How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 266

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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 a Father
Chapter 266
The faces of the princes and their partners had gone rigid — it was inevitable.
Yujina’s complexion in particular had turned pale.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times before falling silent. I watched as she swallowed hard.
It was only after a long pause that Gaspard spoke.
“So?”
“I have nothing more to say, really. I’ve simply laid out my value. How you choose to use it is entirely your judgment.”
I smiled and headed into my accommodation.
There was no one drawing a sword as they had before, no one seizing me or threatening me.
‘Their minds must be quite busy right now.’
I smirked to myself.
* * *
[I’m the only one who can reverse the Reverse Scale?]
The Emperor’s Office.
“Puhahah!”
The Emperor, who had been gazing into the Mirror World, slapped his knee and laughed.
Count Urbano watched the Emperor laughing with delight, his own tea forgotten.
“You seem quite pleased, Your Majesty.”
At Count Urbano’s words, the Emperor turned his head.
“Of course I’m pleased. That cleverness and brazen cunning of theirs never cease to amuse me.”
“….”
“You don’t approve, though. You’ve been opposing Luciano’s ascension to Crown Prince.”
“….”
Count Urbano gazed quietly into the Mirror World.
Luciano entering his accommodation with Yustea was reflected in it.
“It is not Prince Luciano himself whom I oppose.”
“Go on.”
“I know he is the greatest of the princes in terms of capacity for rule. How could I not see that?”
Luciano was indeed a true vessel of an emperor.
His vision was broad.
He possessed the eye to place talent where it was needed most.
Yet he did not simply bend before the current of the times.
He did not rely solely on his subordinates’ abilities, but set clear boundaries with unwavering standards.
Through the clear line Luciano drew, his subordinates gained unflinching momentum.
Luciano himself was a talent who had overturned the world’s negative perception that he was “born with crimson eyes” through his own competence and effort.
‘How could one not covet him?’
Count Urbano spoke.
“I myself once hoped that Prince Luciano would ascend to the throne.”
The Emperor already knew this.
‘He’s been quietly supporting him from the shadows.’
“But.”
The Emperor posed the question.
Count Urbano answered in an even tone.
“Prince Luciano’s base of support is the problem.”
The power of the Seven Families had grown stagnant, festered into corruption.
The only means to check them was the Imperial Palace itself.
These Seven Families had only recently stepped down from the pinnacle of power.
“Prince Luciano’s base rests upon the Seven Families. Should he ascend to the throne, they would seize power once more.”
“Do you believe that the New Nobles, centered on you, will not grow corrupt?”
“Of course not. Corruption born of power is an ancient and endless cycle. But the means of restraint would be multiple.”
The old Seven Families.
The factions of the other princes.
Through such a balance of multiple powers, these competing forces would check the New Nobles and slow their descent into decay.
“Such a structure will bring stability to the Empire.”
His eyes held stubborn conviction.
The Emperor swallowed his sigh and lifted his teacup.
Count Urbano — Colodio Urbano.
Leader of the New Nobles.
And simultaneously the man whose back the Emperor had trusted in battle, his most steadfast companion.
To the Emperor, Count Urbano played the same role for Luciano that Yustea did.
He was a powerful weapon that could transform into any form.
‘If it weren’t for Count Urbano, could I have ascended to the throne at all?’
He spoke such things half in jest.
“If Luciano were to abandon the Seven Families. Would you then support that child?”
“Impossible, Your Majesty. Prince Luciano’s maternal family is the House of Count Gallagos of the Seven Families. His betrothed belongs to the House of Esgaroth, also of the Seven Families.”
“But if. If that were possible—.”
The Emperor fixed Count Urbano with a steady gaze.
Count Urbano spoke with firm conviction.
“You would have to abandon Yustea Esgaroth as well.”
“….”
“That girl is far too dangerous.”
Count Urbano’s sharp eyes turned toward the Mirror World.
The Emperor spoke.
“If we speak of a Vessel of an Emperor, is there anyone to match Yustea? She’s more exceptional material than Luciano or Terriars of Ilfarm.”
“Precisely.”
“….”
“That child cannot abandon the people in her embrace. If she must choose between the nation’s crisis and her family, she will ultimately choose her family.”
“….”
The Emperor fell silent.
He clicked his tongue and spoke.
“Your eye for people frightens me.”
“With these eyes, I have saved Your Majesty more than once.”
“Your words….”
The Emperor gazed toward the Mirror World, his fingers pressed against his temples.
‘Urbano, not Luciano.’
The one he needed to take with him for the future, even after becoming Emperor, was Urbano.
This competition was not a test to gauge the princes’ potential.
‘…You must seize talented men like Urbano with your own power.’
It was a stage the Emperor had orchestrated for that very purpose.
* * *
Dawn broke.
I gazed out the window.
The allied princes still surrounded our lodge.
They were leaving us no opening to flee with the Reverse Scale.
‘At the same time, they’re watching to keep my allied partners from reaching me.’
Luciano approached from behind.
“The alliance doesn’t even trust each other.”
“No.”
“The alliance will crumble—it’s only a matter of time.”
I let a satisfied smile cross my face.
‘Once the alliance breaks, there’s nothing to fear.’
Whether it’s Yohaël, Gaspard, or Ludvico.
Alone, none of them are truly formidable opponents.
Luciano and I looked at each other and grinned.
* * *
The horizon was growing bright.
Gaspard clicked his tongue and shouted.
“So you’re saying we’re not going to attack after all?!”
Yohaël remained silent at his words.
Ludvico wore an awkward expression as well.
Ludvico spoke.
“If the Saint were to create another Reverse Scale for us, there would be no need to fight….”
“Do you think they’ll create more Reverse Scales for us?”
Gaspard’s voice rose sharply.
“This is a ploy to break our alliance. Their goal is to keep us locked in this deadlock like this.”
“But even if we fought, we three couldn’t divide the Reverse Scales evenly anyway. After taking it from them, we’d only have to compete again.”
Yujina, Ludvico’s wife, interjected smoothly.
“Exactly. If the princes must quarrel with each other regardless, there’s no need to waste soldiers in combat.”
Ludvico nodded in agreement.
“I’d sooner wait for her to craft a Reverse Scale and deal with the dragon instead….”
At Ludvico and his wife’s words, Gaspard let out a sharp, derisive laugh.
“You’d find it convenient enough, dealing with dragons. But I have no confidence in taking a Reverse Scale from me or Yohaël through combat.”
“Brother…!”
“Do you really think that contemptible girl will craft a Reverse Scale for us?”
“That is….”
Ludvico and his wife fell silent.
Then, Yohaël—who had been quiet all along—spoke.
“No. She doesn’t seem likely to hand over a Reverse Scale willingly.”
“Then what do you propose we do, Your Highness…?”
Yujina, Ludvico’s wife, asked.
Yohaël gazed at the lit window of the lodge building.
It was Yustea’s room.
Yohaël’s lips twisted.
“Whether it’s the Reverse Scale or Yustea—one of them leaves with us.”
“…!”
“…?!”
The other princes and their partners widened their eyes.
Ludvico thought to himself.
‘That’s right. If either one comes out, one of us three can claim the Reverse Scale.’
Yujina’s opinion aligned with his.
‘Not a bad outcome. I’ll even get to see that girl’s face twist in distress.’
Gaspard wore a thin, cold smile.
“If you’ve decided, let’s move.”
Five minutes later, the coalition’s soldiers advanced.
Bang—!
Soldiers burst through the lodge doors.
Luciano’s soldiers, stationed outside the lodge entrance, shouted.
“Enemy attack!”
Luciano’s prepared soldiers quickly formed a defensive line.
But something was wrong.
“That one—he wasn’t here this morning.”
Among the coalition soldiers were faces that hadn’t been present that morning.
“Wait, that one too….”
“Outside! Look outside!”
The coalition’s soldier count was staggering.
Luciano’s soldiers went rigid.
“Damn it….”
“Alert His Highness! Reinforcements have arrived!”
Luciano’s soldiers scattered in panic.
Luciano’s adjutant clenched his teeth.
They hadn’t been idling away the time.
They hadn’t been deliberating over how to win Yustea’s favor, or preventing other princes from approaching her. None of that.
They had summoned their soldiers, waiting for the moment Luciano’s side grew complacent, believing their strategy was working!
“They’re all soldiers from Yohaël Palace.”
“Damn…!”
The rumors that Luciano’s greatest rival was no exaggeration proved true.
The adjutant gripped his sword hilt tightly.
‘Reinforcements don’t arrive this quickly. They’d prepared in advance.’
Anticipating that Luciano’s side would seize the Reverse Scale first, they had prepared to strike from behind.
In other words, they’d hidden soldiers ahead of time and were waiting for the right moment to strike!
“Don’t let the coalition reach the stairs!”
“Protect the Reverse Scale and the Saint!”
Luciano’s soldiers fought with grim determination.
But it was futile.
The coalition’s soldier count was roughly seven times that of Luciano’s forces.
The defensive line shattered in moments.
Yohaël strode into the lodge.
“Secure Yustea.”
Then Gaspard shouted.
“Not the Reverse Scale?”
“If we take Yustea, the Reverse Scale comes with her. Luciano is helpless before that girl’s peril.”
Gaspard smirked.
He thrust his blade at the soldier blocking the stairs.
The soldier with his thigh run through crumpled to the ground.
“Seize Yustea!”
Gaspard’s voice rang out sharp and clear.
The Alliance forces ransacked the second floor.
Ludvico and his wife threw open doors searching for Yustea.
In that very moment as the search unfolded.
Boom….
The building shook.
It was Luciano.
Positioned in his chamber, he unleashed magic the instant the princes and their partners entered.
Yujina’s gaze fixed on what lay behind Luciano.
A jacket sleeve protruded from the wardrobe.
It was unmistakably the hem of Yustea’s jacket from today.
“There!”
Gaspard cried out.
“Debuff!”
Priests surged forward.
Holy light pooled and flared at the end of each rod they wielded.
Pure Holy Power engulfed Luciano.
That was when Yohaël stepped in.
Bang—!
Crash—!
Yohaël’s and Luciano’s Mana clashed with razor-sharp intensity.
But it was only natural that the debuffed Luciano gave ground.
Luciano was forced back with a violent concussion.
Gaspard’s mouth curved into a smirk.
He nodded toward Gaspard, blade leveled at Luciano’s throat.
Yujina rushed to the wardrobe and yanked it open.
“It’s finally over… huh?”
Yujina froze.
The wardrobe was empty.
Only Yustea’s jacket lay there, abandoned and alone.
“How… how could….”
As she murmured, Yohaël strode forward, his brow darkening.
Ha.
A low chuckle escaped between his teeth.
“You bought time for her, didn’t you, Luciano.”
Luciano grinned.
“I’m not the only one who made use of that deadlocked moment.”
Ludvico went rigid.
“What do you mean? Then….”
Luciano shrugged with ease.
“Yustea has already reached the Portal. With the Reverse Scale.”
“…!”
“…!”
The Alliance’s faces hardened.
So during that stalemate, Yustea had gone forward with the Reverse Scale.
They all recalled the terms of the competition.
The condition was to bring back the Reverse Scale.
The prince himself didn’t need to return!
Gaspard’s hand clenched into a fist.
“This cunning little schemer!”
In that instant, Yohaël turned to Calypso.
“You can halt a Magical Device.”
“Yes? Well, I can, but… there are limitations to it.”
“Go. We need to stop the Portal.”
The instant Yohaël reached to pull Calypso toward him.
Luciano’s mana enveloped him.
“Don’t move. Not you.”
Yohaël clicked his tongue.
“Go, Calypso.”
“Y-yes. Of course.”
Calypso hurried out with the Alliance soldiers.
* * *
Count Urbano, who had been watching the Mirror World, narrowed his brow.
“That’s….”
The Emperor turned his head.
“What is it?”
“If they leave like this….”
Count Urbano shot to his feet.
‘I’ve fallen into a trap.’
If things unfold this way, it becomes a contest between Calypso and Yustea!
The masses love virtue.
And yet what they love even more….
“Victory.”
Yustea—that girl has orchestrated this entire situation.

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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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