episode_0031

It was truly a strange sight.

Flora, who detested Carcyn and had been harassed by her numerous times, and Carcyn, were riding alone in a carriage like this.

Inside the carriage that had just started moving, a chilly silence flowed.

“If you have something to say, say it quickly,” Carcyn broke the silence.

Surely Flora, who received love from her family, wouldn’t want to ride with Carcyn. Carcyn knew all too well how much Flora disliked herself.

Therefore, to quickly get to the point and open up conversation with Flora, he subtly guided her to speak.

Flora readily spoke up, accompanied by what seemed like a disdainful snort.

“Are you trying to attract our family’s attention again with this kind of thing?”

As if understanding what she came to say with just that one sentence, Carcyn smirked.

“You’re talking about attracting attention. Who would want to cause such trouble?”

“Was it not causing trouble? Then why are you going to the snowflake festival with me?”

“It’s not like I wanted to go.”

How could she want to go when she was being watched under the guise of a birthday present? Carcyn himself didn’t particularly want to go to a festival either.

But…

“Lies! You’re only taking me because you lied to Claire and Mom about it being a birthday present!”

Flora couldn’t believe that.

“Your birthday? It was buried all along. Even if you didn’t know this time, it wouldn’t have mattered. How would Mom and little sister know if you didn’t tell them yourself?”

In Flora’s eyes, Carcyn always had to be separate from the family. She shouldn’t receive any attention.

She was just a very bad person trying to distance our family.

So, clutching her skirt, Flora shouted,

“Maybe your dirty lies worked this time, but there won’t be a next time. I’ll stop you at the festival. I’ll stop you from doing anything to our family.”

You could never be a part of our family.

I’ll make sure you won’t even have any interest.

I’ll directly stop you from having any interest in such a lowly commoner, I will.

“Sisters, Mom, and even the place of my brother, we won’t give anything to you!!”

Flora gasped for breath.

This was no longer the realm of conversation.

A warning from someone desperately hoping for harassment, oppression, and Karceine’s isolation. Perhaps it might be something more than that.

Flora, who spat out her insults with satisfaction, laughed spitefully.

As always, she expected Karceine to rush in and try to defend her.

If that would separate her from her family again.

If she were to face the cold treatment alone at the Marquis’s mansion during this Snowflake Festival.

That would be enough.

“…!”

However, Flora could no longer laugh spitefully.

Not a hint of deviation.

There was not a single movement from her firmly set jaw.

Just sending an endlessly chilling gaze, with an expression that remained unchanged, as if there was no emotion at all.

Karceine just listened quietly.

Suddenly, scorn appeared on Karceine’s face.

“I said, didn’t I? I always felt that kind of unfairness.”

At the mocking remark, Flora swallowed hard.

“I never intended that. It’s not like me. I’ve always ended up being trash. It won’t be any different this time, will it?”

Suddenly, that moment came to mind.

The day when she noticed the Kelpia fruit and left the meal, thinking he seemed to consider himself a culprit.

The day she went to him directly, thinking he was feeling unjust in his room.

That statement…!

“I never said I wanted to go to the Snowflake Festival as a birthday present. You thoughtless little brat.”

*Gulp.*

“What… What are you talking about?”

Flora, heavily tense, realized that she had to listen to Karceine’s words due to her previous experiences.

But just then, the carriage stopped.

It meant they had arrived at their destination.

Karceine opened the door again, showing a sinister smirk.

And assuming an escorting posture.

“Don’t worry. I know you want to kick me out of this house, but you don’t need to make that much effort.”

Flora’s inner thoughts seemed to be pierced as she spoke.

“Are you saying that you won’t say anything to our mom and sisters?”

“Yeah. I don’t plan on taking anything from this house. Money? Clothes? Jewelry? I don’t need any of it. And…”

──Not even [that].

-Hehehe!

“Oh my, you! Why are you like this today?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Flora couldn’t hear the last words.

“Aren’t you coming? Are you going to descend from this high carriage all by yourself without my help?”

“…”

Strangely, Karceine’s response didn’t sound false.

‘It seems like it’s not a matter of truth or falsehood…’

Karceine was eerie today.

Excessively so.

***

“Hurry up and come. If you’re late, there will be less time to enjoy.”

Claire shouted through a makeshift megaphone from a distance.

Perhaps due to the commotion in the carriage, the three had already disembarked and were waiting.

In response, Flora skipped over to her sisters. Then, as if hiding something, she glanced at Karceine.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s go inside.”

Isabella took the lead.

Karceine, at the back, checked the characters floating above his head.

[ 39% ] [ 11% ] [ 17% ] [ 3% ]

‘They’ve all risen quite a bit.’

The increase in family intimacy was indeed effective. It seemed that the past birthdays weren’t just special in the game world; they acted as potent elixirs.

Some had risen even higher due to his direct involvement, which was quite satisfying.

Upon checking the status window, other metrics were also reasonably high.

‘With this… even if I fall a bit behind in this episode, it shouldn’t be a problem.’

Meanwhile, the family was heading towards a building where the festival was being held.

When one thinks of a festival, it’s natural to imagine freely moving around and enjoying oneself in the space where the festival is taking place.

However, what should not be overlooked is that the Snowflake Festival is an annual event of the royal palace.

As it is an event hosted by the royal family, nobles are required to enter the main hall and fulfill a set schedule.

That’s why they were visiting here first.

▶Episode IV. The Snowflake Festival is in progress!◀

▶Successfully conclude the festival with your family!◀

“Alright. Episodes aren’t going to pass so easily, are they?”

It wasn’t just a festival.

Just as episodes applied here, the notion of ‘finishing safely’ was an extension of the festival, meaning that causing trouble in this place, where it also applied, should not be allowed.

As Isabella walked, nobles who were starting to recognize Bagrandt one by one began to appear.

As the people enjoyed the festival with the power of the royal family, it wasn’t just commoners who enjoyed it.

This was a gathering place for nobles in the social circle.

For Karceine, it could be seen as a tiger’s den.

As the family walked behind, a prominent chairman emerged.

The nobles, who had been chattering and making noise, immediately turned their attention to the entrance of the Bagrandt Marquis.

“As expected, Bagrandt is Bagrandt.”

“The flawless elegance is art in itself.”

“We look forward to what great achievements you will make for the empire in the future.”

All sorts of praise poured out from the mouths of the nobles, except for one person.

“But why is that upstart here…?”

“Shh. Can you hear that?”

“This is unexpected. I thought this festival would be the most enjoyable… Is it a failure?”

Voices of unease and disdain were directed at Karceine.

Seeing this, Ariana once again impressed upon Karceine the need for caution.

“Once you finish the audience with His Majesty, you can go sightseeing outside soon. Just hold on until then.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Hmm.”

As it seemed that the caution was not sinking in, Ariana sighed and spoke again.

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? I told you that if you handle this matter well, I will give you a reward.”

“I got it.”

Ariana, still full of suspicion due to the lukewarm response, but for now, the audience was the priority.

Walking down the corridor, when a large room came into view, Claire turned back first and moved towards the chairman.

“I suppose my friends will be socializing at the chairman’s place. It won’t take long.”

Only two people were allowed to be granted an audience.

In other words, it was the end for Isabella and Ariana.

So Flora and Claire each went to meet their own friends.

Karceine was left alone.

In a den filled with tigers.

-Ding!

The choices began to appear.

***

They come.

The tigers, who had longed for this moment while hoping to be left alone, no one can protect them now.

Even if one were to retaliate against those who suddenly stood in their way, it wouldn’t matter. Even if something is lost in the process, what is gained is greater. “Because Carcain’s departure itself is for the public good.” Even individual compensation will follow. The nobles of powerful and influential families, who find the presence of Carcain in this position somewhat irksome, are bound to be rewarded. Therefore, rewards will follow. As someone who has dedicated themselves to driving out the uninvited guests from this place. As an honorable figure who takes the lead in striking down a thousand things with an iron rod. For a family that doesn’t even have a recognized title, just stepping forward brings about significant rewards. This was the information obtained after confirming the memorial in the garden. “Oh, you’re back again, shamelessly as ever?” “Why are you here? To give us a present?” “If this is the kind of present, I must say thank you. Hehe.” Leaning against the window, the nobles gathered, chuckling. The men seemed ready to take action. The women appeared to be bystanders, but with smiles on their faces, they were contemplating how to spread the news. And here… -Ding! A dialogue option appeared. ▶ The nobles pose a threat. How will you act? [ 1. (Knock one down) Do you think I’ll just take it lying down?! ] [ 2. Retreat to the second floor. ] [ 3. (In a pleading tone) Please, can’t you leave? I’m supposed to receive a gift from my big sister. ] [ 4. (Remain silent.) ] … All sorts of options suddenly appeared. They already knew the dead ends, and it seemed they had to choose something to get through this situation. But all of that would be wrong. If in Episode III, they had to meet one character and couldn’t avoid the situation, this time, they had to choose which situation to face. Therefore, no matter what, Carcain had to face the situation, but… “If I twist the constraints of the choices a little, the story will change.” Glancing around, even from a distance, the pink hair was clearly visible. Even a slight disturbance seemed to draw attention in this direction. As for the blonde over there… “Looks like there’s no hope over there.” Alright. Let’s hold our ground in this state then.

I didn’t respond to whatever they were shouting in this state. I chose silence, the fourth option.

About ten minutes passed.

“Hey. Why no reaction today?”

“Why don’t you say something? You filthy scumbag.”

Finally, the scene I had been waiting for appeared.

“Hey, move. What are you going to do?”

“If I hit you a few times, will you speak?”

The biggest guy in the crowd took action.

He was swinging his arms, advertising that he was going to hit me outright.

-Ding!

[1. Take the incoming punch head-on.]

[2. Dodge the incoming punch.]

[3. Hit before getting hit.]

[4. Block the punch and counterattack.]

The options appeared just in time, and I intend to choose number 2.

Now, all I have to do is dodge the punch…

-Boom. Thud.

“Did… Did you block it?”

Due to its slowness, my hand instinctively blocked the guy’s punch.

‘Why am I so clumsy? And slow too…’

Is it because I’ve been sparring so frequently in modern times?

For a moment, I pondered on that question.

It was unbelievable that there was so much force behind the punch, but I soon understood.

Clumsy and slow was normal.

While Karsein’s health might not be great, that doesn’t mean he’s good at fighting.

In other words, these guys are also unsuitable for fighting.

They’re nobles who grew up delicately, right?

They haven’t even experienced a fight anywhere, those precious children.

Even Karsein, who grew up fighting fiercely in the slums, lived a far more rugged life than those plump-cheeked, well-fed kids who greedily popped out at a young age.

So… to them, this punch probably didn’t even look like a punch, even though they lacked experience in fighting.

‘How did he manage to knock down nobles with this body… But he did.’

The strange doubt was resolved.

“This jerk!”

The punch came flying again.

Ugh. I almost instinctively blocked it again.

I dodged the slow, clumsy hand and avoided the incoming punch. After a few evasions, the guy, now out of breath, shouted defiantly, “Hey, you commoner, come at me like a man!” Unable to handle it alone, several others joined in to attack.

Where did their pride go? All they could think of was hitting someone who was clearly disadvantaged. “But why should I be the one getting hit?” I thought to myself. It would be more embarrassing to get hit by such a slow punch.

As they closed in from all sides, I didn’t tire. Just by avoiding them, they wore themselves out, falling into disarray. “Huh? H-huh?” No one had even touched him. I had simply dodged. The chubby guy’s body lurched forward. Predictable.

Struggling alone, he made a dull thud against the wall and collapsed. His face hit the wall, and blood started to flow from his nose. “Th-this guy…!” With blood running down his nose, how could he not touch his face? Realizing it was blood, he glared at me, his expression contorted.

In any case, things turned out just as I wanted. “Everyone, this guy hit me, he hit me!” He resorted to playing the victim.