episode_0266

-Tsk. Tsk.

“Huh…?”

Harnie wakes up from her daze to the sound of sparrows chirping.

She woke up rubbing her sleepy eyes, then immediately felt uneasy and opened her eyes wide.

It was definitely night.

Arina’s birthday didn’t even start during the day, and the sun had already set by the time she chased after Karcein.

Even when the Jewel of the Oath shined, it was dawn.

But, there is so much bright light shining through the window.

I can only explain it as morning.

I opened my eyes and woke up and it was morning…

Somehow, a familiar experience comes to mind.

‘no way…’

When Griharnier turned his head towards the sound of approaching footsteps.

The door opened with a click.

“Are you awake?”

“Ah…”

Harnie felt a strange sense of unease along with a faint sigh.

She asks Karsain, who has just opened the door and come in, with a glimmer of hope.

“Could you… explain to me why I’m here…?”

I hoped it wasn’t just that…

“You were sleeping outside, so I carried you in my arms.

Oh no! That can’t be true!

Actually, I knew it too.

The fact that I’m sleeping on this bed means I can’t gamble.

Along with the time being night, the scenery she was looking at was always outside this room, but now that she is inside, all causal relationships are aligned.

I just fell asleep.

Karsine, who found himself like that, simply brought him to this room and put him to sleep.

I had promised myself that I couldn’t leave Carcein alone, but then he fell into a deep sleep. It was a moment where I started to hate myself for being so weak.

Even, look at what Karcein has in his hand.

I brought some drinks and food.

‘You idiot! I should have brought you something to drink and eat!’

When I see that, I feel so guilty that I cover my face with my hands.

In the meantime.

“Carcein said, setting down breakfast on the table to appease his hunger.

“Don’t be so foolish in the future.”

“…Huh?”

“What if you fall asleep outside like that?”

It was an accident that my weak self fell asleep.

It was obviously a nuisance to Carcein.

‘But that means…’

Until just a moment ago, I was feeling a complex mix of self-loathing, shame, and resentment towards myself.

As soon as I heard those words from Karsine, the emotions that had been piling up like stale dust disappeared and something else swelled up.

“This is the West, and I know quite a few people, so it’s okay. If it were anywhere else, it would’ve been a disaster. And what would you do if you fell asleep outside and caught a cold? Anyway, be careful.”

The corners of my mouth go up involuntarily.

You’re making me worry outside for no reason.

The person who asked if I needed anything ended up leaning against the door and falling asleep.

In the end, he caused trouble by making her move to the bed. That’s why Karsine nagged at him.

But it’s not just nagging.

There was something subtle in his voice, which was neither scolding nor reprimanding, nor even a sharp reprimand.

-Knock knock. Knock knock.

Again, my heart is pounding.

Harnie smiled like a fox and pressed his body against Karsine’s side.

“Rather than in the morning… I’d like to lean on it a little bit like this.”

Although it was nagging, I felt better inside.

So, I needed some time to think about what I could do for him.

***

We emptied our breakfast together.

We came out of that room together.

Even when organizing things, I had four hands instead of two.

There were also four legs leading to a set location.

I held her hand and got into the carriage, and we went back in the same carriage.

How did it come to this?

It’s clear that when I came I was alone, but when I returned there were two of us.

‘Okay. That’s not what we need to worry about right now.’

-Tiring!

▶Episode IV. The one who proves his qualifications begins.◀

▶The Noblesse Points you earn are determined by your words and actions during the martial arts competition and the results of the competition.◀

▶Be careful! The gaze directed at you is not kind at the moment!◀

“There you are.”

“The princess’s birthday has passed… But since she didn’t come with her family, is it true that she didn’t prepare a gift?”

“Either way, she’s your older sister. I wonder if I’m being too indifferent.”

He used to whisper that he should see my abilities and make me the successor. But that rumor died down and yesterday’s incident was brought up again.

The situation is going this way, so it’s obvious what will happen next.

-Tiring!

▶The nobles are criticizing your actions.◀

▶You can respond by selecting the appropriate option.

Yes. This is how the options appear.

Just like it always has been.

It may be surprising, but the correct answer here is to choose the original option and respond appropriately to those nobles.

Because I am currently competing in a martial arts tournament, I can properly protest to anyone who defames a participant in any way.

But now, that’s not the case.

Because unlike in the game, I have to clear Chapter 3 in a completely different way.

There may be times when I need to step forward depending on the situation, but now is not the time.

I guess I’ll just have to ignore it and move on.

However, I tried to ignore it, but it seems like this person is still concerned.

-Ugh.

Harnie’s body was pressed closer than before.

However, he casts a sharp gaze at those who speak carelessly, as if he will not tolerate careless cursing.

Then, after a while, some of the ladies who had been chewing me out coughed in vain and fanned themselves. In high society… this is called tucked in.

‘…a little surprising.’

If you were going to swear at me more here, I was definitely going to make an example of you by choosing your options.

▶Those who tried to incite through gossip were silenced.◀

▶The selection disappears.◀

But, with this one action, with one look from Harnie, all options were completely gone.

“This time it won’t be like yesterday. Because I’ll be by your side, always.”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything to her, who linked arms with me and urged me to go quickly.

It’ll be okay, to some extent.

With that thought in mind, I followed Harnie.

***

From dawn till morning.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with Harnie, but now it’s time for us to part ways.

I spoke to her cautiously.

“Shouldn’t you be going back soon? Harnie.”

You must complete all preparations before the start, including conditioning, equipment maintenance and inspection, and simple warm-up. During this time, you must not disturb your fiancée or even your family.

That’s what they use as an excuse.

But, contrary to my expectations, he hugged my arm tightly.

“…Harnie?”

“There’s still some time left. It’s not a bad thing to stay together a little longer. Is it weird for lovers to be like this?”

…That’s true, though.

Isn’t pretending to be a lover enough?

If the goal is to impress people by acting, then I wonder if there is a need to show more of ourselves since so many people have already seen us.

Well, maybe by her standards.

At that moment, I was about to accept it.

“I’m sorry. I forced myself. I guess… I was just a little nervous.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, I’ll definitely do what I have to do. So… Close your eyes for a moment.”

“Eyes?”

“Quickly! Don’t ask…”

…what are you trying to do?

First, I closed my eyes as I wanted.

Even if it’s a mean prank, you should just accept it─

-side.

‘…hmm?’

Something soft touched my cheek.

It was moist and warm, and left a subtle sound of contact that only I could hear.

“Hey, go for it. Karcein!”

After saying those words, Harnie turned around, holding onto the hem of her dress.

He ran so fast that he disappeared from my sight.

“…”

With an awkward feeling, I gently touch the spot where it touched with my hand.

That moist feeling still remains.

The warm and soft texture still remains.

Just a guess.

What touched my cheek was…

“Lips… I think it was that.”

It’s awkward.

It was so awkward that my mind stopped spinning for a moment.

Is there such etiquette?

Or maybe it’s a way of cheering at a martial arts competition.

Was he trying to dispel any suspicions by expressing his affection like this to avoid any suspicions?

All sorts of thoughts came to mind…

All that remained was awkwardness.

“Oh my. It’s before the competition starts, right?”

As I was awkwardly touching my cheek, I heard a sarcastic voice right next to me. It was that crazy pink-haired bitch.

I guess intimacy will be reduced anyway.

If you pick a fight, you will be given a choice. Here, you can respond appropriately─

…Huh?

“What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?”

[ Claire Bagrand ]

[ Intimacy: 80% ]

Why doesn’t intimacy drop?

***

July 1st.

Arina’s birthday has passed.

That meant it was time for the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament that had been in progress for some time. I had to go back into the arena and think about how to complete this episode.

But when I opened the lid and looked, the intimacy wasn’t that bad.

Claire, who I thought would have shrunk the most, was still there.

Even when I went to see the whining little Flora, her intimacy level was normal.

Even the image of Viscount Ptois, who had suffered damage as a vassal or sponsor whom he had met by chance, and many nobles, had not plummeted in intimacy.

Crucially.

[ Noblesse Points : -180 ]

The Noblesse Points were fixed.

That means…

-Tiring!

▶Provide missing information to players!◀

▶We will reveal the Noblesse Points and Intimacy reduction offset values received as a perfect clear reward for Episode III.◀

[Noblesse Points Reduction Offset Amount: 100%]

[ Intimacy reduction offset amount: 100% ]

…Amazing.

The result I got by substituting it into my reality leads to a perfect clear, and even after seeing that, people still don’t look at me with prejudiced eyes.

“But there are exceptions.”

[ Exception: Arina Bagrand ]

▶Stimulate Arina’s emotions to take more damage when fighting her.◀

Well, this is probably obvious.

Rather, it is the sea I was hoping for.

But even if such a luxurious reward is given, should we say that there is nothing to do?

“If this is the case, then almost all the sub-episodes I have to do will disappear.”

A sub-episode appears and interferes with the nobles’ rumors.

If you overlap with the sub-episodes related to Another Plan, it will steadily reduce your Noblesse Points.

To prevent this, the general development was that by personally stepping forward and solving the sub-episodes, time would gradually be eaten away, and the preparation time would be infinitely reduced.

But, if this time were to become completely empty…

“…It’s time to go find Marquis Magnus.”

Clearly, that person was the first to speak.

More perfectly.

More neatly.

I’d better let that author know that I have no interest in Bagrand’s succession.

***

Claire hurriedly came running after hearing the news that Karsane had arrived at the venue.

Because of what happened yesterday, I had a lot to ask Carcein when I met him.

However, the questions he was trying to ask Karsain were completely lost in the love affair unfolding right before his eyes.

“I came running in a hurry because I was worried about someone. Oh my! You were having a really sweet date with your fiancee!”

Complaints are pouring out from his mouth.

The intonation and voice are very close to sarcasm.

However, his true feelings were the complete opposite.

“…Still, I’m glad that nothing happened.”

Karsine is not a child.

I’m not the type of person to blame anyone by being unreasonable or telling lies.

There must be some reason why she did something like this on her sister’s birthday. At least that’s what she thought as she turned around to tell Flora and her mother.

───────.

──────.

‘Hmm? This voice…’

If you listen to the voice, it’s Carcein.

When did you get here? Who should I talk to or listen to?

“Really, you don’t have even the slightest interest in being Duke Bagrand’s successor?”

…What is this? What kind of topic is this…?

“Yeah. I was the one who should have left the Duke’s house in the first place, right?”

At that moment.

Claire’s head spun around.

-Tiring!