I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 283
Added 2025-01-31 12:24:57 +0000 UTC283: The Prophet of Wederos (2)
My mind was still a jumbled mess.
Even after the monster attack, the end of the after-party episode, and escorting Harnie back to her lodgings, nothing had changed.
I couldn't focus on anything.
“C-Carsein. —Huh? ───. Need to apply it…!”
Flora’s voice, as she nervously tugged on my sleeve, her words a jumbled mess…
“Hey! Where the hell were you?! ─────! ────?”
Claire’s voice, likely filled with angry reproaches…
“Carsein, are you alright? ── ───── ─────.”
Isabella’s voice, filled with concern as she fussed over me…
None of it registered.
They were just noise.
“Shut up.”
“Wh-what?”
“Hey, you…”
“I said shut up. Are you deaf?”
My head was pounding.
I needed time to think, to process everything that had happened.
And their incessant chatter was making it impossible to focus.
So please, just shut up.
Leave me alone.
-Tap, tap.
I couldn’t tell if I had spoken those words aloud, or if they were just thoughts echoing in my mind.
It didn't matter what happened next. I just wanted to be alone.
Just then,
Someone snapped, their voice sharp and clear, cutting through the noise.
“Hah. You’re truly hopeless. The entire family was worried sick because you disappeared, and you tell us to shut up?”
“…”
Arina grabbed me by the collar.
“Did you think you were about to become monster chow? While the other participants were busy fighting, you were off somewhere else, relying on others for protection!”
Off somewhere else, relying on others?
Me?
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Right. It wasn't surprising that she thought that. She didn't know anything.
She didn’t know that I had destroyed the source of the monsters in the dark.
She didn’t know what it was like to face those monsters alone.
All she knew was that I had been rescued, alone, from a remote part of the venue. Right?
“You… you’re laughing? You arrogant…!”
“—!”
“───, ───!”
“Let go of me! I’m going to teach him a lesson! While everyone else was risking their lives fighting those monsters, he was…”
She raised her fist, but the other family members intervened, pulling Arina away from me.
That inferiority complex of hers was quite useful.
I was grateful to you, Arina.
Every time I was lost in confusion, you reminded me of what I had to do.
A cold clarity washed over me, clearing my mind.
I had been so foolish.
Why hadn’t I realized this sooner?
My purpose had always been clear: to escape this family, to break free from this wretched house.
There was no other solution.
I had to fulfill the conditions of the Another Plan and escape this family as soon as possible.
I had to clear the remaining episodes, finish this chapter, and move on.
And then, I would find a way to return to my world.
Right. I didn’t need anything else.
I had to escape this house, escape this game,
And return to where I belonged.
-Thud!
***
Time flew by.
The chaos caused by the monster attack at the after-party had quickly subsided.
The Imperial Family announced that there had been no casualties, implemented appropriate measures, and declared their intention to apprehend the perpetrators. Life returned to normal.
But not for the Bagrand Duchy.
“…Carsein is skipping dinner again?”
“My Lady, he…”
“Tell me the truth, Heron.”
At Arina’s sharp command, Heron reluctantly spoke.
“He left early this morning to inspect the territories.”
“…I see.”
Isabella sighed deeply.
She had tried countless times to have a family dinner.
But there was always an empty seat at the table.
“Another territorial inspection. Mother, do you know how many times he’s done this?”
“…”
“Are you going to let him continue behaving so recklessly?”
Arina’s frustration grew with each passing day, as Carsein continued to avoid family meals and gatherings.
“This can’t continue. This isn’t the first time he’s done this, Mother. You need to put your foot down.”
“Arina, he must have his reasons.”
“Reasons? That fool who doesn’t even eat properly and keeps injuring himself?”
Arina frowned, and Flora, after a moment of hesitation, spoke up.
“Sister, maybe he hasn’t fully recovered yet. He was injured fighting those monsters…”
“If those injuries haven’t healed yet, then he’s simply weak, Flora.”
“Sister…”
“Those kinds of injuries are mere scratches to those who have experienced combat. And if he was so concerned about his health, he should have stayed with us instead of wandering off on his own and getting hurt. It’s his own fault.”
Arina clicked her tongue, and Claire, unable to contain herself any longer, stood up.
“Sister, he’s managing two territories. You have to understand that he’s busy.”
“Two territories? That’s nothing.”
“What?”
“Do you have any idea how much work we do at the Duchy? Think about the responsibilities you and I have. It’s not even comparable.”
Claire’s lips twitched.
“He’s cooped up in his room, working on those territorial business ventures. What’s so important that he can’t even join us for a family meal? If he’s not making any progress, he should just give up.”
“…”
“I still don’t understand what he’s trying to do. If he’s just trying to make a small profit, he could just learn the ropes by working at the Duchy. Why bother with those risky ventures?”
Arina’s voice was low and dangerous as she spoke of the absent Carsein.
“What does he even know about business? There are plenty of people he could learn from. The vassals of the Duchy are all experienced and successful. He should be learning from them instead of wasting his time on those foolish ventures.”
“Wait a minute, sister. That’s a bit much—”
“Family meals are a matter of etiquette. I can no longer tolerate his disregard for even the simplest of customs. We have several Duchy events coming up. What will happen if he continues to behave like this?”
“…”
“…”
The two sisters fell silent. They couldn’t deny the validity of Arina’s argument.
The symposium and the martial arts tournament were over.
Most of his individual obligations had been fulfilled.
And as they both knew, the upcoming events required the entire family’s participation. Carsein couldn’t just isolate himself.
-Tap.
Isabella tapped the table, interrupting the heated discussion.
“That’s enough, Arina.”
“…Mother.”
“I’ll… I’ll talk to Carsein.”
She had to speak with him, anyway.
As a member of the Bagrand family, he had obligations to fulfill.
And she wanted to use this opportunity to mend their relationship.
To finally act like a proper mother.
But…
She suddenly remembered her conversation with Carsein at the infirmary.
Their interaction, tainted by her past mistakes, hadn't ended well.
And a lingering sense of unease remained.
-Mother!
-Mom.
-Mother.
She was used to hearing those words from her daughters.
But she hadn’t heard them from him.
‘…How long has it been since he called me Mother?’
-Yes, My Lady.
All she could remember were his formal, distant responses.
‘No, that can’t be right. It’s just my imagination.’
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought, but…
She couldn’t remember a single instance.
-Ding!
[Isabella Bagrand]
[This character is experiencing a strong sense of unease and déjà vu.]
***
The time and effort I had invested in the territories were finally paying off. The businesses I had established were interconnected, creating a stable foundation.
The rules of this world defied common sense.
But after carefully analyzing the ecosystem, I had found ways to apply the knowledge from my past life.
The abnormally fast growth rate of the crops could be leveraged for animal husbandry.
And animal products were highly sought after in this world, due to the complex ecosystem. Honey, in particular, was difficult to produce.
High demand meant high prices.
I had focused on that, expanding my businesses.
Beekeeping, textiles, processing.
My territories, which had started with simple agriculture, had diversified, creating a network of interconnected industries.
And thanks to that,
I was able to fulfill the next condition.
▶ You have chosen <Territory> as your method of acquiring funds for <Another Plan>. ◀
▶ Current funds have surpassed 10,000,000 Pesel, fulfilling the Stage 4 requirement. ◀
“Finally, Stage 4.”
Only one stage remained.
Once I cleared Stage 5, I would fulfill all the conditions.
But there was one problem.
-Ding!
▶ Isabella is coming to see you. ◀
“Right on time.”
Once Stage 4 was cleared, the number of obstacles increased dramatically.
Even if I continued to develop my businesses and accumulate wealth, they wouldn't leave me alone.
Just like in the game, the biggest obstacles at this stage were the Bagrand family.
And that wasn’t all.
▶ Episode VI: The Price of Reaching the Summit has begun. ◀
Of course, there had to be an episode as well.
Since my chosen objective for the Another Plan was wealth, this episode would likely involve spending it.
It would probably be about taxes.
And Arina would say something like this:
-You said you were the lord of Lusmire, not Carsein Bagrand, during the symposium. Therefore, you are solely responsible for the taxes of both territories.
And then, a choice would appear, the amount of money I offered affecting my affinity with her.
If this were just a game, I would have used a trick to pay less, but…
“I don’t want to accept their money.”
I didn’t want to use the money I had worked so hard to earn to pay their taxes. Not theirs.
-Ding!
▶ Isabella has arrived. ◀
▶ Meet with the Duchess and return to the Duchy. ◀
Right. Let’s get this over with.
It wouldn’t be long now.
I would clear all the remaining episodes and be on my way.
“…”
I glanced at my status window as I walked towards Isabella.
▶ Announcing the Stage 5 requirement for <Another Plan>. ◀
▶ Acquire 221,700,000 Pesel. ◀
▶ This amount may change depending on future expenses. ◀
221,700,000.
It was a strange number. Why not just 220,000,000? What was with the extra 1,700,000?
…But it was a familiar number.
It was the total amount of my debt to the Bagrand Duchy. And the fact that it could change depending on future expenses made sense.
If this were just a game, I would have hated it.
But I liked it.
