How to Replace Dad 78
— *thwack* —
“7 points!”
Stella’s face hardened.
Especially after Yustea scored 10, she only got 7.
Yuis slipped the money bag back into his pocket.
This way, it would look like he hadn’t known.
But for Stella, it was hilarious.
Stella had 80 points.
Yustea had 65.
The difference was a full 15 points.
Stella’s average score was 8.1.
“I can’t turn this around.”
From the three arrows left, they would shoot together.
Yustea and Stella drew their bowstrings, arrow tips aimed at the target.
People’s gazes locked onto them.
“Did Lady Stella shoot the bow so well?”
“Probably because you lived like hunting with your friends.”
“It wasn’t play—it was training. Hahaha.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen Stella like this.”
The vassals laughed and said.
Onel, Benjamin, Yuis, and Hui in the training ground also focused on the competition.
While Hui watched with sparkling eyes.
— *thwack* —
— *thwack* —
Arrows hit the target at the same time.
“Lady Stella, 8 points!”
What about Yustea?
People’s gazes shifted to his target.
The soldier checking the score shouted.
“Lord Yustea, 10 points!”
“…!”
“…?!”
“…!!!”
Ten points in a row?
A girl who had never formally trained?
At such a long distance?
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Rochet Viscount asked Yopis Baron.
“Have you ever taught archery?”
“Never.”
“Amazing…”
Even Onel stared at Yustea with a stunned expression.
A 10-point target was 30 centimeters smaller in diameter than 7- or 8-point ones.
Hitting once by chance, twice was talent.
When the atmosphere focused on Yustea, Stella swallowed dryly.
Her heart raced.
“Calm down. It’s fine.”
Still a 13-point gap.
Yustea and Stella drew arrows again.
And when the soldier in front of the target waved the red flag.
— *thwack* —
— *thwack* —
“Lady Stella, 4 points!”
“…!”
Why!
Only high scores, then suddenly this?
Aiming at the same spot, same strength.
Expected at least 8.
People said “Oh…” with surprised faces.
Then this time Yustea…
“Lord Yustea, 10 points!”
“…!”
“…!!”
Hui, who had been leaning on her chin, lifted her head.
Benjamin, who had been sitting with legs crossed and arms folded, straightened up.
Onel and Yuis also watched Yustea check the last arrow.
Even the vassals were stunned.
Hui shouted.
“What? What’s going on? Is it cheating? That soldier isn’t lying, right?”
“If you’re curious, go check. It must be stuck in the center.”
Benjamin said that and glanced at Onel.
“Seemed to have checked the wind carefully?”
“Yeah.”
“Moreover, shot strongly.”
When shooting at the same time, the opponent’s bow is affected.
So Stella’s mistake was natural.
Because it had been influenced by Yustea.
“From the beginning, aiming at the last three arrows.”
Otherwise I couldn’t beat Stella, so that was why.
Stella said archery was her hobby.
Handling the bow was far more familiar to her than to Yustea.
If lacking skill, make the wind a variable.
Variable—that is, the wind.
Stella gripped the bowstring tightly.
“Still a score difference.”
Even if Yustea shot 10, if I only shot 4, victory was decided.
Yustea had done something stupid.
Shooting strongly now.
It meant rushing and exposing the strategy.
If doing that, should have saved it for last.
Yustea and Stella drew arrows for the final shot.
And drew the bow toward the target.
When releasing the taut string.
— *thwack* —
— *thwack* —
— *thwack* —
— *thwack* —
The last arrow hit the target.
…Only one.
Only one arrow struck the target.
The others had merely grazed it.
The soldier shouted.
“Lord Yustea, 10 points!”
Stella’s face turned deathly pale.
* * *
I removed the arm guard and handed it to the maid.
The bow was lowered, but my face felt like arrows were raining down.
Onel’s friends asked.
“You shoot really well.”
“…Aiming at the last three…?”
“I didn’t know you had talent for archery, Yustea.”
Talent? I had practiced like a madman.
Due to my biological nature, I couldn’t withstand male physical attacks up close.
So the only choice was the bow.
“This also takes enormous strength.”
But there was no risk of being caught, so I dug and dug.
Still, I needed to check the wind with a few shots.
“Actually, two or three would have been enough.”
But there was a reason I had given Stella so many points at the start.
Stella held the bow with a deathly pale face until now.
I approached her.
“Are you okay?”
Stella’s eyelashes trembled.
At that moment.
This match is just for fun.
No need to worry.
Rather, you need to get the Old Empire Reconstruction Society.
‘Yeah, that’s what he was aiming for.’
Stella’s divine instability.
Then the chat with GM would appear.
And this chat had hints.
“Who is a member of the Old Empire Reconstruction Society.”
Stella bit her lip tightly.
But she didn’t calm down.
Stella, I keep telling you not to worry about meaningless things.
The important thing is the Old Empire Reconstruction Society.
And.
GM: Came.
At that moment, Onel and his friends approached.
No!
You have to persuade!GM: Don’t send her like this!!
Stella, hurry!
Seemed extremely urgent.
“Now that I think, Yuis is a character I haven’t seen before.”
Not the protagonist, not an NPC.
With such characters, it’s hard to gauge personality.
“Enough. Remember well.”
Stella hurriedly grabbed Onel.
“Brother, I want to go too.”
“If I disobey Father’s order, I’ll get a bigger punishment.”
“But…!”
“Stay quietly in the castle today.”
Benjamin said with a regretful face.
“I’ll buy a gift and bring it.”
Saying that, the men turned their backs.
Then another huge chat popped up.
Catch Benjamin—!
…What?
* * *
Shopping district.
I stood in front of the wall lost in thought.
Benjamin.
Definitely said Benjamin.
“Then Benjamin is a member of the Old Empire Reconstruction Society.”
Thinking that.
Sound of someone approaching.
Turned my head—Yuis.
“Two, three people paired up to tour the shopping district… agreed to meet at the restaurant around 5…”
“Ah, I see.”
“Whom will Lady go with…?”
Men waited behind me.
“Obviously Benjamin.”
I stood next to Benjamin.
Then the men looked at me with surprised expressions.
Especially Benjamin’s eyes were wide.
“You don’t like me much?”
“Still, the most familiar opponent.”
“I’m going to the antique shop or antique store—boring. Yuis is a ghost for finding fun.”
“So going with Benjamin…”
I made a tired face, Benjamin “Ah.” laughed.
Onel glanced but didn’t care.
Benjamin said.
“Then.”
With that, we dispersed.
I followed Benjamin to the antique shop and antique store.
Benjamin, looking at the displayed goods, said.
“If not fun, can go.”
“Fun.”
“Watching others sightsee? Unusual hobby.”
Benjamin laughed haha.
Then looked at me sideways.
“Don’t you ask what I’m looking for?”
“Don’t ask.”
“Why. Not interested in me.”
And leaning on his chin, head tilted, looked at me.
“I’m interested in the lady.”
“After doing that to Guinevere, got slapped on the cheek?”
“Twice.”
If so, better.
With that gaze, Benjamin shrugged.
Then again looking at antiques said.
“Looking for White Night goddess statue.”
“Why White Night goddess statue?”
“…”
Benjamin’s hand stopped while looking at antiques.
He lifted his gaze.
Then stared at empty air for a moment, then turned to me.
Our gazes met.
“Really interesting lady.”
He came one step closer.
Atmosphere wasn’t normal.
I stepped back, but ended up trapped in the shop display.
He came close and asked.
“If saying looking for White Night goddess statue, usually say like this.”
“…”
“What is the White Night goddess statue.”
“…”
“What? You.”
Benjamin’s expression was completely different from usual.
Like a changed person—cold and sharp.
I looked up at him with an expressionless face.
“I know what the White Night goddess statue is.”
“How.”
“I worked in various places after being driven out from Andres. Even worked in an antique shop.”
“So?”
“A person came to the place I worked, looking for White Night goddess statue. Said it was a special treasure.”
“…”
Benjamin looked at me with a suspicious expression.
Stared at my eyes for a long time, then shrugged.
“Must have been hard.”
“Yeah.”
He stepped back.
Opened the way.
I quickly walked to the place with a passage.
Then Benjamin had no interest in checking goods anymore.
After a while, the communication stone rang.
“Yeah, at Enoch Antique Shop. D55-12.”
Address, reply came.
Communication ended.
After about 5 minutes, a familiar silhouette appeared in front of the antique shop.
I quickly jumped out.
And quickly pulled Yuis into the alley next to the shop.
“Cancel, cancel.”
“What?”
“Cancel the words about taking the Reconstruction Society.”
“Why suddenly?”
“Insane guys.”
White Night goddess statue.
It looked like a beautiful goddess statue.
But I knew its true identity.
White Night goddess statue—artifact that sealed an ancient curse. If the seal broke, curses equal to disaster would be released into the world.
The Ingu made in Valboa was also a poison close to disaster.
But the curse in the White Night goddess statue was on a different level.
“Curse of the Dark Mirror. Ancient curse the victim received.”
“Yeah.”
“That also sealed curse in the White Night goddess statue.”
“…!”
“That curse, where did you receive it?”
“During a mission. So it was a few years ago, in some village in the south…”
While Yuis was saying, he flinched.
And hurriedly looked at me.
“Battle that happened in the antique shop. A bunch of guys in white robes appeared and attacked.”
White robes.
I sucked in a sharp breath and said.
“Was there no sun emblem on the robes?”
“Yes.”
Definitely.
They were the Old Empire Reconstruction Society.
The Reconstruction Society had been collecting White Night goddess statues.
To release the seal and curse the duke, so it wouldn’t fall into Irregular’s hands.
Curse of the Dark Mirror was the best.
If Black Poison were released, it was a matter of human extinction.
At that time of conversation.
Yuis flinched.
“Presence.”
I quickly exited the alley.
Benjamin was standing in front of the antique shop.
Benjamin said.
“When I thought where you went.”
“For escort, there is something to talk.”
“Really? Did you talk?”
“Yeah.”
Benjamin smiled brightly and suddenly put his face close to mine.
“Won’t you go to a more fun place, Lady?”
“What?”
“I have other friends, want to introduce.”
“Other friends?”
“Nearby.”
Benjamin’s eyes sparkled.
“I mean. I want to be really close friends with you.”
“…”
“With the saint, smart, know about White Night goddess statue.”
“…”
“We can be pretty good friends, right?”
No!
I don’t want to be close at all!