How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 143

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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 143

Esgaroth Castle.

The Irregulars were murmuring.

Charlie from Antonio’s Unit spoke in a lowered voice.

“So far, only Lady Yuise, Lord Antonio, and Lord Abel have shown their faces, right?”

“That’s right.”

One person was not only wearing a hood pulled down low but also had on a crow mask.

They were wrapped up tightly as if they absolutely couldn’t be discovered.

A Unit Member of Yuise’s Team furrowed their brow.

“I heard recruiting Lord Cesar failed.”

“Who do you think they called?”

A Unit Member from the Clan Leader’s Unit also had a puzzled expression.

He asked the Clan Leader.

“Haven’t you heard anything?”

“No. But I have a guess.”

“Pardon?”

The Clan Leader looked at the mirror with a smile on his face.

Yustea’s voice flowed out from within the mirror.

[Miliano—!]

“…?!”

“…!!!”

The Irregulars flinched and straightened up.

The Clan Leader let out a quiet laugh.

The seven Elite of the Irregulars.

Among them, the Clan Leader, Clan Leader, and Cesar couldn’t participate.

Then who would be left?

The mirror reflected him.

Starting from the black military boots stepping on the ground up to his hooded and masked face.

He, Miliano, removed his mask.

Dark green hair fluttered.

Though he had a large build due to being the tallest with the broadest shoulders and solid body among the Irregular Elite, there was nothing intimidating about him.

Due to his neat lines and gentle features.

He strode forward and opened his mouth.

[Males opposing my master, cannot move.]

[…!]

[…?!]

The hostile ones stopped moving as if frozen solid.

[Drop your weapons.]

Thud.

Clatter.

Thunk—.

Weapons fell from the enemies’ hands.

“What, what is this!”

“What’s happening…!”

The vassals shouted with startled faces.

The enemies followed Miliano’s words as if they were under a spell.

“Is it sorcery?”

Pased, the legion commander of Esgaroth’s army, muttered.

However, the soldier thought differently.

“Sorcery casting couldn’t be that fast.”

“What about Atrakion (Charm)?”

The forbidden art Atrakion.

The forbidden art that sorcerers used in the incident where the Empress brought sorcerers into the Imperial Palace.

It had the same effect.

Making people become charmed by the user and follow their words.

The casting speed was similar too.

The soldier shook his head.

“Atrakion’s fast activation is due to advance preparation along with ‘materials.'”

“Materials?”

“Seventeen corpses are needed for every meter of activation range.”

“Seventeen corpses?”

“That’s why it’s forbidden art.”

“Forbidden arts are thoroughly excluded from family ceremonies.”

“Yes. There’s inspection before the preliminaries. Meaning, there was no opportunity to prepare Atrakion in advance. Preparing seventeen corpses would be even more impossible.”

Then what kind of trick was that supposed to be?

‘What tremendous power.’

All the knights that Yustea brought displayed formidable strength.

But the power of that man called Miliano transcends human limits.

While others were bewildered, the Irregular Unit Members burst into giggles.

“Everyone seems flustered.”

“Of course they would be. …It’s their first time seeing a ‘Word Speaker.'”

The Clan Leader said.

If Miliano hadn’t had such a kind and gentle nature, it would have been close to a disaster.

‘Using forbidden art like Atrakion? Foolish talk.’

That wasn’t forbidden art requiring corpses.

A special power inherent to Miliano.

‘An ability only he can use.’

[Your chest tightens. You cannot breathe.]

Gasp!

From within the mirror, groans like death rattles burst out from various places.

Then the Noble Ladies acting as captains shouted.

[Are you planning to kill them?!]

[Stop it!]

Miliano spoke in a troubled tone.

[Those are words I cannot heed, my lady.]

[Murder in a family ceremony would be the most terrible dishonor!]

[Please forgive me for choosing dishonor over the disloyalty of not following my master’s commands.]

[You…!]

[There is a way to not lose your knights.]

He said.

[Please surrender your flags.]

In a gentle tone.

Miliano.

He was the strongest of the Irregulars acknowledged by the Clan Leader.

* * *

Thud!

Thud, thud.

The girls threw down their flags.

I quickly ran over and collected the flags.

Seven from each of the three teams.

‘This advancement is certain.’

No more needed.

I smiled brightly and said.

“Thank you!”

“You’re only taking that much…?”

“This is all I need.”

Countess Ibanez looked surprised.

She probably thought I’d sweep everything up, but with this much, it seems she might have a shot at the main tournament.

I said.

“I think the family tournament is a place where family knights compete to develop each other.”

“….”

“Your knights are also admirable and excellent knights, aren’t they?”

“…Of course.”

The Ibanez Noble Lady coughed and said.

The other noble ladies’ eyes also widened.

‘Mm, the atmosphere is good.’

Yuise whispered to me.

“You’re doing this in case families need to team up in the main tournament, right?”

I smiled kindly.

‘Of course.’

Team battles in the main tournament are a long-standing tradition.

It would be troublesome if I got stuck as a common enemy from the start like in this preliminary and couldn’t find a team.

I didn’t reveal such cunning intentions.

I just smiled and said.

“Then let’s have my knights compete with yours in the main tournament so we can develop together.”

“Well, fine. Though that’s kind of cheating…”

The Ibanez Noble Lady said, pointing at Miliano.

Miliano smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, haha…”

What a truly good person.

Wise and kind.

Simply put, he was a mature person.

Even among the Irregular elites, there were people who gave off that feeling of being an ‘adult.’

Father and the Clan Leader.

But while they were sharp like well-honed blades, Miliano was someone with a broad vessel that seemed capable of embracing everyone.

‘I’m glad he came.’

When I had to give up Cesar, I was truly at a loss.

How surprised I was when I heard about Miliano’s power from Yuise.

‘That’s the power of the crest.’

The same power as the crest I granted to Luciano.

Losing Cesar turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

That was the moment.

{Preliminary round over. The preliminary round is now concluded.}

The real announcement finally came.

The preliminary round with countless incidents was finally ending.

* * *

“This is crazy!”

“What is this family tournament? It’s incredibly entertaining!”

Boisterous laughter could be heard from the town square.

The ladies and knights in the Mirror World were moving to the Imperial Palace Colosseum.

Among them, the main mirror was showing Yustea and her knights.

No one disagreed that Yustea was receiving the most attention.

The protagonist of this preliminary round was clearly Yustea.

“Esgaroth’s level was incredible! Truly the conqueror of the North!”

“It’s not just the knights’ level. Yustea Esgaroth herself is an incredible talent.”

“There’s a reason she’s been recognized since she was young.”

Uhahaha!

Laughter burst out.

“Oh, they’re starting the announcement.”

Before they knew it, the mirror was showing the Colosseum.

Those who participated in the family tournament were prostrating before the Emperor, waiting for the announcement.

[It was a good match where we could see excellent wit and outstanding skills.]

Light congratulatory words flowed from the Emperor’s mouth.

And then the anticipated ranking announcement.

The Mage Tower Master held up a parchment and called out the names.

[1st place, Esgaroth!]

“Waaah—!”

“Waa!”

There was no upset.

Yustea had acquired the most flags.

She completely changed the rankings in just 20 minutes.

[2nd place, Nevarro.]

“Guinevere Navarro did try hard too.”

“Nevarro family’s knights were also high level.”

“You could tell they were well-educated. Captain Guinevere too.”

It was a standard strategy based on data, but they executed it faithfully.

You could tell how much training they had gone through.

Then came the 3rd and 4th place announcements.

This family took 5th place.

[5th place, Calveron.]

“Mm.”

“The Ibanez Noble Lady was competitive, so she was worth watching.”

[6th place, Padro.]

“Oh.”

“Well, nothing much has changed.”

“Since Yustea Esgaroth only collected 7 flags each.”

“Then is 7th place Ibanez?”

People nodded their heads.

Finally, the last announcement came.

[7th place, Andres.]

“What?”

“What did they say—!”

The town square became explosively noisy.

The mirror showed Stella.

People looked at her with bewildered faces.

“Why is Andres in 7th place?”

“Wh-what…!”

That’s when it happened.

A girl from Stella’s Guard giggled and said.

“Yustea wasn’t the only one who acquired a lot of flags at the last moment.”

Most of the mirrors showed Yustea.

Stella appeared in only one auxiliary mirror.

Even that was tucked away in a corner, so few people would have seen it properly.

But Stella’s guard who had been cheering for her saw it.

Not long after Yustea separated from Stella, Stella’s knights appeared.

And they dealt with their opponents with tremendous skill.

At the last moment, they swept through the alliances that came for the flags like a storm.

“Lady Stella became the bait and turned the tables in an instant!”

Kyaak!

A girl from Stella’s guard let out a joyful exclamation.

However, people’s reactions were different from expected.

“She used Yustea’s strategy exactly as it was.”

“What did you say? Stella’s knights were much better in skill!”

Another guard member shouted loudly, defending Stella.

“In the end, only one person on Yustea’s side was remarkable.”

“Right, but Lady Stella’s knights were different. All of them had tremendous momentum.”

“Especially that white mask and the man with violet-brown hair were like monsters.”

The mirror showed the white mask and the man with violet-brown hair.

It was Oscar and GM.

* * *

The ranking announcement was over.

This meant the preliminaries had concluded.

Both those who were eliminated and those who passed all reunited with their respective families.

“Uh, Mother, I’m sorry…”

“You worked hard. You did well, Silvia.”

The sound of eliminated girls sniffling could be heard everywhere.

I patted my shoulders and let out a sigh.

“It’s over…”

“Yeah.”

Yuise also sighed.

We did more tracking than fighting.

Our stamina would have been depleted similarly.

“Everyone worked hard.”

When I smiled, the Elite shrugged their shoulders.

Abel said.

“Snacks… don’t forget…”

“Yeah. Let’s eat some nutritious food first.”

I should use the black-bone chicken I froze for the family tournament preparations.

I looked back at Miliano.

“Miliano will come too, right?”

“It would be an honor if you invite me.”

I laughed heartily.

Miliano makes people feel all warm and fuzzy.

It seemed to be because of his cozy atmosphere.

‘By the way…’

I moved closer to Miliano and said.

“Do you happen to have any spots on your body?”

“Spots…”

“They would look like patterns…”

“You’re talking about a pass, aren’t you.”

“A pass?”

Miliano smiled brightly.

“Unfortunately, I saw you because of the pass.”

“What?”

“The day you entered, Young Lady.”

Entered?

‘Could it be…!’

I suddenly remembered.

[The prohibition is lifted.]

[Authority has been restored.]

[Checking channel entry authorization.]

Authority: □□□

[Administrator approval complete.]

[Re-entering channel.]

And…

[Those with entry authorization notice your presence.]

Certainly, the moment that message appeared, I saw the faces of those with entry authorization.

It passed by too quickly for me to recognize Miliano.

Miliano lifted his shirt.

A twin sword pattern was carved on his side.

‘It’s the same pattern as Luciano’s.’

“This is the form of the pass.”

“…I don’t have a pass.”

“Those who appeared are those with abilities. If someone was born with abilities in their soul like the Saint, it might not manifest in physical form.”

“Then you’re saying there are others with abilities like Miliano’s?”

“Yes. And over there too.”

Miliano glanced back.

Following his gaze, I saw Stella.

Stella was running toward Count Andres with a bright smile.

Behind her, I could see her hooded knights.

“Cesar, GM, or Oscar?”

“No. It’s that person at the end.”

The one with the most petite build.

Someone with a similar height to mine.

‘It’s a woman.’

“Those with passes can recognize each other. I felt a strange aura from that person from the moment I saw her.”

Then, Stella was embraced by Count Andres.

“There were some crises, but I passed safely. I’m really relieved—.”

That was the moment.

Smack.

Count Andres struck away Stella’s hand.

Stella staggered back.

“…Father?”

“Never call me Father again.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

Stella stammered with a confused face.

“Well, Father, um… I admit the content wasn’t good. But I still passed well. Uh, why aren’t you praising me instead of…?”

It was the moment Stella reached out her trembling hand toward Count Andres.

“How shameless.”

“To think we called such a person the voice of the people.”

The people’s blade-like gazes pierced into Stella.

‘Ah, that’s right.’

Stella doesn’t know that our conversation was broadcast.

* * *

Stella looked around with a completely flustered expression.

‘Why… why are they like this?’

This is strange.

Yustea was the one who cheated by fabricating the guidance sound, so why are they looking at me with those eyes?

“Ah, do you perhaps think I made some kind of deal with Yustea? That’s not it. I was reprimanding that girl’s sinister scheme.”

Stella looked around at the audience and forced a smile.

Just then, the captains of the Imperial Army who had been particularly fond of Stella revealed themselves.

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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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