The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 24

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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 24

‘…No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem right.’

Could there have been some misunderstanding? Maybe they confused the names or something….

That’s when it happened.

A pile of minerals stacked high couldn’t bear the weight and tumbled to the floor with a thud.

“Aaah!”

Max quickly pulled me away.

The distance was a bit close, but it definitely wasn’t close enough to touch my skin.

“Holy shit. That was really close to being a disaster. I aged ten years!”

Ten years is almost a lifetime, isn’t it?

Max, who was clutching his chest and panting, looked at the scattered minerals as if he were staring at a Marsu’s corpse.

“Hah…. That was really intense just now.”

“….”

“He’s handsome and has good reflexes. Plus he knows how to think of others. Wow… this is really dangerous. I’m going to get reported…?”

He began muttering continuously with an utterly serious expression.

Watching him, I changed my mind.

It seemed like Mad Max was indeed the right term.

‘But now he’s crazy in a different way….’

Max looked at me again.

“You know this is already the second time, right? You owe me your life. Later, when you’ve grown up big and strong, pay me back generously. With lots of interest on top.”

Max continued with a stern face.

“There’s no other reason. I’m giving you a grace period because the interest will accumulate while I wait for you to grow up. It’s a bit of waiting for the future, you could say.”

Even in the midst of all this, it was still about money.

Max was only mentioned as a crazy psychopath, but there was no talk of him being obsessed with money.

“Did Max come under the coal mine Misters because he wanted to make money?”

“Huh? Well… I guess you could say that.”

“But why Stukkyia?”

“Huh?”

“According to what Max said, this is a dangerous place. Wouldn’t it be better to work somewhere else rather than risk your life?”

At my question, Max’s mouth twitched for a moment.

“Th-that’s, well… anyway, there’s a reason. A kid like you doesn’t need to know.”

Max brushed it off using age as an excuse.

However, seeing how he avoided eye contact, it seemed difficult for him to explain easily.

Or maybe there was something else bothering him.

“Anyway, just remember this one thing.”

Then, Max cleared his throat and spoke.

“I’m going to become a really famous person later. This place is a bit dangerous, but if it’s for the future, a little risk is unavoidable.”

He does become famous.

In a very bad way, too.

“I’m a genius, you know. If I just use this brain a little, making money is just a matter of time.”

He was indeed a genius. Although it ended in tragedy, he was the first in the Empire to invent artificial body parts.

‘It’s just that he used that brain to kill people….’

Unlike Max, who was confidently shrugging his shoulders, my eyes grew colder and colder.

Something was definitely strange. There must be some hidden reason.

‘But it doesn’t seem like he’d readily tell me the reason if I asked….’

Then, a good idea flashed in my mind.

I shook my head with a “Mmm.”

“That’s not right. There’s one more thing.”

“What? There’s something else I didn’t account for?”

Max, who had been immersed in self-praise, immediately looked at me at the sudden rebuttal.

So I nodded.

“Yeah. Max is brave too!”

“Huh?”

“You saved my life among those terrifying minerals. You didn’t even run away by yourself! You’re brave! So cool!”

I deliberately bounced around as I spoke.

Then Max said in an embarrassed voice.

“Ah, well… it’s not wrong, but not to that extent….”

“A future genius who’s also kind. Really amazing!”

When I deliberately praised him excessively, the corners of Max’s mouth began to creep upward.

“You have some foresight, don’t you?”

Max straightened his posture with a “Ahem” and a cough.

“Well, it’s not a common opportunity. Talking with this genius is a chance you couldn’t get even if you paid billions.”

“Right, right.”

“Consider it an honor that you caught my eye when you’re still young. If I had grown up even a little more, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize someone as tiny as you, let alone talk to you.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Not objecting to anything and quietly agreeing was something I learned from watching nobles who groveled while seeking Count Agnito’s mansion.

“Still, you seem to have a better head than other people.”

And this method worked very well on young Max.

“I’ll specially make you my top disciple. How about it? It’s an incomparably good opportunity, right?”

With the great genius’s permission, I was able to become Max’s top disciple.

“I’ll specially allow you to shed tears of emotion. You can cry all you want.”

Of course, I didn’t shed any tears.

* * *

After that day, I visited the blacksmith every day.

“What? You want us to sign adoption consent forms?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. But His Grace said that fools like you shouldn’t carelessly sign such things….”

“If you sign here, I’ll be Max’s conversation partner.”

“Where’s the pen?”

“Hey, Jek. Write your name too!”

“We won’t have to wear earplugs anymore!”

The blacksmith Misters, who looked rough but were weak when it came to children, were already exhausted from dealing with Max.

So I was able to get signatures very easily while simultaneously gaining the right to visit the blacksmith daily.

‘Ugh. I’m a bit late today because of morning preparations.’

Getting off from the Misters’ sides, I immediately approached where Max was.

Even before I arrived, Max was already scowling with a twisted face.

“How dare you make the genius wait for his disciple?”

“Sorry. This morning’s preparations took a bit longer to finish….”

“Do you think I’ll let that slide as a reason?”

Max, who snorted as if it was out of the question, firmly placed a work hat on my head.

“Try making a mistake after an accident, why don’t you?”

He even put thick work gloves on my hands.

“I’m being lenient because it’s early in your education. Next time there won’t even be scraps. Got it?”

“Yes! Master!”

When I answered clearly, Max said “Follow me” and turned around.

“Kids should definitely play with other kids. How adorable.”

“Our kids used to be like that too. It’s really nice to see.”

Leaving behind the workers’ fond remarks, I followed Max.

I had appointed myself as Max’s apprentice to keep a close watch on him.

If I saw any signs of him attempting other dangerous acts, it would be convenient to report directly to the Duke.

‘Just let me catch you in the act. I’ll tattle on you immediately.’

Then I could get him kicked out before he could do anything “Mad Max”-like.

With that mindset, I watched him with burning eyes, but…

“Where do you think you’re going with that small body of yours? Just stay put. I’ll handle it.”

“When handling this mineral, you need to cover your nose. It emits fumes that really hurt if they get in your eyes or nose.”

Max would step forward to carry heavy loads for me, and he explained in detail what the relatively dangerous minerals were.

“Younger Boy, you didn’t listen to me again, did you? I clearly told you. According to Article 2, Section 1 of work safety precautions, workers must prioritize safety above all else…”

Sometimes when Max’s memory was put on display, it felt like my ears were bleeding…

But since everything was helpful for surviving in the Northern Region, I listened quietly.

When one round of lecturing finally ended.

“Eat this.”

Max held something out toward me. It was a small piece of bread given as a snack.

“I didn’t do anything though, is it okay for me to eat it?”

“So I should eat it all by myself? What do you take this genius for?”

Max extended his hand again, saying “Enough, just hurry up and eat it” as if he didn’t want to hear any more.

It was one of the things I learned from following him around.

Max always shares food when he has it. Whatever it might be.

I hadn’t done anything particularly well, so was it really okay to eat this?

I had that thought but hesitated, since I felt like I’d really get a big lecture if I wavered again, so I quietly offered my thanks.

“…Thank you. I’ll eat it well.”

“Why are you being so formal over something like this? …Looking at you, you don’t seem to have much desire for food. My siblings pounce on anything edible the moment it appears.”

Max added various remarks, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

“You don’t need to thank me. My brother said we should share when there’s something delicious.”

“…Do you like your brother, Max?”

“Are there people who dislike their brothers?”

Max wrinkled his nose as if asking what kind of question that was. Soon after, his face brightened considerably.

“I love my family more than anyone else in this world. I can do anything to protect my family.”

“…”

“I’m a genius, so I should be able to do anything. That’s what my brother and sister said.”

His voice seemed both boastful and like he was making a firm resolution that it must be so.

“So I absolutely have to succeed and earn lots of money. Then my family will be happy too.”

But his sparkling eyes were as pretty as if star dust had been sprinkled on them.

Quietly watching Max’s profile, I looked down at the bread he had just placed in my hand.

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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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