Chapter 165

-Beep-

“Doro doro, I muttered alone as Flora, left silently without saying a word.”

“Clang!”

“The reward for meeting Flora has been successfully concluded.”

“Huh? What? This is madness. I can’t even…”

Even though I felt something mysterious when Ferdy wasn’t there and Flora was, I never imagined my predictions would be this far off.

“What? A meeting with Flora is a reward?”

“Insane. That’s not a reward, that’s a trap. Eh?”

Though choosing wrong options usually drops affinity and recognition, warning me, in high-threat fields, these choices affect more than just those.

It’s so impactful it outright blocks certain methods.

So, Flora showing up like this is nothing short of a disaster.

“The worst bad ending I’ve ever seen was when you showed up.”

In low-risk situations, one could purposely drop affinity to avoid crises. Like when I handled the late return event by spending time, rather than taking the proper route, to manage tasks and reduce penalties.

But now, that method is blocked.

Only later did I learn that in fields with danger levels, field interactions impact affinity regardless of episode relevance.

Thinking back, those bad endings were truly horrific.

“But… at least, I don’t think I’ll die from this right now.”

“You have chosen not to use the power of the Bargrand Duke House.”

“The intervention of the Bargrand Duke House is nullified.”

“Family members visiting Shatren territory will cancel out any positive or negative impacts.”

That’s what the status window said.

I sighed in relief and checked the info on the field.

A miserable rank, a pitiful score.

Enough to guess how people view Carsein in Shatren territory.

“…This means I won’t just lose affinity, but also the chance for sub-episodes.”

First was using affinity to buy time, second was performing sub-episodes.

When dealing with the late return event, I usually spent affinity for time, but that was a shortcut. The proper way was handling sub-episodes, calming subordinates, and accepting penalty requests.

Even though it consumed Carsein’s action points and HP, and time, it was the cleanest way to resolve penalties.

But if your recognition is too low, you might not get help from sub-episodes.

Just like Shatren territory.

Carsein’s most hated situation, filled with suspicion and distrust.

“There’s no other choice. For now, I’ll just wait for an opportunity.”

“You need to check the strawberry field.”

“You can gather information about the soil quality by using farming tools.”

“The longer and more you till, the more information you get.”

Time is scarce, but rushing could be even more dangerous.

One day, an opportunity will surely come.

Now, before the main episode starts, following branch points’ instructions is best, allowing a moment of patience.

***

“Did the items we brought help?”

“Help? Oh, receiving such gifts for free is more than enough gratitude!”

“These garments are exactly what we needed. We wore our old clothes until they were threadbare, and couldn’t bear to throw them away…”

“I feel so guilty, almost like I’m causing trouble.”

“Don’t worry about it. If you need more, let us know.”

“Oh my… such a kind young master…”

“Thank you, really. Thank you, Harnier.”

The 21st Eastern Nobles’ Meeting has been ongoing for three days now.

Similarly, having passed the royal family’s tests, Harnier is smoothly progressing through her schedule.

“Lucky.”

Even knowing the symposium is a full-ranking system, last year, due to the marquis house’s scrutiny, I had to lower my score.

This resulted in Harnier being placed in a lower tier and further back in the same tier.

Yet, the conditions of the territory are quite favorable.

There are signs of change among the residents, and Harnier is providing the people with the necessary garments, which she’s been collecting bit by bit.

Even though she’s in the lower ranks, this is tremendous fortune.

“Harnier young lady.”

“Mina?”

While gathering information from the residents,

Mina came to find her.

“A letter arrived.”

“…A letter?”

Harnier tilted her head, puzzled.

With the royal family’s tests and managing the territory, there shouldn’t be any pressure from the marquis house.

Plus, the merchant guild wouldn’t send anything unusual at this time, as they’re busy selling goods and generating profit.

“But… Mina coming directly like this…”

She must have received an important letter.

“Let’s stop here today. I’ll explain everything next time, so everyone can go about their business.”

After kindly dismissing the residents, Harnier immediately asked Mina,

“Why did you personally bring a letter?”

“…Well, actually, it’s not a letter.”

“Huh?”

Just said it was a letter a moment ago, now it’s not?

Harnier’s head tilted for the second time.

“Eh! Don’t explain here. It’s better to go see.”

“Eh? Go where?”

“Over there! To where you stay!”

Pushed by Mina, Harnier was practically dragged.

Panicked, she couldn’t even ask why or how things didn’t make sense.

She was simply being pulled somewhere.

But…

The place Mina dragged her to was where she had been staying during the symposium.

“Mina? Isn’t this where we’re staying?”

Why bring me here?

Before she could finish the sentence—

someone opened the door and walked out.

“Someone?”

Harnier turned her head at the sound of footsteps.

Then, she understood.

Yes, it was a guest who came to visit Harnier.

Not a letter.

But…

This person shouldn’t be here.

“Milady? Why are you in my territory?”

-Squeak-

Before she could ask why, a small girl ran over, grabbed Harnier’s sleeve tightly, and started speaking incomprehensibly.

“Please, help me…”

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“I made Carsein suffer. Please, help him…”

Her golden hair hid startlingly blue eyes,

and those blue eyes held unseen tear stains.

-Beep-

[Please ■■■ ma, ■■■■.]

[Numeric value: 87%]

***

-Klack-

“What? What does that mean, sis?”

My sister, who finished searching the territory, came back.

Today, as usual, we’d talk over tea and have a deep conversation.

But…

Instead of drinking tea, she put down the cup in shock after hearing Arina’s words.

“Florea went to Carsein’s territory?!”

Understandably, this news was shocking enough to make tea go up the nose.

Arina clicked her tongue.

“Tsk. At first, I thought Florea just got tired of studying and came back, but then a letter arrived. It said Florea was in Shatren territory.”

“…”

Back then, it wouldn’t have seemed strange.

Shatren strawberries and grapes were Florea’s favorites.

With her terrible diet, Shatren became the territory Florea visited most often since becoming part of the Bargrand territory.

But now, it felt different.

“This fact means Florea had a reason to hide it and meet Carsein.”

I didn’t tell my eldest sister, Arina.

That was crucial.

“So, Claire, did you hear anything?”

“Huh…?”

“In a way, it felt like Florea suddenly rushed back in a carriage.”

“Suddenly rushed back in a carriage?”

“Yeah. Seeing that, it looked like they weren’t talking, like they had a fight.”

No, they definitely didn’t.

There was no room for a fight between them anymore.

Florea admitted her mistake and took her punishment, shedding tears. Even as the youngest, her words weren’t lies anymore.

They were apologies and questions on how to seek forgiveness.

Claire, despite her deep guilt, couldn’t answer.

But that made her understand why Florea visited Carsein.

“They didn’t fight.”

“Hmm?”

“You know Carsein has grown up, right? He’s not like before.”

“That’s true… Then why did Florea visit Carsein? There’s no reason to go back to Shatren strawberries and grapes anymore.”

Claire swallowed hard and lied again.

“To learn something. That’s why she went. After all, she changed after starting to study under Carsein.”

“Hmm… That’s true. But if it’s just about math, we should bring her back quickly.”

“Yes. I’ll handle that. You’ve already traveled far enough.”

Yeah, going myself is better than asking her to meet.

I’ll check the territory’s condition and ask Florea why she went.