How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 10

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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 10

* * *

When we arrived at the castle, it was sunset.

As soon as I passed through the castle gates, I let out a sigh.

‘It’s over…’

Having brought the girls inside the castle gates, the test was truly finished now.

Our search party and the girls were greeted by unit members under the Clan Leader.

The brown-haired man I had seen whenever I went to submit unit members’ assignments to the Clan Leader came leading the unit members.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

When I bowed my head, the unit members under the Clan Leader also bent their waists in greeting.

The brown-haired man asked.

“Where is Miss Marina?”

“I haven’t seen her since we parted at Dry Stream. Since she saw that the prohibition formation was broken, she probably ran away.”

Because she would think the girls would report what she and the marquis had done.

“I see. From this moment on, we will take charge of the young ladies’ safety.”

The girls flinched.

The youngest girl, with whom I had exchanged a few words on the way, even grabbed my skirt hem nervously.

Nicolle’s face was also pale.

I looked back at them and said to the brown-haired man.

“Um… These people didn’t do this out of greed for wealth.”

“We saw through the magic mirror. Please be at ease.”

“Then…”

“We plan to break the prohibition and secure testimony. They will bear some responsibility for collusion, but it will be on humanitarian grounds.”

Only then did the girls’ faces brighten.

I also nodded with a relieved expression.

The unit members under the Clan Leader surrounded the girls.

Nicolle, who had been walking with them, hesitated and looked back at me.

And…

“Thanks to you, I was able to speak. Thank you.”

She bowed deeply at the waist.

Seeing Nicolle like that, the other girls also hesitated and looked at me.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for saving us.”

“I won’t forget. The little hero who resembles Lady Dia.”

The youngest girl had determined eyes.

Like that, the girls bowed their heads toward me for a very long time.

Even after the girls left, I stood there blankly watching them depart.

The search party members, no, now just unit members, who saw me standing there dazedly made puzzled expressions.

“What’s wrong?”

“They said thank you, didn’t they?”

“Huh?”

“They said thank you. Peers, to me.”

I smiled brightly.

“Among peers, I’ve only heard it from Charlie. There are many good things since coming here.”

It was something I couldn’t even dream of when living in Andres.

My father was strict.

Judge coldly. Don’t show your feelings. Doubt kindness. Everyone is your competitor.

I heard such words until they were ingrained in my ears.

Moreover, I was someone who received my father’s words like divine revelation.

No one liked me when I lived only as the child my father wanted.

Of course there were no friends, and no one who said thank you either.

Even when I showed kindness, I heard sarcasm like ‘Of course the distinguished young lady of Andres would do that.’

‘But since coming here, I’ve heard thank you from peers many times.’

But the atmosphere of the unit members looking at me was strange.

When I blinked, wondering if I had made some mistake, one of the unit members said.

“Is that why you took the test?”

“What?”

“Because Charlie said thank you. Because you were happy about that, you took a test you were bound to fail?”

“That aspect exists, but my cunning intention to prove my ability through the test was bigger, wasn’t it?”

“You don’t need to deceive yourself like that, we know. Little Teacher is a fool. A fool who is only kind…”

“…?”

Unlike me with a puzzled expression, the unit members had gloomy expressions.

“I’ll say thank you to you a lot.”

“Thank you. For teaching us letters, and for creating justification to kick out that bastard.”

“Yeah, and for the braised ribs too.”

The unit members roughly patted my head.

Suddenly surrounded by large men, I ended up groaning.

‘No, I really was being cunning.’

How unfair.

* * *

A few hours later, in the underground prison.

“…For such reasons, she took the test.”

The story of ‘admirable Yustea who took the test for a single word of thanks’ delivered by Antonio Unit members with tears and snot reached the ears of two men.

They were Antonio and the Clan Leader.

Antonio, who was leaning his back against the wall, let out a sigh.

“How foolish. To risk her life for such a word?”

The Fog Fang that Count Sanmiguel mobilized for this incident were vicious individuals.

It was lucky that Yustea’s wit worked well, but if not, she would surely have been killed.

Antonio, who was holding his nose bridge and shaking his shoulders, looked to the side.

“Shouldn’t the one who coldly pushed such a pitiful child into danger be called not a person but a bastard?”

The Clan Leader, who was replacing his blood-soaked gloves, answered.

“Bastard is also a way to address a person.”

“Understand the context. The context.”

“You know the word context?”

“I learned it from Little Teacher last week.”

Antonio made a proud expression.

“Just bring the gloves.”

“At this rate, there won’t be any gloves left. Why don’t you just admit it already.”

Antonio stood crookedly and looked at the blood-covered man.

He was tied to a torture device called the witch’s chair.

Now in a form closer to a lump of flesh rather than a person.

Antonio bent his knees to meet the marquis’s gaze.

“Even if you go out like this, you can’t live functioning as a person. Wouldn’t it be better to give up now?”

“Kkeugh…”

“One eyeball, one ear. You don’t think leaving about a tongue is the Clan Leader’s humanity, do you?”

Antonio smiled broadly and flicked the marquis’s exposed nerve under his chin.

The marquis, whose pain sensation was increased 30-fold and then had his nerve contacted, let out a terrible scream and writhed.

“It means don’t stop seeing, hearing, and feeling.”

“…”

“A terror you’ll never get used to.”

“Ah. Ahhh! Ahhhk…!”

The Marquis wailed, drooling bloody saliva.

The Clan Leader extended his hand.

His aide placed a fire-heated iron skewer into the Clan Leader’s palm.

“Let’s start again.”

The night of terror was just beginning.

* * *

Night.

I was caught by Charlie and hugged tightly three times.

Charlie was so strong that I involuntarily groaned.

“Thank you, Little Teacher. I’ll definitely repay this debt.”

This was already the third time he’d said this.

No, I’d been hearing thanks all night long.

The other Unit Members were also behind that pillar over there…

“So grateful…”

“I’m not Little Teacher’s age, but I’m thankful…”

…giving me grateful looks with wistful eyes.

‘I’m happy, but it’s fine now.’

Charlie said with sparkling eyes.

“Hey, want to eat together?”

“Sorry. I need to go to the Sentry Barracks to collect the sentries’ assignments.”

“You’re going to check assignments today too?”

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t appear negligent just because I was blinded by momentary success.

Salary and job security are precious.

‘I might not become the Clan Leader’s adopted daughter.’

The girls had returned safely.

Since they couldn’t take the test due to Count Sanmiguel’s threats, a retest might be held.

I couldn’t be complacent.

Charlie said.

“Alright. Then I should do my assignments too. Since Little Teacher works so hard, I’ll put in effort too.”

I smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.

After greeting Charlie like that, I headed straight to the Sentry Barracks.

The Sentry Barracks required passing through a large Garden, so I had to hurry.

This place, which would be better called a Forest than a Garden, gave me chills every time I came.

It was surprising that Count Sanmiguel, who valued appearances, hadn’t bothered to landscape this Garden.

‘Well, it is a region that lacks money.’

It was the most declining area in the Esgaloth Estate.

Vulnerable to drought and disasters, there was no land suitable for farming, and being far from the city center, there was no potential for commercial or industrial development.

As a result, it was practically abandoned by Esgaroth.

That’s probably why the Irregulars chose this place.

‘Still, it’s impressive. To infiltrate a great noble family and swallow an entire territory whole.’

Judging by how they were replacing the lord this time, they seemed to have connections in Esgaroth too.

The fact that the Clan Leader didn’t come personally, but sent a hawk to break the gold technique, showed their terrifying capabilities.

‘So I must stick with them.’

I clenched both fists.

Just as I was about to quicken my pace before it got any later.

“You seem happy.”

An unexpected voice from behind me.

‘This voice is…’

Startled, I turned my head to see a hooded figure.

The person slowly removed their hood.

It was Marina.

Pale blue complexion.

Rough lips.

Bloodshot eyes.

And even a dagger in her hand…

She definitely didn’t look normal.

“How did you…”

As I muttered, Marina staggered toward me.

“I went to the manor. Our Manor with the beautiful rose Garden.”

“….”

I flinched and stepped back.

Marina giggled.

“Our Manor was completely ruined by the Irregulars. My beautiful roses were trampled by muddy feet and the servants and my parents were dragged away. I had to run away again.”

“Because you committed such crimes.”

“Why do you think only I’m bad? Those girls who were blinded by money and went along with me are the same.”

“They couldn’t resist the threats. If you had only offered money, those kids wouldn’t have done such terrible things.”

“….”

“Even now, go to the Clan Leader on your own feet. You still have a chance to wash away your sins.”

“Shut up!”

Marina shoved me violently.

The blade she held cut my cheek.

I sat down hard on the ground and looked up at Marina.

‘If I can just deal with the weapon, I can subdue… wait.’

Red paper sticking out of her hooded robe’s pocket.

I had seen that talisman-like thing in the game.

‘Explosive charm!’

Explosive charm

Explodes on contact.

The explosive power varies depending on the creator’s skill, and time delays are also possible.

If hit by an explosive charm, you’re lucky if it’s just bodily injury.

If it sticks to your head, it’s game over.

‘If Marina gets excited after I take away her weapon and uses the explosive charm…’

I couldn’t move.

Marina removed her hood.

“Answer me. Everyone lives committing big and small sins. So why should only I have everything taken away?”

“…Why did you prepare the explosive charm?”

Explosive charms are expensive items.

Moreover, there are few mages capable of creating explosive charms.

Why would she prepare such a rare, expensive item?

I could find the answer without much thought.

“You never intended to return the girls from the start.”

She was going to eliminate Fog Fang and the girls all at once.

To get rid of both evidence and witnesses.

Marina smiled coldly.

“I’m going to leave and start over. But I can’t just leave you behind.”

I used my palms and legs to back away.

‘Please…’

What was more agonizing than the situation itself was that no words came to mind after “please.”

They say children call out their parents’ names when they fall and cry, but I had no one I could call.

Mother was someone I had to protect.

Father who abandoned me and my brother would never come to help.

I gritted my teeth.

‘Don’t give up. You’ve always dealt with feeling like you’re alone in the world.’

Marina’s giggling laughter circled above my head like a guillotine.

I wanted to run away, but my legs wouldn’t move properly from fear.

‘Please move!’

There’s no one to save me.

As always, I have to do it myself.

But if she throws the explosive device at me while I’m running away….

‘Is there no way? What method could there be….’

However, no suitable solution came to mind.

Marina’s raised sword flashed menacingly.

A chilling voice leaked from her twisted lips.

“Go to hell.”

That was the moment.

“Kyaah!”

It wasn’t me who screamed.

I flinched and raised my head.

Marina’s sword was rolling on the ground.

And Marina was clutching her hand as if she’d been struck by something.

The figure visible behind her was….

“Where are you hurt.”

“….”

Having no one to call during difficult times had become a habit, so my mouth wouldn’t open easily.

But heat rushed to my eyes and my throat tightened.

I forced my mouth open and called to him, no, to them.

“Clan Leader… Antonio….”

It was the Clan Leader who asked where I was hurt.

Antonio kicked off the ground and charged forward low.

Just as the startled Marina frantically reached for the pocket containing the explosive device.

Antonio instantly subdued Marina’s arm and pinned her to the ground.

“Kyaah…!”

“Shut up. It’s hard to hold back.”

The Clan Leader strode forward.

…Toward me.

“You should have asked for help.”

“….”

“You should have at least screamed.”

“There was an explosive device… so if other people got involved… I’m sorry for being a bother….”

“Please stop with those apologies…!”

The Clan Leader shouted.

I flinched and hunched my shoulders.

Antonio, who had taken the explosive device from Marina, frowned at the Clan Leader.

“Why are you shouting? You’re scaring the child.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Really now….”

The Clan Leader approached right in front of me and knelt down.

Tears streamed down from my oblivious eyes.

I stared at him blankly.

His black hair fluttered in the wind.

In his ash-colored eyes, a foolish Yustea who had completely frozen was reflected.

Taking out a handkerchief from his chest, he gently pressed it against the cheek that had been cut by Marina’s sword.

“From now on, whatever happens, please call for us.”

I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

His way of speaking had changed.

However, he spoke quietly with an impassive expression.

“We will always be with you.”

“Clan Leader…?”

He smiled.

A brilliantly radiant smile.

“I’ve come to escort you, Miss.”

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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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