How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 76

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

How to Replace Your Dad

 

Chapter 76

 

Onel connected the communication.

 

The Marquis’s voice flowed out from the communication stone.

 

[Is it true.]

 

“….”

 

Onel, who had been silent for a moment, glanced at Stella.

 

It was Marquis Yopis who spoke instead.

 

“That’s correct.”

 

[Who knows about the existence of the purification stone.]

 

It was Onel who answered.

 

“Yustea and I, Stella, and Marquis Yopis and Marquis Rochette.”

 

[Destroy the purification stone immediately.]

 

“Yes.”

 

[I’m placing Stella under house arrest.]

 

“Father!”

 

Stella cried out in shock, but the Marquis’s words didn’t change.

 

The communication ended just like that.

 

Marquis Rochette spoke.

 

“What should we do about Young Lady Yustea knowing about the purification stone’s existence.”

 

Marquis Yopis shook his head.

 

“If it gets out, it will harm Esgaroth too. They wouldn’t want to lose their status as meritorious subjects either. They wouldn’t want to face the wrath of the Temple and Imperial Family.”

 

That’s why she must have dropped it off the cliff as soon as she saw the purification stone.

 

There’s no chance the story of the purification stone will come from Yustea’s mouth.

 

Marquis Rochette let out a sigh.

 

“Young Lady Yustea has done us a great service.”

 

If the purification stone had been revealed to the world like this, the Seven Families would have been in great trouble.

 

There’s no telling how much money and time it would take to resolve.

 

Marquis Yopis said.

 

“There’s one more purification stone besides this one, isn’t there. We need to locate and destroy the remaining one.”

 

Marquis Rochette nodded.

 

“I heard the head is discussing with the heads of the Seven Families to secretly find its location. You’ll assist the head.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The three men – Onel, the marquis, and the baron – discussed the purification stone.

 

No one looked back at Stella.

 

Stella left the barracks with a bewildered expression.

 

In a secluded spot around the campsite, Stella sat down under a rock.

 

GM: It’s okay. You can solve this much.

 

GM: Pull yourself together.

 

GM: As long as Yustea doesn’t change her mind and return to Andres, the Marquis can’t abandon you. He’ll forgive you soon enough.

 

Stella bit her lips tightly after seeing the window that appeared.

 

‘Why did you tell me to go find the purification stone?’

 

Such a tremendous object shouldn’t be revealed to the world.

 

Because it could put the family in trouble.

 

GM: Because then you might not have gone to find it.

 

GM understood Stella’s tendencies.

 

She had a tendency to value the favor of those around her more than the progress of tasks.

 

If he had told her, she would have definitely hesitated.

 

Saying she didn’t want the people to be disappointed in Andres.

 

She would have missed the timing while hesitating for such reasons.

 

‘Because of you, Father and brother are treating me…!’

 

GM: If you hadn’t failed, there would have been no problem.

 

GM: If you had quietly found the purification stone and used it yourself, you could have become another saint.

 

Stella buried her face in both hands.

 

Why did things turn out this way.

 

If only she hadn’t been caught by bandits while searching the mountain.

 

If only she had let Yustea and Onel deal with the bandits.

 

Then the bandits wouldn’t have informed Yustea about the cave’s existence, and she would have quietly found the purification stone.

 

GM: Don’t worry too much.

 

GM: There will be an event soon.

 

GM: Then you’ll be able to turn the tables all at once.

 

‘How does Yustea know about your existence?’

 

Stella thought that, but no window appeared for a while.

 

Stella narrowed her brow toward the empty air.

 

‘GM?’

 

After being quiet for a while, a window appeared.

 

GM: We were once ‘friends’, you see.

 

A special friend who brought within reach what couldn’t be obtained even after restarting the world dozens of times.

 

Another window appears.

 

GM: But right now, the most important thing to me is you, Stella.

 

GM: My lovely and kind friend.

 

Stella let out a deep breath.

 

‘Right, I have a friend.’

 

A friend who gives perfect answers to everything.

 

A friend who stays with me even when everyone is disappointed in me.

 

“I trust you.”

 

Stella muttered.

 

* * *

 

Inside the barracks given to me as my share in Andres.

 

Yuise narrowed her brow and looked at me drinking tea.

 

“Why are you so calm?”

 

“About what?”

 

“About GM. It’s strange.”

 

That was true.

 

The whole thing was too sloppy.

 

If GM really wanted to find the purification stone, he wouldn’t have proceeded this way.

 

The moment he suspected I might approach the purification stone, he should have done something.

 

He would have told Stella to at least pretend to collapse.

 

But he let me discover the purification stone too easily.

 

I put down my teacup on the saucer and said.

 

“It’s nothing special.”

 

“No way?”

 

“He’s trying to isolate Stella.”

 

“Why?”

 

“To make her into an obedient dog.”

 

In the dream Father saw, GM said these things to me.

 

[GM: Don’t worry about your mother anymore. The flowers you give are always thrown in the trash.]

 

[GM: Poor child. You came to save the world but were abandoned by it.]

 

[GM: Even parents are strangers. There’s no need to try. Rather, fulfill your calling.]

 

[GM: Your mother won’t come to your birthday this time either. Good. Shall we have a birthday party together.]

 

They deceived and isolated her in that way.

 

As if GM was the only ally she had in the world.

 

That’s how they made her obey their words.

 

“What’s important is the reason why they need to turn Stella into such an obedient dog.”

 

“What is it.”

 

“They’re trying to do something completely opposite to Stella’s nature.”

 

“What exactly are they trying to do….”

 

“I have a guess.”

 

I said, placing my clasped hands on my knees.

 

“An event that’s about to happen.”

 

Yuise frowned.

 

What was it, she wondered.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“The encounter event with the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.”

 

“…!”

 

The Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

 

The Ancien Empire was the largest force that occupied the continent before this Avalon Empire was founded.

 

That force, which Avalon’s founding emperor had brought down, existed underground.

 

The Ancien Empire Restoration Society targets the Avalon Empire and begins preparations for invasion.

 

Soon there would be an event where they encounter that restoration society.

 

“Originally, Stella is the one who first notices the existence of the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.”

 

“So she reports them to the Empire?”

 

That’s right.

 

Stella, who loves her friends in Avalon dearly, becomes furious that the restoration society is targeting this land.

 

Thus she considers the restoration society as enemies.

 

But this time it’s different.

 

“It seems they’re planning to take over the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.”

 

“If GM and the Ancien Empire Restoration Society clash, it’ll be troublesome. Their power won’t be insignificant.”

 

“That’s why we need to stop it.”

 

We can’t let things go according to GM’s will.

 

My eyes gleamed.

 

“Let’s gain one more benefit from Andres.”

 

The Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

 

We should take control of it.

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

Having finished the purification, I tapped my back and thought.

 

‘There’s not much purification left now.’

 

About three or four more days should resolve everything.

 

Andres ultimately chose to burn all the animals.

 

They decided to solve the food problem by selling the mana stone mines.

 

Thanks to that, I was roaming the controlled area purifying only the land.

 

“Thank you for your hard work.”

 

“You’ve worked so hard.”

 

The priests smiled brightly and handed me handkerchiefs.

 

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the handkerchief I received from them and said.

 

“Then may I head back now?”

 

“Of course. But if it’s alright with you, may we request a lecture?”

 

The priests looked at me with sparkling eyes.

 

Their eyes were full of respect.

 

Well, since I became a saint, I’m like proof of divinity, so that makes sense….

 

‘But not today.’

 

“I’m sorry. I have an appointment today.”

 

“I see….”

 

The priests looked disappointed but stepped aside.

 

Even the young priest became dejected and drooped his shoulders.

 

I felt sorry, but there was nothing I could do.

 

Today I have to go meet the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

 

…At Andres Castle.

 

“Hurry, hurry.”

 

“Right.”

 

When I urged, Yuise closed the carriage door.

 

I was anxious.

 

Worried that I might miss meeting the people from the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

 

The carriage ran quickly and arrived at Andres Castle.

 

I quickly got out of the carriage and looked around the carriage waiting area.

 

‘They haven’t come yet, it seems.’

 

Fortunately, I arrived at the right time.

 

I quickly headed to my destination.

 

The destination was the garden.

 

There was someone who had arrived at the garden first.

 

“What.”

 

Onel.

 

He frowned and looked at me.

 

I glanced at him and said.

 

“Andres said I could go anywhere.”

 

“So.”

 

“I came to see the garden.”

 

“….”

 

Onel frowned and looked at me.

 

‘Is he going to kick me out.’

 

Just as I was thinking that, Onel sighed and said.

 

“Stay quiet. Guests are coming soon.”

 

That was the moment.

 

Footsteps could be heard.

 

And the butler approached leading three men.

 

“Long time no see, Onel.”

 

“Long time….”

 

“Next time let’s meet somewhere in between. Do you know how far Andres is?”

 

All of them were Onel’s age.

 

They were Onel’s academy classmates.

 

Heirs of the Seven Families.

 

Foreign royalty.

 

The Pope’s nephew.

 

Every single one of them was an incredible person.

 

Among them, there was one person I knew.

 

Benjamin, son of Marquis Becker, one of the Seven Families.

 

He saw me and said “Oh,” acknowledging me.

 

“I didn’t expect to see you here again, lark.”

 

At that, Yuise’s face crumpled.

 

It was an expression that said what kind of lousy nickname could you possibly give.

 

Benjamin lightly pinched my cheek.

 

“Still such tempting cheek fat.”

 

“…!”

 

Yuise looked like she was about to leap out at any moment.

 

I quickly blocked Yuise with one arm.

 

“Won’t it hurt if you get hit like this, Benjamin?”

 

“It did hurt when I got hit before.”

 

“Then you should be careful.”

 

“But there are things I can’t give up. Like a lark’s cheek fat.”

 

He chuckled softly.

 

Benjamin was the most popular boy in the archipelago.

 

No, it would be a stretch to call him a boy now.

 

Nineteen.

 

He was the same age as Onel, and in my memory he was a beautiful boy with baby fat still remaining, but now he was a man who had grown tall with broad shoulders.

 

“If you can’t give up, you’ll have to get hit again.”

 

The moment I said that.

 

Thud.

 

“Like this.”

 

Onel shoved Benjamin’s face away.

 

Benjamin made a groaning sound and rubbed his face.

 

But soon he looked at Onel with a bewildered expression.

 

I was also looking at Onel strangely.

 

‘Why is he acting like this?’

 

“Why are you acting like this?”

 

I thought it, and Benjamin said it.

 

Even when Benjamin acted this way, Onel had never stopped him before.

 

Onel said with an expressionless face.

 

“…She’s a guest of the castle. Show some manners, Benjamin.”

 

“That doesn’t seem like the behavior of someone telling me to show manners to a guest.”

 

“Enough with the unnecessary words.”

 

Onel turned his back after saying that.

 

It meant let’s go.

 

Benjamin shrugged his shoulders.

 

And with a grin, he said to me.

 

“Did you two get a bit closer?”

 

People looked at me as if I’d been asked a question.

 

I blinked and said.

 

“Not at all. Not even a little. That’s ridiculous.”

 

When I spoke firmly, people became quiet.

 

Onel walked silently.

 

But soon.

 

“Hurry up and come.”

 

He frowned and turned around.

 

People said “He’s just being moody” and chased after him.

 

Yuise let out a hollow laugh.

 

“What’s with him.”

 

“Hm? I don’t know either.”

 

“Right. Why is he suddenly acting like that….”

 

“I don’t know who the Ancien Empire Restoration Society is.”

 

It probably isn’t Benjamin at least.

 

Then it’s one of those two.

 

Could it be the foreign prince, or the Pope’s nephew.

 

“It probably isn’t the foreign prince, right?”

 

“….”

 

“Why would a foreign royal family member rebuild the old empire.”

 

“….”

 

“So let’s approach the Pope’s nephew.”

 

“….”

 

Yuise was silent.

 

I looked at him.

 

“What.”

 

“…You’re doing well.”

 

Yuise lightly placed his hand on my head.

 

‘If it’s the Pope’s nephew, would that be Aegis.’

 

That man with bluish silver hair.

 

It would be that man with a somewhat youthful face who looked dispirited.

 

Thinking that, I looked at the backs of the three people.

 

* * *

 

I paced back and forth in the corridor.

 

Because I wanted to run into the three people as if by chance.

 

Especially with Aegis.

 

While walking like that, someone appeared before my eyes.

 

It was Stella holding a tray.

 

Stella looked at me with surprise.

 

“Why are you….”

 

But soon she looked at the door.

 

“Did you come to see him?”

 

“Who are you talking about.”

 

That was the moment.

 

GM: Don’t say anything, Stella.

 

…Huh?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————