I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: The Prophet of Wederos (6)

I had abandoned the familiar path of kendo, but what I had learned from Jieun and Hyunsung hadn’t disappeared.

Even though I was still physically weaker than them, I was different now. I was eating properly, and I had learned how to defend myself. I wasn’t as frail as I had been.

It had given me confidence.

While I had never been truly afraid before, now, I was certain that I wouldn't be subjected to the same treatment again.

The determination to fight back, to return two blows for every one received.

The courage to stand up to those who tried to bully and belittle me.

The self-defense techniques I had learned, the ability to make quick judgments.

It should have been enough.

But it was a grave miscalculation.

“Ugh!”

-Thwack! Thwack!

“Serves you right, you bastard!”

“Did you think you could win? Dream on!”

They were the same ones who had tormented me before, the ones who had looked down on me, reveling in their supposed superiority.

They, who had sought to boost their own egos by belittling others, had been taught a lesson, their arrogance shattered.

But they had returned,

This time, with reinforcements.

“You little shit. How dare you touch my brother’s precious face? Huh?”

So-called “backing.”

It was an invisible force that permeated the school.

Upperclassmen they had somehow befriended.

People they had groveled before, hoping to join their clique.

Relatives who happened to attend the same school. Favors called in by parents.

There were countless connections.

And that was who was beating me up now.

I had been careless.

I hadn’t been afraid of them coming back for me.

But this was different.

While I wasn’t afraid of fighting my classmates, a one-year age difference at this age meant a significant difference in height, weight, and overall strength.

He pulled out a cigarette and sneered.

“Hey, I heard you’re adopted? And by some big-shot corporation, too.”

“…”

“Heh heh. What did you do to be so thoroughly abandoned, that you can’t even call on your family for help?”

His words made me flinch.

“You had it made, with such powerful backing. Ah, or is it because your family has disowned you?”

—Hahahaha!

“Seriously? Family is the easiest source of backing, and you can’t even use that! Amazing! Tell us, what did you do?”

My older sister was someone's boss.

My second older sister was also someone's boss.

He rambled on about how much trouble he would be in if I had just gotten along with my family, but I didn’t care.

I was waiting for a single opportunity.

“You little runt. I’ve said enough, haven’t I? Just stay out of our way. Don’t make me come over there—”

He put the cigarette in his mouth and flicked the lighter.

This was my chance.

-Sizzle!

“Ow! Hot! You little…!”

And then, it was a fight between someone desperately trying to avoid losing face and someone enraged by the attack.

The result:

“B-brother…!”

“His skin…”

“That cowardly bastard…!”

“All talk and no action, huh?”

“You little shit…! Alright, let’s settle this. I’m going to…”

-Ding.

“Oops. It’s time for school to end.”

I had won.

“It would be quite embarrassing if word got out that you came here to avenge your little brother and got your ass kicked instead, wouldn’t it?”

“You bastard…!”

The situation was quickly resolved.

This wouldn’t leave the school grounds.

“What? Did he get into another fight?”

“He’s incorrigible. What’s the difference between him and a thug?”

“What good are his grades if he has no manners? I don’t know why the teachers even let him stay in school.”

It had become gossip fodder for the students heading home.

I picked up my bag and headed home.

-What did you do to be so thoroughly abandoned, that you can’t even call on your family for help?

-Family is the easiest source of backing, and you can’t even use that!

“Heh.”

Family was the easiest source of backing?

That was a flawed premise.

…

…

…

I walked home, my steps heavy.

Just the thought of seeing my family made me feel drained.

But thankfully, most of them weren’t there.

The one who would nag me about getting into another fight.

The one who would sigh and massage her temples, annoyed that she had to deal with another incident at school.

The one who would give me money and tell me to go to the hospital.

None of them were home.

‘What luck.’

I took off my shoes at the entrance, relieved that I wouldn't have to deal with them.

“Hmph! Why are you so late?! I told you to come home ear—”

Someone gasped and collapsed.

My younger sister, Eunji, her hand covering her mouth, struggled to breathe.

Her name tag, which read “Eunji,” fell to the floor.

She had seen the bloodstains on my clothes. Her shoulders trembled as she gasped for air, her breathing erratic.

“Why… why are you like this?! You idiot!”

“What?”

“You’re… you’re filthy! Why are you covered in… in that?! It’s disgusting! It smells!”

“Hah. Damn it.”

I cursed under my breath and went straight to my room.

Eunji, standing outside my closed door, shouted, her voice filled with panic,

“I’m… I’m telling Mom!”

And she did. She told them I had come home covered in blood.

My mother and two older sisters came to my room, but…

“Min-hyeok? He’s fine.”

“There were no bloodstains on his clothes. If there were, we would have found them in the laundry.”

“Our little Eunji was just worried about her brother, weren’t you?”

But somehow, I was fine.

‘That’s impossible…’

Eunji’s hand trembled as she placed a tube of ointment outside my door.

▶ Hidden Memorial has ended. ◀

▶ HP Recovery Disabled penalty removed. ◀

“Hah.”

Once again, the Memorial hadn’t shown Carsein’s past, but my own.

How ironic.

So it had been Eunji, my younger sister, who had been leaving the ointment outside my door.

Just like Flora.

“But what does it matter?”

Whatever. I was getting used to these strange Memorials.

It was just a momentary discomfort. And the HP Recovery Disabled penalty had been removed, so it was fine.

I turned and left.

***

The place I had been taken to with my family was familiar.

▶ Episode VI: The Price of Reaching the Summit is in progress. ◀

▶ Perform your duties at the Duchy, using the provided materials. ◀

▶ Additional rewards may be granted based on your performance. ◀

This episode had no death triggers.

The tasks were presented as minigames, and clearing them quickly reduced the timer. If I performed well, I could even earn free time, away from my family.

Even without any prior experience, the tasks weren’t particularly difficult.

The three green lights were probably helping.

‘Ah, I’m already getting used to this.’

It was much easier than managing my territories.

I didn’t have to think, I just had to follow the instructions.

If this was all I had to do, I might even consider staying.

‘No, no. That would be a disaster.’

-Ding!

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks increased. ◀

▶ Timer increased. ◀

-Crack.

Arina approached, her expression grim as she examined my work.

“How could you possibly mess this up? Even a child could do this. I gave you the easiest task, and you couldn't even do that properly? You used too much force and broke it!”

Right. That’s how it should be.

I had to act incompetent.

[ Arina Bagrand ]

[ Inferiority Complex: 88% ]

To lower that damn inferiority complex of hers.

I wanted to just finish everything quickly and be done with it.

But that would disrupt the story, and considering Arina’s feelings, it would be problematic.

So I continued to make mistakes.

“This is so frustrating! What am I supposed to do?!”

“Follow the instructions! Why can’t you even do the simplest of tasks?!”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks increased. ◀

▶ Timer increased. ◀

“You’re so weak.”

“And you call yourself a swordsman…!”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks increased. ◀

▶ Timer increased. ◀

“Oops.”

“Hah… This is giving me a headache. You’re truly… remarkable, Carsein.”

▶ Task failed! ◀

▶ Remaining tasks increased. ◀

▶ Timer increased. ◀

I repeated the process, over and over.

And finally, Arina, exasperated, left the room.

Only then did I start working properly.

▶ Task successful. ◀

‘This is ridiculously easy.’

While I had expected it to be difficult, since I had never done this before, it wasn’t that hard.

It wasn’t even as demanding as a part-time job.

All I had to do was follow the instructions.

If this was all I had to do to make a living, I might even consider staying.

But I knew better.

If I stayed, I would never escape.

This wasn’t my work.

I hadn’t built this business with my own two hands.

Everything here belonged to the Duchy, to this family.

I couldn’t stay.

I had to leave.

▶ Task completed. ◀

▶ You may now leave the workshop and choose your next action. ◀

“…I should probably rest.”

While my stats seemed normal, I felt mentally and physically exhausted.

I needed to go back and rest.

But then,

“Brother! That’s him! Over there!”

“Hey! Did you touch my brother?”

-Ding!

▶ Episode VI: The Price of Reaching the Summit is in progress. ◀

▶ You have been challenged. Please make a choice. ◀

The episode had resumed.

And with a familiar scene.

***

“…”

Arina looked up at the sky, trying to calm her racing heart.

A swordsman.

Someone who could wield mana.

And yet, he couldn’t even handle a simple engraving task?

“…I tried to teach him… but he’s hopeless.”

-Please teach Carsein some of the family business. He’s your brother, after all.

“Hah… If it weren’t for Mother’s request…”

She couldn’t refuse her mother’s repeated pleas.

Even if he was incompetent, she had to try.

It was time to go back. She had to teach that foolish brother of hers a lesson.

──────!

“…?”

What was that sound?

-Thwack!

“Wait, that’s…”

A familiar sound.

A dull thud, the sound of something heavy hitting something else.

There was no mistaking it.

It was the sound of a fight.

“Don’t tell me…”

This wasn’t just Carsein’s workplace. There were other nobles present.

Those in positions of power had to set an example.

They couldn’t tarnish the prestige of their families.

They couldn't resort to violence.

And yet, she could clearly hear the sounds of a brawl.

And it was almost certainly Carsein.

She quickly followed the sound and found him.

‘He’s causing trouble again…!’

She saw Carsein, his clothes splattered with blood.

She had hoped it wasn't him, but the source of the commotion was undeniable.

Just thinking about the potential costs, the compensation she would have to pay, made her head ache, but…

She had to deal with this first. She had to calm down and resolve the situation.

But then,

“How dare you! How dare you hit my brother?!”

Someone else, standing nearby, shouted, their voice choked with tears.

-Ding!

[Please don’t get hurt, brother.]

[Current level: 95%]

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