The Damn Family Is Back Again

190 – 190. A Step Away (6)

Finally.

The long-coveted Chatren strawberries were in hand.

The last ingredient for the elixir to cure my sister’s rare disease. The strawberries in this box could easily save a person’s life and then some.

I chose the right line.

It was an utterly right decision not to wait anxiously with the residents but to reach out to a gambler named Karsein.

As a result of going down to my hometown after even getting a vacation directly from Karsein.

“Brother.”

My sister, who had never been able to rise due to her agonizing illness, seemed to have recovered cleanly and stood up to embrace Daik’s body.

“It’s a relief. Really, really a relief…!”

That day, Daik cried and cried again over the fact that his sister had safely risen.

Half a day passed.

Daik’s sister was able to eat and even engage in light activities.

The doctor, anticipating any lingering aftereffects or incomplete recovery, observed her activities for half a day before taking her pulse. Then, with a broad smile, he nodded to Daik.

“This should be considered almost fully recovered. It’s safe to say she’s back to normal.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Thank me? All I did was prepare the medicine.”

The doctor seemed ready to leave, putting on his hat.

“The real reason she recovered so cleanly is actually thanks to your efforts.”

“Really?”

“If you had brought the grade I originally requested, the situation might have been precarious, but since you brought such a high-grade strawberry, she recovered without issue.”

“…”

The doctor had sent a letter just in case, advising to prepare a higher grade of strawberries, but he praised Daik for not only fulfilling that request but also bringing an even higher grade of strawberries than necessary.

After the doctor left,

Daik was lost in thought.

The elixir to cure Helketa I disease requires Chatren strawberries as a key ingredient.

The lower the grade, the weaker the effect, and the higher the grade, the better it works, even at dangerous stages. It’s said to affect the aftereffects as well.

Yes, that’s correct.

The reason my sister’s illness was completely cured is undoubtedly due to the grade of the Chatren strawberries.

But there was one secret about these strawberries.

“C-grade… I heard that was the best of this harvest.”

It’s not just the best. Excluding the peak production years, it’s the highest quality ever produced in Chatren.

The rest of the strawberries were still lower grades, and there was only one labeled C-grade. The single one I received directly from Karsein.

And yet, that one.

A high-grade strawberry that nobles would line up to pay a fortune for if it were for sale.

He gave it to me, saying human life is the most important.

As my sister’s recovery concluded and that important fact surfaced in my mind, Daik’s heart grew heavy.

And then, a deep question arose.

Daik’s vacation time passed quickly as he returned to his daily routine.

It was time to go back to his guard duties.

His awakened sister would probably be well taken care of by the family. Now it was time for him to return to his own place.

“Oh, Daik.”

“Back from your leave?”

“…Yeah.”

Just returned to Chatren and greeted by his colleagues, the guards’ mood was downcast.

“Did something happen?”

Daik asked cautiously, and one of his colleagues sighed deeply before answering.

“While you were gone, the price of strawberries and grapes suddenly shot up. It’s been chaos because of that.”

“…”

“It’s not just a small increase. What? Jumped by a shipload? This is practically a scam!”

“The merchants we buy from can now only purchase by reservation. Even the lower grades now require a forced reservation!”

How could such fruit become so expensive?

The guards were deeply lamenting.

Upon hearing this, Daik felt a chill run down his spine.

The notebook that Karsein had handed over, saying the price was bound to rise, but if he changed his mind, he should come back.

He still had that notebook.

The problem was that its contents had hit the mark exactly.

‘When I saw it organized that the price would rise around this time, I wondered… Did he foresee even that?’

If that’s the case…

-Gulp.

“Guys. Can you listen to me for a moment?”

“Huh?”

“…The truth is, I didn’t buy the Chatren strawberries from the villagers.”

Daik’s colleagues turned their attention to him.

“What are you talking about?”

“Is there a black market or something? Among Chatren’s crops?”

“Tell us more!”

Daik cautiously hinted at the source of the strawberries.

“I… I received those strawberries from Lord Karsein.”

“What?!”

“The Lord himself farmed them. He graciously handed them over to me.”

“You got them from the temporary lord of Chatren?”

“That’s impossible. A noble, a noble from the House of Bagramd farming…”

“That’s not the only issue. There’s more to it.”

“Right, that Chatren is…”

His colleagues murmured in confusion.

“I can’t explain in detail. There’s no guarantee it will be the same this time. But I think this way, we’ll have a better chance of getting the merchandise you guys want.”

At least, that’s what Daik thought.

“So? What do you propose we do?”

“Frikt!”

Frikt broke the silence among the murmuring colleagues.

“We don’t have the luxury of time, guys. We all came here because we need Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes. Until recently, we even thought about running away with them as a group, right?”

“…”

The colleagues quieted down.

Prikt asked Dyke again.

“Explain, Dyke. What should we do?”

After a deep breath, Dyke dismissed it briefly.

“Let’s ask Lord Karsein.”

Karsein, whom I had visited and observed whenever I had time, was sincere about farming.

He was earnest in cultivating the Chatren estate, breaking free from the aristocratic mold, and he seriously pondered how to grow the crops.

No, it wasn’t just serious consideration.

He devoted all his time, effort, and care.

Karsein was a diligent person.

It was no surprise that robust strawberries were produced, given the time and care he poured into them. Even while eating, he constantly held encyclopedias, books, notebooks, and charts filled with data.

And then.

He gave away the one and only high-grade strawberry without any compensation.

Such a person.

If one prioritizes human life over immediate profit.

I thought it might be possible.

***

“Hmm… Is this too much to handle?”

As usual, I planted crops and accumulated data.

But unlike the past when there was progress, now I was slowly reaching a limit.

“There must have been a problem with the farming method. However, if we compare the quality and yield of the crops, even if we corrected that, the increase would be too small.”

The Tsukkuru game was made of dots, so such calculations were easy.

I created two fields as miniature versions of the Chatren estate and calculated their data values, trying to figure out the decline during a specific period that Chatren faced.

Comparing a field with problems and one without, I could determine the extent of the decline. It would be the same as the increase, and I just needed to adjust the ratio somehow.

However, the comparison revealed only a minimal difference.

This meant that it wasn’t just a problem with the farming method.

“Ultimately, something brought in from the outside had the greatest impact.”

Did the harvest rate drop as soon as Karsein took charge of the estate and issued some directive?

That’s hard to consider.

On the contrary, it’s more plausible that it was an attack from the outside to bring down Karsein.

Just like the festival manager who was an enemy within.

“So, he has to come eventually… Ah, it must be about time he arrived.”

Since the third week started, I’ve wanted to use my Agent abilities, but for now, the priority was Dyke’s younger sister, as per the Memorial’s content.

I gave it enough time to proceed without a hitch, so by now, she should have arrived in Chatren.

What follows is a familiar development.

Using the Controller Agent’s ability, I seal off contact with other territories around the Chatren domain and block all the passages to identify any issues.

Dyke’s rank is B.

As long as I can control the external entries for a considerable time, I just need to delve deep into the territory. If the residents rebel, showing them the rank of strawberries and grapes from my land should keep them quiet for a while.

“Good. Let’s go find him first.”

Now is the time to use the Controller Agent’s ability. I decided to go directly to the lodging where Dyke is staying.

But then.

“Huh?”

An unexpected situation occurred.

“Karsein… no, my lord. I have something to tell you.”

From noble mtl dot come

It was Dyke who came looking for me first.

I don’t know what the situation is.

I can’t tell what event is unfolding. It could be the trigger point for something.

But if there’s one piece of information that stands out…

[Dyke]

[Affinity: 20%]

It was a change in affinity.

-Ding!

▶Dyke’s affinity reached 20% in the third week.◀

▶The character’s exclusive sub-episode, ＜The Guard’s Resolution＞, is now in progress.◀

“…There was such a thing?”

It’s not entirely strange given the broad scope of developments…

But raising Dyke’s affinity to 20% in the third week.

That’s a truly bizarre condition. I bet I wouldn’t have found it no matter how many times I tried.

The clear condition was simple.

Consuming Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes. That was all there was to it.

At that level, it might incur some financial loss, but it can be resolved immediately. It will be filled with the crops growing this time.

Whether to clear it or not is my choice, but first, I need to understand what the situation is.

I nodded and replied.

“Go ahead.”

“May I ask how much of the Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes you have harvested?”

“Why do you ask?”

“…Because it’s needed. More of it.”

More is needed?

The treatment for my sister must have been successful.

The grade of strawberries required for the Helketa I disease she contracted was D-, and if it had worsened due to being late, a D grade would have been needed. Since I gave two grades higher, a C-, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?

‘No. Wait a minute.’

This isn’t about my sister.

I turned my head to the status window to check the sub-episode.

▶This sub-episode requires Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes to clear.◀

▶Do you accept?◀

[ 1. Yes. ]

[ 2. No. ]

Below the acceptance choice window, the required amount of Chatren strawberries and grapes is listed.

Indeed, it’s quite a lot.

There’s a reason for the financial loss.

But having to give these up to clear the sub-episode means…

Is that it?

“The other guards need them, don’t they?”

At that, Daik raised his head in surprise, which he had bowed in astonishment.