episode_0043

Flora, who put the torn pieces of hanji in a letter basket, walked towards Arina’s room.

Then she peeked her face next to the pillar and glanced around carefully.

Although Arina’s room was right in front of her, Flora had to be cautious and look around carefully.

“Okay. No one’s here.”

After confirming that no one was watching, she placed the basket next to Arina’s room.

When the door opened, this basket would probably be the first thing visible.

Chuckling, Flora raised the corners of her mouth.

Imagining the future that lay ahead, she knocked on Arina’s door.

-Knock, knock!

“Come in.”

Though the words echoed in the room, no one entered.

Puzzled, Arina opened the door.

“…Huh?”

There was no one at the door; they had left a while ago.

However, when an unfamiliar basket caught her eye, Arina quickly picked it up to inspect it.

“What’s this doing in front of my room—”

The cloth covering the basket was revealed.

Underneath the cloth, the torn pieces of hanji began to appear one by one.

Familiar handwriting somewhere, paper made of familiar material.

And there, clearly split in half, was her own seal.

…”

Arina’s face darkened in an instant.

‘Enough!’

After knocking on Arina’s door and hiding, Flora watched from a safe distance, raising the corners of her mouth smugly, hoping not to be caught by her big sister.

It was obvious who had done such a thing.

Given that the important proof document with her seal was now in pieces, Karceine would soon be furious.

As expected, blue eyes glaring fiercely at the torn pieces, Arina immediately picked up one of them.

Anticipating the sight of her big sister and Karceine’s future, Flora followed silently.

***

-Ding!

▶Arina’s intimacy has decreased!◀

“I knew it.”

How long had she been waiting for this message to appear in her room?

She thought Heron had taken care of it, but with so many variables, she had been monitoring the situation closely.

“The decrease is 5%, so she must have confirmed it. As for the rest…”

▶The danger level of a specific area is changing!

[ Location: Enmujang ]

[Danger Level: Normal→Dangerous]

The danger level of Enmujang had changed.

Just having Arina’s prohibition release certificate among her possessions seemed to have this effect.

Once it disappeared from her hand, the danger level returned to normal due to the mistake.

Well, she wasn’t too disappointed.

If she hadn’t done this, she could have easily moved around Enmujang…

“I won’t accept such hypocrisy, Arina.”

She had the same mindset when she planned to leave that house and become independent.

Even if she tried to please her a little, she would send something to her saying she did well for the first year. It was disgusting.

So she didn’t accept anything.

Without even opening the packaging, she put everything neatly in a box, never showing any intention of using it herself.

Even if it was something she desperately needed.

Because she wanted to be independent.

Even now, as Karceine, her mindset hadn’t changed much.

Although the game’s progression might deviate significantly and unknown variables could arise, she didn’t want any help from those damn family members.

Karceine probably felt the same way.

-Ding!

▶CHAPTER 1 – Designating the Branch of Episode V.◀

▶A timer is given to you!◀

▶Complete an action significant enough to determine the branch within it!◀

Another awaited message comes to mind.

The timer in front of you starts ticking.

One wrong move here leads straight to a bad ending.

You must act within the set time to determine the branch of the episode.

“Shall we go out slowly.”

In order to save time, preparations to leave the room had already been completed.

The destination was also considered, and there were plans in place for the imminent arrival of the blue.

Confidently, the door was opened.

The maidservants are glancing around nervously.

These maidservants are from the multipurpose room located near Carcine’s room.

The reason they are being cautious is simple.

“They probably can’t follow Heron’s instructions.”

Things seemed to be progressing well.

-Ding!

▶The maidservants are tense.◀

▶How will they react to the item that needs to be delivered to Carcine?◀

[ 1. Do you have something to give me? ]

[ 2. (Pointing to one maid) You. Come here. ]

[ 3. (Mockingly) Seems like there’s some kind of problem? For example, if the item that should be delivered to me is missing or something. ]

[ 4. (Ignore and walk past.) ]

Why are all the choices like this?

Even though their intimacy level has been raised for me to progress through the sub-episode, the choices remain unchanged.

I have no choice but to slightly modify the content of the choices.

“Hey there. Are you the maid who will take care of me while Camilla is away?”

“Yes, yes…”

-Ding!

Immediately, a second set of choices appeared.

▶Will you retrieve the items entrusted to the maidservants?◀

[ 1. Retrieve them. ]

[ 2. Do not retrieve them. ]

Is there anything to retrieve?

If I get deceived here and go into the multipurpose room looking for something else, it will lead to a bad ending.

“Do you have something to request…?”

“Yes. There is one thing.”

Although they haven’t arrived yet, soon one person… no, two people will come to my room. So.

“I will be visiting your mother. If anyone is looking for me, let them know.”

I make sure the maid knows where Carcine went.

The maid replied nervously that she would do so.

After delivering the message to the maid, I immediately moved on and climbed the stairs.

Before long, Isabella’s study appeared.

Without hesitation, I knocked on the door and it quickly opened.

“Come in.”

Once again, Isabella personally opened the door.

It wasn’t much different.

As always, Isabella was busy with work, and my entrance was just a disruption to her busy schedule.

Like when I visited her in the morning.

I still remember her first words asking why I had come amidst her busy work schedule.

If that’s the case, it’s better to quickly state my business and leave.

It wastes time. It disrupts work. And it might sound like I came to throw a tantrum or complain about something unreasonable.

I made my move before Isabella could brush me off.

“I have a matter to discuss.”

“A matter?”

At Isabella’s question, a status window appeared.

-Ding!

[ 1. Please write a permit for using the ceremonial armor. ]

[ 2. Please write a permit for operating the Shatren territory. ]

[ 3. Please write a permit for participating in this year’s unarmed combat tournament. ]

Three types of branches appeared.

Naturally, what I should receive here is the first one.

“Please write a permit for using the ceremonial armor.”

Isabella paused for a moment, then asked me to wait.

Unlike before, she didn’t make me wait on the sofa for a long time.

She brought the documents, wrote the permit in front of me, and handed it over.

“This matter actually falls under Arina’s jurisdiction, not mine. However, how about I lift the prohibition order for Arina? Consider it a favor.”

“Understood.”

Having finished my business, I immediately got up from the sofa with the permit in hand.

At that moment, Isabella suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Just a moment. Wait a moment, Karsein.”

“Why?”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes.”

What more could I ask for or expect?

Having obtained the permit to use the training ground, I had no intention but to leave this place quickly.

That way, as soon as the guests arrived, the next episode branch would be perfectly determined.

“Why aren’t you talking about the festival?”

Isabella asked me with trembling eyes.

“Do we need to bring up that topic here?”

“Do we need to…? What are you talking about, Karsein?”

“It’s disrupting work hours.”

“Do we need to…! Whether we do or not!”

Upon hearing that, Isabella became agitated.

“I heard everything from the girls. Weren’t you suspected by the chairman? Didn’t you feel like you were being watched and couldn’t even enjoy it? You didn’t even receive a birthday present. And…!”

Isabella, who had bitten her lip, struggled to speak again.

“You must have remembered the time when Arina did something terrible…”

Yet, despite asking why there was no need to bring it up, Isabella said with a deeply emotional voice.

“I know there’s a lot to say to me, Karsein. So, spill it out. Even if you can’t do it right now, you can come for a morning greeting like before.”

If you have something you want right now, I can grant it to you as much as you want.

With her eyes now reddened, Isabella wrapped her hands around mine.

It was truly absurd.

“Well, whether I say anything or not, I’m just biding my time here.”

▶Remaining time: 40 seconds.◀

There wasn’t much time left.

As the episode branch was confirmed, the time to properly expose some people was approaching.

I withdrew my hand from Isabella’s grasp and replied absentmindedly.

“Then consider this permit as a birthday gift.”

“What did you say?”

“That should lift my spirits quickly.”

“Karsein. That’s not it. No matter what…!”

“The capricious me of the past is different from the current me. Are you hoping to keep remembering the past forever?”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

Not believing her even once, I made her prove it with Wellington’s electrostatic gloves directly from the chairman.

Instead of immediately lifting the ban on going out, she chose a method of review, making her feel like she was being monitored and forcing her to participate in the festival.

The birthday present became useless, ultimately bringing back memories of the past in the worst possible way.

To remember all of that is actually a more cruel demand.

“I understand your intentions well. However, this permit won’t be considered a birthday gift, Karsein.”

She added with a sad look, saying she always welcomes legitimate birthday gifts.

That conversation with Isabella ended like that.

Leaving the study, I immediately checked the remaining time.

▶Remaining time: 20 seconds.◀

“20 seconds.”

It was enough time to get away from this location.

Wanting to faithfully reproduce the scene seen in the game, I moved to another spot.

A while later.

The timer disappeared, and the episode’s name was engraved.

“Karsein. You were here.”

And.

-Bam!

A clear mark was left on my cheek, signifying the successful completion of this episode’s objective.

***

Indeed. Consistent as ever.

Arina hadn’t changed. Just like the first time she did to me.

Whenever I feel the cold blood flowing through my body, I am thankful to this woman many times over.

Because I can now be unemotional.

-Ding!

▶Episode V. The Troublemaker of the Training Ground Begins!◀

▶For some reason, Arina’s intimacy level has decreased!◀

▶Persuade Arina!◀

[Success in persuasion: Intimacy restored]

[Failure in persuasion: Death]

A warm heat rose on my cheek, and at the same time, the status window prompted me to specify a branch and demanded that I proceed with the story.

Although the reason for this situation was different, it was not much different from a scene in a game.

Slowly.

I reveal my weapon to intimidate Arina.

“No matter how upset or angry you are, don’t forget. By disrespecting someone’s sincerity like this, you haven’t changed either, Karsein.”

“Why are you nagging again?”

“Hah. Trembling in ignorance. The excuses coming from your vulgar and dull mind are still the same.”

Pieces of paper fluttered in the air.

It seemed impossible to find their original form.

“I have admitted my mistakes sufficiently. But you deceived my sincerity like this. Why didn’t you want to use the permit I gave you to lift the ban? Are you going to lie that you didn’t even receive the permit for the Enmu Weapon in your hands?”

The blue eyes glared fiercely.

In the midst of ragged breathing, one could guess how angry she was.

But I won’t be intimidated.

“You haven’t changed either. After experiencing such things several times, you start doubting yourself.”

“Even though all the evidence points to you taking such actions, are you still denying it?”

Arina’s eyes flickered for a moment, but there was no change in her demeanor.

Thanks to that, it seemed like I could also take advantage of the situation.

As I scanned through the options, a line caught my eye.

“When did you send it?”

“What?”

“When did you send that to me?”

“In the morning. I ordered Heron to deliver it directly to your room.”

“Then I should ask Heron, right? Whether it arrived in my room or not.”

-Twitch.

The expression of the blonde kid who had just peeked his head out from the opposite staircase started to stiffen little by little as he tried to retreat.

“Looks like you’re getting nervous, Flora.”

But this time, trying to escape would be futile.

This plan was originally designed to tie down one person’s feet.