How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 182

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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 Father
Episode 182
Abel’s barrier enveloped our party in a hemispherical shield.
It could protect us temporarily, but the assault from those who had manifested patterns was relentless.
A figure wreathed in powerful electricity crashed hard against Abel’s barrier.
Crackle-crack-crack—!
A sharp sound accompanied the formation of cracks across Abel’s barrier.
Through the gaps, a user of fire magic hurled blazing projectiles like cannon fire.
But that wasn’t all.
There was someone whose body flowed like liquid.
The liquified form undulated, wrapping around Abel’s barrier.
The area it touched was corroding steadily.
‘This is formidable.’
Power on par with the Black Cloud.
Especially the one causing the corrosion—their power was more fearsome than the Black Cloud I’d faced before.
The fire mage and the electricity user managed only to create cracks through several attacks.
But the corrosion user was different.
Degradation begins the moment they make contact.
With a liquified body, physical attacks would be entirely ineffective.
‘Each of the pattern manifesters possesses vastly different power.’
If just a few more reached the level of that corrosion user….
A chill ran down my spine.
Even now, the soldiers of the Reconstruction Council were rushing into battle, being influenced by the pattern manifesters.
“I too… I too….”
They were in the process of creating a narrative sufficient to manifest a pattern.
The fire mage shouted.
“You who lived every day in a fairy tale could never speak of justice—!”
Then Abel spoke with an expressionless face.
“A fairy tale…?”
“Yes, you enjoyed things we could never even dream of—!”
“I was taken as a small child with no memories, my body torn to shreds. When I was near death, they kept me alive with every sickening method imaginable. Then, when tomorrow came, my body was torn apart again.”
“….”
“Where is the fairy tale in that…?”
Abel looked at me and asked.
The fire mage swallowed hard.
“The Imperial Court failed to protect its people properly, so you suffered such pain! Then why do you take their side?”
“Because they give me snacks.”
“What, what?”
“Really delicious ones. Made by that person.”
Abel pointed at me with a fingertip.
“Surely… surely that’s not the only reason?”
“Is there something wrong with that reason…?”
The fire mage, the electricity user, even the corrosion user all hesitated.
The soldiers of the Reconstruction Council looked equally nonplussed.
“I like eating delicious food and taking afternoon naps. That woman there—even though she has an awful personality normally, when I’m sleeping she mutters and tucks me in with a blanket.”
I was speaking of Yuise.
“There’s another one with a terrible personality, but even while cursing, if I ask her something she doesn’t understand, she explains it to me.”
That was Cesar.
Cesar flinched.
“There’s an idiot. I dislike that he covets my snacks, but sometimes he shares his own with me.”
That was Antonio.
Antonio puffed up proudly and said, “I shared a sandwich with him last time.”
“The Clan Leader is loud. He yells every day. It’s bothersome when he wails about operations expenses being depleted because of his subordinates’ blunders.”
The Clan Leader coughed awkwardly.
“But when the Leader leaves me collapsed somewhere, he always picks me up and puts me to bed.”
Miliano chuckled at the continued words and asked.
“What about me?”
“You’re good because you give snacks. Whenever we meet, you always pull cookies or something from your pocket.”
“I should carry more then. Ha ha.”
There was a reason Miliano had deliberately asked.
As the soldiers of the Reconstruction Council listened to Abel’s words, they grew increasingly flustered.
To them, we were villains.
But in Abel’s account, we were very ordinary people.
Simply people striving to protect our daily lives.
‘The boundary between enemies is blurring in the minds of the Reconstruction Council soldiers.’
In other words, their narrative was weakening.
Abel opened his mouth again.
“That’s why I chose to be here.”
It was that moment.
Irregular .
♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♡♡♡
A pattern may be granted.
Will you grant it?
“…!”
I immediately resolved to grant it.
But something was strange.
Unlike when I granted a pattern to Luciano, a different window appeared.
*Master Panel*
Will you grant the system?
-Upon granting, Player Conversion becomes possible
‘What is this?’
Grant a system?
And become a player doing so?
I looked at Luciano.
‘Come to think of it, Luciano did receive a system.’
This seemed to be a new ability I’d obtained from the GM.
Me becoming a GM.
‘It’s better to have a system than not to have one.’
I decided to grant the system.
Then….
[The Watcher’s Lottery takes an interest in Irregular .
The Watcher’s Lottery bestows its blessing.]
The moment the window vanished, a pattern of crossed swords appeared on Abel’s forehead.
Abel froze.
He appeared to be staring into empty space. Probably looking at the system window.
Then….
“Like this…?”
He murmured and traced a holy sign in the air.
What happened next was extraordinary.
Strange liquid masses materialized countless times, and they swiftly transformed into human shapes.
[Protect the Sect Leader….]
[Pro, protect the Sect Leader….]
[Annihilate the corrupt one….]
“What, what is this?”
“How did this—!”
“What…?”
Both allies and enemies were shocked by the suddenly appearing forces.
But I understood.
The Watcher’s Lottery that had blessed Abel was a constellation I knew well!
Game players typically expressed it this way after receiving the Watcher’s Lottery blessing:
[Got the Watcher’s Lottery ๑´ ³`)ﾉ]
[Finally got Watcher’s Lottery at 391 tries ㅠㅠ]
[We got the Watcher’s Lottery on our Gaspard ㅎㅎ I’ve heard the mage+Watcher combo is good but a mother just wants to put it on her favorite ㅎㅎㅎ]
[I desperately want it. Watcher’s Lottery….]
[Why doesn’t the Watcher’s work on clerics ㅠㅠ I heard it procs in the social route so I decorated it nicely with ribbons and waited with my heart racing but it won’t come no matter what..]
└[Ah, did you think the lottery was easy to land? Don’t even dream of 300 tries or less]
└[What’s 300 tries? I’m here at over 500 tries and I’ve given up ㅠ ㅂㅂㅂ]
└[Just how many regression items did you use ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
└[I broke my wedding savings. Mother has only Luciano as a son-in-law in this life..]
It was a constellation that didn’t grant its blessing easily enough to be called that.
Since I couldn’t use regression items as if playing a game, I’d already given up on the Watcher’s Lottery entirely….
‘Abel, you beautiful thing. You clever one!’
I watched the situation unfold with excitement, thinking that as soon as I returned, I’d stuff him with snacks until he was full.
The Watcher’s Lottery summons the doctrine of otherworldly dimensions.
Which meant all that tremendous military force belonged to Abel.
The soldiers of the Reconstruction Council flinched.
Shocked by the massive military presence.
I shouted to Father in this opening.
“Father!”
Father’s blade flashed again.
Boom—!
With an enormous thunderous sound, the Reconstruction Council’s barrier finally shattered.
We immediately began running.
Abel’s followers held back the Reconstruction Council’s soldiers, so no one was pursuing us.
That way we managed to escape the harbor city.
As we passed through the mountain range encircling the harbor city, dawn began to break.
Not a single person had fallen. We’d escaped safely.
Which meant….
“We’ve won!”
“Hurray—!”
Watching my companions cheer, I smiled softly.
* * *
With the help of the local nobility who came to greet us, we were able to borrow horses and a carriage.
When we arrived at the Archipelago, we were welcomed by the people like victors in a triumph.
“The Irregulars! Empire’s strongest!”
“The Irregulars—!”
“Heroes of reversal who dispelled the empire’s darkness with just thirty people!”
Most of the cheers were for the Irregulars.
Roji, watching the commotion from the carriage, clicked her tongue.
“We suffered right alongside them.”
Romeban laughed softly.
“Still, without the Irregulars, we wouldn’t have reached the Archipelago safely.”
Roji snorted but said nothing more.
It was a second-hand version of reluctant agreement.
I tilted my head.
‘They’re cheering this loudly even so?’
No matter how I looked at it, we were the assassination squad that had shaken the continent—hadn’t the reaction changed dramatically?
My curiosity was answered when we arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Thanks to the different protocol offered by those who welcomed us.
Once they learned that Father was the Leader of the Irregulars, the protocol officers who had avoided me before now clung to me with excitement.
“The Irregulars eliminated the empire’s enemies from the shadows, didn’t they?”
“I’m sorry. I pointed fingers at you without knowing anything.”
“…?”
I blinked.
We’d just been trying to earn money.
We weren’t specifically targeting the empire’s enemies.
But from afar, Grandfather winked at me with one eye.
‘Ah.’
Now that I thought about it, we had Grandfather.
The ruler of the North.
No matter what pressure was applied, the reason the Imperial Court couldn’t touch Esgaroth was because of Grandfather’s political power.
Grandfather must have packaged the Irregulars well to shift the tide.
‘The victory at the harbor certainly played a major role.’
People love a heroic narrative.
The Emperor was greatly pleased that Ilfarm’s envoys and the heirs of the Noble Families returned alive.
So much so that he immediately ordered the release of the Irregulars for their service.
It was truly an event that left us with a significant favor.
‘But one thing remains.’
I glanced at Terriars.
Just because we’d earned a favor doesn’t mean I could overlook the one who caused us this hardship.
* * *
The moment Terriars arrived at the Young Prince’s Palace, Stella came running.
Before she could be stopped, she threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face, and asked.
“Are you all right? You’re not injured anywhere, are you? You have no idea how worried I was….”
“I’m safe, so there’s no need to worry.”
Seeing Terriars smile gently, Stella let out a relieved sigh.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to go to the harbor right away, but….”
“The portal was broken, so it couldn’t have been easy.”
“I couldn’t believe how painful it was not to protect you, Your Highness….”
Tears fell ceaselessly from her large eyes.
‘I’m so glad you’re safe.’
It had been a dreadful night.
I trembled in fear all night, terrified of what would happen if Terriars died.
“I realized just how precious you are to me—.”
She was saying that much when—
“Your Highness.”
Iparam’s Envoy approached.
“The Saint wishes to speak with you.”
Iparam’s Envoy glanced at Yustea.
As Yustea approached upon receiving his gaze, Stella’s brow furrowed.
“You’ve only just returned. After such suffering, surely rest should come first?”
“What you suffered is not yours alone. There are things that must be resolved before resting.”
“But…!”
Terriars gently separated from Stella.
Then, smiling gently, he faced Yustea.
“How much are you planning to scold me? We suffered together, so couldn’t you compromise?”
“That’s not something the person responsible should say.”
“I preferred it when you spoke more freely.”
“The setting calls for formality.”
Stella flinched and looked at Yustea.
‘What on earth happened in a single day?’
Terriars was treating Yustea very comfortably.
With a warmth of affection she had never seen from him.
“If… Your Highness, since you must be unwell, let me attend to you….”
It was then.
Yustea’s Communication Stone glimmered.
[I’ve prepared a place in my palace.]
It was Luciano’s voice.
Terriars nodded.
“Go to Luciano Palace.”
Yustea and Terriars departed together.
Stella quickly followed after them.
“Wait, Your Highness!”
Terriars and Yustea turned to look at her as she left the Young Prince’s Palace.
Terriars wore an awkward smile.
“There’s no need for you to come. Rest.”
“But….”
“You haven’t slept all night. This isn’t something you need to be part of.”
“I….”
Stella spoke, gripping her skirts tightly.
“I’m anxious!”
“What?”
“Because Yustea is there….”
“Stella, this isn’t—.”
“I don’t want to lose you!”
Stella swallowed hard.
She knew it wasn’t a pretty sight.
But Terriars appreciated her honest self more than someone who concealed and packaged their true feelings.
So this time too….
“That’s becoming a nuisance now.”
…What?
“Your Highness….”
“Stella, I’m not your parent.”
“What?”
“It means I can’t give you unconditional, infinite affection. I have my own life to live.”
“….”
“And I’m not an object. I can’t be stolen or lost. I’m a person.”
Terriars shrugged.
Stella froze, still gripping her skirts.
Yustea let out a sigh.
“There seems to be more to discuss. I’ll go on ahead.”
It was then.
“…Why do you always get in my way?”
Stella muttered, her head bowed.
“Why do you take away everything I desperately want!”
Stella, having lost her composure, raised her hand.

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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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