How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 72

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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 72

 

* * *

 

I frowned at Onel and Stella with a displeased expression.

 

Stop disrupting my concentration.

 

I’m busy checking on Oscar here.

 

Stella panicked and kept opening and closing her mouth.

 

Onel was also furrowing his brow.

 

However, I paid them no more attention and examined Oscar’s wounds.

 

‘The bleeding has stopped, and all the wounds have disappeared.’

 

“Ugh… Who are you…?”

 

He seems to be regaining consciousness.

 

Thank goodness.

 

I let out a sigh of relief and spoke to Yuise.

 

“You’ll feel dizzy. Handle the monster extermination when we leave.”

 

“Yes.”

 

His speech became polite again since we were in front of others.

 

When he spoke to me respectfully, Oscar seemed to realize my identity.

 

Unlike Antonio, he was quick-witted and quietly put his arm around Yuise’s neck.

 

We got up like that.

 

Only then did I turn my gaze to Onel.

 

“Can you walk?”

 

It was Stella who answered my question.

 

“His condition is serious. He needs healing.”

 

“I asked if he can’t walk.”

 

“He can walk, but…”

 

“Then walk.”

 

With those words, I headed toward the door.

 

Stella jumped up in panic.

 

“Aren’t you going to heal brother?”

 

“The deal I made with the Marchioness was only to purify the poison fog and bring you and Onel out.”

 

“Look at brother’s condition. His face is so pale. If something goes wrong…”

 

“Then support him well so nothing goes wrong.”

 

Stella’s pupils trembled finely.

 

She looked incredulous.

 

It wasn’t that she couldn’t believe I was being cold to Onel, but she was disappointed that I wouldn’t heal someone so badly injured.

 

In Stella’s eyes, he must look like he’s about to collapse.

 

‘But he’s not.’

 

I had worked as an errand boy for medics following battles.

 

I saw all kinds of injuries there.

 

From my perspective, that level of injury isn’t life-threatening yet.

 

I can treat him when it really becomes dangerous.

 

‘Treating him now would be dangerous for me.’

 

Because of mana depletion.

 

I already had to conserve as much as possible since I needed to purify while escaping the maze.

 

I couldn’t receive Yuise’s mana.

 

If it became known that mana was my weakness, who knows what they might do.

 

Just as tears welled up in Stella’s deer-like eyes.

 

Onel spoke up.

 

“The poison fog is.”

 

“Follow behind me. Poison has no effect near me.”

 

Onel got up.

 

Stella quickly supported him.

 

Like that, we left through the door.

 

I purified the poison fog, and Yuise dealt with the charging monsters as we walked through the maze.

 

‘If Yuise alone can handle the monsters sufficiently, why did Onel get hurt?’

 

Onel is strong enough too.

 

Among nobles, he was outstanding among his peers.

 

Even renowned knights would fall to his hands.

 

While thinking such thoughts, we reached the end of the maze.

 

The entrance and exit of this maze were only separated by walls, but the destination was one place.

 

That meant the place where the ritual pavilion was located.

 

We climbed the stairs.

 

And when we emerged, the Marchioness was waiting for us.

 

“Onel! Good heavens…!”

 

There was someone else behind the Marchioness too.

 

…It was Marquis Andres.

 

* * *

 

Oscar said he had infiltrated Andres as a mage for monster breeding experiments.

 

He got caught up in this incident during the experiments.

 

And I was hearing this story…

 

“Caw—.”

 

…through a crow.

 

I’ve never seen a crow like this before.

 

“How fascinating.”

 

When I muttered, Yuise said while lying face down on the table.

 

“It’s a chimera.”

 

“Oscar made this?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Can it relay my words too?”

 

“It doesn’t just relay, it also eavesdrops.”

 

Amazing. He truly was talent worthy of being recruited by Andres.

 

I looked at the crow with fascination and said.

 

“Isn’t Oscar the one suited to be the intelligence team leader?”

 

Yuise narrowed his eyes.

 

He looked displeased.

 

But soon he propped his chin and said.

 

“He does bring information I don’t know sometimes. But there’s a reason he can’t be on the intelligence team.”

 

“Why?”

 

“There’s a reason for that.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Secret.”

 

Just as I tilted my head.

 

A knock came from the doorway along with the butler’s voice.

 

“The master is looking for you.”

 

It must be about completely taking over the holy site from the Marchioness.

 

I sent the crow flying out the window, then left with Yuise.

 

This time we went to the Marquis’s study.

 

As we approached the study door, a sharp shout burst out.

 

“Are you saying you dragged Onel into this—!”

 

It was the Marchioness’s voice.

 

Only after the butler knocked did the room inside fall quiet.

 

Soon after, Count Andres’s voice could be heard.

 

“Come in.”

 

The door opened.

 

Since it was Count Andres’s private space, Yuise couldn’t enter.

 

I left Yuise outside the door and went inside.

 

Count Andres and the Marchioness weren’t the only ones in the study.

 

Stella and Onel were there as well.

 

Onel seemed to have received treatment, as bandages were faintly visible outside his clothes.

 

“Sit down.”

 

The people of the Andres family were seated around a large paulownia wood table.

 

The Marquis at the head seat.

 

To the Marquis’s right sat the Marchioness, and to his left were Stella and Onel.

 

And I sat at the head seat opposite the Marquis.

 

“…!”

 

The Marchioness flinched, and Onel let out a quiet laugh.

 

It meant I had nothing to do with the Andres family.

 

But Count Andres only pulled up the corners of his mouth.

 

“This is the first time we’re sitting face to face.”

 

“It’s not strange for an invited guest to sit opposite the host.”

 

“A guest. Is that a fitting name for someone who took away the family’s treasure through a terrible deal?”

 

He was talking about the holy site.

 

That taking away the holy site had been excessive.

 

“The heir’s life wouldn’t be less important than the holy site.”

 

“I heard you didn’t heal Onel though.”

 

“But I purified the poison fog and brought him out, didn’t I? That was the original deal with the Marchioness anyway.”

 

Then Stella spoke.

 

“That was too much, Yustea.”

 

She seemed still dissatisfied that I hadn’t healed Onel.

 

Deep wrinkles formed on her brow.

 

But her face was so deer-like and pure that it didn’t feel frightening.

 

“What would you have done if something happened to brother?”

 

“If you were going to worry about Onel, you shouldn’t have dragged him into the underground maze in the first place.”

 

I had heard everything from outside.

 

Stella looked flustered.

 

“That was…”

 

“Besides, the poison fog appeared because you touched the shadow rats. Shadow rats are docile and don’t attack people first. Onel couldn’t have not known that.”

 

Andres has the largest granary region in the south.

 

So there are many people too.

 

Monster outbreaks targeting food and humans are frequent.

 

That’s why Onel often went out on monster subjugation missions.

 

Such an Onel couldn’t have not known that shadow rats shouldn’t be touched.

 

The Marchioness’s face hardened completely.

 

“Stella, did you touch the shadow rats?”

 

“I was trying to help brother. I didn’t know they were shadow rats, and they seemed small enough for me to handle…”

 

“Just how stupid do you intend to be—!”

 

Another thunderous roar burst from the Marchioness’s mouth.

 

Of course she would be angry.

 

If it weren’t for Stella, there would have been no poison fog, and then there would have been no need to give me the holy site.

 

The Marchioness’s anger didn’t subside easily.

 

“Why did you enter the underground maze!”

 

“…”

 

“It’s obvious without looking. You must have pitied something again. Don’t you cause dozens of accidents like this every year!”

 

“That’s not it. I went to check because I heard there was a monster that devours corruption. The people were suffering…!”

 

The Marchioness let out a hollow laugh.

 

‘Oh dear.’

 

She only focused on the corruption.

 

But she should have thought about the cause and purpose of the corruption.

 

The corruption was just bait to lure me out.

 

The Marchioness spoke harshly.

 

“You’re exactly like your mother. Not knowing your place and thinking you could be something.”

 

“Grandmother!”

 

When Emma’s story came up, Stella’s face hardened.

 

However, the Marchioness didn’t back down.

 

“Just how much more do you plan to disgrace the family? Word has spread among the vassals that Onel ended up like this because of you!”

 

“Please stop, grandmother.”

 

“You’re taking her side even after becoming like this.”

 

“Stella didn’t ask for it. I went down because I was worried.”

 

“Going to the underground maze without permission was wrong in the first place.”

 

The Marchioness retorted fiercely.

 

Then, Count Andres lightly raised his hand.

 

The Marchioness and Onel closed their mouths.

 

The Marquis looked at me.

 

“So you’re determined to take the holy site.”

 

“There’s a contract, so there’s nothing stopping me from taking it.”

 

I spoke shamelessly.

 

Stella looked at me.

 

“Please. The holy site is a place we cannot lose.”

 

“So what?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“What does it matter to me that Andres can’t afford to lose the holy site?”

 

Stella’s face hardened.

 

I spoke to Count Andres with an expressionless face.

 

“Everyone seems to be mistaken, so let me be clear. I am no longer a person of Andres.”

 

“Is it alright for you to act so arrogantly?”

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

I looked straight at Count Andres.

 

“Because I no longer have any value to you.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Value only exists when something is precious.”

 

“Not precious?”

 

“Well… to be honest…”

 

I looked up at the air and then continued speaking.

 

“I hate you.”

 

The air in the room froze.

 

“I hate breathing in the same space.”

 

“…”

 

“When our eyes meet, it feels like bugs are crawling all over my body.”

 

“…”

 

“I feel nauseous.”

 

The Marchioness opened and closed her mouth with a pale complexion.

 

Onel frowned.

 

Stella also looked shocked.

 

Whether they cared or not, I continued speaking.

 

“The Holy Site is non-negotiable. Discuss family matters among yourselves.”

 

With that, I stood up and bowed my head lightly.

 

And I left the room without any lingering attachment.

 

I felt relieved.

 

* * *

 

The Marchioness hurriedly followed Yustea who was walking down the corridor.

 

“Yustea!”

 

She called out and grabbed hold of Yustea.

 

“I apologize for driving you away.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Isn’t this enough? If you’ve gone this far, you’ve had sufficient revenge!”

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

The image of young Yustea overlapped before my eyes.

 

“Grandmother.”

 

“Oh, it seemed like you forgot your shawl… I’m sorry for running so rudely.”

 

“The flowers bloomed so beautifully, so I brought them. They’re red roses that resemble you, Grandmother.”

 

“No matter how coldly you acted, you never came out like this before.”

 

“…”

 

“Even when I scolded and reproached you, you would return the next day.”

 

“…”

 

“Family was the only precious thing in the world to you!”

 

Yustea quietly looked at the Marchioness.

 

The Marchioness hurriedly fumbled with her necklace.

 

“This is what you gave me. I remembered how you wanted to see me wear it around my neck.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“From now on, I will cherish your feelings.”

 

The Marchioness grabbed Yustea’s shoulders.

 

At some point, her heart would flutter whenever she saw this child.

 

She finally understood the identity of that unknown emotion.

 

“Hamoni, joa. (Grandmother, I like you.)”

 

“When will you grow up and learn proper manners.”

 

“Joa!”

 

“What kind of child has such strength.”

 

This constant memory of the small child who would spread both arms first and pull her into an embrace.

 

This was regret.

 

“Yustea…”

 

Yustea quietly took the Marchioness’s hand.

 

A glimmer appeared in the Marchioness’s eyes.

 

Yes, Yustea was a soft-hearted child.

 

So if she approached her like this, surely…

 

‘Yes, surely we can go back to how things were before.’

 

When the Marchioness’s face brightened, Yustea spoke.

 

“Please don’t do this.”

 

“…What?”

 

“There is no longer a grandmother in this heart.”

 

“That…”

 

“The Yustea who loved Grandmother no longer exists in this world.”

 

Yustea released the Marchioness’s hand and smiled faintly.

 

That was the end.

 

Yustea never looked back again.

 

The Marchioness staggered and leaned against the window.

 

At that moment, Stella approached.

 

“Grandmother, please don’t do this. Yustea seems to have completely changed…”

 

Smack!

 

She roughly brushed away the hand.

 

The Marchioness glared at Stella while breathing heavily.

 

“It’s not you.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Why didn’t I realize? The truly precious thing was right in my hands.”

 

“Grandmother…”

 

“Why did I abandon that child because of someone like you?”

 

Stella’s face hardened.

—————
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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