Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 56
“Why would you ask such a thing?”
“Questions don’t need a reason. I’m curious, so I ask.”
Dantelion fell silent for a moment, then answered tersely.
“……There is no such human in this world.”
“…….”
“If one did exist…… they would need some special method to maintain their power, or their body would suffer damage.”
A special method to maintain power.
……Holy Power Stickers.
‘That child was right after all.’
Haniel would need to gather Holy Power. Absolutely.
“Still, I’d like to meet such a person myself. Where on earth could they be?”
“Ah.”
Basil cut him off with a cold laugh.
“I said living creature, not human. When did I say human?”
“…….”
“I was talking about a monster. Thought I saw one in the Northern Region not long ago.”
“…….”
The tension drained from Dantelion’s fists.
“……Then the Core is likely hidden in a location that cannot be seen. Humans have Cores near the heart, but monsters possess them in various locations. Mingled in their blood, perhaps.”
“……Ah, blood. Then I’ll try drying it thoroughly.”
Basil rose with a soft creak.
……It seems he knows nothing beyond this.
Well, that should keep him from lingering around the Northern Region.
He was turning to leave.
“Your Grace.”
A quiet voice caught his footsteps.
Dantelion had set down his teacup neatly, then asked as if the question had suddenly occurred to him.
“Last spring, in Bertus Territory.”
“……?”
The question was utterly random.
“Did you ever take in a child?”
……And threatening.
‘Could he suspect Haniel’s existence…… the child who bears Holy Power?’
Basil felt his aura sharpen dangerously for an instant, then suppressed it and smiled with false ease.
“Yes.”
Dantelion watched him quietly.
“Nine years old, six years old, four years old, one year old…….”
“…….”
“Took in a damn lot of them. Satisfied?”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Then. Let’s not see each other again.”
“…….”
“Friendless Holy Knight instructor.”
Dantelion stared after his departing back as if boring holes through it.
* * *
The next day.
My eyes snapped open and I rolled across the bed ten times.
Tumble.
Tumble-tumble-tumble.
“Why…….”
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble.
“He said nothing at all!”
I jumped up!
I told him everything about my No-Core Condition yesterday, gathering all my courage!
Why didn’t he say “Go perform Pillar Purification, now now now”!?
I couldn’t stand it.
In the end, I pulled out a large sketchbook and began scribbling, thinking as I wrote.
So much had happened yesterday.
I fought with Your Grace, met Father, then made up with Your Grace again.
‘Though what surprised me most was actually meeting Dad.’
But when I thought about it carefully…… there were actually some good things.
‘First, it seemed Dad’s Holy Power had been purified well……!’
The signs of Contamination didn’t feel particularly severe. It was pure intuition, but I felt certain about it.
The relief that came from knowing my method was right was immense.
‘All I have to do is keep gathering Holy Power. Then I can save Dad!’
Another blessing was that despite meeting him like that, Dad didn’t recover his memories, and nothing terrible happened.
‘I thought even brushing past him would bring all his memories flooding back.’
Fortunately, it didn’t.
‘Well, it is a memory sealed by the Goddess. It wouldn’t come undone so easily!’
Of course, we won’t meet again anyway.
“Little one. You dropped this.”
“…….”
In that instant, my hand writing stopped.
I buried my face in my forearm.
‘Don’t think about it.’
But the harder I tried not to think, the clearer the memory became.
Dad’s face, his voice, each of his movements—they kept circling in my head.
At this point, I had to admit it.
‘This isn’t right…….’
The truth was…… I might have actually liked seeing Dad’s face yesterday, just a little.
‘……Actually, I was thrilled.’
Hearing his voice, feeling his presence.
……I didn’t want to feel this way, but longing came rushing in like a broken dam.
‘No, no.’
I shook my head vigorously to collect myself.
I had to push down that desperate want to see him more, bury it deep inside.
I couldn’t allow myself such luck again!
“But why hasn’t the Grand Duke found me yet?”
I looked toward the entrance of my quiet room to clear my head.
Where Dad’s voice had faded, the Grand Duke’s had filled the space.
“You will always be a child of Bertus.”
I wrote letters across my sketchbook again in quick strokes.
‘He’s the first person who’s ever said something like that to me.’
The Grand Duke’s kind words were stacking up, one by one, inside my heart.
‘He said I’m precious, even if I’m not helpful, even if I’m painful and troublesome.’
I wiggled my toes.
Motivation surged through me. To the degree that the Grand Duke treasured me, I wanted to do something for him.
‘So I’m going to purify it!’
The second Pillar!
“Done!”
I finished the sketchbook and bolted up, racing to the Grand Duke’s bedchamber.
Bang!
“Your Highness!”
……Surprisingly, the Grand Duke was asleep.
‘Did he sleep late yesterday?’
With his upper body bare and his face down, I rushed over to him.
And I shook him awake.
“……What?”
“The morning sun is high in the sky!”
“I already went out at dawn and tilled the field for sowing rye…….”
Oh?
He’s been working hard.
But more importantly……!
I stood the sketchbook up against the wall and forcibly turned the Grand Duke’s head.
“Look at this, please!”
<Why Pillar Purification Is Safe>
1. Physical Safety
-All you have to do is apply Holy Power Stickers—zero physical strain!
-When you think about it, the Holy Power Stickers do the work (not Haniel!)
-Related Experience:
* Experience making protective gear with Holy Power Stickers during river expeditions!
* Experience making fences and scarecrows with Holy Power Stickers over the summer!
2. Mental Well-being:
-When the Pillar opens, food worries disappear and mental health improves. Haniel’s depression and anxiety decrease. Happiness begins.
-……(and so on)……
“……That’s quite the presentation.”
“You saw it, didn’t you? You saw it?”
I bounced on my toes, waiting for the Grand Duke’s permission.
He buried his face in the pillow, then drew in a long, deep breath. His broad, muscular back expanded and collapsed with the motion.
“Okay.”
“……?”
“We need to gather a lot of Holy Power, that’s the thing…….”
“Gather what?”
His words were muffled against the pillow.
He suddenly sat up straight.
And he spoke to me.
“Go eat, get dressed, and come back out. But only in front of me. The moment I see anything dangerous, I’m taking it off. Understand?”
“……!”
My eyes widened.
Finally!
‘Yes!’
It worked!
My all-out presentation!
I raced off, wolfed down some bread, and dressed carefully.
After all this time and trouble, at last.
The second Pillar purification.
The Bayil River opens!
* * *
[Haniel’s Sticker Book (Children’s Edition)]
Holy Power Stickers in Storage: 1,007
Good.
More than enough!
[Holy Power Required: 1,000]
An enormous Pillar rose before my eyes.
‘Hmm.’
I drew in a long breath, filling my chest.
Only three people in this territory knew I could use Holy Power.
Luden was stationed at the lower outpost keeping watch over the surroundings, so only I, the Grand Duke, and Camilla remained near the Light Dragon Pillar.
I brushed off my hands and got straight to organizing the space.
“Right then, sorry to bother everyone, but could you all step back five paces?”
But only Camilla took a step back.
“…….”
“…….”
“Your Highness, I asked you to step back five paces.”
“That’s five paces for me.”
The Grand Duke remained fixed directly behind me, completely immobile.
“I’m an adult with a narrower stride than you’d think. Accept it as is, child.”
‘This is strange.’
When I first came to the Northern Region, it was I who’d grabbed the Grand Duke’s pant leg and hung on him.
Now, somehow, he was the one holding on to me and refusing to budge.
‘Like some enormous…… cicada.’
With a frame tall as an ancient tree.
Ever since I’d mentioned he had no Core, the Grand Duke had become my shadow.
And he’d grown even more serious about gathering Holy Power than I was.
“……From now on, tell me immediately about anything Holy Power-related. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He seemed convinced that the more Holy Power I accumulated, the better my no-Core body would function and remain healthy.
I didn’t bother correcting him on that.
‘Well, gathering Holy Power really is how I’ll live well anyway!’
Though that won’t change my future of dying at sixteen, either way.
Regardless… with the Grand Duke himself offering to help me gather Holy Power, it’s become a real source of strength.
‘Let’s do this!’
I blinked hard at the empty air before me.

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