I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 124

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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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【Chapter 124】

Before the Count could finish speaking, Casselik had already vanished from the ground.

Leaping into the air in an instant, he tried to strike down the Count with his blade in one clean motion with flawless form.

Count Greenlenton’s body stiffened.

His eyes filled with terror as he saw Casselik’s shadow covering his vision.

Even if he used different time periods, it would be useless if the hourglass was destroyed.

Just like how a Time Manipulator absolutely needs a clock to use their ability.

“…!”

But the blade that was about to pierce through his abdomen stopped at the Count’s single word.

“If you destroy the hourglass, the fifty people trapped inside will die too.”

Right at that warning, someone let out a gloomy scream.

Please just end it! Inside this hourglass is too scary and cold!

But Casselik, who couldn’t hear this sound, first felt an instinctive revulsion at the mention of people dying.

He hastily withdrew his blade, but never withdrew his gaze overflowing with hatred.

Thus unfolded a tense standoff.

‘If I can’t destroy the hourglass….’

He stabbed the Count’s heart once again.

“Kugh…!”

The startled Count’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“No matter how much you turn back time, you’ll still feel the pain of your heart being pierced.”

“…Duke… in the end, a foolish choice….”

Unable to continue speaking, the Count’s breath fluttered like a frog.

Soon time rewound and the blood from his heart stopped. Then, Casselik drew his blade once more.

A terrible and tedious time repeated itself.

“Kuk!”

The Count screaming and then coming back to life.

Each time, Casselik’s blade was stained with vivid bloodstains.

Unlike the Count’s body that went back to the past, Casselik remained in the present time.

“….”

“Is it over now?”

After a while, the Count asked with a face bearing no damage.

Casselik frowned and replied.

“…It’s over. You won’t die in this space, but you can’t escape either. Since it’s come to this, let’s spend our lives together.”

Having said that, he requested of the Emperor.

“There are probably still uncaught Dark Mages outside. I’ll hold onto the Count, so please deal with the rest of his gang, Your Majesty.”

“But Duke, you….”

“Compared to the wars I’ve experienced so far, this isn’t even tiring.”

Through his black hair stained with sweat and blood, his still well-sharpened gaze looked at the Emperor.

Finally, the Emperor sighed and agreed.

“…Understood. I’ll handle the outside matters as quickly as possible and return.”

For now, there was no other choice.

It would be better for at least the Emperor to go outside and deal with the remaining remnants while thinking of a way to defeat the Count.

About an hour passed after the Emperor and knights left.

Even Casselik’s expression, which had been like flawless porcelain, finally began to crack.

It was due to fatigue.

“Ha.”

Then a deflated laugh leaked from the Count’s mouth.

For the first time, he distorted his expression and muttered toward Casselik.

“How foolish. Who would have imagined a Time Manipulator suffering while bound by time?”

He was dumbfounded by Casselik’s old-fashioned choice.

However, Casselik only sneered at him.

“You still think Time Manipulators are free, don’t you, Count. What perfect timing.”

Casselik slowly leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“…But you’ll regret it soon. Just like I do.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Rie and Jair had been secretly watching this entire situation from the passage above the ceiling.

However, upon suddenly hearing that the Emperor was going outside, they hurriedly returned to the Tower of Time.

They were worried their escape might be discovered.

“Heh, hek. Heek….”

Rie, who entered the room, sprawled out spread-eagle as if collapsing from illness.

Jair looked out the window and sighed in relief.

“It seems they didn’t notice we escaped outside.”

“Th-thank goodness…. Whoo.”

The Emperor was someone time abilities didn’t work on. Because of that, Rie couldn’t even think of using time abilities and had to run flailing her short legs.

She even had to climb through the first-floor window with Jair’s help because of the knight guarding the door.

“Rie, if you were just one year older, this much would be a piece of cake….”

The lamenting was brief. A short question crossed her mind.

‘…Whose voice was that exactly?’

While secretly watching Casselik and the Count, Rie had experienced something strange.

When the Count used the hourglass as a hostage to warn them, someone screamed asking to be killed instead.

Please just end it! Inside this hourglass is too scary and cold!

Rie thought she had heard wrong.

If he had heard that voice, Father would have smashed the hourglass and not left the Count alone.

But no one heard that desperate cry.

The sobbing from inside the hourglass died out miserably in indifference.

Except for one person, Rie.

‘But… it was too clear. So very pitiful. To the point where Rie wanted to save them….’

She was blankly recalling what had happened earlier.

Someone knocked and then opened the door and entered.

It was the Emperor.

‘N-no way! Did Rie get caught?!’

Startled, Rie made eye contact with Jair.

The Emperor looked at the two of them in turn, stroked his chin, and sighed.

“It looks like you were resting well, but I’m sorry, Rie. I have something to discuss with Jair briefly, so go play on the second floor.”

…It seems our escape wasn’t discovered!

“Yees.”

Rie swallowed her saliva and moved her trembling legs.

And it was when she was climbing the stairs toward the reception room on the second floor.

‘But why did His Majesty the Emperor come to the Tower of Time? He said he was going to catch the remaining Dark Mages while Father held the Count….’

Glance.

Suddenly feeling suspicious, Rie looked back at the closed door.

Since she had followed obediently, the adults seemed completely at ease and left after bringing her to the reception room.

Carefully coming out to the terrace, Rie lay down against the railing.

Right below was the room where the Emperor and Jair were. Fortunately, they hadn’t closed the window when sneaking in earlier, so the conversation could be heard well.

Soon the Emperor’s voice could be heard.

“Jair, where is Count Greenlenton’s life clock? I need to see it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After examining the clock for a while, the Emperor let out a sigh.

“…Damn. It’s completely ruined. I expected as much, but Count Greenlenton is already dead. The reason he’s still moving around is because he threw himself into a different timeline using the hostages’ blood.”

“Then where are the hostages’ bodies? If there are bodies, couldn’t we return their souls?”

The Captain of the Knights answered instead.

“The Dark Mages incinerated all the bodies.”

‘…Oh no.’

Incinerated. It was a difficult word, but Rie, who had read many books, knew what it meant.

The child who was eavesdropping felt a chill run down her spine.

Soon after, she heard the Captain’s suggestion.

“Your Majesty. No matter how much the Count is living in a different timeline, there must be limits to using his ability. If the Duke and we take turns stabbing him over and over, wouldn’t the Count eventually collapse?”

“…”

But the Emperor gave no answer.

After a moment.

“There’s also the option of negotiating with Count Greenlenton.”

The Emperor, who seemed to be deep in thought, quietly spoke up.

“Your Majesty!”

Surprised, Jair tried to object, but the Emperor instead restrained him and muttered quietly.

“Jair. I’m not saying I’ll give them what they want. I’m just saying we could try talking.”

Negotiation.

That was also a word Rie knew well.

When fighting and unable to reconcile, it meant attempting compromise by giving each other some of what they wanted.

‘But His Majesty the Emperor… negotiating with that wicked Count?’

It was an absurd proposal.

Jair and the Commander, who were listening to the conversation, seemed to share Rie’s thoughts as they began to stir restlessly.

The Emperor should naturally prioritize the safety of the Empire’s citizens.

But if the Emperor proposed negotiation first in this situation, it could be interpreted as backing down because he couldn’t handle the Count’s dark magic.

This was also connected to faith.

Those chosen by Chronos surrendering to followers of an evil god who were no better than thugs.

Public sentiment might be greatly shaken.

Finally, the Captain added his words.

“Your Majesty, to avoid that, Duke Casselik is…”

“There’s a fact I’ve been keeping top secret. The Chronos Empire’s life clock has moved.”

“What?!”

“You who risk your life fighting for me surely have tight lips.”

The Emperor cut off his words and spoke as if making a declaration.

“In other words, the Empire’s destruction has come one step closer. That’s definitely because of the Dark Mages.”

‘What?!’

Rie’s mouth fell wide open at this shocking fact she hadn’t known.

“That’s why I’m trying to negotiate. So we can at least prevent the destruction of our Chronos Empire.”

Just as the Emperor continued with a troubled expression.

-Hey, Little One! Can you hear me?! Little One!

Suddenly, someone called out to Rie from behind.

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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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