The Damn Family Is Back Again

257. The Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (5)

“…Ha. You say you don’t need it.”

Arina let out a scoff at the absurd response.

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

Well, of course.

Even I think it’s insane.

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

In this tournament, supplementing and checking equipment is not optional; it’s essential.

However, it’s impossible for a participant to gather all the necessary equipment alone. The right answer is to receive support from various sponsors and test them out.

That means it’s quite disadvantageous for someone like me, who is a mere baron.

Just looking at what’s inside shows that there are a considerable number of high-quality items available. If they’re offered for free, it would be an incredible benefit. In fact, some items that seem genuinely helpful flash briefly in the item text window.

At the same time, I had also cut off the conversation and rejected it.

Most of the constraints Karsein has are due to Arina, who took away those rights.

To say that she would return all of it makes my refusal seem utterly insane.

No matter how you think about it logically, accepting it would be the normal thing to do.

But.

“According to someone, I’m not qualified.”

I don’t want to. Just the thought of receiving help from you.

“Stop being stubborn and just choose what you need. Among these high-quality items, I’ll carefully select the sponsors that are optimized for you.”

“Why? Are you worried that my tournament results will tarnish the family name? So you want me to at least meet the minimum standards with those items? If that’s the case, then I need it even less.”

Thud!

I swung my fist at the box, sending it crashing off the table.

“I think I mentioned it during the symposium. You won’t know the length until you measure it.”

—

The overturned box lay smashed on the floor, and the carefully prepared items spilled out like the contents of a toppled trash can.

“Ha. So you’re going to act arrogant until the very end, huh? No, perhaps it’s I who am foolish for showing you any kindness.”

Arina’s vividly colored blue eyes began to blaze.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t bring this for the sake of improving your tournament results.”

“Then why are you here?”

“The reason I brought this is that my mother ordered me to help you lighten your mood. So.”

—Crack!

Under Arina’s foot, which stomped down on the box, the equipment was crushed like toys.

“If your arrogance leads to tarnishing the family name, if you fail to live up to my mother’s expectations and fall disgracefully, the price you pay will be quite painful, Karsein.”

Without looking back, Arina strode out.

“Ugh. Wow, how is it that things overlap like this?”

Hearing that, a hollow laugh escaped me.

This was a kind of warning.

It was a warning thrown with the meaning of, let’s see how well you do without proper equipment, stubborn as you are.

I can guarantee that if this leads to options opening up, excuses about equipment or events won’t hold any weight.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say another invisible constraint has been placed.

Well, that’s fine.

It’s just one more reason to aim for a higher rank in this tournament.

Having ordered the attendants to clean up the mess, I chose the room right next door and entered.

And there.

I discovered a brightly shining object.

“…This was, if I recall, the waiting room where Karsein stayed last year.”

No wonder it felt similar to the background of the map I had seen in the game.

The placement of the items and the objects felt oddly familiar.

“It’s a fitting place for a memorial to appear.”

This memorial likely holds the records of last year’s martial arts tournament. That said, I didn’t know what kind of content would come out.

For now, I should take a look.

I reached out and picked up the memorial.

—Ding!

▶You have obtained the Memorial of the Hollowed Bowstring.◀

*

-Click, click.

“…”

Arina abruptly halted her steps, sharply raising her gaze as she turned her body toward the direction of Karsein’s room.

“…How arrogant.”

She gritted her teeth, muttering toward Karsein.

In her own way, she had brought these things with Karsein in mind.

Yet, seeing him lost in his own abilities, ignoring her efforts entirely, was enough to leave her utterly exasperated.

“Hmph. But that arrogance won’t last long.”

If he had been working on his equipment and improving the inconveniences, that waiting room would have been filled with the weapons he had tested. At this hour, all participants were busy strategizing.

However, Karsein’s waiting room was starkly empty.

Perhaps the sponsor lacked the capability to produce the necessary items within the timeframe.

Or maybe the participants were floundering, unable to decide how to respond in certain events.

Sometimes, issues arise from a rift between the participants and the sponsors.

For an extreme participant like Karsein, the very notion of having designated a sponsor might be a lie.

The reason didn’t matter at all.

“Last year, and this year too. It was you who trampled on the golden opportunity I gave you, Karsein.”

-Click, click.

The sound of Arina’s heels echoed once more in the hallway.

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

With pink hair flowing, she filled the corridor that Arina had just passed.

The figure revealed herself and murmured in a hollow voice.

“Didn’t… you receive that?”

Why?

A strange sense of discomfort began to resurface.

-Ding!

[ Claire Bagrand ]

[ 92% ]

*

– Ping!

—

Most people who have used a bow would know that the bowstring is quite sharp.

If handled carelessly, it’s not uncommon to see one’s hands get cut and wounded.

In other words, to shoot an arrow, one must pull back this string, so it’s typical to wear protective gear to avoid injuring the fingers.

However, Karsein’s was broken as usual.

-Twang!

As Karsein pulled the bowstring, his fingers began to stain red.

Yet, as if he felt no concern, he reached for the next arrow.

-Twang!

The sharp string pressed and engraved deep marks several times.

He was slowly reaching the limit of what his flesh could endure.

If he pulled the bowstring just once more, his fingers would ultimately give in and be wounded.

Still, the bowstring was drawn back.

-Twang!

The sharp string sliced through his skin.

A trickle of blood oozed out, forming droplets.

At this point, it was enough to cause considerable pain.

He could have flinched and stepped back from the stinging ache.

However.

Karsein’s bowstring continued to be stained with the red liquid as it was pulled back.

-Twang!

-Twang!

-Twang!

There was no pain.

Even as blood splattered out, he felt no discomfort.

The boy’s eyes, devoid of any emotion as if nothing had happened,

were already dead from another kind of suffering.

As the archery event came to an end, Karsein’s thumb and index finger were soaked in blood.

Seeing this, Isabella approached with a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.

“How could this happen… didn’t Arina give you a finger guard?”

“…”

—

The boy did not answer.

Maintaining his silence, he simply withdrew his fingers.

In front of such a boy, his eldest sister stood in the way.

“I’m sure I told you firmly to clasp your hands. Are you trying to draw Mother’s attention with this nonsense?”

“…”

After a few more questions poured out, Karsein remained silent until the end.

Thus, the next match began.

Even when the next match started.

He wore nothing at all.

Under the clear sky.

The enthusiasm of the noble youths eager to showcase their skills surged.

Yet, for one man, there was no passion.

He possessed nothing, and could grasp nothing.

There was no warmth at all.

Just in a state of dryness.

With a face that showed no interest whatsoever.

He merely went through the motions of this tournament in silence.

Then, ultimately, in the most important final event, he simply dropped his sword. Even though he was in a position to defeat his opponent.

The result was a forfeit.

Thus, Karsein Bagrand’s martial arts tournament had come to an end.

▶ The Memorial of the Hollowed Bowstring has concluded. ◀

“…”

As expected, this memorial contained the story of last year’s martial arts tournament.

On the surface, one might wonder if there was anything to gain from it.

No, beyond that, there would be more who questioned why he was acting like that.

What was he doing with the bowstring he had painstakingly obtained, selling it off and staining his hands with blood?

Isabella had pressed Arina on why he did that, deepening the misunderstanding, yet he remained silent.

Even when he was in a position to win against his opponent, he just dropped his sword.

There were many actions that seemed perplexing.

But, I could understand.

“…How is it that I look exactly the same as I did in my second year?”

Because I could see my resigned self in that kid’s appearance.

He didn’t say a word.

He didn’t show any expression during the match, nor did he commit any special actions.

So I understood.

First, he had thrown away the bow he had made a hole in with his own hands to avoid using it.

What meaning would there be in using something like that? It wasn’t his. If I just left it there and it ended up in that little brat’s hands, it was obvious I’d be blamed for it. Breaking it myself and tossing it away was the best choice.

Second, he remained silent even though the misunderstanding deepened because he knew it meant nothing.

Would anyone listen if he tried to clarify that it wasn’t meant that way? Of course not. It was better to keep quiet and move on quickly.

Lastly, he had given up even though he could have performed better in the match because he couldn’t find a reason to continue.

What good would it do to impress these families? The most foolish thing was to act in a way that would please them.

Yeah. I don’t expect anything.

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

I realized that trying to impress these families held no meaning.

In short.

I had given up. Just like I did back then.

I found that thought oddly pleasing, and I chuckled softly.

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

The world is just about standing alone.

There’s never anyone to support or believe in you from the start.

That’s the only law of the world I know.

– Pwooow.

Is that the sound of a horn signaling the next match?

Looks like it’s about to start.

– Thud.

I tossed the bow, which would never be found, into the trash can and left the waiting room to head to the arena.

Thus, the bow is buried in the darkness of the trash can.

It will be destined to be incinerated as garbage, trapped in the stillness of the past waiting room.

But.

That fate was just about to be shattered.

-Click.

“Didn’t Karsein not use the bowstring last year?”

Her pink hair flowed down smoothly.

*

“Ouch.”

Harnie bit her finger that had just been pricked by the needle.

“Ugh… it’s difficult.”

She wasn’t used to it at all.

Embroidery, that is.

Though embroidery is considered a refinement akin to the education of young ladies, she had never once laid her hands on it.

And rightly so, for merely creating this could lead to misunderstandings that one might be enchanting someone. What good would it do to create a rash?

In any case, that meant Harnie had been struggling ever since she picked up the needle and thread.

Realizing the length was too short, she undid what she had barely threaded a few times.

The handkerchief got tangled in the thread, or the shape was ruined, forcing her to start over.

Accidentally pricking her finger, blood welled up through the round hole.

Nothing came easily, one by one.

Still, she applied medicine and stuck on a bandage, grasping the thread and needle once more.

-Swish.

Though it may not have been the case last year, this year she had someone to cheer for in this competition.