The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 79

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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 79

“Then what do you want to do, Lemata?”

“Of course, we should catch the child and shut her mouth…”

“So in what way?”

“…”

“Are you saying you’ll kill the child?”

At the sharp point, the young man closed his mouth.

Though he hesitated, his suppressed expression and eyes made it clear what he was thinking without needing to hear his words.

The old man spoke.

“Our race was massacred for a very trivial reason. For the very trivial reason that we didn’t believe in the state religion, Orphel God.”

“…”

“While everyone was dying, you barely survived because of the temple’s belief that ‘children shall not be killed.’ We who survived by chance and you who were children became adults and are now here in this place.”

“…”

“And now you, for the sake of your immediate beliefs, would kill a child. Do you intend to repeat this terrible tragedy?”

It wasn’t a scolding directed only at the young man.

Everyone who had been secretly blinded by rebellion and thought they should recapture Hanisha all closed their mouths at once.

“…Then what will you do now?”

One man asked quietly.

The old man fell into quiet contemplation.

The child knew everything. Yet she didn’t speak rashly.

That might be because she realized they weren’t large enough in scale to stage a rebellion, but if so, there would have been no need to reveal that she knew.

Therefore, that small child’s purpose was.

“Even if Max and Ash’s research fails, please don’t scold them too harshly. They’re still young.”

“If Max and Ash’s research were to become known, it would be terrible. The fact that the Snow Rabbits were injured too.”

‘She bought us time.’

For the boys who had tried to heal the Snow Rabbit’s leg. And for themselves.

The cause was Agnito’s trap, but the surface cause was the Snow Rabbit’s rampage.

If the Snow Rabbits and the Biroche people reconciled, there would be no more need to worry about Agnito.

In fact, though still incomplete, hadn’t those young boys’ results been sufficiently positive?

No one fighting. Neither beasts nor humans.

The peace they had so longed for was faintly visible.

It was the result that small child, Hanisha, had created.

Realizing this, the past suddenly came to mind.

These estate people.

That is, when they lived in the Forbidden Land in the past, they didn’t believe in Orphel God, the Empire’s state religion.

The woman who was said to have received Orphel God’s love.

Fair to all, but endlessly cruel to the wicked.

So they believed in the legendary woman who shared her abilities with humans. Because that was the equality they dreamed of.

But because they believed in that legend, their clan was massacred.

Now no one believes in that legend anymore. All that remains is a desire for revenge for their clan.

Worried that sparks might fly, hadn’t they even refused their friend’s proposal?

‘But why is it? Seeing that child, a forgotten faith has emerged.’

Growing old is a sad thing. Because one’s heart becomes weak so easily.

Even while thinking that…

“We should watch over it. That child’s will.”

The old man’s eyes, which had seen only frustration for so long, sparkled for the first time in ages.

* * *

Deep in the night, a gambling hall filled with acrid cigarette smoke rising to the ceiling.

The dark space without a single window made it impossible to even confirm whether it was morning or evening.

But no one cared. With only the brilliant lights filling this place, it could be bright ‘day’ at any time.

Yet the faces of those who had knocked on the gambling hall’s door, yearning for that brilliance, were steeped in deep darkness.

In vain imagination, at first they had dreamed of several times the money they bet.

But now, if only they could get back just the money they bet.

If only they could recover at least their principal!

The more they heard the cheers and sighs around them, the more madness filled their bloodshot eyes.

“Count Agnito, it’s been a long time since you’ve come.”

“I’ve been busy with work lately, so I’m a bit late. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, Count, I’ve been doing very well. Hey! Quickly prepare a seat for the Count!”

The casino owner rubbed his hands together continuously and smiled.

With swift movements, a seat was prepared for the Count. As he slowly sat down, people flocked over as if they had been waiting.

“Good evening, Count. It’s been a long time since we greeted you! Have you been well?”

“Now that the Count is here too, we should raise the stakes.”

“Hey, that seat looks uncomfortable. Bring a softer cushion!”

After taking his seat, though he hadn’t opened his mouth once, everyone was eager to please the Count.

That’s when it happened. Suddenly, a man they’d never seen before dropped to his knees in front of him.

“Please, please save me!”

The Count looked over his appearance.

Shabby clothes, unkempt hair, eyes that had lost their spirit even considering he’d been here quite a while.

He was someone who had ruined his life through gambling.

“My, my wife is very sick. I can’t afford the surgery costs, so I came here looking for a way to multiply money as much as possible… It, it was the wrong choice. This is my last chance.”

“I didn’t come here to listen to such talk. Ahem…”

“Please save me, Count…!”

“Co, Count! We beg you too!”

“Count…!”

“What are you doing! Do you know who this person is!”

As one person started begging, others began kneeling as if they had been waiting.

“Oh my…”

The Count shook his head as if troubled, but couldn’t hide the satisfied look on his lips.

After the disgrace he suffered on Thanksgiving Day, he had difficulty restoring his original relationship with the temple.

It was because he had processed Hanisha’s death.

Of course, he hadn’t confirmed Hanisha’s death, but they couldn’t find the child’s body.

What could that mean?

It meant she was either eaten by some wild beast or had the misfortune of encountering northern barbarians.

A young child with no abilities couldn’t have found a way to survive, nor could she have entered Stukkyia Castle. So it was certain she had died.

Hanisha, the denial of the saint and Agnito’s shame, had finally died. Now another saint would be born in Agnito.

However, Esther was still young. There was still much time left before marriage and even childbirth.

Therefore, though it sounded good to call it recovery, in reality it was like having a weakness exposed. Though smiling on the surface, the clerics would look at the Count with disdain from time to time, saying he had failed to properly control the previous saint, Hanisha’s mother.

It was shameful and humiliating.

But what about now?

Here, he was someone no one could ignore.

A generous, truly god-like existence.

Count Agnito spoke in a benevolent tone.

“It would be troublesome if this kind of thing continues.”

“That’s what we should be saying. We can’t even manage our customers properly, so we’re too ashamed to lift our faces.”

Despite his words, the manager didn’t actively stop the Count. He hoped the Count would generously scatter money so they would bet and jump back in again.

As Paterre Stukkyia reached into his coat, the Loyal Servant beside him whispered.

“My lord. I heard that recent expenditures for the Snow Rabbit subjugation have been considerable. Perhaps you should let this one pass?”

“Over something like that? Once we produce the coats, the money will come back.”

“However, the Estate residents still haven’t vacated the Estate.”

“They’re probably holding out asking for money at least. That’s all they can get.”

Count Agnito waved his hand dismissively, as if not to worry about such trivial matters.

Anyway, if he said he would make the Estate submit to Stukkyia, they would tuck their tails between their legs as if nothing had happened.

Rather than belonging to a grave, they would want to belong to a blessed land, at least on the surface.

This victory would naturally be his as well.

That’s when it happened.

“M-My lord!”

Suddenly, another of Paterre Stukkyia’s loyal servants came rushing over breathlessly. Count Agnito’s face hardened upon hearing the whispered words.

“Say that again. What?”

“The Biroche Territory Residents…”

The loyal servant swallowed dryly and spoke.

“They’ve driven out all of Count Agnito’s people…!”

Count Agnito’s face contorted with rage.

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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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