The Damn Family Is Back Again

234. I wanted to ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■ (4)

The path behind me was completely blocked.

The collapsed ceiling had sealed off any escape route. In other words, as the way out for that creature vanished, so did my chance of fleeing outside.

Was that all there was to it?

No.

– Drip. Drip.

Blood trickled down from the edge of one shoulder.

This resulted in a loss of about 16% HP.

With my remaining HP directly tied to survival at 70%, and stamina—critical during combat—suddenly plummeting by around 30%, things were looking dire.

This outcome stemmed from just one action.

I couldn’t deflect all the attacks aimed at Claire while she stood defenseless. Consequently, I had no choice but to push her away; the thorns I failed to parry lodged themselves into my shoulder.

To protect Claire from falling victim to Marf.

This situation arose because I managed to keep her safe.

I knew better than anyone how foolish this was.

To think I was trying to save Claire, who was just like the second one I despised so much.

Considering all that she had endured, it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to let her suffer a thorn or two. After all, if I could endure this much, wasn’t that level of pain trivial compared to what I had experienced?

I could have taken some satisfaction in watching her suffer without intervening.

But my body didn’t respond that way.

So yes, I understood just how foolish my actions were.

Why did it happen?

After a bit of contemplation, the answer came easily.

The most plausible explanation would be due to the clear conditions of the episode.

The very fact that Claire was in danger was unacceptable. If she were to die, then for some reason or another, I’d face a bad ending too; thus, I saved her out of necessity.

That would be the most rational justification for my actions.

However,

I couldn’t definitively say it was only that reason alone.

It felt eerily similar to what happened back then.

When Lee Young-jun had come at me with a knife after being thoroughly rejected by the second one and how I subdued him and handed him over to the police back then.

I still loathed the second one. It’s hard to express how much my plans got tangled up because of that person who constantly obstructed my path at every turn. Just thinking about their incessant nitpicking made me scowl involuntarily.

Yet if you asked whether I wished for Lee Young-jun’s death at the hands of that second one… My answer would clearly be no.

That’s all there is to it.

No matter how much I disliked the person, I never wished for their death.

It’s a truly meaningless and ridiculous rationale, but it seems that my foolish attempt to save Claire stems from this side of things.

…Perhaps.

-THUD!

“How dare you commit such an act… How dare you touch my wife!!”

-DING!

▶Claire has been extracted from the combat zone.◀

▶You have lost an ally. No additional allies can be summoned in the isolated space!◀

▶With Claire isolated, one dead flag has been removed.◀

[ Claire death event removal complete. ]

As Marf shouted, a system message appeared.

‘…It seems my thoughts were correct.’

I had vaguely guessed it when I saw those tentacles bursting through the walls and the cycle of magic; this room is likely that creature’s domain.

Plants are living beings that take root in soil and grow by absorbing nutrients. Thus, it’s not just any random place where tentacles emerge; rather, it’s more accurate to say that this room itself has become a kind of soil, consumed by its roots.

On a positive note, as long as we don’t let it out of this room—being a plant-like monster struggling to take root each time—the chances of Claire being harmed are slim.

However, conversely speaking, as long as I’m in this space, I’m far too easily exposed to its attacks. Every corner of this room will have parts of Marf’s body glaring at me menacingly.

To put it coldly—it’s madness.

I’ve blocked off any escape routes with my own hands,

and now I must fight against the enemy under conditions most favorable for them while already injured.

The approaching tentacles boast a maddening difficulty as they pierce through, landing effective blows.

Abandoning even Claire’s assistance, I must face the creature alone.

▶Status Effect: Stage 2 Hemorrhage has occurred!◀

▶Status Effect: Stage 3 Laceration has occurred!◀

▶Status Effect: Stage 2 Muscle Pain has occurred!◀

…

…

And yet, I bear these status effects like a chain around my neck.

The price for my foolishness was considerable—no, it was exorbitant.

‘Well, there’s still a way out of this.’

Being alone also meant that the eyes watching me had vanished.

“Die. Die!”

It comes. The tendril that it has swung countless times before.

But this time, there’s a distinct difference in its ferocity.

-BOOM!

It has become much heavier and significantly thicker.

The creature’s attacks have transformed into something threatening, as if triggered by the switch at 30% HP.

Yes. If we were to liken this to a game, one could say I’ve entered the next phase.

-CRASH!

With the weight of its tentacles now bearing down on me, I find myself cornered in one side of the arena.

Maf approached with a beaming face, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.

“Heh heh. Still, I suppose it’s fortunate that I finally have the chance to deal with an annoyance like you here. Yes, if that happens, my dear wife will surely welcome me back! Right?”

“What are you babbling about all by yourself?”

“Oh, Karsein. How do you want to die?”

Maf’s lips twisted in a grotesque grin as his mind wandered through delusions.

“My wife has always disliked you so much. It really makes me ponder how I could make her like you instead.”

“Huh?”

“I’m curious what exactly she found most distasteful about you. Should I pluck out those arrogant eyes that dare to glare? Or would it be better to rip out the tongue from that mouth which talks so freely? Perhaps she simply despises seeing your legs walk around intact? Those arms wielding a sword without knowing their place? Or maybe it’s your spine standing straight while forgetting your own status? Ah, this is tough. I just don’t know what should be sacrificed!”

It was absurd.

He was saying he would offer up whatever displeased Claire.

“So here’s the thing: nobles value honor, right?”

-Thunk.

Maf raised his tentacles once more.

“I think the best outcome would be for your neck to get severed. Wouldn’t it be better just to take the head then? Hehehe.”

-Creeeak…

Maf’s tentacles writhed into bizarre shapes before converging into forms resembling weapons.

“…”

“A man who protects a lady should indeed look best wielding a sword. So combined with that, I’ll personally take care of cutting off your head.”

Tentacles sprang forth unexpectedly—flowers blooming rapidly between their stems and shooting out thorns and projectiles.

The moment the anchor was dropped, a seed was shot into the air, unaware of what would unfold.

Each attack was part of an incredibly intricate dance, but this time it seemed as if everything was poised to unleash in a single strike.

It could be called nothing short of disastrous.

But—

-Kaang!

“Oh? Taking it head-on? You must be running low on mana too. I don’t know what kind of confidence you have, but… let’s see how you handle this!”

-Kang! Kaang, Kang!

“Huh? Look at this guy! A commoner yet pretending to be from the Bagland Duke’s house; seems like he’s learned a thing or two about swords?”

-Whoosh! Whoosh!

The attacks from the one wielding the sword were anything but challenging.

“This little brat. What’s this? Dodging? Try dodging this!”

True to his words, every swing of Marf’s sword missed its mark entirely.

Yes. This is quite literally an opportunity.

-Smack!

“Hey.”

“Uh, uh-oh?”

As I caught his sword with one hand infused with mana, he wore a bewildered expression on his face.

To such a fool, I offered just one line:

“You’ve never held a sword before, have you?”

It was all part of laying the groundwork for my final move.

“What, what is this?!”

At Karsein’s question about whether he had ever held a sword, Marf instinctively felt the pressure and took a step back.

Inadvertently swinging his sword, he ended up drawing it completely.

Realizing this too late, he gritted his teeth in frustration.

“No. Why am I backing down?”

From noble mtl dot com

He had pushed him so hard like this.

The guy looked ready to topple over with just a little more pressure.

What was so frightening about suddenly acting all confident as if flipping a palm?

“Right. I shouldn’t be retreating. I need to press harder!”

Marf steadied himself and raised his weapon again after taking that step back.

“Just because you can swing a sword doesn’t mean you can act all high and mighty!”

With that thought in mind, he swung fiercely once more.

Whoosh—his weapon sliced through the air with force as it came crashing down vertically toward Karsein’s head.

That confident face seemed to say this would be the end for him, lips curling into a smirk as if relishing the moment.

But once again—

“…!”

Karsein was gripping Marf’s weapon barehanded, enveloped in barely-there mana.

“You think something that slow would actually hit me?”

“What, what did you say!”

“A sword is…”

-CLANG!

“Ugh?!”

“This is how you use it.”

As Karsein lightly swung his weapon, Map’s sword wobbled and was pushed back.

No. To be precise, it wasn’t just the sword.

The entire body gripping the weapon was swaying and being forced back.

“Don’t act so smug! Something like that…!”

-CLANG!

“…Huh?”

The green bundle of stems that had only been exerting force now bounced up at a 60-degree angle.

-CLANG!

“Kugh?!”

Unable to maintain balance, he struck down with sheer strength, only to have it rebound at a 60-degree angle in the opposite direction this time.

-PERK!

“Ugh!”

Just as he struggled to hold onto the sword and bring it down again, he received a kick to his abdomen.

And then—

-SLASH!

The sword, forged from a mass of tentacles, soared through the air.

This blade, formed from a conglomeration of tendrils, flew far into the distance.

‘This… can’t be…’

Is there really such a vast difference?

This sword that even a commoner can wield—are you telling me I cannot?

Overwhelmed by the staggering gap, Marf had to grit his teeth and retreat.

At this point, fighting sword against sword seemed impossible.

Yet he was not defeated in battle just yet.

“Fine. I’ll give you that much…! But what about this!”

He unleashed all manner of writhing tentacles.

The show ended here. It was time to cut off Karsein’s breath.

“Sorry, but I’ve already figured that out.”

– Ping! Titting!

A flurry of tentacles and seeds erupted forth alongside thorns and pot shots fired into the fray.

Even so, Karsein deftly evaded it all, casually deflecting only a few of the tendrils away with ease.

“What… what…!”

“I can see everything. Where your minions are converging and where your attacks are aimed.”

It’s absurd.

There’s no way that could be possible!

– Fsssssh!

Three magic receptors, long hidden away, were severed in an instant.

“I told you I can see everything, didn’t I?”

How could that even be possible?

What on earth does he mean by seeing it?

Why is he dodging and deflecting everything as if he has eyes all around him?

Such a thing… that’s only possible for someone who stands above the rest.

Grinding his teeth in denial of that fact, Marf seethed.

‘Am I… inferior to this wretch? No way!’

It’s an insult to even compare this reborn body of mine to such lowly beings!

-Drumroll!

There was no need for deep contemplation.

All I had to do was clearly demonstrate the gap in power.

“The way to impress Lady Claire is no longer a concern.”

Here and now, with all my strength, I had to completely crush him.

Marf awakened every seed within him.

Sprouts hidden here and there began to bloom, rapidly growing into flowers and stretching out their stems alike.

The spacious room filled with an array of plants. As the remnants of the building were covered by their growth, it became evident that this place was indeed inside a colossal plant itself.

However, revealing all bodies also meant exposing weaknesses in another sense.

As branches unfurled and revealed the singular pitch-black fruit at its center—at that moment—Karsein finally smiled.

Whatever it was, I walked a difficult path.

There was no easy road to take.

I had to seize everything alone. Protect it alone. Endure it alone.

I had to confront and resolve the injustices and inequities that came my way, ultimately overcoming them.

That’s why, even in the direst of circumstances like now, I could open a single avenue of escape.

Unlike Marf, who always took the easy route, I managed to gather everything at my disposal and grasp that one opportunity.

By calculating meticulously and thinking on my feet even in the worst situations, I turned impossibilities into possibilities.

Just like back then when I subdued a man larger than myself who was rampaging with a kitchen knife while drunk.

-Patsh!

Mana sparked off Carsein’s sword.

“Wait…! This b*stard can’t be aiming for this…!”

“It’s too late. You idiot.”

-Remember this, Carsein. Consuming more than half of your mana in one go is akin to using your last resort.

▶You will consume over 50% of your mana with this weapon!◀

▶The skill will automatically activate upon finding conditions.◀

[ Wederos Kingdom Style Holy Sword – Annihilation ]

▶At this moment, Wederos Kingdom Style Swordsmanship Lv. 2 temporarily elevates to Lv. 4!◀

“W-wait! I don’t want to die─!”

Marf sensed the ominous turn of events and stumbled backward as he reached for the fruit he had been hiding behind him.

But as Carsein said, it was already too late.

“Rather than easily accepting and seizing such unreasonable power, you must cultivate it yourself. You foolish fool.”

──.

With a brief, sharp sound.

The radiant sword’s strike engulfs Marf’s body.

It splits apart, shatters.

It crumbles and fragments.

Marf’s body, transformed into ash along with the white light, spreads out like an infection through every branch.

“Guhhh─!!”

In the end, the culmination of the strike reaches a single fruit that has opened on the branches of the tree monster and annihilates its existence.

The grotesque scream fades away.

The voice of the beast that had overlapped with humanity is purified gradually.

The scream transforms into a sound of ashes scattering in increasing volumes.

Soon after, as if marking a turning point with the sound of falling ashes, the air in the room returns to its original state.

A serene silence.

The end of this battle unfolds before them.

“Cough.”

Amidst this tranquil stillness, blood seeps out. The boy, whose mouth is filled with a mix of blood and bile, barely supports himself against his sword as if it were a crutch.

It’s just like before.

In such an overwhelming state and having sustained injuries too severe to bear, he had nearly incinerated all his mana.

Before he could even glance at his status window, his body speaks for him.

I can’t endure this any longer.

Even upon reflection, this is an incredibly foolish act.

So, I thought for sure I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

Yet here I am, facing the same outcome as before.

—Thud, thud, crash!

At that moment. A sound of something pounding breaks the silence.

The stones collapse and crumble around me.

Just like those piles of stones, Karsein’s body sways unsteadily.

“K-Karsein! ──! ───!”

In my fading vision, a flash of pink hair catches my eye.

Here comes another lecture.

No matter when I see it, it’s always unwelcome.

***

Karsein’s stumbling form finally gives way and collapses to the ground.

Claire rushes forward with her heart sinking like a stone.

“Karsein… Hey, get a grip…! Huh?”

As Claire catches her fallen brother in her arms, fear grips her tightly; she shakes Karsein’s body anxiously. Her knees are slightly scraped from the fall but that pain is nothing compared to what she feels inside.

It was terrifying.

The thought of losing my brother.

It was frightening.

The fact that my younger sibling would die in my place.

With a heart full of fear, I pressed my hand to my neck.

What if the breath has stopped?

What if this life was cut short because of me? Such a thought…

Please.

With a desperate wish for them to stay alive, I touched with my fingers.

“…!”

Weak, but it’s beating.

A faint pulse felt at the tips of my fingers.

Only after sensing that tiny thrum could Claire finally exhale.

Thank goodness. A million thanks for this moment.

“…Ah.”

As if by accident, the tip of her finger brushed against Carsein’s cheek.

Claire flinched and withdrew her hand, lost in deep thought as she alternated her gaze between Carsein and her own hand.

With this very hand, she had only ever struck Carsein’s cheek time and again.

Had she ever truly embraced or caressed him?

…Without a doubt, never once had that happened.

In contrast, there were those who celebrated birthdays with care.

Who thoughtfully selected gifts they would enjoy.

And beyond that…

It was full.

– Squeeze.

Claire bit her lips as the relentless memories of her past actions surged forth, each one more vivid than the last.

In my recollection, all I have are the moments when this hand struck that cheek, leaving deep wounds and unleashing a torrent of harsh words.

Such actions were not for my younger sibling’s sake.

Even if I wanted to help in some way, my anger would ruin everything. Unable to control my emotions, I shattered what little peace remained. Instead, I had only directed my fury at Karsein.

In Shatren, I had even gone so far as to intervene openly when he was being beaten, only to make matters worse.

Those were not acts of protection for my brother.

“…I’m sorry. Karsein.”

Holding the fallen Karsein tightly in her arms,

Tears glistening in her eyes, Claire murmured softly.

– Ding!

▶ Episode XII. You have cleared Claire’s whereabouts. ◀

▶ You have cleared CHAPTER 2! ◀

▶ Successfully achieved top results in the 21st Eastern Nobility Conference and managed to protect Claire. ◀

▶ You have succeeded in triggering results beyond your choices! ◀

▶ Rewards are being distributed. ◀

■ Rewards

[ As a reward for clearing Chapter 2, you gain control over the Shatren territory. ]

[ As a reward for clearing Chapter 2 ─── ]

[Even if Claire’s intimacy decreases, no more dead flags will be raised.]