How to Replace Dad Chapter 12
When I entered, accompanied by an annoyed click of the tongue, the gloom lost its light.
Was he on a call?
As I blinked, the butler shook his head as if nothing was wrong.
“Please come in.”
I nodded.
And upon hearing that it wasn’t galbi-jjim, I went to the table where the butler was sitting.
I placed the tray on the table in front of the butler’s chair.
“It’s bean soup and cabbage rolls.”
The bean soup warms the body, and the cabbage rolls help with detoxification and blood circulation.
The cabbage rolls used nutritious beef and beans rich in amino acids.
It’s a special dish for replenishing energy.
The butler looked at Yustea with a troubled expression.
“Young lady. Food that raises body temperature is not suitable.”
“Since you caught the curse, your body temperature has been elevated, hasn’t it?”
“Did you know that?”
The expression was “why prepare such food even though you asked?”
“Because the danjeon where mana gathers is being eroded by cold. To expel the cold, the body raises its temperature.”
Cabbage, beef, beans, and walnuts as the main ingredient of the bean soup.
All these ingredients help expel the cold from the danjeon.
“Keep eating them steadily and it will be very good for your body.”
“I see.”
The butler looked relieved.
But Yustea was silently staring at the tray.
Oh.
I quickly approached Yustea.
“You don’t like it because it’s not galbi-jjim?”
Then the butler let out a sigh.
“Yustea doesn’t have any preferences except for the truth serum.”
“Is that so? I was planning to make galbi-jjim tomorrow. I should make a food that’s even better for the body.”
But it was strange.
Yustea looked at the butler.
It seemed like she was scolding him, so I tilted my head.
It was probably a misunderstanding. The butler who has served Yustea for a long time didn’t seem to have any thoughts.
Perhaps he was hesitating because the truth serum had been introduced.
“Yustea, I didn’t put any truth serum in it.”
“You didn’t put the truth serum?”
The butler’s question, I answered yes.
“Today at breakfast, it was a sandwich, so I could eat it without the truth serum, but before that, you didn’t eat it at all.”
The truth serum soup.
The fish stew with truth serum.
The truth serum pasta.
I didn’t touch any food with a strong truth serum flavor.
“Since you have to eat to recover your stamina, I didn’t put it in.”
“I see.”
After hearing my conversation with the butler, Yustea picked up the utensils.
Good. She seems to be eating.
Then I had to do something else.
I saw him start eating and put down the large backpack I had brought on my back.
And took out all kinds of things from it.
The butler asked what those things were.
“...What are all those?”
“Preparations for caring for Yustea.”
“...All of that?”
“Yes.”
The expression was how sincere he was.
They were quite surprising items.
A large water jug, a basin, towels, blankets and pillows, various dried or preserved herbs in one container, snacks like dried fruits in several containers, tea leaves in one container, oil, teapot, cups, books, a wind chime that makes clear sounds, and so on.
When Antonio saw these items, he asked “What kind of holy relic is that bag?”
How did all this fit?
“Thank you for your hard work, but I don’t know if Yustea will need these items. Actually, the food I brought is also a lot. Yustea eats little...”
The butler was about to say that while looking at Yustea, he froze.
For a moment, Yustea emptied the dishes.
And pushed the plates to the edge of the table.
I quickly stood up and said.
“Would you like more?”
I was worried and took out another cabbage roll from container 4 I had brought.
When I put it on the plate, Yustea started eating silently again, and the butler looked surprised.
After the butler returned to the castle with a bewildered expression, silence fell in the tower.
After finishing the meal, Yustea was silently reading documents.
I was standing by the wall, watching him blankly.
He’s been working all the time.
After I asked if he would eat dessert after the meal, and after he answered, there was no conversation at all.
After a while of being silent like that.
Yustea, still staring at the documents, opened her mouth.
“Are you going to stay?”
“If it’s uncomfortable, can I stand outside the door?”
“Why.”
“Yes...?”
“Is there a reason to be careful while breathing in that spot all the time?”
I hesitated and said.
“Because there are things I want to ask when you have time... I’m sorry.”
“Was it difficult to answer when asked?”
“Yes?”
“It means it’s okay.”
My face became bright, and I quickly went close to Yustea.
It was fortunate that I could check her preferences by just watching her eat.
It would be much more helpful if she answered directly.
“Um... but the amount is a lot. Is it okay...?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you!”
I took out the parchment from my pocket after saying that.
When I unfolded the rolled parchment, it extended from the chest to the knees.
Yustea paused for a moment.
“So many...?”
I was trying to see which ones to select.
She put down the documents.
It seemed she was preparing to answer seriously.
Why did they say in the game that Yustea is cold-blooded?
The biological father didn’t spare time when I failed the test, instead letting days pass.
He wouldn’t have looked at the decorations there.
The only time we talked was after I achieved early graduation.
Compared to that, Yustea is a good person.
I smiled and said.
“I prepared a balance game to make it easy to answer. Choose one of the two. First, sea vs mountain.”
“...”
Yustea stared at me fixedly.
She probably thought I was going to ask about the truth serum.
I was with Yustea to recover her stamina.
I originally planned to prepare such questions.
But not liking the truth serum might be related to trauma.
But asking Yustea if she has trauma is a bit much.
Many people don’t like revealing weaknesses.
Especially someone like Yustea who has lived secretly.
So, I’m trying to guess Yustea with these questions.
Will she not answer because it’s too trivial?
I looked at her with a tense expression.
She let out a small sigh and said.
“If it’s summer, mountain.”
“Isn’t it usually the opposite?”
Oh no.
I asked in surprise.
But Yustea said with a nonchalant face.
“In summer, weapons easily rust in the sea.”
“Ah, I see. Then the next question. Salt vs sugar.”
“Salt.”
“Cold vs hot.”
“Cold.”
“Five-year-old Antonio vs five Antonios.”
“...Five-year-old Antonio.”
“Blood vs pain.”
“...”
Huh?
Yustea was silent for a moment.
“Put the questionnaire down and mark the answers.”
“Eh, but...”
“Put it down and go.”
“...Yes.”
I couldn’t persuade her more.
Because Yustea’s expression was cold.
“Um, then this only...”
I was looking for an opportunity and placed the things I had packed in the bag here and there.
After quickly arranging them, I bowed my head.
And when I left the room, I narrowed my brows.
The part where Yustea paused was definitely blood.
But why blood?
Where would there be blood for the assassin guild’s Yustea?
I was groaning in thought when I suddenly lifted my head.
Because some scene from the game came to mind.
The princess, no, the current Duchess of Esgarot, receiving information about Aslan from the information book.
“The one who protected the infant was her old bodyguard from her biological mother. Aslan says he learned everything from him. Walking, holding a sword, killing people... all of it.”
“The old bodyguard. I remember. But where is he now? I want to tear him apart with my own hands to ease my anger.”
“He died. He was killed by Aslan’s hand.”
“...Why?”
“He endured by drinking his master’s blood.”
“Truly a monster.”
If that story is true...
If the master’s blood became trauma...
Yustea will feel the truth serum as blood.
I looked around the room with a serious face.
It was a much more serious trauma than expected.
I couldn’t think of a good way to feed the truth serum.
After that, for several days.
While worrying, I finally decided and went to the butler.
“You want me to write a certificate of identification?”
“Yes. To enter another city, I need a certificate of identification. I can’t get one because I was kicked out of the Andres family.”
“I can write it, but what do you plan to do?”
“I’m trying to find herbs that can replace the truth serum.”
“Eh?”
The butler was very surprised at the words not to use the truth serum.
He had been emphasizing the importance of the truth serum and insisting that I somehow feed it to Yustea.
But if there’s such serious trauma, I don’t want to feed it.
I hesitated and carefully opened my mouth.
“I feel that the taste of the truth serum is like a confession poison.”
“What...”
“Before being kicked out of the family. Every day, the maids would hold my limbs and force me to eat the confession poison.”
To confess that I poisoned Stella.
But since it wasn’t my doing, the confession poison was useless.
However, no one believed me.
Even if I ate a small amount of confession poison several times a day.
Even if I couldn’t endure the toxicity and vomited, it was no use.
Because they poured the confession poison into my mouth even with the vomit in it.
So, to be precise, the taste of the truth serum to me feels like confession poison mixed with vomit.
Sour, bitter, and nauseating.
“If I eat the truth serum, the memories come back and I can’t breathe.”
Yustea would be even more so.
So...
“I don’t want to force the truth serum on Yustea either. I want to find a way.”
“...”
“Is it not possible?”
“...Is a certificate of identification enough? You don’t need anything else, right?”
It was permission.
I said happily as if jumping.
“Then that’s it. Thank you.”
“It’s me who should thank you.”
“Eh?”
“I know you are doing your best. Thank you.”
I scratched my head and laughed.
Here, I hear “thank you” a lot.
It’s always nice to have someone who appreciates effort.
It was a feeling of fulfillment that I hadn’t felt in the Andres family.
“Um... I am...”
While hesitating, I said with a shy face.
“I like it here.”
“...Eh?”
“Everyone is kind. Just like in a fairy tale.”
“...”
“So, thank you.”
Seeing me bow my head, the butler couldn’t say anything for a while.
After a while, he finally opened his mouth.
“Be careful when you go out.”
Look at that.
I like it here.
So, I have to work hard.
I clenched my fist and left the castle.
It had been a long time since I left the San Miguel castle.
But...
“A herb that acts as the truth serum? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Run around in the mountains and fields all your life. Is there such a herb?”
“A herb like the truth serum? What nonsense.”
...Total failure.
I didn’t know anyone in all the pharmacies I visited.
I searched all day but couldn’t find any clue in the nearby pharmacies.
Because it’s not a large city like Esgarot’s direct territory, and there are few pharmacies....
“Wait. Esgarot’s direct territory?”
Upon thinking, there was a place I often visited when looking for rare items in the game.
A small hut in the forest near the direct territory.
It’s a resting place for old herb gatherers.
If I go there, I might get information.
But I’m hesitant.
Because it’s the second day since I didn’t return to the castle.
Leaving Yustea’s care to Antonio...
Is he doing well?
“Um, so use all these things prepared by the young lady?”
“You don’t have to use all of them. Only what you need. The containers labeled 1 have various snacks. They’re all sweet, so give them when you’re tired. If you’re hot, change the ice container attached behind the fan and give it to her. It’s like an air conditioner... no, it means cooler.”
“...”
“And in container 2 there are herbs, mix them with water as per the memo each time. Also, apply the ointment 3 and massage as per the memo, match the parts.”
“You prepared all this, young lady?”
“Yes.”
“...Can I give up?”
I had comforted him with snacks when he said he was unsure.
But time is running out.
It seemed like Yustea’s tattoo was about to reach the top of her neck.
In the end, I decided to go to Esgarot’s direct territory.
I gave one silver coin and took the carriage from the upper part.
After galloping for half an hour, it took two more hours to arrive at Esgarot’s direct territory.
I was carried in the rattling carriage without resting even for a moment, so my whole body felt like screaming.
To reach the herb gatherers’ shelter before sunset, I had to move urgently.
After passing through the harsh forest, I barely reached the hut.
The hut that was about to collapse had two luxurious carriages parked.
This is it.
The place where people come to get all kinds of herbs, and even subordinates of great nobles come.
The two luxurious carriages proved that this was the destination.
Knock knock.
I knocked on the door.
“Excuse me.”
When I said that, an old man with a bent back opened the door.
“Who are you.”
When I looked back, the small hut was filled with people in luxurious attire.
All had fierce expressions.
“What are you doing in the middle of a conversation.”
“Have you seen such rude people!”
They were arrogant because they were related to great nobles.
But I...
“Nice to meet you, sir. I came to hear your opinion.”
I bent my waist at a right angle.
The waist that had been strained from the carriage seemed to be screaming, but it didn’t matter.
This old man values etiquette very much.
If he prioritized money or power, he would have set up a proper pharmacy.
But he was living by receiving small requests here.
Money and power couldn’t move this old man.
The old man staring at me smiled faintly.
“Please come in. I’ll bring you tea.”
“What, what?!”
The people who had already occupied the hut before me shouted in frustration.
They didn’t even give chairs, just standing.
It seemed they had pushed in without permission.
The old man gave me a small chair and tea and said.
“Please wait a moment. After I deal with the uninvited guests, I’ll listen to you.”
“Uninvited guests.”
At that moment, the man who was in the corner and not visible well came out in front of the people.
The moment I saw his face, I froze.
He was... that man...
“I... I really didn’t poison Stella...”
“What. Did the medicine run out?”
It was suffocating.
The last eerie smile I saw of him filled my mind.
The man who came out in front of the people looked at me.
His eyes, which had been narrowed for a moment, sparkled.
“Yopis... I know you wouldn’t do that... because you’re the teacher who taught me... Please...”
“What do you want to obtain by digging up the disgusting memories.”
His lips curved upward like that day in the underground prison.
“We meet here. ...Young lady.”
“...Baron Yopis...”
A young talented person who became a central figure in Andres at the age of 20.
The man who was my friend and teacher, and now called the beautiful sword protecting Stella.