How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 96

—————
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 96

At that moment, that voice rang out.

“Who said there wouldn’t be any interference, you bastard!”

It was Antonio.

He rushed forward and threw a punch at Oscar.

Oscar couldn’t dodge his punch.

It wasn’t because of speed, or because it was an area he couldn’t defend due to his posture.

It was because Yuise’s strings had bound Oscar’s body.

While Oscar was pushed back by Antonio’s punch, the Clan Leader pulled me away.

Clatter clatter clatter.

Footsteps poured in from all around.

Unit Members grabbed their weapons and aimed them at Oscar.

Oscar wiped his split lip from being hit by Antonio’s punch.

“I took too much time. Because of the Saint.”

As Oscar laughed and spoke, the Clan Leader walked toward him.

Oscar’s eyebrow twitched upward.

“Are you going to scold me?”

“….”

“Will you get angry asking how I could do such a thing and throw a punch at me?”

“….”

The Clan Leader quietly approached him.

And he….

“…!”

Removed the hawk badge attached to Oscar’s arm, the symbol of the Elite.

And thud.

He stepped on and crushed the badge.

“By order of the Clan Leader. Oscar, you are expelled.”

Oscar’s Unit squeezed their eyes shut.

Oscar giggled.

“Even in this situation, is that what’s important? This is why I find you all disgusting.”

Oscar tilted his head and peered into the Clan Leader’s expressionless face.

“Despite being excluded from society, you follow the methods society chose. Stupidly.”

“….”

“You got caught up in playing family, comrades, and friends and forgot what’s more important.”

“….”

“You have no intention of taking revenge on the establishment that threw you into the mud. Pathetic.”

“It’s not pathetic!”

The one who shouted was me.

The Unit Members flinched and looked at me.

“It’s being affectionate. It’s being kind. It’s being noble!”

I immediately rushed out and grabbed Oscar by the collar.

“Revenge against the establishment? Does that seem like some great mission?”

“Let go.”

“It’s not a mission, it’s just personal vengeance for yourself. These people know something more precious than revenge.”

“….”

“Look at your unit members!”

Oscar’s Unit Members flinched and looked at me.

Light had returned to eyes that had been painfully distorted.

“Wasn’t there something strange about what they said?”

“That’s right. As if they had seen the unit leader make contact with that woman!”

“Don’t you know why your unit members thought you hadn’t made contact with Hera?”

“….”

“They were watching over you. While hoping their suspicions were wrong!”

The division among Unit Members started with Oscar’s Unit.

Because Oscar’s Unit members suspected Yuise.

So Yuise’s Team fought back against them.

“Your unit members had no choice but to say they suspected Yuise. Because they hoped it wasn’t you.”

One of Oscar’s Unit members dropped their sword.

There were also those pressing their palms against their eyes.

“Actually, your unit members suspected you. But not one of them reported it to higher-ups!”

“….”

“Last night, the lights didn’t go out in your unit members’ dormitory building. They all couldn’t sleep and agonized over it.”

“….”

“You wouldn’t have seen it. Because all you could see was the vengeance inside you.”

“….”

“Don’t you know what you’ve destroyed!”

Oscar’s Unit members sobbed.

Other Unit Members also bit their lips while watching them, or tightened their grip on their weapons.

“Look at Yuise!”

Oscar’s gaze turned to Yuise.

He closed his eyes.

“Look at that fool who never spoke your name even while being suspected!”

“….”

“The Clan Leader knew from the beginning that you were suspicious! But he didn’t say anything because he wanted to give you a chance!”

Tears welled up.

Because the faces of the broken Unit Members hurt so painfully.

Hot tears flowed down my cheeks.

I struck Oscar’s chest.

Thud.

Thud, thud!

My hand was cut by the ruined armor, but I didn’t even notice the pain.

Antonio held me back.

“Stop it, you’re getting hurt… Young Lady….”

Antonio was looking down, but his voice trembled faintly.

So I could tell he was holding back tears.

I struggled and said.

“The one who’s really stupid is you. You…!”

“….”

“Say you were wrong. Say you won’t do it again!”

“…!”

Oscar flinched and looked at me.

“It’s not too late yet. Come back, Oscar.”

“…What?”

“You didn’t kill a single person. You could have collapsed the underground prison and escaped, but you didn’t.”

Oscar’s eyes trembled faintly.

“Actually, this home is precious to you too….”

The strength left Antonio’s hands.

I reached out my hand to Oscar.

“You can turn back. Oscar.”

Oscar looked at my hand.

Yuise grabbed my wrist.

But she didn’t pull me away.

“It’s true. This fool even forgave another traitor. Me.”

I sniffled and looked up at him.

“Even though the castle is shaking, Father hasn’t come out. That’s him giving you a chance to return.”

“….”

Oscar’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He slowly raised his hand.

“I am….”

That was the moment.

“That would be troublesome.”

“…!”

“…?!”

Everyone turned to look in surprise at one place.

It was Hera.

She lifted the corners of her mouth with a completely different expression from the dejected look I had first seen.

She swept back her disheveled hair that had been covering her eyes.

Instead of the baggy dress that looked like a potato sack, she wore form-fitting riding clothes.

And in her arms….

“Prince Gaspard!”

Hera was holding a sword to Gaspard’s throat.

“He-help me! What are you doing, quickly—!”

I turned my gaze to the Clan Leader’s unit that had followed Gaspard who was being subdued by Hera.

“What happened.”

I had also assigned surveillance to Hera.

In case Oscar was captured, Hera might do something.

I had confined Hera to a windowless room and issued an order prohibiting entry.

But why…!

“Prince Gaspard disobeyed Young Lady’s orders and approached Hera’s room.”

“What did you say?”

“It seems he was indignant about his maternal cousin being held captive….”

He probably didn’t expect to be captured and become a hostage.

The soldiers couldn’t stop Gaspard because of the crime of disrespect.

Even the Imperial soldiers came rushing out in droves and pointed their swords at Hera.

Hera smiled leisurely and said.

“If you approach me, His precious Highness won’t remain unharmed.”

“…!”

Just as the Imperial soldiers were at a loss for what to do.

Hera spoke.

“Let’s go, Sir Oscar.”

Oscar glanced at me.

But soon he passed by me and headed toward Hera.

Hera smiled slyly.

“What meaning could a fake family have. He has the real thing.”

Black fluid flowed down beneath Oscar and Hera’s feet.

The fluid swelled at tremendous speed and Oscar, Hera, and Gaspard disappeared.

“No… no…!”

Gaspard screamed but it was useless.

In an instant, Oscar, Hera, and even Gaspard had vanished.

The Imperial soldiers shouted.

“Contact the Imperial Palace! Duke Sanponce’s granddaughter and a knight of Cuaron have kidnapped His Highness!”

I clutched my forehead.

* * *

Imperial Palace.

The Emperor, having received a report about the incident in Cuaron, let out a bitter laugh.

Seeing him laugh lowly, haha, the nobles squeezed their eyes shut.

“What an absurd situation. Don’t you think?”

The Emperor, who had been tapping the table with his fingertips, soon struck it violently.

Bang!

The startled nobles bowed their heads.

“The remnants of the Old Empire Restoration Society have been hiding throughout the Seven Families. How magnificent. Soon they’ll be holding swords to my throat!”

The heads of the Seven Families also couldn’t open their mouths.

It hadn’t been long since the heir of the Becker Marquis family, one of the Seven Families, was involved in the Restoration Society incident.

But now the Empress’s maternal family and the external granddaughter of Duke Sanponce, who was practically the head of the Seven Families, was involved.

Even a knight of Cuaron belonging to Esgaroth was part of the Restoration Society.

The Emperor’s rage was understandable.

“I will disband the Privy Council. I will reclaim the authority of the Seven Families granted by the founding Emperor.”

“Your, Your Majesty…!”

“…?!”

The nobles looked at him in shock.

The dissolution of the Privy Council, the highest decision-making body.

And even reclaiming the authority of the Seven Families.

This meant a reorganization of power.

The Empire had shared power centered around the Seven Families throughout its long history.

The fall of the Seven Families would greatly affect other noble families as well.

The nobles turned pale.

That was the moment.

“Your Majesty, there is a way to rescue Prince Gaspard.”

Count Andres spoke up.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the Count.

“My daughter Stella and Prince Gaspard are close enough friends to have sworn to protect each other’s lives.”

It was well known that Gaspard cherished Stella.

The Emperor narrowed his brow.

“And so.”

“Therefore, it seems His Highness made a 【Knight’s Oath】 with Stella.”

“…What.”

The Knight’s Oath.

A binding spell made through a special treasure as medium.

This spell, meaning to entrust one’s life to the other, could determine the other’s condition and location.

“This fool….”

The Emperor frowned.

For royalty, even their movements were state secrets.

Making a Knight’s Oath with someone who wasn’t a guard was utterly foolish.

Especially a spell that the Emperor had strictly forbidden.

‘But….’

The Emperor looked at Count Andres.

“So Stella Andres can locate Gaspard.”

“Yes. Currently, Prince Gaspard’s location cannot be detected even by the Empire’s barrier. This means he’s in a place with a powerful barrier, and that place is likely the Restoration Society’s stronghold.”

The Emperor nodded.

The nobles’ expressions also brightened.

If they could find the headquarters, it would truly be a blessing in disguise.

“Andres will send a pursuit force centered around Stella.”

The atmosphere in the conference room changed in an instant.

Due to the attack incident that occurred in Andres, Andres’s prestige had plummeted.

But if they could find the Reconstruction Society’s headquarters through this incident?

Andres would overcome this crisis and gain even greater power.

The nobles whispered.

“Stella Andres, wasn’t she that promising Saint candidate…?”

“That’s right.”

“The child famous for being blessed by the goddess of fortune.”

“Indeed a child blessed with fortune. She can overturn her family’s crisis in one stroke.”

“Compared to her, Esgaroth is…”

One of the nobles muttered.

The nobles’ gazes turned toward Marquis Esgaroth.

The existence of a Saint and her power were remarkable, but she was far from fortunate.

“Wasn’t she involved in every incident with the Reconstruction Society?”

“Being expelled from the family was probably also…”

“It would be problematic even if the Reconstruction Society caused incidents targeting the Saint.”

“She would become a seed of disaster rather than a seed of glory.”

The Emperor waved his hand.

“Make haste. It seems all the sorcerers we had confined in Cuaron are dead too, so Stella Andres is the only lead we can follow.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll discuss Cuaron’s crime of failing to properly manage the sorcerers after rescuing Gaspard.”

Several nobles snorted.

“Marquis Esgaroth has become quite the laughingstock…”

At that moment.

“Your Majesty.”

Marquis Esgaroth spoke up.

The Emperor looked at him.

“I thought you said we’d discuss Cuaron’s matter after the rescue.”

“Yustea has also located Prince Gaspard’s position.”

“What?”

People were startled.

“…!”

“…?!”

Even Count Andres furrowed his brow and looked at Marquis Esgaroth.

Marquis Esgaroth said.

“It seems she prepared in advance by working through Hera, Duke Sanponce’s granddaughter, in case problems arose.”

“Then…!”

“Yustea also wishes to form a pursuit force and participate in the rescue operation, so please grant permission.”

The people in the conference room gasped.

Come to think of it, that was right.

Yustea was a girl with the wit to turn even misfortune into fortune.

Though abandoned by Andres, she became Marquis Esgaroth’s granddaughter and ultimately blossomed as a Saint.

Count Andres and Marquis Esgaroth’s gazes clashed fiercely in midair.

The Emperor chuckled.

“Whoever rescues Gaspard and catches the Reconstruction Society’s tail will be given leadership of the reorganized decision-making body.”

Yustea and Stella.

It was the moment the confrontation between the sisters bound by ill fate began.

* * *

Kuaron Castle.

With my hair tied back and wearing armor, I stepped out into the courtyard.

The seven members of the pursuit force I had selected from the clan members were waiting.

The elites were not included.

“Will those seven really be enough?”

Yuise looked at me with concern.

“We need to move without being detected, so we have to travel in small numbers.”

The Clan Leader wore a worried expression.

“At least take some elites with you.”

“The enemy has Oscar who can detect mana. If someone with powerful and familiar mana like the elites approaches, he’ll notice.”

“By that logic, Oscar might recognize you too, Young Lady.”

I pulled something out with a click.

It was a magical tool I had retrieved from the warehouse while eliminating the cult.

The so-called 【Veil Brooch】.

“It hides mana. Since there’s only one, it’s better if only I go.”

“Then, couldn’t an elite other than you go…”

“Is there anyone among the elites who can heal?”

“…”

“…”

Everyone fell silent.

If problems arose, I was the only one who could provide rear support.

Above all, since Father had left for the archipelago to report on this incident, it was better to leave the elites behind to defend Cuaron.

“I’ll be back.”

But at that moment.

Luciano walked over to my side.

“Your Highness?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Why…?”

“Since Yohaël is attached to Andres’s side, I’ll be on yours.”

Come to think of it, didn’t they say Stella was also forming a pursuit force?

It would be troublesome if Yohaël was attached to Stella.

If Yohaël pushed forward with princely authority, our side would have to back down.

It would be better to have Luciano who could oppose Yohaël.

‘Oscar won’t be able to recognize Luciano’s mana either.’

The elites looked displeased.

But since a powerful attacker was being added to our pursuit force, no one opposed it.

I mounted my horse and said.

“Then I’ll be back.”

“Return safely.”

“If you think you might get hurt, just run back, Young Lady!”

“Contact us if you need anything.”

Seeing off by the Clan Leader, Antonio, and Yuise, Esgaroth’s pursuit force including Luciano and me departed.

We reached a forest path leading toward Marcello Manor.

In front of a cave.

We encountered people.

Stella and Yohaël.

In other words, Andres’s pursuit force.

Stella looked at me.

“Hello, Yustea.”

“Right.”

“It would be better to go in with a small elite group rather than a large number. We’ll go in first, so you come in after our signal.”

Stella said as she adjusted her quiver.

“I’ll signal during combat.”

So during combat, we hold off the enemy while you slip away in the confusion?

I smiled benevolently.

“Who do you think you’re taking for a fool.”

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