The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 8

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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 8

“…A, a puppy?”

“Kyung.”

As Lisa muttered in a dazed voice, the creature responded with a whimper.

The thing that came up to about my shin definitely looked like a small puppy.

The puppy with red eyes and completely white fur stretched leisurely, then approached us while crunching through the snow.

“St, stay back, shoo!”

Lisa pulled me closer as if on guard.

It was when the puppy stopped exactly two puppy steps away from us.

“Ky… kyachoo!”

The puppy let out a small sneeze and spat something out.

A small, sparkling red stone. My eyes lit up.

Finally, it appeared!

“A Marsu’s heart!”

As I broke free from her embrace and picked up the heart while shouting, Lisa’s eyes widened.

“A… heart? What do you mean. No, wait. Are you saying that’s a Marsu?”

Lisa tried to lift me up in shock, but I didn’t mind and petted the Marsu’s head.

“It’s okay. They say it won’t attack when it’s full.”

As expected, the puppy was quietly accepting my touch with its eyes closed.

This puppy that resembled a snowflake… no, this Marsu was the guard of Stukkyia Castle.

Due to its gentle nature, it doesn’t attack opponents first, but when its territory is invaded, it mercilessly devours the target.

And after finishing a satisfying meal, it spits something out, which was precisely the Marsu’s heart.

The Marsu’s heart contains high-purity magical power, so it can be sold for a very high price.

In other regions, this monster is now extinct due to indiscriminate subjugation by poachers, but its roots still remained in Stukkyia.

‘In my previous life, we lost more than half of Count Agnito’s forces to this monster.’

Even then, rumors circulated that one monster guarded the front of Stukkyia Castle.

However, Agnito’s knight commander scoffed.

“It’s just a declining family anyway, what’s there to be afraid of.”

So they forced the door open.

“Ugh, aaaaah! Wh, what is this! Sa, save me!”

They were devoured by the ‘gatekeeper’ that guarded the front.

Because of this, Agnito lost half their manpower without even being able to lift a finger.

So I thought it would be terrifyingly scary, but…

“Kyaung.”

The puppy… no, the monster wagged its tail gently in response.

With its ears drooping down while receiving my touch, it looked so cute.

It didn’t look at all like something that had devoured a man from the shadows.

Still, thanks to this, I was able to dispose of someone disgusting and repay a debt of gratitude.

Thank you. After whispering quietly, I turned toward Lisa.

“Take this, Lisa.”

Then I held out the Marsu’s heart I was holding.

“What? Why are you giving this to me…”

“You’ll be able to sell it to mages for a very high price.”

“What…?”

“Never sell it for less than 500 gold. That would be getting ripped off. Tell them that kind of money is just pocket change.”

“Wait a moment, Miss. What are you saying right now…”

“Take this and go back to your hometown, Lisa.”

At my words, Lisa’s movement stopped.

“You came all the way to Agnito to earn money because of your sick siblings. If you sell this, the problem of making a living will be solved.”

“How do you know that, Miss…”

“Anyway, the Count will think we died in the Northern Region, so you won’t need to worry about anything else.”

From the beginning, Count Agnito probably intended to kill us along with the driver.

‘That’s why he hired criminals instead of people from the castle. Because he thought everyone would die anyway.’

So there would be no risk of being tracked even if this Marsu’s heart was sold.

“Wait… wait a moment. I don’t understand well. Miss, don’t tell me.”

Lisa asked with an incredulous face.

“…Don’t tell me you want me to leave you here and go alone?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. Lisa’s face was colored with shock.

“That’s impossible. I’d rather go with you.”

“That won’t do, Lisa.”

The Eastern Clerics know of my existence.

Even if she covers living expenses by selling that Marsu’s heart, Lisa with many sick family members will have no choice but to receive support from the Temple.

If my existence is revealed then, Lisa will have to take all the responsibility.

‘Given the evil Count Agnito’s personality, he might even frame Lisa as a kidnapper.’

But Stukkyia was different.

A land no one seeks.

A land where anything can be abandoned.

It wouldn’t be strange for a young child like me to be alone, or for Lisa to have coincidentally picked up a Marsu’s heart.

So all the more, I had to stay here.

Grave, afterlife. I was more familiar with such words than anyone.

‘It’s not like I have absolutely nothing to rely on.’

“I’m fine, so hurry and go, Lisa. Hurry!”

I pushed Lisa insistently as if urging her.

Since I’ve said this much, she’ll go now, right?

Is this what my grandmother from my previous life called accumulating virtue? Then it might feel quite rewarding…

“…No. I can’t leave you behind, Miss.”

“Huh?”

However, Lisa’s stubbornness was stronger than expected. She grabbed my arm and started dragging me along.

“Huh? Huh huh?”

I’m really okay! Honestly speaking, I’d rather she just leave me behind!

“Lisa isn’t abandoning me. I wanted to be here!”

“…Then, then please take at least half the money from selling this heart. Stay with me until then. Okay?”

Lisa stubbornly grabbed and pulled my arm. As if she would buy time and somehow persuade me.

Lisa seemed unable to leave me behind to that extent.

I shook my head and grasped Lisa’s hand with my gloved hand.

“I’ve already received payment, Lisa.”

Lisa’s hand was swollen red. It was because she had constantly given up her gloves to me.

‘It’s not just the gloves.’

The hand-knitted scarf.

The hat with animal ears.

The blanket she covered me with in the carriage.

The hair she personally caressed, hoping the child would look even a little prettier…

Every part of my body was filled with Lisa’s tenderness.

Of course, at first I wanted to say let’s stay together. I didn’t want to part with Lisa either.

If I threw a tantrum, she would have stayed with me too.

But how could I say such a thing to Lisa, who was so happy thinking about her family?

Lisa’s happiness wasn’t here, but beside her family.

I, who had yearned for my family’s love, knew this better than anyone.

I gripped Lisa’s hand tightly once more and said.

“Lisa, you were the only one who treated me kindly. That’s worth more than anything.”

Then, looking into Lisa’s eyes so I wouldn’t forget, I spoke with sincerity.

“…Thank you so much for treating me kindly when everyone else hated me, Lisa.”

Without realizing it, my eyes grew hot.

But I mustn’t cry!

Forcing strength into my eyes, I pushed firmly at Lisa’s waist.

“So hurry up and go, Lisa! Quickly!”

But no matter how hard I pushed with all my strength, Lisa wouldn’t budge at all.

“…You knew from the beginning, didn’t you, Miss? That we were heading to Stukkyia, not the Temple.”

Ha. It was a sharp question.

When I gave no answer, Lisa said.

“I thought it was strange from the start. You hitting Sir Bert, and the story about Princess Esther bursting into tears after meeting with you.”

I didn’t expect her to know about Esther too, but Lisa seemed well-informed about rumors.

“…Would my being with you be a burden, Miss?”

I couldn’t say anything. Lisa wasn’t a burden to me, but I couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t be put in danger because of me.

That’s why I couldn’t go with Lisa even more.

Because Lisa had to live.

“…You’re not a burden.”

“Which means I could become one.”

Lisa murmured quietly. It wasn’t a pessimistic tone, but a calm way of accepting her situation.

“I’d like to stay with you if I could…”

“…”

“I understand. If that’s your will, Miss, I’ll follow it.”

Lisa said this while lowering her gaze to my feet.

“…At least as long as this demon beast is friendly toward you, Miss, nothing terrible should happen.”

The demon beast had approached my feet at some point and was nuzzling its face against my shin.

Lisa hugged me tightly. As she did, she handed me something. It was a paper with her hometown address written on it.

“If anything happens, contact me at this place. I’ll come right away.”

“Yes. I understand!”

I answered cheerfully. Even so, Lisa hesitated and looked back several times before finally grasping the reins with determination.

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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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