The Damn Family Is Back Again

Chapter 166

166 – 166. Legal Rights (6)

A day passed.

I received a message to plow the strawberry field and came back here, but really…

– Ding!

▶Strawberry Field Investigation Completed◀

▶Territory Investigation Progress: 6%◀

“6%… That’s a ridiculously low number.”

I spent several hours on this one field alone.

Considering that, even if I fill it up to 30%, which is five times more, it would still be lacking.

“In the game, I have to fill this up one by one… Doing it myself is really impossible.”

It’s like I’m going crazy, trying to farm the field with just agricultural tools and no one’s help.

This is where I feel the game’s Karsein’s HP and action power dropping rapidly.

“What… Can I really not do it?”

▶Currently Proceeding with Main Episode VII’s Branching Point◀

▶The Main Episode of Week 2 will be Determined by the Progress of Shatren Territory’s Investigation◀

The system message is telling me.

If I don’t fill up the investigation progress, it will get difficult, it says.

It’s like it’s forcing me.

The Eastern Noble Assembly basically uses the ‘conference’ method.

It’s a meeting where nobles discuss how to develop their territory and provide a comfortable life for the common people.

For this reason, the nobles who attend the symposium go through a process of discussion every week, explaining what they’ve investigated and done in their territory during that time.

Then, how does this approach the player?

It’s obvious.

“What choice do I have?”

If I answer that I didn’t even properly investigate my territory at that place… What will happen is obvious.

Reflecting on that, the game sets the Q&A as a choice.

If I can’t answer the numerous questions from the nobles, my score will automatically drop, and I’ll get closer to a dead flag. On the other hand, if I get a sufficient investigation progress and find the right answer, I’ll be given a choice to refute.

In other words, I need to raise my investigation progress to secure at least one more choice. This is the biggest factor in determining my symposium score.

The answer I got through numerous retry skills was like that.

“But even if I know the answer, Shatren territory’s circumstances won’t laugh at Karsein, you know.”

Those who became temporary rulers generally gave light orders to the territorial people, prioritizing investigations of the territory.

However, this method was impossible for Karsein, which was a major obstacle.

The Shatren territory was too deeply opposed to Karsein, so even if they asked for cooperation, it was likely to be met with refusal. Giving orders was also an option, but considering the potential backlash, each individual’s command was written, and the territorial people were unlikely to comply with the orders.

The situation was already precarious due to the low recognition rate and intimacy issues, making it difficult to take any action.

But still, there was no way to give up.

I had this, after all.

■Possessed Items■

◆Shatren Territory Report 1

[Camilla’s investigation report on the Shatren territory.]

◆Shatren Territory Report 2

[Harnie’s investigation report on the Shatren territory.]

Comparing the information I obtained directly from the strawberry field with the contents of the two reports, I found some similarities. The situation was more serious than what was known in the past and what I saw in the game’s text.

“If this is the case, the choices that will appear in the first week won’t be that difficult… but who knows.”

Considering the possibility of troublesome events, it seemed better to gather more investigation progress for a few days.

“What the heck is this?”

I muttered, holding the item I found in the field.

◆???

The status window popped up, indicating it was an item, but the name was a question mark, and there was no explanation.

What is this thing?

I had never seen anything like this in the game, so I couldn’t sense what it was.

“Just by looking at it, it feels like a tree branch… but that’s weird too.”

No matter how I looked at it, it was strange.

It was impossible for a branch of this size to grow in this strawberry field. Moreover, its hardness seemed unusual, as if it were cut from a different tree trunk.

There were many strange aspects to it.

I needed to investigate further…

– Tingling!

“…Ah.”

▶Where would you like to change your schedule?

Well, this wasn’t the time for that.

Now was the time to meet another information source that had been given to me.

[ 4. Move to the 4th district and meet Ferdi. ]☑

***

“Sir…!”

As I arrived at a secluded alley that didn’t catch the attention of the territorial people, Ferdi recognized me and ran towards me.

In the Shatren territory, there were many variables. So, just in case, I checked the intimacy window again.

[ Blind Faith: 38% ]

Even after a day, the intimacy aspect didn’t seem to be a problem.

It seemed that the influence of the territory’s danger level hadn’t reached that point yet.

“I’m sorry to meet you in a place like this. But, there was an unavoidable reason.”

As he added more, Ferdi glanced around cautiously and made his way through the narrow alleys between the buildings, finally arriving at a place with a wooden door.

At first glance, it seemed like ordinary boxes were stacked up, but behind them, this door appeared. It seemed like he had intentionally hidden it.

“Is this… something you want to show me?”

No. It was probably something Carsein left behind.

The Carsein from my past, not me.

The creaking door opened.

As Ferdi lit a small lamp inside, the surroundings gradually came into view.

He then pulled out a dusty drawer, took out the items inside, and began to hand them to me one by one.

Each time an item was placed on the creaky wooden table, it made a clicking sound, and soon, they were piled up neatly.

“Is this everything you left behind?”

“Yes!”

I asked in a puzzled tone, but Ferdi nodded without hesitation.

“Back then, I gathered all the items you collected and brought them to this secret base. Every single one of them is yours!”

“…”

I felt sorry for Ferdi, but… it seemed like he had just gathered a bunch of miscellaneous items.

The item window popped up, but there was no detailed description in the text.

The items were dusty, worn out, broken, and fragmented.

They were filled with such adjectives, making it hard to even call them items.

Still, I checked each one, considering Ferdi’s effort. It seemed like he was trying to convey a message through these items. Or maybe, he was more sincere than I thought.

Ferdi’s message was quite blatant, as if he had brought me here to show me this.

“What do you think? Is there anything that might be helpful?”

“Hmm…”

First of all, I could clearly see that this was something I knew.

When I looked at books or notebooks, I could see Carsein’s handwriting, which was identical to the handwriting I was accustomed to. It was indeed Carsein’s.

The way he handled items was also unique to each person, and I could understand that aspect as well.

However…

I didn’t think the items here would be of great help to me. Not only were they Carsein’s, but Ferdi’s hidden message was also like that.

“I already know these are enemies within. Ferdi.”

The information here wasn’t significant, considering what I had obtained in the game.

“Thanks for gathering them, but it seems like they’re not very useful.”

“Oh… really? Then I’ve just wasted my time…”

“It’s still enough. The past records can be useful in some way.”

Although the records were old, they might still be useful. This record might even be used for the 1st week’s meeting agenda.

“Ah, right. There was that too?”

“Hmm?”

“Just a moment!”

Ferdi reached into the miscellaneous box and started pulling out something again.

And I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“This is it!”

“This is…”

“Is this a piece of that tree?

Was this something Carsein left behind in the past?”

“…I don’t really know when, but… the young master suddenly picked this up and said some strange words.”

“…What did he say?”

“He said there was a problem with the soil in Shatren.”

“…!”

***

After hearing that there was a problem with the soil in Shatren, I re-examined the items and read through the records and reports left behind by Carsein in the past.

More carefully.

To see if I had missed anything.

I read them two, three more times.

But I didn’t find anything particularly notable.

“…Hmph.”

◆???

Why did he make such a conclusion just from looking at this piece of wood?

From noble mtl dot com

No matter how I tried to find the answer, it didn’t come out.

It seemed I had reached my limit for now.

I couldn’t get to the answer with the limited information I had.

I needed to go outside and gather more information.

So, I was about to send a message to Ferdi to meet up, but…

“Young master…”

He was standing far away, clenching his fists and calling out to me with a bow.

The eyes of distrust were pouring down on me.

They started shouting at me.

“Did you tell Ferdi to meet up here?”

“Are you trying to deceive that innocent kid with some nonsense?”

“Will you stop giving orders and trying to manipulate us like this?!”

Their voices were filled with criticism.

“No, that’s not it! I, I…!”

“Be quiet. You.”

“Ugh!”

Ferdi struggled, but was immediately restrained by the adults.

It seemed the villagers were trying to take advantage of this opportunity.

“Well, I didn’t think it would be resolved so smoothly either.”

To some extent, this was expected.

– Tingling!

▶The Shatren Estate is demanding an explanation from you.◀

▶How will you respond?

The familiar system window appeared, with the message to choose an option.

Perhaps the best choice is…

[ 3. Trisha, that kid, had fallen, and since she’s friends with that guy, he might be able to deliver the medicine. That’s why I suggested meeting up.]

It’s going to be like this.

Trisha is one of the few allies who doesn’t bear a grudge against Carsein, and she has a history of helping him, so it’s a plausible reason.

If I choose this, I can easily get out of this crisis.

“Shut up! You!”

“You’re the one who snuck in here and stole things, and now you’re going to interfere with us here?”

“You’re the one who’s causing trouble, and now you’re going to make things worse for Rusmayeur!”

“You’re a thief, and you’re the only stain on this territory. Don’t you know that?!”

This guy’s future is going to be pitch black.

The people of the Rusmayeur territory already dislike him because he stole from Carsein, and now that it’s been revealed that he tried to help me, it’s not surprising that he’s getting what’s coming to him.

He’s an orphan with no parents, and no one to protect him, so it’s not like he’s going to get any sympathy.

Focusing on that aspect, it’s clear that our first meeting was a mistake, but this development isn’t going to change.

In the end, he’s going to meet a miserable end while I’m here, and Carsein can use this to eliminate internal enemies and raise awareness within the territory.

The reason is…

He’s an extra character who appears briefly in the game to help with the episode’s progression, provides information about internal enemies, and then dies.

Ferdi himself is a consumable character.

-I’m… I was just a thief, anyway. It’s fine… I’m just a stain on this territory…

-Thank you for helping me… Thank you, Lord. No, Lord Rusmayeur. This is…

I’m remembering those scenes now, and my teeth are clenched.

A stain on this territory. You’re the only one who knows that there’s an internal enemy within the territory.

‘I don’t know why you have to hear those words, Ferdi.’

It’s infuriating to see someone who’s doing the right thing not getting recognized.

My body is reacting on its own.

This can’t be.

Yeah. You’re going to die, and I don’t care why.

Other guys can die instead.

-Pfft!