I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 338

Chapter 338: Family (8)

It was a counterintuitive proposition, but one that aligned perfectly with all four of our objectives.

Radiel and Mark didn’t want me to be captured. They had even suggested the audacious plan of infiltrating the Bagrand Duchy, hiding in plain sight.

Harnie, suspected of aiding a fugitive, needed to return to the Theresia Marquisate as soon as possible to clear her name.

And I had to reach the Bagrand Duchy to progress the episode.

We all agreed to the plan: to exchange clothes and pursue our respective goals.

-Clank. Clank.

I exchanged my worn, mana-depleted artifacts and commoner's clothing for Mark’s armor, testing its fit and mobility.

Mark, having changed into a set of clothes from the inn, examined me with a satisfied smile.

“I was worried the armor might not fit, but it seems my concerns were unfounded. You’re in excellent physical condition, your muscles well-defined. Haha.”

It was a comfortable fit. We were roughly the same size and height. And with the helmet concealing my face, I would be indistinguishable from Mark.

While I had been diligently training, luck had also played a part.

“Is it comfortable? Can you move freely?”

“Well…”

“That’s good. You still have a lot to learn…”

“Learn?”

“The knights’ salutes, the passwords for the patrols and guards… there are quite a few.”

Apparently, Arina, anticipating that I might try to disguise myself as a knight, had implemented new protocols and passwords.

-Ding!

▶ Pursuit Password Event activated. ◀

▶ You must learn the passwords for various emergency missions, checkpoints, and encounters with specific characters. ◀

▶ Failure to use the correct password may result in penalties or activate a pursuit trigger! ◀

So that’s what it was. The sudden notification made sense now.

“Is that why you wanted me to change the route?”

“Yes. That route has fewer checkpoints and passwords. So… wouldn’t it be better to change your route now?”

It would be easier, of course.

The characters I would encounter would be predictable, and there would be fewer passwords to memorize, reducing the risk.

But I had never taken the easy path.

“Then I’ll just learn them all.”

“What? All forty of them?”

“Forty isn’t that many.”

Mark gave me a look, as if I was insane, but to me, it wasn't a lot.

I had already memorized countless noble customs and etiquette rules since arriving in this world, far more than forty.

And as a former student preparing for the college entrance exams, I was used to memorizing vast amounts of information.

“Then… I’ll start with the protocol for encountering the captain or vice-captain of another house.”

▶ Password learned. ◀

[Proficiency: 48%]

▶ Password proficiency increased! ◀

[Proficiency: 92%]

▶ Password proficiency maxed out through repeated practice! ◀

[Proficiency: 100%]

▶ Password proficiency increased! ◀

[Proficiency: 100%]

▶ Password proficiency increased! ◀

[Proficiency: 100%]

▶ Password proficiency increased! ◀

[Proficiency: 100%]

…

…

Mark continued to teach me the passwords and the special salutes for the current manhunt.

The procedures were different for each person.

Sometimes, actions were required. Sometimes, a verbal response was sufficient. And sometimes, both were necessary.

Even within the Bagrand Duchy, the protocols varied depending on the knight’s rank, and the knights of the vassal families had their own unique customs as well.

And because of Mark’s habits, there were a few special cases I had to memorize, but… I learned them all.

▶ Number of passwords memorized: ◀

[50]

“You… you memorized them all…?”

Mark, who had been testing me, stared at me, his mouth agape.

He muttered something about how I had managed to memorize so many, his voice filled with disbelief.

Just then, Harnie and Radiel emerged from the adjacent room.

‘Oh, so the armor fits Harnie as well.’

But… their reactions were strange.

“This is dangerous… so dangerous… how… how can it be this size…? Hah…”

Harnie’s face was hidden by the helmet, so I couldn’t see her expression. But why did Radiel look so worried?

As I looked back and forth between them,

Radiel approached me and placed her hands on my shoulders.

“Young Master, listen carefully.”

“Wh-what? Okay.”

“Don’t ask Lady Harnie for the passwords.”

“What?”

“You absolutely cannot. Do you understand? Never!”

“C-Captain Radiel…?! That’s… that’s enough!”

“Promise me! You can’t ask her! It’s dangerous!!!”

“Captain… please…”

Radiel was giving me a warning,

And Harnie was desperately trying to interrupt her.

Harnie only acted like this when she was trying to hide something…

‘Is it because she couldn’t memorize the passwords?’

That was the only logical explanation. Even Mark and I had been focused on practicing the movements and memorizing the passwords.

But… that didn’t make sense. Harnie, of all people, struggling with something like this?

She had mastered noble etiquette without any problems.

She was a graceful dancer, so she couldn't be clumsy.

And as a merchant, she was skilled at interacting with people. There was no way she couldn't memorize a few simple gestures.

Something felt off. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, Radiel’s eyes narrowed.

“Young. Master.”

“Uh… y-yes…?”

“You’ll… keep your promise, right?”

Her sharp tone, the way she enunciated each syllable, made me nervous.

“Y-yes… of course…”

Radiel had never acted like this before, so I simply agreed, flustered.

Perhaps Mark knew something.

I glanced at him, but…

“Ahem! You’ve both changed, haven’t you? Perhaps we should… get going…?”

Mark, as if sensing someone’s gaze, suddenly became flustered, his voice trailing off.

“Time… time is precious… Let’s move… haha…!”

“…”

What?

Why were they acting like this?

***

They looked exactly like Radiel and Mark. And since they had memorized the passwords, the real Radiel and Mark could relax.

But they still had work to do.

“…They’re gone?”

“Yes. They were too distracted by Lady Harnie’s… attire… to notice anything.”

They exchanged glances and nodded, then returned to the inn.

Inside, were the remnants of Carsein and Harnie’s stay.

The artifacts they had used for disguise and concealment.

The clothes enchanted with similar magic.

Radiel and Mark had assured them they would destroy the evidence,

But their actions didn’t match their words.

The Bagrand Duchy had issued a wanted poster for Carsein.

And he was planning to infiltrate the very territory that was hunting him.

It was like walking into the lion’s den, but it was the only option, thanks to their support.

However, there was one condition.

Someone had to delay the pursuit, to prevent the Duchy from discovering his return.

“We lied to the Young Master.”

“Yes. I never thought we would deceive him.”

The two knights, now disguised as Carsein and Harnie,

Their eyes were filled with a quiet resolve.

“Mark, do you understand the consequences of this? Defying the Duchy?”

“Of course.”

“You’re too calm. You might lose everything. Your position as a knight, your future… You might even be forced to… do something… unpleasant.”

“…”

“No, it’s more than just unpleasant. You have to consider what Arina might do to you. She could have you executed.”

“So you’re telling me to back down?”

“Yes. Before you regret it.”

“Regret? Please.”

Mark scoffed.

“…I already died once, that day. My life as a knight was over. He gave me a second chance. I’ve lived long enough. And…”

-Intertwine.

Mark intertwined his fingers with Radiel’s and continued,

“I can’t leave you. Not anymore. I wouldn’t be happy without you, Radiel.”

“Heh.”

“…Ugh, was that too cheesy?”

“No. It’s… very you, Mark.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

They both laughed.

It was a good sound.

“Let’s go. For the Young Master.”

“Right.”

***

-Click. Click, click. Click.

-Click, click. Click, click.

-Nod.

▶ Password accepted. ◀

▶ Suspicion averted. ◀

‘…That was close.’

The moment I entered the Duchy, a knight stationed at the outpost challenged me with a password.

If Radiel and Mark hadn’t taught me…

‘No, that’s not it.’

If Claire hadn’t sent them…

That thought made my heart ache.

Claire had already interfered with the checkpoints in my territories before sending Radiel and Mark. She had directly opposed Arina, who had been determined to capture me.

While there had been a conflict between her and Flora, who had opposed her actions…

Had Claire really done that? For me?

I couldn't help but wonder.

‘…I have to keep moving.’

My destination was the Bagrand Duchy.

I had to progress the episode, regardless of Claire’s intentions.

I used the passwords several times, avoiding suspicion.

Once inside the Duchy, it wasn’t as difficult.

While the outer perimeter was heavily guarded, the inner regions were less secure. And since Mark and Radiel were the captain and vice-captain of the First Knight Squadron, they weren't viewed with suspicion.

Following the optimal route,

We reached the Duchy.

‘Finally.’

My destination was in sight.

While there were a surprising number of soldiers stationed at the manor, infiltration wouldn’t be impossible.

And they wouldn't recognize me, disguised as Mark, with Harnie as Radiel.

Just as I was feeling a sense of relief,

-Clank. Clank, clank.

Harnie, beside me, was pounding her fist against her armor.

“Harnie? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…”

…That’s what she said, but…

Her breathing was ragged.

And judging from the location of the pounding, it was near her chest.

“I-I’m fine… Let’s go… the manor is right there…”

…Right.

I would assess the situation once we were inside.

I would check on her after we entered the Duchy.

I gave the password to the guards at the manor gate, and they let us through.

We quickly entered the manor, found an empty room, and I turned to Harnie.

“What’s wrong? Does the armor not fit?”

“N-no… it’s… how do I explain this…?”

“…”

“I… I think I put it on wrong… so I just need to… adjust it… could you… leave me alone for a moment…?”

“That’s not going to work… You won’t be able to fix it yourself. Even Radiel helped you put it on, remember?”

“But… but I can…”

Just as Harnie was about to protest, her eyes wide with panic,

Something happened.

-Clink. Clatter.

A piece of the armor fell off.

It wasn't mine.

Which meant…

-Clatter. Clatter.

More pieces of the armor, unable to withstand the pressure, fell to the floor.

So that’s why Radiel had told me not to ask Harnie for the passwords.

She hadn't been able to wear the armor properly because of… well, because of her physique, and she had had to remove her upper garments.

And that's why Radiel had told me to minimize her movements.

I finally understood.

“…I told you I could do it myself…”

“…I apologize.”

“Turn around. And don’t say anything.”

“Y-yes…”

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