I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 98

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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 98>

At that time, in the outskirts of the Chronos Empire.

Between the forests off the well-maintained roads.

The Imperial Knights and the shadows of the Theodore Ducal House were swiftly tracking the dark mages wearing robes.

Because they would be caught immediately if they killed people, the dark mages couldn’t use magic properly and fled while erasing their scent and footprints with animal blood.

Even so, it took several months just to find them.

The dark mages used large amounts of beast blood, but the shadows barely managed to pursue them using their own blood or the Imperial Knights’ blood.

So they absolutely could not let those dark mages who were now in sight escape.

“Hiya!”

When Shadow pulled the horse’s reins hard without hesitation, the speed of the hooves striking the ground became even faster.

A distance close enough to reach with an outstretched hand.

Shadow reached out his arm, thinking to at least grab the hood of the robe.

Thud.

Suddenly, the fleeing dark mages collapsed forward.

“What?!”

“The fugitives have fallen!”

The Imperial Knights, including Shadow, hurriedly stopped their horses.

The knight captain, clicking his tongue, removed the fugitive’s robe.

“It took ages just to find the fugitives, and they end up tripping over a stone. We should be grateful, but it’s a bit anticlimactic… Hmm?”

But the moment he checked inside the robe, the knight captain’s face hardened.

That’s right.

They hadn’t tripped over a stone.

Half-closed, sunken eyes. Bloodless, pale skin.

A dagger stuck near the heart and limp, drooping arms.

They had intentionally chosen death.

Serena was among them too.

Shadow checked her pulse and reported to the knights.

“She’s dead.”

At the thunderbolt-like pronouncement, the Imperial Knights looked at each other.

Their mission was to eliminate the dark mages, so it wasn’t a bad situation, but it was a very unsettling death.

That’s right. This wasn’t a perfect death.

To identify the cause of his uneasy feeling, Shadow examined the corpses here and there, then stared at Serena’s empty eyes.

The eyes that should have been light green were pitch black as if burned by fire.

This was.

“…It seems they switched shells.”

“What?”

“It means their souls parasitized other people’s bodies.”

Shadow burst out cursing.

“There were no sacrificial victims, so how did they do that?”

“…I don’t know whether to call this bold or stupid.”

Shadow, who had been speaking slowly, pulled out the dagger that was stuck near the heart.

Inside it was a paper with a magic circle drawn on it.

“It seems they offered themselves as sacrifices. Just whose bodies did they parasitize… Let’s return to His Majesty the Emperor and His Grace the Duke for now.”

“What?”

“Damn it!”

Curses erupted from here and there.

The real chase was just beginning.

* * *

The Blessing Festival of the Cradle, called a festival for children and families, was actually a social gathering for young nobles before their debutante balls.

They should have been busily moving around to somehow make good connections, but for some reason, this festival was quiet.

This was because attention was focused on other figures.

The protagonists were none other than Duke Casselik and his former wife Emilia, and Marquis Philip caught between them.

“The rumor that Duke Casselik likes Lady Emilia must have been true.”

“No. Didn’t you hear that Marquis Philip sent warning letters to other families? It’s the same as publicly saying he likes Lady Emilia.”

“Then the reason the three of them gathered is…”

All eyes of the festival participants were focused on the three people.

Rie, who had caused this commotion, gave Emilia a small thumbs up.

“Love. That belongs to brave people!”

“…Rie. Let’s talk at home later.”

Wow. The corners of Mother’s mouth are rising.

She must be in a good mood thanks to Rie!

“I’ll thank you later, Mother.”

It was when the shy child was twisting her body and winking.

“Oh my, I thought I would be today’s festival protagonist, but there’s someone even more impressive. How enviable?”

With cheerful words, Countess Rioletta appeared.

Whether the story about bringing a ‘new boyfriend’ as her partner was true, a young and charming man was occupying the spot next to her.

Emilia, who had just wanted to escape from between the two men, quickly greeted her.

“Countess Rioletta. Hello. The gentleman next to you is…”

“Yes. He’s my partner.”

“How do you do. I’m Gillen from the Count Gilt family.”

“Ah, I heard about you from the Countess. Hello.”

‘Our mother is really like a protagonist.’

Rie, who was watching, crossed her arms and smiled contentedly.

Although her short little arms made it look like she was hugging herself.

In the past, Emilia couldn’t attend banquets or even small tea times because of Casselik.

But now she was the first person Countess Rioletta greeted!

‘Raising Mother, success!’

Just as Rie was moved to tears, and Emilia and Countess Rioletta were absorbed in chatting.

“Rie!”

A prim voice was heard from across the way.

It was Olivia, who had appeared together but whom they hadn’t noticed because she was overshadowed by the two adults’ presence.

She had been continuously looking for a chance to greet her friend, but was a bit sulky because Rie wasn’t looking at her.

“Olivia! It’s been so very long-!”

When Rie approached with a bright smile, Olivia slightly pouted her lips.

“You wrote in your letter that you missed me, but you’re only noticing me now?”

“Sorry. I didn’t recognize you because your face was covered, Olivia.”

Perhaps in preparation for outdoor activities, Olivia was wearing a bonnet that completely covered her face and hair.

“Anyway, let’s go now. You promised to stay with me throughout the entire Blessing Festival of the Cradle.”

“I think there’s a misunderstanding. Rie promised to stay with me.”

“Pardon?”

It was then that Jair, who had been quietly watching only Rie until then, spoke up.

He had been so still that Olivia hadn’t noticed his presence.

“Oh, gasp. I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince…!”

The child, startled belatedly, bowed her head until the top of her head was visible.

Meanwhile, Rie blinked innocently.

Come to think of it, she had received a letter from Olivia asking to play together today and had replied that she understood.

She had forgotten that and accepted the Emperor’s request to go with Jair.

After pondering for a moment, Rie spoke honestly.

“Angel. I originally promised to stay with Olivia but I forgot. Could we all stay together?”

This was naturally a question Rie could ask because she didn’t know Jair’s dark intentions.

“Why?”

Jair’s eyes glinted with possessiveness as he asked back.

Not noticing this, Rie pondered the question “why” again before answering.

“Um. Because it’s good when friends go together.”

“Friends?”

“Yes!”

At those words, Jair’s eyes grew even darker, but Rie nodded her head brightly.

“Olivia is really, really kind. She’s Rie’s best friend.”

Olivia. It was a name he’d been hearing frequently from Rie lately. In fact, it had bothered him every time, but seeing her with his own eyes made him even more jealous.

That child who exchanged letters with Rie every day.

She had even suggested playing together today through a letter, and received Rie’s agreement.

While he couldn’t write letters without a specific reason and could only wait for Rie’s contact.

‘That’s why you need to be with me often. As long as you’re with me, you won’t have to go to Heaven. Got it?’

How had it been when he first approached her? He had approached her by intimidating her, trying to keep her by his side somehow.

“Best friend? Then what am I?”

Finally, an impatient Jair asked.

Then Rie raised her short index finger and shouted innocently.

“Rie’s angel. Number one!”

At that, the corners of Jair’s tightly pressed lips twitched.

“Really?”

His small head thought quickly.

If I’m number one anyway, one girl shouldn’t matter, right?

The boy who had fully savored the blue eyes that would free him from the future turned his head.

“What’s your name?”

“O-Olivia.”

“I see. Olivia. When you’re with me, it would be better to keep your eyes down. There’s no point in making eye contact anyway since it’ll only be hard on you, right?”

“Y-yes!”

Olivia broke out in cold sweat as she bowed her head.

Thinking, ‘They called him the seed of a tyrant, and those rumors were true.’

Meanwhile, the Emperor who had come down from the platform was watching the children in the Grand Garden.

“…Jair greeting a child his own age.”

It was the first time he’d seen this.

He had hoped Jair would become friends with noble children his age to create solid support when he became Emperor.

But the comfortable smile he showed when looking at Rie made him feel something different.

“That boy won’t live like I did.”

The Emperor’s lips curved up for the first time in a long while.

The only bridge that stubborn child could use to communicate with the world.

Perhaps Rie could become that for him.

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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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