Mod7 Translations

I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 30

Added 2024-07-20 22:30:00 +0000 UTC

Chapter 30: The Snowflake Festival (1)

“Master, I’ve brought your breakfast.”

A new maid knocked on my door, announcing the arrival of breakfast.

Her affinity was at 7%, so I recognized her as one of the maids who had taken a gift from the boxes on that day.

Normally, Camilla would be the one bringing me my meals, but the fact that a different maid was here meant that things were going according to plan.

“Just leave it there.”

“Yes, Master.”

A day had passed since I returned from my outing, and Camilla, who usually served me breakfast, was absent.

She was on a week-long vacation, a vacation I had granted her when I accepted her back as my maid.

The vacation was to ensure that the death trigger was fully deactivated.

And the reason I was still confined to my room was to prepare for the upcoming episode.

I brought the breakfast tray inside and found a small letter tucked between the dishes.

“A noble…? No, it’s from Camilla.”

Even though she had abandoned her noble status, her refined handwriting betrayed her upbringing. I wouldn’t have known who it was from if I hadn’t read the contents.

The message was simple.

“Hmm… So the head maid is in Claire’s bad books, and she can’t order the maids around for now?”

It was the same as what the status window had told me. But I hadn’t known about Claire’s threats. I hadn't realized Emma had been visiting my room every day, trembling in fear.

It was rather satisfying.

I couldn’t help but feel pleased knowing that I had caused such a commotion for Claire.

The rest of the letter was a simple expression of gratitude and a wish for my good health.

“She must have woken up early to write this… She’s really something. Do you gain stamina by working as a maid?”

No, that’s impossible.

Fatigue doesn’t translate to increased stamina. I could guarantee that, as a former student who had juggled multiple part-time jobs while studying for the college entrance exams. This was my own problem.

“Well… I guess that’s why I’ve been sleeping so much.”

■Carsein Bagrand■ - Age 18
Lv. 4 (SP: 0.15)
▶Strength: 2.00
▶Agility: 2.93
▶Stamina: 3.30
▶Health: 1.25
▶Immunity: 0.93
▶???: 0

These stats were pathetic.

It seemed like I didn’t have a single stat that was above average.

My stats were steadily decreasing. Except for my immunity, which seemed to be increasing thanks to the food, every other stat was going down.

My long sleep and heavy body were clearly the culprits.

I decided to try some exercise, just to see if it would help, and attempted a push-up.

“Nope. I can’t do it.”

I couldn't even do five push-ups. And my stats weren't recovering. This kind of exercise wasn't being recognized by the game.

Then, there was only one option.

I had to go to the designated stat-boosting areas in the game.

“And those areas are… forbidden. I die if I go, and I die if I let my stats keep decreasing. Just great.”

My stats were continuously dropping, but if I didn’t manage them, it would lead to a bad ending. The only solution was to exercise in the forbidden zones. But those zones were death traps.

This vicious cycle was infuriating.

“So the only solution is to clear this episode… hmm?”

—Ding!

▶Arina is coming to see you.◀
▶Listen to her explanation about the Snowflake Festival!◀

‘I guess I’ll think about that later.’

The door would probably open soon, without my permission.

I should pretend to read a book.

“Lady Arina?”

“Just leave it here and go. I’ll take it.”

After a brief exchange, the door opened.

The maid bowed her head and scurried away, and Arina, her eyes filled with annoyance, glared at me.

As expected, she started criticizing me, even though I was simply reading a book.

“How can you be sulking for four days straight, Carsein? How long are you going to be so stubborn?”

I had ignored Claire when she visited my room after the outing.

The birthday gift was a powerful weapon. The fact that she had forgotten about my birthday gave me leverage.

But if I accepted it happily, I wouldn’t be able to use it anymore. So I had waited. Waited for Arina.

—Ding!

[1. (Whining) It’s not my fault that I’m upset! You all threw a lavish party for someone else, but you didn’t even acknowledge my birthday! ]
[2. (Picking at your ear) Give me a birthday present, and I’ll consider forgiving you.]
[3. (Throwing a nearby candle at her) Get out! You bitch!]
[4. What do you want?]

I glanced at Arina's affinity. It was at 9%, a slight increase from 6%. If I chose option 1, her affinity wouldn't increase.

Even though I had a lot to say, option 4 was the best choice.

I calmly closed the book and responded,

“What do you want?”

Arina stared at me for a moment.

—Ding!

[Arina Bagrand]
[Affinity level: 11%]

Her affinity had increased by 2%.

It was a significant increase, considering I had simply held back my words.

“He’s changed. He would have thrown a tantrum before…”

Arina mumbled to herself, then cleared her throat.

“I heard Mother granted you a day outside as a birthday gift. I also heard that you refused the clothes they prepared for you. But that’s not much of a birthday gift.”

Arina, her tone sympathetic, continued,

“We all forgot about your birthday, myself included. So we had a family meeting and decided to go to the Snowflake Festival together. It’s up to you now.”

They would have never taken Carsein to the festival before, knowing he would cause trouble.

But I had earned the right to attend, thanks to the outing and the leverage I had gained from the birthday gift.

The small snowball, set in motion by my innocence, had rolled into something much larger.

But…

‘She’s still not admitting that she’s testing me.’

It wasn’t a gift; it was surveillance.

And they were still suspicious of me, watching me, even though they were calling it a gift. It was an insult.

—Ding!

[1. Alright, I’ll go.]
[2. A birthday gift, you say? Just admit that you want to keep an eye on me.]
[3. I’ll think about it.]

The correct answer was option 1.

The status window had already provided the hint. The birthday gift and the house arrest were directly linked to the festival.

But why did I feel so pissed?

The way they were trying to hide their true intentions… it was annoying.

I turned my head towards the book, my tone sarcastic.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

“…You…”

Arina glared at me, then sighed, leaving with a final remark.

“Make sure you behave and enjoy the festival. If you do, I’ll give you a nice reward.”

As soon as the door closed, I slammed the book shut.

“Unbelievable. A nice reward?”

She was talking about rewards after offering me surveillance disguised as a birthday gift?

It was ridiculous.

“All you want is to make sure I don’t cause trouble at the festival.”

Right, that’s what you want. Fine, I’ll give it to you.

I’ll accept your birthday gift, I won’t complain, and I’ll behave at the festival.

I just need to get what I want.

***

The Snowflake Festival was in full swing.

This year’s festival was going to be even grander and more spectacular than before, and Flora, who loved festivals, should have been brimming with excitement.

To top it off, she was going with her family, which meant she could stay out even later! This was a rare opportunity.

“…”

And yet she was fidgeting, her body restless.

Even though she could enjoy the festival. Even though she could stay out late with her family.

She couldn’t shake her anxiety.

“Flora? Why are you trembling…?”

“Eek!”

Flora flinched, startled by Claire’s sudden appearance.

“What’s wrong, Flora? Are you sick?”

“Oh, it’s… it’s you, Claire. N-no, I’m fine.”

“You’re trembling.”

She waved her hand dismissively, denying that she was sick.

Of course, she wasn’t actually ill.

‘It’s… because of him.’

Flora glanced towards a boy standing nearby.

His hair, once blue, was now almost black. His eyes, which had been bright blue, had also darkened.

It was Carsein.

“Your clothes look fine this time, right?”

“Yes.”

Watching him being inspected by the guards, she couldn’t help but remember his words.

It was all a lie.

There was no way such things existed.

She had even asked her tutor, who had assured her that such horrors didn’t exist, that she should just focus on being a good little girl.

So she shouldn’t be worried.

“You’ve forgotten where I came from, haven’t you?”

She couldn’t forget Carsein’s smug smile, the way he had reminded her of his origins, as if it gave him the upper hand.

She had to get rid of that peasant, expel him from the duchy. Only then would her family find peace. She had to get rid of that beggar who dared to covet her brother's place.

A thought crossed her mind.

What if she expelled Carsein, and his words turned out to be true?

‘No, that’s impossible.’

It was just a lie, a desperate attempt to stay in the duchy.

Flora tugged at Arina’s dress, her index finger pointing towards Carsein.

“Big sis, can I ride in the same carriage as him today?”

***

Flora Bagrand hated Carsein Bagrand.

There were countless reasons, but her hatred was absolute.

That’s why her affinity with him was so low, a meager 3%, the lowest among the family.

And now she wanted to ride in the same carriage as him?

It was unthinkable.