How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 26

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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 26

* * *

It was as I thought.

Tartaros was engulfed in flames.

Employees and soldiers were in complete panic in front of the tower.

“Call the mages!”

“Water! Bring water! Hurry!”

I ran to a man who was commanding the soldiers with a pale face.

“Where is the Marquis?”

“Pardon?”

“Quickly!”

“He’s on the 5th floor, but the explosion broke the stairs so we can’t go up.”

The stairs of Esgaroth Tartaros Tower would break easily.

They deliberately adopted wooden stairs so the clan leader could escape when the castle was in crisis.

It was to shake off pursuers.

Fortunately, having played the game, I know the clan leader’s escape route.

Through the escape route, I can reach where the Marquis is.

I immediately ran around the tower.

‘500 meters west from the door. The seventh brick from the ground.’

I frantically felt around the wall.

‘Please… Found it!’

When I pressed the wall, a hole just big enough for an adult to pass through was created.

I crawled in through that path.

Following this path, since it’s the clan leaders’ escape route, I can reach the top of the tower faster than other routes.

Originally the stairs connect in a spiral form, but this escape route goes up through ladders.

The higher I climbed, the hotter the iron ladder became.

It was being affected by the flames.

By the time I reached the 5th floor where the Marquis was said to be, my palms hurt as if they would melt.

‘Quickly, quickly…!’

Arriving at the 5th floor, I ran like mad.

In my haste, I got caught in a gap between the floor materials and tumbled down.

I must have fallen wrong because my nose hurt as if it would break.

But I had no time to feel the pain.

“Where… where are you…”

I turned my head frantically searching for the Marquis.

I extinguished the flames with the mana I received from Luciano.

It was extremely fortunate that I had learned magic.

After running for some time.

In front of a room, I saw soldiers who seemed to have collapsed from being caught in the explosion.

‘There.’

I rushed into the room that was wide open with its door blown away.

“Grandfather─!”

When I entered shouting, what I saw was…

The Marquis sitting with his back against the window, an old man sprawled in front of him, and Ayabel.

‘Ah…!’

Even using Canaria, they had been subdued by the Marquis.

Indeed, the Clan Leader’s father.

It seemed the Clan Leader’s martial arts skills were inherited from him.

The Marquis looked at me with an emotionless expression.

“What did you come here for.”

“…”

“Did you think you could be of help.”

“…”

“Just because I used you for entertainment doesn’t mean you should mistake your little tricks for great talents.”

“…”

Esgaroth has inexhaustible wealth like a spring and power that even the Emperor keeps in check.

Naturally, talented people would gather.

When experts from each field gather, I lose value with my many small skills.

The Marquis asked in a flat voice.

“Are you sad that the weapons you desperately gathered are worthless?”

“They’re not worthless.”

“What?”

“Because I desperately gathered them, I can notice that you’re bluffing right now.”

I approached the Marquis and put his arm around my shoulder.

“You were caught in the explosion, weren’t you? That’s why you can’t walk.”

“…”

The Marquis’s expression turned cold.

“Do you think I’ll meet Aslan by doing this?”

“Can you stand up? Lean on me more.”

“Do you think that if Aslan gets Esgaroth in his hands, you can get revenge on your father…!”

“Geez, really!”

When I shouted, the Marquis’s eyes widened.

The Marquis must find my attitude absurd, but I feel wronged too.

“I just want to live!”

“Hah…”

“I want the Clan Leader to meet Father!”

“I said I don’t need Aslan…”

“Liar!”

I glared at the Marquis while huffing.

I’m already dying from urgency.

‘At first, I really thought the Marquis judged the Clan Leader to be useless.’

But when I thought about it carefully, it was strange.

If that were true, there would be no reason to cherish the camellias.

Camellia.

It was the Clan Leader’s mother’s name.

“The camellias in the garden that are all dying! Those! The Clan Leader’s mother planted them!”

“…”

“You still can’t even burn the camellias that are the source of the poisoning!”

“…”

“Tsk, and yet you say you don’t need the Clan Leader… Do people who aren’t needed get watched so secretly.”

“…”

I dragged the Marquis along with a choked-up face.

Even in the midst of this, the Marquis was staring at me intently.

“What are you exactly…”

“The first day I met you at the castle. You actually didn’t come to see the camellias, but to see me, right? To check on the adopted daughter the Clan Leader brought in.”

“…”

“I can tell just by looking at your eyes. I really had a father who only saw his child as a tool.”

I also know why the Marquis didn’t bring the Clan Leader to the castle.

How could he bring his son into a castle where the former princess who killed the woman he loved resides.

‘Even if the Duke can protect him while he’s alive, the Clan Leader won’t be able to survive after his death.’

Inside the castle, he couldn’t even build power due to the former princess’s intimidation.

So the Duke must have told him to build strength outside the castle so that the Clan Leader could survive on his own even after his death.

Using hatred toward his father as driving force.

‘It was strange from the beginning.’

No matter how humble Sanmiguel was, how could the Irregulars hide there entirely?

It was also strange that he quickly gave the Clan Leader the marquis position.

“You were pulling strings behind everything.”

“…Is this why you go this far. In case I have affection for Aslan, so you too can enjoy power.”

This grandfather, really.

I glared at the Duke once more.

“I just! Simply! Thought it would be nice if the Clan Leader met his father!”

In the game, he became duke without meeting him anyway, right?

Of course, the father-son relationship never became harmonious.

Until the moment the Duke died, the Clan Leader never spoke with him.

“I was so very lonely because I wasn’t loved by my father. I don’t want the Clan Leader to be like that.

“….”

“So… when you meet, please hug him. Children who aren’t loved by their fathers, that’s their wish.”

“….”

Though I was sweating profusely, I somehow dragged the Duke out the door.

I briefly stopped the Duke and pulled out a scabbard from a fallen soldier.

Then I handed it to the Duke.

“Use this as a crutch to get to the escape route. You know where it is since you’re the head, right? Somehow climb the ladder with your arms.”

“What about you.”

“I’ll take care of these people and go.”

If I stay here, I can prevent suffocation deaths.

‘If I endure just a little, Marquis Sintus will bring the mages.’

I pushed the Duke.

“Go. Be careful. Quickly─”

That was the moment.

My head spun dizzily.

‘Mana depletion is faster than I thought.’

My heart beats like crazy and tinnitus cuts across my brain.

Unable to endure it, I collapsed with a thud.

I saw the Duke’s hardened face.

“Go, quickly…!”

I barely managed to spit out the words like chewing.

I can’t breathe.

‘Endure it. Please.’

I could endure this level of pain easily.

I endured it when I made mistakes at work and got beaten by military boots.

I’ve even walked on frozen ground in thin clothes after being doused with water in the dead of winter and kicked out of work.

Even when I fell into the sea and felt like suffocating, I survived.

‘But if I die… then the Clan Leader will take care of Mother, right?’

I’m dying while carrying out a mission.

He should at least do that much.

Just as my vision was gradually narrowing.

Clang─!

I heard a sharp bursting sound, then an unexpected face appeared.

“You’re the best at driving people crazy.”

…Luciano?

With that last thought, everything went black.

* * *

Luciano looked around.

‘She used my mana well.’

The fire had been extinguished to some degree.

If it weren’t for Yustea, everyone would have died long ago.

Including the Duke who was staring at Yustea frantically over there.

“Let’s go.”

“Please take care of this child first.”

“If you wish.”

Luciano transported Yustea, the Duke, and the fallen ones using a flying monster that had flown up to the 5th floor of Tartaros in one go.

As soon as the monster landed, Marquis Sintus came running.

“Are you safe, Du─!”

“Call a doctor. Save this child.”

“Pardon?”

“Hurry!”

It was the first time seeing the Duke this agitated.

Yustea was immediately moved to the East Wing of the main residence.

Esgaroth’s capable doctors swarmed around Yustea for treatment.

The Duke watched this scene with a stern face throughout.

Marquis Sintus carefully spoke to the Duke.

“What troubles you? Did something happen in the tower?”

“…Foolish.”

“Pardon?”

The Duke couldn’t take his eyes off Yustea.

“Grandfather─!”

The moment she called out and came running, it was somewhat amusing.

Covered in dust all over her clothes, even with a nosebleed streaming down, she looked quite endearing.

I thought her desire was remarkable, throwing away even her life for power.

But then…

“Liar─!”

“I just! Simply! Thought it would be nice if the Clan Leader met his father!”

“So… when you meet, please hug him. Children who aren’t loved by their fathers, that’s their wish.”

There wasn’t a trace of falsehood in that child’s eyes when she said those words.

With burns on her hands, her legs so broken she couldn’t walk properly.

The reason she ran through the fire was just that.

Wishing for Aslan, who took her in, to meet his father.

Even though she was abandoned by her own father and had tasted the world’s bitterness.

She still forms attachments to people?

Where could you find such a foolish person.

So… I remembered.

The conversation I had with Camelia when she was pregnant with my child.

“What are you praying so earnestly for? For a talented child who can safely inherit the dukedom?”

“I prayed for a kind child.”

“What?”

“A kind child who could instantly melt even an ice-cold man like you.”

“Haha, I’d melt well indeed.”

“Well. Don’t judge the world too hastily. If not this child, then perhaps this child’s child might melt you.”

Camelia. You were truly wise.

* * *

My head hurts.

I groaned without even being able to open my eyes.

‘But if it hurts, I guess I’m alive?’

I pressed my temples with my palms and barely managed to open my eyes.

What I saw was.

“Are you alright.”

“Clan Leader?!”

I cried out in surprise, and the Clan Leader nodded.

“How… here in Sanmiguel…? No wait, there’s no room like this in Sanmiguel…”

I looked around the room frantically.

And when I tried to get up, he pressed my forehead with his finger.

“This is Esgaroth Castle. If that answers your question, lie down.”

“How did you get in here?”

“A message came to Sanmiguel. Saying my daughter had collapsed and to come to the castle.”

“Oh… then…”

As I blinked, the Clan Leader said.

“The Marquis will come to the room soon. Your mission was successful.”

“Wow─!”

I jumped up as if bouncing.

The Clan Leader frowned.

“I told you to lie down.”

“I’m fine. This is mana depletion, so I just need to recover my mana. So don’t worry─.”

I flinched as I said that.

I got excited and mentioned mana depletion.

He shouldn’t realize I was purifying the smoke.

Then he might figure out that I’m a saint.

“Uh, so… what happened was…”

“You were putting out the fire.”

“What?”

“They said you were extinguishing it but it was too much, so you even used the bottle you received from Prince Luciano.”

So that’s how it was summarized.

Well, a Purifier is a being that only appears in scriptures.

They couldn’t imagine I was purifying, so concluding I collapsed while extinguishing would be the rational conclusion.

I quickly nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s what happened.”

“….”

“Um, so what will you say when you meet with the Marquis? Since I met the Marquis first, I know a bit about his conversation style. …Clan Leader?”

The Clan Leader was just staring at me intently.

I tilted my head.

“Why do you have that expression…?”

“My stomach feels uncomfortable.”

“What?”

“My chest feels stuffy.”

“Are you sick?”

“When I heard you collapsed again, I felt that way. Why is that?”

I rolled my eyes around.

Stomach uncomfortable and chest stuffy.

It doesn’t seem like he’s sick anywhere.

‘Then…’

“Because it’s burdensome?”

“Maybe so.”

Even I would find it somewhat burdensome if a subordinate risked their life to carry out a mission.

You never know what they might demand.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to suddenly ask for things.”

“….”

“If you meet with the Marquis, that’s good enough for me.”

“You can ask for things.”

“You don’t need to go that far. We didn’t even write a contract, did we?”

“Then let’s write a contract. A contract that I’ll give you what you need.”

That’s when it happened.

“Don’t you think this conversation is going off track.”

The door opened and the Marquis appeared.

Seeing the Marquis, the things I said at Tartaros Tower came to mind.

Back then I was so excited that words came out without going through my brain.

‘This is bad.’

I quickly threw off the blanket.

And tried to get up.

“Stay lying down, my puppy.”

…Did I hear wrong?

Maybe because of mana depletion, or the shock of collapsing, I’m hearing things.

But I didn’t have time to ask what I heard wrong.

“Since this child risked her life, I should give a worthy reward. Do you want to be recognized as my son.”

“I don’t need the Marquis’s recognition. What I want is the world’s recognition.”

“You look like your mother, but your way of speaking seems to resemble me.”

“Stop with the disgusting talk.”

Wow.

I just rolled my eyes left and right, looking at the Clan Leader and the Marquis.

Where did the touching father-son reunion go.

The atmosphere feels like the room temperature is dropping below freezing.

The Marquis smiled coldly.

“Do you think your life will be compensated if you receive the world’s recognition?”

“I’m just taking back what was mine.”

“Power, admiration, wealth, those kinds of things?”

“Position.”

The Clan Leader looked at the Marquis with a dry gaze.

Only then did the smile disappear from the Marquis’s expression.

“Your arrogance is excessive.”

“Especially since I was born with such disgusting blood.”

“What will you do if I refuse to give it.”

“I’ll take it.”

What?!

I gasped and kicked off the blanket to sit up.

“Um…!”

“I told you to lie down.”

“Lie down, my puppy.”

Both of them spoke at the same time.

How can I lie down…

It seems like a bloody battle between father and son is about to break out.

“So what the Clan Leader means is he wants you to publicly announce he’s your son. He needs a position where he can legitimately compete for succession. He’s not really thinking of pointing a sword at you, Marquis.”

I grabbed the Clan Leader’s collar and shook him.

With eyes that said, right? Right?

The Clan Leader’s eyebrows twitched.

But perhaps because I had such a desperate expression, he only turned his head away sharply.

I looked at the Marquis again.

“So please, Marquis…”

“Alright.”

Huh?

He answered so readily that I flinched.

The Marquis wore a smile.

It wasn’t the calculating smile I’d always seen, but a truly affectionate smile.

“If our puppy wants it, then we must do so.”

…It seems my ears aren’t mistaken after all.

Puppy, it really is true.

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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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