Mod7 Translations

I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 179

Added 2024-11-15 18:46:12 +0000 UTC

Chapter 179: Rock Bottom (3)

A player who becomes a lord is typically restricted from using their authority over the villagers. However, the Clue and Proof event allows them to exercise their rights through legitimate means.

This in-game system utilizes information gathered through territory surveys, rewards obtained from sub-episodes, and clues provided by Agents, to identify problems within the territory and facilitate smoother episode progression.

However, this “proof” isn’t to be taken lightly.

It usually involves a barrage of choices, and a single misstep can not only further damage the lord’s reputation but also weaken their authority.

If the player fails to gather sufficient evidence, to present a logical argument, to convince the villagers of the problem…

The only possible outcome is a bad ending.

But I wasn’t a fool.

“I understand your point. You’re saying our farming methods are flawed. I acknowledge that, to a certain extent.”

-Ding!

▶ You have presented a legitimate argument using the provided clues. ◀

▶ You have gained the right to issue commands to the villagers. Commands have a strength level from 1 to 10. You cannot issue commands exceeding your current strength level. ◀

[ Command Strength: 3 ]

‘First hurdle cleared.’

But I hadn’t reached the root of the problem yet.

The system hadn’t acknowledged it, but… this, too, was a clue.

I turned to Brem, my voice probing.

“It seems like you have something more to say.”

“I don’t.”

Brem’s response was curt, his expression unreadable. He was clearly hiding something.

‘Carsein had tried so desperately to hide this in the Memorial. I don’t know what it is, but… it seems like Shatrain doesn’t want this information to be revealed.’

Then, this wasn't a gamble, it was a sure win.

Someone with a secret would always be willing to make a deal to protect it.

“You’re lying to me again. I can’t ignore that.”

▶ Using authority obtained from the Clue and Proof event. ◀

▶ Command Strength: 3. ◀

[ You can seize partial control of the fields within the territory. ]

Control of the fields…

Perfect.

I displayed the territory map, drew a line across it, and then, placing a dart on one section, declared,

“This is your punishment. From this day forward, I will personally manage one-third of Shatrain’s fields.”

“What… What are you talking about…?”

“I need a control group to identify the flaws in your farming methods. It would be more efficient for me to manage it directly.”

“That’s absurd…!”

“That’s our land! You can’t just take it!”

“You’re going to ruin our fields again…!”

The villagers erupted in protest.

But…

The Village Head, who had been silent until now, was watching me intently.

It was as if he was willing to accept the loss of land, if it meant uncovering the truth.

“I kept my promise. I haven’t issued a single decree, despite having the authority to do so. But you’ve lied to me. How can I trust you? It’s more logical for me to manage the fields myself.”

“This is robbery! You’re abusing your power as a lord, as a noble!”

“That’s right! You don’t trust us, so you’re stealing our land! How can you call yourself our lord?!”

“This will affect your symposium score! Don’t you remember? We’re also being evaluated!”

“I don’t care.”

“What…?”

“Even if I lose points in that category, it’s better than having another food shortage crisis. An agricultural territory facing starvation? That would be far more damaging to my score. Don’t you think?”

“What are you planning to do with that land…!”

“I’m going to plant different crops. We can’t have another food shortage. Not in a self-sufficient territory like this.”

As expected, the villagers began protesting even louder.

“You’re not going to plant strawberries and grapes on one-third of our fields…?”

“You’re asking us to give up our specialties?! Our most prized crops?!”

“How much further do you intend to humiliate us?! We’re already at rock bottom, thanks to you! This is hell…!”

“Ha, damn it.”

I couldn't hold it in any longer. A curse slipped out, and the villagers, startled by my outburst, fell silent.

“Rock bottom? Ha… Haha.”

I laughed, a bitter, humorless sound.

“You call this rock bottom?”

The sheer absurdity of it all, the irony, made my blood run cold.

It was like listening to those idiots back in school, who couldn’t accept the truth, who insisted on handling things their own way, even when they were clearly wrong.

I couldn’t help but laugh, the bitterness twisting my lips into a sneer.

“Clinging to past glories, unable to face reality… You call this rock bottom? You, who have never experienced true hardship, who have lived comfortably in this blessed land…”

“What… What are you…”

-Ding!

▶ Perfect Clear conditions met for the Clue and Proof event. ◀

▶ Choose the following option. ◀

It hadn't been intentional.

I had simply lost control, my frustration boiling over.

But ironically, it was the right answer.

The perfect choice.

[ P. (Slamming the table) I’ve climbed up from a place far worse than your “rock bottom.” From the slums, the true rock bottom. ] ☑

-Bang!

“I’ve climbed up from a place far worse than your ‘rock bottom.’ From the slums, the true rock bottom.”

The villager who had been shouting at me flinched, his eyes widening in fear, and took a step back.

The others followed suit, their faces pale, their gazes averted.

They had touched a nerve, a raw wound.

“You call this hell? Having to temporarily give up your precious specialties, to plant different crops to ensure you have enough to eat? This is your rock bottom?”

“…”

“You’ve never experienced true hardship. You’ve never known true despair. You, who were born in this blessed land, who have never truly suffered… You dare call this rock bottom?”

Silence.

They had nothing to say.

Not to him, a man who had climbed up from the slums, a beggar who had known true hunger, true despair.

And not to me, who had endured it twice, who had fought tooth and nail to survive.

Their “rock bottom” was a joke, an insult.

“…Very well.”

“Village Head!”

“Brem!”

“You can manage that land. We’ll give it to you. It’s our fault, after all. But please, stop interfering.”

-Ding!

▶ Brem has ended the event. The Clue and Proof event has concluded. ◀

I wanted to learn more, to dig deeper, but, it seemed like this was the limit.

***

“The meeting is adjourned. Are there any further matters to discuss?”

“…”

Even after the meeting was officially over, the villagers remained, their faces filled with discontent.

Brem, speaking on their behalf, raised his hand.

“What is it?”

“We will manage the remaining land as we see fit. We will use our own farming methods. You will not interfere.”

Wait a minute.

This…

“V-Village Head! What are you saying?!”

“Be quiet, Ferdi!”

“Don’t interrupt the adults!”

Ferdi, his face filled with shock, tried to intervene, but the other villagers pushed him back.

“Brother! That’s… That’s…!”

He stumbled, falling to the ground, but his eyes, filled with a desperate plea, were fixed on me.

“The meeting is over. You’re all dismissed.”

“Village Head! Brem!”

“Silence!”

“…!”

“This is a discussion for adults. A child like you shouldn’t be here! Go back where you belong!”

The “adults,” nodding in agreement with Brem’s harsh words, grumbled and muttered among themselves.

But something felt off.

‘…Let’s test this.’

-Swish!

I drew my sword, its blade glinting in the lamplight.

“…”

“Don’t yell at him. He’s the one who discovered the fungus in your fields, the one you, with all your experience, failed to notice.”

Some of the villagers flinched, their eyes widening in fear.

A few even gasped.

But… the Village Head didn’t react.

As expected.

“…I wasn’t aware of that. I’ll be more careful.”

-Nod.

He simply bowed his head and left the hall.

After the villagers had dispersed, Ferdi grabbed my arm, his voice filled with panic.

“Brother! That’s not true! The Village Head…!”

“Don’t worry, Ferdi. I know he’s different from the others.”

“What?”

“He wouldn’t normally yell at you like that, would he?”

“That’s right… He… He always protects me, even when I steal things and run away. He was actually going to…”

Ferdi had promised Brem he would convince the villagers to listen to Carsein’s explanation.

But that promise couldn’t be kept.

It was too dangerous for Ferdi.

‘…He’s quite clever, that old man.’

I had found it strange that the Village Head, knowing that his decision would result in a loss for Shatrain, had simply accepted it.

He had seemed reluctant, his eyes filled with a silent plea, but his protests had been half-hearted, almost as if he was deliberately giving me information.

‘And his final statement bothered me.’

-We will manage the remaining land as we see fit. You will not interfere.

There were two possible interpretations.

First, he was telling me to stop interfering.

Second, he was saying he wouldn’t change their farming methods, that he believed they were correct.

He was refusing to reveal any secrets, clinging to their outdated traditions.

But there was a third, more subtle interpretation.

He was cutting his losses, ending the conversation before he revealed too much. And he was challenging me, daring me to prove him wrong, to demonstrate the flaws in their methods.

And that strategy, that challenge, had always been the most effective approach in the game.

‘It seems like he wasn’t the only one trying to change Shatrain.’

[ Brem Morhak ]

[ Affinity: 0% ]

There was a reason why his affinity box was the only white one.

I had to repay him, somehow.

“Ferdi.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Forget about what happened. For now. If you tell anyone, he’ll be in danger.”

“The Village Head? But why…!”

“He was protecting you. If the villagers find out, they’ll accuse him of being your accomplice.”

“That’s…”