I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Project Yggdrasil (3)

Harnie woke to the chirping of sparrows.

She looked around. It was morning.

The first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, illuminating the room.

“…Sigh.”

Harnie sighed.

It had been a troubling night.

A night that should have been filled with anxiety and sleeplessness.

The realization that Belian had manipulated her, that she had been a pawn in his elaborate scheme, that her life had been a carefully constructed lie… it should have kept her awake.

But the night had passed quickly, as if it had never happened.

“I slept soundly… despite everything.”

Thanks to the man sleeping beside her.

She could feel his arm around her waist, his body warm against hers.

His warmth chased away all her worries.

She couldn't even think.

The lingering sensations of his embrace overshadowed everything else.

All she could remember was falling asleep in Carsein’s arms.

“…Hmm.”

Carsein stirred beside her.

“Haa… good morning.”

He yawned and stretched.

Harnie jolted awake and quickly moved away.

“D-don’t come any closer.”

“What’s wrong? Did I do something…?”

“It’s not that… just… could you give me some space?”

She blushed, remembering that they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

They had shared a bed many times before, often falling asleep while holding each other.

There had even been times when they had been forced to sleep practically naked, their skin pressed together.

And… just a few days ago, she had kissed him while he slept.

But this was different.

Her feelings had changed.

‘Ugh… what… what do I do?'

She couldn’t look him in the eye.

She couldn’t meet his gaze, even though she had done so countless times before.

It was as if he was a different person.

She couldn’t treat him like she usually did. She couldn’t just start their day with casual conversation and playful banter.

She didn’t know how to react. She couldn’t even respond to his simple questions, unable to maintain a normal conversation.

“Were you uncomfortable? If so…”

“N-no, it’s not that.”

“Then… did I hold you too tightly?”

“No! It wasn’t that!”

“Um…”

Carsein hadn’t left.

He had confessed his feelings, promising to stay by her side.

Not as a fake lover, but as a real one.

They had finally revealed their true feelings for each other.

It was a dream come true.

She should be happy, clinging to him, showering him with affection.

But that was the problem.

Even though she had received countless love letters and gifts, this was a first for her.

She had never been in a real relationship.

Not a fake one, a real one.

She didn't know how to act around someone she truly loved.

That’s why she was so flustered.

She had never dated anyone before, only experiencing unrequited love. She had no immunity to his affection.

Just as his straightforward confession had shaken her, his gentle touch had melted her defenses.

“I’ll… let you go now,” Carsein said, carefully releasing her, afraid of another slap.

“Ah…”

His arm left her waist.

His shoulder was no longer her pillow.

The warmth of his body, the feel of his skin against hers…

It was gone.

Her body, which had been tense from being so close to him, was now tense for a different reason.

“Well… it’s time to wake up, anyway. I should get ready.”

“Get… ready?”

“Yes. Like I said yesterday, we’re going to retrieve the real treasure today. Your protective amulet isn’t one of the five treasures.”

Right. They had a mission.

She had completely forgotten.

“We should wash up first. I’ll heat some water and prepare breakfast. If you didn’t sleep well, you can rest some more.”

Carsein left to prepare the bath and breakfast.

Harnie, still flustered, couldn't stop him.

Only after he left did she realize the void his absence created, the weight of her unspoken desires.

‘You idiot! Why did you leave?!’

She had wanted him to stay.

She had wanted him to hold her, to stay by her side.

She had wanted to be lazy, to sleep in, to stay in his arms.

But her body wouldn’t cooperate.

She felt embarrassed, shy, and yet… she wanted to be close to him. It was a paradoxical feeling.

***

Harnie was acting strange today.

Different. She wouldn't talk to him.

She avoided his gaze, and when he asked if she had slept well, she simply shook her head, refusing to elaborate.

…He must have done something wrong.

Relationships were difficult.

‘But I have to focus.’

It had been a while since he had chosen to stay.

He had wasted a day, doing nothing but resting.

He had to make up for lost time, analyze the situation, and prepare.

▶ EX Episode: The True Enemy, in progress. ◀

▶ Use the five treasures to stop Project Yggdrasil. ◀

The episode about collecting the five treasures…

The final chapter of the game, the episode that was supposed to send him back to reality… it had already begun.

But it wasn't just a chapter.

It wasn't just an episode.

It wasn't just a way to return to reality.

It was a trap.

A trap designed to lead him to the worst possible ending.

A trap designed to make him miss his last chance to save Harnie.

This made him question the status window even more.

At the last moment, when he was about to leave Jieun behind…

It had issued countless warnings.

It had told him not to return.

As if it knew it was a trap.

‘…No, that wasn’t all.’

It had shown him the bad endings.

It had displayed the danger levels, the timers.

It had provided him with information in various ways.

The system itself…

The affinity levels, indicating dangerous individuals.

Carsein’s stats, his stamina, his actions.

The UI, the episode warnings, the mini-games, the item inventory, the choices…

Everything, presented in the form of a game system, had been a helping hand, not a hindrance.

‘I don’t understand everything yet, but…’

He was certain of one thing.

If that was the case…

He wouldn't hesitate.

‘Come on, show me the next message.’

It wasn’t over yet.

It had more to say, didn’t it?

Then he would follow its instructions.

He would do whatever it wanted.

He would fulfill its purpose.

Because its goal was Jieun’s survival, just like his.

-Ding!

The status window displayed a new message.

But…

“…What’s this?”

The message was unexpected.

“What does it say?”

Harnie, now aware of the status window’s existence, asked.

“…The mystery is solved, Harnie. The message says your protective amulet isn’t one of the treasures.”

“Just as you suspected.”

Yes, he had been right.

But there was still something that didn’t make sense.

What was the point of simply planting a tree? A single tree couldn't destroy a family, or conquer a nation.

There had to be more to it.

He had expected the status window to provide more information about the tree, its properties, its significance…

▶ Chapter 4 completed. ◀

▶ Chapter 5: The Only Way, begins. ◀

▶ Episode I: Proceed to the designated map and eliminate the monsters threatening a certain individual. ◀

A new chapter had begun, abruptly ending his train of thought.

‘What is going on?'

He couldn’t figure it out on his own.

He decided to discuss it with Harnie.

“It says we have to go to the Shiren Villa and protect someone from monsters.”

The status window wasn't asking him to stop Project Yggdrasil. It was asking him to do something else entirely.

“The Shiren Villa… that’s in Bagrand territory, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Shiren Villa… Shiren Villa… hmm.”

Harnie pondered his words, her expression turning serious.

“Do you know something?”

She nodded slowly.

“I have a feeling… I’ve gathered some information myself, so I think I understand what the status window is trying to tell us. But… before that, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“…I mentioned it back at the tomb, right? That your relationship with your family didn’t just deteriorate on its own. That it was sabotaged, by someone else.”

…Why was she bringing that up again?

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