The Damn Family Is Back Again

366. Yggdrasil Project (6)

Although Flora managed to escape safely from this place, I stayed a little longer.

The villa is burning fiercely. The flames are soaring high, collapsing the building, and the people within the duchy are in a frenzy trying to extinguish the fire.

That’s why I’m staying here.

Although the disguise was well executed, it was an opportunity to observe their movements.

‘It seems there are no suspicious ones.’

I wondered if anyone would become suspicious and a small group would slip away, but they seemed too preoccupied with the flames to make any such moves.

I guess it’s time to go back.

I could turn away without hesitation.

“Is it all over?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. I was quite worried because there were quite a few of them.”

Harnie, who had been observing the enemies’ movements nearby, looked relieved as she saw me return safely.

Still, we need to confirm.

“It seems they were well deceived. The flames are one thing, but we scattered the evidence well, so no one slipped away. How about your side?”

“Same here. I saw them moving towards the villa, but no one came out the other way.”

Moreover, Harnie was confident that even those who knew nothing about the situation were frantically trying to put out the flames, so there would be no one left undeceived.

However, even amidst all that, I did not stop questioning.

“But I’m still not sure. We did a good job disguising Lady Flora’s death… but what are we supposed to do with this?”

It’s not wrong.

In fact, things went well.

Flora returned safely, and we managed to get out unscathed.

I also succeeded in disguising my escape by burning down the villa, making it look like I had died.

This could be considered a very successful outcome, but it was natural to have doubts about its significance.

After all, it only caused a slight confusion.

I thought the same. I knew that rescuing Flora was the intention of the status window, but it was not an appropriate way to resolve this situation.

Of course, that was until this status window appeared.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“What?”

“This, something significant has fallen into our hands.”

Harni tilted her head for a moment, but soon she looked at me and understood something.

“Something has appeared.”

I nodded lightly in affirmation.

Yes. The reason for the silence so far was all because of this.

This status window, this message, this reward window.

It had been activated long before. From the moment I let Flora go.

▶Emergency mission clear reward is provided.◀

▶Compensation Stage: Level 8◀

[ Most of the command staff receive incorrect information as Flora Bagland’s survival is not known. ]

[ Most of the command staff believe Flora is dead, ensuring that the current regime of Bagland will not change. ]

“At first, it was quite puzzling. Although the Yggdrasil Project was ultimately for Belian’s ambition, it felt strange that Flora was targeted like this.”

If they were targeting someone, it should have been Arina, not Flora.

There would be no easier way to bring down Bagland than to aim for the head of the Bagland family.

However, that was just a superficial interpretation, and looking deeper, it wasn’t necessarily the case.

The situation I saw at the Memorial also gave me some clues.

“Their goal is to keep the regime unchanged.”

“The regime?”

“Yes, the current regime of Bagland.”

“…Ah!”

It was an ironic part.

If they wanted the collapse of Bagland, they should have further damaged Arina’s regime, but no such traces were found.

That means this situation, where Arina holds the initiative, is the most opportune, and in other words, it is a condition for proceeding with the Yggdrasil Project.

This is the blind spot.

“Belian doesn’t want to bring down Bagland at this point where Lady Arina holds power, but rather wants to maintain the situation?”

“Yes, and they want to keep the power concentrated on one side.”

“…I understand. If they can further incriminate you in the process, all the better. Belian didn’t want to kill Lady Flora, but rather wanted to shift the stakes within the duchy to Lady Arina.”

To some extent, Harni seemed to have caught on.

Yes. This situation is a way to concentrate power on one side.

Although Arina overwhelmingly has the upper hand in the succession order, since she is not the only daughter, there is a possibility that other children could inherit the position.

“If that’s the case, the direction we need to move in is clear. We must hinder the maintenance of this system, but we cannot use external forces.”

Correct.

It is not only Flora. The variables that can shake this system exist only internally, not externally.

Therefore, being placed in a situation that can shake this system from within is the biggest move to ruin Belian’s plan.

Think.

If Belian’s goal is to keep this system unchanged, who will he target next?

Think.

What premise must be laid to maintain this system?

Think.

The number of moves he will take to maintain Arina’s unwavering authority.

Before long, the solution to this equation came out perfectly.

“Harnie. Arina’s territory…”

-Snap.

“I’ve already investigated it.”

Harnie handed me the document with a smile. As expected, a thorough person.

“You look even prettier today.”

“What, what are you talking about…!”

“Ouch. Why are you hitting me? I said you’re pretty. Ouch!”

“Da, you really…!”

-Ding!

▶ Episode II. The feud of the Aldersia territory is progressing. ◀

▶ You must preemptively eliminate the enemy entities. ◀

[ Target entity: Tree Monster ]

[ 0/30 ]

Just in time, the episode has appeared.

“Let’s move, Harnie.”

“Yes!”

*

While someone is busily working behind the scenes.

Another is trying to correct the wrong.

“…Is everyone gathered?”

The nobles nod their heads.

In an urgently convened meeting, the vassals of Bagrand have secretly gathered here without Arina’s permission.

No introduction was needed.

The reason for this urgent meeting was not brought up.

Everyone already knew the reason.

“Ha. This is driving me crazy. How did things end up like this…”

“Now, what do we do?”

“What do you think of the opinion of the one who kept the seat of the elders?”

“Well… I don’t really know about this situation either…”

“It’s an unprecedented situation.”

Each one laments in confusion.

This place was never a positive one.

“…To be honest, I don’t know if this is the right situation. It’s fortunate that there is a proxy to fill the absence of Duchess Isabella, but I doubt whether the policy is correct.”

“I agree. The current proxy has a mountain of tasks to handle. In the midst of this, they are personally going after a criminal… The backlog is enormous!”

“I concur. Not to mention the contracts that need approval from the duchy, they are taking soldiers away to chase one person, leaving the existing tasks incomplete.”

An empty duchy.

Unresolved issues.

The vassals couldn’t shake off their anxiety due to the growing discontent.

“But what can we do? The current Lady Arina’s supporters are stronger than ever.”

“We can’t even easily voice our opposition. How can we advise the lady, who has lost her mind after seeing the evidence of the desecration of the grave, to stop the pursuit and handle her duties?”

“In this atmosphere, speaking out recklessly might lead to immediate expulsion.”

Nevertheless, there is no way.

Arina’s power soared to the sky, and her followers did not decrease.

In a situation where voicing opposition is tantamount to suicide, no one could open their mouths.

“Isn’t that why we gathered? We must submit a petition as a group, not as individuals!”

“With this number? You must be realistic!”

“Then should we just watch as Bagrand slowly collapses?”

“Isn’t it time for us to unite and act to prevent a greater collapse?”

The conference room began to descend into chaos.

Despite the number of people gathered, it seemed unlikely that any consensus would be reached.

At this rate, they might face catastrophe, trapped in an endlessly repeating Möbius strip.

“There is a way.”

“Marquis Magnuel?”

“What, what way is there?”

The retainers in the conference hall all crowded around. Not a single one of them failed to listen intently.

“We must give up.”

“What?”

“We must give up what we’ve held onto until now. If we don’t want to lose something greater. Wasn’t it us who supported Princess Arina and expanded her power?”

“…”

In short, we must now break her power.

We had to abandon the foundation that supported her and relinquish the hierarchy of retainers within the family.

But who could give up?

To have come this far. To have risen to this position even among the retainers. Countless time and money had been poured in.

It couldn’t be so easily given up with just those words.

“As expected, no one can give up. I had somewhat anticipated this. It’s good I didn’t expect much.”

“What?”

“Wait and see. You’ll gradually come to understand.”

“Wait, Marquis. What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll find out in due time?”

As the retainers fell into confusion.

A commotion arose from somewhere.

“…Wait. What is that sound?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you just hear a voice outside?”

“I heard it too. It seems someone has come.”

“What nonsense─”

Though momentarily agitated by the mention of someone arriving, the voice grew closer.

“I don’t know how you managed to get here… but you are aware that entry is forbidden, aren’t you?”

“────.”

“No, you can’t. There was an order not to let anyone in without permission. This is an order from the Duke’s house─”

This time, no one missed it.

The sound of someone who had come to the meeting hall arguing with the knights.

There were quite a few knights stationed in the meeting hall.

To pass through, one had to get past them.

Nevertheless, the source of the sound was getting closer.

“No, you mustn’t! You can’t come in!”

“Turn back now. You must go back!”

-Click. Clack.

The sound of heels echoed, announcing the arrival at the conference room’s doorstep.

And then.

A single, weighty word reached inside the room.

“Open. The door.”

“…!”

The retainers’ eyes widened in unison.

They knew well whose voice it was.

But why, of all people, was it her?

“You mustn’t do this. I warned you that it wouldn’t end with just a reprimand this time!”

“The position of acting head of the Bagrande family may be filled, but the position of head itself isn’t, is it?”

“…”

“As a candidate for the successor of the Bagrande duchy, I say it again. Open. The door.”

Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the knights couldn’t stop her and opened the door.

As the door opened, the sound of heels resonated through the conference room.

She entered confidently and spoke to the retainers as if daring them to listen.

“Mother may have collapsed, but she didn’t specifically designate anyone to inherit the duchy. In other words, the fight for the successor is still ongoing.”

Pink hair.

The unmistakable heir of the Bagrande family recognized by all.

Only then did the retainers understand the words of Marquis Magnuel.

‘Was this what they meant by waiting?’

‘Is that what it meant…!’

Taking a seat right in the middle of the conference room, raising one arm.

“I, Claire Bagran, declare my participation in the duke candidate battle. Those who support me, make it known.”

This was the emergence of another successor.