How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 146

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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 146

Stella’s face flushed with humiliation.

She bit her lips mercilessly and frantically looked around.

‘Father… Father is… Ah.’

Stella spotted him beside the Emperor and opened her mouth.

“Father, please give me a chance! Just one more chance and… Kyaah!”

Stella couldn’t finish her words.

She was hit by something thrown from the crowd.

What rolled down after hitting her head was an egg.

Stella’s eyes trembled faintly.

“How… how could you do such a thing…”

As she muttered tearfully, then.

A fierce voice was heard.

“Go away!”

“Witch who deceived the people!”

Stella’s mouth gaped open.

“This is too much… I am, I…”

Stella’s gaze turned to Count Andres again.

The Marquis turned his head away.

With a completely indifferent face.

“…!”

It was proof that she had lost everything.

“Ah… aah…!”

Stella collapsed in the crowd and wept sadly, but now there was no one to extend a helping hand.

* * *

The opening ceremony ended.

The main tournament participants moved to the battleground.

Now I was scheduled to watch from the Imperial Palace Colosseum.

As we were heading to the Colosseum, Yuise said.

“She seems completely abandoned.”

At the end of Yuise’s gaze was Stella.

Stella, disheveled from being hit by eggs and such, remained collapsed there.

No one approached Stella.

Not even from the Andres family.

I spoke in a flat voice.

“I suppose so.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

Yuise’s eyes widened slightly at my indifferent tone.

I blinked and looked at Yuise.

“Then what?”

“Something like feeling satisfied. You know, that kind of thing.”

“I don’t feel particularly moved. I want to focus on more important things.”

The family tournament.

More precisely, the prize of the family tournament, the Spiral Coffin.

That item that could awaken Mother was truly the important thing.

Just as I was thinking that.

Someone approached us.

“I greet the Young Lady.”

It was Count Andres’s adjutant.

‘Why would Andres want me?’

As I furrowed my brow, the adjutant spoke.

“The Marquis wishes to meet with you briefly.”

“…Why would Count Andres want to see me.”

“Please arrange a meeting. He hopes this encounter will not be burdensome for the Young Lady.”

It meant he would use other means if I refused.

‘Count Andres would not hesitate to use methods that could harm the family tournament.’

Rather than let it affect the family tournament, it was better to meet even an unwelcome face.

Yuise looked displeased.

Since she seemed ready to inform Father immediately, I shook my head.

And I told the adjutant.

“If I can bring guards, I’ll spare a very brief moment.”

“I shall escort you.”

So Yuise and I followed the Marquis’s adjutant.

The place the adjutant took me was the Outer Palace lounge behind the Colosseum.

Count Andres was already waiting for me.

I sat across from him, and Yuise stood guard behind me.

Count Andres said.

“You came obediently.”

“Because I was threatened.”

The Marquis chuckled.

“Were you afraid it might affect the family tournament? You must have something tremendous at stake in this family tournament to be so frightened.”

“…”

“What is it? The right to host the Sowing Festival?”

“It’s Esgaroth’s honor.”

Count Andres laughed low, “Haha.”

“You don’t want to mention the Spiral Coffin, I see.”

‘What a viper.’

He reads my mind exactly.

Even knowing exactly how to threaten me effectively.

‘Right, it would be strange if he didn’t know.’

I learned everything watching that back.

How to read people.

Calculating moves.

So that man couldn’t possibly not know me.

The Marquis crossed his legs and said.

“Yes, the Spiral Coffin could restore Dia.”

“…”

“Don’t be wary. If neither Esgaroth’s power nor your abilities can restore her, it’s natural to deduce that the Spiral Coffin is the answer.”

“…”

Even after hearing his words, the tension didn’t leave my eyes.

The Marquis spoke again.

“You’ve learned bad habits.”

“Have I?”

“It’s stray dogs that should show emotions, not those who rule.”

“Stray dogs…”

“A stray dog like Marquis Cuaron has to puff himself up to intimidate opponents, but you’re different. Emotions shown by a ruler are perceived as fear.”

“…”

“What could a ruler learn from a stray dog?”

“My father is Marquis Cuaron. He will inherit Esgaroth and become the ruler of the North. So—”

I stood up from my seat and said.

“Never call my father a stray dog again.”

“….”

“If that’s all you have to say, I’ll be going.”

As I turned to leave, Yuise followed behind me.

“Is that man the head of the Irregular Intelligence Division?”

“…!”

My steps came to an abrupt halt.

Yuise’s face was completely rigid.

I forced my stiff neck to turn and look at the Marquis.

The Marquis had a leisurely expression.

“Look, Yustea.”

“….”

“You’ve already been caught being scared.”

“….”

I had anticipated that the Irregulars’ existence might be discovered.

Since the Restoration Council knew that the Irregular leader was Father.

‘But this is too fast.’

Knowing the identity of the Irregulars was tremendously valuable.

He could have demanded half of Esgaroth’s territory in exchange with Grandfather.

Did the Restoration Council use such a card so easily?

I scrutinized every exposed detail to understand the Marquis’s true intentions.

And I realized.

He was at ease.

‘It’s not from the Restoration Council.’

This wasn’t information obtained through a deal with them.

He hadn’t given up something enormous in trade.

“…You’ve been aware of this for quite some time.”

“The exact point was after you solved Andres’s contamination.”

“….”

“Did you think I had given up on you?”

The Marquis rose from his seat.

He approached me.

The bitter scent of his cologne, which I had smelled my entire life, wafted over.

“Hunting beasts and hunting humans are different, Yustea.”

“….”

“You target beasts when they’re weak, but humans must be targeted when they’re at their most noble. So I waited.”

“….”

“For when this information would be most useful.”

“….”

“For the perfect moment to bring my daughter back.”

Count Andres’s hand touched my cheek.

I looked at him with a pale face.

“…Don’t do it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Whatever you’re thinking of doing… don’t do it.”

The Marquis chuckled.

“Your eyes are trembling. Are you afraid? So much that you can’t shake off my hand?”

“Father… don’t touch Father.”

The Marquis let out a light hum.

His hand fell away from my cheek.

“Please…. The Irregulars aren’t vicious criminals. They’re just good people who have lived desperately.”

“…You’ve learned something unpleasant after all.”

The Marquis continued.

“When making a request, you should present conditions the other party can’t refuse.”

“If you tell me what you want—”

“The Spiral Coffin.”

“…!”

“Will you give it to me?”

Yuise’s face contorted.

He pushed between the Marquis and me, shouting fiercely.

“You’re putting your wife’s life on the scales?! Are you even human? How can you be so cruel to your own daughter—!”

Yuise placed his hand on his sword hilt.

I grabbed hold of Yuise.

“Stop! Stop it, Yuise!”

“Let go, I’ll kill him!”

“Even if you kill him, you can’t silence him! He’s already completed all preparations to report the Irregulars!”

I desperately clung to Yuise, and he hesitated.

Count Andres chuckled softly.

“Surely I wouldn’t be that cruel to my daughter.”

“….”

“….”

Yuise and I gasped for breath as we stared at the Marquis.

“Become my daughter again.”

I bit my lip.

Yuise whipped around to look at me.

“That’s nonsense. Don’t listen to him.”

“If you want to safely obtain the Spiral Coffin, you’ll need to make a wise decision.”

“Yustea!”

The voices of the two men mixed together in a dizzying cacophony.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

The Marquis’s laughter fell over my head like a blade.

Count Andres walked past me.

When I heard the sound of him grasping the door handle, I opened my mouth.

“Then… you won’t touch Father…?”

I felt the Marquis’s gaze as he looked back at me.

After some silence, he spoke again.

“Granting a daughter’s wish isn’t difficult.”

With those final words, the Marquis left the room.

I held my forehead and lowered my head.

* * *

After leaving the lounge, the Marquis walked down the corridor.

His adjutant followed behind him.

“The report is complete. Shall we submit it today?”

That was the moment.

Bang—!

Count Andres violently struck the wall.

The startled adjutant closed his mouth.

Rage rippled along the Marquis’s silhouette.

“Then… you won’t touch Father…?”

‘Just asking about something like that.’

Not asking whether I would leave the Spiral Coffin that could save Mother untouched, but just something like that.

That always confident attitude, that posture of holding her head high, crumbled just because of some mere stray dogs.

Yustea had been a child with deep family affection since she was young.

She especially worshipped and loved her father like a god.

“Ah, Abadi. Abadi.”

Those were the words she uttered as she staggered over and clung to his legs.

She always desperately reached out her hands to embrace his neck.

When he rarely hugged her back, she would smile as if she owned the whole world.

Even as she grew up, she always followed behind him and looked at him affectionately.

Whenever that always gentle child got angry, it was always about matters related to him.

So I didn’t know how precious it was.

Because it was something I had always possessed.

Only after that gaze turned elsewhere did I realize.

That it had been something very special.

Enough to turn my stomach inside out.

“I… I got first place at the Academy. I, I worked hard so… um… I’m sorry for bothering you when you’re busy.”

I remember the time when I passed by after she said those words, mustering all her courage.

“I’ll come back after getting first place in the Family Tournament. Because I want to become Father’s proud daughter!”

Because it reminded me of young you, smiling brightly and reaching out your hand.

A fierce glint flashed in the Marquis’s eyes.

* * *

When I returned to the Colosseum, tremendous cheers were erupting.

“Amazing!”

“Waaah—!”

The people who had seen the Mirror World were extremely excited.

When I sat down in my seat, Father asked.

“What happened?”

“Something came up for a moment. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

I said that and smiled, but Father stared at me intently.

I turned my head toward the Mirror World and changed the subject.

“How did it go?”

It was Antonio who answered.

“Two teams are left.”

“Already?”

Only about 30 minutes had passed since it started.

But two teams were already left?

When I looked surprised, Miliano laughed awkwardly, “Haha…”

“Andres is incredible.”

“Incredible how?”

Then Antonio answered.

“Right after starting, they unleashed area attacks to immobilize everyone, then finished three teams in an instant. About 12 people are hovering between life and death.”

“That’s…”

“That woman and the one with ash-purple hair are incredible.”

I looked at the Mirror World.

The woman wearing the captain’s armband instead of Stella, the girl who had been called Leira, was holding a sword.

The tip of her sword was pointed at…

“Guinevere!”

Marquis Nevarro, Guinevere’s grandfather, cried out his granddaughter’s name.

Guinevere was sitting collapsed, glaring at Leira.

Leira smiled wickedly.

[How disappointing. The difference in skill is too great, so it’s not exciting at all.]

[…Kase! Even if I’m eliminated, absolutely don’t come out!]

Guinevere screamed shrilly, calling her knight’s name.

This preliminary first round is ‘Light Badge Protection.’

Participants wear light badges of different colors for each family, and when defeated by an enemy, the light goes out.

Leira in the Mirror World chuckled softly.

[Will you do that, Kase?]

[Grrrr…]

As soon as Leira finished speaking, a strange howling sound was heard.

I thought it was a wolf, but when I saw what emerged from behind the tree, I gasped.

“…!”

The one covered in thorn-like fur all over his body as if he had become a werewolf was Guinevere’s knight, Kase.

He was a childhood friend who grew up with Guinevere and boasted excellent loyalty.

“Alchemy? No, this is…”

As I muttered, Miliano whispered.

“It must be the power of a crest.”

“What kind of power?”

“It turns opponents into beasts and controls them. The 12 people whose lives were hanging by a thread earlier were also attacked by fellow knights who became beast-men.”

In that case, there would be no grounds to protest against Andres.

“Guinevere!”

Marquis Nevarro shouted once more.

Because knight Kase had bitten into Guinevere’s nape.

Due to this, the light badge hanging around Kase’s neck rolled around on the ground.

Leira stepped firmly on the light badge and shrugged her shoulders.

[Sorry. But what can I do about being defeated by an ally?]

{The winner is Andres.}

{Match over. The match is concluded.}

I understand why Count Andres didn’t say anything about withdrawing from the Family Tournament.

Because he was confident of winning, the Family Tournament didn’t need to be mentioned.

—————
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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