I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Probation Period (3)

"Huff… huff…!"

Another day, another grueling training session. It was day four, and my weak body was struggling to keep up.

As usual, I was lagging behind. But…

“Hey Bruce, you’re gonna get caught at this rate!”

“What?! When did he…!”

“Haha! Better pick up the pace if you wanna win that bet.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I was just taking it easy!”

Lv. 7 (SP: 0.15)

▶Strength 2.68
▶Agility 3.50
▶Stamina 4.11
▶Health 2.10
▶Immunity 1.05
▶??? 0.20

My steadily increasing stats finally allowed me to keep pace with the slowest apprentice knight, whom I previously couldn't even come close to.

Of course, it was a fleeting victory.

My lungs burned, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The intensity of their training was overwhelming. But I felt… stronger. Healthier. This was something I needed to keep doing. And my stats were proving to be useful after all.

‘It’s still too early. I have the key, but…’

Even though I had obtained the key at this point in the game, it hadn’t been usable. I hadn’t thought much about it back then, but now, experiencing this firsthand… I understood.

It was too risky. Patience was the key.

“…Tch!”

A knight sped past me. No, a whole group of them. That irritated click of his tongue… it was definitely directed at me. A few of them even “accidentally” bumped into me as they passed.

Ding!

‘Oh, here we go again.’

A choice popped up, its contents predictable. Why were they targeting me? Should I demand an apology I knew I wouldn't get?

Ignoring them was the best course of action. Even with this option staring me in the face:

[ 5. (Approaching Arina) Sis, did you see that? He just rammed into me! ]

‘I wouldn’t say that even if I was insane.’

Isabella had visited on day three, and Arina today. The knights wouldn’t dare do anything too reckless with them watching.

The group run ended, and just as the choice window disappeared, Arina approached.

I pretended not to notice her, heading straight for the well. Her footsteps followed, quickening as mine did.

Choice after choice popped up, urging me to acknowledge her, but I ignored them all.

Then, she grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to stop.

“This training seems too intense for you. Why are you pushing yourself so hard? It’s foolish.”

Ding!

The previous choices vanished, replaced by new ones.

[ 1. (Shaking her hand off) I stink of sweat right now. ]
[ 2. (Acting nonchalant) What’s the problem? ]
[ 3. I’m a trainee of the First Knight Squadron now. ]

I turned to face her. She seemed displeased with my behavior.

I felt the same. About these choices.

The first one made no sense. Why would I be considerate of her feelings?

The second one was tempting. Feigning ignorance, dismissing her concern… but it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t erase the sting of her accusations.

And then there was the third one…

‘I don’t feel like talking to her. But maybe… maybe I should play along with what she wants.’

This was a scenario triggered by high affinity, so there was no risk of death flags.

I turned to face her, standing at attention.

“Do you have orders for me, Lady Arina?”

“What?”

“You must have come here for a reason.”

“Orders? You…?”

Arina raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.

She knew exactly what I was doing.

“I’m currently a trainee undergoing the probationary period for the First Knight Squadron.”

I switched from a standing at attention to a salute, deliberately exaggerating the gesture.

Arina immediately grabbed my shoulders, forcing me out of the pose.

“Trainee? What are you talking about? You’re my brother!”

“Within the training grounds, we follow the rules of the training grounds.”

“Carsein…”

Her grip tightened, her annoyance palpable.

“Don't play these games with me. I understand why you want to go through this process, but don’t use knightly etiquette against me.”

She was making it clear that she wasn’t here to interact with ‘Trainee Carsein,’ but with ‘Carsein Bagrand,’ her brother. She wanted to blur the lines, but she wasn’t ready to completely relinquish control.

‘Better stop here.’

If I pushed her too far, her anger might outweigh her affection. She might revert to her old ways, ordering the knights to drag me back to the manor, just like in the game when our affinity was low.

“So? What do you want?”

I splashed water on my face, wiping away the sweat with a bored expression. I already knew why she was here, but this was the least offensive option available.

“…I just wanted to see how you were doing,” she replied stiffly. “To make sure you were… adjusting well.”

“Or to make sure I wasn’t causing any trouble?”

Her brows furrowed.

It was because of that incident.

“That’s not it. I’m here to… observe. Make sure you’re not being mistreated. The knights have… certain customs that can be… unpleasant.”

“Right.”

I turned off the tap, drying my face. Arina offered me a towel.

“I have my own,” I said, pulling out my own towel from my pouch.

She sighed softly.

“As I said, this training is too much for you. I’ll have a word with Mark. Tell him to ease up.”

“Don’t bother.”

Ding!

Before the notification even appeared, I continued.

“For my sake… stop coming here. And don’t bring any more… gifts.”

“…”

She had come bearing gifts. The towel, and probably other things meant to ease my training.

But I didn’t want her help.

Not anymore.

“The knight who receives special treatment from the First Lady? No one would respect that. I trust you understand.”

I reminded her, once again, that within the training ground, I was a trainee bound by its rules, not her brother.

Her brows furrowed, her frustration evident.

Just as I had predicted, she took the bait.

“Carsein… have you already forgotten why I was angry?”

She had swallowed it whole.

Time for the second choice.

[ 3. I don't need it. ] It was the perfect choice, the one that truly reflected my feelings.

“I told you, didn’t I? I hate it when you… when you reject my efforts. I might have been wrong to doubt you, but this… this is different.”

Her gaze hardened, her voice laced with anger.

And I… I had to choose the worst possible response.

▶Arina is upset. How do you react?
▶Warning! This choice cannot be postponed!◀

[ 1. What do I care? It serves you right. You made me feel bad, now it’s your turn. It’s only fair. ]
[ 2. You don’t seem to realize that you’re actually making things harder for me? ]
[ 3. Seriously? You want me to remember that? Do you even have a conscience? ]
[ 4. That’s what you call favoritism. You’re deliberately trying to sabotage me, aren't you? ]

The fourth day. An additional choice, triggered by my increased affinity with Arina.

And I…

“Ha. Here we go again.”

“What?”

“You don’t seem to realize that you’re actually making things harder for me? Have you already forgotten?”

I chose the words that would hurt her the most.

She had put a lot of thought into this plan, into making amends. Seeing the ripped document, the proof of her distrust, had filled her with guilt.

She wanted to make things right. She remembered how much I had enjoyed training at the grounds, and she wanted to support me, to help me succeed.

But my words…

“Ha. Here we go again.”

“You don’t seem to realize that you’re actually making things harder for me? Have you already forgotten?”

She had tried to help, and I was telling her… that she was making things worse.

It was infuriating.

“You…!”

She stopped herself, her anger replaced by a cold, resigned expression.

“Fine. I was foolish. I shouldn't have bothered trying to coddle someone who wants to suffer.”

Flap.

The towel landed on the ground, discarded like a piece of trash.

“I’ve gone through knight training myself. I know how grueling it is. I’m actually… curious to see how long you’ll last. So go ahead. Get yourself beaten up. It’s what you want, isn’t it?”

She turned and walked away, her fiery red ponytail swaying with each angry step.

I watched her go, my gaze shifting from her retreating figure to the status window that had appeared.

“Wow, look at this. This guy’s getting all sorts of special treatment from the First Lady, isn’t he?”

My moment of contemplation was interrupted. An unwelcome guest had arrived.

‘There he is.’

I quickly assessed him, taking in his appearance.

Spiky orange hair that resembled a slug. Freckles splattered across his cheeks. A swaggering gait and an air of… cheap arrogance.

I recognized him instantly.

‘So that’s Bruce.’

The laziest, most incompetent of the apprentice knights. The one who had joined the Duke’s Knight Squadron for the money.

He was just as pathetic in real life as he was in the game.

“What are you staring at? You know how many ranks separate us, kid?”

His voice was as grating as his appearance. I had seen his type countless times before.

He was a bully. A predator.

‘If Arina was here, he wouldn’t dare open his mouth.’

That’s why I had been forced to drive her away.

But I wasn’t afraid. I knew how bullies operated. They preyed on the weak, hiding behind their bravado and their imagined superiority.

I met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated by his pathetic attempts at dominance.

“What do you want?”

“What do I want? This little… no respect for his elders?”

Bruce shoved me, his hand landing squarely on my shoulder.

“You’re getting special treatment, kid. The probationary period is supposed to be a fair evaluation. You can’t just… buy your way in! This is… cheating! It’s strictly forbidden! Don’t you understand?”

He shoved me again, and again, his voice rising with each push.

“Don’t you think this is unfair to the others? Some of us had to fight tooth and nail to get in, while you… you just waltz in with your connections. It’s messed up, man!”

He picked up the discarded towel, carefully folding it.

“So… I’m confiscating this. Consider it me turning a blind eye to your cheating.”

He might have framed it as upholding the rules, but his intentions were clear.

He just wanted the expensive-looking towel.

It reminded me of… her.

Back in high school, my eldest sister had unexpectedly shown up, offering me a set of pens and pencils.

At least try to keep your notes organized. What is this mess?

She had left behind a mountain of supplies, everything I could possibly need.

I never found out why.

But that day… that day, those supplies had made me a target.

‘And here we are again. A greedy bully, his eyes on the prize. History repeats itself, doesn’t it?’

A familiar chill spread through me, a chilling reminder of past trauma. The unsettling parallels between this situation and my own experiences…

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Heh… hehe…”

My laughter, soft at first, grew louder, reaching the ears of Bruce, who was still admiring his newly acquired treasure.

‘Fine. I’ll teach them both a lesson.’

The greedy bully.

And the family that had enabled him.

It was time for payback.