episode_0364

‘also…’

As soon as he brought up the story he had been planning to tell at the graveyard, Karsane quickly stiffened.

Of course it would be like that.

For Karsain, this might be a sore spot.

It may be that the deterioration of relations with family members is intentional on the part of others.

The notes from the graveyard and Harnier’s experiences can attest to this fact.

However, whether Karcein can accept this is a different story.

I had to endure a long period of suffering in that house.

I had to be in a place of solitude, not only outside but also inside.

I had to suffer the greatest hurt from the people who were closest to me, my family.

Without trusting anyone, I just suppressed my feelings of hatred.

As he himself said, Bagrand’s sins do not go away.

The time of suffering endlessly ate away at Karsene, and Karsene, who was placed in a place of solitude, had to shut himself in alone. The greatest emotional wounds he received from his family, of all people, still have not been erased.

So, he is broken.

Trust no one.

I didn’t feel any emotions.

He accepted the monster of reason, obsessed with the idea that nothing in the world would welcome him.

Because of my family and no one else.

Bagrand made me see a deeper abyss.

That’s why it was something that should never be said out loud.

That was the very reason why Karsene had to keep it tightly contained and hidden until he left for his original world.

but…

‘I have to say it.’

Even if it touches that sore spot.

We absolutely must bring up that story now.

“I heard… Flora Youngae was locked up in the Shiren Villa by order of Duke Arina.”

Perhaps, with these one words, Karsine would have vaguely understood what he was trying to say.

Message in the status window.

The target to be escorted at the Shiren Villa.

And Flora, who was trapped in that Shiren villa.

The three clues are so seamlessly guiding Carcein’s actions.

Go to the Shiren Villa and escort Flora.

…it was an extremely harsh instruction for Karsain.

So, I had to say it.

“I know, too. Karsane. I know how much you’ve suffered, how lonely, how much pain you’ve felt. I know how cold the resentment you have toward your family is.”

Harnie can also relate, having had a similar experience.

“The Bagrand Dukes have driven you into the worst hell… Yes, that fact cannot be denied. Furthermore, it is their fault for pushing you to such extremes and treating you like you are not family. That will never go away.”

I think I know why Karcein was so broken and became such an emotionally devoured doll.

“I watched you too. I don’t deny it. I know how much you were hurt and how much you were ruined at the Duke’s house. But just a little bit, think a little differently. Even now, at this moment in time, are they still looking at you with the same gaze as they did in the past?”

Their past was truly terrible.

But what about now?

He would know too.

“Before entering the tomb, it was Lady Isabella who pretended to be mad and gave you the remaining note containing mana so that you wouldn’t be caught as much as possible. Thanks to that, you survived.”

If it weren’t for Isabella, they would have come from outside to catch the two of you long ago.

“Before I came to the Duke’s house, I couldn’t get through because of my Kelvia allergy. During that time, it was Flora Youngae who sprayed a neutralizer to make a path and gave me a cure so I could move to other places. Thanks to that, I haven’t been affected by my allergy until now.”

If it weren’t for the cure Flora gave him, Karsane, who couldn’t resist his Kelvia allergy, would have ended up wandering around without finding his way, collapsing somewhere, and being captured.

“Although Princess Arina’s condition hasn’t changed… You know that Lady Claire also helped her directly…”

I sent Carcein away.

He made his own way, held off the soldiers himself, and rebelled against Arina.

Without Claire, it would have been impossible to escape the dukedom, let alone secure additional funds to survive to this point.

Obviously, you must have known.

“It’s different. This is different. I’ve met your family members temporarily, and I didn’t hesitate to ask them to help you. Clearly, your relationship with your family was slowly improving. Karsain.”

“…”

“And, because they knew this fact, the hands of the Duke who wanted to break this relationship were there. In order to somehow bring you down to the bottom. In order to completely ruin your relationship with your family. That’s the only way to get rid of you. That’s the only way to completely destroy your family relationship.”

“…”

Carcein remains silent.

Cold. Silent. Just quiet.

So much so that I don’t even know if I’m listening to this or not.

‘No. Karsain must never sharpen that sword with Bagrand.’

Harni became more anxious.

“The third book I saw in the study. Do you remember it?”

The memoirs of the journalist Roy Ban. It was a book that was criticized by the world as being nonsense or claimed to be a novel.

“The contents of that book are real. Arcus Felscream is a real person. Because, because… it’s a real event in the Marquis Teresia.”

“…”

“Axious Felscream. That guy… uses every means at his disposal to destroy and divide a family. He has the power to disguise himself so perfectly that you can’t even tell where he’s hiding or who he’s hiding as. So, so…!”

It was unwavering. There was no change. He just stared at her with an unchanging face.

The more this happened, the more Harnie became impatient.

“It was planned thoroughly. I sharpened my sword just for this moment. I’m trying to use you to bring down the Bagrand Dukes. Because it’s my mother…!”

Even now, when I think about it, it’s a heartbreaking memory, that moment when I tried to persuade him by forcibly bringing it up.

Karsine gave Harnie a gentle hug.

“No need to say more.”

“…Huh?”

Harnie asked back in a bewildered voice.

“Eleven years ago, a murder attempt was reported in the Marquis of Teresia, in which a mad woman attempted to stab the Marquis and his son with a knife. In reality, only the Marquis was injured.”

“…!”

“But Royvan’s memoir said. There was no sign of something intervening. Wasn’t it a criminal who couldn’t be caught doing all this?”

“No way…”

Harnie’s eyes are wide open.

Now I think I understand. What Karcein was trying to say.

Karsine, who had let her go, answered with a sly smile.

“There is no need to bring up painful memories like that.”

There was leisure in that smile.

‘…I see.’

I think I know why you stayed still.

I knew it from the beginning.

There was no need to hastily explain, the conclusion had already been reached.

There is no sign of his cold, chilling appearance.

He had a relaxed smile, not a cold gaze.

The blade of revenge had long since been broken.

The hatred towards the family had long since subsided.

It was not the cold air of a monster of reason, but the warmth of emotion that was emanating.

“Let’s go. To the Shiren Villa.”

For him, who was speaking, there was not even a speck of revenge against his family.

***

The Duke is chasing me as a criminal.

Thanks to Bagrand’s orders, all those who were waiting for an opportunity are also chasing me.

He became a public enemy and a traitor to the empire.

The aristocratic society will never protect me.

The Duke’s family will be even more so as long as Arina is alive and well.

Yes, it is likely that it was a thoroughly prepared plan.

It is likely that this plan was prepared just for this moment.

For that, it would be right to see that thorough preparations had been made from the very beginning.

I have already laid out the events up to this point in a chronological order.

Starting with the main episodes, the actions of the characters, the choices made, and the constraints placed on me.

Events that occur due to episodes. Someone’s benefit is excluded because of this. There was an endless extension to this.

If you just watch it as an episode, you won’t see anything.

If you interpret it as just one chapter of a larger story progression, it would be unreadable.

Because it seemed like there was no center.

But if you think that all of this is connected.

Let’s assume that my activities were determined by someone.

If all of your time up until now has been structured according to some plan.

It was a plan with unstoppable cornerstones linked together.

You can see that it is a plan that is scary. You can see that there is an ambition that cannot be hidden. You can see that even though he has countless things, he is not satisfied with them and wants to get more.

Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to have nothing at the center of the plan.

At least there should be something that falls into your hands.

‘Just like that guy who twisted my life and swallowed up an entire company.’

So what would this world be like?

What is this world that completely overlaps with my reality?

It’s quite possible.

At least, if the foundation that was laid to control the world is to make the only descendant of the Kingdom of Wederos take the path of revenge and bring down Bagrand.

The guy who made the plan was a monster beyond imagination.

I spent an entire day analyzing it and going over and over again this ridiculous conclusion before I realized it.

Events throughout the empire were all in his hands.

The entire Peselos Empire was picked up and left to tremble in his grasp.

Everything was contributing to the achievement as a piece of the Yggdrasil Project.

When I realized that, I broke out in a cold sweat.

He is absolutely not an ordinary human being.

He was an unbelievable psychopath, but he was also a genius of the highest order.

Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that the success rate of this plan, the Yggdrasil Project, is approaching 100%.

I could vaguely guess what kind of guy Velian was who planned the Yggdrasil Project.

But there is one mistake he makes.

The success rate converges to 100%? That’s literally when it converges.

Plans don’t always work out.

It can twist at any time, it can break at any time.

“Ugh?! What the…! Ugh!”

-Thud.

If it’s not someone else, but a plan to touch the author.

That plan has a 0% chance of success, you son of a bitch.