I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Spring Outing (9)

To think he would just leave after causing such a scene…

It was baffling.

“Carsein! Get back here!”

Arina, her jaw clenched, watched in disbelief as Carsein walked away, ignoring her furious demands.

He didn’t even turn around.

“That brat…!”

Her anger surged, her blood boiling at his blatant disrespect. He had caused chaos, and now he was leaving without a word?

She couldn't even comprehend the level of punishment he deserved.

She stormed towards the open door, her footsteps heavy with fury.

And then, she saw Claire.

She had been so focused on Carsein that she had forgotten her younger sister was even there.

Claire was watching the scene unfold, her eyes wide with surprise, and Arina couldn't help but sigh.

“Claire, I’m leaving this to you. I have to go after that boy. Make sure they’re compensated. Preferably with money.”

“W-What?”

“I can’t let him get away with this! He’s been acting up lately, ruining the Duchy's reputation! This time, he's going to be punished!”

She turned to Claire, her voice laced with venom.

“He’s been getting away with so much! He was quiet for a while, but now he’s back to his old tricks! I can’t let him ruin Mother’s outing!”

Handling the compensation wouldn’t be a problem for Claire. She was more than capable.

Arina, fueled by her rage, chased after Carsein.

“W-Wait, Sister!”

But it was too late. Arina was already gone, her footsteps swift and determined.

This was bad. Really bad. She had wanted to hear Carsein’s side of the story, to understand what had happened.

But now, seeing her sister’s fury, she knew she had to intervene, to try and reason with Arina.

But she couldn’t leave.

‘…If I leave too, this will only get worse.’

She scanned the room, taking in the chaos.

Overturned tables. Broken chairs.

Spilled tea, shattered teacups scattered across the floor.

Objects, presumably thrown in anger, lay scattered everywhere.

The noble ladies huddled together, their faces pale with shock, while the men nursed their wounds, their expressions a mix of anger and humiliation.

It was a complete mess.

And Carsein had been here.

In the past, she would have joined Arina, lecturing Carsein, berating him for causing trouble.

But now…

‘Carsein knows he shouldn’t cause a scene, not today.’

She didn’t believe it was an accident.

Something was wrong.

‘I need to find out what happened.’

She hadn't witnessed the incident, she didn't know the full story.

She needed information before she could intervene.

“I just arrived, and I’m a bit confused. Could someone explain what happened?”

A young nobleman, clutching his stomach, raised his hand.

“I’ll explain, Lady Claire.”

“And your name is?”

“Hemnon. Hemnon Modric, of the Modric family.”

“Ah, the Modrics.”

She didn’t know them well, but she had heard something.

-The knights from the Modric estate, the ones who blocked the road, have been dismissed!

-Really? Good riddance!

She had overheard those words during her visit to Lusmire, the whispers of the villagers celebrating their victory.

‘It seemed like a trivial matter, something related to Carsein’s territory, so I didn't think much of it. But…’

There was something about this situation, a stench of deceit, that made her uneasy.

And Carsein’s words, spoken before he left, echoed in her mind.

-Look closely. Look at what they destroyed. Look at Hemnon’s shoe.

‘Shoe.’

She hadn’t heard the beginning of that sentence, but he had mentioned something about Hemnon’s shoe.

“Go on. Tell me everything.”

She would hear him out.

But first…

She would check his shoe.

***

Hemnon struggled to suppress his grin.

He couldn’t help it.

The situation was unfolding perfectly.

They hadn't managed to beat Carsein senseless, but his humiliating defeat, the unexpected display of strength and skill, was even better. It proved that he was still a fool, a reckless idiot.

And he would pay dearly for his actions.

It would take time for the rumors to spread, for the news to reach the Duchy.

But…

Arina Bagrand had witnessed everything.

Explaining the situation had been effortless.

He didn’t even need to elaborate. The other nobles’ exaggerated reactions and the state of the room spoke volumes.

He had embellished the truth, adding a few details, fabricating a few events, but Carsein hadn't protested.

And then, he had stormed off, followed by Claire Bagrand's appearance.

Everything was going according to plan.

‘Heh… Hehehe…’

Hemnon clenched his stomach, trying to suppress his laughter.

It was perfect.

Arina’s arrival had been a stroke of luck, but Carsein’s actions had created the perfect scenario for his downfall.

He would be blamed, he would be punished, and there was nothing he could do about it.

And now, with Arina gone, chasing after that fool, all he had to do was convince Claire.

“Go on. Tell me everything.”

The nobles smiled, their eyes gleaming with malice.

Some of them were already celebrating, their excitement barely concealed. The ladies hid their smiles behind their fans.

Hemnon, masking his glee, launched into his fabricated narrative, painting Carsein as the villain.

It wasn't difficult.

He simply had to highlight Carsein’s flaws, his supposed transgressions.

He had accidentally spilled his tea.

He had accidentally dropped and broken something.

He had apologized, but Carsein had responded with violence, and the others, trying to intervene, had been injured.

His humiliating defeat was the perfect evidence of Carsein’s savagery, his lack of self-control.

Hemnon finished his performance, eager to witness Claire’s reaction. He was slightly disappointed that Arina had left, but he was confident Claire would deliver the final blow.

But…

Claire was quiet. Unusually quiet.

‘What’s going on?’

He had expected her to be furious, to threaten Carsein, to demand compensation.

And then…

A hand clamped down on his neck, cutting off his air supply.

“Ugh?!”

“Haa… You… You lying bastard! Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

“L-Lady…?”

Hemnon blinked, his eyes widening in disbelief.

But the hand on his neck was real, the pressure undeniable.

It was Claire.

“An accident? Don’t make me laugh. You deliberately provoked him, didn't you? You thought you could lie to my face and I’d believe you?”

“W-What are you talking about! I would never lie!”

“Haa, you’re still talking? You pathetic, clueless trash.”

“Trash? That’s… That’s a bit harsh…!”

He couldn’t help but flinch as he met her gaze, her eyes blazing with fury.

“I… I met Carsein by chance, and I invited him to join us. We were simply enjoying tea and conversation. How is that a lie?”

He had to defend himself, to explain.

“Ahahaha! You invited him to join you? You met him by chance? And you were simply having a conversation?”

Claire’s laughter echoed through the room.

The other nobles watched, holding their breath, unsure how to react.

“Gah!”

She didn't give him a chance to explain, to defend himself.

She lifted him with a burst of magic, flinging him towards a nearby chair. He landed with a thud, his legs tangled in the overturned furniture.

His shoe, pointing towards the ceiling, revealed a small, sharp object embedded in its sole.

Claire reached for it, pulling it out with a swift motion.

“You said you dropped this and broke it, didn’t you, Hemnon? But Carsein said you stepped on it and crushed it.”

“T-That’s right.”

“So, you’re admitting that you lied. You piece of trash.”

Her voice dripped with disgust.

“Turmus Flower hairpins are incredibly fragile. But they don’t break from a simple fall.”

“Lady Claire, that doesn't make sense. How can something be fragile and unbreakable?”

“Even if you threw it out the window, even if you dropped it from a cliff, it wouldn’t break.”

Hemnon was about to protest, but Claire, with a flick of her wrist, tossed the fragment into the air.

To their astonishment, the fragment hovered for a moment, and then, as if defying gravity, it slowly drifted towards the floor.

“W-What…!”

“Turmus flowers have a unique property that protects them from impact. It’s a form of magic, and it’s retained even after the flower is processed. So, you’re telling me you accidentally dropped this and it shattered?”

-Crunch!

“…!”

“No, you stepped on it, didn’t you? That’s the only way to scatter the fragments and embed them in your shoe.”

She sat down, crossing her legs, and pointed at the fragment embedded in Hemnon’s shoe.

The scene she had recreated, the crushed hairpin and the scattered fragments, was identical to the one described by Carsein.

Hardening and fragmentation.

The Turmus flower’s unique properties.

He couldn’t deny it any longer.

“I-It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I…”

“A misunderstanding? You tried to frame my brother, and you call it a misunderstanding?”

He tried to salvage the situation, but…

“And that’s not all! You lied to my sister, and you even tried to deceive me! Do you think I’m that stupid?”

Claire’s eyes blazed with fury.

“I’m taking this as a declaration of war against the Bagrand Duchy, Hemnon Modric.”

Hemnon’s face drained of color.

A declaration of war against the Bagrand Duchy?

That was unthinkable.

If his father, the Count, found out, he wouldn't be able to protect him. He had threatened to disown him if he caused any more trouble, if he brought shame to the Modric family.

He had to fix this.

But…

“H-Hey, everyone! Help me…!”

“You… you dared lie to the Bagrands?”

“You despicable wretch! Hmph!”

“I should have let Carsein teach you a lesson!”

The tables had turned. He was now the one being accused, mocked, and condemned.

There was no escape.

Today, Hemnon Modric, would lose his family name.

***

The moment the message confirming the completion of the Spring Outing episode appeared, I knew I was free.

There were no warnings, no penalties, no more choices.

I had expected Arina or Claire to rush after me, to drag me back, to yell at me, but they didn’t.

So, this was the answer.

The solution wasn't about pleasing them, about catering to their whims and avoiding their wrath. It was about taking control, about creating a situation where I could escape their clutches.

Just like I had tried to escape my own family, just like Carsein was trying to escape the Bagrands.

“Heh.”

I chuckled, a genuine, unfettered sound.

I had to escape this place, this prison.

My plan was working.

I would play along, fulfill their demands, and then, when the time was right…

I would leave. Not secretly, not in shame, but with my head held high.

Just like I had done in my previous life.

One more time.

Logically. Realistically.

Emotionlessly.

-Ding!

“So this is the power of a Perfect Clear.”

▶ Episode IV. Spring Outing Cleared. ◀

▶ Successfully achieved an unexpected outcome! ◀

▶ Calculating rewards… ◀

■ Reward

▶ All penalties nullified! ◀

[ Target: Episode IV’s Danger Zone penalties, Affinity penalties, and Choice penalties. ]

▶ All future choices for this episode have been disabled! ◀

[ Target: Episode IV’s Danger Zone choices, Affinity choices, and additional story development choices. ]

▶ All scheduled events for this episode have been cancelled. You will be notified one episode in advance of the next scheduled event. Free Time activated. ◀

Not only were the penalties gone, but all the choices for this episode had been disabled.

The Bagrands were supposed to attend several gatherings with other nobles, dragging Carsein along with them.

But now, there were no notifications, no reminders, no restrictions.

An entire episode had been erased, replaced by Free Time.

But the game wouldn’t be so generous.

There was a catch.

“So, the reward only applies to Episode IV, which means the next episode is still in play, huh?”

That was cheap.

It meant I was free from Episode IV’s restrictions, but the next episode, the one that would lead to Chapter 3, was still looming.

“…Fine, I’ll take it. It’s better than being dragged around and forced to participate in that portrait session.”

I would use this time wisely, to strategize and prepare.

I couldn’t risk returning to the Duchy just yet, so I decided to check into a nearby hotel.

But of course…

“Carsein…?”

The little brat with golden hair was standing by the entrance, her eyes wide with surprise.

Damn it.

I had thought she’d be clinging to Isabella.

And of course, I had to run into her when the other two were gone.

‘I’ll just ignore her and go inside.’

The episode was over, and this location fell within Episode IV’s influence.

And I doubted she could trigger Episode V.

But as I tried to walk past her, she grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong.

“B-Blood…! Don’t be hurt! Please don’t be hurt, Carsein…!”

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