I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 299

Chapter 299: A Blatant Objective (5)

A dark night.

It was Friday night, after most company employees had left work and finished the company dinner, a time for personal enjoyment.

Darkness shrouded the streets, limiting visibility.

The surrounding buildings and structures further obstructed the view.

And finally, a third factor restricted her line of sight.

Yet, the car continued on its path, oblivious to the potential dangers.

Down this dark road.

At this late hour.

Unaware of what awaited her.

The car approached its final destination,

Passing through the last red light, reaching the intersection.

The predetermined location.

The precise time.

A trap had been laid.

A sign, recently removed due to construction, had obstructed her view, and according to the plan, the car, driven by a middle-aged woman, would be involved in a collision, a fatal accident reported in the news.

But…

-Vroom!

—!

The planned collision never happened.

Someone had intervened.

The woman was unharmed.

Unaware of the averted disaster, she continued on her way.

Oblivious to what had almost happened.

The vehicle that had collided with hers wasn’t another car, but a delivery motorbike, driven by a high school student.

The incident was quickly resolved.

And Min-hyeok woke up in the hospital.

His family, as usual, asked him what had happened, how he had gotten injured.

“I’m just clumsy, I guess.”

He hadn’t told them the truth.

***

-Ding!

▶ Hidden Memorial has ended. ◀

The scene from the Memorial triggered a distant memory.

I had recklessly taken the motorbike to prevent the planned “accident,” turning an attempted murder disguised as a traffic collision into a real accident.

…It had been a foolish decision.

I had been badly injured.

And when the would-be assassin, enraged by my interference, had attacked me, I had been forced to fight back with all my might.

I had to analyze his movements,

And despite my injuries, subdue him.

Thankfully, he had been injured in the collision as well, his movements sluggish, making it easier for me to overpower him.

I had to secure his phone as evidence, and stall for time until the police arrived.

I had used all my willpower, pushing myself to my limits,

And just as I was about to collapse,

The police had arrived, and the incident was resolved.

The would-be assassin and the one who had hired him were arrested.

That was the whole story, a memory I had suppressed.

“…Right. My memory. Not Carsein’s.”

I sighed, the weight of the past settling upon me.

While I still didn't understand why these Memorials showed my past instead of Carsein’s,

It had given me a clue. I knew who I had to protect in this episode.

Of course, I could be wrong.

It was a risky assumption, based on limited information.

But my intuition, my past experiences, told me otherwise.

▶ Reward granted. ◀

▶ Search the man’s belongings and acquire an item. ◀

-Slide.

I could confirm my suspicions. I searched the unconscious man’s pockets and retrieved a small object. The status window appeared.

-Ding!

▶ Item acquired. ◀

◆ Mysterious Note

I unfolded the note without hesitation.

It contained a few short phrases, but a chilling sense of unease washed over me.

A specific time.

A detailed itinerary of the Founding Festival events.

Precise locations within the vast venue.

A route that would avoid detection.

And…

A sinister instruction, detailing the use of a specific object.

I knew what it was.

I knew how it would be used, what it would cause.

Even without a detailed explanation, I knew.

It was an assassination request.

This confirmed it.

There was no need for further deduction.

Judging from the note, there was only one possible target.

“…Again?”

The person I had to protect was, once again, the woman called “Mother” in this house.

***

“…”

Isabella, standing in the bustling crowd of the Founding Festival, suddenly looked around, a sense of unease washing over her.

“Hmm…”

When Claire had asked about Carsein’s whereabouts, she had said he was busy with the security arrangements. But she couldn't shake off her worry.

She wasn’t doubting him.

He had completed the First Knight Squadron’s training program.

He had performed admirably, and had officially graduated as a knight.

But managing the security for such a large-scale event, receiving reports and dealing with minor incidents, it was a demanding task.

She tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest, trying to dispel her anxiety, but finally stood up.

‘I should check on him anyway. And it wouldn’t hurt to give him a break.’

That was her excuse.

“When Claire returns, tell her I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Isabella walked away, her steps light and graceful.

Normally, she would have stayed in the more populated areas, the infirmary, the servants’ lounge, the reception hall. But now, she was heading in a different direction.

Carsein would be at the command center.

And the command center was on the opposite side of the venue, the path blocked by the Imperial ceremonial grounds. She would have to take a long detour.

But if she took the secluded alleyway, she could reach it much faster.

It was a bit deserted, but…

It was the Founding Festival. There shouldn’t be any problems. Isabella, oblivious to the potential danger, entered the alley.

And then,

-Rumble!

“Wh-what’s…!”

Suddenly, her path was blocked.

By a pile of fallen rocks.

“That was close… I almost got hurt… How strange…”

While startled, she was unharmed.

Not even a scratch. That was a relief, but…

“Why would rocks suddenly fall in an alleyway like this?”

There were no signs of faulty construction.

And they weren't building materials.

Even if they were being used for the Founding Festival,

There was no reason for them to fall here, at this time…

“No, that’s not important right now.”

She could ask the servants later.

Her priority was to find Carsein, tell him to rest, and take over his duties.

***

-Rumble.

A strange sound made the man look around, startled.

And then he saw it. His path was blocked by a pile of rocks.

“Damn it! What the…!”

And then, the same sound came from the other end of the alley.

The entrance, once brightly lit, was now shrouded in shadow.

The man’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he swallowed hard.

“What the hell? I didn’t even activate the artifact. Why are they falling now?”

This wasn’t part of the plan.

He had been waiting for Isabella, who was supposed to pass through this alley at this exact time.

He had planned to trap her here, isolate her, and make her disappear without a trace, just like her husband and son.

But the malfunctioning artifact had trapped him instead.

“…It can’t be helped. I’ll have to remove them myself, even if it causes a commotion.”

-Crush!

He destroyed the malfunctioning artifact.

And just as he was about to blast through the blocked entrance with his mana-infused blade…

“Who sent you?”

“…!”

-Clang!

A sword, descending from above, deflected his attack.

A series of swift, powerful attacks followed, pushing him back.

While he hadn't expected the attack, and was caught off guard, his opponent’s movements were precise and powerful. This wasn’t someone he could underestimate.

He recognized the voice.

And that made him even more confused.

‘…Is that really… Carsein?’

As he created some distance, trying to regain his composure,

His hood was sliced through, the fabric falling away like tattered rags.

“So it was you. I was wondering why Theo Ramstear was suddenly released. You were targeting the Duchy from the start.”

His identity had already been revealed. The man shrugged off his ruined hood.

“I won’t deny it, Carsein. But… you’re strange.”

“What?”

“My mission was to liberate you from the Duchy.”

He relayed his master's command.

“The Duchy adopted you, gave you their name, but they haven't treated you properly, have they?”

“…”

“You must have suffered countless times within those walls. And even more outside, because of their influence. And your so-called sisters have tormented you relentlessly.”

Carsein remained silent.

The man continued,

“You could have killed them all, and no one would have blamed you. Why are you protecting them?”

It was an incomprehensible action.

Carsein should be happy about this.

There was no reason for him to intervene.

And to that question, filled with genuine confusion,

Carsein calmly replied,

“So you’re using that as an excuse to destroy the Bagrand family? You must be working for the one who killed the previous Duke and his son, Karn.”

“…!”

The man froze, his body stiffening.

“I might have suffered, but I’m not going to listen to a psychopathic murderer who enjoys killing people and destroying families.”

“…You fool. Throwing away such a perfect opportunity.”

“I’m not stupid enough to fall for such a transparent ploy.”

“You have chosen to defy my master. You will regret this.”

The conversation was over.

The artifact’s secondary function activated.

-Rumble!

Rocks began to fall from the ceiling of the narrow alleyway.

But the rocks were just a distraction.

The real threat was the magic carved into them.

-Crackle.

“…You madman. You’ve enchanted the rocks?”

-Clink!

“Here’s a little parting gift.”

It was the artifact’s final function, a trap designed to eliminate the target and bury the evidence.

The enchantments carved into the rocks would restrict his movements.

‘If you move carelessly, your limbs will be severed. And some of those rocks are enchanted with explosive runes. You have no chance of survival.’

With such an overwhelming advantage in information, the outcome was predetermined.

A fist-sized rock, devoid of any enchantments, fell between them.

‘Good. He won’t be able to react to this.’

The rock created a momentary blind spot.

And as his vision cleared, he dashed forward,

-Clang!

But contrary to his expectations, his sword was blocked.

“I’m afraid my vision is superior to yours.”

“…!”

“I’ve calculated everything.”

“You’re just a lowly knight!”

Even without the traps, he could easily crush Carsein with his superior skill.

He unleashed a flurry of attacks, his swordsmanship elegant and precise.

Restricting Carsein’s movements, pushing him into a corner.

He could feel it.

He could win, if he just kept pressing his advantage.

Carsein was weakening.

His mana, his swordsmanship, both were faltering.

He wasn’t at his best.

He had to end this quickly.

Before Carsein recovered.

Carsein gasped for air, his movements slowing, and he pressed his attack, forcing Carsein’s sword upwards.

-Clang!

Carsein’s sword flew from his hand.

“Farewell, Carsein.”

He smiled, raising his sword for the final blow.

But… his sword wouldn’t move.

“Wh-what…!”

“I think you’ll be needing that parting gift yourself.”

-Clink!

A deafening explosion engulfed the alleyway.

***

My body was battered and bruised after the fight with the assassin.

Just like that time.

I had been found by a guard, not a police officer, and had been taken to the infirmary.

My family had been furious when they heard about my injuries.

And…

“How did you get hurt like this?”

…Isabella didn't know anything.

It made me feel sick.

-Ding!

▶ Assassin eliminated. ◀

▶ Isabella successfully protected. Episode cleared. ◀

▶ Episode VIII: A Blatant Objective cleared. ◀

‘…Good. The episode is cleared.’

Now, only one thing remained.

To escape this house.

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