I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 268

Chapter 268: The Sword that Cut Skin (1)

I believed my judgment was sound.

The Bagrand Duchy's successor position.

The rumors spreading after the symposium and martial arts tournament.

The vassals who had openly expressed their disapproval on Arina's birthday.

And finally, someone’s inferiority complex.

Prolonging this situation wouldn't benefit anyone. It was best to firmly state my disinterest in the position and avoid making enemies.

That's why I had met with Marquis Magnuel, to make my intentions clear.

Of course, since an episode was in progress, choices could appear. I had to take that into account, but I could handle it with the information I had from the game.

The conversation had progressed smoothly.

Marquis Magnuel had initially been sarcastic, questioning my reason for seeking him out, the sponsor of a rival. But after I chose the appropriate responses, he hadn't pressed the matter further.

I had even managed to convince him that I had no interest in the successor position.

Yes, everything had been going well.

I thought he would understand after I explained myself.

But…

“Of all people, Claire had to walk in.”

With a notification about the conversation being overheard, the pink-haired demon had burst into the room.

And she had walked in just as I was saying I would eventually leave the Duchy.

“It’s a good thing I managed to smooth things over. I almost slipped up.”

I had managed to avoid a major disaster by explaining that leaving the Duchy wasn't about abandoning the family, but about establishing my own branch.

However, I needed to be more careful.

“While it was bad luck that Claire overheard the conversation, it was also my fault for being careless.”

If I had said one more thing, if my true intentions had reached her ears…

Just the thought sent a chill down my spine.

And if my escape plan was ruined, there was no telling what the system would do. It could easily trigger a bad ending, since the Another Plan would be compromised.

“Well, I suppose it was a partial success?”

▶ Affinity with a specific character has increased. ◀

[ Marquis Magnuel ]

[ Current Affinity: 20% ]

Having chosen Arina as his candidate for the next head of the family, the Marquis had viewed Carsein unfavorably.

Harnie had said that such rivalries among nobles could be brutal. Even within the same family, factions and power struggles were common. So it wouldn't have been surprising if he had a gray affinity box.

But after that brief conversation, his affinity had jumped from -5% to 20%, the gray box turning white.

This meant I didn’t have to worry about interference from Marquis Magnuel and his faction. Of course, I still had to be careful not to break my promise.

-Ding!

▶ 10 minutes until the arena battle. ◀

“It seems I’m right on time… I should head back.”

***

It was a common occurrence for vassals of noble families.

Supporting a powerful house.

Being a vassal of such a prestigious and influential family meant having a strong backing.

And during such times, the vassals were united, working together for the benefit of their faction, for the prosperity of their house.

But such golden ages couldn't last forever.

Eventually, the next generation would inherit the title.

And if there were multiple heirs, rivalry was inevitable.

That’s when factions would form among the vassals.

While they might have shared the same goals before, with the arrival of a new head, they would each seek to secure their own power and influence.

Marquis Magnuel was no different.

As a vassal of the Bagrand Duchy, the most powerful house in the Pesselus Empire, he, too, had to prepare for the arrival of a new head, seeking to secure his own position.

Why wouldn’t he step on others to further his own interests?

Dirty tricks and underhanded schemes were commonplace.

He had even secretly sabotaged other houses to gain an advantage.

He was driven by ambition, a desire to secure his position.

That was normal.

Even if a saint appeared, Marquis Magnuel was certain he wouldn't be swayed by their virtuous words.

But…

That boy had said,

That he had no interest whatsoever in becoming the next head of the Bagrand Duchy.

That he didn’t need the position of Duke, a position that would place him above almost everyone else in the world.

It was absurd.

Every noble coveted power and status.

Even the Imperial Family fought amongst themselves for the throne. There was no one who wouldn't desire such a position.

But…

He had been sincere.

“…I could have easily framed him and used this to my advantage.”

If he had been in Carsein's position, he would have used this opportunity to shift the blame and secure his own position. The situation, the conditions, were perfect.

But Carsein hadn't.

Instead, he had helped the Marquis avoid a potentially disastrous situation.

He had clarified the misunderstanding with Claire, preventing the Marquis from being punished.

It was an act of pure honesty.

“It’s still hard to believe…”

Marquis Magnuel murmured, a chuckle escaping his lips.

As he replayed the conversation in his mind, he realized that something had been off from the very beginning, even before Claire’s interruption.

“Right. He saw through my intentions immediately.”

He had clearly stated that he wasn’t there to speak to Arina’s sponsor, but to Marquis Magnuel, a vassal of the Bagrand Duchy, revealing his true purpose.

“And the weapons, the mines… He even knew what Lady Arina enjoyed, and why I had become her sponsor.”

From Carsein's perspective, he was just a vassal.

And yet, he hadn’t underestimated him. He had meticulously investigated, gathering information about him.

He had even used that information to counter the Marquis’s arguments.

He had seen through his schemes.

In every aspect, Marquis Magnuel had been outmatched.

Realizing this, he let out a sigh, a strange lightness replacing the usual bitterness he carried.

“My judgment… was lacking.”

He had been blinded by prejudice, dismissing Carsein because of his commoner origins.

He had failed to recognize a true gem, hidden beneath the rough exterior.

His judgment had indeed been lacking.

-One day, Young Master Carsein will surely rise to prominence. Is your judgment truly so shallow, Marquis?

Just as Count Ptoah had said.

“Heh. You were right. My judgment is inferior to yours.”

While there was a significant difference in status between Marquis Magnuel and Count Ptoah, he couldn’t deny the Count’s superior judgment in this matter.

A spark of excitement flickered in the Marquis’s usually dull eyes.

“It’s a shame. If the young master had been more ambitious, we could have had a proper contest.”

It was truly a missed opportunity.

***

Harnie sat in the spectator stands, her face buried in her hands.

‘I did it!’

The memory of this morning was still vivid.

He had carried her, sleeping, to her room, and his words of concern had made her feel she had to repay him somehow.

So she had decided to do something before his match.

She didn’t want to give him a material gift.

She wanted to give him something from the heart.

Something he would appreciate, something that wouldn’t be too awkward, something with a hint of affection.

And that’s how she had settled on a good luck kiss.

But now, after the deed was done, a wave of emotions washed over her.

Her face burned.

Her heart pounded relentlessly.

A strange mixture of embarrassment and satisfaction made her fidget.

The feeling of his cheek against her lips…

As she touched her lips, reliving the moment, Mina’s voice broke through her reverie.

“My lady!”

“M-Mina?”

“The match is about to begin! What are you doing?!”

Mina, exasperated, pointed towards the arena.

“Young Master Carsein is about to enter. You should be watching!”

“…”

While she wasn’t quite ready,

She couldn’t miss Carsein’s match.

And she had something to say.

Harnie took a deep breath and shouted,

“Do your best, Carsein!”

She prayed for his victory.

She wouldn’t miss a single moment.

She would cherish the sight of the man she loved, fighting valiantly.

That’s what she had to do now.

***

-Ding!

▶ The arena battle has begun. ◀

▶ Defeat your opponent to increase your ranking and earn points. ◀

So, the final event, the arena battle, had finally begun.

The main episode itself wasn’t difficult to clear, regardless of my performance.

But there was a hidden condition: I had to achieve a certain ranking.

‘Arina would be furious if I tarnished the Bagrand name.’

While it wasn’t explicitly stated in the status window, I knew it was a factor. It had been the same in the game.

The standard strategy was to aim for a mid-range ranking.

Fighting for too long would deplete my stamina and negatively impact my performance in other events.

Considering the tournament format, a single-elimination bracket, and the number of participants, it was most efficient to be eliminated in the round of 16 or 8. It also avoided triggering any unnecessary choices.

But this time, I wouldn’t be following the standard strategy.

“Haaaaah!!!”

-Clang! Clang! Thud!

“Ugh?!”

-Swish.

“A-after only two exchanges! The winner is… Carsein Bagrand!”

—Waaaaah!!!

I had to appease someone’s inferiority complex.

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