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

 

Safe to shoot at people. There would be impact, but it wouldn’t kill them.

 

Something that could protect me while allowing attacks. But with no casualties.

 

In other words, it was an item that cleverly avoided the Temple’s criticism.

 

‘It was Count Agnito’s innovative invention.’

 

After I was born, Count Agnito, who had lost the Temple’s trust, became obsessed with weapon development.

 

When this became somewhat successful, Count Agnito avoided the Temple’s criticism while making big money from weapon sales.

 

‘He even received a great award. From none other than the Emperor.’

 

However, in truth, that was my idea.

 

If we utilize the fact that abilities and magic power cannot harmonize, couldn’t we make weapons that don’t kill people?—that was my thought.

 

Of course, it wasn’t such a brilliant idea. Anyone could have thought of it.

 

However, since the Northern Region’s magic power was so formidable and they had to be mindful of the Temple, such ideas were taboo as they couldn’t be researched openly.

 

In that situation, the reason I came up with the weapon idea was thanks to ‘that child.’

 

The survival-of-the-fittest nature of magic power. And abilities that could never become one.

 

Because that child taught me things I could never have known while confined to my room.

 

A servant who came to check if I was alive or dead delivered the blueprints on my desk to the Count…

 

Even the Count, who initially ignored it saying what could I possibly know, began production thinking he had nothing to lose.

 

The Count, who succeeded in production, immediately came to find me.

 

“You did really well, Hanisha. It’s all thanks to you.”

 

He even called me by name.

 

So I never told anyone that it wasn’t Count Agnito’s idea. Being called by name was reward enough.

 

‘I was foolish. What’s so special about calling me by name? They were all fleeting things.’

 

I shook my head from side to side.

 

Anyway, with this I had stolen one of Count Agnito’s sources of pride, so I had achieved my intended purpose.

 

“Many people won’t get hurt like in the old days anymore. But…”

 

As I was finishing my thoughts, Max spoke up.

 

“Still, it’s a bit disappointing. It would be better if it was something that healed people instead of a weapon.”

 

Max was a war orphan. The fact that we had made a weapon seemed to keep bothering him.

 

I felt the same way.

 

In my past life, the Temple completely purified the impure magic power from the auxiliary devices Mad Max created.

 

And they disguised it as something made by the Temple and sold it anew.

 

It meant it was such a revolutionary item that even the Temple, which preached about nature and natural order, pretended not to know.

 

‘So, if we succeed in developing it just a little earlier, wouldn’t we make a fortune?’

 

But this was something even Max had failed at. I couldn’t see any other viable solution.

 

Moreover, if the Temple found out about this, Max would be captured immediately.

 

‘Hmm. What to do about this. It would be good if there was a way to apply it differently…’

 

As my thoughts deepened, I suddenly noticed the surroundings were bustling.

 

Just then, I saw Anna and Hati in the distance. As if they had been looking for me, they came straight toward me.

 

“Lady Hani-sha. So you were here.”

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“You should come inside for now. And change your clothes too.”

 

There was urgency in her voice. While it might be understandable from the bright-natured Hati, this was the first time I’d seen such tension from the calm Anna.

 

My question was quickly answered.

 

“What is all this?”

 

It was because of a voice heard from behind.

 

Among the sturdy men in knight uniforms, an elderly man who was tall but had a frail build was frowning as he looked at us.

 

“…Duke Medena.”

 

Then Anna and Hati bowed their heads.

 

Duke Medena.

 

He was from a branch family of Stukkyia and one of the elders. I remembered the maids saying he had the strongest influence among the existing elders, excluding Baron Cavendish who was away.

 

“Hello, Duke. I’d like to pay my respects…”

 

As Max and I stood up and bowed our heads.

 

The Duke cut off my words and blatantly looked us up and down before spitting out.

 

“So these are those orphans. Who dare try to inherit Stukkyia Castle.”

 

Duke Medena clicked his tongue as if displeased. It seemed he hadn’t yet heard the rumor that I was from Agnito.

 

“To have such filthy things in the castle… Tsk tsk. There are limits even to poor management.”

 

“…”

 

“Really, how long will we keep accepting this trash… This is why the castle is a mess.”

 

He sighed as if tired and commanded the knights behind him.

 

“This won’t do. First, get rid of these things outside the castle. I don’t want to keep looking at filthy things.”

 

The knights who had bowed their heads approached Max and me with large steps.

 

‘Huh? G-get rid of us?’

 

Are we being kicked out?

 

So suddenly like this?

 

But there was no time to escape. Like prisoners being dragged away in bonds, both my arms were seized when.

 

“I didn’t know you had so much interest in my castle.”

 

At the voice heard from behind, I quickly raised my head.

 

The black cloth still covering both eyes.

 

The massive build and atmosphere as cold as the north wind.

 

It was Paterre Stukkyia, who somehow reminded one of the underworld.

 

“It’s been a long time, Duke.”

 

Not expecting the Duke to come out personally, Duke Medena quickly approached the Duke and said.

 

“We were going to visit you, but we didn’t know you’d be out. We’ll pay our respects now.”

 

“Ah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

 

“But…”

 

“I wouldn’t have met you even if you came anyway.”

 

As you can see, my eyes are like this.

 

The Duke said while tapping his eyes covered with cloth.

 

Though he spoke as if mocking himself, it was the same as saying he wouldn’t see the Duke.

 

As if proving this, cracks gradually appeared in the Duke’s smile at the casual dismissal.

 

“So, what were you doing here without even greeting me first?”

 

But at the following question, he laughed heartily as if nothing had happened and said.

 

“There were unsightly things, so I was clearing them to the trash dump. We can’t have them interfering with your steps, Duke.”

 

“I didn’t know the Duke had such interest in trash heaps… I’m so grateful I don’t know what to do.”

 

The Duke spoke as if impressed. The Duke’s lips curved up again.

 

“Yes, then I’ll finish clearing…”

 

“Take the Duke to the trash dump.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

At the Duke’s following command, the Duke blinked.

 

“Wasn’t it you, Duke, who blocked my path? So I thought you meant you’d go to the trash dump yourself.”

 

“…”

 

“Was I wrong?”

 

The Duke’s face turned bright red.

 

“…Release them.”

 

The Duke, barely enduring the humiliation, gave a short command.

 

Thanks to that, we were able to escape from the knights’ hands.

 

“I apologize for my somewhat rough expression, Duke.”

 

As if nothing had happened, the marquis bowed his head to the duke.

 

“It seems I got a little excited since it’s such an important day.”

 

“An important day?”

 

“Yes. Now, come out here.”

 

At that moment, someone walked out from among the marquis’s knights.

 

It was a very delicately featured boy with gray hair and purple eyes.

 

“Ashirion, give your greetings.”

 

Ashirion. It was a name I had heard before.

 

[The heir to Stukkyia became a child named Ashirion.]

 

This was also information that ‘Esther’ had told me.

 

Paterre Stukkyia had never designated an heir during his lifetime, but that didn’t mean there were no candidates at all. Ashirion was one of them.

 

[He’s a mixed-blood snake beastman from a branch family of Stukkyia. There had been talk for years, but Paterre Stukkyia, who had been refusing, somehow gave his consent.]

 

[Why?]

 

[Probably because he lasted the longest in Stukkyia. All the other branch family members ran away.]

 

Information about Stukkyia was what Count Agnito was most interested in.

 

So I asked ‘Esther’ various things about it.

 

[Unlike me, he’s a strong child. If he came in as an heir, he must be a boy, right? How old is he by any chance? If he’s a snake beastman, does he have no abilities?]

 

I wondered if I could have a conversation with Count Agnito based on this story.

 

But for some reason, the note that had been coming back smoothly didn’t return, and when it finally came back after a long while…

 

[She’s a girl.]

 

[Even if she’s the duke’s heir now, she might leave soon, so don’t pay too much attention.]

 

[No, just pretend you didn’t hear that. Throw away these notes.]

 

…But she definitely said that, didn’t she?

 

Was my memory wrong?

 

While I was tilting my head in confusion, Ashirion, who had walked forward, smiled brightly and bowed politely.

 

“Greetings, Duke Stukkyia. I am honored to meet you for the first time. I am Ashirion Medina.”

 

A neat and clean tone.

 

Moreover, his gentle smile seemed enough to make even a first-time meeting person feel favorable.

 

‘…Looking at him like this, I suppose one could mistake him for a girl?’

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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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