How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 20

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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 20

* * *

Sanmiguel Castle.

Charlie let out a hollow laugh as he told the clan members about the absurd thing he witnessed today.

“I’m telling you, it’s true. They called the blacksmith an saint and took him away.”

“Are you sure you didn’t get drunk somewhere and see things?”

“How could I drink while serving the young lady? It really happened.”

Antonio’s unit tilted their heads as if they had heard someone claim to see ghosts in broad daylight.

Unable to believe it, they asked me as well.

“Is it really true?”

“It’s true that they called the blacksmith a saint and took him away.”

I answered like that and fell into thought.

‘But was the blacksmith really the saint?’

Did they misinterpret the divine oracle and call him a saint thinking he was a woman?

Since the title was already decided, they called even a 68-year-old man a saint…

‘Hmm. That’s strange.’

Even in the game’s opening, they clearly drew a female silhouette after the divine oracle.

They knew how shocked users expecting a holy maiden would be, so there’s no way they’d do such a thing.

The 3rd of last month when there was a divine wave.

And it would be a cleric.

The only one who meets all those conditions…

Lost in thought, I squeezed my eyes shut.

‘No matter how I think about it, it can only be me.’

The 3rd of last month was when I lifted the Clan Leader’s curse.

And that day, I saw this window.

Second Job Change Successful!

[Purifier]

※This system has been reconstructed based on a familiar interface for user convenience.

The pre-advancement stage of Purifier is cleric.

It means I met the conditions to be a saint, just lacking the holy gate.

‘I wondered why no saint appeared in the game.’

It must be because I died having my organs stolen by the protagonist before I could even become a saint.

In other words, it was a hidden route that could only be seen if I stayed alive.

I suddenly leveled up from extra to rival, but I wasn’t happy at all.

Considering this game’s characteristic of showering the protagonist with all kinds of luck, love, and joy, the ending is obvious.

‘I’ll be used as a rival and then die.’

Haha. This crazy game.

I laughed with an enlightened face.

But soon I twisted my skirt tightly.

‘But I can’t just die obediently.’

I have a rabbit-like mother I’m responsible for.

I will survive no matter what.

* * *

When there’s bad news, there’s also good news.

Finally, the selection letter from the Marquis’s household arrived.

Though the person who brought the selection letter was unexpected.

‘Huh?’

Charlie and I looked at each other.

The person holding the selection letter was exactly that middle-aged man we saw at the blacksmith’s shop.

“Let Yustea of Sanmiguel Territory come forth and serve the Marquis’s domain.”

The middle-aged man spoke.

I stepped forward and prostrated myself before him.

It wasn’t that I was in a position inferior to him in authority.

This was the proper etiquette when receiving an official document bearing the Marquis’s seal.

The man read the selection letter.

After the conventional content, the sentence that firmly confirmed the selection finally came.

“Let Yustea of Sanmiguel assist the royal family with sincerity and devotion to carry out this command.”

I bowed my head.

“Yustea, daughter of Sanmiguel. I humbly accept the command.”

I held back because I was in front of Esgaroth’s administrative official, but inside I wanted to jump with joy.

I wasn’t the only one who was happy.

The Clan Leader, who had been worried about whether I could really become a squire, also had a moved expression.

But something was strange.

The administrative official didn’t immediately hand me the selection letter.

I needed to receive the selection letter to stand up, but he was excessively hesitating.

I glanced up at the administrative official.

His expression was utterly arrogant.

‘He’s doing this on purpose.’

I wasn’t the only one who sensed something strange.

The Clan Leader’s expression, which had been bright with smiles, was gradually hardening.

“How long do you intend to keep the young lady kneeling?”

Unable to bear it any longer, the Clan Leader spoke up.

Only then did the administrative official say “Ah” and hand me the selection letter.

As I stood up after receiving the selection letter, the administrative official stroked his beard and said.

“Sanmiguel’s servants are excessively loyal.”

Antonio’s unit looked proud, thinking their loyalty had been praised.

But the Clan Leader’s unit was different.

Starting with the Clan Leader’s face, they all froze.

Right, that was definitely not a compliment.

It meant it was ridiculous to make a fuss just because a mere adopted daughter was made to kneel.

He had blatantly disrespected me.

The administrative official, working at the center of a great family like Esgaroth, wouldn’t be a fool who didn’t know what he was saying.

Yet his attitude was shameless.

“Guide us to rooms where we and the saint will stay. Hold a banquet to relieve my subordinates’ travel fatigue. Ah, the wine should be aged for at least 30 years.”

After coming to deliver a selection letter, he even demanded tremendous hospitality.

Now even Antonio had a furious expression.

“30 years aged, what kind of nonsense…!”

As he was about to shout angrily, the Clan Leader’s unit members clung to him.

We had finally gotten an opportunity to approach the Marquis of Esgaroth.

Nothing good would come from causing a disturbance here.

The Clan Leader sighed as if suppressing his anger.

Then he spoke to the butler.

“First, guide them to their rooms.”

“Yes.”

The butler disappeared, leading the middle-aged man, the administrative officials, and even the knights.

Only then did Antonio, freed from the Clan Leader’s unit members, fume.

“Why are you giving rooms to that arrogant bastard?”

“Right now, the best strategy is to hold a banquet and send them off quietly.”

As the Clan Leader gave that command, I spoke to him.

“What you really want isn’t a banquet, is it?”

“Pardon?”

Of course, that middle-aged man is in a position where he can abuse his power.

San Miguel is a territory that cannot survive on its own.

If the Irregulars hadn’t frantically brought in money from their missions, it would have collapsed long ago.

So we absolutely have to stay on the good side of the administrators from the citadel who control the budget.

‘But he’s being too rude.’

As if showing me that he’s in a position where he can act this way.

So he’s telling me to curry favor with him.

There’s only one way to curry favor in an insignificant territory like San Miguel.

“He’s asking for money. That’s a commonly used method of demanding bribes.”

Antonio’s face twisted in disgust.

“Even back-alley thugs would steal money more cleanly than that. Do we really have to give money to that pot-bellied bastard?”

“If we don’t, it’ll get worse.”

“Should I just secretly kill him?”

At that, Antonio’s unit members drew their weapons with sinister expressions.

I quickly waved my hands.

“Absolutely not. If an administrator gets murdered, the citadel will intervene.”

If we mess up, they might even discover that San Miguel is a den of Irregulars.

Antonio looked dejected.

“So we just have to give it to him…?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Huh?”

I looked at the Clan Leader.

“Would you leave this matter to me?”

“That’s fine, but…”

The Clan Leader had an expression that said, ‘How are you going to solve this without giving money?’

* * *

The administrative official of Esgaroth, who Yustea referred to as a middle-aged man, was named Godin.

Godin, who was tilting a wine glass in a bathtub full of bubbles, let out an exclamation.

“Alcohol really tastes best when drunk with other people’s money.”

Especially when fleecing those miserable wretches who can’t even talk back to him.

Godin’s subordinate asked while attending to him.

“But is it alright to waste time here? Prince Gaspard will be furious if we bring the saint late.”

Godin chuckled and swirled his wine glass.

“What does it matter? She’s probably not even a real saint anyway.”

Even Godin didn’t think the 68-year-old man was a real saint.

He was just pretending to follow orders since it was the prince’s command.

Prince Gaspard had issued orders as soon as he arrived in Esgaroth.

The conditions of the order were exactly two:

1. Find the source of the divine resonance.

2. Bring anyone with divine power who was near the source on the 3rd of last month.

“We brought someone who meets the conditions, so what can he do?”

“But if we incur the prince’s wrath and fall out of favor with the duke…”

“The duke has no interest in the saint to begin with.”

Since Esgaroth is a noble family with enough power not to depend on the Imperial Palace and the temple.

Rather, the Imperial Palace and temple were desperately trying to bring Esgaroth under their control.

“That may be true for Esgaroth, but we’re just administrative officials – it would be terrible if we incur the prince’s wrath…”

“That’s exactly why we need to bring a fake.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If we hand over a real saint to Prince Gaspard, we’ll earn resentment from the Teretsa Order and the other princes too.”

Only then did his subordinate nod vigorously.

“You’re truly remarkable, Lord Godin.”

It was fitting for a man who had reached this position purely through political maneuvering.

The subordinate laughed heartily, asking to be taught more in the future.

Then he picked up the wine bottle and asked.

“Shall I pour you another glass?”

“That’s enough. I should start enjoying the banquet soon. Let’s see what kind of magnificent banquet they’ll put on.”

He was also looking forward to the thick pouch of gold coins he’d receive after the banquet.

The two men left the bathroom, giggling.

Outside the room was packed with other subordinates Godin had brought.

All of them had excited expressions, anticipating the banquet.

A knight approached Godin as he put on his jacket.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to grease our bellies thanks to Lord Godin.”

“Haha. Enjoy it while you have the chance.”

“The castle is quiet – surely they didn’t fail to call dancers too?”

“They’re not that stupid. Alcohol should always be accompanied by eye candy.”

“Of course.”

There were advantages to serving a nasty-tempered superior like Godin.

He shared the spoils with his subordinates for the sake of showing off.

Having leisurely rested in San Miguel, they headed to the banquet hall.

To the banquet hall that would be filled with beautiful dancers, expensive alcohol, and lavish food.

And when they majestically opened the doors to the banquet hall and entered, what they saw was…

“What’s this?”

“Why is there no food…”

There was no alcohol, let alone food.

It was the moment Godin’s eyebrows twitched.

A voice came from outside the door.

“You arrived first, I see.”

It was Yustea, the girl selected as a page by the prince’s command.

Godin turned to look at her with irritation.

There were no dancers behind her either.

Nor had the lord come running in a panic.

She had only brought the two men he’d seen when delivering the page selection notice – the knight commander and someone called Antonio.

Godin asked.

“What happened to the banquet?”

“Oh my. There seems to have been a misunderstanding. There is no banquet.”

Godin’s eyebrows twitched at Yustea’s answer.

“I’m sure I asked you to prepare a banquet.”

“I heard what you said, but we never agreed to it.”

Well, look at this.

Her attitude is insufferably arrogant.

Godin let out a scoff.

“It seems you’re mistaken about your position, young lady.”

At that, the smooth-faced knight called Antonio suddenly lunged forward.

Though he was blocked by Yustea’s arm before he could reach Godin.

Yustea still had a smiling face.

“Me?”

“What could have made you so arrogant, I wonder. Your past as the eldest daughter of Andres?”

“…”

“Ah. Don’t be surprised. Surely you didn’t think we wouldn’t investigate someone who needs to be brought into Esgaroth Mansion.”

“….”

“But you see.”

Godin took a step closer to Yustea.

“Right now, you’re not Andres’s daughter, but a member of Sanmiguel’s household.”

“I am registered as the adopted daughter of Count Sanmiguel.”

Godin chuckled softly.

“Yes. Count Sanmiguel must have been in quite a hurry. No matter how much he needed a child to send to the citadel as a squire, of all people….”

This time, not only Antonio but even the Clan Leader clenched his fists tightly.

Godin continued speaking regardless.

“Count Sanmiguel probably thinks you built some great connection with the princes when you were Lady Andres.”

“….”

“Don’t tell me you’re under the same delusion?”

“….”

“This is advice. Don’t attach too much meaning to the princes taking you as their squire.”

Even Esgaroth had been surprised when the princes asked to take Yustea as their squire.

But no one thought of it as affectionate interest toward Yustea.

“If the princes truly cared for you, they wouldn’t have watched you wander the streets and become a kitchen servant.”

Right, this must be just to enjoy watching someone who had fallen to rock bottom.

Like a circus monkey.

“I heard you visited them when the princes moved to Esgaroth. And there too, you just made food in the kitchen.”

“….”

“You see? If the princes truly pitied you, would they have made someone who was once a noble lady get her hands dirty?”

Right. He came here after calculating that he could act arrogantly without any problems.

How dare he look down on us and act up.

After a moment of silence, Yustea slowly opened her mouth.

“Um, come here for a moment….”

Godin smirked.

“Finally understanding your position, I see.”

She must have realized he’s not someone to mess with and is trying to make amends.

She’s probably calling him close to slip him a bag of money or something.

Godin’s subordinates behind him also anticipated the situation and snickered.

Godin showed his subordinates a knowing smile and approached Yustea.

At that moment….

“Ahhh─!”

She kicked his knee hard enough to make a cracking sound.

As Godin bent his head down to grab his leg, Yustea immediately struck the back of his neck with her elbow.

“Gah!”

With his center of balance already compromised and another shock applied, Godin collapsed face-first.

As soon as he fell, Yustea stepped firmly on the back of his head.

And with her free hand, she grabbed a vase from a nearby decorative cabinet.

“Lord Godin! What are you all doing!”

When his subordinate shouted, the knights who had hesitated in surprise hurriedly placed their hands on their sword hilts.

Yustea said.

“Don’t move. Unless you want to see this bastard’s head get smashed.”

“…!”

“…!!”

The knights froze.

Godin shouted in a frog-like position.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

“Self-defense.”

That’s not what he was asking…!

Godin trembled as he spoke.

“Release me immediately. If the citadel learns of this, not only you but Sanmiguel will face great trouble.”

“Then go ahead and report it.”

“You crazy…!”

“But are you the only one who can make reports?”

What?

Yustea grabbed Godin by the hair and lifted his head.

Her golden eyes gleamed as sharply as those of a predator.

Enough to make Godin momentarily panic and stop speaking.

But soon Godin regained his composure and glared at her fiercely.

“What nonsense are you….”

“Ashon Territory, Kanya Territory. And Rolhaiser Trading Company and Hospital Director Skasi.”

“…!”

Godin froze.

Even more than when he was threatened with having his head smashed by a vase.

Because… because all the names that poured from her mouth were places that had bribed Godin!

There were even names of places that had no connection to Esgaroth whatsoever.

Places where even his family might not know he had received bribes.

‘But how does she possibly know…!’

Godin turned pale and could only gape his mouth.

Yustea watched his reaction with a smile and thought.

‘Well, I saw it in the game.’

This corruption scandal breaks soon anyway.

He’ll naturally be dismissed. He’ll end up waiting for his sentence in the underground prison.

Yustea knelt down to meet Godin’s eyes and smiled sweetly.

“Now then, who’s the one who needs to understand their position?”

“…Pl, please spare me. Please spare me. Please spare me!”

Godin rubbed his hands together desperately as he begged.

Everyone except Yustea and Godin stared blankly at the scene.

Godin’s subordinates were shocked at seeing a side of Godin they’d never seen before.

And Antonio and the Clan Leader….

“Fucking awesome.”

Antonio said that, and the Clan Leader, who would normally have smacked him upside the head, quietly nodded in agreement.

—————
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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