The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 356



356. Choice (2)

The information about the fifth and final treasure was obtained in the same way as before: find one note, then the next note, and so on.

It was tedious, but multiple mechanisms were put in place to prevent the enemy, referred to as demons, from getting their hands on it.

And now, those mechanisms had reached their final stage.

– Ding!

▶You have entered the designated location. You have obtained an item.◀

◆Note #36 from Karn Bagland

『At the time when the sky is painted red by the twilight moon, a rift of light will appear between the horizon and the sun. The treasure will reveal itself at this place, where the oldest flowers in this world bloom in abundance.』

The date of the treasure. The time it can be found. And even the location, everything was revealed.

The day referred to as the twilight moon in the sky means this month, January.

The time when a rift of light appears between the sun and the horizon means sunset.

The oldest flowers in this world refer to the flowers of the oldest tree located in the center of the continent, not in the empire.

However, we cannot move as is.

That’s because of the following content.

『But, there is something to be cautious about. If artificial light or magic stones interfere with this, the treasure cannot be found. Even if you force it out, it won’t be able to exert its power. If this happens, it’s best to come back the next day. It’s an item with such magical mechanisms.』

Interference from the outside. If that exists, the final treasure will lose its power and won’t function properly.

In other words, we must not be pursued.

The status window had already deeply emphasized this.

▶You have reached the final information to find the fifth treasure. You must obtain the treasure with all conditions fulfilled!◀

As instructed, fulfill all conditions.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that we have reached the end.

If only I could find this. If only I could obtain this.

I could return to reality.

But…

Suddenly, I turned back.

There had been countless events.

The departure of the Duke’s family with the end of Chapter 3.

The path ahead that I had to navigate alone without any information.

This brought about all sorts of difficulties.

Nevertheless, I tried to move forward, stubbornly holding onto my resolve.

As always, I was alone.

Wasn’t it common for the world to turn its back on me?

I had to solve things on my own. I had to forge my own path.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to survive. I would just collapse here and turn into a handful of ashes.

Even if I became a loner, nothing would change. Surviving alone was my daily life. I thought I could manage it.

But…

To be honest, was that even possible?

There were always the hands of others.

When I had to flee, when I had to avoid gazes, when I had to hide, when I had to conserve my strength even for a short while, when I had to close my eyes or fill my hunger.

There were always people by my side.

Countless people pass by.

Tasha, Camilla.

Residents of Rusmire.

Agents including Ferdi and Dyke.

Residents of Shatren.

Radiel, Mark.

Carlton, the First Knight Division.

They bought me time. They provided what was needed and hid me. They trusted me without capturing me, even with a bounty on my head. They threw their frail bodies against those who sought the bounty with eyes ablaze, standing by my side.

…Was it really my strength alone?

Could I have survived until now without them?

I couldn’t deny it.

…Though I don’t want to admit it.

Flora.

Isabella.

Claire.

Those family members, whom I once thought of as strangers, stepped forward to help me, lightening my burden at crucial moments.

And then.

-Click.

“It’s a bustling city. The bounty posters are still up, but I don’t see anyone actively trying to move.”

The last person.

The woman who has stayed by my side until now.

Because of Harnié, I was able to survive.

“But, why do you look like that?”

“…”

Yes. There is something I need to say to this person.

Before returning to reality, there was something I needed to say to the person I am most grateful to.

I stood up and hugged her silently.

“Ka, Karsein?”

Harnié was greatly startled, perhaps because she was surprised by the sudden hug.

In the meantime, I tried to say what I wanted to say with a light embrace.

But why?

My lips won’t move.

I need to say thank you for everything, but I can’t.

From the beginning, she helped me, and even in this situation, she risked danger to help me.

No. At the very least, I should say my final goodbye and reveal everything I’ve been hiding…

Why, why on earth?

Why can’t I say anything?

“Hey. Karsein…?”

It felt like my lips were frozen.

It felt like my tongue, which could make sounds, was frozen.

It felt as if my vocal cords were paralyzed.

It was as if the muscles and organs that produce sound, the nerves, had all lost their function.

How could this be happening?

This is impossible.

How hard can it be to say a few words with a healthy body, and yet, I can’t do it?

In the meantime, Harnie lightly stroked my back.

“Are you hugging me because you think I’m cold? Your body is warm, so it’s nice…”

As she stroked my back, she said my body was really warm.

…A strange sound escaped my lips at her touch.

“Let’s stay like this for a moment.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I just want to stay like this for a little while, Harnie.”

“Just want to hold me…”

She murmured in a trembling voice, but without saying anything else, she continued to stroke my back.

Warm.

Soft, cozy.

Just being held like this feels like my body is melting.

A pleasant body temperature.

A scent that clears away complicated thoughts.

It felt as if something had completely disappeared with the touch that stroked my back.

I held her tightly, as if intoxicated by the sensations felt throughout my body.

For a few minutes, tens of minutes.

I let more time slip away.

…If it were any other time, I would have surely scolded myself.

Wasting precious time again for no reason.

I should have at least moved my lips to say something during this time.

I should have made a plan instead of wasting it.

But…

I didn’t whip myself like that.

No. I didn’t even think of doing so.

*

The night deepened.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say those words to Harnie.

Not during meal time.

Not after washing up.

Not while chopping wood and stoking the fire again.

And… not even before going to bed.

“…”

In the end, I couldn’t sleep.

Even during this time when I should be resting to prepare for tomorrow.

Why on earth is that?

Isn’t it just a few words that need to be said?

Isn’t it the least courtesy to say goodbye to Harunie in advance?

Besides that, there are words of thanks for all the help. Thank you for helping me, for believing in me. There are plenty of things to say.

I couldn’t even get the first word out.

It’s driving me crazy.

Unless my body is rejecting it, there’s no way this could be happening.

So it seemed I would spend this night with my eyes closed, unable to sleep.

…But then.

Something happened that made me open my eyes wide.

Long, fine hair tickled my skin.

My hair is neither that long nor that fine.

Thin, delicate fingers touched my face. I could feel the palm as well. It was a soft sensation.

My fingers are neither thin nor delicate. The calluses on my palms from training would be even harder.

I felt the breath of thin respiration.

It wasn’t my breath. Unless something was blocking it.

And then…

Something touched.

A sweet taste was transmitted from my lips.

I could guess what it was.

In this brief moment, as a series of strange sensations wrapped around me, I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide.

“…Harnie.”

“Were you… awake?”

I opened my eyes and gently pushed away the body that was clinging to me. I saw two purple eyes filled with embarrassment.

Harnie lifted her upper body and turned her head slightly. Then she covered her lips.

I couldn’t believe it.

But it was true.

Yes. What touched my lips was Harnie’s lips.

But…

This made me realize something.

When I fall asleep with Harnie, my sleep pattern changes, so the current time was the most likely time for me to have fallen asleep.

So, every time I fell asleep, she might have been doing this.

…And she actually did.

When I woke up, there was always a strangely sweet taste on my lips.

Just like now.

But, why?

Why did she kiss me?

I followed her and stood up. I had to ask.

“…I want to hear the reason, Harnie.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why did you do this secretly while I was sleeping?”

Of course, I know she didn’t mean to harm me.

Then, could there be some reason behind it?

Harni was a smart woman.

She wouldn’t do something without any meaning.

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So, I thought there must be a reason for this act as well.

If not…

It was just lips touching lips.

‘Yeah. There’s an example. Depeshan syndrome… or something.’

Maybe touching lips makes it easier to infuse mana.

Or maybe it helps untangle my twisted mana more efficiently.

Isn’t there something, something?

So I waited patiently, even if it took time.

Until she spoke up.

But contrary to my thoughts, Harni gave a vague answer instead of a clear one about this act.

“…Can you not say anything?”

Don’t say anything.

Usually when she’s angry.

When I’ve done something wrong.

And when she’s feeling deeply embarrassed.

Harunie often brings up that topic.

But… now is not the time for that.

It was not the same reaction as before.

“I won’t deny that I did this secretly. So… could you not ask?”

“…”

It was more of a request.

A request that I really hoped would be granted.

So, I couldn’t ask any further.

“Sorry for disturbing your sleep. Tonight… I’ll sleep separately.”

“Harunie. That’s not what I meant…”

Harunie left those words behind, covered herself with her blanket, and moved away from me.

Without any other reason, it seemed like that was really the end.

So… we just kissed?

For no reason?

“…”

No. There must be a reason.

I approached her, who had turned away, and hugged her.

Even though I approached and hugged her from behind suddenly, Harunie didn’t say anything.

I don’t know, but I must have done something wrong.

That’s why Harunie is asking me not to ask.

With a heart full of regret, I tightly embraced Haruniel.

Could it have been a catalyst for sleep? Only then was I able to fall asleep.

*

It was a paradoxical action.

Because I love him. Because I love this man so much, I couldn’t say the words “I love you.”

So every night, I waited until Karsein fell asleep and secretly kissed his lips.

I loved him alone, intending to let him go when the time came.

But… in the end, this was discovered.

I didn’t want to be caught.

I didn’t want to be caught even more because he was someone who would eventually leave.

Karsein noticed this fact.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it was because I loved him.

The best I could do was to ask him to pretend he didn’t know.

Yet, this kind-hearted man accepted my request.

“Yes. This is enough.”

I couldn’t stop loving him at the appropriate line, so the consequence came. The consequence of crossing the line.

Tomorrow… perhaps the farewell with Karsein will happen.

Because it’s the last time, I shouldn’t crave it any more.

“Yes. It’s actually for the best.”

I can take all the pain.

It’s only me who has to carry the wounds of this breakup.

Let my heart, slowly, settle down.

When tomorrow comes, I’ll get up like nothing happened and let him go.

With that, Harnie closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

-Swoosh.

“…!”

Suddenly, a back hug, a surprise attack, made Harnie’s heart start pounding again.

‘Ah, what should I do.’

This was truly, a big problem.

I had even made such a huge decision to finally let him go.

But I kept faltering.

Consumed by the desire to hold onto him.