I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 271

Chapter 271: The Sword that Cut Skin (4)

A tremendous roar echoed through the air.

A stone pillar, collapsing amidst a cloud of dust, blocked out the midday sun.

People scattered in panic, some managing to shield themselves with magic.

“Just a minor abrasion. You’ll be fine.”

“Ugh… Thank you.”

“What about you?”

“I’m just a little shaken up.”

Thankfully, there weren’t many serious injuries.

Since it was a martial arts tournament, many of those present were skilled and able to react quickly, minimizing the damage.

However,

That only applied to those who had been near the edges of the collapse.

The debris covered nearly a quarter of the arena floor.

The sheer weight and volume of the rubble, the way it had caved inwards…

It painted a grim picture.

‘If they were buried under that…’

‘It would be a miracle if anyone survived.’

Those who had been closer to the center of the collapse would have been directly hit by the falling debris.

They wouldn’t have had time to react, let alone escape.

The weight, enough to create craters in the ground, the sound… It was a terrifying thought.

There was no way they could have survived.

And those who had loved ones trapped beneath the rubble were frantic.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

“Duchess! Please, calm down!”

“My son! My son is in there! How can I calm down?!”

“It’s too dangerous! You’ll be injured as well!”

“Let me go! I said let me go!”

“Guards! Call the guards!”

“Carsein… Carsein…”

Isabella, seeing the mountain of rubble in the middle of the arena, screamed in anguish.

“Why are you stopping me?! I have to save my brother!”

“Lady Claire!”

“Damn it! Move! Get out of my way!”

Claire, her eyes wild with panic, tried to push past the guards, her magic flaring.

“Wh-what… Carsein… Please be okay…”

Flora trembled, her eyes wide with fear.

And…

“…”

Someone gasped, their breath catching in their throat, at the sight of the bloodstains on the ground.

-Ding!

▶ Hidden Episode: The Sword that Cut Skin has begun. ◀

***

The collapsing debris.

The darkening sky, the obstructed view.

Me, throwing myself into the path of the falling rubble.

Experiencing this for the second time, I realized,

That my memories were flawed.

The memory of going to the barbecue restaurant after the sports festival was still vivid.

It was an unpleasant memory, one I wanted to forget. It had resurfaced because the current situation was so similar.

But that hadn’t happened immediately after the sports festival.

‘When was it? I can’t remember clearly…’

Ah, I remembered.

It was after the sports festival. Some time later.

Right. Something else had happened immediately after the sports festival.

That’s where the sense of unease, the feeling that I had experienced this before, had come from.

The collapsing pillars of the gymnasium.

The debris, blocking out the sun, casting long shadows across the field.

Someone, trapped beneath the shadows.

And me, throwing myself in harm's way to save them.

The sports festival had begun with an accident, and ended with one.

Just like now.

How could I have forgotten?

It had been a significant event. It wasn't something I should have forgotten.

‘…Ah, right. I probably suppressed the memory.’

My back throbbed, just like it did now, and a warm liquid had flowed down my back, soaking my clothes.

The coppery tang of blood. Bloodstains on clothes were a pain to remove.

But the real pain had come from…

My family.

My second sister had been the first to scold me, asking why I had ruined my clothes.

The little brat had hid behind her, mocking me.

And my older sister, well, there was no need to even mention her.

And the girl who had invited me to the barbecue restaurant, she had definitely said something as well.

I had been so stressed by my family that I had probably suppressed the memory.

While I hadn't been able to recall it before, now, experiencing this again, the past resurfaced.

‘But it wasn’t all bad.’

The person who had been trapped beneath the collapsing building…

I remembered they had been unharmed.

“—Carsein! Car—”

Her voice was strong, so she was fine.

And she was shaking me, so she wasn’t injured.

Right. Jieun had been perfectly fine.

But what about me?

‘Uh…’

My mind started to go blank.

A warm liquid flowed down my forehead, blurring my vision.

My body felt heavy, my eyelids drooping. Why was I so sleepy?

I had to remember what happened next.

I needed to know, to formulate an escape plan.

I couldn’t fall asleep.

If I fell asleep…

I couldn’t…

“Don’t… So… please… don’t…”

I couldn’t hear her clearly. Could she speak up?

No, wait.

-I… you… So… please… don’t…

It was similar to what Jieun had said to me.

Right. Jieun had made the same expression, said similar words.

But…

I didn’t know.

My mind was foggy, my thoughts sluggish.

I was so sleepy. I wanted to sleep.

…But I couldn’t.

***

It had happened so quickly.

Cracks had appeared in the seemingly sturdy walls of the arena, then, without warning, a section of the stands had collapsed.

Putting aside the cause of the collapse, the Imperial Family acted swiftly.

While the presence of skilled participants had minimized casualties, there were still many injured.

They called for reinforcements, brought in medics, and prioritized transporting the injured to the hospital.

And now, after some time had passed,

The debris was being cleared, revealing those trapped beneath.

“U-ugh… Help… help me…”

“We found someone!”

“What’s their condition?”

“Both legs appear to be crushed!”

“Don’t move too quickly! We could trigger another collapse. Proceed with caution!”

—Yes, Your Highness!

The soldiers, following Crown Prince Albert’s instructions, carefully removed the debris.

With the first successful rescue, the Imperial Family breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Thanks to the Westerners, who helped us locate the survivors by sensing their mana, we were able to pinpoint their locations. It’s a miracle.”

But there was one more person who had been instrumental in the rescue efforts.

“It’s thanks to you, Arsienne. Your ability to see the internal structure of the rubble has prevented further collapses.”

“Hah… hah… But we can’t relax yet, brother.”

“I know. But you need to stop.”

“I can’t…”

-Grip.

Albert firmly grasped Arsienne’s arm.

He had pinpointed a nerve, and the pressure sent a jolt of pain through her exhausted body.

“Ugh!”

“What are you saying? You’ve already depleted your mana, pushed yourself to your limit. You’re even feeling pain now.”

Albert clicked his tongue.

“Rest. I’ll take care of the rest. Unless you want me to watch you collapse.”

She couldn’t use any more magic.

Arsienne reluctantly nodded.

“Alright. I’ll… leave it to you, brother.”

“Good.”

Arsienne, her head bowed, was escorted away.

Albert sighed, watching his younger sister.

“Brother, you were a bit harsh, weren’t you?”

Florence’s gentle reproach made Albert click his tongue.

“I had to be firm. She wouldn’t have listened otherwise.”

“Even so, you could have been more gentle.”

Gentle?

He couldn’t.

‘That’s how I protect her.’

He had to be strict, even harsh.

He had to treat his family with cold detachment.

That’s how he protected Arsienne.

That was his duty as Crown Prince.

“Stop complaining and just follow me.”

“…Hah. You’re so cold.”

Florence, who understood his brother’s intentions, could only sigh.

“Over here!”

“We found two people!”

“Severe bleeding. We need pressure bandages!”

“Call for a medic!”

The rescue efforts continued.

With the Westerners’ help, they were able to locate and rescue the survivors one by one.

Those who had been trapped closer to the center of the collapse had sustained serious injuries. Some were barely clinging to life.

But then, a problem arose.

“You can’t sense their mana?”

“No. They’ve placed some kind of barrier that’s disrupting our abilities. We can’t see or smell their mana.”

“Can’t we just lift the debris?”

“If we excavate that section, the surrounding areas will collapse. It’s too unstable!”

“…This is bad.”

If they saved one, they couldn't save the other.

The weight of the debris, the precarious balance, had forced them to make a choice.

Albert, struggling to maintain his composure, ran his hand over his face.

“How many are left?”

“Two… but…”

“Of all people…”

Two people.

Two locations.

It was a true dilemma.

If the two trapped people were in separate locations. They could only save one.

If they had been together, it would have been easier, but even then, the situation was dire.

‘And of all people, it had to be them. ’

Both of them were close to Arsienne.

Even though he had the power, he couldn't use it.

Albert tightened his grip on his sword.

Just then,

-Rumble…

The section supporting one of the trapped individuals began to collapse.

“Which fool moved without authoriz—!”

He turned sharply, but then paused.

None of the soldiers had moved.

‘Which means…’

He turned his head in the other direction.

-Rumble… Crash!

One section had collapsed, which meant the other remained intact.

Therefore, there should be someone there.

“Your Highness…!”

And there was.

‘But it’s not over yet.’

The coppery tang of blood filled the air.

Harnie’s clothes were stained with blood.

Judging from the amount of blood and the intensity of the scent, Carsein’s condition was critical.

“Carsein Bagrand, Harnie Theresia. We found them. There’s not much time. Have the Imperial Physician standing by!”

Just as they were about to clear the debris and begin treatment, Harnie suddenly grabbed Albert’s sword.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. I need this.”

“Lady Harnie?! What are you…!”

And then, she stabbed Carsein.

“Wh-what…!”

“Good heavens!”

The nobles gasped, covering their mouths in horror.

The other participants watched in stunned silence.

To stab her own fiancé? It was an incomprehensible act.

Arina, seeing this, rushed forward, her eyes blazing.

“Lady Harnie! What are you doing?!”

-Slide.

“…Your Highness?”

“She’s doing the right thing.”

“What are you talking about?! She just stabbed Carsein! How…!”

“Hah…”

Albert sighed deeply and replied, his voice low and dangerous,

“Unlike you, who cut your brother’s skin in a fit of rage last year, that fiancée of his just cut his skin to save his life, Arina Bagrand.”

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