How to Replace Dad 19
Perhaps they expect me to take on the role of a strategist like I did for the First Prince, but that's an absolute no.
Now, I have no intention of getting involved in the terrifying political intrigue of the imperial succession war.
More importantly...
'The princes are all candidates for the male lead.'
The male lead candidates are unbelievable.
After all, male lead candidates are the type who fall in love with the female lead even if she trips over while walking down the street.
In that case, no matter how useful I am, I'd prioritize saving Stella first.
So, I must diligently support the female lead who is not a male lead candidate and protect my own assets.
Despite all the troubles, the outcome was good.
'Since I completed the mission and received the promised reward.'
After the mission was over, Luciarno immediately handed me the watch he was holding.
I immediately examined the watch carefully, like an appraiser.
'What an incredible item.'
The bracelet and bezel were both platinum.
Not only could I see the time on this continent down to the second, but also the time from the distant eastern continent.
In the center was a sapphire of a clear, bright color, and the time was indicated by diamonds instead of characters.
At least a thousand gold... No, if the deal is good, I could even aim for twelve hundred gold.
But there was something more important.
"Um, then what about the other promise...?"
Seeing my hesitation, Luciarno answered.
"Gaspar is under my control. I'll inform the Esgard upon arrival."
"Thank you so much."
I quickly bowed my head.
I didn't forget that I needed to contact the San Miguel fortress to arrange the mission.
Ain, watching this, had an unpleasant expression.
"You exposed me to the eyes of the prince and only received that in return?"
"I thought you wouldn't mind, Your Highness."
As I had told the First Prince before, I didn't want to get involved in the princes' conflict.
But I had deliberately set a trap for Ain.
"You're wise and rational."
"What?"
"You pretended to be mad. Even though it was something that could be seen as ridiculous by others, you did it. That means you know what's more important than mere pride."
"..."
"So, I was confident that you'd choose the most prudent method in extreme situations."
"..."
Ain, staring at me intently, suddenly turned his head.
"But if you say that, the colonel's mouth or something. If the story of hiring a killer reaches the Emperor's ears, then I might not make the wise choice."
"Neng."
After saying that, I asked, "Ah."
"Then, what were you looking for using the tracking orb?"
"Ask the Grand Duke."
At Ain's words, I looked at Luciarno.
Luciarno said,
"The Saintess."
"The Saintess?"
"Yes. The World Tree sang."
Ah, so that's why the princes' eyes were burning.
Is there anyone in this world who doesn't know about the existence of the Saintess?
There is a prophecy that she descended when the world began.
Do not fear the despair that is to come.
The seed will sprout quietly and bloom as a flower in the movie.
Teresa Church interpreted this prophecy as follows.
'When the country is in chaos, the Saintess appears and brings peace.'
This was also the line that appeared in the game opening.
What this means is...
'The Saintess is Stella.'
Is Stella in the north?
After all, Baron Yopis was looking for medicine in the north because Stella was sick.
She might have been brought down for treatment.
'Anyway, I'll be returning to the continent, so no need to search far.'
I thought this without much significance.
Ain, the Fourth Prince, said to Luciarno with a dumbfounded expression.
"What is this, exactly."
The target was Yustea.
To accurately assess the situation before reporting to the Emperor, the Colonel came to Ain's tent.
And Yustea told the Colonel...
"Yes, yes. Truly, Prince Ain endured a lot."
She was extracting tears one after another.
She was telling the heartbreaking story of Prince Ain who had no choice but to pretend to be mad.
It wasn't a lie.
It was just a cleverly twisted truth.
To summarize the content:
Prince Ain, your maternal family is not particularly good, right?
But your mother, the Empress, is greedy and wants to put her son on the throne...
You received excessive interference and violent pressure from your mother, but, well, Prince Ain is too kind, isn't he?
Because you were afraid that if you got involved in the imperial succession war, something bad would happen to you, you pretended to be mad.
And it ended with a line that stimulates the loyalty of the imperial army, unique to the royal family.
"I thought the only way to survive was the greatest filial piety to the Emperor..."
The Colonel, choking up, wiped his handkerchief.
He apologized by saying he had hired a killer because he thought Gaspar or Luciarno might kill him.
He poked Luciarno's side, who was making an unbelievable expression, to add the words.
In the end, Luciarno said...
"...Since I resolved the misunderstanding with Ain, this matter is settled here."
"That's wonderful."
In the end, the Colonel blew his nose and lifted the surveillance on Ain's tent.
Even so, he came back muttering, "Poor Prince..."
Ain, seeing Yustea quickly resolve the situation, let out a dry laugh.
It was because of the Empress that he had pretended to be mad.
'Because I had provoked the Empress and the First Crown Princess.'
I had created an environment where I could be stabbed in the back without having the power to protect him.
To prevent that from happening, I started pretending to be mad.
"You know it's not because of filial piety."
"Of course. But in such matters, being a strategist is important. The more pitiful, the more effective."
Ain let out a dry laugh and looked at Luciarno.
"I understand how it happened to you, oppa."
Luciarno smiled faintly.
The words of Yustea that she was a potato covered in dust were wrong.
She was a born schemer.
Her situational judgment was innate.
Based on that, she had cleverly devised plans.
In the past, she had outstanding abilities, and now, after experiencing everything, it's astonishing.
Metaphorically, she was a well-honed weapon that could handle any situation.
'Changing form depending on the user.'
And Ain would agree with this thought.
Just a moment ago, Ain's eyes, which had been making an unbelievable expression, sank deeply.
"Are you really not coming to me?"
Ain asked Yustea.
"What?"
"I'll take care of you."
Ain extended his hand.
He grabbed Yustea's cheek and gave a sweet smile.
Even when pretending to be mad, that smile that made everyone stop breathing.
Yustea looked at Ain's face with surprised eyes.
And...
"It's okay."
She rejected it.
Very refreshingly.
Ain's expression crumpled instantly.
"Ah, so you're going to ride the Grand Duke?"
Luciarno, who had been quietly crossing his arms, glanced at her.
Yustea laughed.
"There's no way."
"..."
Luciarno turned his head.
Ain, forgetting that he had been rejected, let out a dry laugh, thinking the quiet side profile was somehow unpleasant.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"I have to go back. I have a place to stay."
"When are you planning to leave?"
"Um, since I don't have to take care of Prince Ain's meals anymore, I can go anytime..."
At that moment, Yustea was saying that.
Kiiik—
A sound of birds coming from somewhere, and the Death Servant inside the cage raised its head.
Ain's and Luciarno's gazes turned toward the tent where the sound originated.
In front of the tent, a new hawk was perched on the perch for the first time.
Yustea smiled brightly.
"Now."
"What?"
Ain and Luciarno asked Yustea at the same time.
Yustea smiled brightly.
"It seems they've come to pick me up."
"Me."
It was a truly happy smile that she hadn't seen in the barracks.
I, carrying a backpack full of luggage, greeted the Colonel.
"I'm going back now."
"Yes. Come back safely..."
The Colonel and his aides had very regretful expressions, but I quickly turned around.
My steps were light.
What had flown to the tent was the hawk of the female lead.
'I wonder if I did well in contacting the Irregular before going to expose Ain's fake madness.'
I had expected Ain to hire someone.
He hadn't come with personal guards.
Perhaps he had hired someone incredibly strong to prepare for the case where Luciarno or the Colonel couldn't handle it.
I handed the hawk to the Colonel and quickly left the barracks.
A group was visible below the mountain slope.
It was dark night, and with the hood pulled deep, I couldn't see the face, but I knew it was Antonio.
And...
'The female lead?'
Not only had I handed over the hawk, but the female lead had come herself?
I quickly ran down the slope.
Almost tripping in my haste, but the female lead caught me.
"You'll get hurt."
Why is she laughing?
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because it's good."
"...What?"
"You came to pick me up. There are people who came to pick me up too."
Because of the hood, it was hard to see the eyes, but I felt him staring at me intently.
Antonio laughed loudly.
"The Vice-Leader said he'd go, but the Leader personally moved."
"Ah..."
I'm happy you came, but I'm worried it wasn't bothersome.
Looking up with a glance, the female lead said.
"It's only natural to rescue a guy who gets into danger for my sake."
The female lead is a good person after all.
She chose her superior well.
"It ended well. I even earned money."
I said excitedly, showing the watch Luciarno gave me.
Antonio and his squad members laughed, thinking my cuteness was adorable.
"Good. Then let's go, Miss."
"Everyone is waiting with wide eyes."
"Yes!"
I was about to be surrounded by the Irregulars.
"Is that the group you chose?"
When I turned my head, I saw Luciarno.
He was standing with a large full moon on his back, looking at me.
'Why did he come?'
Because of the hood, I couldn't recognize the Irregulars, but being close to the female lead and Luciarno made me tense.
I stood pointing at the female lead.
Luciarno, who had seen that, said.
"If your mind changes, contact me."
"What?"
"I also like to take care of my people well. Quite self-sacrificingly."
It was an unexpected remark, so I hesitated to answer.
Luciarno smiled faintly.
It was a sweeter smile than the moonlight behind him.
"See you again."
The conversation ended there.
He turned and returned to the barracks.
Indeed, one never knows the outcome of fate.
Just a few years ago, I was an enemy to Luciarno, and now he's scouting me.
I thought it was a pretty interesting experience and turned my back too.
'Huh?'
The female lead was staring at me silently.
Was she wondering who I was?
Before I could think that, I realized.
'I should have introduced him.'
Officially, the female lead's status was the Lord of San Miguel.
It would have been helpful if I introduced him to the Second Prince.
I quickly asked.
"This person is Prince Luciarno, the Second Prince. Should I go back and bring him? It might be good to know."
"No need."
"What? But..."
"It feels strangely unpleasant."
"...?"
The female lead isn't the type who dislikes someone without experiencing them, right?
But the female lead's voice was somehow cold, as if she really didn't like it.
Then, there's no helping it.
I quickly organized my thoughts and followed the female lead's back.
Two days later.
I stretched my arms.
'They say familiarity breeds contempt, and it's true.'
San Miguel is comfortable.
After being tense in the barracks, it was even more so.
Moreover, there was something else that made my heart feel at ease.
I took out the watch Luciarno gave me and examined it.
'Beautiful money, no matter how I look at it.'
After being driven out of Andres, had I ever held a thousand gold?
For me, who worked all day with sore feet earning only forty copper, a thousand gold was an enormous amount.
For now, I'll live without worrying about money.
'Since I have some leeway, I want to give some gifts.'
I wanted to give small gifts to the Irregular members who had kindly received me.
I looked at the chair that the Vice-Leader had assigned as escort.
The one with Antonio's flashy cooking skills.
"Chair, won't you guide me to the blacksmith?"
"The blacksmith?"
But it was strange.
As soon as I heard the word blacksmith, Chair's expression changed drastically.
Very tense face.
"Are you going to buy something?"
"Yes."
"Must it be... the blacksmith?"
"Yes?"
"Aren't there things sold in the general store? Then the general store side would be better..."
Seeing me look confused, Chair swallowed dryly and said.
And whispered as if telling a great piece of information.
"There's only one blacksmith in San Miguel. And in that blacksmith, there's a money ghost."
"Money ghost?"
"They say he scams so well that he gets scammed repeatedly. A kind person like you would get everything taken."
Now that I think about it, when I first came to San Miguel, I heard about the blacksmith.
The members had made a fake "Headache" and sold it as a "Premium" called "Teka-ri-je".
But I'm also a person with thick skin from the market.
"It's fine. Guide me."
Chair had a worried expression, but eventually guided me to the blacksmith.
The blacksmith was not far from the fortress.
Leaving the fortress gate, it took only 20 minutes by carriage, so we arrived quickly.
As soon as Chair entered the blacksmith, he opened his eyes wide and said.
"This person is the daughter of the Leader. If you scam, your wrist will break, old man!"
From the way he spoke, the blacksmith old man seemed to know the identity of the Irregular.
The old man, who was blowing the bellows with a "thud thud" sound, glanced at our side.
"Even if it's not a scam, it's like that. It was a reasonable sale."
Chair snorted.
"Where is it reasonable to sell Headache as a Premium?"
"How can you buy something like Premium? The best is to buy something similar, call it a premium, and cherish it."
"So, did you receive twice the price for the Headache weapon?"
"The price of the item is up to the seller."
The old man, saying it without much significance, looked at me.
"So, what is the purpose of the Leader's daughter coming to my blacksmith."
"Ah. I want to commission custom-made..."
At that moment.
Clang, accompanied by the sound of military boots, came.
Confused by the sound of military boots, I turned my head and froze.
Military men were entering.
Not the military of San Miguel.
The pattern embroidered on their robes was the golden eagle of Esgard.
The military men who rushed into the blacksmith lined up in two rows.
Between them, a middle-aged man carrying a burden entered.
The man scanned the shabby blacksmith and covered his nose with a handkerchief.
With a displeased frown, he said.
"I've come to escort you. Saintess."
Saintess?
Where is the saintess here?
Without even a strand of Stella's hair, why are we looking for the saintess?
Is it possible that the saintess is not Stella?
I wondered what was going on, but the middle-aged man who brought the soldiers said.
"On the third of last month, there was a holy fluctuation in this area. And only one person in this area received the holy mark (a judgment to be a priest by confirming holy power)."
So, it wasn't Stella who was the saintess.
I hadn't received the holy mark.
Then...
"Chair, you?"
"Yes? No. I haven't even gone near the temple, how could I receive the holy mark."
Not Chair?
Then who is it?
The middle-aged man started walking briskly.
And the place they arrived was...
"Why are you looking at me?"
In front of the dumbfounded expression of the blacksmith old man.
The middle-aged man smiled amiably.
"I'll escort you, Saintess."
—And.
The old man stepped back as if seeing a madman.
He tried to flee in a panic, but it was impossible.
The soldiers, receiving the middle-aged man's gesture, lifted the old man's limbs.
The old man shouted.
"I'm a man. I'm a 68-year-old man..."
The echoing voice was pitiful.