episode_0030

“Young master, I’ve brought your meal.”

A new maid knocked on my door, announcing the arrival of breakfast.

With a familiarity rating of 7%, it was the maid who had come to retrieve items from my room, claiming they were birthday gifts, considering the various things that had arrived that day.

Normally, it should have been Camilla who came, but the fact that this maid had arrived meant that things were unfolding as planned, just as I intended.

“Leave it there and go.”

“Yes, young master.”

After sleeping a little longer and waking up to morning, as usual, Camilla, who usually brought breakfast, was nowhere to be found.

Camilla was on a week-long vacation, and a new maid had come in her place.

This was something I had arranged when accepting Camilla, to ensure she could fully turn off Dead Trigger.

Not leaving the room was for the upcoming courtyard episode.

Bringing the breakfast from the hallway into the room, I found a small letter wedged between the dishes.

“Noble…? No, it’s from Camilla.”

Even though she claimed to have shed her nobility, the elegance of the aristocracy still lingered in her handwriting. If I hadn’t read the contents, I wouldn’t have known who it was from.

First off, the content was quite simple.

“Hmm. The maids got caught by Claire, and because of that, they are unable to give orders to the maids for a while?”

It corresponded with what the status window had told me. However, I didn’t know that Claire had warned them so fiercely. I also had no idea that she had been coming to me all nervous each time.

It’s a bit satisfying, isn’t it?

I felt strangely good, as if I had given her a taste of her own medicine.

Apart from that, it was just gratitude towards me and wishes for good health.

“She must have woken up early in the morning to write this… It’s quite impressive, to be honest. Does working as a maid drain one’s energy like this?”

No. That can’t be true.

Being tired doesn’t necessarily mean one’s energy is drained. As someone who worked part-time while not neglecting studies, as a high school student in South Korea, I can assure you, this is my problem.

“Well… Maybe my tendency to sleep a lot is because of this.”

■ Karsen Baugrand ■ – 18 years old

Lv. 4 (SP owned: 0.15)

▶ Strength 2.00

▶ Agility 2.93

▶Stamina 3.30

▶Health 1.25

▶Immunity 0.93

▶??? 0

Truly, these are dismal stats.

There doesn’t seem to be anything exceptional compared to ordinary people.

Stats that continue to decline day by day. Except for the immunity that rises through meals, all the indicated numbers are dropping.

It was clear that my long hours of sleep and heavy body were definitely the issue.

Thinking about it, I tried doing some push-ups, hoping to be conscious about it and do at least a little exercise, but…

“Nope. Can’t do it. Can’t go up.”

Discovering the abysmal health that couldn’t even manage five push-ups is separate from the fact that the declining stats don’t recover. Even if I exercise, it won’t count if it’s done like this.

That means… it’s obvious.

I have to head to the place where stats rise just like in the game.

“And of all places, that place happens to be a restricted area… Going there will get me killed. Leaving the stats to drop like this will also get me killed. You’re truly amazing, aren’t you?”

Surprisingly, even though the stats keep dropping, if I don’t manage this, it’s another direct route to a bad ending. The solution is blatantly exercising in the restricted area. But that restricted area is a place where you die if you go there recklessly?

Complaints involuntarily arose due to the extremely hostile environment that made me want to tear my hair out.

“In the end, the only solution is this episode… Huh?”

-Ding!

▶Ariana is here.◀

▶Listen to the explanation about the Snowflake Festival!◀

“I guess I’ll have to think about that later.”

Probably that door is going to open soon without my permission.

For now, I should probably pick up the book I was reading.

“Ariana, Miss?”

“Come here and stop. I’ll take this with me.”

After a brief conversation, the door suddenly opened.

The maid, not knowing what to do, bowed her head and left, and Ariana, with eyes full of discontent, glared at me.

As I was reading the book, Ariana, as expected, started to argue with me.

“How can you be upset when I’m going to see Nui? Karsein, are you really going to keep forcing yourself like this?”

After returning to the room following the outing, I continued to ignore Claire’s visit.

Birthday presents are undoubtedly powerful weapons. The fact that I realized the birthday itself late will surely give me the right to speak.

However, if I receive something and act all pleased about it, I won’t be able to use it anymore. That’s why I’ve been waiting. Until Arina comes.

-Ding!

[1. (Sulking as if wronged) Who throws a lavish party but doesn’t even acknowledge my birthday? Is it my fault for feeling bad and not meeting up?]

[2. (Digging into ears) If you give me a birthday present, I’ll let it slide.]

[3. (Throwing the nearby candle) My mood is foul, just buzz off. Damn it, you jerk.]

[4. What’s the matter?]

Glancing at Arina’s intimacy, the 6% has slightly risen to a noticeable 9%. Choosing option 1 here won’t raise the intimacy. Even though there’s a lot to say, I have to go with option 4.

I calmly closed the book and responded.

“What’s the matter?”

Upon this, Arina gazed at me intently for a short while.

-Ding!

[Arina Bagrand]

[Intimacy Level: 11%]

The intimacy rose by 2%.

For holding back so much to raise the intimacy, it was quite substantial.

“It certainly has changed. In the past, I would have thrown a fit…”

As Arina murmured to herself, she cleared her throat and brought up the matter again.

“I heard that as a birthday gift, you got permission from Mother for a day out. Clothes were prepared as well, but I also heard that it’s not what you wanted. However, this seems insufficient as a birthday present.”

Expressing empathy for that part, Arina continued.

“Our entire family, including me, forgot your birthday, and through a family meeting, the suggestion of attending the Snowflake Festival together came up. Your decision is the only thing left here.”

If it were the old Karsein, he would have caused trouble at the Snowflake Festival and wouldn’t have taken you there.

But through the externalization phase, greatly increasing the return value of the birthday present, I gained the right to participate in the Snowflake Festival.

From innocence to a small snow globe, it has rolled this big.

However.

‘In the end, the words to test me didn’t come out of that mouth.’

The Gift Festival

Even though it’s named a gift, it’s not a gift at all.

In the midst of testing and suspicion, how can I accept this as a gift? It would be more appropriate to call it surveillance.

*Ding!*

[1. Got it. I’ll participate in the festival.]

[2. Talking about a birthday present. Honestly, you just want to keep an eye on me, right?]

[3. I’ll think about it.]

The correct answer is 1.

As the status window hinted, the birthday present and the ban on going out are directly related to this festival. But why do I feel so damn awful?

I didn’t like the way she hid her intention to monitor me and made sarcastic remarks in front of Arina, turning my head towards the book.

“Got it. I’ll participate in the festival.”

“…You.”

“Anything else to say?”

Arina glared at me uncomfortably, then sighed deeply, leaving with a final word.

“Enjoy the festival without causing any trouble. Then I’ll give you a decent reward.”

As soon as the door closed, I closed the book.

“This is ridiculous. A decent reward?”

She said she’d monitor me instead of giving a birthday present, and if I comply, she’ll give me a decent reward?

This is beyond belief.

“In the end, what you want is to make sure this festival goes smoothly without any disturbance.”

Right. That’s what you wanted. If that’s all, I’ll make it happen as you wish, in any way you want.

I’ll accept the birthday present, won’t throw a tantrum, and behave at the festival without causing any trouble. In any manner.

As long as I get what I want.

***

The Snowflake Festival, which opened without fail this year.

This time, the scale was larger and more splendid, so as Flora, I should have been most excited to enjoy the festival.

Moreover, since I’m with my family, I could stay out later, couldn’t I? Such days don’t come often throughout the year.

“…”

However, she is visibly uneasy.

Despite being able to enjoy herself and stay out later with her family.

She seemed rather anxious.

“Flora? Why are you shaking like that?”

“Eek!”

Flora flinched in surprise as Claire suddenly spoke to her. Claire asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Flora? Are you really hurting somewhere?” “N-no, it’s nothing,” Flora replied, waving her hand. It wasn’t actually physical pain. ‘The problem is… over there.’ Glancing to her left, Flora observed a boy. His once blue hair had turned a deep bluish-black, almost black. His eyes, once like the color of a wall, had also faded with growth. It was Carcyn. “This time, there’s no issue with his attire?” “No, there isn’t.” Watching him being inspected, she couldn’t help but recall the voice from that day. It was all an unbelievable story. Such a thing couldn’t possibly exist. She even asked the governess, who said such things wouldn’t happen and that Miss Flora should continue growing diligently as she was. So, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern. “Have you forgotten where I came from?” Carcyn’s face, smiling as if mocking her lineage, lingered in her mind. She needed to quickly expel that commoner from the aristocrat’s place to restore her family’s peace. She had to drive away that audacious person aiming for Carn, her brother. Doubts crept in. If she were to drive Carcyn away from here, would things really go back to normal? “No. That will never happen.” Even so, it would only be a temporary lie to avoid the situation. Flora approached Arina, who was conversing with Carcyn, and tugged at her dress. “Big sister, can I ride the carriage with him today?” Her index finger pointed directly at Carcyn.

***

Flora Vagrand hates Carcyn Vagrand. The reasons are numerous, but the proposition of hating him remains unchanged. Hence, her intimacy rating with him is minimal, currently showing the lowest at 3% among family members. So, for her to choose Carcyn and ride the carriage together? From a normal perspective, it’s an impossible occurrence.

To torment the target to an extreme degree and why ride the carriage alone with them. It’s absurd in itself.

However, he chuckled and replied,

“Well, why not? After all, it’s not good to cram five people into the carriage.”

As if agreeing with Flora’s suggestion.