How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 175

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Replace a Father
175
The sound originated from beyond the window.
Even amid the chaos, Marquis Esgaroth and Aslan remained unruffled.
As if they had known all along.
‘Surely not.’
The Minister of Ilfarm hurried toward the window.
Outside, an enormous contingent of Imperial Soldiers escorted a group of people across the courtyard.
Whether guard or escort, those moving in formation bore the Inverted Cross Symbol embroidered on their collars.
The Inverted Cross.
The mark of the Irregulars.
“How could the Irregulars be at the Imperial Palace—!”
The Minister’s voice rose sharply.
Marquis Esgaroth lifted his teacup with casual ease.
“I bring my granddaughter’s words, Your Highness.”
“And those are?”
“A secret is only a weakness while it remains buried.”
“…Ah, I see.”
The Minister’s face hardened into stone, while Terrius burst into laughter.
‘Rather than be used, you’ve decided to uncover the secret yourself?’
They had Prince Luciano, who faced no rivals for the succession, as their ally.
The Emperor himself would naturally seize such military strength if it came walking through his doors of its own accord.
The nobles, too, would struggle to demand harsh punishment for the Irregulars.
Not when the realm faced turmoil within and without.
‘…Since Ilfarm threatens the Empire.’
When chaos reigns abroad, unity tightens at home.
In other words…
“You’ve made excellent use of me, haven’t you.”
Merely standing within the Palace would be threat enough to the Empire’s nobility.
“My granddaughter has one more message.”
“What might that be?”
Aslan crossed his legs as he spoke.
“You said you couldn’t win.”
“Your Highness’s specialty is adapting circumstances. But mine is refusing to discriminate—I’ll do what it takes.”
“You….”
“Which means you cannot defeat me.”
The Minister’s face flushed a violent crimson with humiliation.
“How, how dare you—!”
Terrius blocked the enraged Minister with one arm and spoke.
“I concede. You’ve won. …This time.”
The corners of Marquis Esgaroth’s and Aslan’s mouths rose.
Father and son alike, their smiles curved at precisely the same angle.
* * *
The Imperial Palace was thrown into upheaval.
Not merely the palace staff, but princes and princesses, empresses themselves came forward to witness the spectacle.
The nobles overseeing the diplomatic protocol for the Ilfarm delegation were no exception.
The clamor threatening to burst erupted suddenly into silence.
The Emperor had appeared alongside the central nobles.
A black-haired man with grey eyes, bearing the Inverted Cross upon his back, prostrated himself before the Emperor.
“Vice Leader of the Irregulars, Lorenzo Wors. I pay respects to Your Majesty.”
At Lorenzo’s opening, the Elite of the Irregulars knelt and responded in unison.
“We pay respects to Your Majesty!”
“We pay respects to Your Majesty!”
The Unit Members prostrated themselves as one.
The diplomatic nobles murmured among themselves.
“These are really the Irregulars…?”
“They must be.”
“Good heavens….”
Who did not know the Irregulars’ name?
How many had fallen to them?
From mages versed in ancient sorcery to the wielders of absolute power.
There was no life the Irregulars did not claim.
Roji Olvera of the diplomatic unit let out an astonished laugh upon seeing the Irregulars’ faces.
“These are Yustea’s knights….”
“What?”
“Did you say what now?”
The startled diplomatic unit turned to look at those standing behind the man who had identified himself as Vice Leader.
‘It really is them!’
Faces seen at the Family Ceremony.
Each one possessed extraordinary skill.
Where had such formidable fighters been hiding all this time? They were with the Irregulars.
“Wait, then….”
Romeban Olvera, Roji’s brother, had been murmuring to himself.
The crowd parted once more, and new figures emerged.
Aslan, the illegitimate child of Marquis Esgaroth.
And Yustea.
The two stood before the Irregulars’ Vice Leader, facing the Emperor.
Yustea bowed first.
And Aslan….
“Leader of the Irregulars, Aslan. I pay respects to Your Majesty.”
“…!!”
“…!!!”
What?!
A tremendous roar erupted.
Palace staff, nobility, royalty—all cried out in astonishment.
“J-just now… just now—!”
“The Leader of the Irregulars?!”
“T-that can’t be!”
While all descended into chaos, the Emperor smiled.
‘Yes, the Irregulars’ existence was always meant to come to light eventually.’
Better then to disarm oneself and confess voluntarily.
And the timing of the confession had been well chosen.
Who at this moment would not welcome the Irregulars’ military strength?
‘And the timing was likely set by….’
The Emperor regarded Yustea, bowing beside Aslan.
‘That girl, surely.’
More impressive with each passing moment.
She truly was the perfect choice for a daughter-in-law.
The Emperor spoke, a satisfied smile playing at his lips.
“Seize these lawbreakers.”
Daughter-in-law or not, a matter was a matter.
* * *
The Irregulars were taken into custody.
Father among them, of course.
I nodded and looked into the Prison Cell.
The Irregulars seemed delighted.
They looked as though they were enjoying a vacation despite their arrest.
‘Father’s status seems to have earned him a nicer cell.’
The Elite were there in the Prison as well.
Suddenly I found myself the one rushing about to manage provisions for them all.
I discreetly extended my purse to the Prison Warden guarding the Underground Prison.
“Please see that they’re fed well. It shouldn’t come to torture, but just in case—ensure there are no lasting aftereffects.”
“This is… well, if it’s for the Saint, then… that’s rather difficult….”
I withdrew another purse.
“Even so….”
I withdrew yet another.
The Warden cleared his throat, glanced about nervously, and accepted the purses with a whisper of fabric.
A man whose eyes light up at coin will certainly take good care of them to extract more later.
I nodded and climbed the Stairs.
Luciano, who had been waiting at the Entrance above ground, spoke.
“You bribe the Warden openly, knowing I’m here?”
“This entire imprisonment is just for show anyway.”
“We can’t leave the Assassination Squad entirely unpunished.”
“Of course.”
“His Majesty said he’d release them when the time is right. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“You’re not, yet you still bribe the Warden?”
I looked at Luciano with weary eyes.
“If we don’t feed them well, they might cause trouble….”
“Ah.”
“They’ll stay quiet if fed properly….”
Antonio’s Unit especially.
Luciano let out a rueful laugh.
“You’ve got your hands full.”
I sighed and walked alongside Luciano.
“I don’t want them in Prison long. I want to avoid further turmoil. So—could I attend the Privy Council meeting?”
I needed to understand the tone of the meeting to plan our next moves.
Just then, Luciano’s hand rested atop my head.
I flinched, and he smiled.
“Leave this to me and Marquis Esgaroth.”
“….”
“Don’t try to shoulder everything alone.”
“….”
“Remember that there are people you can lean on now.”
“….”
When I fell silent, Luciano tilted his head slightly.
“Why?”
I glanced quietly about, sharper-eyed even than the Warden pocketing his bribes.
Then, just for a moment, I drew Luciano into an embrace before releasing him.
Luciano’s eyes widened.
But I walked quickly ahead without another word.
Behind me, Luciano called out.
“You can’t just leave like that. What’s the sequel?”
“There is none.”
“Isn’t that too short as payment?”
“It wasn’t payment.”
“Let me see your face. Your ears are already crimson—no use running away now.”
His tone held barely concealed amusement.
I covered my ears with both hands and hurried away.
“Stop teasing. I have a schedule!”
“There’s a diplomatic event!”
Quiet chuckles followed me from behind.
* * *
When I returned to the Princess’s Palace, Guinevere approached.
“Yustea….”
Guinevere looked thoroughly exhausted.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing but trouble.”
Guinevere grumbled and glanced into the Princess’s Palace.
“The delegation’s mood is sour—they’re being difficult about every schedule.”
“Why?”
“Why else? All their objectives for coming to the Empire have fallen through.”
The delegation must be seething.
Eight hundred Mana Stones they’d brought to flaunt were seized entirely.
The Saint slipped through their fingers.
And the Emperor was using the Irregulars incident as an excuse to sidestep all uncomfortable conversations.
Guinevere continued with a sullen expression.
“The diplomatic unit’s insulted as well—things are spiraling beyond control.”
“So the delegation’s raising that much of a fuss?”
“They suddenly insisted on going to the Port.”
“What? The escort won’t be properly prepared.”
“Exactly. But we can’t forcibly refuse. They have a legitimate reason—wanting to inspect the trade routes.”
“Hmm….”
“So, would you go with them?”
With my Nullification, any crisis that arose would spare the delegation harm.
“Alright. Is the delegation ready?”
“…No.”
“Then…?”
“They already left thirty minutes ago….”
Guinevere laughed awkwardly.
So they’d been waiting for me because the situation was urgent.
“I’m sorry—!”
Guinevere pressed her palms together pleadingly.
‘There’s no help for it.’
I took the memo with the travel route and accepted it.
Guinevere waved me off, saying she’d follow once she gathered reinforcements.
With that, I set out for the Port.
* * *
Roji Olvera narrowed her eyes as she adjusted her sword hilt.
Her brother Romeban clicked his tongue in disapproval, his gaze piercing.
“What are you doing gripping your sword hilt where the delegation can see?”
“Oh, my mistake. Just the overwhelming urge to cut that delegation to ribbons.”
At Roji’s words, Romeban sighed as if afflicted.
But the other diplomatic nobles shared Roji’s expression, glaring fiercely at the delegation’s retreating forms.
“If the chance comes, I’ll personally go as envoy to Ilfarm next time.”
“Yes, let’s see how beautifully you conduct the protocols.”
Particularly, a young boy from the diplomatic unit who’d endured the ordeal spoke through tears.
“When I’m part of the delegation, I’ll knock those rat bastards’ front teeth clean out….”
Then a tall girl from the diplomatic unit, her expression serene, spoke.
“Damn them….”
“….”
“….”
The diplomatic boys and girls flinched.
Hearing a pair of curses from the mouth of a gentle disciple famous for her grace had left them bewildered.
Roji shrugged her shoulders.
“Why so shocked? Even a great saint would curse seeing such behavior.”
Whether the diplomatic unit harbored resentment or not, the Ilfarm delegation enjoyed the Port cheerfully.
“It was worth the Portal journey.”
“Hah, such a fine place—a pity to waste on the Empire.”
While the delegation basked in sightseeing, the Minister approached Terrius.
“We’ve made contact with ‘them.’ They await at the Abandoned Lighthouse.”
There was reason for insisting on the Port visit.
This place was the rendezvous point with ‘them.’
Terrius regarded the Minister.
“Can we lose the diplomatic unit?”
“A disturbance will soon occur. Slip away in the chaos.”
Terrius nodded.
The Minister of Ilfarm checked his pocket watch.
That moment came.
“Kyaaaah—!”
“W-what’s happening! Ahhh!”
Screams erupted across the Port.
A swarm of flying monsters had appeared.
The diplomatic unit seized weapons in panic.
“Protect the delegation!”
Flying monsters descended like an arrow storm.
With vision obscured, the diplomatic unit and Imperial guard faltered, unable to form ranks.
Explosive Magic Devices couldn’t be deployed for the delegation’s safety.
Terrius smiled faintly.
‘The strategy Yustea used in the Competition.’
Indeed, adopting any advantage made one strong.
Terrius quickly fled through the monster swarm.
Before slipping away, he didn’t forget to change his coat.
His destination: the Abandoned Lighthouse.
He mounted a horse the Minister had positioned beforehand and galloped hard.
Soon the destination came into view.
He tied the horse outside the Lighthouse and entered.
Climbing the spiral Stairs to the Rooftop, a hooded figure awaited.
Terrius spoke.
“Are you Narvan, the elder of the Imperial Restoration Council?”
The figure pulled back his hood.
A deeply wrinkled face was revealed, like skin turned inside out.
“I greet Prince Terrius of Ilfarm.”
“You wished to join hands with me?”
Narvan smiled thinly.
“Precisely with Ilfarm, rather.”
“Your tone is cryptic. …Your intent intrigues me.”
As Terrius frowned, Narvan laughed.
“You are as keen-witted as rumored. Thus my lord worries.”
“Worries how?”
“If so brilliant a prince becomes Crown Prince, and ultimately ascends the throne…?”
“….”
“Should he prove unwilling to follow our designs, there’s little point including Your Highness in an Ilfarm arrangement.”
“Should it not be me?”
“My lord has judged the Third Prince most suitable for seizing the Ilfarm throne.”
At that moment, soldiers poured in from behind, swords and bows trained on Terrius.
‘How troublesome.’
The smile vanished from Terrius’s face.
“Go peacefully, Your Highness.”
Narvan smiled.
“That’s why I said you needed an escort!”
A familiar voice called from the Sky.
The person who came flying down, clutching a bird’s leg—!
“Yustea?”
“This is a debt. Remember it!”
Yustea landed smoothly.

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