The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 54

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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 54

 

“…What do you.”

 

“And that person made the Duke into that state. After that, the Duke became like this. He doesn’t accept anyone, and he’s isolated himself like that! Just waiting for the day he dies…!”

 

As if his indignation was rising again while speaking, Palren shouted wildly.

 

However, his following words didn’t reach my ears.

 

I had definitely heard it before.

 

“So it’s the second time.”

 

When I opened the door and entered, Caron had definitely said this.

 

“The person who opened the castle gates in exchange for a person, and a very bad one at that.”

 

The second time.

 

‘…Wait a minute.’

 

During the blue moon period. The Duke is attacked by someone. However, the culprit was never revealed. I thought it was covered up because it was an inside job.

 

But it wasn’t covered up…

 

‘What if the Duke harmed himself?’

 

Then, voices could be heard from somewhere.

 

“-!”

 

No… it wasn’t voices.

 

“──!”

 

This was screaming.

 

…Coming from the direction of the Duke’s office.

 

* * *

 

Grurk. Grururk…

 

In front of the Duke’s office.

 

Along with an alien sound, the ‘darkness’ was growing larger and larger.

 

It was the Duke’s ability and now a cursed power.

 

Stukkyia’s knights cut through the darkness.

 

However, no matter how much they cut and sliced, the shadows showed no intention of diminishing.

 

It was only natural. If it could be cut away so easily, the Duke wouldn’t have suffered until now.

 

“This won’t work, Sir Caron! We need to think of another method. If this continues, the Duke will…!”

 

“…”

 

“Sir Caron…!”

 

Even at the knight’s desperate cry, Caron couldn’t easily make a decision.

 

Normally, he would have entered that place and stabbed the Duke’s heart. That was the only way to subdue his rampage.

 

But now the blue moon was up. If he entered rashly, not only himself but all of Stukkyia’s people would obviously be devoured by this darkness.

 

However, he couldn’t delay any longer. If this continued, the Duke would stab himself.

 

“Damn it…”

 

Caron, who muttered a curse, shouted toward the darkness before him.

 

“Duke, get a grip! This is just a blue moon! It’s not a nightmare!”

 

It was words he had already shouted hundreds of times, but there was no response. Caron, whose jaw muscles bulged from gritting his teeth, shouted.

 

“That woman isn’t there! Whatever voice or whatever, it’s all an illusion!”

 

Still, the inside of the darkness remained quiet. A knight who had cut down the shadows attacking him shouted as if at his limit.

 

“You must make a decision. If we call the clerics even now, we can prevent the damage!”

 

At that, Caron tightened his grip on his sword.

 

When the ‘curse’ first manifested throughout the entire castle, the Temple recommended treatment to Paterre.

 

They said they would gladly perform a ‘miracle’ if he wished.

 

However, Paterre refused. He knew that those words meant they would take over the authority that Stukkyia had long protected under the pretext of treatment.

 

They had endured until now.

 

But there were no more options. Though he had jokingly spoken of death, the end shouldn’t be suicide.

 

Caron, who muttered a curse, commanded in a low, sunken voice.

 

“…Contact the nearest Temple…”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Footsteps that couldn’t be heard mixed in with the explosive sounds could be heard.

 

“Duke…!”

 

Disheveled silver hair. Reddened cheeks as if she had run without rest. Eyes colored with urgency and anxiety.

 

“…Miss Hanisha?”

 

* * *

 

Perhaps the Duke might harm himself.

 

From the moment that thought occurred, Hanisha ran without restraint.

 

Her breath reached up to her chin. It seemed she had stumbled and fallen a couple of times when her feet got tangled. But she didn’t stop.

 

She had to stop it. That was the only thought in her mind.

 

The screaming was getting closer and closer.

 

As she stepped into the corridor, she couldn’t see an inch ahead. The surroundings were all pitch-black darkness. She could tell this was a corridor thanks to the knights cutting down the formless something.

 

And Caron was at the center of it.

 

The Duke is there.

 

The moment that thought reached her, Hanisha’s feet moved on their own.

 

“Miss Hanisha, it’s dangerous.”

 

“If you come any closer…!”

 

Despite the words trying to stop her, Hanisha didn’t stop. Leaving the adults behind, she rushed into the office.

 

In the darkness, she could see the Duke with his head raised like someone accepting death.

 

And a shadow sharpened like a blade, aimed precisely at the Duke’s heart.

 

“Duke…!”

 

Forgetting even the fact that it was dangerous, Hanisha embraced the Duke.

 

“You’re such a bad thing that steals luck anyway!”

 

At that moment, a forgotten voice came to mind.

 

“Grandmother said that unlucky things always happen when you’re around!”

 

“Ah, please sister… Do you feel satisfied only when you step forward and block our way like that?”

 

“Please, just stay still. Okay?”

 

“This useless thing that steals luck!”

 

The voices heard in her previous previous life and the voices of Count Agnito’s people mixed together dizzily.

 

…I know too. That no one likes it when I step forward.

 

But it’s just that the Duke.

 

He who could have easily ignored her but shared meals with her.

 

He who believed in her despite the adults’ words dismissing her as something abandoned.

 

He who waited until the end for her meal even while calling it the worst.

 

He who pretended to be fooled by her ridiculous lies even though he knew they were lies… she hoped he wouldn’t hurt anymore like a lie.

 

So it didn’t matter.

 

‘Whether it’s luck or bad luck, it’s fine to become an unlucky child who steals everything.’

 

Please save the Duke…!

 

It was the moment I desperately wished.

 

At the same time I felt something spreading from my body, my vision turned pure white.

 

For just a brief moment, a feeling of being cut off from the world. A feeling as if every nerve that made up my body was severed and then reconnected.

 

And even a sensation that felt like my entire body was being wrapped in heat, then becoming empty in an instant.

 

Beep-.

 

That sensation began to fade only after tinnitus slowly filled my ears.

 

Hanisha opened her eyes with difficulty.

 

The first thing she saw were her own legs that had collapsed without being able to properly stand on the ground.

 

And the person who caught her like that was…

 

“You…”

 

It was the Duke.

 

Covered eyes, rough voice, darkness that still hadn’t subsided.

 

‘Ah.’

 

But she could tell instinctively.

 

‘The Duke has regained his stability.’

 

“Thank, thank goodness…”

 

Upon realizing this, these words came out first.

 

“That you’re safe, truly thank goodness…”

 

I should have finished the sentence properly, but I couldn’t. My eyelids closed and my vision went dark at the same time.

 

* * *

 

Why am I here?

 

In the darkness, Paterre thought quietly.

 

Just before the blue moon, the ‘curse’ suddenly went berserk. To prevent a greater rampage, his arms and legs were bound. He willingly drank the drugs used when subjugating monsters.

 

But at some point, his arms and legs were free.

 

Unless they didn’t value their life, no one would voluntarily rush into his room.

 

So these restraints weren’t undone by someone else.

 

He had undone them himself.

 

More precisely, his ‘darkness’ had.

 

The moment he realized this, he heard a voice.

 

“Paterre.”

 

A voice whose owner he couldn’t identify.

 

But even when he closed his eyes, it wouldn’t disappear—the voice that had turned his life into a nightmare.

 

“Paterre.”

 

It was painful. The eyes he chose to close himself, the power rampaging due to the curse—it was all painful. His chest felt painfully constricted.

 

He had to escape from this pain.

 

The moment he realized this, the darkness surrounding him became sharp like a honed blade.

 

“What the hell…! How did this happen…!”

 

“Get a hold of… yourself…!”

 

“Your Grace…!”

 

Along with urgent voices, a strange sound like something cracking came through.

 

What is this now?

 

Is there someone else here?

 

There was no time to continue his thoughts.

 

“Paterre…”

 

Before he could, the voice urged him on.

 

Come now, Paterre.

 

You know the way to escape from this pain.

 

‘Yes, I know.’

 

Paterre slowly raised his head.

 

Even though he couldn’t see ahead, he could feel something sharp aiming for his heart.

 

It would hurt. But the pain would be brief and he would gain eternal rest.

 

Finally.

 

It was the moment when his already closed eyes beneath the black cloth closed in submission.

 

“…Miss Hanisha!”

 

“This won’t do…!”

 

“It’s dangerous like this… quickly again…!”

 

The strange voices grew louder. A moment later, someone embraced him.

 

“Your Grace…!”

 

Through the muffled sounds, a clear voice pierced through.

 

No, it wasn’t a clear voice.

 

This was… crying.

 

At the same time, slowly.

 

Very slowly, the sound disappeared.

 

It wasn’t just the sound. All the darkness that had bound his surroundings faded away in an instant.

 

Yes. As if someone had taken it away…

 

Awakening from his thoughts, Paterre slowly raised his head.

 

There were only three people who could enter and leave the current Duke’s room.

 

Paterre himself, the Duke. His aide Caron. And someone now forgotten.

 

Even then, after the ‘curse’ manifested throughout Paterre Castle, even Caron couldn’t properly come and go.

 

But what about now?

 

A large bed. A tiny child was lying there.

 

As if dead.

—————
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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