How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 3

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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 3

* * *

The Clan Leader, Antonio, and Yustea moved to the underground waterway.

They had pursuers after the incident with the Duke’s employees at the marketplace.

After entering the waterway, Antonio reported the situation to the Elite Squad.

“Yeah, right. We’ve entered the underground waterway. It’s different from the plan, but we secured the ‘goods.'”

[You crazy bastard. Couldn’t control your temper and caused trouble?]

“I’m telling you it wasn’t me.”

[Stop talking bullshit.]

[Then would the Clan Leader have done such a thing?]

Antonio felt wronged to death.

When he saw Yustea getting beaten by the Duke’s employees while protecting her hood, he thought it was do-or-die.

He even raised his fist with the intention of causing a real scene.

But he really wasn’t the one who acted.

‘I’m just as dumbfounded.’

Who would have known they’d even carve a mark on their face there?

“The Clan Leader did it…”

[Cut the crap.]

[I’m hanging up!]

Click.

The communication cut off without a single person believing him.

Antonio looked sadly at the Clan Leader who was shamelessly resting.

Beside him, Yustea was moving around busily.

“What are you doing?”

When Antonio asked, Yustea, who was taking things out of her bag, said.

“Organizing luggage. And I want to gather some herbs that grow in the waterway.”

“Shouldn’t you rest? Look at your face in the water. Is that the face of a fifteen-year-old girl?”

Due to being beaten by the Duke’s employees, Yustea’s face was all swollen.

“We’ll move when the sun sets, won’t we?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s winter so the sun sets quickly. I need to organize before then, or it’ll be a hindrance when we move.”

Then she was busy packing again.

Her hands were incredibly skillful.

The pile of luggage that had been stacked up became flat after passing through those hands and slipped right into the bag.

“Were you really a noble?”

What kind of noble young lady is like a survival genius?

Yustea folded bags of dried vegetables neatly and said.

“Until I was 12. Father was Marquis Andres, and Mother ran the Paul Trading Company… no, the large trading company now called Andres Trading Company.”

“You must often feel self-loathing about your current situation.”

Antonio, who had been muttering thoughtlessly, realized his mistake.

His comrades also had lives that fell into the mud due to various circumstances.

It was something he always said jokingly when talking with them, but it could be hurtful to a fifteen-year-old girl.

“Self-loathing is…”

Yustea hesitated and muttered.

Antonio flinched.

“No, what I meant was─”

“Not often, but every day?”

“…Huh?”

“When cleaning the latrines, it seems to come once every minute. The soldiers’ latrines are really dirty…”

“…”

Seeing Yustea become gloomy about the dirty latrines, Antonio let out a hollow laugh.

That girl was definitely a bit strange.

‘No, not strange but amazing?’

Yustea quickly finished organizing the luggage and started gathering herbs.

“Since it’s a waterway, water flowers bloom. If I knew they grew here, I wouldn’t have bought them at the herb shop.”

What a waste.

Muttering like that, she mercilessly gathered the herbs called water flowers and made a pile.

“If you boil and drink this, it’s perfect for recovering from fatigue.”

“Really?”

“Wait here. I’ll brew tea right away.”

She took out a pot as big as herself, boiled water, and brought out sugar and various dried fruits she said she bought at the market.

Soon the waterway was filled with a pleasant fragrance.

Yustea poured tea into cups and handed them to Antonio and the Clan Leader.

Antonio frowned.

“There’s foam?”

“Foam forms when you brew water flowers. The taste is also extremely bitter.”

“Is this really edible?”

“Try it.”

Antonio took a sip of the tea with a dubious expression.

But then.

“…!”

Startled, Antonio’s eyes widened.

“You said it was bitter?”

“Only if you brew water flowers alone. When boiled with fruits high in acidity, the bitter taste is neutralized by the acid. Is it drinkable?”

Ahem, Antonio cleared his throat and drank the tea as if hiding it from view.

Actually, this was the first time he’d had such delicious tea.

He thought things like black tea were only enjoyed by nobles crazy about luxury, but now he understood why they all sought tea.

Yustea said to Antonio, who gulped down the water flower tea like soup.

“Water flower liquor is also delicious. Shall I make it for you next time?”

“Liquor?”

“I heard it’s a summer delicacy when served cold.”

Antonio’s eyes flashed at the mention of liquor, which drove him crazy.

“So, well, when will you make it?”

“If we can get liquor.”

“How about I go out and get some?”

Just as Antonio spoke without taking a breath.

Thud.

The Clan Leader set down his cup loudly.

Antonio flinched.

“I don’t really mean to go out just for liquor. I, uh, could scout the area while I’m at it.”

“…”

“I’ll patrol the surroundings…”

“…”

Even though he said he’d behave, the Clan Leader didn’t withdraw his gaze.

Was he angry, thinking it was foolish?

Just as Antonio tensed up.

Yustea bounced over to the Clan Leader.

“Shall I give you another cup?”

“Fill it up.”

“Yes.”

…Maybe that guy isn’t the only strange one.

Antonio looked at the Clan Leader, who was leisurely drinking water flower tea, with an incredulous expression.

* * *

It had been three days since the Clan Leader, Antonio, and I left the waterway.

We encountered the pursuit force once, but the Clan Leader and Antonio swept away the entire battalion in about 5 minutes with their incredible skills.

After that, it was a peaceful journey.

During our travels, I had quite a few conversations with Antonio.

“You really did all sorts of work. That must have been hard.”

“Not as much as you, Antonio.”

“But is it okay to leave your mother behind and leave the island?”

“I asked the landlord I was indebted to. I gave him half a year’s wages.”

“I see.”

Around noon, we entered the forest where we were supposed to meet up with the other groups.

But there was no one at the designated location.

“Weren’t we supposed to be the latest? The others aren’t here.”

“They’re carrying out diversionary operations because of the marketplace incident. They’ll join us soon.”

“I see….”

Everyone’s going through so much trouble because of me.

When I became dejected, Antonio waved his hand as if telling me not to worry.

“Even if it wasn’t you, I probably would have caused trouble anyway.”

It was meant to comfort me, but his attitude that it was natural for him to cause trouble was shameless.

The Clan Leader looked at Antonio with reproachful eyes.

Antonio had been hit by the Clan Leader three times during the two days it took to get here.

For being tactless.

Thanks to that, I learned what to do in situations like this.

Just quietly do what needs to be done.

I took out my notebook and started scribbling.

“What are you doing?”

Antonio asked, seeming bored.

“I’m writing in the ledger. I used my own money at the marketplace on the first day, but after that, you’ve been paying, Antonio.”

“So?”

“So I need to keep a ledger, right?”

“Why?”

“Don’t the Irregulars keep ledgers?”

“We do.”

“Who…?”

“Me. The Vice Clan Leader made me do it.”

What?

Antonio is a good person.

Yesterday too, when the butcher shop owner quoted me an outrageous price, he beat him up thoroughly.

But….

“If you don’t speak properly, your head and body will be parted forever. How much is 6 geun of sirloin?”

“Th-that’s 30 copper per geun….”

“So how much is that!”

“Huh?”

…How can someone who can’t do math be in charge of the ledger?

“Um, Antonio. Could I perhaps take a look at the ledger?”

“Go ahead.”

Antonio threw me the entire bag.

I took the ledger out of the bag.

It was completely crumpled up.

I carefully smoothed out the crumpled parts of the ledger and examined the contents.

It was a complete mess.

‘The Vice Clan Leader probably didn’t know Antonio was this serious a case.’

Well, even if he knew, our group only had the Clan Leader and Antonio, so Antonio had no choice but to handle it.

I reorganized the ledger.

While I was concentrating for quite a while, I heard signs of people approaching.

“Clan Leader.”

All the Irregulars who were scheduled to meet up had gathered.

Among them was a face I’d never seen before.

It was a well-built man in neat attire.

The man ran over with quick steps and knelt before the Clan Leader.

“I greet my lord.”

“Count Sanmiguel.”

Count Sanmiguel?

Sanmiguel is a vassal of House Esgaroth.

‘He’s already allied with a vassal of Esgaroth?’

Duke Esgaroth, who was originally discussing marriage with the princess.

He fell in love with a humble baron’s daughter from the countryside and announced their marriage.

Naturally, his vassals didn’t look kindly upon the baron’s daughter and allied with the princess to assassinate her.

But the baron’s daughter was a clever person.

She sensed her own death and anticipated that the princess’s hand would reach her son after her death.

She spirited away her newborn son.

That was none other than Clan Leader Aslan.

‘The Clan Leader’s life was miserable.’

It’s said he was spirited away by an old knight and raised with battlefields as his cradle.

A life of kill or be killed.

The reason he continued such a terrible life was because of his ambition to get his hands on House Esgaroth.

“You must have suffered so much. Please, let’s go to Sanmiguel Territory.”

Going to Sanmiguel Territory?

I whispered to Antonio with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you say we were going to the main base?”

“Yeah.”

“But why to Sanmiguel Territory…?”

“Because Sanmiguel Territory is the main base. I wonder how my cute vodka and whiskey are doing. Yustea, I’ll specially share some with you.”

“It’s fine. I’m a minor.”

So the main base was Sanmiguel Territory.

Then he didn’t ally with Count Sanmiguel, but rather got his hands on Sanmiguel Territory and made a count to his liking.

‘Amazing….’

I got goosebumps.

Currently, Duke Esgaroth doesn’t know of the Clan Leader’s existence.

So he’s wielding that much influence over a great noble house with his bare hands.

‘He’s even more amazing than I expected.’

The reason I need to stick with the Irregulars is becoming clearer and clearer.

Let’s do well.

I clenched my fist tightly.

And declared with determination.

“Shall I prepare a meal?”

“…!”

“…!!”

The members’ eyes widened in shock.

But Count Sanmiguel glanced at me and waved his hand dismissively.

“I cannot allow you to consume such lowly food any longer. I’ll prepare a meal at the Ancestral Castle.”

That’s when it happened.

The members, especially Antonio, shouted fiercely.

“This child’s food is not lowly!”

“Her cooking skills are amazing!”

They clamored, even reciting the phrases from the recommendation letter given by Colonel Ragoni of the Imperial Army.

Count Sanmiguel let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“What on earth… Why are you all acting like this, Clan Leader?”

“….”

“Clan Leader?”

The Clan Leader was already sitting on a suitable rock, waiting for the meal preparations.

Count Sanmiguel looked flustered.

* * *

‘Good. It’s clean.’

I looked proudly at the cooking utensils and dishes I had finished washing.

After wiping away all the moisture, they became sparkling clean.

After the members finished eating the braised ribs, it looked like a storm had swept through.

‘The reaction was… yes, too good.’

Count Sanmiguel, who claimed to be cultured, described it as being like a pack of dogs.

In the end, they even glared at each other like mortal enemies over a single piece of braised ribs.

I offered some to Count Sanmiguel too, but he said to me…

“I have no hobby of eating vulgar food on the roadside.”

—That’s what he said.

In a very cold tone.

I was thinking about that when…

“Are you upset because of the Marquis?”

Antonio suddenly poked his face forward.

My eyes widened.

It wasn’t because I was startled by him suddenly talking to me.

‘Wow.’

He was dressed in a knight’s formal uniform.

It seemed he had changed clothes while I was cleaning up.

The silver armor and long cape suited him well with his tall stature and broad shoulders.

Come to think of it, Antonio was also a handsome man, though he didn’t stand out because the Clan Leader was so good-looking he seemed like a different species.

Bronze skin with distinct features.

Superior physique well over 180 centimeters tall.

His playful impression was charming.

“You look cool!”

“Of course.”

Antonio grinned and ruffled my hair.

“Don’t mind the Marquis. The Vice Leader said that before the Clan Leader entrusted him with Sanmiguel Territory, the Marquis was nobility in name only. Maybe he’s overly particular about refinement as a reaction to that.”

Antonio had heard what the Marquis said to me.

To be precise, only Antonio heard it.

Because the Marquis spoke quietly while watching the Clan Leader who was enjoying the braised ribs.

“No. It’s fine that he didn’t eat the braised ribs.”

“Then?”

“It seems like he’s wary of me.”

No, rather than being wary, his gaze was closer to being on guard.

Why would someone as high-ranking as a Marquis do that to me, who’s just a worker?

There was no reason for it.

Antonio looked up at the sky as if thinking about something.

Then he soon said “Ah.”

“The Marquis might have misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood?”

“Yeah. He might have thought you were a candidate to be the Clan Leader’s adopted daughter. The age range fits.”

Adopted daughter?

The Clan Leader taking in an adopted daughter?

“Is the Clan Leader taking in an adopted daughter?”

“Yeah. He needs a child to send for the princes’ protocol… Oops.”

Antonio, who had been answering naturally, flinched and pretended not to know.

But I caught on to the content.

Because I knew the game’s story.

‘Come to think of it, the princes will be coming to House of Esgaroth soon.’

As part of succession education, the Emperor had the princes tour the estates of great nobles.

And so Esgaroth’s turn had come as well.

When the princes came, there needed to be children of similar age to converse with.

‘That’s called being a page.’

And the Clan Leader planned to send his adopted daughter as a page to establish contact with Duke Esgaroth.

Finally, the time was approaching for the Clan Leader to reveal his true self to imperial society.

Count Sanmiguel was probably being cautious because he was worried I might be given the role of the Clan Leader’s adopted daughter.

‘He’s worrying for nothing.’

The Clan Leader does seem to like my cooking.

But would he readily entrust me with the role of adopted daughter based on that alone?

There’s no trust at all.

‘Yeah, good. Then there’s nothing to worry about.’

Count Sanmiguel is the lord of the Irregular Vanguard, so it would be troublesome to get on his bad side.

But since it will be revealed as a misunderstanding, he probably won’t worry about it soon.

Having shaken off my worries, I smiled brightly.

“Antonio, shall we go now?”

“Huh? Yeah, well…”

Seeing me brighten up again in an instant, Antonio tilted his head.

“It’s good that you’re positive. There’s even a saying that you don’t boil laughing people.”

“….”

“What?”

“…It’s not people, it’s pigs. You don’t boil laughing pigs.”

After all, it’s normal not to boil people.

—————
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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