The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 342



342. Family (12)

Summer rain falls for a long time.

The monsoon rain pouring from the sky is always heavy, dull, and unpleasant.

It was the worst if it was a windy day too.

But an anomaly occurred.

All my skin feels dry and fresh.

There was almost no moisture in my hair.

Only a few drops had splashed onto my school uniform.

I had barely gotten wet from the rain.

On rainy days until now, it was inevitable that I would end up looking like a drowned rat.

My uniform would be soaked, and I would have to wash it immediately to dry it by tomorrow.

To make my skin feel fresh, I would have to wash off the murky rainwater in the shower and wipe away the grime with a towel, and then wash and dry my hair again.

None of that happened.

It was all because of the umbrella someone had given me.

“…”

I felt strange looking at the umbrella left behind.

This umbrella… it was the one I had originally refused and pushed away.

I had met countless people until now. I knew what purpose the people who approached me at school had. I knew exactly what they wanted.

I knew everything. They pretended not to, but I knew what they were thinking inside.

So I pushed them away.

Even if that umbrella was the most needed thing at this moment.

But he said.

The reason he gave me this umbrella was for himself, not for me.

What kind of nonsense is that?

Giving away the only umbrella to someone else, saying it’s for himself?

And then getting soaked in the rain and going back?

It was an utterly incomprehensible sound…

But the person explained in detail why such an answer came out.

I thought this time, the real reason would come out… but when I heard it, I was so dumbfounded that my mouth dropped open.

An endlessly calculating and self-serving reason popped out, explaining that everything was related, and the way they revealed their innermost thoughts without hiding anything left me speechless.

They asked for one favor.

Think of the umbrella as a trade-off.

And please, never reveal this.

It was an utterly incomprehensible purpose.

I have met countless people so far. I also know how obvious and trivial their desires are.

But at least the person in front of me had a purpose that was completely different from the hidden intentions that made me frown.

They are different from others.

That was the reason.

I brought this umbrella home.

Without getting soaked by the cold rain.

Without the loneliness and melancholy that comes from being drenched.

Something else was taking its place.

…I quickly shook my head.

It must be because that person is peculiar.

There are plenty of strange people in the world, so there must be people like that.

I brushed it off, thinking I would return the umbrella the next day.

But whenever it rained, my clothes never got wet.

There were always days when I returned home without a single drop of water on my skin.

With a consistent purpose, I received an umbrella unilaterally and went back home.

The days of getting drenched in the rain are disappearing.

At the same time, as time passed, I learned more and more.

I also started to learn a little about that person.

So, the rain no longer falls.

Because summer has completely gone and winter is approaching.

…But now, I feel a sense of regret about it.

Now, snow falls from the sky.

The softly falling snow is colder. Loneliness and desolation deepen.

When that pure white snow falls, the whole world turns white.

When it rains, I don’t have to worry about the umbrella that much. Unless it piles up with heavy snow, but it wasn’t to that extent.

I don’t use an umbrella.

Yes. I felt a sense of regret about it.

At some point, I didn’t dislike the rain that much anymore.

Can’t it come down a bit more?

My side felt strangely cold.

*

-Ding!

▶The hidden memorial has ended.◀

▶Time that had stopped will flow again shortly.◀

With the flicker of bright light, my vision returned.

This time, the memorial reflected the present.

Snowflakes filled the sky, covering the world in pure white.

Of course, it wasn’t Carsein’s memory, but rather closer to mine.

Yet, I still don’t recall such a memory.

There have been many snowy days. If I were to pick one, which day should it be?

Perhaps it’s just a meaningless memory, even if I try to recall it.

No clues, no information.

Therefore, there’s nothing I can find out.

“If there’s anything that catches my eye… it’s the umbrella.”

The black umbrella I always used when it rained.

I hid it from my youngest sister Eunji so she wouldn’t take it, and I secretly kept it at school to use when it rained.

That umbrella has a bit of a story.

Second year of high school. It was the umbrella I handed over to Jieun when I didn’t know her well.

That was probably the first time. I proposed a deal to Jieun, asking her to use this umbrella and keep some of my things in return.

Often, when I tried to hide my things, my family would find them, so I had to reveal my purpose to reassure her.

And, there was also the reason that I had to get a little wet in the rain.

My youngest sister Eunji would laugh at me when I came back wet, so the bullying was less, and my second sister Eunhye would nag, but she couldn’t get too angry at a wet kid, so she was moderate.

First of all, mother wouldn’t know if I came back soaked in the rain since she always comes home late. Even if she came back early, I could just hide it well enough for her not to notice.

So, I remember giving you that umbrella and walking back in the rain whenever we parted ways halfway home.

“…But no matter what, I can’t remember anything with just that one umbrella.”

I really don’t know why you’re showing me this.

-Ding!

▶The time stop effect has been lifted.◀

Since time has started flowing again, let’s ignore that and get back to what I was doing.

“Three notes have gathered. But it’s difficult to decipher them. They’re enchanted, so you need to channel magic to decode them, but it’s hard to approach if you don’t know exactly how. If you just recklessly pour in magic, the contents will disappear…”

“I think I can handle that.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it just a matter of knowing which way the magic flows?”

As I asserted that, Harnie agreed.

“Indeed. That’s true.”

Reading the magic formula?

There’s a power that fits perfectly here.

That’s what the Eye of Wederos was for.

By controlling the flow of magic with a calm mind and slowly unraveling it, item combination became possible.

▶Item combination successful.◀

▶You have obtained an item!◀

[ Someone’s Note ]

After the combination, it became possible to decode it as an item.

‘The item name is listed as someone’s note. But…’

I thought I knew who it was.

This handwriting. It’s somewhat familiar to me.

I’ve seen it not only in the study but also in other places.

This handwriting… it was Karn Bagland’s handwriting.

『When Father made that expression, I couldn’t understand it either. But soon, I realized.』

『Demon. How else could I describe it? It can only be described as a demon.』

『That which is merely a seed of the primordial must be eradicated. But what can I do? I can’t commit the foolish act of borrowing the power of the Duke’s family. If things go wrong, that demon will devour the entire empire, no, the world.』

『Those tainted by the seed immediately became monsters. Those who swallowed the seed turned into tree monsters and tried to harm humans.』

『They multiply. They endlessly spread the seeds and multiply. It makes humans lose their self and separates their flesh.』

『What on earth are they trying to do by separating so many bodies? I… suggested to Father that we investigate it and leave records throughout the Duke’s family.』

『Father readily agreed, grabbing my shoulder. I know it’s a huge gamble. It might never be discovered by anyone, and even if it is, it might be dismissed as the delusion of a mere child.』

『I exchanged clothes with a child. They said they would clean up the entire Kingdom of Wederos. Wearing the clothes of the Kingdom of Wederos, I will surely not escape death. But this is my choice. This way, one person, a child around my age, can survive. Holding a carriage doll, they will surely be found.』

『Unlike me, who is just a mere child, those with the eyes of Wederos will be different. I have no doubt that those with real power will understand my intentions and help me. So.』

『I have one request. Future prince of Wederos. Please, save my family.』

-Whirr!

As soon as I finished reading Karn Bagland’s note, it caught fire.

“You’ve enchanted it to disappear after one reading. This is rare, but…”

“It means it’s information that must not leak out.”

Harni nodded.

With an even more serious face.

“If it leaks outside, it means the opponent can respond. That means it was thoroughly hidden and made visible only to a specific target.”

“…”

Hearing those words, I might be making the same expression.

According to this content…

It means Karsein survived in the past because of Karn.

Karn Bagrand sacrificed his life for Karsein, and Karsein, who awakened the eyes of Wederos, discovered this note and hoped to uncover the Yggdrasil Project.

A crazy gamble that is hard to even call a plan.

A gamble that might have returned to nothing if Karsein hadn’t arrived at Bagrand.

But… this gamble has led me this far.

“…What are you going to do, Karsein?”

Harni gently asked for my opinion.

Karn Bagrand asked me.

From noble mtl dot com

To please save his family.

Considering my current situation, it sounds absurd, but…

-Ding!

▶You have obtained the second treasure, Karn Bagrand’s Dawn Jade.◀

▶Head to the third-floor lighting tower to obtain the next treasure.◀

Anyway, I have no other choice.

“First, let’s try to find more notes.”

Together with Harnie, I started moving towards the third-floor lighting area.

‘…Memorials, the current situation. At this point, I know nothing. Absolutely nothing.’

But why does it feel so unsettling?

It should just be a story in a game.

Why does it feel so strangely realistic?

…Unsettling.

So very.