Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 117

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 117. People Who Rush Forward Can End Up Going Very Far (5)
“What is this medicine used for?”
“Exactly as it sounds—a drug that allows soldiers to continue fighting. It stimulates adrenaline production and makes them forget fatigue. It temporarily alleviates panic states as well.”
“Oh, a battlefield essential.”
So that’s how the Lorowi Army soldiers could keep raging on the battlefield like crazed war dogs. If used carefully, alchemy really does seem to be the greatest thing.
“When the effects wear off, fatigue returns threefold.”
“Hmm, there are some side effects.”
“Frequent use can lead to addiction, and depending on the case, hallucinations and delusions may occur.”
“The side effects are serious!”
“Haha, occasional use is fine. It’s only a problem if you consume it consistently for over a month.”
Lorowi-style alchemy is convenient, but you really do have to follow the dosage instructions carefully. Still, I haven’t heard that all Lorowi soldiers became drug addicts, so the commanders must have ensured they took appropriate amounts, right?
“…Wait?”
The drug Father had been consuming and lounging around with all day. Could this be it? Domestic drug distribution is illegal, but it would have been possible to obtain through the Lorowi Army, wouldn’t it?
“By the way, did Grandmother ever make medicine and give it to someone? I’m not sure who.”
“I’m not staring at Yupi all day long either. I wouldn’t know about that. I have my own life to live, and I need to respect Yupi’s privacy too.”
That’s fair, I suppose. Constantly observing and meddling in everything—I’ve heard that’s something only Kisomalos does. But now that I’ve experienced it, Chiron seems to have a bit of that meddlesome streak too, and Achilles appears to do his share of interfering as well. …Did the three of them graduate from the same meddling academy or something?
“Well, since I’ve accomplished what I came for, I’ll be going.”
“Take care of yourself. Don’t create any big problems, and use this as an excuse to skip class!”
You claim to respect Yupi’s privacy, yet you seem to know my circumstances suspiciously well, don’t you? You’re probably just restraining yourself from touching Grandmother because you’d get scolded, and you’re watching me because I’m an easy target, aren’t you?
I eyed Lorowi suspiciously for a moment, then after confirming the workshop lights were off once the descent period ended, I headed upstairs. As I slipped through the secret bookcase and turned around the wall, I caught Father hastily stubbing out his cigarette on the table with a sharp hiss.
“That took a while.”
“Yeah, *cough*. There was a lot to discuss.”
“Open a window. No, let’s get out of here quickly.”
Father had Marshmallow pick me up and moved to a different location. Marshmallow was still as soft and squishy as ever. If I stayed nestled like this, I’d fall asleep.
“Huff, huff, I don’t think I can walk any further. Wouldn’t it be possible for the Princess to walk on her own?”
“I heard a bit about that. What’s wrong with your body?”
“Marshmallow, would you like to exercise with us? I’ll mention it to Teacher Lee.”
“No. I won’t exercise.”
Then adult-onset diseases strike and he’ll collapse. Adult-onset diseases don’t just raise blood sugar and blood pressure—the complications are terrifying. Our mother, Lutia, suffered from complications where her limbs rotted, so I rattled on about it, but Father blocked me and spoke directly to Marshmallow instead.
“Just say you understand and agree.”
“Yes, I will exercise. Please stop talking.”
I’ve only been talking for five minutes? Didn’t you two used to last at least ten minutes before? You’ve all grown weak with age.
“So. Did you learn anything useful?”
“Ah, yes. They said the hair color will return after a few days of rest.”
The rest of the story should be discussed between us alone, so I wanted to dismiss everyone and request a private conversation. When I made this request, Father ordered my attendants and Teacher Lee to return to the Princess Palace, then lifted me up.
“The smell should be gone now, right?”
“Actually, only you don’t notice it—the stench is still lingering on me.”
“Hmm.”
Father said in passing, as if wondering whether he should quit smoking. But if that’s his only pleasure in life, shouldn’t he continue? He barely drinks any alcohol with all the state affairs to manage anyway.
Even on my birthday last time, Father came and drank a glass of wine while saying it was the first time in a year, his eyes glistening with tears. I felt so sorry for him that I wanted to let him smoke cigarettes to his heart’s content.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Now we’ll die together when the time comes. Father has laryngeal cancer, and I have lung cancer. When I casually rattled off both our causes of death, Father laughed and muttered that perhaps he should finally quit smoking after all.
Father finds it amusing that he raised a child he was never meant to have, suffering for it. He says watching me is entertaining, but I find watching him equally entertaining and hilarious.
Upon entering the Emperor’s Office, I was served a refreshing chocolate milk. The chocolate carried a sophisticated flavor, and the ratio and blending were so exquisite that it was unmistakably the work of Choco’s hands. She wasn’t in the room itself, but she must have been waiting nearby.
“What is it you wanted to discuss, just the two of us?”
“The medicine that Helbatro consumed. Do you think it was the Chamberlain’s doing?”
Since I suspected there might be a connection, Father must have conducted such a persistent investigation. When I voiced my suspicion, Father nodded without hesitation.
“By process of elimination, the culprit could only be that Chamberlain.”
“Hmm…”
But Father is already dead. Since the evidence was consumed and destroyed, there’s no way to punish the Chamberlain now. Perhaps he simply wants to uncover what happened and find some peace of mind. Since they were friends, that seemed plausible.
If Croa suddenly died, I would uncover the cause and hunt down the perpetrator to the very end of the Mortal Realm and burn them at the stake.
“Apparently, if you put those materials into an alchemical furnace, you can create ‘Fight On, Battle Slaves! Morale Shattered Q!'”
“That’s an incredibly tacky name.”
“Right?”
I relayed the effects, dosage, and usage of the medicine to Father exactly as the God of Lorowi had described. Father made a thoughtful sound, then his expression hardened and he sighed.
“Addiction symptoms and hallucinations… that must be the medicine.”
“Right.”
No matter how I think about it, the culprit can only be the Chamberlain. The Aunt can’t perform alchemy. Father and I both sighed the same sigh and pondered together whether there was a way to strike back at the Chamberlain.
“The fact that I don’t inherit Lorowi in the end… well, if I just adopt another child, there’s nothing particularly regrettable about it.”
“Is there no way to make that woman Kazelnu the legitimate successor? It seems like it would help restore Kisomalos’s divine status too.”
Hmm, judging by the Aunt’s state, even if she became the legitimate successor, she doesn’t seem like she’d take my side. But after speaking with the God of Lorowi, I think I’ve grasped a thread of understanding.
Ultimately, the reason Lorowi doesn’t help Kisomalos’s divine status at all is because the Aunt wasn’t recognized as the legitimate successor. The Aunt has no talent for alchemy whatsoever, but more importantly, because she cherishes Lorowi above all else, her very existence becomes a threat to the God of Lorowi, so her use is forbidden.
Then, if I give the Aunt something more precious than Lorowi, wouldn’t that solve it?
“The Lorowi-style alchemy system requires the caster to sacrifice something precious to them. That’s why my golden hair, the symbol of Kisomalos, turned white.”
“To love Kisomalos that much is rather repulsive.”
“No, it’s not Kisomalos that I love! It’s my own existence as the legitimate successor of Kisomalos!”
“A selfish Princess.”
“Hmph.”
So I’m selfish. But if I’m safe and well, those around me can also live with peace of mind, can’t they? When someone you care about suffers or gets hurt, it’s so painful. I prioritize myself out of concern for this very reason. How could the Prisoner possibly understand the depths of this Princess’s heart?
After I launched into a lengthy speech, Father chuckled and gently tapped my head.
“That’s right. Your health comes first.”
“Then you understand.”
Anyway, let’s move past this topic. We should focus on giving the Aunt ‘something more precious than Lorowi.’ I argued this based on alchemical principles, but Father looked troubled.
“But she’s a woman who went mad wanting to be recognized by Lorowi. How can we change her heart?”
“Hmm…”
Well, when I think back to when our Mother was alive, there is actually a method that might work.
“If a man she becomes utterly captivated by appeared, wouldn’t he become the most precious thing to her?”
Look at our Mother. She abandoned her home and even the Chamberlain because of Helbatro. Thinking my argument had merit, Father’s expression became somewhat amused.
“That could work.”
“Right. Shall we start by drawing up a list of men worthy of catching Aunt’s eye?”
“I will hold a grand ball to find a suitable husband for Kazelnu Lorowi.”
“…Pardon?”
“I shall issue a nationwide recruitment proclamation.”
“…What?”
It seemed inevitable that men from across the realm, all seeking to elevate their station, would soon flood into the Imperial Palace.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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