episode_0034

I’ll say it again, this game is a Tsukuru game.

It’s a game that boasts an uncomfortable and awkward control feeling with its outdated Almantool and dot-based eye-straining graphics.

So, if you try the mini-games in the game, they usually boast insane difficulty, and if you manage to clear them, they offer tremendous rewards.

This game was no different.

You have to properly control four gauge bars including power adjustment, bounce the ball, not only click the handle but also quickly adjust the control devices, and then readjust the gauge bar.

So I originally gave up.

“The size of the ball is about the size of a thumbnail. It looks smooth, and it weighs about the same as one bead so if you just control the power and angle, it should be fine, right? For the parts missing… I can solve it by closing it with a button.”

The game I faced in reality could be analyzed without much difficulty.

It was an expansion of the game I already knew, with a few more complex elements hidden, but even without gauge bars, it seemed like it could be easily resolved with hand control.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah. You can start right away.”

“Alright then.”

The man dropped the bead under the board, looking at me after finishing his preparations.

With a clattering sound, the fallen bead hit the stick connected to the handle and jumped to the right.

“Oh, hitting that gives 25 points, right?”

“This one’s worth 35 points.”

“Oh, another 20 points!”

The scores accumulated steadily on the magic calculator.

Then the ball entered a space where it could fall down.

“Wow. Was that used like that?”

By pressing the button strategically placed, blocking the falling space, adjusting the momentary speed to bounce back, or creating an opportunity to cross the dangerous area, the ball survived tenaciously.

There are two conditions for receiving the prize.

First, fill the target score entered into the magic calculator.

Second, hit the target object corresponding to the prize with the ball, achieving a score higher than the target score. Both must be satisfied.

The target score was surpassed in no time. Looking at the score obtained through perseverance, it seemed like there was nothing one couldn’t achieve.

However.

“Oops.”

The top prizes were in such precarious positions that even a slight mistake led to losing the accumulated score, resulting in failure.

Despite trying to concentrate as much as possible, the increasing pressure with each rising score made it difficult to find the right angle.

The increasingly busy hands couldn’t keep up with the calculations in the mind.

Under the pressure of the accelerating constraints, I seized this as the final opportunity.

Thus, I had to accept the slightly inadequate result.

“Wow, impressive. The first-place prize, the master blacksmith of the Kingdom of Wederos, and the artisan of Turen. Please accept it.”

The man exclaimed in admiration as he presented the sword.

However.

▶Emergency Mission!◀

▶One chance only! Clear the game and bring a teddy bear to Flora!◀

“This is quite regrettable.”

Increasing Flora’s intimacy is particularly challenging.

She dislikes Karceine so much, and even if I prove my innocence, Flora, who hasn’t abandoned her childish nature, never thinks it’s my fault.

Therefore, I have to raise her intimacy a little more…

While pondering if there was any way, I asked the man.

“Could you possibly exchange this for a different prize?”

“Pardon?”

“Karceine. What are you talking about? That’s not an ordinary sword.”

“The master blacksmith of the Kingdom of Wederos is no longer available. It’s a rare limited edition.”

The fact that the two sisters rejected the artisan from the era of the vanished Wederos Kingdom and wanted something else astonished him.

However, the merchant seemed to consider that the item might not be what I desired and asked for my opinion.

“Um, what do you want?”

“That.”

I pretended and pointed to an item.

“Huh?!”

“…Karceine?”

“Sir…?”

From then on, the merchant also looked at me with a bewildered expression, as if I were crazy.

“You can receive a lower prize, but… Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah. Give me that.”

What I pointed to was a teddy bear.

Flora was staring at the teddy bear with lingering affection.

A rare limited edition sword? What’s that?

I don’t care if it’s the kingdom of Wedelos or whatever; I don’t know anything.

All I need right now is intimacy.

The man, perhaps sensing my sincerity, gave a faint smile and handed me a handkerchief.

Then Flora handed her the large teddy bear she had been wanting so much.

“Wow-.”

Flora cheered as she held the large teddy bear in her arms.

And to me,

“It’s truly noble of you to think of your younger sister, Your Grace.”

-Ding!

▶You have cleared an urgent mission!◀

▶Family intimacy has increased significantly, and the recognition of the Duke has greatly risen!◀

▶Recognition level has risen to Reputation level!◀

■Rewards

[ Increased intimacy level: 3% ]

[ The time limit in danger zones has increased from 3 seconds to 30 seconds. ]

[ Some danger in restricted areas has been alleviated to warning zones. ]

Significant rewards followed.

It was the result of giving up the 1st place prize and obtaining the 5th place prize.

‘What’s with all this talk about thinking of my sister.’

I just picked it to survive.

***

Would there really be a festival where we’d all just play one game?

After that, the festivities continued for the Bagrandt Duke.

Of course, the only thing that had changed from just a few hours ago was the way people looked at Karsein. It was quite different.

But he didn’t find it very pleasant.

After giving Flora the teddy bear, Karsein started to subtly withdraw.

Everyone seemed to understand.

Well, it could happen.

They might have been tired from the game, so they thought they wouldn’t participate.

Karsein stayed behind alone, watching over the family.

Clare was the first to notice his absence.

“He keeps slipping away…”

She had expected it, but since it was a family festival, she hoped he would enjoy it a little more.

But being separated like this turned out to be an opportunity for Clare.

“Apologize for doubting you this time. Try saying it once. You might actually end up estranged from Karsein.”

Right, it was because of Arscien’s advice.

“I wonder if I can tell Karsein that now.”

Due to the incident with the chairman, which she had suspected without grounds, Claire hadn’t actually been able to have a conversation with Karsein.

While Ariana asked her a few times what she thought about it, Claire couldn’t say anything.

Normally, she would have comforted Flora and patted her on the back, even if it wasn’t the case, she would have had a few words with Karsein.

The suspicion from just a few hours ago kept coming back, so this awkwardness didn’t seem to be resolving.

So, this was the opportunity.

“Ahem! Karsein.”

Claire approached Karsein, clearing her throat with her hand over her mouth.

“You… seem quite different these days?”

“What?”

“You’ve been conceding to the youngest. And… um, yeah. You conceded and…”

Karsein, who had been jotting something down, looked at her with a bewildered expression.

Even though Karsein had some idea of what she meant, she clarified her cryptic words.

“Are you talking about conceding the game to Flora and giving her a doll?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. That’s what I mean. Yeah.”

Understanding it as an interest in the youngest, Karsein responded sullenly.

“Nothing’s changed. I just repaid my wrongs.”

“Wrongs?”

“I upset Flora’s mood a bit in the carriage. I repaid that. So, don’t misunderstand.”

“Repay… What kind of conversation did you have in the carriage?”

Seemingly unconcerned, Karsein turned the page.

“I admitted I was wrong. Just let it go.”

She doesn’t know what conversation took place in that carriage.

However, Claire knows she shouldn’t take this statement at face value. She knows she shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that this is entirely Karsein’s fault.

After Flora came out of the carriage, she warned Karsein.

When she received the teddy bear, she was smiling brightly.

“It’s probably just a little grumbling.”

Or maybe, the more mature Karsein accepted the youngest’s tantrum.

“Is that all you came to talk about?”

“Huh? Oh, no.”

With widened eyes, Claire, who had been observing Carcine with keen interest, hastily regained her composure at the sudden question.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Well, that’s…”

At her younger brother’s subsequent question, Claire tensed up.

It felt as if something had caught in her throat, preventing her from speaking.

She wanted to apologize for what happened at the chairman’s office. She wanted to say she was sorry for suspecting him from the start. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

In the end, different words slipped out.

“Do you… do you want anything?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Well, you see, Carcine, you didn’t eat anything during this festival, and you don’t seem to want anything, so I thought…”

Despite the unexpected turn in the conversation, it transitioned quite convincingly.

In reality, Claire didn’t know what Carcine wanted. Just like on his birthday, knowing what he wanted would have made giving a gift easier. Also, rather than just feeling sorry, she felt it would be easier to convey her apologies along with a gift.

It was a double or triple opportunity.

“You can tell me anything. This is not mom’s money; it’s my own savings.”

Everything could be repaid.

The birthday present, too.

Today’s mistake, as well.

No, perhaps even the accumulated grudges from before.

With confidence, Claire shrugged and waited for Carcine’s response.

However…

“I don’t need anything.”

Firmly, Carcine once again brushed off Claire’s gesture.

“It seems like it’s not me who has changed. You usually show no interest, so why now?”

Pointing out the flaw directly.

In response, Claire reacted with a slightly irritated heart.

“You’re my brother. What’s wrong with wanting to buy something for my brother at the festival?”

“Because you’re doing something you never did before. When I do something I don’t usually do, like not doing the laundry, you always have something to say, but when I do, is it not okay?”

“Well, that’s…”

She had nothing to say to that.

Compared to yelling about what she was doing in the laundry room, this was clearly a double standard.

But strangely, it brought out Claire’s pent-up frustration.

“I’m sorry!”

With a slightly reddened face, Claire raised her voice.

She had intended to decide her true feelings a little later, but she had no choice but to bring them out, even if it meant enduring some embarrassment.

“The chairman… I felt sorry for suspecting, so I tried to buy something! Also… I couldn’t even give a birthday present.”

Once spoken, words cannot be taken back.

Remembering Arsien’s request for honesty, Claire tries to suppress her personality.

“So, I’m sorry. Karsein. I doubted you first…”

Continuing her clumsy apology, Claire scratched her head while avoiding eye contact.

Thud.

Karsein’s notebook was closed.

Startled by the sound, Claire turned her head as if checking her surroundings.

In the distance, the eldest was approaching.

“I’ll think about it. So, just leave me alone for now.”

“…There won’t be any consequences later. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Feeling much improved, Claire headed back in the direction of Isabella and Flora.

The two sisters exchanged glances, passing each other without conversation.

Looking back and forth between Karsein and Claire, she asked, “What’s the problem, Karsein?”

That became the beginning of another incident.

***

He had been considering it unexpected.

To hear such words from Claire’s mouth was truly unexpected.

Among all that Karsein had seen and heard at this year’s snowflake festival, the most unexpected was undoubtedly the awkward words from Claire just now.

And perhaps, he might have enjoyed the rest of the festival with a slightly improved mood.

However, the thought “as expected” kept swirling in Karsein’s mind.

“Why is she alone at a family festival? She doesn’t eat like those people. She has no interest in anything. She doesn’t enjoy it together. When I ask what’s wrong, she just repeats that she’s not interested. What’s the problem?”

At Arina’s remark, Karsein snorted.

“It’s strange. I’m being treated as if I’ve caused some kind of problem.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I was just talking with Claire, but you’re talking as if I’ve done something. Aren’t you?”

But now that the opportunity had arisen, he wanted to speak his mind.

Karsein didn’t hold back.

“Enjoy the festival? Where on earth is there something to enjoy?”

Ariana’s brow furrowed slightly.

“A family festival? Isn’t that just surveillance in disguise, telling us to enjoy it?”

“…What?”

“I’m just here to keep an eye out for trouble, aren’t I?”

Instead, Karsein mocked Ariana and drove the nail home.