The Damn Family Is Back Again

18 – 18. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony (8)

The typical uses of intimacy are as follows:

First, it serves as a means to enter a designated episode. Once a certain level of intimacy is built with a character, it becomes possible to engage in additional actions through sub-episodes.

Second, it serves as indirect assistance in clearing episodes. This includes hints about the location of memorials, correct choices, and breadcrumbs.

In other words, regardless of which side, the function of intimacy somewhat alleviates the difficulties the player faces while progressing through episodes.

So, it is naturally advisable to raise the intimacy with any character, and in fact, I had played the game by raising the intimacy of multiple characters as much as possible for better choices.

However, Heron is a difficult case when it comes to intimacy.

Although the intimacy box exists, Heron’s intimacy hardly increased in any environment. This was because it belonged to the most challenging category.

He knew a lot, but I couldn’t persuade Heron with just the game system. Even after numerous trials and errors, he remained the same old butler.

Thorough neutrality.

A person standing on the boundary line without favoring anyone.

A man as unmovable as a stone, who cannot be drawn in as an ally in any way.

The function of intimacy hardly works on him.

For that reason, I think there will soon be counterarguments from him.

My statement that I won’t cause the same incident and his request for information about Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony and party are contradictory.

Rather, since there is a high possibility of ruining the ceremony by forcefully pushing them, it is necessary for Heron to prevent it from happening.

“I know that much too. So I believe that an exchange is the best option.”

That’s why I left the question from earlier to Heron without pressing him.

In order to dispel any suspicions that there might be something they didn’t want to answer, they each took turns speaking.

“Please wait a moment.”

But unlike what I had expected, Heron didn’t hesitate for long and left the room without any objections. What’s more, not long after, he came back into my room with everything I had requested.

“What’s this?”

Nothing was missing.

The adult ceremony pamphlet was there, along with a detailed schedule. The layout of the interior and the arrangement of the guards were exactly as I had seen in the game.

“Do you need anything else?”

“This is enough.”

Heron, having finished his business, didn’t try to cross any boundaries. Perhaps, for that reason, he didn’t even ask the questions he could have asked.

It was as if he didn’t give me a chance to hold onto the book.

“He’s not to be underestimated, after all.”

But it seemed that he hadn’t completely dispelled his doubts, as he asked another question.

“My Lord, may I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Do you… by any chance, hate the Grand Duke of Bargrand?”

Hate the Grand Duke, huh.

I’m not sure how this question came about or how it’s related to anything, but it was an easy question to answer.

What kind of change will this one word bring about?

What kind of impact will it have on the main episode?

I don’t know.

My heart, Kim Min-hyuk, who didn’t even want to give a single bit of respect to this family, was a little ahead.

***

After finishing the conversation with Heron, scenes from the game that I knew started to appear.

Inside the room, Karsein waiting and the sun slowly setting.

It was clear that the coming-of-age ceremony was already approaching its end.

I look at the choices window once again.

▶ [Will you participate in Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony?]

[1. Yes, I will participate.]

[2. No, I will not participate.]

“Sigh. I guess I can’t avoid it after all.”

The option to wait for choice 3 disappeared. It means that I can’t postpone it anymore.

I wondered if the choices would not disappear if I tried to play some tricks while I still have freedom of action. But the choices window stubbornly presented the scenes from the game that I knew.

“Well, I already had a suspicion about this.”

After finishing the conversation with Heron, when I rolled my head, a rough estimate came to mind.

First of all, the second child, who I knew, has a personality similar to Claire’s. Just like on her birthday, if she doesn’t participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, Claire won’t just let it go.

Maybe, if this is somehow possible, there is a high chance that the intimacy will decrease significantly. In the worst case, an unknown dead trigger might even be activated.

Participating in the coming-of-age ceremony was perhaps an inevitable course of action.

Still, it’s not like I didn’t prepare for this at all.

-Ding-a-ling.

I called Camilla to leave a message that I will attend the coming-of-age ceremony. When Camilla entered the room, she looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Young master, are you really going like this?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with the clothes themselves… But it’s the banquet of the Grand Duke of Bargrand, so…”

I know what she means.

But…

“I don’t have any other clothes to wear.”

Isn’t there an obvious reason for that? Because of Karsein’s clothes that were deliberately ruined because of the Kelvia fruit, I can only wear this.

“The ladies will definitely say something.”

“I know. By going like this, I’ll only tarnish the Grand Duke’s reputation.”

At those words, Camilla’s eyes sparkled.

“So, you’re planning to change into different clothes at the venue?”

“No? Why would I?”

“But, young master. Just now…”

“I’m going like this. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, I just have to make sure I don’t tarnish the Grand Duke’s reputation.”

Of course, it would seem strange. I said I would go to the banquet venue in an outfit that would only tarnish the Grand Duke’s reputation, but I didn’t even try to change into different clothes.

As if asking what I was talking about, Camilla smirked, then quickly realized what I meant and covered her mouth with her palm. She couldn’t even voice her thoughts and was holding her lips with her hand.

Even so, I can’t object. The clothes I was going to wear to the party were already stained and I couldn’t wear them, and even if I called a designer now, I wouldn’t allow it.

Since it originally took several hours just to dress up, this time should be quite tight. However, with this simple attire, it won’t take much time.

I insisted that I would use this time to laze around and fool around.

“Is there still anything left to do today?”

“Ah, well…”

Camilla hesitated, showing her intention to stay a little longer to Hamgu.

***

It was a special day.

For Claire, the second princess of Bagrand, who was celebrating her 19th birthday on the eve of the upcoming new year, tonight could not be anything but a blessing.

Guests from all over gathered to congratulate the young lady who had come of age, to exchange gossip, give gifts, and spend a bustling day.

However, Claire’s expression was not as happy as expected, even on this anticipated coming-of-age ceremony.

It should have been the happiest day for her.

Naturally, she should have enjoyed the time blessed as the protagonist of the day.

A strange sensation remained in the palm of her hand, constantly haunting her thoughts.

“…”

Claire looked down at her right hand. It was the hand that had slapped Karsein’s cheek at the dining table.

-Well, it’s really unfair. I didn’t do anything wrong.

She thought she had corrected her thinking, but she was disgusted by the sight of Karsein tearing into the meat like an animal, without even observing the dining etiquette that she had taught him.

She tried to shout and stop him, but he shamelessly showed an attitude of not being at fault, and her hand moved on its own accord.

However, the owner of the disturbance was not Karsein.

-I apologize for being vulgar and filthy. It would be better if someone like me didn’t show up at the coming-of-age ceremony, right?

-The one who doesn’t want to see an ugly person can leave first. Enjoy your meal.

The voice of Karsein, whose blood was flowing from one cheek due to the rough touch of the sword, echoed in Claire’s mind countless times.

“…”

“Claire Youngae. Claire Youngae?”

The customer who came to find Claire called her name a few more times, but Arina, who seemed to have lost her mind, lowered her head and didn’t respond.

“Claire.”

“Oh.”

After placing her hand on her shoulder and giving her a few more warnings, she finally regained her senses. There were already many people waiting for her around.

“These are guests who came to congratulate you. You need to snap out of it.”

She didn’t even realize that the coming-of-age ceremony was already over while she was lost in thought for that brief moment.

“…I’m sorry.”

“hehehe. It can happen. It seems to be a common reaction for children who have reached adulthood. Claire Youngae is no different, so it’s familiar.”

“They were worried about what our child would do. Please don’t worry too much.”

They laughed it off, making it seem like a small mistake.

It was a clear breach of etiquette. It was not enough to receive a scolding for being the only one lost in thought while guests were waiting in line.

Nevertheless, everyone refrained from criticizing her actions and tried to cover it up.

They weren’t particularly close.

They were relatives from other noble families who became acquainted through social circles, but most of them were people who had only met once or heard their names through business talks between families, excluding a few friends with whom they were close.

Looking at it more broadly, there were clearly people who had come aiming for a connection with the Duke of Bagrand, without even having met in person. And not just a few, but a lot.

Even those who had no relationship with her were busy covering up their own actions. Seeing their attitude, Claire’s feelings became even more complicated.

Despite being able to handle it first, she couldn’t. And the fact that she couldn’t bear it and ended up clenching her fists only made her senses endlessly whirl in her head and hands.

“Has Karseine… arrived?”

She had never seen him. She hadn’t seen Karseine until now, just before the coming-of-age ceremony, when her palms were sweating. Could it be that he didn’t come?

“No, that can’t be. Mother said she would bring her.”

I decided to believe firmly and wait. Engaging in conversations with the guests.

***

When it was time, as I was about to leave the mansion, an unexpected window popped up.

▶Clean up the pre- and post-processing.◀

▶Compensation will be given.◀

■Compensation

[Perception +10]

[A specific dangerous area within the Bargrand Duchy decreases to a restricted level, increasing action points.]

“What is this?”

This was a sentence that I would occasionally see when clearing a sub-episode.

But pre- and post-processing?

I don’t even know what pre- and post-processing has been done.

I just came out of the mansion because I thought it was the right timing.

-hahahaha!

Amidst my confusion, laughter from the nobles spread throughout the banquet hall. Ironically, I quickly regained my composure because of that voice.

“Ha, right. It’s not the time to worry about every little thing.”

▶CHAPTER 1 – Episode III: Claire’s Coming-of-Age Episode is in progress!◀

▶Move to the banquet hall!◀

I’m in the middle of the main episode, and if I get distracted elsewhere, I might end up on the path to the afterlife.

First of all, it was best to avoid the route that led to the choices that appeared here. The reason is, well, obvious.

Because Karsane is not a noble.

In this gathering of nobles from all over the empire, Karsane, who was picked up from a poor village, is the only flaw in itself.

If the esteemed ones see him standing proudly in the place of those who have noble bloodlines, it must be very disturbing to them.

It would be best not to come at all, but if I don’t participate at all, I will immediately head for a death ending, so I have no choice but to step in.

While stepping in, the adult ceremony episode begins in earnest…

– Look at this brat? How dare you imitate nobility?

– Even if the maids carry a ball and take away your time, that dirty blood won’t be washed away. You idiot!

As soon as Claire’s adult ceremony ends, the noble peers who gathered around provoke and argue with Karsane.

‘In this case, Karsane cannot hold back his anger and knocks down the nobles. If believable lies are added, good and evil will definitely be distinguished.’

If that happens, it’s the worst. Public opinion will never be favorable to Karsane.

▶You step into the reception hall.◀

▶Shall we meet the family?◀

[ 1. Go meet them. ]

[ 2. Don’t go meet them. ]

‘Absolutely not now.’

When I first encountered this episode, I thought that sticking to one other family member from the adult ceremony to the reception time might work.

I thought that if I insulted Karsane recklessly, it would be difficult for the nobles to provoke him, as it would be an insult to another Bagrand who was right next to him.

That actually worked, and it was the most effective choice in the game.

However, I am currently in a situation where I cannot choose or not choose that.

It was all because of what happened just a few hours ago.

Although there was a solid barrier called Kelbia Allergy, the fact that the atmosphere had become tense couldn’t be changed. It was unsettling to openly confront one of the four and upset the mood, so it was also an element that couldn’t be ignored.

The most important thing was that I didn’t know how influential the hidden episode was.

I didn’t know how much the story had changed because of a hidden episode that didn’t even appear in the game. It greatly hindered my progress, as I had to carefully move in order to confirm the branches and proceed along the route I knew from the game.

Therefore, for now, I had no choice but to take the alternative of trying my best to ignore it.

“Wait. Who are you?”

▶ [The guard interrupts your entry. How will you react?]

[1. (Snidely) Who do you think you are? How dare you speak so insolently to a noble?]

[2. (Pounding your chest twice with your fist) Who am I? Don’t you know? I’m Karcein Vagrand! You stupid guard who can’t even recognize your master?]

…

…

Oh… These insane choices.

Both of them would greatly increase Karcein’s notoriety.

I ignored them and waited, looking at all the choices. I had to know exactly which branch I had entered.

Options 3 and 4 weren’t much different, and I had a rough idea from option 5.

“Sorry for being late. I came here in a hurry after receiving a call.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I see. You received a call in a hurry, and some people came to investigate those who embezzled from the duke this time.”

“I see. And this guy is one of them, right?”

“That’s right. Judging by the fact that he came at this hour, he must not have been here before… He must be a newly hired person, but he looks rather unreliable for that.”

“Even though you may seem unreliable, you’re actually quite capable when it comes to what I ask of you.”

“That’s true. After all, the Duke wouldn’t hire someone without a reason.”

I had no idea what Karsein looked like. But that didn’t matter. I played along, adding a few ad-libs here and there, and smoothly moved on.

“Well then, there’s no need to inspect it further. Hm. Be careful today, as there are many important guests.”

“And be even more careful if that brat Karsein shows up again! If sparks fly even to you, it’ll be a real problem.”

“Yes.”

The guards let me inside without any suspicion.

“Even though they saw me up close, no one noticed anything? That’s good.”

My appearance right now was not noble-like, but rather modest and closer to that of a servant. There was no room for doubt.

Furthermore, I aimed for the timing when the ceremony would transition into a full-fledged party. This way, I could avoid any unnecessary friction with the nobles, as I wouldn’t be on their radar.

Once I stepped into the party venue, I could move freely.

“By the time I leave, even a conversation with just my face showing should be enough to avoid any dead triggers. The problem is, where can I hide…”

It was obvious where I would wait until the end of the party. It was as clear as day, just like in the game.

A hiding place in this spacious venue.

Whether it was the eyes of the nobles or the eyes of the servants, it didn’t matter. There was only one place in this expansive party hall that could be considered a hiding place.

With confidence, I opened the door.

And then…

-Kwang!

“…?!”

“Ah!”

They collided. With a woman, of all people.