episode_0017

I’ll say it again, there was no such story in the game.

As you can tell from the title of Episode III, the story progresses before and after Claire’s coming of age.

There were no scenes of Claire sending maids to my room or being summoned for breakfast.

Not even a scene like Flora coming to my room as she is now.

▶Hidden Episode – Kelbia Allergy in Progress◀

The status window only displayed a progressing window without providing any other information. This, too, was just another episode, leaving me no choice but to deal with it as I always have.

Information was severely lacking.

While I might not know much about the character Flora Vagrand, I had no idea how to handle this situation.

However, it wasn’t difficult to figure out why she had come to find me.

“You came because you have something to say? To me?”

“…You glared at me in the dining hall.”

It was because of my behavior at the dining hall.

I initially suspected Flora as the person who had put Kelbia fruit in the food and stared at her to confirm if she was the culprit.

If she had come consciously aware of that, then the pressure aimed at someone who had been solely focused on tormenting Carsein in three different ways was clearly effective.

“What’s the big deal about glaring at someone.”

Pretending not to know, Flora responded as if she found it displeasing.

“You’re suspecting me of being the culprit right now! Aren’t you?”

“Is that why you came?”

“Of course! Because I’m not the culprit!”

With just a slight twist of words, her true feelings emerged.

This is how you should deal with kids. Now that I’ve brought up the main point, shall I take her head-on?

“Well, do you have any evidence that you’re not the culprit?”

“W-What?”

From my perspective, you seem like the first one to be accused. It’s only natural to be suspicious. It’s not just once or twice that something has been added to the food.”

“Where did you get that from! I’ve never done such a thing…!”

“Not long ago, there was a reaction to Ligomos in my food. Why, isn’t that also evidence?”

At this, an immediate denial burst forth.

“I didn’t do that. I didn’t!”

Children are naturally like this. They assert their pride, lie, and often engage in mischief. Just like the third one did.

Nevertheless, I endured and held back, all to unleash a stronger onslaught at once.

“Kelpia allergy. You were the only one who knew about it.”

“That’s…!”

“Neither your mother, nor Arina, nor Claire knew. But you openly made me out to be a sinner for getting angry after you knowingly ate that in my food? You’re going to deny even this?”

“Oh, no! This time…! I really…!”

“Even Kelpia fruit. The method of tampering with food. The prime suspect is right in front of us. Is this not your doing as well?”

When Flora tried to keep a known fact to herself, she jumped up.

“It wasn’t me! Really, truly… I didn’t know you suffered so much from Kelpia fruit…”

I lowered my waist and looked into Flora’s eyes.

In her denial, tears welled up in Flora’s eyes.

“Do you feel unjustly treated?”

-Nodding.

Seeing her vigorous nod, she truly seemed to feel unjustly treated.

Because it really wasn’t something she had done. I also knew that much.

But do I have to consider her circumstances?

“I mean, I’ve felt that way every day.”

“What…?”

“I’ve felt the emotions you’re feeling now without missing a single day. Every time you harassed me in every possible way to drive me away.”

When tormenting Carcine, despite saying it was unfair, when I tried to explain, she wouldn’t listen. Now that she’s experiencing it firsthand, does she see things differently?

There’s no need to show any leniency.

“You just wanted to drive me away because I didn’t please you. But, do you know what being driven out of this mansion means to me?”

To a child driven out with nothing but empty hands, the world is incredibly cruel.

“Fancy clothes attract attention. But without anyone around to protect you? Those very things will be taken from you by force. Unfamiliar big men appear out of nowhere and forcibly take everything from you.”

When a person seems to have something, humanity swarms like a pack of hungry wolves, ready to tear it away.

“If you really have nothing and are stripped bare, you end up rolling in the back alleys. Left alone in tatters. Then suddenly, a hand reaches out in the cold, dark, frightening place.”

When there’s no place to turn back to, one naturally seeks dependence somewhere. And that hand is mistaken for a helping hand.

“The person offering that hand will say this: ‘I’ll give you food and provide a good place. So just do as you’re told.’ That’s how they lure everyone into the slums.”

Once caught in that delusion, everything comes to an end. It’s a bottomless pit from which one cannot escape.

“Because those who take what you have or extend their hands are all the same scum. If you don’t do as they say after being left with nothing but your skin, they won’t even give you a sip of water. Once you become useless, they’ll sell you off somewhere.”

In the end, everything is taken, and you are discarded after being used to the bone.

It’s just a matter of whether you realize this fact a little faster or after being abandoned. That’s the difference.

To a young child, the world can be so cruel.

“Lies. Where does that happen? It’s not in any books. I’ve never heard about it from teachers! You’re just making up stories…!”

Yes. It might all feel like lies.

How could a delicately raised noble lady understand the cruelty of the harsh outside world?

Of course, I’m in the same boat.

In this world, my knowledge might be a bit different.

But.

Would this guy think the same way?

“Have you forgotten where I come from?”

…!

He knows more about the slums than anyone else.

He’s faced the world’s storms head-on, encountered despicable people time and time again.

That’s why he can confidently say:

He must have endured days far more agonizing than what I’ve experienced.

“Then you… outside, that kind of thing…?”

“Kelbia fruit is nothing more than a joke. Compared to what I’ve been through twice, it’s nothing. Stepping on a Kelbia is more painful than any allergy, and taking a cold shower is bearable for a body covered in wounds. The maids? I can manage without them. So, washing clothes with water at that temperature in winter, isn’t that what I’ll be doing?”

“That’s… not possible. Something like that…”

As Floria was exposed to the dark side of the world, she silently sobbed, tears streaming down her face like chicken droppings.

“No, don’t believe it. There’s no way something like that could exist in the world!”

Clatter.

Something thrown by Floria fell to the floor in the room.

“Oh…”

“What’s this?”

“It was given to me by my older sister. She said she’d be angry if I didn’t attend the coming-of-age ceremony. I’ve said everything I wanted to say, so I’m leaving!”

Bang!

Floria, who had been sighing while looking at the object she had thrown, slammed the door shut with a loud noise.

The sound of her footsteps gradually faded away.

At the same time, a status window popped up in front of me.

▶Hidden Episode – Cleared Kelbia Allergy◀

■Rewards

[ Obtained high-grade ointment item. ]

■Owned Items■

▶[ High-grade Ointment ]

[ When applied, it significantly reduces pain and slightly accelerates recovery. It also covers wounds well, making them look better. ]

It seems like I should apply this and participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.

That’s how it appears.

Shayden seemed to have explained about the Kelbia allergy well, and since Arina didn’t come directly, it looks like the episode has passed as the status window indicated.

However, I didn’t feel very good about it.

I felt not just annoyed, but also dirty. The foolish behavior of the third daughter overlapped with Floria, making it impossible for me not to feel irritated.

“Participate in the coming-of-age ceremony? What a ridiculous idea.”

Clang.

“Did you call for me, young master?”

As I rang the bell used to summon a maid, Camilla quickly arrived.

“Please call Heron to my room at this hour.”

***

Time had swiftly passed noon, and there were only a few hours left until the evening sunset, when Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony would begin.

The adult ceremony itself took place in the evening and the banquet continued past midnight, so it was time to make a decision.

“I’m Heron. Young Master Carsein.”

With a polite knock, the butler’s respectful voice was heard. I immediately told him to come in.

“I heard you calling. What can I do for you?”

It was indeed Heron.

Unlike other characters I had seen frequently at the mansion, there was no inclination in his gaze.

He was a man who stood in thorough neutrality, never coming in early or late compared to the appointed time, unlike the others I had encountered in the game. He belonged to the most difficult category even within the game.

But because of that aspect.

Because he was a man as upright as a bamboo, always maintaining his neutrality, I called for him.

It was now, before Claire’s adult ceremony episode began in earnest, at this moment.

“What’s the matter? That should be the first thing to ask, shouldn’t it?”

Heron fell silent briefly.

“If it’s about the Kelbia allergy, by now everyone should know. The mistress, and the young ladies—”

“No. I’m not talking about that story.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“You were the one who brought Sheiden here, weren’t you?”

“…”

Yes.

The remnants of this unfinished episode were still with Heron.

The maids would not have tried to listen to Arina’s words, nor would they have tried to listen to Carsein’s orders.

This fact would only become apparent when building recognition within the mansion to obtain information as a sub-quest later on, but there was no problem revealing it now.

“The maids wouldn’t have listened to me. They know my position well in the mansion. But if that’s the case, then who called Sheiden?”

“The first young lady’s orders take precedence, but Young Master is also a child of Viscount Bagrand. At least one of them would have enough reason to act.”

“For example, my personal maid, Camilla?”

At my preemptive response, Sheiden flinched.

It seemed to hit home.

“Camilla was cleaning my room. Even if she had heard the news and moved, there’s no way it would be as organized as it is now.”

“…”

Two impossible things overlapped in time and space.

Due to the imbalance of information, there would be no suitable way for Heron to refute this from his perspective.

In the end, Heron lowered his tail.

“I won’t deny an irrefutable argument. Yes, it’s true. I brought the Duke’s personal physician.”

I could press Heron again, who was admitting so easily.

“Why did you act that way?” I asked.

It was a simple but piercing question.

How many people would show kindness to Carsein at the Duke’s estate?

As few as there were who showed superficial kindness, Heron’s behavior was indeed puzzling.

It was strange in itself.

For a character who should remain neutral to lean one way.

But I didn’t ask this question on purpose. There was a reason for everything.

“I see. So that’s how it was.”

“…Did you call me to say that?”

“Of course not. I called for one specific request.”

Even though he redirected the question of whether I had any more to ask, I paid no heed and steered the conversation elsewhere.

Perhaps it wasn’t the answer he expected, as Heron momentarily hesitated.

“You mentioned a request…?”

“Heron, you remember, don’t you? I had an accident at Arina’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Yes.”

“And Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony is in a few hours. I don’t want to repeat the same accident twice.”

That’s the real intention.

To firmly assert that I won’t cause an accident at the coming-of-age ceremony, I called Heron.

“So, I want to know all the information, from the timeline of the coming-of-age ceremony to the layout of the banquet hall and the placement of the guards.”

▶ [Will you attend Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony?]

[1. I will attend.]

[2. I will not attend.]

[3. I will wait a little longer.]

The choices had been displayed for quite some time.

Whether to go now or later, I had to decide with my own hands.

Therefore, I needed to prepare as much as possible.