I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Family (10)

The light illuminating the blue sky faded.

White clouds gathered, their fluffy forms coalescing into a thick, dark mass, obscuring the sun, casting long shadows across the land.

Soon, raindrops would begin to fall,

Pitter-pattering against the windows, the ground, transforming the world into a blurry watercolor painting.

I hated it. It made me shrink, withdraw into myself.

How could the same water feel so different?

At school, I had often been drenched, a victim of the bullies’ cruel pranks.

The feeling of wet clothes clinging to my skin, the weight of my soaked hair, had become familiar, almost comforting.

I had become numb to it, indifferent to their taunts, their laughter.

I had always kept a hidden towel, and a secret stash of hair dryers in the nurse’s office. The school nurse, her face etched with sympathy, would always let me use them.

It would dry eventually.

Water always evaporated.

But the rain, falling from the sky, was different.

It was supposed to be impartial, falling equally on everything.

And yet, it didn’t feel that way.

It felt… personal.

As if it was targeting me, following me wherever I went.

…That’s why I hated it.

Rainy days.

My umbrella would be stolen, and a raincoat was out of the question. They would just ruin it, or worse, return it the next day, flaunting their “kindness,” their supposed generosity.

I had to walk home from school in the rain, the cold droplets a constant reminder of my isolation.

Alone.

Lonely.

Huddled, shivering,

The rain, cold and unforgiving, regardless of the season, chilling me to the bone.

But that day had been different.

-Flutter.

An umbrella, appearing out of nowhere, shielded me from the rain.

The raindrops no longer touched my head, my body protected by its wide canopy.

My clothes weren't soaked.

My hair wasn't plastered to my face.

My body, which had been tense, hunched against the cold, relaxed.

The chilling air, replaced by a comforting warmth.

It was the first time, and it had changed my perception of rainy days.

***

▶ Hidden Memorial has ended. ◀

“…”

My vision cleared, the bright sunlight replaced by the dim light of the basement. The Memorial had ended, just like it always did.

But…

Something was off.

“It appeared like a normal Memorial.”

I remembered the notification when I entered the basement. It had said “Memorial.”

And the status window still displayed the same message.

And based on my experience,

A collection of memories, a glimpse into someone’s past, provided by the game…

It was a Memorial. I had just witnessed one.

But I didn’t understand.

“This was… different. Very different.”

Unlike the other Memorials I had seen, this one hadn’t been a continuous stream of memories, but a single, fleeting image.

There were no voices, no thoughts, no emotions, just the sound of rain, and the snap of an umbrella opening.

My vision hadn’t been obscured, but I couldn’t see who was holding the umbrella. The figure was a blurry mosaic, their features indistinguishable.

All other information had been blocked, filtered, leaving only a single, isolated image.

…And that’s why I couldn’t understand it.

What it meant.

“…But it wasn’t Carsein’s memory.”

The only thing I was certain of was that it wasn't a scene from this world. The modern cityscape, the familiar sight of a school, it couldn't be Carsein’s memory.

So, considering the recent trend of Hidden Memorials, it was likely a fragment of my past.

But even that felt uncertain.

“Rain…”

I replayed the scene in my mind.

The changing sky.

The sun, slowly disappearing behind the dark clouds, the light fading.

And then, the rain.

That was all I had seen.

But had I been thinking about something specific?

Had there been an incident, something I had forgotten?

“…I don’t know.”

I couldn’t remember.

If this day had even existed.

If this scene had ever happened.

If this memory was even real.

Just then,

The status window snapped me out of my reverie.

-Ding!

▶ You have acquired <The Late Duke’s Legacy>. ◀

▶ Open the box and read his message. ◀

“…”

Right. There was no point in dwelling on that strange Memorial. I needed to focus on the task at hand.

-Click.

I opened the box.

I had expected something special, some hidden mechanism, but there was nothing.

Just a small, crumpled document.

Hastily scribbled, stained with blood.

“The previous Duke… he was already dead when Carsein arrived, wasn’t he?”

I didn’t know the details. Trying to find out within the Duchy had always triggered a death flag.

But I did remember one thing.

That Karn Bagrand, the Duke’s son, had died as well.

『The world is vast. Filled with countless people, undiscovered talents. But I have seen something… something monstrous.』

『A demon. It was a demon. There’s no other way to describe it.』

『Good heavens… How could they…? Project Yggdrasil… such a monstrous plan… !』

“…What is this?”

A demon? Project Yggdrasil?

The hastily scribbled words, the fragmented sentences… I couldn’t make sense of it.

『Wederos was right. We have to stop it. That demon. We have to stop it, no matter the cost.』

『Karn, brilliant since childhood, understood immediately, his face pale with horror. We agreed. We had to act.』

『May that child… the child Karn sacrificed himself to save… may he reach his destination safely.』

“Karn…?”

Karn, the Duke’s son.

He had sacrificed himself to save someone?

Who?

My head throbbed.

The fragmented information, the unanswered questions, swirled in my mind, creating a chaotic mess.

I had to calm down.

“This… this doesn’t make any sense. Is there anything else…?”

I rummaged through the box, searching for another clue.

And then, the status window appeared again.

-Ding!

▶ Episode XLIV: The Five Treasures is in progress. ◀

▶ First treasure acquired. ◀

▶ To acquire the next treasure, you must complete a mission at the designated location and obtain information. ◀

[ 1. Study in the Bagrand Manor. ]

[ 2. Search the bookshelf next to the lamp on the third floor. ]

[ 3. ─────── ]

▶ Proceed to the designated location and acquire the information. ◀

“…”

My next objective was clear.

I had to leave this place and complete those missions.

But…

-Knock, knock.

“Carsein, we have to leave. Now.”

Harnie’s voice, followed by a knock at the door.

…I had to go.

I would think about this later.

***

I left the basement and quickly found another room to hide in.

“Phew. That was close.”

Two figures passed by the room, their voices fading into the distance. Harnie sighed in relief.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

I nodded silently.

“That’s good. I was worried you might not find it in time.”

Harnie’s forehead was damp with sweat. She seemed nervous. She suggested we rest for a bit.

I watched her, unsure of what to say.

‘Asking her to help me again…?’

She shouldn’t be involved in this.

She was already risking too much because of me.

She wasn’t a criminal. While I hadn't done anything wrong, she was innocent. She shouldn't be tainted by my actions.

She should be back at the Marquisate, clearing her name, not here, helping a fugitive.

And now, she would have to navigate even more dangerous territory.

I didn’t want her to suffer any more because of me.

“What’s wrong? You’re staring… it’s making me nervous…”

So, I had to say something.

I took her hand, my gaze fixed on hers.

“Harnie, you said I could see things others can’t, didn’t you?”

“Um… yes, I did…”

“You’re right. I do see things others can’t. Things you can’t see.”

“I already know about the Eyes of Wederos, Pollux and Talfon told me, so—”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Harnie had smiled, as if I was stating the obvious, but I quickly corrected her.

“I’m seeing a different world, different things. The basement… it revealed something hidden.”

“…”

“And now… it’s telling me to search specific locations within the Duchy. The study, the lamp on the third floor, and… Mother’s room.”

Harnie’s eyes widened, her expression a mixture of surprise and confusion.

I couldn't explain it to her.

I couldn’t tell her about the game, or the status window.

But…

I wanted her to understand, at least a little.

That I was seeing something different.

“Thank you for being honest with me. But… I don’t really understand.”

“…”

As expected.

“But I understand one thing.”

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and intertwined her fingers with mine.

“You’re asking for my help, aren’t you? Since there are other places you need to visit in the Duchy.”

Asking for her help.

…She was right.

“Yes. I need your help.”

Harnie’s smile widened.

She released my hand and stood up,

Then offered her hand to me.

“Let’s go. I’ll help you, as much as I can.”

I had never thought anyone would offer me a helping hand.

And I had never thought I would need one. I had always handled everything myself.

I had never thought I would ask for help.

But now…

It felt right.

“Thank you, Harnie.”

To have someone who trusted me, who was willing to help me…

It was… a good feeling.

…But then,

“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural.”

-Don’t mention it. It’s only natural.

For some reason,

I heard Jieun’s voice.

***

-Clank. Clank.

As we moved through the manor, I kept hearing a familiar sound.

“…That’s… the sound of knights’ greaves. Are those… the Duchy’s soldiers?”

“Yes. That’s why I told you to leave the basement quickly.”

That was strange.

It wasn't unusual to encounter servants in the manor.

But why were armed knights patrolling the interior?

Just then, I heard a familiar voice from outside the room.

“Seriously? Do you really need to patrol like this? It’s annoying! Just go away!”

…That voice…

“I can’t even relax in my own house! Just get out!”

Annoyed, irritated,

It was Claire.

The knights responded, their voices apologetic,

“Lady Claire, we have our orders…”

“We have to maintain a certain level of…”

“A certain level of what?! This isn’t protection, it’s surveillance! Why are you watching me?!”

She scolded them, then dismissed them, sending them away, before heading downstairs herself.

This… this was good.

The path, which had seemed impassable just moments ago, was now clear.

It was the perfect opportunity to enter the study.

And I had gained valuable information. It seemed Arina had placed Claire under house arrest. And because of that, I now knew the typical security arrangements Arina employed during house arrest.

“Harnie.”

“Yes?”

But something about this situation felt strange.

Was it just my imagination?

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