The Damn Family Is Back Again

13 – 13. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony (3)

“Just pretend to be asleep and leave. That way, you can avoid Claire’s suspicion.”

“What? B-But…”

“I’m sorry, but I find you very uncomfortable. Don’t make me say it twice.”

You probably know best why it’s uncomfortable.

You probably know which option is best to avoid Claire’s suspicion.

You probably know that even this measure may disappear if you do anything else foolish.

After that, Camilla stopped responding.

“I could wash a towel or two besides this rag… Would that be alright?”

– Ting!

[1. Honestly, I want to wipe that rag on your mouth.]

[2. If you’re going to make it uncomfortable, should I just leave?]

[3. Do as you wish.]

[4. Take a break and work. I’ve heard about your circumstances.]

The last option appeared.

Once you choose that, the branching of Episode III will be decided soon.

However, even in the game, the sentence that made me uncomfortable stands out.

There was a time when I said such things as well, as part of my training.

How can you show such tolerance to a woman who tormented you? So, I don’t want to choose that one.

“Well, if you really want to, go ahead.”

After that, Camilla silently washed the only piece of cloth in the bathroom. It took quite a while, but one could say she was quick-witted.

She was pretending to work, simultaneously following the command not to disturb the time.

When I saw her expression as she took away the dishes after finishing a simple meal, it seemed like her anxiety had diminished somewhat.

***

The status window remained silent after that, only reappearing after Camilla left my room.

▶CHAPTER 1 – Episode III branching is designated!◀

▶Episode III. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony is in progress!◀

▶Meet Claire and have a conversation!◀

“Finally, it’s here.”

It’s much better to proceed directly with the main episode rather than going through other branches. This was the perfect timing.

Now that I’ve taken the desired route, it’s time to think about the events in the main episode.

In this game, affinity holds a significant weight.

If the system’s perception, which reflects the enemy’s hostility level towards Karsein, changes the choices, affinity narrows down the range and greatly influences the choices of a single target.

So, if you can raise it, it’s always better to do so. Especially if you have a significant influence within the aristocracy.

And the opportunity has come. Since I’ve chosen the route without a maid, it was a chance to raise Claire’s affinity.

But I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

While I have the goal of raising affinity, there are also complex situations overlapping with turning off the dead triggers.

If I have to choose between the two, I should boldly give up on affinity and turn off the dead triggers.

Dressed in carefully selected clothes, I left the room.

“Let’s see… Claire was in the second-floor bookstore last time, right? I should go straight there.”

But the status window displayed a message as if to say otherwise.

▶Claire is currently in the kitchen!◀

▶Go to the kitchen to meet Claire.◀

“Huh? She’s in the kitchen?”

Why are you there? According to the story, usually you would be reading something in a bookstore.

…But the progress bar doesn’t lie about things like this.

-Ding!

▶Claire is currently in the kitchen!◀

▶Go to the kitchen and meet Claire.◀

As I tried to move in the opposite direction, a warning immediately appeared.

I’m not sure why, but it seems that finding Claire and meeting her is not much different.

As instructed, I turned my steps towards the kitchen, which was the opposite direction.

Before long, just as the status bar had said, I saw Claire’s pink hair. She was watching something intently in the kitchen.

-Ding!

[1. What are you doing here?]

[2. If you stare like that, won’t the kitchen staff get nervous and not work properly?]

[3. Why are you coming to the kitchen to eat so much? Are you a pig? Well, pigs are pink too.]

“This is insane. Even if you give me options, why would you give me something like this.”

I don’t know about the others, but option 3 seems like a road to the underworld. Option 2 seems like I’ll get hit hard.

I thought maybe something better would come up because of the 2% intimacy score, but it doesn’t seem to be much different. Is 2% too insignificant?

I sighed deeply and chose option 1 in my mind.

“What are you doing here?”

“K-Karsen?”

Claire turned around in surprise.

What’s the matter?

I just asked what you were doing. Why are you so surprised?

“Why did you come here of all places?”

“Well, you see. I dropped this dish when I had a cold. I found it while cleaning.”

“Huh. You should have asked a maid to do it. Why did you bring it yourself?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because of something someone said?”

“Hey.”

It’s because of what you said.

Claire, as if her mouth had turned sour, gulped down a bowl of water.

“Ah… seriously. Forget about it and don’t bring it up to the maids anymore. And…”

-Swish.

“It’s honey water. I saw everything when I made it, so you can drink it without worry.”

Claire extended the cup that was in front of her towards me.

“What’s this? Are you giving it to me to drink?”

I wondered why she was in the kitchen instead of the bookstore… Was it because of this?

-Ding!

▶Claire offers you honey water. How will you respond?◀

[1. (Take the cup) Thank you. I’ll drink it well.]

[2. (Spill the cup upside down on the floor) What’s the point of giving it to me now?]

[3. Don’t worry. I’m all better now.]

It’s unbelievable.

Judging by the appearance of the choices, it seems to be true.

“What on earth could have caused such a mess?”

I can guess the answer. If we had met at the bookstore, I would have just handed her a book that would help with her cold recovery, and our intimacy would have increased a little.

In a similar scene, I have to receive Claire’s kindness here. If I choose option 2 while stubbornly asserting my pride, our intimacy would only decrease for no reason, and option 3 would be a disappointing choice, missing the chance that came out of the blue.

“Shall we drink quickly before the meal?”

But I prioritize managing the Dead Trigger over our current intimacy. So I have something smart to say.

[ 3. Don’t worry. I’m all better now. ]

“Don’t worry. I’ve fully recovered from the cold. But you know, the more you act like this, the more difficult it becomes for me.”

“Why are you talking about drinking when I told you not to bother Camilla?”

Claire’s eyes, which were filled with anger just a moment ago, suddenly cooled down.

“What are you talking about? Karceine. You’re the victim, but you’re telling me not to suspect the suspect?”

“You’re right, I am a suspect. I’m the person suspected of the crime, not the criminal.”

“Don’t say such absurd things! It’s blatantly obvious that she’s the most likely suspect!”

She’s right.

Of course, I also think so.

Being in the position of the exclusive maid is the best place to torment Karceine.

But I said it again.

“Once again, I’m telling you that the suspect is not the criminal. It’s just a person who is being suspected.”

“Could it be, are you helping that woman, Camilla? Have you lost your mind?”

Of course. If she dies because of you, I will die too.

Turning off my dead trigger is more important than that sweet water. Even if I have to sacrifice a part of our intimacy.

“The Ligomos leaf extract. The Ligomos sap. They were stimulants and awakeners that went into my dessert. Do you remember?”

“You said it right on time! Even if other maids used water from the food, the bathroom, or the kettle, this is evidence that can identify the culprit!”

“No, it’s the opposite. It actually gives us a reason to believe it’s not the culprit.”

“What?”

“How can a mere maid, especially one with restricted actions, acquire such items alone? And how did she not get caught?”

Clare’s sharp gaze softened at that question.

“Shayden wouldn’t make a false judgment. But we can’t be sure it’s Camilla. There must be someone else who obtained it.”

“Do you know who the culprit is? Who is it?”

“I don’t know either. But how many people in the aristocracy dislike me?”

“…!!”

Clare fell silent again.

Yes. There’s no need to count them one by one.

It would be faster to find someone showing kindness.

This will nail it.

“And the reason I’m confident that Camilla is not the culprit is not just that.”

“What else is there?”

“Camilla was actually diligent and had a good reputation among the maids. But she had a big problem hidden within her.”

“…The story about struggling with the cost of medicine for your sick mother?”

“That’s right.”

Honestly, I don’t know much about Camilla’s mother. Information was given in other branches, but I had to follow those branches to get specific details, and I couldn’t afford to do that when my goal was survival.

The cost of medicine for a sick mother.

I’ve gained another piece of information.

I think I can wrap it up with this.

“That maid who was locked up in solitary confinement because of suspicion towards me managed to get released and came back as my personal maid. But if you put so much pressure on her, even the remaining maids will disappear. If that happens, today’s normal meal could turn back into a meal with salt.”

Camilla brought a normal meal today. If Camilla was the culprit as you say, why wasn’t the food seasoned with salt today?

As if asking for an explanation, Claire remained silent for a while, seemingly shocked.

She probably didn’t realize that her actions to designate and capture the culprit were actually cornering Carseine.

Although it was a lie, I seemed to have deceived her well.

“Claire.”

I called her name, urging for a response, and Claire shouted in frustration, her face scrunched up.

“Fine, I get it! You don’t have to say anything!”

“I’ll say it again, the possibility of Camilla being the mastermind is low.”

“I got it! So just leave already, you idiot!”

I was familiar with the reactions of people with such hot-tempered personalities. If there hadn’t been enough buildup, they would have quickly slapped me and told me to stop talking nonsense.

But now, they were listening attentively to my words.

Therefore, it was my turn to listen to what I wanted. Give and take was the best approach when dealing with such personalities.

-Horok.

As Claire suggested, I did drink the honey water, but since I chose Option 3, the intimacy level wouldn’t increase. Still, I think this exchange went fairly well.

[ A sip of warm honey water revitalizes your energy. ]

[ Some of your abnormal conditions have recovered. ]

While the status window showed the effects of the honey water, Claire’s slightly displeased expression softened.

“Hey, did you finish it all?”

“What?”

“It’s my coming-of-age ceremony. Don’t just drink a little and use being sick as an excuse not to come.”

Ah, so that’s what she meant.

Since I had turned off the urgent alarm, I was trying to come up with a way to avoid going to that ceremony.

“Damn it. I shouldn’t have eaten it.”

I know better than anyone that it’s already too late to regret it while cursing inwardly. This game is all about accepting the consequences.

Claire gave a sarcastic remark in an annoyed voice and left the kitchen without saying anything else.

Just as her pink hair moved out of my sight.

Ding! The status window unfolded.

“Huh?”

I doubted my eyes for a moment. I definitely chose Option 3, right?

“Tsk!”

Claire, who was looking to the right as she went outside, clicked her tongue and turned her head. But I couldn’t see what was over there.

Under the automatically displayed status window, there was a sentence stating that it produced results beyond the choices.

The reward wasn’t given properly yet because I hadn’t cleared the episode…

▶I received Claire’s favor.◀

▶I succeeded in bringing about results beyond the choices.◀

▶Intimacy is increasing!◀

[ Claire Bagram ]

[ ▣□□□□□□□□□ ]

[ Intimacy Level: 5% ]

“I didn’t expect both of these to happen.”

The intimacy that I was about to give up by turning off the dead trigger had increased.

“Well, I guess I was just lucky to solve it well. Or maybe I handled it well because of a similar experience? Ah, maybe it’s because I received honey water.”

There are many speculations. But I don’t really know what the right answer is. I’ve never experienced this kind of situation even in games.

“But still, if I caught two birds with one stone, it’s a gain.”

Claire’s footsteps grew distant.

But because I was focused on the status window, I didn’t realize that the footsteps were actually two.