The Damn Family Is Back Again

162 – 162. Legal Rights (2)

“Huk, huk…!”

“At this point, huk… they won’t chase us, right?”

“Uh, don’t show up. Don’t let them see you. Let’s take a break.”

“Uh-ha, ha. My heart is racing like crazy.”

The kids, who finally caught their breath after realizing the adults weren’t chasing them, collapsed onto the ground, leaning against rocks or tree trunks.

The only thing they felt was that their plan had failed.

“I thought I was in big trouble when I got caught…”

“A, damn… is the flash duration different or something?”

“That’s not it. It’s just that it’s so bright. They must have found a way to counter it after getting hit a few times.”

“I see. Today, the adults caught us really quickly.”

When they thought back to that moment, they felt a chill run down their spines.

Until now, they had never been caught, but today they were caught and dragged away, and eventually tied up with ropes.

If they hadn’t been lucky enough to escape, they would have been beaten up even more, adding to their previous punishments.

“But, who was that person at the end? They were dressed differently from the adults.”

“Uh… I don’t know? Were they on the same side as us?”

“Wait, was that person a noble? If so, we’re in big trouble!”

One of the kids exclaimed.

“Idiot. The person riding in the Rusmayeur carriage wouldn’t be like that.”

“Then who was it! You tell me!”

“Why would a noble ride in that carriage? It doesn’t make sense logically!”

“Uh… that’s true?”

“There are people who get paid to ride in carriages, you know? That person must have been hiding their identity. If they were a noble, they would have worn their formal attire!”

“Ah, that’s true?!”

“Yes! I caught a glimpse of their face, and they looked different from the adults. They were probably one or two years older than us when I saw their reflection in the hood.”

“Looks like we got lucky. That’s it.”

In the end, the kids concluded that they had simply been lucky.

“Let’s prepare properly from now on. If we get caught by those old men this time, who knows what will happen to us.”

“Okay!”

“Then… shall we fill our bellies first?”

Failure is failure, but at least we’ve secured food for the next few days.

Just having a steady supply of food made the kids burst into laughter.

On the other hand…

Ferdi gazed at the dry earth with a serious expression.

“That face… it’s definitely him.”

He wore a hood, and his physique and appearance had changed a lot since before, but Ferdi still recognized him at a glance.

Karsein Bagrand.

How could he forget?

As the master of the territory where they lived, Ferdi could never forget the name of the man who had brought disaster to their land.

Nor could he forget the day Karsein sent the prosperous Shatren to ruin in an instant.

And…

He showed up today.

He emerged from the Rusmayeur merchant wagon.

It was as if he had timed it perfectly, appearing on the second day of the symposium, when there was no temporary lord to govern Shatren.

It was clear that Karsein would become the temporary lord of Shatren again…

“Why did he let us go?”

Was it just a coincidence that the passenger who got off the merchant wagon helped us?

“Just good luck?”

“…That’s nonsense!”

“Ferdi?”

Ferdi clenched his fist and denied it.

“Huh? Ferdi, not eating?”

“You worked hard to get this food. You should eat first before sharing it with the others.”

“Yeah. Who knows what will happen next? At least eat for now. You got the most.”

“…Fine. You guys eat.”

“Hey, Ferdi!”

“If you don’t eat, we’ll finish your share too?”

Even when his name was called from behind, Ferdi’s footsteps didn’t stop.

“It’s not about the food…!”

Ferdi slammed his fist into a nearby tree trunk.

“What’s wrong with that kid?”

“I don’t know. He usually just eats.”

“Is he frustrated because he got caught once and couldn’t get away?”

“Fine. Let’s just give the rest to Trisha.”

If they had moved at the sound of the commotion, they would have been caught by the neck while trying to steal food and run away.

Karsein is the lord of Rusmayeur. When he was caught by the adults while trying to steal from the lord’s carriage, he should have been punished severely.

And.

I saw it right before my eyes.

It wasn’t a mistake, but rather, he precisely untied the rope and let us escape.

So, it wasn’t luck that we got away.

It was Karsein who directly helped us escape!

“Why, why did you let us go!?”

If you keep saying that…!

Now that you’re saying that, Shatren will expel you again, won’t he!

“Besides, it’s too early to say that! Shut up!”

– Ding!

▶Ferdi’s intimacy level has increased.◀

[Current score: 8%]

***

Although there was a commotion, the Rusmayeur officials remained silent when asked about the incident, just as Tasha had told us.

They were giving us food, the kind that kids like, and had received help from Shatren Estate, so they didn’t forget the favor.

So, I made it clear.

From now on, I’ll allow them to give food to the kids.

After that, the reputation of Rusmayeur Estate rose, and along with it, the intimacy level increased, and the carriage headed towards Shatren once again.

– Ding!

▶This area is a restricted zone!◀

▶Warning! The danger level is extremely high!◀

▶You may encounter choices, and a small action may trigger a dead flag. Do you still want to enter?◀

In the midst of all this, the field changed, and the status window appeared.

This window appearing means we’ve arrived at Shatren Estate.

▶Restricted zone: You have entered Shatren.◀

▶The estate residents harbor malice towards you!◀

▶Be cautious! Your recognition rate and intimacy level may trigger a dead flag!◀

“As expected.”

Since it’s not a combat zone, the danger level hasn’t decreased.

In other words, it means that my stats alone can’t protect my body.

Then, this is where it begins.

– Ding!

▶Your recognition and intimacy level within Shatren Estate have decreased!◀

As soon as I thought that, my recognition level dropped.

We still haven’t entered Shatren Estate, but that window appeared.

Then, shouldn’t we speed up the carriage and quickly pass through this area and enter the estate?

“Slow down the carriage.”

“Shouldn’t we speed up?”

“That’s right.”

Now is not the time to be confused by a single message.

-Ding!

▶Sub-episode. The starving children of Shatren appear!◀

▶Warning! This content is included in the main episode!◀

▶We will treat this episode as the main episode!◀

“No way!”

“What, what?!”

Suddenly, a child appeared, stretching out both arms to block the way.

If I hadn’t slowed down the carriage’s speed earlier, it would have run over that child.

And if the incident had spread to the territory, it would have led to a bad ending in no time.

“It seems like we’re still treating this as the main episode. We need to handle it quickly, so I’ll take care of it myself.”

But as soon as I got off the carriage, I felt that something was very different.

“You can’t come in. Absolutely not!”

The tone of the voice was strangely high-pitched.

Considering their age, it was possible for kids to be like that, but this voice was definitely not a boy’s.

“That kid… isn’t Ferdi, it’s Trisha!”

Originally, if this episode had progressed as usual, the one who should have blocked my way was Ferdi, who had stolen food and run away.

But now, Trisha was standing in front of me.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

From noble mtl dot com

We had clearly followed the episode’s progression.

There shouldn’t have been any variables this time either?

“No. There must be something. I need to figure out what it is.”

Was it after the Eastern Noble Assembly?

Or was it from the time I entered the symposium?

Or was it from the moment Shatren territory was chosen?

No. If that were the case, the variables wouldn’t have reached Shatren.

I needed to find a more fundamental basis.

A basis that could overturn the game’s content in an instant.

Ferdi appears in Shatren territory after realizing that I’ve become the lord of Rusmayier.

His line at that time was:

-Why did you come to our Shatren?!

That’s right. That’s it.

Ferdi is the kind of guy who reveals his hostility from the start when he enters the territory.

This episode starts with him rebelling against me, who ruined Shatren territory, and the news spreads to the village, making it known that I’ve become the lord.

In short, he’s a character who automatically lets everyone know that I’ve set foot in this place.

But why isn’t he appearing now?

Why is Trisha replacing him instead of Ferdi?

“Jina, you can’t… go… anywhere…”

Meanwhile, Trisha, who had been blocking the way with both arms, started to sway unsteadily.

“…What the hell. This isn’t the time to think about this!”

I jumped out of the carriage and ran.

-Thud.

For some reason, I felt anxious.

Trisha stumbled and fell unconscious when I arrived.

If I had been even a little late, she would have fallen to the ground.

But it seems it’s not time to relax yet.

▶Trisha has collapsed in front of you!◀

▶The achievement rate will be measured based on the character’s physical condition.◀

▶If Trisha dies, the episode will automatically fail, and the recognition of the Shatren territory will plummet!◀

Well, that’s that.

There’s no easy way out.

“Camilla!”

“Yes, Master!”

“Prepare a place for her to lie down over there. And when I get on the carriage, move to the Shatren territory!”

“Yes, yes!”

-Clunk!

“Master, here!”

When I got on the carriage, Camilla pointed out a makeshift bed she had prepared.

I immediately laid Trisha down and checked her physical condition.

Now, her pale and worn-out appearance was not the problem.

“We need to take her to the doctor! How long will it take to arrive?”

“In Shatren, doctors are scarce… It’ll take at least 10 minutes!”

“10 minutes, you say.”

▶You must recover Trisha within the time limit. If you fail, Trisha will die.◀

[ Time Limit: 7 minutes 28 seconds ]

If I wait, she’ll die first.

And I’ll die too!

▶Trisha’s current condition is displayed. Choose a treatment option!

“…Huh.”

“Do, Master?”

Her body temperature was soaring.

Her breathing and pulse were unstable and weakening.

There were also familiar symptoms.

But those weren’t the problem.

I didn’t know when she got hurt, but there was pus oozing out from around her shoulder. And to make matters worse, she hadn’t received proper emergency treatment, and her recovery was stagnant.

That must be the reason why Trisha’s life was in danger.

I knew those symptoms all too well.

I had once thought a light scratch was nothing and neglected it, only to suffer greatly.

“The carriage stops here!”

“Alright!”

-Hihihing!

“Camilla, boil some water.”

“What?”

“Boil some hot water and make something easy to digest right here.”

I’m not a doctor.

But I know better than anyone how to deal with not being able to eat and getting sick.

“If your body can’t even take it, no matter what medicine you take, it won’t work.”

[ 3. Eat while slowly removing the pus. ]☑

***

-Ding!

▶Trisha has recovered.◀

▶You’ve cleared the starving Shatren’s children episode.◀

[ Remaining time: 1 minute 49 seconds ]

The timer had stopped for over 10 minutes.

As time passed, Trisha, who was only making moaning sounds on Camilla’s lap, gradually recovered and fell asleep. The carriage also had various medicines, including antipyretics, which could be used conveniently.

Although it was a given that I would follow the choices, there must have been a dead flag among them.

For example, the choice to remove all the pus from the wound with a sword and disinfect it.

I didn’t know that not being able to eat properly would be helpful in a place like this, but it seemed like I had overcome the crisis for now.

“But, I still can’t be at ease.”

▶You’ve entered Shatren territory!◀

▶Currently, Shatren is in a situation where they harbor resentment towards outsiders!◀

“I understand what a peddler’s carriage is, but I’d like to conduct business outside the territory.”

“Sorry, but due to the internal situation, the gaze towards outsiders is not friendly. Can you just finish the trade and leave?”

“We can’t provide a place for peddlers to stay due to circumstances. Sorry.”

The start of the Shatren episode.

I had to announce to the territory’s people that I was the temporary lord. If I couldn’t convince them, I would be driven out in this state.

Moreover, it wasn’t just that.

“What’s inside… Huh?! T, Trisha?!”

“What have you done to our village child… What have you done to Trisha?!!”

After I managed to save the recovering child, a misunderstanding occurred, and the situation became even more complicated.

In the midst of that…

A choice appeared cruelly before me.

-Ding!

[ 1. (Calmly) I’m Karsein, who has taken over Shatren territory in this symposium. Please take care of me. ]

[ 2. I hope you don’t misunderstand. I didn’t take you in because I wanted to. ]

[ 3. (Shouting loudly) You didn’t listen to me! You guys who didn’t even listen to my story are talking back to me?! ]

[ 4. (Drawing a sword) You bastards…! How dare you talk to me, the lord, like that? Try saying one more thing! ]

Terrible dead flags were clearly revealed, but my meticulous preparation also produced a clear answer.

-Swoosh.

“What, what’s going on…!”

“Carsein… Lord Carsein?”

“Why? How?!”

“You’ve incurred a debt to us, and you’re still coming back here?!”

“If you’re going to repay that debt, then leave this land right now!”

[14. Don’t you think you should repay the debt to Rusmayier instead of us?]☑

“A debt? You’re kidding. You, who received massive support from Rusmayier’s merchant caravans, are saying I should repay the debt?”

It’s been like that from the start.

I, from the beginning, had intended to enter this place legally.