I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: CHAPTER 1 (8)

The arrival of the newcomer abruptly ended Theo Ramstear's tirade.
As the oppressive darkness retreated, chased away by a brilliant light, a wave of relief washed over Flora.
It didn't matter who it was; someone had come.
Someone had heard her cries.
Someone could help.
She could tell them what had happened, reveal the truth about her kidnapping. She could ensure that Theo Ramstear faced justice.
That was all that mattered.
It didn't matter if it was her mother, her face etched with fury, leading the ducal knights, ready to punish the villain who dared lay a hand on her daughter.
Or her eldest sister, her sword pointed at Theo’s throat, vowing to end his life right then and there.
Or her second eldest sister, her voice laced with chilling venom, threatening to burn him alive, leaving behind nothing but ashes.
Any of those scenarios would suffice.
It didn't matter if it was a knight from their household, a knight from one of the Bagrand vassal families, a complete stranger, or even a royal guard, summoned by another noble family.
It didn’t matter who had come.
What mattered was that a glimmer of hope, a single ray of light, had pierced through the suffocating darkness.
-Clang! Thud!
“Gah!”
The newcomer burst through the door, their blade clashing against Theo’s, a flurry of steel that culminated in a deep cut across Theo’s shoulder.
Blinded by the sudden light, Flora couldn’t see clearly, but she recognized her captor’s voice, his confident taunts replaced by a string of curses as he was forced to retreat.
But…
Something about the newcomer felt… familiar.
Their build was leaner than Theo’s, their frame almost swallowed by the larger knight’s shadow.
A sense of déjà vu washed over her, a need to see, to confirm, to dispel the growing unease.
Her eyes, adapted to the darkness, burned in the sudden light, but she forced them open, desperate for clarity.
She had to see.
Because if her suspicions were true… If the figure battling Theo Ramstear was who she thought it was… She would break down, tears flowing freely.
‘It… It can’t be him. It has to be another knight… One of the leaner ones…’
-Slash!
Another spray of blood, a crimson arc that splattered across Flora’s skirt, staining the fabric with a grotesque pattern.
It wasn’t Theo Ramstear’s blood.
“Just a lucky shot. You’re still pathetic, even with a sword.”
Theo’s arrogant laughter echoed through the room as the newcomer was pushed back.
Her suspicions were confirmed.
The newcomer was outmatched.
Their build was slighter, their strength lacking. When their swords clashed, it was Theo’s blade that remained steady, unwavering.
When the newcomer attempted to use their shoulder to gain leverage, to push through Theo’s defense… When their blades locked, the balance shifted, and the newcomer was forced to stumble back, leaving an opening that allowed Theo to land a kick…
It was the newcomer who was losing.
And now, her eyes had adjusted to the light.
‘What…?’
A heavy dread settled over her, replacing the initial relief.
No. It couldn’t be.
It couldn’t possibly be him.
But he was here.
Sweat plastered his dark hair, the once vibrant blue nearly faded to black.
‘Carsein… What are you doing here?’
The person she had tormented, the person she had belittled… He was here, wielding a sword, fighting to save her.
Relief and denial warred within her as she stared, her gaze fixed on the unfolding battle, unable to look away.
-Clang! Clang! Ting!
“You… You dare… You think you can defeat me?!”
Theo Ramstear’s furious roar reverberated through the shack as he pushed Carsein back.
A deep gash marred Carsein’s shoulder, blood staining his clothes.
The light, cruel in its intensity, illuminated every wound, every drop of blood.
-Thud!
Another spray of blood, a crimson arc that painted a gruesome tableau on the wooden floor.
Carsein’s blood.
‘No…’
Run.
That’s what she wanted to scream, her voice trapped behind the gag.
She wanted to urge Carsein, her tormentor, her savior, to run, to escape, to save himself.
Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered, her pleas for his safety swallowed by the gag.
But…
“You… You insignificant wretch… You’re the reason… You’re the reason everyone is suffering… Just die! Die already—!”
-Clang! Slash!
“Gah?!”
“I’ve figured you out. You’re nothing but a walking inferiority complex.”
He wasn’t running.

***

Theo Ramstear.
He was Carsein’s nemesis, the true antagonist of Chapter 1, just like Emma and those cruel maids.
He was cunning, manipulative, a master of deceit.
He had isolated Carsein, exploiting his vulnerabilities, crafting scenarios that painted him as the villain, the troublemaker.
And as the highest-ranking trainee knight, destined to become an official knight in a few months, he was an opponent Carsein could never hope to defeat.
But the Theo Ramstear standing before me… He was no formidable foe.
He was weak.
Insecure.
Consumed by a crippling self-doubt that drove him to seek power through others, to build his strength on the backs of the weak.
Those like him operated under a specific set of rules.
They never targeted those stronger than themselves.
They preyed on the weak, exploiting them, manipulating them, using them to build a facade of power.
They believed that strength lay in numbers, in controlling those beneath them.
A delusion of power built on borrowed strength.
His strength wasn't earned through hard work, through dedication, through the meticulous construction of a solid foundation.
It was a flimsy, hastily assembled structure, a facade of power built on shortcuts and manipulation.
Why did he do it?
Because he was lacking. Because he had given up. Because he envied those who possessed what he craved. Because he had strayed from the path of hard work, choosing shortcuts and manipulation over dedication and perseverance.
Insecurity.
That gnawing insecurity, the inability to accept his own shortcomings, had driven him to this.
He clung to his twisted justifications, convincing himself that his methods were valid, that the ends justified the means.
Perhaps that’s why he and Flora were so alike.
Perhaps that’s why their roles in this twisted game, as Carsein’s antagonists, were inevitable.
They were both driven by the same crippling insecurity, the fear of losing what they believed belonged to them, their place within the family.
And that's why…
-Clang! Thud!
“Ugh…?!”
I wouldn’t lose.
I couldn't lose to Theo Ramstear, a pathetic excuse for a knight, a bully who preyed on the weak.
Yoonji and Hyunseong had taught me better than that.
“Don’t you get it? You have no idea why you’re losing?”
“Shut up!”
“You’ve only ever targeted the weak. You’ve never faced a real challenge.”
“I said shut up, you filthy commoner!”
-Swish! Swish!
His swordsmanship was crude, predictable, just like Bruce’s. All brute force, no finesse.
He might have been a slight improvement over Bruce, but they were ultimately cut from the same cloth. He hadn't trained properly, relying on shortcuts and deception, and his body, just like his swordsmanship, lacked balance and finesse.
I could see it now.
His weight was shifted forward, but his movements were slow, his stance hesitant, his legs planted firmly on the ground, like a scared child clinging to a support beam.
He was all brute force, charging forward, trying to overpower his opponents with strength alone.
-Thwack!
I exploited his unbalanced stance, a swift, precise cut that grazed his arm, drawing blood.
-Thwack!
He charged again, his teeth gritted in fury, and I repeated the maneuver, another shallow cut on his other arm.
Two strikes.
In quick succession.
He wouldn’t dismiss it as luck anymore.
And as he lunged, driven by frustration and anger, I twisted his sword, disarming him, and landed a solid punch to his face.
“Gah!”
He stumbled back, collapsing onto the floor, gasping for breath.
He was the one exhausted, not me.
“What’s the point of building a tower if it’s just a pile of rocks precariously stacked on top of each other? That’s why you can never win.”
“You…!”
“Admit it. You’ve never once given it your all, have you?”
He had always taken the easy way out.
“Aaaargh!”
His eyes, consumed by madness, widened in fury.
He lashed out, his sword a blur of steel, driven by desperation and rage.
But his attacks were no longer a threat.
The blood that had stained his blade had dried, leaving behind a dark, sticky residue.
From the moment the first drop of blood hit the floor… I hadn't allowed him to land a single blow.
-Thwack!
Another punch connected with his face, breaking his nose, a steady stream of blood staining his once-handsome features.
It was time to end this.
I drove my sword into the floor, pinning him down as he struggled to stay upright.
“Pathetic. Is that sword nothing more than a walking stick?”
“You… You little…!”
Such a simple taunt, yet it worked every time.
He had no idea how deeply his words had cut, how much his actions had hurt.
And I would return the favor.
Tenfold.
Even if it meant breaking my promise to Yoonji and Hyunseong.
-Clang!
Our blades clashed, a resounding impact that sent his sword flying through the air.
It struck the ceiling before clattering onto the floor, splitting in two.
“H-How… How can a mana-infused sword break…?”
“It’s not about the mana.”
“What?”
“You wouldn’t understand. You’ve never used a sword properly. You don’t know where to strike, how to apply pressure, how to use your body weight to maximize your strength.”
“Don’t mock me! You… You think you’ve actually… You think you’ve defeated me?!”
Yes.
He would never accept defeat.
I still remembered their faces, those bullies who had looked down on me, who had underestimated me, only to be defeated, their arrogance shattered.
He was just like them.
Theo Ramstear.
-Thud!
“Aaaargh!”
The blade sank into his flesh, a spray of blood erupting as he screamed in agony.
“You tried to frame me. You injured an innocent person, crippling her arm. It’s only fair that you suffer the consequences, wouldn’t you agree?”
“W-What… What are you…”
-Crack!
A sickening crunch echoed through the room, followed by another earsplitting scream.
I drove the blade deeper, twisting it, grinding it against bone, the wooden floor slick with blood.
“I don’t care if you can’t accept reality. But if you break someone else’s reality… You have to pay the price.”
“S-Stop… Stop… Aaaaargh!”
-Crack!
I felt it, the bone splintering beneath the blade.
And to ensure he savored every moment of pain, I pressed the blade against the fractured bone, twisting it gently.
“This is for Radiel Gruppein.”
“Aaaargh!”
“This is for Mark Redelstein, who is suffering because of you.”
“Gaaaah! S-Stop… Please… Stop…!”
“And this is for Carsein Bagrand, whose life you tried to destroy because of your petty insecurities.”
“Aaaargh! Please! Please stop! I beg you!”
And this… This was for someone I didn’t even know.
“If your arm was still intact, you might have been able to bribe your way out of a few decades of hard labor in the mines. You are a knight, after all. But now… with a broken arm… How will you manage?”
“N-No… No! Stop! Stop it!”
“You reap what you sow. Bastard.”
Experience the pain.
Tenfold. A hundredfold. A thousandfold.
Rot in the mines, your body broken, your dreams shattered.
-Crack!
The bone snapped, a clean break.
His arm was ruined. Even with immediate medical attention, a full recovery was impossible.
He collapsed, unconscious, foam bubbling at his lips.
I stared at him, my expression blank, emotionless.
I had just injured a man, perhaps even crippled him for life, yet my hands didn’t tremble.
…This must be Carsein’s rage, his anger taking over.
With that thought, I turned away, my gaze falling on Flora.
Her eyes were wide with shock, her face pale, her body trembling.
She was terrified.
Witnessing a life-or-death struggle, the sight of blood and violence… It was too much for a child like her.
Not that I felt any sympathy or concern.
‘I’m reaching my limit…’
I had pushed myself too far.
Carsein’s body was weak, and the intense focus, the adrenaline rush, had taken its toll.
Even a seasoned veteran would struggle to remain calm in a situation like this, a fight to the death, blood splattering, flesh tearing, bones breaking.
And I… I was just an ordinary guy who had never experienced anything remotely close to this.
My body ached, my mind exhausted.
▶Theo Ramstear has been defeated!◀
▶You have achieved a result beyond the choices provided!◀
▶Rescue Flora to complete the episode.◀
The system notification appeared, a confirmation that it was finally over.
I forced myself to stay awake, my vision blurring, my body swaying. I removed the gag from Flora’s mouth, my hands trembling.
And then, with the last of my strength, I cut her bonds, freeing her hands and legs.
▶Bleeding status inflicted!◀
▶Confused status inflicted!◀
▶Insufficient HP to withstand current status effects. Unconscious status inflicted!◀
It was done.
Darkness closed in, swallowing my vision.
▶Episode VI: Missing, cleared!◀
▶Chapter 1 complete!◀
“C-Carsein!”
I could rest now.
The episode was over; I had successfully avoided the bad ending.
“───! ─────!!”
Flora’s voice, a frantic mix of fear and concern, reached me as I slipped into unconsciousness.
But I didn’t care.
I just wanted to sleep.

***

Her heart pounded, each clang of steel sending a wave of anxiety through her.
Every drop of his blood sent chills down her spine, her body shrinking back instinctively.
And as he was pushed back, his clothes torn, his body bruised and battered, her heart swelled with a protective anger.
Her emotions, a tumultuous mix of fear and concern, surged through her as she watched, her gaze fixed on the unfolding battle.
And then…
Carsein, having defeated Theo Ramstear, turned towards her.
He released her bonds.
Her hands, freed from their restraints, trembled as she flexed her fingers.
The gag fell to the floor, liberating her voice.
But her gaze remained fixed on him.
-Thud.
“C-Carsein!”
He collapsed, his body slumping to the ground.
Panic surged through her as her heart skipped a beat.
She reached for him, her arms, still marked by the ropes, cradling his head gently, trying to prevent further injury.
He was unconscious, his eyes closed.
“W-Wake up! Wake up!”
Fear gripped her, a flashback to a nightmare she desperately wanted to forget.
Blood seeped through his wounds, staining his clothes.
“B-Blood…”
Her hands, sticky with his blood, sent a wave of revulsion through her.
She had always viewed blood with indifference, a mere bodily fluid, a nuisance to be cleaned up.
But now… His blood, staining her hands… It felt different.
“N-No… No…!”
Fear clawed at her throat.
His blood…
It was because of her.
Because of her actions, her cruelty, her lies.
She was terrified, convinced that he wouldn’t wake up, that the nightmare she had witnessed, the nightmare where he burned alive, would become reality.
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched his hand, her voice trembling, pleading:
“Please… Someone… Help us!”
Her desperate cries reached someone, somewhere.
Her sisters arrived, their faces etched with worry, and immediately began tending to his wounds.
The physician’s words, a steady stream of medical jargon, were lost on her.
Even if he reassured her, told her his injuries were minor… She wouldn’t believe him.
Her hand remained clasped around Carsein’s, her tears flowing freely.
“I… I-I’m sorry… P-Please… Wake up…”
She begged, her words choked with sobs.
She prayed for him to wake up, for him to be alright, for the nightmare to end.
“I’m… I’m… Hicc… Wake up…”
I’m so sorry…
It’s all my fault…
Please… Please don’t leave me…
The words, strangled by her sobs, remained unspoken.
But even without uttering them, she felt a shift within her, a release of emotions she had suppressed for so long.
Acceptance.
Remorse.
A glimmer of understanding.
▶Hidden episode cleared!◀
▶Flora’s affinity has changed!◀
[ ???: 60% ]