I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 341

Chapter 341: Family (11)

-Ding!

▶You have entered the Bagrand Duchy Study.◀

▶Danger level of this field: <Danger>.◀

▶You must clear the mission within the time limit.◀

[Timer Activated]

[Time Remaining: 20 minutes 00 seconds]

▶Find the three notes hidden within the study.◀

▶If you find all the notes within the time limit, you may proceed to the next location.◀

▶Caution! Excessive noise may trigger a search of the study.◀

▶Warning! Failure to find the notes within 20 minutes will result in a pursuit event, with knights entering the study!◀

I was familiar with the study.

I had been here countless times, for sub-episodes, affinity farming, and even studying.

But finding the notes wouldn't be easy.

If they had been placed in obvious locations, the maids would have found them already.

They were hidden. Well-hidden.

And the most likely hiding spots, in a study like this, were within the books themselves.

‘…So that’s why noise is a problem.’

There were three notes,

And hundreds, if not thousands, of books.

I had to find the right books, open them to the right pages, and find the hidden notes.

Three notes, in 20 minutes.

It was a tight deadline.

The lack of time would make me rush, increasing the risk of making noise, and that was part of the challenge.

There was no other way but to search methodically.

“There should be a book with something tucked inside… on this bookshelf…”

Harnie looked around, then her gaze settled on a coat rack.

“Harnie?”

“…This is strange. Why is this here?”

It was a librarian's uniform, as far as I knew. An ordinary uniform, worn by the servants who managed the study. What was so strange about it?

-Rustle. Rustle.

She walked over to the coat rack and began examining the uniform, her fingers tracing the fabric.

“This is odd.”

“What?”

“The librarians don’t wear this kind of uniform. They handle delicate books and documents, so their uniforms should be designed to prevent snags and tears. This fabric is too… rough.”

“…!”

“And the material isn’t very breathable. Even if it’s for the winter, this is strange.”

Harnie, having managed a clothing boutique, would know about fabrics and clothing.

The material, the design, its suitability for the season, the occupation, the location… it all had meaning, especially for a uniform.

‘Come to think of it… I’ve never seen anyone wearing that uniform.’

The maids, of course, wouldn’t wear it.

And I had never seen the librarians wearing it either.

It had always been hanging there, untouched.

Which meant…

-Ding!

▶ Mysterious item discovered. ◀

◆ Librarian’s Uniform

[An outfit unsuitable for this location and purpose. Perhaps it contains something.]

I immediately started searching the other items on the coat rack.

“I’ll take a look at this.”

“Okay.”

I rummaged through the pockets, searching for anything unusual.

▶ Acquired a pebble. ◀

…Useless. A clear sign to keep looking.

▶ Acquired a coin. ◀

Random money?

▶ Acquired a love letter. ◀

…I shouldn't read this.

▶ Acquired someone's underwear. ◀

Harnie gave me a look, and I quickly explained that I wasn't stealing women's underwear.

As I continued searching,

I found something.

“…What’s this?”

▶ Acquired ???. ◀

It looked like… a piece of tile.

Harnie picked it up and examined it.

“It’s a key fragment.”

“A key fragment?”

“Yes. A special type of key, developed in the south a few decades ago.”

A key? What kind of lock did it even open?

“These keys are used to hide things.”

“…!”

“…That’s why I’ve been looking for this, Carsein.”

Harnie walked over to a section of the tiled floor and ran her hand over it, then knelt down and tried to pry one of the tiles loose.

…What?

“These locks are usually installed in the walls. It’s a key to open a hidden compartment. Ugh…!”

“I’ll do it.”

“Okay.”

I used my strength to pry the tile loose, and Harnie inserted the fragment. It fit perfectly, like a key in a lock, and a crack appeared in the wall, revealing a small hidden compartment.

Inside…

“There are some notes… with numbers and names…”

[Section 4, Bookshelf 12, Row 19, Book 3. “Asen’s Adventures” by Dransen, page 37.]

[Section 22, Bookshelf 7, Row 5, Book 23. “Milord’s Fairytales” by Prommen, page 55.]

[Section 9, Bookshelf 16, Row 1, Book 32. “Arkshus Felscrime, the Family Slayer” by Sir Royban, page 200.]

I had found what I was looking for.

***

“Ah, here it is.”

-Ding!

▶ Three notes found. Mission cleared. ◀

▶ One pursuit trigger deactivated due to clearing the mission within the time limit. ◀

The three books were exactly where the notes had indicated.

It didn’t take long to find them.

Now, I had to combine the three notes and read them.

‘Hmm?’

Harnie was staring at one of the books, a strange expression on her face.

The book where I had found the last note.

One was a fairytale, the other an adventure story, but this one… the title itself was unsettling.

‘“Arkshus Felscrime, the Family Slayer,” was it?’

I had dismissed it as irrelevant, but I remembered the author.

Sir Royban.

A retired knight, known for apprehending countless criminals.

The book was a memoir about a man he had failed to capture.

“Carsein, do you… have any problems with your family…?”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing. Forget I said anything.”

Harnie quickly changed the subject, urging me to read the notes.

…Something felt off.

She had bit her lip as she looked at the book.

There was something she wasn’t telling me.

‘…I’ll ask her later.’

I would ask Harnie, when the time was right.

-Ding!

▶ The three enchanted notes have combined. ◀

▶ Hidden Memorial effect activated. ◀

‘Another Hidden Memorial?’

A wave of white light engulfed me.

And my vision shifted to my past life.

But unlike before, it wasn’t raining.

It was snowing.

***

The knights patrolling the upper floors of the manor, after much grumbling, finally retreated.

Their mistress had complained about being under surveillance, and as knights of the Bagrand family, they had to obey.

As Claire descended the stairs, she paused.

“…”

She turned and looked back, lost in thought.

It was a long shot.

Even if Radiel and Mark had ulterior motives for becoming her escorts, there was no guarantee that they would be able to contact Carsein.

And even if they did manage to convey her message, there was no guarantee he would accept their help.

And the chances of him actually infiltrating the Duchy were slim.

But it had happened.

She had been incredibly lucky to spot the two figures entering the basement, one disguised as a maid.

‘…Did they… make it?’

It was a question filled with uncertainty.

The Bagrand manor was vast. Even a single floor was divided into multiple sections, and the number of knights patrolling the area was considerable.

How many were left?

Had they found an opening?

Had they managed to slip past the guards?

It was unlikely.

She didn’t know. How much time they had, how many guards were still patrolling, how long it would take to infiltrate the manor…

She wasn’t even sure if she had sent enough knights downstairs.

She wanted to go back and check.

To see with her own eyes.

Or at least hear the sound of the basement door closing.

She wanted to be certain.

That it was him, and that he had accepted her help.

She wanted to know.

But…

“…”

She suppressed her desire, her impatience, and turned away, gripping the banister tightly.

She knew herself too well.

Her impulsiveness, her temper.

She had caused so much trouble because of it.

She had acted rashly, escalating situations, making things worse.

She had sought revenge, only to make things worse.

She had acted without thinking, without considering the consequences, prioritizing her own emotions.

But now, she had to be patient.

She hated waiting, but she had to endure it.

She had to calm down, control her temper.

‘…The longer I stay here, the more suspicious it will seem.’

She couldn't jeopardize everything because of her impatience.

‘I’ve sent most of the knights downstairs. They should be able to move around undetected.’

She had to act as if nothing was wrong, to avoid suspicion.

‘I told them I was under house arrest. That should be enough of a distraction. He’ll understand.’

He was intelligent. He would figure it out.

She didn't have to worry.

She had to leave, so she wouldn’t be a burden.

She had to stay away, so she wouldn't hinder his plans.

She couldn’t worry, she couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her.

-Click, click.

Claire’s footsteps faded as she descended the stairs.

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