The Damn Family Is Back Again

237. Hospital Visit (3)

‘…What is this? Did I mishear something?’

Are you feeling any better?

Under normal circumstances, something entirely different should have come out.

Since Chapter 1, things have calmed down a bit, but Flora usually tends to squawk at this time.

So I should just accept that anger and let it go…

‘Wait, our intimacy has already increased?’

[ Flora Bagrand ]

[ Intimacy: 68% ]

Seeing that it isn’t marked in a different color suggests there’s no event like before.

What on earth is going on?

I’m deeply perplexed.

Still, I suppose I need to respond. I chose one of the options.

[ 3. You can just go back. You don’t want to be here anyway. ]☑

“It’s fine; you don’t need to worry about me. There’s really no reason for you to come looking for me, right?”

I raised my tone slightly, but what does it matter?

This little brat probably doesn’t want to be in this hospital room either and likely has no particular reason to seek me out.

If such a thing exists systemically, then all I have to do is cut it off from my side.

“Oh. And you don’t really need a guardian either.”

– Swoosh.

“…?!”

“Ka, Karsein?”

“As you can see, my fiancée is being quite helpful.”

You didn’t want to come visit me anyway.

There’s really no reason for you to be here.

Besides, with my fiancée as a guardian, there’s no problem at all.

With this, I’ve completed the trifecta that will allow me to push Flora away when we meet.

If I do this, she’ll get annoyed and leave in no time.

I turned my head without much thought.

But it seems that was a mistake on my part.

“…There is.”

“What?”

“There’s a reason for me to come!”

Whoosh!

Something flew from her small hand.

It wasn’t difficult to catch since it lacked any real force behind it.

…This is what I thought it was back then?

◆Kelvia Allergy Relief

[ An allergy relief created by Flora. It reduces the effects of ingested allergens. ]

The item I intended to give her when Flora came to visit my room.

There is a tradition of giving gifts to those who achieve the top position at the symposium, and that’s why she said I should make use of it if they gave me a present.

Flora was looking at me with eyes that seemed to say I couldn’t leave without accepting it.

‘…Is this all she came here for?’

But somehow, she was stepping closer with each passing moment.

-Click.

What on earth is this?

Why is she grabbing my arm?

I looked at Flora with a completely bewildered expression, but this little girl didn’t seem to notice me at all.

“Carsein belongs to the Duke of Bagrand!”

“Yes, yes?”

“We’re family!”

She shouted that fiercely at Harnié, her tone sharp and defensive.

…What on earth does that even mean?

It made no logical sense whatsoever.

‘Did Harnié do something wrong?’

I thought about it and glanced over at Harnié, but he shook his head as if he didn’t understand either.

-Ding!

▶Flora’s intimacy level has increased.◀

[ Current Level: 70% ]

Damn.

Why is she acting like this?

What on earth is going on?

***

After that, Flora continued to glare at Harnié with a low growl.

Not only that, but she also babbled incomprehensible words while clinging tightly to my arm.

I said one thing to the chattering Flora.

“If you have a problem, take it up with me. Why are you directing your anger at my innocent fiancée?”

If there was any reasonable cause for her discontent, it would likely be directed at me.

I didn’t understand why her arrows were aimed at Harnié, but it certainly didn’t look good to berate someone who hadn’t done anything wrong.

So I spoke up…

“You’re from the Bargrand Duke’s family! You foolish idiot!”

“What?”

“Ugh…! I hate you. I completely hate you─!”

With that, Flora stormed out of the hospital room in a huff.

Then she hesitated for a moment before turning back and shooting me one last glare while pointing at the medicine bottle with her hand.

“Make sure you take your medicine! You stupid idiot Karsein!”

“…”

– Thud. Tap tap tap.

“For heaven’s sake. What does being from the Bargrand Duke’s family have to do with anything?”

I simply couldn’t comprehend that little brat.

I had no intention of listening to any nonsensical chatter, but since she stormed out like that, it actually turned out well.

▶Condition met.◀

[Talk to Flora Bagrand 1/1]

There’s no problem with the episode at all.

◆Kelvia Allergy Relief

[An allergy relief concoction made by Flora. It reduces the effects.]

“…I should probably put this in that drawer later.”

I guess I’ll have to bring back Harni, whom I foolishly kicked out in a fit of pique.

-Creak.

“Hmm? Dyke?”

Ah, come to think of it, people could come from the territory too.

This guest should be fine enough.

“It seems you overheard something by accident. Don’t worry about it; I won’t say anything.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

Dyke scratched his cheek and gazed intently at where Flora had dashed off before he finally spoke up again.

“That kind of sulking is just cute at this level.”

“What?”

“I have a younger sister myself, so I can relate; I’ll only offer you this bit of advice.”

What on earth is Dyke talking about now?

Well, since he has a younger sister and claims to have similar experiences, maybe he has some inkling after all?

Thinking this, I turned my head slightly.

‘Is that a tantrum?’

I looked at the spot where Flora had passed and recalled what had happened in the hospital room.

And immediately dismissed it.

‘That’s nonsense.’

What? A tantrum?

That little brat?

Honestly. To think that her sulking was a tantrum just because she felt bad about herself.

“Dike, you’re putting Flora on too high of a pedestal. That’s not a tantrum.”

“My lord, but…”

“Seeing as you came all the way to fetch Shatren strawberries to save your sister, it seems you have a decent relationship with her. I can’t say the same for myself.”

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

After giving Dike’s shoulder a light pat and telling him to wait for a moment, I passed by him to go fetch Harnié.

“Hmm…”

Dike scratched his head again.

“That much is clear,” he muttered to himself softly.

***

Before long, visitors began arriving at my hospital room once more.

Starting with Dike and Friktrt among the guards, they brought food from Shatren and the Rusmaier territory wishing for my swift recovery. Gifts meant for the symposium chief were piling up in one corner of the room.

Of course, family members were included among them as well.

“At first, I was so worried… But now that you’ve woken up like this, I feel relieved.”

The Duchess, Isabella, had come to visit and left a message wishing for a swift recovery.

“When you return to the Duke’s residence, I have something to tell you. I will wait until you are fully healed.”

The eldest sister, Arina, also mentioned she had something to say and would wait.

After all, in the family’s hospital visit episodes, whether or not conversations happened was a primary condition; thus, this much wasn’t difficult at all.

There was nothing particularly cautionary here either.

As long as I chose options that wouldn’t upset my mood too much, it was an episode that could be cleared in just one day.

However…

I still hadn’t managed to clear this episode.

▶CHAPTER 3 – Episode I. The family’s hospital visits are underway.◀

▶You must meet with all members of the Bagland Duke’s family.◀

[ Isabella Bagland 1/1 ]

[ Arina Bagland 1/1 ]

[ Claire Bagland 0/1 ]

[ Flora Bagland 1/1 ]

Just one person remained—the very one needed for clearance.

Claire was the easiest character to encounter when a hospital visit episode arose.

As usual,

“Hey! Why are you getting hurt and causing such a fuss?!”

The figure who rushed in first, spitting out the same line, was the one to confront Karsein.

Yet Claire still had not shown up.

From morning to late afternoon, as the sun dipped and evening approached, Claire had yet to visit the hospital room.

– Tap. Tap.

As I drummed my fingers on the table, Harnié casually asked, “The person you’re waiting for is Lady Claire, isn’t it?”

I wondered how she figured it out so quickly.

There were only a few people left. Karsein’s social circle was as limited as my own reality.

I nodded lightly in affirmation.

“She might be busy with work. Lady Claire’s boutique tends to have quite a lively clientele. Wouldn’t it be better to meet tomorrow instead?”

“Hm…”

I glanced subtly toward the progress window.

In the episode progress window, there were no deadlines or timers indicating when I needed to clear it by.

‘That means I just need to clear it eventually. Delaying doesn’t pose much of a problem.’

Right. Perhaps I had been thinking too rigidly about this.

Just because I said I’d wait for Claire didn’t mean I needed to endure this wait indefinitely.

“Shall we grab some dinner?”

“Sure. You haven’t eaten much since earlier…”

Suddenly, Harnié stopped speaking and turned around abruptly.

Curious about her sudden change in demeanor, I noticed footsteps approaching closer.

The sound of shoes echoed in the hallway.

From the sound, it was clear they weren’t high men’s shoes.

As they drew closer to this hospital room, it seemed my visitor was approaching. And it must be a woman.

– Ding!

▶ Claire has come for a visit. ◀

“I suppose we’ll have to postpone lunch for a bit?”

Harnier smiled softly.

Right. There would only be one person.

It’s Claire.

I nodded, and she, now designated as my guardian, stepped out first to greet Claire at the door.

A brief exchange of pleasantries followed by the assurance that I was awake. With that, I expected her to return soon.

“Um… Harnier?”

“Yes? Ehh?”

“Could you come over here for a moment…”

But then Harnier’s figure vanished from the open doorway of my hospital room.

At a glance, it looked as if she had been pulled away by an unseen force.

Thanks to that, while I could hear their voices, the content of their conversation became inaudible.

They widened the distance until their words were just beyond my reach and began exchanging several remarks in hushed tones.

If only I could use mana to extend my senses right now…

‘Well, given how things are with my body at this moment.’

I decided to wait, even though I had no real desire to eavesdrop on the conversation with Harnié.

Then, as if the discussion had come to an end, footsteps approached again.

“Carsein. The young lady says she has something to discuss with you privately.”

“…What?”

“Shall I step out for a moment? Hehe.”

No, where do you think you’re going while laughing like that—

Thud.

Ah. The door has closed.

“…”

So it’s just Claire and me in this hospital room.

An awkward atmosphere envelops us instantly.

Claire lowers her head, not even showing her eyes.

‘Sigh. She should just scold me like usual.’

This makes me slightly tense, as if something might happen.

‘No way. After all, there were no dead flags during visits before.’

To be precise, I’ve never experienced a dead flag at this exact moment; still, there’s no way I’d make such a foolish choice while keeping my sanity intact.

I calmly asked Claire,

“If you came to give a gift, why not just leave it here? You must be wasting your time being here too.”

The symposium’s top gifts were common among nobles and their entire families alike. I thought it would be fine to bring it up first and conclude our conversation that way.

However, things unfolded differently than I expected.

▶The choices are disappearing.◀

‘…Huh?’

Why are the choices disappearing?

As I was lost in that question, Claire suddenly lifted her head.

– Bang!

She strode over and delivered a playful smack to my head.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“What? Just going to give me a gift and leave? Is time too precious for you? Take this!”

No way. Has this woman lost her mind?

Out of nowhere, she puts me in a headlock.

“What’s wrong with you? I came looking for you because I was worried, and that’s all you can say?”

“Gah! This crazy girl is really relentless!”

“Crazy girl? Crazy girrrrrl? You deserve even more! This isn’t good!”

“No, hey! Claire! I’m the patient…! Ugh!”

As I continued to take hits from Claire,

a system message appeared before my eyes.

‘Is this the clear condition?’

▶CHAPTER 3 – Episode I. You have cleared the family visit quest.◀

▶You have met all members of the Duke Bagland family.◀

[ Isabella Bagrand 1/1 ]

[ Arina Bagrand 1/1 ]

[ Claire Bagrand 1/1 ]

[ Flora Bagrand 1/1 ]

▶ Hidden Episode. The small commotion in the hospital room has been cleared. ◀

▶ Additional rewards will follow. ◀

[ ??? ]

Damn it. Flora too, but what’s with today’s luck?

I can’t make any sense of it at all.

But…

There was something different about Claire now.

That much I could tell.

***

Another day passed in the hospital room, welcoming guests as usual.

Today began just like yesterday, without a hint of change.

In the morning, the family physician from the Duke’s household, Shayden, came to examine Carsein.

Watching him intently, Harni swallowed hard and recalled Mina’s words.

– Miss. When your injured fiancé is fully healed and comes out, shouldn’t you surprise him with a gift?! That way, the emotion will be doubled!

Having no idea what kind of gift to give Carsein—who had already accumulated so much debt—she sought advice from Mina. Mina seized this opportunity to insist that she must repay him properly.

She emphasized that anything resembling an old-fashioned gift would never do; only a “real gift” could truly settle that debt.

Harnie was naturally taken aback when she discovered the true nature of the gift.

– H-how could you possibly give something like that…!

– No, it’s only natural for an engaged couple! Anyway, during the hospital visit, make sure to stick close. You absolutely have to do that!

How on earth could one even give such a thing?

Her face still burned with embarrassment.

At that moment, after finishing his examination, Shaiden declared that it was now alright for her to resume her activities.

“Hmm. I think you can start being active again.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, your wounds have healed much faster than expected. It might be due to the well-maintained condition of your body.”

“That’s what they say. So I’m fine now?”

Though she felt it was somewhat premature given her unresolved feelings about how to present that gift, there was no turning back now.

Suppressing her flush of heat, Harnie spoke up towards Karsein.

“Um, Karsein.”

“Yes?”

“Please read this.”

Slowly but surely, that time was approaching.

“I’ve already received my grades… Hmm? All symposium attendees are required to participate?”