The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 74

74 – 74. CHAPTER 1 (8)

As someone rushed in, the conversation with Theo Ramstair naturally came to a halt.

The dense darkness retreated in the presence of bright light, bringing relief to Flora.

Whoever it was, someone had arrived here.

Wasn’t that alone sufficient?

They could ask for help.

They could inform that they had been kidnapped.

They could punish Theo Ramstair.

That alone would have been enough.

Even if Mother, with a furious expression, brought all the knights of the family to punish that person.

Even if the elder sister raised her sword and threatened to slit Theo’s throat right here.

Even if the younger sister vowed to burn every inch of his flesh without leaving a trace.

Either way, it wouldn’t matter.

Whether it was a knight from their own family.

Or a knight from the opposing Vagrande family.

Even if it was someone not particularly close to them.

Even if it was known to the royal side or other nobles, leading to the arrival of guards or knights from another family.

It didn’t matter.

The fact that a faint beam of light had seeped into this dark and gloomy place was crucial.

-Clang! Swish!

“Argh!!!”

Pushing the door open, the intruder clashed swords with Theo, relentlessly striking and cutting his shoulder.

Though the sudden bright light made it hard to see, Flora remembered the voice of the man who had kidnapped her. His menacing voice, now filled with anger and curses, was pushing back.

But…

Strangely familiar.

His build was much leaner compared to Theo’s, almost entirely hidden behind Theo’s back.

A strange sense of recognition made him want to take a closer look.

His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, stung upon meeting the light, but he had to open them to see.

Because he couldn’t stay like this.

The assumption in his mind, once entering reality, might make him shed tears in an instant.

‘He must be… someone else. Perhaps a knight from the family who is a bit lean…’

-Splurt!

A streak of blood spurted.

Like a fountain, the blood splattered up the sword, leaving an unpleasant pattern on Flora’s skirt.

It was a eerie sensation.

Because this blood was not Theo Ramstair’s blood.

“It’s just a simple trick. Yes, even if you wield the sword, it will be the same.”

With Theo Ramstair’s confident voice, the man retreated.

It wasn’t a misconception.

He was far from enough.

Though it seemed like he was pushing forward, his physique was already lacking, and when the two swords clashed, it was not Theo’s hand that trembled.

Even when pushing with shoulder strength.

And when the swords clashed and failed to maintain balance, tilting to one side and eventually allowing a stumble.

It was him who was pushed back, the man who had come to rescue him.

And now, his eyes were beginning to adjust to the light.

‘What…?’

Flora, who had been relieved, believing they would soon escape from this place, began to feel a heaviness in her chest.

I thought it wouldn’t be him.

I never thought he would be here.

But here he was.

Now, soaked in sweat, a man’s hair, once mostly washed in blue, had turned black.

“Karcein, why are you here…?”

The one who had tormented and bullied himself relentlessly.

The one who was now standing up with a sword to save none other than himself.

Relief and aversion.

The conflicting emotions rose together inexplicably, and Flora had to watch this scene blankly.

-Clang! Thud! Ting!

“You dare to think you can win against me?!”

Karcein was pushed back by Theo Ramstair’s sword within the dimly lit cabin.

His shoulder was slashed.

The blood flowing from there glistened vividly.

Outside, the light cruelly exposed his wounds and fresh blood with a bright lantern.

Swish!

Another stream of blood flowed.

It was Karcein’s.

“No…”

Run away.

In a contradictory manner, what Flora wanted to say to Karcein, who had come to save her, was just that.

With tears streaming down like a fool, Flora mumbled repeatedly.

That was all the helpless girl, who knew nothing of how to act, could do when kidnapped.

But.

“It’s nothing. Because of you, many are getting hurt. Huh? Quickly, get lost, I said─”

-Clang! Shing!

“Ugh?!”

“I’ve figured you out. A brat full of inferiority complex in your head.”

He did not run away.

***

Theo Ramstair.

Like Emma and her maids, he was undoubtedly the enemy Karcein had to defeat in Chapter 1.

His actions alone revealed him to be sly and wicked.

Whether effectively isolating Karcein or creating a scene that could easily be misunderstood from the outside about how he was treated at the manor.

Moreover, being among the top of the apprentice knights, he would eventually become a full-fledged knight, making him an opponent Karcein could never beat.

However, the Theo Ramstair I was seeing was not that kind of strong opponent.

He was endlessly weak.

So lacking that he couldn’t even acknowledge himself.

That’s why he sought to borrow others’ strength instead of relying on his own.

There’s a rule for such people.

They don’t touch those stronger than themselves.

Instead, they relentlessly torment those weaker than them.

If someone seems useful, they accept and exploit them, exerting pressure in groups.

They believe this is strength.

They build a facade of strength by using the power they’ve harnessed from others, even though it’s not truly theirs.

It’s not built layer by layer through effort.

It’s forcibly borrowed and made to look like it’s accumulated.

They didn’t strive for it.

They simply use much easier and simpler means to manipulate people.

Hastily, unable to wait.

That guy, without ever trying to build a tower of effort, resorted to underhanded methods.

Why would he do such a thing?

Because of inadequacy. Because of giving up. Because of envying those who have. Because of turning away from the path everyone else diligently paved.

Inferiority.

He probably couldn’t overcome that measly sense of inferiority.

Continuing to rationalize this despicable method as the right one.

Perhaps that’s why he ended up resembling Flora.

In this episode, it might have been inevitable for all of them to be my enemies.

The third one, and Flora too.

It must be because there was a common denominator of inferiority.

Thinking that with such inferiority, he might even consider taking away his own family.

That’s why.

-Clang! Whoosh!

“Ugh…?!”

I won’t yield.

In the end, it’s unacceptable for Theo Ramstair, a mere thug with no strength whatsoever.

Yunji Nuna said that, and Hyunseongi Hyung taught me that.

“Why. I can’t understand why you’re resisting.”

“That mouth, shut up…!”

“Instead of wielding properly, you chose to pick on the weaklings. So your true abilities must have been nothing.”

“I told you to shut up. You commoner scum!!”

Swish! Swish!

Just like Bruce, dealing with someone like Theo Ramstair, who’s only filled with brute force, is easy.

He may be a bit better, but still, a hundred or two hundred steps.

The one who, without solid training, resorted to underhanded methods, couldn’t even maintain balance in his own body.

Now it’s clear.

His center of gravity is leaning forward, but his mobility is significantly low, like a coward, with his legs serving merely as a support from behind.

Rushing in foolishly and relying on brute force.

Besides that, he had no other skills.

-Snap!

With muscles contorting, a light chop landed on the arm of the guy caught in a dynamic movement.

-Snap!

Once again, as Theo Ramstair charged in desperately, a light chop was delivered on the opposite side.

Twice.

In succession.

The thought of it being a coincidence would have been abandoned by now.

When the guy who couldn’t bear the feeling of being toyed with rushed in.

Boldly clenching the forearm, I spun him around and landed a punch on his face.

“Gah!”

He fell with a thud.

The guy who fell awkwardly was now gasping for breath.

Ironically, it should have been me who tired out first.

“Rather than hastily piling up a makeshift heap, pretending it’s a tower diligently built, it holds no meaning at all. That’s why you can’t defeat me.”

“You…!”

“Be honest. You’ve never sincerely tried, have you?”

He must have always slithered out sneakily.

“aaargh!!!”

The eyes, once filled with madness, now turned completely over.

With all the strength he had, he swung the sword as if possessed.

But now, it was no longer effective.

The blood that had momentarily stained the sword had now dried up and hardened on the ground, unable to flow anymore.

Until the time the blood first began to clot.

Not even a single strike was allowed on him.

– Ugh!

Once again, a fist struck his face.

Now, with a broken nose, blood stubbornly trickled down. Beneath the handsome face, the dark, fierce expression was not enough, revealing a pitiful visage.

It was time to finish this.

Placing the sword on the ground, I casually thrust the blade into the man barely standing.

“As a knight, it’s shameful. That sword is nothing but a stick, isn’t it?”

“You mere commoner…!”

Though a simple provocation, he inevitably charged forward.

He wouldn’t have known when he taunted Carcine. How much the guy’s pride was burning inside.

So, you will have to pay back everything, if not more.

Yoonji Nuna, even if there’s a reason for Hyunseong breaking his promise.

-!

The collision was rough, and the man flew through the air.

The man who collided with the ceiling crashed to the ground, landing with a thud, split in half.

“Th-the sword containing mana… broke…?”

“It must not be a problem with the mana.”

“What?”

“You, who wield it so recklessly, wouldn’t know. How to hold it, how it weakens in certain parts. Depending on the center of gravity, how the body and sword receive the load.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Me, I, admitting defeat to you now…!”

Yeah.

There’s no way I could accept that.

I still remember.

Just because he was part of the group, those arrogant guys who dared to challenge me and ended up shattered.

That was exactly your image.

Theo Ramstair.

– Poof!

From Noble mtl dot com

“Screaam!!!”

As the sword pierced through flesh, spurting out bloody gore, a pained voice escaped his lips.

“You, failing to harm me, falsely accused me. Amidst that, you inflicted a severe blow, preventing an honest person’s arm from being used. So, shouldn’t you receive the same in return?”

“W-what? Are you… seriously…”

-Thud!

A chilling sound of something tearing, accompanied by Theo Ramstair’s scream echoing.

The sword lodged in Theo’s back relentlessly struck, drenching the cabin floor in blood.

“I don’t care if you refuse to accept reality. But, if you destroy someone else’s reality, you must pay the price.”

“S-stop. Stop… aaargh!!”

-Thud!

The tip of the sword felt it.

Just now, it grazed his bone.

To let him truly feel the pain, I lightly tapped the fractured bone with the sword tip.

“This is the share of Radial Grufain.”

“aaargh!!”

“This is the share of Mark Redeltine, suffering because of you.”

“Screaaam!! Stop, s-stop!!”

“This is the share of Carcine Vagrand, who, due to your pitiful inferiority complex, has turned into the aggressor.”

“Ah!! P-please! Please stop!!”

And.

This must be someone completely unfamiliar to the country.

“If the arm is well attached, you could spend decades in the mines as a laborer and still be able to buy your way out like now. Still, you’re called a knight for a reason. But, what if the arm is not functioning properly like now?”

“N-no, no. Please. Please stop right away-!!”

“It’s reaping what you sow, this guy.”

Let them be thoroughly ignored.

Several times, dozens of times, thousands of times the suffering those people endured.

Rot away in the labor camp while enduring that suffering.

-Thud.

The broken bone was completely severed.

Probably, due to the broken bone, one arm will become completely unusable. Even if a modern doctor were urgently called for surgery now, complete recovery would be impossible.

The guy who fainted from shock foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

I watched that scene dryly.

Although not to the extent of murder, knowing that I had cut someone with a sword and maimed their body, I didn’t tremble at all.

…This is probably not just Karceine’s anger.

Thinking so, I turned back.

Flora was watching me with a pale face.

She seemed quite surprised.

For two people who were prepared for a life-or-death situation to fight and shed blood right in front of her, it must have been too much for a kid to witness.

Of course, just because of that, there was no sympathy or worry.

‘It seems to be reaching its limit.’

To be honest, it was reckless.

Even though Karceine’s body was weak, it was impossible for anyone to remain calm in a situation where swords clashed and lives were at stake.

I had never experienced anything like blood splattering, flesh being cut, or bones being broken.

Neither physically nor mentally.

I was incredibly exhausted.

▶You have defeated Theo Ramstair!◀

▶You have successfully triggered outcomes beyond the choices!◀

▶Rescue Flora and complete the episode.◀

Seeing the progress window, it seemed fortunate that this was the end.

I somehow managed to hold on to my fading consciousness, removed Flora’s gag.

Then, after cutting the ropes and freeing her hands and feet…

▶You are in a bleeding state!◀

▶You are in a confused state!◀

▶You do not have enough HP to withstand two or more conditions. You will fall into a state of unconsciousness!◀

Everything was done.

The sight in front of my eyes began to blur.

▶You have cleared Episode VI!◀

▶CHAPTER 1 is concluding!◀

“Ka-Karceine!”

There.

With this, the episode was finished, and I must have perfectly avoided a bad ending.

“───! ─────!!”

As my senses faded, Flora seemed to be saying something…

I don’t know. Right now, I’ll just lie down and rest.

***

Just seeing him fight with a sword made my heart race.

When a trickle of blood flowed, I involuntarily shrank.

If you were to see the torn and trampled clothes, swelling up again.

When the running, collapsing, and swelling repeated endlessly.

Carsein was already approaching after Theon fell.

The shackles were loosened.

The rope that bound his hands disappeared.

Even the bit fell off, and his mouth opened.

But his eyes were still fixed on Carsein.

– Thud.

“C-Carsein!”

His heart throbbed as he suddenly collapsed.

He quickly tried to support him with arms still bearing the marks of the ropes, but he was too weak to do it properly.

Keeping his head up to prevent further injury was all he could manage.

However, Carsein’s eyes had closed.

“G-Get up! Get up!!”

He was suddenly scared.

Scenes from a dream where he fell down like this came to mind.

Carsein’s blood stained his wounds here and there.

“B-Blood…”

The blood that stubbornly soaked his hands felt eerie.

It was a nauseating sensation.

When it was just a liquid flowing from injuries, he only found it bothersome.

But now, with his hands full of Carsein’s blood, he couldn’t have such trivial thoughts.

“N-No. No…!”

It was frightening.

That this blood belonged to Carsein.

He was afraid.

Afraid that Carsein might die because of him, that the scene from his dream might come true.

With tears streaming down like raindrops, Flora hugged Carsein, starting to plead.

“Please, please someone help!!”

Could his desperation reach outside?

Before long, the two sisters of the Duchess arrived, and emergency treatment for Carsein began immediately.

Although the doctor was saying something, it didn’t register.

Even if it was said to be a minor injury, his ears were completely shut.

At this moment, Flora was still holding Carsein’s hand tightly, crying.

“I-I-I’m sorry, please get up…”

He begged over and over.

To get up because of him.

To not disappear like a dream.

“Mia, my… I mean, pfft! Please get up…”

Sorry for making you like this because of me.

I was wrong. I’m sorry.

So please don’t fall like this and get up.

His pronunciation faltered as he couldn’t say the words directly.

But finally, the unpleasant emotions he had been feeling were relieved.

Only after managing to say those words even a little, he could fully accept them.

▶ You have cleared the Hidden Episode! ◀

▶ Flora’s intimacy level is changing! ◀

[??? : 60%]