The Damn Family Is Back Again

259. The Huanglong Martial Arts Tournament (7)

“Phew.”

The two matches, conducted with archery, had concluded.

I took a light breath and glanced at the status window.

– Ding!

▶ The archery events have concluded. ◀

▶ Scores have been recorded according to the rankings. ◀

[ Martial Arts Tournament Score: 585 points ]

‘…It seems a bit lacking after all.’

It’s not a terrible score, but it’s insufficient. Typically, at this point in the game, I would have surpassed 600 points.

While the Huanglong Martial Arts Tournament serves as the main episode in Chapter 3, if I only want to avoid the dead trigger, it’s bound to be a somewhat disappointing choice.

Unlike intimacy, which improves relationships by raising individual character scores, Noblesse Points reflect one’s reputation within noble society.

Thus, raising this point will increase business opportunities and lead to favorable contract proposals from Karsein, influencing the Another Plan. Conveniently, this episode provides an opportunity to raise Karsein’s Noblesse Points.

In other words, even if the Huanglong Martial Arts Tournament doesn’t seem significant, it offers a chance to accelerate the Another Plan, making it wise not to miss out.

Well… the game’s background is like that too. If a symposium evaluates the abilities of civil officials, then the capabilities of military officials must be assessed through such martial arts tournaments.

It’s a perfect condition for showcasing a family’s heir who possesses both martial and civil skills, leading to an increase in Noblesse Points.

‘But why of all things… tsk.’

Well, I can roughly guess the reason for the low score.

The insufficient score matches the value of the three arrows that went astray at the beginning.

Unlike the conditions in the game, the concentration of mana had fluctuated significantly, and the chaotic currents shattered the formula for the retry technique I was familiar with.

That’s why all three arrows missed their mark.

I recalculated and adjusted my plans to find a way to reach the target.

At this point, there’s only one person who can reduce such variables.

“Doesn’t seem like the one who scored the highest from the very first event looks particularly happy, does he?”

The silver-haired, golden-eyed man who just handed me the winner’s bouquet was not much different from Arshien or Florence.

Albert Schhenian Peselros.

The Crown Prince of the Empire.

“So, what do you want?”

“Excuse me?”

“You know it’s a tradition for the winner of the archery event to request a prize, right?”

Uh… was there such a thing?

“How ridiculous. You scored the highest without even knowing that.”

Seeing me flustered, Albert let out a resigned laugh.

“Anyway, you just need to choose something reasonable to request, right?”

“Sure. We need to wrap this up, so go ahead and speak.”

– Dding!

▶ You can demand one reward from the Crown Prince. ◀

‘Yeah. This is obviously a trap.’

It was a message I had never seen before, but I could tell at a glance.

With the justification of tradition and the fact that winning wasn’t exactly easy, one might think it was a reward I was entitled to. But this game is not that simple.

If I were to ask for something excessive for the sake of the Another Plan, it would likely come back to bite me even harder.

Well. Then I should keep this straightforward.

There’s a perfect excuse for it in the audience.

*

For Harnié, the archery competition didn’t leave her with particularly fond memories.

Everything had started from that day.

Suddenly, the winner approached me instead of Lady Helly.

This was the place where rumors spread that I had stolen the man from Lady Helly, with whom I had been close.

Having been dubbed a vixen who steals men in high society, Harnié had planned to simply occupy her seat.

She wanted to cheer for her fiancé, Karsein, but it seemed that was impossible.

However.

When the time came, she couldn’t just sit idly by.

She couldn’t take her eyes off Karsein, who was shooting arrow after arrow.

Even though she was holding the bow she despised so much, her mind was completely blank.

Before long, Karsein’s final arrow struck, and the match came to an end.

With a fervent cheer, the moment the winner was decided arrived.

‘Oh my.’

Was she praying or something?

Harnié’s hands were clasped together. When the match ended, her tightly held hands relaxed, as if the tension had melted away.

Up to this point, she looked like a typical girl cheering for her lover.

But what was more striking was the way her gaze remained fixed on that one man without interruption, and how her lips curled up gently into a smile as the winner was announced.

Hmm. This is love.

Mina, who had been watching all along, asked with cat-like eyes, “Young Master, you shoot so well, don’t you?”

“Ugh, huh? Uhm.”

“Hey. What kind of reaction is that, miss? Are you really cheering for the young master?”

“Of course I am!”

Harnie shouted back, as if taken aback by the question.

“I was worried it might miss, so I kept watching. I don’t know much about bows, but…”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

In the past, whenever there was an archery competition, she would often find herself gazing with a blurred focus, saying she needed to take a break or attend to some business.

Now, being able to concentrate like this must be thanks to the budding feelings within her.

So, Mina decided to nurture this new sprout a little more.

“Isn’t it because of the token you gave me?”

“What, what do you mean?”

“They say that people who hold bows do better when they have a token from their loved ones, as if their cheering spirit helps them hit the target more accurately.”

“Th-that’s…”

Watching Harnie’s face turn a rosy hue made the observer feel a ticklish sensation all over.

“Later, tell the young master congratulations when you see him. Make sure to mention this too!”

Though it was a form of a schoolgirl crush, which was a bit disappointing, there would surely come a time when the stunningly beautiful Harnie would make an impression.

Little by little. Just like melting that chocolate in her mouth.

Harnie’s budding affection needed to reach Karsein and melt him.

“Okay. Got it.”

Harnie stood up with a pretty smile.

Just then, the award ceremony was taking place.

It was a tradition in archery to grant a small wish requested by the winner, so this must have been in progress.

However, there was one peculiar point: Karsein was coming this way.

Harnie, who had been heading towards Karsein after the award, hesitated in surprise. In that moment, Karsein arrived right in front of her.

It was a scene where it wouldn’t be strange to cover one’s mouth in shock.

“I dedicate the glory of victory to my fiancée.”

A moment of silence flowed.

And then, a cheer erupted all at once.

─Kyaaa!

The man kneeling on one knee, dedicating his victory to his fiancée, was like a bombardier bursting open the hearts of women.

—

Seeing it with my own eyes, there was no need for further words.

‘…Our young lady has melted away?’

A figure that no longer felt the traumas of the past.

Instead of melting into Karsein’s heart, it was Harnié who was melting away.

*

Indeed, I could have made one request of the crown prince, but it was the right choice to let it go.

-Ding!

▶ The request value is low, so the nobility points have not decreased. ◀

▶ The competition continues. ◀

Since it was the first match anyway. With a long way still to go, if I had jumped the gun and tried to get something, it probably would have led to a bad ending.

Anyway.

After avoiding the dead flag, I moved on to the next match.

[ Martial Arts Tournament Score: 1228 points ]

By adding a few extra events, I was able to make up for the lacking points.

‘The confirmed score threshold for the second day was 1200 points, so it doesn’t seem like there are any other issues.’

Considering the duration of the martial arts tournament, there was still about a day left, but that was a trap.

On the third day, there were too many events that Karsein could not participate in, so I had to resolve everything as much as possible on the second day. If I couldn’t accumulate enough points here, I would automatically face the result of not being selected on the final day.

So I accumulated as many points as I could on the second day.

Anyway, this is the end.

I wouldn’t participate on the third day, and no dangerous events had come up.

Once the highlight of the arena was over on the last day, the martial arts tournament would be finished.

“Ah, I got lost in thought.”

I had been organizing my thoughts, but I was here to buy snacks for my fiancée, who was resting.

Hastily purchasing crepes and drinks nearby, I quickly returned to Harnié.

Harnié was sitting quietly on the bench.

“I’m sorry. I took a long time, didn’t I?”

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t wait that long.”

Is that so? I’m relieved to hear it didn’t take long.

“Um, when did you practice with the bow?”

“Oh, that. Radiel helped me a bit. And Talphon too.”

—

“Is, is that so?”

…Somehow, I felt a slight sense of fluster.

It must be just my imagination. More importantly, I need to tell her about tomorrow’s schedule.

“Harnié. How about a quick walk—”

-Crunch.

Huh?

This is mine, isn’t it?

“Um. This, this one is delicious too!”

“…?”

What’s going on? Why is she leaving her own and taking mine?

I looked at Harnié with that kind of gaze.

“T-the taste is different, you see. I just wanted to try this one too…”

“…”

Right. Well, I guess that makes sense.

But I bought this with my own money.

This won’t do.

I need to get my revenge too.

-Scurry.

“E…?”

“I wanted to try what you’re drinking too. Mmm. It’s delicious.”

Since Harnié took my drink, I’ll take hers in return.

She made an excuse about wanting to taste something different, so I’ll use the same excuse to sip her drink.

This is legal. Mmm. No problem at all!

…But somehow, Harnié’s expression changed.

“Uh… What’s wrong…?”

“How could, how could this happen…!”

“Ah, no! You took mine first! So I just took yours in the same way…”

“You…!”

Uh… I feel like a spike is about to come flying at my back?

What’s the problem? No, this is legal! I took hers just like she took mine!

– Crack!

“How is this, how is it exactly the same!”

“Ugh!”

And just like that, I experienced a flurry of spikes after quite some time.

As for what happened next… it was all too predictable.

“Don’t say anything.”

“Uh, but I feel wronged…”

“I said don’t say anything!”

The conversation couldn’t progress any further.

However, it felt a bit different from the usual times I had done something wrong.

Harnie would occasionally cast silent glances my way, then abruptly turn her head away. The peculiar thing was that she hadn’t touched the drink she had been enjoying just moments ago…

It seemed I had been let off the hook for now, but still, wondering if there was another issue, I quietly walked alongside her on the path.

*

After the second day of the tournament, the festival atmosphere erupted.

For those who had disappointing results, there were words of comfort and encouragement for tomorrow.

For those who had satisfactory results, there were congratulations.

The streets buzzed with talk of the martial arts tournament.

Yet, Arina walked alone through the city, her fists clenched tightly.

– By the way… my feet aren’t exactly the widest, so could you perhaps connect me to Lord Karsein?

Even now, I couldn’t forget the words Count Stern had said after the archery event.

He had rejected my proposal.

And asked to be connected to Karsein.

It was something one could request to be connected to another family, but strangely, Arina felt a surge of irritation.

“Ugh. No, I should just focus on preparing for tomorrow.”

Just as I was about to promise myself that for the next day.

A conversation from a nearby balcony pierced my ears.

“Isn’t it truly amazing? Such a trajectory!”

“If someone can optimize their equipment like that… perhaps they have enough qualities to be a successor.”

“Hm. I actually think they’re more suited to be the successor of Vagrant.”

“To be honest, wasn’t the gap too wide? I shouldn’t say this, but… the one who seems more fitting as a successor is… hmm.”

“Looking at that nonsensical upward curve, it’s understandable to think that way.”

“Haha. But there is such a thing as legitimacy, right?”

“Of course. You can’t just ignore that.”

The conversation ended there, but…

Those people were all vassals of the Duke of Bagland, who had been summoned every time the topic of succession came up.

Before I knew it, Arina had entered an alley, her fists trembling with rage.

– Dding!

▶ Arina’s intimacy has decreased. ◀

[ Current Level: 20% ]