The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 7

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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 7

“Really, butler, you could have given us some time to pack our clothes… We’re probably the only ones heading to the Northern Region with just one bag.”

Lisa grumbled quietly.

Indeed, the road to the Eastern Temple bordered the Northern Region, making it very cold and chilly.

Thanks to that, my frail body was showing the effects of the biting cold through my nose.

“I’m fine.”

Of course, the nasal voice was something I couldn’t help.

“I have the gloves Lisa gave me.”

Sniff. When I answered while sniffling, Lisa said “…Our precious young lady” and stroked my cheek.

An indescribable emotion rippled in her eyes as she looked at me.

I know that look.

‘She’s thinking of her siblings back home.’

Whenever that happened, I envied Lisa’s siblings. What would it feel like to have a sister like this?

I’d never had one, so I couldn’t know for sure, but it seemed like it would be incredibly joyful.

That’s when it happened.

“Hey, who told you to keep slacking off?”

I looked up at the rough voice. It was the driver in charge of transporting us to the Eastern Temple. He glared at us with a menacing expression.

“Who do you think told you to stop the carriage so you could chat?”

“You’re the one who stopped the carriage! You told us to get out so you could inspect the perfectly fine interior…!”

Lisa argued back without backing down.

“What’s this woman saying? When did I ever do that?”

The driver, holding a bottle of alcohol, brazenly played dumb.

Sure enough, there was even a faint smell of alcohol coming from him.

I had wondered why he suddenly told us to get out, but apparently he had hidden alcohol inside the carriage.

Because of that, we had to be kicked out of the carriage.

‘Shouldn’t he be going to jail for drunk driving? A carriage has wheels too!’

“It’s already freezing cold, and now I have to deal with some gloomy kid too?”

“What did you say?”

“So, are you getting back on or not?”

The driver asked threateningly. The bottle in his hand was swaying dangerously.

The border between the Eastern and Northern Regions was teeming with monsters.

If this carriage left us behind, our lives would be in danger.

“Lisa, let’s just get on. I’m cold.”

When I tugged at her arm, Lisa hesitated. She endured it and answered with difficulty.

“…We’ll get on.”

“Hmph. Should’ve done that from the start.”

The driver snorted and went to the front of the carriage. When Lisa and I boarded, the carriage started moving with a rattling sound.

“We’ll arrive soon if we go just a little further.”

Lisa spoke in a deliberately bright voice.

But that didn’t last long.

The further the carriage went, the rougher the road became and the colder the weather got.

“…Something’s strange.”

Lisa’s face, which had always tried to speak in a bright voice so I wouldn’t be scared, gradually darkened.

“Even though the road is rough, I heard the Eastern Temple is warm. But the further we go…”

It’s getting colder and colder.

Before she could even finish saying that.

Neigh! The carriage stopped abruptly with the sound of a horse whinnying.

Before we could grasp the situation, the door opened.

“Hey, get out.”

It was the driver who had been driving the carriage.

“…Where are we?”

“Where else? Your destination.”

“Don’t tell me you took a different route? If Count Agnito finds out about this, you don’t know what will happen…!”

“What is this woman really talking about?”

The driver let out a sneer.

“Your destination was here from the beginning.”

“What…!”

Lisa’s eyes trembled finely.

Snow piled so deep that feet would sink into it. Cool air. Overcast weather and the sound of beasts howling from somewhere.

Massive iron bars that towered far above our heads and dark green vines tangled between them. The large crest visible through them…

I could tell instinctively.

‘Winter Stukkyia.’

The current empire has four ducal houses.

These are families that have maintained their lineage since the founding of the nation, and one of them was the Agnito family I had just been with.

Three families are still thriving, but one of them is facing extinction.

That’s Stukkyia, right before my eyes.

‘Also known as… the garbage dump.’

After the previous duke died of illness, his younger brother inherited the ducal title.

And after some incident, the current duke closed the castle gates, and since then, Stukkyia territory became a land where anything could be discarded.

Objects, beasts, monsters… even people could be thrown away there.

A land of destruction where everything was permitted.

A living tomb and the underworld.

Lisa’s face turned pale.

“N-no way. Count Agnito wouldn’t have sent the young lady to a place like this…!”

“You can say that even after seeing the result right before your eyes? Well, I guess you wouldn’t want to die along with this kid.”

The driver clicked his tongue as if he understood. Then, as if a good idea had occurred to him, he smiled unpleasantly and said.

“Well, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to survive…”

The driver looked Lisa up and down with lecherous eyes.

“How about abandoning that brat and coming with me? At least you could save your life.”

“…What?”

“Count Agnito told me to push the woman who came with her inside there too. Meaning, you’re also meant to die.”

“Th-that can’t be…”

“But if you follow me, I’ll at least spare your life. Of course, it won’t be free.”

Whatever sinister thoughts he was having, the driver started giggling.

“You…!”

Just as Lisa was about to shout in anger.

“Mister.”

I spoke up first. The driver, who had been laughing breathlessly, looked down at me as if wondering what this was about.

“Mister, can you open that door?”

“What? What door?”

Point.

I pointed at the tightly closed door of Stukkyia Castle and said.

“They say no one can open Stukkyia’s door.”

“Ha. Who says that?”

“The street children told me… that door can’t be opened by just anyone…”

I pretended to be scared and slowly drew out my words.

“They said it would be difficult unless you’re quite strong…”

When I glanced at him slightly, the driver’s face contorted with anger.

“Those begging bastards on the street, what do they know? Anyway, weaklings sure talk a lot.”

The driver clicked his tongue in disbelief and looked at the firmly closed door.

“…A crumbling duke’s castle like this, I could handle with just one finger.”

He approached the door with a voice mixed with stubbornness.

“I’ll have you know, I was once a wanted serial killer with a bounty on my head.”

After spouting what hardly seemed like a boast, he began pushing against the door.

Creak…

At first, the door didn’t budge at all, but little by little.

Creeeak…

Very slowly, it began to open.

Ruuumble…

Finally, the door opened with a slow rumbling sound.

“Haha, see that, kid? Huff, this measly door is nothing, wheeze, at all!”

Though his breathing had become far too rough for such claims…

Instead of responding, I stuck my head out and peered inside the opened door.

Though dim, the sun was still up. However, the interior was completely invisible, as if consumed by shadows.

That couldn’t be right. Anxiety made me swallow dry saliva involuntarily.

“Kid. I’ve got a lot of work to do, so I need to get going now.”

That’s when it happened. The man spoke with a confident smile.

“I’ve opened your Gate to the Underworld for you. Now go inside quietly and die.”

But I paid him no mind and stared into the shadows.

No. It’s definitely there. Definitely…

At that moment, something caught my eye. My eyes widened involuntarily.

‘Ah.’

I knew instinctively.

‘That’s it.’

That’s exactly…

When I remained silent, the driver grabbed my arm roughly.

‘Ugh, I can’t!’

“How insolent when an adult is talking, what are you looking-“

“Th-there!”

At my shout, the driver reflexively turned his head. Looking inside the door, he froze in place just as I had.

“…Huh?”

The moment an oddly innocent exclamation burst out.

‘Now’s my chance!’

I quickly shook off the driver’s arm.

In Lisa’s embrace as she pulled me close as if she’d been waiting, I hurriedly turned my head.

Inside the open door, something in the darkness opened wide with a crack…

Snap.

And closed shut faster than the blink of an eye.

“–! —!”

After that, some rather horrific sounds could be heard, but it was only for an instant.

Lisa, who had pulled me into her arms, covered my ears.

Before long, Lisa’s embrace loosened. I cautiously lifted my head.

Something slowly crawled out from the darkness. My eyes widened in shock.

“Th… that’s…!”

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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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