How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Replace Your Dad

Chapter 1

Hidden in the vines, I held my breath.

‘They’re coming. Here they come.’

After waiting for a long time, the group I’d been waiting for was finally approaching.

With their faces completely hidden by hoods, they made no sound even on this rugged mountain.

Of course, they were the famous assassination group ‘Irregulars.’

The lives that had fallen by their hands were countless.

Knights called the strongest.

Mages well-versed in ancient magic.

Even those with absolute power.

The reason I, a mere kitchen scraps girl and a child, was waiting for them was one thing.

‘I’ll catch them.’

Steeling my resolve, I opened my eyes wide.

“Aaaaah─!”

A scream-like battle cry burst out involuntarily from the fear that made my whole body tremble.

And jumping out from the pile of vines toward the man in front…!

“Dad─!”

I clung to him with a thud.

“What did you say?”

“Dad?!”

The Irregulars members following the man looked shocked.

Even those who had drawn their weapons as soon as they heard my scream looked dumbfounded.

Especially the man whose leg I had grabbed…

“…What are you.”

It felt like a chilling intimidation was strangling my entire body.

To make someone want to faint with just their voice.

Truly the leader of the continent’s greatest assassination group.

Though my whole body was trembling, I stuck to the man’s leg like a leech.

“…I will serve you as my lord.”

“….”

“Please raise me.”

The Irregulars members looked at me like I was insane.

I thought I was crazy too, so how much more so for them.

‘But this man is my only way to survive.’

I am Yustea Andres.

A 15-year-old who had possessed into a game.

* * *

My life wasn’t so desperate from the start that I had to cling to an assassination group leader.

My parents were united through a political marriage.

Father was a marquis leading a prestigious family.

Mother was the head of a large merchant guild.

Father needed funding, and Mother needed backing.

‘My parents got along well at first.’

At least enough to have me.

‘Though it wasn’t overflowing with affection.’

Since it was Father’s second marriage, I had a half-brother.

My half-brother showed no affection to us mother and daughter.

Father was also so strict that just seeing his shadow made me shrink.

But I was fine because I had Mother who loved me endlessly.

This balance was broken a few years ago.

‘When Father’s first love appeared.’

He said he only learned what true love was after divorcing my half-brother’s mother.

But they had separated due to my late grandfather’s opposition.

Because that first love was a maid.

But his first love had been raising Father’s child.

Father, who met his first love by chance, even learned of his daughter’s existence.

‘That’s how he brought that daughter to the mansion.’

The cracks started from there.

Father was endlessly strict with me and my half-brother.

But not with the maid’s daughter.

He felt very sorry for her having grown up on the streets.

The maid’s daughter was naturally bright and full of charm, easily breaking down walls.

Not just Father’s walls, but even my half-brother’s.

‘That’s when it became painful.’

The maid’s daughter was even lucky.

She easily made friends with great noble children who had never given me a glance despite my efforts.

She even received love from the First Prince, who had been my long-time crush.

Thanks to that, even the retainers fawned over her.

While frequently comparing her to me.

‘Mother was heartbroken by that.’

She fought with Father every day.

Don’t discriminate between me and that child.

Make the retainers restrain themselves.

But nothing changed.

‘But the most painful thing happened after that.’

The maid’s daughter ate something wrong and was on the verge of death.

Not only Father and my half-brother, but even her great friends frantically searched for the cause.

And what was identified as the cause was me.

“Poisonous herbs were found in Yustea’s room. The same poisonous herbs that poisoned Stella.”

“How dare you…”

Mother tried to protect me, but it wasn’t enough.

Everyone who loved the maid’s daughter united and even took away Mother’s merchant guild.

It was to strip Mother of her voice.

And we mother and daughter were driven out just like that.

Mother, already shocked, worked hard to raise me.

Then she collapsed and lost consciousness, still unable to recover.

‘I really struggled after that.’

While nursing Mother, I did every job imaginable to survive.

I, who had been a noble young lady, washed dishes at restaurants and even carried fish at the market.

But life didn’t improve.

‘Meanwhile, that damn father even brought his first love into the mansion.’

It was infuriating even thinking about it now.

But all I could do when barely making ends meet was work.

I even helped catch tuna at the harbor.

While working like that, I almost died falling into the sea.

‘But in that moment when I was on the verge of death…’

It came back to me.

The memories of my previous life as a Korean.

And I realized.

‘This world is inside a game!’

The reason the Maid’s Daughter encountered such tremendous fortune and achieved continuous success.

It was because she was the protagonist of this game.

To make matters worse, I recalled the game’s story and learned about the end of my life.

‘Organ storage…’

When the Maid’s Daughter, the game’s protagonist, faced a life-threatening crisis, my role was to provide organs for transplant.

In the game, I personally sell my organs in exchange for restoring Mother’s sight.

‘Organ trafficking is illegal, you know?’

This damn game that only the protagonist knows about.

Of course, I could choose not to sell my organs.

But when the protagonist is in danger, would that damn protagonist’s guard squad (Father, Half-brother, First Prince, noble friends, etc.) just leave me alone?

In the first place, it was Father who found me in the game.

If I don’t sell, they’re the type who would forcibly drag me away.

‘So to protect my organs, I need a savior who will protect me from those bastards.’

Strong individuals who have no connection to the protagonist’s guard squad.

That’s why I chose this assassination group ‘Irregulars’.

This is Inside the Cave.

It was a hideout that the assassination group Irregulars used when working in this area.

Currently, I’m trembling while surrounded by members.

Like a squirrel thrown into a cage of wild beasts.

‘Well, there are not only members but even elite squad members here.’

The elite squad of exactly 7 people including the Clan Leader in Irregulars.

Two of them were present here.

The Clan Leader and that man called Antonio.

‘They say one elite squad member can defeat a hundred soldiers…’

While swallowing dry saliva, Antonio, an elite squad member, approached me closely.

“Are you really not the Clan Leader’s daughter?”

Then other members burst into laughter.

“There’s no way the Clan Leader would do that.”

“You never know. Maybe he played around somewhere and… Ack!”

Antonio, who was chatting with other members while gripping my chin and examining me, screamed.

A coin that had been in the Clan Leader’s hand struck his eye with a sharp crack!

‘Wow…’

How could a coin make such a sound…

He only flicked his fingertip, yet it flew like that.

‘Should I run away now?’

But I soon shook my head like I was having a seizure.

‘The Clan Leader is my only answer.’

The Clan Leader stared at me quietly.

I felt like the blood in my entire body was freezing.

I’ve caught tuna before, but the aura of a real killer who murders people wasn’t something I could handle.

‘Calm down.’

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Of course I’m scared to death.

If I could, I’d want to just faint right now.

But I was someone who had done all sorts of work after being kicked out of Andres.

Besides, my rabbit-like Mother was waiting at home.

I can’t back down.

While thinking such thoughts, the Clan Leader slowly removed his hood.

For a moment, I thought I’d suffocate.

‘What kind of face is…’

It was because of that magnificent appearance that would make even idols or actors hesitate to present their business cards.

Even considering all my memories from when I was Korean, I had never seen such looks.

Jet-black hair.

Red eyes like crystallized fresh blood.

To think there was a man who suited such red eyes to that extent.

Sharp jawline, facial features that God carefully selected and carved, beautiful eyes covered with long eyelashes.

Moreover, his tight chest and broad shoulders revealed above the hood were like a model from some luxury brand.

But there was an ominous intimidating presence that even his beauty couldn’t hide.

The moment our eyes met, I felt like all the blood in my body was draining to the floor.

‘There’s no turning back now. I’ve seen the face of the assassination group’s Clan Leader.’

Someone whose face must not be revealed had shown himself.

In other words, if things went wrong, he could kill me and leave.

The Clan Leader stared intently at me, who had turned pale.

“Who are you─”

“Yustea Andres, 15 years old! The marquis’s daughter who was kicked out of Andres Estate three years ago! The work I’ve done since includes restaurant dishwashing, information disruption, loan sharking at the market, tuna fishing, occasionally assisting herbalists as a helper, etc.! I was kicked out with my sick Mother and now live taking care of Mother, and my residence is renting the Basement of 115, Area A, District 5…!”

“How did you know our location─”

“Seeing last night’s Galego County annihilation incident, I thought Irregulars did it! The only skilled group that could secretly annihilate a county in just one day is Irregulars! Considering the Imperial Army deployment, I judged it would be this mountain! So I was lying in wait here…!”

“You are─”

“Yustea Andres, 15 years old! Three years ago…!”

“I’m not asking about your personal details.”

“Hup.”

Being extremely tense and babbling everything I could, I covered my mouth with both hands.

Then the members burst into laughter.

“Cute.”

“That’s ridiculous. How is that cute? ‘Cute’ is a word you use for people like me.”

“Her head isn’t bad. We could check her skills, couldn’t we.”

“Where’s the time to check skills. We’re pressed for time to shake off the Imperial Army.”

Among the chattering members, the Clan Leader was quiet.

His expression was unreadable, but he definitely didn’t seem to have any intention of accepting me.

“Um, excuse me.”

I carefully raised my hand.

“You don’t need to worry about the Imperial Army…”

Then the Clan Leader furrowed his brow.

“What do you mean.”

“Something happened to the 3rd unit in charge of searching this area.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I made it happen…?”

I rummaged through my bag and pulled out something.

This thing that looked like bracken at first glance was an herb used in this world.

The members who recognized this herb flinched.

“Betiom?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Betiom has tremendous effects on abdominal bloating and constipation caused by foreign substances.

Simply put, it’s a powerful laxative.

“I put a lot of it in the barracks meal yesterday.”

Thunder must be rumbling in their stomachs.

It would be painful for them, but they couldn’t stop the search just because of diarrhea.

Above all, the 3rd unit commander searching this area was someone obsessed with promotion.

He’s the type of scoundrel who would drive soldiers out to the streets even while stuck in the bathroom himself.

My words left the members speechless.

However, there were still some who remained suspicious.

It was the only female member of the Irregulars who had shouted ‘Where’s the cute in that!’

“That’s impossible. How could you have snuck into the military kitchen?”

“Well, I used to work in the military cafeteria…”

“That was in the past. You’re not working there now, so why would the military open the kitchen doors for you?”

“Uh, well, I’m pretty good at cooking, so the commanders still welcome me…”

I quickly pulled out the recommendation letters from high-ranking Imperial Army officials that I carried around for job hunting.

[★★★★★. Honestly, it tastes better than home cooking. -Colonel Dorothy]

[Your cooking skills are amazing. -Colonel Ragoni]

[I suppress my urge to assault my superior with this kid’s cooking. -Brigadier General Muños]

“They always begged me to come back. I felt sorry for them, so I’d often drop by to cook when I had no work.”

“…Just how delicious is it?”

The members looked flabbergasted.

‘Did I do something unnecessary?’

Maybe they had prepared another method for escape.

Oh no. Then I got in the way.

I asked with my spirits completely deflated.

“Should I go detoxify them and come back?”

Then the Clan Leader thought for a moment and said.

“Go observe the Imperial Army’s movements and confirm the truth.”

“Yes.”

The member who received the order disappeared immediately.

He was so fast it was hard to follow with the eyes.

‘I guess I didn’t interfere with their work.’

The Clan Leader got up.

“We rest.”

“What should we do with that kid?”

“She doesn’t seem to have any intention of running away, so leave her be.”

I flinched at those words.

This is my chance.

“Then shall I prepare lunch?”

“Huh?”

“May I take a look at what ingredients we have?”

“The food supplies are over there…”

“Since I might tamper with the food, would you like to watch me?”

“Y-yes, I should.”

Seeing me start moving efficiently, one of the members muttered.

“…What the hell is this crazy situation.”

—And so.

* * *

Aslan, the leader of the Irregulars, quietly watched Yustea.

Yustea started cooking with one member attached to her side.

She skillfully lit a campfire, then stacked stones around it to place a large pot.

After pouring water into the pot, she groaned “Hmm.”

“There are no vegetables.”

Then Antonio from the elite squad, who was stuck to Yustea, said.

“They spoil easily, so they’re not suitable to carry as rations.”

“But without vegetables, the nutrition… Ah, right. Could you lend me a dagger?”

After borrowing the dagger, she dragged Antonio outside.

And about 30 minutes passed.

Other members who checked the time frowned.

“Why aren’t they coming back? Did they run away like this?”

“Antonio is with her, so that’s unlikely.”

“But her skill in handling Antonio seemed unusual, so she might have tricked him.”

Just as the members’ expressions were turning murderous.

Yustea and Antonio returned with armfuls of something in their arms.

There were various vegetables and even fish.

“Sorry for the wait? We took some time to prepare the ingredients by the riverside.”

“Clan Leader, this is incredible! She extorted all this from the mountain keeper!”

“I used to work for the Extortion Gang too…”

While Antonio was excited and the members were bewildered, the real cooking began.

She chopped the vegetables with a sword she had cleaned by the riverside earlier, then threw them into the pot.

After making vegetable broth, she prepared and added the fish.

She also crushed dried provisions from the food pouch with the sword handle and added them.

Inside the Cave filled with an appetizing aroma.

Some members were already drooling.

Even the members who had been wary of Yustea gradually approached the pot.

“…Isn’t it cooked enough by now?”

“You need to wait a little longer. Turnips taste better when they’re thoroughly cooked.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had vegetables…”

“Is that so? Then I’ll give you plenty of vegetables.”

She kept the drooling members at bay and stubbornly boiled it for 10 more minutes.

She efficiently served the completed food in bowls.

And the members who tasted it remembered.

Those recommendation letters scribbled by colonels and lieutenant colonels alike.

[Your cooking skills are amazing.]

That was right.

Her cooking skills really were amazing!

After that, they literally started devouring… no, eating the food like a pack of dogs.

One of the members who was eating as if he would lick the bowl suddenly came to his senses.

He carefully offered his bowl to Aslan.

“Clan Leader, there seems to be no problem with the food.”

“…If there had been, we’d all be dead by now.”

After eating like that.

The Clan Leader, who let out a sigh, tasted the soup.

He could understand why the members had eaten like madmen.

‘Indeed.’

The members were in chaos.

“Put that ladle down right now. You’re already on your second bowl.”

“You’re the one who should take your hands off the pot.”

“I’m still on my first bowl.”

Just as a fight was about to break out.

Yustea stealthily approached the Clan Leader.

‘Is she trying to distract me with food and then attack me?’

Ridiculous.

Those skinny hands that look like skin barely clinging to bones pose no threat.

Then, Yustea quickly pulled something out from her chest.

Just as the Clan Leader was about to subdue her.

Yustea smoothly held something out.

“I made it secretly. …Sausage.”

“….”

What the hell is with this kid?

But one thing was certain.

“That bastard’s running off with the pot!”

“If we get caught, we’re dead!”

…This sausage was going to be incredibly delicious.

Aslan accepted the sausage.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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