I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Probation Period (4)

After successfully snatching a prized possession from the naive trainee, Bruce, feeling rather pleased with himself, was about to leave Carsein with a few parting words of “advice.” But then… he heard it. That unsettling laughter.

He spun around, his face contorting with annoyance.

“What’s so funny? You think my sincere advice is a joke?”

Had the kid gone mad? Bruce was ready to dish out some extra punishment, but Carsein, unfazed, shot back with a venomous retort.

“Senior? Sincere advice? Don’t make me laugh.”

“What did you just say? Are you out of your mind?”

“You’re the one who cheated to get in here. What advice could you possibly give me? Maybe if you groveled at my feet…”

“What… what?!”

Bruce’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could he possibly know?

“You… you little…! What are you talking about? I earned my place in the First Knight Squadron fair and square!”

“Oh really? Want me to elaborate? You drugged your two closest friends, the ones who were supposed to advance with you, claiming it was all in the spirit of ‘healthy competition.’ And those other two? You challenged them to duels, then slipped laxatives into their water bottles beforehand, didn’t you?”

“You… you lying…! How could you possibly know?! You weren’t even there!”

Bruce vehemently denied it, but the accusations were true.

But how could Carsein possibly know? No one else did.

And yet, he spoke with such confidence, such detail, as if he had witnessed it all firsthand.

Bruce, his composure crumbling, couldn't take it anymore. He slowly advanced on Carsein, his fists clenching.

“You think you can disrespect your seniors like that? You might have the First Lady backing you, guaranteeing your spot, but I’m gonna teach you some manners right here, right now.”

His knuckles cracked ominously.

“How dare you talk to me like that! I’m not gonna let this slide!”

This was going to be a one-sided beating disguised as “discipline.”

Ding!

▶Bruce is approaching you with the intention of violence.◀
▶If he catches you, you will be subjected to a brutal beating! Be careful!◀

RPG Maker games were usually story-driven, relying heavily on choices and object interactions. Trying to incorporate a fighting game mechanic into such a system was… challenging.

So, they had opted for a simplified approach. A mini-game, where the player had to control a miniature Carsein sprite, dodging Bruce’s punches and kicks.

But… I already knew.

That mini-game wouldn’t appear.

The status window, a remnant of the game, wouldn't grant me access to those system-aided mechanics. I had learned that during the Snowflake Festival.

The mini-games there had required pure manual control, with no system assistance. It had actually been… advantageous.

That experience had taught me something crucial: I couldn’t rely on the game’s systems.

Which meant… in this situation, I was on my own.

But I wasn’t entirely unprepared.

‘Bruce is the weakest of the apprentice knights. I can beat him, just like in the game.’

Statistically, Bruce was the most incompetent of the bunch. I hadn’t caught up to him during the run by chance.

Even in Carsein’s weak state, he was the perfect opponent, someone I could realistically defeat, even with the stat difference. And right now, he was underestimating me.

I could take him.

I maintained my distance, my eyes darting back and forth as Bruce slowly approached.

‘Left-handed, huh.’

His entire body was angled towards the left. His balance, his gait, even the way he stretched… everything favored his left side.

This information could prove to be useful.

As I waited for Bruce to enter the well area, my mind raced, sifting through old memories.

-Ugh!
-That habit of yours… it makes you predictable. Min-hyeok.
-What are you talking about? How could you possibly know?
-Start with the basics. You don’t need to analyze every hand and foot movement. But… peculiarities, habits… they always reveal themselves during a fight.

A one-sided fighting stance. It was a crucial clue.

It would allow me to anticipate his attacks, to predict his movements.

“Hah! You think you can run from me, you little rat? Take this! And this! And this!”

His fists flew towards me, but I was ready. I knew his tells, his weaknesses.

I dodged each blow, slipping past his defenses.

Of course, dodging wasn't enough.

-Min-hyeok. What will you do if you find yourself unarmed?
-I’ll avoid that situation entirely.
-No. It will happen eventually. And when it does… what will you do?
-Hmm…

Back then, I hadn’t had an answer.

But now… I understood.

-The fact that you’re unarmed… it’ll make you appear weak. And the more your opponent underestimates you… the better. There’s nothing more dangerous than a complacent enemy.

Her words echoed in my mind. And somehow… they fit.

“What’s the matter? Can’t keep up?”

Bruce, mistaking my evasive maneuvers for fear, grew more confident, his attacks becoming more aggressive.

Unlike those pampered noble boys I had seen during the imperial audience, Bruce’s punches packed a real punch. I had witnessed their training firsthand. These weren't children playing pretend. I could dodge, block, but with each attack, I was forced to retreat.

And that… that was the key.

Bruce, cornered me, a triumphant smirk on his face. He threw a punch, confident that this time, he had me trapped.

But he hadn't anticipated this. He had overcommitted, relying on his dominant left arm, but… I was watching his right. The one fueled by arrogance, by blind confidence.

It was slow. Weak. Clumsy.

I seized my chance.

His fist, instead of connecting with my face, grazed my shoulder. The force of his swing threw him off balance, and…

He stumbled.

I adjusted my position, my back to him, my body forming a solid base.

His momentum carried him forward, his arm caught in my grip. His body, already off-balance, toppled over my shoulder, his weight shifting, his trajectory… vertical.

Thud.

His body hit the ground hard.

“Oof…!”

Bruce, instead of boasting, let out a pained groan.

Ding!

▶You have successfully defeated Bruce!◀
▶You did not receive a single hit!◀
▶Bruce’s spirit is completely broken. He will not attack you again!◀

[ 1. That’s what you get for messing with me. ]
[ 2. You started it. ]
[ 3. You call yourself a senior? We’re barely a few months apart. ]

The mini-game was over.

Any of these choices would do. But right now, I needed to provoke him.

“That’s what you get for messing with me.”

“You little…!”

Bruce glared at me, his face contorted with rage and humiliation. He had lost. He had been defeated by someone significantly smaller, significantly weaker.

And as the choice window had indicated, he wouldn’t retaliate. Not now.

‘Time to move on.’

I had laid the groundwork. Bruce’s humiliation, his pain… it wouldn’t last. I could continue taunting him, or even retaliate, but that wasn’t the plan.

I had bigger fish to fry.

I brushed past him, heading for the exit.

Then, I noticed it. Arina’s towel, tucked away safely in Bruce’s pouch.

“…”

Even in the real world, I had never returned the things my eldest sister had given me.

This was no different. I had no reason to reclaim it.

But old memories resurfaced, flooding my mind.

The dojo, my sanctuary, where I had learned to defend myself. The fight, the victory, against a bully who was… just like Bruce.

And… the one who had watched it all unfold.

It was… uncannily similar.

‘I couldn’t say it back then, but… this time, I will.’

That this… this was all her fault.

“…”

At the same time, Arina, who had left the training grounds and was about to return to the manor, abruptly stopped.

She had anticipated Carsein’s stubborn insistence on pushing himself too hard. She had tried to dissuade him, but he hadn’t listened.

He was stubborn, headstrong… she could understand. But he couldn’t keep going at this pace. She had to intervene.

But then… he had addressed her as “Lady Arina,” his words laced with formal detachment. And when she tried to help, he had told her… that she was making things worse.

She had tried to show her support, to offer him some comfort…

His words had hurt.

She was… angry. She wanted him to suffer, to experience the full brunt of the training he so desperately craved.

But…

-Arina, if you see Carsein today… try not to get angry, no matter what he says.

-He has every right to be upset. Just… let him do what he wants, for now. Understand, my dear?

Her mother’s voice, filled with sadness, echoed in her mind, slowing her steps.

“Ha… yes. Mother is right. I’m here… to help him.”

Arina turned around, heading back towards the training grounds.