How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 52
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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 52
* * *
Imperial Palace Tower.
The Emperor and Pope, sitting face to face, simultaneously presented documents.
“Access rights for the holy gate holder.”
“The location where two divine wave incidents occurred.”
Both men fell silent.
‘Look at this?’
‘That sneaky bastard.’
They promised cooperation but left out the important information.
“Don’t you know there are many who don’t receive holy gates even with divine power?”
“We’ve secured the location of the first divine wave through the Northern Temple, and I personally confirmed the epicenter of the second divine wave, so it should be better than the Imperial Palace barrier.”
The Imperial Palace and Temple opened the Empire’s era through cooperation, but their true intentions were quite different.
The Imperial Palace wanted to weaken the Temple’s power for centralization.
The Temple disapproved of the Imperial Palace leading affairs that went against doctrine.
Simply put, they were like enemies.
“If you would permit the use of the Imperial Palace barrier for divine tracking, things would be resolved easily.”
“How could that be possible. The barrier must maintain strict security for national defense. Rather, if the Temple would allow access to the scriptures, identifying the Saint’s conditions would be easy.”
‘Access? That sneaky bastard will use the information in the scriptures to fill his own belly.’
‘Talking about using the barrier. How much noise will they make about the barrier’s range with surveillance and whatnot.’
The two men’s gazes clashed fiercely.
“Are you really going to do this?”
“Will you break off cooperation?”
“I’ll take a step back, so Your Majesty should also take a step back.”
“It would be fine if you took two steps back.”
The Imperial Palace official and Temple priest watching this looked at each other.
‘It was never going to work.’
‘Yes. Those two cooperating? It’s like saying Esgaroth and Andres would join hands.’
They quietly comforted each other with their eyes.
That’s when it happened.
Knock knock.
A knocking sound was heard.
“Your Holiness, urgent communication.”
“Your Majesty, there’s urgent news to report.”
The Pope and Emperor permitted entry.
The Temple priest whispered to the Pope.
“A person suspected to be the Saint has appeared at the infirmary for the monstrous bird attack incident.”
The Imperial Palace attendant also whispered to the Emperor.
“A wave pattern similar to the divine power of someone presumed to be the Saint has been detected in the Commercial District Barrier.”
The Pope and Emperor’s eyebrows twitched.
They simultaneously half-rose from their seats, then hesitated.
‘Don’t tell me that sneaky bastard also got news?’
‘That old hag too?’
The two people, who had been looking at each other searchingly, suddenly rushed toward the door.
The two who left the tower competitively shouted to their respective subordinates.
“Send word to the Head of the 7th House. We must find the Saint before that old ha… the Pope.”
“Send the High Priest. We must bring the Saint before that snea… His Majesty.”
It was the moment the Empire was turned upside down.
* * *
As soon as I regained consciousness, I thought without even opening my eyes.
‘The world is petty…’
What kind of pathetic mana amount is this.
The protagonist Stella was given so much mana.
I didn’t faint because of the explosion’s impact.
It was because of mana depletion.
My mana amount is worse than young priests who just received their holy gates.
The amount of mana that can be stored in bottles isn’t that much either.
Prince Luciano, Yuise, and Father can fill bottles with mana without batting an eye.
‘How many times have I collapsed from mana depletion now.’
Compared to me, Stella’s mana amount was enormous.
From level 1, she had three times the amount I had, and when she reached max level, it went up to the thousands.
I was sighing when.
“If you’re awake, why don’t you open your eyes.”
Yuise’s voice was heard.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Yuise was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
Looking around, I was inside the barracks.
What I was lying on was also a cot.
It seemed to be a makeshift infirmary set up because of the monstrous bird incident.
Still, they gave me a private room since I’m the Noble Lady of Esgaroth.
I first said to Yuise.
“…Hello?”
“Not hello, and you probably won’t be either.”
“Huh?”
Yuise got up.
“Young Lady has opened her eyes.”
The tent flap was pulled back.
The person who entered was Father.
I was about to smile happily when our eyes met, but I quickly lowered the corners of my mouth.
Father’s expression was as cold as the northern snowfields.
‘He must be angry.’
I quickly explained today’s events.
“What happened was…”
“I heard the monstrous birds targeted you. From the situation, it seems like something the Marquise Esgaroth or her son planned with me as the target.”
“That… was resolved well. Since there were no casualties, no one will hold anyone responsible. The sewer explosion will probably be resolved as credit for dealing with the monstrous birds.”
“So.”
“Uh, so you don’t need to worry about the aftermath…”
Father’s eyebrows twitched.
Yuise shook her head back and forth.
‘What is it. Where did I go wrong.’
It feels like cold sweat is trickling down my back.
When I looked around nervously, Father frowned.
“I was worried about you.”
“Ah.”
So that was it.
Realizing which direction to take the conversation, I smiled brightly.
“That’s fine. I did it because I had a sure way not to die. Um, Father, actually…”
“You think it’s fine as long as you don’t die?”
“What?”
“I knew for certain today. Your calculations are wrong.”
Father’s expression remained stern throughout.
Yuise nodded in agreement.
Father continued speaking.
“Your calculations don’t include your own safety. You think it’s fine as long as you don’t die.”
“….”
“When you lifted my curse, when you saved the Old Man, and today too.”
“….”
“Don’t do it again.”
“…Yes.”
When I answered quietly, Father let out a sigh.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then wait a moment. I’ll send the Old Man away and we’ll return to the manor.”
“The Marquis came?”
“He came looking for the Saint.”
At those words, I bolted upright.
My head spun from orthostatic hypotension, but that wasn’t what mattered.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
‘Did I get caught?’
I quickly looked at Yuise, and he quickly shook his head.
‘Does that mean no?’
Father told me “Lie down” and left the barracks.
Only Yuise and I remained in the barracks.
I quickly asked.
“What about the Saint? What happened?”
“The siblings you protected. It seems they had tuberculosis.”
“Tuberculosis?”
“Yes. But when you healed one of them, the tuberculosis disappeared too.”
“Then I got caught too?”
“Don’t worry. You weren’t caught. Someone else was designated as the Saint.”
“Who is it?”
“…Your half-sister.”
My eyes widened.
‘Stella was designated as the Saint?’
What kind of ridiculous situation is this!
* * *
The Senior Priest who examined the beggar child nodded.
“That’s correct.”
Tuberculosis was a disease with a long treatment period.
A disease that required at least six months of medication to cure.
If such a disease was healed instantly, it was undeniable proof.
The Senior Priests and the heads of the Seven Families turned their gaze to one side of the barracks.
To Stella and Count Andres, that is.
Count Andres asked.
“So you really healed that child.”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Then the Senior Priests laughed heartily.
“A problem? God has bestowed a blessing that reaches beyond the Empire to the world. Saint.”
“Saint… you said?”
Stella looked at Count Andres as if asking what that meant.
The Marquis wore an infinitely gentle smile.
“Yes. You’ve become a Saint, Stella.”
Stella gasped in surprise and pressed her lips with her fingertips.
She had been called a Saint candidate for years due to her outstanding divine power.
However, she hadn’t met the conditions to become a Saint.
As Stella’s face was colored with joy, the Senior Priests laughed and said.
“Are you pleased?”
“Very much so. I haven’t disappointed Father’s expectations, and I can save all people with my own power.”
“Your very existence will be a great strength to the people.”
The priests were pleased, but the heads of the Seven Families were different.
One of the heads clicked his tongue.
‘The Saint has fallen into the hands of the Andres Family.’
This father and daughter were famous for their deep affection.
How much must it have been for him to banish his wife and eldest daughter for allegedly poisoning Stella.
The position of guardian was beyond their dreams now.
‘Only Andres benefited.’
Just as several heads were making sour expressions, Duke Navarro spoke up.
“Then we should hurry and hold a verification ceremony to announce the Saint’s existence to the world. Let’s go to the Imperial Palace.”
Then the Senior Priests frowned.
“What do you mean? She should rightfully be served at the Temple.”
“She should be served at the Imperial Palace which has strong barriers in preparation for another divine wave.”
“Doesn’t the Temple have barriers?”
“Who knows what ideology you’ll instill if we let you take the Saint.”
The heads who received the Emperor’s orders and the Senior Priests who received the Pope’s orders confronted each other.
Marquis Esgaroth, who had been watching the situation with his hands behind his back, spoke.
“Then just take her to the Imperial Palace Tower. Settle this quickly. I need to go see my granddaughter.”
The Tower was accessible to both Imperial Palace and Temple personnel.
Rather than lose her completely, the central Tower was better.
Count Andres nodded.
“The Tower sounds good. Stella, what do you think?”
“I like it too.”
Saying so, Stella linked arms with her father and leaned forward.
“I don’t like fighting. Please get along, okay?”
When she smiled brightly, both groups fell silent.
Her influence was already tremendous.
* * *
The next day.
The greenhouse of Duke Esgaroth’s Second Residence.
I pressed my temples firmly.
Yuise, who entered the greenhouse, looked at me holding my head.
“Did you take your medicine?”
“It’s not because I’m sick.”
“Give me some mana?”
“I put it in the bottle yesterday. My mana has recovered sufficiently.”
“Then what is it?”
“The newspapers.”
All kinds of newspapers were making a fuss about the appearance of the Saint.
Well, it was reasonable to guess that a Saint had appeared since all the heads of the Seven Families and Senior Priests had visited a simple infirmary.
The Imperial Palace and Temple didn’t stop the articles.
The mere existence of a Saint elevates the nation’s prestige and brings glory to the Terretsa Church.
So there was no reason to stop the article.
Yuise glanced at the pile of newspapers and said.
“Isn’t that actually good? You won’t get caught being the Saint.”
“It would be nice if someone else became the Saint. But not Stella.”
Stella will face a life-threatening crisis in the future.
It was a crucial turning point in the main story that couldn’t be avoided regardless of which class was chosen.
If Stella becomes the Saint, it won’t just be the Imperial Guard targeting my organs—the entire world will come after me.
‘If the Emperor or Pope comes chasing, even the Esgaroth name won’t be able to stop them.’
When I explained this, Yuise nodded.
“That’s very bad news.”
“Yeah…”
“Sorry to add to the bad news, but there’s more unfortunate news.”
“What is it?”
“The Marquise Esgaroth is coming to the second estate soon.”
“What?”
I opened my eyes wide in shock.
“Yesterday’s monstrous bird incident made the Marquis step in. It seems Esgaroth formally requested the Imperial Palace to conduct an investigation.”
The eyes of Marquis Esgaroth who saw me sprawled on the infirmary bed were cold.
I thought something would happen, but it erupted immediately.
“The Marquise is coming up personally to handle the situation. She contacted the Clan Leader asking to meet.”
This is really bad news.
The Marquise has built a major power base in Esgaroth.
Not only that, she’s also the Emperor’s sister and former Crown Princess.
If we clash with her, we’ll bleed whether we win or lose.
While we were discussing this, Father entered the greenhouse.
“So go stay with the Old Man for a while.”
I got up from my seat to greet Father.
“Do I really have to?”
“We agreed to think about safety.”
“It’s unfair to only send the child away.”
“…What?”
“It’s probably in those parenting books you read, Father. Parents are mirrors for their children.”
“…”
“Children want to protect their parents too.”
“…”
“Besides, it’s dangerous whether I’m here or not. The Marquise already sees me as a tool to attack you, Father.”
“…”
“I won’t get hurt. I’m confident I won’t get hurt.”
Father looked at Yuise.
His expression asked what he should do in this situation.
I guess the parenting books don’t cover this kind of content.
I grinned at Father.
“I’m actually quite capable in a fight.”
* * *
In the end, Father lost.
I stood by Father’s side to greet the Marquise.
She walked into the courtyard.
‘Finally meeting her.’
With her graying hair pinned up, she commanded tremendous presence just by walking.
That elderly lady was none other than Aurellia Esgaroth.
She was the very person who had completely shaken Father’s life.
I was the first to speak.
“Yustea of Esgaroth greets you. I pay my respects to the Marquise.”
She stared intently at Father and me.
Soon, a sneer escaped through her teeth.
“Life is indeed strange. The words of the sages are never wrong.”
Click, click, the sound of heels echoed in the courtyard.
She approached me and grabbed my chin.
“Do you think that name is permitted for something like you?”
The moment force entered the hand gripping my chin.
Smack.
Father grabbed her wrist.
“Let go of that hand.”
The Marquise roughly shook off Father’s hand as if sewage had touched her.
The Marquise twisted her lips and said.
“Oh my, I’m sorry. I couldn’t bear it because it was so disgusting.”
“The feeling is mutual, so don’t worry about it.”
“You resemble your mother. Even though you inherited half of the Duke’s blood, it’s unfortunate that the mixed seed is so filthy.”
“Is that why you’re afraid?”
“Me? Of something like you?”
“Frightened dogs always do this. They bristle their fur and make threats they can’t back up.”
The Marquise’s eyes trembled violently.
She bit her red lips and said.
“I made a mistake. I should have cut open your vulgar mother’s belly and pulled you out. I shouldn’t have just torn off your limbs to kill you.”
“To avoid repeating the same mistake, I’ll cut open the Marquise’s son’s belly. Though all that’s inside would be presumptuous ambition.”
The Marquise’s face contorted mercilessly.
She couldn’t contain her excitement when her son was mentioned.
The enraged Marquise lunged at Father.
“How dare you speak of him!”
Slap!
The Marquise struck Father’s cheek.
Her nails roughly scraped across his cheek, creating scratches that soon welled with blood.
“…!”
“…!!”
The employees guarding the courtyard froze.
Sparks flew from Antonio’s eyes.
Just as he was about to leap forward, kicking off the ground, Yuise grabbed his shoulder.
She knew that touching Father’s body, which she had called so disgusting, was actually insulting herself.
Father had deliberately taken the hit for that very reason.
The Marquise trembled and raised her hand again.
“Something like you…!”
At that moment, I grabbed the Marquise’s hand with both of mine.
“What are you doing?”
“Father protects me, and I promised to protect Father.”
“Ha.”
She let out a hollow laugh and forcefully shook off my hands.
“How can there be so many stupid things everywhere? You don’t understand your situation.”
“…”
“I am the mistress of Esgaroth Manor. I have the authority to punish those without proper upbringing.”
“….”
“Do you know what that means? It means if I drag you by your hair and throw you into the punishment chamber, you’ll come out unable to walk on two legs ever again.”
Father’s face hardened.
As the Marquise set her target on me, Father hid me behind his back and said.
“If you lay a hand on her, I won’t forgive you.”
“Do you think I need forgiveness from a lowly bastard like you? What are you all doing!”
The Marquise shouted fiercely.
The soldiers following her approached toward me.
A dark aura rippled along the outline of Father’s body.
I grabbed Father’s hand.
And from behind him, I stepped forward to face the Marquise.
“You cannot lay a hand on us father and daughter.”
“Do you believe the Marquis will protect you? You’ve forgotten that my son Javid is also the Marquis’s blood.”
“No. What protects us is the world itself.”
I placed my hand on Father’s cheek.
Guuung….
With a strange vibrating sound, clusters of light gathered.
And the scratch on Father’s cheek disappeared as new flesh filled in.
“Healing?”
“Did she just heal him?”
The flustered soldiers muttered.
The Marquise narrowed her brow.
“You, are you a cleric?”
“I do have divine power, but I’m called by a different name.”
I wanted to hide it, but I had no choice.
It’s better to reveal this than let Stella become the Saint.
“I’m the Saint.”
It was time to reveal my other identity to the world.
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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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