episode_0064

Torn pouch.

Two ointments inside.

Without a doubt, it was Karsein’s pouch.

Flora’s gaze remained fixed on it.

Discomfort ballooning like a bubble.

Simultaneously, sharp questions echoed back.

Why?

Karsein has nothing.

He doesn’t even try to possess anything.

Except for nobles, in this military camp, he is a destitute.

But.

Just now, that pouch tore.

It belonged to Karsein.

Judging by the ointments visible, it’s not a mistaken assumption of it belonging to someone else.

Why is this happening to Karsein?

With a frustrated heart, Flora approached the knight who just tore Karsein’s pouch and shouted, holding one side of her chest.

“Hey, you. Earlier, you muttered something about a commoner causing this, wait a moment!”

The knight, upon noticing Flora, turned around startled.

“Who gave you orders to do such a thing?”

“…”

“I’m asking you! Say something quickly?!”

Despite shouting, the knight remained silent.

Right then.

Someone from behind answered that question.

“Why did you do such a thing? Well, it’s probably because you wanted to spite me.”

“Ka-Karsein?”

Turning abruptly at Karsein’s voice, Flora was taken aback.

Unconsciously, she took a step back.

“I-I didn’t do that to spite you! I didn’t!”

“You didn’t? Lying again?”

“What?”

“Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie. It’s not a lie when I’m accusing you.”

Thud.

With heavy footsteps, Karsein took a step towards her.

“Every meal served to me is different from others, my meal has become a special banquet course that no one can eat. My clothes are either riddled with holes or have tiny needles strategically placed in the sleeves. Winter clothes have the cotton removed to make them cold, or summer clothes have holes crudely made.”

Thud.

“Rumors spread about my misconduct to the lower ranks, and since then, I haven’t been able to do anything properly. I always had to be the bad guy. Suspected, lied to, causing accidents. Whose fault is it?”

Thud.

He met her gaze.

With a sinister smile.

“Then you ask who ordered such a thing?”

Ahahaha!

Laughter echoed loudly.

Laughing. Laughing again.

The voice spread around, reaching someone’s ears without seeming out of place, laughing loudly.

And then, that laughing expression.

Suddenly, it changed drastically.

Becoming infinitely cold and ruthless.

“It’s because of you. Because you wanted to belittle me in front of all the nobles. But did you think I would be ignored in this military camp because of that? But, why are you treating me like this?”

“W-what are you saying? Don’t speak as if I did such a thing!”

“You thought the kid who was ignored by the nobles would be treated normally in the military camp. You know that well, so why?”

Drip!

A trickle of blood flowed from Karsein’s cheek.

It was where he had been injured by Claire a while ago.

“You caused this situation, why do you keep denying it? You always made me a scapegoat.”

“N-no. I…!”

Drip!

Blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

It was the wound inside his mouth caused by Arina.

“You orchestrated everything from the beginning. Made everyone suspicious, made sure I received nothing. That’s why I’m in this state now.”

“No!!”

In the noble’s house, it was true that he despised him.

But now, here, he hadn’t ordered anything himself.

“I was supposed to be the one who…!”

“Do you really think that way?”

“…What?”

“You know. What you did in the military camp.”

Thud. Thud.

“You stole my sword. You stole the joy of my life. All because of your simple dislike towards me, everything I had crumbled.”

Thud. Thud.

Tears of blood flowed. His body soaked in blood.

Bruises appeared where he had been hit before.

Turning into a pitiful sight that couldn’t be looked at.

“It’s because of you. That I ended up like this.”

“N-no. No! I didn’t do that!!!”

She screamed.

Closing her eyes, covering her ears with both hands, shaking her head.

But still, the voice saying, “It’s because of you,” could be heard.

She had to turn away, had to keep turning away.

Desperately, she took steps back.

She shouldn’t have been the cause of what happened.

“Get away!!!”

Thud!

Pushing Karsein away with both hands, he fell too easily.

“Huh…?”

Was he this light?

Was he so weak that he couldn’t even resist?

Something felt off, so he peeked open his eyes.

And then, Flora screamed, covering his mouth.

Karsein, covered in wounds, collapsed to the ground, unable to say a word.

Blood drenched his entire body, bruises visible on the outside, Karsein lay motionless.

No response, none at all.

“Ah!!!”

Bang!

“What’s happening, miss?! There were screams coming from the room…!”

The maids outside rushed in.

“Cough, cough…!”

“Miss, what’s wrong? Why are you sweating so coldly?”

“It seems like you had a bad dream. Your complexion is so…”

A dream? It was a dream?

Flora glanced around.

The maids, the bedroom, her room.

This wasn’t the military camp.

‘A dream…’

The maids held her hands, offering warm honey water and wiping away the cold sweat with a towel to chase away the fear from the nightmare.

Despite their efforts, she couldn’t calm down.

Even though she accepted that it was a dream, the vivid scenes from the dream remained etched in her mind, refusing to be forgotten.

If that was true?

If she hadn’t given any orders, and such things happened?

If Karsein was trying to reprimand her as he did in the dream, through his harsh life?

“…What time is it now?”

“It’s 6:25 in the morning, Miss Flora.”

“It’s still time for you to go back to the dreamland.”

“No. It’s fine. Just help me get ready to go out.”

From meeting him directly, she would find out everything.

Flora woke up earlier than usual today.

***

▶Episode V: Broken Wings (Part 2) is in progress!◀

▶You must complete Day 6 of the initiation period.◀

▶Head to the military camp and start basic training!◀

The most dangerous day since the initiation has arrived.

Days 1, 2, and 3 were manageable if one gritted their teeth, and days 4 and 5 were easier with the help of family members.

But as usual, this game wouldn’t make it easy to clear the episode.

Day 6 is more ruthless and brutal than the past 5 days, and if Karsein doesn’t manage his HP properly here, he will soon face a dead end.

The tense Theo Fageri.

Emma’s growing impatience.

If he responds in a careless manner like ‘I’ll just do it like yesterday,’ revenge will quickly follow, and he will be left helpless against the dead end that can strike at any moment.

If he knows this, this choice will naturally catch his eye.

▶You can request help now.◀

▶Who would you like to request help from?

[1. Request help from Arina.]

[2. Request help from Isabella.]

[3. Request help from Claire.]

Progress window that appears from the start of the 6th day.

It’s hard to resist the temptation to ask for help from someone.

“One of the three will come to the training ground out of the blue, how should I handle it.”

On the 6th day, Flora arrives.

Unlike other family members, Flora has no intention of helping Karsein and is more likely to cause bigger problems openly.

Didn’t she already do that in the workshop?

She tore up the document that Ariana had personally written to lift the ban on Karsein and tried to cause a big fuss and frame someone.

So, it’s best to abandon any expectations from the start.

If you trust Flora, of all people, and spend the 6th day with her, you will undoubtedly face a future full of dead flags.

However, amidst all this, that window popped up.

At the perfect timing to ask for help from one of the three.

“It’s too obvious.”

Just like the crossroads yesterday.

Even if it’s the right choice, choosing an option that fits too perfectly will surely result in a penalty.

“And even if it’s not that, you know. I don’t want to ask for help from those people.”

Even if it’s difficult, you can handle it alone.

It’s one thing to use them, but I absolutely hate directly asking for help. It’s no different from asking for help from the old family members.

Before you know it, it’s time to leave the lodging.

It was the final check time.

“Well. This way, there should be no room for misunderstanding.”

Finally, the time has come.

I will use what I have saved for this moment, which will be used today.

Despite Mark and Radiel’s protests, I insisted on borrowing a needle and thread.

I put an item in the shabby pouch I made with the needle and thread, and started the 6th day.

“Mark has a schedule from this morning. So, I will be in charge of the morning training schedule instead.”

A regular knight came forward to inform that he would take over Mark’s duties.

And along with that message, a warning window appeared in front of me.

▶You cannot receive Mark’s protection.◀

▶You cannot receive Radiel’s protection.◀

▶The knights’ malice is revealed! The harassment intensifies!◀

▶Be careful! If your HP is depleted, you will face a bad ending!◀

“And. Today, Flora is watching. As a knight who protects the master, make sure not to show any flaws.”

Numerous warning windows appeared along with the red warning lights.

With Mark and Radiel’s eyes gone, they had no room to complain.

Or rather, it would be Emma’s subordinates and Teo’s subordinates.

“Start with the gubu. If anyone is lazily running instead of Mark’s deputy, be prepared.”

As the official knight who ended with that, the running in circles began as soon as the signal was given.

Perhaps because they heard the nagging, the knights’ pace was faster than usual.

If you fall behind too soon, you might be targeted.

Even though it’s exhausting, I ran while tolerating the decrease in HP.

I started to breathe heavily little by little.

One side of my chest felt tight.

Despite that, I persevered.

“…”

▶Flora Vagrant is watching.◀

[ ??? : 71% ]

To make the most of that little kid.

So, three laps had already passed.

They were getting impatient and started to increase their speed.

The trainee was positioned at the back during the gubu time.

If the distance widens here, you might receive criticism, but I haven’t been pushed back so far.

Although I used up quite a bit of HP.

But the senior knights were already far ahead and the distance was widening. They must have been aiming for this moment to increase their speed.

It was a scheme to prevent the trainees from using their advantage.

I had already anticipated that.

In the game for five days, it was just a mini-game, but facing reality, I had become familiar with their patterns and could find a way to break through.

I showed some of them the advantage of using the trainees and preemptively attacked those who were trying to charge head-on.

Some of the ones whose stamina was drained fell and received a scolding from the senior knights.

They overlooked it.

If there’s no one to criticize them from that side, it’s the same for us.

“Damn, that guy…!”

“Hey, you’re taller. Do something!”

“We can’t do anything except pass by quietly! What are we supposed to do?”

“We can’t tell the trainees and the senior knights because we’re running properly…!”

The guys who were trying to harass Karsein and faced backlash were grumbling in the back. It seemed like they were trying to come up with a plan.

“Why are you still running? Finish running.”

By deliberately increasing the speed, I accidentally absorbed the message that revealed malice, and it smoothly became part of the plan.

“Let’s go.”

“No, hey! That guy is…!”

“Just let it go. Huh?”

After a few hesitations, they headed towards the water fountain.

Preparations were almost complete.

Giving the rest of them enough time was more than enough.

▶A timer is created!◀

That time, depending on how you spend it, the outcome will be different.

After a while.

Having leisurely filled the remaining laps, I sat on a rock, drank a cup of water, checked the timer, and moved to another spot.

▶Entering the water fountain area!◀

[ This area is a dangerous zone! ]

Whether it was a dangerous zone or not didn’t matter.

Who was there was important.

The fair-haired girl was trembling visibly.

─Hey, you ride well!

─Oh. This is mine.

─Let’s share this, buddy.

The guys who had fallen and were rummaging through other people’s belongings, some were burning things, and some were deliberately damaging them. Some were even looted.

And.

“Hmm. I’ll take these two. If that raggedy kid comes, I’ll burn it in front of her eyes. That way, she won’t be able to cool down, right?”

Teo Ramstair, who was judging in the center and choosing what benefits him, was there.

Watching that scene, Flora trembled even more.

More noticeably than before.

I silently replied in my mind while looking at the back of that naive kid.

‘Doesn’t it feel ironic to see the scene you saw yesterday again, Flora?’

But you know.

This is all your doing, with the snowball you set in motion.

Just because they’re not family, just because you don’t like them, you pushed that person to the brink.

And now, this has become a daily occurrence.

Full of malice, without any kindness.

It’s no different from the harassment in the workshop.

Did you really think that the influence would be less than in the workshop because you only harassed there?

Absolutely not.

It would have been even more brutal.

It would have been much more brutal than in the workshop.

Since it was you, not anyone else, who directly broke Karsein’s wings.

The sightseeing time is enough.

[ ??? : 78% ]

Flora must be wondering what kind of life I’ve been living by now.

It was time for me to take action.

To get rid of that despicable guy.

But.

Something unexpected happened.

-Thud!

“Te, Teo!”

“Gloves? Who the hell threw this at Teo’s face…!”

“…Huh?”

“Wait, could it be…”

They were thrown into confusion.

“What the hell are you doing!!!”

And the one who threw those gloves was none other than Flora.

▶Successfully triggered results beyond the choices!◀

▶By meeting the conditions, Flora’s intimacy box is revealed!◀

[ Flora Vagrand ]

[ Guilt: 100% ]