The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 39

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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 39

 

‘There’s definitely something going on.’

 

But it wasn’t like I could just ask, ‘Hello. Could you tell me why you die in the future?’ I’d definitely be treated like a crazy child.

 

There’s no other choice.

 

I have no option but to use that method!

 

* * *

 

Late at night.

 

Ashirion, who had returned to his room, changed his gloves. They were long-necked gloves that he often wore when horseback riding.

 

“Young master, the Duke is looking for you.”

 

As soon as he finished changing clothes, the servants knocked on the door. When he glanced outside, the view beyond the window had already grown dark.

 

By now, Medina Duke would have finished his meeting with Paterre Stukkyia.

 

Ashirion immediately went and knocked on the Duke’s door.

 

Hiss-

 

As soon as the door opened, the snake guarding the front flicked its tongue.

 

The peculiarly black snake’s eyes looked even darker than usual. Ashirion, looking down with a cold light in his eyes that resembled his own, muttered.

 

“I suppose you haven’t fed it.”

 

However, he smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and greeted him.

 

“Your meeting with the Duke must have run long.”

 

Ashirion recalled the arrogant face of the Duke he had seen a few days ago. That face that had been so proud, saying there wasn’t much time left before he would have everything in Stukkyia.

 

However…

 

“Meeting, you say?”

 

The Duke’s face when he turned around was not good. Ashirion sensed that something had gone wrong.

 

“…Is something the matter?”

 

“I couldn’t even meet Paterre Stukkyia.”

 

“Pardon? But didn’t you schedule a time?”

 

“I did! I definitely scheduled one, just as you said!”

 

Even being from a branch family, having a direct meeting with Paterre Stukkyia was not an easy matter. Since he had closed his doors for over 10 years, the difficulty had become even higher.

 

In the midst of all this, he had been the first to secure a one-on-one meeting with the Duke.

 

Medina Duke’s purpose had been singular from the beginning.

 

To pretend to care for the Duke while pressuring him with the Council of Elders’ will.

 

‘So ultimately, to make him step down from his ducal position.’

 

If he stepped down unable to withstand the pressure, they could simply place Ashirion in the ducal seat.

 

“The Duke is here. Please wait just a moment.”

 

So when he followed Caron’s guidance and stopped in front of the Duke’s office, he was swept up in the illusion that the room had truly become his.

 

“I am Paterre Stukkyia.”

 

“…?”

 

However, the moment he saw Caron turn around in a full circle and face him again, all illusions shattered.

 

“…What do you mean? The Duke…”

 

“Ah, as you know, Duke, with the blue moon approaching, his physical condition is not good. So unless it’s something truly important, he always uses a proxy. Poor people like me, that is.”

 

Caron looked disappointed that it hadn’t worked, stuffing the black eyepatch he had brought out back into his pocket.

 

Then he took out a notebook and pen again, giving the Duke a bright smile.

 

“Now. I’ve explained the situation, so you can discuss matters with me, the Duke’s proxy.”

 

“…”

 

“What is your business, Duke?”

 

Caron asked kindly, ready to take notes, but the Duke couldn’t speak.

 

Unless he was a fool, he couldn’t fail to understand.

 

This was a notification.

 

Medina Duke. You are not important enough to meet with me directly…

 

A notification very much in Paterre Stukkyia’s style.

 

As if his teeth were grinding just thinking about it again, the Duke muttered in a sinister voice.

 

“I must convene the Council of Elders as soon as possible.”

 

“But it’s impossible to convene the Council of Elders without the Duke’s approval.”

 

“It’s possible. I showed the experimental results to His Majesty.”

 

The moment the Duke said that, the snake at his feet climbed up his ankle.

 

It was a deformed snake that moved by traveling underground rather than on the surface, an animal born through the Duke’s experiments.

 

If Paterre Stukkyia had created weapons to build the Fortress of the Iron Blood, Medina Duke had tamed beasts to use as his weapons.

 

The beasts that obeyed commands had the loyalty to charge at enemies until the end, not even knowing they were dying.

 

However, after Stukkyia’s guns appeared, trained animals were no longer threatening.

 

Charging animals could simply be shot down, couldn’t they?

 

Because of this, some nobles who commanded armies mocked the Duke, saying he was ‘becoming an animal trainer.’

 

That humiliation was still vivid before his eyes.

 

But not anymore.

 

When the Duke moved his hand lightly, with a creaking sound, the snake inflated its body.

 

After a moment, the small snake had wrapped around the Duke’s arm like a tree branch.

 

Its gaze glaring at Ashirion remained fixed as well.

 

“No matter how powerful Stukkyia’s weapons are, they don’t have eyes like beasts do.”

 

“…”

 

“Anyway, you don’t need to worry about this side, so just keep a good watch on that girl. Since she’s a child the Duke personally acknowledged, there must be some clue. You must find it out.”

 

The Duke gripped Ashirion’s shoulder firmly.

 

“You’re not afraid of one small child and doing nothing, are you?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

Ashirion laughed as if it were absurd.

 

“I actually thought it worked out well. To think that what the great Paterre Stukkyia desires is merely becoming friends with one small child.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Rather, it’ll be good to use that child as an excuse to move around here and there. If something else happens, it’ll be good for covering things up too.”

 

Ashirion said with a bright smile.

 

“Don’t worry, Duke. Everything will go according to your will.”

 

At the well-trained response, a satisfied smile finally appeared on the Duke’s face.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

Ashirion prepared more leisurely than usual. It was to kill time.

 

Yesterday, he had revealed part of his true intentions to Hanisha.

 

She probably ran off to tattle to the adults.

 

But Paterre Stukkyia is not a fool. He’s not idle enough to listen to that small child’s tattling.

 

‘Unless it’s the butler, Caron.’

 

Since Caron was Paterre Stukkyia’s proxy, if he met with him, his intended purpose would be achieved. He would be able to get permission for the Council of Elders’ visit that would be convened soon.

 

‘Those eyes did look quite determined though…’

 

But he was still just a child. Sweet-talking him was nothing at all.

 

“Young master.”

 

Just then, the servant assigned to surveillance entered the room. His coming here meant that Hanisha had made a move.

 

“Yes, where did she go? Did she go to Caron after all?”

 

Ashirion leisurely tilted his teacup. However, when the servant finished speaking.

 

“…What?”

 

Without realizing it, I found myself asking back like a fool.

 

“…Where did that girl go?”

 

* * *

 

Mountains of piled minerals and an acrid smell of unknown origin. The sound of hammering and striking metal.

 

This place where hazy dust flew around like snow was Stukkyia’s blacksmith.

 

The sound of iron tools clashing and playfully thrown curses could be heard from all around.

 

Ashirion frowned and pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth, as if avoiding something unpleasant.

 

To think he would set foot in a place he thought he’d never visit in his lifetime.

 

If he stayed even one more second, his lungs would surely rot away. He needed to find Hanisha quickly and escape this place as soon as possible…

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Tap.

 

Someone grabbed Ashirion’s shoulder. He quickly turned around to identify the figure.

 

Even in this cold weather, they were men wearing only tight sleeveless shirts, their entire bodies packed with muscle.

 

Ashirion was about to shout angrily at the unpleasant touch without permission, but suddenly closed his mouth.

 

Not flaunting his noble status was his promise with Paterre Stukkyia. Holding back his anger, Ashirion spoke politely.

 

“…I’m looking for a child named Hanisha. Do you happen to know where she is?”

 

“Ah, looks like you finally came.”

 

The craftsman with a hammer slung over his shoulder shouted as if pleased.

 

“But….”

 

At Ashirion’s question, the men looked him up and down from head to toe.

 

“He looks so scrawny, worse than our baby snowflake?”

 

“Using a kid like this as a newcomer will only cause accidents.”

 

Newcomer? Scrawny?

 

What was all this about?

 

Before he could even understand.

 

“Can’t be helped.”

 

Thud.

 

A basket full of minerals was thrust into Ashirion’s arms. Facing the bewildered him, Ralt declared.

 

“You need to build some muscle first.”

 

And then hell arrived.

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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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