it’s always a different meal for me, my meal has become a special banquet course that no one can eat.”

Thud.

“The clothes have holes or tiny needles placed conveniently to prick the sleeves. Winter clothes have the cotton removed to make them cold, or summer clothes have holes crudely made.”

Thud.

“Rumors spread that I misbehaved with the lower ones, since then I couldn’t be given proper tasks. I always had to be the bad guy. Suspected, lying, causing accidents. Who is it all because of?”

Thud!

He locked eyes with her.

With a sinister smile.

“So, you’re asking who ordered that bastard who tore my pouch?”

Ahahahaha!

A loud laughter echoed around.

Laughing. Laughing again.

The voice spread all around, laughing in such a loud voice that it wouldn’t be strange if it reached someone’s ears nearby.

And then, that laughing expression.

Suddenly, it turned cold and ruthless.

“It’s because of you. Because of your desire to belittle me in front of everyone from the nobles. But did you think I wouldn’t be ignored for that in this banquet? You’re the reason.”

“W-what are you talking about? Don’t speak as if I did such a thing!”

“A kid who was ignored by the nobles won’t be treated normally in the banquet. You know that well, so why?”

Drip.

A streak of blood flowed from Karcein’s cheek.

It was where he had been wounded by Claire not long ago.

“You caused this situation, why do you keep denying it? You always made me a scapegoat.”

“Ah, no. I…!”

Drip.

Blood trickles from the corner of the mouth.

It’s a wound inside the mouth, inflicted by Arina.

“You controlled everything from the beginning, didn’t you? Made me doubt everything, deprived me of everything. That’s why things are the way they are now.”

“No!!”

It’s true that he despised the Duke from the start.

Now, here, he didn’t order what happened.

“I might have…!”

“Really, do you think so?”

“…What?”

“You know. What you did at the training ground.”

Thud. Thud.

“You took my sword. You took the joy from my life. With just your dislike for me, everything I had crumbled.”

Thud. Thud.

Tears of blood flow. The body is drenched in blood.

Bruises form where blows landed before.

Turning into a dreadful sight beyond mercy.

“It’s all because of you. It’s because of you that I became like this.”

“No, no. That’s not true! I didn’t do it!!!”

A scream.

Closing eyes, hands covering ears, shaking head.

Still, the voice saying, “It’s all because of you,” persists.

He had to turn away. Had to keep turning away.

Desperately retreated.

What happened was not supposed to be because of him.

“Go away!!!”

Thud!

Pushing away Karsein who was approaching, he fell too easily.

“Huh…?”

Was it this easy?

Was he so weak that he couldn’t even resist?

Sensing something strange, he peeked open his eyes.

Flora, in panic, blocked his mouth.

Karsein, covered in wounds, collapsed to the ground, unable to say a word.

Blood soaked his clothes, bruises visible, yet Karsein remained motionless.

No response, none at all.

“aaahhh!!!”

Bang!

“What’s happening, Miss?! Screams from the room…!”

The maids outside rushed in.

“Cough, cough…!”

“Miss, what’s wrong? Why are you sweating so coldly?”

“Seems like she had a bad dream. Look at her complexion…”

A dream? It was a dream?

Flora glanced around.

Maids. Bedroom. Her room.

This wasn’t the training ground.

‘A dream…’

The maids comforted Flora, warming honey water for her as she held her hand.

To chase away the fear caused by the nightmare, I lit a fire and immediately turned on the bright music box playing cheerful tunes, wiping away the cold sweat with a towel carefully.

However, I couldn’t calm down easily.

Even though I accepted that was a dream and this was reality, my hands and feet trembled with dread.

“-It’s all because of you.”

The voice of Karsain echoed endlessly.

The scenes from the dream were vividly remembered, and no matter how hard I tried to forget, they wouldn’t fade away.

What if it was true?

If such a thing could happen without me giving any orders?

Through that grueling life, if Karsain intended to reprimand me as he did in the dream?

“…What time is it now?”

“It’s 6:25 AM, Miss Flora.”

“It’s still a suitable time to stay in Dreamland a bit longer.”

“No. Forget it. Just help me get ready to go out.”

To the question of where I was going so early in the morning, I replied curtly.

“To the training grounds.”

Everything had to be clarified by meeting him in person.

Flora found herself waking up unusually early today.

***

▶Episode V. Broken Wings (Part 1) is in progress!◀

▶You must complete a day of the 6-day initiation period.◀

▶Begin basic training towards the training grounds!◀

The most dangerous day since the initiation period had arrived.

Days 1, 2, and 3 were manageable with some effort, and days 4 and 5 were somewhat easier, using family members to get through.

But as usual, this game wouldn’t make it easy to clear the episodes.

Day 6 continued with more intense and malicious torment than the previous 5 days, and if Karsain didn’t manage his HP properly here, he would soon face a game over.

The impatient Theo Phegery.

Emma’s intensified orders.

Responding in a careless manner like ‘just do it like yesterday’ would quickly lead to retaliation, and one would inevitably fall victim to the lurking game over flag.

If you were aware of that, this window would catch your eye automatically.

▶You can request help now.◀

▶Who would you like to request help from?

[1. Ask for help from Arina.]

[2. Ask for help from Isabella.]

[3. Ask for help from Claire.]

[4. Do not request help.]

The progress window appeared from the start of Day 6.

It would be hard to resist the temptation to ask for help from someone.

“If one of the three comes to the training grounds out of the blue, how will you handle it?”

On Day 6, Flora would come.

Unlike other family members, Flora wouldn’t help Karsain, and there was a high chance she would cause even bigger problems.

Hadn’t she done that at the mansion already?

Tearing apart the document Arina had painstakingly written to lift the training grounds ban and trying to frame Karsain.

That’s why one should never place any hope in her.

If you unwaveringly trusted Flora, out of all people, and proceeded with Day 6, you would undoubtedly face a future filled with game over flags.

However, amidst all this, that window popped up.

At this perfect timing to ask for help from one of the three.

“It’s too obvious.”

Just like the crossroads yesterday.

Even if the circumstances were right, choosing such an obvious option would surely result in a penalty.

“And besides, it doesn’t have to be that way. I don’t want help from those people.”

Even if it’s tough, I can handle it alone.

I used to rely on others, but I’d rather die than directly ask for help. To those who resemble my old family, it’s no different from asking for help.

Before I knew it, just before leaving the lodging.

It was time for the final check.

“Hmm. This way, there will be no room for misunderstanding.”

Finally, the time had come.

I would now use what I had endured and saved for this moment.

Despite Mark and Radiel’s panic and refusal, I insisted on borrowing a thread and needle.

I put an item in the tattered pouch I had made by stitching with that thread and needle, and started the sixth day.

***

“Mark has a schedule from this morning. So, I will take charge of the morning training session.”

A formal knight stepped forward to inform that he would take over Mark’s duties.

And along with that message, a warning window popped up in front of me.

▶Cannot receive Mark’s protection.◀

▶Cannot receive Radiel’s protection.◀

▶The knights’ malice is revealed! The harassment intensifies!◀

▶Beware! If HP decreases completely, you will face a bad ending!◀

“And. Today, Flora Lady is watching over. As a knight protecting the master, make sure not to show any flaws.”

Numerous warning windows appearing with red alerts.

With Mark and Radiel’s eyes seemingly absent, they had nothing to complain about.

Well, to be precise, it would be Emma’s subordinates and Theo’s men.

“Starting from the running. If anyone slacks off in place of Mark, be prepared.”

From Noble mtl dot com

As the formal knight concluded, the running in circles began.

Perhaps due to hearing the nagging, the knights’ pace was faster than usual.

One could easily fall behind in no time if not careful.

▶The knights have increased their speed.◀

▶At this rate, it will be difficult to preserve HP!◀

‘No. I can’t fall behind so soon.’

If I lag behind too early, I become their target.

Utilizing the advantages of a trainee, I stuck closely behind them, enduring the diminishing HP as I monitored their movements.

Little by little, breathing became harder.

One side of my chest felt tight.

Nevertheless, I persevered, step by step.

“…”

▶Flora Vagrand is watching.◀

[??? : 71%]

To exploit that little kid to the fullest.

Going around in circles, three laps had passed.

They seemed frustrated and began to pick up the pace.

The trainee ended up at the back during the running.

Deviation in distance from this point would lead to criticism, but I had not fallen behind so far.

Even though I had consumed quite a bit of HP.

However, the senior knights had already run far ahead, widening the gap. Increasing their speed was probably their plan all along.

It was a scheme to render the advantages of the trainee useless.

I had anticipated that as well.

For five days in the game, it was just a mini-game, but facing reality, I had gradually become familiar with their patterns, not giving them a chance.

To those deliberately trying to collide head-on, I showed them the taste of defeat.

To those trying to flank, I utilized my advantage of being in front to strike first. Some of those whose stamina was drained fell, receiving a scolding from the seniors.

They had underestimated me.

If you’re not causing trouble over there, it’s the same over here.

“Damn, that guy…!”

“Hey, you’re taller. Figure something out!”

“I can only pass by quietly! What else can I do?”

“As long as I’m running properly, I can’t afford to mess with the apprentices and the full-timers…!”

Those who tried to torment Karsein and ended up facing backlash were grumbling from behind. They seemed to be trying to come up with a plan.

“Hey, why are you still running? Finish it all.”

I intentionally increased my speed, causing a gap in the wheels due to overtaking.

It was a missed opportunity, lost in haste, to chase them away.

“No, it’s just that…”

“Hey! Up ahead! Up ahead!”

“Wha-what?!”

I gradually slowed down my breathing and came to a stop for the first time.

Thanks to that, the three guys who were running without looking ahead stumbled.

Originally, I was the one about to fall, but unintentionally, it turned out this way.

Shall I throw in a word?

“Uh, sorry?”

Boldly saying that, the guys who had turned the sand yellow grumbled.

-Ding!

Simultaneously revealing their ill intentions, the message popped up, smoothly absorbed as part of the plan.

“…Hey. Let’s go.”

“No, hey! That guy right now…!”

“Just let it go. Huh?”

After a few hesitations, the guys headed towards the waterworks.

Mostly, the preparations were complete.

Leaving ample time for the others was enough.

▶A timer is set!◀

The outcome varies depending on how you spend that time.

A moment later.

As I leisurely filled up the remaining wheels, I sat on a curb, gulped down a bowl of water, checked the timer’s end, and moved on.

▶Entering the waterworks area!◀

[This area is a danger zone!]

Whether it was a danger zone or not was irrelevant.

Who was there mattered.

A lovely blonde was trembling visibly.

It was just a tap on the head, but the trembling was so clear.

-Oh, you’re good at this!

-Oh, this is mine, buddy.

-Let’s share this, pal.

The guys who had fallen due to the roadblock rummaged through others’ belongings, some burning things, others deliberately damaging them. Some items were outright looted.

And then.

“Hmm. I’ll take these two. If that mop-headed guy comes, I’ll burn them right in front of him. That way, he’ll feel the heat a bit, won’t he?”

Teo Ramstaire, who was profiting from appraising the situation at their center, was there.

Flora, observing the scene, was shivering more intensely than before.

I silently replied in my mind, watching that naive kid’s back.

‘Doesn’t it feel unsatisfying to see the scene from yesterday again, Flora?’

But you know what?

This is all because of the snow globe you set in motion.

Just because they’re not family, just because you didn’t like him, you pushed that person to the brink.

After that, such things became a daily occurrence.

Devoid of kindness, only filled with malice.

No different from a battlefield.

Just because they tormented me at the ducal residence, did you really think their influence was insignificant?

Absolutely not.

It must have been even more brutal.

Far more brutal than at the ducal residence.

It was you, not anyone else, who directly broke Carsein’s wings.

It’s time to stop the show.

[ ??? : 78% ]

Flora must be pondering what kind of life I’ve been living by now.

Slowly, it was time to make a move.

To get rid of that despicable bastard.

However.

Something unexpected happened.

-Thud!

“T-Theo!”

“Gloves? Who the hell throws this at Theo’s face…!”

“…Huh?”

“W-What the…?”

They were thrown into confusion.

“What the hell are you doing!!!”

And it was none other than Flora who threw that glove.

▶Successfully triggered outcomes beyond the options!◀

▶Meeting the conditions reveals Flora’s intimacy box!◀

[ Flora Vagrant ]

[ Guilt: 100% ]