How to Replace Dad 71
Yuis opened the door. The person who came outside the door was the housekeeper.
“There was a big madam’s order to check on the young lady’s condition. If the body is in bad shape, she said to send word that I would personally take care of it.”
This meant she wanted to meet.
If I was too tired, I was to come up and talk.
Why is the Dowager Marchioness going to this length for my pride?
No matter what, I, who became a saint, was not the type to lower my head. Even when others were rubbing the emperor's palms, I sat with my back straight and proud. As evidence, when she sent a letter inviting me to meet, it was the same. Meet me on the whatever day of whatever month. Why don't you keep sending replies? You forgot your manners. She only wrote things like this.
What's going on in the Andres family.
If so, I needed to figure out the situation. “It's fine. I'll go see the Dowager Marchioness Andres.” The housekeeper lightly bowed her head. I followed the housekeeper along with Yuis, the escort. But the direction we were going was strange. This wasn't the direction to the reception room. It didn't seem like she thought I was a guest or that I was being stubborn about being part of the Andres bloodline. If that were the case, it would have been the Dowager Marchioness Andres's room that I used to call as a child. The place the housekeeper took me to was the ceremonial garden that wasn't used much anymore. The Dowager Marchioness Andres was looking at the altar in the garden. When she sensed my presence, she turned to look at me. “You're here.” When I tried to spread my skirt to show respect, she raised her hand. Then she gestured to the servants around her. The servants all left the garden at once. The Dowager Marchioness Andres said. “Leave the escort.” Then Yuis said. “The Lord of Kuaron has ordered that you not leave the young lady's side.” This meant that since I was no longer her grandmother, she had no authority to order me. It was also a warning that only my father could decide about my personal safety. The Dowager Marchioness Andres's gaze became sharp when she realized Yuis's meaning. I said. “Since it's come to this, please understand. I must not disobey my father's words.” “You...!” The Dowager Marchioness Andres raised her voice. But soon she bit her lip and turned her head. Then she said nothing for a long time. When I saw her expression, I frowned. It didn't seem like she was holding back words because her pride was hurt.
Yuis is here, so I can't say it.
And strangely, there was more. If a guest comes by imperial order, the owner should receive them as per etiquette. Since the Marquis Andres wasn't there, the Dowager Marchioness Andres should have welcomed me. But she didn't come out. She didn't say anything even when I asked for lunch.
It seems like there's an urgent matter.
I asked her. “Is there something wrong?” “... .” “If it's difficult to say, I won't ask, but if there's no business, I'll go back—.” “O'Neill and Stella are trapped in the underground labyrinth.” What? O'Neill is my half-brother. So, the son from the Marquis Andres's first marriage. “The underground labyrinth has poison mist due to monsters, so it's inaccessible. Moreover, ...” “If someone finds out that monsters are being bred in the underground labyrinth, it would be a big problem.” “... .” The Dowager Marchioness Andres kept her head turned with a stiff face. This is a secret of the Andres family that even the vassals know only a very small part of. The underground labyrinth was a space where the Andres family heads secretly bred monsters. Originally, after it was banned by law a few generations ago, they stopped. But it was secretly revived during the current Marquis's time.
So, she wanted to leave Yuis behind.
“By making up that I was sent to solve the underground labyrinth issue to tarnish the Andres name?” “It wasn't because of the underground labyrinth. This incident happened suddenly today.” “I see.” “If it's purification, it should be able to resolve the underground labyrinth incident?” The Dowager Marchioness Andres had a very anxious expression. She doted on her eldest grandson O'Neill excessively. Unlike me, who had to work desperately for everything, O'Neill was a genius. Overwhelmingly top in both academics and martial arts. And most importantly....
Because O'Neill's mother is from the Seven Great Houses.
To the Dowager Marchioness Andres who values bloodlines, there was no grandchild as perfect as O'Neill. “Purification should be possible.” When I said that, the Dowager Marchioness Andres's face brightened. “Then, right now—!” “There's no need to do it.” The following words made the Dowager Marchioness Andres startled. She hadn't thought I would refuse. “O'Neill sent an emergency signal. If the child sent an emergency signal out of pride, it's a matter of life and death.” “That's right.” “It's not a time to be leisurely!” “True.” “O'Neill is your brother, isn't he? Have you forgotten how much you were proud of that child?” “Well, there are other memories that are clearer. Claiming that I poisoned Stella and trying to expel me the most strongly.” “...!” The Dowager Marchioness Andres's face turned pale. She was at a loss on how to react when I acted as if I wouldn't go. “If that's all you have to say, then I'll go.” I lightly bowed my head. Just as I was about to turn my back. “What do you need?!” The Dowager Marchioness Andres shouted urgently.
Now she's sitting at the negotiation table.
Until now, the Dowager Marchioness Andres had acted as if it was natural for me to follow the Andres family's demands. She hadn't forgotten that I was a pawn in the past. She thought I would just sulk and leave if pushed. She probably thought I'd come back whenever my mood changed. But when it came to O'Neill's life and death, she finally admitted that I had really changed. I looked back at her. “What can you give me?” “If there's anything I can give, anything.” I was waiting for this line. Stella doesn't matter, but O'Neill must live. If the successor disappears, the Andres family's obsession will only deepen.
More than anything, O'Neill plays a very important role in the later story.
It was an event that would have a huge impact on Esgard. So, I had to save him anyway, but I didn't want to just do it for free. “Give me the Titania A21-1 district.” “What, what? Do you not know what kind of land that is!” “It is a holy land.” Holy lands owned by neither the imperial palace nor the temple are extremely rare. Those who train as priests there gain more holy power, and knights gain stronger aura. It was a land so valuable that it was worth its weight in gold. “Unbelievable!” “Then the deal is off.” “Th...!” “Choose between your grandson's life and the land. What will you choose?” The Dowager Marchioness Andres bit her lip hard. But this transaction was entirely in my favor. Time was also on my side. I didn't know how long O'Neill could hold out in the underground labyrinth with poison mist. In the end, the Dowager Marchioness Andres gritted her teeth and said. “Do it. So, hurry and enter the underground labyrinth.” I smiled brightly. “Yes! Then shall we write the oath?” “There's no time. I have to go quickly.” “Then write it quickly.” If I change my words, it's free labor, but I can't do that. Now I'm not a pawn of the Andres family anymore. In the end, the Dowager Marchioness Andres wrote the oath.
* * *
There was a reason why the Dowager Marchioness Andres had specifically called me to the ceremonial garden. Because the altar in this garden was the passage to the underground labyrinth. By manipulating the altar, stairs were revealed. Yuis and I entered the underground labyrinth through the stairs. In my arms, the oath was carefully held. Yuis looked at me with an incredulous expression. “You're that happy?” “Of course. If we train Irregulars here, they'll become stronger. I can also do mana training whenever I have time.” Obtaining such a precious land as a reward for one purification. To put it bluntly, it was a huge gain. I was in a trance-like expression. Krrruung—! A sharp scream was heard. It was a monster Hellhound. The Hellhound rushed towards me. At that moment, Yuis quickly drew his sword. And in the blink of an eye, he beheaded the Hellhound's head. “From the start, quite strong monsters come out.” “... .” “What? Why no words.” “...That.” I pointed at the Hellhound's head rolling on the floor. A collar was caught on its teeth, and above the collar, a familiar pattern was visible.
Reverse Cross.
It was the Irregular's pattern! Yuis and I hardened our expressions at the same time. I took the collar from the Hellhound's teeth that had stopped breathing. “You said there are elites in Andres, right.” “Yes, there are. ...Oscar.” According to Yuis, Oscar was a magician. A user of magic. He might have hidden in the underground labyrinth to obtain materials.
If Oscar is trapped here too?
That's a big problem. I told Yuis. “Come with me. If there's a place where I can hide my body from the poison mist, guess where.” We rushed into the labyrinth. The poison mist was thick, but it didn't matter. Because I activated purification and became an air purifier. The fork in the road was also no problem. As I ran without hindrance, Yuis asked. “Do you know the way?” “Yeah. Before the Marquis Andres started monster breeding, I came here often.” “A child in such an underground place?” “I told you. Andres has an enormous number of surveillance devices. So, the only place to cry alone was here.” “...It's a thousand terrible things. This damned family.” Yuis frowned. A flock of bat-like monsters popped out from the labyrinth wall. Yuis activated a spell. The strings that stretched out formed a net-like shape to block the monsters. However, the spell didn't hold for long and was dispelled. “What?” Yuis frowned and looked at his own hand. I said. “Is the barrier in standby mode?” “Barrier?” “Yeah. There is a barrier. A barrier that makes it difficult to use magic, spells, or holy power. But it's strange. Normally it doesn't activate.” “It became annoying.” That's right. In this case, it would be better to deal with them physically as much as possible. Yuis clicked his tongue and used his sword to behead the monsters. In that way, we continued to run. After running for a while. We reached a dead end. It was a wall covered with moss and so high that even looking up, the end wasn't visible. The wall was made of bricks. Yuis asked. “Do you not know the way from here?” “This is the destination. Shh.” I grabbed the bricks of the wall. It came out easily. By pulling out the bricks in hexagonal shapes, a gap appeared in the wall. This was the door. I pushed the door to the side. There were three people inside. My half-brother O'Neill and Stella, and... a man with scarlet hair. The man with scarlet hair was lying there, covered in blood. Yuis's face hardened instantly. Thanks to that, I knew he was the Irregular's elite, Oscar.
* * *
A few minutes ago. Stella's face, checking on O'Neill leaning against the wall, was wet with tears. O'Neill's condition was serious. Stella had taken the monster's attack instead to protect O'Neill. Her abdomen was stained with blood. She might bleed to death like this. “Oppa...” “It's okay.” “If you die, I won't forgive you. Really, I won't forgive you...” O'Neill placed his hand on Stella's head, who was crying endlessly. Stella held O'Neill's hand and cried. Her hand was cold. It was regrettable that due to the barrier laid in the labyrinth, she couldn't heal. At that moment. A presence was heard outside the door. O'Neill and Stella turned their gazes to the door at the same time. Bang. The door opened. Light poured into the dark room. And the person who appeared was.... “Yustea...?” Stella muttered blankly. Yustea and the blonde man opened the door and came in. The two looked around inside. O'Neill's face hardened. “You...” I can guess the situation. It was clear that the grandmother had sent Yustea to deal with the poison mist. Stella also looked at Yustea with a surprised expression. O'Neill forced his body up from leaning against the wall. And with one arm shielding Stella, he said. “I don't need your help—.” Before the words ended, Yustea flinched and moved. It seemed like he was rushing to see the injured himself. At the moment O'Neill frowned. Yustea ran swiftly. ...Opposite to O'Neill. “Are you alive? Wake up. Huh? Yuis, let me see the wound. I'll heal it right away.” There was no interest in O'Neill. The blonde man called Yuis flipped over the man lying there. And he took off his shirt to check the wound. The condition was serious. Yustea put his fingertips on the man's skin. A faint light appeared from the fingertips. He was starting to heal. At that time, Stella opened her mouth. “It won't work.” Yustea looked at Stella. Stella said with a troubled face. “Because of the barrier, healing isn't possible. That's why I couldn't heal Oppa either.” “I'm fine.” “Don't be stubborn. If you run out of mana too, it will be hard to move.” Stella continued as if soothing a stubborn child. “Don't do that, let's help Oppa get out. If we stay here, Oppa will be in danger—.” Just as she was saying that. A strong light gathered in Yustea's hand. He was forcibly performing healing without regard for it. Stella sighed. “Stubborn...” Yustea seems unchanged from before and now. Even when in Andres, she didn't listen to my words at all because of that stubbornness. But.... “Ugh...” A groan came from the man lying there. A moment ago, the man had been unconscious.
Did he really heal...?
Stella and O'Neill's expressions hardened. How could healing be possible with a barrier? Stella couldn't heal O'Neill no matter how hard she tried. Stella asked with a surprised face. “What happened?” “Are you conscious? How's the pain? Can you get up?” Stella asked, but Yustea was focused on the person he healed. When no answer came, Stella had a panicked expression. Then O'Neill said in a cold voice. “Are you not hearing Stella's words.” “Ah, that's good. You are conscious. Then, will you try getting up once?” “Yustea!” “Shut up!” Yustea shouted. O'Neill and Stella were startled. Because Yustea had never shouted at O'Neill. Yustea said with an annoyed expression. “Healing by the saint can't be the same as normal healing!”