How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 42

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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 42

I was truly dumbfounded.

What kind of ghost hides behind a tree to watch people?

The Clan Leader also had a bewildered expression.

“Since this must be your first time experiencing pain, it’s understandable that you’d be confused…”

As I mentioned, ghosts weren’t beings that could be physically exorcised.

They naturally ascend when their contaminated remains disappear.

So physical pain would be very unfamiliar to them.

I pursed my lips and said.

“Since they don’t seem to intend any harm, shall we continue digging?”

“Yes.”

While the Clan Leader dug the grave, I was looking around the area.

My role was to watch and prevent the ghost from approaching the Clan Leader.

Besides, Marquis Yopis might send people, so I had to listen for any signs.

But…

[What the heck is that?]

[How would I know?]

…It was noisy.

The ghosts were chattering.

“Shh.”

When I put my index finger to my lips, the ghosts flinched and shut their mouths.

After that, the graveyard was quiet.

After some time passed, the Clan Leader spoke.

“Young Lady.”

He had finally dug out the coffin.

I hurriedly ran toward the coffin.

The Clan Leader opened the coffin lid.

Then I could see neatly laid remains and all sorts of weapons placed around them.

“This person must have loved weapons in life.”

“It seems so.”

Usually people put their cherished belongings in coffins.

Among them was a dagger that caught my eye.

It matched the drawing of the treasure the Blacksmith had drawn for me.

The Clan Leader drew the sword from its sheath.

“Wow…”

“Magnificent.”

Despite the long passage of time, there wasn’t a single spot of rust.

The yellowish blade emitted light, and the edge was as sharp as if freshly sharpened.

These were characteristics that appeared because it was made from hwanggol, a legendary ore.

“There’s nothing more to see. This is it.”

“Yes.”

The Clan Leader closed the coffin again.

While he reburied the coffin, I carefully put the treasure in my bag.

And I prepared for the last task.

The last task was naturally…

“Will you go quietly, or should I come to you?”

[Huh?]

Ghost purification.

I didn’t feel sorry for them.

The number of people they had killed while at the Andres Estate was enormous.

“If you don’t come, I’ll go to you.”

[Kyaaaah!]

[Kyaaah!]

It was a night filled with the screams of ghosts.

The Clan Leader, who had finished organizing the grave and was holding his bundle, looked at me with a bewildered expression.

* * *

Yustea and the Clan Leader finished their work and left the graveyard.

“How did you exorcise the ghosts?”

Yustea hesitated for a moment.

“I can’t tell you the exact method, but it will never harm Sanmiguel. Would this answer suffice…?”

When she said that, the Clan Leader glanced at Yustea.

“I see.”

“…You won’t ask more?”

“No. Because I trust you.”

Yustea flinched and looked up at him.

“Why…?”

“I know that you’ve done your best for the Irregulars. You’ve done difficult tasks that even I would struggle with, and you never hesitated once.”

Yustea stared blankly at the Clan Leader.

Then, after hesitating a little, she said.

“My chest feels ticklish and stuffy. What is this?”

“Don’t be afraid. It’s the feeling of caring affectionately for a comrade.”

“Even though it’s stuffy?”

“That’s called worry. It’s like the shadow of affection. You become afraid of hurting the other person, afraid of not being able to repay them.”

“Like how Lorenzo loves Antonio but worries about him?”

“…Well, let’s say it’s something like that.”

Seeing the Clan Leader smile warmly, Yustea giggled and smiled along.

“Learning from Lorenzo is a joyful thing.”

That was the moment.

“Have the ghosts been dealt with?”

A cold voice was heard.

When they turned their heads, they saw Marquis Yopis.

He was smiling, but his gaze was cold.

The smile disappeared from Yustea’s face.

“Yes. Go check for yourself.”

“Yes.”

“After confirming, send 50,000 gold to Sanmiguel. According to the contract written at the Herbalist’s Shelter.”

“Won’t you come to receive it?”

“No. I don’t want to see the Marquis’s face anymore.”

With those words, Yustea passed by Marquis Yopis.

Marquis Yopis said.

“Your current appearance doesn’t look like that of a good child.”

Yustea’s steps stopped.

Marquis Yopis looked at her back and said.

“Please be a good child. My cute Young Lady.”

“I will. I’ll try my best. Because I want to become a proud disciple.”

“That’s enough stubbornness.”

Yustea turned to look at him.

“It’s not stubbornness.”

“Then what is it?”

“This is farewell.”

“….”

“Goodbye, Master.”

Yustea turned her head without any lingering attachment.

Toward the Clan Leader.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

The eyes looking at each other were affectionate.

Just like when she was the little young lady who used to follow behind him.

“I can ride a horse by myself now.”

“That’s good.”

“It went well when I did it as I was taught. Marquis Yopis is the best teacher.”

After Yustea disappeared, Marquis Yopis threw his hat away.

He felt suffocated as if a ball of fire had settled in his stomach.

* * *

Three days later.

Seeing the wooden boxes piled up in the courtyard, I tilted my head in puzzlement.

“Charlie.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“This came from the House of Yopis?”

“Yes. It’s 50,000 gold. I counted it and it was exactly 50,000 gold, not even one copper short.”

Right, of course it would be.

Marquis Yopis wasn’t the type to cheat on something like that.

Since we even drew up a contract, I knew he would send the money.

But….

‘Why did he send the music box?’

When opened, it was a music box with a beautiful white horse spinning around.

Charlie said excitedly.

“Isn’t it really pretty?”

“Yes, disturbingly so.”

“Pardon?”

“Throw it away.”

Shaking my head, I headed toward the stairs to go up to the second floor.

That was the moment.

“What’s all this money?”

It was Yuise’s voice.

I hurriedly turned my gaze.

The Clan Leader and Yuise were entering the courtyard.

The two had gone to meet Marquis Sol with the treasure.

I quickly ran to them.

“How did it go?”

“As soon as we showed him the treasure, his eyes rolled back and he started drooling.”

I was overjoyed.

The Clan Leader and Yuise had done very well.

Just by mentioning that we had a treasure, Marquis Sol, a professional at taking bribes, readily nodded his head.

‘Now the preparations are complete.’

I swept away all the budding criminals, making it so that most territories wouldn’t even be considered for merger candidates.

I also secured the favor of two out of three judges.

Marquis Sol.

And Marquis Sintez as well.

‘Marquis Sintez will side with us.’

Anyway, once the Marquis announces the Clan Leader as his son, the Clan Leader will need a jurisdiction to rule.

As the Marquis’s son, it should be quite a decent place.

Rather than searching for a new place and causing the vassals to split over losing their jurisdiction, it would be better to hand over the existing Valboa.

I smiled wickedly.

* * *

Esgaroth Castle.

Pleasant laughter burst out from the Marquis’s office.

“So Marquis Sol recommended San Miguel as a candidate site?”

As the Marquis slapped his knee and laughed, Marquis Sintez smiled broadly.

“Yes. They must have found the treasure I mentioned. It seems Lord Aslan handled Marquis Sol well with the treasure.”

“That couldn’t have been Aslan’s ability.”

The Marquis smiled broadly and crossed his arms.

“Yustea, that child’s hand must have been involved.”

It was obvious without even looking.

Yustea must have been running around using all sorts of methods.

“How on earth did House Andres teach Lady Yustea?”

Marquis Sintez let out an envious sigh.

Even today, he had practically begged his daughter Asta to please quit the training camp and go to the Academy.

How long would Sintez’s only direct heir keep beating up training camp peers instead of receiving successor lessons?

Even to his pleading words, Asta didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Well, I don’t think it’s the power of education.”

“Pardon?”

Even if some worthless person had taught her, she would have shone just as brightly.

“That child has a terrifying tenacity.”

She’s desperate in everything she does.

Even things that seem impossible, she somehow figures out a way and works herself to death to achieve them.

A young child who was a noble lady lived while even paying for her unconscious mother’s medicine.

Even after experiencing all sorts of vile and despicable things, she got back up again.

“Do you know what type is the most difficult to deal with?”

“Are there opponents that are difficult even for you, Your Grace?”

“Those who never give up no matter how much they’re beaten.”

“…Pardon?”

“Those who get back up even after being trampled and trampled again inspire even fear.”

“….”

“Humans are moved by tenacity. People gather around such individuals.”

Raw gems shine brighter the more they’re cut.

Thus they are reborn as priceless jewels.

The Marquis rose from his seat.

“Such a jewel deserves a fitting case.”

Standing with his hands behind his back and looking out the window, he spoke in an amused voice.

“Aslan must become an excellent jewel case.”

Hand over Valboa Territory to Clan Leader Aslan.

Marquis Sintez, who guessed the Marquis’s meaning, bowed deeply.

* * *

Clouds covered the sun.

A day when light hid itself.

Lorenzo entered the military camp.

Prostrating himself before Aslan, he presented an official decree.

Merge Valboa and San Miguel and establish the name Cuaron.

I hereby appoint Aslan of Sanmiguel as Lord of Kuaron, and Lord Aslan shall protect the people with loyalty and sincerity.

November 14th, Year of Augusto.

Duran Esgaroth.

In the silence, Aslan rose to his feet.

Those who bore the inverted cross on their backs all prostrated themselves in unison.

Aslan declared.

“All Irregulars. We go to the land of light.”

It was the moment the Irregulars appeared in the Empire’s daylight.

* * *

Upon arriving at Balbowa Castle, no, Kuaron Castle, I covered my flushed cheeks.

“So cool…”

“Yes. The castle is magnificent, isn’t it?”

“No, the Lord.”

I mean the Clan Leader.

Charlie looked at me with a “Huh?” expression.

He meant why was the Clan Leader, who wasn’t even here, suddenly cool.

I quickly pointed to the red flag planted on the castle.

Sanmiguel and Balbowa had merged to become Kuaron.

Kuaron’s new emblem was two hawks.

Sunlight and abyss.

And the name of the first lord carved beneath the emblem was…

Aslan Kuaron

“Kuaron means ‘cutting winter’ in the old language. Doesn’t it suit the Lord perfectly?”

“Well, cutting and stabbing are his specialties…”

It would be perfect if only Esgaroth was added to the end.

I was letting out joyful exclamations with that thought.

“Did you move all the luggage?”

“Young Lady, the castle is huge!”

Yuise and Antonio approached.

But then…

Thwack!

The Clan Leader smacked Yuise and Antonio on their heads.

“Young Lady. Honorifics. Not Clan Leader, but Lord.”

The Clan Leader glared as he recited the three sentences he had drilled into them with violence when leaving Sanmiguel.

Yuise clicked her tongue.

Antonio groaned as well.

“It doesn’t roll off the tongue.”

“Right.”

“Then make it roll off your tongue.”

The Clan Leader said ominously.

Originally they spoke freely within Sanmiguel, but now that they had entered Kuaron, they needed to be more careful.

Sanmiguel’s vassals were relatively easy to handle.

They had been arrogant when the former lord was there, but the Clan Leader had broken their spirit once when he became lord.

But Kuaron was…

‘Difficult.’

This place was full of vassals who originally belonged to Balbowa Territory.

As vassals of the Sanwonro Family, their power was stronger than lords of most small jurisdictions.

‘If we make even a small mistake, they’ll immediately try to replace the lord.’

I was thinking this when…

Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.

The sound of guards’ sabatons could be heard simultaneously.

The Clan Leader had arrived.

The Clan Leader entered the castle with vassals from Sanmiguel.

“Lord…”

Just as I was about to say “Lord”…

People came rushing out from inside the castle.

Formal attire embroidered with Kuaron’s new emblem.

Those were Kuaron’s vassals.

“We greet the Lord.”

An elderly man at the front bowed his head.

Then he introduced himself.

“I am Franco Paleta, President of the Balbowa Medical Association.”

In other words, he was the leader of the vassals from Balbowa.

“I am Aslan.”

“It is an honor to serve you. We shall escort you to the great conference hall.”

The Clan Leader gave the Clan Leader a look.

It meant to follow.

So the Clan Leader and Clan Leader headed to the great conference hall with the vassals.

After they disappeared, Antonio asked.

“Why is the Clan Leader going? Ah, are they going to newly appoint him as Kuaron’s knight commander?”

“They’re going to make him a vassal.”

“Huh?”

“The Clan Leader needs a distinguished title now too.”

Antonio’s Unit shouted “Wow!”

The Clan Leader’s Unit and Yuise’s Team also smiled broadly.

The Clan Leader, who had worked hard all this time, was receiving his first reward for merit.

I also smiled with a pleased expression.

* * *

Charlie and I headed to the garden.

My room had a good view of the garden, and it was so beautiful that it caught my attention even while organizing my luggage.

Charlie was excited and smelled the flower fragrance.

Despite it being winter, the flowers blooming everywhere reminded me of Sintez Territory.

We strolled through the garden together, chatting away.

“But does the Sintez lord’s family live in a manor instead of a castle? Last time you were invited to a manor, not Sintez Castle.”

“That’s originally Asta’s manor, but Marquis Sintus’s wife ran away there…”

“Ran away?!”

“Yes. She ran away because the Marquis celebrated his horse’s birthday but forgot his wife’s birthday, and the Marquis came chasing after her in a panic.”

“But she still didn’t come back?”

“He came chasing with that horse…”

I was saying such things when…

“You there.”

I turned around at the calling voice.

‘A spitting image of the Medical Association President?’

It was a man who looked exactly like Franco Paleta, President of the Balbowa Medical Association.

He appeared to be in his mid to late thirties.

“A fairy I’ve never seen before?”

“…?”

“I wonder which flower you rode here on.”

“…??”

“Or perhaps you’re the goddess of flowers. Hahahaha.”

“…???”

It was the first time I’d ever heard such a line.

Charlie tilted his head as he looked at him, then whispered to me.

“He seems crazy. Should I cut him down?”

“…Let’s wait a moment.”

Since he looks exactly like the Medical Association President, he must be from that family.

I opened my mouth to introduce myself.

“I am….”

“Don’t be too frightened. I’m just a wanderer intoxicated by the goddess’s fragrance.”

Charlie looked at me again.

It would be better to just cut him down.

That’s what his eyes said.

Then, the man reached his hand toward me.

“Will you grant me sweet honey, my fairy?”

Charlie’s eyes flashed.

It was the moment he raised his hand with his blade ready.

Thwack!

A shoe flew from behind the man.

It flew so accurately and sharply that the man who got hit in the head fell forward.

The person who threw the shoe was Antonio.

“Has the old man gone crazy?”

Next to Antonio, Yuise was repeatedly throwing and catching a dagger.

“Spouting nonsense about honey.”

The man gritted his teeth while rubbing his head.

“How dare you when you know who I am! I am the son of Marquis Paleta, the Medical Association President!”

Then Yuise snorted.

“That father of yours is currently preparing to be hung from the castle wall.”

…What?

I thought I misheard and said to Yuise.

“Hang the Medical Association President from the castle wall? Who?”

“Lord, of course.”

“…Why?”

“He suggested marrying That Person to Young Lady if she’s going to remain as an adopted daughter.”

What is this about?

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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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