episode_0100

▶A no-luxury event is in progress!◀

▶Meet and chat with Arina!◀

[Designated location: Arina’s office]

After Isabella, I ended my conversation with Claire.

You won’t meet anyone at this event anymore.

Feeling relieved, I walked towards the designated location, Arina’s office.

However, strangely enough, the door was slightly open, so voices came out through it.

“Eldest sister… How can it not work?”

What came out was undoubtedly Flora’s voice.

However, the voice was quite close to a request.

There is nothing particularly strange about Flora visiting Arina.

Even if she doesn’t know what she came here for, she can always come and ask Arina for a favor.

However, unlike Karsein, the treatment will be significantly different.

Even if you ask her to play without thinking, Arina will accept it without saying anything.

Just like the youngest who bullied me in real life, Flora is the youngest daughter who receives a lot of love from the Duke family.

‘First of all, put aside your distracting thoughts.’

We need to keep an eye on why Flora came here.

Don’t you know? Will a clue to solve this event emerge from there? I thought it would be a good idea to listen to that.

Arina sighed.

“It’s not that difficult, but… Flora. Did you hear anything from Karssein? For a long time, you hated going around with Karssein.”

You’re doubting me. It’s probably something I’ve heard before, so it doesn’t really bother me.

But, you hate hanging out together? What does that mean?

“K, it’s not what your eldest sister thinks. I just… want to go with him…”

“If that’s the case, can’t I go with Claire?”

“That…”

Flora is troubled, unable to form words clearly.

Maybe that could be a clue to getting through this event.

At the same time I was thinking that, a status window appeared in front of my eyes.

-Tiring!

▶Flora’s !@#%#@!◀

…

…

‘what. Why is this like this? ‘Why does the writing look so broken?’

Immediately afterwards, the text in the status window changed.

▶An error occurred!◀

▶This is not the time to intervene in that quarter.◀

▶Could not load options!◀

▶Deciding on alternatives…◀

‘what?! This can’t be…’

Haven’t you experienced it twice? I can’t help but feel as if time has stopped and we’re moving into another quarter.

However, even though the status window appears, there is no change in the surrounding flow this time. The point is that time hasn’t stopped.

-Tiring!

▶CHAPTER 2 – We have confirmed that Episode III is not over!◀

▶We have confirmed that we are in an area where major events cannot be ignored!◀

▶Draw results.◀

▶Two main episodes run simultaneously.◀

▶Time is delayed to choose a more efficient route. Based on the current scene, you will be notified of the results shortly.◀

her. You’re going to run two main episodes simultaneously?

That couldn’t be possible.

You can only progress through one main episode in this game.

Although the main episode was divided into several branches by satisfying the set route and branch conditions and entering the branch, the main episode could not be divided into two.

‘That means that this situation, if you take a different route, is a fairly important main episode.’

Looking at all of the previous cases, two episodes were combined to create a new episode that was completely unknown.

Of course, it was combined or transformed into a sub-episode or hidden episode… but it still didn’t make sense to proceed separately like this.

But it unfolded before my eyes.

The system was giving me two main episodes.

Meanwhile, the sisters’ conversation, which was briefly interrupted, continues.

“Ka, it’s been a long time since Karsein has been outside. I was wondering what it would be like if you came with me… You could take me as an escort!”

“Hmm? Are you going to take Karssein there?”

“No… No?”

“No, that’s right… Karssein is also working as an apprentice knight in the division, so it’s not impossible.”

Arina hesitated, as if she was troubled.

That probably shouldn’t be said.

You’re taking Karssein as an escort. That was a statement that had the potential to cause problems in any direction.

Even if Amman is an adopted child, he is the child of the Bagland Duke family. It might be okay if you take Karssein as Prince of Bagland, but if you take him away as a guard knight, it’s like advertising Karssein’s status as a pariah.

And to top it off, he’s a knight who protects his younger brother. The Knights Templar also said that it would be better to take him as Prince Bagland rather than as a guard knight considering his prestige.

As expected, he was an immature kid.

“Flora. Can’t you tell me why you want to go with Karssein?”

“That’s not possible.”

“…Is this why you can’t even tell your sister?”

“Yes. no way. Even if it’s a mother.”

“Umm…”

Arina looked troubled again.

Arina had always readily accepted any request from her youngest child, but now she was not hasty in accepting it.

‘To summarize what I’ve heard so far, Flora simply wants to take me somewhere…’

That’s shit. Does that make sense?

That kid who always tried to get rid of me, the kid who hated even riding in a carriage with me, was going to take me?

It made no sense to go with me instead of Claire, Arina, or Isabella.

‘This time, Arina will reject it appropriately as she can’t just accept it.’

But I was overlooking one thing.

-Tiring!

‘…what?’

The fact that another episode was just announced.

“I didn’t know Flora liked Carcein this much?”

“Huh? Ugh, uh…”

“My sister will try her best, but if you don’t tell me, she can’t give you permission unconditionally.”

“No… it won’t work?”

“No. I’m saying let’s close that door first and talk about it step by step.”

“Oh, yes!”

…I guess the eavesdropping stops here.

I had no choice but to take a step back. Getting caught like this could have led to the worst situation.

However, I couldn’t just give up and move on.

▶Episode III. Remnants of Malice is on the way!◀

▶Finish the conversation with Arina and carry out the request!◀

The episode has already progressed.

I had to bring at least one little piece of information with me.

-Tiring!

‘…I wish I could hear the conversation.’

▶Arina’s personal space◀

▶This location is a danger zone!◀

[If you stay too long, you may be subject to a penalty. ]

Even at my own risk, it was necessary to overhear this.

***

▶Get out of the danger zone!◀

‘…is that wrong?’

I entered the danger zone, even risking a penalty, but I heard nothing.

I wondered if there was another place where I could overhear that conversation, but if I couldn’t hear it here, I couldn’t hear it anywhere else either.

In that case, it would be correct to say that the system prevented you from hearing that at all. They will try to stop it at all costs.

I can’t help it.

It was a matter that had to be faced directly and resolved by choosing an option.

First, turn your head to the status window.

-Tiring!

▶Episode III. Remnants of Malice is on the way!◀

▶Finish the conversation with Arina and carry out the request!◀

‘Nothing much changes.’

Neither of them could proceed without continuing the conversation with Arina.

It would have been a good idea to aim for the right time and go in, but I deliberately left that spot and waited near the stairs.

“…!”

Soon, Flora was seen coming down the stairs.

As I pretended to climb the stairs very naturally, Flora asked me without thinking.

“Why, why are you here?”

After all, an immature little boy isn’t going anywhere.

It’s a shame that I skipped out to avoid suspicion because the timing was right. If he had even heard me, he would have immediately yelled at me and gotten me into trouble.

We can sell at least one person here.

“Claire told me to go see Arina, so I came here. Is there something wrong?”

“Little sister…?”

Flora hesitated and muttered to herself.

Although he paused for a moment, he didn’t seem suspicious that I had overheard the conversation.

“If it’s because of my younger sister… then of course it can’t be…?”

“What are you mumbling?”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

Flora said this while holding onto the hem of her skirt and walked down the stairs at a brisk pace.

He seemed nervous, wondering if he had heard it, but he seemed relieved when he said he hadn’t. I think they said something important.

“Well, I never thought I could get something out of you anyway.”

You’ll have to find out the rest by trying it out.

I went up the stairs and opened the door to Arina’s office as if nothing had happened.

“Who, haha. Where did you get the etiquette for knocking?”

As soon as I open the door and go in, it starts with a scolding.

But I also have something to say.

“Why do you have manners? I was just talking about myself inside.”

“…!”

“Did you say something like that and fall asleep while the person in question was listening? So you’re just going to teach us manners?”

Arina, who was annoyed by the lack of knocking etiquette, kept her mouth shut.

I don’t know what was said, but in any case, it was true that Arina talked about Karssein in her conversation with Flora.

“Flora said she would take me as an escort. Are you not even considering my doctor?”

I brought up what I had heard and pretended to know as much as I could.

The bait has been thrown.

I didn’t listen to the end of the conversation between the two people, and only said what I knew.

However, if you pretend to know and be sarcastic like this, Arina’s personality is—

“Do not speak carelessly. When I said I wanted to take you to a tea party, are you going to exaggerate it as if it was something wrong?”

This is how it gets caught.

Right. He wants to take me to a tea party.

The problem is that Flora is taking Carcein as an escort at the tea party, right?

If this was going to be the case, I probably should have said something more offensive.

Arina sighed and got up from the table.

“After. First, sit down. Because I have to take care of the business that called you.”

“Okay.”

I sat down on the sofa as Arina said.

His grumpy attitude still hasn’t changed.

Arina raised her eyebrows as if that was annoying.

“I confirmed that there was a large expenditure. They say they bought the Ruthmire estate with that money.”

“What is that?”

“What is that? Do you think that attitude is right now?”

Arina shined brightly inside the wall and put pressure on him.

I also spoke out what I had prepared as if I had been waiting.

“If you want to point out that purchasing the Ruthmire estate was a wrong move for a noble, feel free to do so. You know very well what the situation is in that territory, right?”

“…Are you saying you investigated there and then moved?”

“Yes. When I went to the party I attended to see my fiancé, I saw an attendant working there. His anger toward the nobles was so great that he was even thinking of ruining the party.”

After hearing that, Arina asked me to talk more.

“It’s not just that. Ruthmeier could not even collect tolls due to its isolated location. On the contrary, the road they were trying to pass through required paying a toll.”

“…Surely, the rest of the territory was united.”

“I know you well. In such a situation, I was also under threat from demonic beasts. There is no protective family, and no one comes to help in time. It kept breaking down.”

When I was even informed of the fact that I had to pay a cleaning fee without receiving proper help, Arina swallowed her tears and looked at the documents.

“…Really. Who would have thought that Count Modric would have taken the cleanup fee and even the corpses of the demonic beasts.”

Arina said that they were vicious people and organized the necessary documents so that it would be easy to report this fact to the imperial family.

Meanwhile, the anger within the walls faded further.

This is because the serious situation in Ruthmire’s territory was covered up by my presence alone.

“I understand very well what mindset you had in taking on the position of Lord. But Karssein, you have already been the cause of the downfall of a territory in the past. You probably haven’t forgotten.”

You came. It is a topic that will inevitably come up if the story of Ruthmire’s estate comes up.

In the field related to the territory, Karssein can never forget the incident that brought Shatrene’s shame.

“Having a fief requires a certain level of responsibility and obligation. If there comes a time when you clearly feel that your capabilities are insufficient, be sure to inform the Duke.”

As expected, it seems like he already figured it out.

Since Arina is now in charge of financial management here, it can be seen as natural.

But I won’t tell.

I shouldn’t know, and I don’t want to know.

“It’s an important story, so I’ll say it one more time. Karssein, if you are too stubborn, a second Shatrene may be created and the Bagland duchy may suffer one more stigma. If you can’t solve it with your own capabilities, you must go to the dukehouse─”

“I understand, so don’t say it again.”

Arina was interrupted with a somewhat annoyed voice.

Not only do I know that the moment I fail, it will be game over, but I also know what those people went through.

So, I had no intention of handling it roughly.

“What do you say when a problem arises? Right now, I’ve taken steps to resolve what happened in Ruthmeier and ensure that tolls are collected properly, so why should I listen to this?”

I thought I answered it quite clearly.

But did Arina find this sight of me disturbing?

She got angry.

“You get annoyed even when I give you advice you should take seriously. I feel this every time I see you like this, but even just thinking about it, the honor of a nobleman doesn’t suit you.”

-Tuk.

“But you are truly a lucky person. I have a really good younger brother. So I’m suppressing my anger now and giving you just one more chance. Take it.”

Arina held out an invitation to me.

I can guarantee that this is the business Flora brought.

“What is this?”

“This is an invitation to attend a tea party for nobles. Lately, Flora seems to be following you. I don’t know why, but I brought it to you because your brother asked for it.”

“If it’s a tea party, I won’t go. Don’t you mind if Flora goes alone?”

Arina uncrosses her legs and crosses them again on the other side.

She spoke with that childish look in her eyes that was still driving me crazy.

“When I heard it, he said he wanted to bring one more person and enjoy a tea party this time. As I said before, Flora asked to attend the tea party with you.”

Here, Arina said she had a suggestion.

“The people participating in this tea party are all nobles, and it seems that there are quite a few nobles who will participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Conference. If you participate, you may be able to get advice in many ways. So, I plan to use this to decide whether or not to grant your permissions again.”

My head went blank for a moment.

Are you going to decide whether or not to re-grant my permissions?

-Tiring!

[ 1. (flapping his middle finger) Tell him to eat shit. Why would I go to a place where these fucking bastards gather? ]

[ 2. (resting his chin) It doesn’t really matter if I don’t go there, right? I have become the lord of Ruthmire and have gained authority, so why do I need your permission? ]

[ 3. (After getting angry and hitting the table) Didn’t you hear what Mom said? It’s my authority. Do you want it back? ]

[ 4. (shrugs his shoulders sheepishly) If that’s the end, I’ll just go back. I’ll ask Claire to help me. ]

…

…

With this, I finally learned everything about what Flora had said when she came here.

The little boy wants to take me to a tea party.

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that some kind of incident will happen there. I can’t just ignore the feeling that the episode is pointing to this.

Maybe the real purpose could be the events that take place there.

But why?

Why does what Arina says sound like the first child’s words?

-Take care of the youngest! Your only brother is doing this because he’s worried about you, so why are you so upset that he can’t catch you?

That statement is not much different.

They told me to take care of Flora and the youngest child.

Cold blood begins to flow.

It’s disgusting, but no swear words come out of my mouth.

‘Hey. ‘I got fucked twice today.’

I thought that way in my head, but I’m not even angry. It’s quite absurd.

Even suppressing the heat that was about to rise, I was already looking at the options.

Would you like me to look after the youngest?

okay. You have to do whatever you want.

The other options were obvious because the screws were already missing one by one.

Actually, I don’t feel like it, but it’s better to hide my hand until the end.

so. Choose this option.

[ 5. You said it was a tea party, right? I’ll go somewhere. Be sure to keep your promise. ]☑

“You said it was a tea party, right? okay. I’ll be back.”

In the end, all Arina wants is for me to listen to her. Just for one younger sister named Flora.

I have no intention of wasting the time I have saved, but right now, more time has to pass. It would be better to get some information from outside than to stay in the office and do nothing and only feel bad.

But that’s not my purpose.

Whether or not there are people there who will participate in the Eastern Noble Conference is none of my business.

Are you going to listen to Arina’s words straight away? Not at all.

Of course, I could probably get permission to participate in the meeting by listening to Arina like this. But haven’t you already seen it?

That was my reality, and as the memorial showed, Karssein will not be recognized for anything. Even if there was such a thing, I wouldn’t move for them.

‘I really like the authority you give me.’

In any case, I will personally prove my authority to participate in the meeting with the Ruthmire Estate.

Not as Karssein of the Duke of Bagland, but as the lord of Rusmire.

So, you will be attending this tea party for a different reason.

“I learned a lot there. If you have changed even a little since your visit, you will be able to get your permission to participate in the meeting back without any problem.”

As I was about to open the door and leave, Arina gave me advice.

Come and learn a lot?

That’s not even funny.

If you knew what I was going to do at the tea party from now on, you might be shocked.

‘You can be as angry as you want later. I also have no intention of coming back gracefully.’

I only said that I would go there, but I didn’t say that I wouldn’t get into an accident there.