The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 86

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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 86

But that’s when it happened.

“Little icicle!”

“…!”

“Could you come over here? These guys are fighting again!”

Mister Ralt called out to me with his booming voice.

Reflexively turning my head, I saw Max and Ashirion bickering quietly.

“Ah, yes! I’m coming!”

After answering, I hurriedly looked back at Rene.

However, Rene had his mouth firmly shut as if nothing had happened.

‘Strange. I was sure he was about to say something….’

Whether it’s small babbling or anything else, I need to teach him before it gets any later. As quickly as possible!

With that thought, I got up from my seat.

* * *

The atmosphere in Biroche Territory had become more lively than ever.

Not only had they succeeded in creating prosthetic limbs, but they were also discussing the next production.

To speed up the timeline, Paterre Stukkyia’s Blacksmiths would handle the manufacturing, while the Eye Rabbits would provide animal-related advice.

This was because Max and Ashirion couldn’t handle everything indefinitely.

“Then we’ll be in charge of this….”

【Next, we’ll go to the Forbidden Land….】

Seeing the Forbidden Land mentioned occasionally among them, it seemed they were really planning to make prosthetics for abandoned animals.

Rene quietly observed the situation.

Humans and monsters. Beings that could never mix were gathered in one place, talking to each other without any tension.

It was all thanks to Hanisha who stood among them.

Rene recalled the baby jaguars that had whimpered in his arms.

When he was still young, his siblings, the baby jaguars, often became targets of poachers.

It was fashionable among nobles to raise wild animals from infancy and show them off well-tamed.

The young cubs easily fell into the traps they set.

Capture cages and snares could be broken, but poisoned drugs and arrows easily took the lives of young cubs.

Rene could only helplessly watch the eyes of cubs begging to be freed from this pain.

The sight of those small lives finally fading away…

While burying his siblings with his own hands, Rene made a resolution.

He would drive out the humans and create a world where his family could run and play without fear.

However, the Lead Jaguar had different thoughts.

【Not all humans are bad, Rene. After all, it was a human who gave you your name, wasn’t it?】

He wondered how such words could come out even after burying family in the ground. Or perhaps because they were different species, they had no choice but to face death differently.

【Of course I’m sad. It’s about sending family away.】

【….】

【But I don’t want to see your eyes clouded with anger.】

The leader’s voice was steeped in deeper sorrow than ever before.

It was advice given by a leader who had lost children and friends first, for the sake of the remaining pack.

【The fact that you, a tiny thing, were abandoned right in front of me of all places. The fact that I, who was tired of the world, had a whim and took you in…. The world is full of invisible miracles like these.】

【So Rene, don’t look at the world with hatred.】

【Who knows? A human who understands your pain might appear like a miracle.】

The leader’s words weren’t completely wrong.

“What, his leg is… injured?”

“My goodness, how did this happen.”

Indeed, some of those banished to the Forbidden Land did pity his family members.

But that was only temporary.

“That thing… can we eat it?”

“What? You want to eat an injured jaguar? Who knows what it’s eaten!”

“But I’m so hungry! Anyway, since the leg is useless, it would be better to just eat it….”

“….”

“I, I’m the head of the family! I have a duty to feed my family!”

Those eyes full of gluttony as they looked at his family member who had lost a leg.

When Rene faced him, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

His own family’s sorrow came before others’ sorrow. Since he was the same way, he didn’t resent it.

So he would simply fight.

To protect what was precious.

To Rene, protecting meant that.

Being strong had that meaning.

However, Hanisha was different.

“If you need anything else, please let me know anytime!”

She looks around and extends her hand.

“It’s okay. You can get better.”

She comforts others with her wounded hands.

“I’ll show you. How new flesh grows.”

Those hands were the smallest and most delicate among all the humans he had encountered. They were so fragile that they could be shaken off with a little force, or perhaps even broken.

But why was it?

That small child looked stronger than anyone else.

As soon as he thought that, the familiar nightmare overlapped again.

A building where everything was collapsing. A face that remained clear despite being in ruins.

A woman who resembled Hanisha, with a tear-stained face.

She looks at him.

With eyes where all hope has disappeared. With eyes that accept the despair given to her as natural. Therefore, with eyes mixed with familiar resignation….

An unknown woman. It was a memory that didn’t exist, but he wanted to say.

“Don’t cry.”

When you cry, it feels like the ground beneath my feet is crumbling.

It feels like I’m falling into endless darkness. So….

“Don’t cry, please.”

It was the moment when Rene’s lips reflexively twitched.

“What are you doing here?”

An unfamiliar voice called out.

At that moment, the illusion disappeared and Hanisha came into view with a bright smile. Her face was clear as if that memory had never existed.

Rene closed his lips that had been about to move.

Right, it never happened.

He just needed to focus on the given present. That’s why he came here.

Rene, who had been quietly staring at Hanisha’s face, turned to look beside him. Red hair, cheerful impression. It was Max.

“What are you doing here alone? Why aren’t you with the others?”

“…”

“Ah, don’t tell me you were admiring this genius’s invention? If that’s the case, I’m a bit embarrassed.”

As always, he was talkative today, but Rene silently listened to Max’s story. Most of Max’s stories were about Hanisha. Perhaps he might find clues connecting the woman in his memory with Hanisha.

“I don’t usually tell anyone, but since you helped me, I’ll tell you for the first time.”

Sure enough, Max slowly began to speak.

“What I’m saying is…”

Max placed his hand on Rene’s shoulder with a pat.

“I’ll give you part of the profits. About… 0.5%?”

Rene’s eyes turned cold.

“Of course, you did bring new minerals! But it was this genius’s skill that ultimately shone! This is already being generous!”

“…”

“Besides, I have a big family to support. Family, family I mean. Just like you Jaguars. You know what I mean?”

Then Max began a long speech as if trying to persuade him.

His ears were starting to hurt.

It was the moment he was about to remove the hand placed on his shoulder to move elsewhere.

“Ah damn, I really wasn’t going to mention this.”

Max shook his head vigorously, then spoke as if confessing.

“You know too, right? How Hanisha keeps talking about marriage, marriage.”

Rene’s movement stopped.

“I don’t know where that little bean heard such talk, but still, what if she really does get married? Since it’s her wish and all.”

“…”

“When that time comes, shouldn’t I give her at least a small gift if not much? I can’t lose to that bastard Ashirion. I’m clearly Hanisha’s first older brother.”

At that moment, his eyes met with Hanisha’s as if she had been waiting.

“Rene!”

Hanisha was approaching with a bright smile.

It was strange. Unlike the illusion, she was clearly smiling. Yet he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Meanwhile, Max’s words continued.

“Actually, I wasn’t going to tell you either, but I’m telling you this once as a special favor. I’m grateful, and Hanisha seems to be particularly fond of you.”

“…”

“What kind of bastard she wants to marry with… Well, since she’s a Stukkyia princess, it would start with at least another ducal family. She has plenty of money so there’s no worry about that.”

“…”

“Oh right, by that time you’ll probably be independent too, so how about following Hanisha? You’re skilled, so if you go with her, I’d worry less about her husband.”

“…”

“This genius will specially craft you a good weapon…”

“Idiot.”

“Right, something good enough to smash that idiot’s head… What?”

Max blinked.

Rene was looking at him.

“You, what did you just say…?”

“Idiot.”

As if waiting, Rene gave the same answer back. Along with an utterly cold gaze.

Max’s mouth fell open.

“You, you could speak…?”

Just then, the baby bird that flew over sat on Max’s head.

“-Idiot! Idiot!”

“Max… Did you just use such harsh words in front of the child?”

Hanisha, who had arrived in front of them, looked shocked.

Max frantically shook his head.

“No! It wasn’t me, it was that bastard Rene…!”

“-Idiot! Stupid! That bastard! Rene!”

“How can Rene speak! And calling him ‘that bastard’!”

Sparks flew in Hanisha’s eyes.

“No, that’s not it…!”

“I told you to get along well, so it’s an additional week of washing socks!”

“Hey, Rene, say something…!”

Max looked at Rene with aggrieved eyes, but Rene leisurely left the spot as if nothing had happened.

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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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