I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: The Source of the Contamination (5)

I figured I could just buy something, watch the highlight auction, and leave. But then…

-Ding!

▶ Trace of the Ancient Kingdom discovered. ◀

▶ This item is a relic of the Wederos Kingdom. Acquiring it will provide valuable information. ◀

▶ A specific piece of evidence can be obtained! ◀

‘This complicates things.’

I glanced at the status window and sighed inwardly.

I had managed to overcome the other obstacles on my own, using my wits and the knowledge I had gained from the game. I had even braved the Danger Zone and completed the necessary gimmicks.

Missing one item shouldn't be a big deal.

I could probably leave and come back later. That’s what I had intended to do.

But would this game really let me off that easily?

The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I became.

There had been times when, even after meticulously gathering clues and triggering the Clue and Proof event, I couldn't proceed to the next stage because I was missing a key piece of evidence.

And I had no idea what kind of consequences this missing item could trigger.

The final evaluation would be even more challenging.

I had to eliminate all variables, to prevent any unforeseen disasters.

“100,000 Pesel!”

“110,000!”

“120,000!”

The bids were escalating quickly.

I had already spent 200,000 Pesel on the gemstone for Harnie, so I didn’t have much money left.

So…

“You want that, don’t you?”

Harnie, sensing my hesitation, grabbed my arm.

“Let me handle this one.”

-Buzz.

Harnie pressed her bidding button, a playful smile on her face.

“Swords are often handled by merchants, so this is my specialty.”

Her confident declaration, her fist clenched playfully, was reassuring.

***

“Congratulations on your winning bid.”

The auctioneer, his eyes gleaming with avarice, handed the silver dagger to Harnie.

Harnie completed the transaction discreetly and then gave me a subtle nod, indicating she would give it to me later.

It was a wise decision.

The exchange of items between us, whether it was the gemstone or the dagger, would have looked suspicious here.

So, we had a silent agreement to wait.

The auction flew by.

After the third round and the highlight auction, it was finally time to leave.

Harnie, checking the time, spoke.

“I think we can leave now. I didn’t tell you where the exit was, did I?”

“No, I already know.”

“What?”

“I overheard it, by chance.”

I explained the conversation I had overheard between the two nobles, and Harnie nodded.

“That concludes the auction! If you have any further business, please feel free to browse before you leave. This has been K of the Clown Mask!”

The auctioneer's announcement confirmed that I hadn’t misheard anything.

I left the auction hall with Harnie.

“Phew. We made it out.”

“…I don’t think so.”

But…

It wasn't going to be that easy.

-Rumble!

The ceiling above us collapsed.

“Hey! There’s a code of conduct here! You can’t just clean us out and leave!”

“So you two were working together?!”

“I knew there was something fishy about you two sticking together!”

A group of shady-looking nobles appeared behind us.

They launched a barrage of magic attacks, their intentions clear.

“Colluding during the auction… That’s a big no-no in this place. You know that, don’t you?”

“If you want to leave in one piece, I suggest you listen to our offer.”

I was getting tired of this.

But I might as well hear them out.

“What offer?”

“Simple. Hand over your items.”

“Just give us one each, and we’ll let you go.”

“Or one of you could join us. That wouldn’t be so bad either.”

Right. I should have known better than to ask.

Thugs like these were everywhere.

‘They’re planning on taking everything, not just one item. What kind of “offer” is that? It’s robbery!’

Whether they took one item now and the rest later, or everything at once…

Their intentions were clear. They had blocked our path to rob us.

And this situation could easily escalate into a fight.

What should I do?

-Ding!

▶ Enemy units detected! ◀

▶ Combat initiated! Do you wish to proceed? ◀

This… This called for a more direct approach.

-Swish.

“Huh. You think you two can take us?”

“You’re outnumbered. Give it up.”

“Looks like you can’t even use magic. Just hand over your items and leave.”

“I think this is more than enough to fix your messy hairstyles.”

“You little…!”

“What did you say?!”

Harnie, standing behind me, chimed in.

“My, my. Such porous magic circles. Those enlarged pores are a tragedy. Or are you hoping to find some medicinal herbs in here to enhance your performance…?”

“You bitch!”

“You’re asking for a fight!”

“You’ll regret that, you little… I’ll turn that smooth skin of yours into cracked desert sand!”

Enraged, they began drawing their wands, their faces red with fury.

Mana surged, their power coalescing, but… it was unstable, uncontrolled. I could see the flaws in their magic circles, the weak points in their defenses.

-Clang! Clang! Ting!

“Wh-What?!”

“How did he…!”

“These idiots can’t even cast a simple mana arrow. Let us handle this.”

“Move aside! There’s only one of him! We can just knock him out!”

Now, a group of drunken thugs armed with various weapons emerged from the shadows.

I could see their movements, their attack patterns, their intentions.

One was swinging a club wildly, his brute strength his only weapon.

A well-placed strike to his shoulder would dislocate it.

Another was wielding a massive axe, his movements clumsy and uncontrolled.

If I deflected his attack, he would lose his balance and probably hit his own allies.

“Ugh!”

“Whoa!”

“Watch where you’re swinging, you idiot!”

One dropped his sword, another tripped and fell, and another, attempting a wide swing, overextended and was knocked unconscious.

Amateurs. All of them.

They were all bark and no bite.

Meanwhile, my fiancée was a different story.

“Harnie, are you ready?”

“Yes. Just finished.”

-Gulp.

Harnie calmly neutralized the incoming mana arrows. The number of projectiles decreased drastically, making it easier for me to move.

And she wasn't just defending.

She was preparing a spell. A powerful spell that would melt the floor beneath their feet.

“W-Wait! This…”

“There’s no escape!”

“Someone stop her!”

“Aaah! My hair! Let go!”

“Don’t pull! You’ll drag me down with you!”

One after another, they fell, trapped in the muddy swamp created by Harnie’s magic.

I used my sword, she used her magic.

We worked together, efficiently dispatching the remaining thugs.

The hallway was finally quiet.

It was over.

Now, we could leave—

“There he is!”

…What?

Why was he here? I had tied him up!

“That’s him! He’s the one who stole my button!”

-Ding!

▶ Episode XI. The Source of the Contamination is in progress. ◀

▶ Incident at the black market! Button timer expired. ◀

▶ Escape the black market. ◀

▶ Exit the black market within the time limit. ◀

Oh, come on.

This damn game.

There was a timer?

“…”

“Carsein? What’s going on?”

Harnie, seeing the approaching guards, looked at me with a panicked expression.

“Sorry, Harnie. Just hold on tight.”

“Wh-What?! Kyaaa!”

I scooped her up into my arms and ran.

***

“He’s not here! Check the other side!”

“I don’t see him!”

“Damn it! Did he go back into the market?!”

“Keep searching! We’re screwed if we don’t find him!”

The guards’ footsteps faded away as they continued their search.

I waited, holding my breath, until the sounds of their pursuit died down, until the guards’ shouts were no longer audible.

“Haa…”

“Haa…”

I wasn’t the only one catching my breath.

Harnie, too, was breathing heavily, her body trembling slightly.

“Ahahaha.”

The tension broken, she started laughing.

“You make so many mistakes, it’s almost endearing.”

…Was it really that funny?

She was even tearing up.

-Ding!

▶ Episode XI. The Source of the Contamination cleared. ◀

▶ Successfully escaped the black market. ◀

Well, at least I cleared the episode.

“Here. You can have this now, Harnie.”

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

Harnie took the box containing the gemstone.

She gazed at it with a melancholic expression before opening the pendant and placing the gemstone inside.

“It fits perfectly. It was meant to be there.”

“…Yes. I never thought I would wear it again.”

Her gaze, which had been fixated on the pendant, softened as she smiled and handed me the silver dagger.

“Here you go, Carsein.”

“Thanks.”

I had almost forgotten about it.

This dagger was supposed to be a key piece of evidence.

If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have even bothered bidding on it.

But…

It was glowing brightly.

-Ding!

▶ Acquired the Silver Dagger of the Wederos Kingdom. ◀

▶ Memorial activated. ◀

There was no reason to hesitate.

Memorials revealed Carsein’s past, offering clues and hints.

This one would surely contain the evidence I needed to expose the Waglu faction.

But then…

-Crackle, sizzle, pop.

‘…What’s happening?’

A strange crackling sound, followed by an even brighter light.

-Flash!

The Memorial transported me to a place unlike any I had seen before.

─Ahahaha.

─So, Mom, listen to this…

“…”

A mother and daughter, their laughter echoing from outside…

It was a familiar sound, a familiar scene.

“What the hell is that house doing here?”

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