Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 128

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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 128. A Red-Haired Grandmother Is Not Something to Adopt (1)
My friend is a lunatic. I knew she was a lunatic, a complete lunatic, but I never imagined she’d preserved a copy of my childhood self in cold storage like some specimen.
When I came to my senses, my body had been regressed to about ten years old, Yupi had become an old woman, and utterly bewildered, I stopped at a rest area, dragged Yupi from the driver’s seat, and beat her like a dog.
Since my body was small, my blows didn’t hurt her much, so Yupi just giggled the whole time. Disgusting creature.
“Aw♡ But you’re happy to see me again, aren’t you?”
“I’m not.”
Truth be told, I was happy. She was so creepy and repulsive that I could never marry her, but as a friend, I liked her well enough. I’d even entertained the thought of combining our households and continuing to live together in the Lorowi Territory.
But that wasn’t something I could decide on my own. The world had political marriages. For the wealth, peace, and authority of the Lilith Family, I was destined to marry the heir to Chiron Duke.
It was burdensome, but I’d accepted it as fate… until Yupi explained that thirty more years had passed since the day I was supposed to marry into Chiron Duke’s House.
The man I was going to marry was already dead. My original body was also gone. Apparently, my youngest son had become Chiron Duke now?
I mean… what could I even say to this?
“Damn it, this is ridiculous…”
I really didn’t know what to say to this foolish idiot who’d been keeping me in storage. I was furious about being preserved, but she said I could live freely now, so I felt grateful in a way… but knowing that she’d keep clinging to me, I wasn’t grateful at all.
“But still…”
Do people travel by car these days? Carriages have completely disappeared? Thirty years ago, there was only one automobile in the entire Imperial Palace, and it went maybe ten kilometers per hour—people could run faster. The world has developed beyond recognition.
The world has advanced so much.
“Nowadays the military actually uses aircraft in real combat! Tank caterpillars can even cross trenches?”
“Wow, really?!”
Incredible. The world really has changed so much. I ate instant soup that only needed hot water at the rest stop and marveled at how far civilization had progressed. At this rate, humans might actually build an elevator to the heavens. That’s something I only ever saw in science fiction novels.
“I even found a little cottage in the countryside for you and Luruella to live in!”
“What about Grayson?”
“Of course Grayson is there too!”
“Thank goodness.”
At least the bare minimum for human habitation was secured. If I lived alone with Yupi, the house would become a garbage dump within a day, and we’d starve to death without proper meals.
“Ahem.”
Come to think of it, I wasn’t coughing and breathing felt easy. Did Yupi cure my asthma when she created this new body? Alchemy really is fascinating. She even made a potion to transform into a man.
“…”
The fact that when Yupi transformed into a man, I thought “Hmm, maybe she’s actually my type” is a secret I’ll take to my grave.
“Whatever! Let’s just enjoy it! Off to the countryside we go!”
“Hehe, Luruella really doesn’t think about anything, does she?”
You fool, it’s not that I don’t think—it’s that I’ve thought about it and realized there’s no point, so I’ve given up entirely. I know you’ll do whatever you want anyway, so what’s the point in resisting? It’s better to just enjoy it.
Now that I think about it, when Yupi dragged me along and stuffed me into that sedan back then, I was genuinely shocked. I was so worried she was trying to have me taxidermied.
After driving for about five more hours, we arrived at a small village nestled by a river. A little distance from the village stood a two-story house with a garden, and apple trees surrounded it, reminding me of the old Lorowi Villa.
“Miss Luruella, it’s been a long time.”
“You’ve been suffering because of Yupi for decades now, haven’t you?”
“Hehe, that’s what butlers do, after all.”
Grayson dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, grateful that someone still cared about him.
After that, we were busy building a new alchemy workshop, furnishing the house, and so on. Even if it was a shabby countryside cottage, we couldn’t use cheap furniture. I whipped Yupi into crafting high-quality rosewood furniture, experimented with various modern conveniences, and before I knew it, years had passed.
Becoming part of the village wasn’t difficult. After all, Yupi was an alchemist. She could create all sorts of goods through barter or cash that people would otherwise have to travel to the city to buy, so our household became an essential part of the village.
Money accumulated naturally, and I equipped the kitchen with the latest toaster, refrigerator, and electric oven, even taking up baking as a hobby.
Another half year passed in this manner. As my surroundings stabilized, I could finally turn my attention to news from the outside world.
“This is quite the situation. The Princess has been missing for over half a year.”
I unfolded the newspaper while sipping freshly brewed coffee. During the thirty years I’d remained silent, Kisomalos’s major newspapers had grown from one to three, and all three papers had plastered the Princess’s disappearance across their front pages.
If she’s been missing for over half a year, isn’t the probability of her being dead quite high? But perhaps because it involved the Imperial Family, they refrained from discussing the possibility of death. Still, she seemed quite young—this Little One must be suffering greatly simply because she was born into the Imperial Family.
“What is this world coming to?”
Tsk, tsk.
As I clicked my tongue and pondered the state of affairs, Grayson brought some snacks, saying coffee alone made his stomach upset. Yupi was whistling awkwardly. Why was that loner suddenly practicing whistling?
“By the way, my body is actually growing, right?”
“O-of course it is!”
Hearing him stammer, it was clear he had no real confidence. What if I remained in this childish form until death? Like the homunculi I’d read about in novels—they typically didn’t grow at all.
“At the very least, make our ages match somehow. Whether I age or you grow younger.”
“Oh my, oh my goodness! So Luruella was actually concerned about that?!”
Of course I was concerned! It’s awkward having people outside think you and I are grandmother and granddaughter. With Grayson as a guardian and all, it’s simply more comfortable if we both age together as a set.
“I’ll do my very best! Let me consult with Lorowi about it!”
“Very well.”
If he could transform into a man, surely he could manage to appear as a child. I told him he was free to retreat to the workshop and decided to take a stroll with Grayson instead.
At first, I wondered how I’d manage living with him, but with Grayson around, daily life presented no problems. And honestly, without that cursed political marriage, life was remarkably free and wonderful. I’d been prepared to flee if Yupi tried to confine me to the house, but there were no signs of that happening.
Judging by Yupi’s current behavior, even if I said I was traveling alone, as long as I disclosed my destination properly, he’d probably just tell me to go and come back. I was grateful that he’d matured enough to be satisfied remaining as a friend.
“Owner, I’d like to pay.”
I’d intended to buy donuts to share as snacks at home, but several shop owners had gathered and were whispering amongst themselves. The way they kept glancing at me felt decidedly unpleasant, so I kicked the counter and told them if they had something to say, say it to my face. The shop owner hurried out.
“No, it’s not that we want to suspect anything, but…”
“Suspect what?”
“The timing of the Princess’s disappearance and when the alchemist brought Luruella here—they’re quite similar, aren’t they?”
What? The Princess is from Kisomalos, isn’t she? Her hair gleams with that brilliant gold color.
I have the black hair and black eyes that run through my family line, and by appearance, I’m completely different from the Princess. Besides, I am Luruella Lilith, and I possess the body Yupi newly created for me. There’s no connection whatsoever.
“According to the newspaper, the kidnapper was also an alchemist, so there’s a possibility the Princess’s appearance was altered and they fled.”
“We can’t survive without the alchemist now, so we’re keeping our mouths shut about it.”
Ah, so these rural folk had been harboring such concerns. And their unity was remarkable—they hadn’t breathed a word to the Imperial Family, considering the alchemist beneficial to the village.
“That’s an unnecessary worry. I am Vishnabel.”
Gasp.
I was so startled that I clapped my hand over my mouth. I’d clearly intended to say my name—Luruella—but why had “Vishnabel” tumbled out instead? Wasn’t that the name of the missing Princess?
Something felt terribly wrong, and I stood there bewildered, when suddenly lightning struck from a clear sky, and a tree at the very top of the hill near the village burst into flames.
The fire from the lightning-struck tree was fierce, and it seemed inevitable it would spread into a forest fire.
“Listen! Call everyone in the village!”
“Contact the alchemist too!”
I’d go tell Yupi myself. I reassured the villagers and ran home with Grayson.

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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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