Damn Family

“…Huh. There’s no need.”

Arina let out a hollow wind sound in response to this ridiculous reaction.

“Do you know what kind of nonsense you’re spouting right now?”

Well, that’s true.

Even I think this is crazy.

At this moment when the martial arts tournament is taking place,

It’s not an option but a necessity to check and supplement equipment for this tournament.

However, it’s impossible for a participant in the tournament to gather all the necessary equipment alone. To do so, it would be the right move to test them by receiving support from various sponsors.

This means it’s quite disadvantageous to leave it to just one person like Duke Ptua.

Just by looking at what’s inside, you can tell there’s a considerable amount of high-quality items. If given for free, it would be an enormous benefit. You can see items that seem to be genuinely helpful through the item text window.

At the same time, refusing by cutting off the conversation was also the same.

Most of the restrictions Karsein had were in Arina, who had her rights taken away.

This means giving all of these back, and refusing would make me look like a madman.

No matter how you think about it logically, accepting would be normal.

But.

“I’m not qualified because of what someone said.”

I hate it. Getting help from you.

“Stop being stubborn and just choose to use them. I’ll carefully select the best sponsorship for you among these high-quality items.”

“Why, are you afraid my performance in the tournament will ruin the family name? So you want me to at least meet the minimum standards with those items? If that’s the case, then I don’t need them even more.”

Bang!

Swinging the box with a fist, it topples off the table.

“You said something similar during the symposium. Whether it’s long or short, you have to see it to know.”

The fallen box landed on the floor, and the meticulously prepared items spilled out like garbage.

“Hah. You’re going to act arrogant until the end, huh? No, maybe I’m the fool for showing kindness to you.”

Arina’s blue eyes began to blaze fiercely.

“Don’t get delusional. I didn’t bring this to boost your performance in the tournament.”

“Then why did you come?”

“I brought this because Mother ordered me to cheer you up. So.”

-Crash!

Arina stomped on the box, crushing the equipment as if they were toys.

“If you really ruin the family name due to your arrogance, and if you fall disgracefully without meeting Mother’s expectations, the cost will be quite painful. Karsein.”

Arina left without even turning back.

“Ugh. How could things overlap like this.”

A bitter smile involuntarily escaped my lips.

This is a warning.

Since I stubbornly refused proper equipment, they’re essentially saying ‘let’s see how well you can do without it.’

I can confidently say that if this leads to new options, excuses about equipment or categories won’t work.

You might as well consider this another invisible restriction.

Well, it’s fine.

This is just adding another reason to improve my ranking in this tournament.

After ordering the servants to clean up the mess, I chose the room next door.

And there, I found a shining object.

“Oh, right. This was where Karsein stayed last year.”

Somehow, it felt similar to the background of a game map I’ve seen before.

The position of the objects and the layout were oddly familiar.

“This seems like a place where a memorial would appear.”

This memorial likely contains records from last year’s martial arts tournament. Although I don’t know what content it will show.

I decided to take a look.

I reached out and picked up the memorial.

-Ding!

You obtained a Hole-Punched Bowguard Memorial.

***

-Click, click.

“…”

Arina stopped her footsteps and turned her eyes sharply towards Karsein’s room.

“How presumptuous.”

Muttering to herself, Arina clenched her teeth at Karsein.

She had brought these things thinking it would help Karsein.

But seeing him so drunk with his own power made her feel like she had wasted her efforts.

“Hmph. Even if he boasts, it won’t last long.”

If Karsein had inspected and improved the equipment, that waiting room would have been filled with tested weapons. At this time, all participants are busy planning strategies.

However, Karsein’s waiting room was completely empty.

Either the sponsor’s capabilities were insufficient to produce the necessary items within the period, or the participant couldn’t organize their strategy properly for certain events.

Sometimes, problems arise due to conflicts between participants and sponsors.

For an extreme participant like Karsein, the mere fact of having a sponsor might be a lie.

It doesn’t matter why.

“You took the golden opportunity I gave you last year and this year as well, Karsein.”

-Click, click.

Arina’s footsteps echoed again in the corridor.

As the sound gradually faded, someone appeared from around the corner.

Pink hair swayed as she filled the hallway Arina had passed.

The woman revealed herself and muttered with a hollow voice.

“You didn’t receive it…?”

Why?

A strange unease began to rise.

-Ding!

[Clare Bargrand]

[92%]

***

-Ting!

Anyone who has used a bow knows that the bowstring is quite sharp.

It’s easy to cut your fingers if you mishandle it.

To shoot a bow, you need to pull the string, so wearing protective gear is standard to avoid injuring your fingers.

However, Karsein’s bowstring was damaged as usual.

-Ting!

Karsein’s finger started to turn red as he pulled the bowstring.

Despite this, he didn’t seem to care and grabbed the next arrow.

-Ting!

The sharp string pressed deeply into his skin several times.

His flesh was reaching its limit.

If he pulled the string one more time, his fingers would eventually give way and get injured.

Yet, the bowstring continued to be pulled.

-Ting!

The sharp string cut into his skin, and blood dripped out.

It was enough to cause significant pain.

He flinched from the stinging pain and should have stepped back.

However.

Karsein continued to pull the red-stained bowstring.

-Ting!

-Ting!

-Ting!

There was no pain.

Even as blood splattered, he felt no pain.

With a calm expression, the boy shot the arrow.

His eyes were already dead from other pains.

After finishing the archery event, Karsein’s thumb and index finger were soaked in blood.

Isabella approached with a handkerchief to wipe the blood.

“How could this happen… Did Arina not give you the bowguard?”

…

The boy didn’t answer.

Silent, he simply removed his finger.

His first sister stood in front of him.

“I clearly told you to wear finger guards. Is this how you plan to draw Mother’s attention?”

…

Despite several questions, Karsein never answered.

In the next match and the one after that, he wore nothing.

Under the clear sky,

The passion of the nobles’ children shone brightly.

But one man had no passion.

He had nothing and held nothing.

There was no warmth.

He was just in a dry state.

With a face devoid of interest,

He silently went through the schedule of the tournament.

Finally, in the most important final event, he even put down the sword despite having a chance to win.

The result was a forfeit loss.

Thus, Karsein Bargrand’s martial arts tournament ended.

-Ding!

As expected, this memorial contained the story from last year’s tournament.

On the surface, it may seem like there’s nothing to gain.

Or rather, many would wonder why he did this.

He tried to sell the bowguard and stain his hands with blood.

Even though Isabella questioned Arina about why she did it, he remained silent.

Despite having a chance to win, he casually put down the sword.

His actions were puzzling.

But, I knew.

“…How can his appearance be exactly the same as mine from second year.”

I saw resignation in his eyes.

The boy didn’t speak.

He showed no expression during the match and didn’t commit any special actions.

So, I understood.

First, he threw away the bowguard with holes because he didn’t want to use it.

What’s the point of using something that isn’t his? It would just end up on some kid anyway. Destroying it himself was the best choice.

Second, he remained silent despite the misunderstanding because he knew it wouldn’t change anything.

Even if he explained, would anyone listen? No. It’s better to stay quiet and quickly move on.

Lastly, he gave up despite having a chance to perform better because he couldn’t find a reason to continue.

Showing good results to this family for what? It was the most foolish thing to try and please them.

Yes. I don’t expect anything.

I accepted the reality that nothing would change even if misunderstood.

I realized that pleasing this family meant nothing.

In short,

I resigned myself, just like I did back then.

I smiled at this thought.

“Yes. There’s no one to cheer for me.”

The world is about standing alone.

There’s no one to cheer for, no one to trust.

That’s the only rule I know in this world.

-Beep beep beep.

The sound of the horn signaling the start of the next match.

-Thunk.

I threw the bowguard into the trash bin and headed to the arena from the waiting room.

Thus, the bowguard was buried in the darkness of the trash bin.

Its fate was to be trapped in the past waiting room, spending static moments before being incinerated as waste.

But.

That fate was shattered.

-Clink.

“The bowguard… Didn’t Karsein not use it last year?”

Pink hair flowed down slowly.

***

“Ouch.”

Harunie sucked on her finger that was just pricked by a needle.

“Grr… It’s difficult.”

She wasn’t very familiar with embroidery.

Embroidery is considered a basic skill for young ladies, but she had never done it before.

This is because just making this can create misunderstandings. What’s the point of making unnecessary trouble?

Anyway, Harunie found it troublesome from the moment she held the needle and threaded it.

Realizing she couldn’t thread it due to the short length, she untangled it with her own hands.

When the handkerchief got tangled up or misshapen, she had to start over.

She accidentally pricked her finger, creating a round hole that bled.

Nothing was easy.

Yet, she continued to apply medicine, put on bandages, and pick up the thread and needle again.

-Swish.

Though it didn’t exist last year, this year, there was someone to cheer for her in the tournament.

[!– Bottom Banner Wrapper –]

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