Chapter 236

“Mother. I can’t understand. Why?”

Arina retorted with an incomprehensible intellect.

“If we give him back all his rights, he’ll just run wild again. Even considering that, are you saying we should let him?”

“…Yes.”

“Mother!”

Tap tap.

Isabella taps Carsein’s notice twice with her index finger.

“This time, at the symposium, it clearly showed what Carsein was thinking and what plans he had made. There was no lie in the words of that child whom you’ve repeatedly tried to stop.”

“I don’t intend to question Carsein’s good performance at this symposium. However, one success doesn’t mean everything can be smoothed over.”

Though Isabella hinted at it, Arina stubbornly continued her argument.

“The Eastern Nobles’ Meeting has just ended. Once summer comes, the martial arts tournament will begin. Do you really want to see him harm people? What more could happen?”

Though there’s a bit too much concern here and there,

Isabella was worried about the same things.

“Yes, the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament is right around the corner. If something happens again, the Bargrand family and its retainers won’t forgive him.”

“Don’t you know that already? Then…!”

“You said you would take away Carsein’s rights completely if you thought he deserved it. And now, you’re going to give them back, right? This symposium proved that he deserves them.”

“…”

Hearing her past words, Arina flinched.

“I think Carsein has proven himself enough this time. He’s not the reckless boy we used to know. He’s changed a lot, hasn’t he?”

Then, Isabella added another line.

“This time, you’re wrong, Arina.”

‘That I’m wrong.’

She had never heard such words from her mother before.

Arina, as the eldest daughter of the Bargrand family, never forgot her duty.

She started studying early to help out, and among the nobles, she strove to stay ahead to uphold the family’s honor.

This wasn’t just for the duty of a noble or the name of the Bargrand family; it was also to help her mother.

After losing her father and Carl, her mother fell into deep sorrow, almost to the point of madness. So, Arina wanted to learn and grow on her own to support her mother, who carried the weight of the duchy alone.

No, actually, she needed to be more than just helpful.

There were younger siblings below her, and to protect them, she had to become a strong pillar of the Bargrand family.

She needed to be perfect.

Perfect enough to lead the family.

That’s why Arina prided herself on always choosing the right answer.

But now, she heard the word ‘wrong’ from her own mother.

Arina swallowed her anger and replied.

“Understood. Then, let’s limit it to just the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament for now.”

“Arina.”

“Isn’t there a need to watch him more closely? Considering his past actions.”

The Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament.

Carsein already had a record of numerous achievements here.

“…Do you have to go that far? He’s your brother, after all.”

“But first and foremost, he’s Bargrand.”

Public and private matters need to be separated.

Even if this time was right, all the previous events can’t be forgotten.

So, it needs to be judged more strictly, more seriously.

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

Isabella sighed reluctantly and accepted the changed condition.

“If he proves he’s changed through this martial arts tournament, I’ll recognize him and return his rights.”

“Alright. Go on.”

Arina finished her greeting and turned around.

Even though they finished their conversation, fiery sparks flickered in her eyes.

‘Could that really be Carsein’s plan?’

Wrong farming methods.

Problems with the soil.

Internal enemies.

External interference.

Obvious interference and exposure of a faction, securing evidence.

Carsein didn’t miss any of these.

He investigated meticulously and calculated everything thoroughly.

Neither she nor Claire could have come up with such a plan.

No, even if the two of them put their heads together, it would be hard.

For Carsein to do it alone?

It’s unbelievable.

It would make more sense to believe that his fiancée, who greatly raised the position of the Teresia Marquisate, demonstrated her abilities.

‘Enough. We’ll confirm everything through this martial arts tournament.’

Whether she has the right to proudly wear the Bargrand family crest.

Whether that monstrous plan succeeded by chance.

Whether she has truly matured as her mother said.

Everything will be confirmed.

***

On the first day of hospitalization, she was forced to stay in the room.

Well, there’s no other way.

With Harrier lighting the fire, she couldn’t go out.

But,

“Are you trying to sneak out?”

“No, no… It’s just that my body feels stiff.”

Occasionally mentioning stiffness and stretching her body subtly warned her.

“Open your mouth. Here.”

“Wait, my hand isn’t injured.”

“Just follow the doctor’s advice.”

Even though she could eat by herself, she was fed directly.

“Stop reading the documents. Now, rest. I’ll organize the rest.”

Whenever she tried to work on territory affairs, she was stopped within two hours and her work was taken over.

Sure, it was kind, but…

“Hey, why are you rushing to work already! Just lie down on the bed. You might get hurt.”

“Y-Yeah, I will.”

“Even during exam season, you’re still a patient. I’ll summarize everything, so just rest.”

Oddly enough, Ji-eun, who visited when she was admitted, came to mind.

‘Same old thing.’

She smiled and watched her.

“Gah… Ugh…”

The one who had been serving her all day was now dozing off, yawning continuously until her eyes closed.

If she woke up and went home, she wouldn’t.

There’s no choice.

“Ouch. Careful.”

Just like when Ji-eun did it,

She carefully lifted Harrier’s body to avoid breaking anything.

Surprisingly lighter than expected, she slowly laid Harrier on the bed and gently covered her with a blanket.

“Mmm…”

“Okay, that’s done.”

After tossing and turning for a moment, Harrier soon fell asleep comfortably.

Her steady breathing indicated she was quite tired.

Watching her for a while, she sat on the bed and checked things she hadn’t noticed before.

First, she needed to check the status window.

▶You have obtained the Shatren Territory. From now on, you can exercise your rights as the lord of Shatren. Problems may affect your reputation.◀

“This is just like the game.”

Players gain control of their territories definitively after the symposium.

Previously, she could only manage one territory due to the single unlocked slot, but now, since clearing Chapter 2, she could freely use the unlocked slots.

And,

▶CHAPTER 3 has not yet begun.◀

▶From this chapter, the <Another Plan> system will activate.◀

Chapter 3 was the same as in the game.

Generally, one might think that players choose branching points based on their actions to proceed to the next chapter, but that’s not the case.

While Chapter 2 used sub-episodes to progress the main episode, Chapter 3 doesn’t offer sub-episodes from the start.

You must set your own path and objectives. Only then can you proceed to the next episode.

That’s what the <Another Plan> system, which creates Carsein’s objectives, refers to.

‘This objective won’t be given as a choice. No matter what you need, the player has to decide.’

If Carsein wants to become a sword master, she just needs to increase the gauge for the goal.

If he wants to clear all false accusations and restore his reputation, she just needs to extend the reputation goal gauge.

Cooking, academics, health, profession—no matter which, setting a goal and extending the corresponding gauge will suffice.

But when she first saw this window, she could only think of one thing.

The feeling she had from the beginning.

She set a single goal with her wish.

▶You have set the goal for <Another Plan>.◀

▶Are you sure about this decision?◀

[ 1. Yes. ]☑

[ 2. No. ]

She increased the money gauge and clicked on the option to strip the duchy’s wealth, making the goal setting possible just like in the game.

▶Your goal is to collect a certain amount of money to pay off the debt to the duchy and leave.◀

▶Good luck.◀

Collecting money to pay off the debt and gain freedom.

She wished Carsein could achieve this, just like her own wish.

‘It’s set at a higher amount, but it shouldn’t be a problem.’

Actually, that much money would be necessary to pay off the debt to the duchy.

This is the second step.

The first step was obtaining the territory and regaining her rights, while the next step is to earn money herself and pay it back.

From now on, she will rigorously manage the two territories to accumulate funds for leaving the house.

Fortunately, she had tried this route multiple times in the game, so there weren’t many concerns.

The only thing to watch out for was that issues in the territory could affect Carsein’s reputation.

‘There were similar obstacles in reality.’

That’s why she hadn’t been caught.

▶You have chosen the <Territory> method to obtain funds for <Another Plan>.◀

▶Condition for Stage 1: Own 100,000 Pels.◀

[ Caution! The funds must be purely Carsein’s, not from the Bargrand duchy. ]

[ Caution! If problems arise in the territory, the amount of funds may decrease. ]

Now, her objective matches reality completely.

Her actions and future will be no different.

Just like in reality, she will leave this house.

To do that,

-Ding!

▶CHAPTER 3 – Episode I. Visiting the sick family members.◀

▶Meet all members of the Bargrand ducal family.◀

[ Isabella Bargrand 0/1 ]

[ Arina Bargrand 0/1 ]

[ Claire Bargrand 0/1 ]

[ Flora Bargrand 0/1 ]

Episodes need to be resolved step by step.

There’s a lot to do.

But,

“Hmm… Carsein… You need to rest properly…”

Maybe I should keep some distance and sleep.

Otherwise, I might hear nagging tomorrow.