How to Replace Dad Chapter 42
I really couldn't believe it. What? A ghost hiding behind a tree, watching people? The Vice Master had an incredulous expression too.
"Since it's the first time experiencing pain, it must be bewildering..." As I said, ghosts aren't beings that can be physically exorcised. When the tainted bones disappear, they naturally ascend. So, physical pain is completely unfamiliar to them. I pouted and said, "Since it doesn't seem like it's going to harm anyone, shall we continue digging?" "Yes."
While the Vice Master was digging the grave, I was scanning the surroundings to monitor if the ghost approached the Vice Master. Moreover, since Baron Yopis might send someone, I had to check for any signs.
"What the hell?"
"Do I know?"
The ghosts were talking, so it was noisy.
"Shh."
When I put my finger to my lips, the ghosts suddenly closed their mouths. After that, the graveyard was quiet.
After a while, the Vice Master said.
"Young lady."
He had finally dug out the coffin. I dashed towards the coffin.
The Vice Master opened the lid. Then, the neatly arranged bones and all kinds of weapons around them came into view.
"This person must have loved weapons in his lifetime."
"Is that so?" Normally, they put the things they cherish in the coffin. Among them, a notable dagger caught my eye. It was similar to the picture of the cannon drawn by the blacksmith elder.
The Vice Master took the sword out of the scabbard.
"Wow..."
"Amazing."
Even after a long time, not a single corner had rusted. The pitch-black blade gleamed, and the edge was as sharp as if it had been honed just now. It was a characteristic that appeared because it was made of legendary ore, Huanggol.
"No need to look further. This is it."
"Yes."
The Vice Master closed the coffin again. While he was burying the coffin again, I carefully put the cannon into my bag. And I prepared for the final task.
The final task, of course...
"Eh?"
"Shall I clean it neatly, or shall I go?" It was ghost purification. I didn't feel sorry. Because the number of people they had killed at the Andres estate was enormous.
"If you don't come, I'll go."
"Kyaaah!"
"Kyaah!"
It was a night where the ghosts' screams were rampant. After finishing the grave cleanup and carrying the bundle, the Vice Master looked at me with a bewildered expression.
Yustea and the Vice Master left the graveyard after finishing the work.
"How did you exorcise the ghost?" Yustea hesitated for a moment.
"I can't tell you exactly, but it won't harm San Miguel. Would such an answer not be suitable...?" As I said that, the Vice Master glanced at Yustea.
"I see."
"...Aren't you going to ask more?" "Yes. Because I trust you." Yustea looked up at him in surprise.
"Why...?" "I know that you've done your best for the Irregular. Even I, who had to do difficult things, didn't hesitate once." Yustea stared blankly at the Vice Master.
And after a moment of hesitation, he said.
"My chest feels itchy and uncomfortable. What is this?" "Don't be afraid. It's a heart that thinks of comrades warmly."
"Even though it's uncomfortable?" "That's called concern. It's like a shadow of love. It's the fear of possibly hurting the other person and the fear of not being able to repay."
"It's like how Lord Lorenzo worries about Antonio-nim even though he loves him?" "...Well, something like that." Seeing the Vice Master smile, Yustea followed with a giggle.
"Learning from Lord Lorenzo is a happy thing."
At that moment.
"Has the ghost been dealt with?" A cold voice came. I turned my head and saw Baron Yopis.
He was smiling, but his gaze was cold. The smile disappeared from Yustea's face.
"Yeah. Check it." "Yes." "After checking, send 50,000 gold to San Miguel. According to the contract written at the herb collector's shelter."
"You don't accept it?" "Yeah. I don't want to see the Baron's face anymore." With those words, Yustea passed by Baron Yopis.
Baron Yopis said.
"Your current appearance doesn't look like a good child." Yustea's foot stopped.
Baron Yopis looked at her back and said.
"Become a good child. My cute young lady." "Okay. I'll try. I want to become a proud disciple." "That's enough for now." Yustea turned to him.
"It's not 'enough'." "Then what?" "It's a farewell." "..." "Goodbye, Master." Yustea turned her head without hesitation.
Towards the Vice Master.
"Shall we go?" "Yes." The eyes looking at each other were warm. Like when the small young lady was following behind.
"I've learned to ride a horse alone." "Good." "I did as I was taught. Baron Yopis is the best teacher." After Yustea disappeared, Baron Yopis threw his hat.
His stomach felt like there was a burning lump inside.
Three days later. When I saw the wooden box piled in the central courtyard, I tilted my head.
"Charlie." "Yes, young lady." "This is from Baron Yopis's place?" "Yes. 50,000 gold. I counted it, and it's exactly 50,000 gold, which is a bit short of 1 copper." Yeah, that makes sense. Baron Yopis wouldn't cheat like that. Since he wrote the contract, he must know how to send money.
But...
'Why send the Orgol?' It was an Orgol where a beautiful white horse spun around. Charlie said excitedly.
"It's really pretty, right?" "Yeah, it's unsettling." "What?" "Throw it away." I shook my head and headed to the stairs to go up to the second floor.
At that moment.
"What is all this money?" It was Yuis's voice. I quickly turned my gaze. Vice Master and Yuis were entering the central courtyard. The two had gone to meet Sol Viscount with the cannon. I quickly ran to them.
"How did it go?" "As soon as I showed him the cannon, his eyes rolled back and drooled." I was overjoyed. Vice Master and Yuis had done well. Just by telling them we had a cannon, the professional Sol Viscount, who was a bribe taker, nodded immediately.
'Now, we're prepared.' By wiping out all the budding criminals, we made sure no ordinary territory could enter the candidate for merger. We bought two of the three assessors' goodwill. Sol Viscount. And Viscount Sintes.
'Viscount Sintes will side with us.' After all, when the Duke announces Aslan as his son, Aslan will need a territory to rule. As Aslan's son, it will be a pretty decent place. Instead of searching for a new place and causing division among vassals by taking away their territories, it would be better to hand over the existing Valboa. I smiled.
At Esgard Castle. In the Duke's study, a cheerful laughter erupted.
"Sol Viscount recommended San Miguel as the candidate site, right?" The Duke hit his knee and laughed, and Viscount Sintes smiled broadly.
"Yes. You found the cannon I mentioned. It seems Aslan-nim manipulated Sol Viscount well with the cannon." "That's not Aslan's ability." The Duke smiled broadly and crossed his arms.
"Yustea, her hand must have reached it." No need to see it. Yustea who ran around through all sorts of tricks.
"How did you teach Yustea-nim at Andres?" Viscount Sintes let out a jealous sigh. He had been begging his daughter Astria to stop training at the training ground and go to the academy, even today. The only direct descendant of Sintes, without successor training, how long would he keep beating up the training ground comrades? Even with begging, Astria didn't listen.
"Well. It seems not the power of education." "What?" Even if a fool taught it, it would have shown such light.
"That kid has terrifying tenacity." No matter what, it's desperate. Even if something seems impossible, he thinks of a way and tries desperately to make it happen. As a noble daughter, she lived by paying for her mother's medicine who was in a coma. She rose again even after enduring all sorts of dirty and treacherous things.
"You, do you know what the most difficult type to deal with is?" "Does the Duke have difficult opponents?" "Those who don't give up no matter how much they are beaten." "...Yes?" "Those who stand up even after being trampled, even if trampled again, they evoke fear." "..." "People are moved by tenacity. People gather to those kinds of people. The harder you cut the raw stone, the more it shines. Thus, it becomes a priceless gem." The Duke stood up from his seat.
"If it's a gem like that, you have to give a fitting sheath." The one with his back to the window looking out the window said in a voice with laughter.
"Aslan should become a great gem sheath. Hand over the Valboa territory to Duke Aslan." Viscount Sintes, who understood the Duke's meaning, bowed deeply.
The clouds covered the sun. A gloomy day hiding the light. Lorenz entered the barracks. In front of Aslan, he prostrated himself and presented the edict. Merging Valboa and San Miguel to lower the name of Cuaron. Appointing Aslan of San Miguel as the lord of Cuaron, the lord Aslan is to protect the people with loyalty and sincerity. August 14, 11th month. Duran Esgard. In the silence, Aslan raised his body. Those carrying the reverse cross prostrated simultaneously. Aslan declared.
"All Irregulars. Go to the land of the righteous." It was the moment the Irregular appeared in the empire's daylight.
Upon arriving at Valboa Castle, no, Cuaron Castle, I covered my blushing cheeks.
"Completely awesome..." "Yes. The castle is awesome, right?" "No, Lord." So, the Duke. Charlie looked at me with "Yes?" It meant why is the Duke, who is not here, suddenly awesome. I quickly pointed to the red flag planted in the castle.
San Miguel and Valboa merged to become Cuaron. The new emblem of Cuaron was two hawks. Light and abyss. And the name of the first lord engraved under the emblem.... Aslan Cuaron
"Cuaron means to winter in the cold in the language of the north. It suits the Lord's castle perfectly, doesn't it?" "Since it's a specialty to hit and stab, well..." If only the Esgard was attached after that, it would be perfect. While thinking that and letting out a happy exclamation.
"Have all the loads been moved?" "Young lady, the castle is really big!" Yuis and Antonio approached. But...
Boom! The Vice Master slammed the heads of Yuis and Antonio.
"Young lady. Respect. Not Duke, but Lord." The Vice Master, after leaving San Miguel, glared with the three sentences injected with violence. Yuis clicked his tongue. Antonio groaned "Ugh".
"It doesn't stick to the mouth." "Yes." "Then stick it to the mouth." The Vice Master said in a sinister tone. Originally, in San Miguel, they could speak freely, but since entering Cuaron, they had to be more careful. The vassals of San Miguel were easy to handle. When the previous lord was there, they were arrogant, but when the Duke became lord, he tightened the reins once. But Cuaron was...
"Not easy." Here, there are many vassals belonging to Valboa territory. As vassals of the Samwonro family, they are more powerful than the lords of ordinary small territories.
'If they get even a little irritated, they'll immediately try to replace the lord.' While thinking that.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. The sabaton sounds of the guards came simultaneously. The Duke had arrived. The Duke entered the castle with the vassals from San Miguel.
"Lord..." At the moment he was about to say "Lord". People came out from the castle in a surge. The new Cuaron emblem embroidered on the uniforms. They are the vassals of Cuaron.
"We greet Lord." The elderly man at the front bowed his head. Then introduced himself.
"Franco Paletta, chairman of the Valboa Medical Society." That is, the leader of the vassals from Valboa.
"Aslan." "It is an honor to have you as our guest. I will serve as the chairman of the meeting." The Duke signaled to the Vice Master. It meant "follow". So, the Duke and Vice Master headed to the meeting hall with the vassals. After they disappeared, Antonio asked.
"Why is the Vice Master going? Ah, is he newly appointed as the knight commander of Cuaron?" "To make him a vassal." "What?" "Now, the Vice Master also needs a great badge." Antonio squad shouted "Wow!" Vice Master squad and Yuis squad also smiled broadly. The Vice Master who had suffered so far was receiving the first reward for meritorious service. I also smiled with a good feeling.
Charlie and I headed to the garden. My room was a place where the garden was well visible, and it was so beautiful that it distracted my attention while organizing the loads. Charlie was excited and smelling the flowers. Despite being winter, the flowers blooming profusely were like Sintes territory. We walked in the garden together, chatting casually.
"By the way, does the Sintes lord family live in the mansion instead of the castle? Last time, you were invited to the mansion instead of Sintes Castle." "That's originally Astria's mansion, but Sintes Viscount's wife ran away to that side..." "Run away?!" "Yeah. The Viscount celebrated his son's birthday and forgot his wife's birthday, so he ran away, but the Viscount chased after him in a hurry." "Still didn't come back?" "Chased with that words..." At that time, when I was saying that.
"There." I turned around at the calling voice.
'Chairman of the Medical Society and joker?' A man who looked exactly like Franco Paletta, chairman of the Valboa Medical Society. He looked to be in his late 30s.
"A new fairy?" "...?" "Which flower did you come on?" "...???" "Or is it the goddess of flowers. Hahaha." "...???" It was a line I had never heard before. Charlie tilted his head and looked at him, then whispered to me.
"Is he a crazy guy? Shall I beat him?" "...Wait a minute." Since he looks exactly like the chairman of the medical society, he might be from that family. I opened my mouth to introduce.
"I'm..." "Don't be scared. I'm just a wanderer who has been intoxicated by the scent of the goddess." Charlie looked at me again. It would be better to just cut him. With such eyes. At that time, the man reached out to me.
"I'll allow you sweet honey, my fairy?" Charlie's eyes flashed. At the moment the kid was raising his hand to cut.
Pew! A shoe flew from behind the man. How accurately and sharply it flew, the man who hit his head fell forward. The one who threw the shoe was Antonio.
"Old man is crazy?" Next to Antonio, Yuis was throwing and catching a dagger repeatedly.
"Sitting there talking like honey." The man gritted his teeth while touching his head.
"Do you know who I am! I'm the son of Baron Paletta, chairman of the Medical Society!" Then Yuis laughed scornfully.
"He's preparing to be hung on the castle wall right now." ...What? I thought I misheard and said to Yuis.
"Hanging the chairman of the medical society on the castle wall? Who?" "By the Lord, of course." "...Why?" "If we keep Yustea as our daughter-in-law, we'll marry this kid to her." What kind of nonsense is this?