How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 184

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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
Chapter 184
“The Priority Trading Right for Mana Stones is obvious. But one more thing.”
“I expected the trading right. But one more, you say?”
“It’s….”
When I stated what I wanted, Terriars’s expression hardened.
The smile vanishing from his face made it clear how enormous this second demand was from his perspective.
“Do you understand what that means?”
“Of course.”
“Then you know I can never agree to it. Even if I weighed it against my life and that of my subordinates, it would be far too much.”
Terriars’s voice turned cold.
“What if I made the plague tormenting Ilfarm disappear?”
“…What?”
“If you add the lives of the common people to the balance, this wouldn’t be such an unfavorable trade for you.”
“Are you saying you’ll come to Ilfarm?”
“I don’t need to go myself. I know what the plague actually is.”
Thud!
Terriars pushed off from the table and stood.
The plague had been such a headache that he’d personally brought countless Mana Stones all the way to the Empire.
It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Luciano glanced at me sideways.
As if asking whether I really knew.
‘I know.’
The moment I heard the plague had broken out near the Mana Stone mines, I’d grasped its nature.
It was something that had appeared in the game.
“Will you make the deal?”
“…Fine.”
Luciano set down a Covenant Contract before Terriars.
It was a powerful magic conducted through the lives of those who made the agreement.
On the Covenant Contract, we wrote the Priority Trading Right for Mana Stones along with the second demand.
Then Terriars and I drew blood from our fingertips and pressed our seals.
A pale luminescence spread around the Covenant Contract.
Soon it inscribed the seal of the covenant onto both our wrists.
Though it faded as if absorbed into the skin.
“What is the plague, then?”
Terriars asked with urgency.
I answered, leaning back deeply in my chair.
“It’s not a plague. It’s Mana Poison.”
“What?”
“What?”
Terriars and Luciano stared at me simultaneously.
I spoke casually.
“An unprecedented powerful Mana Stone appears, and a plague breaks out alongside it. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
“Surely not….”
I nodded at Terriars’s words.
“It’s evolved into a powerful Mana Stone by absorbing human mana. There’s a set amount of mana absorbed by the stone, and the excess mana lingering in the air mingles and affects people.”
“So?”
“Move the people in the nearby areas. That alone would be enough to save lives.”
“But the miners in the mines will be affected. Without miners, Mana Stone extraction becomes impossible—they’ll eventually die.”
“True enough.”
“The miners are also the people of Ilfarm. I cannot let them die without understanding why….”
Terriars’s face twisted in anguish.
‘The makings of a good king, I suppose.’
I answered with a calm tone.
“Then simply don’t use miners. Ilfarm can do this, can’t it?”
“…!”
Terriars’s eyes widened at those words.
I smiled.
“Use the mechanical soldiers I deployed in the match with Stella and have them repaired to replace the miners.”
“….”
“As a great magic power like Ilfarm, surely you can do this?”
“….”
Terriars looked at me with trembling eyes.
And then….
“…!”
“…?”
He bowed his head to Luciano and me.
It was not a gesture a prince of a nation could easily make.
“What are you….”
At my words, Terriars answered.
“Whenever I need to become cunning, I’ll remember this trip to the Empire. So long as I draw breath, the friendship between the Empire and Ilfarm shall never be severed.”
Luciano and I exchanged glances.
Luciano let out a sigh.
“Let the Empire remember too that you are a trustworthy man. So why don’t you lift your head?”
“I’ll also remember that the Empire’s prince is quite shy.”
“…Get lost.”
As Terriars chuckled softly, Luciano’s expression hardened.
I laughed quietly.
I decided to let go of my frustration about the Ilfarm situation.
I hadn’t lost anything, and in fact, I’d made quite a gain.
And….
‘Luciano has gained a good friend.’
“I’ve hidden away a bottle of liquor meant as a gift for His Majesty the Emperor. How about it today, Prince of the Empire?”
“I haven’t reached my birthday yet.”
At the mention of still being a minor, Terriars laughed heartily.
“Even if you’re this dull, would that be alright, Yustea? I’m much more fun.”
“Shut up and get lost.”
…Is he a bad friend?
I made the expression of someone watching their son’s rowdy companion, then shrugged as I watched the two men bicker.
Either way, both of them seemed to have a path toward succession that felt a little less lonely.
* * *
A few days later.
The day came for Ilfarm’s delegation to return home.
Throughout the Royal Guest Palace, envoys and protocol staff were exchanging final farewells.
“It’s a mechanical doll. Ilfarm nobles often keep them as pets. It’s a gift.”
“Are you speaking to me?”
“An apology for the inconvenience we’ve caused you during this time. I especially bothered you.”
“You did realize it. I’d even been saving up spending money to hire an assassin. I was thinking of requesting it from the Irregulars…!”
“I’m so, so sorry.”
It was the same elsewhere.
“If you come to Ilfarm… well… you’re welcome to visit our house.”
“What? No, please don’t worry about it! I just don’t want to see you ever again!”
The protocol girl, declining with a shy expression, had the Ilfarm envoy hastily remove his family crest brooch and shove it into her hands.
“Well, uh, I’m sorry for being so forceful. And… for that time at the port, when you risked your life to protect me—I’ll definitely repay that debt someday….”
And with that, the young Ilfarm envoy hurried away.
The protocol girl laughed as she tossed the brooch aside, though her smile wasn’t particularly unpleasant.
“You worked hard as the representative of the protocol staff. When the Heiress comes to Ilfarm, I’ll take on the protocol duties.”
“Then I’ll make sure to cause you great trouble.”
“Ha ha, I’m looking forward to it.”
From the incident at the port, a bond had formed between the Ilfarm envoys and the protocol staff.
They no longer remained as annoying Empire folk, arrogant and obsessed with throwing their weight around.
The Ilfarm Chancellor, watching the situation outside through a gap in the door, let out a sigh.
“We return home having suffered only losses. We go without even receiving any kindness.”
“Is that so for the Chancellor?”
Terriars answered softly as he put on his coat.
“I gained something.”
He gazed at Yustea and Luciano outside the window.
“Are you not missing the Saint?”
When Terriars turned around, the Ilfarm Chancellor spoke.
“Don’t pretend otherwise. After watching you for so long, don’t you think I know? You’ve fallen for her.”
“What….”
It was his first love in life.
Looking back, it seemed he’d felt affection for her from the moment he saved her when she was being hunted by assassins.
And upon meeting her again, he’d realized his heart was stirred.
Terriars, gazing steadily at Yustea outside the window, laughed.
“The opponent is so formidable, after all.”
“And what of your competitive spirit?”
Suddenly, his gaze met Luciano’s.
The corners of Terriars’s mouth lifted.
“But the future is uncertain.”
“A Saint as Crown Princess. It’s a fine phrase.”
Luciano, sensing something, frowned sharply.
‘He’s gaining friends.’
His smile was infinitely gentle.
The Ilfarm delegation’s visit to the Empire thus came to an end.
* * *
The Ilfarm envoys departed.
After all the protocol staff and imperial family exchanged farewells and dispersed, I gave my shoulders a shake.
‘That was an exhausting schedule.’
While I was thinking that, an arm settled across my shoulders.
It was Roji and Guinevere.
“The protocol staff are throwing an after-party. You’re coming too, right?”
“That Restoration Council soldier you captured is still passed out? Tell me what happened.”
I spent the rest of the protocol schedule attached to these two.
Guinevere was already a friend, but Roji was somewhat unexpected.
“You’re coming, right? Huh?”
“You’ll only talk about boring things. Will you really leave me to go alone?”
“I’m going too, Roji.”
“You’re just as boring.”
I slipped away from between the two of them who were bickering.
“Sorry. Today won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Why!”
I smiled broadly.
“I have to go see Mother.”
It was time to awaken Mother using the Spiral Tower Key.
Once the two of them understood what I meant, they said “Well, then there’s nothing we can do….” and stepped back.
Guinevere clenched both her fists and cheered me on. Roji also gave my shoulder a pat and said “Do your best.”
I left the castle with their support.
Mother had been moved in advance from the World Tree chamber in the Imperial Palace Tower to the Esgaroth Estate.
‘If I’d awakened her at the Imperial Palace and it became known that Mother was in the World Tree chamber, it would’ve been a disaster.’
When I returned to the estate, people had gathered in great numbers.
Father and the Irregulars had come together to share in this joyful day.
And also….
“Prince Luciano?”
He was there—I wasn’t sure when he’d arrived.
“I came early while you were being held by the Nevarro Heiress and the Olivera Heiress. Good days should be shared together.”
I laughed as I looked at all the people gathered in the courtyard.
He said we should share this good day, but what he really meant was that if by chance it became a sad day, he didn’t want me to be alone.
‘There’s a possibility that even with the Spiral Tower Key, Mother might not wake up.’
I accepted the Spiral Tower Key that Clan Leader Lorenzo handed me and nodded.
Mother was in my room.
To prepare for any eventuality, Abel had erected a sturdy barrier.
“Let’s go, Yusi.”
Father came with me.
Together we headed toward my room.
On the bed, Mother lay with her eyes closed.
As if time had passed her by.
I took Mother’s hand.
Old memories came back to me.
When I’d come home in the morning after finishing work at the Trading Post, Mother would always wake me.
“Wake up, Princess.”
Then I’d leap into Mother’s arms and embrace her.
“Mother…!”
I remember her playful smile and her gentle hand stroking my hair.
With those memories, I could endure the most painful sorrows.
‘Mother’s love made me strong.’
So this time, it was my turn….
“Wake up, Princess.”
With a trembling voice, I placed the Spiral Tower Key on Mother’s chest.
That was the moment.
Status Abnormality for Player is being lifted.
-Status Abnormality: Suspended
Lifting in progress….
‘What?’
I froze and stared at the window.
At that moment, a dual-sword shaped emblem appeared on Mother’s collarbone.
‘Ah…!’
I see.
If Mother is a Player, she’d naturally have a Pass.
-Player ‘s Constellation ‘????’ becomes aware of the abnormality.
-Player ‘s Constellation ‘????’ looks upon you.
-Player ‘s Constellation ‘????’ rejoices at the mother-daughter reunion.
-Player ‘s Constellation ‘????’ withdraws its Divine Blessing.
‘It withdrew its Divine Blessing?’
That was the moment.
Name: Dia
Traits: Moneylover, Intuition
Assigned GM: □□□□
.
.
Mother’s status window appeared.
I focused on one particular section.
Assigned GM: □□□□
The window flickered and trembled.
Assigned GM: □□□□
Assigned GM: □□□□
Assigned GM: □□□□
Assigned GM: □□□□
The window, endlessly multiplied, trembled like it was going mad, and another window appeared.
Baul Trading Company’s Mad Dog
●●●●●
●●●●●
And….
Assigned GM: Yustea
An enormous light spread throughout the room.
In the midst of violent mana vortex, Father quickly wrapped his arms around me.
My head felt like it would split.
“Abel!”
When I cried out, Abel seemed to be trying to activate his barrier strongly, mana pooling at his fingertips.
“…!”
But Abel couldn’t do anything and simply froze.
“What’s happening!”
“The barrier cannot be activated.”
“What?”
“What?”
“What do you mean by that!”
It was the moment the Irregulars cried out.
The light faded and the headache ceased.
That moment.
Mother’s eyelids trembled slightly.
Until then I’d been held in Father’s arms, but I started and lifted my head.
“Mother…?”
The trembling eyelids slowly began to open.
And what I saw were eyes I’d missed dearly and longed for.
“Uh, Mom….”
Tears fell in torrents.
I couldn’t speak properly.
It was too overwhelming.
Mother’s eyes, now fully open, turned toward me.
I could only cry and look at Mother.
“Ah….”
“…My treasure.”
“….”
“Why are you crying?”
Mother smiled brightly at me.
The moment I stepped forward to approach her.
Bang—!
I froze.
Because Mother had swung her leg.
…At Father!
The moment Father, hit directly in the chest, staggered back.
Mother jumped to her feet and pulled me into her embrace, saying.
“What do you think you’re doing, holding someone else’s daughter?”
The moment of emotion was short-lived.
The return of the mad dog was immediate upon waking.
I screamed.
“What are you doing to Father!”
“You startled me! Our precious daughter, I’m sorry…!”
Your apology should go to Father, not to me!

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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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