The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 80

80 – 80. Little Sprout (2)

“W-What did you just say…?”

“Separating… the world…?”

The party leader was stunned by the line that seemed as smooth as butter.

Someone cringed, unable to handle it.

Someone felt a sudden thirst from the discomfort and gulped down wine.

“Uh…” There was also someone with a voice that was almost inaudible.

Well, how could anyone withstand such a line being thrown at them?

Damn. Even I hate saying it.

Still, no one dared to open their mouth further.

When another chicken skin line suggesting they needed some time alone was thrown, some stumbled over their words, suggesting that was needed.

Seizing the opportunity, Harney quickly excused himself, heading towards the terrace faster than ever, holding my hand tightly.

“Eek!”

Harney, shuddering all over from the cringeworthy line, tried to shake off the stickiness.

Thanks to that, a wave of self-doubt washed over me as soon as we entered the terrace.

“Even though I threw that line, isn’t this reaction a bit excessive, Harney?”

“I didn’t know you were such a sticky person…”

“Why is all this happening because of me?”

Upon realizing what I was about to say, she pursed her lips and still avoided eye contact.

Sigh, here we go.

“…Sigh. Why did you deceive me like this?”

“D-Deceive? We agreed to help each other.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Is helping each other supposed to ruin my image?”

“You, yourself, said you would help. Th-There’s no issue with this.”

“It’s not convincing if you say that while avoiding eye contact.”

Yeah, I know.

I also thought that helping each other would be more efficient in smoothly executing our plans.

But this is a bit different.

“I think our wavelengths don’t match. This blatantly changed my whole image.”

At that, Harney shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t quite understand.

“Don’t match? I’ve helped you before.”

This woman?

Is that how it’s going to be put?

“I helped you during the trial. I even came to you during the Order of the Knights… I’ve also stepped up for the public good, you know? hehehe.”

Harney turned her head in embarrassment as she spoke.

Internally, she seemed to know she had crossed a line, as her eyes still trembled.

Yet, why would she act like this?

I firmly held Harney’s chin without hesitation and directed her gaze towards me.

She seemed to be struggling to maintain her surprised and unguarded expression.

“…!”

“Because of that, I’ve become the lover of the century who can’t live without you. So, as a reward, shall I steal a kiss from your lips?”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

“You brought the reward upon yourself. So, it seems like I have the right to legally steal a kiss from you this time as compensation.”

“Oh, no! That’s…!”

Harney’s face started to blush.

Her reaction was quite cute. Should I tease her a bit more?

“In fact, a kiss with a beauty like you is always welcome. It feels like even love that wasn’t there before might blossom.”

“Eek… How can you say such provocative things… Wait, are you subtly approaching? Stop. I said don’t come closer!”

“I already told you. With you, it’s a welcome gesture.”

“Is this… my first kiss? Are you allowed to just take it like that?”

“It’s fine. It’s my first kiss too. But since I became the lover of the century because of you, I should at least know how to kiss, right?”

“Stop talking nonsense and let go of me!”

Unfortunately, in this pressed-against-the-wall state, she couldn’t resist either.

Now, it’s time to make a quick decision during this awkward moment.

Whether to let your precious first kiss slip away.

Or to make a proper deal.

Harney reluctantly lowered her head and admitted her mistake.

“I-I’m sorry for deceiving you. So, please stop…”

“No more nonsense? If you say something else later, then…”

“Fine…! I got it.”

With a flushed face, she quickly pushed my shoulder and urged me to step back.

As I withdrew the arm that had pinned her to the wall, she quickly fanned herself to cool down.

“W-What… What do you want?”

Is the specific choice coming from this side?

Hmm. Well.

I didn’t plan to lead to this situation by contemplating deeply, so there was no plan.

But this time, am I the one feeling unjust?

“Lately, I’ve been hit a lot without reason, right? There have been hand marks on my back twice.”

“W-What…? You…?”

A surprised voice escaped Harney.

You should experience it too, at least once.

I chuckled.

***

“Are you going to hit me now?!”

“Are you trying to understand the perspective of someone who was hit for no reason? It’s really quite unfair, isn’t it?”

“You have no shame…!”

“What did you say?”

…”

Harney immediately clamped her mouth shut as if urging Carcein to speak again.

She knew well that this would only further provoke his anger.

But just now, her words had backfired.

“Oh. By the way, I indeed have no shame, just as you said. I don’t know anything about consideration, do I?”

aaah!

Why say such things!

Harney inwardly grimaced, feeling like she wanted to grab her head.

‘No, logically, such behavior isn’t appropriate, right?’

Still, he probably wouldn’t actually hit her.

Tall… He won’t say that men should receive violence from women in return.

It must not be sincere.

It must be a joke.

Harnier cautiously asked as he gulped down his spit.

“B-but you’re not really going to hit me… are you?”

He took another step closer, showing a meaningful smile.

“Why do you think I wouldn’t?”

“Because it’s not gentlemanly… right?”

“No problem. I am originally a commoner. Not a gentleman.”

“But…! Karcein, you have a pretty good personality, right? You are generous enough to forgive things like this…”

“I am actually quite stingy. Didn’t I repay the money I borrowed from you quite late last time?”

“W-what, what do you mean?! No. The you I know is a truly compassionate person who understands and helps a maid’s circumstances—”

“Wouldn’t it be better to finish quickly instead of making excuses, Harnier?”

Desperately trying this and that, but Karcein didn’t budge an inch.

Trying to lift him up, package flattering words about being a good person, none of it worked.

It meant he had no intention of letting it slide.

“…”

Before he knew it, Karcein was blowing a breath on his fist right in front of him.

Harnier spoke in a whisper.

“P-please, just a little…”

Karcein, who had been staring blankly, let out a faint sigh.

Nevertheless, the fist warmed by the breath rose.

Surely it would hurt if it landed, right? With the thought in mind, Harnier’s eyes tightly shut.

Simultaneously, a cowering body.

It seemed as if he was trying to endure the imminent pain, but in reality, he was trembling.

Then, tap.

A light touch landed on his forehead.

“Huh?”

As his finger touched him, Harnier opened his eyes in confusion.

Karcein, with his purple eyes somehow twinkling, was there, chuckling.

“No matter what, would I really hit my fiancée with a real fist? hehehe.”

“…”

“I played a prank because you caused such a scene and didn’t say anything. I won’t hit you.”

He said as if that touch of the finger was the end.

Instead, he would remember this debt.

Slumping into the chair, Harnier finally relaxed.

“Sigh. I-I mean… why are people so mischievous?”

“If someone smears thick butter on your lips, can’t you tease them a bit?”

“Still, I thought you were really going to hit me. I was so scared when I heard you even knocked down the knights this time.”

“Ah. I usually limit myself to those who pick a fight with me. Harnier, do you think I would raise a hand against you for some reason?”

Right. That’s who he is.

Didn’t he experience it in the carriage already?

Rather than hitting someone, he’s the one who throws himself to save.

If only he had thought a little earlier, he would have known this was a joke.

“If that’s the case, just tell me from the beginning. What’s the point of teasing me?”

Even so, there’s no helping but grumble while puffing out the cheeks.

“Let’s at least hear how the situation unfolded. We need to come up with a plan, don’t we?”

“Ugh. Even thinking about it makes my head hurt… But I guess so.”

“Are you organizing your thoughts? I’ll go get some drinks since we need to hang the blame and make excuses.”

Karcein said that and left.

Alone on the terrace, Harnier had enough time to sigh before facing others.

It was time to contemplate how he would make amends for what had happened at the party, as he had mentioned.

However, rather oddly, thoughts other than formulating a plan came first.

“…How many times has it been now?”

The contract with Carsein was ongoing for the mutual achievement of their goals and public interest.

Yet, as time passed, there wasn’t much to show that it had been beneficial to Carsein.

“Most of the time, I’ve dealt with things on my own… Why am I only receiving help from this person?”

He had given a handkerchief, but repaying that was hard since he had used the excuse of meeting his fiancée.

He had borrowed a small amount of money, but he had repaid it.

He had even entirely used another handkerchief, yet that only amounted to indirect assistance.

While he had helped during the trial, even if he hadn’t been there, he seemed capable of handling it. It was as if he couldn’t even fit into etiquette classes.

On the other hand,

Once while tightly pressed against in the carriage.

And once while cornered against the wall.

It was almost the second time he had been severely injured.

And how much of a threat had he been saved from with his help?

During the Snowflake Festival, he had stood up to the social circles’ harassment without betraying himself and had pressured the young nobles using the name of Bargrand.

Spending a day at Bargrand Manor had helped him avoid the pressure from the Marquis of Hujak.

And now, once again.

Despite pushing the limits with suspicions about his fiancée, he didn’t shy away but faced them head-on.

“…This won’t do, Harnier.”

While it was necessary to be resolute in carrying out the plan, he had no intention of betraying him morally.

Even though he was marked as a troublemaker who didn’t know societal norms, the reality was different.

He simply hadn’t learned etiquette properly. He had the will to uphold it.

Rumors of him committing unsightly deeds were nothing but a fallacy.

The crucial point was that he wasn’t a villain.

He was someone who could show endless mercy to the one who had tormented him the most.

Initially, he had treated such a person like any other man.

It was embarrassing.

“Yes. I must surely repay.”

Nodding his head, Harnier steeled himself for the repayment to Carsein regarding this matter.

Of course,

“…But how should I respond when those people outside start asking about this?”

He needed to settle this matter first.

***

Harnier would need time to come up with a plan anyway.

In the meantime, I found a suitable excuse on the terrace and slipped away.

▶There are no ongoing episodes!◀

I needed to test this while looking at this progress window.

‘There are no ongoing episodes, but… can the sequence of episodes be changed and progressed?’

I had never considered performing predetermined tasks in Chapter 1.

However, coming here with Harnier first made me realize that we should have visited this place much later, and seeing the sub-episodes popping up made me wonder if they could be dealt with beforehand.

Wouldn’t it be worth a try?

‘The issue is… I’m not that free to do so here.’

I was currently attracting the attention of the nobles.

I could use the excuse of simply going for a drink, but it would be difficult to secretly progress through the sub-episodes like this.

Moreover, the character involved in resolving this sub-episode was walking around right in front of me.

Well, there’s no helping it then.

-Cling!

“Where are you putting your eyes right now? Can’t even handle carrying a drink properly?”

Acting like a complete fool, there’s no choice but to take you away.