I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Golden Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (5)

“…Huh. You don’t need it.”

Arina scoffed at the absurd response.

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

Of course, I did.

Even I thought it was crazy.

At this point in the martial arts tournament,

Supplementing and checking equipment wasn’t an option, it was a necessity.

However, a participant couldn’t be expected to procure all the necessary equipment on their own. That’s why receiving support and testing equipment from various sponsors was the standard practice.

That meant that relying solely on Count Ptoah, like I was doing, put me at a significant disadvantage.

Just by looking at the contents, I could tell that Arina had brought high-quality goods. To receive them for free would be a huge advantage. I could even see some promising item descriptions in the text boxes.

Refusing her offer was just as nonsensical.

Most of the restrictions placed on Carsein had been imposed by Arina.

She was offering to return all of them, and refusing her would make me look like a fool.

Logically, accepting was the only sensible option.

But…

“As someone said, I’m not qualified.”

I didn’t want to accept her help. Not hers.

“Don’t be stubborn and just pick something. I’ll help you choose the best sponsor and equipment for you from among these high-quality items.”

“Are you worried that my performance will be poor and I’ll disgrace the family name? Is that why you’re giving me these? So I can at least achieve a decent score? If that’s the case, then I don’t need them.”

-Thump!

I kicked the box, sending it tumbling off the table.

“I think I said this during the symposium as well. You can’t tell who’s superior until you actually fight.”

The box crashed to the floor, its contents spilling out like garbage from an overturned bin.

“Hah. So you’re going to be arrogant until the very end. Or perhaps I’m the fool for offering you kindness.”

Arina’s blue eyes narrowed, a fire burning within them.

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t bring these to improve your performance.”

“Then why did you bring them?”

“I brought these because Mother ordered me to appease you. So…”

-Crush!

Arina stepped on the box, crushing the equipment like toys.

“If you continue to act so arrogantly and truly disgrace the family, if you fail to meet Mother’s expectations, you’ll pay dearly for it, Carsein.”

Arina turned and left without a backward glance.

“Heh. How can things be so similar?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

It was a warning.

A warning that she would be watching me, waiting for me to fail since I was being so stubborn and refusing to use proper equipment.

I could bet that if any choices appeared because of this, excuses about equipment or the events wouldn't work.

It was as if another invisible restriction had been placed upon me.

Well, it was fine.

It just meant I had another reason to aim for a higher ranking in the tournament.

I ordered the servants to clean up the mess and entered the adjacent room.

And…

I found it. A shimmering object, radiating a faint glow.

“…This is the waiting room Carsein used last year, wasn’t it?”

The layout of the room, the objects placed within, it all felt strangely familiar. Like a scene from the game.

“This is a likely spot for a Memorial to appear.”

This Memorial likely contained a record of last year’s martial arts tournament. I didn’t know what it would reveal, but…

I had to see it.

I reached out and picked up the Memorial.

-Ding!

▶ Memorial: Damaged Thumb Ring acquired. ◀

***

-Click, click.

“…”

Arina stopped, her eyes narrowing as she turned towards Carsein’s waiting room.

“…How arrogant.”

She muttered under her breath, glaring at the closed door.

She had brought those items for his benefit.

And yet, he had dismissed them without a second glance, blinded by his own arrogance.

“Hmph. That arrogance won’t last long.”

If he had been preparing properly, his waiting room would have been filled with equipment. At this time, all the participants would be busy strategizing and preparing for their matches.

But Carsein’s waiting room was empty.

Perhaps his sponsor wasn’t capable enough to produce the necessary equipment in time.

Or perhaps he hadn’t decided on his strategy yet.

Or perhaps there had been a falling out between him and his sponsor.

In Carsein’s case, given his extreme personality, it was even possible that he hadn’t even secured a sponsor in the first place.

The reason didn't matter.

“Last year, and this year as well. You’ve thrown away the golden opportunities I’ve given you, Carsein.”

-Click, click.

Arina’s footsteps echoed in the hallway.

As the sound faded, a figure emerged from around the corner.

Pink hair swayed gently as she walked down the hallway where Arina had just been.

“…He didn’t accept them?”

Why?

A strange sense of unease washed over her.

-Ding!

[Claire Bagrand]

[92%]

***

-Twang!

As anyone familiar with archery knew, bowstrings were sharp.

If used carelessly, they could easily cut and injure the fingers.

Therefore, it was standard practice to wear protective gear to avoid injury.

However, Carsein’s thumb ring, as usual, was damaged.

-Twang!

Blood welled up on Carsein’s fingers as he drew the bowstring.

But he seemed unfazed, nocking another arrow.

-Twang!

Deep grooves were etched into his skin by the sharp string.

His flesh was reaching its limit.

If he drew the bowstring again, his fingers would surely be cut.

And yet, he drew the bowstring.

-Twang!

The sharp string sliced into his skin.

Blood trickled down his fingers.

The pain should have been considerable.

He should have flinched, pulled back.

But…

Carsein’s bowstring, stained crimson, was drawn again and again.

-Twang!

-Twang!

-Twang!

There was no pain.

Even as blood splattered, he felt nothing.

The boy’s eyes, as he calmly released the arrows,

Were already deadened by a different kind of pain.

By the time the archery event ended, Carsein’s thumb and index finger were soaked in blood.

Isabella, seeing this, rushed over with a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.

“How could this… Didn’t Arina give you a thumb ring?”

“…”

The boy didn’t answer.

He remained silent, simply withdrawing his hand.

His eldest sister stepped forward, blocking his path.

“I specifically told you to wear a thumb ring. Are you trying to garner sympathy from Mother?”

“…”

A barrage of questions followed, but Carsein remained silent.

Even as the next event began,

And the next,

He wore no protective gear.

Under the clear sky,

The young nobles showcased their skills, their passion burning brightly.

But one young man felt nothing.

He had nothing, held nothing.

There was no warmth within him.

Just a hollow emptiness.

His face, devoid of any emotion,

He simply went through the motions.

And finally, during the most important, final event, he dropped his sword. Even though he could have won.

The result: a forfeit.

And with that, Carsein Bagrand’s participation in the martial arts tournament came to an end.

▶ Damaged Thumb Ring Memorial has ended. ◀

“…”

As expected, the Memorial had contained a record of last year’s martial arts tournament.

From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem pointless.

No, more than pointless, it would be confusing.

Why had he deliberately damaged the thumb ring he had been given and injured his hand?

Why had he remained silent, even as Isabella questioned Arina, deepening the misunderstanding between them?

Why had he forfeited, even though he could have won?

His actions were baffling.

But I understood.

“…How can it be so similar to how I was in my second year?”

I saw myself, my own resignation, reflected in his actions.

He hadn’t said a word.

He hadn't shown any emotion, hadn't made any unnecessary movements.

And that’s how I knew.

First, he had deliberately damaged the thumb ring and thrown it away to avoid using it.

What was the point of using something that wasn't his? It would only lead to further misunderstandings and accusations, just like with the tailor's shears. Damaging and discarding it had been the best option.

Second, he had remained silent because he knew it was pointless to explain.

Would they even listen if he tried to tell them it wasn’t his intention? Of course not. It was better to just stay quiet and let it pass.

Finally, he had forfeited because he couldn't find a reason to try.

What good would it do to impress this family? Trying to gain their approval was the most foolish thing he could do.

Yes. He had no expectations.

He had accepted the reality that nothing would change, even if he was misunderstood.

He had realized that there was no point in trying to impress them.

In short,

He had given up. Just like I had, back then.

And I liked that. I couldn't help but smile.

“Right. There's no one to cheer for me.”

The world was a lonely place.

There was no one to support him, no one to believe in him.

That was the only rule of the world I knew.

-Toot.

The sound of a horn signaled the start of the next match.

It was time.

-Toss.

I threw the damaged thumb ring into the trash, where it wouldn’t be found, and left the waiting room, heading towards the arena.

The thumb ring, discarded and forgotten, would be buried in the darkness of the trash can.

Trapped in the waiting room of the past, destined to be incinerated and forgotten.

But…

That fate was about to change.

-Click.

“A thumb ring… Didn’t Carsein refuse to use one last year?”

Pink hair cascaded down.

***

“Ouch.”

Harnie put her finger, pricked by the needle, into her mouth.

“Hmm… This is difficult.”

She wasn’t used to this.

Embroidery.

It was considered a necessary skill for noblewomen, but she had never attempted it before.

After all, even the act of creating something like this could be misinterpreted as an attempt to seduce someone. Why bother creating trouble for herself?

Because of this, Harnie struggled from the very beginning, from threading the needle to making the first stitch.

The thread was too short, and she had to unpick it.

The handkerchief got tangled, the stitches uneven, forcing her to start over.

She accidentally pricked her finger, a bead of blood welling up from the small wound.

Nothing went smoothly.

And yet, she applied medicine, bandaged her finger, and picked up the needle and thread again.

-Rustle.

While she might not have had a reason last year, this year, she had someone to cheer for.

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