episode_0156

After the conversation with Arina was over, I followed the development of the game without much change.

It was a scene I knew very well: the entire dukedom boarded the carriage and headed to the conference hall.

“Ugh, Mom. I told you not to worry.”

“…Still. You can’t help but be worried. I can’t do anything about it.”

The reason why Isabella’s eyes are full of worry and concern is because the matriarch’s power cannot reach the test of this symposium.

In this situation where the imperial family wants to properly test the children of nobles, the power of the head of the family cannot be exercised.

In this regard, the Duchess Isabella is no exception. Since the duchess was leading the ducal family due to the deceased duke, Isabella could no longer help her three daughters for some reason.

In fact, no matter what happens, Isabella’s intervention in this episode is prevented.

“We are all grown up too. mom. right? Flora.”

“Yes!”

“Flora says the same thing. Mother.”

When Isabella’s eyes were still full of worry, the three daughters responded bravely.

Arina answers as if there is nothing to worry about.

Claire says she will do well in the imperial exam this time too.

Flora smiles brightly behind the sisters.

For the first time, they had to perform the imperial exam on their own without their mother’s help, but the three sisters seemed confident that they would do it, as they always had.

“…”

Was I the next one after those three?

Isabella’s eyes turned towards me.

I’m not sure what I want to say, but the carriage stopped at just the right moment.

“arrived. Madam.”

“It’s already arrived… Let’s go down and talk.”

““Yes, mother.””

The mother and daughter go out one by one with the sound of the coachman’s arrival.

When I had to get off for the last time, Arina looked back and asked.

“Carsein. I want you to stay here with Flora for a while.”

suddenly?

I have plenty of time until I can enter the conference hall, but there is no need to stay in the carriage like this.

‘…No, wait a minute.’

When asked to remain with Flora, Flora did not react in any particular way.

Even though normally the question “Why?” would immediately pop out.

This gives me a strange sense of discomfort.

‘The answer comes easily.’

Assuming that Flora was no longer here, I was able to understand the true nature of the discomfort.

Imagine the duke family starting their discussion outside, leaving only Karssein in the carriage. If that’s the case, I can roughly understand it.

Flora is just a scarecrow to draw my attention to this place. This probably means that they still want to leave Karsein out of family discussions. Or, it is a worthy discussion.

I snorted inwardly and leaned back against the carriage seat.

“Just wait a moment.”

“…”

“…”

Perhaps because it was an unexpected answer, the youngest and eldest children remained silent and did not say anything.

Well then.

I had planned to discuss it separately from the beginning. All you have to do is tell Flora in advance.

“…It will be over soon. Please wait patiently.”

Arina cleared her throat a couple of times, then said that and closed the carriage door.

As Arina closed the carriage door and left, I felt Flora’s gaze glancing at me from inside the carriage.

-Tiring!

▶By performing the preceding event, this agenda will be changed to an optional form. As Arina said, would you like to stay in the carriage?

[ 1. Yes. ]

[ 2. No. ]

‘Do you want to go out?’

I even crossed my arms as if to show my unwavering state.

▶By performing the preceding event, the additional agenda changes to an emergency mission. This mission cannot be refused.

‘What is this again?’

what the. This time, I wonder if they are planning to do something stupid again.

I used it only when dancing with Harnier, but now there is no need for it. At this time, when you have to follow the natural progression of the game anyway, all you have to do is wait quietly.

Emergency missions don’t even give a separate penalty anyway…

▶This mission is a mana usage tutorial.

‘…what?’

That one sentence caught my attention.

A mana usage tutorial.

Isn’t that coming out now?

As Karssein is the main character leading this game and difficult trials are predicted, there are also growth elements.

Among them, awakening mana was also a major growth factor.

But, I repeat, this wasn’t supposed to come out now.

‘No matter the time, this tutorial is a must.’

The Mana Tutorial was a valuable event that was provided only once during play.

It gives you strength, but requires quite tight control, and is incomparably difficult to physical training or weapon training. Mana training is the growth factor that greatly amplifies Carcein’s power.

However, one point should not be overlooked.

That means I’m in reality.

▶You can increase your hearing by consuming mana on your ears during missions. Mana must be used in controlled amounts, and if used incorrectly, internal injuries may occur.

With great power comes a certain amount of risk.

If you use the power of mana incorrectly, it will lead to damage.

Just whatever you can get your hands on. As it is in your body. The point was that I had to learn this by feel and practice.

▶Achievement is measured based on the degree to which you can increase your hearing and eavesdrop on family conversations. The clearer the sound, the greater your achievement. But be careful. If Arina or Claire notice, this mission will be a failure.

‘ha. Why does the tutorial also amplify hearing with mana?’

I took the most difficult tutorial among the difficult ones.

In the process.

“Hey… Karssein. I don’t know much about this problem…”

It seemed like there was an additional condition that he had to attract attention by solving Flora’s problem.

But is there anything else?

Even at this time, you have to get used to the power of mana, otherwise your future will be bleak.

Soon, a UI appeared under the action gauge bar in the upper left, the timer reached 0, and the mission began.

***

“Arina? Why did you leave Carcein and Flora apart?”

Isabella, who got off the carriage first and was waiting for her sons and daughters to get off, asked in confusion.

‘It’s still close.’

You never know. The voice could reach the inside of the carriage, so we had to be a little further away.

Arina lowered her voice and whispered to her mother Isabella.

“Mother. For a moment, I have something to tell you now that Karsein is away.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is about the symposium you are worried about. Wasn’t Karssein worried about how to take this exam?”

Isabella’s lips twitched at those words.

As the first said. I was most worried about Karssein in the carriage, so I tried to make a comment, but it was cut off as we reached our destination.

“We have a plan in place so you don’t have to worry. However, here you may hear Karssein’s ears.”

“…Plan?”

“Yes.”

In response, Arina pointed behind one of the pillars with her hand as if she had been waiting.

“Mom. Karsein shouldn’t hear this. Because everyone knows it except Karsein.”

“…”

Isabella looked towards the carriage for a short time, and then, as if unable to resist Claire’s fuss, she headed towards the direction Arina had pointed out.

As soon as the carriage was a sufficient distance away, Arina exchanged signals with Claire, and Claire immediately took out the main title.

“You don’t have to worry too much. mom! Because Karsein will be tested together with me.”

“Claire…? What are you talking about? Then there is a penalty.”

Nobles who must prove their abilities at the symposium usually take the test alone, but those who are immature and lacking in knowledge or are young enough to take the test alone may receive help from other families.

However, it is okay to help, but there are people who abuse this to raise their scores, so the imperial family had applied a point deduction condition as a collaboration clause.

That was the cutoff point based on age.

“Flora, it’s okay since she’s not old yet… but if you insist on collaborating with Karssein, the penalty will be quite big.”

“Yes. Well, the score is a little low, but the goal is to pass anyway. Anyway, if you go to Duke Vagrand, she will take care of it.”

“I also agreed with this part. I asked if it would be better for me to step forward, but Claire strongly insisted that she should step forward.”

“Well… there are some reasons because I think it’s something I should do. I feel sorry for Karssein a lot, so.”

“Such…”

Despite Claire’s message, Isabella’s expression seemed to show some concern, so Arina added her own opinion.

“If a problem arises, I will also help Claire. I just accepted the penalty.”

“Uh, there’s no need for you to do that too…”

“No. This time, I can’t borrow not only my mother’s knowledge but also her experience. Because you don’t know what variables will arise.”

“…”

“If this is the case, my mother doesn’t need to worry any more. In any case, all three sisters of Bagland will make up for Karssein’s shortcomings.”

“Oh my… I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen like that. Also… Is this a secret from Karsein’s mom too? Can’t I say it?”

I see

his two daughters. This is how I thought of my only son.

From the beginning, there was no need to worry.

The worry that had been hanging over Isabella’s face slowly disappeared. A faint smile appears on his face. Isabella hugged her two daughters softly and spoke softly.

“Both of you, don’t focus too much on grades. And, thank you.”

At those words, Arina smiled and answered briefly… but Claire’s pupils trembled.

Because it was absolutely not something worthy of such praise.

Soon she was in her mother’s arms with a bitter smile.

“I guess I should bring Karssein and Flora over soon.”

“Okay. That’s right.”

Isabella wiped away the water droplets hanging from the corners of her eyes and headed back to the carriage.

His face didn’t have any worries anymore.

however.

“Qu.”

“Ka, Karsein?”

“Ah. sorry. The explanation is so funny.”

Carcein, who was inside the carriage, was smiling.

no. Rather than laughing, it would be more correct to say that he laughed.

“I’ll leave the solution here.”

“Huh? Ugh, uh…”

-Drop!

The carriage door opened.

“It looks like the story is over?”

Karssein smiled and asked as if nothing had happened.