The Damn Family Is Back Again

233. I wanted to ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■ (3)

A new episode unfolding chaotically.

A timer appeared ominously.

Alongside it, an HP bar materialized right next to the timer.

It displayed not Karsein’s HP but someone else’s entirely.

I had no idea whose HP it was.

However, having experienced a similar situation before, I quickly assessed what needed to be done.

The HP dwindled as the time limit decreased alongside it.

If we failed to find her within the time frame, a bad ending awaited us without fail.

My task now was to rescue Claire, whose HP was rapidly declining.

– Ah, I think… my sister went up one floor from the conference room.

A place where she could leave behind her gift.

Perhaps somewhere Claire might have stopped by briefly.

After prying some information out of Flora by any means necessary, I sprinted at full speed.

Even in the midst of urgency, such thoughts crossed my mind.

Perhaps the term “Hidden Memorial” was a forewarning of this very situation.

If that were the case, then this circumstance—

If it’s not much different from that time—

I had to hurry even more.

▶ Expanding senses with mana! ◀

▶ Caution! Excessive consumption of mana may put a strain on your body! ◀

‘I found it.’

A barrier of mana set up in a peculiar place.

A location seemingly soundproofed, where not a single sound could be heard.

For some reason, I began to piece things together.

You were quite popular in this world. Just like that second one. So it wouldn’t be strange if someone like Lee Young-jun was here too.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the door.

It seemed certain that Claire was inside here.

‘The internal situation…’

…I already know without looking.

– Swish. Whoosh!

“Ugh?!”

“…!”

I do not consider that woman family.

But I didn’t want to die like that.

“Ha. You’ve really come a long way. What’s that little gift worth?”

“You, you…?!”

-Ding!

▶The final boss of CHAPTER 2 has appeared.◀

▶Target: Eliminate the Tree Monster Marf.◀

▶Lv. 150◀

[ HP: ■■■■■■■■■■ ]

▶Warning! If Claire dies, a dead flag will be triggered for sure!◀

[ HP: 35% ]

***

The fact that her body was no longer bound by Marf’s tentacles was undoubtedly good news.

Whether she chose to counterattack with magic or flee to seek help, what mattered most was that she wasn’t trapped by that monster anymore.

She should express her gratitude to those who had been saved.

Yet, the moment Claire’s eyes fell on the boy wielding a sword, fear gripped her heart.

Why are you here?

‘No.’

I have to get up.

With her battered body, Claire prepared her magic once more and stood up again.

“Hey. You need to go back right now.”

“What?”

“Go back! Whether you ask for reinforcements or bring someone else, I’ll hold on, so just go back!”

Time is something he can stretch.

Yet, he had heard whispers among the nobles that such words were spoken.

If Marf were to meet Karsein, it would naturally mean his end.

In other words, while the grotesque creature’s immediate target was himself, everything changed after Karsein laid eyes on him.

Rising unsteadily to her feet, Claire used her prepared magic to obscure Marf’s line of sight.

“Hurry up. This much help is enough!”

She had bought them enough time.

Given the surprise attack, Karsein should have a chance to escape this room and make a run for it.

Moreover, while there hadn’t been an attack earlier, this time she distinctly felt the impact of a strike.

Sufficient power.

A direct hit.

As damage was inflicted and visibility was obscured as well, the conditions for their Trinity were fulfilled.

Now all that remained was how long they could hold out until Karsein called for reinforcements.

However—

-Swoosh!

“Ugh?!”

From within the smoke came a tentacle hurtling toward her.

The tentacle struck with no discernible difference in power from before but left a clear hole where Claire had just dodged.

“What the hell? How can you still be standing after that…!”

Claire turned her head in shock.

From within the smoke, Marf emerged, seemingly unscathed.

“It seems my future wife has quite a heavy hand?”

“…!”

“This won’t do. You need some etiquette training. It’s not right to use such threatening magic against your husband.”

Once again, three tentacles lunged toward her.

Claire hurriedly tried to create a barrier to block them.

However, the tentacles would never reach her makeshift defense.

– Thud, thud, thump.

The sturdy wooden tendrils were sliced through as cleanly as if they were mere vegetables being chopped.

“You’re one creepy b*stard. I thought you were strange when you ruined Shatren, but you’re even crazier than I imagined.”

Marf glared at Karsein as he flicked off the foreign substance from his sword.

“Again! Again! Is it you again!!”

An enraged roar erupted from Marf.

“Karsein… Karsein…! Who do you think you are to interfere with my love!!!”

With that roar came a tempest of magical wind swirling around them.

The ferocity of the storm was such that objects in the room were instantly shoved toward Marf’s front, and even Claire had to squint against it as she watched in awe.

“Hey, Karsein!”

Amidst all this chaos, wooden tentacles burst forth from beside the wall and advanced towards Karsein.

“No… it’s too late…!”

I tried to cast a spell, but it was too late.

What can I do to protect Karsein from here…!

-Swish!

…Huh?

-Swish, swish!

The tentacles that had sprung from the wall were instantly severed.

The green stalks that had been untouched by magic were now being sliced through effortlessly.

This wasn’t just a coincidence.

It was certainly not luck either.

Faintly, but at last, I could see it.

The tiny sigils etched into the blade’s tip and the subtle ripples of mana momentarily dancing along the edge of the sword.

Without a doubt, it was a blade imbued with mana.

“I think I understand. You planned to devour the Shatren territory and use that money to buy yourself a noble’s estate? You thought Claire would accept your feelings then?”

“Y-You b*stard…!”

“Your reaction confirms it. What a truly horrific delusion.”

“It’s not a delusion!!!”

-Swish-swish-swish.

Tentacles erupted once more from Maph’s body.

“Lady Claire is mine. She is my chosen one, my love!!!”

“Hmm. Even after cutting it, it regenerates. It seems it’s a form created through magic. No wonder, once the tentacle was severed, I wondered if there was still magic left. If I strike the areas that serve as receptors for the magic, I suppose it won’t be able to produce longer ones for a while? For example—”

“You…!”

“Like this place.”

As Karsein’s sword pierced a specific spot, the tentacle withered abruptly and fell away.

It didn’t even regenerate from that tentacle.

‘Is this really true…?’

I had no idea at all.

To think such a weakness existed in those tendrils that were already difficult to manage one by one.

‘If that’s the case… maybe dealing with them from now on won’t be so hard.’

Claire, who had been casting sidelong glances at Karsein, stood up.

Just then, a tentacle from Marf came flying toward them.

Claire deftly deflected it before it could reach Karsein.

As the tentacle veered off its expected path, Karsein glanced back briefly.

“…”

“Karsein. I’ll cover you.”

***

‘…Cover me.’

It’s quite a reasonable suggestion.

The attacks of the tentacles are widespread. Blocking them is only feasible from afar; as you get closer, it’s impossible to shake off the danger completely.

With just one sword in hand against Marf’s short tentacles attacking from all directions, I have to parry every single blow coming my way.

The fight ahead was as clear as day.

If that’s the case, do I really have to sever each of that creature’s receptors one by one?

That wouldn’t be possible. The weakened Maph wouldn’t produce longer tendrils anymore.

Thus, Claire’s suggestion was indeed the most sound course of action.

While I sliced through Maph’s tendrils head-on, she would unleash her magic to incapacitate or disrupt its attacks.

In theory, this tactic was the most effective method for me.

‘Well… it’s not like there are no alternatives.’

But even for me, that would be a last resort.

– Dding!

▶ From now on, Claire will join the battle. ◀

▶ Similarly, if Claire’s HP drops, she will die. ◀

[ Current HP of Claire: 35% ]

For now, this is all we have to work with.

I pulled out an item and tossed it to Claire.

▶ Using item! ◀

“…!”

“Drink.”

“Are you… going to be okay?”

“Is this really the time for you to worry about me?”

Hearing those words, Claire silently accepted the elixir vial.

◆Elixir

[Using it restores up to 25% of maximum health in just five seconds.]

[Using it consecutively will cause side effects! A cooldown period of 30 minutes is required for reuse.]

[You can only carry one of this item.]

One of the few recovery items in this game.

It boasts a ridiculously high price and has the drawback of a cooldown, but its healing effect is undeniably reliable.

If Karsein can benefit from it, surely Claire can too?

It’s certain that it will have an effect not just in the game but in this world as well.

And indeed, Claire’s HP rose from 35% to 60%.

The only issue now is how effective Claire’s magic truly is.

“Your magic works, right?”

“Of course! If it’s a magical beast with mana receptors, then not only swords but spells work even better!”

That means all I need to do is find my way in.

Moreover, since damage increases with casting time or incantation duration, when there’s room like now, preparing for multi-casting should be possible too.

“What are you babbling about!”

– Bang!

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you talking alone.”

“How dare you fill my wife’s head with nonsense! Die quickly, you meddler!”

▶Defeat the Maph!◀

▶Remaining enemy HP: 96%◀

“Die, die!!”

Tentacles constantly lash out.

Perhaps having been hit once, the long tentacles were not extended immediately for use.

But then—

-Swish!

“Gah?!”

Just in time, a spell flew in, causing the accuracy of the tentacles to falter.

“Lady Claire…! Are you helping this creature instead of me?!”

“If you focus on something else, I’d be grateful.”

-Slash!

“Graaah!!”

One of the branches of the tree monster Marf was severed by Karsein’s sword.

It was akin to losing an arm for a human. This couldn’t even be healed with magic.

It was humiliating.

To lose an arm to a mere commoner’s sword.

Yet at that moment, what infuriated Marf most wasn’t just this loss.

It was that Claire was aiding Karsein instead of him.

‘To think she stands with that lowly creature while aiming magic at her future husband…!’

Unforgivable.

“I can’t forgive you. I can’t forgive you!!”

Thud thud thud-!

“What, what is it?! An earthquake…?”

“Damn it, was that it!”

“What? Do you know something?”

“Claire! Get out of here right now!”

What?

What does that mean?

At that moment, Claire, completely bewildered by the situation, wore a puzzled expression.

Dozens of tentacles surged up from the ground beneath her.

“This can just be blocked!”

“Damn it! Just listen to me without talking back!”

Karsein kicked off the ground and charged toward her, slicing through the tentacles as he pushed Claire away.

“Ugh?! Hey! What are you…!”

Claire stumbled backward out of the room.

She wanted to ask what on earth he was doing but—

-Drip. Drip.

A drop of blood splattered onto Claire’s fallen body.

“Karsein…?”

A thorny spike she hadn’t managed to dodge had pierced Karsein’s shoulder cleanly.

Perhaps if Karsein hadn’t been there to protect her, Claire’s body would have succumbed, pierced through by those thorns.

Yes. In a word.

She was protected. By her brother.

Thud.

Silently extracting the thorn from her side, Karsein said nothing as he drew his sword.

In an instant, that sword cleaved through the ceiling at the precise point that separated Claire from Karsein.

“What—what are you doing?!”

The collapsing ceiling formed a stone barrier between them.

As Claire scrambled to rise and re-enter, Karsein pushed her back once more and left behind just one command.

“Go back.”

“What do you mean…?”

“…”

—Crash!

The moment Karsein’s voice faded away, the interior and exterior of the room were completely isolated from each other.

Claire’s heart sank heavily in her chest.

“…Hey. Don’t do something so reckless. You’re hurt.”

It was infuriating.

The fact that she had managed to escape unscathed while he remained behind filled her with rage beyond measure.

“Clear this away. You still have mana left, right? Then you can clear this!”

I don’t want to.

It was unbearable to think that I couldn’t help Karsein, who was bleeding and struggling inside.

“Open up! Open the door! We agreed to fight together! You know you can’t win this alone!!!”

As an older sister, I should be protecting my younger brother, yet here I was, surviving thanks to his help.

And they even told me to run away from there?

To survive on my own?

“How… how is that something a sister should do… huh?”

In front of the firmly blocked entrance, Claire sank down helplessly, trembling with despair.

– Ding!

[ I wanted to be a sister who could protect her brother: 90% ]