How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 82

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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 82

 

* * *

 

At first, I wasn’t sure.

 

But as I quietly listened to the footsteps, I became certain.

 

I had spent months crouched in front of Cuaron’s courtyard, waiting for this sound that repeated without error.

 

It’s Father!

 

As I smiled brightly and reached out my hand, Father scooped me up with one arm.

 

“How did you come here?”

 

“Well, something came up.”

 

Father, who said that, looked behind me.

 

Count Andres had already stood up.

 

The Count had returned to his usual expression.

 

That snake-like face with a smile.

 

‘Frowning or being expressionless isn’t his usual self.’

 

Father’s and Count Andres’ gazes clashed sharply in the air.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Yes!”

 

I grabbed Father’s hand and quickly left the cabin.

 

“Are you going to leave the horse behind?”

 

It was Count Andres’ words.

 

‘Ah, Annie.’

 

I had ridden Annie to the port.

 

If I left her like this, there would be no one to bring Annie back.

 

Then Father said,

 

“There are soldiers at the port. I’ll have them take care of the horse.”

 

“How can I entrust the family’s beloved horse to someone else’s hands?”

 

“Seeing that you let my daughter ride it, it seems you can entrust it to someone else’s hands just fine.”

 

“That child isn’t someone else. She’s my blood, my kin.”

 

“It seems your brain has no wrinkles. Wasn’t it you who took away that kin’s name?”

 

“How rude. I suppose growing up as a vagabond does that.”

 

“Growing up as a vagabond, I know very well how and where to cripple an unpleasant opponent.”

 

Wow.

 

Neither of them is backing down at all.

 

‘It would be troublesome if they actually fight.’

 

The Count is the Head of the 7th House.

 

Father is not a head of house.

 

There’s a difference in authority, so if they clash, we’ll be the ones to suffer.

 

“Um, Fa…”

 

Just as I was about to call Father.

 

“Master!”

 

“Count.”

 

Marquis Rochette and Marquis Yopis quickly approached.

 

Behind them were Andres’ soldiers.

 

Wondering what was happening, I looked at the Count.

 

The Count was fiddling with the bracelet on his arm.

 

It was a summoning button.

 

‘He called them even though I told him not to.’

 

I looked at the beggar children on deck whose faces had turned pale.

 

Those children seemed to have lived on the streets for a long time.

 

They seemed to know that when high-ranking nobles gathered like this, their territory would disappear.

 

I swallowed a sigh.

 

Marquis Rochette said,

 

“We’ll escort you to the castle.”

 

So we got off the deck and rode in the carriages that had come to pick us up respectively.

 

Annie seemed to be taken care of by Andres’ soldiers.

 

Inside Cuaron’s carriage, I asked,

 

“How did you come here?”

 

“Due to the purification stone incident, a meeting of the Seven Families’ heads is being held at Andres. I came bringing the old man.”

 

He meant he had come to assist Marquis Esgaroth.

 

Well, something like the purification stone couldn’t be easily overlooked.

 

I had been wondering how it turned out.

 

According to Father, Marquis Esgaroth was at the castle.

 

The carriage ran quickly and arrived at Andres Castle.

 

When we got off at the carriage waiting area, Yuise was waiting for Father and me.

 

We entered the castle interior.

 

And headed to Marquis Esgaroth’s room.

 

As soon as we entered, Marquis Esgaroth welcomed me.

 

“Yes. My puppy, have you been well?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Rohan Andres, did he bother you?”

 

It seemed he had sent Father knowing about it.

 

I smiled and shook my head.

 

“But I didn’t fall for it.”

 

“That’s right, that’s right.”

 

The Marquis laughed heartily.

 

Meanwhile, Yuise checked the surveillance devices in the room.

 

One came out from under the table, which she skillfully destroyed.

 

I looked around and asked Yuise,

 

“Did you find anything connecting the Old Empire Restoration Society and Andres?”

 

“I couldn’t find it. I searched everywhere – the Count’s room, office, study… but not even a clue came up.”

 

“Maybe it’s at the Andres Estate…”

 

I groaned with frustration.

 

“What are you looking for?”

 

The Marquis asked.

 

“Ah, well…”

 

When I explained the situation, the Marquis and Father nodded.

 

“The Old Empire Restoration Society. They were the ones who handled white dragons.”

 

Father said.

 

I opened my eyes wide.

 

“White dragons?”

 

“Yes. They’re about the size of lizards but with wings.”

 

“But I’ve never seen one.”

 

This time it was the Marquis who answered.

 

“Because in the early days of Avalon’s founding, white dragons were eliminated as soon as they were found. Both raising them and failing to report their discovery were severely punished.”

 

“Why?”

 

“White dragons were the symbol of the Old Empire.”

 

Ah.

 

So they wiped out everything related to the Old Empire.

 

The Marquis continued,

 

“So the white dragon isn’t remaining on the continent. Only the Ancien Empire Restoration Society would be keeping one.”

 

“I see.”

 

We were in the middle of such a conversation.

 

Knock knock.

 

Along with the knocking, the butler’s voice could be heard.

 

“I shall escort you to the Grand Conference Hall.”

 

It was the moment when the gathering of the Seven Families’ heads was about to begin.

 

* * *

 

The nobles of the Seven Families gathered in the Grand Conference Hall.

 

Not only the nobles of the Seven Families, but also Onel and Stella, who were direct descendants of Andres, were present.

 

I exchanged greetings with the nobles of the Seven Families.

 

“It’s been a while, Yustea.”

 

Duke Navarro smiled brightly as he spoke to me.

 

He was the son of Marquis Nevarro and Guinevere’s father.

 

“I greet Duke Navarro.”

 

“I heard you did something great? Father also thinks highly of you.”

 

He was referring to how I destroyed the purification stone as soon as I discovered it.

 

I bowed my head.

 

“I only did what needed to be done.”

 

“There was some fool who was going to foolishly bring out such a thing, so it was quite significant!”

 

A stubborn old man holding a cane shouted.

 

Count Andres, who had been greeting other nobles of the Seven Families, hesitated.

 

Because ‘the fool who was going to foolishly bring out such a thing’ was referring to Stella.

 

Stella’s face turned pale.

 

When she bit her lips tightly, the stubborn old man’s grandson frowned.

 

“Please don’t be so harsh. She didn’t do it knowingly.”

 

That grandson was one of Stella’s Guard.

 

“No, Glen. It’s my fault for not knowing.”

 

Stella said this and bowed her waist.

 

“Due to my ignorance, I almost made a grave mistake. I am truly sorry.”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

When Stella apologized so humbly, the heads of the Seven Families sighed.

 

They didn’t say much else.

 

It was much better than coming out with ‘I didn’t know! It’s unfair!’

 

Only the adults participated in the meeting conference.

 

Onel, Stella, and I greeted the adults and left the conference room.

 

Some time after the conference room door closed.

 

Benjamin approached.

 

“Oh my. I guess I’m late.”

 

Benjamin scratched his head.

 

Then he groaned and said.

 

“Can’t I slip in now?”

 

Onel said with an expressionless face.

 

“If you want to advertise that you’re late, go ahead.”

 

“Father will kill me. Damn.”

 

Benjamin was the eldest son of the Becker Family, one of the Seven Families.

 

He stretched and said.

 

“Well, there’s nothing for me to say even if I go in. Onel, let’s go play billiards. I lost to Ignis three times in a row.”

 

“No thanks. I’m not interested.”

 

“You invite him but don’t even show your face? Hui will be disappointed.”

 

It was when he put his arm around Onel’s neck and spoke.

 

“Benjamin.”

 

Stella called out to him.

 

Benjamin and Onel looked at her simultaneously.

 

“I went looking for you yesterday but you weren’t there.”

 

“Ah. I had some business.”

 

“I have something to say. Just the two of us.”

 

“Just the two of us… isn’t that a bit much. Haha.”

 

Benjamin looked at Onel as if asking for agreement.

 

Onel said to Stella.

 

“The heads of the Seven Families are here. You need to be more careful with your conduct than usual.”

 

“It’s something I must say. Please make time, Benjamin.”

 

Oh dear.

 

She must really want to talk about the Ancien Empire Restoration Society today.

 

Benjamin lowered his arm from Onel’s neck.

 

And said.

 

“If it’s just for a moment…”

 

Stella’s face brightened.

 

“Your room is a bit inconvenient. How about the greenhouse?”

 

“Anywhere is fine as long as it’s just the two of us.”

 

Stella said this and left with Benjamin.

 

I signaled to Yuise, who was standing far away.

 

It meant to follow them.

 

So Benjamin and Stella left together, and Yuise also quietly concealed herself in the darkness.

 

It was the moment I was about to leave as well.

 

“Yustea.”

 

Onel called me.

 

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

 

“You said to be careful with our conduct.”

 

“You and I don’t need to do that. We’re siblings.”

 

“…?”

 

To think the word siblings would come from his mouth.

 

He must have had quite a change of heart after learning that I wasn’t the one who poisoned Stella.

 

“Will it be brief?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Onel started walking first.

 

I followed him.

 

The place we headed to was Onel’s room.

 

I sat on the sofa, but Onel headed to the desk.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Wait.”

 

I thought he wanted to have a conversation, but this was strange.

 

I frowned.

 

But I waited quietly.

 

Because Onel looked like he had firmly resolved something.

 

Onel brought parchment and a pen from the desk.

 

The parchment was blank.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

 

“What are you trying to say.”

 

“The poisoning incident wasn’t your doing.”

 

“Right, I said it wasn’t.”

 

“But people think it was you. That will be a huge obstacle in your life.”

 

“….”

 

If it was an obstacle, then it was an obstacle.

 

For example, I couldn’t work in public service or marry into royalty.

 

But I had no intention of working in public service or marrying royalty.

 

So it wasn’t exactly ‘an obstacle in my life.’

 

“It was the Imperial Restoration Council’s doing. And I know what the evidence is.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I didn’t know before. I didn’t know… but once I realized it was the Imperial Restoration Council’s doing, I noticed that ‘that’ was evidence.”

 

Onel quickly drew some kind of formation on the parchment.

 

That was a magic casting formation.

 

“I’ve seen this formation in Father’s study.”

 

As everyone in the world knew, and as I knew too, Onel was a genius.

 

He drew what he had seen once in an instant.

 

A formation done in Alcaid style.

 

A formation now classified as alchemy.

 

…Because it was a formation used in the old Empire.

 

“It must be a formation used by the Imperial Restoration Council.”

 

“This….”

 

“Yes, they made Stella sick with this magic.”

 

“….”

 

“Report it. Report it and restore your honor.”

 

“…No.”

 

“Are you still foolishly saying you can’t report Father?! Father is…!”

 

“It’s not a formation that makes Stella sick!”

 

I know this formation.

 

Because I’ve seen it in the game’s alchemy shop.

 

And the one who uses this formation is under my command.

 

Ros!

 

‘The formation of an alchemist who uses monsters.’

 

This is… a monster summoning formation.

 

‘The shape is the same, but it’s a bit different from the formula I knew.’

 

I hurriedly took out my communication stone.

 

The recipient was Ros.

 

[Yes, yes, Young Lady! I wasn’t sleeping! I’m studying!]

 

[He was sleeping. He was sound asleep. Young Lady.]

 

I heard Ros and Roslin’s voices.

 

“That’s not what I wanted to ask about.”

 

[Huh? Then…?]

 

“Ros, I’m going to recite a formula now. Please interpret what kind of formula it is.”

 

I recited the formula drawn in the formation.

 

It was a formula drawn based on Onel’s memory.

 

It wasn’t perfect.

 

So perhaps because it took time, Ros made groaning sounds for a while.

 

[Uh, so….]

 

[Don’t you know? Wouldn’t it be better to request help from Matap? We should give Young Lady a perfect answer.]

 

[Wait a minute. What do you know… Ack, don’t raise your fist…! Are you raising it?]

 

Ros cried out “Uwah!”

 

[Ah, right. It wasn’t meant to summon in the first place!]

 

He said to me.

 

[It’s a formation to calm the monster inside.]

 

“What?”

 

[This person seems to be raising a monster inside their body.]

 

Onel frowned.

 

“Father is raising a monster in his body?”

 

“….”

 

“Why would he do such a thing….”

 

“It’s not Father.”

 

I grabbed Onel’s shoulder.

 

“The underground maze. The accident in the underground maze you entered with Stella. What exactly happened?”

 

“The monsters suddenly started rampaging. As if they were frightened.”

 

“You said poison fog spread because you disturbed a shadow rat, right? Was that also because you were pushed by monsters?”

 

“No, the shadow rat attacked first.”

 

Shadow rats are docile and don’t attack first.

 

If… then what if….

 

“What if they were frightened by the monster inside Stella?”

 

“…What?”

 

“What if Stella’s suffering wasn’t from poisoning symptoms but because she was harboring a monster!”

 

“…!”

 

Onel’s face hardened.

 

He bolted upright.

 

“I have to go.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I cast magic on Stella. In case Benjamin tries to target her again!”

 

So that’s why he let her be alone with Benjamin.

 

But why is he so surprised?

 

“It’s magic that attacks when it comes into contact with Benjamin. I used the Alphauraoud formula!”

 

“…!!”

 

Alphauraoud formula.

 

A formula that draws out what’s inherent.

 

What if that awakens the monster inside Stella?

 

That was the moment.

 

Kraaaak—!

 

A sharp howling sound was heard, and the castle shook greatly.

 

Onel and I looked at each other with hardened faces.

 

And we quickly ran.

 

Our destination was the greenhouse where Benjamin and Stella were.

 

When we frantically ran to the greenhouse, the first thing I saw was Yuise.

 

Yuise, gripping his sword, spat.

 

It was mixed with plenty of dark red blood.

 

He had suffered internal injuries.

 

“Yuise!”

 

I quickly ran to him and asked.

 

“What happened!”

 

“As soon as Benjamin made contact, that woman’s body glowed and that thing came out.”

 

“What?”

 

I turned my head.

 

It was an enormously massive white dragon.

 

“…!!”

 

Large enough to break through the greenhouse’s ceiling.

 

‘White dragons are supposed to be lizard-sized!’

 

Thinking that, I startled and looked to the side.

 

Stella was pale as a sheet, gasping for breath.

 

‘Ah, right.’

 

Stella’s mana boasts incredible purity.

 

And she has an enormous amount of it too.

 

It grew to such a massive size by feeding on the mana inside Stella.

 

The white dragon spread its wings.

 

It took flight just like that.

 

And the place the white dragon headed toward was…!

 

“No! Stop it! It’s going to the Grand Conference Hall!”

 

That place where the nobles of the Seven Families were gathered.

 

Suddenly, wind blew.

 

And someone landed beside me.

 

“All sorts of things happen.”

 

“…You are.”

 

“We meet for the second time, Young Lady?”

 

…It was Oscar.

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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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