How to Replace Dad 52: The Saint's Shadow
The Imperial Tower.
The Emperor and the Pope, seated across from each other, simultaneously extended documents toward each other.
“This is the reading permission for the owner of the Holy Gate.”
“The locations of the two holy waves that occurred.”
Both fell silent.
'Look at this?'
'Just like the blonde one.'
They had promised cooperation, yet they omitted crucial information.
“Do you not know that there are many people who do not receive the holy wave even with holy power?”
“The first holy wave’s location was secured through the northern temple, and I personally confirmed the origin of the second holy wave, which would be better than the imperial tower’s barrier.”
The imperial tower and the temple had cooperated to open the empire’s era, but their inner workings were quite different.
The imperial tower wanted to weaken the temple’s power for central governance.
The temple was displeased with the imperial tower, which led matters that went against the teachings.
In short, they were like enemies.
“If you permit the use of the imperial tower’s barrier for holy pursuit, the matter will be easily resolved.”
“Could that be? For national defense, the barrier must be strictly maintained for security. Rather, if the temple allows us to read the holy scriptures, it would be easier to assess the saint’s conditions.”
'Reading? That blonde one will use the information inside the scriptures to fill her belly.'
'Talking about using the barrier. With the barrier’s range, how much spying and surveillance to cause a fuss.'
The two’s gazes clashed fiercely.
“Will you really do this?”
“Will you break the cooperation?”
“I will step back one step, so please step back as well, Your Majesty.”
“If you step back two steps, that would be fine.”
The imperial tower officials and the temple priests watching this looked at each other.
'It was not a good situation.'
'Yes. The two of them cooperating. It sounds like Esgard and Andres are joining hands.'
They quietly comforted each other with their eyes.
At that moment.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded.
“Your Holiness, there is an urgent report.”
“Your Majesty, there is important news to convey.”
The Pope and the Emperor allowed entry.
The temple priest whispered to the Pope.
“A suspicious person has appeared at the clinic treating the gladiator attack victim, suspected to be the saint.”
The imperial tower servant also whispered to the Emperor.
“A similar holy power wave has been detected at the shop district barrier, suspected to be the saint.”
The Pope and the Emperor’s eyebrows twitched.
And simultaneously, they half-rose, then paused.
'Could it be that that blonde one also got the news?'
'You old hag?'
The two, looking at each other as if searching, quickly turned toward the door at some point.
The two who came out of the imperial tower in competition shouted to their subordinates.
“Convey the news to the lord of the Seven Families. The old hag… must find the saint before the Pope.”
“Send the senior priest. The yellow… must bring the saint before His Majesty.”
It was the moment the empire was turned upside down.
* * *
When I came to my senses, I couldn’t even open my eyes and thought.
The world is too cruel…
What kind of mana amount is this?
The protagonist Stella gave me so much mana.
I fainted not because of the explosion’s shock.
It was because of mana depletion.
My mana amount was worse than that of young priests who had just received the holy wave.
The amount of mana that can be stored in the Botella was not that much.
Luciarno prince, Yuis, and Dad didn’t even blink an eye even after filling the Botella with mana.
How many times have I fallen due to mana depletion.
Compared to me, Stella’s mana amount was enormous.
From level 1, she had an amount that was three times mine, and when she reached max level, it would go up in the thousands.
It was a time when I was sighing.
“If you woke up, why don’t you open your eyes.”
Yuis’s voice was heard.
I stealthily opened my eyes.
Yuis was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
Looking around, it was inside the tent.
The bed I was lying on was an improvised bed.
It was probably an improvised clinic opened because of the gladiator incident.
Still, it seemed they gave a single room to the Esgard young lady.
I told Yuis first.
“…Hello?”
“I can’t say hello, and you probably won’t either.”
“Eh?”
Yuis got up.
“The young lady has woken up.”
The tent was lifted.
The person who entered like that was Dad.
I, who was about to smile happily, met Dad’s eyes and quickly lowered the corners of my mouth.
Dad’s expression was as cold as a northern snowfield.
'He must be angry.'
I quickly explained today’s events.
“So, what happened was….”
“The gladiator targeted you. Judging from the situation, it seems like it was orchestrated by the Duchess of Esgard or her son for the purpose of targeting me.”
“Th… It was resolved well. Since there were no casualties, no one will blame anyone. The mana explosion will probably be resolved as a merit for dealing with the gladiator.”
“So.”
“Eh, so don’t worry about the aftermath….”
Dad’s eyebrows twitched.
Yuis shook his head.
'What is it. Where did it go wrong.'
I felt cold sweat dripping down my back.
When I noticed the cue, Dad frowned.
“I was worried about you.”
“Ah.”
So that’s it.
I realized which direction to take the conversation and smiled brightly.
“That’s fine. I did it because I knew there was a way not to die. Hey, Dad, actually….”
“Do you think you won’t die?”
“Eh?”
“I’ve known for sure today. Your calculation is wrong.”
Dad’s expression didn’t seem to loosen at all.
Yuis nodded as if agreeing.
Dad continued.
“There is no safety in your calculation. I don’t think you just say ‘if you don’t die, it’s over’.”
“….”
“When I gave you my geum-sul, when I saved the old man, today too.”
“….”
“Never do that again.”
“…Yes.”
I said it in a small voice, and Dad sighed.
“How is your body?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then wait a moment. Send the old man and let’s go back to the mansion.”
“Did the duke come?”
“He said he came to find the saint.”
At that word, I shot up from my seat.
My head was dizzy due to orthostatic hypotension, but that wasn’t important.
My heart almost jumped out.
'Did I get caught?'
I quickly looked at Yuis, and he quickly shook his head.
'Is it not?'
Dad told me “Lie down” and left the tent.
Only Yuis and I remained in the tent.
I quickly asked.
“What is the saint? What happened?”
“The sibling you protected. It seemed like she had tuberculosis.”
“Tuberculosis?”
“Yes. But you healed one side, and the tuberculosis disappeared too.”
“Then did I get caught too?”
“Don’t worry. You didn’t get caught. Someone else was pointed out as the saint.”
“Who is that?”
“…Your half-sister.”
I opened my eyes wide.
'Stella was pointed out as the saint?'
What kind of ridiculous situation is this!
* * *
The senior priest who confirmed the stray dog’s child nodded his head.
“Correct.”
Tuberculosis was a disease with a long treatment period.
It was a disease that required at least half a year of medication to cure.
If such a disease was cured in an instant, it would be irrefutable evidence.
The senior priests and the lords of the Seven Families moved their gazes to one side of the tent.
To Stella and Duke Andres.
Duke Andres asked.
“Really, you healed that child?”
“Yes. Is there any problem?”
Then the senior priests laughed.
“Problem? The gods have bestowed blessings that span the empire and the world. Saint.”
“Saint… you say?”
Stella looked at Duke Andres as if asking what that meant.
The duke wore an extremely gentle smile.
“Yes. You became the saint, Stella.”
Stella was startled and pressed her lips with both hands.
It had been several years since she was called a saint candidate with outstanding holy power.
However, she had not fulfilled the saint’s conditions.
Stella’s face was filled with joy, and the senior priests said with laughter.
“Are you happy?”
“Very much so. I didn’t betray my father’s expectations, and I was able to save all people with my own strength.”
“Just by existing, it will be a great strength to the people.”
The priests were delighted, but the lords of the Seven Families were different.
One of the lords clicked his tongue.
'The saint has fallen into the hands of Duke Andres.'
This couple was famous for having deep affection.
How much would they have to drive out his wife and eldest daughter for killing Stella with poison?
The position of guardian couldn’t even be dreamed of.
'And only Andres is angry.'
While several lords were making reluctant expressions, Duke Nevar opened his mouth.
“Then, we should quickly hold the verification ceremony to publicly announce the saint’s existence. Let’s go to the imperial tower.”
Then the senior priests frowned.
“What are you saying. That person should be taken by the temple.”
“To prepare for the holy wave occurring again, we should take her to the imperial tower with strong barriers.”
“Does the temple not have barriers?”
“What ideology will we inject if we take the saint?”
The lords who received the Emperor’s order and the senior priests who received the Pope’s order clashed.
Duke Esgard, watching the situation with his back turned, said.
“Then, isn’t it fine to take her to the imperial tower? Let’s finish it quickly. I have to go see my granddaughter.”
The imperial tower is accessible to both imperial tower people and temple people.
Better to have the central point, the imperial tower, than to be stolen.
Duke Andres nodded.
“It would be good to have the imperial tower. Stella, what do you think?”
“I like it too.”
And Stella put her father’s arm around her and offered her face.
“I don’t like fighting. Please get along well?”
When she smiled brightly, the two groups fell silent.
It was already an enormous influence.
* * *
The next day.
The Esgard Second Greenhouse.
I pressed my temples tightly.
Yuis, who entered the greenhouse, looked at me holding my head.
“Have you taken the medicine?”
“I’m not sick anywhere.”
“Give me some mana?”
“You put it in the Botella yesterday. The mana is recovered enough.”
“Then what is it?”
“The newspaper.”
All sorts of newspapers were talking about the saint’s appearance.
It was natural to guess that the saint had appeared since all the lords of the Seven Families and the senior priests had come to the improvised clinic.
The imperial tower and the temple did not block the knights.
Just the existence of the saint raised the national prestige and shook the Therese family.
So there was no reason to block the knights.
Yuis glanced at the newspaper pile and said.
“It’s rather a good thing? You can avoid being caught that you are the saint.”
“If another person became the saint, it would be good. But Stella is not.”
Stella will face a death crisis in the future.
It was an important turning point in the main story, an element that wouldn’t be missed no matter what job you choose.
If Stella becomes the saint, not only the imperial guard will target my lifespan, but the whole world will target it.
'If the Emperor or the Pope comes chasing, even with the name Esgard, it won’t be stopped.'
When I told him such a story, Yuis nodded.
“Very bad news.”
“Yeah….”
“Bad news in the midst of bad news, sorry, but there’s more bad news.”
“What is that?”
“The Duchess of Esgard is coming to the Second Greenhouse soon.”
“Eh?”
I was startled and opened my eyes wide.
“Yesterday, because of the gladiator incident, the duke got involved. It seems he requested the imperial tower to conduct a formal investigation in Esgard.”
The eyes of Duke Esgard, whom I saw lying on the clinic bed yesterday, were cold.
I thought something would happen, but it exploded right away.
“The duchess seems to be coming up personally to handle the aftermath. She contacted to meet the young master.”
It was really bad news.
The duchess had built a huge power in Esgard.
Moreover, she was also the former queen as the Emperor’s sister.
If I face her, even if I win, I’ll see blood, and if I lose, I’ll see blood.
While such stories were going around, Dad entered the greenhouse.
“So, go to the old man for a while.”
I got up from my seat and greeted Dad.
“Must it be like that?”
“You probably thought about safety.”
“It’s too cruel for just the child.”
“…What?”
“You’ll see it in the educational book Dad sees. Parents are mirrors of their children.”
“….”
“The child also wants to protect the parents.”
“….”
“Moreover, whether I am there or not, the danger is the same. The duchess already thinks of me as a tool to attack Dad.”
“….”
“I won’t get hurt. I have confidence that I won’t get hurt.”
Dad looked at Yuis.
The expression seemed to ask what to do in this case.
It seemed there was no such content in the educational book.
I smiled wickedly at Dad.
“I actually fought one fight.”
* * *
In the end, Dad lost.
I greeted the duchess next to Dad.
The duchess walked into the central hall.
'Finally meeting.'
She had curled her white hair up, and just by walking, she exuded an enormous presence.
That elderly woman was Aurelia Esgard.
The one who shook Dad’s life to the core.
The first to speak was me.
“Yustea of Esgard, greetings. I am Duke Esgard’s wife.”
She looked at Dad and me quietly.
Soon, a chuckle came out of her mouth.
“Life is a blessing. The words of the holy man are never wrong.”
The sound of footsteps echoed in the central hall.
She came to me and grabbed my chin.
“Do you think this name is allowed to you?”
At the moment when strength entered the hand holding my chin.
Tap.
Dad grabbed her wrist.
“Release that hand.”
The duchess roughly shook off Dad’s hand as if it had touched filth.
The duchess with twisted lips said.
“Oh, sorry. I couldn’t stand the disgust.”
“It’s the same for both of us, so don’t mind.”
“You resemble your mother. Even though half the blood is from the duke’s blood, it’s pitiful because the mixed seed is dirty.”
“So, are you afraid?”
“Me? You and your kind?”
“Dogs that are frightened are like that. They bristle their fur and make empty threats.”
The duchess’s eyes twitched.
The duchess chewing her red lips said.
“I made a mistake. I should have cut open your mother’s belly and taken you out. Not just pull out the limbs and kill you.”
“I will cut open your son’s belly, the former duchess’s, so that you don’t repeat the same mistake. What’s inside is nothing but ignorant lust, though.”
The duchess’s face distorted horribly.
When her son’s story came out, she couldn’t hold back her excitement.
The excited duchess rushed at Dad.
“How dare you put that in your mouth!”
Slap!
The duchess slapped Dad’s cheek.
A bruise appeared on the cheek that was roughly brushed by the nails, and soon blood welled up.
“…!”
“…!!”
The servants guarding the central hall froze.
Sparks flew from Antonio’s eyes.
He was about to jump out, kicking the ground, but Yuis grabbed his shoulder.
Because touching Dad’s body, which had said it was disgusting, was an act of self-insult.
Dad had endured it because of that.
The duchess trembled and raised her hand again.
“You…!”
At that moment, I grabbed the duchess’s hands with both hands.
“What are you doing?”
“Dad promised to protect me, and I promised to protect Dad.”
“Hah.”
She burst into a hollow laugh and pushed my hand away with force.
“What kind of stupid things are these. You don’t understand your situation.”
“….”
“I am the mistress of the Esgard family. I have the right to punish those lacking in grace.”
“….”
“Do you not understand what I am saying? If I pull your hair and throw you into the punishment room, it means you will become a body that cannot walk on two legs again.”
Dad’s face hardened.
When the duchess set her target on me, Dad hid me behind him and said.
“If you touch her, I won’t forgive you.”
“Do you think I need your forgiveness, you lowly seed? What are you doing!”
The duchess shouted fiercely.
The soldiers following the duchess approached me.
Black energy flickered along Dad’s body outline.
I grabbed Dad’s hand.
And took one step forward from behind him and faced the duchess.
“I cannot lay a hand on my family.”
“Do you believe that the duke will protect you? My son David has also forgotten that he is the duke’s seed.”
“No. Protecting us is the world.”
I placed my hand on Dad’s cheek.
Gooong…
With a strange vibration sound, light gathered.
And the bruise on Dad’s cheek disappeared and new skin grew.
“Healing?”
“Healing?”
The surprised soldiers muttered.
The duchess narrowed her brows.
“You, are you a priest?”
“I have holy power, but I am called by another name.”
I wanted to hide it, but I couldn’t help it.
It was better to reveal it than for Stella to become the saint.
“The saint.”
It was time to reveal my other identity to the world.