How to Replace Dad
At first, it was uncertain.
But by listening quietly to the footsteps, it became clear.
I had been crouching in front of the Quaron's central office for months, waiting for this sound to repeat without error.
"Dad!"
With a bright smile, I reached out my hand, and Dad scooped me up with one hand.
"How did you come?"
"Well, something came up with work."
Dad looked back behind me after saying that.
The Andres Marquis had already stood up.
The Marquis had his usual face.
That snake-like face with a smile on it.
'Normally, he either makes a sour face or keeps a straight face, but that's not usual for him.'
Dad and the Andres Marquis's gazes clashed sharply in the air.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
I grabbed Dad's hand and quickly exited the cabin.
"Are you leaving the words behind?"
It was the Andres Marquis's words.
'Ah, Annie.'
I came to the port on Annie.
If I leave her like this, no one will come to pick her up.
Then Dad said.
"There are soldiers at the port. Have them bring the horse."
"I can't entrust the family’s prized horse to someone else’s hands."
"Looking at how I let my daughter ride it, it seems I can entrust it to someone else’s hands."
"She’s not someone else. She’s my blood, my kin."
"Perhaps you don’t have wrinkles in your brain. Didn’t you take the name of the blood relative?"
"How rude. Did you grow up as a bastard?"
"I grew up as a bastard, so I know well how to make an unpleasant opponent crippled."
Wow.
Neither side is backing down at all.
'If a fight breaks out like this, it would be troublesome.'
The Marquis is the head of the 7 families.
Dad is not the head.
There's a difference in authority, and if pushed, the damage will be on this side.
"Hey, um..."
It was the moment I was about to call out to Dad.
"Lord Marquis!"
"Marquis."
Viscount Rochet and Baron Yopis quickly approached.
Behind them were Andres soldiers.
I looked at the Marquis, wondering what was going on.
The Marquis was fiddling with the bracelet on his arm.
It was a call button.
'I told him not to call, and he called anyway.'
I looked at the children whose blood was singing on the deck.
These kids seemed to have lived on the streets for a long time.
They knew that if high-ranking nobles gathered here, their territory would disappear.
I swallowed my sigh.
Viscount Rochet said.
"We will escort you to the castle."
With that, we descended from the deck and boarded the carriages that came to pick us up.
Annie was being taken care of by an Andres soldier.
I asked inside Quaron's carriage.
"How did you come?"
"Because of the incident where the Purification Stone was revealed, a meeting of the 7 families' heads from the Andres family is being held. I brought the old man."
It meant he had come to support the Esgard Duke.
Of course, something like the Purification Stone couldn't be overlooked easily.
I was wondering what had happened anyway.
According to Dad, the Esgard Duke was in the castle.
The carriage sped quickly and arrived at the Andres Castle.
When we got off at the carriage waiting area, Yuis came out and was waiting for Dad.
We entered the castle.
And headed to the Esgard Duke's room.
Before entering, the Esgard Duke greeted me.
"So. How have you been, my puppy?"
"I'm fine."
"Did Rohan Andres bother you?"
It seemed he sent Dad because he knew.
I smiled and shook my head.
"But I didn't let it slide."
"Good, good."
The Duke laughed "Uha ha ha".
Meanwhile, Yuis checked the surveillance devices in the room.
One came out from under the table, and he destroyed it skillfully.
I looked around and asked Yuis.
"Have you found any clues related to the Old Empire Reconstruction Society and the Andres family?"
"I couldn't find any. I searched the Marquis's room, office, study... everywhere, but no clues came out."
"Is it in the estate house...?"
I groaned.
"What are you looking for?"
The Duke asked.
"Ah, well..."
After explaining the content, the Duke and Dad nodded.
"The Old Empire Reconstruction Society. Those who handle the White Dragon."
Dad said.
I opened my eyes wide.
"The White Dragon?"
"Yes. It's the size of a lizard with wings."
"I've never seen one before."
This time, the Duke answered.
"In the early days of the Avalon Empire's founding, the White Dragon was discovered and exterminated every time. Raising them or reporting discoveries was strictly controlled."
"Why?"
"The White Dragon was a symbol of the Old Empire."
Ah.
It seems he was talking about the Old Empire.
The Duke continued.
"So, the White Dragon is not left on the continent. Only the Old Empire Reconstruction Society would be keeping it."
"I see."
It was during that conversation.
Knock knock.
With a knock, the steward's voice came.
"We will escort you to the conference hall."
It was the moment the meeting of the 7 families' heads began.
* * *
The nobles of the 7 families gathered in the conference hall.
Not only the nobles of the 7 families, but also Onel and Stella, the direct descendants of the Andres family.
I greeted the nobles of the 7 families.
"Long time no see, Yustea."
Duke Nevarro smiled slyly and spoke to me.
He was the son of the former Duke Nevarro and the father of Guinevere.
"I greet Duke Nevarro."
"You did a great job? Your father is also pleased with you."
It was referring to the act of discovering and destroying the Purification Stone.
I lowered my head.
"I was just doing my job."
"There were those who tried to take out something stupidly, but it's a big deal!"
An old man holding a cane shouted.
The Andres Marquis, who was greeting other 7 families' nobles, flinched.
Because 'those who tried to take out something stupidly' referred to Stella.
Stella's face turned pale.
When she bit her lip tightly, the grandchild of the old man narrowed his brows.
"Please don't do that. It wasn't something you did knowingly."
That grandchild was one of Stella's personal guards.
"No, Glen. It's my fault for not knowing."
Stella said that, bending her waist.
"I almost made a huge mistake because I was ignorant. I'm truly sorry."
"..."
"..."
When Stella bowed in apology, the heads of the 7 families sighed.
They didn't say anything.
'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!' was much better than saying 'I didn't know! I'm sorry!'
Only adults participated in the meeting.
Onel, Stella, and I greeted the adults and left the conference hall.
A while after the door of the conference hall closed.
Benjamin approached.
"Oh. Looks like I was late."
Benjamin scratched his head.
Then he groaned "Umm" and said.
"Shouldn't I just sneak in now?"
Onel said with a straight face.
"If you want to advertise that you were late, do so."
"My father will kill me. Damn."
Benjamin was the eldest son of the Baker family, one of the 7 families.
He stretched his arms and said.
"Well, since I have to go in, there won't be anything to say. Onel, let's play billiards. I lost to Igis three times in a row."
"Enough. I don't feel like it."
"You invited me and didn't even show your face? Higga is upset."
When he put his arm around Onel's neck and said that.
"Benjamin."
Stella spoke.
Benjamin and Onel both looked at her at the same time.
"I went to visit yesterday, but you weren't there."
"Ah. There was something with work."
"I have something to say. Just the two of us."
"Two of us... isn't that a bit odd? Haha."
Benjamin looked at Onel as if asking if that's how it is.
Onel said to Stella.
"The heads of the 7 families are there. You have to be careful with your demeanor more than usual."
"I have to say it. Make time for me, Benjamin."
Aigo.
It seems he really wants to talk about the Old Empire Reconstruction Society today.
Benjamin took his arm off Onel's neck.
And said.
"Just a little while..."
Stella's face brightened.
"My room is a bit inconvenient. Well, how about the greenhouse?"
"Wherever, as long as it's just the two of us, it's fine."
Stella said that and took Benjamin away.
I gave Yuis a signal from far away.
To follow.
With that, Benjamin and Stella left together, and Yuis quietly enveloped himself in the darkness.
It was the moment I was about to leave my place.
"Yustea."
Onel called me.
"Let's talk for a bit."
"You told me to be careful with my demeanor."
"You and I don't need to. We're siblings."
"..."
The word "siblings" came out of his mouth.
It seemed he had a firm change in heart, knowing that I didn't poison Stella.
"Will it be short?"
"Yeah."
Onel started walking first.
I followed him.
The place we were heading was Onel's room.
I was sitting on the sofa, but Onel went to the desk.
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting."
I thought he was going to have a conversation, but it was strange.
I frowned.
But I patiently waited.
Onel had a look as if he had firmly made a decision.
Onel brought parchment and pen from the desk.
The parchment was blank.
"What?"
"Listen to what I'm saying."
"What are you trying to say."
"Well, the poisoning incident wasn't your fault."
"Exactly, I didn't do it."
"But people think it's your fault. That will be a big obstacle in your life."
"..."
An obstacle was an obstacle.
For example, I couldn't serve in public office or marry into the royal family.
But I had no intention of serving in public office or marrying into the royal family.
So, it wasn't really 'an obstacle in my life'.
"That's the Old Empire Reconstruction Society's doing. And I know what the evidence is."
"..."
"What?"
"I didn't know before. But... knowing that it was the Old Empire Reconstruction Society's doing, I noticed that 'that' was the evidence."
Onel hastily drew a formation on the parchment.
This is a magic casting formation.
"I've seen this formation in my father's study."
Everyone in the world knows it, and Onel is a genius as he knew it too.
He drew it in one breath.
It was a formation in the Alkaid style.
Now it's distinguished by Geum-sul.
...It's a formation used in the Old Empire.
"The Old Empire Reconstruction Society would have used this formation."
"This..."
"Yes, this magic made Stella sick."
"..."
"Report it. Report it and regain your honor."
"...No."
"You idiot, you still can't report your father?! Your father is going to..."
"The formation that made Stella sick is not it!"
I know this formation.
It was the one I saw in the game's Geum-sul shop.
And the one who uses this formation is under my command.
Ross!
'Formation of a Geum-sul user who uses monsters.'
This is... a monster summoning formation.
'The shape is the same, but slightly different from the one I knew.'
I quickly took out the communication stone.
The recipient was Ross.
[Yes, old, young lady! I haven't slept! I'm studying!]
[I slept. I slept a lot. Young lady.]
Ross and Roslyn's voices came.
"I'm not asking about that."
[Yes? Then...?]
"Ross, I'm going to call out the formation from now on. Interpret what kind of formation it is."
I called out the formation drawn in the formation.
It was drawn based on Onel's memory.
It wasn't perfect.
So, it took time, and Ross made a long groaning sound.
[Um, so...]
[Don't know? Wouldn't it be better to ask for a request at the Magic Tower? I have to give a perfect answer to the young lady.]
[Wait. What do you know... Uwa, don't stick your fist...! Stick it?]
Ross shouted "Uwa!"
[Ah, yeah. I wasn't supposed to call it in the first place!]
He said to me.
[It's a formation to calm the monster inside.]
"What?"
[This person seems to have a monster inside their body.]
Onel frowned.
"Your father has a monster inside his body?"
"..."
"Why would he do such a thing..."
"It's not your father."
I grabbed Onel's shoulder.
"The underground maze. The accident in the underground maze where Stella and I entered. Exactly what happened?"
"The monsters suddenly started rampaging. They seemed scared."
"You said the shadow mouse triggered the poison mist, right? Was that because it was pushed by the monsters?"
"No, the shadow mouse attacked first."
Shadow mice are gentle and don't attack first.
If... then if...
"If Stella was scared by the monster inside her?"
"..."
"If Stella was suffering because she had a monster inside, not because of the poisoning!"
"..."
Onel's face hardened.
He shot up.
"We have to go."
"Huh?"
"I cast a magic on Stella. Benjamin might be trying to target her again!"
That's why I didn't say anything about being alone with Benjamin.
But why is he so surprised?
"It's a magic that attacks when it touches Benjamin. It used the Alpha Aura style!"
"..."
Alpha Aura style.
It's a formation that draws out the inner self.
If it awakens the monster inside Stella because of that?
At that moment.
Kiaaak—!
A sharp howling sound rang out, and the castle shook violently.
Onel and I looked at each other with hardened faces.
And we quickly ran.
The destination was the greenhouse where Benjamin and Stella were.
When we ran to the greenhouse in a panic, the first thing I saw was Yuis.
Yuis, who was clenching his teeth, spat.
A lot of red blood was mixed in.
He was injured.
"Yuis!"
I quickly ran over and asked.
"What happened!"
"When I touched Benjamin, this woman's body started glowing, and this came out."
"What?"
I turned my head.
It was an incredibly huge White Dragon.
"..."
It was big enough to smash the ceiling of the greenhouse.
'The White Dragon is the size of a lizard!'
I thought that, and I glanced sideways.
Stella was deathly pale and panting.
'Ah, yeah.'
Stella's mana has tremendous purity.
Moreover, it's incredibly abundant.
It grew to such a huge size by sucking mana from inside Stella.
The White Dragon spread its wings.
It flew up directly.
And where the White Dragon was heading was...!
"No! Stop it! Take it to the conference hall!"
It was the place where the nobles of the 7 families were.
Suddenly, the wind blew.
And someone landed next to me.
"Everything is happening."
"...You."
"We meet again, young lady?"
...It was Oscar.