I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 316

Chapter 316: Chapter 4 (4)

Unease had turned into anxiety, and that anxiety, fueled by undeniable proof, had solidified into a chilling certainty.

The moment Claire realized Carsein had left, she had mobilized the entire household, launching a frantic search.

She contacted the Knight Squadron, dispatched messengers, and scoured every corner of the Duchy.

But her efforts yielded no results.

“…We’re sorry, My Lady. We couldn’t find the Young Master.”

“We haven’t found any trace of him…”

“We’ve even questioned the servants, those with the widest network of contacts, but there haven’t been any sightings…”

Claire’s heart sank as she listened to their reports.

She returned to the Duchy, her steps heavy.

Days had turned into weeks, and yet, there was no sign of Carsein. No witnesses, no leads.

She had even searched his territories, thinking he might have returned there, but he wasn’t there either.

She had finally realized that he had been wearing commoner’s clothing when he left, making him even more difficult to find in the crowded city.

Her vision blurred again, tears threatening to spill.

And as she returned to the Duchy, empty-handed,

“Sister…”

…she saw her younger sister, her eyes red and swollen.

Flora, sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest, her gaze fixed on the front gate… Claire knew what she was going to say.

“Carsein…? Where’s Carsein…?”

Her lips trembled.

And then, she fell silent, unable to speak.

Claire knew.

Flora’s usually cheerful voice was hoarse, her dress stained with dirt.

She, too, had been waiting for Carsein to return.

“Will… will I never see Brother Carsein again…?”

The thought of never seeing Carsein again made Claire’s heart ache.

“Of course you will!”

“Sister…?”

“He’s family! He’s my brother, and your older brother! Of course we’ll see him again! He’s family!”

Claire’s voice was firm, denying the possibility.

How could she accept it?

How could she let him go, just like that?

Without even a proper goodbye, without even an apology.

“I’ll find him. I’ll bring him back, no matter what! Don’t worry, Flora!”

“Sniff… R-really…?”

“I will! I’ll find him…!”

She had to find him.

She wiped away her tears and made a promise, a vow she intended to keep.

‘Right. I can’t give up.’

While she hadn’t found him yet, despite her extensive search, there were a few glimmers of hope.

-If he’s not in the Duchy, despite our thorough search, perhaps he’s left the territory?

-That’s true. It’s been a while. He could have left while the ladies and the Duchess were away.

-Considering the timing of his disappearance…

The knights had whispered amongst themselves during their breaks.

They had speculated that Carsein could have left the Duchy much earlier than they had initially assumed.

It was a plausible theory.

And their search had been limited to the Bagrand Duchy.

If he was outside the territory,

Beyond their direct control,

Then there was still hope.

And if he was staying with a family friendly to the Bagrands, they could request permission to search their territory. And there were neutral territories as well.

‘The worst-case scenario would be if he was with a hostile faction…’

But even then, she could discreetly send people to search.

Claire, determined to continue her search, entered the manor.

Just then,

Arina, having finished her meeting with the vassals, returned.

“…Sister.”

“Sister…”

Arina dismounted her horse and walked towards Claire.

“You’ve worked hard, Claire.”

Claire’s heart lifted.

While she felt guilty for acting rashly, for having launched a search without informing anyone… Arina’s presence would make things easier.

“We’ve searched the entire Duchy, but he’s not here. He must be outside the territory. Just wait, I’ll mark the potential locations on the map—”

“No, there’s no need. Not anymore.”

Arina’s words stopped her.

Had she already found him? A flicker of hope appeared, but…

“I’m issuing a warrant for Carsein Bagrand’s arrest.”

…it was quickly extinguished.

***

Had she heard that right?

What was she talking about?

Claire’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sister, what are you saying? An arrest warrant?”

That didn't make any sense.

No, she must have misheard.

“A search warrant. You’re issuing a search warrant, right…?”

But Arina’s cold reply shattered her hopes.

“No. It’s an arrest warrant. A wanted poster, to be precise.”

Claire’s blood boiled, and she shouted,

“Are you crazy?! Sister, a wanted poster?! You’re treating him like a criminal!”

“R-right! Sister, that’s not right…!”

“He hasn’t committed any crime! There’s no need to treat him like a criminal, just because he’s missing!”

Arina’s voice was low and dangerous.

“This is the fastest way to bring him back safely.”

-Flip.

Arina handed them a document.

-Ding!

▶ Episode V: The Duchy’s Pursuit has begun. ◀

▶ Enemy units have appeared! Knights of the Bagrand Duchy, under Arina’s command, are searching for Carsein! ◀

▶ Safe zones reduced. Checkpoints established, restricting movement. ◀

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

***

A rumor was spreading.

A rumor about Carsein’s true identity, a rumor that had begun with a single question.

『A vulgar, uncultured commoner, his words and actions reeking of ignorance, suddenly changed one day.

The fool who knew nothing of etiquette, now behaving as if he had mastered the ways of noble society, it was as if he had become a different person.

And that wasn’t all. He had single-handedly revived a failing territory. He had taken Lusmire, a barren wasteland, and transformed it using unknown methods.

And during the symposium, he had showcased his abilities, revitalizing Shatrain, a territory on the brink of collapse, its value skyrocketing.

Using strange, unheard-of theories.

And now, those two territories were among the most prosperous in the Empire.

And Carsein himself had changed as well.

He had suddenly achieved second place in the Golden Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, a competition filled with skilled and experienced participants.

Carsein, who had once been a reckless brawler, disrupting the tournament with his violent outbursts, had not only learned swordsmanship, but had also defeated almost everyone, save for Arina.

All of these changes had occurred within a single year.

Was that even possible?

Could such a dramatic improvement in skill and ability be achieved in such a short time?

To master multiple disciplines, each requiring years of dedicated training, to become a prodigy in every field?

This question led to a single conclusion.

Only one group possessed such abilities.』

Below that, the crest of a fallen kingdom was displayed.

As if to answer the question.

And below that, a speculation about the disappearance of the Westerners, and Carsein, was presented.

As they began to realize the source of the rumors,

Arina sighed softly and said,

“This is the fastest way to bring him back safely. That foolish boy, acting so recklessly…”

“…”

“In a way, it’s his own fault. He’s the one who caused this. So there’s no point in trying to stop me.”

She then gave the order to the knights,

To distribute the wanted posters.

-Clench.

“Damn it! You’re putting out a wanted poster for him because of this?!”

Claire, unable to contain herself any longer, shouted, her voice filled with anger.

“He left because of us! We’ve been nagging him, scolding him, punishing him, ever since he was a child! We never believed him, and it only made things worse! And now, you’re going to do the same thing again?! Because of some baseless rumor about him plotting a rebellion?!”

Her pent-up frustration erupted.

“What do you even think of him, Sister?! Do you even consider him family?!”

“I’m doing this because he’s family, Claire.”

“This isn’t right! It’s a baseless rumor! Someone is trying to frame him! And you’re treating him like a criminal because of it?! Is that really for his benefit?!”

“I… I don’t think this is right either, Sister…”

Flora, too, supported Claire, but…

“You’re being foolish as well, because of him. Stay at the manor. I’m taking a small group with me. If you receive any information, crush the disposable communication stone and send a signal.”

“Sister!!”

Arina’s resolve was unwavering. She turned and left without a second glance.

“Damn it! You’re insane! You’re insane! Do you hate him that much?! You call him family, but you treat him like a stranger!”

Claire shouted, but Arina didn’t even flinch. She mounted her horse and rode away, her back turned to them, the distance making her words inaudible.

Once again, the Bagrand Duchy was making a mistake.

They had already inflicted countless wounds on Carsein, and now, they were about to inflict an even deeper, more permanent, scar.

“…”

There was no telling what would happen now that they had branded him a criminal.

The very existence of this rumor was a problem.

Claire, watching her sister ride away, clenched her fists.

‘I have to stop this.’

But how?

The rumor was spreading like wildfire.

And the Bagrands, who should be defending him, had branded him a criminal.

What could she do?

A wave of despair washed over her.

She hated herself, her helplessness.

She was just like she had been in the past. Nothing had changed.

‘No, I can’t give up.’

She had to do something.

‘Come to think of it…’

-With my master gone, I must also take my leave. I apologize, Lady Claire.

Camilla, Carsein's maid, had come to see her shortly after his disappearance.

Right. Camilla.

“Flora.”

“Yes?”

“You… you want Carsein, our brother, to be safe, don’t you?”

Flora, though oblivious to the situation,

Nodded vigorously.

She genuinely wanted Carsein to be okay, more than anything.

“Right. Then we have to find him. Before Sister does.”

-Ding!

▶ Claire Bagrand’s trigger activated. ◀

▶ Flora Bagrand’s trigger activated. ◀

***

I had expected this.

To be shown a memory of my past, not a Memorial of Carsein.

But I didn't understand.

This scene… it was from after I had left.

After I had blocked their numbers and buried myself in my part-time job.

I had left a pile of money for them, taken a taxi, blocked their numbers, and then worked tirelessly, trying to forget.

My second sister had been frantically searching for me.

She had borrowed other people’s phones, trying to call me, again and again.

Her anger towards my older sister, her outburst, her curses…

And finally, the moment she had reached me.

The Memorial ended there.

▶ Hidden Memorial: <A Single Family Photo> has ended. ◀

“…”

They should have been happy that I was gone. They had never considered me family.

“Then why…?”

Just as I was wondering, the familiar notification sound echoed.

-Ding!

▶ Reward granted for discovering the Memorial. ◀

■ Reward

▶ Hidden threats revealed. ◀

[Chapter 4 main episodes will overlap.]

[Revealing all previously hidden main episodes.]

“…What?”

-Ding!

▶ Episode III: Those Who Fear Wederos has begun. ◀

▶ Enemy units have appeared. If your identity is discovered, pursuit will be initiated, and you must evade them until public attention subsides. ◀

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

▶ Episode IV: The Traitor has begun. ◀

▶ Enemy units have appeared! All field danger levels have been recalculated, and affinity levels have been updated! ◀

[Those with low affinity are more likely to be hostile.]

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

▶ Episode V: The Duchy’s Pursuit has begun. ◀

▶ Enemy units have appeared! Knights of the Bagrand Duchy, under Arina’s command, are searching for Carsein! ◀

▶ Safe zones reduced. Checkpoints established, restricting movement. ◀

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

▶ Episode VI: The Treasure Hunter has begun. ◀

▶ A large bounty has been placed on Carsein Bagrand. Bounty hunters are searching for you! ◀

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

▶ Episode VII: Silent Death has begun. ◀

▶ Enemy units have appeared! Those who have heard the rumors have hired assassins and mercenaries. Stealth attacks are possible. ◀

▶ Use any means necessary to survive. ◀

…

…

“What… is this?”

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