Mod7 Translations

I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 260

Added 2025-01-10 11:34:44 +0000 UTC

Chapter 260: Golden Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (8)

I still couldn’t understand it.

I had simply done the same thing she had done. We had shared each other’s snacks. There shouldn’t have been a problem.

Why had I been subjected to a backhand spike? It made no sense.

And yet, she had linked her arm through mine again shortly after.

“…?”

I was confused and bewildered.

I remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Then, her sudden question naturally steered the conversation.

“Do you… have any intention of becoming the successor?”

Successor?

What was she talking about?

Seeing my confused expression, Harnie rephrased her question.

“Just in case you’re not aware… Carsein, have you heard the rumors?”

“Um…”

“So you really don’t know.”

Harnie sighed softly and explained.

“Because of your outstanding performance in the tournament, there are rumors that you might become the next head of the Bagrand Duchy.”

“Huh.”

Seriously?

The successor? Of that wretched family?

That was ridiculous.

“Who would even spread such a rumor?”

“…The nobles.”

“What?”

“There were similar rumors during the symposium. But it was just talk back then. This time, it’s different. You’ve demonstrated both your civil and martial abilities… so they’re seriously considering your suitability as the next head.”

“…”

This was unexpected. I had only been focused on maximizing my own gains.

“Judging from your expression, you didn’t intend for this to happen?”

“Of course not. You know what my goal is.”

“…Right.”

My goal was to escape that family, not to become its head.

Even if it was the prestigious Bagrand Duchy, I wasn’t interested.

“I wasn’t doubting you, but you should be careful, Carsein. You understand what I’m saying, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

While it could be seen as a positive rumor, if the momentum shifted too much in that direction, it could become a problem.

It could hinder my escape plan.

I needed to make my stance clear.

That I wasn’t interested in becoming the head of the Bagrand Duchy.

“By the way, how are your plans progressing?”

“Everything’s going smoothly. I’m steadily accumulating funds.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The conversation naturally shifted to our respective plans, and we chatted as we walked.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at Harnie’s lodgings.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ask you to walk me all the way here…”

“It’s fine. I’m not participating tomorrow, anyway.”

“What? You’re not participating?”

“There are no events I’m scheduled for. I’ll probably only have something to do on the final day.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Considering the points I had already accumulated, I had plenty of leeway, Harnie nodded in agreement.

“Be careful going back, Carsein.”

“Yes. Sleep well.”

After exchanging our usual farewells, I turned to leave.

Just then,

“C-Carsein!”

She called out to me again.

“According to your plan… anywhere beyond the Duchy’s reach is fine, right?”

Why would she ask such a thing?

“Yes, that’s right.”

That’s what I wanted.

For now, at least.

Harnie smiled faintly and said she understood. She then added that it was getting late and that I should really go back now.

She kept waving, urging me to leave, until I was out of sight.

It was almost midnight by the time I returned to my lodgings.

“Hah…”

I returned to my room, washed up, and unlike usual, immediately collapsed onto the bed.

I had used quite a bit of mana today, and my body ached from all the physical activity.

Still, I had to plan for tomorrow.

Episode strategies, Noblesse Point check, affinity check.

I needed to review today’s events, to see if there had been any issues.

“Today was uneventful. Just the tournament.”

While there were potential death flags, the situation wasn't critical enough to trigger them at this stage.

I checked my accumulated points again, just to be sure.

“No events scheduled for tomorrow. Enough points. Equipment check with Count Ptoah, and I need to firmly state that I’m not interested in becoming the successor.”

I had another task to add to my list, but it was a necessary precaution to eliminate any potential variables.

And tomorrow was Arina’s birthday.

That was the key point.

Just as Flora’s birthday had disrupted the main episode during the symposium, Arina’s birthday would disrupt the martial arts tournament.

Failure to handle this properly, neglecting Noblesse Point management from the start, would greatly upset Arina and create problems for the Another Plan.

But, luckily, my points were…

[Noblesse Points: -193]

From -248 to -193.

A significant improvement.

This meant that Carsein’s reputation within noble society was improving.

If I chose the right gift and handled Arina’s birthday episode without issue, there wouldn’t be any rumors about me neglecting my sister’s birthday.

“I should get some sleep.”

I had to choose a birthday present.

And considering Harnie’s oath and my own fatigue,

There was no reason to stay up late.

I turned off the lights, closed my eyes, and fell asleep much faster than usual.

Unaware of what message would greet me in the morning.

***

The Bagrand Duchy, the only duchy recognized by the prestigious Pesselus Imperial Family, reigned supreme among the nobility.

It had always been that way, and it would remain so.

As this martial arts tournament demonstrated, the Bagrands dominated the rankings.

However, there was one significant difference this time.

And because of that difference, just a few hours ago, the Bagrand vassals had gathered for a meeting.

“Is everyone here?”

Marquis Magnuel, standing at the center of the conference room, looked around, and the other vassals coughed or averted their gazes.

While he couldn't speak for the other side, it was clear that not all of his supporters were present.

The empty seats spoke for themselves.

Their numbers had dwindled.

Marquis Magnuel gritted his teeth and brought up the main topic.

“I trust you are all aware of the rumors circulating.”

“Of course!”

“How could they…!”

A single topic dominated the hushed whispers.

The vassals reacted strongly to the mention of the rumors.

“You must be out of your minds! Carsein as the Bagrand successor? That’s preposterous!”

“I agree. Why would we choose that adopted child, who’s nothing but a source of gossip, as the next head?”

“He performed well in the symposium? It’s just a symposium! And the martial arts tournament? It’s just a tournament!”

“To allow someone with no blood ties to the family to inherit the title of the only Duke in the Pesselus Empire?! It would be a travesty!”

Complaints erupted one after another.

The rumors, fueled by his outstanding performance in both the symposium and the martial arts tournament, had spread like wildfire.

From their perspective, those who valued tradition and lineage, it was unthinkable for someone with no blood ties to the family to become the successor.

But they were the minority.

“Isn’t the young master an official member of the Bagrand family, legally adopted? How can you question his qualifications?”

“I admit, it would be a source of gossip. But if he silences those rumors with his abilities, it won’t matter.”

“The symposium evaluates administrative skills, and the martial arts tournament evaluates combat prowess. For a young noble, these are the most important tests!”

“Considering his exceptional performance in both, I believe we can overlook the matter of legitimacy for the sake of the future of the Bagrand Duchy. Don’t you agree?”

The number of those who supported Carsein as the next head had grown significantly.

They argued that what the Bagrand Duchy needed was competence, not lineage.

The meeting dragged on, but Marquis Magnuel remained unconvinced.

‘If this continues… Carsein will become the next head.’

To have an outsider, a commoner, inherit the title, when there were those with direct blood ties to the family?

That was unacceptable.

Late at night, Marquis Magnuel set out.

-Swish! Swish!

He headed towards a woman with a ponytail, who was still practicing with her sword.

‘Yes. When it comes to ability, she has already proven herself.’

Arina Bagrand, the eldest daughter of the Bagrand Duchy.

Her abilities were enough to fill the void left by Isabella, who had been unable to fulfill her duties as the head of the family due to her mental illness.

The symposium? The martial arts tournament?

Those were nothing compared to real-world experience.

“What is it, Marquis Magnuel?”

Arina stopped her practice and wiped the sweat from her brow as the Marquis approached.

Marquis Magnuel got straight to the point.

“I believe you’ve heard the rumors, my lady. The rumors about Young Master Carsein being considered as the next head of the Bagrand Duchy.”

“…”

Arina’s eye twitched slightly.

Marquis Magnuel didn’t miss that subtle movement.

“But those are blasphemous rumors. To overlook you, Lady Arina, a pillar of the Bagrand Duchy, the rightful heir with both lineage and legitimacy! To choose an adopted child as the next head?!”

“Marquis.”

“The Bagrands, having always been at the pinnacle of nobility, have always been the target of envy and malice. Slander, insults, conspiracies! They have tried everything to bring us down. What if that adopted boy is a plant, sent to ruin the Duchy?!”

“Marquis!”

Arina raised her voice, warning him to stop.

But a fire burned in her eyes.

The Marquis’s words had struck a nerve.

“So, what are you trying to say?”

Finally, the Marquis, who had been waiting for this moment, spoke.

“There are two days left in the tournament, Lady Arina. So!”

He bowed his head.

“Show them what a true Bagrand is capable of! Show them what true superiority means!”

The power fueled by anger.

He had provoked Arina, igniting that power within her.

And that power would naturally manifest itself in the tournament.