I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 36

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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 36】

 

The children who had been mumbling flinched.

 

From their reluctant expressions, it seemed they really didn’t want to apologize to Rie.

 

“What are you doing? Hurry up and apologize!”

 

“Aaaah, s-sorry! Miss Rie. We won’t play such pranks again…!”

 

But when their parents pinched their ears, the children screamed and tearfully apologized.

 

This is the end for the villains?!

 

“That’s why I told you to run away.”

 

Rie whispered sympathetically until the very end.

 

Jair chuckled as if he found her amusing.

 

“Rie. I have to sit next to His Majesty the Emperor, so I need to go over there.”

 

“Really? Mmm, that’s too bad…”

 

“I feel the same way. Since it’s disappointing, you have to keep looking only at me. Got it?”

 

“Are we having a staring contest?”

 

“Yeah. Something like that.”

 

Wow. What a fun game!

 

Rie nodded with determination.

 

“I understand! Rie absolutely won’t lose!”

 

“That would be even better.”

 

Jair’s eyes curved like crescents.

 

While everyone except Rie and Jair couldn’t even breathe, the boy leisurely waved goodbye and left his spot.

 

“Bye-bye.”

 

Rie also fluttered her small hand in response.

 

The people standing behind them were as quiet as mice.

 

Since the murmuring sounds completely disappeared, she didn’t need the cloth piece Mother had given her.

 

“Hehe. Mother. The Crown Prince is an angel, right?”

 

Rie pulled out the piece she had put in her ear and smiled brightly at Emilia. Just as she was nodding with a dazed expression.

 

A priest wearing a long cloak stepped onto the platform.

 

“The Ability Detection Test will begin shortly. Please remain quiet.”

 

Soon after, Casselik and Serena appeared.

 

The children sitting behind Rie looked at them with admiring gazes.

 

However, he who had been walking onto the platform without a single misstep suddenly hesitated slightly.

 

Casselik briefly looked at Rie with a somewhat complicated expression, but quickly composed himself and sat down after greeting the Emperor and Crown Prince.

 

And so the test began.

 

“First, Ton Young-sik of the Baron Blon Family. Please come forward.”

 

A child with a nervous expression put the clock on the platform around his neck.

 

But the clock remained still.

 

“Non-Ability User.”

 

The child, dejected by the priest’s judgment, sniffled as they came down from the platform.

 

Such a scene was already unfolding for the tenth time.

 

But given how many branch families Theodore had, many children were still waiting for their turn.

 

‘Yawn.’

 

Rie couldn’t help but yawn.

 

The staring contest with Jair had long since been lost.

 

Even re-challenging had become tiresome, but Jair still seemed to be enjoying himself as he continued to look at Rie.

 

‘There doesn’t seem to be anyone with a crescent moon tattoo… Are there no bad wizards here?’

 

Her concentration was gradually waning, and she was fidgeting in her seat when it happened.

 

“Wait a moment. Is the next turn for Lady Mary of Greenlenton County?”

 

Everyone’s attention turned toward the clear voice that sounded like jade beads rolling.

 

Rie, who had been nodding off, was no exception.

 

‘Huh?’

 

When she looked up, Serena, who had been sitting next to Casselik, was standing up from her seat.

 

She clasped her hands together neatly and spoke.

 

“I had a dream last night, and I saw a scene where Lady Mary received a time ability user judgment.”

 

At her sudden statement, everyone began to murmur.

 

“What? Are you saying you had a prophetic dream?”

 

“The duchess has such an ability?”

 

“That child must be favored by Duchess Serena. How nice…”

 

Surprise mixed with envious jealousy.

 

As various resentful voices burst out, Casselik frowned.

 

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

 

“Just in case. Would it be alright if I helped support the child’s position?”

 

“Why go to such lengths… Do as you please.”

 

Despite his annoyed response, she smiled brightly and went down the stairs to take a child’s hand.

 

The child called Mary took Serena’s hand with a bright expression and went up onto the platform.

 

When Mary stood before the clock and put it around her neck, the stopped second hand suddenly began spinning rapidly.

 

The priest, who had been sitting listlessly in a half-given-up state, jumped to his feet.

 

“The, the ability identification test results. She’s a time ability user! Definitely a time ability user!”

 

“A, a time ability user?”

 

“What? A time ability user appeared?”

 

Exclamations. Applause from several people.

 

And…

 

In this generation, Rie had become the time ability user, so there couldn’t be any other time ability users.

 

‘Is it because I received my ability from Kami? But Kami also said there were no other ability users besides me and Father?’

 

Rie was starting to get more and more confused.

 

Regardless, the temple was a cauldron of excitement.

 

It was surprising that a time ability user had appeared, but it was because of Serena who had predicted it through prophetic dreams.

 

“Could it be that Lady Serena is also an ability user?”

 

“A prophetic dream ability user? There’s no such thing in the world, but it would be cool…?”

 

Then when Casselik came walking over with heavy steps, the venue became as quiet as a mouse again.

 

Mary, who had been making a tense expression, mustered up courage and opened her mouth.

 

“H-Hello, Duke!”

 

But Casselik didn’t even look at the child and asked the priest.

 

“A time ability user?”

 

“Yes. That’s what the identification test results show.”

 

“…Then we’ll need to go through the adoption process. Mary. I am Duke Theodore. Once the adoption is confirmed, you’ll be moving to the Duke’s Castle. If there’s any luggage you want to take with you, pack it in advance.”

 

“Yes, yes! Um, Duke. But…”

 

“What is it?”

 

Mary’s face turned bright red.

 

Still holding Serena’s hand, the girl fidgeted for a while before tilting her head back.

 

“Then will Duchess Serena become my new mother?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Actually, even before I became an ability user, Duchess Serena treated me well. So if the Duchess would become my new mother, I think I’d be really happy. Oh, and my time ability would improve rapidly too!”

 

“Oh my, thank you…”

 

At the child’s words, Serena’s eyes reddened as if she was moved.

 

Seeing this, people began whispering again.

 

“As expected, Lady Serena has a good reputation even among children.”

 

“I guess good fortune comes back when you live so kindly. The time ability user is already calling her mother.”

 

“Ah… I should have befriended Duchess Serena earlier. It’s too late now, isn’t it?”

 

Duke Casselik nodded as if hearing something trivial.

 

“Well, naturally you’ll become our daughter. Then I’ll see you again at the Duke’s Castle.”

 

“Yes…!”

 

Meanwhile, Rie, who had been watching all this, was stunned.

 

‘There was another time ability user besides Rie? I need to tell Kami about this as soon as I get home!’

 

Anyway, the dark magician still hadn’t appeared.

 

Because no one with a black crescent moon tattoo was visible.

 

Since it seemed difficult to achieve her goal today, Rie suddenly felt overwhelmed with boredom.

 

“I don’t have time, you man~ Time is money, you person~”

 

She was humming while swinging her short legs to ward off yawning.

 

Before she knew it, Mary had come down from the platform and approached Rie, pretending to pass by.

 

Mary whispered quietly enough for only Rie to hear.

 

“I really got it because you said you’d give me your father. How does it feel? You’re probably pretending to be fine on the outside, but inside you must be dying of annoyance because your father was stolen, right?”

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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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