How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 270

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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 270
* * *
Throughout the journey to the vacation spot, the Unit Members’ expressions were peculiar.
The place marked as a vacation spot on the map was far too remote.
“…Are you certain this is the right place?”
Cesar frowned, eyeing Antonio, who grinned like a fool.
The Clan Leader also cast a glance at Antonio before letting out a sigh.
“We’ve asked countless times, and you’ve answered ‘yes’ just as many….”
“We’ve been walking for two hours already.”
“…It’s supposedly a special place unknown to outsiders.”
The vacation plan Antonio had brought seemed quite plausible.
A daily rhythm of healing one’s heart amidst pristine scenery untouched by human hands.
He’d even sketched colorful illustrations and boasted about them endlessly.
So confident was he that the Unit Members of the Clan Leader’s team had harbored hopes at first.
…Only at first.
As they drew closer to the vacation spot, most of them wore expressions like Cesar’s.
Yuise, too, frowned as she asked.
“Is there really lodging in such a remote place for more than thirty able-bodied men?”
“You needn’t worry about accommodations.”
“What about food?”
“That as well.”
“…I’m uneasy about this.”
Yuise and Cesar stared at Antonio, who beamed like someone who’d just let a dog loose in the sea.
After another hour of walking, they arrived at their destination.
And upon arriving, we….
“….”
“….”
…stared at the sea with vacant expressions.
Cesar spoke.
“Whoever approved this vacation spot — step forward.”
The sea was beautiful.
Yes, the sea alone was beautiful.
But there was only sea.
Sea and swarms of monsters.
No luxurious inns, no one hawking snacks, no sweet drinks — nothing but sea and monsters.
The Elite turned sharply to look at Antonio.
“Where’s the spiritual healing?”
“Gazing upon the sea heals the spirit.”
“What about food?”
“Catch a few of those monsters and you’ll eat till you burst.”
“What entertainment?”
“Let’s go hunting — it’s been ages.”
Antonio burst out laughing.
The Unit Members collapsed to the ground simultaneously.
“This isn’t a vacation — it’s a subjugation mission…!”
An anguished cry echoed across the sea….
* * *
“Hands up!”
“Raise them!”
Ordinary Unit Members surrounded Antonio and shouted menacingly.
Even Antonio’s own Unit Members glared at him.
The Elite did not intervene.
The consensus was that the chief culprit deserved it, and besides, the Elite were focused on recovering “a vacation after years — now ruined into subjugation training.”
“We could set up a portable portal and relocate….”
“Communications won’t work. This isn’t a communication zone. It’s impossible to summon a portable portal from Esgaroth.”
“Walking three hours to reach the city would also be impossible. The sun will set soon.”
“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t have entrusted him with choosing the vacation spot in the first place! Who approved it!”
Cesar cried out indignantly.
The one who had approved Antonio’s vacation spot. …In other words, the Clan Leader averted his gaze as he spoke.
“Let’s worry about who’s at fault later. First things first—we need to contain this.”
“The Clan Leader approved it.”
“….”
“What else can we do? Yes?”
“…The final approval isn’t mine.”
“Then whose—!”
The Unit Members and Elite guards caught their breath, their eyes snapping toward the Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader glanced back over his shoulder.
At Father, standing apart in the distance.
“….”
“….”
Under the reproachful stares of the Unit Members, Father quietly turned his gaze away.
The Unit Members exhaled deeply.
“We’d better make the effort and head for the city.”
Antonio, kneeling amid the circle of Unit Members, cried out.
“Why?”
“You think we can sleep where there’s a monster herd?!”
“They’re all docile creatures. They won’t charge unless we strike first!”
“But after we attack a couple to secure provisions—”
“That’s… well….”
“This is ridiculous.”
Yuise’s tone, genteel since receiving her knighthood, had reverted to its old sharpness.
Antonio finally fell silent only after taking kicks from the Elite guards.
The Clan Leader sighed.
“We move out. The Young Lady and Mother should ride in the carriage again.”
“Mm….”
When I let out a troubled sound, the Elite guards looked toward me.
Cesar asked.
“Why?”
“I think Mother needs rest.”
“It’s almost dusk. If we rest now, the sun will set and we won’t be able to move.”
“I know, but… Mother’s condition doesn’t seem good.”
Mother had looked pale throughout the journey in the carriage.
Her complexion was ashen, her breathing labored, and when I showed concern, she pretended all was well.
Even during our brief rest on the way to the vacation spot, she’d been unable to stomach a single drink.
Even now, she sat quietly in a simple chair, saying nothing.
Miliano, watching Mother from a distance, nodded.
“It would be better to rest here tonight.”
“What about provisions? Are we really going to hunt?”
Yuise asked, and I rummaged through the supply carriage as I spoke.
“Let’s make do with what we brought. We have flour, seasonings, vegetables. For meat… we’ll catch fish and the like without provoking the monsters.”
In the end, we decided to make camp.
Because Antonio had brought military camp tents and support poles in preparation for camping, we could at least avoid sleeping directly on the sand.
And so the camp preparations began.
The Unit Members grumbled.
“I thought drawing the short straw was lucky, but what is this.”
“I’d rather be back at the castle.”
We couldn’t bring all of the Irregulars.
So we’d drawn lots to select some of the regular Unit Members.
The others would rest after our vacation ended.
“Still, the sea is worth seeing. The water’s definitely clear where no human hands have touched it. The sea monsters are gentle, and beautiful at that.”
The gentle Unit Members of Miliano’s group spoke with a laugh.
Being naturally inclined toward nature as a unit, this place didn’t seem half bad to them.
Of course, Yuise’s group—the one among the six most enamored with cities and fashion—clicked their tongues.
“When you say ‘sea,’ it’s supposed to mean a passionate encounter with a beautiful soul….”
“What about a passionate encounter with a beautiful jellyfish.”
“Stay back. Yech!”
Antonio’s group, quick to recover, brought jellyfish and fish and came charging forward.
Yuise’s Unit Members fled, shouting “Damn it, fish stink!”
Delighted laughter echoed across the sea.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“They’re having quite the time, aren’t they.”
Miliano, who was helping prepare the meal beside me, nodded with a smile.
“It’s been so long since we all gathered like this. Really, as long as everyone’s comfortable, it doesn’t much matter where we are.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Say, could you catch some fish for me? I’ll make a spicy fish stew.”
The Unit Members’ eyes went wide in an instant.
“The Young Lady’s… cooking…?”
“Fish… stew…?”
“Bring the harpoon! No wait, just throw Antonio in!”
The entire mood shifted in a heartbeat.
The Unit Members tore off their shirts and charged toward the sea.
Antonio’s Unit and the Clan Leader’s Unit in particular looked as if they’d just received a First-Class Mission.
Was it really something to get this worked up about?
Antonio grinned widely.
“We all adore Little Teacher’s cooking.”
Little Teacher.
That was what they’d called me when I first joined the Irregulars.
Ah.
I nodded.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve hardly cooked for anyone since becoming Father’s adopted daughter.’
I’d made desserts now and then to coax Abel, but never in large quantities.
The Elite were the only ones who ever got to taste them—never all the Unit Members.
I watched them, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, laugh and throw themselves into the sea.
Some of them waded back out with fish held in their bare hands.
Yustea’s Team showed off their muscles rather than focusing on catching anything.
‘They’re really enjoying themselves.’
I was still laughing when I saw the Unit Members approach Mother with whatever they’d retrieved from the water.
“Look, Mother. I’ve caught something truly enormous.”
“This fool knows nothing of a lady’s heart. The real treasure of the sea isn’t the shell of a crustacean—it’s the multicolored carapace.”
Antonio’s Unit and Yustea’s Team, bare-chested now, approached Mother with fish and clams in hand.
Then—
“Ugh—!”
Mother gasped, a sound of revulsion.
“The smell…!”
The Unit Members splashing about in the sea froze.
The Elite preparing the meal looked up in shock.
Even the Clan Leader and Father, who’d been keeping watch, turned to stare at Mother in alarm.
The Unit Members who’d been approaching her went rigid.
“You don’t like the smell of fish?”
“Come on, just put it down somewhere!”
They hurriedly dropped the fish and clams, scrambling about in confusion.
But Mother…
“Stay back! You all smell like… ugh….”
I rushed to Mother’s side.
“The smell?”
“The… smell… ughh….”
I looked around at the Unit Members nearby with a bewildered expression.
They’d been setting up tents and running around, so yes, there was some sweat—but it wasn’t that strong.
In fact, the Unit Member from Yustea’s Team smelled more of perfume than sweat.
You’d hardly notice anything unless you were specifically sniffing close.
Yet Mother buried her face in my chest, making small noises of discomfort.
The Unit Members who’d approached her looked dejected.
“Do we… smell bad…?”
“I’ve… I’ve made a woman uncomfortable?”
Antonio’s Unit Member looked panicked, while Yustea’s Unit Member seemed as if the world itself had collapsed.
“She’s probably just been feeling unwell. Miliano, could you fetch some medicine?”
“Of course.”
Miliano was just about to stand when Father moved first.
He rose to his feet.
“No, I’ll do it.”
Father brought medicine from the carriage.
But then….
“Ugh! The smell!”
“….”
“….”
Mother couldn’t hold back and retched.
Father froze, the medicine still in his hand….
* * *
Night.
I left Mother’s tent.
The moment I stepped out carrying the tray of food, Father and the Unit Members approached.
“Did she not eat?”
“Well….”
Mother hadn’t touched the fish stew at all.
Even though Antonio had guaranteed it was delicious enough to make someone dance with the pot in hand.
Even though I’d prepared plain rice porridge since she couldn’t bear the smell, she’d only shaken her head repeatedly.
It wasn’t just food she couldn’t smell.
She’d taken a dislike to the smell of men as well.
She’d been holed up in the tent the entire time.
Miliano spoke with a worried expression.
“Wouldn’t it be better to depart now?”
The Clan Leader shook his head.
“No, it would be better to call for a physician instead.”
“A physician?”
“We’ll have one brought from the nearby city.”
“I’m counting on you.”
So we had a Unit Member with excellent horsemanship ride the horse that had been pulling the carriage toward the city.
Only after the night had grown deep did the Unit Member arrive with the physician in tow.
The physician gagged several times as if he were about to be sick, but under the Irregular’s terrifying gaze, he hurried his movements.
He entered the tent carrying his medical bag, which contained his diagnostic instruments.
I waited anxiously for the physician to complete his examination.
“What’s the diagnosis? Is she quite unwell?”
“…Since when has she been unable to eat?”
“Mother said it’s been about two weeks.”
“When was her last menstrual cycle?”
“Her menstrual cycle?”
I stared at the physician as if questioning why he would ask that.
‘Her stomach feels bad, so why would her menstrual cycle… wait, her menstrual cycle?’
I looked at Mother.
“Mother?”
“….”
Mother, who had been receiving treatment with a haggard face, flinched.
At the mention of menstruation, Mother’s expression seemed to register something.
Her throat bobbed several times as if she were swallowing hard.
Even her pupils trembled without mercy.
When I crossed my arms, Mother suddenly turned her gaze away.
“I think I might be hungry after all….”
“That doesn’t look like the face of someone who’s hungry.”
“Well, I think I’d like to have a drink.”
“Something like lemon juice?”
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’m in pain.”
“You wouldn’t be in pain, would you. Your stomach isn’t settling well, and your condition seems poor.”
“I, I just need to rest for a bit….”
“Your menstrual cycle. When was it?”
The physician and I waited in silence for Mother’s answer.
Mother licked her lips.
I stared at Mother with an expressionless face.
“Mother.”
“…Well, this is just… it’s simply that my stomach isn’t feeling well. I, I must have overexerted myself….”
“So then, what kind of overexertion did you do?”
“….”
Mother fell silent.
I strode quickly out of the barracks.
The Irregulars crowded outside the barracks, their faces etched with worry.
“What happened?”
“Is Dia all right?”
“It’s nothing serious, is it?”
“Is she well?”
The elite among the Irregulars pressed their questions urgently.
I looked at Father, standing rigid-faced among them.
Father asked.
“Dia is all right…isn’t she?”
“…Father.”
“Yes.”
Father kept his stern expression, waiting for my words.
“Did you happen to…do anything that might result in a child?”
In that instant, every eye snapped toward Father.
Father flinched.

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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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