How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 2

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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 2

* * *

I looked at the pot with a proud feeling.

‘They scraped it clean.’

Not a single drop remained—it was so clean it might as well have been washed.

Well, it would be a rare taste in this world.

I recalled memories from my past life and realized.

The cooking methods of this world weren’t very developed.

So cutting ingredients and boiling or grilling them was the extent of cooking.

‘Great nobles do cook a bit more luxuriously though.’

But even the food of great nobles had considerably simple cooking processes compared to Earth.

They’d think making broth was a waste of ingredients.

Anyway, I benefited from that.

The sharp atmosphere of the Irregular members had softened considerably.

They even let me move around freely without assigning a member to watch me.

Thanks to that, I was able to wash the pot alone at the riverside.

‘Good, it’s clean.’

When I finished washing the pot and cooking utensils and returned to the cave, the member who had gone to check on the Imperial Army’s movements arrived.

“The Imperial Army was bustling. There definitely seemed to be problems with the soldiers’ safety.”

Then the members went “Ooh” and nodded their heads.

“We can move during this opportunity.”

“Then what do we do with that kid?”

The members looked at the Clan Leader.

As if asking him to make a decision about what to do with me.

I quickly shouted.

“Braised short ribs!”

“Brai… what?”

“Next time I’ll make braised short ribs for you. It’s meat braised sweet with soy sauce, and I’ll add chestnuts and potatoes together. The meat is delicious, but mixing the thick seasoning with rice and eating it is so tasty.”

So please take me with you.

I was clasping my hands together with a desperate expression, when the members’ faces changed.

“Braised short ribs?”

“Is that really that delicious? More than the soup?”

I quickly nodded my head.

“More than the soup.”

The members who had been completely absorbed in the soup looked shocked.

They muttered “That much?” and looked at the Clan Leader again.

When sparkling gazes poured down like arrows, the Clan Leader sighed.

“You’ll accompany us to headquarters as a laborer.”

‘I did it!’

I was overjoyed as if I could jump.

Now I’ll properly make achievements and definitely join the group.

Let me say again, this man really was my only answer.

The Irregulars truly boasted terrifying martial prowess.

Gossips would often chatter that they were beings who could shake the nation’s fate.

That’s how tremendous their skills were.

‘Plus, there’s information only I know.’

Aslan, the Clan Leader of the Irregulars.

He was the hidden son of Duke Esgaroth.

‘A man who will become a duke in the future.’

In just a few years, House of Esgaroth was scheduled to become a power rivaling the Imperial Palace.

And I will capture the heart of the Clan Leader who will become Duke Esgaroth, and definitely protect my future.

* * *

The Irregulars and I decided to travel to headquarters divided into three groups.

Because if one group was caught, the other two groups could attempt disruption and escape.

But there was a problem.

“We’re taking that kid.”

“You’re talking nonsense. We’ll take her.”

“We also can’t give up braised short ribs… I mean, that child.”

A fight broke out over me.

“You guys have the most people!”

“Since we have the most, we need a porter!”

“What luggage can she carry with those arms!”

The members who had lived on only dried rations for three months and ten days fought with an almost biting intensity.

Finally, the oldest man stepped forward.

He asked me.

“You decide. Which group will you go with?”

Of course the answer was already decided.

I quickly went and stood next to the Clan Leader.

Then the other members clamored.

“You’ll regret it. The Clan Leader’s group takes a detour unlike the other groups.”

“Right. Antonio is there too.”

They listed disadvantages one after another and urged me to choose again even now, but I firmly shook my head.

“Still, I prefer being by the Clan Leader’s side.”

“But why!”

“Well, you see…”

I couldn’t say I needed to make a good impression on the future duke.

Rolling my eyes to think of an excuse, I said “Uh…”

“Because he’s handsome?”

“Damn lookism…”

The members retreated with sad faces.

I gently appeased the members.

“We’re meeting up near headquarters anyway. I’ll make delicious braised short ribs then.”

“Really…?”

“You won’t use up all the meat, right…?”

Only after I nodded about ten times did the members leave the cave.

Our group’s composition was very simple.

Just the Clan Leader, me, and Antonio.

Antonio narrowed his eyes and asked.

“But are you really not the Clan Leader’s daughter… Ack!”

…It was understandable why the members said having Antonio from the elite group was a disadvantage.

We departed soon.

Leaving the cave at the mountain base, passing through the valley, heading north where the mountaineer’s hut was.

‘North?’

North would be near the marketplace.

I asked in a puzzled voice.

“Um, this way is the marketplace so there are many people, why are we going this way?”

Wouldn’t an assassination squad travel on deserted paths?

Then Antonio answered.

“Because we need to go to the marketplace.”

“Why?”

“There’s something I need to find. An ancient artifact—”

Just as Antonio was about to give a detailed answer.

The Clan Leader looked at him. It was a warning gaze.

It meant not to give me any more information.

‘He doesn’t trust me at all.’

My role is strictly limited to being an errand runner.

When I fell silent, Antonio shrugged his shoulders.

“There’s no point in being upset about it.”

“Pardon?”

“Weren’t you feeling upset?”

“I was thinking about where to make dinner tonight?”

When I blinked as if asking what he was talking about, Antonio looked dumbfounded.

“Don’t people usually get dejected in situations like this?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if they trusted some kid who suddenly rolled in out of nowhere?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Antonio let out a hollow laugh.

“You really are an odd one.”

He said that, but I truly wasn’t upset about not gaining their trust.

The word ‘trust’ was far removed from my life to begin with.

I couldn’t even earn trust from my family and was falsely accused of orchestrating my half-sister’s poisoning.

So there was no way I’d get depressed just because someone I met today was suspicious of me.

‘It’s better to think about how to earn their trust instead.’

While walking with such thoughts, we arrived near the marketplace.

We passed the checkpoint with forged identity passes the two of them had.

Since I had worked so much in the marketplace, the guards let me through immediately upon seeing my face.

The place we headed to was an antique shop deep within the marketplace.

In front of the antique shop, Antonio said.

“You stay outside.”

“If it takes long, may I go buy some necessities in the meantime?”

“Do as you like.”

The Clan Leader and Antonio went inside the antique shop.

I folded the robe Antonio had left with me and put it in my bag.

‘Good, let me go quickly and come back.’

Even taking a gate partway, they said it would take more than four days to reach our destination.

I needed to buy ingredients to feed the Irregulars during that time.

‘Seeing what they eat in the cave, what we have now isn’t nearly enough.’

It seemed like they hunted or procured meat locally.

Then I needed spices and vegetables.

I headed straight to the market within the marketplace.

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Well, look who it is. Isn’t this Yustea.”

I had frequently visited the market to buy food ingredients when working at the restaurant.

Having gotten to know their faces then, the market people were kind to me.

“I’d like to buy dried vegetables.”

Though less flavorful than fresh vegetables, dried vegetables took up less space and weight.

Their shelf life was also longer than fresh vegetables.

The vegetable shop lady said “I happen to have some good ones” and brought out dried vegetables.

I said firmly.

“Ma’am, those don’t seem properly dried.”

“I was about to set these aside. What I wanted to show you is this…”

“Ma’am?”

“I was going to set this aside too, but my hand went wrong. Here, this is…”

“Ma’am?”

“I have a lot to set aside.”

The moment you show any weakness, they try to sell you stuff like this.

“So picky.”

From the grumbling vegetable shop lady, I purchased her prized secret stash of dried vegetables.

Next was the spice shop.

“Sir?”

“This is Naza salt.”

“Sir?”

“What kind of thief wants to take Naza salt for 20 copper.”

“Sir…”

“Damn it. Take it all. All of it!”

At the spice shop too, I purchased the items I wanted at a low price.

‘Now, what’s left is general goods, I suppose.’

Having just one multitool with a knife, bottle opener, small hammer, and even a screwdriver would be reassuring.

And I’d need things like thread and needles too.

I noticed that all the Irregulars’ hoods were worn out.

I should mend them.

It was just as I was walking to the general store with an armful of cooking ingredients.

Thud.

Someone’s shoulder bumped into mine.

“Ah, I’m sor—”

“My goodness, miss.”

I flinched as I was about to bow my head in apology.

It was a familiar voice.

When I raised my head, I saw faces I had always tried hard to avoid.

They were employees of the Andres Mansion.

“What a sight you are. How heartbreaking.”

The maid looked at me with a bright smile.

Despite her words, her expression showed no heartbreak whatsoever.

These were servants who thought extremely highly of Stella, the protagonist of this game and daughter born to Father’s first love.

While other employees of Andres also despised me after I was kicked out, these people particularly hated me.

Their eyes were rolled back in fury, thinking their beloved Stella was poisoned because of me.

‘The reason I frequently changed jobs was also because of them.’

They would always find out where I was working and torment me viciously.

When I worked at the restaurant, they wrote on the door ‘A place where a villain who harmed her sister works.’

When I was tuna fishing, they slipped money to the captain to get me fired.

At the knight’s barracks, they spread false rumors among the workers to ostracize me.

‘It would be troublesome if a commotion breaks out.’

I quickly turned around and ran away.

No, it would be more accurate to say I tried to run away.

The moment I tried to run, I tripped over the servant’s foot and fell.

“Ugh!”

As I fell, my nose hit a spice bottle.

The bottle broke and I must have been scratched by the fragments, as fresh blood trickled from my nose.

Stella’s retinue giggled with laughter.

Tormenting and beating me like this had become routine by now.

No matter how viciously they treated me, no one helped me.

Because they feared the Andres Family.

“Your behavior is so unbecoming.”

The maid who was like the captain of the guard crouched down in front of me as I lay sprawled.

Then she grabbed my cheek.

“How pitiful.”

“Let go of this.”

“Your temperament is still the same. Isn’t it because you act this way that your mother was punished instead?”

My jaw naturally tensed up.

Even knowing that staying still would make the bullying end faster, this was why I had no choice but to resist.

Because I couldn’t stand them constantly bringing up Mother.

I struck the maid’s cheek.

“Kyaak!”

Sparks flew in the eyes of the maid who got slapped.

“You…!”

The maid who shot up kicked me, causing the items I was holding to spill everywhere.

The maid shouted.

“Even though your name was erased from the family registry, you’re still so stubborn.”

“….”

“You’re nothing but a worthless burden with nowhere to go now.”

Thud!

I sprawled out again from another kick.

Then the bag’s button caught on my clothes and popped out.

‘No!’

The bag almost opened.

Inside was the robe Antonio had entrusted to me.

I had seen it in the cave.

The Irregulars’ emblem embroidered inside the robe.

If this were to be exposed by mistake, it would be terrible.

I frantically hugged the bag.

“Look at this.”

Seeing that, Stella’s Guard’s expressions changed.

“It seems there’s something very precious inside.”

“There’s no way a lowly girl kicked out of the family would have precious items.”

“Then she must have stolen it.”

They approached me with sneering smiles.

A servant roughly grabbed my arm.

In that moment, I bit down hard on the servant’s forearm.

“Agh! You…!”

Not just the maid, but even the sturdy adult men started kicking.

I felt excruciating pain as if my bones were breaking, but I desperately hugged the bag.

‘This can’t happen.’

Absolutely not.

If the hood was taken away, I would never be able to join the Irregulars.

“Oh, you really got yourself in trouble today.”

The servant I had bitten looked around angrily.

Then he approached with a laundry paddle from the general store’s counter.

Just as he was about to swing the paddle at me.

Crack.

A strange sound was heard.

I flinched and looked up.

The servant’s arm was grotesquely twisted.

“Aaaaagh─!”

The servant let out a horrible scream.

I stared blankly behind the servant while hugging my bag.

It was the Clan Leader.

Chains of magic power extending from his hand had twisted the servant’s arm.

“Wh-who are you people!”

The maid asked in panic.

The Clan Leader’s magic power was so chillingly powerful that even ordinary people who had never learned magic could feel it.

Even without that, it was an intimidating presence that instilled instinctive fear.

While the guard was panicking, Antonio approached.

“You─.”

Antonio’s hood was sticking out slightly through the gap in the bag I was hugging.

His gaze passed over the hood to my battered face.

And finally to the scattered vegetables and seasonings.

I hastily made excuses.

“I-I bought it with my own money.”

“What?”

“So I didn’t waste your resources. I-I also protected the hood.”

“….”

“I’m sorry for causing a commotion. I’ll make sure this never happens again. I’m sorry. I’m sorry….”

The Clan Leader and Antonio quietly watched me desperately pleading.

The maid watching the situation said “Ah” and smiled wickedly.

“I see you’re this thing’s new employers.”

“….”

“As you can see, this thing won’t be of any help. You know about the expelled daughter of the Andres Family, right?”

“….”

“This is the criminal who caused that famous incident of poisoning Miss Stella.”

The maid looked at me with a triumphant face.

She thought I would be abandoned now.

It was a well-founded belief, since those words had always made everyone drive me away.

I hung my head.

‘Will I be abandoned after all….’

Though I had revealed from the start that I was Andres’ daughter, I was anxious.

They must have realized that I wouldn’t be helpful to the Irregulars who needed to move secretly.

But then.

“Huh…?”

The maid muttered in a confused voice and touched her cheek.

A strange sword mark appeared on her face.

And along the sword mark, blood began to trickle down.

“Kyaaaagh─!”

“…!”

“…!!”

It wasn’t just the maid.

Sword marks also appeared on the faces of the two servants who had kicked me along with her.

A shape like an inverted cross turned upside down.

That shape was a famous mark that no one in the Empire could fail to recognize.

“A-an inverted cross!”

“It’s the mark of the Irregulars!”

Several onlookers shouted.

Yes, this was the inverted cross, the emblem of the Irregulars.

The Clan Leader strode toward me.

“If you want, I’ll kill them for you.”

At those words, Stella’s Retinue, who had been screaming as the mark was carved into them, turned deathly pale.

I stared blankly at the Clan Leader.

‘Why…’

No, thinking about it a little, I think I understood.

The reason he would do something like this for someone like me.

It was…

“The Clan Leader was also looking forward to the braised short ribs…”

“…What?”

“Don’t worry. A few bottles of seasoning broke, but everything else is fine. I can make it for you tonight.”

“…”

If it wasn’t for the braised short ribs, there’d be no reason to stand up for someone like me.

‘Still, I’m really grateful.’

Three years since I was cast out from my family.

I had never thought that someone would protect me.

“I’ll make the braised short ribs deliciously for you.”

The Clan Leader sighed as if he had a headache.

“Just get up.”

He extended his hand to me.

The Clan Leader was a good glutton.

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