How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 157

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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 157

Aslan said.

“If what’s on your head isn’t a rock, never forget the three things you realized today.”

That we are Irregulars with the title of the continent’s finest.

That Yustea has a protector.

So you must never do anything foolish to the child.

Count Andres wore a deep smile.

“The price for enlightenment will be paid soon.”

No matter how much Aslan barked, it was just the struggle of a defeated dog.

Young Yustea would never be able to refuse his words.

“Yustea.”

Look. Just by calling her name, Yustea flinched and jumped out of Aslan’s arms.

The vassals’ faces brightened with smiles as they watched the child running over with quick steps.

‘Now the Saint is ours.’

They had gained the Emperor’s favor with one ton of gold.

If they could just secure the Saint, they would be able to overcome the crisis perfectly.

An Andres vassal grinned and spoke up.

“Now that the Young Lady has come, shall we depart?”

Count Andres took Yustea and turned his back.

The Irregulars couldn’t take their eyes off the child’s retreating figure.

* * *

The Andres procession seeking the late marquis’s tomb was unprecedentedly grand.

They deliberately circled around the city to reach the tomb.

It was meant to show off that the Saint was in their hands.

Inside the most luxurious carriage in the procession.

A vassal riding in the carriage with Count Andres and Yustea laughed loudly.

“Just look at those expressions, shocked by the procession of Andres and the Saint. Well, when would those lowly people ever see such a procession?”

It was Marquis Namia, who had once been scolded by Yustea for mercury poisoning in the past.

The teenage Yustea had been an arrogant wench.

Just looking at how she held her head high made his blood boil.

‘At least when she’s young, she’s tolerable.’

This was his first time seeing young Yustea.

He had only risen to the rank of marquis after Yustea was expelled.

Though he could have encountered her at the Andres estate, the previous Marquis Namia had sent his troublesome son to study abroad.

Young Yustea was different from her obnoxious teenage years.

She was learning a woman’s proper demeanor, listening attentively without talking back.

“She got tainted by associating with vulgar people like the Irregulars, but it seems Andres’s education wasn’t lacking after all.”

“Lord Namia.”

Marquis Yopis, who had been Yustea’s teacher, called to him as if telling him to restrain himself.

Marquis Namia spoke with an indifferent air.

“What’s wrong with what I said? What could those vulgar, beast-like people possibly teach—”

That’s when it happened.

Clatter!

The carriage shook violently.

Thanks to that, Marquis Namia hit his head against the carriage wall and opened the window to shout irritably.

“What on earth is going on!”

A guard escorting the carriage hurried over to answer.

“The wheel got caught on tree roots. It seems the roots of the graveyard trees have extended all the way to the entrance.”

“What?”

“The roots are quite thick and sharp, making it difficult for the carriage to enter. The same goes for the horses. If they get scratched by the roots, the horses might panic and it could be dangerous.”

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

Marquis Namia foamed at the mouth.

“Bring the gravekeepers. I’ll just…!”

While Marquis Namia was throwing a fit, Marquis Yopis furrowed his brow.

‘It’s not the gravekeepers’ fault. It’s because of the absence of the guardian stones that control the graveyard’s negative energy.’

The trees affected by the negative energy must have grown abnormally.

‘Because we disposed of the guardian stones to make one ton of gold.’

Even for Andres, one ton of gold was an excessive amount.

But if it hadn’t been that much, they wouldn’t have been able to appease the Emperor’s wrath.

So they hastily disposed of the guardian stones to make the gold.

Very secretly, that is.

This was a fact known only to a very few within Andres.

If it became known that they had disposed of the guardian stones protecting the family heads’ tombs, it would cause major problems for the family’s prestige.

Marquis Yopis looked at Count Andres.

“Since we can’t deal with the tree roots immediately, how about we walk for now?”

They couldn’t let the absence of the guardian stones be revealed by causing a commotion.

“Let’s do that.”

The guards opened the carriage door.

Seeing the Count and Marquis Yopis get out, Marquis Namia panicked and gaped.

Befitting Andres’s grandeur, the family heads’ graveyard was vast.

But walking from the entrance to the late marquis’s tomb?

It was unthinkable for noble aristocrats to travel that distance on foot, especially on dirt ground.

Marquis Namia clicked his tongue.

‘Well, fine.’

The longer travel time wasn’t bad.

He was thinking of somehow taking the position of Yustea’s teacher during this opportunity.

‘I can’t let someone like Marquis Yopis take the teacher position again.’

The Yopis family was originally a humble family without even a jurisdiction.

Just a dozen years ago, they were drifters who wouldn’t dare ride in the same carriage as the family head or himself.

‘The role of the Saint’s teacher is mine.’

Marquis Yopis’s education was wrong from the start anyway.

If it had been him, no matter how much Yustea had been tainted by dirty influences, he wouldn’t have let her swagger around like that.

‘If there’s time, winning over a young child’s favor is easy.’

Marquis Namia watched Yustea getting out of the carriage and smirked, pulling up the corner of his mouth.

* * *

Those noble enough to serve as heads of the Seven Families are not buried in the ground like others.

Their coffins are enshrined in shrines.

The path from the entrance of the mausoleum (referring to the forest where the family heads’ coffins are enshrined) to the shrine was indeed long.

Moreover, the ground was uneven due to the abundant tree roots.

Thanks to this, the nobles were thoroughly exhausted.

Marquis Rochette, the head of Andres’s vassals, turned his head toward Yustea.

‘She’s not whining at all.’

Come to think of it, Yustea had shown unusually strong endurance for a child since she was young.

Looking at how pale her face was, her legs must be trembling.

He said to Count Andres.

“Let’s rest for a moment before continuing. Everyone is tired.”

The Count glanced at Yustea and nodded.

The vassals’ faces brightened.

Everyone leaned against tree trunks and sat down, sighing as they ate the water and snacks the servants had brought.

Most were exhausted and silent, but one person was different.

“Look at that. Those are all Sacred Trees. Among the Seven Families, only we possess such trees.”

It was Baron Namia.

He stuck close to Yustea’s side, chattering noisily.

“The carriage earlier too. The other carriages had their wheels damaged, but the carriage we rode was unharmed. That’s all because it’s a carriage made from those Sacred Trees.”

“….”

“Such carriages aren’t easy to ride in. There are things you can’t buy no matter how much money you have. Could those vulgar Cuaron bastards even let you see such a carriage? Hahaha!”

“….”

Though he babbled on about everything, when no response came from Yustea, he frowned.

‘What kind of kid is so silent?’

She was as quiet as if her mouth were sealed.

Just clutching some paper bag tightly.

She held it so preciously that the bag was all wrinkled.

Come to think of it, when the servant offered to carry it for her, she had shaken her head.

‘Is she carrying some great treasure? Wait, treasure?’

It was famous that Duke Esgaroth and his son cherished Yustea.

If they had given it to her, it must be something incredible.

At that thought, he gulped.

‘Just how amazing could it be.’

Baron Namia cleared his throat and said.

“Well… it’s not proper for a noble young lady to be clutching such a thing. You’ll be called uncultured, so let me keep it safe…”

The moment Baron Namia placed his hand on the paper bag.

Startled, Yustea hurriedly hugged the bag to herself.

“N-no…”

Baron Namia was convinced.

‘It must be something like a holy relic.’

Esgaroth must have earnestly warned her never to let it fall into others’ hands.

That’s why she was clutching it so desperately in her own hands.

Baron Namia inwardly cheered.

‘Stupid Esgaroth bastards. What does a child know that they’d give her such a precious thing?’

Such things should be in the hands of adults who know their value.

Baron Namia slyly looked around at the people.

Everyone was exhausted and no one was looking this way.

Count Andres was conversing with Marquis Rochette, the head of his vassals, and Baron Yopis.

‘Good opportunity.’

Baron Namia grabbed Yustea tightly.

“Not all holy relics are great things. Some have bad magic cast on them. I’ll check it for you, so hand it over.”

“No…”

“Don’t be like that. I’m saying this out of concern for the Young Lady!”

Baron Namia grabbed the paper bag.

Startled, Yustea instinctively pushed the baron away.

The baron, who had been crouching, tumbled over.

Sparks flew from the baron’s eyes.

“What are you doing…!”

It was the moment the excited baron was about to slam his palm against the ground.

“What’s happening.”

“Young Lady?”

The vassals began looking over after hearing the commotion.

Baron Namia flinched.

Even Count Andres was now looking at him.

“Ah, well… it’s nothing serious. The Young Lady suddenly got excited and pushed me unreasonably.”

“What do you mean…”

When the vassals looked puzzled, the baron quickly changed his expression.

“The journey must have been hard on her. She seemed annoyed at being looked after and suddenly got excited.”

“The child must have been tired. But even so, that’s no excuse. How uncultured to push someone like that.”

The other vassals frowned.

Baron Namia laughed with a haha, pretending to be good-natured.

“She seems to have already learned bad things from those Irregular bastards.”

“Well, she was involved with such people.”

“Good grief.”

The vassals frowned.

As the atmosphere grew sharp, Yustea flinched and hunched her shoulders.

Baron Namia dusted off his hands, stood up, and approached Yustea.

“Bad hand habits are very vulgar. You should reflect on this.”

Then, as if forgiving her, he took Yustea’s hand and looked at Count Andres.

“It seems the Young Lady’s education is urgently needed. If you entrust her to me, the party involved in this incident, I’ll teach the Young Lady splendidly.”

The vassals’ gazes also turned to the count.

‘A tutor is needed. We can’t entrust the Young Lady to Baron Yopis again.’

‘He’s also someone who knows how to repay favors.’

Thinking this way, the vassals began supporting Baron Namia.

“The Namia Baron family has been in charge of heir education for generations. In the past, they couldn’t take care of the Young Lady because the previous generation was ill, so please give them a chance now.”

“I also agree that a teacher should be appointed quickly. If she’s learned violent things from the assassination squad, it must be corrected immediately.”

Count Andres quietly looked at Baron Namia.

Baron Namia was full of anticipation.

‘No immediate opposition is coming.’

He thinks it’s not a bad option.

‘If I become the Saint’s teacher…!’

He could influence the temple and the imperial court.

If that happened, he wouldn’t just be a vassal of Andres, but would rise as a power holder of the Empire.

“If you entrust her to me, I’ll make sure the Young Lady can never return to Esgaroth—!”

It was when the excited baron raised his voice.

“Education isn’t urgent… (Education isn’t urgent.)”

Yustea mumbled.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Yustea at once.

Yustea fidgeted with her hands and said.

“Education… since it’s the subject, you shouldn’t honorific it… (Education… since it’s the subject, you shouldn’t use honorifics.)”

“…!”

People flinched.

Come to think of it, Baron Namia had just said…

“It seems the Young Lady’s education is urgently needed.”

He had said such a thing.

Everyone had missed this part while focusing on Yustea’s tutor role.

Baron Yopis, who had been Yustea’s former tutor, chuckled.

“Yes, when a concept is the subject, you shouldn’t use honorifics. That’s common sense.”

“Th-that was a mistake…!”

‘That damn girl!’

Baron Namia’s face turned bright red from being humiliated in front of not only the vassals but also knights and servants.

He desperately looked at the count.

“Th-the important thing right now isn’t that…!”

That’s when it happened.

[Though the flesh may die and decay, through history… it shall live for eternity.]

An eerie sound echoed throughout.

Goosebumps rose on my skin as if touched by frost.

This sensation of all strength draining from my body…

The knights shouted out.

“Draw swords! Protect the lord! It’s a Ghost—!”

‘What?’

‘A Ghost?!’

Not only the retainers but even the servants turned pale and screamed.

One of the retainers shouted.

“H-how could a Ghost appear in the mausoleum!”

Of course, Ghosts were monsters that spawned in graveyards.

But there had never been a Ghost appearing in Andres’s mausoleum.

Marquis Rochette, the head of the retainers, hurriedly looked at Count Andres.

‘It’s because there’s no guardian stone.’

Guardian stones absorb the negative energy of graveyards.

With that guardian stone gone, the mausoleum filled with negative energy, resulting in the Ghost’s creation.

And it was the Ghost of Andres’s past lords.

‘The past lords of Andres possessed powerful magic.’

Due to the barrier, powerful magic would have remained in the corpses.

It would be incomparably stronger than ordinary Ghosts.

“Magic swordsmen, deploy the barrier… Aaaaah!”

The captain giving orders to the knights screamed as soon as the Ghost revealed itself.

His skin twisted from the powerful negative energy.

“Wh-what kind of Ghost is this size…”

“Ah, aah…”

People paralyzed with fear collapsed on the spot.

Trembling all over was natural, and some even wet themselves.

The Ghost they faced was massive, like an entire building moving.

[Though the flesh may die and decay, through history… it shall live for eternity.]

And there wasn’t just one.

[Under the ancestors’ banner, for the descendants’ pride.]

[Ah, An-Andres… don’t, don’t abandon…]

[With, with, with the last breath, for, for, for the Empire.]

Following the giant Ghost, other Ghosts began to appear.

“We, we need to run… we need to escape…”

One retainer muttered with a trembling voice.

‘But where to?’

The carriages and horses were left at the entrance.

The mausoleum had a powerful barrier deployed.

Thus, only the lord who inherited the ‘key’s spell’ could enter the mausoleum.

Without the lord, even Imperial soldiers couldn’t enter.

The Ghost boasted tremendous power.

It devoured Andres’s knights and finally reached the Count.

The powerful negative energy made even Count Andres collapse.

“My lord!”

Marquis Rochette, the head of Andres’s retainers, shouted.

That was the moment.

“No, no. No.”

From where everyone was cowering in fear, someone waddled toward Count Andres, Rohan.

And tightly embraced Rohan’s head.

It was Yustea.

“Daddy no…”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

‘That fool…!’

Baron Yopis, Yustea’s teacher, furrowed his brow.

Had she gone mad with a death wish!

To rush at a Ghost that even Andres’s knights couldn’t handle.

But there was something unknown to him and everyone present.

Something even young Yustea herself didn’t know.

[Though the flesh may die and decay…? Kiiiiaaah—!!]

[What the hell! You’re dead!]

Yustea—she was the Ghost squad’s top enforcer.

—————
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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