episode_0037

-Ding!

▶Episode IV. You’ve successfully concluded the Snowflake Festival!◀

▶Let’s tally the results!◀

…

…

▶The knights worked hard to find Karsein!◀

▶Reputation within the aristocracy is declining!◀

▶By persuading Arina, you gain intimacy!◀

▶You have succeeded in producing results beyond the choices!◀

▶Rewards are being distributed!◀

As a reward, a message appeared stating that your level has increased along with a small amount of experience points.

This route consumes perception points in exchange for gaining intimacy with the characters. Depending on how you make your choices, the path can diverge, and as there were extensive options, you could also obtain opposite results.

You achieved what you wanted.

After choosing your preferred route, you should be able to move smoothly to the next episode branching stage without any issues.

However, that wasn’t immediately apparent.

“I never thought this guy would be secretly abandoned.”

Unpleasant memories resurfaced once again.

Looking at Arina, who didn’t come back after receiving money.

Permission was given to play as much as she wanted after receiving the money.

The snowflake festival was full of food, things to see, and places to enjoy.

Karsein, who prepared gifts while not realizing there was nowhere to return to.

None of it was different from my experience.

An unlimited ticket attached to one wrist after payment.

A space that I had always wanted to visit with my family, an amusement park.

My past self, oblivious to being made lost intentionally, just sat there watching the sunset.

The amusement park. The snowflake festival.

Different times and backgrounds, but it wasn’t all that different.

Even the process of being rediscovered.

“Damn. I never thought I’d go through this kind of thing twice.”

A bitter laugh escaped involuntarily.

In reality, I became lost in the amusement park, but here, I became the secretly expelled child.

So blood rushed to my head.

It wasn’t passion, but a chilling coldness that circulated and cooled my head.

Getting angry at unpleasant memories was just a fleeting moment.

“Right. I should act calmly. There’s no need to put emotions into things like this.”

I’m sure because it’s my second experience.

I’m sure Karceine would have similar thoughts.

If his position had changed, he would have acted that way for sure.

As I was lost in thought, I turned my eyes back to the status screen that hadn’t been checked for a while.

▶ Hidden Episode. Successfully cleared the precarious rock tower! ◀

▶ Successfully triggered results beyond the choices! ◀

▶ Rewards will be given! ◀

■ Reward

[ Ariana’s intimacy increases a bit more! ]

[ Current value: 15%->20% ]

[ ??? ]

[ ??? ]

First, I organized the situation up to this point.

It was revealed that Majungseok’s flames were fake, and when the commotion subsided, Isabella would have gone to find Karceine.

The hastily concocted excuse ultimately led to Ariana’s lie being exposed, and Isabella ordered the family’s knights to find Karceine.

Up to this point, it was the typical progression of the game.

“What’s left is… just entering late.”

After meeting Ariana, it skips to the scene at the Duke’s mansion. In other words, this scene is being skipped.

So, although the hidden episode appeared, it didn’t really affect the original progression.

From now on, no matter what I do, I just need to enter the Duke’s mansion late.

I was contemplating how to spend this time.

“But… what on earth is this?”

I noticed the question mark at the bottom of the stat window.

I realized only now, but during the game, this stat with a value of 0 never appeared.

“Hmm…”

I pondered for a moment.

Other stats have their own ways to increase, but there are no clues for this one.

And if you ask whether stats have a negative impact, they don’t. Not only can they avoid bad endings, but they can also occasionally create additional choices.

So, I decided to use the remaining stat points there. After all, raising the rest is meaningless since the decrease is much larger than the increase.

“There’s no way a slight increase will be noticeable. Let’s raise them all.”

[ Use all points on the ??? stat! ]

After the status window appeared, he wondered if there had been any changes in his body, but there were no noticeable differences.

“What is this…? What has changed?”

At that moment, a woman suddenly appeared while he was looking up at the sky, deeply lost in thought.

“Why are you thinking so hard?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Karsein immediately turned his head.

It was a somewhat familiar face now.

A stunning beauty with purple hair and eyes that matched perfectly. On the other hand, she seemed quite assertive.

“Why are you startling people like that?”

“Huh. That surprised look on your face…?”

“You suddenly appeared, so of course I’d be surprised.”

Harneya looked incredulous.

He was indeed taken aback.

“More importantly, what are you doing here? Did you come to see the snowflake festival?”

Karsein casually nodded at the mention of the snowflake festival.

In response, Harneya cautiously broached the subject, clearing her throat.

“Well then, would you spare some time for me?”

“Sure, why not.”

“I see. Your time is precious… or?”

As if she misheard something, Harneya sounded puzzled.

“Did I just hear wrong? It sounded like you agreed to spare some time for me.”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, it’s not that… Are you okay? You must have plans.”

“No, I don’t. Nothing like that.”

For Karsein, time overflowed at the moment.

He had been pondering where to spend this time, and if she hadn’t come, he might have been wandering somewhere with an empty heart.

“Um… I don’t know what happened, but I feel uneasy about taking advantage of you like this.”

After a moment of contemplation, Harneya said, raising her index finger.

“How about we make a deal?”

“A deal?”

“Yes. It would be more comfortable and familiar for both Confucius and me.”

She was offering to sell time.

That’s what Harneya was saying.

“…Not a bad idea.”

He needed to consume time somehow, but he was currently penniless.

He was in a position where he had to go back to being a lord after wasting time somewhere.

It would be much better to spend time with someone and gain something from it.

“Where can I spend my time?”

“Well… I mean, it’s my first time at the snowflake festival, could I get some guidance?”

“…Really?”

Karsein narrowed her eyes as if to confirm what she had heard.

Harney just chuckled and coughed.

“I’ve never properly enjoyed the snowflake festival every year because I’ve been so busy. Plus… there are always people who stick around…”

After that, she either felt embarrassed or deliberately avoided eye contact, blinking rapidly.

As Karsein remained uncomprehendingly silent, she placed her hand on her waist and asked.

“So, are you going to help me or not?”

Being a festival guide isn’t difficult.

If she borrows Karsein’s memories from the memorial, it should be possible.

However, it’s inevitable that she still hasn’t adapted to this situation.

“Are you laughing right now?”

“No. It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? This situation.”

“Huh! You know, Confucius used to say the same thing last time, why in the world─”

She didn’t hear anything after that.

But Karsein had no intention of refusing.

“If I help you with this, you’ll teach me etiquette.”

“Etiquette? Why?”

“It’s a deal. Like last time, please teach me. I’m inexperienced in many ways.”

“That’s true, but…”

It seems like she’s considering whether this is right or not.

“Okay, then let’s make it a guide fee and I’ll also give you money for my expenses. How about that?”

“Is that okay? Sometimes time is much more valuable than that amount of money.”

“I don’t think it’s a losing business. I have my reasons too.”

“Well…”

Harney didn’t seem entirely satisfied with this proposal.

However, approaching it as a deal, Harney soon agreed. She had her own reasons for doing so. That was the biggest thing.

“Alright. But if you don’t like it, you won’t give me anything, right?”

“You’re too much. To your fiancé.”

“Seriously. Am I only a fiancée at times like this? I should be showing my real lover side for someone.”

Harney let out a deep sigh and then tugged on Karsein’s arm.

“Rather, act like a proper lover.”

***

Harney was the first to cross her arms and teach the etiquette of noble lovers.

She said that, but she taught everything and quickly became accustomed to it in practice. It was a bit tedious.

As we arrived at the entrance, the snowflake festival had already entered its most lively period, with bright lights starting to shine. It was much more splendid and magnificent than what I saw at the memorial.

“Wow.”

Harney exclaimed at the decorations adorning the sky.

It seems that it wasn’t a lie that it was her first time here.

If I were a little younger, I would have thought she was a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.

“It’s amazing. So many things I’ve never seen before are gathered here. Did Karsein come to the snowflake festival often?”

“No. I haven’t properly seen it a few times either.”

No. Actually, it’s my first time too.

Karsein, not me, has seen the snowflake festival a few more times.

“But you’re not particularly surprised? Everything is amazing to me.”

…”

After hearing that, she looked at the decorations.

Certainly, it would be surprising. That is, if the disgusting origins of these two filthy pasts didn’t come to mind.

But there’s no room to enjoy such things in this world where our lives are at stake. That was the biggest reason I wasn’t surprised.

Then suddenly, Harney’s arm, which was crossed, tightened.

Before asking why, she opened her mouth first.

“Karsein. Earlier… Do you remember our deal?”

“Yes?”

“That, you agreed to pretend to be my lover.”

“I know about that.”

In the first place, he’s doing that to fulfill the contract.

But why bring that up now?

“Well, you have to keep your promise, okay? Absolutely.”

“Yes?”

Before I could hear his response, a noblewoman’s voice came from the front.

“Oh my. Is this the fiancé of the beloved Harney?”

No. Let me correct that.

She’s not a noblewoman; this was a group of noblewomen.

***

The snowflake festival doesn’t discriminate between nobility and commoners.

Therefore, it was a possibility for the nobles to encounter each other. Even when with her family, I had actually encountered her several times.

But this is…

“She’s not looking at me, is she?”

The plump woman behind me would probably be referred to as Harney’s fiancée… but if you looked closely, it seemed like she had come to meet Harney rather than me.

At a glance, all the women behind the foremost one were gazing directly at Harney.

It might be an exaggeration, but my intuition, built from experience, tells me so.

This is harassment.

First, let’s dig up some more information.

“What’s going on?”

In response to the straightforward question, some gazes shifted in my direction.

“It’s nothing special. We just came to see Harney Youngae because we heard she got engaged.”

That woman just referred to her as ‘Harney Youngae.’

As if Harney had done something wrong.

Then another Youngae stepped forward to add an explanation.

“We’ve seen Harney Youngae quite often. So, we know a lot, and that’s why there was a reason for us to come here in person.”

Upon hearing this, Harney’s grip tightened on her crossed arms.

Her expression remained unchanged, but perhaps her teeth were chattering.

I asked what the reason was without being swayed by this.

At that, the Youngaes began to smirk as if they had been waiting for this situation.

“Harney Youngae is really popular among men. However, she has never sincerely reciprocated their feelings.”

“Because she always bewitches men and then heartlessly discards them! She’s been doing this all along.”

“There are countless eyewitness accounts and testimonies. There are stories of her swindling money, and some have even been completely taken advantage of. Do you know there are even worse rumors than these?”

“Thanks to that, we always warn men in advance. Because otherwise, there might be more victims.”

“So, we came to see if the fiancé is being deceived. Perhaps he doesn’t know about this and that’s why we came.”

Finally, the woman in the center concluded.

“Harnier doesn’t hold love. So if you’re being deceived, tell me now. We can put an end to this misdeed.”

In summary, Harnier deliberately seduces men for some purpose and discards them mercilessly when they become useless.

Some men may not know about this and may have come because they suspect that even the fiancé known as Karsein might be deceived.

To summarize further:

If you are being deceived by that woman, get rid of her quickly.

Because Harnier Teresia is a flower snake.

Harnier was angered by this and began to deny it.

“No, I didn’t do such a thing! I haven’t met any men so far!”

“Oh my, look at that. Another lie!”

“You really don’t change, do you? Aren’t you ashamed as a noble?”

Accusations started pouring in.

Despite vehement denials and attempts to defend herself, Harnier could only fall behind in the face of overwhelming opposition.

Furthermore, she has a major weakness.

“Then answer this. Why did Harnier Engae venture into businesses typically pursued by men?”

“…”

“See, you can’t even answer that.”

“It’s obvious. Ultimately, you’re trying to take advantage of men, aren’t you?”

The fact that she engaged in businesses that other noble ladies didn’t engage in alone is enough to draw condemnation, regardless of whether it was for the Teresia family.

So, this matter rested solely in my hands.

“This time, are you trying to deceive the Viscount of Bargrand?”

“Viscount, just be honest with us. We’ll handle the aftermath.”

With an earnest gaze, Harnier appealed, “No! Really, I…! I didn’t try to deceive you.”

The answer came quickly.

In my mind, the solution to this problem emerged too easily.

Again and again.

The conclusion was drawn so easily that there was no need for verification.

I immediately released my arms.

-Swoosh.

“Karsein…!”

Harnier looked at me with trembling eyes.

“Eek?!”

I pulled her shoulders back around me as if to protect her. Her startled eyes turned towards me.

Yeah.

Right now, I’ve chosen one out of many.

“You’re doing something unfair. How dare you insult my fiancée in front of me?”

That look is the gaze of someone feeling wronged.

How can I favor them over that gaze, not Harney?

At least I could never act like that.