The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 338



338. Family (8)

A proposal based on reverse thinking.

At that moment, the interests of all four people aligned.

Radiel and Mark are the ones who didn’t want me to get caught and instead suggested the counterintuitive idea of hiding in the Bagrand Duke’s house to shake off the pursuers.

Harnie is suspected of helping a wanted person, so he must quickly appear at the Marquis of Theresia to dispel the suspicion.

And I, for my part, must head to the Bagrand Duke’s house to progress the episode.

There was no objection to changing clothes here to achieve each of our goals.

-Clank. Clank.

I changed into Mark’s armor instead of the artifacts and clothes that had almost exhausted their magic, and moved around to check my condition.

Mark, who had already changed into the clothes available in the inn and handed me the armor, looked me up and down and smiled contentedly.

“I was worried that my size might be uncomfortable for you, but it seems that worry was unnecessary. You’ve been taking good care of yourself, and your muscles are well-maintained. Haha.”

In fact, it was hardly uncomfortable. Our body shapes are quite similar, and our heights are not that different. Once I put on the helmet, even my face would be covered, so anyone would think I was Mark.

It was partly due to consistent effort, but I was also quite lucky in this regard.

From noble mtl dot com

“Is there any discomfort in your movements?”

“Well, not really?”

“That’s a relief. There’s a mountain of things to learn ahead…”

“What do you mean by things to learn?”

“Starting with the knights’ salute posture, there are also the passwords to be sent to the patrol and guard units. There are quite a few of them.”

Apparently, Arina already knew I would disguise myself as a knight of the family and created the rituals and passwords.

-Ding!

▶A special password event for the pursuit team has occurred.◀

▶You must learn the passwords to use during various emergency missions, when passing through key points, and when meeting specific characters.◀

▶Failure to use the correct passwords may result in penalties or activate pursuit triggers!◀

Suddenly, a status window popped up.

Now I understand everything.

“So, you were telling me to change the route on the map earlier?”

“Yes. If we take that route, there will be fewer passwords to memorize. So, I suggest… wouldn’t it be better to change the route even now?”

Certainly, changing the route would make it easier.

The characters we encounter would have a unified appearance, and there would be fewer passwords to memorize, reducing the risk.

However, I have never taken the easy path.

“Then I just need to memorize all of them, right?”

“What? All forty of them?”

“Forty is not that many.”

Mark looked at me like I was crazy, wondering how that could be considered not many, but from my perspective, it was a small number.

Even the number of noble etiquettes I have memorized since falling into this world far exceeds forty.

And students preparing for college entrance exams usually memorize even more than that.

“Then… I’ll start by teaching you the formalities when you encounter the head or deputy head of another family.”

▶You have memorized the password.◀

[ Proficiency: 48% ]

▶You have increased the proficiency of the password!◀

[ Proficiency: 92% ]

▶Through repeated practice, the proficiency of the password has reached its maximum!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶The proficiency of the password has been increased!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶The proficiency of the password has been increased!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶The proficiency of the password has been increased!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

…

…

Mark slowly taught me the passwords and the special salutes according to the latest wanted order.

Each person’s response method was entirely different.

Sometimes actions were needed. Sometimes only verbal responses were required. Sometimes, when the other party asked in the same way, both answers and actions were needed simultaneously.

Even within the Duke of Bagland’s household, the knights’ ranks were divided in various ways, and the way they were treated differed. The knights belonging to the vassal families were also divided without exception.

Moreover, due to Mark’s habits, there were special cases that had to be memorized uniquely… Still, I learned them all without exception.

▶Number of passwords memorized so far◀

[ 50 ]

“Huh… You got them all right.”

Mark, who had posed the questions, opened his mouth in astonishment.

He muttered in disbelief, wondering how on earth I had memorized them all.

Meanwhile, Harnié and Radiel, having finished their preparations in the next room, opened the door and came out.

‘Oh. It seems the size fits Harnié as well.’

But… somehow, the reaction is strange.

“It’s dangerous… This is really dangerous. How. How can it be this size… Haah.”

Harnië is wearing a helmet, so her expression is not visible. But why is Radiel so serious?

While I was alternating my gaze between the two of them.

Radiel walked up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“Young master. Listen carefully.”

“Uh, uh? Uh-uh.”

“Never, ever make Lady Harnië give the password.”

“What?”

“Absolutely, absolutely do not make her do it. Absolutely not!”

“Sir Radiel…?! Just stop. Just stop talking!”

“You must promise me. Never make her do it!!! I’m telling you it’s dangerous!!!!”

“Sir Radiel…! Pleeease…”

Radiel is earnestly pleading with me.

Harnië is desperately interrupting Radiel’s words to cut him off.

For Harnië to be so adamant… there must be something she doesn’t want to reveal…?

‘Is it because she hasn’t properly learned the password?’

Naturally, there’s nothing else it could be. Even Mark and I were only focused on learning the movements while discussing it.

But… this is strange too. The Harnië I know wouldn’t have trouble with something like this?

She has mastered noble etiquette so well, there’s no way she couldn’t learn this.

He was someone who could dance well, so there’s no way he could be clumsy.

A merchant who interacts with others more naturally than anyone else, there’s no way he couldn’t memorize these movements.

Feeling something was off, I was about to ask what was going on when Radiel glared and asked,

“Do. Ryen. Nim?”

“Uh. Uh, uh…?”

“You’ll keep your promise, right?”

In that staccato voice, I felt a strange sense of crisis.

“Uh, uh, yeah…”

Radiel had never been like this before, so I answered in a daze.

Maybe Mark knows something.

As I glanced over at him…

“Ahem! It seems both of you have changed, so how about we head out now…?”

Mark suddenly felt someone’s gaze and flinched, then quickly trailed off and ended the conversation.

“Time, isn’t time precious? Let’s move. Ha, haha…!”

“…”

What is this.

Why are they acting like this.

*

No matter how you looked at them, they were unmistakably Radiel and Mark. Having memorized the secret code, the owners of the armor could rest easy.

However, the two knights still had work to do.

“…Did he leave?”

“Yes. He was so distracted by Lady Harnie’s dress that he didn’t notice us.”

The two knights nodded to each other and re-entered the inn.

Inside the inn, there were traces left by Karsein and Harnie.

Artifacts used for disguise and concealment.

Clothing inscribed with similar magical functions.

Radiel and Mark assured them not to worry, as they would burn these traces with their own hands before sending them off.

But…

Their actions differed from their words.

A warrant issued by the Duke of Bagrand.

The wanted man heading straight into the duchy.

It might seem like walking into a tiger’s den, but it was a plan made possible by having the most reliable supporter.

However, there was one prerequisite.

That was… someone had to buy time to prevent the duchy from being searched.

“I ended up lying to the young master at the last moment.”

“Indeed. I never thought we could deceive him.”

The two knights, now dressed in Karsein and Harnie’s clothes.

A noble resolve could be seen in their eyes.

“Mark. You know what kind of trouble this will cause for the duchy, right?”

“Of course.”

“Aren’t you answering too firmly?”

Radiel chuckled.

That’s why he had to ask again in an even more serious tone.

“You might have to give up everything you’ve had until now. You don’t know what will happen to your life as a knight, or your life afterward. In the worst case, you might have to go do some rough work.”

“…”

“No, not just rough work. You should think about what kind of punishment you’ll receive in Bagrande. If it’s the current Lady Arina, she will surely… impose a tremendous penalty. You might even lose your head.”

“So, are you telling me to let go now?”

“Yes. Before you regret it.”

“Come on. Regret, my foot.”

Mark snorted.

“…I already died once that day. My life as a knight could have ended then, but the young master brought it back, so I’ve been living longer than I should have. Even if I have to do some hard work now, I’ve been happy all this time. And you know what.”

-Swoosh.

Mark, with his fingers interlocked, continued.

“I can’t leave a woman like you behind. Now, Radiel, I can’t be happy without you.”

“Pfft.”

“…Ugh. Is it cringy?”

“No. It’s just so you, Mark.”

“What? What does that mean?”

The two burst into laughter at the same time.

It was a very satisfying sound of laughter.

“Let’s go. For the young master.”

“Yes.”

*

-Chuk, chuk chuk. Chuk.

-Chuk, chuk. Chuk chuk.

-Nod.

▶The password is correct.◀

▶Suspicion is lifted.◀

‘…This, I was on the brink of the underworld.’

As soon as we entered the duchy, a knight waiting at the outpost came out and gave the password.

If Radiel and Mark hadn’t told me… what would have happened.

‘No. That’s not it.’

To be precise…

If Claire hadn’t sent those two.

So my mind becomes even more complicated.

Claire had already tampered with the checkpoints of the two territories I ruled before sending them. Even though Arina was clearly trying to capture me with her eyes wide open, she showed a stance that directly opposed it.

It’s undeniable that there was internal conflict within the duchy because Flora opposed this opinion…

But Claire, is she really like that?

I couldn’t help but have these doubts.

‘…We need to move first.’

What I need to do now is head towards the Bagrande Ducal House.

Regardless of Claire, I had to proceed with my episode.

Afterwards, I used the secret code several times to clear suspicions.

After passing through the ducal territory, it wasn’t so daunting.

While the outskirts of the ducal territory were tightly checking the entry of Karseins, once inside, there was no way to find out. Moreover, Mark and Radiel had served as vice-captain and captain within the first knight division of the ducal house, so the suspicious glances were even more subdued.

Following the most ideal shortest route to the ducal house.

I was able to get here.

‘Finally. The ducal house.’

The destination was right in front of me.

Strangely, quite a number of soldiers were stationed at the ducal house, so I had to use my head, but infiltration wouldn’t be impossible.

Moreover, it would be difficult for them to recognize us disguised as Radiel and Mark.

While I was relieved of my worries.

-Clank. Clank clank.

Right next to me, Harnie tapped his armor with his fist.

“Harnie? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

…He says that, but.

His breathing is rough.

Considering the position he was tapping earlier, it was close to his chest.

“I’m, I’m fine. Let’s keep going. The ducal house is right in front of us.”

…Yeah.

For now, it’s not too late to go inside and make a judgment.

Let’s enter the Duke’s house.

Once inside, we can assess Harnié’s condition.

Finally, after showing the password to the soldiers guarding the Duke’s mansion, the way opened quickly.

I swiftly entered the Duke’s mansion, confirmed that there were no prying eyes, and went into an empty room to check on Harnié’s condition.

“What’s going on? Is the size not right?”

“N-no, it’s just… how should I explain this…?”

“…”

“It seems to be worn incorrectly, so I just need to adjust its position. So, could you let me handle it…?”

“That’s nonsense… You can’t solve this alone. Radiel helped you put it on in the first place.”

“Still, still, I can handle it…”

Just as Harnié’s eyes widened in panic and she waved her hands.

…An unexpected situation arose.

-Thud. Thud.

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A part of the armor fell off.

Of course, it wasn’t mine.

But if it’s not mine…

-Thud. Thud thud.

Another piece of the armor, unable to withstand the pressure, fell off.

So this is why Radiel told me not to make any movements.

I had to take off my top because the armor couldn’t cover my chest.

That’s why he told me to minimize my movements as much as possible.

It was only then that I understood everything.

“…I told you. I’ll handle it.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Turn around. Don’t say anything.”

“Yes, y-yes…”