The Damn Family Is Back Again

370. Yggdrasil Project (10)

The one who had been disguised as a retainer was cleanly cut out, and a retainer who had changed his mind was handed reliable evidence, informing him that Claire was being targeted. Not only that, but false information that would cause considerable ripples reached the Belian side.

The events in the conference hall concluded in the most ideal form.

Moreover, things turned out to be quite ideal in other ways as well, thought Harnie.

‘But…’

Harnie couldn’t shake off the anxiety.

If we were to summarize the situation so far, it could be said that we had finally reached the starting point.

Instead of a future where we were only chased and caught, another future began to appear.

Having steadily gathered information and conducted thorough analysis on the Yggdrasil Project, we could now take the offensive. We even created opportunities by feeding false information.

However, the reason for the unease in this situation…

It was none other than the next plan.

“…”

Karsein himself had a very complicated expression.

It seemed like many thoughts were crossing his mind.

‘I have to say it.’

Harnie, who had made up her mind, hugged Karsein tightly.

“…That won’t do, Karsein.”

“Harnie?”

“You’ve held back well until now. There’s no need to stain the blade of anger, the tip of the avenger’s sword, with blood.”

“…”

“I… I don’t think you have to do that. Even if you can’t, I can do it instead.”

Yes. He had almost fallen into corruption several times.

He had been constantly hurt by his family.

The wounds were so deep that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had walked the path of vengeance.

He tried to embrace and care for them, to break the chains of hatred, but that was the one thing he couldn’t break.

“You’ve done well so far, Karsein. You know that revenge on your family isn’t the answer. Lady Flora, Lady Claire, and Madam Isabella. You know now that they all tried to help you in their own way.”

Karsein spoke.

He had received false information and someone was expected to come to a specific place.

It was a plan prepared for that, a plan to eliminate the one caught in the trap.

But that applied not only to the people on the Bellian side who were progressing with the Yggdrasil project but also to Bagrand.

Yes. It meant that Arina might also meet them soon.

So Harni had to stop it.

She had to stop him from pointing his sword at his family and walking the path of revenge, even if it meant taking their lives.

“I know it’s a painful wound. But still, I hate the idea of your soul being corrupted by this even more.”

Harni hugged Karsein tightly and pleaded.

“So let me go instead. Please, Karsein. Okay?”

She insisted on going herself.

But… what came back from Karsein was a firm refusal.

“No. I have to go. Absolutely.”

Harni was suddenly filled with fear at his firm refusal.

Could it be, that he has returned to the Karsein of that time?

“Karsein. This is my job. You don’t have to do this!”

She urgently tried to dissuade him with her voice.

She had to persuade him somehow. She had to prevent him from killing the family he hated with his own hands.

But then.

Karsein turned his body towards her and suddenly pulled Harnié into his arms.

“…Eh?”

Harnié looked up at him with a bewildered voice.

‘…Ah.’

She finally realizes.

This was a huge misunderstanding.

Why didn’t she notice?

This person had already changed.

The cold chill that used to emanate from him no longer does.

The door that had been frozen shut was now wide open.

The deep-seated wounds were slowly healing.

The monster of reason had not resurrected within him.

“Now, do you understand?”

“…”

Harnié nodded slightly in response.

At present, Carsein did not seem to want revenge at all.

“I never even thought about it… right?”

“That’s right. Why would I seek revenge now? That’s not why I’m going.”

“Then why…? Why do you insist on meeting Princess Arina?”

Carsein hesitated for a moment but then answered with a determined expression.

“The status window kept guiding me to meet with Bagrand. Because of that, I met Flora, Claire, and Isabella, and tied up loose ends. This time, it’s probably for a similar reason.”

“But Princess Arina…”

“I know. Unlike the three who considered me family, she harbors genuine emotions. Even now, the status window is telling me to trigger a combat event, meaning it wants me to fight.”

“…If that’s the case, it could really lead to bloodshed. You could get hurt, both physically and mentally.”

“Yes. Even so, there is a reason I must meet her in person.”

With an infinitely serious tone, Harnie nodded as if to say, “Go on.”

Carsein took a step back and held up three fingers.

“First, on the surface, the Yggdrasil Project is based in Bagrand. If it collapses, it shouldn’t, so if I defeat Arina, the current head of the system, it will naturally pass to Claire. Simply put, I will overpower Arina to make it clear that she is lacking in ability.”

“But that doesn’t necessarily have to lead to a fight. I could just reveal through the estate’s financial statements that the territory is ruined.”

Harnie immediately countered. There were plenty of ways to expose the flaws or doubts about the abilities of the acting head without fighting Arina.

Therefore, Carsein did not lower his fingers.

“That’s right. If that’s the reason, there’s no need to fight. It would be better to let Claire, the rising star, take the ducal position while Arina’s position is gradually eroded over time. But, we already know, don’t we?”

“…Because of the spy.”

The first finger was lowered.

“Yes. Spending time like that is not the answer. If it drags on, Flora, Claire, or Isabella will be attacked. According to the status window’s message, if any one of the three dies, I will also face a bad ending.”

“Bad ending…?”

“In short, it means that a death sentence will be handed down to me in some way.”

Her eyes flashed.

“In short, the intention so far has been to save the family. It means that they must be rescued because they are in danger. Also, the reason why Claire, Flora, and Isabella were exposed to the threat of assassination is the same. So, the question ‘why?’ will arise here.”

The question thrown at me.

Harnie took a deep breath to calm her mind and answered.

“The Yggdrasil Project is not about destroying Vagrand, but ‘usurpation’. So, it means that someone must take over the family and live on to hinder them, rather than destroying the family, right?”

“Correct.”

The second finger folded.

“The status window assumes that Vagrand does not collapse and is passed on to the family. So, we have been figuring out Bellian’s movements through various information, but the biggest help was the movements of the Vagrand duchy.”

Although she heard the answer to the second question, Harnie fell into doubt instead.

“Hey, Carsein. It’s a sudden question, but… can I ask you one thing?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of connection does that have?”

She understood the reason for protecting the family.

She also understood the reason why Vagrand must remain intact.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was unrelated.

In response to that question, Carsein folded his third finger instead of answering.

“If the premise is that Vagrand remains intact, in fact, the major premise has already been laid. The status window had already openly spread one of the conditions for a bad ending to me.”

“What is it?”

“…It’s you.”

“What?”

“Even before the lives of your family, the condition for a bad ending was your life.”

Harnie couldn’t hide her shock, her lips slightly parted.

“If, if I die… you die too?”

“Yes. Not only that, but even if you die after I return, the status window said I would have died too.”

“That…”

Harnie covered her mouth with trembling hands.

Carsein gently held Harnie’s hand.

“As you might have guessed, I also experienced events in the original world that were not much different from those here. No, almost identical events happened. So, I could somewhat overlap this situation…”

Carsein slowly closed and opened his eyes.

“No matter what I do, I can’t protect Harnie with my strength alone. The status window seemed to be sending that message.”

“No way…”

“Only by borrowing the power of Bagrande, the power of your family, can I protect you. That was the implication. And… to execute that, Bagrande must first be handed over to Claire.”

Thud.

Carsein’s finger pointed to the dart on the table, marking Arina.

“If it’s Claire, not Arina, if Flora and Isabella are there. You will be in the safest place in the empire.”

All causal relationships are connected.

All the series of events composed of fine threads are connected.

Carsein’s actions and the intention of the status window. The inference from his mind stretched out in a long line.

Karsein was making a complicated expression to reach this conclusion.

“Well, even if that’s not the case, I do have a personal reason. Because what’s wrong needs to be corrected. So I thought I might give Arina a bit of a reality check.”

“…”

“You’ll let this slide, right?”

Harnie asked in a voice tinged with moisture.

“For my sake, you’re meeting the person you least want to meet. Is there a reason… for going this far?”

“I think I’ve told you several times. I like─”

-Squeeze.

As he tried to gloss over it, his collar was grabbed tightly. It seemed he wouldn’t be let go until he answered.

“…It has something to do with my reality. But I’d like to tell you that next time.”

“…”

“It’s too long a story. It’s difficult to tell you now.”

“Oh, the time…”

Now that he looked, there wasn’t much time left.

To meet Arina, who would come after hearing the misinformation, Karsein also needed to prepare.

“This is what Marquis Magnuel gave me. If you take this, you’ll be able to meet Claire.”

Now, it was time to be apart for a while.

When it came to actually parting, his chest felt a bit tight.

Harnie carefully stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

“Be, be careful. If you come back hurt, I’ll nag you.”

“…”

“Karsein?”

“That’s not enough. I’m also a bit tired, so I’ll excuse myself. First, I need to recharge a bit.”

“Recharge? What does that even…”

I was bewildered by the nonsensical words when, in that instant,

Harnie’s body slipped right into Karsein’s.

“Wh-wh-wh-what?! Why so suddenly…”

“Hmm. Indeed, holding you gives me strength. Isn’t this what it means to recharge?”

“What are you even saying! L-let go, let me go.”

“No. I’m going to go do hard work, can’t you even do this for me?”

“N-no, uhhh… What on earth is…”

My cheeks flush hot.

The heat that spreads instantly makes my body feel strange.

My heart is already pounding, and my whole body begins to twist and turn.

This tickling feeling in my lower abdomen… I just can’t get used to it.

“Let go. This, this is weird.”

“What’s weird? The idea that I’m recovering by holding someone I like?”

“Th-that’s what’s weird! Let go quickly. Quickly…!”

“I won’t. I don’t want to let go. This moment is paradise for me.”

And he keeps pushing forward relentlessly, like a bomber plane.

In the end, something that couldn’t withstand the power of the bomber exploded with a bang.

“You… really!”

“Ugh!”

Slap!

Once again, a crisp sound echoed.

*

Arina was horrified by the soldiers’ report.

-What do you mean? What did you say about my mother?

Cold sweat dripped from the hand holding the reins.

-You said… my mother is critically ill?

Even though the horse was already running at full speed, she urged it on.

-I’ll go right now. Where is she?

Her teeth ground together.

‘This is all… because of you, Karsein…!’

With her eyes turned upside down, Arina headed to the hospital where Isabella was admitted.