The Damn Family Is Back Again

191 – 191. A Step Back (7)

▶Please harvest the designated number of crops.◀

[ Chatren Strawberries (0/25) ]

[ Chatren Grapes (0/25) ]

I’m not usually one to reveal the clear conditions, but I have a vague idea of what sub-episodes with such conditions entail.

Looking at the required numbers, I can guess where they will be used, and such things come together to create choices in the main episode.

Currently, it’s the domain management that’s making choices on my behalf, but I can guess what’s going on.

The number is undoubtedly what the guards needed.

“How, how did you…”

Dyke, who jerked his head up, seemed quite surprised. To avoid any misunderstanding, it would be better to explain kindly.

“Helketa I requires Chatren strawberries, and Helketa II needs Chatren grapes. The guards who come here are mostly those gathered to treat those two diseases, and it didn’t seem like you’d suddenly need more.”

“…!”

“You remember, don’t you? One of the festival managers was chased away. The reason I conducted a background check is that I knew there was an enemy within, so I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”

Adding that, Dyke didn’t look pleased.

In the game, knowing about the background check would decrease intimacy and cause backlash.

‘…No. Maybe that’s why it decreased in the first place.’

The more I think about it, the more the puzzle pieces fit in strange places.

“I understand the situation. If that’s the case, I’ll give them to you.”

“Are, are you serious?”

“I told you before. Nothing is more important than human life.”

I would answer the same, even if this weren’t a game but reality.

And then, there was one particularly irksome point among the news I heard from Ferdi using my agent abilities.

“What about the poor ones? How poor are they?”

“There are quite a few who have sold everything they have to raise the money. Some even cut back on meals to save money.”

“…So there are such guys here too.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll take care of those guys first, but it will take time for these to grow more. Can you wait until then?”

“Of, of course!”

“If there are guys starving, tell them to use the money they were saving to buy goods to fill their stomachs first. If anyone collapses, make sure to tell them they won’t get anything.”

Even though it’s within a game, those I see are people.

There are many harsh things in the world, but this is what I believe: the most painful cruelty for a person is the gnawing hunger.

I couldn’t just close my eyes and ignore that pain. Especially because I’ve experienced it myself.

“…Thank you. I will convey your message.”

-Ding!

▶Sub Episode. ＜The Guard’s Resolve＞ accepted.◀

▶Acquire Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes within the time limit and hand them over to the guards.◀

“Well. This side will be resolved in time, and for the rest, I’ll have to use my agent abilities.”

I handed Dyke the note I had prepared in advance.

“This is…?”

“It’s a command I’m giving you as payment. Don’t read it now, but when I send you strawberries and grapes, read it then.”

Dyke silently looked at the note, put it in his pocket, bowed his head, and turned away.

When Dyke first used his agent ability, there were originally options that appeared.

Given that he’s in charge of the security of the Chatren estate, a few words of dialogue could change the entire process.

I had decided not to choose any of the original options, but now it seemed right to carry out one of them.

“If the use of an agent ability happens at the wrong time, the rank falls, and its efficiency decreases. It seems like this is exactly that time.”

The correct choice at such times was to write the content on the note, deliver it, and tell him to read it later.

After all, I had pulled a lot of time forward.

There should be no problem proceeding with the next plan in my own way, so for now, I must wait a bit longer and face the problems that will come tomorrow.

***

Returning to the guards’ quarters, Dyke.

He had faithfully relayed Carsein’s response.

However, his colleagues were still half in doubt.

They could accept, with some effort, Dyke’s testimony that two crops were growing in the field directly tended by Carsein, but their skepticism about whether he would readily give them away had not yet been dispelled.

But then. Their doubts were completely uprooted.

In just two days.

“What, what is this?”

“Strawberries and grapes…?”

The box Dyke brought was filled to the brim with strawberries and grapes.

Just as Dyke had said, Carsein had grown these crops himself and sent them to the guards.

“Ha, haha. My eyes must be deceiving me. I seem to be tired today…?”

“I must be dreaming too. I need to wake up quickly.”

“These aren’t from Chatren, right? You just brought some strawberries and grapes, didn’t you?”

But how could they immediately accept what was happening before their eyes?

Rubbing their eyes repeatedly.

Pinching their cheeks, wondering if they were dreaming.

Asking if these weren’t ordinary strawberries and grapes grown from another land, not from Chatren.

Too shocked to make sense, they were all babbling.

After a moment of silence, life returned to their dazed eyes.

Daik could only smile at his colleagues.

“It’s not a dream. Damn, it hurts. The pinch stings!”

“This, this is real. Real Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes…!”

“My goodness… They just handed over this amount to us?”

This box brought the guards only one happy truth.

Amidst their joy,

Daik vaguely recalls Karsein’s orders.

‘Lord Karsein told me to check the note around this time.’

A note he had never seen before, tucked away in his pocket.

He unfolds and reads it now.

‘This is…’

His eyes widened immediately.

“The Chatren estate will be closed for the time being. If anyone leaves the estate, do not relax surveillance. Check what they have been doing and report back. Also, warn those entering Chatren that they cannot do so without my permission.”

-Gulp.

This was a direct order to Daik.

A directive that could not be given by anyone other than himself, who was in charge of security.

Considering the timing and the conditions within the estate, it was a command that could have adverse effects. It could even spark trouble for him, a guard.

But Daik was not afraid.

“Attention, everyone!”

After pondering deeply, Daik shouted to his colleagues, and the rejoicing guards turned their heads to him upon hearing his loud voice.

A quiet silence followed the cheers of joy.

“I know we’re all happy, but may I ask you all for a favor?”

“What is it?”

“The lord ordered me, the guard of the Chatren estate, as soon as this box was delivered.”

Breaking the silence, Daik adds with a serious face.

“Here’s the order. Close the Chatren estate for a while, and do not relax the watch on anyone leaving the estate. Inspect and report back on their activities, and do not allow anyone to enter Chatren from outside without permission. That’s the command Lord Karsein gave me.”

“…Isn’t that dangerous?”

“This is a total ban!”

“If we’re not careful, we might get burned too…”

They are guards just like Daik. Therefore, they all share the same reaction.

The situation is clear from the Chatren’s estate side, and thus, there is concern about this command.

Daik honestly opens up about his inner thoughts.

“Did any of you receive a message to pay a separate fee or compensation to the young master?”

“No.”

“There was nothing like that.”

“We… We’ve always been suspicious. If there was something, we would have noticed it long ago.”

“Exactly. What does that tell you? Young Master Karsein didn’t want any compensation from us. It wouldn’t be strange to accept it, considering he’s giving up his own benefits. He’s given that to us. Do you understand?”

So, what is this command?

He summarizes his argument.

“I don’t know what happened in the Chatren estate in the past. I was only focused on finding crops for my sister’s recovery. Even that, I only learned about later from you. But do you really think Young Master Karsein deserves such vile criticism?”

“…”

“The Young Master I saw, who was approached before you… He never put down his pen. He never took his eyes off Chatren. Sometimes, he even cut down on sleep to work. Isn’t that the true image of a noble lord?”

“Now that you mention it…”

“Isn’t it the same with tending the fields and growing crops…?”

It’s not just that.

One by one, the real image of Karsein begins to emerge, and the fellow guards nod in agreement.

“Maybe it’s the estate’s residents who are strange. So, I think this.”

Even considering some backlash, this is something we should pay for as a fee.

It’s nothing but a spark.

For a guard position in Chatren, isn’t it worth paying whatever the cost?

Daik argues strongly.

He still doesn’t know why Karsein is being criticized in Chatren.

In every aspect, there’s not a single flaw. Karsein Vagrand is such an excellent lord of Chatren.

However.

“…”

The guards unanimously fall silent.

‘Indeed, one cannot rashly join in such matters.’

Fortunately, among them, Frikte, nodding at Daik, leads a few colleagues to push a box into the center and come over.

Using that box as a starting point, the division of people into supporters and opponents began.

With this number of people, it would be tough, but somehow, the work could be done.

By reducing break times. By cutting down on sleep and standing guard in shifts.

As long as we do our best to follow the orders, even if we can’t do as much as we’ve received.

Daik was thinking of following Karsein’s orders along with the colleagues who had chosen him.

Just then.

-Swish.

“Prickt. Why create such a boundary? It’s foolish.”

“Of course. How is that a spark?”

“Better Karsein Young Master than those old men who keep raising prices on us day after day without selling, only to the nobles!”

“I agree. Maybe, as Daik says, it’s not the villagers who are strange.”

“You guys…”

At that moment, Daik realized.

Not the box, but everyone in this room was united in their desire to help Karsein.

“Daik. You’re the senior here based on the time spent. Let’s see some plans.”

“…If we’re going to take shifts, we need to divide into teams first.”

“Ah- Shift work.”

“It’s going to be tough for a while.”

“But there are many of us. It might be surprisingly doable.”

With that, they gathered, buoyed by what they had received, and began to arrange the shift teams.

-Ding!

▶This message is not displayed to the player.◀

▶You have successfully triggered an outcome beyond the choices.◀

▶You have cleared the sub-episode exclusive to the Daik character, ＜The Guard’s Resolution＞, awakening Daik’s agent abilities.◀

▶Your agent rank has increased!◀

[ 2. Daik ]

▶Rank: A-

▶Performance Ability: Controller

[ You can check the visitation and entry records of the Chatren domain, and if your rank is high, you can also control and block visitors. ]

▶Daik, along with the guards including Prickt, has greatly increased in intimacy.◀

[ Individual Character Popularity ]

[ Daik: 35% ]

[ Frikte: 31% ]

From noble mtl dot come

[ Sen: 28% ]

…

…

▶The conditions have been met, and the trigger is activated.◀

▶The guards will now become aware of the state of affairs in Chatren!◀