How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 275

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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 275
Count Urbano stared at me for a long moment.
Then he spoke, his expression grave.
“That is far too simplistic a notion.”
“It depends on one’s perspective, I suppose.”
“If I may offer my view, the Saint is looking far too distant into the future.”
He explained his thoughts in a measured tone.
“To give a straightforward example: in the Empire, a person reaches adulthood at eighteen. This means one generation of parents raises children for the next generation to arrive—at most, eighteen years pass.”
“Yes.”
“One cannot say each generation takes exactly eighteen years, but as an example—”
“I understand. Generational change accelerates with shifts in era and technology.”
“Precisely. So let us say fourteen years on average. An extreme average, admittedly, but for the sake of argument.”
“I see.”
“In those fourteen years, children learn their sense of self through society and form a new generation. And it is the administrator who shapes the atmosphere of society as a whole.”
Count Urbano extended both his index fingers.
He raised his right index finger.
“An administrator who subjugates through force for the sake of better living.”
Then he raised his left index finger.
“An administrator who, though slower, demonstrates the value of peace and effort.”
He met my eyes.
“Which administrator can build a more meaningful next generation?”
“…”
The administrator who subjugates through force for better living—that is me.
The administrator who demonstrates the value of peace and cooperation, though slower—that is Calypso.
The Count spoke gently.
“Yes, of course, during those fourteen years when the generations shift, it is the Saint who surely keeps the people from starving. I do not deny that part.”
“…”
“But while the Saint protects the people through force, the next generation, and the generation after that, and the one after that will learn something.”
“…”
“To protect myself, I must have power. Through ever more shameful means, I must seize it with certainty.”
“…”
“Do you think only the common folk will absorb this current? No. Those who learn it first are those who already have power—the nobility.”
“…”
“To protect what they possess, they will form even tighter networks of cooperation and reject those who seek to rise.”
“…”
“Thus what is needed is an administrator who demonstrates the value of peace and effort.”
He clicked his tongue sharply.
“Of course, I acknowledge your point that those fourteen years carry the risk of the people’s lives wavering. Deep discussion of welfare policies will be necessary.”
Count Urbano’s eyes shone.
The gaze of one who holds fierce conviction, who believes his values are sound.
And I…
‘I really do like people like that.’
I smiled softly.
“About that welfare policy—what if we adopted a more certain method than simply reducing taxes and distributing grain or barley?”
“…A more certain method?”
“The Empire has only a fraction of land where people actually gather. Lands overrun with monsters, sickly lands—they comprise nearly forty percent of Imperial territory.”
“That is true.”
“Give the land to those who clear it, so they might build new farmland or industrial facilities.”
“…!”
“We give them the means to sustain themselves.”
“If that were possible, private relocation of estate subjects would follow. The nobility’s resistance would be severe.”
“Which is why we need a strong Emperor and Empress. Ones powerful enough to silence the nobility.”
“But that alone will not suffice. So long as the nobility retain power, they will never permit their subjects to flee their lands.”
He furrowed his brow and continued.
“Without unity, this vast Empire cannot be consolidated. If we consider the nobles who might fall to the Reconstruction Society, it becomes gravely dangerous—”
“Let the nobility enjoy the same benefits.”
“I… beg your pardon?”
Count Urbano stared at me intently.
Then his eyes widened sharply.
“An eastern noble could acquire southern lands freely. They’ll have no choice but to reclaim or develop the surrounding territory to eliminate potential rivals who might threaten them.”
“Yes.”
“But that alone won’t suffice. What if we reduced tax rates for those developing or reclaiming lands?”
“Reduced tax rates?”
“Development and reclamation require labor. Employment won’t dry up for the common people.”
“Some might even emigrate from abroad seeking work.”
“More than that—as living conditions improve, the birth rate rises naturally. More children will be born.”
My eyes and Urbano’s gleamed in unison.
* * *
Calypso gripped the hem of her skirt.
She couldn’t follow the conversation.
Simply understanding their exchange was overwhelming.
But Yustea….
“The people living there would occupy lands reclaimed and developed by nobles and commoners alike. Wait—we can’t just increase the population blindly. We need enough space to educate them properly.”
She’d identified the flaw with precision.
Urbano stroked his chin, troubled.
“Let’s have commoners take a teacher’s examination. The Imperial Palace will provide stipends and dispatch central administrators to oversee the instructors.”
“Common folk yearning for better lives will pursue education. Hmm, we’ll also need hospitals and guard posts for monster subjugation.”
“That would….”
“Require enormous expenditure. Which is why we must seize external interests and bring them back.”
“When a nation falls into chaos, ore prices skyrocket. Iron especially. Without tools for land reclamation and development, how can any of this proceed? The people will abandon hope.”
“Then perhaps we first seize iron ore mines from the Pheremod Kingdom….”
“Why do you keep resorting to plunder?”
Yustea pouted slightly.
“Then what’s your solution, Count? Without funds, all of this is mere fantasy.”
“That’s true, but… couldn’t we take it from the nobility?”
“You’re considering plunder just as much as I am.”
Urbano burst into hearty laughter.
His expression as he laughed was remarkably refreshing.
He found the exchange with Yustea deeply enjoyable.
His blood was stirring.
Just as it had in those days when he dreamed of the future alongside the current Emperor.
‘Was it always like this, before I repeatedly faced defeat by those who hungered for more?’
He regarded Yustea.
She pressed her fingertip to her brow, lost in contemplation.
“Money… if money is the problem… hmm.”
Urbano’s eyes narrowed slightly.
‘So that was her true strength.’
Not her title as Saint, nor her relentless victories.
This child did not stop thinking.
She thought ceaselessly and acted immediately.
And in doing so….
‘She made those around her surge forward without wavering.’
She made them dream.
His chest trembled.
At the world this child would build.
At the victories she would bring forth, he felt expectation kindle within him.
“…!”
Urbano suddenly clutched his brow.
‘Dangerous.’
Yes, he still believed her ideology and the methods she employed without hesitation were wrong.
And if Luciano became Emperor, the Seven Families would regain their dominance.
Yet still his heart trembled.
She was truly a perilous child.
“Count?”
Yustea asked.
“…It grows late. You should return soon.”
She glanced at the wall clock.
It had already grown close to midnight.
Yustea spoke.
“I got caught up in conversation and forgot for a moment, but the reason I came here today was to learn the location of the Reconstruction Society Headquarters.”
“If I don’t tell you, will you occupy the manor entrance again?”
“That won’t be possible—we don’t have the time. We’ve only been given a fortnight. So….”
“If you hold out, I win.”
“I’ll have to take Calypso as a hostage. I’m thinking of kidnapping her on the way out.”
She spoke as though discussing nothing more consequential than an afternoon outing.
Calypso’s eyes went wide.
“I beg your pardon?”
Count Urbano’s brow furrowed as well.
“That is… having heard such a thing, I cannot simply stand by. My personal guard will escort Calypso.”
“Did you think there were only hired hands in that carriage?”
“Surely not….”
She turned to him with an expressionless face.
“All Irregulars are standing by.”
“….”
“…!”
Count Urbano and Calypso looked at Yustea simultaneously.
Calypso’s hand trembled faintly.
“Miss, that is….”
“If I can’t have what I want, I’ll overturn the board. Count Urbano sees me as a threat because of my nature—you know that.”
Calypso swallowed hard.
Count Urbano’s eyes narrowed as he regarded Yustea.
He raised a hand lightly.
“Spare me the bluffing. I’ve already accounted for the Irregulars’ positions. I know full well they aren’t all here.”
“Accounted for?”
“When I occupied the manor, I couldn’t help but consider the greatest threat.”
“Tch.”
As Yustea clicked her tongue, Count Urbano laughed softly.
“But I’ve already given both of you a hint—a hint about the location presumed to be the Reconstruction Society Headquarters.”
“…A hint.”
“Think about what hint I gave you with that clever mind of yours. Now, both of you, if you would leave.”
Yustea and Calypso stiffened.
‘The Grain Tea…!’
It was the only thing remarkable about his manor.
‘Where Grain Tea is served? The region with the largest wheat harvest? Either way, the location’s narrowed. I can send people to investigate.’
Yustea and Calypso hurried through their farewells and rushed out.
Yustea climbed into her carriage and headed straight for the Esgaroth Estate.
Gaspard came to greet Calypso.
It seemed he’d ridden out in haste, concerned that Calypso’s return had taken longer than expected.
Calypso explained what she’d learned from Count Urbano.
Gaspard, who had been listening with his legs crossed inside the carriage, spoke.
“Grain Tea?”
“Yes. It’s surely related to Grain Tea or wheat in some way.”
“So Yustea caught on to the hint as well? Damn it—this has become dangerous.”
Gaspard spoke as though biting his own lips.
But Calypso’s thoughts were different.
‘The real danger… might be something else entirely.’
The light in Count Urbano’s eyes when he looked at Yustea.
The way he seemed to enjoy the conversation.
His amused expression even as he made that cutting remark about using that clever mind—his interest had been genuine.
‘…That’s not how he looked at me.’
To Count Urbano, Yustea had taken on a different significance.
‘Did Luciano feel the same?’
Was it that conversations with Yustea felt alive, and her unpredictable cunning seemed endearing to him?
Calypso clenched her skirts tightly in her fists.
* * *
The following afternoon.
“This is maddening. The region with the largest wheat production, where people enjoy Grain Tea—I’ve searched them all, and there’s no large-scale facility where the Reconstruction Society could be hiding military forces….”
I clutched my head and groaned.
[No traces of the Reconstruction Society were found in the Southern Irata District.]
[There were no traces of the Reconstruction Society in the Eastern Betes Domain either.]
The Communication Stones spread across the map kept repeating like a parrot: “No traces of the Reconstruction Society could be detected.”
“Urbano didn’t deceive you, did he?”
Cesar asked, furrowing his brow as he examined the map and information from each region.
“His eyes weren’t lying.”
Yuise set a teacup down in front of me.
“Still, there’s no reason to worry too much. If we can’t find them, it means Gaspard is equally lost.”
“Perhaps. But… hmm.”
I rested my chin in both hands.
“It’s grain tea, actually.”
“Grain? They make tea from grain? Wouldn’t it taste rough?”
“Where I came from, wheat was far cheaper than barley, so we made tea from it.”
My conversation with Calypso came to mind.
‘She seemed to know a lot about grain tea.’
If Calypso had already pieced together the hint….
I’d been mulling it over.
The Communication Stone rang.
It wasn’t one of the stones I’d brought out for gathering intelligence.
It was my personal Communication Stone.
‘Luciano!’
I quickly accepted the transmission.
“Yes.”
[Some of the soldiers from the family allied with Gaspard have gone missing.]
“What do you mean?”
[House Sanponce—the Empress’s family, and the soldiers of the rising nobility. At least five hundred men.]
“…So Calypso solved the clue first.”
[That’s what it looks like.]
“What about Gaspard?”
[He’s still in the Imperial Palace. He must have sent the soldiers ahead to keep their location hidden from us. He’ll join them later.]
“By then, we’ll be too late.”
[Yeah….]
I let out a groan.
‘So she’d developed conviction.’
Now that her stats had risen, she was truly becoming difficult to deal with.
[She’s controlling information well. We can’t even determine their location from the Portal records.]
“Digging elsewhere won’t help either.”
[I’ll try meeting with some of the rising nobility who might switch sides. You prepare to depart….]
“There’s no time to persuade them. And we can’t be sure if someone with a chance to defect even possesses the information.”
[What?]
“We only have two weeks. We need to find out for certain, and quickly.”
[…What are you planning to do.]
Luciano’s voice wavered with anxiety.
I smiled crookedly and answered.
“I’ll extract the information so we can leave tomorrow.”
[From who, exactly.]
Well, from someone who definitely has the information.
I ended the transmission.
And I spoke.
“Bring me a Novice Priestess Robe.”
That woman Maria—the one Gaspard was always chanting prayers about.
It was time to move.

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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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